SURFING SOAPBOX:Amazing year for ASP World Tour

An amazing year it was, with the legendary Kelly Slater winning his unprecedented eighth world title.

Perhaps even more stunning was the fact that he did so with two events remaining and already having missed one due to injury.

All this in a year during which he won the first two events back to back before even deciding if he was going to surf a full schedule in 2006 and go after his unprecedented eighth world title.

But he did so in an uncanny fashion, cruising through the year with a new attitude and deciding anything from here on would just be icing on the cake.

What a cake it must be.

In the World No. 2 spot,Andy Irons put on a late-year charge to win another Pipeline Masters title which saw Irons come from behind in the closing seconds of the final, scoring a 10 and beating his archrival — Slater — in the waning seconds.

In doing so, he closed his 2006 campaign in fine fashion, wrapping up his fourth Triple Crown.

Californian tour rookie sensation Bobby Martinez had an unbelievable rookie year, winning two events.Californian tour veteran Taylor Knox had a good year as well, finishing in the top 10.

In 2007, all eyes will once again be focused on the Slater vs. Irons rivalry, as these two surfers have demonstrated an ability to separate themselves from the rest of the class — splitting the last five world tiles between them.

I also like to think that Australian Mick Fanning will give them a run for their money.

But my pick again in 2007 will be none other than Kelly Slater — if he should decide to go all out for an unprecedented ninth world title.

How could you bet against him?

Peace.