Don’t count out the greatest surfer of all time just yet. With people already preparing to crown Joel Parkinson the 2009 ASP World Champion, Slater reminded everyone that there is still a long way to go this season, claiming the Hang Loose Santa Catarina Pro title. Slater beat Adriano de Souza in the final. This was Slater's first contest win in Brazil.

“There were much better waves in the Final than there were for my Semifinal,” said Slater. “Adriano (de Souza) found a pretty good rhythm early on and posted some pretty good scores, but I felt comfortable out there and felt that the waves would come to me if I were patient. Both of my scoring rides allowed me to execute a bunch of maneuvers and I felt that the scores were maybe a little high, but I haven’t had many good scores this year, so it was bound to go my way at some point.”

Slater almost didn't make it to the contest due to visa problems, delayed flights and lost luggage.  “I definitely feel like I sharpen as the event moves into the later rounds,” said Slater. “I started out pretty slow in Brazil, and I wasn’t even planning on coming initially. I rode borrowed boards, ones that I shaped, epoxies, everything and I definitely think I found my formula today. I actually called my girlfriend before the Final and said, ‘every time I show up to an event after trying to pull out, I win.’ I guess that held true today. I have less pressure on myself and am free to perform to the best of my abilities.”

The defending World Champion's confidence is soaring.  “I feel like I have all those guys (ASP World Title contenders) right where I want them,” said Slater. “I don’t feel like I have any pressure on me, and I tend to do my best when I have no pressure. We’re coming up on Jeffreys Bay, which is probably my best event historically and hopefully I can build off my result here today.”

HANG LOOSE SANTA CATARINA PRO FINAL RESULTS:

1 – Kelly Slater (USA) 17.94

2 – Adriano de Souza (BRA) 14.67

HANG LOOSE SANTA CATARINA PRO SEMIFINAL RESULTS:

SF 1: Adriano de Souza (BRA) 14.97 def. Joel Parkinson (AUS) 13.86

SF 2: Kelly Slater (USA) 12.16 def. C.J. Hobgood (USA) 6.93

HANG LOOSE SANTA CATARINA PRO QUARTERFINAL RESULTS:

QF 1: Adriano de Souza (BRA) 12.67 def. Bede Durbidge (AUS) 11.33

QF 2: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 16.73 def. Dustin Barca (HAW) 13.04

QF 3: Kelly Slater (USA) 13.60 def. Taj Burrow (AUS) 13.17

QF 4: C.J. Hobgood (USA) 12.87 def. Mick Fanning (AUS) 9.17

CURRENT ASP WORLD TOUR TOP 10:

1 – Joel Parkinson (AUS) 3876 pts

2 – Adriano de Souza (BRA) 3206 pts

3 – C.J. Hobgood (USA) 3072 pts

4 – Taj Burrow (AUS) 3050 pts

5 – Mick Fanning (AUS) 2940 pts

6 – Bobby Martinez (USA) 2625 pts

7 – Tom Whitaker (AUS) 2532 pts

8 – Jordy Smith (ZAF) 2486 pts

9 – Kelly Slater (USA) 2430 pts

10 – Damien Hobgood (USA) 2342 pts