MEN'S WSL SEASON AT A GLANCE
Quiksilver Pro March 11-22, Snapper Rocks, Coolangatta
Looking back: John John Florence defended his world title late last year, his consistency making him the worthy winner despite the season yielding nine different champions across 11 events. The Hawaiian's triumph was not sealed until the quarter-finals of the last event. It was the climax of a feel-good season that started with Owen Wright's emotional comeback victory at Snapper Rocks after a life-threatening brain injury suffered in a Pipeline wipe out.
Looking forward: Florence is unquestionably the favourite to make it three in a row, but Australians Julian Wilson, Matt Wilkinson and Wright will all be in the mix while the skill sets of Gabriel Medina, Jordy Smith and Filipe Toledo are hard to ignore.
Man of the moment: Three-time world champion Mick Fanning will write one final chapter at Snapper Rocks before retiring from the professional ranks at Bells Beach later this month. As if his Gold Coast farewell needed any further hype, Fanning's round one heat includes Kelly Slater in a match-up sure to pack the beach.
Underdog: Brazilian Tomas Hermes will finally line up with the big boys after spending more than a decade grinding away on the qualifying circuit. The 31-year-old briefly gave up the sport as a 15-year-old when his one and only board broke and he couldn't afford a new one. Lucky for him a friend with deeper pockets came to the rescue.
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