Slater on nearly giving it all away at the beginning of the year: “It was really close, I almost didn’t even come to Bells Beach, I’m sure there’s some sort of moral in that for me for my life.”
Slater on the decision to defend the title next year: “Can’t I just enjoy eight!”
Slater on the temptation to retire at the pinnacle of his career: “Yeah it is tempting, but it’s also tempting when you’re doing well to keep going. If I had come back and not won the title it could have been a frustrating thing for me looking back, but it’s also part of doing everything possible to try and have everything you can have.”
Slater on a straightforward year: “I think the one key thing was that I just didn’t have that stress of lat year. I’m sure other guys were feeling it, but I was just relaxed. I really honestly didn’t care until the last couple of events, where it started sinking in that I could win my 8th title, but up until that I was just thinking ‘don’t worry about it, I’ve got the 7th, I’m stoked I can just relax now, everything else is just a bonus’. That attitude allowed me to be a lot freer in my decision making in the water. To be not stressed and to take chances and stuff and it’s all sort of paid off.
Slater on how satisfying this world title is compared to others: “This one’s a real different feeling, last year was just such a pressure valve and just such a big release. This year is maybe the most satisfying cause it just flowed so well. I’m throwing away a 5th place now and I’ve never come close to that in my career. It will be nice to throw that 5th out come the end of the year.”
Slater on the remaining two contests of the year: “I’d really love to win those contests, I’d really love to win Pipe, and so I’m going to really focus on that.”
Slater on being the first to win multiple world titles on separate occasions: “I didn’t really think about it, I guess I’ll sit back later and think about it. I’ve got to try and keep my focus It feels good, I’m a little cold and shaky, but I’m just stoked I can go and sit down now and relax.”
Slater on dreaming about being champion: “I used to play little games with myself, like paddle for waves and say, if I catch this one I’ll win this many world titles. I used to just plant these seeds in my head and I don’t know what number I put in there but eight sounds pretty good.”
Slater on the possibility of beating Tom Curren’s record of most WCT event wins: “I’d have to think about that one, Curren is my all time surfing hero. I know we’re tied right now. I could have had it in Trestles if I won that one, it would have been a little ironic there because Tom (Curren) and I both won our first events at that wave. If I could have done it today it would’ve meant a lot to win my eighth world title and win that at the same time.”
For more quotes from Slater during the event go to the media centre of www.aspworldtour.com For all of Kelly Slater’s transcribed quotes from every event this year, go to WCT events and click on the individual event pages and go to the media centre within the mini site.
Current Foster’s ASP Men’s World Tour top 10 ratings after event #9 The Billabong Pro Mundaka
1. Kelly Slater (USA) 7824 2. Andy Irons (HAW) 6348 3. Taj Burrow (AUS) 6290 4. Joel Parkinson (AUS) 6050 5. Mick Fanning (AUS) 5848 6. Bobby Martinez (USA) 5843 7. Damien Hobgood (USA) 5152 8. Tom Whitaker (AUS) 4948 9. Taylor Knox (USA) 4880 10. Dean Morrison (AUS) 4856
