Robert Kelly Slater
Cocoa Beach, FL
N 28° 19.595 W 080° 36.585
Short Description:
A statue of world champion surfer Robert Kelly Slater is located in Triangle Park at the intersection of North Atlantic Avenue and North Orlando Avenue in his hometown of Cocoa Beach, FL.
Long Description:
Robert Kelly Slater, known professionally as Kelly Slater, was born on February 11, 1972 in Cocoa Beach, FL. He is both the youngest, at age 20, and oldest, at age 39, person ever to win the World World Surf League Championship. A title he has won a record 11 times: 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2011.
On November 17, 2010 the City of Cocoa Beach unveiled a 9.5' tall bronze statue of Kelly Slater. The statue and accompanying plaque was conceived by Cocoa Beach resident Sam Drazich and created by his artist sister Natasha Drazich. The funds, $120,000, required to complete the project was raised by public subscription.
The larger than life bronze statue depicts Kelly Slater wearing a bathing suit and balancing himself on a surfboard while riding a wave. He is shown in a crouch with his right arm pointing forward and downward, his right leg outstretched, and right foot near the front of the board. His left leg is bent and his left foot is below his body. A short column raises the surfboard above a circular bronze plinth on which is inscribed with the word HONORING KELLY SLATER WORLD SURF CHAMPION and the years he won the World World Surf League Championship. The statue sit on top of a pile of moss covered rocks.
The bronze plaque at the north side of the sculpture is inscribed:
ROBERT KELLY SLATER
BORN FEB. 11, 1972
WORLD SURFING CHAMPION
1992, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2010
SURFING LEGEND ROBERT KELLY SLATER, WHO LEARNED TO SURF WITH
HIS BROTHERS ON THE SMALL WAVES OF COCOA BEACH, IS THE MOST
DECORATED ATHLETE IN HIS SPORT WITH 10 WORLD TITLES, AS OF
2010. HE HOLDS THE RECORD FOR THE YOUNGEST, AT AGE 20 IN 1992,
AND THE OLDEST, AT AGE 38 IN 2010, TO WIN THE ASSOCIATION OF
SURFING PROFESSIONALS (ASP) WORLD TITLE. HIS PROGRESSIVE STYLE
OF RADICAL MANEUVERS HAS TAKEN THE SPORT TO A HIGHER LEVEL
AND HAS ATTRACTED FANS FROM TRESTLE TO TAHITI.
SLATER'S OTHER ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDE:
SIX TIME WINNER OF BILLABONG PIPELINE MASTERS
FIVE CONSECUTIVE ASP TITLES
TWO TIME WINNER OF THE TRIPLE CROWN OF SURFING
AS OF 2010, HE HAS 45 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP TOURS VICTORIES
IN 2002, HE WAS INDUCTED INTO THE SURFER HALL OF FAME AND
WON THE EDDIE AIKAU BIG WAVE EVENT IN 40 FOOT WAVES
IN 2007, SLATER STARTED THE KELLY SLATER FOUNDATION TO RAISE
AWARENESS AND SUPPORT FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL SOCIAL ISSUES.
ON NOV. 6TH, 2010 HE WON HIS BOTH ASP WORLD SURFING TITLE
KELLY SLATER IS CONSIDERED TO BE THE GREATEST SURFER OF ALL TIME.
COCOA BEACH SURF MUSEUM
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