Mick Fanning, perks of a hometown party, Gold Coast

We at Stab aren’t particularly voyeuristic. But, when former world champ and current world number three, Mick Fanning, rides past on his bike en route to a surf, well, it’s gotta justify firing a quick frame from a hotel balcony, right? (We, the paparazzi, have little will power!). Especially when the moment perfectly captures Mick, and what the first event of the year means for him.

Here you see a man thoroughly enjoying the perks of a hometown event, riding his pushbike down to Snapper to jump out and school the crowd on where to sit (sans helmut – watch out for the fuzz!), for a late reacquaintance session. With the sand now pumping, Mick sat out on the point and picked off gems, thinking hard, as every other competitor in this event is, about the possibility of a Snapper contest area tomorrow.

If you were a betting man, where might you place your money?