The ASP season kicks off Saturday, so I thought I'd turn the hype-volume up a bit further by sharing a few words from our top contenders: Slater and Fanning. The following quotes didn't make the I did for Surfline last week.
Kelly at Duranbah, 2006. Photo: ASP/Tostee
Lewis: One could argue that you haven't been challenged for the #1 spot since winning Bells last year. Do you have any sense of looking forward to a challenge with the start of the new season?
Kelly Slater: Well, if you ever get a chance to have a little breathing room like I was able to get last year for a while you would always rather have that position. But everyone loves a good race and a close battle and after everyone saying I was done years ago, I'm probably lucky to even be in sight of those other guys. It'd be nice to get a good result on the Gold Coast for sure.
Lewis: Has your perspective on equipment changed much since this time last year?
Kelly: Not changed but has gone in the same direction as it was starting to.
Mick Fanning, Snapper, 07. Photo: ASP/Robbo
Lewis: Where does the motivation come from for 2009?
Mick Fanning: Well, it’s probably like climbing Everest: If you get to the top once and go back to climb it the next year and don’t quite make it to the summit again you’re gonna be bummed. Once you’ve been to the top nothing matches it. My motivation is to get back up there.
Lewis: Any changes to your approach for this season (boards, training, strategy, etc)?
Mick: Yeah, 2008 was my worst year on tour to date but I think I learned more last year than I have in any previous years. The big change for me has been learning how to switch on and switch off as a competitor. I’ve had better preparation for 2009 than any other year. I feel relaxed, I’ve minimized distractions, I got the right equipment, I know exactly how often I should train without burning myself out before events and I’m feeling more comfortable. I'm ready to go.
Contending is all about fitness. Word on the street is that Taj has been training with this fierce couple.
Old news, but worth mentioning, last year after Slater beat Taj in the dying seconds at lowers, he got on stage and simply thanked his sponsors… Just before this Taj, who was crushed by the loss, got up on sucked it up and honestly thanked the locals for sharing their break on what was one of the best (and few) swells of the season. Taj nailed it. Ex slater fan, now pulling for Taj.
slater’s nothing if not a corporate boy. his daddy didn’t love him, but Bob McKnight sure does.
Where was that guy training, in the microwave..
The Chips is on the Drew Courtney bandwagon this year. He’s going to show these wannabes a thing or two about committed surfing, including Mr. Armchair WCT surfer Lewie Samuels.
23 Chips
This blog is almost “Big Brother” funny at times but the difference is that Big Brother did not kiss the pro skaters’ asses or take them very seriously during interviews. Be more like Big Brother, Lewis! Screw the corpo garment industry rags! Yeah Slater’s cool but we’ve heard enough about his fitness, preparation and equipment to last several lifetimes. Take the gloves off!!!!!!!!
taj is training with heitor alves and neco padaratz? thats who that is right?
Taj’s life is too good, not a scent of anger in him. He’s Kelly’s only talent rival, but mentally he’s too content with perfect waves and a willing videographer. Kelly has benefited from decades of talented apathetics….. Dorian, Knox, Machado, Parko and now a gentile Fanning. The domesticitiy of marriage and an entitlement of sponsorship paychecks finally did in Andy. Kelly wants it more. Imagine if Taj had Bede’s gameface…. but he won’t. Northpoint is too good and those Aussie chicks are too generous. Kelly has to work for what Taj wakes up to and that is never going to change.