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Sunday, April 10 pm-- FINAL
GOLD Coast larrikin Mick Fanning continued his incredible comeback at Newcastle Beach today by becoming the first surfer to win three EnergyAustralia Open titles.
Having spent five months out of the water last year recovering from an horrific hamstring injury, Fanning produced a power-packed display in clean one-metre waves to take out the $100,000 world qualifying event.
The 23-year-old dominated the 30-minute final, notching a 9.70-point ride for a 100-metre backhand ride for a combined heat score of 17.93 out of possible 20.
Former world grommet champion Ben Dunn from Old Bar on the NSW mid-north coast was second with 15.40 points, followed by North Narrabeen 's Nathan Hedge (14.30) and Brazilian Renato Galvao (12.67).
Fanning, who has a reputation for enjoying himself on the circuit but looks fitter and stronger than he ever has, celebrated today's victory with a schooner of beer and a carton of chips.
"You only get one shot at life so you might as well enjoy it," said Fanning, who also won the World Championship Tour opener, the Quiksilver Pro, on the Gold Coast last month.
"I had a lot of stuff to sort out last year but I'm more focused than I've ever been on winning the world title.
"I've been training a lot . I've probably done a million squats to get back to where I am now.
"It's funny but that time off has probably worked in my favour because I'm so much more mentally refreshed.
". I obviously needed the break because it's starting to pay off."
Today was the third time in five years that Fanning has won the EnergyAustralia Open, held in honour of home-town hero and four-time world surfing champion Mark "MR" Richards.
About 10,000 people lined the shore for the 20 th anniversary of the surfing festival, which also featured an awe-inspiring "expression session" featuring former Newcastle contest winners Kelly Slater, Tom Carroll and Tom Curren, who boast 11 world titles between them.
Fanning said it was the "MR factor" that kept enticing him back to Newcastle , the only qualifying event he enters outside of Hawaii .
"When I won here the first time I was only 17 so I wasn't even able to drink," Fanning laughed. "But I love coming to Newcastle - I want to come back every year because the people make it so enjoyable ."
For more information, contact Paul Scott in the EnergyAustralia Surfest Media Centre: 0249295918 or 0405748284.
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