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Kelly Slater

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Kelly Slater
Personal information
ResidenceFlorida, California and Hawaii
Height5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
Weight160 lb (73 kg) (72.5 kilos)
Surfing career
Years active1990 - present
Best yearRanked 1st on the ASP World Tour, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2005, 2006 and 2008
Career earnings$1,853,305.00 (as of 2009)
SponsorsQuiksilver wetsuits and clothing, FCS fins and Komunity Project accessories
Major achievements9 times ASP World Champion
Victories:54
World championship tour (WCT) surfing wins: 42
Surfing specifications
StanceRegular (natural) foot
Shaper(s)Al Merrick
Quiver5'10", 6'1", 6'3" and 6'6" boards when on the road
Favourite wavesKirra and Pipe
Favourite maneuversAirs and barrels
WebsiteOfficial site

Robert Kelly Slater (born February 11, 1972, Cocoa Beach, FL, USA), known as Kelly Slater, is an American professional surfer known for his competitive prowess and style. Slater has been crowned ASP World Champion a record 9 times, including 5 consecutive titles from 1994–98. He is the youngest (at age 20) and the oldest (at age 36) to win the title. Upon winning his 5th world title in 1997, Slater passed Australian surfing legend Mark Richards to become the most successful champion in the history of the sport. In 2007 he also became the all-time leader in career event wins by winning the Boost Mobile Pro event at Lower Trestles near San Clemente, California. The previous record was held by Slater's childhood hero, 3-time world champion Tom Curren.[1] In addition to the ASP tour, Slater has also competed in the X-Games (in 2003 and 2004). On October 3, 2008, Slater won his ninth ASP world title at the Billabong Pro Mundaka by defeating local surfer Eneko Acero in the 3rd round. In May 2005, in the final heat of the Billabong Tahiti Pro contest at Teahupoo, Slater became the first surfer ever to be awarded two perfect scores for a total 20 out of 20 points under the ASP two-wave scoring system. (The corresponding honor under the previous three-wave system belongs to fellow American Shane Beschen who achieved the feat in 1996.)

Since 1990, Slater has been sponsored primarily by surfwear industry giant Quiksilver.[2] He exclusively rides Channel Islands surfboards equipped with his own signature series of FCS fins.

Biography

Early life and family

Slater was born on February 11, 1972 in Cocoa Beach where he lies all day for the tide to come in, Florida, where he continues to reside. He is of part Syrian ancestry, his mother is chinese. Slater was called "jack" until he was in the first grade, when he decided to use Kelly. He has an older brother, Sean, and a younger brother, Stephen (Skippy cornflakes), both of whom are also talented surfers. [[ In his spare time, Slater enjoys playing the guitar.

His favorite waves are Sandspit in new zealand, California, Pipeline in Hawaii, Buenos Aires in Miramar, Argentina, Kirra in Australia, Jeffreys Bay in South Africa, Taghazout in Morocco, Soup Bowls in Barbados and Sebastian Inlet near his home in Florida.[3] He is also an avid golfer, with an impressive +2 handicap.

Other Projects

Slater played the recurring character Jimmy Slade on several episodes of the popular tv show Baywatch in the early 1990s. He appeared in an episode of the reality show The Girls Next Door, and has also starred in many surf films throughout his career.

In the late 90s Slater, along with friends and fellow pro surfers Rob Machado and Peter King, formed a band called The Surfers. The trio released an album in 1998 titled Songs From the Pipe, a reference to the famous surf spot Pipeline on Oahu, Hawaii.

Slater performed a song with Ben Harper during Harper's concert in Santa Barbara, California on August 15, 2006. He also performed "Rockin' in The Free World" with grunge band Pearl Jam on the July 7, 2006 in San Diego. In 1999, he appeared alongside Garbage singer Shirley Manson in the promotional video for the band's single "You Look So Fine". He played a man washed up on a seashore, then rescued by Manson.

A video game named Kelly Slater's Pro Surfer, by Treyarch and published by Activision, was released in 2002. Slater also appeared as a playable character in Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 prior to this, complete with a surfboard.

In 2003 Slater released his autobiography, Pipe Dreams. In 2008 he released a second book with Phil Jarratt, entitled For the Love.

Slater is passionate about preserving oceans globally and protecting temperate reefs in California through his relationship with Reef Check.

Stats

Kelly Slater surfing in the Boost Mobile Pro at Trestles
Kelly Slater surfing in the Boost Mobile Pro at Trestles
  • WCT victories: 42
  • World titles: 9

On 9/15/07, Kelly Slater passed Tom Curren's long standing WCT tour victory record of 33 with his win at the Boost Mobile Pro at Lowers Trestles.

