Mick Fanning calling time on his illustrious career!

Here is all you need to know about the announcement: – Fanning has committed to the first two rounds of the 2018 season, the Quicksilver Pro Gold Coast and the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach. – He will retire after his final heat from the famous Bells Bowl. It was his first big win back in 2001 and led to him joining the pro tour the following year. – The Australian, born in Penrith, New South Wales, on 13 June 1981, become one of surfing’s leading exponents winning the world title in 2007, 2009 and 2013 having first taken up the sport as a five-year-old. – Of his other successes, he boasts 22 World Tour event victories and has completed 16 career tours. – He said: “I feel like I’ve just lost the drive to compete day in, day out now. I feel that I just can’t give it 100% anymore. I’m just not enjoying it as much as I was in the past. I still love surfing and I’m still super excited by it but I feel that there’s other paths for me to take at this stage in my life. After so many years on tour, it’s been so fun. It’s been a rollercoaster for sure, you have your peaks and valleys but, you know, when I look back on tour it’s amazing memories – from building myself up to compete, to heat wins and event wins, celebrating with friends and just seeing place I never thought I’d even get to.” – As for choosing the setting for his surfing swansong, he added: “I’ve always had in mind that my last event on Tour was going to be Bells. That’s basically where I started my career. It was my first ever CT win, and I feel really connected down there.” – Fanning gained global notoriety while competing at the J-Bay Open in 2015 in South Africa when he fended off an attack by a great white shark. He punched the shark and tried to wedge his board between him and the animal. He was helped by Julian Wilson, who paddled over to him. He was back surfing in his native Australia a week later. – No stranger to setbacks, in 2004 he suffered a career-threatening injury when he tore his hamstring off the bone while surfing in Mentawais, an injury that kept him out of the water for five months. He returned to the World Tour in 2005. We Interviewed Mick back in one of our first issues ever, and asked him what profession other than Surfing would you like to attempt he stated Chef… so we will see haha what’s next for Mick. [embed]https://twitter.com/Mick_Fanning/status/968766480140701698[/embed] [caption id="attachment_26657" align="aligncenter" width="1500"] Corey Wilson/Red Bull Content Pool[/caption]]]>