J-Bay still high on Mick Fanning’s surfing agenda despite second shark incident in three years

MICK Fanning says he won’t be deterred from surfing — or competing at the infamous J-Bay Open — despite yet another close call with a shark.

A shark is chased by a jet ski at Jeffrey’s Bay.

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MICK Fanning says he won’t be deterred from surfing — or competing at the infamous J-Bay Open — despite yet another close call with a shark he later called “one of natures great beauties”.

Fanning told News Corp Australia he was fine, relaxed and also “in awe” of the shark which had cruised into the competition area while he was surfing his quarterfinal at the annual South African world tour event.

Praising the protocols set up by the World Surf League to protect surfers from sharks, Fanning said the close encounter at the site he was attacked in 2015 would not deter him from returning to the surf or the South African event he considers one of his favourites.

Mick Fanning won’t stop coming back to Jeffrey’s Bay after another shark incident.

And when asked if he was the unluckiest, or luckiest surfer to have had another close call, he laughed.

Up close and personal with the shark.

“I’m a glass half full type of guy,” he said.

Fanning, who said after the 2015 attack that he was resigned to being known as “that shark guy’’ for the rest of his life, admitted he was shocked at the size of the beast lurking in the competition arena.

But he also described it as beautiful.

“It was a whopper. but what a beauty,” he said.

A shark is chased by a jet ski at Jeffrey’s Bay.

“It was just so beautiful.

“I’m fine. It was seriously just one of those things.”

Fanning said in hindsight the attack two years ago might have been a good thing as aerial surveillance and other protection measures have now increased on the world tour.

Mick Fanning catches a lift on a jet ski after a shark sighting.

“If that had happened three years ago we might not have even known it was in the area,” he said.

“Please tell everyone I am fine.

“I feel safe out there. I definitely don’t want it (the event) taken off (the world tour)/

“The WSL is all about the athletes and I feel perfectly safe.”