Slater doesn’t intend to wind up as he winds down

KELLY Slater is determined to complete his final full year on the World Surf League tour with the carefree attitude that has taken him to the best wins of his decorated career.

The 11-time world champion will today take to the water for a Round 3 clash with Portugal’s Frederico Morais knowing the importance of getting early results if he’s to be a title contender in his tour swan song.

But Slater is adamant he will take a relaxed attitude into every heat this season, wanting to enjoy the moment and knowing he can still perform at his best even if he’s not showing his laser-like focus of years past.

“I think you can approach it all with a lighthearted, fun time,” he said.

“But it’s almost like the whole thing carries this energy like it’s intense.

“But my best of times, the contests that I’ve won the most easily in my life, have been ones where I was relaxed and stoked for the other guy in the water, even the guy I’m against, and if he gets a good wave I’m happy for him.

“That’s the essence of surfing. I think you can surf competitions in that fashion.”

After surviving a tough Round 2 heat late on Thursday against Nat Young, when the surf was filled with locals waiting to dominate the waves once the last heat of the day ended, Slater knows today’s head-to-head clash carries the same pressure of elimination but will just trust what has come naturally to him for many years.

“You easily can (react to the pressure) ... it’s still sudden death. It comes into play, it comes into your mind a little bit, that little bit of doubt like, ‘what if I lose right now and I’ve got to watch this whole event?’.

“You think those thoughts but all I can do is go out and ride the waves I’m given with the choices I can, with the manoeuvres I can pull off and the right lines.”