.png){kind=logo}
When you visit our website, we store cookies on your browser to collect information. The information collected might relate to you, your preferences or your device, and is mostly used to make the site work as you expect it to and to provide a more personalized web experience. However, you can choose not to allow certain types of cookies, which may impact your experience of the site and the services we are able to offer. Click on the different category headings to find out more and change our default settings according to your preference.
These cookies are essential to enable user movement across our website and for providing access to features such as your profile. These cookies cannot be disabled. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable information and cannot be used for marketing purposes.
These cookies allow us to analyze visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site and enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers, such as Google Analytics, whose services we have added to our pages. Information collected through these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly and/or we will not know when you have visited our site, and will not be able to monitor its performance.
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly.
These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts or content. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.
These cookies are set by a range of social media services that we have added to the site to enable you to share our content with your friends and networks. They are capable of tracking your browser across other sites and building up a profile of your interests. This may impact the content and messages you see on other websites you visit. If you do not allow these cookies you may not be able to use or see these sharing tools.
Mick Fanning's Bittersweet Goodbye to Snapper
Anna Dimond
Mick Fanning's final Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast came to a bittersweet close Wednesday at Snapper Rocks, at the hands of Brazilian rookie Tomas Hermes and fellow Aussie Owen Wright, who defeated him in Round 4. Fanning announced recently that he'll be retiring after the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach later this month, which added emotional heft to every heat.
So whatever levity he may have brought to proceedings prior to his loss today, the significance of his run here at Snapper was ever-present. And the way Fanning made his exit spoke volumes: On his way out of the water, he casually gave his board to a young fan who was wearing a jersey like his. From there, he left the contest site almost immediately, bypassing press and post-heat interviews.
Fanning grew up in this area, becoming known as one of the so-called "Cooly Kids" (after the town of Coolangatta), along with fellow Championship Tour (CT) surfer Joel Parkinson (who was also defeated Wednesday, at the hands of a rookie) and former CT'er Dean "Dingo" Morrison. During his 17-year career on Tour, Fanning won three World Titles, among numerous achievements, and made headlines worldwide in 2015, when he encountered a shark during competition at Jeffreys Bay. On home turf, however, he's long been an icon and the local feels for him are unmistakable.
Yet while his departure from the Quik Pro was sudden, some have had time to prepare, with his retirement in mind. "I'm sad, but excited at the same time," said Ryan "Fletch" Fletcher, Team Manager for Rip Curl, which sponsors Fanning. "It's going to be weird not traveling with him all year on Tour, but the things that he's got planned and some of the surfing that he's going to do after Tour life is exciting, as he evolves the story of Mick."
Plus, Fanning will still have a presence on Tour, if not in the flesh, per se. "Have fun but be professional," Fletcher said, is the quintessential lesson. "The one thing with Mick is that you can always count on him being an absolute professional, in and out of the water.
"But he knows how to have fun as well, and that's really important as well. That's the biggest thing that he's instilled in the rest of my guys, for sure."
Wright, meanwhile, has his own story at this event. While he and his family are from Culburra, New South Wales -- about 600 miles south of the Gold Coast -- the lanky goofyfooter made a dramatic return to pro surfing at this event last year. He had spent the entire 2016 season sidelined after a serious head injury put his ability to surf again in doubt. Yet he swept the field, all the way to a win. Plus, he had just become a new father, and when he hugged his baby and partner, Kita Alexander, after his win there wasn't a dry eye from D'bah to Sydney.
This time around, both Wright and Fanning have new frames of mind. And before it's all over, with Finals likely Thursday, Fanning could very well make a star cameo on site. This time, he'll be here not as a competitor, but a much-adored fan.
Catch the Quik Pro Finals Thursday, March 15 local time on the WSL and Facebook. The next call is 7:00 a.m. AEST.
Mick Fanning
Featuring Yago Dora, Filipe Toledo, Caio Ibelli, Ian Gouveia, Kelly Slater, John John Florence, Gabriel Medina, Julian Wilson, Adriano de
Paul Fisher, Kelly Slater, Stephanie Gilmore, Mick Fanning, Chelsea Hedges, Joel Parkinson, Mark Occhilupo, and Dean Morrison takeover
Icons of surfing take the Bonsoy Gold Coast Pro by storm, celebrating Kelly Slater in a World Champ's Super Heat. A lineup that compiled
Former CT surfers Caroline Sarran and Tim Boal add their footprint and their name to the prestigious Anglet Surf Avenue alongside the likes
The 10th stop on tour and the final proving ground as the world's best look to clinch their spots in the Rip Curl WSL Finals. Take a look
Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast
Watch how the famed right-point Superbank is created and maintained at Snapper Rocks.
The King fails to find his rhythm on the Gold Coast and gives a candid post heat interview.
After six weeks Down Under, how is the 2018 Championship Tour shaping up?
Filipe Toledo vs. Mikey Wright vs. Adrian Buchan
For close observers of the CT rookie -- including 4x World Champ Mark Richards -- Colapinto's success at Snapper was just the beginning.