Kelly Slater is an exceptional human being. As an 11-time world surfing champion, he stands in the company of athletic titans like Michael Jordan and Muhammad Ali, and he is a wonderful ambassador for the sport of surfing. While not everyone can be blessed with Kelly’s talent, anyone can learn from the other aspects of Kelly’s life that contribute to his greatness. Here are five lessons we can take away from the life of Kelly Slater.
Want to live until you’re 110? Live like Kelly. Photo: ESPN
1. Take Care of Your Body
Kelly is 43-years-old, and he’s surfing at the top of his game (cough, cough, 720’s). He was in a world title hunt against Gabriel Medina this year who is 21-years of age. That’s no coincidence. Most 43-year-olds do not compete at the highest level of sport, because their physical shape handicaps them. However, Kelly continues to push the limits of what is possible on a surfboard because he takes care of his body. He’s in the best shape of his life, and he combines cross training with stretching and yoga to keep his muscles strong and prevent injury. He eats clean, avoiding all processed foods, and balancing the nutrients he takes into his body. By managing his diet, he ensures that his nutrition serves as the best possible fuel for his active lifestyle. Kelly is living proof that what you put in to your body you get out in performance, and if nothing else, his life should inspire us all to put a little extra effort in to taking care of ourselves. If we put in even a quarter of the effort Kelly does, maybe we could win a quarter of the world titles he has…
In surfing and in life, big risk equal big reward. Photo: WSL
2. Take Risks
Sure, Kelly has taken risks in his life, especially in the water, but perhaps his biggest risk yet was his decision to leave Quiksilver. This past year, after a partnership of two decades, Kelly decided to part ways with the major surf brand. Kelly was the main face of Quik, and he had a close personal relationship with founder and CEO Bob McKnight. To leave such a position of familiarity and security must have been incredibly difficult. However, Kelly is looking to build something of his own. His new partnership with the Kering Group will enable him to create his own brand: Outerknown. The brand reflects Kelly’s core values, and it places an emphasis on transparent manufacturing processes and sustainable products. He’s also got his hand in Purps, a healthy drink that could replace energy drinks. We all have dreams, but oftentimes, we’re not willing to take the risk necessary to realize these dreams. The thought of forgoing security can be daunting, and sometimes we feel like we’re just not willing to give up what we already have. But Kelly shows us that by leaving the comforts of security, we can find opportunities to create something new that is uniquely our own.
Rivalry is a good thing. Photos: Jason Reposar
3. Embrace Your Rivals
Kelly Slater might never have returned to competition after a three year retirement had it not been for Andy Irons. After winning six world titles, Kelly tired of competition and opted not to pursue the tour full time. However, in his absence a new Hawaiian powerhouse came through the ranks: Andy Irons. The three years Kelly was off tour, Andy qualified for the world tour and rose toward the top tier of the rankings. By the time Kelly returned, Andy was the only surfer who could challenge him. Andy defeated Kelly to win the title three years in a row, but in 2005, in part because of Andy’s presence, Kelly elevated his game to an unprecedented level to reclaim the world title. Andy’s talent and success gave Slater the edge he needed to maximize his own potential. Although the two had an incredibly fierce rivalry, each realized that they were in part responsible for the other’s success. Only Kelly could fully fuel Andy’s competitive fire, and only Andy could push Kelly to his limits. As a result, the two developed an immense respect for the other. This relationship illustrates the value of rivalry. We might not always like our rivals: they may drive us to our breaking point. However, it is important to realize that they can be a catalyst for our own personal growth. Rivalries shouldn’t be avoided, but rather encouraged. They are ultimately what help us achieve the best possible versions of ourselves.
Skill isn’t all 11-world titles takes. Photo: Matt Dunbar
4. It’s All Mental
Kelly Slater hasn’t won 11 world titles because of his surfing ability (although that sure helped). Rather, he has achieved unparalleled success because of his sharp strategy and mental toughness along with that ability. A fierce competitor, Kelly uses his talent as a prerequisite for greatness, but he relies on his strategic skill to outsmart and outmaneuver his opponents. Kelly surfs a heat better than nearly any other competitive surfer in history, and he understands that 90% of the game is mental. His accomplishments in both surfing and golf illustrate that Kelly operates on a different playing field, and he employs the same mental prowess as other athletic icons like Michael Jordan. A notoriously mental game, golf challenges individuals to understand the correlation between mindset and success. Slater clearly exhibits what is known as “Shooter’s Mentality” on the golf course and in the water. The mindset focuses on the importance of opportunity. Even when one is behind the eight ball, opportunity still exists for triumph–but only attitude can unlock this opportunity. The successful athlete (or in Slater’s case, the 11-time world champion) recognizes that only an electric, positive attitude and utmost confidence allows for the release of athletic brilliance. Negativity on any scale is fatal. Slater understands better than anyone else, his surfing is only one small component of what he must do to win, and his mental fortitude is what has determined his greatness. For the rest of us mere mortals, this is a reminder that a positive attitude can accomplish untold victories. Whether they be small personal triumphs, or consequential professional gains, we cannot push ourselves to the next level without the confidence and positivity to elevate us to our greatest potential.
Real success only comes with passion.
5. Love What You Do
There can be no doubt that Kelly Slater is incredibly talented. However, he hasn’t just relied on his talent. Kelly probably surfs more than any other person on the planet. He is in the water, surfing the best waves he can, as often as he can, every day. His wave knowledge is unmatched, and he is constantly pushing his limits. But most importantly, Kelly loves surfing. You can see it in his eyes after a heat, in the barrel, or paddling back out. He surfs to live, and there can be no questioning his passion for the sport. Even with an exceptional amount of talent, Slater could never have achieved the accomplishments he has without thousands of hours in the water, and these hours mean nothing without passion behind them. Kelly gives each session his all, which reminds us to be passionate about what we do. Without a genuine love for what we pursue, how can we expect to accomplish anything more than mediocrity?
