BELLS AND WHISTLES
FANNING DREAM ALIVE
HE made a mistake, slapped his head in frustration, called himself an “idiot” and then did what Mick Fanning does best – fought for survival.
This time it wasn’t against a shark but to keep alive the prospect of a dream finish to an astounding career.
The man who punched a shark in 2015 confirmed that even if he does win the Rip Curl Pro at Bells Beach in Victoria – and potentially secure the world No.1 ranking – his decision to retire will stand.
In fact, he laughed at a suggestion he might surf on.
“Oh no,” said Fanning, whose last world tour win was at the J-Bay Open in 2016. “No.”
Fanning’s title bid gained momentum at the Winkipop beach yesterday when he came from behind to win his three-man battle with American Pat Gudauskas and former Rip Curl Pro winner and mate Matt Wilkinson.
With only the top two surfers advancing, Fanning made a mistake in giving Wilkinson a wave which saw him move into second place.
But with his back against the wall, Fanning produced a ride which saw him vault over both Wilkinson and Gudauskas to advance to a quarter-final match against Aussie Owen Wright, hopefully some time today.
“It wasn’t nerve-racking because we’re good friends, so if that was the end, at least I was out there with two mates,” Fanning said.
“I sort of gave Wilko that one wave and made a big mistake.
“Then I just wanted to start catching waves.
“If I was going to lose, I wanted to lose surfing. I was just stoked to get a couple of waves in the end.”
With Wilkinson’s exit, Fanning is now the only former winner still surfing at the Rip Curl Pro which enters its seventh day today.
“That’s really weird. I don’t know. There’s a lot of surfing to do,” Fanning’s said.
“I’m not really worried about it. I’m just stoked to be in heats with people I like.”
Win or lose, the 36-yearold Gold Coast surfer says he is looking forward to life after the world tour.
“I can’t wait to wake up to no schedule,” he said when asked what he was looking forward to post retirement.