Slater, To Win or Not To Win

Surfing, there is no other sport quite like it. Kelly Slater, there is no other athlete quite like him. Eleven times world champion, the most amount of tour wins, the oldest world champ, the youngest world champ, SURFER poll winner 16 times, Pipe Master 7 times, oh, and did I mention he plays golf...and has a handicap of 2!

So he is a big deal in the surfing world, and I am obviously a fan, but there are many talented surfers on tour at the moment. I like watching John John, Gabriel, Michel Bourez, Joel and have no allegiance to any particular flag being from a nation that's not represented on the WSL. So why do I want Kelly to win? It's not as if he has not got enough money, fame, or world titles. So why? What is it about him that seems to draw support from all over the world?

It could be the continued innovation, the 'you never know what he is going to do next' factor but I don't buy that. Dane Reynolds has that, John John Florence has that.

It could be that he is a very intelligent person and can put across an interesting point very eloquently in an interview? Nope, not that, I know quite a few articulate and interesting people but I don't want them to win a world title.

Its not just me either. The support is all over the world, and swells for him at surf comps. Thousands of people will turn up just to watch Kelly's heat and then leave directly afterwards. The energy on the beach during his heats is almost tangible.

Kelly has come very close to getting the long desired 12th world title 3 years in a row now. Maybe that has something to do with it, I don't know. I seem to want him to win more now that he is not winning. How can someone captivate your attention more by NOT succeeding? Its nuts. It has gotten to the point now that I will stop watching a comp if he loses before the finals. So I have not been watching much this year as Kelly has had his worst start on record with a 13th at Snapper, a 9th at Bells and a 5th at Margies. Slater finds himself at an overall 9th place after 3 events.

Sure sure, he has got other things going on at the moment, Outer Known, his new clothing brand is launching this year. He has to find his feet with new sponsor, must be weird after over 20 years with Quiksilver. He has bought a huge chunk of Firewire and has been seen riding one some of Tomo's boards and talking with him about new Slater models. So Kelly is a busy bee but is that really it?

As I have said, I do want Kelly to win another world title but its not happening at the moment. Maybe we have to all not want him to win. Yes, that's it. Maybe I will support Da Souza? Nooo, that's going to far. Maybe Bourez, yes, he seems like a nice chap.

Its time to face the reality that maybe Kelly is setting himself up for a graceful step down from the WSL and competitive surfing, but I would like to see the old dog stick it to the young guns one more time. The next stop is Brasil on the 11th May, tune in and watch it LIVE. Come on Kelly!! (oops)