Kelly Slater Wins 11th World Title … Again @ Rip Curl Pro Search San Francisco
OCEAN BEACH, San Francisco/California (Sunday, November 6, 2011) – Kelly Slater (USA), 39, has officially claimed a historic 11th ASP World Title today, clinching the year-long pursuit with his advancement in to the Quarterfinals of the Rip Curl Pro Search San Francisco.
In tricky three-to-five foot (1.5 metre) waves, Slater got the best of young Brazilians Miguel Pupo (BRA), 19, and Gabriel Medina (BRA), 17, in his non-elimination Round 4 heat to advance directly through to the Quarterfinals and secure an unprecedented 11th ASP World Title. The combined ages of his two opponents, Medina, 17, and Pupo, 19, less than Slater age of 39, which is indicative of his of his incredible ability to surf through generations.
Initially anointed the 2011 world champ on Nov. 2, two days later the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP), the governing body of the sport, realized that there was an error in their computations and that Slater still had to win one more heat to secure the title. Ironically, it was Slater who brought the mistake to the attention of ASP World Tour Director Renato Hickle.
Slater who celebrated his heat win with a deep, almost impossible barrel after the siren, said that he was relieved when he first disclosed that he had not won the world title and joked that maybe Andy Irons (Haw) had a hand in it.
SHARE
Tags: ASP World Tour, Kelly Slater, Ocean Beach, Rip Curl Search, surfing, World Title