Three-timer sees writing on wall, preserves legacy…
Twenty minutes ago, via the magical news-feed-to-the-world-called-Instagram, Mick Fanning announced he’d retire after his sponsor’s event at Bells in April.
Yeah, we all knew it was coming. Ain’t no surprise.
The almost-thirty-seven-year-old,three-time world champion had seen the writing on the wall, as they say, and had figured retirement, while still competitive and a world title chance, the most elegant option – before his legacy was evaporated by younger and more gymnastic surfers.
As we all know it’s been a hell of a past few years, the shark at J-Bay, an older brother gone, a divorce and so on.
It’s time.
I’ve decided the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach will be my last event as a full-time competitor on the World Surf League Championship Tour. The tour has given me so much but I need a fresh challenge. I still love the game but can’t find the motivation and dedication required to compete for World Titles anymore.
My time on tour has been incredibly rewarding and I have so many amazing memories, all of which wouldn’t be possible without some very special people…
My Mum, Dad, Sister and Brothers. I love you.
My sponsors that have stood by me and continue to back my goals.
My shaper Darren Handley and his entire team for the care and hard work they put into every single one of my boards.
My fellow competitors on tour, you are like brothers and sisters to me.
My very tight support crew that have been there in good and tough times, thank you for always being honest with me.
And thanks to the fans and everyone that has encouraged me and cheered me on for all these years.
I’m looking forward to life away from the tour while keeping a close eye on things. I’m so proud of our sport and the way it continues to evolve. The performance level on the Championship Tour and the Big Wave Tour is remarkable. I can’t wait to watch it all go down as one of the sport’s biggest fans. I’m also looking forward to evolving my own surfing in new ways, visiting unfamiliar places and taking on different experiences.
I will be competing at the opening event at home on the Gold Coast and then wrapping things up at the Rip Curl Pro. Bells Beach is where my Championship Tour career really kicked off, I’ve always loved the place and it seems a fitting stop to finish things up. It’s gonna be a big fun party and you’re all invited to come. Hope I see you there.
Cheers and thanks for the memories.
Memories!
Mick Fanning and Joel Parkinson from Doped Youth from BeachGrit on Vimeo.
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Parko surfs better.
Fashionistas. Indeed.
Yeah, therein lay the problem. Dang things are like roaches. I wonder: will this scattergun ad server thing that throws shit across the web, hoping for accidental clicks to up the CPM, be seen, shortly, as outrageously archaic? At the moment, and going by projections, we should make a hundred bucks on a good day. Which pays for a writer here and there, some backend development and…that’s kinda it. I do apologise for our clumsy revenue-raising manner, to everyone.
ahhh yes the pop ups… I getcha and feel ya! Mailing ones I’m cool with… as long as they only ever appear just once… ever .. ie don’t pop up every damn time you visit a site (whether you’ve signed up or not)
I think its bullshit that these pros retire during the season. They have an off-season. If Mick wants to retire, then don’t retire at Bells. Retire now so another athlete can get an official spot on the WCT. If he wants to surf the Australian leg, then give him the wildcard spot. I don’t like how this avenue of retirement keeps another contender off the tour.
i spent 4 hrs trying to fucking log on to disqus last night to say that!!!!
WSL would know he was doing this – someone got chopped or just missed CT and they could just given him a wildcard or “speciality pass”
I wanna know who they letting on
Poor fucking form all round
I’m surprised he didn’t thank Eugene.
Didn’t you read the article, he is giving up, like forever!
getadblock.com
I have a hard time getting past the “fucking Jew” thing – blatant heartfelt bigotry is tough to excuse
Hey. HEY. Only I am allowed to post simpsons related material
Ah Mick. The front runner of pros that got there by doing turns achievable most average to slightly above average guys can manage. Heard he once punched a stingray
Tell me more – about the stingray
Some say it was pay back for Steve Irwin. Others, more correctly so, say it was a knee jerk reaction backhand slap to being bumped by something in the ocean
Why don’t you post us some footage of you doing turns just like Mick Fanning?
Because I’m a below average surfer
Touche.
Reverse Zing!
Gniz
How about a little impromptu survey? Do you, a, prefer the occasional fundraising drive (like Matt Warshaw and the Encyclopedia of Surfing), b, stories paid by advertisers slipped into the news feed (Stab), c, this current setup of ads being thrown at you partly in response to your browsing history or, d, do you think, Christ, can’t these sonsofbitches create compelling CVs thereby gaining ’emselves good jobs and thus negate the need to generate any income from BeachGrit whatsoever?
A – Preferable but not sustainable.
B – Do they need to be surreptitious? Can’t they just be labelled as sponsored content?
C – No.
D – I hope people wouldn’t expect a passion project
E – I might have an E. I need to mull it over.
The answer and question to E is bar tending 😉
E- pay per comment? nothing like exploiting Junkies.
go back to the vertical banners on the margins
Just wish the ad’s thrown at me featured more attractive Women. I’m getting a dating site called “Spank Wild” and photos of a pale overweight housewife wearing a purple one piece sitting awkwardly on a fallen tree.
