Slater slays ‘em again

The Assn. of Surfing Professionals scored big time last week for the

Boost Mobile Pro at Lower Trestles, as the biggest swell of the

summer hit with breakers getting as large as 10 feet. The premier

southwest point break had flawless shape for the last part of the

event, and the top surfers in the world were putting on quite a

performance.

The top-ranked surfer in the world -- six-time world champ Kelly

Slater -- was once again the man of the hour. Slater, who was busting

big scores and surfing better than ever, took out big names like the

flyin’ Hawaiian Kalani Robb in the quarters and super-hot Aussie Taj

Burrow in the semis. He simply couldn’t be stopped.

On the other side of the draw was Australian giant-killer Phil

MacDonald, who stopped three-time world champ Andy Irons in the

quarterfinals and was surfing insane, looking for another showdown

with Slates. MacDonald took out fellow Aussie Mick Fanning, who was

blazin’ through all his heats and looked like a possible finalist

too.

The surf slowed down a bit for the final, as a super-negative

tide and dropping swell made the waves more in the head-high-plus

range and a bit inconsistent. The big Mac got off to a roll with a

couple moderate mid-range six scores and held the lead for most of

the 35-minute final. Slates answered back on a smaller left and then

a right to close the gap a bit. MacDonald found another righty and

tore it apart, scoring an 8.17 -- which, under the conditions, looked

as if it sealed the deal.

But that’s the thing about Slater. You can never count him out

because he always seems to rise to the occasion. With less than three

minutes to go, the Big Mac having priority, and the ocean looking

relatively calm, Slates scrambled for an insider and ripped the thing

apart -- doing a couple of high-speed floaters, a slash lay back, and

an impossible reverse.

The score was a 9.07, earning another big win for Kelly Slater.

That’s four wins this season, another $30,000 in the pocket, and a

little bit closer to a seventh world title. At 33, Slater is surfing

better than he was in the ‘90s when he won the other world titles.

He’s looking focused, with more power and competitive prowess than

ever before.

If he does well in France at the next event, he could wrap it up

early, with a couple events left in Brazil and Hawaii.

Slater broke the Aussie streak -- “Parko” Joel Parkinson won last

year, Ritchie Lovett the year before, and cool hand Luke Egan the

year before that.

Also losing in the quarters were East Coaster C.J. Hobgood and

Australian Trent Munro. H.B. wonder boy Timmy Reyes lost out in round

four after blowing up in some big heats, as did Carlsbad’s Taylor

Knox.

It was a super-fun, action-packed event with sun, surf and

probably the biggest crowd ever at Lowers, estimated at 8,000

spectators. And they got a treat watching the best surfers in the

world tear up one of the prime surfing spots, with super-freak Kelly

Slater -- America’s most decorated surfer -- winning again!

Over on the East Coast at the Unsound Pro in New York at Long

Beach, North Carolina’s Asher Nolan took the win in some sizable

hurricane surf. And H.B. surfer Ryan Carlson won the tow-in contest

with some fancy air-bustin’ moves, winning $2,000. Congrats.

And how ‘bout that wild weather here in Surf City earlier in the

week when tropical storm Max went by, throwing us thunder, lightning,

rumbling and some heavy downpours. Can’t beat the surf lately.

See ya. Fig over and out.

* RICK FIGNETTI is an nine-time West Coast champion, has

announced the U.S. Open of Surfing the last 12 years and has been the

KROQ-FM surfologist for the last 18 years, doing morning surf

reports. He owns a surf shop on Main Street. You can reach him at

(714) 536-1058.