Kelly Slater: How It All Began

The GOAT, days from 50, won his 56th career pro event. At Pipeline, no less. Against a surfer half his age. If you, like us, are still numb from witnessing such a rare athletic achievement, maybe it makes sense to resurface the story of how it all began. It was 1990, and Kelly Slater was an unproven 18-year-old kid from Florida. He and the others who were there describe in their own words what happened next.