Stab Magazine was nice enough to transcribe Kelly Slater’s entire acceptance speech from last night’s ASP World Surfing Awards at the Gold Coast Convention Center in a story titled The King’s Speech. As Kelly is one of the most eloquent, insightful surfers who has ever lived we’d say it is well worth a read. Here is a little slice:
It’s been a magical occasion for me to win this title, in a lot of ways. Y’know, there’s the challenges, the obvious challenges. When I was getting back on the tour after taking a few years off, there was a lot of doubt whether I’d be even in a shot for the title. So at this age, I just turned 39 years old, and half of you guys out there, even to my face, make fun of me for being that old (laughs). It’s funny, ’cause it’s like you see all these changes happen in people over the years, and when I got on tour I was kinda the hated little kid and now I’m like, the loved old guy by all the older guys that used to hate me when I was a little kid. ‘Cause they’re like, “You’re keeping the dream alive mate (in his best Australian accent), for all us old guys.”
Follow the jump for the official ASP press release or click the link for Kelly’s speech.
[Link: Stab Magazine]GOLD COAST, Queensland/Australia (Friday, February 25, 2011) –The Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre welcomed the world’s best surfers last night for the ASP World Surfing Awards.
The gala event witnessed the most notable names in sport trade their boardshorts and bikinis for tuxedos and dresses for an evening of live music, blue carpets,
Kelly Slater (USA), 39, accepted his history-making and unprecedented tenth ASP World Title with grace and humility and one of the most touching speeches of the evening, dedicating his 2010 title to former rival and friend, Andy Irons (HAW), 32, who tragically passed away last November.
Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), 23, was another to make history last night, collecting her fourth consecutive ASP Women’s World Title. Gilmore noted a recent sponsorship change from long-time supported Rip Curl to Quiksilver as well as her commitment to take on the world’s best in 2011.
Slater and Gilmore headlined a bevy of phenomenal performers in front of a capacity audience at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre.
Awards Recipient List:
2010 ASP World Champion:Kelly Slater (USA)
2010 ASP Women’s World Champion:Stephanie Gilmore (AUS)
2010 ASP World Tour Runner-Up:Jordy Smith (ZAF)
2010 ASP Women’s World Tour Runner-Up:Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS)
2010 ASP World Tour Rookie of the Year: Owen Wright (AUS)
2010 ASP Women’s World Tour Rookie of the Year:Carissa Moore (HAW)
2010 ASP World Tour ‘Breakthrough Performer’:Alejo Muniz (BRA)
2010 ASP Women’s World Tour ‘Breakthrough Performer’:Laura Enever (AUS)
2010 ASP World Longboard Champion:Duane DeSoto (HAW)
2010 ASP Women’s World Longboard Champion:Cori Schumacher (HAW)
2010 ASP World Junior Champion:Jack Freestone (AUS)
2010 ASP Women’s World Junior Champion:Alizee Arnaud (FRA)
Peter Whittaker Award:Carissa Moore (HAW)
The ASP World Surfing Awards are supported by Biothem, Land Rover, Air Asia, Corona, Jim Beam, Red Bull and Australia’s Surfing Life (ASL) magazine.
The world’s best surfers will begin the 2011 ASP World Title season tomorrow at the Quiksilver and Roxy Pro Gold Coast presented by Land Rover.
