9x World Champ Kelly Slater

SURFING WITH KELLY SLATER FEBRUARY 2010            

 Setting up.

Kelly Slater was in town, competing in the 2010 AT&T/ Pebble Beach Pro-Am Golf Tournament. Kelly likes to play Golf, but we all know his real passion is surfing. He must have noticed the big swell and clean conditions, as he played Golf right on the Ocean in Pebble Beach. Kelly Slater happens to be friends with Kelly Sorenson, owner of ON THE BEACH  SURFSHOP  in Monterey, Ca.  Kelly wanted to go surfing, and of course there just happened to be better waves where I surf regularly. My friend Wes Williams from "Team Safety", who is also part of the OTB surf team got a call from Kelly, mentioning that Slater wanted to come up and surf. After some phone tag a plan was set.

After some planning we met up with both Kellys at the beach. Word spread quick that the King of Surfing had showed up, and people were gathering to see what was going to unfold. Slater walked up the sand dune and checked it, was impressed with the surf and started to get his stuff ready to paddle out. I was really excited to surf with someone of Kellys stature at my home break. As I got out to the surf, there was a social buzz about Slater hitting the water. The waves were pretty big and powerful, and everyone figured we were in for a show. Over the years alot of pros show up to surf here, but none have impressed me like Kelly Slater did. He is a great person on land, and hes an amazing athlete in the water. Surfing beside Slater was definitely a highlight to my years of experiences surfing.

Kelly was riding a crazy looking experimental surfboard that had a hole through it.

Kellys second wave was amazing.... he got super barreled and made it out the end. He by far surpassed anyones expectations, and I was blown away.

Here is Slater knocking way backdoor... pulling in behind the bowl like a Champ.

STUFFED! Yeah.... here is Kelly about mid-way through what I consider a really deep barrel... and he made it out of this one with typical Slater style!

Kelly Slater folks.... flying out of any judges "10" point ride of a score....

Kelly was launching large frontside air reverses at will... making some and going too big to make others. Of all things I was most impressed with how smooth Kelly surfs. Even more impressive to witness live than any video.

The waves were good, and with word of Slater hitting the water the bar was raised. Local surfers like Ron Triplet felt inspired to surf their best with 9X Champ Slater in the water. Here Ron steps it up.

You could see the performance level rising as soon as word that Slater was paddling out had spread. I mean, who wants to kook out in front of Slater?  Everyone, including mysef was surfing their best.

I got really deep into this nice evening barrel.... and then had to work really hard to get out.

I got really deep for a while, and I was hoping I could make it out.

I made a few barrels, and even recieved a compliment from Slater himself. It was a surf session that I wont soon be forgetting.

Kelly Slater, going for a really late drop, really late in the evening. Of course he stuck it.... itz Slates!

Slates again... boosting a big 360 airs at will... way above the lip! A few of his airs were so smooth he could have been holding a cup of coffee... and not lost a drop!

Slater... getting all nuts right before dark. That style in critical situations is unmistakeable!

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