Kelly Slater Scores Wildcard Into Trestles Pro

Stu Nettle picture
Stu Nettle (stunet)
Swellnet Dispatch

As the Championship Tour field narrows following the mid-season cut at Margs, a familiar face will return, albeit temporarily, to the schedule.

11-time world champ Kelly Slater is the recipient of the wildcard into the next contest, the Lexus Trestles Pro presented by Outerknown. 

“I’m excited to surf Lowers after having a few months of downtime with family and watching the events online,” said Slater. “Surfing this event obviously makes good sense with Outerknown sponsoring the event and celebrating our 10th anniversary. Trestles has been an ongoing great memory for the past 35 years since I won my first event as a professional there, had a number of great wins there while on tour, and is my girlfriend’s hometown and a second home to me. "

Slater will face off against a top seed, either Italo Ferreira or Jordy Smith, in the Opening Round at Trestles.

Slater, who's 53-years old, won his first pro contest at Trestles in 1990 as an 18-year old. He last won a CT contest there in 2012.

The event's waiting period begins on June 9 and runs through to June 17, 2025.

Comments

Nick Bone's picture
Nick Bone's picture
Nick Bone Thursday, 22 May 2025 at 5:05pm

Fuck. What a gamble. We all know he can keep up still in the hollow stuff but no way will he get past the elimination round at Trestles.

A few turns followed by nose wipe and then bow out.

lost's picture
lost's picture
lost Thursday, 22 May 2025 at 5:16pm

The crazy thing is….at least in his mind…..he can still win it.

Those with a better sense of reality would say zero chance. I just don’t get the purpose of wild cards when they can’t earn point and certainly not after the cut.

freeride76's picture
freeride76's picture
freeride76 Thursday, 22 May 2025 at 5:24pm

It's purely because Outerknown is the sponsor.

Roadkill's picture
Roadkill's picture
Roadkill Thursday, 22 May 2025 at 5:52pm

So he picked himself as the sponsor’s wildcard.

I choose me!

lost's picture
lost's picture
lost Thursday, 22 May 2025 at 7:23pm

Could he honestly ever choose anyone else. No one has ever beaten him - he has just had bad days etc

nextswell's picture
nextswell's picture
nextswell Thursday, 22 May 2025 at 8:50pm

Gold! Pissed myself.

basesix's picture
basesix's picture
basesix Thursday, 22 May 2025 at 7:57pm

how's his gormless statement?
he doesn't think it's at all weird:
'makes obvious financial sense;
celebrates me and dylan slater'.

benjis babe's picture
benjis babe's picture
benjis babe Thursday, 22 May 2025 at 5:58pm

noooo, pls stop bringing back the old guys

Mexican's picture
Mexican's picture
Mexican Thursday, 22 May 2025 at 6:01pm

Just retire with dignity. His ego just can’t let go.

Nick Gee's picture
Nick Gee's picture
Nick Gee Thursday, 22 May 2025 at 6:13pm

wtf.

f&*%ing beat it, old man. just die, get out of the way.

this wildcard business is more damaging to the sport than just about anything. needs to be based on recent performances/rankings in the lower tiers.

zenagain's picture
zenagain's picture
zenagain Thursday, 22 May 2025 at 6:31pm

Be a classic if he won it.

Coops70's picture
Coops70's picture
Coops70 Thursday, 22 May 2025 at 6:45pm

f&*%ing beat it, old man. just die, get out of the way.

Hahaha that was f”@&@g funny!

wally's picture
wally's picture
wally Thursday, 22 May 2025 at 7:50pm

Kelly Slater’s Long Goodbye. I won’t mind seeing some of his big flaring Trestles cutbacks. I hope they also give him plenty of work in the commentary booth.

freeride76's picture
freeride76's picture
freeride76 Thursday, 22 May 2025 at 7:53pm

He could have a magic heat in him if it was pumping, otherwise, get him in the booth as much as possible.

tail high to the sky's picture
tail high to the sky's picture
tail high to the sky Thursday, 22 May 2025 at 7:56pm

The last time Kelly looked remotely competitive out there was in 2015 when he lost to fanning in round 3. His small wave game started to slide noticeably after 2012 (the last year he won Trestles). He's been losing touch ever since.

wally's picture
wally's picture
wally Thursday, 22 May 2025 at 8:00pm

The tour only survives on rich fan money. I’d be happy to see Dirk Ziff having a crack if it gave him joy.

Solitude's picture
Solitude's picture
Solitude Thursday, 22 May 2025 at 8:18pm

Outerknown Boardroom meeting

Board: ‘now we have an abundance of entitled, homeschooled San Clementians putting the miles in on their e-bikes, who do we feel deserves the chance for their shot at the big time?’

Kelly: ‘Me. That will be all’.

Burgess's picture
Burgess's picture
Burgess Thursday, 22 May 2025 at 8:35pm

Na it's all good.. His girlfriend lives there. That's a good enough reason. That's ideal for the babysitting at the in-laws

Nolan's picture
Nolan's picture
Nolan Thursday, 22 May 2025 at 8:37pm

The CFMEU is using criminals to threaten the lives of honest people and their families on construction sites and you guys are whinging about Kelly getting a couple of heats in a contest he pays for so you get to watch it for free?

wally's picture
wally's picture
wally Thursday, 22 May 2025 at 9:04pm

There’s mass murder going on in Gaza and you are whinging about some union bully boys.

kimbo1's picture
kimbo1's picture
kimbo1 Thursday, 22 May 2025 at 9:12pm

Girlfriend? ......could you be less committed with that reference?