The freesurfing trip to Fiji saw him break two of his toes, injuries that have forced him to sit out the first two events of the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing. Slater expects to recover in time for the Billabong Pipe Masters, where he has won more times than any surfer in the history of the event.
Currently ranked No. 3 in the world, he will be competing for an eighth victory at Pipe, as well as for another Championship win. In his interview in Fiji, Slater estimated that he has a 5 percent chance at winning his 12th Title this year. <!-- photo id="24701" align="right" size="medium" caption="Could Slater win another Pipe Masters -- and another World Title?" captionLocation="bottom" -->
His success will depend mostly on a big stumble by Brazilian phenom Gabriel Medina, current World No. 1. Slater will clinch the Title only if he wins the event and Medina finishes 13th or 25th. The lowest the wunderkind has finished this year is 13th, and only twice -- at the Billabong Pro Rio in April and the Moche Rip Curl Pro Portugal in October.
Slater, Up Close in Fiji
WSL
During his recent trip to Tavarua, Kelly Slater (USA) sat down with modern surf culture magazine WhatYouth to talk bucket list, that 540 he pulled in Portugal and what having a brighter future means to a guy with 11 World Titles -- and a 12th one just a win away.
The freesurfing trip to Fiji saw him break two of his toes, injuries that have forced him to sit out the first two events of the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing. Slater expects to recover in time for the Billabong Pipe Masters, where he has won more times than any surfer in the history of the event.
Currently ranked No. 3 in the world, he will be competing for an eighth victory at Pipe, as well as for another Championship win. In his interview in Fiji, Slater estimated that he has a 5 percent chance at winning his 12th Title this year. <!-- photo id="24701" align="right" size="medium" caption="Could Slater win another Pipe Masters -- and another World Title?" captionLocation="bottom" -->
His success will depend mostly on a big stumble by Brazilian phenom Gabriel Medina, current World No. 1. Slater will clinch the Title only if he wins the event and Medina finishes 13th or 25th. The lowest the wunderkind has finished this year is 13th, and only twice -- at the Billabong Pro Rio in April and the Moche Rip Curl Pro Portugal in October.
Check out ASP World Title Central to see all the aspects of Slater's campaign for a 12th World Title, including his personal Heat Analyzer and his highest-scoring rides of 2014.
Catch Slater, Medina, and World No. 2 Mick Fanning (AUS) face off for the Title at the Billabong Pipe Masters LIVE on this site December 8-20.
Kelly Slater
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Check back on Wednesday, May 29 at 6:45 am TAHT for an update on competition at the SHISEIDO Tahiti Pro presented by Outerknown.
Hawaii/Tahiti Nui
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