To see all episodes of Stab’s “Best Surfing I’ve Ever Seen” — our attempt at turning the lens back on surfing’s greatest filmmakers — go to: https://stabmagstg.wpengine.com/best-surfing-ive-ever-seen/
“Who’s the greatest surf filmmaker of all time?” we asked John Florence.
“In the modern day, it’s hard to look past Taylor Steele,” he replied.
Which was convenient, since we recently asked Steele, “What’s the best surfing you’ve ever seen?” He hemmed, hawed, scrubbed the files of his memory bank and landed on, you guessed it, the greatest surfer of all time — Kelly Slater.
It went down in Barbados in 2005. Competing and freesurfing were not mutually exclusive 17 years ago. The footage you see above was shot in February. By the start of March, Kelly was on the Gold Coast commencing what would become the season of his seventh World Title — which was after a seven year drought, the longest of his career (so far).
But we’re getting ahead of ourselves. Click the vid above to get a glimpse of what it took for Taylor to witness this surfing, from bailing on another project to five last-minute flights (with a six-month-old child), and how Kelly was the “the most present I’ve ever seen him.”
Thank you @SolentoTequila.
Check out more from Taylor Steele at @themomentumfiles3232.
20 Comments
Maybe the best section of any surf film, ever.
The sickest part of Jetstreams along with the music…
Scoring soup bowls like that is something special.
This is like every session clay marzo has hahaha
Yeah. But who knows the actual judging criteria for Surfing Contests ?
What about "Performing Radical Manoeuvres in the critical part of the wave ?"
I personally think The British Bodyboarders are better.
Look at my video. ARS In the pub ?
That movie was shot, right after The British Nationals, and well.
The long established Champ. Damian Prisk said to me. He watched me perform that trick and went on to perfect his own.
Air Roll Spin.
I don't see Kelly Slater Air Roll Spinning, that often !
Back when Slates was tryin to ride the back of waves. 🙌🏽
Zzzzzzzzz….! Who cares?
Insane
Epic!
reverse ala moana but better.
Rad
SIPPING JETSTREAMS. One of the most epic sections of all time
Yeah 🎉❤
Make one episode with Bruno Lemos
That's because he was still surfing Al Merricks. He should have never left that relationship. Noticed how he stopped winning contests also ever since
Yup. This non surfer agrees. The best at both ends of the deal. The way Kelly read the dynamic so precisely and became part of it, danced with it ..” to the end of love.” And it’s on film.
going through 5grand in surfboards in todays cash is insane
Carving 360s are a lost art
The Goat 🌊🐐in his own little zone. So cool 😎
Fuck Kelly Slater for knowing all the brakes around the world, spoiled brat that deserves it ….lol