Mick Fanning Honest About Kelly Slater & Andy Irons...

If you’re an Australian the name Mick Fanning needs no introduction. He is a 3x World Champion surfer and one of Australia’s favourite sportsman as well as a businessman in his own right post-surfing. Mick is a guy I always looked up to as a young Aussie and it has always been a dream to having him on the podcast to talk about his career and life in general. It’s quite hard to talk to a guy not Mick for the first time and not cover ground that has been covered a million times, but here is a conversation that I thoroughly enjoyed regardless.
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[@datapusher-]

Im a surfer who is also into mx / sx. SO thanks for doing this interview! Big ups!

[@nicscharing]

What is mx/sx

[@lastpaceended5866]

​@@nicscharingmotocross/sex

[@pabloabeijonromero5568]

Respect - Legends 🙌

[@MrMollymoto]

Same here bud gotta love it

[@datapusher-]

@@nicscharing motocross / supercross, sorry I thought the gypsy gang crowd would know the abbreviation.

[@TaranakiGreenfields]

Loved this! MF is a legend and awesome to hear his description of the other legends he surfed with. Thank you !!!

[@jbond1991]

so nice to hear Mick talk about being in the zone.....most magical human experience. Why surfers are so passionate. To have that experience. You can train your mind to have the same

[@cjgamer2140]

So I have had the honor of spending a little time surfing and hanging out with both Kelly and Andy. Me being a Florida boy, Kelly was the man. I always disliked Andy, because I thought he didn't show any respect for the champ. So I have been living in Costa Rica for over 20 years now and about a year or so before Andy's passing right before him a Lindy got married, Billabong hired my good buddy to take Andy, Wardo, and Cory Lopez surfing around CR on his boat. He asked me to be is mate for the trip and next thing I know I'm surfing and hanging with the boys all week (come back to CR Wardo). At the end of that trip I was a huge AI fan. The guy was so humble and genuine. We got to talking about personal stuff, and I even went to his wedding a short time later. I know a week doesn't seem like a long time to get to know someone, but when I heard of his death it hurt just like I had known him all my life. RIP Andy you will never be forgotten.

[@julieann4616]

That’s a great story. And you went to his wedding! That is really cool.

[@gusthunter8780]

The action of racing the fin in chop is just premium! Love seeing it.

[@spl7224]

Mick’s an awesome bloke with an insane talent for riding waves. I think as spectators sometimes we tend to put these athletes on pedestals but when you’re really listen to them talking they’re just normal people like us….but with an extraordinary talent. Not to mention the thousands of hours of work they put into it. Real good interview this one.

[@KingAlobar21]

I was stationed in Hawaii from 98 to 04. The Wolf Pack was in its prime and very intimidating. Meanwhile, Kelly would be spotted at Food Land and was super nice to everyone. Very different people in and out of the water. What a time to be there!

[@sbnqy]

Mick and Taj my favourite surfers of all time

[@TheOfficialMickeyDs]

I got a taj burrow baby buggy board it’s so sick

[@PDigsss]

Great chat. Fucken love Micks straight forwardness

[@ThomasSteury]

Mick sounds like a Doctor for surfing ❤

[@trevorhendy1]

Epic chat guys, loved it.

[@stevencaldwell838]

I’ll be driving for 3 days through Mexico for 6-7 hours a day tomorrow which I do every summer. That’s my zone! No music, no thoughts, nothing…. Just drive. Endless hours of meditation only thing on my mind if I let it think… surfing, fishing, my dog in the back seat and picking up my wife and daughter from the airport… 6 weeks in Mexico surfing perfect point breaks pops into my head on occasion but mostly a pleasurable drive through Mexico not thinking of anything that doesn’t really matter 🏄🏼‍♂️😵‍💫🤙

[@TheOfficialMickeyDs]

How do you avoid the cartel?

[@stevencaldwell838]

@@TheOfficialMickeyDs Don’t believe the hype! Cartels want nothing to do with tourists driving through Mexico. If anything, they make money from us. I drive through numerous military checkpoints and if you are “clean” and have nothing to hide then all they do is ask to look in the back of your car then send you on your way… cartel’s typically only care about other cartel’s and making real money… it’s more dangerous for me to drive 4 miles east of my house in So Cal than driving through Mexico!

