Watch the last of the top two scoring waves Kelly Slater rode in the Championship Tour.
The 11-time world champion says goodbye to professional competitive surfing at the Margaret River Pro in Western Australia.
Surfing's GOAT missed the mid-season cut and will probably only return with a jersey on as a wildcard at Pipeline, Teahupoo, or Cloudbreak.
Slater, 52, spent 44 years of his life competing, 24 of those on Tour.
Celebrated as the greatest surfer of all time, Kelly has 56 event wins over his incredible 32-year career on the Championship Tour.
With 11 world titles, he holds the record for the most World Championships of any surfer and is both the youngest and oldest world champion in men’s history.
Footage: WSL
More on Kelly Slater's emotional goodbye to the Tour:
www.surfertoday.com/surfing/k...
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Kelly deserves a wildcard into any event he chooses to enter for the rest of his life. Period
Agree
Does he? Why should someone who has worked hard to get there have to sit out. I get he is the GOAT but that's still not fair.
Nah, Kelly wouldn't even want that. He has too much integrity to diminish the sport by taking an unearned spot like that.
@@timotmon Love kelly, hes the goat. He is great for surfing... but wasn't a criticism for him this year was he did just that with the 2024 wild card spot ...
@@alexanderfournier7292 I don't mind giving him his swan song, I think he's earned that but a lifetime wild card is a bit different.. IMO.
Hard to imagine the sport without him. I discovered surfing in 1993, he was the king even then.
Hail to king slater he is still a shredder one of the best of all time sad to see you go kelly thanks for all the memories i mean 11 world titles what a lehend🤘👍🤙
WHAT?????? not even near... you are out of you mind. you might in love with kelly but far from your afimration.
@@BajaSurf Proof-reading before pressing Enter is your friend
@@godisbollocks do doubt he is the GOAT but He didnt inovate nothing, invented no tricks...Surfing would be surfing as is just another name for tittles. (he admited to larned airs from C. Fletcher. )
Floridians are Proud of you. Thanks for the memories.
Damn right. 🤙🏽
Earthlings are also very proud ❤
As a kid we never knew this. We pretty much thought every pro was from HB or Santa Cruz. And maybe some crazy guy from Hawaii. Florida doesn't have any waves!
@@BurninatorTheTrogdor just surfed head high waves yesterday. In no wave Florida.
@@veromikes I'm 30mins from Smyrna, there's some surf.
Thank you for the passion and emotion over the years. You are still a 50 year old grom and will never quit surfing for the love of it! Congratulations on your next chapter with your daughter and your amazing woman, hit me up when you build your Florida dream home .
.....And BARBADOS SOUP BOWL dream home....🙃
Congrats dude
Slater IS Surfing. Thanks for the waves champ🤙
He totally understands mind , body and soul . A pillar for the generations to follow . Congrats King Kelly.
It’s been emotional Ke11y! Greatest surfer of all time ❤
LOVE YA KELLY THANKS FOR THE YEARS!!!!!! RESPECT
Warrior
Same age. Reality creeps in to the point of making some changes undeniable and it can only be pushed aside for so long for every human. Kelly is an extraordinary human and athlete, which can intensify it all that much more. You still have a lot of good days athletically over 50 if you stay in shape and keep pushing, but it ain't and can't be 30 and time never goes backwards. I don't plan on stopping...and champs like Kelly still inspire me. Really have enjoyed Kelly's career and I'll always tune in to watch him surf. Peace be with you all.
It’s been an AWESOME privilege to watch this man over the years, a true legend!! PRO SURFING is not going to be the same. There are great surfers and then there’s KELLY SLATER. In my humble opinion, there will never be a surfer like him again. WHAT A RIDE 🤙
WSL has no one on tour that can bring excitement to the tour like Kelly did.. Everyone has to wait 18yrs from now to see if Kelly and kalani baby will be a pro surfer... GREAT JOB KELLY
Doesn't work like that, just cause Kelly surfs good doesn't mean his kid will.
@@hipsonsogbokanoa igarashi
@@surfboarding5058 Mike Tyson
Thanks for the ride Kelly, you deserve a wild card. All the best.
