Mick Fanning returns to full time competition
COOLANGATTA, Queensland/AUS (Tuesday, March 7, 2017) - Mick Fanning (AUS), 3x World Surf League (WSL) Champion, today announced his return to full-time competition on the elite WSL Championship Tour.
“I’ve decided to come back to competition full time and do the Tour this season,” Fanning said. “It was nice to have 2016 off somewhat and decompress, but I’m excited to put the singlet on again."
The iconic Australian stepped back from full-time competition last year following a 2015 season that witnessed the world-famous shark attack at the J-Bay Open, the loss of his older brother Peter and an emotional Runner-Up finish to the title race.
“2015 was a tough year,” Fanning said. “A lot happened to me on camera and in my personal life. I just felt exhausted by the end of it. Fortunately, I was in a position to step away from the Tour and have some time to myself. I ended up doing a few events and qualifying which was great because I didn’t want to take the wildcard off of Bede (Durbidge) or Owen (Wright). I’m coming into 2017 seeded 18th which will be a change for me.”
The decision to return to the tour in 2017 wasn’t one that Fanning took lightly, but the caliber of of surfers taking part on the Championship Tour this season proved motivation enough.
“Even with the 2017 season looming, I wasn’t sure I was motivated enough to take part,” Fanning said. “However, like everyone else I’m getting super excited about this year’s line-up of surfers - it might be the best field from the top seed to number 34 we’ve ever had. I also think it’s the biggest group of legit title contenders we’ve ever seen on the tour ever and I want to be part of the race."
With 22 elite CT wins to his name and three WSL Titles, Fanning is one of the most accomplished surfers to ever grace the sport, but the lightning-fast natural-footer believes he has more to accomplish.
"The most important thing to me is to me is making sure my surfing keeps evolving and the tour, now more than ever, is the best place to do that.” Fanning said. “In recent years I managed to find good balance between competitive focus and having fun. Getting switched on for events this year will be the key for me. I don’t think it will be a problem. It’s not in my nature to be half-hearted so now that I’m committed I’ll be doing everything I can to get a win."
Kelly Slater (USA), 11x WSL Champion, has already confirmed his own commitment to chasing an unprecedented 12th Title in 2017 and considers Fanning a major threat.
“If Mick (Fanning) is in 100% I’d put him right at the top of the heap,” Slater said. “You’d be silly to not think Mick is Top 3 in the world right now. All things considered. Having won at so many different breaks and being so dominant at places like Bells and Jeffreys Bay, there’s no way he’s not a contender.”
Fanning rejoins the Championship Tour during an historic season that sees an unprecedented number of men’s and women’s WSL Champions in the competitive field: Kelly Slater (USA), Mick Fanning (AUS), Joel Parkinson (AUS), Gabriel Medina (BRA), Adriano de Souza (BRA) and John John Florence (HAW) on the men’s side and Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), Carissa Moore (HAW) and Tyler Wright (AUS) on the women’s side.
Comments
G o Mick, even though you could retire a bloody champion today and be able to hold your head high the way you have surfed and conducted yourself as a terrific human on tour, one last blast will just show the new Aussie youngsters how to do it.
Keep up the proud history of world champs we have produced and show those brazillians how to surf -no wiggle, lay some rail fellas.
Having witnessed all the emotion of the 2015 title race live on that amazing day at Pipe I always wanted Mick to give it another shot. My wife & I randomly bumped into him 3 weeks later in a tiny Japanese ski resort where he proved to me that he is one of the most professional, time generous and grounded sportsman going around. A total gentleman who deserves all the success he has had.
Mick you're a true champion.
Thanks for having the guts to stand with locals to defend northern Gold Coast surf-breaks.
Mayor's Cruise Ship Terminal promises a benign beach just as surf won't be affected. Huh?
Mayor invites surfers to CST smashing wharf break. Sea Princess says... Paddle or die!
Last ECL Gold Coast recorded 15m seas, next highest on along East Coast. Danger for CST?
Proposed Cruise Ship wharf will block easterly swell. Ships will deflect north/south swells.
Inside will rip around jetty pylons and eddy swimmers 1 km out into path of cruise ships. Expect Superhuman wind-up lifeguards on 'round the clock search and rescue missions.
Scottish Prince Heritage Wreck/EPA reef is overshadowed by Cruise Ships.
150 Cruise Ships/year are promised. News watchers know one in ten harbour Norovirus.
Once a month ships will need to hose down virus with disinfectants into reef...Where else?
Swellnetonians understand Reef sites attract turtles,dolphin,rays & slows whales.
Cruise Ships need to pinball thru busy critters to discharge ballast. Rather bumpy ride?
Sea World has no whale harness,hoist,barge,slipway,winch and trailer. Sharks know this!
Plans upon shore show Philip Park & public parking to be reserved for CST staff.
Coaches & Consortia Ferry/Tram/Monorail all terminate at C.S.T. Sea World/Casino [$P].
Public [P]+ Bus Route will back off. Consortia Transit Monopoly fares will fleece any/all.
Worse case scenario. CST controls public access to seaway/straddie.... [NO TRESPASSING]
(DANGER) Fuel Tanks/Chemical storage/Quarantine/Customs/Immigration/Holding cells.
Plans show ship's swing basin fronting Federation Reserve. Good as theirs now! Hooroo!
If you want to help Mick save Gold Coast Spit Surf/Parks/Reef. Send your submission to...
Australian Government Department of the Environment and Energy.
GPO Box 787
Canberra ACT 2600
ref: 2017/78 94
Gold Coast City Council
Tourism & Recreation/ 31SP104041
Queensland/ Gold Coast Cruise Ship Terminal
*Submissions end... 31 st March 2017