Kelly Slater was an 18-year-old, up-and-coming rookie in 1990. He’d wrap two years on tour before winning his first world title at 20 and then fire off five more before the end of the decade. The rest, as we know, is history. But more than just the start of what would become an unprecedented career, professional surfing has changed a lot in the 30-plus years since that rookie campaign. This little flashback to the Body Glove Surf Bout III held at Lower Trestles is a testament to that.
For example, the event hosted a total of 256 competitors with the top prize totaling $30,000 – the largest total prize purse ever at the time ($100,000). Slater took the win at that event.
“You get the feeling this is the first of many checks to come for this young man out of Florida,” the announcer says while Kelly celebrates on the podium.
Called it.
