Slater’s no- show a win for Fanning
RETIRING surf champion Mick Fanning is straight through to the third round of the Quiksilver Pro, exploiting a Kelly Slater no- show on the Gold Coast.
Fanning, who will end his 17- year professional career at Bells Beach later this month, comfortably won his heat against Jesse Mendes.
But Slater was conspicuously absent from the same heat at the World Surf League season opener at Snapper Rocks.
The 11- time world champion is still hopeful of a late start to contest the knockout second round, but is a likely scratching given unconfirmed reports of lingering soreness from foot surgery.
“I was getting ready to surf against Kelly, then he texted me just before I paddled out telling me he wasn’t here,” Fanning said.
“I’ll take that as a win; I hope his foot’s okay ... one of my favourite people to compete against, we’ve had some great battles and hopefully he makes it back because I would love to surf with him one more time.”
Earlier, defending Quiksilver Pro champion Owen Wright and fellow Australian Julian Wilson had first round heat wins.
Wright was far from his best but effective enough in the opening heat in tricky conditions, while Wilson defied a recent shoulder injury and 3.30am wake up and drive from his Sunshine Coast home to also earn an automatic third- round berth with his heat win.
Wright began his defence with a comprehensive victory over Hawaiian Ezekiel Lau and Brazil’s Caio Ibelli, who both misread the tricky Snapper Rocks conditions.
He paired a 5.83 with a 4.07 to accumulate a score of 9.90, beating Brazil’s Caio Ibelli ( 5.20) and Hawaiian Ezekiel Lau ( 4.57) in the first heat of the day.
Wright won the event a year ago in what was an emotional comeback from the brain injury suffered in a Pipeline wipe- out in late 2015.
He says 12 months has done wonders for his mental state and that there are no excuses as he chases two- time defending champion John John Florence in this year’s 10- stop tour.
“Last year felt a bit uncomfortable, but I’m feeling a lot better now,” he said.
Florence, who did not lose in the first round once last year, also has elimination hanging over him.