What's truly remarkable about Kelly Slater, in the twilight of an extraordinary pro surfing career, is his level of performance and success in relation to his level of enthusiasm.
"I'm not sure sometimes what's in the tank," concedes the eight-time world champion, who is in his 14th year on the Assn. of Surfing Professionals World Tour. "Even at events I can't seem to feel very motivated or inspired till I get in the water."
Once immersed, the power surfer from Cocoa Beach, Fla., seems to develop supernatural powers: the ability to carve artsy turns on sheer faces of fast-breaking waves; to outrun sections that for others become pounding closeouts, and to emerge from deep within cavernous barrels like a magician escaping a chest strung with chains and locks.
Slater, 36, is among 48 surfers who will compete in the Boost Mobile Pro at Lower Trestles in San Clemente. The event begins today and could run through Saturday.
Slater arrives comfortably atop the rankings and closing rapidly on a ninth world championship.
Recently hinting at retirement but always showing up, he is like tar on the feet of Australia's top stars, who had hoped by now to have established a dynasty for their Down Under faithful.
Says Wayne "Rabbit" Bartholomew, a former world champion and an Australian who presides over the ASP:
"In my opinion Kelly Slater is right up there with the best of the best, such as Tiger Woods, Michael Schumacher, Michael Jordan, [Muhammad] Ali, [Pete] Sampras, [Rod] Laver, [Roger] Federer, Lance Armstrong, Michael Phelps. . . .
"I actually consider Kelly's feats greater than most because of the versatility required to accomplish these achievements in the ocean. The playing field has no white lines and Kelly has had to tune in to these elements to succeed."
One would have to be a surfer to understand the difficulty of competing in heat after heat in pounding surf and waves that change from contest to contest, day to day, and with every tide swing -- and to regularly triumph.
Slater claimed his first surfing championship in 1992. He won five in a row in 1994-98, then took a two-year hiatus, citing burnout and boredom.
Since returning he has admittedly been halfhearted on tour, most years. Yet he won titles in two of the previous three years, has won four of six contests this year, and could be crowned a ninth time as early as the next contest in France.
