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Without a precedent (since in this website don’t talk to sports), today we wanted to make an exception to what is undoubtedly one of the best athletes in the world (in my opinion and I think also that of many).

Friday we published this post reporting that Kelly Slater was proclaimed for the eleventh time world champion, well, due to an error in the system ASP rankings, was crowned early.

Kelly Slater (39 years) won round 4 and defeated Miguel Pupo and Gabriel Medina,  qualifying for the quarterfinals of the Rip Curl Pro Search San Francisco and now if it has been officially proclaimed champion for the eleventh time.
On the error committed by the ASP Slater said: “I was upset about it, but I also thought it was funny” “We all make mistakes.”

 

“It was a scrappy heat, I didn’t win it in the most effortless style” Slater said.

Slater has signed an impressive performance during 2011. Three wins (Gold Coast, Tahiti and Trestles) and two finishes (New York and Portugal) account for the regularity of the American, who attributed the success of this season to “motivation and tranquility to having achieved the tenth title last year”.

This eleventh title, comes at the first anniversary of the death of Andy Irons. Irons was once a bitter rival to Slater, who achieved three consecutive world titles, but they became good friends over the last years of Andy Irons life.

Having claimed his first ASP World Title in 1992 at the age of 20, Slater still boasts the record for the youngest-ever ASP World Title holder. Now at 39 years of age, Slater holds the record of being the oldest ASP World Champion ever, being the only athlete to accomplish both feats in sports.

At 39 years, is also considered by many experts the best athlete of all time with a winning percentage that reaches 80%, a figure that today is still getting fatter. His incredible progression and innovative way to surf still continues to influence how to surf around the world and one’s view of the sport.

The professionalism of Kelly Slater, his philanthropic work, character and styleredefined the archetypal surfer. Committed to the protection of oceans and marine life, Kelly often uses her fame to inculcate respect for the environment. The Kelly Slater Foundation promotes conservation and contributes to the financing of social projects and environmental charities by organizing fundraisers and corporate donations and individual channeling.

It also has an extensive resume of projects in the world of TV, film and music. He appeared on the animated film Sony Pictures “Surf’s Up”, produced an MTV special surf “Kelly Slater Celebrity Invitational”, produced and starred in “The Ultimate Wave Tahiti 3D”, a film to educate young people about the ocean ecosystems and the “science” of the waves and tried his hand at music as a writer and guitarist, releasing the album in 1998 “Songs from the Pipe” (Sony) with his band “The Surfers”. Also known his guest appearances with his friends Jack Johnson, Ben Harper and Eddie Vedder (Pearl Jam).

He has starred in several advertising campaings for Pentax, L’Oreal, Versace, Hinano, TIM Telecom, Mercedes Benz, Kiehl’s and Apple.

It has also given his name to many projects, including the video game “Kelly Slater’s Pro Surfer”.

Since 1990, Kelly is sponsored by Quiksilver, where he brings his vision and  counseling to the designers and testing the new technological advances in wet suits and swimwear.

Slater was praised by the U.S. House of Representatives when, in May 2010, announced the recognition (unanimously) to record outstanding achievements in the world of surfing and being a good ambassador for the sport and an excellent role model.

Last August was nominated for the Prince of Asturias Awards.

Then I leave the video tribute that Quiksilver has made the world champion again, the music is by Ben Howard and the song is called “Black Flies” (Scott Nixon remix).

During his career includes a victory on 48 occasions in the world tour, and two gold medals at the ESPN X-Games.

And it has done with the ASP World Title at the following locations:

2011: Rip Curl Pro Search San Francisco – USA
2010: Rip Curl Pro Search Puerto Rico – USA Territory
2008: Billabong Pro Mundaka – Basque/España
2006: Billabong Pro Mundaka – Basque/ España
2005: Nova Schin Festival – Brazil
1998: Mountain Dew Pipeline Masters – Hawaii
1997: Expo 98 Figueira 97 – Portugal
1996: Coca Cola Figueira 96 – Portugal
1995: Chiemsee Pipe Masters – Hawaii
1994: Chiemsee Gerry Lopez Pipe Masters – Hawaii
1992: Alternativa Surf Rio – Brazil

Finally I leave you with a summary of the heat that he became champion of the world.