For the first time in forever, Slater enters all three Triple Crown events…
You ever wonder why Kelly Slater hasn’t had a real swing at the Hawaiian Triple Crown in close to twenty years?
I mean, how many times do you have to listen to surfers and commentators say the Triple Crown means as much as a world title to not be piqued by the thought: if it’s so important, where’s Slater? Isn’t his entire existence based around winning? Every record, he owns: youngest/oldest world champ, most contest wins, etc.
But, if you want to compare the thirty-two-year history of Triple Crown titles, well, examine this…
Sunny Garcia: 6
Derek Ho: 4
Andy Irons: 4
Joel Parkinson: 3
Mike Ho: 2
John John Florence: 2
Kelly Slater: 2
The greatest surfer has two Triple Crowns, the last one eighteen years ago? Equal fifth of all time? Doesn’t that smart just a little?
Yesterday, BeachGrit reader Matt Siemienski wrote:
Over the years I have tried to figure out why in the hell doesn’t Kelly compete in the Triple Crown. But first let me explain a little about myself and hopefully provide some context.
I was raised on the Gulf Coast of Florida. I’m 41, a big Slater fan, have been for many many years. I’m no hater. I’ve also lived on Oahu for the last 11 years.
Most of that time, I asked others why they think that the best and ultra competitive surfer hasn’t competed in the TC.
Nobody has ever provided an answer, or at least a juicy enough one. The best I’ve got was that he has already won it. Or that he sucks at Sunset. Needless to say, I don’t think that’s the answer. Slater has been very aware of his standing in our historic annuals. Why pass on something he would have been a favorite at most years. Especially in the years where the title was out of reach before coming to Oahu.
Somehow I think Sunny had something to do with it. Haha. J/K
I did read something about how weird it was for Slater to be hanging around JJF so much as he was being crowned the champ. I didn’t see it but the guy wrote something along the lines of Slater “not allowing JJF all the glory”. I’m keen enough to know that whatever that guy wrote, he may just be being a hater. Then again, why is Kelly finally getting around to commuting to the TC again?
Maybe it wasn’t Sunny, instead the Hui telling Slates to let some others have some glory. Fuck, I don’t know. What have you heard? Or think? Or even care?
It’s a good point.
And made sharper when Slater, who missed the cut-off for entries into the Hawaiian Pro and had to be gifted a wildcard, scratched his sword all over Haleiwa, looking better than anyone.
Of course, Kelly didn’t make much of a deal of it.
In a pre-heat interview, he kinda aw-shucked, said he was inspired by Dusty Payne and Julian Wilson’s performances last year, and that he hadn’t been around for years ’cause the last time he had to surf in dribbly lefts (in 2012).
Yeah? Really?
Is Slater, who says he’ll retire after a final hit at the world title in 2017, throwing his weight around ’cause he wants to snatch the limelight, in much the same way he did last year with Adriano’s world title?
Or is it a longer game?
With the tour wrapped in 2017, Slater retires to Hawaii, with the aim of stealing seven Triple Crowns.
Obviously, I got crickets when I called Slater half-a-dozen times.
Watch the interview here.
Now let’s watch him hit a nine.
I don’t always want to be the sane rational one but without talking to Kelly, and thinking he is half serious about having a crack next year, I’d imagine he is wanting to get some heat time in.
Avoiding the limelight in Hawaii??? pretty silly notion about a guy who has won two hundred Pipe Masterses and one and three quarter Eddies. The Triple Crown means a lot more to guys who haven’t got 11 world titles I suspect.
Then again JH has probably got a point, we’ve all been there.
You’re absolutely right! I heard the Triple Crown he really wants is a threesome with JJF’s mom and girlfriend!
the wsl commentators, for awhile now, needing to drum up drama, after JJF won “too soon” in portugal, have been pointing out that if he wins the triple crown , it will be something NO ONE ELSE has EVER done!! to win the eddie, the world title, and the triple crown in one year!!I don’t think slater could tolerate that. He said in his pre heat interview he wasn’t even going to do the sunset pro, and didn’t register,(ooo, ick have to get down in the trenches with the hoi polloi), then at last minute asked for a wild card.
Because it started nagging at him like a gnat in his ear that people would be more excited about someone else, and he’s already announced his big come back year so he can’t use that again. the only video clips of the whole day yesterday that the wsl put up had kelly in them. not one of the huge griffin colapinto hail mary, and none of jjf.
slater never won sunset, its his weakness, he will write it off for life, just ask him about it, he cant stand that wave
Is it just me or is he starting to look a bit doughy?
I just can’t see it. If the heavens align and Paul Speaker sacrifices enough goats and chickens plus chops his knob off and burns it in a bonfire in Mozambique meaning we actually get decent waves at every event then maybe Slater can win.
Guaranteed Snapper will be a total load of shit, Bells is the usual bollocks, France will be France and Portugal will be windy closeouts. He just can’t compete at those spots unless it’s moderately interesting. I don’t blame him either.
It was clearly just an excuse for him to skip the maxing swell at the jaws comp.
He’s selling surfboards.
starts and ends with john john. kelly’s no longer the guy and it’s killing him. he will stop at nothing to steal some of jjf spotlight.
I was going to write the same thing, funnily enough I hope ADS wins the triple crown, that would rub salt into an already sore loser!
Probably because he’s either already won the title, in title contention and only surfing Pipe, or disinterested in competition after a below average year. And Hawaiians value the crown way more than anybody else.
There’s only so many hours to win all the things.
Not to take the wind out of the speculation, but the answer for why Slater hasn’t typically competed is obvious and there are two components: 1) the triple crown is small potatoes for him, and 2) there isn’t much of an off season for WCT surfers. With respect to point two, the gap between the end of Europe and Snapper (with the exception of Pipe) provides a chance for WCT surfers to get healthy, relax, and prepare for the next season. That’s why a lot of the top WCT surfers don’t do the triple crown. Same goes for Slater. Why the change this year? His career is waning and victories are more challenging than in the past, so an opportunity for (modest) glory is more appealing than it has been.
… in other news, it appears he found his razor!
Go make me a wave pool
can’t wait till john john makes a better wave pool.
I think it could be something as simple as having a bet with JJF. We all know he likes to pull the competitive dad thing with him.
I for one side with Scott bass on this one. No world title should be without the triple crown. Take it back to win this arbitrary, highly subjective sport gained actual traction. Without Hawaii, you were nothing, and I’d say that’s still true. Why then is there basically no weight in Hawaii, regarding the title. The WSL has failed us yet again with an anti-climactic ending. They could easily ditch a stop or two and weight the 3 events to assure a last leg coming down the stretch finish. Imagine the world series or super bowl winner being clenched before the playoffs start.
I bet the girlfriend is putting the squeeze on him to get hitched and he’s in full avoidance mode.
You know how many fucking fishing nets it takes to make those Outerknown sweaters!
KS walks stretches of beach gathering, and that gathering takes pretty much an ungodly amount of time. Time he can’t spend at the Triple Crown but AMPLE time plotting. Plotting those quirky KS moves we have all come to enjoy
Can Jadson Andre please go away…..He is lucky Pat Gudang is so easy going
Is saw some of the heat but I guess I missed something?
Gave up priority to Bernardo because he is a friend, who needed a score to get into second….. Patty Gudang gets knocked out and very well could have made the tour with a few more heats….
Jadson is such a conundrum. One one hand, his appalling style has no place on the CT. But on the other, he’s your archetypal rags to riches kind of surfer and it would be depressing to see him lose his income.
I cant decide which scenario I would prefer. He seems like the nicest guy too.