"Everyone thought I was gonna go crazy..."
It seems like just yesterday that Mick Fanning was hoisting his third title high above his tow head with all of Australia cheering wildly for their hero. The sporting nation has a long, storied history in the ocean waters with many champions before Fanning, including Mark Occhilupo and Mark Richards and Tom Carroll to name but three and there was no indication that mastery over the waves and American and Brazil would end.
Except it accidentally did. That yesterday is now nearly a decade ago and no Australian has been close to a title. Thoroughly and properly dominated by John John Florence and Adriano De Souza.
But could sweet relief be just in reach in the form of Western Australia’s thoroughly lovable Jack Robinson?
After back to back event mainstream news organ The Guardian thinks yes. The one-time prodigy and current world number two is profiled in today’s online issue, readying the public for his potential ascendence.
Robinson talks about this childhood:
I did home-school for a lot of the years. Everyone kind of thought I was gonna go crazy, like didn’t know what was gonna happen with me, because I’d be surfing all the time. It was like: ‘He’s not at school!’. But I had the best time ever. I was lucky to travel at a young age and see the world, see different cultures. It was pretty cool growing up like that.
The World Qualifying Series:
I think my view on it wasn’t very good – especially when the waves were shitty.
His relationship with his unique father:
I think it’s not always the easiest when you’re doing it with your family, them playing the manager as well – doing that with the companies, managing me and then also managing the deals. He’s my Dad – we keep that relationship like that, and I think it’s in a much better place.
And this year’s building pressure:
There’s a lot going on, more eyes on you, people saying this and that. But I think the main thing is to focus on yourself. Take it moment by moment, being present, going surfing.
It is a fine profile, certainly worth a read. Enjoy here.
Commented on Disqus? Log out, tap the Disqus button, and your old name and comments come back. The box is ours.
Your comments are still here. Every one of them.
Twelve years of BeachGrit comments came across from Disqus. Connect and we will show you how many are yours. We get your username, nothing else.
Connect Disqus to reveal.
I do
Theyre snobby racist homophobes
He ain’t winning it.
HMMM, maybe I’ll hold off on buying the Mick Fanning 8 oooh soft top of my dreams while I wait for Jack to roll one out with more volume and pretty colors and of course reversible fins for my inner Surfline man
He won’t win.
I usually have to pay first
Sniff later.
I guess jack sniffs first pays never.
The Guardian hates white people
This one musta slipped thru its racist net
Nah,not whites with money. BG Foundation, largest private donor to the G
They really are cunts
I’ll read his profile later
You probably left Medina and Parko out on on porpoise, no?
Porko*
I totally meant to put that. Good looking out!
spellcheck, BG style
Aryans only!
Have you read Ulysseys?
No
It won’t stop me donning a straw hat and heading down to the pub later and hanging out with all the other wannabe intellectuals!
It is Bloomsday after all! Shamefully I haven’t even tackled Dubliners nor The artist as a young man yet! How about you Bexy?
I downloaded a free sample and not inpressed
The judges certainly love him! I finished Make or Break last night (aside from the first episode which I just couldn’t)! It was passable, but I have a new love! TWW is the type of competitor I like to watch! That Sage girl is some fucking rehab!
Yeah, I made it too halfway episode three than complain pirate bay for posting it up for free!!!
Shes tops!
And bottoms.