Shock Mansion: G’day mate! Let’s begin with a high five and congratulations. First one came in 2007 now you’ve scored your second in 2009, how are you feeling mate?

Mick Fanning: Hey buddy. Thanks heaps. Feeling amazing. Had an epic break after Hawaii. I went snowboarding in Canada with friends and family. I didn’t touch a surfboard for almost a month. It was epic!

Shock Mansion: For those that don’t know, you have an alter ego named Eugene that gets some attention. We’re guessing he was pretty stoked on the festivities that lay ahead?

Mick Fanning: Haha! Eugene doesn’t come out too often these days. He made a couple of brief cameos during the Canada trip but that guy has lived a fast life and now he’s just about burnt out.

Shock Mansion: What’s your favorite alcoholic drink at the moment, and what helps you get through a hangover the next morning?

Mick Fanning: I’m not a very big drinker to be honest. I’m a bit of a two-beer wonder. But I love an arvo Corona. When it comes to a hangover I’m a big believer in the big greasy breakfast and a movie.

Shock Mansion: Having travelled the world, besides your home town, where is the one place you always love returning to?

Mick Fanning: Mate, that’s a tough one. I’ve been travelling the world for the past 15 years so I’ve got family and friends all over the joint. If I had to choose one place though I’d have to say Tahiti. The waves are epic and the family I stay with there are gold.

Shock Mansion: With the success you have earned over your career, as a kid I’m sure you’d have dreamt of some wild purchases, have you ‘bought’ any of those dreams to reality?

Mick Fanning: My house was a dream purchase because it’s right near all the waves I grew up surfing and tucked away from the chaos of the Gold Coast. I love it. I’ve also bought property on the North Shore in Hawaii and that is pretty surreal.

Shock Mansion: Can you tell us what toys are in your garage right now?

Mick Fanning: I have a jet ski, a Toyota Hilux and about 50 surfboards.

Shock Mansion: When you’re not tearing the s**t out of waves around the globe or competing for world titles, what’s a day in the life of Mick Fanning like?

Mick Fanning: It’s all pretty relaxing once I’m at home, which is hardly ever. I’ll train in the mornings, then I’ll grab a nice big breakie, read the paper, maybe post some bits and pieces on my website and catch a bit of TV. In amongst all that there’s usually a fair chance of some interviews and other media to take care of.

Shock Mansion: Atom bombs are falling! Top 3 things you want to do before we are all toast?

Mick Fanning: Shit. Um…firstly, I’d say my goodbyes to family and friends. Then I’d give the dog a pat and lastly get the wife and… you know.

Shock Mansion: Outside of surfing we are sure you’re a business minded person, do you have other ventures outside the surf industry? Do you ever think about moving into other industries later down the track?

Mick Fanning: Yeah, I’ve invested money here and there. I’ve been lucky enough to purchase a couple of properties and back some potentially strong businesses. I love exploring life outside of surfing and down the track I’d say moving into some other industries is inevitable.

Shock Mansion: If you could teach one person in the world to surf dead or alive, who would you have paddle out beside you?

Mick Fanning: I took a mate of mine surfing at Sunset in Hawaii recently. His name is Barney Miller and he was a great surfer once but he was in a car accident and is now a quadriplegic. He was buzzing after riding a couple of waves. I’d like to take someone like Barney surfing again.

Shock Mansion: SHARKS! Big scary buggers with s**t loads of teeth. Can you tell us about a sketchy encounter you’ve had in the water?

Mick Fanning: A couple of years ago I did a shark dive in South Africa. It was heavy. I was just bobbing around in this cage like a bit of bait while these massive sharks swam by. After a few minutes I had to get out of there. It seemed like those massive whites could have chewed straight through the cage if they wanted to. We saw a few seals get smashed by the sharks as we were driving out there.

Please note: This may or may not be Mick actually in the cage

Shock Mansion: Been to any music concerts/gigs lately? What are you listening to at the moment?

Mick Fanning: I went to the Big Day Out last week and had a ball. Grinspoon went mental.

Shock Mansion: Can you tell us a little bit about your tattoos and if you have any plans for more?

Mick Fanning: I’ve got three. When my brother Sean passed I got his named inked on the inside of my left arm. A little later I got my family crest in the same spot. The other tattoo I got more recently was of the eagle statue on Kirra headland on my wrist. That’s a significant landmark for me and my family so I thought I’d put it somewhere I can see it everyday. I like em but I don’t have any plans for more just yet.

Shock Mansion: You don’t see too many heavily tattooed surfers among the top guys; do you think this is due to long healing periods out of the water?

Mick Fanning: Haha! Maybe that’s the case. There’s a couple of lads with plenty of ink though. Matt Hoy has a bunch, so does Christian Fletcher, Chris Davidson and Bobby Martinez.

Shock Mansion: Thanks heaps for your time dude, we know you’re a very busy man. To wrap things up, any words to your Aussie fans?

Mick Fanning: Just a big thanks to everyone that backed me to get the job done on tour last year.

Shock Mansion: Good luck in 2010! We wish you all the best. We love to party here at Shock Mansion so if you could extend that offer to Eugene that would be rad. Cheers mate. Yew!

Mick Fanning: Thanks lads. If 2010 unfolds like 2009 I dare say we could see a little of Eugene around the place.

For more Mick Fanning please visit his official website HERE.

Monday, January 25th, 2010 at 6:46 pm