Kelly Slater’s exit from the tour as a full time competitor was confirmed after world number one Griffin Colapinto knocked him out of the round of 32 at Margeret River, meaning that Kelly becomes a victim of the mid-year cut.
This is more than likely the 11x world champion’s last heat as a full time competitor on the CT.
Read his full post-heat interview below:
“Frustrated I didn’t take the six off of Griff. His four wasn’t a big score and I thought at some point a proper good wave was going to come and I just thought I’ll be patient and patient. I looked at his and I thought, without priority I would take it 100% but with priority I was kinda touch and go. He had one score, the best score of the heat, so the smart play was to take that wave and that probably would have put me on his second good one he got to so, you know, in terms of a heat, that was the mistake. But, the conditions turned pretty bleak on us there.
“As far as emotions, it’s almost hit me, it’s right there, bubbling, but just to have the boys cheer me up, they told me they were going to in a free surf the other day. Andy and T-Bone and those guys, so it was nice to have the local boys from the podcast cheer me up. The support here has been unquestionably incredible here over the years. I’ve never even really had a good result here and the crowds have just been so supportive of me and generally tell me that I’m second behind Taj or Jack for them, or maybe Jay Davies that one year. They’ve always given me a lot of support. I’ve had a fight with this wave my whole career, so it is not necessarily the wave I want to end on. I have put in a wildcard for Fiji, so we will see how that goes.
“But yeah, it is what it is, everything comes to an end. If you don’t adapt you don’t survive. My motivation just hasn’t quite been there to really put in that 100% that everyone is doing now you know.
“Even in Brazil, where the fans are so hardcore, I’ve really been a favourite there. They’ve really shown me a lot of love and support and a lot of anger, you know. They get mad at me when I get critical but to all my Brazilian fans thanks for the support over the years and to my all my friends down there, it’s been an incredible lifetime of memories.
“I’ve got a couple weeks here. Renato asked me if I want to surf on the Goldy so I might if Snapper looks good, we will see, just for some fun and I got a couple weeks in Australia still and then I’ve got some work in the States. Unfortunately I’d like to stay in Australia for a few months right now. And we’ve got just under three months now until the baby comes so as far as planning it out and time, this works really well for us and me. Now Kalani and I have some time to settle in these next couple months and just get prepared for a little different lifestyle.”
Holds back tears before giving message to family and friends
“So much emotion for so long, so much dedication, it’s not all roses you know, but it has been the best time in my life and my family is at home watching, I love you guys. Couldn’t quite pull a miracle off this week but I’ve pulled a few off over the years and I still had that hope out there you know, one might pop up with a minute to go. To lose to the number one, I’ve been close friends with Griff for a long time.
“Sorry, I’m just kind of avoiding that emotion as it’s all just bubbling up but it hit me at Sunset this year, because I knew without a good result at Pipeline and obviously I didn’t do well at Sunset and you know I have been struggling since my surgery, since the recovery. It’s like I’m just fighting through the pain, hoping for adrenaline but I felt at Sunset after that, I was at the house talking to Kalani and I kinda just broke down, it just feels like the end you know, but the start of something else, the start of the rest of life. I’ve had such incredible luck and good fortune over the years and it’s so tied in with my surfing. I’ll just have a little quiet time after I spend some time with the crowd and just absorb the whole thing you know. But it’s been fun to be over 50 and still mixing it up with the guys, feeling like I’m there with them. Getting to see the new crop of guys, you know Rio said to me don’t retire, we got to get a heat first and we got one at Pipeline and then Cole and I got a heat which was fun and to finish with Griffin as a full time competitor was fun. But I feel like if I get a wildcard I could end up with Griffin again, so you know I’ll pay him back.”
