Kelly Slater officially claimed a historic 11th Association of Surfing Professionals World Title Sunday, nailing the year-long pursuit with his advancement to the quarterfinals of the Rip Curl Pro Search San Francisco. Prematurely crowned the ASP World Champion following a
Kelly Slater officially claimed a historic 11th Association of Surfing Professionals World Title Sunday, nailing the year-long pursuit with his advancement to the quarterfinals of the Rip Curl Pro Search San Francisco.
Prematurely crowned the ASP World Champion following a mathematical error earlier this week, Slater admitted that securing his 11th elite crown was a bit lackluster, but remained positive, an ASP news release states.
Working tricky 3- to 5-foot waves, Slater, 39, got the best of Brazilian surfers Miguel Pupo, 19, and Gabriel Medina, 17, in his non-elimination Round 4 heat to advance directly through to the quarterfinals and secure an unprecedented 11th ASP World Title.
“It was a ‘confirmed’ the other day, but we’re sure now,” Slater said. “I’m stoked. I was upset about it, but I also thought it was really funny. There are no hard feelings towards ASP and mistakes happen.”
Slater said following the discovery of the error, it was a little tough to re-adjust, going up against young surfers who could be his kids and their ability to “throw radical airs.”
“I was hoping for big offshore barrels, not closeout onshore ramps,” Slater said.
“I just didn’t know what to expect out there. I didn’t know if we’d have air sections and it was kind of flat with a lot of power. The waves were closeouts and fast with a weird landing.”
Slater, surfing in Heat 2, finished the round with a 17.17 to Medina’s 15.33 and Pupo’s 14.83, the highest scores of the round.
