Kelly Slater, 54, advances at the Tahiti Pro after beating Gabriel Medina in a highly competitive heat at Teahupo’o. Slater posts a near-perfect total of 19.06, outscoring Medina in conditions that feature heavy, powerful waves.
Both outlets describe similar surf conditions: an eight-to-10-foot swell at Tahiti and two strong barrels for Slater that help him reach his heat score. The Guardian notes Slater uses his experience in one of the tour’s most treacherous events, which he has previously won five times. Times of India adds additional context, saying Slater enters the event via a wildcard after off-season hip surgery and becomes emotional after the race. It also reports that Slater moves on to face Jack Robinson in Round 3.
While the outlets differ in emphasis—one focusing on Slater’s historical dominance and performance details, the other on his personal reaction and tournament next matchup—they agree on the result, the near-perfect scoring, and the challenging Teahupo’o conditions.
