Kelly Slater Wraps Up #9

Kelly Slater has done it again.  Two years after securing his record eighth world title at the Billabong Pro in Mundaka, the 36 year-old surfing legend won his ninth world title in the same location after making his Round Four appearance.  Slater was knocked out in the fourth round but his place in history was already set.

While it’s been 16 years since his first world title, Slater is still surfing at the top of the game.

“In 1996 I had a good year – I won 7 out of 13,” Slater told the ASP. “In 1996 I won five events of 12 – but both years I was counting ninths at the end of the year. This year I’ve won five events of eight, I’m sitting on a second and I still have a throwaway to spare. The depth of success I’ve had this season is the deepest of my career.”

Slater has his own thoughts as to why he has done so well this season after finishing third overall in 2007.

“I felt a lot more at ease this year,” Slater said. “It’s probably my personal life. That’s the biggest change in my life. I’m happy and settled and I’ve got the support there that just feels amazing. Nothing else has really changed, I’ve worked with my boards a little bit here and there and I’ve always worked on my mind and my emotions, but something just really clicked into place this year.”

Slater’s title years were 1992, 1994-1998, 2005-2006 and now 2008.  He semi-retired from professional surfing from 2000-2003 citing burnout.

Of course, even with two events still left in the season, the immediate question is “Will he be back next year?”

Slater isn’t promising anything yet, but he does admit winning twice in a row is great.

“Winning them back to back is still pretty sweet.”

To celebrate the historic event, Slater’s main sponsor, Quiksilver, has launched a KS9 campaign to replace it’s now out-dated Sl8ter one.  Check it out.

Slater in his winning heat at Mundaka.

Here’s the official story from the ASP about the historic win.

Kelly Slater Wins 9th ASP World Tour Title

MUNDAKA, Spain (Friday, October 3, 2008) – Kelly Slater, 36, has won a record ninth ASP World Title after advancing out of Round 3 of the Billabong Pro Mundaka – the ninth event of 11 on the 2008 ASP World Tour. Slater came into the event needing an equal ninth finish to clinch the title, he secured that by beating local wildcard Eneko Acero (EUK) in four foot waves at Mundaka this morning.

“It’s going to take a little while to sink in,” Slater said when mobbed at the water’s edge. “I’m probably going to have to call home and talk to family for it to really hit me.”

Slater’s 2008 crowning comes 16 years after securing his first ASP World Title at age 20. He is the oldest and youngest surfer in ASP history to win a world title. The now nine-time ASP World Champion joined the tour in 1991 and won his first ASP World Title in 1992.

When asked if he had ever dreamed about achieving such a feat when he came onto the scene 17 years ago, Slater was close to speechless.

“I never even thought about it,” Slater said. “It never even popped into my head. It’s crazy.”

Despite entering his 14th year on tour already the owner of most every accolade in professional surfing, 2008 has been a banner year for Slater. With five wins in the first seven events of the year, a second place finish at the last event in France and a Round 4 berth at the Billabong Pro Mundaka later today, Slater is on track to post his most successful season to date. Slater’s winning average in 2008 is 89 percent at present.

“I felt a lot more at ease this year,” Slater said. “It’s probably my personal life. That’s the biggest change in my life. I’m happy and settled and I’ve got the support there that just feels amazing. Nothing else has really changed, I’ve worked with my boards a little bit here and there and I’ve always worked on my mind and my emotions, but something just really clicked into place this year.”

After winning his first ASP World Tour title in 1992 and claiming five titles in a row from 1994 to 1998, Slater went into semi-retirement at age 26 citing burnout and lack of motivation. He returned to the tour full-time in 2003, lost a heart-wrenching title race to Andy Irons (HAW) that same year, and wasn’t able to reclaim the crown until 2005. Slater cruised to title No. 8 in 2006, finished World No. 3 in 2007 and is once again World No. 1 after winning his ninth ASP World Title today.

