Fanning makes early return to surf at Jeffreys Bay, scene of last year’s great white attack

MICK Fanning is already back at the Jeffreys Bay break where he fought off a great white shark live on TV — riding four-metre waves.

Gold Coast world champion surfer Mick Fanning. Picture: Luke Marsden.

WHILE the world waits for Mick Fanning to return to the Jeffreys Bay break where he fought off a great white shark live on television, the Gold Coast surfing champion is already there and riding four-metre waves.

World Surfing League yesterday announced the 35-year-old would compete in the J-Bay Pro where, in the final of last year’s event, he was struck from behind by a great white shark.

Fanning managed to throw a series of punches into the predator’s body, causing it to swim away, leaving him unscathed.

In months that followed, Fanning suffered through a marriage breakup, a world runner-up finish and the tragic death of his brother.

This year he decided to only surf in select events.

The competition kicks off on Wednesday next week and despite the trauma from the shark attack, Fanning flew out to South Africa on Friday to prime himself for the event.

Waves the size of two-storey houses are hitting Jeffrey’s Bay at the moment, according to surf forecasting sites.

“I was always going to go back,” Fanning said of the event he has won three times (2002, 2006 and 2014).

“To leave J-Bay on the note from last year just didn’t seem right.

“Obviously, the first surf is going to be a bit tricky just getting that through my head.”

Mick Fanning is attacked by a shark at the J-Bay Open on July 19, 2015, in Jeffreys Bay, South Africa. (Photo by WSL/WSL via Getty Images)

Fanning’s mother Elizabeth Osbourne told the Gold Coast Bulletin yesterday she had been surprised when her son contacted her last Friday and said he was leaving early.

“He rang on Friday and said he was going early — apparently the surf is good,” Ms Osbourne said.

“I’m going (to South Africa) on Tuesday, so I said, ‘I thought I was going to protect you?’.

“He loves surfing J-Bay — it’s one of his favourite places in the world — and he has some local families he supports over there.

Mick Fanning at the Fiji Pro at Cloudbreak earlier this month. Picture: © WSL/ Sloane.

Ms Osbourne said she would be standing on the beach ready to protect her son.

“I would have probably been in the water if I was in Jeffreys Bay last year,” she said.

“Hopefully, I won’t have to go in the water though.”

This year World Surfing League have ramped up shark protection measures for the event with state-of-the-art Australian sonar technology, increased shark spotting boats, jet skis and drones.

In-water photographers will not be allowed.

Mick Fanning surfing Snapper Rocks. Picture: Richard Gosling

Ms Osbourne said her son, a 14-year world tour veteran, was making the most of his time away from competition.

“He’s been a lot more relaxed and happy — he had such a terrible year last year,” she said.

“We’ve been through a hell of a lot — the whole family has — and we don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow, so we just have to make the most of it.”

Fanning also fuelled speculation about retiring from fulltime competition by saying he had no plans for his surfing future.

“As far as 2017 goes, I couldn’t tell you right now whether I’ll be back or not full time,” he said.

“I’m enjoying the freedom of doing different things and having no schedule right now.”