Billabong Pro Teahupoo 2014

that was a crazy wave. and will the the hype about kelly and what not, he does seem like a stand up guy when you cut through all the bullsh!t. people will have their opinions about him but the fact is he's dominated the competitive side of surfing for a very very long time and has changed surfing as we know it. I watched this clip the other day, it's a pretty good one:

[video=youtube;d6TUaYzYVnI]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6TUaYzYVnI[/video]

 

Yeah, Kelly is an interesting cat. He has a big ego in the water, deservingly so and he takes little shots at people, especially those in competition. I used to love the bickering him and AI would go through. A small thing I read into on his instagram comment was when he hash tagged #YouWouldntGo ... Cause he has millions of followers. Take that for you what want. But that is the type of guy he is. I pretty much put him on mute when he is talking about health and dieting, but other than that, it's always nice to see a message of his pop up, because you know it's going to be a picture of him in some insane location, living the dream. It's really neat to see his posts leading up to contests and following the contests, when he is in Fiji with his daughter and stuff that you don't really see in the surf media.

 

Awesome video BTW. You can still see the emotion in him talking about Andy. It's like he knows that a big piece of himself will always be missing. Even if it was a place in his heart that was dark, or whatever you want to call it, Kelly knows that he will never have a relationship, competitively like that again. And that is rad that Andy beat him in their final contest together. It's funny also how Kelly mentioned that the final year or so Andy was alive, he had lost his competitive fire. It ironic, cause I get that same vibe from Kelly. I think he could win the title again, and in 1-2 years, I think he will snag one more, I just don't think it matter to him anymore. I think he just goes out there and surfs, and in some cases, depending on who beats him, he almost looks happy for them. Like he is just hanging on, trying to pass the torch, and without guys like AI to drive him, he just looks a little emptier when he wins. Like, ohh wow, I just beat Freddy P or something. Or, man, CJ Hobgood and I just had it out in the water. It's just not the same.

 

For sure. The Kelly and Andy battles were epic, one of the best rivalry’s ever. I loved the way Andy approached it too, cus he watched Kelly growing up, I remember seeing a clip where he said his favorite surf movie was Kelly in Black and White. I feel like so many of the other pros have but Kelly on a pedestal so high out of reach, and Andy’s attitude towards it was fck that, it’s my turn to be on top, and knocked that pedestal out from under Kelly’s feet. You’re 100% right too, you can certainly tell there’s a void left there and I as well don’t think anyone will be able to fill that void and go head to head against Kelly like Andy did. Yeah there’s another guys on tour with the skill, first one that comes to mind is Mick. But he’s just an animal who charges and surfs with power no matter who he’s going up against. Andy made it so clear he was gunning for Kelly, and up to that point had never had to deal with that. I think it messed with his head a lot during those years and even moreso that Andy’s gone. Like you said he doesn’t have that drive anymore. I feel like he’s just on tour for the hell of it now, I mean he’s won 11 titles I don’t think he cares about getting another one as much as the other hungry pros on tour. But it introduces a different type of mindset for competing which is why I think he still so successful in wining heats. He goes in so care free and doesn’t think about the results and just surfs and has a good time while whoever else is trying too hard and over working/thinking the heat. I do miss Andy a lot though, my favorite surf flick will always be blue horizon, him and Rasta might be two opposite ends of the surfing spectrum, but bar none they both charged hard and didn’t give a fck. You can tell Kelly gets emotionally talking about it, I can only imagine how hard it is for Bruce to deal with.

 

Yeah, the AI/Slater rivalry is really the only one in the modern era. And I have never seen two other guys in surfing, that were the best of the best, that HATE losing more than they LOVE winning. That was some tr** sh** when Kelly said, hell yeah, when Andy surfed, I ALWAYS rooted against him. And he always rooted against me. That is real sh** right there. I am sure they have shared some beers and stories and really never hated each other, but watching the other guy win, was like nails on a chalk board for them.... I just hope a couple guys could step up and make things interesting again.

