The Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach has gained a strong following through the years. Those who get to ring the bell at the end of the event seem to relish that moment as one they won’t forget for the rest of their careers. It’s always a fun contest, regardless of the world title implications or who ends up with the trophy.
But this year has a different feel to it, for one specific reason. This is Mick Fanning’s final contest as a Championship Tour competitor.
The three-time world champ announced that he would be retiring from the tour following Bells. It came as something of a surprise, but also makes sense for the 36-year-old. He’s been taking more time off the past few seasons and he’s been grinding a full-time schedule since 2002. So completing his career this week will bring him full circle, since his first career victory came as a wild card at Bells Beach in 2001.
While he’ll be a sentimental choice to ring the bell for a fifth and final time, his contest will begin with a tough three-man heat. Competing in the final trio of the opening round, Fanning will be going up against Sebastian Zietz and Jesse Mendes.
For Zietz, the year’s opening contest ended as a throwaway score as he was one of the many upset victims early on the Gold Coast. Seabass was taken out by rookie Michael Rodrigues in the second round, so the Kilauea product will be looking to get his 2018 season off and running. Australia is home to Zietz’s first career CT win at Margaret River two years ago, so with that contest coming up next, he certainly has a chance to build up some early momentum.
Mendes, competing in his rookie campaign, also fell in round two on the Gold Coast to Wade Carmichael. So he will be eyeing some of the success that allowed him to dominate last season’s Qualifying Series schedule.
It’s somewhat unfortunate that Kelly Slater, who has enjoyed a very friendly rivalry and relationship with Fanning throughout their careers, won’t be competing again this week. Slater pulled out from the Gold Coast and withdrew from Bells Beach as he is still recovering from the foot injury that ended his 2017 season.
The final Slater-Fanning matchup took place last season at Bells Beach, won by Fanning. So one more potential go between the pair would have been an exciting wrinkle, but it’s not meant to be.
Julian Wilson heads into Bells with the yellow jersey, following his opening victory at Snapper Rocks. Wilson has always been considered a world title contender, so the color certainly suits him. Seeing how he responds as the current points leader will be interesting. He’ll be taking on France’s Joan Duru and Aussie wild card Carl Wright in the opening round.
John John Florence had a bit of a stunner in the opening event as he took a 25th place result, losing to Mikey Wright in round two. But Florence is just about always the favorite at every stop and that little hiccup doesn’t change that fact. He’ll be facing Brazil’s Tomas Hermes and another Aussie wild card, Mikey McDonagh.
The event starts off with a cracker of a heat. Filipe Toledo, Griffin Colapinto and rookie Michael February will get things going when contest organizers decide to give the green light.
But with the variety of interlacing story lines, Fanning will be the star of the week. All of his heats are essential appointment viewing as we say goodbye to one of the sport’s all-time greats who is still very much at the top of his game.
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David Simon can be reached at dsimon@thegardenisland.com.
