Stab Magazine | The Kai Otton Story, As Told By Mick Fanning, Taj Burrow, And Joel Parkinson

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The Kai Otton Story, As Told By Mick Fanning, Taj Burrow, And Joel Parkinson

Kai claims his own waves, was a kook at 18, but oh boy does he manage to stuff some heaving tubes. 

cinema // Mar 5, 2018
Words by stab
Reading Time: < 1 minute

Kai Otton spent 10 years on the the World Tour chasing tubes, sticking to the face and even, somewhat surprisingly, bringing home a victory in Portugal, 2013. 

Since retiring from the competitive life after falling off the CT at the end of 2016, Kai has remained in the Reef family, spending his newfound free time chasing unruly Australian swells, hanging with friends and exhibiting his surf footage to members of Indonesia’s airport security. He’s even managed to snag a few keeper clips!

Recently we sat Mick, Taj and Parko down to fire them a few off-beat questions about their (ex) fellow tour pal and CT overachiever*. The gents discuss Kai’s 2013 win, being a kook at 18 years old and how Kelly Slater (and the rest of the tour) were baffled he ever made it on there.

The tour may be a lot quieter without Kai around, but as long as he keeps sliding into heaving pipes and hollering on his way out, we’re sure there’s still a lot to hear from the 38-year old yet. 

We’ll save the best for the above and promise you won’t be disappointed.  

*The jury’s still out on this one.

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