Article
Kelly Takes Eleven
Kelly Slater wins his eleventh world title, for real this time.
Your 2011 World Champion, glad to have put the final nail in the coffin. Photo: Ellis
Today in the cold onshore winds of Ocean Beach, Slater claimed his eleventh world title by winning his Round 4 non-elimination heat against young Brazilians Miguel Pupo and Gabriel Medina. By advancing straight to the quarterfinals, Slater now has an insurmountable lead and the title race is officially over.
The morning was marred with unfavorable winds for the Ocean Beach sandbars, but the event ran just enough heats to finish Round 3 and start Round 4, giving Kelly a chance to nab the title that he thought he had three days ago. As far as the ASP miscalculations earlier in the week are concerned, Kelly seemed to be a good sport about the whole episode. “I was upset about it, but I also thought it was really funny,” Kelly said. “We all make mistakes.” Although they may not have been the most ideal circumstances for winning the title, the 2011 ASP World Champion has now officially been crowned. Click here to watch Kelly’s entire heat against Miguel and Gabriel, as well as Slater’s post-win interview.
The now 11-time World Champ checking the waves just before his title-winning heat. Photo: Ellis
Slater takes a moment to get in the zone for his Round 4 heat. Photo: Ellis
Slater punctuated his Title win by floating a heaving Ocean Beach section. Photo: Ellis
Jordy Smith tried to take advantage of the air-friendly onshores, but came up short against Pat Gudauskas in the second heat of the day. Photo: Ellis
The brothers Slater, celebrating No. 11 all over again. Photo: Ellis
San Clemente's Pat Gudauskas threw a Hail Mary in the form of a rodeo in his Round 3 heat against Jordy Smith. Photo: Ellis
Although Pat got the score he was looking for and took the heat win, he ended up getting carried from the water's edge due to an injury he sustained landing the rodeo. Photo: Ellis
The greatest surfer to ever live celebrates another world title win. Photo: Ellis
Although Miguel Pupo came up short against Kelly Slater in Round 4, the young Brazilian continues to put on progressive displays in even the most junky conditions. Photo: Ellis
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Comments
November 8, 2011 1:20 am
Watch Kelly’s surfing throughout that title winning rerun heat, and he is still the most electric surfer at this event. His explosiveness and control are insane. He definitely won that heat. That floater was heavy too, and the tube after the buzzer was a 10. Beyond that, Gabriel deserved the win. He’s allot like Kelly at the beginning of his career. Amazing talent. But for now, it’s Kelly whose King. 11x.
November 8, 2011 1:03 am
Wow, eight comments on this event, I guess the vast majority of surfers, are just not that interested in por, oops, I mean, pro surfing. I think most hard core surfers, would rather be out catching waves themselves, than watching some one else surf.
November 7, 2011 11:21 pm
Kelly continues to dominate and define the sport of surfing. It would be great to see him leave the wannabe skate tour behind and put his talents into free surfing, board design and wave pool technology.
November 7, 2011 7:07 am
we are sick of kelly been pushed by the judges and his lazy claims
November 7, 2011 7:05 am
medina and pupo smoked kelly in their heat…
asp are dictators and liars
November 7, 2011 4:34 am
I feel bad for Owen. Another floater in his life.
November 7, 2011 4:17 am
wasnt kellys high score obteined with a giant floater??? why dont anyone comment that???
November 6, 2011 10:01 pm
Bobby for president! He was right. It’s a woosie tennis match with Oprah as host.
November 6, 2011 6:34 pm
You have to drop the two lowest scores, as the Title is decided by each surfer’s best 9 of 11 events. If Kelly were to lose his next heat in SF, and in Round 2 at Pipe, then he would be dropping 0 points (no show at J-Bay) and 500 points (Pipe, if you’re assuming he loses Round 2). If you run those numbers, he’s got it on lock.
November 6, 2011 5:50 pm
Question:
Slater is guaranteed 5200 points from this event and 500 from the next event, add these 2 results to his existing points (58,150) and that gives him a minimum year total of **63,850**
Owen is still in the event, if he wins this and the next event he would add 20,000 points to his existing points (45,650) thus, his potential year total is **65,650**
So, how has he clinched? Doesn’t he need to exceed the maximum possible total by any other surfer?