‘‘As for choosing to retire at Bells, I’ve always had in mind that my last event on tour was going to be Bells. That’s basically where I started my career, it was my first-ever championship tour win, and I feel really connected down there.’’
Fanning joined the tour full-time in 2002 and that year won at Jeffrey’s Bay in South Africa, one of the best waves over his career but, perversely, also the spot where he was attacked by a shark – alongside good friend and countryman Julian Wilson – during the final of the event in 2015.
That near-death experience attracted enormous international attention. Fanning, remarkably, returned to J-Bay the following year to win the tour event – for the fourth time in his career – beating Wilson in the semis and Hawaiian John John Florence in the final.
‘‘After so many years on tour, it’s been so fun,’’ says Fanning.
‘‘It’s been a rollercoaster, for sure. You have your peaks and valleys, but you know, when I look back on my time on tour it’s amazing memories – from building myself up to compete, to heat wins and event wins, celebrating with friends and just seeing places I never thought I’d even get to.’’
The rollercoaster description is apt given that Fanning has had to come to terms with significant personal tragedy.
His brother Sean died in a car accident in 1998 and older brother Peter Fanning died from a heart condition three years ago. The devastating news about his older sibling was delivered to his family in Hawaii just hours before Fanning paddled out to compete for his fourth world surfing title.
Fanning’s retirement means the Australian will miss the chance to surf at the Olympics when the sport makes its debut in Tokyo in 2020.
While chasing a fourth world title last year, Fanning admitted he had contemplated retirement during his six-month sabbatical in 2016, but could not bring himself to quit.
He already knew that holding on for the Olympics was a bridge too far and there were other events in his sights. He had identified the season-ending event in Oahu, Hawaii as his biggest fish.
"Pipeline would be one. If I could win that, that would be the cherry on top of my whole career," said Fanning.
"Even though there’s a few cherries already."
He’s not wrong there. And no-one is ruling out a special cherry finding its way to the top of the Bells trophy this year.
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Began his full-time career at The Age as an online sports reporter in 1999 before joining Sportal as the Deputy Editor of the AFL-Telstra online network in 2002. Rejoined the online desk at The Age in 2006 and was online sports editor between 2006 and 2016. Has covered two Olympics (Sydney 2000 and London 2012), numerous Australian Open tennis tournaments and several AFL grand finals. Reads the back page first. Hack golfer. Wannabe tennis star.
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