Kelly Slater Answers Surfing Questions From Twitter | Tech Support | WIRED

Surfing legend Kelly Slater answers the internet's burning questions about hangin' ten. Who gets to decide who takes a wave first? How do surfers get hurt? What's the biggest wave Kelly has ever seen? Do surfers wear sunscreen? Do they wear life jackets? Kelly answers all these questions and much more!
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Director: Morgan Crossley
Editor: Louis Lalire
Talent: Kelly Slater
Producer: Justin Wolfson
Line Producer: Joseph Buscemi
Associate Producer: Paul Gulyas
Production Manager: Eric Martinez
Production Coordinator: Fernando Davila
Talent Booker: Meredith Judkins
Post Production Supervisor: Alexa Deutsch
Post Production Coordinator: Ian Bryant
Supervising Editor: Doug Larsen
Assistant Editor: Paul Tael
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[@sickstudentirl7993]

That moment when he looked at the camera when the guy said every surfer has long hair is sending me💀

[@krusher74]

The guy who asked it is a surf journalist,it was a meant joke.

[@sickstudentirl7993]

@@Bebtelovimab I see... Maybe I should tell that to my father since he's also a bald guy lmao

[@user-wk6ek3iz3k]

4:44

[@mas96]

😂😂😂😂😂 that was funny af

[@gabegoldswain]

For those who don’t know Kelly is 11x world champ, an absolute legend in the sport.

[@awesomecoolepicawesome]

He is *the* legend.

[@justayoutuber1906]

Also possibly Joe Rogan's taller brother

[@nottherealChickenJoe]

11 world titles for hanging 11 when he is surfing alone somewhere 😂

[@shacktime]

Arguably the greatest athlete to ever live. He’s 51 and still as good as almost everyone on tour, nearly all of whom hadn’t even been born when he won his first world title. In heavy, hollow waves he’s still in the top five globally and one of the top five tube riders walking.

[@gabegoldswain]

@@shacktime agreed

[@joogsquad]

Kelly a true Florida legend 🙏🏽🤘🏽🔥

[@ChickenJoe-tq6xd]

That’s you bro

[@willmcclard206]

johnny sins if he surfed instead

[@bonniecreevy2642]

I never knew him but grew up in the same area and he’s a year younger than me. Pretty proud of the guy.

[@ivermektin6874]

@@willmcclard206 ok coomer

[@Zero.0ne.]

Wired knows how to curate incredible people for these interviews. Kelly has led surfing fans through quite a journey.

[@jdl76556]

theres not much curating to be done, why would you choose anyone other than the goat?? yeah kelly!!!!!

[@rzadigi]

Yes just give them 💰💰💰

[@thomashauer6804]

slater is an absolute legend ..the tech giants behind wired not so much for shadowba**** certain crucial information..slater spoke out about it yet i cant find it on youtube with all the right keywords...and its their fault in the first place through primitive infowar and censorship

[@rzadigi]

@@thomashauer6804 yes, it’s a giant conspiracy 😂 😂 😂

[@thomashauer6804]

@@rzadigi millions dead excess mortality thorugh the roof. so funny. hahah brainwashed sicko . learn basic stats ritalin zombie

[@walkingtalkingdread]

He’s great. Love how straightforward and accurate he is

[@Stopmeghost]

yeah, could listen to him talk surfing all day.

[@ClayCrowz]

For those unaware, this is the Tom Brady, the Michael Jordan, the Messi, of surfing. The absolute GOAT

[@Jacob32905]

I grew up in Cocoa Beach surfing the same spots as Kelly. I remember watching his technique and thinking, "I will literally never be that good." 😂 The dude was an absolute animal back then and it's been a joy to watch his career become what it did.

[@oguzaksu1024]

What are some good spots near cocoa? I’m starting to surf and the surf line app shows all the beaches in east coast are poor

[@richgotem]

@@oguzaksu1024 the pier

[@bonniecreevy2642]

@@oguzaksu1024I live here. We don’t have huge waves. That’s why it’s so great we had Kelly Slater.

