From Childhood to GOAT: Lookback at Kelly Slater’s Historic Surf Career (video)
There’s a lot to say about Kelly Slater, and a lot that has already been said.
He is, undoubtedly, the Greatest of All Time, the most dominate pro surfer in history, a celebrity amongst surfers and non-surfers, an innovator, a pioneer, a smooth-shaven surfing jesus, the most winning surfer ever, and the youngest and oldest world champ.
But now, at 52 years old, Slater’s career is coming to a close. He recently lost in the Fiji Pro – his swan song event on the Championship Tour – and he has a new baby GOAT to take care of. There’s a new chapter dawning for the 11x world champ.
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So, it’s time to lookback.
Hit play on the video above to watch Slater surf through the ages – from grom to GOAT – and hear words paying tribute from surf legends like Gerry Lopez, Mark Occhilupo, Rob Machado, Lisa Andersen, Mick Fanning, and many more.
Related: 10 Memorable Moments from Kelly Slater’s Career (in Video)
And for those more literally-inclined, here’s the poetic send-off for the Champ:
Hey grom.
We saw you coming.
Even when you were just a tiny kid, back in Florida.
We said you were going to be the best surfer in history.
Turns out we were right about that.
But we weren't always so kind. When you first arrived on tour, some of us had doubts.
We said you were too young
Too weak.
Too flicky.
We were wrong about that.
And when you came to Hawaii, to play with the big boys, we said you were too soft.
Too pretty.
Too scared.
We were wrong about that, too.
And then you started winning.
And winning again and again and again.
And we said it came too easy.
That you’d get distracted.
That you couldn’t keep up with the youngsters.
That your body would fail you.
That you didn’t have the heart to keep it going.
We were really wrong about all that.
And so now here you are.
Thirty-three years and eleven world titles later.
Stepping away from the tour.
Our youngest champion and also our oldest.
Not just the greatest surfer of all time, one of the greatest athletes of all time.
No longer in the arena but still, and maybe forever, the face of our sport.
What now, grom?
Thank you, Kelly.
Related: Why Fiji’s the Perfect Place for Kelly Slater to Ride Off into the Sunset