[@latentsea]

He delivers

[@jimbocreationsbu8203]

Mick was the best power surfer - in my opinion - no one on tour now even come close to that level of power

[@sacacorchoo]

legend

[@danielpaschoaletto5498]

Ayrton Senna used to be on this “place” when he used to race 🙌

[@clarkewi]

Awesome.

[@godisbollocks]

There's a great book about the flow state they're talking about here. It's called 'Effortless Mastery' by Kenny Werner. He's a pianist, and believes that this flow state can be acheived readily through meditation. My only criticism is that he ties all of this to his particular denominational religious beliefs, which is clearly nonsensical. But his descriptions of the flow state (Stan Getz called it the alpha state) are great reading.

[@rafaeldejesus7984]

Nobody ever dominates the water in heavy conditions like the Irons....nobody...

[@JahRasta01]

Andy from the era where surfers were still edgey

[@latentsea]

Ice house toobs

[@secretguyoz2]

Mick at Snapper.. 😮

[@sama5946]

Makes you think if mick says those two are naturally gifted hahaha

[@TheOfficialMickeyDs]

Mick is a legend but he knows those two were something else

[@sambrockgareth]

Sounds like the warning signs were all around Andy sad no one including himself could see it or give him help,

[@grahamjarman]

u cant force someone to do something

[@goddamaddog]

heroin

[@paulmidd5523]

Wet shirt lmao

[@latentsea]

Mick likes it when it’s chilly

[@Kidgloves1984]

First time I saw Mick surfing in Fanning the fire I was literally blown away by his surfing..so fast, radical, smooth, stylish with beautiful arc turns and so exciting..

[@trevorleggo1777]

Geeez Mick is a generous, modest dude..3..4 titles? One of the best we’ve seen for a while. Great podcasts..moto & surf pursuits, all flow.

[@duanebosch9508]

I STILL love to watch videos of Andy. His surfing was so incredibly beautiful. I love to watch the tail of his board through the turns. RIP.

[@ChickenJoe-tq6xd]

And he wasn’t boring like everyone else now

[@shacktime]

@@ChickenJoe-tq6xdYeah, because JJF is so boring🙄 WTF are you even smoking🤔🤨

[@grahamjarman]

​@@latentsealmao finally some1 else who doesnt like kelly

[@Qtipp463]

Mick is an absolute gem, love this dude

[@michaelscurr9046]

One of the most disrespectful surfers I’ve ever come across period. I couldn’t care less what he has to say. And I’m not the only one that thinks this. Just because he won world titles doesn’t mean shit the guys full of himself

[@olavista1977]

Kelly's a dork retire already your embarrassing

[@tyronemcnamara5175]

AI forever

[@panchowheeler4122]

the shark had second thoughts when it realized it was mick fanning on the board

[@MindSurf248]

One of the most successful surfers ever, and his personal challenges have been brutal, inspiring bloke!

[@skillsmachine9164]

When he said "the ocean was one of the safest places for me" I was like mate do you remember the great white that almost ate you 😂 but I know what he means.

[@TheOfficialMickeyDs]

@@skillsmachine9164yea it was unsafe for the great white to be out their with mick fanning

[@derekge5794]

Mick paddled out to my home spot once and was the most gracious cool guy. I actually wanted him to take more waves so I could see what he'd do to the waves. Might have been the day, but he was super cool, respectful, but ripping and taking the waves that were his. Gotta root for guys like him.

[@cjgamer2140]

I have had the pleasure of surfing with at least a dozen of the top pros here at my home break in Costa Rica. I find most of them to be that way tbh. Felipe Toledo was one of the coolest. Mick come to CR mate!

[@Hopefiend95]

REST IN PEACE ANDY

[@LumiRapper]

Surfed with Kelly a couple of times and he is a magician, probably a druid. He is probably an ancient.

[@TheParentalRevolution]

Dude! Was that a Stargate reference?

[@4470greg]

Could be a portal to another dimension!

