Kelly Slater (USA) beat Taj Burrow (AUS) 18.97 to 18.63, winning his third Boost Mobile Pro title at Lower Trestles and putting him just one event win away from a record ninth ASP World Title.
Taj Burrow thought he had Slater beaten, having scored a 9.00 and 9.63 before the halfway mark, but Slater stole the win right at the end, on an unpromising wave that Burrow let pass. I get the impression that the Australian felt that on Kelly's homeground he had to beat both a mighty reputation and the judges as well, but the difference between mere mortals and Kelly Slater is that given half a chance Slater grabs it while others are still considering the options. You can get lucky once or twice but to keep getting lucky you have to be good, very good.
Labels: ASP World Tour, California, Kelly Slater, Lower Tresles, surfing, USA
ASP World Champion Kelly Slater (USA) has won the 2007 Boost Mobile Pro at Lower Tresles, California. Kelly is the only surfer to score a 'Perfect 20' competition heat total, which he achieved in Tahiti, 2005, and this win takes him past legendary Tom Curren, for the highest number of elite tour wins in pro surfing history (34).
Only his first event win in over a year, he moves to current World No. 2, a mere 230 points behind current leader, Mick Fanning (AUS). Powerful Hawaiian, Pancho Sullivan, was a standout performer on the final day of competition, beating Neco Padaratz (BRA), Troy Brooks (AUS) and Jeremy Flores (FRA) on his way to meeting Slater in the Final. His second place puts him at eight in the rankings.
Also enjoying the time of his life is Frenchman, Jeremy Flores, whose third place in the event, was enough to jump him to nine in the world rankings; making him the highest-rated rookie on the 2007 tour.
Labels: ASP World Tour, California, Kelly Slater, Lower Tresles, surfing, USA
