Surfing: Slater second in France, but moves closer to another world title
Advertiser Staff
Florida's Kelly Slater placed second in the Quiksilver Pro France men's surfing contest today, and is on the brink of clinching an unprecedented ninth world championship.
Adrian Buchan of Australia won the contest, edging Slater 15.73-15.16 in the final.
"I can't believe it, to have Kelly in the final and to beat him, I am speechless," Buchan said. "He is my hero. I have watched him win five events this year he has just been phenomenal."
Slater would have clinched the 2008 world championship if he won the contest.
There are still three more events remaining on the 2008 World Championship Tour, and Slater's lead in the ratings is virtually insurmountable.
"Itıs frustrating though, to be so close literally one score away from winning the title," Slater said. "I guess at this point I'm two heat wins from winning the title."
The next contest is the Billabong Pro at Mundaka, Spain, scheduled to run Sept. 29 through Oct. 12. Slater needs to reach the fourth round of that contest to clinch the world title.
The five Hawai'i surfers on the tour were eliminated from the Quiksilver Pro France earlier in the week.
