Surfing champion Mick Fanning has ended speculation about his future confirming he will make his return to competition at the season-opening Quiksilver Pro at Snapper Rocks from March 10 to 21.
After a tumultuous 2015 World Surf League campaign, marred by a shark attack, the tragic and unexpected death of his brother Peter and the breakdown of his marriage, there had been talk of retirement.
Read more about Fanning’s tumultuous year here
However, the three-time world champion confirmed he would be competing in selected events in 2016, including the Quicksilver Pro on the Gold Coast and Rip Curl Pro at Bells Beach in Victoria, before taking time off to “regroup and re-stoke the fire.”
There has been considerable publicity during the past year about his personal and professional life, during which time he tried to win a fourth world crown, eventually falling sort of his goal at the season ending Pipeline Masters in Hawaii – the same week his brother passed away.
2015 was Fanning’s 14th straight year on Tour which had him thinking about taking a sabbatical but somehow always found himself in title contention.
“I’ve been in a title race for the last four years in a row. It takes a big toll on your mind and your body,” Fanning said.
“However, I’d like to be clear – I’m definitely not retiring.”
In fact, he is hoping to compete in enough events to re-qualify for the 2017 season to allow wildcard spots to go to young surfers who may need them to get their first start on Tour.
“I don’t want to further confuse where they need to throw those things. If I can re-qualify through a handful of events then it takes that burden off the WSL,” Fanning said.
He has spoken to some of his surfing friends about his decision because he has seen others retire prematurely and regret the decision.
Fanning said he has also seen others who have taken time off and come back reenergized.
“I think that’s where I’m at,” he said. “I don’t want to turn my back on the tour.
It has given me so much over the years – in fact it has given me everything I have today.”
“Last year was definitely intense – what happened at J-Bay, being in a title race and the unfortunate passing of my brother,” Fanning said.
“There was so much build up with everything happening. I got to a point at the end of the year where I felt empty. I didn’t feel like I had much to give back.”
“This year, I’m going to take some time off and have a bit of a personal year,” Fanning continued. “Just to regroup and re-stoke the fire.
“At this stage, I’m going to compete at Snapper and I’m going to compete at Bells and then I’m going to take some time off from there.
“They (Snapper and Bells) are two events that I love and I’d go crazy if I were sitting at home and couldn’t go surf Snapper.
“Bells is like a second home as well. From then on, I feel like I have to take some time away from the Tour to get out of that sort of zone to see where my head is at.”
As for the other events he intends competing in, Jeffreys Bay in South African in July will be one of them following his brush with a shark last year.
“I want to go back to J-Bay,” Fanning said. “I feel like there’s something there that I want to go and face.
“I want to make sure that I scratch that off the list. I think the main thing will be that first surf. I probably won’t be getting up at dark and getting out there before the sun gets up anymore.
“I think it’s more about jumping in and surfing once or twice and then I’ll be fine. It’s the same thing as when I came back and surfed Snapper for the first time.
“You’re a little bit wary and it’s in the back of your mind, but you get to a point where you start to feel comfortable again.
“If I go and do that event, there are going to be a lot of eyes on me. A lot of people will be seeing what reaction I’ll have. I don’t think I’ll be paddling out early for heats, but I think after a surf or two, I’ll feel fine.”
The Quicksilver Pro has attracted a top-class field of the world’s best surfers including Brazilian world champion Adriano de Souza, the man that stole the world No.1 ranking from Fanning, defending champion Filipe Toledo of Brazil, American great Kelly Slater and a string of Australians among them Owen Wright, Julian Wilson and Joel Parkinson.
Held in conjunction will be the women’s Roxy Pro where the Gold Coast’s former world champion Stephanie Gilmore will make her long awaited return to top competition.
“There was definitely some nerves before getting in the water but it comes back to you pretty quickly,” Gilmore said while competing in a secondary Tour event.
“I had fun out there, the body feels great, I’m feeling fit and healthy so looking forward to surfing a bunch and competing.”
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