[PT-Far from over]
On the rebound ... Kelly Slater© 2009 - ASP/ CI/ CESTARI via GETTY IMAGESKELLY Slater at 37, reigning nine-time ASP World Champion, has claimed the 2009 Hang Loose Santa Catarina Pro over an in-form Adriano de Souza, on home turf, in clean three-to-four foot (1 metre) waves at the Santa Catarina, Brazil on Friday, July 3, 2009. Event No. 4 of 10 on the 2009 ASP World Tour, the Hang Loose culminated in a dramatic finale with perennial ASP world title threats all pushing one another towards the finish line.
Despite the Brazilian, Adriano de Souza, smashing his way out to an early lead, Slater found his form mid-heat with a 9.27 out of a possible 10 for a series of high-risk maneuvers, exhibiting a near-perfect variety of repertoire. Not satisfied with only one high score, Slater nailed the coffin shut with an 8.67 in a dying minutes to secure his 41st ASP World Tour victory.