Kelly Slater Wins Round 1 Heat at Rip Curl Pro Search San Francisco, One Heat Away from 2011 ASP World Title
Kelly Slater (USA), 39, reigning 10-time ASP World Champion, is one heat win away from clinching the 2011 ASP World Title.
OCEAN BEACH, San Francisco/California (Tuesday, November 1, 2011) – Clean three-to-five foot (1 – 1.5 metre) waves graced the banks at Ocean Beach today as the world’s best kicked off the Rip Curl Pro Search San Francisco.
Event No. 10 of 11 on the 2011 ASP World Title Series, the Rip Curl Pro Search San Francisco will play a pivotal role in determining the 2011 ASP World Champion.
Kelly Slater (USA), 39, reigning 10-time ASP World Champion and defending Rip Curl Pro Search champion, looked sharp this morning while opening his campaign in San Francisco, navigating through several barrels and releasing committed turns to earn a 16.03 heat total out of a possible 20 and a Round 1 heat victory.
“I’m stoked because I went out last night and the surf was tough, the waves were real flat and I had boots and gloves and a hood so that I could go back and feel more comfortable out there today with less rubber on,” Slater said. “The conditions today were a lot more fun. The water is like Jbay and I thought it’d be colder, it’s probably upper 50’s and it’s not too bad.”
Slater, the current frontrunner on the 2011 ASP World Title Race, needs to take a 9th place finish (or advance through one more heat) at the Rip Curl Pro Search to secure his unprecedented 11th crown.
“I’m going to try and just be relaxed about it because it’s a situation where you could feel tense in and want to get it over with it,” Slater said. “The reality of it is the other guys have to win both events with my last heat win so the pressure is on them. I don’t feel like I can relax though because the guys now have to focus and that’s when they could do something magic. That’s how it goes in competition and I don’t doubt that that’s a possibility. It is close. I just need to catch four good waves in this event to win the title.”
Slater also was quick to remember that tomorrow will mark the one-year anniversary of the passing of the late Andy Irons (HAW) and expressed that clinching his 11th ASP World Title would follow second in remembering the life of his friend.
“The globe’s a cool trophy and if I happen to make it out of the next round I’ve love to win this contest,” Slater said. “Tomorrow is the one year anniversary of Andy’s passing away and it’s going to be a sad and happy day in remembering him and if Ironically if I can win the world title on that day it’d be secondary to the memory of Andy.”
The Rip Curl Pro Search San Francisco is Stop No. 10 of 11 on the 2011 ASP World Title Series with a waiting period from November 1-12. The 2011 Pro Search will be broadcast live on Fuel TV, Livestream.com and live.ripcurl.com
For additional information log on to www.aspworldtour.com
Comments
Category: All ASP News, ASP World Tour News
Duh!
11/11/11/11 ? if that so, wait until 11th Nov then to clinch the eleventh title! =))
Kelly is the man! Reppin FLA for sure. Go get it Ke11y its yours for the taking!
11/11/11 [ 11 Titles / 11 (November) / 11 (2011)]
Kelly rips!!! All the best Kelly!
Its a conspiracy! Ke11y wins his 11th title in the 11th month of 2011! Haha! Good luck, Kelly!
One and one is done and done ! You’ve got it in the bag… 11 world titles, only one heat away. Go Kelly, tear it to shreds…. What a year it’s been. What an ongoing treat to watch you do it all over again in 2011. BEST OF LUCK in round three…. take it down !
Incredible, consistent, performance surfing, unsurpassed ! The results of which are truly deserved. Your an inspiration to untold masses of people, particularly surfers, who with out question, will all be cheering you on tomorrow!
All The Best
Alex O.
Let’s do it Champ!
Hehe… There is no way in the whole world someone else will be so freak like this fella… He is Freak… 11th world title… what a insane surfer… Congratulation Ke11y…
Count on it, bet on it, do whatever, #11 is coming home.