“In 1996 I had a good year – I won 7 out of 13,” Slater said. “In 1996 I won five events of 12 – but both years I was counting ninths at the end of the year. This year I’ve won five events of eight, I’m sitting on a second and I still have a throwaway to spare. The depth of success I’ve had this season is the deepest of my career.”

With such a monumental lead so early in the season, it was less a matter of if Slater would win the title, and more a matter of when.

“I think there were key heats this year, a few I had with Taj, Parko and even Bobby in Fiji, where I got waves under the other surfers’ priority and won important heats, that it really sunk in that it was going to happen,” Slater said. “It was probably JBay where it really sunk in.”

Slater was quick to acknowledge 2007 ASP World Champion Mick Fanning (AUS) and the support he’s given him both professionally and personally today.

“When Mick won last year I was obviously really stoked for him.” Slater said. “I think I knew from the first contest last year that Mick was going to win. He was really focused and he didn’t have anything standing in his way mentally or emotionally. He was the one person who sent me text when I was looking at leaving that said, ‘We need you to stay on tour. Don’t worry, you’ll find that personal stuff. It will happen,’ and now it has. Even though he is the toughest competitor on tour he’s always been a good friend and I have a lot of respect for Mick.”

Because Slater lost interest after winning five titles in a row from ’94 to ’98, and then toyed with retirement again after winning No. 7 and No. 8 right after each other, it would seem like winning back to back titles might have lost its appeal for the world’s most decorated surfer.

“No, winning them back to back is still pretty sweet,” Slater said with a smile. “If I can go back to back starting now that would be pretty sweet. It is really nice to come back and win it after you lost it the year before though. I’m sure if Mick were to come back and win one, or Andy were to come back and win one – C.J., any of those guys, they would definitely say how sweet it is to win it again.”

For Kelly Slater’s complete biography and career details visit www.aspworldtour.com/kellyslater.

Here’s some propaganda from Quiksilver about its favorite son…

KELLY SLATER WINS UNPRECEDENTED NINTH ASP WORLD SURFING CHAMPIONSHIP
KS9 Micro-Site Launches October 3, 2008 at Quiksilver.com/ks9

(Huntington Beach, Calif.) October 3, 2008 — Quiksilver congratulates team-rider Kelly Slater (Cocoa Beach, Florida) on winning his ninth world surfing championship today in Mundaka, Spain.  Dominating five of the season’s first eight contests, Slater accrued enough points to clinch the 2008 title with two scheduled Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) Tour contests yet to be surfed.  Slater’s ninth world championship comes 16 years after his first, in 1992, and is his third championship title following a three-year foray into semi-retirement.

Slater’s win today solidifies what some say is his best season yet in an eighteen-year career, and reaffirms his unequivocal status as the most prolific surfer of all time.

On what his surfing means to him and others Slater remarked, “The rewards have paid off for a lot of work and commitment to surfing my whole life. I’m stoked, I just try to do the best I can with what I’ve got.”

After winning the 2008 season opener at the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast, Slater built momentum over the next six contests, winning 32 of 35 heats surfed going into the Quiksilver Pro France last week, where he placed second.  He arrived at Mundaka on Sunday as the presumptive 2008 World Champion, and needed only a ninth place finish to clinch a ninth world title.

About his 2008 season Kelly said “I had a great year, and it’s nice to be rewarded like this. But besides that it felt like a great year. A lot of good things have happened up to this point on the tour.”

Reflecting on winning the title again at Mundaka, Slater said “It’s freezing, but a lot of people showed up to see today, so thanks to everyone who is here. Thanks for being here and being a part of this. It’s magic. We have surf and my year is complete.”

In 2006, he earned his eighth world title at this same Spanish surf spot.  Observers at the time felt it would be his last.  But as he was carried today up the rocky Basque country shoreline by friends and cheered by throngs of Spanish supporters on the cliffs above, it was clear that Slater is better than ever.

Asked if he’s going to continue surfing Slater said, “Always, surfing is a constant challenge.  I’m sure when I’m eighty I’ll think I’ll be getting better. It is just my life and it never ends.”