Despite Multiple Accidents in One Week, Surfing Icon Kelly Slater All Set to Break Barriers at Pipeline in 2024

With the Pipe in Hawaii, surfing legend Kelly Slater holds a special connection that is full of enchanting memories. Being a native of Hawaii, the 11-time WSL champion has always relied on his instinct to paddle through the enormous waves. On the other hand, with a mixture of hollow barrels, tumultuous speed, and sloped take-off, the Banjai pipe has served all those factors that keep Kelly Slater glued to the sport. But in recent years, the surfing legend took an absence from surfing in Pipe for multiple reasons. 

However, the absence was limited until January 16. While accidents come with the territory of surfing, Slater’s spirit doesn’t dwindle. The next day, Kelly Slater appeared in the Pipe to register his known existence. 

Kelly Slater returns to Pipe surfing with nothing but flair and reckless abandon

On January 18, the IG user, Shanti Grace, put an IG post with a clip of Kelly Slater surfing in the wave. In the caption, she penned, “The real biohack for longevity… Go outside and play!” However, after a few minutes, the 51-year-old surfing legend re-shared the post in his IG story, spilling more beans on the occasion. He confessed, “Some fun tonight. My first wave at pipe this year.” The posted video showcased Kelly Slater piercing through the medium-height waves with his innate finesse. It was the second instance this year when King Kelly flaunted his movements in the Pipe. That bravado grabbed the center stage as Pipeline surfing has faced several deadly accidents recently. Eimeo Czermak is the latest name on that fateful list. He faced his worst surfing day in Van’s Pipe Masters last month. However, Slater was desperate to have his surfing opportunity in the Pipe. 

He could have received that in another pipeline of Hawaii, Da Hui Backdoor. But at the last moment, Kelly’s team, ‘A New Earth Project’ had replaced him with surfer Jamie O’Brien. So after missing the berth, these consecutive days of surfing seemed to etch Kelly Slater’s long-cherished surfing experience in his native land. 

The memory at the Pipe 

In the 2019 Pipe Masters, Kelly Slater thoroughly enjoyed his surfing run at the end of the season. He overpowered opponents like Michel Bourez and Jack Freestone to win the Triple Crown. Later in 2022, the 7x Pipeline Masters champion had his last chance to appear in the Pipe Pro and he managed that with his 8th title win. 

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Since then, Kelly Slater hasn’t had his chance to showcase his prowess in the Pipe. A devastating pandemic and an injury in 2023 kept him away. On that note, Kelly Slater’s IG post seems to serve the purpose of the surfing fans who want to see him again in the Pipe. 

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