Surfer Kelly Slater, 49, may get call for Tokyo

An overheated day in the Central Valley found the greatest surfer in history walking barefoot around a sprawling facility that manufactures a perfectly sculpted wave.

Kelly Slater, 49, was in his element at the Jeep Surf Ranch Pro, the last competition before the Summer Games in Japan.

An unexpected turn of events has led to the possibility that the 11-time world champion will enter a new arena next month in Tokyo, a twist that could draw more attention to an outdoor adventure sport making an Olympic debut.

Slater is on standby after injuries to America’s two qualifiers this year left an opening for the team’s famous alternate.

A lot has to happen before Slater can paddle for gold at Tsurigasaki Beach in Chiba, Japan. But his presence would add a celebrity vibe to the waves.

“I don’t want to make it that way,” Slater said. “But if that is what it is I’ll take my spot.”

Surfing was a niche sport for Slater’s generation well before Olympic officials saw the need to attract X Games crowds to energize flagging viewership.

“Not to minimalize it, it is more for kids in the future,” Slater said of the Olympics.

Slater failed to qualify by the slightest margins in the 2019 World Surf League finale in Hawaii. Now his status depends on the recoveries of Olympic qualifiers Kolohoe

Andino and John John Florence.

Andino has resumed training at a surf break near his San Clemente home while still recovering from two ankle sprains.

Florence, a two-time world champion from Hawaii, injured his left knee in early May during a competition in Australia. Florence had surgery to repair the damage and needs recovery to go well to compete in Japan