Slater in Semis of Surf Contest

Cocoa Beach's Kelly Slater has gotten off to a fast start in the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast, the opening stop on the 2013 ASP World Championship Tour.

The 11-time ASP World champion and 2012 runner-up has put up big scores throughout the tournament, reaching the semifinals after defeating Bede Durbidge in the quarterfinals with an 18.03 score.

“That was a fun heat and it definitely improved for me towards the end,” Slater said. “I’m on a new board so I didn’t feel great during the start of that heat, but it felt better with each wave and was feeling really good by the end. The waves are fun and really improved following the hold. When it’s clean like it is this afternoon, after the hold anyway, Snapper is a really fun wave.”

Slater will face two-time ASP World Champion (2007, 2009) Mick Fanning in the semifinals.

“Mick (Fanning) and I have a lot of history together,” Slater said. “We both put our competitive heads on during events and he has a lot of experience out here. The home town crowd will be backing him big time and that’s always fun. Should be a good heat.”