American Kelly Slater has rewritten surfing's record books, claiming a seventh world title at the Nova Schin Festival in Brazil.
Hawaii's Andy Irons, who was second in points, lost his quarter-final to Australia's Nathan Hedge yesterday, handing Slater the crown in front of a passionate crowd of spectators in Florianopolis.
The 33-year-old clinched his first world title as a 19-year-old in 1991 and also reigned for five consecutive years from 1994 to 1998.
Irons was bidding to win his fourth straight world title.
"Everything started coming into my head," said Slater. "I was the youngest world champ and now I'm the oldest world champ; it's been seven years since I won my last title and this is my seventh one; I won my first one and my last one in Brazil but all those numbers and things, they are not as important as the feeling. But it all started to hit me, and I just need to get on the phone and call my family."
Slater also gave enormous credit to Irons.
"He's pushed me to levels that I haven't reached before, and being on the beach the crowd is definitely on my side over Andy's, but I wouldn't be doing what I'm doing without Andy. He deserves all the credit in the world. The guy's an unbelievable surfer, one of the great surfers of all time, and I know he's going to win at least one more world title, if not more. I hope that everyone out there can understand that, because of Andy, pro surfing is much better."
Slater's victory makes him one of the most successful surfers in history, bettering the six women's world titles of Australian Layne Beachley.
- AAP and agencies
