World champion surfer Mick Fanning pulls off a ‘laid-back snap’ as Gold Coast buckles in for a week of waves

SURF champion Mick Fanning hammed it up at Coolangatta this week with this “laid-back snap” as thousands of boardriders made the most of big swell.

Three time surfing world champion Mick Fanning having a ball at Coolangatta on Tuesday. Photo by: John Mulhearn/@crystal_cylinder.

SURF champion Mick ­Fanning is renowned for being able to pull off a fierce layback snap in competition, but this laid-back snap is just ridiculous.

“Mick threw himself down on his board having a joke with his mate at Greenmount, it was just shenanigans in the surf,” said Tweed Heads amateur surf photographer John Mulhearn, who was amazed he captured this image on Tuesday.

“He looked like he should have had a beer or a cappuccino in his hand.”

Yesterday, like thousands of boardriders across southeast Queensland, three-time world champion Fanning was back at it at Burleigh Heads and having a ball in the 2m pumping surf, which is being generated by a storm down south in the Tasman Sea.

Surfers enjoy a rising swell at Burleigh Heads yesterday. Picture Mike Batterham

Boardriders revelled in the conditions, but lifeguards warned swimmers to take care. Many beaches were closed.

The big waves are set to continue until tomorrow, says Coastalwatch forecaster Ben Macartney who first picked the incoming swell last week.

“The swell’s upgraded a little bit. The low in the Tasman Sea seems to have parked itself and maintained intensity,” Mr Macartney said.

Boardriders make the most of pumping waves on the Gold Coast. Picture: Mike Batterham.

He said the southerly swell was expected to hit the Gold Coast from a more south-easterly angle from today, which could mean better quality waves for boardriders.

“It could get a bit better. We’ve got at least two really good days of surfing to come,” Mr Macartney said.

Mick Fanning hitting the lip of a wave at Coolangatta. Picture: John Mulhearn/@crystal_cylinder.

Gold Coast chief lifeguard Warren Young said only experienced surfers should attempt paddling out into the waves that closed beaches.

Early yesterday lifeguards closed beaches at Staghorn Ave at Surfers Paradise, Miami, North Burleigh, Tallebudgera, Pacific and all locations south of Currumbin except Greenmount.

“It is a pulsing swell at the moment. Some inexperienced surfers could get out (behind the breakers) and find themselves well out of their depth, if you excuse the pun,” Mr Young said.

Poised for the barrel at Burleigh Heads. Picture: Mike Batterham.

“There is a strong current inshore.”

He said lifeguards would keep a close eye on conditions, which have broken a month-long “swell drought” for the Gold Coast.

“There are some really nice waves coming through,” Mr Young said.