The Bottom Line:
- As a 52-year-old 11-time world surfing champion, Kelly Slater is a true legend and cultural icon in the sport, defying age and continuing to compete at the highest levels.
- Slater credits his longevity and peak performance to a smart, clean diet focused on whole, unprocessed foods like acai bowls, chia seeds, kimchi, bee pollen, and kombucha tea, as well as a carefully curated supplement regimen.
- Slater’s exercise routine is tailored to enhance his surfing skills, with a focus on cardiovascular workouts, core and strength training, flexibility training, and balance exercises, rather than traditional gym-based workouts.
- The surfer’s dedication to his craft, combined with his holistic approach to health and fitness, has allowed him to maintain an incredible physique and continue dominating the sport he loves, even in his 50s.
- Slater’s inspiring story and advice for young aspiring athletes emphasize the importance of passion, self-belief, and a commitment to personal growth, rather than seeking external validation or recognition.
Five Foods Kelly Slater Eats Daily
Embracing the Paleo Lifestyle: Kelly Slater’s Dietary Secrets
Kelly Slater, the 11-time World Surfing Champion, has been a proponent of the Paleo diet for nearly two decades. This ancestral way of eating, which focuses on whole, unprocessed foods, has been a crucial component of Slater’s longevity and peak performance on the waves.
The Paleo Approach: Fueling the Surfing Goat
Slater’s commitment to the Paleo diet stems from his belief that it helps him feel his best, both physically and mentally. “I don’t think of certain foods as bad, but I know that some foods don’t make me feel my best, so I choose to avoid them,” he explains. By eliminating processed grains, beans, legumes, dairy, and potatoes, Slater has found that his energy levels, digestion, and overall well-being have improved significantly.
The Five Superfoods in Slater’s Daily Diet
To maintain his incredible physique and surfing prowess, Kelly Slater has carefully curated a list of five essential foods that he incorporates into his daily routine:
1. Acai Bowls: Packed with antioxidants, energy-boosting berries, and nutrient-dense granola, acai bowls provide a nutritious and delicious start to Slater’s day.
2. Chia Seeds: Rich in protein, fiber, and beneficial omega-3 fatty acids, chia seeds have become a staple in Slater’s diet, often soaked in coconut water and combined with berries and nuts.
3. Kimchi: Slater is a big fan of the Korean fermented cabbage dish, which is low in calories, rich in probiotics, and beneficial for immune function and cholesterol levels.
4. Bee Pollen: Considered a superfood, bee pollen is a source of protein, amino acids, and various vitamins and minerals that Slater believes enhances his endurance, vitality, and overall well-being.
5. Kombucha Tea: As a way to reduce his caffeine intake, Slater turns to the fermented, antioxidant-rich Kombucha tea, which offers a host of health benefits, including anti-inflammatory properties and improved digestion.
By incorporating these nutrient-dense foods into his daily routine, Slater ensures that he is fueling his body with the essential nutrients it needs to maintain his exceptional surfing performance and overall health.
Five Supplements Kelly Slater Takes Daily
Embracing Superfoods: Kelly Slater’s Nutritional Secrets
As a legendary surfer known for his longevity and peak performance, Kelly Slater has meticulously curated his daily diet to fuel his body and mind. Adhering to a Paleo-inspired approach, Slater has been mindful of his food choices for nearly two decades, ensuring that he feels his best both in and out of the water.
Superfood Staples: Kelly’s Daily Essentials
Acai Bowls: Packed with antioxidants and energy-boosting benefits, acai bowls have become a staple in Slater’s daily routine, providing a nutritious and delicious start to his day.
Chia Seeds: Rich in proteins, beneficial for digestive and heart health, Slater incorporates chia seeds into his diet, often soaking them in coconut water overnight and adding berries and nuts for a complete breakfast.
Kimchi: Slater is a fan of the Korean fermented cabbage mixture, as it is low in calories and beneficial to the immune system while regulating cholesterol levels.
Bee Pollen: Considered a superfood, bee pollen is a part of Slater’s everyday plate, providing a rich source of protein and essential amino acids, improving endurance and vitality.
Kombucha Tea: Slater prefers Kombucha tea over traditional caffeine sources, as it offers outstanding health benefits, including anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
Supplementing for Optimal Performance
In addition to his nutrient-dense diet, Slater takes a strategic approach to supplementation, incorporating key vitamins and minerals to support his overall well-being and surfing performance.
CoQ10: An enzyme-based supplement that helps support the skin, brain, and lungs, as well as protect against chronic diseases.
GABA: Derived from fish oil or algae sources, this supplement helps Slater support joint health, reduce inflammation, and promote cardiovascular health.
5-HTP: Essential for athletes who spend a lot of time outdoors, 5-HTP supports bone health, the immune system, and mood regulation.