Yes….. over all THE BEST ATHLETE OF ALL SPORTS …. YES HE IS ….. AMAZING HUMAN BEING ….GOD BLESS YOU CHAMP…. THE ULTIMATE GOAT!!!!!!!!!!!!
Gonna miss having Kelly competing. Absolute legend. He’ll make a comeback when he turns 60
👏 Legend! Met him once in Hawaii, he was so nice and down to earth. Thank you Kelly.
End of an Era. Kelly, no words can express the journey/your journey for us all. God Bless you in your new life brother!!!
I surfed with Ke11y in Newport Beach, California a few years ago. The GOAT! I don’t believe anyone will break his records.💪🏼🇺🇸
From the beginning to the end the Alpha and Omega I and so many others have loved Kelly and his Surfing. Thankyou so much..💜
Love and light. You are an Icon
Thanks for the memories Legend 🙌🏄🙏
Yeah the GOAT! I’m 38 and Kelly has always been at the top of the sport for as long as I can remember… what an Amazing career! I’m sure we’ll still see plenty of footage of the GOAT ripping.
an inspiration to all surfers.. thank you kelly its been an honour watching you compete over the years
Now it’s time to go visit waves you’ve only dreamed of and enjoy the sunsets instead of the dawn patrol sunrises 🤙🤙
I'm 67 and I live for the dawn patrol!
Sunrise best time of the day
@@HiloBoiz808 right but he’s 52 and starting over with a little boy on the way. Dawn patrol gonna have to wait for now lol
What waves would those be 😂
Kelly leaves a legacy of unequalled competition success and not the end of a surfing career. Still waves to be surfed and good times to be had.
Love you Kelly watched your whole career. You sir are the best thing that ever happened for surfing...
Without a doubt!!!
Absolute Legend. Rock On Kelly Slater 🤙🏼🌊🏄🏼♂
I vividly remember a trip up to Sebastian inlet in the 80s when I was a grom - maybe 9th grade. The swell landed and kept getting better all day. We were at first peak and there was a kid a couple of years younger than us that paddled out and started RIPPING with Matt Kechle and I think even Jeff Crawford was out eventually in the late afternoon. It was clear that the kid was Kelly. We all had heard about him by then and the surfing confirmed it. The crowd got pretty serious and it was clear that an actual pro session was starting (and I also saw a 7' bull shark in the lineup) so I got out and stood on the jetty to watch these guys. PS: none of the locals cared about the shark Anyhow, as we watched it was obvious that Kelly was the new guard, easily destroying the rights out there and I don't think he ever stopped dominating from that period forward. I remember some of the pros yielding waves to him, even back then. Glad to be able to watch over the years, and I consider that experience at Sebastian to be akin to watching a young Jordan play in high school. Just incredible to see how next-level people can be.
GOAT. He was always ahead of everybody. We won't see another athelete so competitive through decades improving, learning different techniques with all kind of generations. I'm a huge fan of him. 🇧🇷🇺🇸
In my opinion the greatest professional athlete of any sport ever. Not being over the top. Think about it.
In almost every criteria. Yep!
Yes.. exactly what I was going to say... surfing is sooo "complicated" and yet "simple".. wave, board, person 🙂 BUT, every wave and conditions different 🙄😎😁... the G'O'A'T, a wonderful legend and inspiration to/for the sport ☝️👍
Yes, one thing for sure, you may argue who was the GOAT in every professional sport (baseball, football, basketball, tennis, soccer) but no one will argue who was the GOAT in surfing. There isn’t even a close second. They say records are made to be broken, but 11 World championships in surfing will never be broken.
For real.
without a doubt
I met him at a charity do once. He was surprisingly down to earth and very funny..
I was at Skateboard City in '78. Kelly was six and doing things on a skateboard no one else was. I saw him do 30 consectutive 360's. Was deeply impressed.
That's highly unlikely, please give more documentation of that.
I is for ego
Wow, did you saw him fly on sky also ?
From NJ, wishing you all the best.
