Australian surfer Mick Fanning claimed his second World Surfing Championship in 2009 to add to the title he won two years earlier.
Fanning learned to surf at the age of five in coastal New South Wales at a town called Ballina, but did not go full on until his family moved to Tweed Heads when he was 12. He grew up with fellow professional surfer Joel Parkinson with access to epic surf and he began to make a name for himself
Fanning’s victory came as a blow to Parkinson who had looked to be mounting an unstoppable charge to clinch his first world title earlier in the season. He won three of the first five events but an ankle injury he sustained while training in Bali saw the Australian’s lead dwindle before being overtaken by Fanning.
Fanning said: “I’m just a bit overwhelmed right now and I don't quite know what to say. The last few days, I was really nervous. I knew I was surfing well. It was just a matter of getting that result.”
