Tears in every eye.
Kelly Slater needs no introduction, here. The 11x world surf champion, multiple-time Pipeline Master, star of In Black and White has basically done it all, including winning an Eddie Aikau Invitational back in 2002. And he was slated to surf in yesterday’s grand affair too but decided to, instead, gift his spot to North Shore lifeguard Chris Owens.
What a move!
Slater, speaking to the local news station said, “I just wasn’t feeling it this morning and the next guy that would get it if I didn’t surf was a guy named Chris Owens. His brother Bobby was a pretty famous surfer in the 70s. A hero of mine. And Chris has been a life long surfer at Waimea and never surfed the Eddie so by me not surfing he gets to surf and I’m super happy for him. He was almost crying…”
The reporter interjects, “What a gift,” to which Slater replied, “There’s always going to be someone there who wants it more than you if you’re timid at all and it just didn’t feel like my day so I just said ‘Chris you go surf’ and he said, ‘Man, thank you…’ and we hugged it out and I can’t wait to see him surf.”
Wow!
Not only an act of great benevolence (which incidentally was just spell checked to “goat” benevolence by my computer), but also a rare look into Slater’s vulnerability. He continued that he spoke with legend Tony Moniz beforehand about “feeling weird” in regards to the day with Moniz simply telling him, “Then don’t go and don’t feel weird about it.” Also how it was tough on his ego and you can see that fight in real time. Slater’s voice pinched and honest, trying to not be mad that he, himself, wasn’t about to stake another GOAT moment into the sand.
Slater making it all right, though.
Doing the proper thing.
A surf angel.
Tears in every eye.
popped a vein!
Bobby ripped Sunset but Waimea was not his spot. Actually I think he only surfed it a few time as Foo was his best friend & Mark loved the Bay so Bobby joined him on occasion…
Owens is not a lifeguard
Great handle
free consultations for you ramjet!
Careful what you wish for Kanga or is that Rabbit
sshhhhh….mayte. dont blow my cover!
House painter & hardcore workout partner to us…
yup he fell off of my roof painting before…good cross training for falling out of the sky on a 30 footer!
pipeline event , just last season , winning, guess you could say that was his day…kinda not that long ago btw
As a hater, got to give old Slater a lot of props for this.
I judged Kelly Slater in 1984 in a pro contest in Melbourne Beach when he was 12 years old. He was special then, and has since grown to become a man amongst men. Small minded people knock him for reasons of jealousy only. His record over all these years speaks for itself, almost flawless in every way. Naysayers begone, you degenerate yourselves.
Of course!
It will likely be jibberish but you’ll feel empowered.
Every old surfer that has challenged large waves reaches a point where he pulls back , it’s a real surfer that realises this and understands he is entering the a new phase of his surfing experience , think I’m full of it have a think where is Ken Bradshaw where is derrick donner or Roger Erickson and all the other big wave chargers of yesterday Da bull did it best he new when it was time and put his gun back in the rack , Slater’s a real man in my mind he did not let stupid pride get in the way of making the right call , he was not feeling it so don’t go , Eddie would respect that.
I agree 100% with “every old surfer that has challenged large waves reaches a point where he pulls back “
The difference is that it’s the body that deteriorates first , so then you find yourself using age and treachery – experience to survive , till ya get to the point where you know deep down your body is no longer able to take the wipeouts or survive numerous waves on the head…….so time is up!
What I find bizarre with Kelly , he’s still super fit trained up to compete on the World stage , in Ct events ….
RCJ is older , no where near as fit as Kelly , hasn’t surfed a wave over 6′ in 5 years , had a horrendous 3 years of trying to rehab his Survivor ankle injury , blew out to 120K’s , flies into Hawaii , frothing to surf and reconnect with ol friends ….paddles out no vests , and reconnects with his surfing…passion is something ya can’t manufacture and Kelly just doesn’t have the same passion as someone like Froth……..so I think it’s not about the right call , but passion to surf all waves!
Suma suma different words.
..thanks, now that awful song is stuck in my head.
..soundly buggered, then choked.
Typical KS. He outerknowned it.
Gorilla–unrelated:
https://www.youtube.com/wat…
now the real story…Elo called Kelly and told him that the Eddie was not a sanctioned event and he could lose all his points and not be able to compete in 2032 for his 26th World Championship, JJF just told Elo …ah go and get fucked can you speak to my day manager, Dane Kealoha !
jed bushman pounced me…ask him…am a team rider…need redwood and pistahios…will pay for templates.
sordid benevolent cheers or cries? unblock me!
While I agree with your overall sentiment here, Kelly passing on the Super Bowl of Surfing was surely going to come up sooner than later. He had to answer lest it look like he big timed The Eddie/Aikau family.
What’s up with Chinese New Year? Seven shot dead in Half Moon Bay by an Asian guy. Ten killed in LA
I read this stuff and go …. Really? Why ?
All those lunatics shooting up high schools and now a dance studio ? What ?
I mean we’re not immune here, the mosque shootings for an example, but … why?
Fucken crazy shit.
So Slater haired out and ended up making himself look like an angel.
sounds on brand.
An act of brave cowardice!
It’s Kelly Slater’s world…we are all just living in.
(For more inspirational quotes please send cash.)
see that mickey mouse watch?
It’s why he’s a legend and we’re just legends in our own minds.
Ill send ya a couple Doge coins.
I’m rich!!!
God bless you Kelly Slater in a truly special way! 🥲😢😪 As we used to say “You
understood the assignment”!
kelly won’t go !
…away.