Kelly Slater: the brightest star. Kelly Slater: interview about surfing and the nomadic lifestyle
Robert Kelly Slater was born in America, in small town Coco Beach February 11, 1972. He revolutionized wave riding and gained a whole army of surfing fans. His father owned a fishing store, and little Kelly spent all his time on the beach since childhood. Cocoa Beach may not be the best place to surf, but at the age of five, Slater stepped on a board for the first time and almost immediately demonstrated his skills. By the early 90s, Slater had become a wave conqueror.
Despite great success and victories in surfing, as a schoolboy, Kelly always attended school lessons and got excellent grades.
Born to be a surfer.
In the nineties, Kelly created his own rock band, the Surfers, together with famous surfers Peter King and Rob Machado.
At the same time, our star plays the role of a rescuer in the television series “Baywatch.”
In the late nineties, handsome Kelly tries to work as a model. But, despite his busy schedule, the famous surfer manages to get a law degree!
Amazing with his skill, he significantly raised the “upper bar” in surfing, which served as a motivation for other athletes to improve. That's why some people call Kelly "the Michael Jordan of surfing."
Slater immediately took first place at the ASP Championship in 1992, which gave him two victories at once: the first at Rip Curl Pro Landes and the second at Marui Pipe Masters. So Kelly became the youngest athlete in history to win the World Surfing Championship.
Then in 1993 there was a slight lull in the surfer’s life, but already in 1994 competitions again elevated Kelly and made him Number One again. It was these competitions that gave him the strength and confidence to be a leader for four more years in a row. Kelly didn't leave the slightest chance for his rivals. After which he was nicknamed “Triumphal Surfer”.
In 1999, Slater took a break from his career and until 2002, there was a lull again. In 2002 he returned, and in 2003 his autobiography book entitled “Dream Wave: The Surfer’s Way” was published, which was his first book.
Kelly returned fully to surfing in 2005 and again showed everyone his full potential in all its glory, taking 1st place as the leader of the ASP Championship. In 2006 and 2008, he planned not to lose the champion title, and also won first places. At the same time, together with F. Jarat (also a surfer), another book was published - “Kelly Slater: in the name of love.”
In 2010, the famous surfer received his penultimate championship, and in 2011 he became the most mature winner of the ASP competition cup in history. And this may be his last victory for now, but if you look at his entire career, Slater remains a surfing legend. In total, the famous Kelly Slater has 52 victories.
Now the famous surfer lives with his second wife, the beautiful brunette model K. Millet, and is raising a teenage daughter, Taylor, from his first wife.
Kelly's net worth is estimated at around twenty million dollars. According to Kelly, the main thing in life is not where a person was born and what age he is, because successful person Anyone can become, the main thing in life is to catch your “wave”.
The story of the living legend of world surfing Kelly Slater, for whom sport is the meaning of life.
The story of a living legend
world surfing Kelly Slater,
for whom sport is the meaning of life.
If you're not particularly interested extreme sports, and just watching TV occasionally, you might think that Kelly Slater is a kind of Tony Hawk of surfing. Wins 89% of the competitions in which he participates, has a personal computer game, is still alive and well, aged over forty. But this is only with a superficial study of the character. In fact, everything is a little different.
The white-toothed surfer with a shiny head really has something to love and respect for. Today, Slater is an 11-time world champion who continues to compete, act in films and “shine” everywhere in every possible way. One of Kelly’s last bright appearances (at least for Russia) was the release of the film “On the Wave,” where the story of a surfer occupies key role. Not everyone can remain in the ranks at such an advanced age for sports, and the moment is probably close when Slater will finally remain on the shore to watch the younger generation. Until that happens, let’s remember why this legendary athlete, who has become a key character in surfing for the last twenty years, is so famous.
Slater is both the youngest and oldest world surfing champion.
Slater gained worldwide fame thanks to his first victory in 1992, when Kelly was only 20 years old, and he became the most young champion peace, which remains to this day. It is noteworthy that Slater is also the oldest world surfing champion. For those who still don’t understand who this is, let us remind you that you could see this guy running in red shorts after Pamela Anderson in “Baywatch.” And, by the way, in several dozen more films. Having become a six-time world champion just before the millennium, Slater decided that he had had enough and retired, but collected his thoughts and returned 2 years later and continued his champion career.
