November 10, 2005 Seven years after winning his last world title, Kelly Slater broke his own six-time record Tuesday at the Nova Schin Festival in Brazil to cinch his seventh Association of Professional Surfers (ASP) World Tour win. The Cocoa Beach, Florida-based surfer won his first ASP World Tour title in 1992 at the age of 20, making him the youngest person to win the honor. This year, at 33, he becomes the oldest winner.
“I’m feeling pretty good,” Slater said in a press release after his win. “I really need a little time alone just to sit and dwell on everything. I’m just super relieved it’s over.”
The victory came after a high-pressure points battle between Slater and Hawaiian rival Andy Irons. Slater was eliminated in round four of the contest by South African Travis Logie, but when Irons was edged out in the quarter-finals by Australian Nathan Hedge, Slater’s overall lead became impossible to beat. His first-place title was declared at Vila Beach in Imbituba, Brazil.
According to press releases, Slater was too anxious to watch the crucial quarter-final round between Hedge and Irons, so he sat on the beach with a jacket covering his face.
“I was pretending I was playing poker and I didn’t want anyone to see my poker face,” Slater said afterward. “I was trying to contain the excitement, the nervousness.”
Slater’s win has been praised by surfing industry leaders as the ultimate comeback after a long and tumultuous career.
“Kelly just keeps coming up with new ways to extend his legend within the sport of surfing,” Quicksilver CEO Bob McKnight said in a press release. “Not only is he an incredible surfer who continuously performs at an all-time high level, he is also an amazing person and an ambassador of surf culture.”
Even seven-time Tour de France champ Lance Armstrong had something to say about Slater’s triumph.
“Congrats and welcome to the #7 club,” Armstrong said in a press release. “Now that I am retired maybe you can give me some surf lessons.”
Slater remains undecided as to whether, like Armstrong, seven wins will mark the end of his career. For now, he says he wants to focus on other things besides surfing—golf, traveling, playing music, and building a house.
“In a lot of ways I feel like my life is getting better,” Slater said, “and this just really capped off the back half of my career in a great way.”
