When Mick Fanning was gifted a wildcard into the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach this year, it didn’t come as much of a surprise. He has a bit of history with Bells, winning it first way back in 2001 as a wildcard. He wasn’t quite 20 yet, but it was clear that he was going to do big things in surfing. Over the years, he won it three more times, along with a pocketful of world titles.
Then, much to pro surfing fans’ dismay, Mick decided to hang up the jersey in 2018. But before he called it a day, he almost — almost — rang that bell a fifth time. Coming up against Italo Ferreira in the 2018 final, it seemed that nearly everyone wanted to see Mick win. Italo, however, was hungry for his first career win, and he pulled no punches.
But just because Fanning quit the tour doesn’t mean he quit surfing. You know that already, but he made it very clear that he’s still got what it takes. Coming up against Kanoa Igarashi (who holds the number one spot on tour) in ninth heat of the round of 32, Fanning did what Fanning does best: he won. Igarashi didn’t go down without a fight, though. And interestingly, 71 percent of fans picked Igarashi to win, although it’s not clear exactly how many people voted.
Fanning won, despite the fan pick percentage. Image: WSL
The heat came down to the wire. In the dying minutes, Igarashi needed an 8.94 to best the 40-year-old Fanning. A tough score to pull down, for sure, but nothing Igarashi isn’t capable of. He did nab a good wave, certainly good enough to put a few butterflies in Fanning’s belly, but when the judges’ scores came down, it was .94 of a point shy. In the end, Fanning’s combined total for his best two waves was 15.77 to his Igarahsi’s 14.83.
“As a wildcard you want to come in and put on a performance,” said Fanning afterwards. “Going up against the world number one I had nothing to lose. I just came here to have fun.”
Surfing in a heat again, however, might have been a fitness wake up call for Fanning, who famously started a beer company called Balter Brewing a few years ago. After his 30-minute heat and with six waves under his belt, he was a little winded.
“I didn’t realize my fitness level wasn’t up to it,” he laughed. “I’m thinking about getting some air. I’m gassed. This old boy ain’t fit.”
Watch the rest of the Bells Beach event on Worldsurfleague.com.