The public's favorite, who during his lifetime had a bronze statue erected in his native Cocoa Beach, at every opportunity he tries to convince others that he is an ordinary guy, and if everyone trains long and hard and monitors their diet and lifestyle, they will certainly achieve if not the same, but no less serious heights. Kelly was always friendly with his head; at school he was an excellent student, but even after sitting at his desk, perseverance and diligence did not leave him. If a common person spends a third of his life on sleep, the second third on work and traffic jams, then Mr. Slater most spent my life on the board. In one of the interviews, the surfer admitted that in his entire life he was separated from the ocean only for a couple of months due to serious injuries.
Last update: 01/18/2019
43-year-old Kelly Slater is in South Africa while battling icy waves and dodging sharks. He narrowly avoided being attacked by sharks during the finals of the J-Bay Open surf competition on July 19. Mick Fanning, Kelly's longtime rival and 11-time world surfing champion, was in extreme situation related to " close encounter"with a shark. He was in a hurry to sail away safe place. Predators and extreme weather are a typical day for Slater. For the past few decades, his job as a professional surfer has been chasing waves. He opposes them in every way rare corner of our planet.
Now Kelly Slater, the greatest surfer of all time, is offering a different kind of challenge - inspiring rides. Together with friend designer John Moore, they announce the release of a new men's collection, Outerknown, which was presented on July 15, 2015. (The Hawaiian-Japanese brand M.Nii specializes in the production of swimwear. John Moore is the designer of the brand, who has released a collection of clothing for surfers).
About travel and starting a career
“When you travel like I do, you can be in South Africa one day and Paris the next,” says Slater, fresh from a desert holiday camp. "You're like a chameleon because you fit in different ways life. You can offer diversity to the world." Taking a moment to reflect on the man who embodies the spirit of Outerknown, the surfer adds: “I think a lot of us are dreamers. We follow our passions. This is something we all have in common.”
It's been 24 years since Kelly first started surfing on the ASP World Tour. His career began at the age of 19. The surfer became both the youngest, at 20, and the oldest, at 39, surfing champion in the history of competitive surfing. Every year adult life Slater's was filled with remote places, diverse cultures, mind-blowing physical achievements. “Outerknown” is the place where the surfer directs everything that comes his way. According to Kelly, the brand strives to be "transparent" in all aspects production process, starting from raw materials and ending labor practice, distribution. The fabrics used are environmentally friendly. The first collection incorporates fabrics from discarded fishing nets into its threads. This nanotechnology is called ECONYL, which breaks down the networks and turns them into nylon threads.
About the nomadic lifestyle
Slater is a nomad. But he maintains consistency in his life by reaching out to the people and interests around him. A surfer looks for a health food store in every new place he goes. He also assures that each room in which he is located is supplied with the usual products. “I may have developed OCD about it, but it’s what makes me feel comfortable on the road,” he laughs. Slater's surfing is far from conquering the waves alone - he prefers healthy competition along with friends and colleagues. He hopes that fashion brand the same spirit exists in the fashion industry. The brand also wants the brand to be part of a broader conversation about how things are made and their impact on the environment.
About your own clothing brand
“I want to use Outerknown as an educational tool, and be more transparent about how things are created... I want to challenge other brands to implement the previously mentioned idea. This could extend to retailers and perhaps even to other categories of manufacturers beyond apparel.”
The Outerknown brand is an organic extension of Slater’s lifestyle. Light bombers, windbreakers, woolen pullovers are excellent clothes due to their functions. “If you have just emerged from the icy water, conquering the waves, and you cannot feel your arms or legs from the cold, you don’t care how many layers of clothing you have on. Due to the nature of my job, I need to choose casual clothing. Clothing in this style can be placed in a category between lack of style and high fashion" The brand created by Slater and Moore has the prospect of joining the Kering company, along with Alexander McQueen, Gucci, Saint Laurent- This is true? “Ignorance is bliss,” the hero replies. “I didn’t grow up with any specific brands other than the ones that sponsored me. I think this is where my ignorance towards fashion comes from. But I'm not afraid or ashamed of it. On the contrary, I am glad that I have this opportunity. And I don’t see competition in the brand created by me and my friend. I look at it like unique way communication with people."
