Mick Fanning announces his retirement
Three-time world champion Mick Fanning has announced he will retire from pro surfing. Fanning made the announcement in posts on his Facebook and Instagram accounts.
The 36-year-old will surf in two final events, the Quiksilver Pro and Bells Beach, the venue of his first tour win back in 2001.
"The tour has given me so much, but I need a fresh challenge," Fanning wrote. "I still love the game but can't find the motivation and dedication required to complete for world titles anymore."
Fanning thanked his family, his sponsors, surfboard shaper Darren Handley, fellow competitors and his support crew.
"And thanks to the fans and everyone that has encouraged me and cheered me on for all these years," Fanning said.
He said he was looking forward to life away from the tour and evolving his own surfing, "visiting unfamiliar places and taking on different experiences".
One of Australia's best-known surfers, Fanning claimed world title wins in 2007, 2009 and 2013.
Fanning's mother Elizabeth Osbourne said she was happy for her son. "He's had such an amazing career, no-one could ask him to do anything else and I think he's handled everything so professionally and I'm so proud of him. I'm glad he's retiring if that's what he wants to do," she said.
"He's the youngest of five and we're a very close-knit family and he's a really beautiful person that cares about other people.
"He's a true champion in the sense of being a good human being and I'm just very happy that he followed his dream."
Brush with death
Mick Fanning holds his in his hands in disbelief after the shark attack as Julian Wilson (R) and Adrian Buchan (L) look on. (WSL/Kirstin Scholtz)
Fanning famously fended off a shark attack at Jeffreys Bay in South Africa in 2015. Dramatic vision viewed from around the world showed a shark thrashing in the water near Fanning during his final.
Fanning said he had punched and kicked out at the shark as it broke his leg rope. "I just saw fin — I didn't see the teeth, I was waiting for some teeth to come at me as I was swimming. I punched it in the back ... I'm happy to not even compete ever again. Seriously, to walk away from that, I'm just so stoked," Fanning said after the event.
Eleven-time world champion surfer Kelly Slater watched on in disbelief.
Mick Fanning is consoled by Kelly Slater after the shark attack. (WSL/Kirstin Scholtz)
"Now I have seen it all. It was surreal to me ... it's a big shark, a lot bigger than Mick," he said at the time.
Fanning took on a reduced schedule the following year, but returned to the J-Bay Open to claim a memorable title win.
Overcoming tragedy on tour
Later that year Fanning again hit headlines when he competed in the Pipeline Masters in Hawaii only hours after learning about the death of his brother Peter.
Fanning said he was driven to compete in the event in honour of his eldest brother, but called the experience one of the most challenging days of his life.
Another of Fanning's older brothers, Sean, died in a car accident in 1998.
© Australian Broadcasting Corporation. All rights reserved.
Comments
Congrats Mick!!!
You’re surfing has been, and is inspiring. You’ve pretty much done it all.
It’s always impressive when someone as talented as you has the courage to retire at the top of their game rather than just keeping at it until they stop being relevant.
Please wrangle your way in to the WSL commentary team occasionally and provide a fresh perspective for us.
I caught the Youtube
vid tonight so obviously Ripcurl knew ahead of time.
Onya Mick, one of my alltime favs.
Goodness he can surf fast.
I wonder what is next for Mr. Fanning? Surely not just photos in exotic locations etc..
Kids?
Red Bull Motivational Speeches?
Love the way Mick surfs but you could sense that his surfing was getting a little bit stale,compared to Meds and JJ etc and he would end up being a bit like Kelly probably wishing he had quit while still at the top.
Full Legend......now whens Parko going?
Well done Mick Fanning a wonderful surfer and inspiration to many!
He's decided to open a Jet Ski Shop on Big Groin I believe.
Hmm, as I recall it wasn't that long ago Mick was copping a bagging for dropping in on a young fella at Snapper. However, I like the fact that he is a "self made" surfer, If you compare him to Mark Richards whose dad practically "manufactured" him to be a top class surfer, kept him away from the unruly rebel surfers in Newcastle and took him surfing after school and weekends in the Kombi. Had him mentored by some of the older Merewether guys, critiqued his sessions, bought a unit at Rainbow Bay and had regular holidays up there so Mark could surf the best waves, sent him to Hawaii etc etc
Surfing sucks. Mick knows it. He's walking away from it.
The rest of us should follow suit.
I'm joining the bowls club.
Fucking legend..hope he goes on an epic oz roadtrip!!
Hmm, are you sure you user name isn't SOURusv1. the story's about Mick.....Love the way Mick surfs , top to bottom at full speed on rail. Legend
Super Job Mick! Just back up a bit Champ!
Mick retires at 2018 Bells (March 28- April 9) or so the story goes.
Mick is also contracted as Gold Coast Surfing Champ/Commonwealth Games Ambassador.
Awkwardly going off with a bang the very same time as Champs announced Swansong
2018 Commonwealth Games QBR/ Event (1st April - 15th of April)
Surely means our Surfing Ambassador is absent from Opening Ceremony! Bells Live Cross?
Sportsbet hot tip Swellnetonians ...Bugz as stand in Comm' Games Surf Ambassador!
Sportsbet hot tip Swellnetonians ...Mick's Early knockout + Contractual next flight home ?
So after role of Commonwealth Games Ambassador he rings the Bell for last time I think!
Toe 2 Toe with the Mayor/Standing Down Great White & returns for treasure chest...Epic!
Nah D24, not being sour. I just remember reading the bollicking he was copping regarding the drop in mentioned. You gotta remember people like me read those posts and can't help but form an opinion. I thought I gave him a wrap!!
You have enlightened my day Suarus (and not Sorearse as you point out). I never new MR was groomed so much. Certainly worked and the formula has been taken to heart by the Zillas. MR's dad looks like a wooz compared with Gabbies. Mick is to me, bigger than Slater and more real. He revolutionised preparation for the title and worked his clacker off, whilst injecting lots of 'how good was that' surfing (in contrast to the little guy from Brazil). Good on the fella to quit whilst on top (I reckon Joel, as much as I love his surfing, needs a tap on the shoulder). Looking at Micks approach in the last few events I thought he might throw the towel in. I am old enough to remember reading an article in a mag years ago about the changing of the guard from The Shaun, MR, Bugs, to TC, MP, etc.. and then of course the demention generation Looks like it is that time again as we have lost Taj, Mick, Slater (gone I reckon), Joel (on the way out?) and gained JJF and a bunch of Zillas. End of an era ladies and gents, another Golden Age gone?
Mick finishes at Easter and then Eugene will be resurrected
Fanning just about to come on TV on The Project
Hypothetical - if MF wins the first two events of the season it would pretty hard to pass up a lead like that. Pretty sure his motivation would come back in droves.
Retiring? Doubt it. Man gets a lot of press. Can,t see him retiring unless it precedes the coming out of retirement event. He will be competing again. Ask his PR. Quote me.
The changing of the guard, well done and thankyou Mick Fanning for everything you have done for Austrailian surfing. As my son surfs and is inspired to see your name up there at P.B.C high school you have done amazing things for the youth of surfing & for Austrailian surfing in general. Fuck i remember learning how to surf watching ya a Snapper being in the line up. Ok fuck enough said,,,, come on ya young c#*ts who`s gunna take over.....
Good timing and thanks for the memories Mick. Head west Quint says.