Red Bull: Mick, first things first, tell us about the neck. You missed Pipeline last year with it. What was the doctor’s diagnosis and is it going to affect you in 2012?
Mick: I hope it’s fixed! Haha. It feels better. I had four bulged discs – C2, C3 and C5 and C6. It wasn’t good.
Red Bull: Wow. How the hell did you even do that? Shuffling…
Mick: Just being a gnarly human. Nah, it wasn’t a specific injury it just built up over time and I woke up one day and it hurt. I think it’s just from taking 100,000 wipe-outs. I’ve got to learn to stay on my board a bit better!
Red Bull: The Quiky Pro at Snapper kicks off on February 24. Have your got your vibe back after what proved to a pretty frustrating season…
Mick: It was great to have that break I was pretty over it by the end of last year. I just had some time away from surfing, travelling and did nothing for a while. It was actually really nice. I’m feeling good and relaxed and you know what, I’m excited again.
Red Bull: Like Sham Wow! Guy excited?
Mick: Pretty damn excited. Just towards the end last year I was pretty over it with the neck and the way I was surfing. I started off so well last year and everything felt right but nothing ever ended up happening. It was just one of those things. I just wasn’t excited to surf full-stop. I was hurt and it wasn’t easy to get into.
Red Bull: This time last year you told us it was all about Mick. No rules, no over-committing to anything you didn’t want to do. You running the same motto in 2012?
Mick: Yeah , sort of. A lot of my build-up has just been concentrating on myself - and obviously my wife Carissa as well… Haha. I’ve just been chilling at home and getting back to enjoying surfing again, it’s been great. I ‘ve been surfing a fair bit with anyone who’s been keen.
Red Bull: Like who?
Mick: I’ve actually been surfing a fair bit with Jack Freestone and whoever. Whoever has been keen to go surfing.
Red Bull: You may be getting better looking with age but you’re not getting any younger. Is surfing with young dudes like Jack a way of keeping tabs on what the kids are doing? Stealing tricks, if you will…
Mick: It was good just to see what guys like Jack and Mitch Crews are doing. Their approach to surfing is very fun and it’s nice to be around that. Between the two of them they’ve got plenty of energy, so that gets you excited to go surfing.
Red Bull: Word is you’re about to make a big announcement in coming days about you future. Any clues?
Mick: Ahh, let’s just say, I’m pretty happy about it.
Red Bull: So you’re not retiring to try your hand on the stage as part of the Jersey Boys cast…
Mick: Haha. Nah, there’s a few years in me yet. I mean, how old is Kelly? I’m only 30 or something like that.
Red Bull: How are you surfing?
Mick: Oh, I’m ripping! Everything is actually feeling really good and I’d put money on Snapper, for all of it! Has a clean sweep ever been done? I don’t think so. There you go, that’s my goal! Ha!
Visit Mick's official website HERE
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