Mick Fanning has ended his professional surfing career with a commendable second-place finish at today’s Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach event, capping off an illustrious couple of decades with absolute class.
The 36-year-old ceded first place to Brazilian Italo Ferreira at the lauded Victorian surf spot, the exact location where the Australian powered onto the scene back in 2001.
With time running out during the final session, a dream wave failed to materialise for Fanning, leaving him with a score of 12.83 to Ferreira’s 15.66.
Congratulations @ferreiraitalo15, winner of the 2018 #RipCurlPro #BellsBeach🔔 @ripcurl @visitvictoria pic.twitter.com/6E3GOyllyB
— World Surf League (@wsl) April 5, 2018
Although 23-year-old Ferreira rightly celebrated his first-ever victory on the pro tour, he still took time to honour “the best competitor ever.”
After embracing the young gun in the water, Fanning also gave props to the deserving winner.
FANNING: “Just to see how much it meant to Italo, that was one of the greatest things I’ve seen at Bells.” @7NewsMelbourne pic.twitter.com/MGmloE6UMp
— Jodi Lee (@jodilee_7) April 5, 2018
He’s ended his career with 22 tour wins and 3 World Tour titles. Fair bloody effort, mate.
Congratulations @Mick_Fanning on an incredible career #CheersMick pic.twitter.com/QwLyaj8zns
— World Surf League (@wsl) April 5, 2018
Fellow Aussie gun Stephanie Gilmore also claimed her fourth Bells Beach title, hurling her into first place on the World Tour – a pretty good way to cement a proud day for Australia on the waves.
