Surfing legend Kelly Slater has confirmed he is close to retiring from the sport and said he will end his incomparable career “very soon”.
The 11-time world champion is not only surfing’s most decorated competitor, but, at 52, he is one of the biggest stories in world sport.
Despite nursing a hip injury that required major surgery (and the help of a dead man) last September, the American remains one of the men to beat in the World Surf League.
That was demonstrated again Tuesday morning when Slater won his first-round heat at the Rip Curl Pro at Bells Beach, defeating Hawaiian star John John Florence.
Thirty years after winning the first of his four titles at Bells, Slater said Tuesday this will likely be the last time he competes in the iconic event.
Surfing legend Kelly Slater has confirmed he is close to retirement and said he will end his incomparable career “very soon”.
Slater, 52, won his first-round heat at the Rip Curl Pro at Bells Beach on Tuesday (pictured), beating Hawaiian star John John Florence.
Australians Mick Fanning and Mark Richards are the only other men to win four Bells Beach titles.
“I haven’t made an announcement, but I’m going to finish this (race) very soon,” Slater said after his series win.
“So I’m trying to enjoy every one I’m doing now.”
Slater said he would reconsider retirement if he won a fifth Rip Curl Pro title, or the circuit’s next event, at Margaret River in Western Australia.
“It’s probably my last Bell, not 100 percent.” I mean, if I win this or the Margarets, I’ll earn myself a return to the (WSL) tour next year,” he said.
“But other than that, I’m fine if it’s the last one, 30 years since I won the first one, it would be a good bookend.”
‘Bells isn’t one of my favorite waves, but coming here is one of my favorite events, just the experience.
“It will be a little bittersweet not to return to the event.”
Slater will also soon be a father for the second time, with his partner Kalani Miller (pictured) due to give birth later this year.
Incredibly, Slater won his first title at Victoria’s iconic Bells Beach 30 years ago in 1994.
Slater missed the most recent round of the world tour in Portugal due to injury and on Tuesday claimed his first win of the season.
She is also expecting her second child, and Slater and his partner Kalani Miller made the announcement a few days ago.
Her son Taylor, from a previous relationship, is 28 years old.
“The important things in life change very quickly when you have a child, but I still got a little more stressed than I wanted to in that heat,” he said of Tuesday morning’s victory.
Slater’s last surgery for his long-term hip problem lasted more than four hours and involved a body part from a cadaver.
“Who made the ultimate sacrifice for me?” Slater said when asked about his reaction when he learned what the surgery would entail.
‘I can surf, so I’m happy, but I don’t surf (without) pain. Adrenaline helps.’
As he contemplates a possible swan song at Bells Beach, Slater spoke of his mixed emotions about the venue in Victoria.
‘It’s good to be back. “It would be a real dream for me to get hooked and try to win here again, 30 years later,” she stated.
‘But for now I’m just trying to enjoy the event, enjoy the people… good vibes down here.
Slater is also using a dead man’s body part to hold his hip together (pictured competing at the Billabong Pro in Tahiti).
‘If you look at my results (on tour), you’ll realize it’s love-hate.
‘We’ve been fighting a lot, but sometimes we get along well. It’s a story that will make you feel good if you win here, because it’s a very challenging wave.”
Surfing’s most decorated star won his heat in four to six foot conditions.
Florence joined Slater to advance, and Hawaiian Seth Moniz also advanced to the knockout round.
The most recent of Slater’s record 56 tour wins came in Hawaii in early 2022.
Meanwhile, Australia’s defending champion Ethan Ewing won his first round series, as did his compatriot Jack Robinson.