Mick Fanning And DHD Surfboards. From Then, To Now…

The two began their relationship with just two surfboards when Mick was 13-years-old. Unbeknownst to him, at the start of what would be a long, iconic career. Their relationship grew exponentially as Mick began placing in Pro Juniors, going on Search trips and shining on the world stage in moments like his 2001 wildcard win at the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach. Through it all, DHD Surfboards have been his go-to.

The boards that Darren shaped for Mick throughout his career have lived through some of the most memorable moments in surfing history. They represent a strong friendship, unforgettable moments, teamwork and world titles, to say the least.

Over the years Mick has kept all of the key surfboards from throughout his career. From the grom days, through the highs and lows and into retirement. You can bet that’s a whole lot of surfboards! This series brings Mick Fanning and Darren Handley together as they sit down, pick from the rack and unpack these pivotal boards. This behind the scenes special will dig up stories from the past, the evolution of performance surfboards and provide an exclusive insight into one of the greatest surfer X shaper partnerships in the history of the sport.

Episode 1

Darren and Mick discuss the history of the very first board… the one that set off his career on the world surfing stage as a teenager. They talk about the memories the board holds around the time of Mick’s brother, Sean’s, passing. The beginning of his love affair with Bells Beach and surfing alongside two of Mick’s inspirations, Dingo and Parko.

Episode 2

Mick and Darren talk about the two boards that were the catalyst for Mick’s 2007 World Title. At 26 years old, no number of boards was enough, constantly searching for the perfect one. Mick tells us how it felt riding these board for the first time to winning his first world title and the next-level celebration that followed…

Episode 3

In Episode 3 Darren and Mick talk us through the boards that influenced his second and third world title. The decision between glassed-in fins, Futures, and FCS's. The friendships, the injuries, the fitness and the BTS game-plans with Parko. Plus, the personal breakdown on preparing and paddling into, as Mick puts it, a "fat-heaper"... or, otherwise known as the Pipeline bomb that won Mick his second world title. Watch Episode 3 of the DHD Board Story.

Episode 4

Darren and Mick look back on the winning board from his first Rip Curl Pro, Bells Beach shakedown in 2001... The famous MF x Kelly Slater super-heat. Plus, DH enlightens us on computerised machining and how it all began with this board. Watch episode four of the DHD board story with Mick Fanning today.

Episode 5

Mick and Darren talk about the Board that Mick was riding during THE SHARK INCIDENT. This was back when Mick was riding a yellow bottom board - he always had success on yellow boards an ultimately painted all of his boards blue after that ("yum yum yellow").