Kelly Slater on the wipeout that nearly killed him

Kelly Slater shares life-threatening surfing experiences, including two-wave hold-down and getting knocked out in France. Slater calls the Banzai Pipeline in Hawaii and Mavericks at Half Moon Bay in Northern California two of the most dangerous surf spots.
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Episode debuted nationwide in 2016.
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[@TrapasaurusFlex]

Kelly Slater is literally the perfect name for a surfer.

[@isaacsantiago251]

Pete Pompies Killer Slayer

[@albertofernandez4014]

You obviously don't know much about Kelly Slater. He's basically the Michael Jordan of surfing. Refrain from commenting when you don't know shit from shinola.

[@brandonflynn8621]

Trapasaurus Flex na john John Florence is

[@Tiger-ms5iv]

coddy maverick is better

[@forkii4122]

Is it literally?

[@jeenyus720]

Says pipeline is the most dangerous wave hes ever surfed. Then theres jamie obrien on pipeline doing board transfers off an inflatable flamingo wearing a speedo.

[@hudsonlawrence7197]

Kevin Rustles so true😂

[@ThatSB]

Depends on the day though. Also that J.O.B., half is his balls of steel and half is for views. Youre not gona see him doing that on pipe's biggest days and you're not gona see him doing it on the shallowest part of the reef either

[@keawestephenson7113]

JOB also almost died at pipe recently...

[@2299mikey]

Kevin Rustles job isn’t doing that on the scary days.

[@setho1727]

So tru

[@NareshSinghh]

Listening to Kelly describe that moment when you are clawing to the surface for air is such a trip. I'm sitting here pooping but also am hella grateful for the breath of air I just took in.

[@owenmcgill1922]

Naresh Singh same

[@rowzyG]

Naresh Singh me too

[@TheAgentAssassin]

Happened to me in Hawaii , scary .

[@lukemango3560]

Yea that must be crazy and hahahah

[@user-ij1mr9ex3s]

I'm confused. What did he hit his head on?

[@meatman7471]

"A couple of my friends died there"

[@braxtonvillagran2664]

Todd Cheser was his friend that died

[@johnchappell5477]

Kelly Slater has to be one of the greatest athletes that ever lived. It's strange how main stream sports doesn't recognize surfers as much as they should. They say hitting a baseball is the hardest thing to do in sports but I dont think they have ever ridden a 50 foot wave. Thank you..

[@rosep8481]

I think its because such a party atmosphere surrounds the sport. Im sure they are great athletes but you wont find a tour de france winner drinking and partying while doing the tour

[@kelvindawe5123]

How true is that surfers are such amazing very very fit athletes unyet no recognition its realy bad especially when you look at the sponsors involved you would think they could get them main stream. 👍

[@leonardocook4444]

Know what? You’re right. Surfers don’t get nearly as much attention as soccer players or basketball players. Even though in our sport we sometimes face sharks and massive waves. Not to mention the mental game you have to have to not drown in an emergency.

[@leonardocook4444]

@@rosep8481 this comment just proves you’re not even close to being a surfer. Most surfers won’t drink or smoke since you need your breath. Party atmosphere? What sport are you talking about? Especially since literal sports bars exist. You can go get wasted and watch the game. If you get wasted surfing you’re gonna drown. Wtf? You’re so incorrect.

[@ChickenJoe-tq6xd]

@@leonardocook4444 nope you ain’t the real surfer, surfers have roots in party life especially Cali and Florida

[@stevefowler2112]

I grew up in Cocoa Beach in the 60's and 70's and was mostly into motorcycle racing but I surfed just enough to say I knew how to surf...when I was in Engineering College in early/mid '80's at UCF I used to surf a little during my free time and one Saturday I was surfing in front of Patrick A.F.B. and there was a young kid there tearing it up...it was Kelly...I would guess he was 12 or 13ish and he was already damn good....Much respect...he is a great guy and a real badass.

[@ararefind9069]

Yeah Baby.. I'm glad you knew it was Kelly...he needed to be on Baywatch thank God he was on TV once

[@williamfernandez1022]

I currently live in Patrick AFB and surf right across the street near Satellite Beach! Honored to surf the Sam spot as Kelly 🏄🏻‍♂️

[@RPostVideos]

@Jeff B no, he had hair. He had hair until I guess he started balding or something. His hair was dark brown.

