Robert Kelly Slater (born February 11, 1972) is an American professional surfer, best known for being crowned World Surf League champion a record 11 times.[1][7] Slater is widely regarded as the greatest professional surfer of all time, and holds 56 Championship Tour victories.[8][9] Slater is also the oldest surfer still active on the World Surf League, winning his 8th Billabong Pipeline Masters title at age 49.[10]
The son of a bait-store proprietor, Slater grew up near the water, and he began surfing at age five. By age 10 he was winning age-division events up and down the Atlantic coast, and in 1984 he won his first age-division United States championship title. Two years later he finished third in the junior division at the world amateur championships in England, and he won the Pacific Cup junior championship in Australia the following year.[1] Kelly attended Cocoa Beach High School.[16]
Professional career
Kelly turned pro in 1990 and qualified for the Bud Pro Tour (The World Surf League’s qualifying tour at the time). He then immediately won his first contest on the Bud Pro Tour, The Body Glove Surf Bout in Trestles, California. At the end of the year he qualified for the World Surf League Championship Tour for the 1991 season. After qualifying for 1991, Slater struggled during his first year on the Championship Tour and was 43rd out of 44 in the world rankings. In 1992 he secured podium (top 3) finishes in three of his first five events before winning his first professional tour event, the Rip Curl Pro, in France. His win in that year's prestigious Pipeline Masters in Hawaii secured his first World Title, and at age 20 he became the youngest surfing world champion ever. Slater finished sixth in the 1993 rankings but came back to win 5 world titles in a row from 1994–1998, during which time televised surfing events had become increasingly popular. He then took a break from competitive surfing at the end of 1998, before returning to the world pro tour in 2002.[1]
Sponsors and equipment
Slater historically and exclusively rode Channel Islands Surfboards equipped with his own signature series of FCS fins. As the media hype grew around Slater's lack of board stickers in 2015, Slater had been seen riding unlabelled Firewire surfboards, acquiring the company in 2014.[17] In 2016 Slater released his own line of boards. As of August2017[update] there are four Slater Designs models in the Firewire range: the Gamma, Cymatic, Omni and Sci-fi.
Since 1990 Slater had been sponsored primarily by surfwear industry giant Quiksilver until his departure on April 1, 2014.[18][19][20] After Leaving Quiksilver, Slater, in collaboration with Kering, established the eco-friendly and sustainable apparel company 'Outerknown'.[21]
Accomplishments
Surfing
Slater, having grown up in Florida, was never truly comfortable in waves of consequence until a trip to Oahu in 1987. A giant northwest swell was pounding the coast, closing out breaks from Waimea to Sunset. He drove to Makaha, where he was greeted with 40' (Hawaiian scale) waves breaking across the bay. Slater parked and saw Brandon "Big Wave" Davis waxing up his 11' board. Big Wave Davis simply gave Slater a wink and they paddled out, trading waves all afternoon. Slater credits Davis in his biography stating "Brandon's knowledge and poise in large surf had a huge impact on my career. Anytime I'm dropping in to a big wave, I think back to that wink in the Makaha parking lot and I push myself over the edge."[22][23]
In 2022, Slater won his eighth Pro Pipeline surfing title at the Pipe Masters in Hawaii, 30 years after his first win.[25] In 2023, he announced his intention to qualify for the 2024 Olympics in Paris.[26]
Musical appearances and collaborations
Slater plays guitar and ukulele, and has performed with Jack Johnson and Angus Stone.[27][28] In the mid 1990s Kelly Slater joined Rob Machado and Peter King in 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 toured Australia with his band, performing in venues such as the Opera House and Parliament House.[6][29]
Slater performed a song with Ben Harper during Harper's concert in Santa Barbara on August 1, 2006. He also performed Rockin' in the Free World with grunge band Pearl Jam on 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.[30]
Mixed media
Slater played the recurring character Jimmy Slade on seven episodes of the popular TV show Baywatch in the early 1990s.[31] He appeared in an episode of the reality show The Girls Next Door, and has starred in many surf films during his career.[32]
In addition to the ASP tour, Slater competed in the X-Games in 2003 and 2004 winning back to back gold medals.
