Kelly Slater won his tenth world surfing title this year. No other currently active sportsman, in any sport, comes close to matching this level of achievement. Incredibly, he's almost an unknown in his own country. If he was an Aussie, he'd be the most recognized person in the country.
Don't you mean Jimmy Slade?
Got to give that young man props for dating Pamela Anderson before she caught the hep.
Niche sport, not many could participate, few do, not spectator friendly = relative unknown
its AC Slater and Kelly Kapowski...moron
Not true and no one cares.
I agree Kelly Slater's great, but a lot of people consider Andy Irons (RIP) to be at least nearly as talented and skilled a surfer as Slater, if not moreso. Admittedly, Slater was probably a better competition surfer, but not by much. In a sport with that small a talent pool, to have someone even close to you means you're not the world's most dominant athlete.
Would have been great to have a couple more years of Irons/Slater rivalry.
Yes, but that was at the late stages of Slater's career. He got off the tour to do Baywatch and to puruse acting came back and dominated. He is an old man of the sport at this time and still is the best in the world. It is pretty amazing what he has done for as long as he has done it.
He dominated from 92 to 98 and still is the best. Can you name another athlete that was at the top of his sport in 92 and still is the best?
I don't have enough knowledge of super niche sports to comment. For all I know there is a snow shoe racer that has gone undefeated for 20 years or so. It is easy to dominate if no one else cares
Aussiemiler wrote:
Kelly Slater won his tenth world surfing title this year. No other currently active sportsman, in any sport, comes close to matching this level of achievement. Incredibly, he's almost an unknown in his own country. If he was an Aussie, he'd be the most recognized person in the country.
What about Pam Reed and Dean K?
He's not an athlete. He's an entertainer. Gravity Sports like surfing and skiing are NOT athletics.
Thurston wrote:
Yes, but that was at the late stages of Slater's career. He got off the tour to do Baywatch and to puruse acting came back and dominated. He is an old man of the sport at this time and still is the best in the world. It is pretty amazing what he has done for as long as he has done it.
He dominated from 92 to 98 and still is the best. Can you name another athlete that was at the top of his sport in 92 and still is the best?
Someone in our very own sport in The Emperor Haile Gebrselassie. Well... 93' is when he jumped on the scene and 92' I believe he won the juniors world champs in 5k/10k.
It's my girls, you jealous bastards. Youse guys would like to see them pregnant and in the kitchen.
Geb would be close, but Slater closed out 2010 as the world champion. Geb ended his biggest race of 2010 on the sidewalk waiting for a ride back to the start.
Surfing is an international sport. Admittedly, it's not as international as athletics. However, it is infinitely more international than NFL Football which is only played in one country. Therefore, surfing is hardly a niche sport. Actually, on a global level NFL Football would be regarded as a niche sport.
p.s. Every sport is a "gravity sport."
International has nothing to do with if a sport is niche or not. How many of the best athletes in the world have tried competitive surfing versus competitive football? What percentage of athletes live in a spot where surfing is even possible. I doubt more than 20% of the US lives with in an hour of a surf beach. Slater is a great athlete. But he stands out because he is competing against good athletes not great ones.
aussiemiler wrote:
Geb would be close, but Slater closed out 2010 as the world champion. Geb ended his biggest race of 2010 on the sidewalk waiting for a ride back to the start.
Surfing is an international sport. Admittedly, it's not as international as athletics. However, it is infinitely more international than NFL Football which is only played in one country. Therefore, surfing is hardly a niche sport. Actually, on a global level NFL Football would be regarded as a niche sport.
There's no athletics in surfing. The waves are created by tidal waves caused by the moon's gravity. He just rides them. It's a stunt, not athletics.
Bill Russell, 11 NBA championships in 13 year, last two champs an player/coach.
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The N in NBA stands for national. KS has been WORLD CHAMPION ten times as an individual. Plus, the topic is about KS being currently the most dominant sportsman on the planet.
Surfing is a sport. KS is a sportsman. KS is currently the most dominant sportsman on the planet. Why are you most of you Americans refuting this? Hell, if he was an Aussie he'd be a superstar. You should appreciate having him represent your country so well.