Mick Fanning misses dream finish at Bells Beach

MICK Fanning shed a tear as he called time on two decades of professional surfing, which ended in a narrow loss in the final of the Rip Curl Pro.

Mick Fanning on his way to winning his quarterfinal matchup.

MICK Fanning shed a tear as he called time on two decades of professional surfing, which ended in a narrow loss in the final of the Rip Curl Pro on Thursday.

The Gold Coast-bred surfer said he was thinking of his family as he reflected on two decades at the top.

“It was just the family trying to bring words to what we’ve been through,” Fanning said.

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MICK FANNING’S CAREER IN PICTURES

Mick Fanning leaves Bells Beach for the last time chaired up the beach by good friends Taylor Knox and Joel Parkinson. Picture: Jason Sammon

Italo Ferreira (Brazil) won the 2018 Bells Rip Curl Pro after defeating Mick Fanning in his last career event. Picture: Jason Sammon

“From good, bad, funny there’s no words to describe that and so maybe a tear is just enough.”

He said he was not disappointed Italo Ferreira won the final, breaking through for his first competition win.

It would have been a record fifth Bells title for Fanning if he had taken it out, but the fairytale was not to be.

He had taken out fellow Australian Owen Wright in the quarter-finals earlier and was too strong for American Patrick Gudauskas in the semi-final.

But he did not get the waves against Ferreira in the final minutes.

Ferreira nailed an 8.33 with minutes to go and no other set waves came through for Fanning.

He won 15.66 to 12.83.

Although it was not a fairytale end, Fanning said it was still memorable.

“It’s really special, it’s a very special moment,” he said. “Just to see how much it meant to him (Ferreira), it made me feel better. It has been an amazing career, I want to thank everyone along the way. I walk away with so many great memories.”

Mick Fanning prepares for his winning quarterfinal.

Fanning on his way to winning his quarterfinal matchup against Owen Wright. Picture: Jason Sammon

Fanning, 36, won three world title championships and has been one of Kelly Slater’s great rivals.

But for many people he will be remembered as the surfer who was attacked by a great white shark live on TV in the Jeffrey’s Bay contest in South Africa in 2015.

His mum, Liz Osborne, his manager, was among the crowd along with his dad, John, sister Rachel and brother Edward.

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Sadly Fanning missed out on the ultimate fairytale finale. Picture: Jason Sammon

Fans congratulate Fanning after he secured a spot in the Mens Final, defeating Pat Gudauskas. Picture: Jason Sammon

Mick Fanning’s career: In pictures

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He said his mum would still be on the payroll despite his career ending.

“She’s still got a job, even if she doesn’t work, I’ll still pay her,” he said. “She’s taught me so much and she’s such a humble and driven person, someone who looks out for me 100 per cent which is really special.”

Fanning said he was going to have a break before travelling the world in search of waves like he did in his year off after the shark attack.