[@stevenwilson8718]

I surfed with Kelly 30 something years ago at Sébastien inlet. I was only boggie boarding back then and never even talked to him but it's still a pretty cool day I'll never forget

[@4470greg]

I knew someone who had heard of someone who knew a guy from Kelly’s old break and he said that he’d heard about a guy who was in the water on a day that Kelly wasn’t there but that he’d had an amazing surf anyway.

[@stevenwilson8718]

@@4470greg that was definitely me! I was 10 years old and on a biggie board on the inside break. Thanks for letting everyone know. Kelly will probably be reaching out to me soon to surf the ranch for sure!

[@jws2206]

Kelly has the most longevity and consistency, But anyone who watched Andy surf in the early 2000’s know he was the best! Surfer ever.

[@theenergeticdomain.2379]

Mick is a gun surfer one of the best. Has he considered being a surf commentator?? He has the voice. The current surf commentators OMG sound like children.

[@TheOfficialMickeyDs]

He’s not enough of a wokie corporate puppet to be a surf commentator, most of wsl staff are absolute Barney’s in and out of the water

[@davidguthrie3739]

Nothing but love coming from this man….And he should consider a career doing voice overs.

[@vince6460]

MF was a bad ass himself

[@johnmcclure6777]

Fuckin shark slayer .....legend.....speaking on the goats

[@TheMushroomTrap]

Kelly Slater is beautiful to watch, but Andy Irons defied physics. He did things which didn't seem possible.

[@SurferKroky]

Literally I think the opposite, the amount of times Kelly made an impossible barrel or drop is off the charts

[@TheMushroomTrap]

@@SurferKroky interesting, I've never seen him do anything that seemed impossible, just all style.

[@SurferKroky]

@@TheMushroomTrap you haven’t watched enough lol

[@latentsea]

Andy was insane, surfed with him as kids w Bruce . They ripped aa 12 year olds. Jelly all calculated and plays to the audience pretending to almost fall at pipe and then pulling it off for the crowd. Andy head down charging! No drama act

[@scottindosurferaustralia4833]

If your in the ocean your out of trouble!!! 😅😅😅

[@paolobrossi78]

Awesome stuff .. it’s cool now how surfing is getting in to podcasting and we get to hear stories like this .. Remember his title run .. amazing content ..

[@createelement27]

Mick is a legend and a gentleman one of my all time favorite humans.

[@thedrewdavid]

Jace, one of the best podcasts you’ve grown into with subjects, interview prowess, and Australia 🇦🇺 mate. 🍻

[@nancybashista1390]

Mick is truly a gifter surfer. One of the best! ❤

[@latentsea]

Ehhh... my friends shred em up

[@Samurai78420]

Thank all of you for sharing what is the most powerful natural activity on the planet. I don't surf, but it's literally my favorite thing to witness since I was a kid. Respect

[@chrisculley3756]

Mick, you nailed it, theres different levels of that flow state. Sometimes it comes off very aggressive and other times your grinning and laughing your ass off. Yeah it's that drug that keeps us coming back. There's no other feeling like it when you're so locked in it almost becomes outer body. But that's why we keep going back to see if we can get to that level again. RLTW 3/75

[@TheOfficialMickeyDs]

Outerknown outer body experience - $799.99

[@trentpfisterer]

Great interview. I''d just like to share that the flow type of experiences he talked about can be found more frequently when we become more and more present in general with life around us in everyday life. This is what I softly focus on every minute of everyday. If anyone wants some ideas or help with this just let me know. 🙏

[@goddamaddog]

RIP Andy

[@noahbyrne2402]

Watching an elite athlete in that “flow state” zone is always amazing. Love how Mick describes it. Andy needed anger to get to it. Kelly was the master of it. It can’t be explained in words and happens in all sports.

[@arthurmauricio5890]

Yeaah, Senna's flow state during Monaco is just insane

[@noahbyrne2402]

@@latentsea Well no… not free surfing…. Shit I can even get glimpses of my weak flow state free surfing He was an angry competitor. Even his friends, more over his brother, say that. Nothing against the guy, he was an absolute animal and one of the best competitors to ever wear a jersey.

