Kelly Slater Drops Out Of Brazil

With less than 24 hours until heat one paddles out at Saquarema, Kelly Slater has announced he won’t be surfing in this year’s Rio event. His reasoning behind the decision is based on concern for a reoccurring back injury.

“I have been working through some injuries the past several seasons and, unfortunately, I need to take some time off to mend my body,” Slater was quoted in a recent WSL press release. “I won’t be in Rio and I don’t know how long I’ll need. 

“My lower back has been in constant pain for the last three years and although I’ve been able to fight through it with short stints of rehab, it hasn’t fixed the problem. If I don’t do this now, at some point, I’ll ruin my body. I’m spending the next five weeks rehabilitating with the WSL doctors in Australia and we’ll see how I feel after that. I’m hopeful that I will be in top form again this season at some point. Thanks everyone for the support.”

Kelly was initially slotted up against Conner Coffin and Kanoa Igarashi in heat ten of round one. He has been replaced by Brazilian second QS injury replacement Bino Lopes.