FANNING LIGHT ON FEET FOR FIJI SHOWDOWN
“To be totally honest, the first couple events, I felt like I was really forcing it,” Fanning said.
“I thought I could just come back and do the same things and it would feel completely natural again.
“And it just didn’t. I felt like it just wasn’t right. So after Margaret’s, I went home and just scrapped it. Freed it up a bit.”
Fanning has recorded two fifth place finishes in the past two events – Bells Beach and the Rio Pro – and credited his new mindset for the improvement.
“The way that I get ready, making it a lot lighter,” Fanning said.
“Really trying to have a lot more fun with it. To get the feeling that I have when I go freesurfing – staying light.
“It’s been feeling good. I’ve been paddling out in heats and I’m not too worried about results. Trying to just surf.”
Rio Pro wildcard Yago Dora caused a huge upset by beating three WSL champions in Fanning, Gabriel Medina and John John Florence on his way to a semifinal appearance and will return for the next event on the tour – the Fiji Pro.
Fanning said Dora loomed as a threat in the opening heat which also includes Sebastian Zietz and Gold Coaster Bede Durbidge. The Fiji Pro is set to begin on June 4 for the men and May 28 for the women.