Mick Fanning

Michael Eugene Fanning AO (born 13 June 1981) is a former Australian professional surfer. Fanning won the 2007, 2009 and 2013 ASP World Tour. In 2015, he survived a shark attack with what is suspected to be a great white shark during the J-Bay Open finals in Jeffreys Bay, South Africa.

Mick Fanning
Personal information
BornMichael Eugene Fanning
(1981-06-13) 13 June 1981
Penrith, New South Wales, Australia
NicknameWhite Lightning
ResidenceGold Coast, Queensland, Australia
Height177 cm (5 ft 10 in)
Weight75 kg (165 lb)
Surfing career
Years active2002–2018
Best yearASP World Champion – 2007, 2009, 2013
Career earnings$2,796,120
SponsorsRip Curl, Reef Footwear, Creatures of Leisure Accessories, Dragon Eyewear, Red Bull Zen Nutrition, Skullcandy, AUDI, FCS traction and fins
Major achievements3 times ASP World Champion 2007, 2009 and 2013
6 times Australian Male Surfer of the Year 2002, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011
Surfing specifications
StanceNatural (regular) foot
Shaper(s)Darren Handley and Wade Tokoro
Quiver5'11" x 18 5/8" x 2 1/4"
Favourite wavesAny pointbreak
Favourite maneuversHacks and tubes
Websitemickfanning.com

Early years

Fanning was born on 13 June 1981 in Penrith, New South Wales, Australia,[1][2] to Irish parents.[3] He learned to surf from the age of three at Brown Bay near Mount Gambier, but did not focus on surfing until his family moved to Tweed Heads, New South Wales, when he was twelve. He grew up with fellow professional surfer, Joel Parkinson, in the Gold Coast/Northern Rivers region and attended Palm Beach Currumbin State High School together. On the Queensland border, Fanning had access to surf north and south and he began to make a name for himself. In 1996 he established himself as one of the best surfers on the Queensland points by placing in the top three at the Australian National Titles. Tragedy struck in 1998 when his brother Sean died in a car accident along with fellow surfer Joel Green.[4]

Professional career

Fanning received a wild card entry at the Rip Curl Pro at Bells Beach in 2001, winning one of Australia's leading contests. He finished 2002 as Rookie of the Year, winning the Billabong Pro at Jeffrey's Bay and earning himself a place on the 2002 Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Tour as World Qualifying Series (WQS) Champion.

Fanning suffered a hamstring tear in 2004. It was surgically repaired and he made a comeback to become one of the leading surfers on the ASP world tour.[4]

The year 2007 marked Fanning's sixth year on the ASP World Tour since 2002 and his ninth year on the ASP WQS since 1998. He began his 2007 World Title campaign (WCT) with a victory at the Quiksilver Pro, the first event on the 2007 ASP World Tour, putting himself on top of the ratings. He won the Santa Catarina Pro in Brazil on 6 November 2007 placing above Taj Burrow and Kelly Slate thereby clinching the 2007 ASP world title.[2] In 2008 he suffered a mid-season groin injury. He slipped to eighth position on the end of year ratings. In 2009, Fanning reclaimed the ASP World Champion crown at the Pipeline reef break on Oahu's North Shore. Although Fanning was eliminated by fellow Australian Dean Morrison in Round 4, his points lead from winning three of the last four events was enough to secure victory. In 2013 he had a victory in Round five, and made the quarter-finals at the Billabong Pipeline Masters.[5]

On 3 December 2015, Fanning claimed his first World Qualification Series (WQS) victory in Hawaiian surf by winning the 2015 Vans World Cup at Sunset Beach, Oahu.[6]

Encounter with shark

On 19 July 2015, Fanning encountered a shark two minutes into the J-Bay Open 2015 finals at Jeffreys Bay, South Africa. Fanning was in the water with Julian Wilson during the final when what was suspected to be a great white shark swam next to him. Fanning punched the shark and tried to wedge his board between the shark and his body.[7] The shark eventually bit off Fanning's leash and Fanning started his attempt to flee back to shore.[7] Wilson paddled towards Fanning to assist him and was praised for his action and hailed as a hero.[8] Much of the early coverage characterized the encounter as a "shark attack." Based on analysis of the video and the fact that Fanning was not bitten, some marine biologists believe the shark had no intention of biting him.[9] However, as there was physical contact between the shark and his board and the shark cut the leash, the International Shark Attack File has classified the encounter as a shark attack.[10]

A response team quickly rescued him from any further danger by scaring the shark away with a boat and picking up both Fanning and Wilson, who was still in the water nearby. Both surfers escaped unharmed and were given a shared victory, splitting the prize-money. Following the ordeal, Wilson gave a tear-filled interview. When he was asked, "You guys are locked in a title battle right now, and to put things into perspective does that mean anything to you at this point in time?", Wilson replied "No, not at all, I'm just happy he's alive."[11] The event was cancelled.[12]

The next day, Fanning returned to Australia. He wondered why the shark did not bite him and told reporters: "I'm just lucky it wasn't my time."[7] The story received international news coverage.[7] Fanning returned to the water to surf again less than a week later, dedicating it to his late brother, and also surfed Ship Stern Bluff on 27 August,[13] a break notorious for great white sharks. Fanning later competed in the Billabong Pro Teahupoo, which took place in August 2015 in Tahiti. Fanning would go on to take a victory at the Hurley Pro at Trestles Beach and finish the year 2nd in the ratings.[14]

Personal life

Fanning was married for eight years to entrepreneur Karissa Dalton.[15] On 31 January 2016, he announced that they were divorcing.[16]

