The folks at Billabong using the “phantom camera,” an amazing piece of technology that shoots over 1 million frames per second!!!, recorded incredible of pro surfers at the Billabong Pro Tahiti 2011 at Teahupoo, one of the world heaviest, most perfect barrels. This is the most incredible surf footage to date. The footage is mesmerizing. Watch it in HD and maximize the screen.
Tracks Magazine has put together a compilation/tribute of Andy Irons with interviews from Mick Fanning and Kelly Slater and footage of Andy surfing. RIP Andy. Sincerest condolences to Andy’s family and friends.
Here’s another video by renowned surf photographer, Brian Bielmann.
The trials at Teahupoo are on, new swell has arrived and the boys are on it. As always, big barrels come with big wipe-outs. Check out these massive wipe-outs including Laurie Towner and Anthony Walsh.
I’m not sure there’s anything that needs to said here. He blew away the field, winning 6 contests and 5 of the first 7 contests. It was never a contest, there was no race in points, it was just a matter of when he would close the deal, which he did in Mundaka, Spain. Unless the top 10 on the tour step up huge next year, there doesn’t look like anything is getting in the way of Kelly winning his 10th world title next year. Final ASP Rankings.
2) AI implodes on tour, takes 2009 off.
Photo: ASP/Cestari
Andy Irons put up a disappointing performance on WCT tour in 2008. He highest finish was 5th place. He failed to show up for his heat at the Quicksilver Pro France and skipped the Brazil contest leading to speculation about his troubles. Andy announced that he was taking 2009 off from the tour, and may be following the path of free surfer of his brother, Bruce Irons.While I respect any athletes decision to do what he pleases with his career, A.I. has shown to be the best competitor to Kelly Slater (no disrepect to Taj, Mick, Parko, Bede, and others in the top 10). When he’s on top form, he’s one of the most exciting surfers to watch on tour. So while a year free surfing the best barrels of the world will no doubt be the time of his life, he will be missed on the 2009 WCT tour and his absence removes one more hurdle to Kelly Slater clinching his 10th world title.
Kelly looked unstoppable all year and the Pipeline Masters was no exception. He beat Chris Ward in the final heat while riding a 5’11” in 8-10 ft Pipeline. Adding a final flourish to his epic year. Well done, Kelly. Looking forward to see what you can do next year.
Highlights of Kelly Slater in his 2008 WCT Championship year includes footage from Bell’s Beach, Padang Padang, Pipeline, J-Bay, Trestles, and other events on the 2008 Tour.
You’ve probably heard the news by now that Kelly Slater won his sixth Pipeline Masters (adding to his 9 world titles). The finals were Slater vs. Chris Ward. The surf pumped for most of the contest and Slater, deciding the push the limits of the reason in board size, surfed a 5’11” Channel Islands “Deep Six” board throughout the contest in 8-10 ft. Hawaiian Surf (Transworld Surf story). That’s the size surf at Pipeline that most of us wouldn’t consider paddling out in, let alone on a 5’11” board.
EXPN’s Jon Coen interviews Kelly Slater asking him some pretty ordinary questions and gets some pretty ordinary responses. I’m personally not dying to hear Kelly’s opinion on Obama and Ralph Nader or the economy which seem to be the focus of the interview. Kelly does talk about his Kelly Slater foundation that raise money for good causes such as cancer. However, Kelly also calls terrorism a “played out, over-rated threat” suggesting because it only kills a small number compared to cancer and cardiovascular disease its deserving too much attention and money. That’s a hard argument to swallow. While he’s right that a large number of people die from cancer and cardiovascular disease every year, it doesn’t simply negate any other physical threat to our people. Secondly, the threat of terrorism is an ideological threat as well, an attack on humanity and on freedom.
Kelly Slater won his 9th world title today, uneventfully at Mundaka (ASP Tour). He became both the youngest (22) and oldest (36) surfer to win world titles. He also compiled an impressive list of other records (5ones.com).
ASP Records Held by Kelly Slater:
Most ASP World Titles: Nine (2008, 2006, 2005, 1998, 1997, 1996, 1995, 1994, 1992)
Most ASP World Tour Victories: 39
Oldest ASP World Champion: 36-years-old (2008)
Youngest ASP World Champion: 20-year-old (1992)
Highest Heat Total: Only perfect 20 out of 20 ever earned (Tahiti – 2005)
Most Event Wins in a Season: Seven in 1996
Currently, Kelly is followed in ranking on the ASP world tour by Taj Burrow, Bede Durbidge, Adriano De Souza, Joel Parkinson, and Mick Fanning. Although the year is not finished yet, Taj, Bede, and Adriano all had impressive showings, but ultimately could not stop Kelly at the top of his game. From the first event at Snapper Rocks in Australia, which Kelly won, he rolled the competition and so far has won 5 of 8 events. Bede and Adriano showed themselves to be world title contenders and stepped up the competition in the top 10.
