A man for all seasons.
Kelly Slater, arguably the greatest surfer ever, environmentalist and artificial wave pool impresario won many fans in China, when he hit back at an historically inaccurate troll last month with the defense, “Writing me out of the blue talking shit is such a crock of shit. Accusing me of being a racist? My girlfriend is Chinese. You’re on glue. You’re a miserable coward. And now you’re blocked.”
The well-meaning but slightly off commenter had suggested that U.S. intervention was a great global negative, overall, after Slater had suggested America should bomb many Chinese fishing vessels illegally trolling, as irony would have it, near the Galapagos Islands.
The two went back and forth before Slater’s coup de grace, which thrilled residents from Shanghai to Lhasa and maybe even planted a little hope in many Chinese female hearts. The King not being married and all.
Very great and similar to Richard M. Nixon’s Ping Pong Diplomacy.
Now, Korea is, of course, not China but it appears that Slater’s charm, his warmth, his profound cultural understanding is welcome there too as mega-group BTS just released a video featuring a Slater Designs surfboard.
Is it a Cymatic?
Sci-Fi 2.0?
FRK?
Watch here at the 27 second mark and you tell me!
Haha commenter, and what does any of that prove. That’s what happens when you follow pro surfing (‘surfers’). = going around in circles..
as some old sage, guru, salt might have said once –somewhere in the saga, the ancient wisdom of surfing, is it not written somewhere, —“the best waves ever ridden on the planet–will always be the ones you catch and ride yourself”……….
Haha commenter, and what does any of that prove.
It proves he is driven and lives up to his own dreams.
That’s what happens when you follow pro surfing (‘surfers’). = going around in circles..
No, I just have seen Kelly’s evolution since the early 1990s, and it’s been interesting. He is unusual. More than a little bit.
as some old sage, guru, salt might have said once
People who claim to be gurus are almost always jackasses.
–somewhere in the saga, the ancient wisdom of surfing, is it not written somewhere, —“the best waves ever ridden on the planet–will always be the ones you catch and ride yourself”………
Waves are nice.
Waves are nice? Waves are the ‘real stars’. If you are surfing and having fun, what really else matters. Slater and the other so called pros could fall off the face of the earth tomorrow, and what would it matter. 99.9 of surfers probably wouldn’t even notice, they’d just probably do their morning surf check and go surfing, as usual.
Then why is this website – and 99.9% of the peanut gallery who comment – so obsessed with Kelly Slater?
The editors snipe at him almost as much as they talk about sharks.
Hmmm?
From whence comes the obsession?
He’s in the news a lot, maybe he’s just an easy target, or maybe from boredom, or maybe he deserves some of it (bad press), who knows, who cares.
From my point of view, I don’t really see anything he’s done that’s positive for surfing. Never followed him, never thought much on him.
But I do think surfing has somewhat lost its way–surf stars, surf contests, Dirk Ziff, waterman of the year? Really??
Maybe it time, we all, just went surfing……
He’s in the news a lot, maybe he’s just an easy target, or maybe from boredom, or maybe he deserves some of it (bad press), who knows, who cares.
Kelly’s in the news a lot because there’s a lot of news these days. Everyone’s a surf journalist now. There are dozens of outlets all clamoring for news but everyone pretty much covering the same thing.
Kelly does his own social media and it all seems pretty outwardly directed and kind-hearted. Others twist it.
Deep down Chas Smith wants to be as talented and wealthy and cool as Kelly Slater but he’s not.
So he sneers at him. It’s weak.
But people like that have been coming and going in the surfing world for decades.
From my point of view, I don’t really see anything he’s done that’s positive for surfing.
Kelly has ridden waves probably better than anyone else ever and that inspires others to ride waves well. Showing what can be done. With style.
He’s a gentleman and intelligent and not some inked up, drugged out, inarticulate dumbass.
A class act
Never followed him, never thought much on him.
You seem to be doing that right now.
But I do think surfing has somewhat lost its way–surf stars, surf contests,
There was a time when surf stars and surf contests were more interesting. The surfers were more interesting. There is something missing from this modern era. Maybe it’s overexposure.
Too much media. Dilution. No mystery left.
Dirk Ziff, waterman of the year? Really??
The Ziffs floated in with a boatload of money and rescued pro surfing and other institutions from a surf industry that was coughing up blood.
Tens of millions of dollars out of the goodness of his heart.
Provided a lot of jobs in front of and behind the scenes.
Doesn’t that deserve some kind of gratitude or reward?
And Waterman of the Year doesnt necessarily mean you’re good in the water.
