with the sport until his family moved to the coastal community of Tweed Head, Australia in 1993. Here, both Mick and his older brother, Sean, developed a passionate devotion to the sport. Throughout their adolescence, the brothers often discussed their ambition to dominate the world of professional surfing together. However, these plans were tragically derailed in 1998, when Sean — along with fellow surfer Joel Green — died in a car accident. At the time, Mick was sixteen and just beginning to establish a solid surfing career. Although he was devastated by the sudden loss, Mick became determined to fulfill the dream that he and his brother had shared.
These aspirations finally came to fruition in 2001, when Mick Fanning won his first pro tour event. After receiving a wild card entry to the Rip Curl Pro in Bells Beach, Australia, Mick received first prize. Following the surprise win, Fanning dedicated his victory to the memory of his brother. Over the next three years, he would win or place in a number of major competitions on the pro circuit. Mick's surfing style became associated with a newer, riskier school of surfing; in particular, he is known for his mind-blowing speed on the waves, placing tremendous weight on his lead foot and maintaining a startling precision. This notorious quickness and agility has earned him the nickname of "White Lightning."
Mick Fanning's string of successes was disrupted by an additional tragedy in 2004, when he severely tore his hamstring while attempting a difficult maneuver. At the time, it was unclear whether Fanning would ever surf professionally again. However, he recovered from the surgery with remarkable speed. In addition to winning several pro events in both 2005 and 2006, Fanning won the ASP World Tour outright in 2007 and 2009.
Mick Fanning's Careet Highlights
Since 2001, Mick has racked up an impressive list of career highlights. Over the last decade, he has won fifteen pro events. These include two victories at the Billabong Pro in South Africa, once in 2002 and again in 2006. Additionally, Fanning has won three Quicksilver Pro events, once in 2005 and twice in 2009. Of course, Fanning's two most impressive accomplishments are his 2007 and 2009 ASP World Tour Championships.