[@davepadgett2163]

2nd light! Surfed there in the mid 80's, early 90's! Just north of that was "Picnic Tables".

[@seremaiamasitabua8814]

Agree bro surfing is another level and plus Kelly is a legend

[@patrickboy9417]

I wiped out on a 3 foot wave and was tired after

[@aggffdgubfff]

LOL

[@jakegravad4342]

I get scared in 6-8 foot waves. I surfed a few years. One time l went out in 12 foot and had to paddle for my life for 2 hours, most horrifying experience of my life.

[@montagmoon2248]

Bro same. I went surfing for my first time. Was trying to get to calm waters and got SMACKEDDDD cause I froze up.... While I was under I knew I wasn’t supposed to fight it. Came up 4 seconds later, felt like 20 lmao, got smacked by another wave and the cord wrapped around my neck, I came up yelled loud as hell looked at my mate and was like “I’m done” ahahahah still a fuckin great day tho

[@etspacejams]

So blessed to have Kelly as a spokesperson for surfing. So well spoken and respectful - Slater 4 prez

[@moosedrummer1]

Dude even sits in a chair like he’s on a surf board.

[@davitavora508]

Why is nobody talking about how weird Kelly's legs are at the beginning of the video

[@jadin1803]

Thankyouuu😂😂

[@stephenr80]

Is like hes surfing air

[@albertoongaro8388]

he had to pee

[@JGCSRT]

Yep, he looks like a paraplegic who just got picked up out his wheelchair and plopped down there.

[@vboytan]

They're out of water he doesn't know what to do with them.

[@erikdowgin2493]

No one ever talks about when you finally get to the surface and there is two feet of foam that ya can’t breath through.

[@papagee3163]

Happened to me surfing Roco Loco cr. On a big day. Could only suck foam and dive under huge walls of white water. The water was So airated had no bouancy. After 3 attempts to get a breath of air lost completeness deep under water having expelled all the air in my lungs. Sudenly a warm calm came over me last thing I remember was light rays . Thought I died but regained concienceness in a deadman float position 100 yds further out. Coughed up some foam swam in the channel climbed up the cliff and was told by an observer that he thought I drowned not seeing me for minutes. It was a god thing. Can not explain it any other way

[@James-ip5gz]

@@papagee3163 Horrifying story. Coming to the surface but still being unable to breathe is my nightmare

[@jemand8462]

@@papagee3163 this didn't happen

[@AndieZ4U2]

Tell me about it!

[@AndieZ4U2]

@@jemand8462 😅😆😂😂

[@dianthe5756]

“A couple of my friends died there” WHY DOES HE SAY IT SO CASUALLY, that’s so sad🥺

[@ZmannR2]

It's just part of the sport unfortunately....even us novice surfers usually know someone who's died

[@jonathanking456]

He knows they died doing what they loved. They knew the risks of surfing big waves.

[@dianthe5756]

@@jonathanking456 yeah, I get that. Life is so precious though. You only get to live once, and you devote it to a sport that can kill you in an instant? When you have so much more to live for? its just so heartbreaking when that sport eventually DOES take your life. especially at a young age

[@Eighteen19]

Cause.... death is normal.

[@arthurwatts1680]

He's so right about the 2-wave hold down - particularly nasty if you've just gone over the falls. I miss a lot of things about surfing, but I dont miss the days when it felt like the ocean really was trying to kill me. You paddle out because you want some of that power, but it comes at a price.

[@b4ssfunk3d]

I had my first 2-wave hold down in OB San Diego. I was surfing at the pier in 4-6 foot surf and wiped out and went over the falls and soon as I got out of the wash I popped up for air and got hit by a wave before I could get a breath and held on for the ride and finally got back up and gasped for air because I wasn't anticipating myself holding my breath that long.

[@dons1932]

@@b4ssfunk3d That's when it happens man! When the waves aren't even particularly "that" big. You know just nice shortboard waves with some good wind and the double comes so unexpectedly.

[@kurthenze2900]

I know what you mean, I barely survived a 3 wave hold down at Sunset Beach. And had a Hawaiian spirit guide tell me what to do. It was a spiritual experience that saved me. No shit! A spirit of some kind spoke to me. I wouldn't be here right now telling you this if it didn't happen. He spoke. And said, Relax. My heart went from 200 bpm to almost stopping. Come to find out, that's the secret of whales and dolphins, saved my life.

