Lennox surfer Stu Kennedy the new cult hero but early exit won’t change Fanning’s plans for ‘personal year’

MICK Fanning may have left the beach but there’s already a new hero in town in the form of giant-killing Lennox Head surfer Stuart Kennedy.

Giant killer Stu Kennedy after defeating Gabriel Medina during round 3 of the Quiky Pro at Snapper Rocks on the Gold Coast. Pics Adam Head

MICK Fanning may have left the beach but there’s already a new hero in town.

Fanning was knocked out of the Quiksilver Pro yesterday, falling to wildcard Sebastian Zietz to continue the run of upsets at Snapper Rocks. But the emergence of Lennox Head surfer Stuart Kennedy helped soothe the disappointment of fans after the 26-year-old took down his second world champion in two days.

Less than 24 hours after his win over 11-time world champion Kelly Slater on Sunday – while riding a Slater Designs board – Kennedy notched scores of 8.5 and 8.3 to beat 2014 titleholder Gabriel Medina in a high-quality heat.

Kennedy admitted he was still pinching himself.

“It’s pretty cool to take those scalps down this early (in the season). I can’t believe it,’’ he said.

“I think Gabriel was going to be more fired up than what Kelly was. He’s just so fired up to get that next world title and you can tell he’s really focused and it was so good to grind it out with him.’’

Giant-killer Stuart Kennedy (right) leaves the water after defeating Gabriel Medina. Picture: Adam Head

The 26-year-old Kennedy, still coming to terms with the publicity his win over Slater caused, is determined to ride a wave of confidence as far as he can this week.

“That was seriously the craziest media experience of my life and probably will be ever,’’ he said.

“The viewing, the news channels and the Play of the Day, it was crazy for me.’’

Fanning had hoped to push deep into the event at his home break – as much to help him requalify for the 2017 tour as to win another trophy.

But he remains committed to his year off despite being knocked out in Round 3 for a 13th-place finish.

Fanning has committed to three events on tour this year – Snapper Rocks; Bells Beach where he will compete in his sponsor’s name event, the Rip Curl Pro; and at Jeffreys Bay in South Africa, the scene of last year’s shark attack.

And despite a disappointing end to competition yesterday, Mick Fanning is unlikely to change his plans, although he confirmed he wanted to requalify for 2017.

“I’m just sort of taking it as it comes really,’’ Fanning said.

“I’ve decided to do these two events (in Australia) and now I’m going to take a couple of events off. I don’t know what other events I’m going to do this year. I’ll probably make up my mind as I go along. The goal is to try to qualify on a few events.’’

Mick Fanning after his elimination from the competition. Picture: Adam Head

While Kennedy is on his way to achieving his goal of requalifying while on tour as an injury replacement for Bede Durbidge while he recovers from a broken pelvis suffered at Pipeline last year, Fanning’s task to requalify has become a lot more difficult. The 13th placing is not what Fanning would have wanted given his camp has worked out he needs 15 or 16 wins in order to requalify for next season.

“It wasn’t really a great start but all credit to Seabass (Zietz),” Fanning said.

“It was tricky out there and the opportunities he had, he ripped them. That’s just the way it goes.’’

Even Zietz said he was “bummed’’ for Fanning after the loss yesterday.

“I thought he was surfing the best out of everyone, so I’d better go far (in the contest) for him,’’ he said.