SL8R + 1 =9

Kelly Slater, pro surfer extraordinaire, claimed his 9th World Championship Tour title in Spain today. The 36 year old surfing phenomenon, is the youngest world title holder, age 20, as well as the oldest world title winner, age 36. The closest surfer to Slater's record of nine, is Mark Richards, who holds four world titles. 9-4=5 more world titles than anyone else.


Slater won his first pro contest eighteen years ago at Trestles in San Clemente, California. I was there. I happened to be surfing Churches that day and saw the contest just north of where I was enjoying the waves. After my session, I wandered up to the contest just in time for Slater's heat. It was one heart stopping heat after another, every time he surfed. He was blasting airs, getting barreled and carving giant cut backs. The crowd roared to its feet every time he landed a trick that hadn't been seen before in competition. Slater took "safety," out of contest surfing creating dynamic lines the rest of us can only hope to mimic while mind surfing and/or dreaming.

He has inspired several surfing generations with his freakish athletic ability. Boys and men alike worship him, though few will openly admit this. In the surfing world, his Super Hero babe magnet status stands second to none with his connections to super models and actresses. Yeah, he is pretty cute for a bald guy. Whatever.

He is the total package. The real deal. He even cares about Planet Earth. He is the most exciting surfer on the planet, and he keeps getting better. He is looking exceptionally fit these days, which may explain how he keeps blowing surfers' minds out of the water every time he surfs.

Before he turned pro and when he was still a grom, a friend and I were discussing Slater's potential. "He's going to do great things in surfing," I said. My friend was like, "Nah, he's not that good." Right. Some people can 't see into the future, I guess.

Stay tuned for Slater's tenth world title bid.

Gio in the arms of a true champ in 2007.