Mick Fanning wins J-Bay title a year after surviving great white shark attack at the famous break

ONE year after surviving a shark attack at Jeffrey’s Bay, Mick Fanning returned to the scene of the crime to claim the J-Bay Open crown.

Mick Fanning has beaten the odds to claim the J-Bay title.

IT was more than just another event win, another trophy to add to an overflowing mantle.

Mick Fanning’s stunning victory at the J-Bay Open was an extraordinary tale from the moment he was attacked by a shark last year in the very same South African waters he won in on Saturday (AST).

Take in everything that happened in the 12 months since, including family tragedies, his year of “Mick time” and just getting back in the surf.

Then he injured an ankle injury days before competition, was drawn in the very first heat of the event, and had to wait 10 days, including seven of no event surfing, to ice world No.2 John John Florence in the final.

Mick Fanning celebrates his win in the Final of the JBay Open. Picture: WSL/Kirstin Scholtz

The moment that rocked the surfing world. Picture: WSL/Getty

He just shouldn’t have won, but he did, and it was as emphatic a win as any of his career, scoring the highest score of the entire event in the final, a 9.93, to seal his amazing victory.

Now Fanning is “going on holidays” until he re-appears on tour, maybe in California next month, keen to move on from the moment he hopes doesn’t define his surfing legacy.

“I want to go and live it up, jump back on my time, Fanning said from Jeffrey’s Bay.

“I wish people wouldn’t keep reminding me about it but it happened, so you have to live with it.

Mick Fanning carried through the crowd after his big win. Picture: WSL/Kirstin Scholtz

“I wanted to come and do some things personally right some wrongs, and I’ve done that, so now I can move on.

“It’s been a big build up, and we can just put last year behind us and tell a different story now.”

Fanning was the story at Jeffrey’s Bay from the moment he arrived, more than a week before the event started.

He got back in the water for the first time, after some “anxious moments”, away from the spotlight, knowing it was a big deal not just for him, but his family and friends.

Congratulations @Mick_Fanning, winner of the 2016 #JBayOpen! 🏆 https://t.co/jRBPMAn7Qb

— World Surf League (@wsl) July 16, 2016

Plenty, including his mother, travelled to J-Bay to be with him and were on hand to see a victory that will go down as the stuff of legend.

Joel Parkinson, a world champion himself and Fanning’s great mate, knew how big a deal it was. He was eliminated from the event last Wednesday, but opted to hang around until Fanning was either out, or won.

“We are definitely a tight knit family on tour,” Fanning said.

“Mum wanted to be here, she didn’t want to be sitting at home watching on the computer unless something happened.

Mick Fanning after the attack as Kelly Slater looks on.

Round-the-clock treatment allowed him to get up and firing for his first competition heat last Wednesday, which he won with masterful surfing on the wave he has been champion three-times.

He then had to wait another three days to get back in the water for competition last Saturday, when he again destroyed all challengers on his way to qualifying for the quarter-finals.

Layer upon layer of drama continued to be added to what loomed as a phenomenal sporting story as poor waves all week forced Fanning and his fellow competitors out of the surf for six days.

What a LEGEND...
Getting back there and kicking the shit outta J Bay!! Congrats @Mick_Fanning… https://t.co/v4KMqsTF7C

— Richie Vas (@RichieVaculik) July 16, 2016

“And Joel has been a great friend of mine for a long time. To get chaired off the beach by him was extra special.”

Fanning shared an emotional embrace in the water during his semi-final win over fellow Aussie Julian Wilson too.

Fanningdeep in a barrel at J-Bay.

Wilson was in the water with Fanning last year, trying to beat him in the final, when the shark attacked, and they’ll forever share a bond.

“Definitely some emotions went in to it, paddling out. It was very special to have a surf with him out there,” Fanning said.

“Both of us want to let our surfing do the talking now, and we can focus on that.”

The fairytale return is complete! A huge congrats to Mick Fanning for getting back on the horse like only he... https://t.co/cWUx89FRTd

— Tracks Magazine (@tracksmag) July 16, 2016

The flip-side of the win for Fanning is that it qualifies him for next year’s world tour, if he decides to come back.

Fanning has made no commitments for 2017, but wanted to surf enough to ensure he didn’t have to take a wildcard spot next year.

“You come to an event and you want to win. But I wanted to enjoy my time here, and I did that,” he said.

“I’m just stoked.”

Originally published as Mick Fanning wins J-Bay title a year after surviving great white shark attack at the famous break