The Championship Tour is currently in West Oz for the fifth stop of the 2023 season, the Margaret River Pro. (Check out highlights from day one here.)
But on the other side of Australia – at the famed and former CT stop, Snapper Rocks – the best day of the year (so far) just went down. And local heavy-hitters like Mick Fanning, Joel Parkinson, and others were on hand to indulge in the epic run of swell.
It was an all-out tube frenzy at Snapper. And true to Snapper’s reputation, there were hordes of surfers in the lineup, making it a mindfield for anyone threading a long, sand-bottomed barrel. Getting a wave to yourself is a special thing out at Snapper, due to the crowds, but it certainly helps if your name’s Mick or Joel.
And during the sessions, Mick even took out some alternative equipment. He rode a throwback board, the same board ridden during Tom Carroll’s infamous “snap heard around the world” from the 1991 Pipe Masters.
About the board and the session, Mick wrote:
“Yesterday I had the honour to ride the @thomasvictorcarroll x @rawsonsurfboard 1991 Pipeline Replica. 7’8 x 17’7/8 x 2’1/8
“To say the least it was challenging but was so eye opening. I had to change the way I normally approach surfing snapper.”
Of course, Mick still ripped.
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