“Eyes Open, Ears Open”: 11X Champ’s Short but Stern Advise to Rookies on Tour

11 x World Surf League champion, Kelly Slater, surfs through the strong waves at 51, like it’s nothing special. It took Slater a long time to prove himself and also draw attention to it the sport, since surfing was not viewed as a competitive sport at the time. Slater’s rise to fame was not an overnight success. Since then, a lot has changed, and the great surfer had some things to say to the next generation of surfers.

A while ago, the legendary surfer shared his experience on Apple TV+ on the show Make Or Break Season 2. Slater can be seen imparting his years of tour experience, as well as words of wisdom for novice competitors, both in and out of the water.

Essential tips by the surfing legend

There is no debate that Kelly Slater is the best surfer of all time; his name is often seen with the initials G.O.A.T. He has won 11 global championships and 56 individual events, and holds the records for the youngest and oldest male World Champion.

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Goes without saying, the surfing icon would have a host of useful tips and tricks for the next generation of surfers. On being asked, about his tips for the tour rookies on the Apple TV+ show, he replied, “I’d say eyes open, ears open. You gotta come out here and learn, and bring your own approach to it. I was really eager to learn how to compete and stand with these guys on tour, and at the same time, I wanted to be different. I wanted to bring my own thing that was unique for me. Each person’s got that.”

Slater was open and honest about the advice he was giving since he enjoys passing on knowledge to the sport’s future stars. The fact that he’s been surfing professionally for close to 30 years is only a statistic that attests to his prowess. At 51, Slater is a formidable surfer who appreciates originality. He strongly believed that every surfer should contribute their own ideas to the sport.

Fans are excited about the show

Season 2 of Make it Or Break is available to stream on Apple TV+, and it has been a hit with surf aficionados everywhere. Keen surfing enthusiasts have a good grasp of Slater’s background and are interested in learning more. There are quite a few comments to prove it.

Eleven-time world surfing champion Kelly Slater of the U.S speaks during a media event at Snapper Rocks on the Gold Coast, Friday, Feb. 28, 2014. The ASP season will begin on the Gold Coast on Saturday. (AAP Image/Dan Peled) NO ARCHIVING PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxHUNxONLY 985_15_aap_20140228000899904944

One Slater fan, became even more invested, saying, “Always rooting for you, even more so with your brave stance against the dystopian waves crashing on our heads.”

Another fan left a straightforward comment that read, “His record speaks for itself. The man is like no other. The standard for excellence both on and off the water.”

Outerknown, the brand that Slater owns, their IG account commented, “We’ll be watching, Boss.”

One fan left simply stated, “The absolute GOAT.”

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What do you think of these tips shared by Kelly Slater? Let us know in the comment section.