It means contribution to surfing and the Ziffs contributed heaps. They even kicked into the photo budget for a book I did on women’s surfing.
Maybe it time, we all, just went surfing……
You seem a little amped up. Sure, if you give someone millions, I guess you get a trophy.
Dirk said in the very
beginning, the Wsl was in this for profits, not to help the average surfer.
If there was never another surf contest, (or another surf starlett), or
never another advancement in surfing, we already have everything we need to keep surfing, to keep the stoke alive.
“The surf industry, is ‘not’ surfing”.
You seem a little amped up.
Define “amped up.”
Sure, if you give someone millions, I guess you get a trophy.
Sure, why not?
The Ziffs salvaged a once-great institution that would have died without them.
A couple of institutions.
Also the XXL Big Wave Awards.
It all would have died without Ziff money.
And some people enjoy that stuff.
Pro surfing has had its moments in the past.
Dirk said in the very beginning, the Wsl was in this for profits, not to help the average surfer.
I don’t see how they’re ever going to profit, investing what has to be tens of millions of dollars into pro surfing.
The surf industry (RIP) doesn’t seem too interested.
Think Hurley Nouveau will sponsor surf contests?
Doubt it.
I don’t know that the world cares all that much. Maybe Brazil does.
but I still don’t see where the profit will come from.
Lot of money going out, but what money is coming in?
Advertising? Broadcast?
If there was never another surf contest, (or another surf starlett), or never another advancement in surfing, we already have everything we need to keep surfing, to keep the stoke alive.
Define “stoke.”
“The surf industry, is ‘not’ surfing”.
The surf industry is lame and getting lamer but it wasn’t always thus.
When we were kids we wore Hang 10 shirts and Op trunks and Vans shoes and we lusted after every issue of Surfer Magazine – because it meant something then.
We were the coolest.
Surfing was cool.
The surf industry, the Wsl (the people on Dirk’s payroll) gave Dirk a trophy, surfers didn’t give it to him.
A once great “institution”? That’s funny.
And yes, there was a time when surf tees were cool, now I wouldn’t be caught dead in one. About 10 years ago, I actually gathered my surf tees and put them in a pile in my front yard, poured some gas on them, and burnt them, (true story). Never looked back, may the surf industry go the way of the dinosaur.
My synopsis, “the best waves ever ridden on the planet– will always be the ones you catch and ride yourself.”
The Waterman of the Year Awards is given out by SIMA – the Surf Industry Manufacturer’s Association.
Of which WSL is one of many parts.
Here’s a sample from a 2019 press release: On August 3, 2019, the Surf Industry Manufacturers Association (SIMA) will honor a trio of breakthrough honorees at the 2019 Waterman’s event. Honorees include big wave surfer and progressive waterman Kai Lenny as Watermen of the Year; Plastic Pollution Coalition co-founder Dianna Cohen as Environmentalist of the Year; and former four-time world champion and surf icon Mark Richards with the Lifetime Achievement Award. They will join an esteemed list of past Waterman’s honorees that include Kelly Slater, Eddie Vedder, Lisa Anderson, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Mick Fanning, Greg Noll, Jackson Browne, Al Merrick, Perry Farrell, Ted Danson, Bethany Hamilton and many more.
Are Eddie Vedder and Ted Danson and Robert F Kennedy Junior all great surfers?
Nope.
Have they contributed something to surfing and the ocean and the environment and that?
Yep.
So did the Ziffs.
Ooodles of money, and not just for the WSL.
Kelly Slater Wave Co. The XXL Big Wave Awards. Probably other things.
And yes, pro surfing has been a great, entertaining institution in the past.
The 1992 contest at Lowers that Kelly dominated was pretty cool.
The Coldwater Classics back in the late 1980s were a lot of fun.
Never liked the Huntington events, because that place gives me the creeps.
Seen some good Pipe Masters over the years.
And the Jaws and Mavericks events can be good value.
And no it appears that surf clothing is no longer cool which is why most of the guys who started the big companies have cashed out and are out.
Which is why the WSL had to swoop in to save pro surfing, because there is no longer a surf industry, run by surfers, to support it.
Because it just ain’t no fun anymore, and it was – trust me.
Said it before and will say it again: In the fullness of time, I realize how lucky it was to work for Surfer and be involved in all this from the late 1980s into the 1990s.
It’s just not as cool anymore, which is why beachgrit.com exists – the voice of disappointment.
Well, enjoy the past I guess. I didn’t watch any of those so called contests as they have no appeal for me.
I remember some old quote from Sam George after he talked to some surfers leaving a ‘in-progress’ contest at Lowers. When he asked them where they were going, they told him, Uppers- to surf.
