Kelly Slater is back on top at the age of 49.
The surfing icon was crowned king of Pipeline on Sunday morning after a dramatic final against Seth Moniz at the famous Oahu reef break.
It was all too much for the 49-year-old — one week away from his 50th birthday — and he choked up at times when interviewed back on the sand.
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The 12-time world champion was celebrating a victory at Pipeline 30 years on from when he first won the event in 1992. It was the eighth time he has won the Pipeline Pro.
Slater had made the final after a rollercoaster event where he avoided being knocked out before the quarter-finals only by catching a wave with four seconds left in his heat.
He followed that up on Sunday with wins over Japan’s Kanoa Igarashi and Miguel Pupo before coming up against Moniz in the final.
The American champion was untouchable in the final — and never gave Moniz a look in.
He even pulled off his best wave of the entire event in the last minute of the final, where he scored a 9.77 to take his total score to 18.77.
Moniz also went big in the final minute with a score of 9.43, but he was never in a position to challenge Slater.
“The greatest of all time is back,” a WSL TV commentator said.
“The fairytale begins now for Kelly Slater.
“I’m speechless. This is amazing.”
Slater was overcome with emotion when interviewed back on the sand.
He had been carried up on the beach on the shoulders of surfing types and was mobbed by a huge crowd of fans.
When the TV broadcast finally caught up with him, Slater was lost for words.
“I don’t know what to say man,” he said.
“I was out there telling myself just be in the moment. No matter how much tension there is. Just breathe.”
He needed a moment to compose himself after he started to talk about the impact surfing has had on his life.
“I committed my life to this you know,” he said.
“To all of this. The heartbreak. All the winning. All this crap. I’ve hated lots of it. But I just savour these moments and this is the best win of my life.
“I don’t even know how to explain this moment. It’s like so spiritual for me.”
Slater’s performance at Oahu’s North Shore has led to increased belief he could actually win the world title this year.
However, that has been further clouded by revelations last month Slater has “no chance” of getting into Australia for upcoming events without being vaccinated, according to the federal government.
Slater has made it clear he is against the safe and effective jabs.
Defending tennis world number one Novak Djokovic, Slater last month bizarrely declared “maybe Stockholm Syndrome can now change its name to Melbourne/Australia syndrome” and “so much brainwashed hatred in people’s hearts regardless of vax status”.
Slater’s vaccination and immigration headache is expected to play out before the WSL men’s championship tour heads to Australia before the Bells Beach Pro is scheduled to begin on April 10 in Victoria.