[@kurthenze2900]

@Paulo Eclectik No Bullshit! That's not the only time spirits haved talked to me

[@elenaromeroo]

Kurt Henze maybe it was God

[@Ya-average-11B]

I almost drowned when I was 9 surfing with my dad on the tail end of hurricane Andrew in 92 and it was absolutely terrifying. I got caught in the undertow and wasn't able to do anything. I've been in fire fights and blown up and nothing compares to drowning it's the most helpless/ panicking feeling anybody could ever experience.

[@Apesedits]

Lying like a rug. Lionel. Hello.

[@Ya-average-11B]

@@Apesedits oh ok

[@ZmannR2]

Ya man....that feeling of not knowing which way is up is real too....happens to us all who's been in big wipeouts....that few seconds of panic is unforgettable

[@c.kirchhoefer]

Man I got stuck on a rip current during a sunset surf with 10 ft waves and when it got dark and I was still stuck swimming sideways with nobody else I felt ALONE

[@leonardocook4444]

@@ZmannR2 who can forget the underwater cartwheels and backflips you do when you’re in big waves and wipeout 😂

[@STEINSANG]

Graham "2017 Firestone" Bensinger. Much Respect, great listener.

[@sherylrae5375]

Love him. 2 wave hold down is traumatic and I love that it happened to me on relatively small waves too. Just don’t panic. Mavericks is SO cold.

[@LurgsHowToGuides]

Literally a living Surfing legend, and still ripping it up at his ripe old age, what an inspiration.

[@StratPIG]

I had a 2 wave hold in SO CAL, i surfred with a new friend who took me to his spot. Little did i know it was sketchy ass beach break. I was held down to the point i thought i was gonna drown. I relaxed to embrace death and all of a sudden i was shot onto the beach. Board broke.

[@panheaddan1]

I can relate in 1975 paddling out in 10-12 foot surf at Huntington Cliffs a wave broke right on my back .. knocked the wind out of me and my board squrted out of my hands ..I never used a leash.. as I was coming to the surface out of air , i saw the sunlight and felt my hand reach air..the next wave pounded me again and washed me onto the beach..you don't appreciate life until it's almost taken.

[@syren4731]

This poor guy... the way he described his injury sounds traumatic as all hell and yet he's so open to talking about it with the guy that's interviewing him. What a brave man. Also, I'm here because you SinceWhenDoYouCallMe_John amazing surfing fanfic Gimme Shelter. Love all your effort and attention to detail SinceWhenDoYouCallMe_John! Love you lots!

[@digiprez77]

I KO'd myself for a split-second wakeboarding, and when I came to I was underwater so I started frantically trying to swim to the surface but something was holding me back... Then I remembered I was wearing a life vest, so I stopped swimming and just floated up to the surface... Surfing scares the hell out of me. I went to Hawaii once, tried it, and scorpion'd myself on some kind of sandbar in Waikiki Bay. Turns out you want to surf where the other people are, not in the spot that looks good to your Wisconsin-bred eyes... I actually got up on a wave right away, but all of a sudden the water was a foot deep and the nose of my board dug in, hence the scorpion. There was some coral in that sand too, I took some home in my nipple and had to dig it out after it got infected.

[@captmack007]

yah when you don't know the waters its scary, in oahu I saw this rock sticking up I didn't see paddling out and then was told by a local oh yeah that's sashimi rock

[@brussell639]

I had a mosquito bite on my nipple when I was a kid. nipple injuries are the absolute worst, no shit.

[@godsnut6350]

You probably only scorpion’d due to you being too much in front of the board or you should try and go sideways instead of going straight forward

[@billybees3796]

Gnarly are you near the coast now and surfing?

[@sambudworth5357]

digiprez77 why the nipple bit

[@fightrrrrr]

I always admired your professionalism and giving interviews and to have Kelly Slater on the other end of it, I felt as if both of you are just typical guys who are really easy to hang out with

[@skahler]

The thing I really appreciate about Graham is that he does simple journalism, which nobody else does now. So that's pretty much why he's so big. By doing the simple thing.

[@GrahamBensinger]

Nice of you to say Shaun. We try to be prepared, and have that in depth conversation with all our guests. Glad you're enjoying the content! -AD

[@mantasaukstuolis4377]

When he described getting knocked out - I thought he was describing my story. I can't believe I had the identical thing happen to me - except there were no fans on the beach waiting for me. LOL.

