Kelly talks Dusty’s spin

Yesterday at the O’Neill Cold Water Classic, Kelly Slater and Dusty Payne paddled into the dying afternoon light for the day’s second-last heat. This was an important heat because of the points difference between Kelly and Joel Parkinson, the two world title challengers. Kelly has said multiple times he doesn’t understand this wave. If he’d lost the heat, and if Joel then went on to win the contest, then Joel would’ve won the world title.

A few things to know before reading the climactic play-by-play. At the 2011 Quik Pro, NY, Kelly was clocked 10 points for a single move against Taj Burrow in the semis. It was a frontside slob tap full-rotation. Then in the final of the Rip Curl Pro, Bells this year, Kelly scooped another 10 for a single move against Mick Fanning. It was a frontside no grab full-rotation. Also worth noting is Gabriel Medina’s inverted full-rote in the semis of the Quik Pro, France last year. Ten Points. Lesson is, Hail Mary airs have been awarded 10s in the past.

Now let’s dissect the Slater-Payne heat.

Kelly had Dusty on the ropes. And in the final minute, Dusty scratched into a closeout, bolted down the line and hucked one of the inverted frontside air reverses he made himself known for in Modern Collective and Lost Atlas (full sequence below). He needed a 9.34. The judges gave him an 8.27. Kelly won the heat.

Shortly afterwards, Stab posted a photo of the air on Instagram (pictured above). Among the comments were responses from Kelly himself. Here’s some fire (and fuel), plucked from the magic of social media.

kellyslater: I agree it was a really sick air. Inverted, 180 to flats nose landing. I thought he might get it but one move on a point wave should probably max out somewhere below 8 IMO (yes, for Medina and myself and everyone, too). These comments are hilarious. I’m guessing mostly from Aussies, @stabmag? :

shrimp22: @kellyslater Nah the fucking ‘Dream Tour’ is hilarious.

kellyslater: @shrimp22 show us a pic of you surfing. That’ll be hilarious.

shrimp22: @kellyslater Ha that’s so good! You’re probably right… But I’m not paid to surf or to organise a surf tour/ event.

shrimp22: And I did just get burned by @kellyslater !

kizzor: True that @kellyslater but did you not get a massive score for a one move wave at a point break yourself (Bells)?? The asp seems to be a little inconsistent to the average punter now days (probably always has been)… Dusty’s air looked more critical than @gabrielmedinaaa’s and Dusty scored a whole point less???? That’s my argument right there!! Not that you beat him.

kellyslater: @kizzor after watching back the heat I thought I won on two waves but Dusty’s air was scored low. Close one either way. Like Bells was. Judges went too high on my air (10) there but also too high on Mick’s first wave (9.1) to set scale.

kellyslater: Dusty’s low in relation to day’s scale. Single moves getting huge scores at points needs to be reassessed.