Fanning Surfs to Victory with Dolphins – not Sharks! – at J-Bay Open in South Africa

Surfing in the same spot where he had a close encounter with a shark last year, Australian surfer Mick Fanning (35) won the J-Bay Open today in an emotional victory at Jeffreys Bay, South Africa… and this time he was joined by dolphins.

The three time World Surf League (WSL) champion returned to the site of the 2015 shark ‘attack’ to knock out Hawaii’s John John Florence (23) in the final. (Earlier in the competition Florence knocked out the sole South African on the elite WSL Championship Tour, Jordy Smith.)

After the phenomenal win, Mick said the important thing for him was not a world title but to “right the wrongs of last year and move on”.

Fanning made international headlines during last year’s event where he was attacked on live television by what is believed to be a 12-to-15-foot Great White Shark.

Following a season that involved the shark attack, a world runner-up finish and the tragic passing of his brother, Fanning is taking a personal year in 2016, surfing in only select events. However, the Australian icon committed to returning to Jeffreys Bay, an event he has won three times (2002, 2006, 2014).

“When I decided I was only going to do a few events this season, J-Bay was always on the cards,” Fanning said before the event. “Even if I decided I didn’t want to surf in the J-Bay Open, I was always going to go back. I’ve had so many great memories there that to leave J-Bay on the note from last year just didn’t seem right. I want to go back and right the wrongs and move forward.”

The WSL enhanced its surveillance and response capabilities for this season’s event with additional water patrol in the lineup, and using emerging sonar technologies to increase information available to event officials.

“I trust the WSL and the measures they’ve put in place,” Fanning said before the competition. “It is, however, one of those things where it is the ocean and, ultimately, there is not a lot anyone can do. I’m thinking positive and looking forward to coming back.”

Fanning said that sharks are “all part of surfing. We’re not going to go out and put a cage around J-Bay.”

The Australian surfer, who almost couldn’t compete at J-Bay because of an injury, thanked his family, friends and sponsors for all their support over the past gruelling year. His mother was there today to congratulate him in person after last year’s harrowing experience where she watched her son’s encounter with the shark on television from miles away in Australia.

Commentators at today’s competition said they could not fault Fanning for anything – he works harder than most and was out practising till dark last night and is involved in the South African Waves for Change organisation which helps inner city children who are exposed to violence and poverty in SA.