Former world no.4 surfer Mick Fanning (Tweed Heads, Aus) will return to competitive surfing in the upcoming Quiksilver Pro presented by Boost Mobile - the opening 2005 Foster’s Men’s World Championship Tour (WCT) event on the Gold Coast this March – after an horrific surfing accident left him on the sidelines for most of 2004. Still at only eighty per cent of his former strength but improving daily, the 24 year-old was recently seen turning heads surfing at Snapper Rocks on the Gold Coast in the Cyclone Kerry swell.
Fanning who has been awarded the 2005 WCT injury wildcard burst onto the international arena in 2001 after winning the World Qualifying Series (WQS) by the biggest point's margin in the sports history. His inaugural WCT 2002 campaign saw him claim the "ASP Rookie of the Year" title and also the no.5 spot in the world. He then upped the ante in 2003 where he was steadfastly in the hunt for a world title, finishing fourth on the end of year rankings.
After over a decade of constant touring Fanning's life was turned upside down last June in the Indonesian Hinako Islands where a floater went horribly wrong causing him to do the splits on his board tearing muscle off bone and pulling his hamstring. He was forced to endure 48 hours of pain, sailing for ten hours and then catching three flights home to Australia with just a couple of valiums for relief before seeking medical help.
"I was pretty immobile for three months of the year, for the first six weeks I wasn't allowed to do anything, I was on crutches. I couldn't drive for about six weeks, couldn't sit properly. I had to sit on an angle so the joint could mend," said Fanning. "It was pretty radical just sitting there doing nothing all day. My mum was hating me.
"It's a really rare injury. The doctors who operated on me have done the most in the world and last I heard they were up to number 35. It's a radical injury. They said if I didn't have surgery I may never run again so that's means I would never surf again."
A formidably fit looking Fanning is confident of further improvement by the time the Quiksilver Pro commences on March 1st and right now is just super stoked to be back in the water.
"I'm feeling pretty good, just learning how to surf again," said the always understated Fanning. "At the moment I am about eighty per cent. That's what I feel anyway, pretty close, just a little bit more strength work and I should be ok."
