Surfing legend and 11-time World Champion Kelly Slater will return to competition at the 2025 Trestles Pro in California.
The 53-year-old American has been granted a wildcard entry to the event, which is set to take place at Lower Trestles—the recently confirmed venue for the surfing competition at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
Slater, often regarded as the greatest surfer in history, said the location holds personal significance.
“Trestles has been a great memory for the past 35 years,” Slater said. “It’s where I won my first pro event, and it feels like a second home.”
Slater turned professional in 1990 and has expressed a long-term vision for his career. In a 2020 interview with Olympics.com, he shared a personal goal of competing into his 70s. His appearance at the Trestles Pro marks a continued pursuit of that ambition.
Although Slater has never competed at the Olympic Games, he was close to doing so. He served as the first reserve for Team USA at Tokyo 2020, where surfing made its Olympic debut.
Earlier this year, Slater reached the quarter-finals at the Pipe Pro. He was also recently honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Laureus Sports Awards in April.
The 2025 Trestles Pro is part of the World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour and is scheduled to run from June 9 to June 17.