Mick Fanning Just Surfed His Last Heat On Tour

Italo beat Mick in the final of his last ever event on tour and it turns out that some fairytale endings simply are too good to be true. Kelly Slater said before the event that he hoped Mick came second and the King’s predictions occurred. 

“The only thing that would’ve been better was if Mick won it” – Pottz said after the final. Whilst there was no one who deserved to ring that Bell more than Italo over this past week, there’s no doubting a Mick Fanning victory would’ve sent every Australian surfer from Vic to Coolie into a celebratory spin. 

“To see how much the win meant to Italo made me feel a lot better …(laughs)” – an emotional Mick said to Rosie after the heat. The tears will be flowing this afternoon in Victoria, but we’re sure these will be outweighed by sunken beers by the time the sun sets this afternoon. 

Mick’s road to the final was without fault, but there was no stopping a white hot Italo. The second place finish leaves Mick with four Bell rings to his name, along with both Kelly Slater and Mark Richards. But there’s no way Mick will be turning down a wildcard invite at the Bowl in his post-tour years.

As he said himself, “I feel comfortable here”. So there’s still a chance yet for the Coolie Kid to solidify himself as the best ever at Bells Beach in the years to come. 

A flashback to young White Lightenings first ever tour win at Bells, 17 years ago.

Now that White Lightening is off the CT circuit we can expect to be seeing an abundance of Rip Curl Search expeditions alongside the Hawaiian Mason Ho for the remainder of the year. Who’s already packing for their honeymoon away on The Search.

He has his Rip Curl Search sticker adorning his boards along with Mase and his once individual ‘black sticker’ will now be shared by Rip Curl’s newest marquee surfers, Gabriel Medina and Tyler Wright. 

His competitive days may be over, but we’re certain Mick has a whole lot more to deliver to the surfing world in his years to come.