One year after his foot injury, Kelly Slater is back for J-Bay. Image: WSL
Remember that time way back in 2017 when Kelly Slater broke his foot like a Ming dynasty vase at the running of bulls? It folded like a man with a bad poker hand, shattered like a car window hit by a bowling ball. Shortly after that injury, he knew he’d be out for a while—but not for an entire YEAR. Well, after a few more trifling injuries, a few quick events, and a bombing swell that made everyone ask why, exactly, Kelly Slater wasn’t surfing events, he’s back. According to the WSL, Kelly Slater is back for J-Bay, the same place that sledgehammered that hoof.
Kelly Slater with that smashed foot at J-Bay. Image: WSL
At the time of his injury, Slater was making a run for a 12th world title. At the time, it must’ve been devastating—but instead of moping around the house and getting depression binging on chia seeds, he decided to use the time off to make a real, concerted effort… which, one would assume, most of the people on tour are already doing. No one goes into the year hoping for third, after all.
Slater’s no spring chicken anymore, and despite his best efforts, a body well used is a body with pain. His back is twisted, his bones are brittle, and his feet are showing the wear and tear of a lifetime of support. “I’ve had 5 foot injuries now since 2003, the latest coming last week with a strained ligament (#TurfToe) on the same foot (R) I injured last year,” he recently wrote on Instagram. Not a major injury but puts me in doubt for #JBay.”
Kelly has, for the most part, remained slightly opaque about his plans when it comes to the 2018 tour. He waited until the latest possible second to announce that he’d be taking a pass at the first event of the year. It’s likely that it’s because he didn’t know exactly when he’d be able to surf at his best. “When I’m ready, properly healed, and able to compete with the world’s best, I will,” he assured the world after we watched him skip the Corona Protected event in Bali in favor of that massive Cloudbreak swell.
But luck be a lady tonight, because it looks as though turf toe will not be the final nail in Slater’s contest coffin. He’ll don the jersey in the first round of J-Bay, facing Italo Ferreira and Kanoa Igarashi. Interestingly, John John Florence and Caio Ibelli are both out with injuries. They’ll be replaced by Miguel Pupo and Wiggolly Dantas, and this year’s most entertaining surfer, Mikey Wright, earned a wildcard.
Watch the event from July 2-13 on Facebook and at WorldSurfLeague.com
