Kelly Slater facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kelly Slater |
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Slater in 2017
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| Personal information | |
| Born | Robert Kelly Slater February 11, 1972 Cocoa Beach, Florida, U.S. |
| Residence | Haleiwa, Hawaii, U.S. San Clemente, California, U.S. Cocoa Beach, Florida, U.S. |
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (175 cm) |
| Weight | 165 lb (75 kg) |
| Surfing career | |
| Years active | 1990–present |
| Major achievements |
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| Surfing specifications | |
| Favorite waves | Cloudbreak, Pipeline, Teahupo'o, Trespass at Deerfield Beach Pier, Sebastian Inlet, and Lower Trestles |
| Favorite maneuvers | Barrels |
Robert Kelly Slater (born February 11, 1972) is an American professional surfer. He is famous for winning the World Surf League championship a record 11 times. Many people think Kelly Slater is the greatest professional surfer ever. He has won 56 Championship Tour events.
Slater has also won the Laureus World Action Sportsperson of the Year four times. He is the oldest surfer still competing in the World Surf League. He won his 8th Billabong Pipeline Masters title when he was 49 years old.
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Kelly Slater's Early Life
Kelly Slater grew up in Cocoa Beach, Florida, where he still lives. His parents are Stephen Slater and Judy Moriarity. He has two brothers, Sean and Stephen.
Kelly's dad owned a bait store, so Kelly grew up close to the ocean. He started surfing at age five. By the time he was 10, he was winning surfing events along the Atlantic coast. In 1984, he won his first U.S. championship title for his age group.
Two years later, he placed third in the junior division at the world amateur championships in England. The next year, he won the Pacific Cup junior championship in Australia. Kelly went to Cocoa Beach High School.
Kelly Slater's Professional Surfing Career
Kelly Slater became a professional surfer in 1990. He quickly won his first contest, the Body Glove Surf Bout, in Trestles, California. This helped him join the World Surf League Championship Tour for the 1991 season.
His first year on the tour was tough, and he was ranked 43rd. But in 1992, he started strong, finishing in the top three in three events. He then won his first professional tour event, the Rip Curl Pro, in France. That same year, he won the famous Pipeline Masters in Hawaii. This made him the youngest surfing world champion ever at age 20.
After finishing sixth in 1993, Slater won five world titles in a row from 1994 to 1998. During this time, televised surfing became very popular. He took a break from surfing after 1998 but returned to the pro tour in 2002.
Sponsors and Surfing Gear
For a long time, Kelly Slater used Channel Islands Surfboards with his own special FCS fins. Later, he started riding Firewire surfboards, and he even bought the company in 2014. In 2016, Slater launched his own line of boards called Slater Designs. As of 2017, there are four Slater Designs models available from Firewire.
From 1990 until 2014, Slater was mainly sponsored by the big surfwear company Quiksilver. After leaving Quiksilver, he worked with Kering to create 'Outerknown'. This company makes eco-friendly and sustainable clothing using recycled materials.
Kelly Slater's Accomplishments
Surfing Achievements
Growing up in Florida, Kelly wasn't always comfortable with huge waves. But a trip to Oahu in 1987 changed that. He saw massive waves at Makaha and met a big wave surfer named Brandon "Big Wave" Davis. Davis's calm attitude in big surf greatly influenced Kelly. Slater says that whenever he drops into a big wave, he remembers Davis's wink and pushes himself.
Some of his favorite surf spots include Lower Trestles in San Clemente, California. He also loves Pipeline in Hawaii, Kirra in Australia, and Jeffreys Bay in South Africa. Other favorites are Taghazout in Morocco, Soup Bowls in Barbados, and Sebastian Inlet near his home in Florida.
In 2022, Slater won his eighth Pro Pipeline surfing title at the Pipe Masters in Hawaii. This was 30 years after his first win there. In 2023, he shared that he wanted to try and qualify for the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
Kelly Slater has won the World Surf League Champion title a record 11 times. This includes five wins in a row from 1994 to 1998. He is both the youngest (at age 20) and the oldest (at age 39) surfer to win the WSL men's title. In 1997, he became the most successful male champion ever, passing Australian surfer Mark Richards.
In 2007, he also became the surfer with the most career event wins. He broke the record held by his childhood hero, Tom Curren. On November 6, 2011, Slater officially won his eleventh ASP world title. He did this at the Rip Curl Pro Search San Francisco.
In May 2005, at the Billabong Tahiti Pro, Slater made history. He was the first surfer to get two perfect scores (20 out of 20 points) in a single heat. He did it again in June 2013 at the Volcom Fiji Pro.
Slater is also the oldest surfer to get a perfect ten-point ride in a World Surf League competition. He achieved this at age 47 at the 2019 Billabong Pipe Masters.
