Kelly Slater back on surfing’s biggest stage as wildcard

Eleven-time world champion Kelly Slater will return to the World Surf League Championship Tour as a wildcard at the Outerknown Tahiti Pro.

The surfing great will hunt a sixth event title at Teahupo’o next month after recovering from hip surgery.

Slater has enjoyed remarkable success at Teahupo’o, claiming five event wins from seven finals and producing some of the sport’s most memorable performances there.

Among them are two perfect 20-point heat totals and an unforgettable 2014 semi-final against John John Florence in which both surfers scored 19.77.

Slater said his call-up to the Championship Tour event would mark another meaningful chapter in his surfing career.

“I’m stoked to be in as a wildcard at Teahupo’o this year,” he said.

“I’m really looking forward to getting myself locked in before August comes around and hoping for great conditions in Tahiti to give us all a good challenge.

“No pressure for me coming into this one, but I also haven’t competed in quite a long time, so it’ll be fun to see how I go getting in the mix with everyone.

“If I can relax and just focus on what I know out there, I should have a good time.”

The Outerknown Tahiti Pro is the seventh stop of the 2026 World Surf League Championship Tour.

The event window will be open between 8–18 August.

For more, head to worldsurfleague.com