[@mattmattmatt3091]

@Jacob32905 Yo random question but are you bald or balding as well? iv heard a theory that the Coco water being jus south of Cape Canaveral makes all the surfers bald there cuz the Nasa waste in the water

[@RyGuyRy]

Nailed it. Kelly is top tier in the surfing realm, a true waterman 11x WORLD Champ and still competing with kids just about 1/3 of his age! Dude is the ideal example of a *Living Legend* .

[@JohnCocozza]

Kelly Slater is an absolute class act. Have met and photographed him several times and I can tell you all he is very kind, genuine, and humble champion. He is so generous with his time (within reason) for fans and especially the youth. One of the greatest things about professional surfing is the access that fans have to the professionals. Many times at the WSL Championship Tour the competitors are on the beach and talking with their fans and friends of their own accord.

[@juliebiggerbear7300]

I laughed way too hard at the hang 10 joke 😂😂😂 When that girl was asking about why her dad would have so many surfboards, my immediate thought was “she doesn’t get it.” It’s like anything that you love doing, you end up with a lot of different tools and items related to it. I will not go into just how much crochet, knitting, and drawing related things I have in my room… But I need them all!

[@alyssa.h]

same with the knitting and crochet! it's getting out of hand 😭 my family is so confused why I need so many of the same size of needles! like they just don't get it 💔

[@ChopASk8]

I sk8 & surf & I own a sk8 shop. I've had youngsters ask me how many sk8boards I have. Itz not a simple answer. When I lived in Fla,my friends had short boards & longboards. Some days in the summer the waves were too small for shorts boards. Itz funny how I knew surfers that rode only short boards & would clown ya if you said you had a good day goofin around on longboards. Longboards are harder to turn around & often the older ones didn't have leashes & you had to swim for them. Being short on a short board was easy for me in Fla.

[@ChickenJoe-tq6xd]

@@ChopASk8 did you go out today, it was so good

[@ChopASk8]

@@ChickenJoe-tq6xd No. Do you live in Fla? Sounds like you had fun.

[@guillaumeraux]

I’m a photographer. Photographers and videographers have a name for that phenomena: We call it GAS. For “Gear Acquisition Syndrome”. Because no camera is objectively and absolutely perfect. A camera is perfect for a specific purpose. So we buy many, for different uses. Although, many of us, during our journey, tend to think that we’re limited by our equipment, that buying a new camera or lense will solve a given issue (hence why we seek the new shinny toy). And it is, almost every single time, a mistake. Usually, the photographer is the limited factor, not their tools.

[@klint31]

The way he stares at the camera when he reads out 'Why do surfers always have long hair?'🤣🤣🤣

[@laurentiusmcmxcv]

As a baldie, this killed me 😂💀

[@quarkraven]

both the youngest and oldest world champion in the history of the sport. 11 times world champ, 55 career titles. He's not just the greatest surfer of all time. He is among the greatest athletes of all time in any sport. Kelly Slater you are the GOAT supreme.

[@MakeTimeNow]

Met Kelly in January at Whole Foods in Hawai'i. Such a humble, good dude.

[@paulw858]

I actually almost choked on my water when he said the "11 fingers" thing. He has an amazing sense of humor throughout.

[@dylanjwebmusic]

I like how a lot of these he could have just laughed off as silly questions but he actually took the time to explain the answer properly, often with an interesting story to back it up.

[@MattTee1975]

Greatest of all time - I don't think there will ever been another like him, either.

[@buffshepherd1540]

Adding to the 'what if there's a surf competition and no waves' answer... On the WSL Championship Tour events they have a window of around two weeks to get to the final, known as a 'wait period'. They do a 'dawn patrol' early in the morning to decide if the surfing is on or off for the day. If the surf is great, they run the heats back-to-back to make the most of the conditions. I think both the men and women's tournaments can be completed in five full days of surfing.

[@surfriderca9707]

Kelly always has an interesting answer. Love his interviews.

[@cyndiarios]

One of the best question-and-answer sessions yet.

[@cosmofonia-luigiantonio]

How cool is that!? I like Slater's ability to answer the most total-no-clue-questions with the same seriousness and no judgement as the more-informed ones.

