Fanning, who finished 4th in the world in 2003, missed most of last season after tearing his hamstring from the bone in a horrific free surfing wipeout in Indonesia. After months of frustration spent out of the water in painful rehabilitation, he returned to the WCT this year courtesy of an Association of Surfing Professionals injury wildcard which fellow surfers voted unanimously to award him. And what a comeback it was - Fanning capping a sensational Quiksilver Pro surfing festival in stunning fashion with his debut victory at home.

In winning the event, he joined fellow ‘Coolangatta Kids’ Joel Parkinson (2002) and Dean Morrison (2003) to have his name inscribed on the prestigious championship trophy. Adding to the parochial crowd’s delight was Gold Coast teenage wildcard Stephanie Gilmore’s triumph in the women’s Roxy Pro Presented by Boost Mobile.

“It’s just a statement to the world of surfing that Mick’s back,’’ said a joyful Parkinson, who with fellow Aussie Nathan Hedge chaired a deliriously happy Fanning from the beach. “It made it so much sweeter to come back off injury,’’ said a shaking Fanning as he skolled a celebratory can of Foster’s, the US$30,000 winner’s cheque in his other hand. “Everything that I’d thought about over the whole six months when I was out of the water, it all worked - I’m just so wrapped, just so stoked.’’

While the mercurial Ward caught anything and everything in the 35-minute final, amassing five waves in the first half of the heat before his opponent had a score on the board, Fanning was content to sit and wait for the waves with higher scoring potential. Ward caught 14 waves to Fanning’s six but the scores were a telling factor. Twelve of the American’s waves scored less than four points, while the Australian amassed two eight point-plus rides and two five-pointers.

Fanning finished with 16.93 points out of a possible 20, leaving Ward on 11.90 points and a two-wave scoring combination adrift. “I’d waited six months to get a wave so I knew I could wait 20 minutes. I knew there were some high-scoring waves to be had out there,’’ he said. “I didn’t think this (victory) would happen but I just tried to stay relaxed all week. I didn’t put any pressure on myself, I just really enjoyed the whole time.’’ Of his world championship lead, Fanning declared : “Like I’ve been telling everyone all week, it’s game on. I’m really pumped.’’

After 12 years grafting it out on the World Qualifying Series, Ward, 26, was pleased to have made the final of his first WCT event. “It was just unreal surfing from Mick,’’ said Ward, who delighted the crowd with some spectacular aerial moves. “From the start with his first wave to the last, he cleaned it up. It was just really slow out there but Mick got the good ones.’’

Fanning’s casualties on his way to the final included his quarter-final opponent, three-time reigning world champion Andy Irons (Haw). Ward accounted for former six-time world champion Kelly Slater (USA) who bowed out in the quarters, at the hands of countryman Chris Ward, in a thrilling battle between the American East and West Coast surfers.

Veteran great and former world champion Mark Occhilupo’s hopes of a maiden Quiksilver Pro triumph in his testimonial year evaporated in the third quarter-final when he lost a low-scoring heat to Tom Whitaker (Aus). Sydney’s Whitaker, a 2004 Quiksilver Pro semi-finalist, only just failed to go one better when he was pipped by an agonising 0.1 of a point by the electric Ward. “It’s always going to be close - you’ve got the best 44 in the world surfing against each other,’’ said Whitaker who, while disappointed, was satisfied with his equal 3rd placing. “The waves weren’t really co-operating but we did our best and to pull up just short ... oh well.’’

In the other semi, Fanning made a mockery of the crumbling conditions to score a day’s high 17.27 points out of a possible 20 and leave the in-form Trent Munro (Aus) in need of a two-wave scoring combination. “It’s a good start to the year - better than 33rd which I’ve had the last two years in a row (on the Gold Coast),’’ commented Munro, of Scotts Head on the NSW North Coast. “Hat’s off to Mick. It’s his home break and he’s pretty good out there. I guess there was just something missing there for me at the end.’’

Finishing in equal fifth today was 2000 World Champion C.J. Hobgood (USA), Irons (HAW), Occhilupo (Aus), and Slater (USA).

Renowned Hawaiian tube-rider Bruce Irons sealed the Evian Longest Tuberide specialty award for locking into the longest barrel of the event, an incredible seven second tube ride on day four that earned the 24 year-old natural footer an 8.83 and a $5,000 bonus courtesy of Evian.

The next event on the Association of Surfing Professionals Foster’s Men’s World Tour will be held at Bells Beach March 22 - April 1.