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Music and Media Appearances
Kelly Slater plays guitar and ukulele. He has performed with famous musicians like Jack Johnson and Angus Stone. In the mid-1990s, Kelly Slater, Rob Machado, and Peter King formed a band called The Surfers. They released an album in 1998 called Songs from the Pipe. This name refers to the famous surf spot Pipeline in Hawaii.
Slater has also performed with Ben Harper and the band Pearl Jam. In 1999, he appeared in the music video for the song "You Look So Fine" by the band Garbage.
Kelly Slater also acted! He played a character named Jimmy Slade on seven episodes of the TV show Baywatch in the early 1990s. He has also been in many surf films.
A video game called Kelly Slater's Pro Surfer was released in 2002. Before that, he was a playable character in Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3, complete with a surfboard. Slater also won gold medals at the X-Games in 2003 and 2004.
Environmental Work and Helping Others
Kelly Slater believes in living a sustainable and clean life. He also helps raise money and awareness for suicide prevention.
He is very passionate about protecting oceans around the world. He works with Reef Check to help protect reefs in California.
In 2017, Slater and fellow surfer Jérémy Florès suggested that French authorities should remove bull sharks in Réunion. This was after several shark-related deaths. However, environmental groups did not agree with this idea.
In 2010, the United States House of Representatives honored Slater. They recognized him for his amazing achievements in surfing and for being a great role model. Slater is also on the advisory board for the ocean conservation group Sea Shepherd Conservation Society.
Other Projects
Outerknown Clothing
In 2014, Kelly Slater ended his long partnership with the clothing brand Quiksilver. He wanted to start a new brand based on his values, like protecting the environment. This new brand, called "Outerknown," focuses on sustainable production and uses recycled materials.
Purps Drinks
In 2014, Slater started a drink company called Purps. He worked with RVCA founder Pat Tenore and Dr. Chris Schaumburg. Since 2013, Slater has also been a brand ambassador for The Chia Company.
Wave Pool Development
Kelly Slater worked for ten years on a special project to create the perfect inland wave pool in California. He designed the wave to be like some of the best natural waves in the world. The project was a big success, and the surfing world was excited about the perfect waves it could create. In 2016, the World Surf League (WSL) bought a large part of Kelly Slater Wave Company (KSWC).
Kelly Slater Surf Ranch
The WSL held a test event for professional surfers at the Kelly Slater Surf Ranch. This private surf ranch is located near Lemoore, California (36°15′18″N 119°47′24″W / 36.255°N 119.790°W). In 2018, the Surf Ranch also hosted the WSL Founders Cup. This contest featured teams from different countries.
Surf Ranch Florida Plans
There were plans to build another man-made surfing lake in Palm Beach County, Florida. County officials approved plans to look into the idea in 2017. The World Surf League thought about bringing the wave lake to Florida because of its good weather and history of great surfers. However, these plans were canceled in 2019. This was due to unexpected problems with high groundwater levels.
Coral Mountain Project
Coral Mountain is a proposed project in La Quinta, California. It would be a large complex with a hotel and homes. The main feature would be a surfing basin created by Kelly Slater Wave Co.
Freaks of Nature Skincare
In 2024, Slater started a skincare company called Freaks of Nature. Its main product is sunscreen.
Kelly Slater's Competitive Wins
Kelly Slater has won many surfing titles throughout his career. Here are some of his most notable wins:
- 2022: Billabong Pro Pipeline (Hawaii)
- 2019: Triple Crown of Surfing (Hawaii)
- 2016: Billabong Pro (Tahiti)
- 2014: Volcom Pipe Pro (Hawaii)
- 2013: Quiksilver Pro (Australia), Volcom Fiji Pro (Fiji), Billabong Pipeline Masters (Hawaii)
- 2012: Volcom Fiji Pro (Fiji), Hurley Pro (California, US), Quiksilver Pro France (France)
- 2011: Quiksilver Pro (Australia), Billabong Pro (Tahiti), Hurley Pro (California, US), Nike US Open of Surfing (California, US)
