Kelly Slater withdraws from Bells

Stu Nettle picture
Stu Nettle (stunet)
Form Guide

Overnight, Kelly Slater withdrew from the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach due to ongoing complications with his foot injury.

Three weeks before the beginning of the Quiksilver Pro Slater had pins removed in the foot he broke at J'Bay last year. Surgery to remove those pins is what's now hindering recovery.

Slater's Hail Mary air to score a Perfct 10 at the 2012 Rip Curl Pro

Michael February will again replace Slater meaning the young South African will get an opportunity to surf each CT event this season. February is already lined up to replace Mick Fanning when Fanning retires after this contest.

If, before the season began, Slater thought a run at a 12th world title was feasible then that's almost certainly been iced. And with two comps already missed a 2019 injury wildcard must've crossd his mind.

The Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach starts next Wednesday 28th March.

Read the long range forecast here.

Comments

simba's picture
simba's picture
simba Wednesday, 21 Mar 2018 at 12:28pm

Seems that Kellys realized that what Micks doing is better than being a pro-hoe........and theres more to life than chasing numbers.

freeride76's picture
freeride76's picture
freeride76 Wednesday, 21 Mar 2018 at 1:34pm

I had a bet with a mate at Snapper that Kelly is done.

That apart from the cameo appearances in his own creation he's finito.

stunet's picture
stunet's picture
stunet Wednesday, 21 Mar 2018 at 1:36pm

Remember when "will Kelly retire?" articles were a thing?

Now people could hardly care. Seems he's only hanging on to bridge the ocean/pool link.

simba's picture
simba's picture
simba Wednesday, 21 Mar 2018 at 1:46pm

yeah shame he didn't let go a few years ago when he was THE man....but anyway maybe we
are digging his grave a bit early........personally i thought he should have got the 12th but 11 sounds pretty cool.

Fleazool's picture
Fleazool's picture
Fleazool Wednesday, 21 Mar 2018 at 2:16pm

I called over for him when he did his foot, but just watched that cymatic clip again, and I reckon the old bloke still surfs as good as most if not better.
Could be around for a while yet.
If he claims he's injured or there's complications for enough of this year does he get a free run into 2019?

lost's picture
lost's picture
lost Wednesday, 21 Mar 2018 at 6:06pm

That would be entirely unfair to other surfers who have slaved through the QS. I think he is hanging in to surf in his pool. I'd love to see him win one more big comp but I dont think its going to happen. If he wins in his own pool that would be a big contraversy (even though it is more WSL's than his).

Fleazool's picture
Fleazool's picture
Fleazool Wednesday, 21 Mar 2018 at 6:24pm

There's a system in place though to sort that out.
If he continues to make the cut? He doesn't owe it to anyone to retire.
He has seen off a fair few waves of "new school' wannabes in his time

lost's picture
lost's picture
lost Wednesday, 21 Mar 2018 at 8:19pm

If he continues to make the cut then yes. If he needs a injury free pass again no.

freeride76's picture
freeride76's picture
freeride76 Wednesday, 21 Mar 2018 at 2:39pm

I think he did his best surfing in the two years after his 11th Title.

Especially 2013 when he won at Kirra, Cloudbreak and Pipe.

His performances that year were really out of this world.

maxe's picture
maxe's picture
maxe Wednesday, 21 Mar 2018 at 3:19pm

He really is starting to look like the guy who hung on too long now IMHO. I guess when you have a job that good it's always a risk!

jaunkemps's picture
jaunkemps's picture
jaunkemps Wednesday, 21 Mar 2018 at 3:25pm

Soooo how'd that Haleiwa clip come about then, he was surfing like a man possessed with no sign of trouble it seemed, what a bummer I love watching that guy........Giddyup

udo's picture
udo's picture
udo Wednesday, 21 Mar 2018 at 6:17pm

vid - pre surgery pin removal - Giddy up juan

lost's picture
lost's picture
lost Wednesday, 21 Mar 2018 at 6:23pm

Important to also remember are always a 'best off' session nicely edited. No need for a dumb finishing move in a clip. No time pressure and no problem if you fall. Clips tend to be the best moves and not whole wave sequences.

Also maybe he should have left the pins in a bit longer.

indo-dreaming's picture
indo-dreaming's picture
indo-dreaming Wednesday, 21 Mar 2018 at 6:30pm

I hope he continues after the injury is all good, as that Haleiwa video shows he can still surf as good as anyone, apart from JJF his heats are the only ones i try nit to miss, especially in good waves.

As long as he holds his spot on tour he has earn't his right to surf some of the best waves in the world with just one or two other guys, yeah very unlikely he will every win another world tittle, but most guys on the WSL will also never win a world title.

lost's picture
lost's picture
lost Wednesday, 21 Mar 2018 at 8:17pm

Agree if he holds hid spot with enough performances its entirely up to him (and hey why not) but no one should get a injury free card two years running

garry-weed's picture
garry-weed's picture
garry-weed Wednesday, 21 Mar 2018 at 6:57pm

Always watch his heats (but I'm old)Rather watch him than a great deal of the current crop.

mantown's picture
mantown's picture
mantown Wednesday, 21 Mar 2018 at 7:24pm

Kelly will be like Barry Bennett, 86 years old just go to work every day until you can no longer walk.

truebluebasher's picture
truebluebasher's picture
truebluebasher Thursday, 21 Mar 2019 at 4:06pm

I have no idea who gets eliminated any more...Gonna need a Royal WSL inquiry.
You guys can best decypher the code.
Round 3 Goat scored 2 x 3's ...that's good Right?
Goat finished with the lowest score...
I think he wins The World Golf Title or Something?

On Live Now...
http://www.worldsurfleague.com/events/2019/mqs/2968/vissla-sydney-surf-pro