Slater Is Runner-Up to England’s Potter in Surfing at Japan

England’s Martin Potter defeated Kelly Slater in the finals of the $120,000 Miyazaki Pro surfing championships Sunday at Miyazaki, Japan.

Potter caught a wave in the final five minutes of the 30-minute heat and edged Slater, 26.1-23.2, in the finals. San Clemente’s Dino Andino finished third.

Slater, a Cocoa Beach, Fla., native now living in Huntington Beach, increased his overall points lead with the second-place finish. He leads with 6,935 points, followed by Australia’s Shane Herring (5,925) and Hawaii’s Sunny Garcia (5,575).

Lisa Andersen, a former Huntington Beach resident, edged Australia’s Pam Burridge, 24.83-19.59, in the women’s final. Huntington Beach’s Nea Post finished fifth.

The next stop on the tour is the Alternativa Pro Oct. 21-25 at Rio de Janeiro.