No body wins enough to have a target on their back any more. If someone locks up a few titles in a row, or just dominates the best spots for a season or two, then year, you will hear beef. But out of all those years of Kelly's dominance, and all those Aussies swearing they were the best in the world, I am surprised that none of them really stood up to Kelly vocally and tried to rattle his cage. Everyone but Andy just lied about it in public. I am sure all those aussies sat around drinking Fosters, talking about how the judges are all about Kelly and that they are better than Kelly, but then when the cameras are rolling and Kelly shows up, they all hug him, dap him down, whats up champ?

 

And yeah, it must be tough for Bruce. Trying to help raise his brother's kid. Everytime he sees an event or is in one, he has to think of that one thing... Crazy how life works. I don't know either guy from a hole in the ground, but on all the videos, the movies, the interviews of the Iron's brothers, I always got the impression that Andy, albeit angry, was the more responsible, calmer, more level head of the two. I always liked Bruce's style more. He was like a Dane Reynolds to me. Had the potential to be the best, but just did it his way. Surfed crazy huge Sunset and stuff, and would pull into the 12 foot shorebreak closeout just to get the crowd moving.

I always got the impression, that if anyone was the crazy, off his rocker, party, push the limits guy it would be Bruce... I think people that knew AI closely all knew the deal, but I completely miss judged them as far as that goes. Bruce may be no angel, but I was truly shocked, even a couple years before Andy died when it was being exposed that he had some substance abuse problems and stuff. Andy always struck me more as the Jock type. I always pictured him waking up and eating grains and organic stuff and running on the beach.... More like a Kelly type.

 

No doubt, I am not questioning his techniques etc. I was being literal about the "muting" him on social media. He is like the only person I follow on instagram. So, when I see a post from him, I always start reading it. If it is about life, or surfing, I will read it, but if it's about some weird, green shake recipe, I just move along. Because it's the internet, and even for a guy like Kelly Slater, who has millions of followers, he will immediately get like 100 repsonses bashing his ideas. It just always turns into a sh** show. He gets political about the food industry and everything, and just for what it's worth, I don't want to hear it.

The proof is in the pudding. He is a health nut, uber healthy and killing it out there for a 40+ year old... I am just saying, I follow him on social media to hear about surfing. When he starts talking about what he had for lunch, I just click "delete"... Been down that road with him before and it's like talking about politics on this site. It just turns into World War 3, and Kelly ends up chiming into some of the haters and going back and forth... And believe me, Slater is a hero of mine, so even when he starts interacting with us town folks, I just hate to see him start taking jabs at people over wheat grass smoothies....

I meant that literally, just saying that he can believe what he wants, but I am not going to read a 3 page post of his about bananas.

 

yeah Zach you pretty much hit the nail on the head in all aspects. Only Aussie that comes to my mind that had the balls to call out Kelly and back it up was Koby Abberton, but he had his own slew of problems to deal with in his life...

Both Andy and Bruce were nuts and lived life at 150mph at all times I feel like. I remember see clips of Andy talking about first going on tour, he would surf the comps and just party nonstop every single night and that's what he wanted to live for, the waves, girls and booze. It's sad really, but just shows you want addiction can do to the very best of us. He lived fast and he lived hard, and no one will forget him that's for sure. I have a feeling his kid is going to rip too, just give it some time and you'll see little Axel Irons in the mags.

And come man, what's wrong with bananas?! haha

 

I still say rail grabs are punk f**king rock.

 

Anyone know whats going on with the contest and when it may be called back on. Sorry for not scanning the full thread. Thanks mucho

 

Always liked this one from A.I., eerily just weeks before he died:

“I’ve had my fair shares of hills and valleys, but my life’s been radical and exciting. Stuff that kings would die to do. Straight up, f*ckin' A. The lifestyle we’ve got and the life I’ve led since I was 17, I can’t even tell my friends. I try and tell stories and they think I’m making it up or saw it in a f*cking movie. Straight up. It’s the life I wanted since I caught my first wave.”

 

Looks like it will run Sunday and Monday

 

thanks my friend....

 

Damn man... That about sums it up.

 

Too late to change now, but I doubt he wanted to die at 32 with his wife 7 months pregnant.
That's no life you want to live, no matter how radical it was.

