Australian surfer Mick Fanning opens up on the toughest time of his life in exclusive interview

BELEAGUERED Aussie surfer Mick Fanning says he is at peace with his decision to drop off the world tour and “it feels right” to start a new chapter in his life following the breakdown of his marriage and brother’s death.

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BELEAGUERED Australian surfer Mick Fanning says he is at peace with his decision to drop off the world tour and that “it feels right” to be starting a new chapter in his life.

Fanning this morning paid tribute to his “incredible” network of family and friends who he says has got him through some of the toughest times of his life while revealing his excitement at a new life away from competitive surfing.

Fanning said he is looking forward to swapping his boardies for business — a brewery and a mobile charger company — some big wave surfing and more time with his family and mates.

Mick Fanning hit the waves at Snapper Rocks as the swell from Cyclone Winstin arrived last month and will contest the Quiksilver Pro there in a couple of weeks. Pic: Luke Marsden.

This morning, a week after the World Surf League announced the three-time world champion would be taking personal time out from the tour, Fanning told The Daily Telegraph he was at peace with his decision to take personal leave from the tour.

“I’m good. It feels right,’’ said Fanning who in the space of eight months has survived a shark attack, lost a brother and had to deal with a marriage breakdown.

“I’m really excited actually.’’

Fanning was speaking in one of his first in-depth interview since the Pipe Masters at Pipeline in December where he learned of the death of his older brother Peter.

Following his return home for his brothers funeral, Fanning in January revealed his marriage to Karissa Dalton had broken down.

Last week he said he needed to take a break away from the world tour to “clear my head”.

Fanning this morning told The Daily Telegraph once the decision was made to not bid for the 2016 world crown there was a sense of relief.

Mick Fanning revealed in January his marriage to Karissa Dalton had broken down.

“But for me it was more about my friends asking what are you going to do, what are you going to do,” he said.

“I had to keep saying I don’t know, I don’t know.”

Fanning said one of the best things about his decision to commit only to the Quiksilver Pro at his home break next month and the following Rip Curl Pro at Bells Beach is that he is free to pursue anything he wants.

“I don’t even know what that is necessarily yet,’’ he said.

“It feels good to have no plans.’’

Mick Fanning at the funeral of his brother, Peter. Picture: Jerad Williams

Fanning said his family and friends have “meant everything to me” during recent tumultuous times.

His marriage breakdown, however, remains off limits.

In a statement last month Fanning said he and Dalton, his wife of eight years before their split were “still close and there’s a lot of love there.”

“Karissa has stood by me since we first met in 2004. We have shared plenty of great times but more importantly she has helped me through some of the toughest moments in my life, especially this past year,’’ Fanning wrote in a statement at the time.

The now iconic image of surfer Mick Fanning being attacked by a shark during competition at the J-Bay surfing event in South Africa. Picture: WSL/Twitter

In his first non-surfing endeavour of the year Fanning and fellow pro surfers, including Joel Parkinson, will soon open a brewery on the Gold Coast.

Fanning will then contest the Quiksilver Pro at his home break at Snapper Rocks in March.

This is one of a few select events Fanning will contest on the world tour this year with J-Bay, the scene of his shark attack last July, also pencilled in on his calendar.