Layne Beachley to Retire

Seven-time world champ Layne Beachley has announced that she is retiring from the ASP Women’s World Tour effective the end of the season.  The announcement comes while Beach, 36, is in the hunt for her eighth title, currently ranked third in the world.

“I feel like I’m surfing the best I have in my whole career,” Beachley said in a statement. “Nothing has really changed on tour except for my attitude. It’s my lack of commitment to winning. I base my choices off my experiences and my experience has told me that you have to be 100% focused and also love you’re doing. Even though I love what I do, I’m beginning to love what I’m doing out of the water more. My passion for competitive surfing has been diluted, and to achieve success and to win world titles, you can’t afford for it to be diluted too much.”

Beachley has been actively involved in her clothing company, Beachley Athletics, as well as a charity, Aim for the Stars.  She also stages the Beachley Classic, the women’s surfing event with the highest-payout on the tour.

Though she’s retiring from full-time competitive surfing, Beachley will still compete on occasion when given wild card entries to events.

“I love women’s surfing. I’m really passionate about it. Just because I’m walking away from the Tour doesn’t mean I’m walking away from women’s surfing.”

Kelly Slater, who won his ninth world title earlier this month, acknowledged Beachley’s career and proclaimed her the best woman ever in the sport.

“Layne is the greatest female surfer of all time,” he said in a statement. “She has continued to … shatter records with her surfing style, technical ability and focus. She will be missed in the surfing world.”

Read more about the announcement here.