Kelly Slater 2005 World Champion celebrates his 7th title :ASP/Karen 

 

Fosters ASP WCT Mens Event # 10
Santa Catarina, Florianopolis, Brazil
31 October - 9 November 2005

Live Webcast: Scores/Results/Photos/Videos etc

SLATER WINS AN UNPRECEDENTED SEVENTH FOSTER’S ASP MEN’S WORLD TOUR CROWN
DURING NOVA SCHIN FESTIVAL, BRAZIL

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 08 November, 2005 : - - Spectators on the beach and those watching the live webcast from the Nova Schin Festival presented by Billabong witnessed one of the most phenomenal acts in surfing and sporting history today when Kelly Slater from Cocoa Beach, Florida, USA claimed an incredible seventh Foster’s ASP Men’s World Tour crown.

Despite being eliminated in round four of today’s event, by stable-mate Travis Logie (ZAF), all things fell into place for Slater when his only rival for the title, Andy Irons (HAW) was eliminated by Nathan Hedge (AUS) in the quarter finals. In order to keep the title race alive going into Hawaii – with Slater’s early elimination – Irons had to finish at least third in this event.

After a shaky start to the Nova Schin Festival, Slater looked to be back to his best in round three where he defeated wildcard Guilherme Ferriera (BRA) but in the heat against Logie he stalled, falling on a few occasions and perhaps making some wrong decisions regarding wave choice.

After the heat he admitted being an emotional ball of knots as he felt huge disappointment in himself plus an overwhelming anxiousness. He was about to jump into a car and leave the beach as he couldn’t bear to watch how the Irons/Hedge affair would unfold.

 
Kelly Slater 2005 World Champion receives the cup :ASP/Karen 

Good friend CJ Hobgood (USA) then talked Slater into returning to watch and with all eyes upon the soon to be champion he joked and looked at ease for the masses of cameras focussed on him recording his reaction.

In the dying stages of the Irons/Hedge encounter he zipped his jacket over his head as the anticipation became unbearable. But as soon as it was confirmed that Irons was eliminated Slater threw his arms in the air and cheered long and hard in tune with the massive crowd who were present to support him.

It was a fantastic year for the 33-year-old as after getting off to a slow start on the first two events on this year’s calendar, he came back with a victory in Tahiti scoring the first perfect 20 out of 20 total in the final.

He claimed that it took him until that victory to revamp his title ambition after narrowly losing his crown in 2003 when Irons came from behind in the last event of the tour at Pipeline.

In 2005 he has claimed four event victories in Tahiti, Fiji, California and South Africa. His battles with Irons in two finals – in Jeffreys Bay where Slater was victor and in Japan where Irons won the silverware – have been noted as being some of the best surfing finals of all time.

Slater was in the box seat in the last event in France and could have potentially wrapped up the title there. But Irons win in that event held off Slater’s celebrations until today here in Brazil.

 
Kelly Slater 2005 World Champion : ASP/Karen 

Slater’s Stats:

In winning his seventh Foster’s ASP Men’s World Tour crown Slater has broken his own record of six titles.

He won his first title here in Brazil at Rio de Janeiro in 1992. He then lost the following year to Derek Ho (HAW) but reclaimed his crown in 1994 and held onto it with a firm grip until 1998 – seven years ago.

Slater left the tour before the start of the 1999 season to go into semi-retirement until 2001. He is the only surfer in the history of the sport who did not have to return to the World Championship Tour through qualification on the second tier World Qualifying Series. Each tour event granted him a wildcard so he could return in 2001.

Slater was the youngest to claim the title at 20 years of age and is now the oldest champion at 33 years of age. He takes the oldest record from Mark Occhilupo (AUS) who also claimed a title in 1999 when he was also 33. He beats Occhilupo because he was born in the month of February. Occhilupo was born in June.

Kelly Slater is the highest prizemoney winner in the history of the sport now having amassed an amazing $US1,303,105.

The only record Slater is yet to smash is the most number of competition victories held by Tom Curren (USA). Curren has 33 event victories while Slater has 31.

Watch the Video profile

 
Kelly Slater 2005 World Champion :ASP/Karen 

The following quotes were recorded directly after he claimed his crown.

His immediate reaction:

“I’m feeling pretty good. I’ve just been through a complete emotional roller coaster from being really sad thinking of my dad [who passed away in 2002] to being really happy after talking to my family and just thinking about the whole big thing. I really need a little time alone just to sit and dwell on everything I think. I’m just super relieved it’s over. It was an amazing year. Andy didn’t really get in gear until the end of the year and I knew at some point he was going to make a rush and really didn’t expect him to go out early here. I thought he was going to win. I’m feeling for Andy at the moment.”

