Fanning celebrates his newest world title. Photo: Matt Dunbar
Mick Fanning won the World Title today in perfect Pipeline conditions. In front of a maxed out crowd at Ehukai Beach Park on Hawaii’s fabled North Shore, Fanning escaped from a gaping barrel to clinch his win from behind over Yadin Nicol at the Billabong Pipe Masters in Memory of Andy Irons.
This is Mick Fanning’s third World Title. “I’m so overwhelmed with emotion right now,” Fanning said on the podium immediately following his win. “I just really wanted to enjoy my time on tour [this year]. A couple years ago I was not really enjoying it, and I got to the end of that year, and I wanted to enjoy that time, and just breathe.”
In the final event of the 2013 ASP World Championship Tour Season, the Pipe contest culminated in macking 10-to-15 foot waves. Fanning secured two last minute heat wins, the first in Round 5 against CJ Hobgood and the second for the WCT Title in the Quaterfinals against Yadin Nicol.
Mick Fanning had a long list of people to thank for his win. “First and foremost [thanks] to my beautiful wife, Carissa. Thanks so much for all your support,” he said. “Your love and just for putting up with me. And my Mum. She’s a nervous wreck, but I’m sure she’s pretty happy now… and Parko, thanks for being a big brother over here this past week. It meant the world to me to have you there.”
In Round 5 against CJ Hobgood, Fanning spent almost the entire heat getting flogged before rolling in off second reef and pulling into a perfect first reef Pipe barrel.
“He needed a nine, and I didn’t even think that last wave was a 9 – and he got a 9.5,” said Kelly Slater, who admitted to watching the heat on a computer. “It’s different when you’re at the beach, though,” he continued. “There’s definitely something poetic about it for Mick. To have the heat come down to the last couple of minutes in both of those heats.”
In the Quarters, Fanning was behind Yadin Nicol with just a few minutes left in the heat. In what turned out to be a fairytale finish, a set marched in from the horizon. Fanning whipped around and pulled into the wave that would see him chaired up the beach to the podium.
This year’s Billabong Pipe Masters was a bit of a toss up for gamblers. Kelly Slater and Mick Fanning’s positions in the ratings set them both up for a finish that was guaranteed to be amazing.
“I kind of have not been into that pressure this year, and today I was ready for it,” Slater said. “I was ready. I was like, ‘bring it.’ I want that pressure. I wanted that situation. It’s a once in a lifetime chance. And yeah, I’ll be on the Gold Coast.”
Congratulations to Mick Fanning on his third ASP World Title today at the Billabong Pipe Masters in Memory of Andy Irons.
