In the realm of surfing, there’s an unwritten rule that surfers tend to stick to their own sport. Just look at John John Florence—the 32-year-old surfing legend has spent 12 years in the waves and rarely dabbles in anything outside of surfing. Even during the off-season, you’ll find him on the beaches filming with his brothers, staying true to his roots. But Kelly Slater? He’s a different story. The 11-time WSL champ loves mixing things up and is often spotted at events beyond surfing.

Currently, Kelly Slater is enjoying his off-season. But he’s still keeping busy with his board. A few days ago, he was seen with Raimana Van Bastolaer, teaching Prince Harry one or two surfing lessons in his Surf Ranch, located in California. Moreover, he is actively promoting his book, Kelly Slater: A Life of Waves, documented by Todd Glaser. But in the middle of this, the phenomenal surfer has managed time to enjoy other sports. 

On Saturday night, Slater took a break from the waves and hit the Darrell K. Royal-Texas Stadium in Austin for one of the most hyped college football games of the season: Texas Longhorns vs. Georgia Bulldogs. However, the match had been a challenge to the Bulldogs, as after 1958 they had never trailed in their first trip to Austin. So the stakes were high this time. Meanwhile, Slater was ready to cherish the battle between the two stalwarts. 

In the end, the underdog stunned the topper with a 30-15 scoreline. With that, Kelly had to taste the bitter pill as well, being a Texas Longhorns fan. However, his Instagram story revealed that Slater had enjoyed the environment. In his story, the 52-year-old re-shared a post showcasing him posing with Sergio Garcia before the game. With a few lines, he told the tale: “There was a big game here yesterday. Good to get down on the field and have an up close look.” Notably, the four-time Olympic champion, Kevin Durant, also joined the stars to enjoy the football game. But many issues have marred the game.

In a turning moment of the game, the officials made a pass interference call on Jahdae Barron. It was during his return the throw to the Georgia 9-yard line. However, according to the ESPN crew, the call was questionable. The Texas Longhorns failed to take the issue lightly. As a result, a large chunk of angry Texan fans littered the field with bottles and other trash. That horrible incident led the officials to stop the game for a few moments. 

Later, Texas came with an apology for its fans’ conduct in the game. In the notice, the No. 1 NFL team asked for “fostering a positive environment for all participants, teams, officials, and fans.” The stars who attended the game have a similar request. Yet, Austin and Kelly Slater have had memorable experiences when it comes to other sports. Last year, he had one such encounter. 

Kelly Slater cherishes the company of big names 

Kelly Slater’s connection with the world of Formula 1 is more than just casual fandom. He shares a close bond with none other than Lewis Hamilton, the British racing legend. Over the years, the two have been spotted together along the tracks, forming a friendship rooted in mutual respect. Hamilton has always spoken highly of Slater, once posting a heartfelt tribute: “I want you all to know how great of a human being this man is. I am forever grateful for the time you have given me, for the insight, and your passion for the waves. Thank you, Kelly Slater!” But in 2023, Kelly appeared in the Formula 1 Grand Prix in Austin as a pure spectator of the sport. But he inked another bond there. 

In 2023, during his visit to the F1 race in Austin, Slater spent a moment with Prince Harry. The duo was joined by Garry Lopez and Raimana Van Bastolaer. That may have been the reason behind the Duke of Sussex’s latest endeavor in California. A few days ago, he met both the surfing greats, where Raimana played the role of his coach.