When Tracks was in Hawaii in December the coconut wireless was buzzing with a rumour that Mick Fanning would retire at the end of 2015 should he win the world title.
Mick had been in the headlines for much of 2015 after surviving an encounter with a Great White in the final of the J-Bay Open. Then, on the morning of the Pipe Masters he learnt that his older brother, Peter, had passed away in Coolangatta. It had been a tumultuous year. Back in Hawaii news crews flew in from Australia, now not only covering the title race but the weight of Mick’s plight in the face of adversity. In the end Gabe bumped Mick out of contention in the semis with an air reverse in choppy, 3-4 foot Pipe. It definitely wasn’t the way Mick wouldn’t have wanted to go down and hang up the jersey for keeps.
So now on the eve of the 2016 season the 3x world champ has announced he will be taking a “personal year” this season and only compete in select CT events. Namely, Snapper and Bells and has indicated his intention to return to J-Bay.
The WSL announced this press release this morning:
“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.”
“When I first came to this decision, I rang up Kieren (Perrow) and Paul Speaker and gave them an idea of what I was thinking and seeing if it was okay with them,” Fanning said. “Between those two and the whole WSL being supportive, it’s been really incredible. Even last year, with all the things happening, they were the first people that would reach out to support and make sure everything was okay. I’m really thankful that they’re giving me this opportunity to be selective with events and see where I’m at.”
“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.”
Tracks wishes Mick all the best for 2016.
