When you’re at the top of your game for decades, retirement speculations just become part and parcel of it. Similarly, for the 11-time world champion surfer Kelly Slater, his time on the surfing board is a major point of discussion for his fans. While the three-time Triple Crown champ has come out of retirement before, his time to hang up his boots might be a decision waiting to be made official.

The rumors were given a fresh dose of boost by Kelly himself earlier today through an Instagram story. Only hours ago, the three-time US Open surfing champ took to IG to hint at what lies next in his life. Sharing the original post by the Punta Brava Club, the caption of which reads, “Kelly Slater’s Next Chapter. The G.O.A.T Shifts His Focus from Competition,” Slater may have just finally revealed his intentions.

Slater was one of the main people who extended his expertise and wisdom to Tiger Woods and Steph Curry’s ambitious Baja Punta Brava Golf & Surf Club. As the new project waits to see the light of day in Mexico, it might be the calling that Kelly needed to make his exit from the professional surfing circuit.

Slater’s adoration for golf is no secret. “Golf and surfing are kind of ultimate challenges,” the surfing legend has often made it known that he enjoys putting the ball in the hole as much as he loves to defy crashing waves to entertain his fans. He has also stated that golf can offer more challenges sometimes compared to surfing: “In surfing you can pretty much go naked if you want to, but golf has rules. I like a bit of order and formality now and again.” Considering how 2024 has been for Kelly, it probably shouldn’t come as a surprise to the fans to see the 52-year-old scouting other avenues for the next phase of his illustrious life.

Retirement rumors are never too far away from Kelly Slater

In February’s 2024 Pipe Pro, Slater crashed out of the tournament from the Round of 32 in a rather unprecedented way after being subdued by the 2023 world runner-up Ethan Ewing. “I really don’t mind losing at all when you’re both getting waves and you have your opportunities. But I was just trying to scrap and make something happen,” the surfing icon was later heard saying about his loss. In April once again, Slater was out of the 2024 Margaret River Pro after suffering another loss at the same stage and was relegated from the WSL Championship Tour. Naturally, with his newfound role as a father, speculations about Kelly’s retirement only got bolstered.

In May, Slater was poised to pick up his rivalry with John John Florence once again at the Tahiti Pro, only to break his fans’ hearts as both surfers were trounced by Ramzi Boukhiam. While Kelly’s recent endeavors have all been focused on trying to make para-surfing an official sport for the 2028 LA Olympics, it’s still to be seen if he returns on the surfboard for one final run. Do you think it could happen? Tell us in the comments.