Slater Is a Step Closer to World Surfing Title

Kelly Slater can clinch the Assn. of Surfing Professionals’ world title with at least a 17th-place finish at the $120,000 Alternativa Pro, which starts today at Rio de Janeiro.

Slater, a Cocoa Beach, Fla., native and part-time Huntington Beach resident, has 6,935 points, followed by Australia’s Shane Herring (5,925), Hawaii’s Sunny Garcia (5,575) and Australia’s Damien Hardman (5,540).

Only two events remain on the tour, and Herring, Garcia and Hardman are the only surfers who can catch Slater. Slater can clinch the title by reaching the quarterfinals at the Alternativa Pro.

If Slater fails to make the quarterfinals, the world title will be decided at the Marui Masters, Nov. 27-Dec. 6 at Hawaii’s Banzai Pipeline.