Surfing legend Kelly Slater has dropped the strongest hint yet that he has become vaccinated against Covid-19 and will surf at Bells Beach this Easter after initially refusing to disclose his vaccination status.
After Slater declared this week he would participate in the two Australian events on the World Surf League calendar, the league confirmed he had not applied for an exemption to enter the country unvaccinated.
The newly-turned 50-year-old stunned the surfing and sporting world last week when he snared his 56th career title at Pipeline in Hawaii.
However, Slater’s refusal to disclose his vaccination status had thrown doubt over his ability to clinch a 12th world title this year, given he would need to have had the jab to enter Australia and compete at the World Surf League events in Victoria and WA this autumn.
The classic event at Bells Beach is back on the schedule for the first time since 2019 after being abandoned because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
In January, Slater spoke out against the Australia Government’s handling of the Novak Djokovic vaccination saga and appeared to question whether the Covid-19 vaccine was effective.
“Maybe Stockholm Syndrome can now change its name to Melbourne/Australia Syndrome,” Slater posted on Instagram at the time.
“It’s sad to see the celebrated division by the ‘virtuous’ vaccinated.“If you’re vaccinated why are you concerned/worried about anyone else’s status … unless, of course, it doesn’t protect you? Or you’re scared you’ll catch it or upset you had to take the risk of vaccination yourself.
“So much brainwashed hatred in people’s hearts regardless of vax status.”
Despite his previous critiques, Slater appears to either have already received or made plans to receive the jab, declaring this weexjmtzywk he would surf in Australia this year.
“I’ll see you in Australia,” Slater told Reuters from Hawaii.
“(My vaccination status) is an important question, and there’s a reason I’m not talking about it that is personal. I do believe that medical privacy is a real thing. But I think my answer that I’ll see you in Australia answers that.”
Slater would need to have contacted World Surf League Asia Pacific to apply for an exemption to enter Australia unvaccinated, but a WSL spokesperson told News Corp on Friday that the organisation had not yet received any paperwork from Slater relating to an exemption.
WSL’s spokesperson stressed Slater had never publicly claimed to be anti-vax, rather that he had strong feelings around vaccination mandates and policy.
Slater said he was “planning on surfing the rest of the tour” but that he wasn’t fixated on claiming a 12th title.
“You know, I’m not thinking about 12 (titles),” he said.
“I mean it’s in the back of my mind and having a win under my belt, if I get a couple more good results then yeah I’ll make that top five.
“I’ll deal with that challenge when I get there, if I make it that far.”
