Credit: © ASP / SCHOLTZ

 

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 a 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.”
 

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

 

 

The Rip Curl Pro Search San Francisco is Stop No. 10 of 11 on the 2011 ASP World Title Series with a waiting period from November 1-12. The 2011 Pro Search will be broadcast live on Fuel TV, Livestream.com and live.ripcurl.com

 

Surfline, official forecasters for the Rip Curl Pro Search, are expecting new NW groundswell will begin to rebuild the surf throughout the afternoon on Sunday and will be strongest Monday. Smaller, but very contestable, leftovers prevail Tuesday. Onshore flow will continue Sunday, with lighter and more favorable early next week, especially Tuesday. Unstable weather and wind prevails for the last few days of the waiting period with an area of low pressure directly off the coast.