Form Guide Kelly Slater Officially Secures 11th ASP World Title at Rip Curl Pro Search

In: Form Guide Press Release 4 Comments Sun 6th Nov '11

Tags: asp , kelly slater , rip curl search san francisco

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OCEAN BEACH, San Francisco/California (Sunday, November 6, 2011) – Kelly Slater (USA), 39, has officially claimed a historic 11th ASP World Title today, clinching the year-long pursuit with his advancement in to the Quarterfinals of the Rip Curl Pro Search San Francisco.

In tricky three-to-five foot (1.5 metre) waves, Slater got the best of young Brazilians Miguel Pupo (BRA), 19, and Gabriel Medina (BRA), 17, in his non-elimination Round 4 heat to advance directly through to the Quarterfinals and secure an unprecedented 11th ASP World Title.

"It was confirmed the other day, but we're sure now," Slater said. "I'm stoked. I was upset about it, but I also thought it was really funny. There are no hard feelings towards ASP and mistakes happen. It's easy to point things out. It was a little tough to readjust and I was going against kids who could be my kids and they throw radical airs. I was hoping for big offshore barrels, not closeout onshore ramps. I just didn't know what to expect out there. I didn't know if we'd have air sections and it was kind of flat with a lot of power. The waves were closeouts and fast with a weird landing."

Slater, who was prematurely crowned the ASP World Champion after a mathematical error occurred earlier this week, admitted that securing his 11th elite crown today was a bit lackluster, but remained positive regarding the mistake.

"It's a little anticlimactic," Slater said. "I texted my mom, because it's funny because I didn't really have the emotion the other day. This is my profession and it's a little on me to know the situation and it's not just everyone else's fault. There have been a few of these mistakes over the course of history, but this one was a bit weird, but I called Renato (Hickel) in the morning after I won because I was supposed to do this Dan Patrick show and I hadn't won yet. I knew we wouldn't surf for a day or two so people could get it out of their system and I could have a few days to refocus."

2011 ASP World Title Series Results:
Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast: WINNER
Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach: Equal 5th
Billabong Rio Pro: Equal 13th
Billabong Pro Jeffreys Bay: No Show
Billabong Pro Tahiti: WINNER
Quiksilver Pro New York: Runner-Up
Hurley Pro at Trestles: WINNER
Quiksilver Pro France: Equal 5th
Rip Curl Pro Portugal: Runner-UP
Rip Curl Pro Search San Francisco: TBD
Billabong Pipeline Masters: TBD

Kelly Slater's ASP World Title Clinch Locations:
2011: Rip Curl Pro Search San Francisco – USA
2010: Rip Curl Pro Search Puerto Rico – USA Territory
2008: Billabong Pro Mundaka – Basque/Spain
2006: Billabong Pro Mundaka – Basque/Spain
2005: Nova Schin Festival - Brazil
1998: Mountain Dew Pipeline Masters - Hawaii
1997: Expo 98 Figueira 97 – Portugal
1996: Coca Cola Figueira 96 – Portugal
1995: Chiemsee Pipe Masters – Hawaii
1994: Chiemsee Gerry Lopez Pipe Masters – Hawaii
1992: Alternativa Surf Rio – Brazil

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