Kelly Slater Eliminated From Fiji Pro, Is This the End of an Era?
Aaron Hughes / WSL
In large, unruly conditions at the Fiji Pro, the greatest competitive surfer of all time, Kelly Slater, may have just surfed his last heat at Cloudbreak. At 52 years old, his career spans over three decades. He's taken on and defeated multiple generations of legends and stands today as the most decorated and respected competitive to ever pull on a jersey. And it took Brazil's Yago Dora logging the best performance of the opening day, accented by a 9.33 score, to take out the GOAT.
"It was a great wave. It was heartbreaking to watch it go by and think that should have been my wave," Slater explained of Dora's near-perfect score.
"Overall, it was a really frustrating day," he continued. "The part of the reef I know in and out wasn't really working so well today, and I don't usually surf down at the end so much. I felt a little lost this morning and never really got into the flow ... good for Yago, he's one of my favorite surfers and always a tough draw."
Slater didn't shy away from the moment, acknowledging that this was likely his last heat ever at a spot where he's won four times over the course of his legendary career.
"This is probably the last heat I'll surf out here," Slater explained. "I have a million great memories. Tavarua, you've been my family forever. Thanks so much you guys, love you.
Slater won his first of 11 world titles in 1992 as a 20-year-old. He followed that up by winning five straight titles between 1994 and 1998. Enjoying a brief "retirement," Slater came roaring back, winning five more titles between 2005 and 2011. Along the way he also picked up 56 Championship Tour victories, eight Pipe Masters crowns, three Triple Crown wins and a victory at the Eddie Aikau Invitational.
Slater is also a captain of industry. Through his sustainable clothing brand Outerknown, to his work with his surfboard company Slater Designs, and his mind-blowing innovations in the wave pool and surf park space, he's helped to transform the business of surf as well.
Whatever he chooses to do next, wherever the adventure of life may lead, he's earned every bit of it. Somebody buy this man a Tavarita, please!
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