[@grahamjarman]

andy cool kelly uncool

[@noahbyrne2402]

@@grahamjarmannot really… Andy kinda acted like an asshole… it had to be personal Kelly was and is internal …. Competing with himself like the other guys isn’t there

[@dimaermolenko98]

It's cool in a competition... but imagine always having to compete with Kelly for everything....and if he doesn't win there is bad vibes...Sorry man but that sounds awefull.

[@chrisgreive870]

All beautifully said mate. As a musician, the zone/flow/groove, is a lovely place to hang. I reckon you've described it so well

[@GEB-yy3ud]

It brings me a smile to see him still living life well and kicking ass. Legend.

[@taylorsaasen7209]

I have only been in the zone/flow state once before and it was while trail running. Runners I guess call it runners high and it felt like you could just go for ever and were unstoppable. It would be dope if every sport called it a high because that’s what it feels like in the most unstoppable way. Surfers high/ MTB high etc.

[@FawknHayn2986]

Love to A.I. what a legend

[@doinok1149]

Slater 50 winning pipeline Stoner #27 How about the King of the mountain winning the worlds fastest most mind blowing event on the planet at 50 years old and the most wins ever…Joey Dunlops Senior Win at the 2000TT✊ R.I.P Joey&Andy💐 Legends Long Live On Forever…….

[@bfranco1519]

Dude fought off a Great White! Legend!

[@jamesaldrich9754]

I was taught that the state Mick is talking about is called an"analogical state of mind" as apposed to a "binary state of mind".We are mostly in a binary state,binary means bi (two) meaning separated.Ana means "one with" what ever you are doing.When you are analogical mind you are in what is called the "now"with what you are doing you are one with it,In the now there is no time,no thinking,you are in a trance state.In analogical mind there is 'no fear" everything just is with no judgement,you have become the "observer".You can not think and be in the now at the same time.

[@fisher-y6c]

what a fkn stupid statement, " they seemed like two diff ppl"

[@RobertoPinguirito]

#Google tradução martelo tubarão martelo ou bem 11

[@SouthSwellin]

After Mick left the tour, it’s never been the same. Not even close honestly.

[@natbarron]

He definitely adds a unique flair and style to the tour! Miss him being on tour for sure!!

[@paulsolon6229]

Neither can talk w o saying “like”

[@tucko11]

And surfing is just one of many pleasures the Ocean offers to us 😊

[@selder03]

Glad to see a iconic surfer on the Gypsy

[@jws2206]

AI best ever

[@decentlayer6599]

Kissed by god A.I.

[@gusthunter8780]

Love watching Women's Fin! What Drama!

[@francus7227]

3X world champ talking about Ke11y and A.I. like he's on OUR level... It's like listening to Foreman talking about Ali.... Trevino talking about Jack. Bubba talking about Tiger.... Patrick Ewing talking about Bird.... All time greats being leveled by GOATs.

[@joeblow1942]

Drugs with Borderline Personality Disorder was a lethal combination for Andy.

[@jamesdiggs4096]

*bipolar disorder / manic depression. Andy just had a mood disorder that he self medicated. Borderline is completely different that’s a personality disorder.

[@latentsea]

Boarder personality order

[@joeblow1942]

@@jamesdiggs4096 Unfortunately BPD is often misdiagnosed as Bipolar Disorder. I am fairly certain based on experiences people had with him (rages, etc.) that he had BPD.

[@arcawocenhalowsaken2663]

Oi I surfed twice with Kelly's ex missusses old man's bros cuzzees mums boys ex missus cuz... ... don't know if it was a man or chick but I said aye Yoo know who am I boy... and they said I'm telling Kelly... ... ... ... ... ... never did aye

[@SURF-MAN]

SURF MAN NA NA NA NA NA NA SURF MAN

[@GeeseForGosling]

Kelly taught me to surf in junior high. I was never very good, a bit of a goofy foot/ goofy everything, but he was super patient. 🌊🏄🏻‍♀️

[@thespartan8476]

I think Kelly Slater is indeed one of those guys who could have had any Professional career choice he wanted. A doctor, etc. I've never met him but seen him surf in Australia. In one of his Films. He talked about how to get speed from a small wave. And it was the Best thing I ever heard a surfer say. Because I had no idea. Thanks!👍🌊Cheers from Australia. 🏄‍♂

[@chicoxiba]

yeah it happens in a good surf session.. chance. But you better be prepared, preparedness is the link.

