Slater vows "one more stab" at the world title
There's been a lot of talk about generational change on the Championship Tour. Gabriel Medina has bagged a title, now John John, and a bunch of new names are appearing in the business end of each contest.
But it's not enough to discourage 11-time world champion Kelly Slater. In fact, it's only fired him up with Slater yesterday admitting to the WSL that he's not only going to do the tour next year but put in a thoroughly concerted effort.
"But I think I'm going to take one more stab at a Title next year and really try to put a year together. I'm pretty inspired by what panned out this year in the back half. So I'm going to take these next four months, get my body together, and get my motivation and my boards and everything right and see if I can really put together a focused year."
In both the moments after John John won this year's title and when he received the trophy, Slater was a conspicuous presence, offering his congratulations to the young Hawaiian.
“I felt like a proud brother,” said Slater. “I've known John since he was in the single digits. When he and his brothers were so small, I could get him on my back and have him stand up while I was bodysurfing. It's great to see this, and to be here for this and be a part of it in some way. I lost two days ago and could have left but thought it would be nice to be here and see what plays out and if did happen, be on hand.”
Clearly Slater hasn't lost any enthusiasm for the big moments and will be doing his best to be among them in 2017. But whether a 45-year old Slater can halt the generational shift that's tilting toward Florence, Medina, Ibelli, and Andino remains to be seen.
Comments
I suppose Slaters ability to bag another one rests on whether the ASP judges score on how a manoeuvre is performed, rather than what is performed. There are surfers ranking above Slater at present that have great technical ability but zero style or ability to connect manoeuvres fluidly.
Totally agree and they all look the same like robots. JJF has some style but guys like Ibelli, Banting, Adriano, Ferriera, Freestone, Muniz, Toledo, Cathels, Medina (perhaps a smidgin), etc... absolute zero.
Pretty sure the WSL & slater have worked out the details for next year's campaign and just shot through the order for 'slater 12' shirts to the printers. Wave pools don't finance them selves just yet! But no doubt, the guy's a freak and love him or hate him; he rips
Pretty sure the WSL & slater have worked out the details for next year's campaign and just shot through the order for 'slater 12' shirts to the printers. Wave pools don't finance them selves just yet! But no doubt, the guy's a freak and love him or hate him; he rips
Slater could win another, just needs waves and a bit of luck, as does any surfer in any heat. Too many heats in the France and Portugal comps decided in less than epic conditions. Felt for poor old Matt Wilko in second round of Portugal. Although well and clearly beaten, he could hardly find a wave, and there were really only two good ones all heat that his opponent snaffled and surfed brilliantly.
Need more waves per heat to make it a genuine contest. Slater will be competitive. I'd like to see him go around once more and put his whole attention on it. You're a long time retired.
Looking forward to it. The old and the new champs going head to head. Both highly talented. Just hope the WSL moves a couple of the comps to better surf and remove the element of luck.
Yep tough gig trying to please everybody. Be great to get one in Indo somewhere.
Here's the WSL's opportunity to actually have "the worlds best surfers in the worlds best waves". Get rid of the fickle locations/one maneuver waves, replace with the likes of Indo etc, extend the waiting periods and let it play out.
Slater still has the speed, power, style and mindset.
Next year is all about surfing for myself , going to catch slater at an event or two and watch the greatest surfer of all time on his victory lap.
Go Kelly.
Not a bad idea at all Blowin.
The France & Portugal legs are shit. Fickle beachbreak waves that make you wonder if the WSL even care about the athletes without whom there wouldn't be a tour.
Surfers (us, the viewers) want to see the best surfers in the world surf the best waves, period. Bangko Bangko or Grajagan - even Uluwatu - for '17 please!
I'll be cheering for Slater on his superannuation tour, too.
If that South Pacific leg had transitioned from Trestles to a late season Indo Leg Slater would be fighting it out at Pipe with JJF for the Title.
I think Slater has what it takes. If the waves fire at a few stops he will be tough to beat.
He needs Snapper to be big and Barreling, Margies to be surfed at the box, Fiji, Tahiti and Pipe to be 8 ft plus and then get a few lucky heats at the other comps.
If it's above average surf, big and barrelling Kelly may well win a 12th title or John John again. Also don't discount Jordy and Julian.
If it's small closeouts or sub-par surf, I'd put my money on Toledo or Medina.
Be good to see him give it a proper go then hang up his vest, not good seeing someone with his achievements slowly fade. Trying to dine out off JJ's title is just cringe worthy, like any uninvited old dude trying to muscle in on a party. By the looks of JJs crew no one else is feeling the 'brotherly' love. That said ill catch a European event and hope he rips.
Let us in? Kelly! Like the old days! Who is this amazing Man! let us in to your amazing World! Your the biggest Tripper Eva! Show us!
