The Golden Goat

The Golden Goat

11-time World Champion Kelly Slater (USA) won the Billabong Pro Pipeline, the first stop on the World Surf League (WSL) 2022 Championship Tour (CT), over local hero Seth Moniz (HAW) in pumping eight-to-twelve foot surf. With a near-perfect score of 18.77 (out of a possible 20) and on his 30th year surfing amongst the world’s best, Slater earned his 8th CT win at the world-renowned Banzai Pipeline, marking his 56th CT victory. 

“I don’t even know what to say,” said Slater. “I was out there just telling myself to be in the moment, no matter how much tension there is. Just breathe. So I was just breathing, being in the moment. I thought Seth (Moniz) broke the combo because of the crowd and I said, ‘Just stay in the moment, soak it up.’ But I just savored this and this is the best win of my life.”

The exhaustion from two previous heats in demanding conditions felt palpable as both Slater and Moniz wiped out on their first few rides in the Final. Ten minutes in, the 49-year-old turned the heat up with an extra-long forehand barrel at Backdoor for a 9-point ride and a commanding early lead. While the Hawaiian’s attempts remained unsuccessful, Slater continued to build momentum with a 7.17 to put Moniz in a combination situation needing two scores to challenge him for the title. Far from contempt with a 16+ total, Slater found a third gem on Backdoor to improve his backup score to an 8.17.
With two minutes on the clock and while the heat result was all but final, both surfers locked into insane back-to-back 9+ points barrels at Backdoor and had the huge crowds erupting on the beach, putting a final exciting touch to an incredible week of high-performance surfing.

Earlier in the day, Slater won heats against Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) and Miguel Pupo (BRA) in dominating fashion. Igarashi had a 3-0 record against the now eight-time Pipeline event winner until their Quarterfinal bout. Unfortunately for Pupo, the heat began with an interference on him as Slater looked to go Backdoor and Pupo had his eyes on Pipeline, which was deemed a non-makeable wave. 
In only his third season on the CT, Moniz continued to impress with a massive result, a runner-up finish on his home turf. A favorite when it comes to big, hollow waves, the Hawaiian was lifted by the support of huge crowds on the beach at Pipeline.

“We had a special moment before our Final and it was really special sharing a Final with him out there,” said Moniz. “Honestly, I felt like I was just out there watching him surf underneath me and every time he got a wave it was an eight or nine, and I’m like, ‘Oh my god, here we go.’ I took some beatings in the heat before and I was really tired and making some big mistakes, but it was an honor to surf against him.”

Despite falling short of a Pipeline title, Moniz earned a career-best CT result with a runner-up finish after dismantling two-time WSL Champion John John Florence (HAW) in the Quarterfinals. Moniz also had to overcome wildcard, former CT surfer, Caio Ibelli (BRA), who couldn’t keep pace with the proven Pipeline specialist.

Billabong Pro Pipeline Men’s Final Results: 
1 – Kelly Slater (USA) 18.77
2 – Seth Moniz (HAW) 12.53

Billabong Pro Pipeline Men’s Semifinal Results: 
HEAT 1: Kelly Slater (USA) 9.76 def. Miguel Pupo (BRA) 8.58
HEAT 2: Seth Moniz (HAW) 13.50 def. Caio Ibelli (BRA) 6.33

Kelly Slater Pipeline Reality

Kelly Slater Pipeline Reality

How would you judge the line-up, respect the locals and the pecking order on one of the most challenging waves in the world? Even the most experienced surfers can struggle, super heavy waves, a hectic crowd and a helluva lot to think about, click into the pits from the link. No banging tunes, radical narrators or killer graphics, just Pipeline firing.

Kelly free surf fun

Kelly free surf fun

Kelly Slater surfing in Medewi point break and beach break, West Coast Bali – Indonesia. The GOAT, the greatest surfer of all time, that’s a helluva title to carry around with you, but once it’s all stripped back to the basics, just like every surfer, even Mr Slater just want’s to have fun. Hit play to roll with Kelly for a cheeky free surf.

Pimp My Ride!

Pimp My Ride!

The next stop in the fight for the Final 5 heads 100 miles from the ocean to the Jeep Surf Ranch Pro. Showing you around his creation in Lemoore, California is 11-time World Champion and Surf Ranch innovator Kelly Slater. The GOAT takes you through his tricked-out Airstream trailer parked beside Perkins Lake, shows off his skills on the guitar and ukulele, shares a small portion of his massive trophy collection, and rides around the 700-yard wave pool.

Kelly Slater Synced – Uluwatu

Kelly Slater Synced – Uluwatu

Kelly had been surfing Uluwatu quite a lot throughout his visit, but he looked particularly in sync with Bali’s most consistent break during this session back in November. He caught a bunch of waves and was surfing with plenty of speed, attacking the lip and landing most of his moves. If his form in this clip is anything to go by, he should do well at the high performance friendly locations on this years CT.