OLD FRIENDS BY HANNAH ANDERSON

LOCATION: KIRRA POINT

DATE: MARCH 5, 2025

SURFER: MICK FANNING

There was something about the Cyclone Alfred swell event in early March 2025 that captured the attention of the entire surfing world, played out in real time on social media. As photographer Hannah Anderson noted later: “It felt like the first modern cyclone. Just look at the numbers – #CycloneAlfred racked up 35.5K posts, while #CycloneSeth, the last major swell-generating system, barely scraped 1,000.” The fact that all of South-East Queensland and Northern NSW was preparing for the first cyclone to cross the coast in 50 years, made the spectacle of surfers at play in the heaving ocean even more compelling. While householders lined up for sandbags to protect their homes, jet-skis queued up in the Kirra lineup hoping to whip someone into the wave of their life. Mick Fanning had an especially eventful time of it, scoring some of the waves of the swell, plus stitches to his head after one dramatic wipeout, and an unexpected reunion with his late brother Ed’s board. Saxon McCorquodale picked up an old yellow board for $20 from the Lismore tip shop, and pulled off the wave of his life right next to the three-time world champ. Mick immediately recognised it as one of Ed’s old boards and a memorable session was made that bit more memorable. “Made my day seeing this and picking you up!! Tears of joy,” Mick commented on Saxon’s Instagram post sharing this poignant tale from an epic swell.