Kelly Slater On The Cancelled Titans Of Mavericks Contest

In case you didn’t already hear today’s unsurprising news, the Titans of Mavericks Comp is officially cancelled this year. A shame, but not too shocking following Cartel Management and Titans of Mavericks filing for chapter 11 at the time they stated the event could kick off. 

Kelly Slater, who is currently in Monterey, California, enjoying some pre-birthday festivities (the king turns 45 on Saturday!) golfing in the AT&T Pebble Beach ProAm, voiced his thoughts on the problems facing Mavs.  

 “I just think on the business side of things, there may have been some problems there,” Kelly told KSBW News in a golf cart interview, stating the obvious. “But you know, for the surfers, for the guys who love Mavericks, and love big waves, it’s a real shame. That wave is just so radical, I mean anyone who doesn’t know anything about surfing can still appreciate what that is.”

Kelly placed second at the Titans of Mavericks event in 2000, losing to local legend Darryl “Flea” Virostko. And while he wasn’t slotted to surf in the contest again this year, he certainly knows how important of a wave it is to both big wave and California surf culture.

Of course, the chances of the contest running now are about as good as you equalling Kelly’s handicap on the green (the man has quite the swing). But Kelly is hopeful, expressing his optimism before teeing off: “I’m sure within the next year we will see it back on the map as a big event – somebody will pick it back up.”