Environmentalism and philanthropy
Slater is an advocate of a sustainable and clean living lifestyle.[33] Slater is also a fundraiser and spokesperson for suicide prevention awareness. He has surfed in celebrity events for Surfers Against Suicide, telling sports website 'Athletes Talk': "I've lost a couple of friends myself to suicide and it's just a horrible thing that can be prevented. People get in this dark place and they don't know what to do so it's always nice to see a non-profit that isn't turning into anything else other than just trying to help people."[34]
Slater is passionate about preserving oceans globally and protecting temperate reefs in California through his relationship with Reef Check.
In February 2017, Slater and fellow competitive surfer Jérémy Florès called for a daily cull of bull sharks by French authorities on Réunion following eight shark-related fatalities over the preceding six years. Environmentalists criticized the proposal, with Ken Collins of the University of Southampton describing it as "insane".[35]
On May 8, 2010, the United States House of Representatives honored Slater in H. Res. 792 for his "outstanding and unprecedented achievements in the world of surfing and for being an ambassador of the sport and excellent role model."[36] This resolution, sponsored by Florida representative Bill Posey and sponsored by 10 representatives, passed without objection by a voice vote.[37]
In 2014 Kelly Slater ended his 20 year partnership with apparel brand Quiksilver. From there Slater wanted to start a brand founded on the morals instilled in him through surfing, mainly environmentalism and sustainable production practices using recycled materials whenever possible. That brand came to be known as "Outerknown" [39]
Purps
In 2014, Slater launched the beverage company Purps in collaboration with RVCA founder Pat Tenore and Dr. Chris Schaumburg.[40] Since 2013, Slater has been a brand ambassador for The Chia Company, based in western Australia.[41]
Wave Pool
Aerial photograph of 80-acre parcel of land in South Florida proposed to be developed with surf facility (outlined in red).
Wave Pool was a ten-year 'experiment' to create the perfect inland wave pool situated in inland California. Kelly modeled the wave after a combination of Lower Trestles, California, a tubing wave on Oahu, Hawaii, and a secret right in Micronesia in the Marshall Islands.[42] The project was a success and the surfing world was abuzz with the possibilities, mostly due to the wave's perfect shape and speed. In 2016 the World Surf League (WSL) acquired a majority stake in the Kelly Slater Wave Company (KSWC) for an undisclosed sum.
There were previously plans to develop Surf Ranch Florida, a man-made surfing lake in Palm Beach County. County commissioners unanimously approved plans for the county to evaluate the proposed surf facility in 2017. Brian Waxman, project leader for Surf Ranch Florida, said the World Surf League was considering bringing the wave lake to the Sunshine State for its weather and heritage of world-class surfers. It would have encompassed an 80-acre lot east of Jupiter Farms, near the Pine Glades natural area.[43] Despite acquiring the 80-acre property for $6.5 million dollars in November 2017, WSL announced that plans to develop the surf facility at this location were cancelled in 2019 due to "unforeseen challenges" related to an unexpectedly high groundwater table elevation.[44][45]
La Quinta, California
Coral Mountain is a proposed $200-million complex on 400 acres (160ha) in La Quinta, California that would include a hotel and housing built around a surfing basin created by Kelly Slater Wave Co.[46]
Competitive achievements
Slater has been crowned World Surf League Champion a record 11 times, including five consecutive titles in 1994–98.[47] He is the youngest (at age 20) and the oldest (at age 39) to win the WSL men's title. On winning his fifth world title in 1997, Slater passed Australian surfer Mark Richards to become the most successful male 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, three-time world champion Tom Curren.[48] After earlier being awarded the title prematurely as a result of a miscalculation by the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP), on November 6, 2011, Slater officially won his eleventh ASP world title at the Rip Curl Pro Search San Francisco, by winning his fourth round heat.
In May 2005, in the final heat of the Billabong Tahiti Pro contest at Teahupo'o, 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 (fellow American Shane Beschen made the first perfect score under the previous three-wave system in 1996).
