Kelly Slater
| Robert Kelly Slater | |
|---|---|
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| Background information | |
| Born | February 11, 1972 (1972-02-11) (age 36) |
| Origin | Cocoa Beach, Florida, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Surfer, Actor |
| Years active | 1990 - present |
| Website | http://www.kellyslater.com/ |
Robert Kelly Slater (b. February 11, 1972, Cocoa Beach, FL, USA), known as Kelly Slater, is an American professional surfer known for his competitive prowess and inspirational style. He is widely regarded as the greatest professional surfer in the history of the sport.
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 winningest 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, CA. 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 21 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.
Contents |
Biography
Early life and family
Slater was born Robert Kelly Slater on February 11, 1972 in Cocoa Beach, Florida, where he continues to reside. He is of part Syrian ancestry. Slater was called "Bobby" until he was in the first grade, when he decided to use Kelly. He graduated from Cocoa Beach High School. He has an older brother, Sean, and a younger brother, Stephen, both of whom are also talented surfers.
Personal life
In his spare time, Slater enjoys playing the guitar. He is friends with several well-known musicians including Ben Harper, Jack Johnson and Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder. Slater has been romantically linked to Pamela Anderson, Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bündchen, Sports Illustrated swimsuit model Bar Rafaeli and Cameron Diaz (after her split from Justin Timberlake).
His favorite waves are Sandspit in Santa Barbara, California, Pipeline in Hawaii, Buenos Aires in Miramar, Argentina, Kirra in Australia, Jeffreys Bay in South Africa , Soup Bowls in Barbados and Sebastian Inlet near his home in Florida.[3] He is also an avid golfer.
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 by Treyarch and Activision named Kelly Slater's Pro Surfer was released September 17, 2002.[4] He 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
- WCT victories: 39
- 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.
2008 Stats and Results
Current World Ranking: 2008 Champion
Points: 7852 (1850 points ahead)
Event Results
Quiksilver Pro, Gold Coast (Snapper Rocks, Australia): 1st
Rip Curl Pro, Bells Beach (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
Quicksilver Pro, France (Hossegor, France): 2nd
Billabong Pro, Mundaka (Mundaka, Spain); 9th
Upcoming ASP World Tour Events
Hang Loose Pro (Santa Catarina, Brasil): ---
Billabong Pipeline Masters (Pipeline, Oahu, Hawaii): ---
History of Wins
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)
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
Movies
"Bustin Down The Door", 2008 as himself
"Waveriders", 2008
"Surf's Up", 2007 as Himself. "Down the Barrel" (2007)
"The Ocean", 2008
"One Night at McCool's", 2001
"Letting Go", 2006
"Young Guns 1,2 & 3", 2004-2008
"Kelly Slater in Black and White", 2004
"Endless Summer II" 1994 as himself
"Wave Warriors 3"
Television
Baywatch, 10 episodes
References
- ^ Sports Illustrated, September 24, 2007, p. 24
- ^ "Quiksilver Rider's Gallery". Retrieved on 2007-10-20.
- ^ Grossman, Hillard (2002-05-26). "Brevard's own Kelly Slater: Surfing Superman, regular guy", Florida Today. Retrieved on 7 February 2007.
- ^ "Kelly Slater Biography". Kidzworld. Retrieved on 2006-02-07.
External links
- Kelly Slater the Official Website
- Kelly Slater Photo Gallery at Outside Online
- Kelly Slater at the Internet Movie Database
- Kelly Slater Pictures & Wallpapers
- Kelly Slater Interview
- Interview with Kelly Slater and Eddie Vedder Regarding Surfing and Their Friendship
- Kelly Slater In SPIN's November Issue
| Preceded by Damien Hardman |
World surfing champion (Men) 1992 |
Succeeded by Derek Ho |
| Preceded by Derek Ho |
World surfing champion (Men) 1994-1998 |
Succeeded by Mark Occhilupo |
| Preceded by Andy Irons |
World surfing champion (Men) 2005-2006 |
Succeeded by Mick Fanning |
| Preceded by Mick Fanning |
World surfing champion (Men) 2008 |
Succeeded by TBA |
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The most recent contest win is available as streaming videos at the official competition site
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