WSL rallies the world to Mick Fanning's side!
This morning CEO Paul Speaker sent out a heartfelt email:
Hello Friends.
I hope this finds you well
As you may or may not be aware, I am the CEO of the World Surf League, the WSL.
On Sunday, July 19, time came to a grinding halt for the surfing world and then to the world at large when three-time WSL Champion Mick Fanning fought off a Great White Shark during the Final of the J-Bay Open on live television. It justifiably became the biggest story in the world and Mick’s actions during the intense encounter as well as his humility and candor in the press frenzy that followed have been nothing short of inspiring.
The experience has, however and understandably, left its mark on Mick. The WSL, with help from our friends, is putting together an #ImWithMick support campaign as he readies for the upcoming event in Tahiti.
Details are available in the attached document, but I would encourage you to join us in supporting Mick through this campaign in recording a short message of support for him as he prepares to reengage with his 2015 campaign for the world surfing crown.
- Create a short video via your smartphone expressing your admiration and support for Mick in his journey back to competition in Tahiti. Each video should end with “I’m With Mick”.
- Post the support video on your social networks using #ImWithMick and @WSL
Thank you in advance.
Paul
CEO Speaker and the WSL rallying behind Mick is an inspiration! But maybe a touch clunky featuring bizarrely hagio… Oh never mind! #ImWithMick!
I quickly emailed our wisest scribe, Matt Warshaw, to see if #HesWithMick too. He responded:
My guess, Mick being Mick, is that he’s gone all Iron Man and will be perfectly fine at Teahupoo. This looks, smells and tastes like WSL trying to PR-spin the shit out of what happened at JBay. Ride that shark for as long as you can. I like to think that Bethany Hamilton has enough devil in her to be rolling her pretty eyes. While holding her newborn child with her remaining arm.
Bethany Hamilton really and truly is the world’s greatest living surfer (nothing against Mick. #ImStillWithHim!).