[@Bigd0gg]

Excellent question and answer session was fun to hear the answers to newbie questions and also common ones that we’ve heard over the years. Thanks Kelly

[@d.b.cooper1]

Kinda learning to surf and it truly is a sport that humbles you real quick. So many levels to the game.

[@williamthegreat5126]

These questions had me laughing 😂. Especially the one asking why my stepdad has so many boards when he’s the only person in the house. What Kelly Slater should’ve said is that you never can have enough boards lmao

[@Lina-hi5ji]

YOU SHOULD ALWAYS WEAR SUNSCREEN NO MATTER IF YOU HAVE DARKER SKIN

[@tedtimmons7836]

Bro did that in all caps😂

[@felipekoury3314]

Thanks for your time and dropping some knowledge Kelly

[@CaiquePV]

I love Kelly, he is a great athlete and a great person too.

[@liamdaniel993]

Was and still am a huge fan bro. Much love and it's good seeing you doing good.

[@isaiahcornejo2294]

It’s interesting because Kelly said that the groms have last priority but where I surf we love groms and they have priority in almost every situation

[@ChickenJoe-tq6xd]

It’s like that in cocoa beach too where he’s born, idk why he said that

[@waywardmind]

"Why do surfers always have long hair?" Kelly Slater: [turns to camera. *Jocko Willink stare intensifies.* ]

[@kellymcphaul2793]

So funny. He’s a hottie either way.

[@WS_00]

If you only knew what the joke actually was.

[@jonjonsjohnson530]

Loved this way more than I should have. Hilarious and well done

[@jopo7996]

Life is a big wave and I'm just a grommet.

[@justayoutuber1906]

And I'm Wallace

[@DiegoPersanz]

This was amazing! He seems so nice

[@zoyita04]

i wish there were more question i love how he answers them im very interested!

[@speedy_o0538]

Absolute GOAT! This was a really fun interview.

[@professorasandrahaddad8372]

Incredible victory in Pipe in 2021 He is the prince of the ocean.

[@lucas182512]

When you know just enough bout surfing to know that's the GOAT ✊🏻

[@nt6911]

Always enjoy watching Kelly ❤

[@marcelovoto3536]

Kelly is a living legend!

[@carlosmaffizzoni2576]

GOAT sportsman.

[@kimr2352]

What a brilliant man

[@Alex-zi1nb]

i was just on the north shore of oahu watching surfers and its nuts what these guys n gals can do

[@TomTom_.]

I love these interviews especially the ones that involve science

[@ErickRey1]

Messi??? You mean Pelé!!!

[@tammytregoning5675]

This was very interesting, informative and entertaining.

[@usclvr19]

Loved this!

[@philoster6627]

I love the ongoing discussion about wave height! In NZ we go with the 'Hawaiian' thinking (must be a Pacific Ocean mentality). What I don't get here is why we still use feet for waves but km/hr for wind. We are now seeing more metric measurements for height, it makes it seem smaller though ;-) Instead of 6.5 foot it's only 2 metres. Basically the back of the wave height is half the face height, here.

[@greenwave819]

Absolutely love the resposne to the long hair question!

[@geezersurf]

Thanks Kelly (and Wired), that was informative, funny and entertaining to this Geezer Surfer.

[@jakes.5143]

Kelly is legit the goat. Been surfing for 20 years and he’s legit the best ever.

[@justayoutuber1906]

He turned pro in 1990...33 years. Dude is 49

[@noahallison7177]

@@justayoutuber1906 he is 51 and he won the pipeline master at 50 last year.

[@shacktime]

@@justayoutuber1906 Correction: he’s 51.

[@m4x.r]

a good question would have been: how do they read surf forecast? swell direction, period, influence of the tide, winds, etc.

[@orenji196]

Kelly is obviously a legend but also huge props to Shane Dorian for developing a life jacket that’s saved several surfers’ lives after he himself had a scary experience. Love that he channeled his bad experience into something that helps surfers today.

[@jmkride]

Would love to surf Kelly's Surf Ranch someday!