On returning to compete on the Foster’s ASP Men’s World Tour in 2006:

“I probably won’t make that decision until Bells in April next year. I will definitely surf the first event of the year on the Gold Coast no matter what. As to whether I continue and surf all the events… If I surf Bells, if I go to Tahiti and Fiji it is very likely that I will continue as I love those events and won last year. I just don’t know at this point. I will see when I get there. I’m not too worried about that now.”

On his feelings after his defeat to Travis Logie in the Nova Schin Festival Brazil:

“I was going to leave the beach. We were packing the car and my friends were putting the boards on the roof. Then CJ Hobgood looked at me and said, ‘You know what? It is better that this is happening, this should go to Hawaii. It is better for surfing. It’s better for everyone to see it come down to the last event – it just makes sense.’ I instantly relaxed about it. I thought to myself that I should stick around to watch Nathan and Andy’s heat and if I win today I should be at the beach. It was the right thing. I had a really good feeling. Then Nathan Hedge looked at me and said, ‘I am going to win this heat, it’s going to end today.’ I thought to myself, there’s a man with confidence, and I was pumped up and totally relaxed at the same time. Then he went out and did his thing and beat Andy. Hedgey and I need to sit down and have a talk. [laughs] He thought I was hating him these past four months and he goes to me, ‘We’re friends again now aren’t we?’”

On his head space:

“I have to sit back and dwell on it all for a while. It’s all hit me right now. I need to assess how I feel as a person as opposed to just winning. Prior to today I wasn’t just thinking about the next contest, I was thinking about the rest of my life and where I can improve in other parts of it. It all has me pumped up and humbled all at the same time. In some ways I just want to build a house, surf a lot, play golf, travel, play music and have more time for my personal life. That may happen, that might be my next year.”

On him smashing records:

“I don’t know about the records just yet. Again I need time to sit back and think about things. I would love to win Pipe and finish off on a win after having such a great year. Potentially I can still catch Tom Curren’s record for event victories next year if that is the case. I didn’t win a whole event during last year and this year I came up and won four. I could easily go next year and not win one again or I could win a few so we will see how my mind is and how determined I am on tour next year.”

On the anxiety he felt at the end of the Irons/Hedge heat that resulted in his zipping up his jacket and hiding:

“I was pretending I was playing poker and I didn’t want anyone to see my poker face. I was hiding! Trying to contain the excitement, the nervousness… the anxiety!”

On 2005 being the best year of his life:

“In a lot of ways I feel like my life is getting better and this just really capped off the back half of my career in a great way.”

For futher information on Slater’s Foster’s ASP Men’s World Tour crown head to www.quiksilver.com/ks7

 
Kelly Slater victory sign : ASP/Karen

Quiksilver CEO Bob McKnight says that Slater is the ultimate athlete and competitor.

(Huntington Beach, CA) November 8, 2005 --- Quiksilver, a division of Quiksilver Inc. (www.quiksilver.com) and boardriding industry leader, congratulates Kelly Slater (Cocoa Beach, Florida) on beating his own world record by winning his seventh world surfing championship today.  During his outstanding 2005 surfing season, Slater has won four WCT titles on the ASP World Tour, in Tahiti, Tavarua and Namotu (Fiji), Jeffreys Bay (South Africa) and Trestles (California).

Slater clinched the world championship today at the Nova Schin Festival in Brazil, when his main rival for the title, Hawaiian Andy Irons, stumbled in a quarter-final showdown against in-form Australian Nathan Hedge.  While Slater was eliminated in the previous round of the event (by fellow Quiksilver team rider Travis Logie of South Africa), Irons needed to progress past the quarter-finals to keep the title race alive going into the final event in Hawaii next month.  With Irons' elimination, Slater's lead in the ratings became insurmountable.  The huge crowd on Vila Beach, Imbituba, was emphatic in its support for Slater during the crucial Irons-Hedge quarter-final, and when the horn sounded to signal Irons' loss, Slater, who had been sitting quietly in the competitors' area, was overcome with emotion, raised his arms in celebration and cried tears of joy.

"Everything started coming into my head," said Slater.  "I was the youngest world champ and now I'm the oldest world champ; it's been seven years since I won my last title and this is my seventh one; I won my first one and my last one in Brazil but all those numbers and things*they are not as important as the feeling.  But it all started to hit me and I just need to get on the phone and call my family."

Slater also gave enormous credit to Irons, the current and three-time world champion.

