Although he came across two cameras and a camcorder on his way, it was as a complete stranger that Kelly Slater crossed the Grande Plage de Biarritz that day to surf one of the series of the Biarritz Arena Master, a competition on the World Tour calendar. The Floridian was only 19 years old at the time and his legend had not yet been written. When the gifted American arrived in the South-West for the three French competitions of the pro circuit (Lacanau, Hossegor and Biarritz), he was still in the early stages of his career and especially of his season. Because of a school year to finish and a diploma to obtain, the future King of the discipline started his season well after the others, at the end of July, with the Huntington Beach event in California (quarter finals). After a round of 16 in Newquay, England, a quarter in Lacanau and a 16th in Hossegor, Slater came to challenge the small waves of Biarritz, with his almost immaculate board - only a sticker of his historical sponsor Quiksilver on the nose - and his pink shorts under his arm.
After having eclipsed Marty Thomas in the sixteenth round and Brad Gerlach in the eighth round, he was eliminated by Martin Potter in the quarters (92.5 - 83.3), who lost in the final to the young Brazilian Fabio Gouveia. Kelly Slater finished 5th at the Grande Plage and ended the year ranked 43rd in the world, which allowed him to remain in the elite and participate in the 1992 World Tour for his first full season on the pro circuit... which was crowned with a historic first world championship title at only 20 years old. The following years, a "Slatermania" will break out during the events in Lacanau, Hossegor and Biarritz. Stalked day and night by his fans, the Cocoa Beach surfer lived each competition under escort, far from the anonymity and tranquility of that summer of 1991.
David Michel
