Mick Fanning Chats Politics, Money, And Religion

It’s rare for a surf interview to divulge anything beyond directly surf relevant topics. In a way, it makes sense, particularly when we’re doing the interview. We’re a surf mag, they’re a surfer, what else are we going to talk about? This however doesn’t mean it isn’t interesting to read their opinions about other topics. 

The Sydney Morning Herald has a weekly column by Benjamin Law where he grabs someone of interest and hit them with a few questions regarding content less covered. They have a list of faux pas topics, and a dice is rolled to determine which ones will be picked. This week they grabbed three-time champ and recent father, Mick Fanning (Happy Fathers day for those in Oz) and spoke about religion, politics, and money.

Here’s a handful of excerpts, but you can read the full piece here. 

One on money.

How do you define success that’s unrelated to money? I’ve never defined success around money. I never competed for money. I competed because I wanted to compete. If you’ve got enough money to feed and clothe your family, and put a roof over your head, that’s successful in my eyes.

Bit of politics.

It’s a weird time in the world right now. What issues will be at the forefront of your mind next time you vote? I feel we’re going down a bad path with fossil fuels, and ruining such a beautiful and great country for greed. Politicians need to look and realise there are other ways of making money instead of just destroying our earth – and this beautiful country – to fill greedy pockets.

How do you think our political leaders are faring with the COVID-19 pandemic? I’m in Queensland and I feel Queensland has done a really good job. Some people get pissed off with the border closures, but we have to do our part. Think about who you could give the virus to. Your grandparents. A loved one. That guilt would crush anyone. It’s about doing the best for other people, and not being selfish about it.

Would you ever run for political office? Nah! Politicians believe in one thing, and say the other – something I’m never going to get into.

And religion.

Are you spiritual? Yes and no. I’m not going to sit under a tree and meditate. But I sort of believe that all the energy stays within the galaxy and circles in and out – like a soul is an energy and it just gets passed into something else.

Is that how you think of your two late older brothers: Sean, who died aged 20 in a car accident in 1998, and Peter, who died aged 43 of an enlarged heart in 2015? Very much so. Sometimes they’re with me; sometimes they’re not. Other times I’ll see an animal or something that sparks my memory of them, and I feel like that’s their energy moving through different things.