Eight straight a charm for Kelly

The ninth stop on the ASP world tour, Mundaka, Spain, has come and gone.

For those who had dismissed Kelly Slater, saying his best years are behind him, I’ve got news for you. He just put together his finest year to date, maybe ever, on this year’s world tour “” wrapping up his eighth world title with two events left.

What it is even more astonishing “” he has achieved this surfing in one less event than his rivals on the tour.

Slater was injured in the third event of the year, and missed event number four (Tahiti) in which he was the defending champion.

After winning the first two events of the year, losing in the semi-final and placing third due to an injury, Slater missed the next event and since than has placed 3rd, 2nd, 3rd and 2nd in the last four events.

Which can only be summed up as Slater being human.

Winning the event was hot rookie upstart Bobby Martinez, who defeated Slater in the final in two-to three-foot mushy lefts.

Finishing in equal third were Australians Dean Morrison and Joel Parkinson.

The ASP world tour now heads to Brazil before finishing up at the legendary Banzi Pipeline.

Current standings are as follow: 1. Kelly Slater; 2. Andy Irons; 3. Taj Burrow; 4. Joel Parkinson; and, rounding out the top 5 is Mick Fanning. So the questions remain: who will finish second this year? Will Slater win the last two events? Or perhaps he may skip the next event and take some time off before getting ready for the Pipeline masters.

But the real question is whether or not Kelly Slater will seek a ninth title or ride off into the sunset as the best surfer ever.

My guess is that he is only beginning to refind his form that led him to six titles in the ‘90s “” and my guess is that he just might be out for 10.

That is if he can find enough challengers to continue.

Peace.