Kelly Slater making the desert bloom. Photo: Instagram
Kelly Slater making the desert bloom. Photo: Instagram

Kelly Slater reveals first clip from Abu Dhabi surf tank!

Like Cloudbreak, J-Bay and Lower Trestles!

Kelly Slater does very little wrong. From inspiring shrines to crafting the world’s first turtle moon sandal, our 11x champion is singular. So many accomplishments, in fact, that some get lost in the mist. But do you recall when he wowed the public while shaming Adriano de Souza by releasing that first clip from his Lemoore Surf Ranch? It seems three lifetimes ago but, really, it is only seven years in the rearview.

Well, the GOAT is back.

Seconds ago, the spritely 57-year-old just dropped the very first clip from his new Abu Dhabi facility.

I’ve surfed hundreds of incredible waves across the world and this wave in Abu Dhabi stacks up well against some of the best waves on earth,” the living legend wrote, comparing the wave to Cloudbreak, J-Bay and the world’s greatest venue Lower Trestles.

Big wow.

Watch and then let’s discuss.

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tim_nelsen
tim_nelsen
2 years ago

that’s ssstttrrreeetttccchhhin’ it…a bit.

channelbottom
channelbottom
2 years ago

…and rotting bodies outside the compound.

Pauly Matt War-Shore
Pauly Matt War-Shore
2 years ago

It’s a long story, and unlike most altercations that I find myself in, it wasn’t my fault. I didn’t take up the offer btw.

channelbottom
channelbottom
2 years ago

You shoulda said “Sure! I’ll see you on the beach in (insert California beach)”

Brutus
Brutus
2 years ago

tell em yeah , lets go to the beach…..and if you get there before me, sart without me….works a treat!!

K0o_o0K
K0o_o0K
2 years ago

this is the kind of story bg is made for, bring it to publication!

Pauly Matt War-Shore
Pauly Matt War-Shore
2 years ago

I have literally had someone in a wave pool tell me they wanted to take it to the beach.

Chad Lebrone
Chad Lebrone
2 years ago

“Alright buddy… you and me on the pebblecrete RIGHT NOW!”

tim_nelsen
tim_nelsen
2 years ago

we’re in a hot tub?

Capt Sensible
Capt Sensible
2 years ago

Just don’t drop the soap in the showers or you will end up with one of those shiek camel jockies up you before you can say ishala.

Hippy
Hippy
2 years ago

You guys are such a bunch of spoiled cunts.

That looks fun as fuck to me.

Now if it costs as much as Lemore, fuck that.

But the wave looks super fun.

I’m sure all you critics surfed better today……

tim_nelsen
tim_nelsen
2 years ago
Reply to  Hippy

yesterday

Dogsnuts
Dogsnuts
2 years ago

So it still goes uphill with a pocket ride tube and no end section?!
Xox

Sean Connery
Sean Connery
2 years ago
Reply to  Dogsnuts

That oop at the end he does is getting harder and harder to watch

Dogsnuts
Dogsnuts
2 years ago
Reply to  Sean Connery

Alley poop.
Xoxo

Doobalachy
Doobalachy
2 years ago

It was bigger yesterday

JoJo the Dog Faced Boy
JoJo the Dog Faced Boy
2 years ago

Just say no

fingerbanger
fingerbanger
2 years ago

Asked why he chose Abu Dhabi to build a wave pool “The labor costs were incredible, I don’t know how they did it but they were virtually free” Slater replied with a beaming smile and dollar signs in his eyes.

Sellme fitzgobbins
Sellme fitzgobbins
2 years ago

Kelly looking more and more like one of those mexican hairless cats ,as for the pool, looks just as monotonous and identical to leemore

Skippy
Skippy
2 years ago

Pale and pastey, bit of belly fat, him and Raimana are both getting soft,

tim_nelsen
tim_nelsen
2 years ago
Reply to  Skippy

invitees

Mapski
Mapski
2 years ago

Yes, they can refine the oil to run it. Very cost effective.

tim_nelsen
tim_nelsen
2 years ago
Reply to  Mapski

we replace over-loaded circuit boards and power strips made in & China~ozone analyzers

Mapski
Mapski
2 years ago

Is English your third language?

ptsdsurfer
ptsdsurfer
2 years ago

Very disappointing. Not only the wave but specially the timing of release of the first video.

Jimmy the Saint
Jimmy the Saint
2 years ago

If ADS won a heat in an ISA event tomorrow it would overshadow this!

K55
K55
2 years ago

“We’ve traded the magic for perfection and it is sad”!
MW
That came to mind after watching the wave, it may be perfect, but there’s no magic or no soul to it.
And without that, is surfing even really surfing?

K55
K55
2 years ago
Reply to  K55

PS
I think what drew me to surfing was not just riding a wave, but the adventure of being in the ocean, the sense of freedom there, the salt water, the good Ocean vibes.
You can’t fake those, like you can fake a wave in a tank.
And now you have a whole diverse group of people in surfing, those who can afford a tank, and those who cannot afford to pay for it.
I think Dirk and this Slater dude may have done more harm than good in the long run.

channelbottom
channelbottom
2 years ago

He’s 52 not 57.
I had to check.

Gil Gunderson
Gil Gunderson
2 years ago
Reply to  channelbottom

#factgrit

The Bitchy Crab
The Bitchy Crab
2 years ago
Reply to  Gil Gunderson

I think Chas making joke.

Gil Gunderson
Gil Gunderson
2 years ago

Me too! We know facts can be rubbery round these parts!

channelbottom
channelbottom
2 years ago

I LOVE a good WHOOOSH.

Hence the fact check.

@surfads
@surfads
2 years ago
Rocks local
Rocks local
2 years ago

Not even sure what I was expecting, but this is disappointing. At the very least I was hoping for something that would force us to grapple with our reflexive disdain for this project — to weigh our pessimism and negativity against images of perfect stand up barrels reminiscent of the best spots the globe has to offer on their respective best days. Something that would require each of us to look deep within our souls and ask whether our core values were really so core, or whether those values we purport to live by could be compromised, just ever so slightly, for the promise of epic artificial waves.

Instead …. this.


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