Kelly Slater – Pipe Dreams
Last modified: November 8, 2010
The following synopsis is from
www.borders.com.au
Pipe Dreams: A Surfer’s Journey
Six-time world surfing champion, actor, and US heart-throb Kelly Slater tells of the struggles and triumphs he experienced throughout his life and how they helped him to become one of the world’s most loved sports figures. From beach blanket bingo to TV’s Baywatch, surfing has fascinated people for years, and Kelly Slater is the sport’s newest star. He’s one of the world’s most popular surfers with radical moves which have revolutionised the sport.
Born in Cocoa Beach, Florida, in February 1972, he found surfing to be a great way to escape problems at home. When he was 11, his parents divorced. Slater and his brothers, Sean and Stephen, were raised by their suddenly single mother, who struggled to support two young sons.
After Slater’s surfing career took off, he expanded into acting and modelling. He spent a season starring on the popular television show Baywatch, he won the hearts of women young and old, including Pamela Anderson, whom he dated for about a year. He has also been featured in Versace ads. Pipe Dreams shares the stories that have influenced his life and have inspired him to overcome both personal and professional hurdles and achieve his dreams.
This book was written in 2003 when Kelly was a 6 time world champ. As I write this he has just sealed victory #10 at age 38 after coming out of retirement. In this book he mentions how Mark Occhilupo was the oldest winner in 1999 at age 33 so it is interesting how after this book was released so much more has transpired.
Growing up with an Alcoholic Dad, surfing was an escape and from a young age people could see that Kelly would be a champion one day. Pipe Dreams gives an insight how the tour can be a struggle and the traveling can take it toll. Being hot property at such a young age he took up a role on Baywatch but quickly got out of the contract when he hated the image he was getting when he just wanted to surf.
A big plus for the book are the number of photos although I would have liked the descriptions under then instead of having to flick to the appendix.