Decade After ‘Arguably’ Having the Greatest Heat, Kelly Slater Set to Take On John John Florence in an Iconic Rematch

Kelly Slater and John John Florence are arguably the two brightest stars of surfing. If one is the greatest professional surfer of all time, then the other is regarded as the most dominant pipe surfer of his era. The two have carved a path of their own in surfing and have inspired generations to come. The sport of surfing requires loads of skills, strength, and agility, but these two have conquered it all. Slater and Florence locked horns once in the Billabong Pro, which was an experience of a lifetime for surfing fans.

But it looks like the fans can witness this epic matchup once again as Slater reminisces about the moment and is looking for a rematch. In a recent turn of events, Slater has also posted an exciting update on his social media, and it is enough to stimulate the surfing fans.

Kelly Slater and John John Florence for a surfing faceoff

The report was published by The People on their website, which says, “Surfer John John Florence Says a Kelly Slater Rematch ‘Would Be Incredible’ a Decade After the ‘Greatest Heat’.” Slater posted this report on his Instagram handle, tagging Florence and writing, “Let’s go John John Florence.” It was the greatest showcase of surfing prowess at the Tahiti Pro in 2014, and this faceoff has been described as the “greatest heat ever” in the history of surfing. Years have passed since this match, and now Florence is willing to take on Slater once again. He said he had a couple of heats against Slater that were amazing, and it would be incredible to have a rematch with him.

He also added that the rematch only counts if the waves are as good as they were back then, and it would be incredible if that match happened again. That epic semi-final of the 2014 Billabong Pro Tahiti ended in a draw, and Slater was announced as the winner. Slater was awarded 10 points in wave 1, while Florence got 9.90 points, and in wave 2, Slater scored 9.77 points and Florence secured 9.87 points. The final score of this heat was 19.77 for both surfers, and it ended in a tie. Florence, who is a junior to Slater, is also a big fan of this 11-time World Surf League Champion.

The mutual respect between two of the bests

Florence stated that he had always idolized Slater while growing up. He also added that he has grown closer and closer to Slater over the years and he is someone who Florence has looked up to his whole life. He also admired 51-year-old Slater, who is still competing at the highest level, and said it is just incredible what he has been able to do with his body for so long. Two-time world champion Florence is looking forward to replicating the same consistency when he reaches the same age as Slater.

Read More: “Scared of Dying Too Soon”: Kelly Slater, Who Once Admitted Surfing Till 90, Unearthed His Horrors in 2016

Florence has fixed his spot in the team USA for the upcoming Paris Olympics and these surfing legends are set to rekindle an epic rivalry that left fans in awe. Their mutual respect and the prospect of a rematch have sparked excitement among surfing enthusiasts, showcasing how these two icons continue to inspire and shape the sport’s legacy.

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