"I want to give Andy a hug right now," continued Slater.  "He's pushed me to levels that I haven't reached before, and being on the beach the crowd is definitely on my side over Andy's, but I wouldn't be doing what I'm doing without Andy.  He deserves all the credit in the world.  The guy's an unbelievable surfer, one of the great surfers of all time, and I know he's going to win at least one more world title, if not more.  I hope that everyone out there can understand that, because of Andy, pro surfing is much better, and he's an amazing guy."

Quiksilver CEO Bob McKnight said that Slater was the ultimate athlete and competitor.

"Kelly just keeps coming up with new ways to extend his legend within the sport of surfing," McKnight said.  "Not only is he an incredible surfer who continuously performs at an all time high level, he is also an amazing person and ambassador of surf culture.  Winning his seventh world title and extending his own world record sets today's victory apart from any other, and Quiksilver simply could not be more proud of Kelly Slater."
 
Seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong was among the first to congratulate Slater on his achievement. "Congrats and welcome to the #7 club," said Armstrong.  "Now that I am retired maybe you can give me some surf lessons."

Slater burst onto the scene in the early 1990s as a teen phenom, and dominated surfing during that decade, winning world championships in 1992 and 1994 -1998 before taking a three-year hiatus to travel the world.  A major contributor to surfing's explosive popularity, his aggressive, precise and innovative style has led numerous commentators to dub him "the Michael Jordan of surfing".  Slater finished 3rd on the WCT 2004, posting nine quarterfinal or higher placings. 

In honor of Slater's seventh world title, Quiksilver is giving fans the opportunity to share in his achievement by making limited-edition commemorative Kelly Slater merchandise. The Kelly Slater 7 T-shirt and New Era hat will be available for purchase on the Quiksilver website at www.quiksilver.com/ks7 while supplies last.

Kissing the cup : photo Caio Guedes Waves Networks

QUIKSILVER BRAZIL BLOG:    KELLY SLATER WINS HIS 7TH WORLD TITLE IN BRAZIL

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 08 November, 2005 : - -  It became utter pandemonium here in Imbituba, Brazil when NathanHedge defeated Andy Irons, which clinched the Kelly's 7th Crown. These are his emotional comments right after the win:

Kelly Slater:  Everything started coming into my head ...I was theyoungest world champ and now the oldest world champ; it's been sevenyears since I won my last title and this is my seventh one. I won myfirst one and my last one in Brazil but all those numbers and thingsthey are not as important as the feeling but it all started to hit meand I just need to get on the phone and call my family.

Flavio Padaratz: You're crying.

Kelly:  I need a hug from some of my friends. Thank you Brazil.  I feel like a second brother or something.

Flavio:  Tour next year

Kelly:  You know what, I'm not worried about that right now. Iwant to give Andy a hug right now.  He's pushed me to levels thatI haven't reached and being on the beach the crowd is definitely on myside over Andy's, but I wouldn't be doing what I'm doing without Andy.He deserves all the credit in the world.  The guy's anunbelievable surfer, one of the great surfers of all time, and I knowhe's going to win at least one more world title if not more. I hopethat everyone out there can understand that because of Andy pro surfingis much better and he's an amazing guy.

Flavio: It gives your title much more value to have him here.

Andy:  Yes, way more value to have him and Joel Parkinson, MickFanning, the Hobgoods, all the guys who are just blowing up this year,Trent Munro has had a great run.  All those guys are part of itand that's what makes the excitement and you come to the beach and youhave your favourite guys you want to watch but they all make it and soI think Andy deserves a huge amount of credit.

MID-AFTERNOON REPORT: Congratulations Kelly Slater, 7 times world champion!

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 08 November, 2005 : - -  Andy Irons quarter final loss to Nathan Hedge means that Kelly Slater is the world champion for a record 7th time!! The upset defeat of Slater by Travis Logie in Round Four today kept Andy Irons hopes of a fourth consecutive world title alive for another heat. But Irons subsequent loss means that he must hand over the world championship title to Kelly who last held it in 1998.

Quarter Final Heats
*Semi 1: Raoni Monteiro BRA vs Damien Hobgood USA
*Semi 2: Nathan Hedge AUS vs Victor Ribas BRA

Quarter Final Heats (* denotes heat completed)
*Ht 1: Raoni Monteiro BRA beat Kirk Flintoff AUS
*Ht 2: Damien Hobgood USA beat Travis Logie ZAF
*Ht 3: Nathan Hedge AUS beat Andy Irons HAW
*Ht 4: Victor Ribas BRA beat Joel Parkinson AUS

Kelly Slater : photo Caio Guedes Waves Networks

MID-DAY REPORT: Slater eliminated by Travis Logie in Round Four

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 08 November, 2005 : - -  The shock defeat of Kelly Slater by Travis Logie in Round Four today has kept Andy Irons hopes for a fourth consecutive world title alive. Irons subsequently defeated Bede Durbidge, and moves into the Quarter Final to meet Nathan Hedge.