[@Aromatic-ring]

I don’t know how you can handle that much yeeting underwater. I’ve fallen on 10-15 feet and gotten so sloshed underwater that I swam to the bottom because I didn’t know what direction was up. Almost drowned

[@izzojoseph2]

Damn, breathing water when you’re trying to breathe air is the worst. What little air you have is coughed out and you’re left empty.

[@jakegravad4342]

Scary af

[@michaelhunziker7287]

My home break was his home break. Islander Hut. Cocoa Beach, Florida. Not Hawaii, Brazil, or California, but Florida. Dude went from water bug to 11x Champ. There will be none higher, ever.

[@chrishollar6080]

Tha' HuT ruT 👌

[@thomasocallaghan9145]

Love Slate, surfed with him a few times and a super nice guy,Fiji almost killed me

[@ThiagodMoraes]

I can imagine, those waves are on same level as Pipeline or Mavs,deadly!!

[@jakegravad4342]

He watched me surf in Portugal, lm a kook but my wife saw him watch me, apparently it was interesting to see how a beginner -intermediate negotiated 2 footers lol

[@mikewolfee9699]

this guy has a net worth of 25 million and still lives humbly thats insane i love it

[@JFerg1984]

"What is the most dangerous place you ever shurfed?" Does anyone know what shurfing is?

[@PeterClaven]

hahahahahahahaa

[@Letsgo_ray]

Awesome testimony Kelly, respect sir

[@favrerules04]

He got pitted, so pitted!

[@loki475]

none more pitted

[@ALGtheMC]

Cheezeburger Walrus bahh

[@gel141]

Whapaaaaaa!

[@95Hammah808]

Cheezeburger Walrus so pitted braaaah shackd braaaa fuking pitted pitted

[@lauriecarter8931]

I hate it when you wipe out and don't have a chance to take a breath or wiping out and getting the air knocked out of you before going under especially when it's big,so scary having no air in your lungs!!!

[@flatwater7127]

the earth is not a globe !!! Slater is the man,Thank you

[@bruce9897]

Another great share 🤙🏽

[@petermcdougall1152]

I grew up in Jupiter, but we surfed Sebastian inlet alot, Kelly is from Sebastian. Those waves were sooo awesome! Glad I did it!

[@HoStevie]

Don't die Kelly!

[@itr0863]

he won't because he doesn't do drugs like andy irons.

[@ZmannR2]

@@itr0863 Lotta people have died not doing drugs and surfing yo

[@zachb7374]

Facing death. I too got smashed by waves and didn't know where the FK the surface was- With only seconds left.. I blew the last air I had with my hands cupped around my mouth..to feel the direction of the bubbles--- Learn today how to whistle loud with your fingers-- this also saved my ass in a rip. Teach kids at 5years of age- it's a skill for life people

[@blursmash7320]

haha 0:38 why is he sitting like that?? love ya Kelly

[@RynoSnipes]

If you didn't know him and read the title and see him sitting like that you'd think the wave paralysed him

[@getl0st]

He looks like he's busting for a piss....

[@TWEAKLET]

he is a Japanese school girl they all sit like that

[@guitaristinseattle]

So gay!!!

[@propertyservices1]

blur smash sitn like he at a bbq with a plate on his lap... lol

[@desigamboa418]

Kelly's interviews are interesting to hear. he's a seasoned surfer and has surfed all the spots. We've had some of those experiences like lost of air. cool interview.

[@GrahamBensinger]

Be sure to check out the full episode: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nnWyqIGCqL9mpc0 -AD

[@ant1985ish]

thats scary. u can see him getting choked up about it. glad he made it out the ocean is a ferocious BEAST!!

[@RiceLilyMeadows]

The one time my dad tried to teach me surfing (after getting the hang of boogie boarding) I wiped out and I had a double wave crash on top of me. I'm a decent-strong swimmer but I panicked when I didn't feel the ground below me. When I finally emerged, I was already traumatized and all I hear from my dad in the BG was him cackling the opening of Sufaris- Wipe Out. And I never surfed again....

[@karl-heinzvonscharnhorst546]

Kelly Slater, the Great One (respect to Gretzky!).