About personal style
“The only style I understood was the surf style,” admits Slater. “I never thought of people as fashion role models.” He still competes in surfing competitions, but at the same time appears on the red carpet in a navy blue Brioni tuxedo, visiting annual ball « Met Gala" He is part of a new generation of surfers who have evolved from rebellious young athletes and competition. On the days Kelly Slater isn't surfing, he loves good life, fresh cuisine, playing golf, writing songs to later perform on the guitar.
“As a child, I thought that I would have a home and a family, normal life. Now my normal lifestyle, nomadic is not normal,” the surfer reflects. “Almost all of my friends that I met in different corners planets are travelers. I don't think I'll ever settle in one place. I love too many places and people around the world to stay in any one place for too long.”
About retirement
It's no secret that Slater was at one point the oldest surfer on the World Tour. “Everyone is wondering when I'm going to retire. I don't know how long I want to do this full time. But I would like to continue to compete. I see no reason why in 10 years I won’t be at the same level or even higher than I am now.”
Kelly Slater should be surfing, like Muhammad Ali should be boxing, and Pablo Picasso should be painting. He will always be known for his virtuoso surf skills, but his passion for new projects like Outerknown can make him feel differently about himself. The hero also notes that he would like to expand his brand, spreading it to different types content. I wonder if Kelly Slater is thinking about building a legacy...
About inheritance and heirs
“Yes, I understand, we all want to have some kind of inheritance. But you can’t think too much about creating it, because then it becomes unrealistic,” says Slater. "I would like to be considered good, an honest man, adhering to principles." He goes on to talk about his daughter's graduation speech, the story of Alfred Nobel and the prize he created, the Nobel Peace Prize. This is one of many anecdotes that the hero can remember at any time during our conversation. He seems genuinely, childishly, amazed at these stories of wisdom.
"It was fun. It was happiness. People I've met; places I've been; in fact, have no equal." “I mean, it would be difficult to find a more suitable lifestyle for me than it is now.”
Interviews with other athletes: , .
Kelly managed to turn the hobby of American teenagers into a full-fledged sport, in which he set a high bar, unattainable for others, showing himself to be an outstanding athlete. Kelly Slater is not one of the best at this - he is the best, he is on the crest of a wave of success.
Waiting for your wave
The great surfer was born on February 11, 1972 in Cocoa Beach, in the family of a small entrepreneur who produced goods for fishermen. Kelly Slater spent a lot of time in his father's store, communicated with many and spent the lion's share of his leisure time on the ocean. It was then, at a very young age, that Kelly became interested in surfing and could spend long hours after school on the ocean.
And if in early years the sea was simply a hobby and inspiration, then at the age of 11, when his parents separated and his father became addicted to alcohol, it became a real joy for Slater, a friend who allowed him to forget about life’s hardships and deep childhood trauma that remained forever in his heart.
Youngest champion
Gradually from childhood hobby became something more for Kelly Slater. By the time he graduated from school, none of the teenage surfers could compare with his skill. The surfer becomes a local celebrity, his photo is published in sports magazines and newspapers, and soon Slater has his own agent.
In 1992, when Kelly turned 20, he became a world champion. The guy got the title by right - he proved it by becoming the champion not only again in next year, but also over the next six years, defeating his rivals in the skill of conquering waves.
Slater not only surpassed other surfing masters, he himself became a trendsetter in this form water sports, introducing new tricks and elements into it that no one had used before. Thanks to the work of Kelly Slater, surfing has become popular all over the world and has grown into a full-fledged sport.
Leave to return in triumph
In 1999, at the peak of her popularity and career takeoff, Kelly Slater officially retired from the sport. His financial situation has improved significantly thanks to the fees for winning championships, and Slater decides to devote himself entirely to his wife and little daughter. But apparently the craving for the sea and the desire to feel like a wave conqueror again and again took their toll, and Kelly returned to the sport after a three-year break in 2002.
Kelly Slater's return to the sport was truly triumphant: he became world champion five more times. Despite his age, which is not typical for surfers, Kelly once again proved that he has no equal in surfing - he is the king of the surfboard and it is impossible to repeat his success.
