Defeating Joel Parkinson (AUS) in amazing three metre (eight to 10 feet) freight training waves at Bells Beach, Australia, it was the first time he has scored a victory at the event since 1994.
Slater showed his true class peaking just at the right time in the final.
“It’s been years and years since I’ve had a good result here and it has been a little frustrating for me,” said Slater. “But this year I stuck to my game plan and just worked with everything and relaxed.
“Luckily we had good surf for the event and I tend to do a lot better when it’s big here rather than when its small,” Slater continued. "I really went for it on that 9.67 but other than that it was really hard to score big with the wind picking up five to 10 knots or so in the final. It was just an awesome day and for sure the best day I’ve ever had at Bells in my lifetime.”
Slater also achieved a few extra milestones in winning the event equalling Tom Curren’s (USA) record for having won 33 Foster’s ASP Men’s World Tour events, the most in pro surfing history.
“I didn’t think of it until after I got out of the water, but I tied Tom Curren’s 33 event wins now,” said Slater. “I’m just happy with that and to do it at Bells Beach is ironic since this is where Curren won his first title – he’s just always been my hero so I’d like to dedicate this win to Tom.”
As far as finishing the rest of the tour goes Slater did not give an indication regarding his thoughts either way.
“In a way [it makes sense to have a real dig at the world title this year] but it might also be fun not to…”
It was also the first time he has defeated Parkinson in a man on man heat on the Foster’s ASP Men’s World Tour.
Parkinson who had to surf four times today and had to hold off some strong challenges from Mick Fanning (AUS) in the quarter finals and then Mark Occhilupo (AUS) in the semi finals, admitted that he was “burnt out” come final time and couldn’t find his best form.
Slater, however threw his all into the final notching up that 9.67 on a sizeable wave after he executed some scintillating top turns that threw loads of spray into the sky.
From there Parkinson was on the back foot looking for a clean wall that would enable him to take it to the eventual champion.
A few passed by but it was evident that Parkinson had fallen victim to fatigue and the cold and could not get into the correct position to catch them.
“It was a hard final,” said Parkinson. “The tide was starting to get to it and it was really about choice of waves. I started getting cramps yet I kept saying to myself, ‘If that wave comes I’m going to give it 100 per cent,’ but it never really came, so I sat there and let the time tick.
“It’s really punishing on the body. Just when you finish the wave at Bells, you have to deal with the shore break on the paddle out… there’s no let-up. Very rarely do you get out clean without having to make a few duck dives or taking a few on the head, so it definitely takes it out of you.”
Parkinson is now sitting in number three on the ratings and will take the confidence from the finish here into the next event with the hope gaining a victory.
Finishing in third place and gaining his best career result to date was Luke Stedman (AUS) who was ousted by Slater in the first semi final.
Surfing with newfound confidence, Stedman was solid in his performance and had Slater on the ropes for part of the semi leaving him needing a big score to catch him.
Stedman took off on a solid wave that could have closed the door on Slater but faltered on a big turn. That mistake in turn gave Slater a clear passage into the final, but Stedman will use the experience as a learning curve for next time.
“Kelly is both a great surfer and great competitor and I really enjoyed surfing against him,” said Stedman. “I’m sure he attacks each heat the same way I do. You’re out there to get the best waves no matter what and that’s all it takes to win semi finals. I’ve never been this far in an event before so it was a really good experience. I know how to tackle it next time and I’ll go into it with a bit more aggression from the word go.”
Now sitting in number 11 on the Foster’s ASP Men’s World Tour ratings Stedman is in the best position of his career and he now realises that a win is certainly not out of his grasp.
“I’m now in a great spot on the ratings and I’m going to get the sheet and show everyone [laughs]. It’s given me confidence now as I know a win is achievable,” said Stedman. “The intimidation is going now and I know what it takes to win heats. I used to look at the draw and go, ‘wow Kelly Slater, Andy Irons’ but now I feel much more confident. I’m just going to train and surf and get myself into a mental state so I can have consistency for the rest of year.”
