Six-time Association of Surfing Professionals world titlist Kelly Slater will not compete on the tour full time in 1999. Slater decides to
trim surf scheduleThe world champ will compete in
only five events in 1999Slater, 25, will seek wild-card entries into five of the ASP's prime tournaments in 1999: Australian Billabong Pro (March 11-21), the Gotcha Tahiti Pro (May 5-15), the Quiksilver Pro in Tavarua, Fiji (May 26 - June 4), the South African Billabong/MSF Pro at Jeffrey's Bay (July 1-11), and the Mountain Dew Pipe Masters in Hawaii (December 9-21).
Slater joined the ASP tour full-time in 1992 -- the year he won his first world title. Since then the Floridian has amassed a total of 21 World Championship Tour victories and more than $700,000 in prize money.
"I'm hoping that a year off to do a few of the things that I personally want to do will give me more inspiration to come back motivated when I jump back on tour," he said.
A special tribute to recently retired NFL standouts Mark Tuinei and Jesse Sapolu will be part of the celebration during the fourth annual Samoa International Sports Awards Banquet at 6 p.m. Saturday at the Polynesian Cultural Center in Laie. Tuinei, Sapolu
to be honoredSamoan athletes in football, sumo, volleyball, boxing, basketball, rugby, weightlifting, strongman, tennis, cricket and other sports will be honored. The college and high school All-Samoan Football Stars will be presented.
"The emphasis of the event is to focus attention on student athletes in high schools and colleges," Sapolu said. "We want to give a clear message to every student that excellence in sports and education are important values in the Samoan culture and the Samoan people."
FORMER NFL STARS AT SCHOFIELD: Former Oakland Raiders Cliff Branch, Greg Pruitt, Dokie Williams, Henry Lawrence and Pete Koch are among the former Super Bowl and Pro Bowl players scheduled to join boys and girls 9-17 years old at a free football clinic hosted by the 25th Infantry Division and U.S. Army Hawaii from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Wheeler Army Airfield.
Other former NFL players expected to participate include Christian Okoye (Chiefs), Flipper Anderson (Rams) and Derrick Ramsey (Patriots).
IT'S 'PLAY BALL' AT HILO: Hawaii-Hilo's annual Vulcan Baseball Weekend will unfold Friday at 6:15 p.m. with an alumni game at Hall Memorial Field, continue Saturday with a coaches clinic at the Walter Victor Complex's Pony field and wind up Sunday with a golf tournament at the Naniloa Resort course.
The seventh annual Vulcan Softball Alumnae game also will be played Saturday at the UH-Hilo softball field.