Athlete, actor and environmentalist
Kelly Slater managed to become not only a surf star, but also a screen star. He starred in a number of films where he essentially played himself - an athlete with stunning looks and a great goal in life. Thus, the handsome surfer can be seen in the acclaimed series “Baywatch,” where the athlete appeared before the audience in the image of Jimmy Slade.
On this creative and television career It doesn't end with Slater: he organized a group of surfers and recorded a full-length album with them, took part in two television shows, wrote two books and became the prototype for the main character of the computer game "Kelly Slater's Pro Surfer".
Kelly Slater spent part of the huge income from his victories and roles in films on various charity events in support of environment and ocean protection. An athlete who grew up on the ocean coast invests a lot of money and effort into implementing various environmental events and programs.
Kelly tirelessly promotes healthy image life, family values and environmental protection, which makes him even more attractive in the eyes of his large army of fans. A striking example of the people's love for the surfer is the bronze statue of Slater, towering in his homeland in Cocoa Beach, installed by his compatriots.
Kelly Slater - big name in professional surfing, which symbolizes success. This athlete managed to reach unprecedented heights and become a real living legend, revered and imitated. Slater showed that success depends on everyday work over yourself, from a creative approach and a great desire to be the best. And it doesn’t matter what origin a person is or how old he is, anyone can be successful, you just need to catch your “wave.”
Kelly Slater(Kelly Slater)
Nickname: Michael Jordan in the ocean
Vocation: surfing
Favorite tricks: pipes and erials
Achievements: 11-time World Champion (at the same time the youngest and oldest winner of the world tour - at 20 and 39 years old, respectively), 49 victories within the ASP-Tour, twice gold medalist at ESPN X Games.
Kelly Slater beginning: VKelly first got on the board as a child at home in Cocoa Beach in Florida (USA). His father owned a fisherman's shop, so the child could go to the beach almost every day. Coming to the ocean after school, and sometimes early in the morning before classes, he invariably went in search of waves. The waves were not only a way for the young surfer to test his strength, but also an opportunity to take his mind off family problems - his parents divorced when he was 11, and his father became addicted to alcohol.
Kelly Slater Rising: Kelly's efforts were not in vain - by the time he graduated from school he already had a reputation best surfer on your beach. His photographs appeared in surf magazines, and he already had his own agent. Slater won his first world title in 1992 at the age of 20, becoming the youngest champion in WCT history. He took surfing to new heights, introducing skate style, skate tricks and jumping into the air over the wave, greatly advancing the technique of skating compared to what the "old school" surfers did.
Kelly Slater confession: After winning numerous titles and becoming a 6-time World Champion, Slater retired from surfing in 1999. However, in 2002 he returned to professional surfing and again became champion in 2005, 2006, 2008, 2010 and 2011. Sports success made Kelly a millionaire, but sponsorship, filming and producing surf films brought him even more income. In September 2002, the video game Kelly Slater Pro Surfer was released.
Other hobbies: Kelly Slater produces and stars in surf films, records her own surf music albums and performs with show business stars, in addition, Kelly is the face of a video game." Kelly Slater's Pro Surfer.
Kelly Slater on popularity: " In general, in America it is difficult to protect your privacy, you can’t live normally. I look at the guys from the NHL and NBA and sympathize with them. Sometimes it gets in the way and makes you feel awkward."
Kelly Slater on the meaning of life: " I can't say what makes more sense to me than surfing. It takes up all my time, every day. Everything is surrounded by surf. Surfing is everything to me!"
Kelly Slater on injuries: “I have several injuries, but I worked on myself and reduced their negative impact to a minimum. When there is a lot of adrenaline in the blood, when you catch a wave, or when you perform a dangerous trick, you forget about all the sores. In this regard, I have always been lucky, although there were several serious injuries, broken bones, torn tendons, but during my entire career I didn’t get on the board for only 2-3 months.”
Kelly Slater on testing: “The most difficult challenge for me was getting my 10th championship title, and it took me a long time to get there.”
Kelly Slater about age: "Some people talk about my age all the time. Yes, I'm 39, almost 40 and these are just numbers. Regardless of them, you can be super healthy. Maybe when I'm 50 I'll be in even better shape "
Kelly Slater on Russian surfers: "I wish them development!"
based on materials: http://www.mhealth.ru, http://anywater.ru, http://lifehacker.ru and http://doskimag.ru.