Very few people have had an impact on the surfing world like Kelly Slater. The 11-time World Champion, widely regarded as the greatest, picked up the surfboard at the young age of 5, and never dropped it again. In a throwback video, Slater reminisced about an interview he gave around his 17th birthday. He looked equally driven and passionate even during his teenage years.
Kelly Slater shared a video of him surfing, right before he turned 17. He talked about his academic requirements, his love for big waves, and how much he missed Hawaii.
Kelly Slater was already making waves in the surfing world before he turned 17
Taking to his Instagram, Kelly Slater shared a story with the caption, “Right around my 17th birthday”. The story involved a 1:48-long video about his interview with Surfer Magazine in 1990. It revealed an interesting facet about Slater living a double life – that of a studious boy with a 4.0 grade average, and also a rabid surfing enthusiast. Slater developed a deep love and passion for surfing at a young age, without compromising his education.
He said, “I get along in school and in surfing… last few years. It’s not that hard, all you gotta do is come back and do your makeup work”. However, he does miss surfing even during his studies, especially in Hawaii where he mostly surfed back then. He continued, “I’ve been there for three weeks (in Hawaii), I come back, I have always makeup work but I am always thinking about Hawaii, just thinking about the barrels and how perfect the waves are”.
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Slater first made waves in the East coast amateur circuit and had already won six ESA (Eastern Surfing Association) titles and four US titles by then. It was a record number for a 17-year-old. But Slater always called himself a ‘soul surfer’. His love for surfing knows no bounds, as he once confessed that despite his fears he would continue to surf till he was 90.
Slater valued his love for surfing over any amount of money
As someone who valued the true essence of surfing big waves beyond any expectation for prizes or rewards, Slater upheld that tradition throughout his career. Although he has been felicitated with numerous awards in his lifetime, the 50-year-old has always valued the joy of surfing over any of those. A true ‘soul surfer’ with a fluid control style, he has also shared his expertise on how not to drown.
Slater joined the World League right after he turned 18. Estimates and assumptions regarded him as the next big thing, someone who would take over the world championships in surfing. And boy were they right!
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