Mick “Fanny” Fanning, 24
Tweeds Head, NSW, Australia

Some call this Aussie regular foot “Mr. White Lightning” because he’s one of the fastest damn surfers on the planet. Pros on the circuit call him a threat. Fanning stormed onto the contest scene with a win at Bells in 2001 and was ranked fourth in the world by 2003. A gnarly hamstring injury sidelined Fanning in 2004, but he’s back now and stronger than ever.