Pics: Mick in Tahiti (2 x left), ASP/Cestari and Kirstin. Mick (right) natesmithphoto.comIn 2009 Mick Fanning came from behind on the ASP World Championship Tour ranking’s to win his second world title. It’s not unusual for Mick to perform well in the back half of the year; like all men, Mick loves to come from behind.
That win in 2009 was a crushing result for his good mate and fiercest rival Joel Parkinson who all but had the ‘09 title sewn up early only to be run down by the rampaging White Lighting. Mick was sitting a lowly (in world title contender terms) eighth on the rankings at the halfway mark, but stormed home to win three from five events [Trestles, France and Portugal] and take the title (despite a poor showing at Pipeline).
Scary thing for elite ASP competitors on tour this year’s the fact he currently sits on top of the ratings at that same half way mark! “The past few seasons I’ve had pretty poor starts”, Mick conceded recently. “So to get two wins (Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach and Billabong Pro Tahiti) from the first five events along with a couple of third places, has put me in a great position and definitely lifted my confidence,” Fanning said.
No other surfer on tour has the unwavering-steely-focus Mick has, and thanks to his double dose of first and third place finishes already in 2012 other worthy title contenders are feeling more than a little behind the eight ball.
Mick’s already won through to round three of The Hurley Pro (currently underway at Trestles, California), and as our latest Mondayitis Wallpaper taken during his Easter time win at the Rip Curl Pro at Bells Beach suggests – well and truly has his eyes on the prize in 2012.
Question isn’t “will Mick Fanning win the title in 2012?” But, can good mate and four-time runner-up Joel Parkinson, 11-time world champ Kelly Slater, rookie John Florence or veteran Taj Burrow run him down?
Long way to go – still, watch this space [and grab November Tracks featuring an Interview with the man himself].
Download Mick’s Eye’s On The Prize Mondayitis Wallpaper HERE