Quarter Final Heats
Ht 1: Kirk Flintoff BRA vs Raoni Monteiro BRA
Ht 2: Damien Hobgood USA vs Travis Logie ZAF
Ht 3: Andy Irons HAW vs Nathan Hedge AUS
Ht 4: Victor Ribas Joel Parkinson vs Fredrick Patacchia

Round Four Heat Results
*Ht 1: Kirk Flintoff AUS beat CJ Hobgood USA
*Ht 2: Raoni Monteiro BRA beat Mick Fanning AUS
*Ht 3: Damien Hobgood USA beat Cory Lopez USA
*Ht 4: Travis Logie ZAF beat Kelly Slater USA
*Ht 5: Andy Irons HAW beat Bede Durbidge AUS
*Ht 6: Nathan Hedge AUS beat Jake Paterson AUS
*Ht 7: Victor Ribas BRA beat Phil MacDonald AUS
*Ht 8: Joel Parkinson AUS vs Fredrick Patacchia HAW

 
Kelly Slater devastated : photo ASPWorldtour/Mari

AM REPORT: POTENTIAL FOR EVENT TO BE COMPLETED TODAY

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 08 November, 2005 : - -  Surfers in the Nova Schin Festival presented by Billabong in Brazil have hit the water in one metre (three foot) and slightly wind affected waves at Imbituba, two hours south of Florianopolis.

With a big day planned for the 10th event on the Foster’s ASP Men’s World Tour, organisers could potentially wrap up the competition today if conditions are suitable.

All are eagerly anticipating the outcome of the heats four and five of round four to be surfed by Kelly Slater (USA) and Andy Irons (HAW) against Travis Logie (ZAF) and Bede Durbidge (AUS) respectively.

If Irons were to go down to Durbidge, Slater will claim an unprecendented seventh world crown. Logie, however, will be doing his utmost to spoil those plans and will be out to knock Slater out.

Round three heats have been complted, and following straight on will be round four. Heat are 30 minutes in duration.

Round Three Heats completed today
Ht 11: Nathan Hedge beat Pedro Henrique BRA
Ht 12: Jake Paterson beat Guilherme Herdy
Ht 13: Phil MacDonald beat Flavio Costa BRA
Ht 14: Victor Ribas beat Tim Reyes
Ht 15: Joel Parkinson beat Yuri Sodre BRA
Ht 16: Fred Patacchia beat Renan Rocha

Round Four Heats 
Ht 1: CJ Hobgood USA vs Kirk Flintoff BRA
Ht 2: Raoni Monteiro BRA vs Mick Fanning AUS
Ht 3: Damien Hobgood USA vs Cory Lopez USA
Ht 4: Travis Logie ZAF vs Kelly Slater USA
Ht 5: Andy Irons HAW vs Bede Durbidge AUS
Ht 6: Nathan Hedge AUS vs Jake Paterson AUS
Ht 7: Phil MacDonald AUS vs Victor Ribas BRA
Ht 8: Joel Parkinson AUS vs Fredrick Patacchia HAW

Be sure to stay tuned to the live webcast on www.aspworldtour.com or www.bilabngpro.com for all the up to date information, results and heats draws throughout the day.

Watch the Live Webcast 

Pretty spectators : photo Waves Networks/Aleko

Pretty bikini contestants : photo Waves Networks/Aleko

Full reports     (Portuguese), ........ Translator here  

Previous reports:
# 1 : World title showdown expected at Brazil wct: Burrow out
# 2 : Parkinson returns to bolster draw at Nova Shin Festival  
# 3 : Nova Shin Festival WCT Brazil put onto hold for Day One 
# 4 : Nova Shin Festival WCT Brasil Round One goes mobile
# 5 : WCT stays on hold, Fosters Expression Session run off  
# 6 : Lay day again Friday for Nova Shin Festival WCT Brazil  
# 7 : Nova Shin Festival WCT Brazil to re-start again Sunday
# 8 : Locals send the Big Guns packing at Nova Shin WCT... 
# 9 : Game On !! Slater & Irons in round 4 at Nova Shin WCT 

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