 

Another Gem from Kelly. This was a day or two before the first round at Chopes:

kellyslater
6 days ago
Never gets old a Tahitian sunset. This will serve as your first alarm for Monday's contest at #Teahupoo. I'm in heat number one, starting at 8am Hawaii/11am Pacific/2pm Eastern and it will be entertaining. Expect the biggest surf we've had for the duration of the contest period to be happening this week. I hope everyone tunes in. Link will be in my bio. Almost getting scared already. Time for us all to #PutUpOrShutUp. #TailsBetweenLegs #SeparateTheMenFromTheBoys #YouWontGo #ModernDayPostcards Did I miss any hashtags? Write any appropriate ones you can think of. Best one wins nothing but they'll be fun to read.

Makes me feel SOOO much better to hear the king of surfing, say things like "I am getting scared already"... It just puts it all into perspective. In any bigger waves situation, I have always wondered, why does everyone look so chill out here, am I the only one with my mind racing? Was I the only one paddling out here with fear in my gut?

Even the king himself, gets humbled. That is freaking awesome. I just assumed kelly would take one look at the biggest waves on earth and not even second guess himself. Just another day at the office.

 

True, and I don't advocate lots of his lifestyle choices, but it would be nice to be able to share that sentiment at some point in my life.

"I've had my fair share of very minor hills and valleys, but my life's been pretty normal all in all. Stuff that lots of people do. Straight up, f*ckin cubicles. The lifestyle we've got and the life I've led since I graduated college, I tell my friends about all the time and they're really just not impressed, because they do the same sh*t. I try and tell stories and they think I'm making it up - who in their right mind would skip work for a f*cking knee high windswell? Straight up. It's the life I've wanted since the first time I sat down in my cube and started reading SwellInfo."

Sigh.

 

Andy was a wild kid that hardly grew to be a wild adult. Gone all too soon...those statements have not been made by a wise man but young kid living a crazy lifestyle that happens to surf amazingly well.

Kelly is all chill lately. He took out his round easily..I like this humbling, honest, older Kelly. It was even cooler to me when he posted a picture of his face all busted on a reef while surfing a mediocre NS day. Now THAT, was cool- King Kelly took a beating like anyone else. Or when DW broke is back on a small beach break. **** happens and it makes it feel better when best make wrong calls, too.
Big waves are hairy..and it takes only one proper wipe out to get it etched in your brain that it is for real. One proper hold down and a long, long swim afterwards.
Hope the contest goes on with some good surfing..

 

Uh, excuse me frandrescher but you vividly stated (in another thread) how fear was no longer part of your surfing equation....now you're, what, it seems trying to hike yourself up to the same intellectual / emotional level as Slater?

Or was that claim you made about fear no longer being part of the game for you merely your standard M.O. of passive-aggressive franning at me 'cause I dinged your WalMart idol worshipping?

Called you on it then, calling you on it now. Who cares, btw. You'll always be frandrescher, passive-aggressive shredder-legend in your own mind.

 

Good afternoon spanky. If you would properly quote me, I said "These Days", i heave no fear in surfing. Said it then, will say it again. Until I walk over that dune and see something more than 5-6 feet on it's best day, I don't exactly have a pit in my stomach. But what I said in this post and what I said in the other are two different things. Both of which, you will probably never understand.

Dig up the old thread, quote me with integrity. I have been PLENTY scared in surfing. I have actually shared these stories with "actual" surfers on this site before, so if you want documentation, go read up. I have put myself in situations that I probably shouldnt have. Again, all this is well documented. So don't troll, I mean "read" too much into a statement about Kelly Slater.

Yeah, it's been years since I have pushed myself to the limits. Not because I don't try, because the opportunity is not there. And when those days happened, Yeah, I got scared. Yeah, it is nerve racking, and NO, it's nothing like Chopes. But I would always look around, and even on the biggest, scariest days, the looks on peoples faces were always stone cold. I never heard anyone out there talking about being scared. It's just nice to know, that regardless of what level you are on, even those at the top of the food chain have fear. They have emotions. And they don't just brush things off. It's as real to them as it is to us.

But whatever bro. Keep up with your trolling and your lame cracks man... I thought we had moved on from that. I guess not. You are much more interesting when you say nothing to me. And you know that.