His conclusion, ” Real surfers don’t want to watch, we want to ride”.
wy he seems unhappy??…
Kelly seems unhappy?
He’s just driven, and people that driven seem strange to the rest of the world: Musk, Jobs, Wonka.
That kind of ambition and drive is a form of psychosis in a way, but Kelly has made it a positive one.
He entertains. He inspires. He leads the way.
He drinks Hinano. He has a good time.
It’s weird to be that talented at anything – Kelly has handled it better than most.
He likes being great and doesn’t want it to slip.
Maybe when he’s pumping through the barrel he imagines his past is coming to get him like the foam ball or the spit.
And he’s trying to escape it?
Would love to see Dr. Lecter have a go at him.
I quote the Psychiatrist in The Manchurian Candidate: “Human fish, swimming at the bottom of the great ocean of atmosphere, develop psychic injuries as they collide with one another. Most mortal of all are those gotten from the parent fish.”
Your dad never hugged you did he?
Didn’t expect a comparison of Kelly to Trump in any form much less an admiration for Trump’s “lack of restraint” but here we are. Its helpful for us humble non “renowned surf journalists” here in the Beach Grit comments to know, unequivocally, how far your head is up your own ass.
Serious question: do you think his behavior in various social media comment section has diminished his legacy at all?
Excellent summary of the Freud wikipedia page
Nice list! You sure are an expert on over inflated egos. Congrats to you, we should hang out sometime, I’d love to bathe in your infinite surf wisdom!
He’s not an expert. Ben is suffering from a form of psychosis, that people who ‘don’t’ have a satisfying surf life of their own–tend to suffer from.. ‘Surf Star-itiss’…….living their surf life vicariously through others…… .
Nah, he’s just a delusional narcissist
It’s nice to know surfing has reached K-Pop. Not sure it can go any lower?
I never really understood the people that gravitated to K-Pop(outs)
Do you have to listen to K-Pop to ride a K-pop(out)?
Kelly has finally made it! Maybe this will satiate his inexhaustible ego for a few minutes.
KS satisfied his ego many many many years ago.
The rest has just been gravy.
He kills his dragons, breathes and pleads them back to life, and kills them again.
The rest hasn’t been gravy, but he might be jealous of Ben Gravy
Oh fuck! Are they leading, in the middle or at the back? Evil cunts.
Fuck yeah dude.
High five over a good plate of kalbi.
A Kangol never looked so out of place.
And thank you to all the Asians for ruining Addidas Superstars .
Without watching have to be a – “No Brainer”
Korean food is one of my favourites.
In my feeble pea-brain I think it’s like the Mexican food of Asia.
In short; fucking delicious.
Thank you for your time.
Very little beats a delicious bulgogi…
Korea bbq?
“maybe even planted a little hope in many Chinese female hearts. The King not being married and all.“
THAT’S IT …. “The King and I “ a musical water ballet filmed at a Bamboo festooned Rice Paddy , formerly (outer)known as the Ranch
A Hybrid of Crazy Rich Asians and The Bachelor ….. with Kelly playing an aging , somewhat jade or jaded , Jimmy Slade , The Catcher in the Thai ( wetsuit ) …..
Or we could call it “ Field of Seams “ stitched and glued ….. if you wear it we will come ?
I think we may have undersold the artistic and political symbolism that the infinity brand sticker is possibly attempting to portray ?
An Oval representing , no beginning and no end …. North / South …. Socialism / Capitalism…. Evil and Good , Dark and light , onshore / offshore … Kim and Kath….. reunited in an upper middle class Seoul Bedroom ……
Watch this video then watch Parasite …the yin and the yang !
https://youtu.be/isOGD_7hNIY
As for infinity , Stephen Hawking , was advised during a tour of China not to discuss a possible end of the universe because it might adversely affect the Shanghai Stock Exchange , even though it is 10 billion years away . Infinity is good for Asian Business !
Or that could be over-selling what is really just a frequently referenced squiggly line…
Infinity or Asian Pop and / or Pop Outs ? Just playing with words as per usual …
Looking foreword to A Mr Squiggle “ the man from the moon “ model soon
Mmm, K.S. the greatest surfer ever?, does that include punching surfboards after losing a heat. Maybe the best surfer—is– the one–having the most fun.
I wonder if Kelly’s Chinese girlfriend’s North Korean neighbor is at all happy about Kelly racing to K-Pop a Kelly pop-out.
Nice try, but there’s no way I’m watching 27 seconds of K-pop to identify a board that I’m not interested in.
Well said.