Kelly Slater has clinched the 50th ASP World Championship Tour victory of his career, at Lower Trestles, California. The world is not enough.
The Floridian surfer from Cocoa Beach smashed Joel Parkinson in the final heat, in in clean three-to-five foot (1 – 1.5 metre) waves at Lower Trestles.
"I know I went out there feeling like I didn't have anything to lose because Parko (Joel Parkinson) was the form guy," Slater said.
"He was pretty much the standout in every round. He schooled Medina (Gabriel Medina) yesterday somehow and was combo'ing everybody. I just figured I had to get myself on the best waves and let go a little bit, but it got really quiet out there".
"It was the first time something really felt like it went my way when they (the judges) took my priority away. By the time they announced it, Joel was above the wave and couldn't catch it. That was the turning point for me. Every contest I've won, there's some moment where things go my way."
Slater got busy in the early minutes of the final, with his four-fin "Quad" surfboard, electing smaller inside waves to build the score. He is currently in 3rd on the ASP WCT ratings.
"I knew that heat would either make or break me for the year," Slater said. "I would have let Parko (Joel Parkinson) have those extra 2,000 points if he'd won and it would look very different on the ratings. It's nice heading into Europe.
"I feel like I've had so many good years at Lowers and the pressure is really on every year to make the Final – I feel like it's been like that since I've been on tour. It's cool to win the 50th here. I won my first event as a pro here and it's great to get this win."
Hurley Pro 2012 at Trestles | Final
1. Kelly Slater (USA) 16.50
2. Joel Parkinson (AUS) 14.00