So, he's out after 2017, hey? Retirement announced.
"So next year I'm gonna get my shit (and my body) together for real and see if I can make a last run at a title. Then I'll go find the best waves on earth til my last day ..."
On Instagram. Posted 6 hrs ago:
One last ditch effort for #12, then off to greener pastures.
Interesting wording - "... I'll go find the best waves on earth til my last day ...", so that sorta opens the door for the wavepool stuff really, doesn't it.
Put BayWatch back on! I wanna see CJ! Kelly plugged that too! What a Hero!
I think Slater is a phenomenal surfer, and he does string manoeuvres together really well, but don't care for his style. Arms flapping everywhere, funny squatting, etc; definitely not a clean style.
Looking forward to seeing whether he can muster the energy and enthusiasm through a whole season, and to watch him when he truly blows up (in a good way).
WTF?
Are you really being serious?
Kelly has the best style since Curren, both of those guys look good even going in a straight line.
Island Bay I like your annoying style but your a Clown!
I'm actually not the biggest fan of Kelly's style.
Best surfer ever, but not best style ever.
Surfers with a better style include : Curren, Machado, Egan, Occhilupo, Wright ( Oscar - yes , its true ! Utterly expressive and signifier of emotional intent ie smash fuck out of it and fly ) , Fanning ( technically perfect ) .
Each to their own.
Not saying he isn't the best ever or the star of some of my favourite movie parts .
The finishing segment of a Taylor Steele movie at the right bowl in Puerto Rico or Barbados ? Forget the name.
Soup Bowls .
With you there blowin re Owen Wright. He makes seriously difficult and sometimes impossible look easy = style.
Still hoping that Owen can make it back for next year. He is threat whenever it pumps. Slater on a last ditch effort, JJF trying to repeat and Owen back in gear. Jordy finally seeming to get his head around competitive surfing and Julian Wilson capable of winning in anything, Wilko smashing anything on his backhand and looking to prove those two wins not a fluke. Joel and Mick, god knows what they will be doing. There are some damned good surfers around.
I just can't love the brazzos, but can respect da Souza. Medina's style is an thing of ugly. He can surf, not saying that, just not pretty to watch.
Style Council! Show us your Style! Trippers!
Chicken lips - style is subjective.
Party on.
And my style ?
Shithouse with a side of painful to watch.
We need to get Jesus, Mohabid and Buddha together! Resurect these guys in there late twenties and have a surf off! That woul be the show! But where are they when you need em! Smoking bongs!
Except John John cause he is a God! Little F! He must be ploughing through the Ladies! So so Easy!
Does anyone else find Slater a bit narcissistic? Maybe a little bit strong a word….. conceited, egotistical perhaps?
Check his quote above and notice the amount of 'i', 'I've' and 'i'm' s' he says. I know this is just a short snippet and may be out of context but I notice it a lot in his interviews. Obviously the man is analytical but he goes into too much detail with his account of his waves. If you've ever heard him commentate he also loves to talk over people.
I've no doubt his connection to these other surfers but I noticed a similar thing (as in his 'conspicuous presence') with Mick and J-Bay in 2015. I can't recall the words exactly but after it happened he was talking about him and how he was out there just before, etc ,etc
all of the above staitey. amazing surfer and athelete but totally obsessed with himself. i noticed it years ago. after many heat losses he always attributed his loss to his own performance deficit, rather than the high performance of his rival. its egotistical.
and then his gene wilder instagrams....jesus. give us all a break mate.
anyhow, still look forward to seeing him have a crack at next year.
Maybe he's just insecure?
And Blowin, hilarious but I'm sure you have your moments mate. We all do, that's what makes surfing awesome. The inner thrill.
As long as you don't claim it- ha ha!
This discussion shows that style is mostly subjective, but class is indisputable. Has Kelly got style? Some of us think so - others not so much. Yet we all agree that he is a/the master.
And Staitey, I'm not psychologist, but think you are right about the narcissism. Remember him ringing Mick's Bells bell on the podium?
I always thought he came across as very humble and down to earth, considering he is basically like a surfing rockstar the undisputed best surfer ever to live 11 world tittles, broken just about ever surfing record and still mixing it up at 45 after about 20 years in the top ten and still there at number 9, dated some famous women, developed the first real wave pool, business etc
Remember even now everyone seems to want a piece of him and an insight into what makes him tick.
I think most of these comments are just a matter of view, i admit I'm a huge Kelly fan so am a bit bias, but i think things like how he views a heat show more about his self belief and competitiveness, he needs to believe if he had surfed better he could have won the heat, he needs to believe he lost the heat rather than the other surfer winning the heat and i guess part of his success is analysing it post heat and learning from his mistakes.