Congratulations Kelly Slater on an incredible competitive surfing career. Thanks for your massive contributions to the, " Sport of Kings ". You've done well, great job and all the best to you and your family. C A
THERE WILL NOT BE ANOTHER KELLY SLATER EVER . 1 GOAT .
Hope to see more of him,as a wildcard or whatever!Thank you for everything you did for this sport!
You make this 70/yo Florida proud...Kelly Slater is the GOAT!
Legend
Thanks for the memories Kelly! Best of luck for future adventures!
Love you, Kelly. Cool to know a guy who surfed where I grew up surfing at Sebastian Inlet and Vero is the best to ever put on a jersey. Loved watching you and Rob Machado battle in ping pong and heats back in the day. Still love watching you now. Blessings for whatever is next. 🌊❤️
Kelly the best of the best. Give everything and he had nothing to prove.
This is the best post WSL interview for me ever. For me, also, I will likely be less interested in WSL since Kelly has retired. Best of luck in your future endeavors, Kelly, you will always be the GOAT for me.
I've been watching you since you were a boy. Your fusion with the waves was a sight to behold. Thank you for the wonderful memories. Please continue to show us great surfing in free surfing.
Great Kelly, years of achievements in one man! Thanks a lot!
I’m a bodyboarder and still remember the day at bells Kelly did that reverse air into the flats! What a legend of water sports and life in general! Well done sir 🙏
Sean O'Hare caught perfectly the trajectory of your career here in Cocoa Beach. He said in the beginning you kids traded off winning. Then you began to win more than they did. Then only you would win. I ran into Dick Catri 8 or so years ago and told him I had just re-watched Bruce Brown's, "Surfing Hollow Days". Brown began in Miami (clips of Murphy & Catri doing their dive act) and traveled north up the coast. He savaged everything about East Coast surfing. I said to Dick: "THEY'RE NOT LAUGHING NOW!!"
Truly epic athlete Thanks for the memories bra You’re truly an inspiration Ras Spect Jah guidance ☝️💚
You’ve pulled off miracles your whole career Kelly and inspired every surfer to be better In a sport with lots of scene queen cool talk and ego you were a gentleman I remember when it began and they asked you what you were into on that black and white video and you said cereal and homework.. that’s when I knew an athlete like Federer but for surfing had arrived Grace is the most powerful character trait there is and you have displayed that your whole career It’s fit it ended at Margaret River where in your own words you’ve always battled Where better as we all battle in one way or another Great time to leave the tour and in time you’ll be stoked you did just as the world has been stoked watching you surf Thank you mate we are all very proud of you
Keep being you mate!! Very grateful to be with you in Newcastle Australia for your rookie year!! ASP
A legend, the GOAT of surfing, an inspiration to all inside and outside of sports...Kelly you will be missed but will live on in those surfing in your footsteps. It's a sad day for me personally, we are about the same age and I grew up watching you and Curren going head to head...much love.
Nobody comes close to the 🐐 Thank you for everything Kelly 🤙
Been a thrill watching .I started surfing when he won his first title am the same age ever since he was always the man I. We all of my friends love to watch and tried our best to learn this style so thanks man .
Thanks for everything 🐐
Thank you, Kelly and all you’ve done for the lifestyle of surfing. Your name will live forever in this sport.
Congrats brother, an amazing career.
Great ambassador for the sport of surfing! The GOAT! It would indeed be hard to imagine anyone coming close to Kelly surfing achievements over his 44 years of surfing.
Aloha to the GOAT from Maui. The Bay awaits.
Kelly what a man! Total respect for you, a complete sportsman, remarkable athlete and an inspiration for all the old dogs😊It’s not gonna be the same without you!
Retired and still ripping ❤
Your inspiration will survive. Your mark on the surfing world is indelible.
What a Legend!
I'm 55 , and was born in Titusville , grew up in South Florida , went to University at Embry Riddle in Daytona Beach Florida and all I remember is hearing about this guy from Cocoa Beach who was unreal good! Boy was that an understatement !! Congrats to him and his family on a well deserved retirement!!! A Champion in and out of the water.........Huli pau.......
