Glorious Micktory

The semi-finals of the second-to-last event of the ASP World Tour made one thing clear: Mick Fanning is surfing World Champion 2007. That he would win the title was predicted as early as a year ago.

For Sean Doherty of Australia’s surfers bible ‘Tracks,’ this was already certain back in 2006: “If I had to put my house on the next Aussie who’ll win the World Title, it would be Mick Fanning, no question about it,” he wrote. That the journalist would be spared a move was determined on November 6. At the second-to-last contest of the season, the Hang Loose Santa Catarina Pro in Imbituba, Brazil, Mick Fanning was able to celebrate his first ASP World Championship title ahead of time.

Congratulations from the series World Champion

“Fanning has the best balance of natural ability and mental toughness of anyone out there in surfing,” Doherty said. This even had to be accepted by the dethroned eight-time World Champion Kelly Slater; before Brazil, he and Taj Burrow were Fanning’s only threats. However, Slater dropped out as early as the round of 16, shortly before Taj Burrow, who failed in the quarter-finals. Fair gesture: Slater himself handed the overjoyed Fanning the trophy – incidentally the first of two that day. Consequently, freed from the pressure of the overall table, Fanning then also took the victory of the day, his third at the 2007 ASP World Tour.

Making it to the top in ten years

For the Porsche-driver born in Sydney the title is the highlight of his pro career to date, which began exactly ten years ago: At 16 Mick Fanning got his first sponsoring contract with Rip Curl; at 19 as wildcard surfer in the Rip Curl Bells Beach Classic he was able to compete for the first time against the world’s best 44 surfers. Straight away he wrote history there: as the first wildcard surfer to ever win an ASP event. From then on it was just prize after another: the WQS title 2001, ASP Rookie of the Year 2002, fourth in 2003.

High-altitude – and abrupt fall

In 2004 the perfect wave broke – and brought Fanning well and truly back to earth with a bump. While surfing in Indonesia a routine maneuver went askew – with fatal consequences. “As I dropped down the wave, my back foot came off and I did the splits while the wave hit me in the back,” Fanning explained. “I tore the hamstring clean off the bone where it’s attached to the pelvic bone.”

Seasoned comeback

A ten-hour sailing trip to the closest doctor followed, and then six months of rehabilitation began. “Back then it was a nightmare. But today I’m glad for the experience,” he said. “Because it’s now clear to me how immature I was before the accident. Being out of the game for half a year gave me a lot of time to think.” The biggest caesura in Fanning’s career not only helped him attain the willpower that a champion needs, he says, “… but has also given me the humility to be really happy about my latest success.”