Things like ringing the Bell, remember he is so comfortable and relaxed in the spotlight and basically just having fun with his mates, I'm sure if the spot light was on any of us we would appear as dicks a lot of the time.
i would say undisupted best athlete ever. Name another that has stayed at the top the game for over 20 years? Seriously though, i dont know??
Totally agree indo-dreaming, I think that self confidence and passion can sometimes be misinterpreted as arrogance. Given his surfing credentials and that he is a global household name (even to non-surfers), I think he presents as a fairly grounded individual who simply really enjoys his job.
I think they all would enjoy their jobs wouldn't they? I don't think 'arrogance' was mentioned………it was merely he seems to love being in the spotlight even when its not on him. I remember once Surfline had this roundtable interview for the current world champions: there was Mick, Parko, Slater, CJ and not sure if Andy was still there?? Anyway Slater just took over, CJ close second with daylight third, the aussie boys couldn't get a word in edgeways.
Don't get me wrong, he's an absolute champion. He's a great ambassador for surfing. I just wondered if anyone had noticed what I had with regards to his ego when speaking.
Just Do it Kelly and I reckon he can do it. He has 11 titles and his age does not mean anything. Good on him. But if he fails next year I am pretty sure he will come SO CLOSE. GO KELLY!! OH! I always knew JJF wold get a title after seeing him hit the circuit a few years ago. Congrats!
slater, humble? JJF is humble.
I don't know if anyone else noticed the way Kelly reacted to JJF after he was crowned, he appeared to be a little rattled, constantly walking through the phone camera footage of JJF not actually doing anything in particular, going back and forward to his allocated area which he cleared out days earlier, I would have expected more from a guy who has basically watch JJF grow up, here is JJF being crowned world champion and Kelly decides to attract attention to himself by climbing up on to the top of the presentation structure, a definite look at me moment, it actually reminded me of him ringing Micks bell, like ok I didn't win but look at me I'm the man. There is no doubt that he is the greatest surfer we will ever see in our lifetime, but it does appear that he does not want to accept that at times there will be others that he will have to share the limelight with.
John Jones a cool dude but living on the North Shore! Cruising around in 40 foot yacht and flying around in Cessna! Humble well that's Humble!
I might as well throw my two bobs worth in. I am on the side of all arms and legs never thought he had much style but obviously a phenomenal surfer. Totally obsessed with himself of course most USA citizens seem to be at that level. You win or you lose no grey area there. Australians tend to not have people blowing smoke up their bottoms like our USA cousins do and we alll know they can talk the leg off a chair if given half a chance. That said he has been a great ambassador for the sport.
Tall Poppy Syndrome!
Don't say it chickenlips, just don't.
Kelly is pretty humble for a man who has lived the life he has for the past 30 years. It would be hard to keep your head below cloud level. Most of the world has been blowing smoke up his ass for that time.
When Kelly first came out he had his critics! Saying he was a one trick pony and couldn't surf the big stuff! Well enough said! Changed the game! And still is changing the way people view surfing! You cats are mongs!
!!!
i dont think this is tall poppy. i admire the guy. but there is no harm done by reflecting upon perceived personality flaws though. we all have them.
Don't feel as though you need to explain your backward mentality to me. Plebs!!!
whatever mate. living in your little box of wonder must be adorable.
You don't seem happyasS today. What's wrong?
Last couple of years I've wondered what Slater - even in his mid 40's - would be capable of if he put his business projects, advocacy and various other legitimate but no-less distracting interests on ice and for 1 year singularly directed his outer-worldly focus, talent and desire into another world title...like he used to do.
He beat then saw off old guard.
He beat then saw off the momentum generation
He beat then saw off the new school video crew (Taj..)
He beat then saw off Andy Irons
He beat the cooly kids (haven't all left yet but nearly)
He beat the new kids, prodigies, flyboys, poster-boys and various other great hopes who grew up with KS posters on their walls.
But now those kids are all grown up. Some are winning titles. People are saying the change of guard has already happened.
For over 2 decades of evolving structure, format, locations, judging criteria, style, manoeuvres and technology the Champ still managed to see-off every generation of up and comer. So many amazing talented surfers from all corners of the earth who came and went never to win a title (or some even an event) because of the irresistible force that was Kelly Slater.
For most of his career I hated the guy.
I agree with Nick. I can think of no greater athlete. Bring on 2017.
The Kelly v Andy years will go down as the benchmark of competitive surfing! RIP Andy! Loved his style! He lifted Kelly to be what he is now! Keep going! Why Retire?
Parking has the smoothest Style I fink! Watched Machado at Uluwatu. Blew my mind! Mick Chargers! Any was a Rocket! Curren, Egan, etc. slater?! Goodbye Swellnet. We had our moments in time! I'm pretty cool too!