Slater joins in quit plan

SURFING great Kelly Slater is preparing to join fellow former world champion Joel Parkinson in retirement.

As revealed in the Bulletin yesterday, Gold Coast great Parkinson will retire after competing in the Pipe Masters in Hawaii at the end of the World Surf League season.

His announcement triggered Slater to confirm he will hang up his leash at the end of 2019 with his last hurrah planned for Pipeline in December next year.

“My basic plan is to get myself really healthy, again, and get ready for April next year. And next year will be my last year on tour, and just be done with it,” the 46-year-old US legend said to commentators at the J-Bay Open at Jeffreys Bay in South Africa.