MICK’S SWELL RUN AT BELLS
RETIRING legend Mick Fanning has lived to surf another heat at his farewell world tour event after defeating danger man Sebastian Zietz at the Rip Curl Pro at Bells Beach yesterday.
The four-time Rip Curl Pro winner, who took his first title as a teenage wildcard in 2001, will now surf at least one more time in his swan song event.
A 7.33 on his third wave yesterday saw him take the match-up 13.56 to 9.10 and advance into the fourth round.
“I’m just stoked I got to surf another heat with him,” Fanning said of his young American opponent.
Meanwhile, rookie Wade Carmichael has pulled off a stunning victory over South African gun Jordy Smith.
And to continue the positive Aussie trend, Owen Wright followed suit soon after when he downed rookie Jesse Mendez in his third round outing.
Former Rip Curl Pro winner Matt Wilkinson then took down rookie Griffin Colapinto.
The women’s event was called off for the day.
A SET of extraordinary circumstances — and waves — could deliver retiring triple world champion Mick Fanning the most perfect farewell present — finishing his career as the world’s No.1 ranked surfer.
On another day of drama and upsets at the Rip Curl Pro World Tour event at Bells Beach, Fanning yesterday surfed his way into the fourth round of the event he won as a teenager 17 years ago.
With this joy ride came the hope he could, indeed, pull off a fairytale finish to his stellar career by ringing the winner’s bell for a record fifth time.
“It would be a great party, heh?’’ Fanning said with a laugh when asked pre-event about the prospect of history being written.
With this hope emerged the slim chance he could also nab the world No.1 ranking at his farewell event after 16 years of touring.
But first, he needs to take down one of his best mates and a man he has dubbed — along with Julian Wilson and Owen Wright — as one of the most likely surfers to be Australia’s next world champion.
“To surf against Mick one last time is an absolute honour,’’ said former Bells winner and goofy Matt Wilkinson, the Australian’s opponent in round four along with American Patrick Gudauskas.
It was Gudauskas who yesterday spoiled the prospect of Fanning surfing against two contenders to be the next Australian world champion, with injured world No.1 Julian Wilson knocked out of the competition.
Now gone are four of the eight men who entered the event ranked higher than Fanning, creating the possibility of him ending his career as surfing’s top dog.
Yesterday he defeated dangerous American Sebastian Zietz to keep alive the dream of a winning finish.
“It’s hard getting old,’’ Fanning said after racing up the steep stairs at Bells post heat.
“Not as fit as I used to be. It’s hard work.
“The waves come all the way through, you try to put so much into it.
“It takes a lot out of your legs, you’re sucking in the breaths and then you’ve got to paddle back.
“It’s hard work but hey, that’s what we’re here for.”
Other Australians in the running to snare the No.1 ranking with success at Bells include Ace Buchan and Owen Wright.
Nikki Van Dijk and Steph Gilmore have the same opportunity in the women’s title race with the pair the only Australians in the quarter-finals.