Slater did it again in June 2013 at the quarter finals at the Volcom Fiji Pro with two perfect ten waves, only the fourth person in history to do so.[49]
Slater is also the oldest surfer to perform a ten-point ride in World Surf League competition at the age of 47 at the 2019 Billabong Pipe Masters.[50]
2013 stats and results
World ranking: 2nd Points: 54,150
Event results in 2013[51] Quiksilver Pro (Gold Coast, Australia): 1st Rip Curl Pro (Bells Beach, Victoria, Australia): 13th Volcom Fiji Pro (Tavarua/Namotu, Fiji): 1st Oakley Pro Bali (Keramas, Bali, Indonesia): 9th Billabong Pro Teahupoo (Teahupoo, Taiarapu, French Polynesia): 2nd
Event results in 2012[52] Quiksilver Pro presented by Land Rover (Gold Coast, Snapper Rocks, Australia): 5th Rip Curl Pro presented by Ford Ranger (Bells Beach, Victoria, Australia): 2nd Billabong Rio Pro (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil): INJ Volcom Fiji Pro (Tavarua/Namotu, Fiji): 1st Billabong Pro Tahiti (Teahupoo, Tahiti): 13th Hurley Pro (Lower Trestles, San Clemente, California, US): 1st Quiksilver Pro France (Hossegor-Landes, France): 1st Rip Curl Pro (Peniche, Portugal): 13th O'Neill Coldwater Classic Santa Cruz (Santa Cruz, California, US): 9th Billabong Pipeline Masters (Pipeline, Oahu, Hawaii): 3rd
2011 stats and results
World ranking: 2011 Champion Points: 68,100
Event results in 2011[53] Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast (Snapper Rocks, Australia): 1st Rip Curl Pro, Bells Beach, (Victoria, Australia): 5th Billabong Rio Pro (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil): 13th Nike Pro US Open (Huntington Beach, California, US): 1st Billabong Pro Teahupoo (Teahupoo, Tahiti): 1st Quiksilver Pro New York (Long Beach, New York, US): 2nd Hurley Pro (Lower Trestles, San Clemente, California, US): 1st Quiksilver Pro France (Hossegor, France): 5th Rip Curl Pro Portugal (Peniche, Portugal): 2nd Rip Curl Search (Ocean Beach, San Francisco, US): 5th Billabong Pipeline Masters (Pipeline, Oahu, Hawaii): 3rd
2010 stats and results
World ranking: 2010 Champion Points: 69000
Event results in 2010[54] Quiksilver Pro, Gold Coast (Snapper Rocks, Australia): 9th Rip Curl Pro, Bells Beach (Australia): 1st Hang Loose Pro (Santa Catarina, Brasil): 2nd Billabong Pro (Jeffreys Bay, South Africa): 17th Billabong Pro Teahupoo (Teahupoo, Tahiti): 3rd Hurley Pro (Lower Trestles, San Clemente, California, US): 1st Quiksilver Pro France (Hossegor, France): 2nd Rip Curl Pro Portugal (Peniche, Portugal): 1st Rip Curl Pro Search 2010 (Middles Beach, Isabela, Puerto Rico): 1st Billabong Pipeline Masters (Pipeline, Oahu, Hawaii): 3rd
2009 stats and results
World ranking: 6th. Points: 6136
Event results in 2009[55] 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 Billabong Pro (Jeffreys Bay, South Africa): 9th Hurley Pro (Lower Trestles, San Clemente, California, US): 3rd Quiksilver Pro France (Hossegor, France): 5th Billabong Pro, Mundaka (Mundaka, Spain): 3rd Rip Curl Search (Peniche, Portugal): 17th Billabong Pipeline Masters (Pipeline, Oahu, Hawaii): 2nd
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, California, US): 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
Slater is an avid golfer and practices the sport of Brazilian jiu-jitsu.[56] His biggest surfing inspiration is 3x WSL champion Tom Curren. Curren was the first American surfer to win a World Title. Kelly got his chance to compete against him when Kelly became a full time tour competitor in 1991.[57] Big wave surfers Todd Chesser and Brock Little were also mentors to him when he was a teenager.[58]
Kelly dated Pamela Anderson for several years in the early 1990s, sometimes not exclusively, meeting her on the set of Baywatch. Kelly was also in a relationship with Gisele Bündchen from 2005-2006, and Cameron Diaz in 2007.[59]
Slater has a daughter, Taylor (b. 1996), from a previous relationship with Tamara Mitchell.[60]
Kelly's long-term girlfriend is Kalani Miller.[61]
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