Kelly Slater

Kelly Slater takes Bells Beach

April 20, 2006 - In what has been called one of the best finishes to a pro surfing event ever, the Rip Curl Pro has been won by Kelly Slater (USA). Defeating Joel Parkinson (AUS) in amazing three metre (eight to 10 feet) freight training waves at Bells Beach Australia, it was the first time he has scored a victory at the event since 1994.

Slater also showed his true class peaking just at the right time in the final.

Kelly Salter on his win

“It’s been years and years since I’ve had a good result here and it has been a little frustrating for me,” said Slater. “But this year I stuck to my game plan and just worked with everything and relaxed.

“Luckily we had good surf for the event and I tend to do a lot better when it’s big here rather than when its small,” Slater continued. I really went for it on that 9.67 but other than that it was really hard to score big with the wind picking up five to 10 knots or so in the final. It was just an awesome day and for sure the best day I’ve ever had at Bells in my lifetime.”

As far as finishing the rest of the tour goes Slater did not give an indication regarding his thoughts either way.
“In a way [it makes sense to have a real dig at the world title this year] but it might also be fun not to…”

Slater's 33 win equalled Tom Curren’s record

Slater also achieved a few extra milestones in winning the event today in that he has equalled Tom Curren’s (USA) record for having won 33 Foster’s ASP Men’s World Tour events, the most in pro surfing history.

“I didn’t think of it until after I got out of the water, but I tied Tom Curren’s 33 event wins now,” said Slater. “I’m just happy with that and to do it at Bells Beach is ironic since this is where Curren won his first title – he’s just always been my hero so I’d like to dedicate this win to Tom.”

The Final

Slater threw his all into the final notching up a 9.67 on a sizeable wave after he executed some scintillating top turns that threw loads of spray into the sky.

From there Parkinson was on the back foot looking for a clean wall that would enable him to take it to the eventual champion.

A few passed by but it was evident that Parkinson had fallen victim to fatigue and the cold and could not get into the correct position to catch them.

“It was a hard final,” said Parkinson. “The tide was starting to get to it and it was really about choice of waves. I started getting cramps yet I kept saying to myself, ‘If that wave comes I’m going to give it 100 per cent,’ but it never really came, so I sat there and let the time tick.

“It’s really punishing on the body. Just when you finish the wave at Bells, you have to deal with the shore break on the paddle out… there’s no let-up. Very rarely do you get out clean without having to make a few duck dives or taking a few on the head, so it definitely takes it out of you.”

17.02.2007. 02:55

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