So much dedication !!! Ya bro - you are a miracle, no worries mate !
Best we will ever see absolute legend! Well done kelly you are the man
Thanks Kelly. Been watching you rip since 1990. Legend
See you in FIJI for the WildCard :D
LEGEND!
So much respect for this incredible man
the legend. 🤙 thanks mate.
He is a one of a kind. Truly inspiring to people of all ages, especially ones in their 50’s! Amazing
I remember seeing Kelly hitchhiking with friends when he was a kid by Chuns reef on the North Shore in the early eighties. I was about 18 or so driving a pick up truck and didn’t pick them up😂. I’m 59 now. Watched him all years !! Thanks for the memories Kelly!!
Legend. I just starting surfing when his black & white film was out, watching it in a Ricky Young's surf shop in Bellevue, WA. Seeing the rest play out has been awesome. Seeing it come to a close is moving in a way, even though I'm not into contests or the industry it's become.
Kelly Slater is a living legend. Thankful to have followed his career from the time I was a kid dreaming of surfing to now being a father and dreaming of teaching my kids to surf. Thank you Kelly Slater for always charging 🤙
Kelly Slater 's the best 💖
Kelly one of the best human beings out there, so much respekt! LOVE YOU KELLY!
One of the world's greatest ever athletes, maybe the greatest
Thank you and God bless
Kelly, you have done well. Starting out with very little, traveling the world, being a role model and coming back around full circle. Family, and so much life ahead for you. You still have much to offer. Keep smiling. :).
We love you Kelly ! We know you will be around. Hopefully you around a lot. You still look great out there. But what you’ve done in surfing is practically unmatched in any sport. True legend.
Thanks for all the good times Kelly!
He better get a wildcard at some barreling wave if the WSL ever has another great event forecast. Pipe or chopes or cloud break... he needs that kind of ending... Deserves!
I have a picture of Kelly and his girlfriend Natalie and friends on the beach in Florida. He was an awesome guy when I met him for a short time. Way to go Kelly. You are definitely a inspiration!! Thank you sir.
I didn't know that he had made this announcement, and I cried watching this....he is one of kind and what a talent, what a career! But I agree that it is time to call it
Congratulations Kelly, and thanks for the invite to your wavepool and Fiji to surf with you and Shane Dorian and thank your woman for relaying my message to you . Mark Smithson of Leucadia
He is the GOAT 11 times he is the lion of surfing
It has been a long wonderful ride. Dude has always been a great professional surfer!
Thank you Kelly, what an inspiration. Next “half” will allow you to keep doing amazing things. Best wishes! ❤
When I was 17 he was already on tour, now I am 49 and he was still there… who could ever again achieve what he did? GOAT ❤
Best sportsman to ever live in any sport
What a Ambassadeur for the sport. Bless you GOAT respect. Thanks for your contribution to the sport and the continuation there of. Go and enjoy your family.
Thank u Kelly.
The GOAT!!!🙌🤙🍻
Outstanding career. Tremendous athlete. Congrats, Kelly! #11
Saw him as a grom in Hatteras in 83 I think. Shredded as a kid. Best of luck and congrats
To think I saw Kelly win the Jr Op Pro in 1989. NINETEEN EIGHTY NINE! George Bush Sr was Prez. Think about that. What an amazing athlete.
True legend and an inspiration to all ages 👌
Brother u get to free surf from now on And people still want to watch you regardless of contests And groms just love you as well as I do . I've been in water at sebastion 1 time with you and just watched didn't even catch waves till you got out
Thankyuo kelly u have been a huge inspiration
I remember him surfing NSSA and ESA surfing against his brothervand he was a super grommet surfing youngest division till now so proud east coaster doing well and becoming a true champion and Ambassador to this sport. Truly is the GOAT 🐐 thank you Kelly!!
Just imagine this…He had 4 world champs before his last competitor was born 😮
I remember his early days in Barbados at Soup Bowl when he was starting his journey to the top. He always had that fire in his eyes. THE REAL GOAT of the sports world.