On The Brink: The ASP’s Search For A Worthy Champ, Part Three

If you haven’t already read part one (which was posted two days ago), this may not make a whole lotta sense. So go read this first.

If you haven’t read part two with Joel Parkinson yet, go here.

By the time you read this, perhaps Slater will have made it clear as to whether he plans to gracefully abdicate his throne. Meanwhile, popular sentiment has turned against him. Surf fans and pundits alike have taken to the streets calling for his resignation, like Egyptians swarming the streets of Cairo. “Ten is enough!” “Parko deserves a shot!” “Give the kids a chance!” Slater’s fans fear that a losing campaign will tarnish his reputation. Detractors view Slater as an insecure adult, dunking on grade-schoolers to make himself feel like a man. Quik has almost nothing to gain from another Kelly title. Their PR minions have already saturated the mainstream media market in the wake of title 10. Even those dullards at the ASP must understand that there will never be a better moment for a transfer of power – they need to identify a successor to Kelly now, not later.

Trouble is, a guy named Kelly is making the decisions, instead of “Kelly Slater Surfing Icon.” The only way you get to be an icon of sport is if you’re addicted to winning. You need that fix of self-affirmation, attention, validation. Expecting Kelly to quit when he’s still winning is like expecting a functional drug addict to quit using when they’re at the top of their high. They have to hit rock bottom before they even consider quitting. If Kelly wins Snapper, he’ll go for 11 while pretending not to. Otherwise expect him to surf selected events looking for a career-capping event win.