I heart Slater

You'll quickly realize that I have a humongous man-crush on Kelly Slater.  But, who doesn't?  Right? 

What's not to like?  His surfing is technically perfect.  He effortlessly combines power carves and big hacks with huge airs, tail slides, light as air floaters, and recently, switchfoot ridiculousness. 

He's the youngest world title winner, oldest world title winner, has won the most world titles (8, soon to be 9 if he continues his winning streak this year), has won the most professional contests (38 at last count), has dated Pamela Anderson, Gisele Bundchen, Bar Refaeli, and many others, etc. etc. etc.

And, how about this brief history of his 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)

2007

The Boost Mobile Pro (Trestles, 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)

The Boost Mobile Pro (Trestles, 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)

 

 

Remember this forehand grab-rail top turn in macking Bells a couple years back?