StarBulletin.com

Slater wins his 9th world title


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POSTED: Friday, October 03, 2008

Kelly Slater wrapped up his ninth ASP World Title today when he advanced out the third round of the Billabong Pro Mundaka in Mundaka, Spain.

Slater easily outsurfed Basque wildcard entry Eneko Acero, 14.96-10.00, in 4-foot waves this morning.

“;It's going to take a little while to sink in,”; Slater said. “;I'm probably going to have to call home and talk to family for it to really hit me.”;

Slater's first title came in 1992 at age 20. He is the oldest and youngest surfer in ASP history to win the world title.

He also took five straight championships from 1994-1998 and won back-to-back in 2005-2006.

The 36-year-old from Florida won five of the first seven events of the tour this season.

“;I felt a lot more at ease this year,”; Slater said. “;It's probably my personal life. I'm happy and settled and I've got the support there that just feels amazing. Nothing else has really changed, I've worked with my boards a little bit here and there and I've always worked on my mind and my emotions, but something just really clicked into place this year.”;

He won't win a sixth contest this week, however. Later today he lost to Tom Whitaker of Australia in Round 4.

Slater acknowledged that winning it all never gets tiresome.

“;It is really nice to come back and win it after you lost it the year before,”; he said. “;I'm sure if Mick (Fanning, last year's winner) were to come back and win one, or Andy (Irons) were to come back and win one - C.J. (Hobgood), any of those guys, they would definitely say how sweet it is to win it again.”;

Also today, Fred Patacchia of Hawaii was eliminated by Aussie Joel Parkinson, 16.00-13.73.