K
elly Slater earned a record 11th Association of Surfing Professionals world title Wednesday at the 2011 Rip Curl Pro Search in San Francisco.
“It feels like the circle has been completed,” said Slater. “I knew somewhere in the back of my mind eleven was there, but I honestly don’t think about twelve. I was born on 2/11 and now to win on 11/2, it’s a weird coincidence and it does feel like the completion of something. It was a goal I set at the beginning of the year and luckily I got to it.”
At 39 years old Slater, who is from Cocoa Beach, Fla., has the distinction of being the youngest and oldest world champion in professional surfing. In a career that’s spanned 20 years, he’s won a record 48 tour events, more than $3 million in prize money and eleven world titles.
“Now I can go to Hawaii and really relax and not worry about my result at Pipeline,” said Slater. “I’m going to really have to consider if I’m going to do the tour after this.”
