Occhilupo says Gold Coast champ Mick Fanning is warming up for another world title

FORMER surfing world champion Mark Occhilupo can’t see Mick Fanning losing the World Surf League title this year.

Mick Fanning. Action at the 2015 Quiksilver/Roxy Pro at Snapper Rocks. Pics Tim Marsden

FORMER surfing world champion Mark “Occy” Occhilupo claims he can’t see Mick Fanning losing the World Surf League title in the wake of his clinical victory at Trestles.

Occhilupo said regardless of the conditions that greet the world’s elite surfing tour at the final three rounds in France, Portugal and Hawaii, he expected Fanning to be the man to beat as the Gold Coast star guns for his fourth world title.

However, the 1999 world champion said he thought the competition would still go down to the wire with Brazilian stars Adriano de Souza and Filipe Toledo hot on Fanning’s heels in the points standings.

“He’s just so strong and he’s really smart and experienced,” he said.

“In the early rounds you’ve got the guys doing the aerials and stuff and getting huge scores but usually it doesn’t work in a final – they get too excited.

“Two big high eights or nines doing pure carves and power surfing usually wins the game and Mick knows that – he’s won a lot of finals like that and that was no different. I think he’s definitely the bloke to beat, for sure.” Occhilupo said he was not surprised by the three-time world tour champion’s ascension to the top of the WSL men’s standings despite being rattled by a shark attack in the final of the J-Bay Open in July.

Since then he has been impressive at both the Fiji Pro and the Hurley Pro in California.

Occhilupo said Fanning’s experience and calm head under pressure made him the favourite above both Brazilians and world No.4 Owen Wright.

“It is pretty tight,’’ he said.

‘‘I wouldn’t put it past Owen at all. We’ve got France and they’re usually pretty big beach breaks.

“I think someone would have to be on a serious roll to take it out before Hawaii and I’m pretty sure it will go down to Hawaii. We’ve got Gabriel (Medina) and Filipe and they’re all in the mix.

“If Europe is small and frothy I think those guys will be hard to beat too and it’s probably Mick against them really.”

Fanning leads the WSL tour with 44,700 points – in front of Adriano de Souza (42,950) and Filipe Toledo on (39,700).

The next stop on the men’s WSL series is the Quiksilver Pro France from October 6-17.