Watch: Kelly On A Sandbar Slab
Lots of sand at Pipe is usually matched by lots of sand at Ehukai and Pupukea, and that means sandbars - shallow sandbars.
Few days back, Kelly paddled out to a sandbar on the Pupukea stretch to thread a few barrels.
Coming from Australia, where the sand packs heavily, it's fascinating to watch the mercurial nature of these sandbanks; appearing quickly, turning off and on throughout the days they exist, till one morning you awake and it's all gone - back to rock bottom.
Comments
I wonder what it would be like to that good at a particular sport that no matter what gets presented to you, you can make the absolute most of the conditions ...Big Waves, Small Waves, Heaving Slabs , Long fat walls, Medium sized beach breaks , Salt water, Chlorinated water, the man has achieved the highest level in all the different conditions and arena's... I doubt there will ever be another "KS"
This is way better than watching Kelly wallow in Woz comps.
That carving cutback slash at 30 seconds was marvellous.
Woz judges would underscore it, no doubt.
I will never tire of watching Slater surf.
So fun to watch such an amazing surfer..,
How good was that detonating doggy door!
Uncle Kelly can surf? Who'd have known!
Wow surfing as good as he ever did. Would still rather Kelly be on tour with often not good waves than surfing soft tops and using go pros as a free surfer like a lot of pro free surfers..Would rather watch a heat with Kelly than Andino or someone tho, even in crap comp waves.
That board is probably only 26-27 litres or so. Pretty good for a 51 year old in double to odd triple overhead north shore pits.
Great little clip, what a bank!
Definitely looks a little extra length on that blade.
Thinking the same - great to see him riding boards again of an appropriate length/shape
Def still the GOAT
Should we set up a bet on how many fins? At least 4 maybe 5? I personally love 4 for tubes and hollow takes offs they get moving so quickly and grip the wall just like Kelly.....yeah/nah...definitely nah great clip.
It was at least 4 as you can see the quad setup at the end.
Certainly none of my business what KS does with his life, but I can't help and watch this and think he would have been better served catching sessions and footage like this for the last 10 years instead of flopping around on tour...
Too competitive the guy lives for someone to beat.
How's that bounce at the 17 second mark :0
He surfs beautifully. Those lines. That flow.
In his happy place for sure. Great clip.
The double up at 0:40 looks like shark island!
agreed!
A great surfers motto
"Strive ...every day.... to do my best"
PS. (I am not a robot, just human)
PSS. Could clearly see Molly and Kelly surfin these breaks together one sunny day....
Leg rope looked to have a bit of length too.
90s nose flip for those steep drops as well.
Aladdin's slippers
Hawaii 9/3 esk
In heavy water, his surfing is timeless.
confidence, exuberance & experience
/ɪɡˈz(j)uːb(ə)rəns,ɛɡˈz(j)uːb(ə)rəns/
The ass at1.36. :)
What else can you say,f…en amazing!!!!!
Sublime. With reflexes and skill like that at 51 (? 2), it's still surprises me that when it comes to turns he's still not at the top of the pops on tour? What is it do you reckon?
Such classic and effortless tube style. PS - love seeing clips with the paddle in and take off
Great surfing agreed, unfortunately 1/3 of the clip was taken up with him exiting the water
He just makes it look sooo easy. I'd have skidmarks in my boardies taking those drops on the take-off.
Kelly announces retirement post Paris Olympics https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/feb/23/surfing-great-kelly-slate…
ripping. clips like this from ks are good for everyone as reminder that on a random arvo with some good sand, in 5 or so waves, he is still alltime and one of the top guys when there's push . crew get caught up nitpicking every wave, every heat, thinking he has lost it bla bla, tedious. one of the better clips seen this year
wowzers never seen the sandbar like that! heaviest sandbar I've ever surfed always happens in FEB with the big NW swells completely removing the sand from pipe