Slater Still Waiting

Kelly Slater (USA) is still waiting to clinch a historic ninth ASP World Title. He had it in his sights but Adrian Buchan (AUS) pipped him 15.73 to 15.16, to take the Quiksilver Pro France, in a tight final held at Les Bourdaines.

Kelly now has to move across the border to Mundaka in the Basque Country of Spain, for the ninth stop of the ASP World Tour, where appropriately, if he finishes ninth or better, he will be declared world champion for the ninth time.

Nine is considered a good number in Chinese culture and is the most exalted number because it sounds the same as the Chinese word for "longlasting". Coincidence?