[@sherylrae5375]

“Which way is up?” It sounds simple but it isn’t. Luckily I haven’t been there again. The way he explains is perfect

[@jakegravad4342]

Never had that experience. I got crushed by waves way too big but found my way up really quick. Waves are petrifying tho.

[@DaveMarkovich]

Kelly Slater is one og my all time fav surfer. And he also sits funny (00:28)

[@JGCSRT]

WTF is going on with how Kelly is sitting at the beginning of the video?!? He looks like a paraplegic who was just lifted out of his wheelchair and plopped down for the interview.

[@dylancole3861]

JGCSRT I'm dead af bro I was thinking the wipe out did that

[@jodym2101]

He was holding in a massive dump

[@airindiana]

I thought he was disabled after the wave and they were getting to “and that’s when I broke my legs in half”. But no, just the way the dude sits lol. Bit like a thunderbird puppet lol. Massive respect though. Sounds terrifying.

[@cakeboss1721]

JGCSRT lmOo

[@quincee3376]

LMFAO. I noticed that too. I was like " wow, i didn't know Kelly was severely Pigeon toed "

[@seeddub3536]

Crazy, his experience in France is so much like a near knockout I had at pipe in the early 90s, came to, took a while to figure out the surface, the whole thing. Hurricane Iniki swell.

[@BigErnMcCracken777]

Thought he was gonna say teahupo’o and pipe for most dangerous but the way he described Mavericks was terrifying, you can tell he has a lot of respect for that wave in NorCal

[@jakegravad4342]

Out of all the things l watch, this is THE MOST INTERESTING BY LIGHT YEARS....

[@swayjaayy5495]

I've been into surfing since I was a kid. The ocean scares the hell out of me. But still something I've always wanted to do. There's no place to safely surf in the area I live in in Washington

[@surfereverywherees8445]

The best surf kelly slater .... Blessings since El Salvador good waves punta roca

[@antsinmyeyes9547]

The thing about these waves, is that it doesn’t look that bad when someone wipes out, but it ends up being really bad, so everyone thinks your fine but your just not

[@RPostVideos]

I grew up in Cocoa Beach. Kelly was a few years older than me, but he was always at the beach of he wasn't touring the world.

[@sniffableandirresistble]

Watch the John Daly interview when he asks this guy "wait so you don't play sports? Then why are you interviewing athletes?" ....lol 😆

[@rockyevans1584]

Jon Daly is that typical old guy who thinks it's so cool how unhealthy and rebellious he is. Man can crack the ball, but he seems like a boring dude to have drinks with. This dude doesn't interview strictly athletes anyways

[@sniffableandirresistble]

@@rockyevans1584 he is a beloved legend ❤

[@rockyevans1584]

@@sniffableandirresistble fair enough, certainly he seems like one of the few standout characters in pro golf

[@philippelouis2352]

Graham you should definitely interview free climber Alex Honnold about his climb of El Capitan in Yosemite!

[@WhiteNacho]

Same thing happened to me in Ventura at The Dredge.

[@brianfawcett704]

Same here, at “The Oil Piers”. Those were the days...

[@AprehamLincoln]

Kelly is such a legend. He's the reason I became interested in surfing. Always wanted to try it. Sadly I have spent all my life near Toronto, didn't even see the ocean for the first time til I was in my 30s so I never got to learn the sport. And now my body is so busted up that I reckon it's too late. Such a shame. From time to time I'll go to a tropical island and I just sit on the beach imagining how awesome it would be to be in a barrel, gotta be the most beautiful experience there is.

[@flaplaya]

Kelly's a really cool dude, haven't seen anything on him in a long time. Glad to hear about his brush with death turned out good.. Cool to see he's still doing what he's best at. Number one surfer 11 times. Living legend.

[@KussKorpFlick]

The funny part is that in France we always want to learn surfing where he almost was drawn. I almost died there too, multiple times

[@sgtcaco]

I had the 2 wave hold down in massive surf when I was a grom. I don't think I would survive that in my older age.

[@cmdctrl4292]

I grew up in Atlanta and there's no where to surf on the east coast so for me surfing seems like the coolest thing ever. I dream-envy that whole lifestyle, the sun, the beaches, the waves, the surf, and the girls.

[@cmdctrl4292]

a.m. remorse Most Latinas are like that. They're awesome to fuck but an absolute headache outside of the bedroom.

