Kelly Slater injured himself Monday morning, while freesurfing up the point in Jeffreys Bay. He needed assistance making his way off site, and was taken to the hospital, where he was X-rayed (and posted the painful-looking results). The injury derails his promising start at the Corona Open J-Bay, where he had made it past Julian Wilson and Kanoa Igarashi in Round One, for a direct jump to Round Three.
Slater, after injuring himself. - WSL / Steve Sherman
With an ice pack on his foot and looking visibly dejected, he mused that the injury would not only take him out the J-Bay event, but also the Billabong Pro Tahiti next month -- but nothing has yet been confirmed. It's an unfortunate turn of events for the 11-time World Champ, who told the WSL last October that he was making a serious run for a twelfth Title this year. Currently sitting at No. 18 on the Jeep Leaderboard, Slater would have needed a few incredible results to come close to achieving that goal.