Kelly Slater

Kelly Slater Wins Bells Beach 2008

BELLS BEACH, Australia (Thursday, March 27, 2008) - Kelly Slater has further asserted that he is the best surfer on earth after winning the Rip Curl Pro presented by Snickers. Launching a huge air to earn a last minute score and beat Bede Durbidge (AUS)in the final, the 36-year old has claimed his 36th event win and rung the bell for the third time.

Kelly Slater:"It feels awesome; it feels really good, the Bell is arguably the best trophy you can win in surfing. I do have a couple, but to get there and have the chance and get a third one feels really good. I've just joined my good friend Sunny (Garcia) with three, and I think MR (Mark Richards) and MP (Michael Peterson) have four or five� Those guys are crazy."

Slater trailed Durbidge for the first 27 minutes of the 30-minute affair. Surfing his fourth heat of the day, the 8X ASP World Champion was tired and had all but given up.

He later said:"I thought Bede had me, I wasn't trying to worry too much or stress. I was happy just to be in the Final but before the heat I heard Rabbit say something about going up to Rincon so I thought I would sneak up there to see what I could find."

What he found was a ramp from which to launch a daring double-grab aerial. He was awarded an 8.83 (out of 10.00) for the massive maneuver and took the lead.

Slater explained: "I was really surprised Bede (Durbidge) let me paddle up to Ricon by myself. I thought that when I looked back, he would be 10 yards behind me, but when I looked back, he was still in the Bowl. Then that wave came that let me do that big air."

Claiming victories in the first two events on the 2008 ASP World Tour, Slater has now replicated the 2006 season-start that eventuated in his 8th ASP World Title. He confirmed that's he's made plans to attend the next event in Tahiti and is thinking about No. 9.

"It'd be silly to say it's not on the radar somewhere, but my whole approach and attitude at this point is just to have fun. There is a lot of hype with Dane (Reynolds) and Jordy (Smith), and don't think it's just hype, those guys are the real deal. I know it's got me excited to see what I can do on a wave and to push my equipment. The title thing is there to get, but at this point it's more about pushing my performance to see how much I can do on a wave."

The next event on ASP World Tour will take place in Teahupoo, Tahiti from May 8-18, 2008.

13.04.2008. 05:41

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