Red Bull New Zealand

As Mick Fanning looks down the barrel of another World Championship, he says Kelly Slater is still the man to beat and that he’s the one to do it – again.

Fanning snatched the title from Slater at the ASP World Tour in 2007, but he has his work carved out for him as we get down to the business end of the surf calendar.

“As far as the World Title race goes I probably haven’t posted the kind of results I would have liked so far,” he says. “But I felt like I needed to let my hair down a little after such an intense couple of years chasing the title.”

The 27-year-old from the Gold Coast says he has a newfound focus now that he has achieved his goal.

“I’m more calculated and patient these days. When you want something as bad as I wanted the world title the hunger can sometimes blur your focus and distract you from your game plan. Now, when I pull on a comp jersey and paddle out for a heat I have a clearer idea of what it is I’m going out there to achieve,” he says.

And as for the eight-time world champion: “Kelly has had an incredible year so far and he’s going to be extremely difficult to beat. However, if there’s even the most remote chance I can catch him, I’ll be focusing all my energy on that,” says Fanning.

“Kelly’s not just the greatest surfer ever but he’s also proven himself to be one of the most superior sportsmen of all time. To have had the opportunity to surf against him and take a world title from him is what makes it all so special to me.”