I’m positive my browsing history algorithm is better than that…
Are you sure? I get Russian singles, cheap surfboards and holidays for lonely singles. Which suggests the algo is working fine.
Maybe the AI is trying to tell me what I really want/need.
Forever AI.
Yes to static ads, video ads make me want to choke someone standing nearby.
Since you asked. If you want to try and test the “ads from non surf- targeted ad sense” business model, just fix it so there is only one ad to close, not many. Otherwise I only see two options to test: 1 – do the traditional surf company ad model but stick with businesses that are in alignment with beach grit values (do not write articles about those companies) – or 2 – create author sections where I can buy your writers books, Matt Warshaw books/subscriptions, surfers journal, What Youth, etc (ads for surf books, mags, and related media matching grit values). Or both.
And in I swing to say…yes… you’re right. All things considered, getting into the news server, evaporating the code on our site etc, the shitty little video ads will be gone shortly.
I’m chill with ads for obvious reasons. This latest round of video is definitely eating my laptop’s brain. It has a rather small brain, unfortunately.
Oh I’m so sorry to everyone! But maybe gone by tonight!
Technology is hard!
Well then is it because you believe you have a direct hotline to the owners/editors that you feel that these 2 guys shouldn’t be making some income to keep the lights on their site?
Do you often write to the Murdoch family, News.com.au, the AFR or the NY Times requesting them to take their ads down?
I’m just lost as to your motivation or direction on this… that’s all…. your coming across as more of a complaining gutter beak, trying to shake your fist at the man… rather than someone trying to make an improvement or constructive suggestion for authors that you are clearly a fan of.
I think he means ours are more obtrusive than the more elegant solutions offered on the New York Times and News etc. And I do agree, although I appreciate your spirited defence.
No, he has a point. I would much prefer targeted advertising rather than pop-up spam. Fuck, I would opt for Stab’s badvertorial over this. I have no objections to the surf ads, but the credit cards, investment advice or fucking wooden blinds shite is both annoying and unsightly. It definitely taints the experience of coming here.
Yeah, you’re right. See survey below!
bring back Hot Nife!
it sounds like you need to get your wife her own machine. that way the pop ups will be more your style., sequin-suits.com, hair products, hot ice monthly etc
You must have one hell of a time browsing the net… tough gig finding sites with no ads these days
It’s all aesthetics man. Why sully the experience?
https://uploads.disquscdn.c…
Mick’s new challenge will be starring in Channel 9’s new reality romance, Fanno Needs A Chop. He will be slaughtering some of Australia’s most prominent mutton. Bring on the hoglets for dessert. It’s getting ugly down under and don’t I fucken know it.
Time to unlock Eugene?
its about time he returned to form. that jersey has been holding him back.
So many kicks in the guts throughout life and he never stayed down. Forget the fucking shark, to come back from tearing the meat off the bone was remarkable. Not many sportspeople would put in the work to do that.
Chas must write an obit for the career.
I think you should get a media pass for Bells and take care of it
Both is good.
Meanwhile Slater’s tank team are working feverishly on a version of the pool that’s triple overhead so they can release footage during bells to shift the spotlight off Micks graceful well timed retirement.
Already throwing shade! https://uploads.disquscdn.c…
“Everything but your ego!!” – Albert Einstein
It’s a hardwired response!
Reckon he wins Snapper and Bells and still chucks it?
Regardless, I’ll miss him. As a character he’s hard to criticise. And as a surfer, well, people can say what they like about his lack of aerial ability, but the precision he brought to every other aspect of his surfing can’t not be admired.
Still the fastest surfer I’ve ever seen on a wave.
Twas on the beach for the Slater v Fanning Bells final when Slater landed that huge rotation,
as crazy as the air was, Fannings pure, bleeding speed whilst carving was unfathomable for all the half pissed, semi overweight surfers in the crowd. As usual when i checked the replay it didn’t do it justice compared to live. 12 beers will do that….
Only 12 beers? Come on, it’s Easter!
The final started at 11am, so yes, 12 beers
Fairnuff.
I stand corrected. love your work.
obviously not the real Shane herring.
If it is, he’s certainly swinging from the back of the wagon!
This after a fabulous sundowner in Fiji! Brave ANZAC fights until he has to be carried home!
https://uploads.disquscdn.c…
Lest we forget.
faster than Kalani Robb – rusty era?
I’ve never seen Kalani in person… But have a great memory of a teenaged Mick screaming down the line at Kirra on what would be considered a closeout to 99.99% of Surfers.
You want fast? John Shimooka, Bells, on a Webber, nineties. Lusty!
You ‘ve obviously never been privy to Eugene in full swing at the Sands Tav
Sadly, no! But I find this mysterious split personality endearing!
He pissed on my shoes one time at The Balcony and told me to fuck off back to New Zealand. An honor indeed!
Classic!
Only Chas knows the feeling of “meeting” alter ego Eugene. Of should I say Chas’ shoulder knows the feeling?
He won’t win either so y’don’t gotta worry about a thing.
Not at Bells for his swansong? I’m going to bet on him.
Make sure you go via the BeachGrit link! If you lose, we win!