Kelly Slater Discusses “Maybe The Best Day Of Surf I’ve Ever Had” And How All The Footage Was Lost

As surf writers we typically interview surfers about surfing. Surfboards. Waves. Competition. Etc. But if we ask them about real life stuff, they rarely leave the shallow end of the pool. (Or maybe we’re just bad interviewers.) 

But when surfers are interviewed by non-surfers for non-surf publications, when they can’t talk about the fin types or wave intricacies or priority blunders, real life becomes the common ground. 

Kelly Slater was recently interviewed for the Tim Ferriss Show, a podcast with author, thought leader, and biiiig Tim Ferriss fan, Tim Ferriss, in which Kelly not only leaves the shallow end but ventures to the middle of the Pacific.  

At one point in the interview Kelly says, “I’m probably getting ahead of myself here, because some of these conversations haven’t fully been aired out,” as he dives into his childhood, coping with an alcoholic father, girlfriend drama the night before a world title showdown, Andy Irons battles, the books that impacted him the most (The Prophet, The Tao of Health, Sex, and Longevity), his relationship with Rickson Gracie, the future of surfing, his thought process around retirement and so much more. 

But maybe you’re just here for the surfing. In the case, hear about “maybe the best day of surf [Kelly’s] ever had” (and how all the footage was lost) around the 65-minute mark.

Listen here.