[@user-wd5iq9xh1o]

Powerful description of competing and getting into the zone. Thanks Mick.

[@moto_kai2688]

Gypsy dont even know what hes hearing he will never be on micks level he amongst royalty for the first time😂

[@edwardbenes5015]

Lost all respect for Australia .... they beat their people like seals during covid lockdowns

[@jerrybow8779]

Wtf are you on about bro?

[@jerrybow8779]

@revolutionsendtimeschurch mate stop reliving the lockdown in your mind. Best country ever

[@JD-ms5gs]

You're right, it was brutal. The politicians cause more harm than good. Common sense went flying out the window with them

[@Kisyfurr]

​@jerrybow8779 was the best, it's gone down hill big time. Government is out of control

[@latentsea]

Obey your master

[@Steve-hs5le]

Mick is a Super Surfer Hero,love this dude 😎. Want more videos of his free Surfing now that he's not competing.

[@billnyethesciencedenier1516]

Possibly the most boring interview I've ever witnessed.

[@jimbocreationsbu8203]

Mick was the best power surfer - in my opinion - no one on tour now even come close to that level of power

[@lukecarey613]

‘Positive Psychology’ studies “Flow”. 🌊 ☀️

[@bucklesfilms]

Mx n surf My favorite Love the videos

[@ericsummers1230]

Always loved me some Fanning. Legend

[@thedarwinsnatchers6745]

(in my opinion ) that feeling there talking about is just pure focus on the surf comp ......no thoughts besides what ur doing right there and then... living 100% in the moment with no disturbances... not easy to do... but occasionally happens ...

[@TheOfficialMickeyDs]

Kelly found a way to activate whenever he wants, probably learned it after finding the fountain of youth in Florida

[@keithkennedy4605]

Shir up mik gay aussie

[@jimclawley9117]

Nobody has Slaters style on a board.

[@TheOfficialMickeyDs]

Mick is my favorite aussie as a murican

[@hman7236]

Shot out to the Champ ,,,big fan

[@petep5003]

legend

[@ryanschobel3972]

Same.

[@hokuinsai4299]

Fandango

[@richardmason902]

The zone.

[@EMan-cu5zo]

Great surfer and great man.

[@Ron-oh8lj]

He said Kelly and Andy seem like two completely different people?😮

[@grahamjarman]

andy had a mental illness, bipolar disorder

[@DavidinMiami]

Interesting how Aussies say "yeah" a lot.

[@CarianneRHixson]

Yep. My wife says yeah instead of like on client calls all the time. Drive me insane! 😂

[@dartymcphee6738]

This guy thinks he owns the ocean at tugun..🤦🏻‍♂️

[@natbarron]

Definitely dominates. Definitely earned it. What’s your issue?

[@dartymcphee6738]

@@natbarron so are you saying he’s can claim the ocean at Tugun or wherever he surfs? Or any surfer for that matter!

[@greglucero8714]

A.I. forever!

[@felipericketts]

I know the feeling. Everyone does. It lives in the heart at all times! 🙂

[@CJ_102]

Not hating, but outside of his early years (20's), very very few of Kelly's waves would even hit my top 10. At their peak AI, Curren, Occy, Padaratz, Machado ALL have more x factor than the older-Kelly. New bloods like Ethan Ewing have strong force also. Jedis.

[@georgecudworth6134]

Let's go a little deeper... Lived on kauai for 21 years. Saw Andy first hand... Truth was he treated kids that looked up to him like dog crap! It was disgusting to see! He was a drug addict too. Yeah, the real Andy

[@deontaywallaceescalade]

Dont understand Why people Just cant talk about the real Andy Irons. Andy was a Self entitled @ss h0le and so is his brother bruce.