Kelly Slater Wins Boost Mobile Pro in Thrilling Final

Taj Burrow gave it a good run, but in the end Kelly Slater could not be denied as he took home the 2008 Boost Mobile Pro title today at Lower Trestles in California.  Slater, who won the event last year, started his run to victory Wednesday with a perfect 10 in round four and had the edge thanks to his pursuit of a record ninth world title.  Burrow was flying high, dominating his own matches including a semi-final defeat of Jeremy Flores, 17.33 to 16.50.

Burrow took control in the final, scoring a 9.00 and a 9.63 in two of his first three waves, putting Slater in a hole that he almost couldn’t get out.  The climb back started with a 9.70 on his fourth wave and came close with a fifth wave, an 8.37.  He lost priority to Burrow after that and had two small waves while Burrow waited.  Then, with less than two minutes left, Slater caught what he needed, scoring a 9.27 and winning his fifth event of the season on the ASP World Tour and his record 39th world tour win.

Burrow congratulated Slater but expressed some frustration after the event that Slater won the contest, “on a little wave that I gave him.”

“Taj had me killed there, for a little while,” Slater acknowledged, and he also gave credit to the 40-minute heat (instead of the normal 35-minute heat).

With the win, Slater all but locked up his ninth world title and should be able to secure after only two heats during the Quiksilver Pro France, which has a holding period from Sept. 19-28.

Slater took home $75,000 for the win.For more about the event, check out the official Boost Mobile Pro site.