[@DylanNockolds]

That question where the guy asks "why do surfers always have long hair" was so funny 😂

[@WS_00]

But do you the reason why it was so funny? I don’t think you do…

[@voix6698]

Me be like: knowing all the answers to the questions but still watching the whole video cause I love kelly. 😅

[@GGGinJe]

His response to "why do surfers always have long hair" was priceless!🤣🤣🤣

[@tropicalpnch4549]

I don't believe for a NANOSECOND that I know anything about surfing that Kelly Slater doesn't, but regarding the surfboards being strapped in backwards on top of cars - I worked at a surf shop for a few years and we always told people to mount them that way because the aerodynamics of the board going forward would loosen it under the straps, and cause it to fall off while you're driving down the road. The idea I think was that the board is shaped to go in that direction in the water so some kind of aerodynamic lift can happen that supposedly wouldn't happen if the board was strapped in backwards. Now I'm wondering if someone at the shop just made that up and everyone else repeated it 😅

[@Randsurfer]

Yes, the board is flatter (less rocker) at the tail end than the nose end. Better for the tail to be forward on the car.. What Kelly said could be true if you have horribly unreliable straps.

[@loupipeline]

In all countries but the US the surfboard goes fins backwards

[@Randsurfer]

@@loupipeline List all the countries you've surfed or driven in with boards.

[@loupipeline]

@@Randsurfer USA, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Panama, Australia

[@Randsurfer]

@@loupipeline And outside USA surfers, all nose first on the cartop? Not.

[@michaelpaulholmes9667]

I always go to Lori Wilson Park, where they have Kelley Slater Pavilion East and West. He's a legend here in Cocoa Beach, FL. I never knew about the gloves that help you paddle faster. I have bad shoulders, so I am going to try this to help me paddle fast enough to catch a wave.

[@damienrucart7241]

For those who wonder about the key car, it exists key box secure with code, you put you key car in it and lock it to your car handle or anywhere else.

[@Freediver41jtf]

Fins forward on surf racks is most likely due to the surfboards rocker (curve) being flatter near the tail giving the wind less resistance on the board while your driving fast. I’ve seen the wind actually snap the nose off a short board. Just in case anyone is wondering…

[@saxophool]

"Hi, I'm Kelly Slater. I'm a professional surfer..." O m g! Many years ago, I went to one of the first Mavericks contests. Walking out to the beach, there was a kind of short, shave headed guy with a surfboard under his arm talking to a couple of guys. I stopped to eavesdrop. After the surfer left, one of the guys said to the others, Dude, who was that? Dude, that was Kelly f ing Slater! Imagine LeBron James or the Brady guy stopping to casually talk to fans before a game. A game in which he could be killed. Fan for life. 😎

[@HouseMDaddict]

Second question is a question I've had for a while too

[@dixonjavier]

Love this dude, the Hang 10 was funny.

[@DeforestLCooper]

Kelly is the man!

[@jean181994]

Amazing Kelly

[@adrianwoods7720]

Such a special human being. What I like about him is that he doesn't know it. He thinks he's just a regular person.

[@MLife1000]

Kelly Slater is a living legend

[@GiselleAGarcia]

I can't explain how a person's level of coolness exponentially shoots up when they're surfers. Like, this guy could say anything and it just sounds cool, ya know?

[@wc2361]

I went to hide my keys under a rock once and there was another set of keys there. I still put my keys there and when I came back, they were still there and my car was untouched. Dude understood haha Took a pic with Kelly like 15 years ago when I surfed in Benji Weatherley's grom contest... so I'm sick

[@filiperibeiro9707]

So humble. "I'm a professional surfer"...more like the best athlete ever in all sports

[@hannahhamstergirl7624]

IKR

[@ThisHandleFeatureIsStupid]

Nah, that's Rodney Mullen.

[@Jensen-C]

That’s just not true lol

[@filiperibeiro9707]

@@Jensen-C he’s 51, still very competitve against 20 year olds, 11 times world champion on a very demanding and difficult to practice sport. I just don’t see any other more accomplished athlete. Tom Brady just retired at 44 with 7 titles. Anyone that surfs knows that being good at it is very difficult because you cant just practice anytime you want, sometimes you can go a whole month without any waves.

