Kelly and the Gang, D-bah, Australia

This photograph, taken by Tom Carey, is the perfect insight into the scene on the Gold Coast over the last week. With no sand having been pumped onto the points yet, D-bah’s been overrun and entered new levels of circus-esque pandemonium.

Take this shot, for example. First, y’got low-rung CT surfer Kai Otton on the left there, sun-bleached mop flattened by the southerly wind, flying over an end section towards the second subject in the shot, Mikey Wright. Though this ain’t the most flattering shot of Mikey, if y’could rewind a little you’d see Mikey in a similar phase of action to what Kai is.

Then thirdly, y’got the king, Kelly Slater, hiding under a crumbling lip. Slater’s been the cause of much speculation over the last two months, regarding whether or not he’d return to tour. Though Kelly admitted during his ASP Banquet acceptance speech that his drive disappeared when Andy Irons died, he also told the ASP that he couldn’t resist the waves at Snapper, and that it’s enough to inspire him into returning to competition. Though, in his usual coy fashion, Kelly made no definite pointers as to what his plans for the year are, hinting that an aloha tour may be on the cards. Kelly silenced discussion on whether or not he’d be competing in the Quiksilver Pro, purely with his presence at D-bah in the week leading up. It’s a little odd for Kelly to be surfing at D-bah, mixing it up with the crowd. Maybe this really will be the king’s aloha tour.