A back foot slip during a floater in Indo last year and Mick Fanning watched the tour from the dugout. The kid packed on the weight his hair darkened and he looked as if he'd spent six months watching Oprah repeats. Then, a heavy training regime, two trips to Hawaii and the start of the 2005 ASPworld tour. win at Snapper. a perfect 20 from 20 on his wav to taking out the Surfest WQS in Newcastle and a new focus. We found the 23-vear-old in West Oz.. Interview by Sam McIntosh
What's cooking?
Spaghetti bolognaise. Just knocking up something for the boys
Thought the number one rated surfer in the world would have a chef, a personal, a trainer stylists and shit?
No, mate.
You been shooting much for Tavloi Steele's new movie. Campaign II?
I haven't shot anything.
Where have vou been surfing?
All over the place. Gas, everywhere really...
Seen any sharks?
I've seen a few actually. I saw one today at Lefties.
Did vou go straiaht in?
Nah, I was surfing on my own at Noiseys paddled back to the pack.
So. did you see a fin or a dark shadow?
I just seen it go for a fish. I don't think; this one was real big. Maybe four foot?!
And you stayed out? Not too worried about 'em, eh?
There's enough people in the water to give you good odds. I'm willing to take a one in 50 chance.
Speaking of odds, two contests in the hole, a pretty sweet start, how vou feeling?
Feeling pretty good. I'm fitter than I've ever been, pumped and really focused.
Reckon you've got the momentum to go all the way?
I'm just taking it as it comes. If you start getting ahead of yourself that's when you start falling apart.
How was it for vou at Bells seem Munro smoke everyone?
Munroe surfed insane. The moment he caught his first wave on that last day, everyone was like, "Oh shit!" Every heat he got a couple of nines and he just dominated the whole day. The waves were just perfect for him and he's unbeatable in those little lefts. He didn't lose any speed between any turns, he did bigger turns than anyone and linked em all together.
Your shaper, Darren Handlev, speaks of a thing called Push Back in a surfboard and you being one of the few people in the world who can feel it under your feet. Can you descibe it?
Say you're doing a cutback and you push really hard, sometimes you'll skids But or you'll hold in but lose your speed. These boards, the harder you push you can feel it pushing back and you finish the turn with speed. It's a good feeling hen the harder you push a board the more it reacts.
Do you get it occasionally in boards or every board?
With Darren, I'd say I get it in about tiree out of 10 boards.
Does it go awav when a board gets beaten up or the deck sinks?
Sometimes, but when you get a good board it stays that way.
If vou find a good board this year will you put it on ice?
If a board goes well in one event, l'll take it to the next one. Usually, Darren makes g ood boards so I don't mind changing to a new one.
How were the celebrations on the goldie?
I was blind and passed out by 10:30 and the next day we had a pool party and all the boys came over and we had a fair few beers and a barbie.
You being so focussed. did vou get to a point where vou said. cool, celebration's over?
I was back in the gym the following Monday because I knew Bells wasn't too far off.
What about the whole retro/single fin revolution? You buy into it?
When I was coming back from injury I was learning to get the flow back on a single fin. They're just fun to ride, they make you surf the wave more, make you learn more about the wave.
Tell us about that kid from Lennox Adam Melling?
I don't really know him.
Quite a striking similarity to vour surfing and in particular vour top turn?
I couldn't comment, I've only seen him surf once or twice.
Did you think "Shiiieeet, this guy's biting my style?'
I hope for his sake he doesn't (laughs)
What do you think the world champ this year is gonna have?
Focus. They can't get too ahead of themselves.
What's the likelihood of Andv getting his fourth world title this vear?
It's do-able, he still surfs insane and he's still as confident as ever.
Won't will you be doing to stop him?
Nothing, I'll be i concentrating on myself.
Is that your thing?
You can't control what other people do, you've just got to get out there and do your own thing.
Where'd you get this line of thinking from?
No one. It's true. You can only control yourself.
