Shark attack survivor Mick Fanning, Kelly Slater win first surf at J-Bay

MICK Fanning has made a spectacular start to his bid to take at least one record off legendary surfer Kelly Slater at the scene of his shark attack two years ago.

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MICK Fanning has made a spectacular start to his bid to take at least one record off legendary surfer Kelly Slater at the scene of his shark attack two years ago.

Fanning is one of four Australians to advance directly into the third round of the Corona J-Bay Open, with Slater also earning a round off with a first-up victory in overhead surf at the famed South African competition spot.

Fanning and Slater have both won four crowns at the J-Bay Open with Fanning a favourite to defend his title this year and go one-up on his great American friend and rival.

MICK FANNING AT HOME AT J-BAY

WHAT PROVOKED KEZIE'S COMEBACK?

Mick Fanning is a four-time winner at J-Bay.

Fanning says he feels “at home’’ and ‘‘comfortable’’ at Jeffreys Bay, the site of his terrifying shark attack two years ago.

On a day of tubes and spectacular barrels, triple world champion Fanning advanced into the third round of the event with ease, beating Hawaiian Sebastian Zietz and France’s Joan Duru.

“J-Bay is one of my favourite waves and what better place to be,’’ Fanning said after his win.

“I was really nervous before my heat because I just couldn’t wait to get out there.

“The conditions are pretty ludicrous out there so you just have to calm your nerves and focus on the job at hand.”

Multiple world champion Kelly Slater has also advanced to round three.

Slater produced a 9.10 for a deep tube ride to set up his victory over Julian Wilson, the man Fanning was surfing in the 2015 final when attacked by a shark.

“This place is so beautiful — brisk weather, great waves, long walls and a lot of speed on the waves,” Slater said.

Former world champion Joel Parkinson, Jack Freestone and Bede Durbidge were other first round winners while world No. 1 Matt Wilkinson and Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast winner Owen Wright sent into the elimination second round