2009 Stats and Results

Current World Ranking: 9th.
Points: 2430

Event Results in 2009
Quiksilver Pro, Gold Coast (Snapper Rocks, Australia): 17th
Rip Curl Pro, Bells Beach (Australia): 17th
Billabong Pro, Tahiti (Teahupoo, Tahiti): 17th
Hang Loose Pro (Santa Catarina, Brasil): 1st
[4]

2008 Stats and Results

World Ranking: 2008 Champion
Points: 8832

Event Results
Quiksilver Pro, Gold Coast (Snapper Rocks, Australia): 1st
Rip Curl Pro, Bells Beach (Australia): 1st
Billabong Pro, Tahiti (Teahupoo, Tahiti): 17th
Globe Pro, Fiji (Tavarua, Fiji): 1st
Billabong Pro, J-Bay (Jeffreys Bay, South Africa): 1st
Rip Curl Search (Bali, Indonesia): 17th
Boost Mobile Pro (Lower Trestles, San Clemente, CA): 1st
Quiksilver Pro France (Hossegor, France): 2nd
Billabong Pro, Mundaka (Mundaka, Spain): 9th
Hang Loose Pro (Santa Catarina, Brasil): DNS
Billabong Pipeline Masters (Pipeline, Oahu, Hawaii): 1st

History of Wins

2009

  • Hang Loose Pro (Santa Catarina, Brasil)

2008

  • Quiksilver Pro ("Snapper Rocks" - Gold Coast, Australia)
  • Rip Curl Pro (Bells Beach, Australia)
  • Glove Pro Fiji (Cloudbreak, Restaurants - Tavarua, Fiji)
  • Billabong Pro J-Bay (Jeffrey's Bay, South Africa)
  • Boost Mobile Pro (Lower Trestles, San Clemente, California)
  • Billabong Pipeline Masters (Pipeline, North Shore Oahu, Hawaii)

2007

  • Boost Mobile Pro (Lower Trestles, San Clemente, California)

2006

  • Quiksilver Pro (Gold Coast, Australia)
  • Rip Curl Pro (Bells Beach, Australia)

2005

  • Billabong Pro (Teahupoo, Tahiti)
  • The Globe WCT (Fiji)
  • Billabong Pro (South Africa)
  • Boost Mobile Pro (Lower Trestles, San Clemente, California)

2004

  • Snickers Australian Open (QS)
  • Energy Australia Open (QS)

2003

  • Billabong Pro (Teahupoo, Tahiti)
  • Billabong Pro (South Africa)
  • Billabong Pro (Mundaka, Spain)
  • Nova Schin Festival (Brazil)

2002

  • The Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau (Specialty-Hawaii)

2000

  • Gotcha Tahiti Pro presented by Globe (Tahiti)

1999

  • Mountain Dew Pipe Masters (Hawaii)

1997

  • Coke Surf Classic (Australia)
  • Billabong Pro (Australia)
  • Tokushima Pro (Japan)
  • Marui Pro (Japan)
  • Kaiser Summer Surf WCT (Brazil)
  • Grand Slam (Specialty-Australia)
  • Typhoon Lagoon Surf Challenge (Specialty-USA)

1996

  • Coke Surf Classic (Australia)
  • Rip Curl Pro Saint Leu (Reunion Island)
  • CSI pres. Billabong Pro (South Africa)
  • U.S. Open (California)
  • Rip Curl Pro Hossegor (France)
  • Quiksilver Surfmasters (France)
  • Chiemsea Pipe Masters (Hawaii)
  • Sud Ouest Trophee (Specialty-France)
  • Da Hui Backdoor Shootout (Specialty-Hawaii)

1995

  • Quiksilver Pro (Indonesia)
  • Chiemsee Pipe Masters (Hawaii)
  • Triple Crown of Surfing (Specialty-Hawaii)

1994

  • Rip Curl Pro (Australia)
  • Gotcha Lacanau Pro (France)
  • Chiemsee Pipe Masters (Hawaii)
  • The Bud Surf Tour (WQS-USA)
  • The Bud Surf Tour (WQS-USA)
  • Sud Ouest Trophee (Specialty-France)

1993

  • Marui Pro (Japan)

1992

  • Rip Curl Pro Landes (France)
  • Marui Masters (Hawaii)

1990

  • Body Glove Surfbout Trestles (California)

Filmography

Films

"Bustin Down The Door", 2008 as himself
"One Track Mind", 2008
"Kelly Slater Letting Go", 2008
"Waveriders", 2008
"Surf's Up", 2007 as Himself. "Down the Barrel" (2007)
"Bra Boys", 2007 as Himself
"The Ocean", 2008
"One Night at McCool's", 2001
"Letting Go", 2006
"Young Guns 1,2 & 3", 2004-2008
"Doped Youth" 'Groovy Avalon'2004
"Kelly Slater in Black and White", 1991
"Endless Summer II" 1994 as himself
"Wave Warriors 3"
""A Fly in the Champagne"" 2009 (featuring Kelly Slater and Andy Irons)

Television

Baywatch, 10 episodes

References

  1. ^ Sports Illustrated, September 24, 2007, p. 24
  2. ^ "Quiksilver Rider's Gallery". Retrieved 2007-10-20.
  3. ^ Grossman, Hillard (2002-05-26). "Brevard's own Kelly Slater: Surfing Superman, regular guy". Florida Today. Retrieved 2007-02-07. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  4. ^ http://aspworldtour.com/2009/ratings.asp?rRat=menwct&rNav=Men

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kelly Slater.


Preceded by World surfing champion (Men)
1992 		Succeeded by
Preceded by World surfing champion (Men)
1994-1998 		Succeeded by
Preceded by World surfing champion (Men)
2005-2006 		Succeeded by
Preceded by World surfing champion (Men)
2008 		Succeeded by
TBD
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