Take Two
Monday 7 November 2011 By winning his Round 4 heat in the Rip Curl Pro Search San Francisco, Kelly Slater won his 11th world title ... his 2nd in three days. Fortunately, the first was a mistake - the Quik designer can breathe a sigh of relief. No need to work 12 in there.
November 6, 2011 / Ocean Beach, San Francisco, CA, USA — 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, Kelly 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.
“It was a confirmed the other day, but we’re sure now,” Slater said. “I’m stoked. I was upset about it, but I also thought it was really funny. There are no hard feelings towards ASP and mistakes happen. It’s easy to point things out. It was a little tough to readjust and I was going against kids who could be my kids and they throw radical airs. I was hoping for big offshore barrels, not closeout onshore ramps. I just didn’t know what to expect out there. I didn’t know if we’d have air sections and it was kind of flat with a lot of power. The waves were closeouts and fast with a weird landing.”
Slater, who was prematurely crowned the ASP World Champion after a mathematical error occurred earlier this week, admitted that securing his 11th elite crown today was a bit lackluster, but remained positive regarding the mistake.
“It’s a little anticlimactic”
“It’s a little anticlimactic,” Slater said. “I texted my mom, because it’s funny because I didn’t really have the emotion the other day. This is my profession and it’s a little on me to know the situation and it’s not just everyone else’s fault. There have been a few of these mistakes over the course of history, but this one was a bit weird, but I called Renato (Hickel) in the morning after I won because I was supposed to do this Dan Patrick show and I hadn’t won yet. I knew we wouldn’t surf for a day or two so people could get it out of their system and I could have a few days to refocus.”
2011 ASP World Title Series Results
Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast: WINNER?
Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach: Equal 5th?
Billabong Rio Pro: Equal 13th?
Billabong Pro Jeffreys Bay: No Show?
Billabong Pro Tahiti: WINNER?
Quiksilver Pro New York: Runner-Up?
Hurley Pro at Trestles: WINNER?
Quiksilver Pro France: Equal 5th?
Rip Curl Pro Portugal: Runner-UP?
Rip Curl Pro Search San Francisco: WINNER?
Billabong Pipeline Masters: TBD
Kelly Slater’s ASP World Title Clinch Locations
2011: Rip Curl Pro Search San Francisco – USA?
2010: Rip Curl Pro Search Puerto Rico – USA Territory?
2008: Billabong Pro Mundaka – Basque Country/Spain?
2006: Billabong Pro Mundaka – Basque/Spain?
2005: Nova Schin Festival – Brazil?
1998: Mountain Dew Pipeline Masters – Hawaii?
1997: Expo 98 Figueira 97 – Portugal?
1996: Coca Cola Figueira 96 – Portugal?
1995: Chiemsee Pipe Masters – Hawaii?
1994: Chiemsee Gerry Lopez Pipe Masters – Hawaii?
1992: Alternativa Surf Rio – Brazil