[@cmdctrl4292]

***** Well, they're like dating a middle school girl = Super jealous, VERY hormonal, they talk back, they're super sensitive to any comments, actions, or statements that could set off their bad attitude like a match. They are know it alls but most of them are uneducated and they are the type that wait to speak instead of listening. So personality wise, they're dumb immature bitches. Then you gotta deal with their family drama and the mother is a-whole-nother fucking problem. But they're hot and they love to get fucked.

[@billclinton4344]

Be up theree in da ATL living that gangster lifezzzzz

[@calpilot7]

Class act. Great ambassador for surfing.

[@deathpainful3350]

Whoa knarly dude! Radically insane trip. Right side up Capa dre.

[@120wphwavesperhour4]

Kelly doesn't like cold water surfing, it's a pity he doesn't surf Ireland much. I think he surfed Sligo once. I'd love to see him shredding the reef's along Co Clare

[@seremaiamasitabua8814]

Respect kelly is a legend and a big icon to this upcoming surfing champ ...

[@Surfmus]

I had long hair my entire life. But one time I cut it because I swallowed it as I was catching my breath on a triple overhead wave. Scariest moment of my life. Ain't nothing funny about dying. Not that I died obviously but been close it is the most fearful moment. Forget free falling or skydiving as an ultimate rush. Near death is the ultimate, scariest/rush feeling to exist.

[@candidlyopinionated19]

Same, went over the falls and ended up tearing ligaments in my shoulder during Hurricane surf, came back up gasping in pain and inhaled a bunch of hair, got pulled back under. It sucked. I’m a girl, so unfortunately cutting my hair isn’t really an option. Putting it up from now on though lol

[@666zerowolf]

2 wave hold down.....wow!

[@bru-uh6868]

I was just watching and wow. Scary

[@godbless4731]

I hope hes ok that had to be very scary god was with him that day🙏🙏🙏

[@joseluisgonzalez1219]

YOU ARE THE BEST SLATER...

[@starlight250]

3:08-3:11 this is so uplifting

[@jaydubya3698]

Pipe and Mavericks are undeniably dangerous and guys have died at both spots, but I was surprised he didn't mention Teahupoo...I mean, the name does translate as "broken skulls."

[@bernardogbecker]

Teahupoo is a really powerfull wave, but People says they feel more confortable there bc you can see where is the channel, so you just have to get there to be safe.

[@bobbywrongway6494]

I knocked myself out shorting a 2 1/2 in tuck and woke up under water. It was just like he described. You do not know right away which way is up.

[@70callen70]

That’s crazy like losing friends just off a hobby or sport like surfing.

[@ThatSB]

Where are those waves in the begining? They didnt mention a spot

[@pjmcvey436]

I’m from half moon bay🤙🤙 mavericks is so gnarly i can see it form my house

[@psychoticdaizyproductions569]

I agree. Half moon bay is gnarly. I almost broke my neck there once. The swell is at the shallows. Its too gnarly. 15 foot waves with 4 foot deep water.... too gnarly.

[@evmc2368]

Anybody able to tell me the type of van this is in the background or the name of what it could be?

[@coenraadloubser5768]

You don't even need to get knocked out to experience that, you just need to do your office job for a few weeks and forget to exercise.

[@David-jj7dy]

Oh my God what a horror of a story. Wow . Almost the same thing happened to me. When he says he couldn't tell what's up or down down in the water , I've been there and it's dreadful . I quit surfing. I have epilepsy . But too when you come to and your way down in the water I breathed and took in so much water I drowned. And the worst part is , people kept laughing at me and I could hear them and I still died. I am gone and have no legacy to this day. My son wrote this in rememberable of his dad.

[@MyHamsterwheel]

Graham interviews the best people and in my opinion is the best interviewer. it would be sick if you interviewed Jeremy Wade from "River Monsters" or connor mcgregor from the ufc

[@stfuliberal]

More like, im such a chill dude with a marbles in my mouth.

[@billclinton4344]

Thats beavis

[@jjj-eq7gv]

this is a good video.

