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A14 sports
Monday 7 February 2022
Nearly 50, surfing icon Slater still catching winning waves

By PAT GRAHAM and EDDIE "I mean, I kind of think of
PELLS it like a martial art — you
AP Sports Writers don't get worse as you
On Day 3 of the Winter get older, you get more
Olympics, America's big- experienced," said Slater,
gest victory might very well who also happens to be a
have come not on a frozen scratch golfer.
halfpipe in China, but in the This was the surfing equiva-
warm waves of the Banzai lent of winning at Pebble
Pipeline, thousands of miles Beach.
away in Hawaii. "I'm turning 50, but I look at
The win belonged to Kelly it more like I have almost 40
Slater, the surfing great who years of experience at this
turns 50 this week. Slater wave and I'm able to draw
defeated a rider less than on moments I've had out
half his age to capture one here before and find con-
of the sport's iconic events, fidence in that," Slater said.
the Billabong Pro Pipeline Still, the win was surreal,
near the renowned reef off even for him.
of Oahu. "Indescribable, indescrib-
Now that he's on top — able," he said. "A lifetime
again — Slater is starting to of dedication to one thing
consider retirement. Noth- and it all comes together
ing official, of course. Just on a moment like that is, I
thinking about it. For advice don't know how you com-
on the matter, Slater mes- pare it to anything else."
saged with his buddy, Tom Over his years of catching
Brady, for a back and forth waves, he's seen the sport
from one athlete dubbed explode in popularity. This
the GOAT, or Greatest of All victory comes a mere six
Time, to another. months after surfing made
"It would be interesting if its Olympic debut. In keep-
that happened in the same Kelly Slater celebrates after winning the Billabong Pro Pipeline on Feb. 5, 2022, in Haleiwa, Hawaii. ing with the ethos of a true
week," Slater cracked in an Associated Press action-sports star, part of
interview Sunday (Saturday him loves the exposure and
in Hawaii) with The Associ- "Everyone who retires from weekend was his eighth tearing up in the aftermath part of him is reluctant.
ated Press, on the possibility surfing just goes surfing World Surf League Cham- of the win. "An honor to surf Sometimes, though, it's
that he'd retire on the heels more," he said. pionship Tour victory on the against him," Moniz said. just best to ride where the
of Brady's announcement. Not everyone has won Banzai. It also marked his Only a few days earlier, wave takes you.
"We'll see how that goes. this much. Slater was the 56th overall tour win. it looked like Slater might "All of us, I guess, feel a little
I'm contemplating whether youngest world champion To close out his latest vic- be eliminated by pipeline bit funny about any kind of
I stop now or really go full when he captured the title tory, he beat Seth Moniz, favorite 22-year-old Bar- mainstream thing with surf-
bore this whole year, which at 20. He was also the old- a 24-year-old sensation ron Mamiya. There were a ing," Slater said. "We want
would be, in my eyes, re- est when he won it at 39. He from Hawaii. Slater goes handful of seconds on the it to be a sport, we want it
ally for the fans and saying just finished his last contest way back with Moniz's dad, clock when Slater caught a to have an outlet and get
goodbye to everybody af- in his 40s with a win, too. He Tony, whom he looked up magical wave to steal the paid for it and stuff. But at
ter all the years of support turns the big 5-0 on Friday. to when he was up and heat and advance. the same time, we all feel
they've given me." In all, he's become a house- coming. One of the most That was a matter of his so passionate about it that
Should he step away, he hold name and captured touching moments of this vast experience, combined we want it to just be kind of
already has his retirement a total of 11 world cham- day came when Seth Moniz with some timely good for- sacred still, and secret and
plans: surfing. pionships. His win over the embraced Slater, who was tune, coming through. special."q

Cavaliers agree to acquire guard Caris

LeVert from Pacers

By TOM WITHERS and believe they can win like Caris LeVert very well
AP Sports Writer the Eastern Conference could push them to the
CLEVELAND (AP) — Pulling title. They've been aggres- top," Carlisle said during his
off a major move before sively shopping for more pregame new conference,
the NBA trade deadline, backcourt help after losing which was slightly delayed
the Cleveland Cavaliers guards Collin Sexton and as news of the trade broke.
have agreed in principle to Ricky Rubio to season-end- "Caris has been a tremen-
acquire guard Caris LeVert ing injuries. dous young man to work
in a trade with Indiana. LeVert is averaging 18.7 with here," Carlisle said.
Pacers coach Rick Carlisle points and 4.4 assists for "He's a very special person
confirmed the proposed the disappointing Pacers, and a very special player.
Indiana Pacers guard Caris LeVert, right, drives around Chicago deal Sunday night shortly who are 19-35 and already He's a first-class human be-
Bulls forward Javonte Green during the first half of an NBA bas- before the teams played. thinking about their future. ing and a first-class pro and
ketball game in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 4, 2022.
Associated Press The Cavs have moved into "Cleveland is in a great po- a tremendous player. I'm
playoff position this season sition, and adding a guy going to miss him."q