Kelly Slater Wins Unprecedented Ninth ASP World Surfing Championship
October 03 2008 - 9:06AM
PR Newswire (US)
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HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif., Oct. 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --
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." Slater ascended to surfing's top-spot in the early 1990s,
ushering the old guard out with a rare competitive spirit and a
never before seen style. He won the world title a record six times
between 1992 and 1998. In 2005, seven years after his previous
title, Slater made an incredible comeback to win a highly emotional
seventh world title in Brazil. Still Slater showed no signs of
slowing down. In 2006, Kelly handily won his eighth world title and
continued competing, pushing his records further from the reach of
second best. "Kelly Slater is an extraordinary human being,
physically and mentally. His talent and accomplishments are
unmatched in surfing and perhaps in the history of sports," says
Bob McKnight, Quiksilver President, Chairman and CEO. The nine-time
World Champion's victory lap promises to be as action-packed as his
2008 season. This fall, Slater is releasing his second book; a
collection of rare interviews and unpublished photos, titled "For
the Love" (Chronicle Press). He'll also continue to work on "The
Ultimate Wave," a 3D IMAX feature film due out fall 2009. And as
surfing's biggest icon and greatest ambassador, Slater will
continue to promote a cleaner, safer planet through The Kelly
Slater Foundation (http://www.kellyslaterfoundation.org/). Although
he'll likely continue visiting the world's best surf spots, he may
also catch a few waves at his homes in Florida, Hawaii and on
Australia's Gold Coast. About Quiksilver: Quiksilver, trailblazing
guide to boardriding* culture, is committed to providing tools for
uncovering, expressing and expanding your personal style. Our
mission is to foster the sense of individual expression and
excitement -- the stoke that is the essence of boardriding. We're
also here to spread the word because the only thing better than
finding stoke is sharing it. * Boardriding is about timing and
style. It's youthful, active, casual, and free flowing. There is no
wrong way to ride a board. The goal is simply to learn, progress,
improve, and give it your own interpretation. DATASOURCE:
Quiksilver CONTACT: Grant Saltarelli, +1-714-889-4453, , or Joshua
Katz, +1-714-889-2274, , both of Quiksilver Web site:
http://www.quiksilver.com/ks9 http://www.kellyslaterfoundation.org/
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