That's all?
No surfer in history has ever held the spotlight like Florida’s Kelly Slater. The generational talent burst upon the scene some multiple decades ago as a surfboard flicking wonderkind before showcasing a cutthroat competitive vein, uncanny tube ability and penchant for engaging even the most meaningless social media commentators in full battle. 11 world titles, countless magazine features, celebrity pals and a Chinese girlfriend later, surf fans expect, nee demand, unique takes on geopolitics, medicine, astronomy, mathematics, child naming from the greatest to ever do it.
Understandable, then, the massive confusion when Slater appeared on the Everyday Athlete Nation podcast in order to share why he took a three year hiatus from professional surfing after winning his sixth title in 1998. The host, teeing up that exact year in his humblebrag intro, began, “It brings up a good a good question, man. I believe it was ’98 because that was the year I joined the Marine Corps, you stepped off tour, man for two, three years?”
Slater confirmed three years and the host continued, “Can you give me the reasoning behind that? Was it all, everything that came with the tour? The pressure, physical and mental, everything and you just needed a break and was that a time in your life that you absolutely valued?”
Surf fans on edge of stools, waiting for some epic twist on “The Truancy” left scratching heads when the 53-year-old delivered an answer so normal, so natural, as to be bizarre.
He was simply tired of surfing contests having done without break for 43 years. Nothing else added. Just “burned out” on contest surfing.
Makes a lot of sense.
Too much sense, in fact.
Thoughts?
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Yeah he’s 56
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Kelly nay nee Demand
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was hanging out at my friends house one day (98/99?) when Kelly called him.
kelly was in a bit of a dark place as almost all of have been at one time or another in our pasts.
Kelly being a pro athlete/celebrity having much more pressure than many of us. My brother was a pretty famous musician so I’ve seen what that world can do a persons psyche; the balance of success v. sacrifice, demand v. reward.
I spoke with my friend several time’s after that about Kelly, and was there one other time when Kelly called in a better state of mind.
Glad to see Kelly pull through the hardship and go on, to continue as one of the greatest athletes in history and an icon of our sport.
best way to sum it up would be the lyrics of Once In A Lifetime by David Byrne:
You may ask yourself, “What is that beautiful house?”
You may ask yourself, “Where does that highway go to?”
And you may ask yourself, “Am I right, am I wrong?”
And you may say to yourself, “My God, what have I done?”
Same as it ever was
Everyone is wondering so I’ll just ask. Who was your brother?
Everyone? that’s a lot of wonderers.
more famous as a musician in the industry, definitely not a household name.
he was a session musician and contracted with a couple of record labels, and studios.
So unless you are familiar with 80’s and 90’s session musicians, you’d probably not know of him.
My apologies, I should have clarified “everyone who read that comment”. So about 5 people.
“Icon of our sport”?
Haha, hahaha, hahahaha…..
Dude, surfing isn’t even really a sport…
Only in some people’s minds who can’t relate to it as what it really is…a walk with nature…an escape from sports and rules and regulations and da mainstream…a dance with with the Ocean…..an escape…..freedom……
…
Oops. Forgive me. I didn’t realize it isn’t a sport. how stoopid of me.
I was dumb enough to qualify to based on it’s definition in Merriam Websters dictionary:
Surfing: : the sport of riding the surf especially on a surfboard
Noah, George and Charles are so stupid. I’ll never trust them again.
Yes, it should have said:
Surfing: the ‘act’ of riding the surf, especially on a surfboard.
No nerves. None. Just amped.
Kelly as a surfer and athlete across all sports is a titan. All the crossbow shots aimed at a man of such magnificence will never hit the board. Let alone a bullseye.
There’s more than one way to be a kook…..
Ha, a contest-orientated driven freak—in a nature-orientated, natural way-of-life spent in and by the Ocean— not impressed……in the slightest…..
“Thoughts”, you ask?
Well as a huge surf-fan, I give his response no thought at all really.
I am a fan, of, surf.
Not of so-called surf-stars….
According to your article, he had been surfing for 43 years when he needed a break in ‘98.
One of you’ll know much more math than I can comprehend.
Im burned out on surf contests and I just watch them!
You dont hear me complain!*
*except for here, here. here. here. and here, there, over there, oh and one there and I forgot about this one, this one I was hungover, was a bit cruel if im honest, I was sober on this one and I meant it, and here, here etc
It seems loosing isn’t as much fun?
Good. Give your wildcard spot to anyone but you at Lowers in a few weeks.
Is BG burnt out on contest write ups?
you seem upset DH
Everything ok?
Thanks for asking, ricmatic. Haven’t surfed since December. And months of East Coast pancakes coming up. Each day is closer to my body not doing what it once did, and I’m wasting it not surfing.
You and yours ok?
Sorry to hear that mate, East coast seems like like a surf challenge but I love the place! Look after yourself bro
I wonder if he was as burnt out on contests similar to how most everyone is currently burned out on him?
I had a thought once, that was scary af bro