CONGRATULATIONS KELLY SLATER – VOLCOM FIJI PRO CHAMPION!
Kelly Slater reigning 11-time ASP World Champion, claimed his 49th elite tour victory today, taking out the Volcom Fiji Pro over Gabriel Medina (BRA), 19, in pumping four-to-six foot (1.5 – 2 metre) surf at Cloudbreak.
Check day 6 Highlights !!!
Kelly slater hunting the win in the final !!
Slater wasted no time in the Final against his young opponent, grabbing an 8.33 and a 9.83 in the opening half of the bout to put Medina on the ropes. The Brazilian, however, would not back down, claiming an 8.60 to put himself back in the hunt. Slater limited his scoreline to his two opening rides, and it proved enough for the Floridian to scalp the win as well as his first man-on-man victory over Medina.
“It’s about time I got him,” Slater said. “He had my number in the back half of last year and he’ll probably go on to beat everyone for the next 20 years. He can do it all and I think he proved that to a lot of people this week at Restaurants and out here at Cloudbreak.”
Slater sent his first shots across the bow today during the Semifinals when the phenomenal natural-footer posted his second Perfect 10 of the event for a series of deep tube rides and critical turns.“That’s probably the best I could surf out here,” Slater said. “The barrel and the turn sections just lined up for me and I was able to do what I did. That was a perfect canvas for me.”After an absence at the previous event in Rio de Janeiro, Slater’s win in Fiji bolts him up from 8th to 2nd on the ASP World Championship Tour ratings.“I think everyone who competes on tour is here to win,” Slater said. “If you’re winning events, then you’re winning world titles. At this point in my career, I’m probably more focused on surfing well though. The waves just pumped today. Some guys win, some guys lose, but everyone is happy if the waves are good.”
Slater launching of the boat after his big win !!
Kelly’s biggest fan !!
Kelly on the podium, $75000 richer who wouldn’t be happy !!!
Slater takes home One big GUN !!! to add to the trophy room
Visit volcomfijipro.com for Final day Highlights.