- 2010: Rip Curl Pro (Australia), Hurley Pro (California, US), Rip Curl Pro (Portugal), Rip Curl Search (Puerto Rico)
- 2009: Hang Loose Santa Catarina Pro (Brazil)
- 2008: Quiksilver Pro (Australia), Rip Curl Pro (Australia), Globe Pro (Fiji), Billabong Pro (South Africa), Boost Mobile Pro (California, US), Billabong Pipeline Masters (Hawaii)
- 2007: Boost Mobile Pro (California, US)
- 2006: Quiksilver Pro (Australia), Rip Curl Pro (Australia)
- 2005: Billabong Pro (Tahiti), Globe Pro Fiji (Fiji), Billabong Pro (South Africa), Boost Mobile Pro (California, US)
- 2004: X-Games SRF The Game, Snickers Australian Open, Energy Australia Open
- 2003: X-Games SRF The Game, Billabong Pro (Tahiti), Billabong Pro (South Africa), Billabong Pro (Spain), Nova Schin Festival (Brazil)
- 2002: Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau (Hawaii)
- 2000: Gotcha Pro Tahiti (Tahiti)
- 1999: Mountain Dew Pipeline Masters (Hawaii)
- 1998: Billabong Pro (Australia), Triple Crown of Surfing (Hawaii)
- 1997: Coke Surf Classic (Australia), Billabong Pro (Australia), Tokushima Pro (Japan), Marui Pro (Japan), Kaiser Summer Surf (Brazil), Grand Slam (Australia), Typhoon Lagoon Surf Challenge (US)
- 1996: Coke Surf Classic (Australia), Rip Curl Pro Saint Leu (Reunion Island), CSI presents Billabong Pro (South Africa), U.S. Open of Surfing (California, US), Rip Curl Pro Hossegor (France), Quiksilver Surfmasters (France), Chiemsee Gerry Lopez Pipe Masters (Hawaii), Sud Ouest Trophee (France), Da Hui Backdoor Shootout (Hawaii)
- 1995: Quiksilver Pro (Indonesia), Chiemsee Pipe Masters (Hawaii), Triple Crown of Surfing (Hawaii)
- 1994: Rip Curl Pro (Australia), Gotcha Lacanau Pro (France), Chiemsee Gerry Lopez Pipe Masters (Hawaii), Bud Surf Tour Seaside Reef (US), Bud Surf Tour Huntington (US), Sud Ouest Trophee (France)
- 1993: Marui Pro (Japan)
- 1992: Rip Curl Pro Landes (France), Marui Pipe Masters (Hawaii)
- 1990: Body Glove Surfbout (California, US)
Personal Life
Kelly Slater enjoys playing golf and practicing Brazilian jiu-jitsu. His biggest surfing hero is Tom Curren, who was the first American surfer to win a World Title. Kelly got to compete against him when he joined the tour in 1991. Big wave surfers Todd Chesser and Brock Little also helped guide him when he was a teenager.
Kelly Slater has a daughter named Taylor, who was born in 1996. Her mother is Tamara Mitchell. Kelly's long-term girlfriend is Kalani Miller. They recently announced they are expecting a baby.
Films and TV Shows
Kelly Slater has appeared in many films and TV shows, often about surfing.
Films
- Surfers – The Movie (1990)
- Kelly Slater in Black and White (1991)
- Momentum 1 (1992)
- Focus (1994)
- Endless Summer II (1994)
- Factory Seconds (1995)
- Momentum 2 (1996)
- Good Times (1996)
- Kelly Slater in Kolor (1997)
- The Show (1997)
- Loose Change (1999)
- Hit & Run (2000)
- Thicker than Water (2000)
- One Night at McCool's (2001)
- September Sessions (2002)
- Step into Liquid (2003)
- Campaign 1 (2003)
- Riding Giants (2004)
- Doped Youth 'Groovy Avalon' (2004)
- Young Guns 1, 2 & 3 (2004–2008)
- Campaign 2 (2005)
- Burn (2005)
- Letting Go (2006)
- Surf's Up (2007)
- Down the Barrel (2007)
- Bra Boys: Blood is Thicker than Water (2007)
- Bustin' Down the Door (2008)
- One Track Mind (2008)
- Kelly Slater Letting Go (2008)
- Waveriders (2008)
- The Ocean (2008)
- A Fly in the Champagne (2009) (featuring Kelly Slater and Andy Irons)
- Cloud 9 (2009)
- Keep Surfing (2009)
- Ultimate Wave Tahiti (2010)
- Fighting Fear (2011)
- Wave Warriors 3
- View from a Blue Moon (2015)
- Andy Irons: Kissed by God (2018)
- Momentum Generation (2018)
Cameo Appearances
- "You Look So Fine" – Garbage music video (1999)
- '"Surf's Up" (2007)
- View From A Blue Moon (2015)
Television
- Baywatch, 7 episodes (1992–1996)
- The Jersey, surfing episode 18 (2001)
- Lilo & Stitch: The Series, 2 episodes (2003) as Surfer (voice)
- The Girls Next Door, "Surf's Up" (one episode)
- The Ultimate Surfer, "Kelly-vision" cameos
- Kelly Slater: Lost Tapes, 11 episodes (2022)
- Make or Break, 2 seasons (2022–2023)
Video Games
- Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 (2001)
- Kelly Slater's Pro Surfer (2002)
See Also
In Spanish: Kelly Slater para niños
- Wave pool
- Wavegarden
Books About Kelly Slater
