Parko flips Slater the bird. Priority’s a b***h, and this is the perfect image to kick off 2013. Photo: ASP/Carey
You know how they say never count out Kelly Slater? Or how challenging a hyper-competitive person brings out the best in them? Or how when Kelly gets the opportunity to kickstart the year by living out a final that should have happened at Pipeline in 2012, he’s going to drag your face in the sand and smile all the way home? Yeah. We do too.
Which is why, when it just so happened that the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast began with what should have been a title match for the 2012 crown, we knew it’d be a memorable one. The kind where Parko flips Slater the bird mid-barrel. And Slater smiles and smiles and smiles as he sets the trophy down while mindsurfing into Bells and then Rio then Tavarua. This isn’t his first rodeo.
“It’s nice to get off to a good start,” Slater said. “The three top seeds – Joel, myself and Mick all finished in the top three spots and Michel (Bourez) had a great event too. Momentum shifts throughout each season and a lot can happen. It’s probably the most talented field that has ever been on tour and there are nine more events. I’m committed to the tour this season.”
He’s in. He’s committed. And we’re committed to watching for the year, too. Nothing to prove and everything to prove all at the same time. Here’s to a great year for professional surfing.
Competition resumes at the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach on March 27th.
