Surfer Kelly Slater falls out of CT, ending impressive 33-year streak
Kelly Slater, once considered the greatest surfer of all time, has been eliminated from the Margaret River Pro in Western Australia and subsequently excluded from the Championship Tour. The loss came in the round of 32, meaning he was unable to qualify for the mid-season and can no longer compete at the top level.
The end of his career?
Slater surfed strong and earned solid scores, but was unable to beat Australia’s Liam O’Brien in his heat, held in front of thousands of spectators. This dramatic moment will likely spell the end of Slater’s 30-plus year career. The Florida-born surfer won his first world title at age 20 in 1992 at Hawaii’s famed Pipeline.
Slater redefined surfing and influenced generations of surfers
He won a world title every year between 1994 and 1998, before taking a break and returning to competition in 2001, winning five more world titles, the last in 2011. Slater redefined surfing and influenced generations of surfers. Many of these surfers were not even born when Slater won his first world title, but later became professional surfers and competed against their hero.
The oldest surfer on the tour
Now 51, Slater is the oldest surfer on the tour. He has the option of competing in the second-tier challenger series or retiring from the sport. Despite winning at Pipeline in 2022, Slater admits he has been on a «down streak» over the past year.
A significant moment in the history of surfing
The elimination at the Margaret River Pro is a significant moment in surfing history, as it marks the end of an era for one of the sport’s most dominant and legendary athletes. Slater’s contribution to surfing will always be remembered and his influence will continue to shape the sport for years to come.