Elk Antler Extract: An ancient Chinese medicine that provides arthritis relief, enhances athletic performance, and supports healthy blood flow.
Ginseng: This ancient herbal remedy contains ginsenosides, which improve memory, mood, and fight against various health conditions.
By meticulously curating his diet and supplementation routine, Kelly Slater has found the formula to maintain his exceptional physical condition and surfing prowess, even as he approaches his 50s.
Kelly Slater’s Exercise Routine
Embracing a Balanced Approach: Kelly Slater’s Fitness Regimen
Kelly Slater’s commitment to maintaining peak physical condition is a testament to his dedication and passion for the sport of surfing. Rather than relying solely on traditional gym workouts, the 11-time world champion has crafted a holistic approach that caters to the unique demands of his sport.
Fueling the Wave: Slater’s Dietary Choices
Slater’s dietary choices play a crucial role in sustaining his impressive longevity and performance. He has been a proponent of the Paleolithic diet for nearly two decades, emphasizing the consumption of whole, unprocessed foods such as game meat, roots, berries, and nuts. By steering clear of processed grains, beans, legumes, dairy, and potatoes, Slater ensures that his body is nourished with the right nutrients to power his surfing exploits.
A Multifaceted Approach to Training
Slater’s exercise routine is a harmonious blend of various training modalities, each designed to enhance his surfing prowess. He starts his day with either a surf session or a cardiovascular workout, harnessing the natural resistance and endurance-building benefits of the waves. Midday, he focuses on functional strength training, targeting his core and lower body with exercises like push-ups, pull-ups, and squats, which are crucial for maintaining control and stability on the surfboard.
In the afternoon, Slater turns his attention to flexibility and mobility, regularly practicing yoga to improve his range of motion and mental focus. This holistic approach helps reduce the risk of injuries and ensures that his body remains agile and responsive to the demands of surfing.
Balancing exercises, such as those using balance boards and stability balls, are also an integral part of Slater’s routine. These drills enhance his proprioception and overall board control, allowing him to navigate the ever-changing wave conditions with precision and confidence.
Throughout his training, Slater emphasizes the importance of listening to his body and adapting his routine accordingly. He understands that true peak performance is not just about physical prowess, but also about maintaining a harmonious balance between the mind and body.
Slater’s Advice to Aspiring Athletes
Developing a Holistic Approach to Fitness
Kelly Slater’s approach to fitness and longevity is not just about physical prowess, but a holistic integration of diet, supplements, and a varied exercise regimen. He emphasizes the importance of listening to your body and making choices that make you feel your best, rather than focusing solely on aesthetics.
Embracing a Paleo-Inspired Diet
Slater has been a proponent of the Paleo diet for nearly two decades, finding that it helps him maintain his incredible physique and peak performance on the waves. He avoids processed foods, grains, legumes, and dairy, instead opting for nutrient-dense whole foods like game meat, roots, berries, and nuts. Slater believes that this way of eating makes a significant difference in how he feels and performs, both in and out of the water.
Fueling with Superfoods and Supplements
In addition to his Paleo-inspired diet, Slater incorporates a variety of superfoods and supplements into his daily routine. He swears by acai bowls, chia seeds, kimchi, bee pollen, and kombucha tea for their nutrient-dense properties and health benefits. Slater also takes a range of supplements, including CoQ10, GABA, 5-HTP, elk antler extract, and ginseng, to support his joint health, reduce inflammation, and enhance his overall well-being.
The Surfing Lifestyle and Hierarchy
The Surfing Lifestyle and Hierarchy
Surfing is more than just a sport; it’s a way of life that comes with its own unique hierarchy. In the surfing community, there is a well-established hierarchy that is often determined by factors such as the length of time one has been surfing at a particular break, their knowledge of the wave, their surfing skills, and their overall aggression in the lineup.
Mastering the Local Break
As Kelly Slater explains, “we have like a hierarchy at each break if you’ve lived there for a long time, if you put your time in in the water. It’s like your neighborhood knowledge of the wave, aggression, skill – all of those things kind of thrown in the mix.” This hierarchy is essential for maintaining order and respect within the surfing community, as it ensures that those who have put in the time and effort to master a particular wave are given the appropriate respect and priority.
The Surfing Lifestyle
The surfing lifestyle is one that is deeply rooted in a sense of community and camaraderie. Surfers often form tight-knit groups, or “crews,” that surf together and support one another. This sense of community is an integral part of the surfing experience, and it is something that Kelly Slater values highly. As he explains, “I like to join up with the people who are my crew. I go and see my Pilates guy, I’ll meet up with others and do some water work.”
Overall, the surfing lifestyle and hierarchy are complex and nuanced, reflecting the deep passion and dedication that surfers have for their sport. By understanding and respecting this hierarchy, surfers can ensure that they are able to fully immerse themselves in the surfing experience and continue to push the boundaries of what is possible on the waves.