[@mith2946]

Your argument is facile, it would be very difficult to justify. First, you said the greatest athlete ever. That's a different argument then the greatest amongst the greatest in their respective fields. For one you may say Bo Jackson and the other you might say Tom Brady. Tom Brady can also play near perfect and still lose a game easily, it's a team sport surfing isn't. Tom Brady has much more data to verify his greatness than Slater. No one to blame it just is what it is. So be careful of the blanket statements, it's showing your obvious bias.

[@williamkilroy2065]

such a good interview

[@OspreyVision]

That was super sweet!

[@bellebonjour]

His face when he read the question "Why do surfers always have long hair?" 😂

[@skiide9308]

4:45 was hilarious! 😂🤣

[@Malama_Ki]

Get a non-chipped duplicate car key that just unlocks the door but won’t start the car. Most surf trunks have an elastic string in the pocket to attach it or you can add one through the pockets drain grommet. Some leashes (DaKine) have a small Velcro pocket on the ankle strap. Another option is a combination lockbox (like realtors use on doorknobs) locked on your bumper somewhere. DON’T hide or use a magnetic key holder because some punk will be hiding and eye your spot.

[@Shrimpyyyyyyyy]

Combination lockboxes are the best, my bro in law uses one whenever he goes surfing.

[@rzadigi]

Put a key in your suit and you’ve got a good chance of losing it. Here in Japan everyone just leaves their car open and respects each other’s property 🙏❤️

[@jcvaks6649]

Awesomeee!!!

[@Rodner14]

nice explanations

[@Knqt]

To kelly: The Hawaiian scale is by the back of the wave, not the raw swell.

[@g.p.1676]

"I am a professional surfer" - understatement of the century.

[@ash-ip2gc]

well done!

[@master-kq3nw]

Legendary surfer my favorite charachter in baywatch🌊🏄‍♂️

[@MichaelDavis-si9bv]

This dude talked like this when he was 20. Super mature when he was younger which is probably why he lasted so long why others failed.

[@cjohnward]

This was so interesting.

[@pearljamin]

Hang 10 is pretty awesome I’d look it up

[@MikeHunt90731]

I had a friend in High School surfing Indonesia and the skag in his board cut his femoral artery and he bled to death on the shore with his friend holding him.

[@Randsurfer]

*Skeg. Yep, it is one of the dangers. I sliced open my wrist like that but survived.

[@prinsxx]

The awkward pause after the long hair question 😂 😂 😂

[@justayoutuber1906]

The Tom Brady of surfing. Turned pro in 1990 and still competing.

[@andredecaires2]

Kelly! Good man.

[@LurgsHowToGuides]

Legend

[@evanduckworth9681]

I read a comment once that said Kelly Slater looks like the default person in a character creation screen 😂. I won’t steal the joke but it needed to be shared.

[@dosesandmimoses]

Wouldn’t that be so cool if a surfer(s) solve and/or create major physics theories.. and that is why exercising outdoors is amazing!

[@vaughnalexander32]

I love beaches. Actually love living close to them, whenever I could afford it..Rockaway Park or Long beach in N.Y. biggest waves I saw was in Hawaii, I was on the main Island. Surfers flocked there to ride 50 ft waves

[@towdjumper5]

Great Stuff.

[@MTNorville]

It’s crazy that I know nothing about surfing but I know who Kelly Slater is.

[@JustASmallTownGirl85]

I had a picture of him on my wall when I was young lol He's still gorgeous

[@quinnlevy8996]

I clicked on the video just to see his response to the thumbnail but something about his eyes and the way he spoke mesmerized me like a snake charmer into watching the whole thing. I am a straight male

[@dr.burnquistxoidel5388]

The living legend 🐐

[@granthall2325]

If u ever read this Kelly u the Goat!!!! & Thx for yr time

[@JetSurfingNation]

surf pools are expensive but we can also ride jetboards and efoils if automation is what we are looking for :) Awesome interview! Such a legend!!!

[@stevestojan]

The whole hierarchy thing with catching waves is one thing that makes the sport hard to enter.

[@ChickenJoe-tq6xd]

Their is no hierarchy at any beginner spot 😂

[@savannahcassidy4970]

KELLLYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

[@nele2513]

big fan of you