[@illusion887]

Kelly is the Champ

[@MAKAIOJACKSON]

I showed this to my blind friend Wait

[@jeremydipilato1428]

Slaters body language tells how damn frightening that wipeout was

[@billclinton4344]

Yea, he hasn't been able to sit normal again :/

[@showmesomevideos]

Welcome to Hurricane Hugo 1989, the Poles, "Jax Beach" (actually Hannah but those reading will know). Got pushed to the bottom (sand) on a '15+ and my board stuck to the sand bottom. Swam for the surface after getting my direction straight, and managed to get within 1' of the surface (felt "air" with my outstretched arm clawing for the surface) before my leash reminded me I left something behind. Had to swim BACK down, dig out my board from the nose, float to the top (holding onto my board like a life preserver) so as to finally experience the joy of AIR for but a brief moment prior to being POUNDED again by wave #2 which drove me back under the surface prior to spitting me out onto the beach! (I too have seen "the angels" while under water during that time). Thank you God, I'm here to "laugh/reflect" now. Hurricane David 1979 spit me out over the breaker-wall into the Howard Johnson's parking lot and there were cars "floating" during that one but David was NOTHING compared to Hugo (in my personal experience).LOL On a side note, I remember surfing with you (Kelly) and Frieda in Flagger....good times;)

[@duvaldragon324]

Mike P 5mins from the poles reading this comment

[@Surfmus]

Mike P Winter 1999, Wilderness P.R. Dropping in 15 footers, getting washed. Coming out of the water to catch my first breath. I swallowed my 22" longhair. Cut it after that experience to have it about 25" long now. I actually grew long six or seven times after that bad experience.

[@chrishollar6080]

Seems like a lifetime too, underwater being thrashed. Used to catch a ride from Mayport to the poles every morning. 11 years old during Hugo but lived in North Carolina. And actually some of North Carolina s best surf was brought in by Hugo. 👌 Never forget those days that almost looked liked night and some monster waves 👍

[@elmoblatch9787]

During that wipeout is the only time Kelly Slater would ever appear to be clueless around a surf board.

[@kylewattssurfing3266]

Awesome cool thxxxx

[@Croiseeman]

Respect.

[@adambamf9365]

that dude looks pasty standing next to K S

[@STR8SHOOTER1000]

Kelly is the man!

[@kathlenedaniels9401]

The interviewer creeps me out.. "how about when you knocked yourself out in France? ouo"

[@cram7870]

"realizing im really lucky" 😆yes kelly u are!!!

[@nicholaseachus5937]

You the man

[@thegamingfrog6586]

I just did surfing for the first time this week, and I mean I’m a newbie, so I just get the whitewash. Now I’m kind of terrified of surfing...

[@stevereed8786]

Im out of breath just listening to Kelly describe it.

[@jaydubya3698]

I'm surprised he didn't say Teahupoo as one of the most dangerous waves. I mean, the name speaks for itself..."Broken Skulls."

[@johntuttle9544]

Guess it isn't more dangerous than Pipe or Mavs. Kelley would know.

[@chivoprimo8875]

He had some scary rides at shipstern in the day.. Didn't mention that either

[@ivrimaman8765]

This summer I was doing some Serious 8-10 foot waves with my dad then some massive 11 to 12 foot wave comes I tried to duck dive but it was too deep it broke both of our boogies in half next thing we know I am carried out by some rip current and being half conscious have no Idea what to do so I try swimming back to shore biggest mistake of my life i am about 300 feet from shore and 40 feet from my dad he is a very good swimmer but I had no idea what he was saying but at some point I lifeboat comes I swear it is the biggest relieve of your life I have gotten lost in the middle of the woods while skiing and feel into a 10 foot ditch but nothing compares to surviving a frown one moment you are depressed knowing you are going to die and the next you come over the biggest relief of your life. I coughed up half a quart of water.

[@Rattlesnake3]

This dude is the Goat! Met him at Sebastian Inlet back in the day 👍🏻

[@ChickenJoe-tq6xd]

Too bad Sebastian inlet sucks now

[@Rattlesnake3]

@@ChickenJoe-tq6xd it does ! 1st peak used to go offf

[@ChickenJoe-tq6xd]

@@Rattlesnake3 monster hole is good sometimes but yea they f’ed up first peak so bad

[@selvakumari1686]

As surfer my passion for videos

[@al-dorifto1631]

I know what slater means about having to use all his mental power to not get PTSD. I nearly drowned back in 2011 cuz of cyclone swell and a snapped board, to this day mid 2022 I still havent got over the fear of it happening again