For 33 years, professional surfing has been carried by one man.
Kelly Slater, an 11-time world champion and widely regarded as the greatest professional surfer of all time, said “This feels like the end,” after being knocked out of the Margaret River Pro competition in Australia last week.
The 52-year-old did not definitively say he was retiring, and it should be noted that he has hinted at retirement several other times in his career. However, this time it could be for real as he was visibly emotional and was carried off the beach in a show of respect while being applauded by fans and fellow competitors. He was already out of contention for a spot at the Paris Olympics this summer and he has a baby due in three months. He is also the oldest surfer still active on the World Surf League.
In an interview after the event, Slater choked back tears.
“It’s so much emotion for so long, so much dedication,” he said. “It’s not all roses, you know? But it’s been the best time of my life. My family is at home watching, love you guys. I couldn’t quite pull a miracle off this week, but I pulled a few off over the years. I still had that hope out there, you know? One might pop up with a minute to go. So, I am kind of avoiding that emotion, because it is all right there bubbling up. Everything comes to an end. If you don’t adapt, you don’t survive. My motivation just hasn’t quite been there to really put in that 100 percent that everyone is doing now.”
Australian surfing champion Mick Fanning paid tribute to Slater on his Instagram page.
Known for his prowess and style, the ultra-competitive Slater arrived on the surfing scene in 1990. He captured his first world title two years later at the age of 20 and his last in 2011. He is incredibly both the youngest and oldest world champion.
From 1994 to 1998 he won an unprecedented five consecutive world titles and fueled the popularity of televised surfing events. To his name he has three Triple Crown of Surfing Championships, eight Pipeline Masters Championships, and 56 overall Championship Tour victories. Slater has also appeared in dozens of surfing films, starred in the hit 1990s TV show “Baywatch” and has been featured in video games.
Like Michael Jordan in basketball, or Tiger Woods for golf, that was Kelly Slater for surfing. If he indeed retires, the surfing world will seem in disarray and will be looking for the next star to carry the torch.
