Kelly Slater honored by Congresswoman Hirono

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawai‘i) honored world champion surfer Kelly Slater on Thursday by signing on as the lead cosponsor of a House resolution commemorating Slater’s illustrious career in the sport, states a press release from the House of Representatives.

Congressman Bill Posey (R-FL) introduced the resolution that highlights Slater’s thirty-nine World Championship Tour surfing event victories and 2002 induction into the Surfing Hall of Fame.

“Although he wasn’t born in Hawai‘i, we consider Kelly Slater an island son,” said Congresswoman Hirono. “Having surfed the world-renowned spots on Oahu’s North Shore, Kelly has earned a large following in Hawai‘i, not only due to his nine surfing world championships but also because of the humble, local-style way in which he carries himself. As a representative of Hawai‘i, the birthplace of surfing, I thank my colleague Congressman Posey for introducing this resolution.”

“Kelly Slater has made outstanding accomplishments in the sport of surfing,” said Congressman Posey. “He is an ambassador of the sport and a role model for other aspiring surfers in the United States and throughout the world. It is a privilege to work with Congresswoman Hirono on this resolution.”

Robert Kelly Slater was born in Cocoa Beach, Fla. where he learned to surf with his brothers. In 1992, Slater became the youngest surfer to win the Association of Surfing Professionals World Championship and, just last year, became the oldest to win that title. Slater is also the first surfer ever to be awarded two perfect scores under the ASP two wave scoring system.

He is a six-time winner of the Billabong Pipeline Masters, which is an event  for the forty-five top-ranked surfers in the world by the ASP. In 2007, Slater launched the Kelly Slater Foundation to raise awareness and support for environmental and social issues.