World champion boosts outrageous Bells Beach air

John John Florence has pulled off one of the greatest airs in competitive history to snatch victory from Mick Fanning in the final seconds of their Bells Beach Pro heat.

Fanning has won four Bells and at times looks unbeatable out there.

It seemed this morning he was on one of those rolls again, having both Florence and Sebastian Zietz needing two high scoring waves to overtake the Aussie.

Fanning shot out of the blocks with a near-perfect 9.93 on his second wave, ripping apart a big Bells set in trademark Fanning fashion.

He followed it up immediately with an 8.93 and a heat score of 18.86 less than eight minutes into the heat.

But John John is John John and Fanning never would have felt completely safe.

Florence got going with a 9.57 but still needed a 9.3 with just two minutes on the clock.

He eyed a big Bels set, took off and spotted his ramp halfway down the line.

He launched a huge alley top, the wind almost taking the board twice from his feet during the rotation.

Florence is the only surfer in the world who could have stayed on his board during the move and as he landed it perfectly he raised his fist to the air, his first ever mid-wave claim so excited was he.

He was on the beach walking up the stairs before the scores came in, the judges awarding him a near-perfect 9.97 and the heat.