Before Mick Fanning headed for J'Bay, Steve Shearer saw him surfing his local pointbreak saying he looked "sharp and on point". Fanning carried the form through the comp coming second to local lad, Jordy Smith. Fanning now heads to Huntington Beach where he's competing in the US Open, an event he made the semi-finals of in 2010 and the finals in 2009. Fans are hoping that the third time is the charm for Fanning at "the world's largest surfing competition".

Recently Shayne Nienaber caught Fanning at home at Duranbah showing the sort of form that puts him in good stead for a shot at the US Open title.