Ten

Kelly Slater has won his tenth world title overnight. Not happy with that he went on to win the whole event and score a perfect ten in the final.

Slater is the best surfer ever not just in contests but everywhere. Expect the next few months to be about whether he retires or goes for 11. Considering how many events he has won this year he could probably do it easily.

Another rumor is that he will enter (and win) the flegling big wave world tour.

Taj made the semis and had the only other ten of the contest with what has been described as the longest tube at Middles ever.

Steph's fourth

Stephanie Gilmore has just won her fourth world title by making the semis (just).

The waves are onshore but contestable. The women should finish today with the men possibly starting later.

Search

Round one of the men and rounds one and two for the women were completed last night in the Rip Curl Search. Both round ones were non-elimination and no real surprises.

From a WA view point, Taj lost a close heat and will have to front in round two. Clare Bevo continued her recent good form winning her three surfer heat and going through to round three.

Slater had the best round one score in winning his heat. Jordy is also into round three.

The other possible world champ Steph Gilmore is on her way to a hat trick with yet another round win.

The call for today should be soon (they are 12 hours behind) but the long range forecast isn't great.

Searching

The Rip Curl search event has started in Puerto Rico has started in nice waves. The men have been thrown out on the first day of the waiting period.

Heat three starring Taj is in the water at the moment and is leading the heat early. The waves are getting cleaner as the morning sickness starts to wobble away.

Everyone is looking at Slater to win his tenth title sometime during this event. Jordy must make the finals to have any chance to take it to Pipeline but would still need KS to lose early. An interesting stat - over his long career Slater has won an event every four events !

Usual places to watch the event - webcast and FuelTV (or the ASPtogo iPad/iPhone app)

Slater wins

Number ten must be around the corner after KS won the Rip Curl Pro in Portugal, beating the only one with a realistic chance of beating him Jordy Smith.

Jordy nailed a huge Superman air but it wasn't enough to overcome Slater's vertical but fairly conservative approach. However his huge floater was pretty amazing and showed Jordy, who had done one earlier, that he was able to match anything he could muster and make it just a little more critical.

Next event is the Rip Curl Search in Puerto Rico, starting on the 30th. This is a new venue so could throw up some challenges.