Kelly Slater: Chapter 11 Proves He Is The Best Talent To Ride A Surfboard

“To critique the topic of the film,” Kelly Slater tells Stab on Dane Reynolds’ Chapter 11, “is tough because Quik has given Dane and me so much. It can even be argued that Dane’s disenchantment and confusion within himself, pro surfing, brand compatibility and all the things that come as an unfortunate link to the fame were necessary for him to reach the height he has. That they’ve given him this and his other visual masterpieces.”

Articulating Kelly’s legacy is near-impossible. As most surfers disappear in life after tour, Kelly will be ever-present through his current and future endeavours. Wearing the jersey, he has broken new ground; no one could have predicted the success of his various sustainable businesses while still winning events on tour. Or that at 45, he’ll be striving towards his 12th world title.

And, Dane’s our renaissance man, who has harnessed his entrepreneurial spirit as a means of creativity. From Marine Layer Productions to his clothing line Summer Teeth, his CI board models and most recently Former. Dane, as Shawn Stussy put it, “Is his generation’s beat poet.” He’s altered the conscience of surfing. And, as surfing’s evolved, Dane’s gone with and against the grain – while at the forefront of progression: in art, style, fashion, and personality. “When Dane was on tour everybody wanted him to win,” Jake “Snake” Patterson told Stab, “because, like John John, they knew he was the guy pushing everybody on tour.” 

“This footage proves he’s the best talent to ride a surfboard,” says Kelly. “The layers of small detail in the turns and combo’s he’s doing signify huge advancements in the average surfer’s life. He’s putting together multiple manoeuvres per waves that most pros don’t have in their bag of tricks.”

“I appreciate the clarity of his looking back at pivotal times professionally,” continues Kelly. “I feel like I learned a lot about myself watching that film. Dane puts truth where other people can’t seem to put it or are uncomfortable.” Kelly and Dane both left Quik for personal endeavours, for different reasons. However, they share the congruency of desiring control over what their name’s attached to. As Dane says it, “For me, I just want to live with integrity and back myself, and do something that I’m proud of.”

“He said it himself,” says Kelly. “He was trying to validate his worth to fulfil some unknown debt or expectation of him. There’s an unknown in the pricing game of surfing dollars and Dane has been the ultimate intangibility.”

“I hope he stays confused and angry or whatever at Quik for years to come,” continues Mr Slater. “Or at some other intangible thing and that fuels his desire and ability to find new lines and manoeuvres on waves.”

“The film was infectious,” he tells us. “It’s 2:42 am right now, and I want to go surf. That’s what a great film should do to you. I’m inspired to surf tomorrow and be better than I was today!”