After ringing the bell four times during his decorated career, Australian surfing great Mick Fanning is briefly coming out of retirement to chase a fifth title at the prestigious World Surf League event in Victoria next month.
Retired three-time world champion Mick Fanning will chase a fifth Bells Beach title after being awarded a wildcard for next month's World Surf League event in Victoria.He briefly came out of retirement last year to compete in the Narrabeen eventFanning, who retired from the WSL in 2018, competed last year as a wildcard at Narrabeen."Bells is the one I was really aiming for," Fanning said.
"It's a place that is really close to my heart and if I was ever going to take a wildcard it would be there, so I'm pretty fired up." Fanning claimed four Bells Beach titles during his career, with victories in 2001, 2012, 2014 and 2015. He sits alongside Kelly Slater, Lisa Andersen, Stephanie Gilmore and Mark Richards for four wins at the Victorian point-break."To go and ring the bell for the fifth time, no-one has ever done it apart from Gail Couper," Fanning said."My preparation when I was on tour was non-stop training but this time around I've just been focusing on my surfing and making sure it's up to the level of the best in the world."Fanning won his three world titles in 2007, 2009 and 2013.
The remaining wildcards for the men's and women's draws will be decided at a local trials event from April 7, with 20 men and 20 women competing for the one spot in each division.