Fanning was co-owner of Balter Brewing Company with Joel Parkinson, Josh Kerr and Bede Durbidge[17] until its sale to Carlton & United Breweries in 2019,[18] and in 2019 invested in Australian dog food company Scratch.[19] Fanning is a supporter of the National Rugby League club Penrith Panthers.[20][21]

Honours

In 2017 Fanning was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia for distinguished service to surfing as a professional competitor at the national and international level, and as a supporter of a range of charitable foundations.[22]

Career victories
WSL World Tour wins
YearEventVenueCountry
2016J-Bay OpenJeffreys Bay South Africa
2015Hurley Pro TrestlesTrestles United States
2015Rip Curl Pro Bells BeachBells Beach Australia
2014Moche Rip Curl Pro PortugalSupertubos Portugal
2014J-Bay OpenJeffreys Bay South Africa
2014Rip Curl Pro Bells BeachBells Beach Australia
2013Quiksilver Pro FranceHossegor France
2012Billabong Pro TeahupooTeahupoo, Tahiti French Polynesia
2012Rip Curl Pro Bells BeachBells Beach Australia
2010Quiksilver Pro FranceHossegor France
2009Hurley Pro Trestles[23]Trestles United States
2009Rip Curl Pro Search[24]Peniche Portugal
2009Quiksilver Pro France[23]Hossegor France
2007Quiksilver Pro Gold CoastGold Coast Australia
2007Quiksilver Pro FranceHossegor France
2007Hang Loose ProSanta Catarina Brazil
2006Billabong Pro Jeffreys BayJeffreys Bay South Africa
2006Nova Schin FestivalImbituba Brazil
2005Quiksilver Pro Gold CoastGold Coast Australia
2005Rip Curl Pro SearchSaint Leu, Reunion Island France
2002Billabong Pro Jeffreys BayJeffreys Bay South Africa
2001Rip Curl Pro Bells BeachBells Beach Australia
  • Non-ASP World Tour victories:
    • 3 ASP WQS

References
  1. "Pro Surfer: Mick Fanning". World Surf League. 2015. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
  2. "Red Bull Surfing". Surf magazine. 21 July 2015. Archived from the original on 22 August 2010. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
  3. "Interview with Mick Fanning". Tonnta: the Irish Surf Magazine (28). 2008.
  4. Fanning, Mick; Naker, Tim (2009). Surf For Your Life – the biography of Mick Fanning. Random House Australia. ISBN 978-1-74166-927-5.
  5. Wardrop, Murray (13 December 2009). "Mick Fanning crowned ASP World Champion in perfect surf at Pipeline". The Daily Telegraph. London: TMG. ISSN 0307-1235. OCLC 49632006. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
  6. "Mick Fanning Claims First Event Win at Vans World Cup". worldsurfleague.com. World Surf League. 3 December 2015. Retrieved 5 December 2015.
  7. "Mick Fanning speaks of 'miracle' survival after arriving back in Sydney following shark attack". ABC. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
  8. Ting, Inga (20 July 2015). "Surfer Julian Wilson hailed as hero after shark attacks Mick Fanning". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
  9. Beauchamp, Zack (22 July 2015). "That viral shark attack video is everything we get wrong about sharks". Retrieved 23 July 2015.
  10. Pruett, Matt. "DECONSTRUCTION OF A SHARK ATTACK". Surfline. Retrieved 13 September 2019.
  11. Hoffman, Bill; Moffat, Nicky (20 July 2015). "He 'never paddled so fast in his life' says Wilson's mum". Sunshine Coast Daily. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
  12. Grinberg, Emanuella; Cotovio, Vasco (19 June 2015). "Competition canceled after surfer Mick Fanning escapes shark attack". CNN. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  13. "Mick Fanning tackles a new type of monster at Shipstern Bluff". 9 News. 27 August 2015.
  14. "Mick Fanning's surfboard shaper says the shark attack won't keep him out of the water". Perth Now. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
  15. MacDonald, Andrew (17 March 2008). "Media wiped out as world champ weds". The Gold Coast Bulletin. Retrieved 28 December 2011.
  16. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-02-01/mick-fanning-splits-from-wife-karissa-dalton/7129352
  17. Dalton, Trent (30 April 2016). "Balter brewery: Mick Fanning and his mates making beer". The Weekend Australian. Retrieved 30 December 2016.
  18. "Balter announces sale to CUB". BrewsNews. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  19. "Mick Fanning Invests". Scratch. Scratch. 2 January 2020. Retrieved 2 January 2020. The health of dogs is just as important as my health, but it hadn’t been easy to find a business who made decisions that way
  20. http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/more-sports/a-childhood-in-sydneys-west-helped-shape-australias-triple-world-surfing-champion-mick-fanning/story-fnii0hmo-1226784706349
  21. http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/mick-fanning-called-in-to-fire-up-panthers/story-e6frexnr-1225816713395
  22. "Officer (AO) in the General Division of the Order of Australia" (PDF). Australia Day 2017 Honours List. Governor-General of Australia. 26 January 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 November 2017. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
  23. "Fanning wins ASP surf tourney in France". United Press International. 27 September 2009. Retrieved 14 March 2010.
  24. "Fanning Wins Rip Curl Pro Search". CNN Sports Illustrated. TransWorld Surfing. 28 October 2009. Retrieved 14 March 2010.
Achievements
Preceded by
Joel Parkinson		 Association of Surfing Professionals World Champion (men's)
2013		 Succeeded by
Gabriel Medina
Preceded by
Kelly Slater		 Association of Surfing Professionals World Champion (men's)
2009		 Succeeded by
Kelly Slater
Preceded by
Kelly Slater		 Association of Surfing Professionals World Champion (men's)
2007		 Succeeded by
Kelly Slater
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