Being from San Diego, I grew up in and around surf culture. I was learning to surf before I could walk and have sand permanently stuck in my hair.

Around the time I was in middle school, I got really into surfing and entered a few contests. Thinking extremely highly of myself, I also subscribed to several surf magazines and fancied myself a surf expert. Ripping out pages of magazines and taping them all over the walls in my beach-themed bedroom, I read up and learned about some of the surf stars that were making the front covers.

While numerous professional surfers were featured in articles or appeared on the glossy pages of the monthly “Surfing” magazine, one always stood out to me---Kelly Slater. Perhaps he stood out because he was at the top of his game at the time, winning back-to-back ASP World Championship titles in 2005 and 2006.

I ordered his autobiography Pipe Dreams: A Surfer’s Journey. Filled with memories and moments coming straight from the world’s greatest professional surfer, I became fascinated. Not only did I read the book once, but I vowed to read it as many times as he has won the ASP World Tour. By 2008, I had read it eight times. But then Slater had to go and win a few more world titles, so to date, I have read his book 11 times. I can practically recite it word-for-word at the drop of the hat. Slater isn’t like most people when it comes to fame. 

Holding records for the most World titles, most consecutive World titles, and being both the youngest and oldest to win a World title, Slater’s resume is a bit hefty. But the one thing that has always drawn me to Slater is his character. He grew up in Cocoa Beach, Florida and continually gives back to the community. Not many surfers can say they appeared in early episodes of Baywatch, have their own video game, or released an album, but that’s not what makes Slater who he is.              

From 1990 until this spring, Slater was sponsored by industry giant Quiksliver. Fans were shocked on April 1st when he announced his departure from his long-time partnership. After 23 years with Quiksilver, Slater moved on to be a partner with The Kering Group and develop his own brand. While many saw his letter to his fans announcing the split on Facebook and Instagram as a bad April Fools joke, it was the real deal.     

I might have shed a few tears reading his announcement while sitting in one of my “KE11Y” shirts, but I hope his new journey will bring him happiness. Quiksilver picked him up when he was just 18 and he had been the face of the brand for two decades. But Slater might not have been feeling the love with Quiksilver for a while now, as he is known as the world’s greatest surfer, but not the highest-paid surfer.      

While the Quiksilver logo might be taken off his boards, his fans have continued to stick behind him and support the surfing legend. Even if Slater pulled out of the US Open in Huntington Beach this summer due to an injury i'm still wearing my “S10TER” shirt and hat.