In case you hadn't noticed, Mick fanning is blazing hot right now.

And after he notched back-to-back wins at Lowers and In France, a lot of people -- including us -- were won - dering what the hell got into the guy. Was it training? Needing to answer back to Parko's early-season hot streak? Dane Reynolds figuring out how to win heats? Maybe part of answer is inderneath his feet.

Fanning sat at the Lowers press conference with Reynolds on his left and a check for $105,000 on his rigth, joking that he cheated too -- riding his 5'11" instead of his normal 6'1" 1/2". Rlllgth.

"It's the first shorter board I've found that has speed and drive,"Mick remarked about the slightly-shoter-than-normal Darren Handley sled that won him Lowers and France. "It just sticks to your feet."

So with some downtime during the European leg, we decided to check under the hood of Fanning's traveling quiver. And although he's not toting quads, fishcults, or "Dumpster Divers" through Europe, a few slight modifiations and a helluva lot of momentum seem to be what's fueling White Lightning towards a run for his second title.

"If you feel super-fit and confident you can ride anything, "Fanning reckons. "But it obvi-ously helps when you have an amazing board under your feet."