Post-heat interviews with Kelly Slater are always worth listening to. The GOAT has proven time and time again that a large part of his special sauce is his sharp, analytical mind, and competitive spirit. And when he speaks, those aspects come to the forefront. He’s always got something to say that’s worth listening to. AJ McCord, one of the WSL’s newest on-the-sand correspondents, was chatting with Slater after he came in second in his opening round heat to Caio Ibelli. She asked him about the conditions, as well as Tom Brady’s recent retirement announcement. And Slater had plenty to say on that topic.
“People just need to feel it out,” he said. “When someone’s done something for such a long time and they love it, it’s beyond the money they make, it turns into friendships and lifestyle and family and all that stuff. It’s not an easy decision to come to, especially when the skill is still there. I don’t think there’s a player in the league right now who wouldn’t say Brady could still win a Super Bowl right now.” But Slater didn’t stop there, relating one GOAT’s experience to his own.
“And I can relate to that after so long, but I just love to surf and this is the outlet for it, still,” said Slater. “But I feel that candle kinda burning out for me. But it’s been that way for a while and I think I’m gonna surf until it’s totally done and I don’t care about surfing a heat and just want to be somewhere else.”
Fair enough, Mr. Slater.
