Podiums at Sunset Beach

A World Title is not enough. Fanning wants it all, including the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing. After his efforts at Sunset Beach, Hawaii, he is right on track to make everyone remember 2007 as the year of Mick Fanning.

The O’Neill Pro at Sunset Beach scored incredible waves throughout the waiting period, mostly in the 6-10ft, (Hawaiian) range. Fanning dominated through the majority of the event. He opened up with his first ride only seconds after the heat began, with two-barrel rides on the one wave. In the quarters, he pulled into one hollow pit that reeled forever, emerging with a score of 9.70 from the judges. Mick was out to impress and prove that he can handle and surf the large and powerful waves of Hawaii.

Survival of the fittest

At the end of the day, the swell began to pick up, but so did the wind. By the time the finals rolled around, two feet of cross-shore lump was hitting the waves, proving very difficult for all competitors, but that didn’t stop all of the finalists putting on incredible display of surfing as well as an intense battle and competition.

Off to the Holy Grail

Mick wound up the week of competition in third spot, rounding out the podium and putting himself in an incredible striking position for the overall Triple Crown Title. After a quarterfinals finish at the first stop in Haleiwa, Mick Fanning is an extremely close third on the overall points tally. The final round of the three-comp series started on 8 December, at surfing’s ultimate proving ground, and Holy Grail, Banzai Pipeline.