As a card carrying member of Generation X, Kelly has been on the scene pretty much my whole life. Winning titles, Sports Illustrated magazine profiles, Baywatch, dating Pam Anderson.
The longevity of his career is well documented and without rival imo.
Think back to 1990. The Horns Shock the Nation season. Kelly's first year in professional surfing as an 18 year old. All he's done since that time is win 11 world titles including an event win at the prestigious Pipeline Masters on the North Shore 2 freaking years ago just two weeks before turning 50 years old. Competing and beating several generations of surfers who have come and gone since his start.
I'm not sure there's an athlete with that kind of endurance and longevity at the elite level of their game, ever?
As a side note, there's a good chance you'll start seeing more of Kelly in and around Austin in the coming years. His next major wave pool project will be opening off 71 as a private real estate development called Austin Surf Club. I believe they're close to breaking ground.
The longevity of his career is well documented and without rival imo.
Think back to 1990. The Horns Shock the Nation season. Kelly's first year in professional surfing as an 18 year old. All he's done since that time is win 11 world titles including an event win at the prestigious Pipeline Masters on the North Shore 2 freaking years ago just two weeks before turning 50 years old. Competing and beating several generations of surfers who have come and gone since his start.
I'm not sure there's an athlete with that kind of endurance and longevity at the elite level of their game, ever?
As a side note, there's a good chance you'll start seeing more of Kelly in and around Austin in the coming years. His next major wave pool project will be opening off 71 as a private real estate development called Austin Surf Club. I believe they're close to breaking ground.
