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Kelly Slater and his Abu Dhabi wave tank set to make history.
Kelly Slater and his Abu Dhabi wave tank set to make history.

Kelly Slater to make history as proud Middle Eastern monarchy hosts first-ever professional surfing event!

Wild days in the desert.

Bells are certainly chiming throughout the United Arab Emirates, this morning, as the calendar flips to exactly one week until the capital of the proud monarchy hosts its first-ever surf event. The Abu Dhabi Longboard Classic. Stop number three on the World Surf League’s 2024 Longboard tour. Stop number first, ever, for the UAE and all thanks to Kelly Slater.

The world’s greatest surfer dreamed big dreams, long ago, and conjured a wave pool technology so magnificent, so powerful and growling, that it simply had to find a home in a Middle East petrostate.

Enter the Emirates.

Slater built the pool, the largest man-made surf facility in the world which will, officially, open to the public in October but first host the Classic, which will feature 48 male and female cross-steppers and kicking off Sept. 27th.

The question on every professional longboard fan’s mind. Will regional Australian champion Sasha Jane Lowerson make the trip then don a singlet further making history?

You will certainly recall, last year, when the strawberry blonde, 45, became the first ever to win an event as a male, Ryan Egan, before transitioning to Lowerson. Her journey has been much covered by international news outlets making her the only professional longboarder, ever, to receive such attention.

It would be a boon but the history-making event might just be enough in and of itself.

The other question on every surf fan’s mind, I suppose. Will Slater himself be in attendance and will he bring his unnamed son in order to witness the moment?

Would be cool if he did.

Entry to the Longboard Classic is, any any case, free so if you are in the region and want to participate in watching, have right at it.

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51 Comments
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RQ.

OK, so i hate this tub, but even i have to admit that this stunt is fucking nuts…
https://www.instagram.com/p/DATI5s1iygy/

braziliangayjesus

kellys a douche…

Keith Grace

Just one of many attempts by the world wave pool cartel to entice the IOC to turn “surfing” into Aquatic Wave Pool Dancing for Summer Olympics to come… with Chinese gymnasts sneaking in a bronze medal after 1.5 years of “surf training”…

pipspuss

Will the WSL stream it?

peter holden

Unnamed son. So limp and ridiculous. How does “no name” enter a country any without a name in their passport. Oh the same way dad entered locked down countries during COVID and showing how great a time he was having while the rest of us plebs watched with jealousy.

Shredy Kruger

WSL (Worlds Slowest Learners) still haven’t realized how repetitively boring wave pools are….

justiceminister

Logger event today. Final five event tomorrow. It’s Kelly’s dream coming true before our eyes. His son Abu Slater will be crowned world champion there one day.

Barnycle

I grew up reading about the “Classic” in all the mags. Good times.

So glad that all of these longboarders are blessed to finally be able to surf there.

longtomssecondcuztwiceremoved

#fuckthetub

Noncompetitor

Are they raffling off the women competitors at the end?

deeks

Sponsored by Harrods

RQ.

daaaaaaammmmmnnnnnn

Snowbored

Just wait until he gets his leash pulled by Lance Burquahart

Dogsnuts

It’s okay, apparently as soon as it’s fully completed they get their passports back.
Xox

Dogsnuts

Let’s all go and support human rights abuses! And to test out their grey areas of law and see if your ol’ pal Dogsnuts can get incarcerated for fingering his bumhole!
Xox

Hughe Johnson

That bald head looking like the new Iron Dome. Yew!

RQ.

yep. hope the whole fuckin thing sinks in to the sand.

Capt Sensible

Dude where do i park my camel ?

Sofa Surfer

Complimentary camel valet!

Dogsnuts

Chas’ life ventures converge!
Xox

Dan Odonnell

Isn’t she running for president of the ESL?

Otto

This is going to be the most successful wave pool in the world. The bedouins love them some sport, any sport, except moto-x, that shit is only allowed well outside city centers.

YewAnon

Wave pool Pro Logging? snooze…..

Capt Sensible

Pull this one off , and olympic surfing will be pool bound ( pun intended).

ricmatic

Im glad no-one’s made a cross step/cross dress joke, as that would be very tacky and tasteless.

Otto

Don’t be so crass

ricmatic

I’m crassless

Otto

no crassmatic


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