Slater's latest world crown comes 16 years after his first. He is a giant of world sport. He secured title No.9 on a dark and stormy day on the rugged stretch of Basque country coastline at Mundaka. His third-round victory over local wildcard Eneko Acero ended Fanning's one-year reign as world champion. He was subdued and relieved; less excited than when Fanning took top spot in Brazil less than a year ago. "I didn't surf an exceptional heat," Slater said. "But I got the couple of scores I needed. When you get in that position, the screws start tightening and you start feeling the pressure. You just want the day to end."

Slater was "pissed" when Acero refused to give an inch during their heat. He found the title inside a dredging barrel that crashed down on the fickle Mundaka sandbank. The hooter sounded and a jet ski picked him up. Mundaka is the furthest you could get from a white sandy beach. It's a breathtaking spot, but not exactly beautiful.

Slater is the oldest and youngest surfer in ASP history to win a world title. Few things make him speechless, except trying to describe his accomplishments. "Crazy," he said.

Rain started pelting down. The world title wasn't exactly a shock. He could beat Acero in his sleep. And the world title was virtually guaranteed anyway because he has dominated the year to an extraordinary extent.

He called his mother back home in Florida. He called the girlfriend responsible for making an emotional soul strong and level-headed.

Funny thing, though. Nobody chaired Slater up the rocks. "We didn't notice till it was too late," Australia's Tom Whitaker said. "There wasn't anyone there. His best mate on tour is Taylor Knox, and he was out in a heat. We noticed there weren't any Americans there to chair him, but by the time we got together to do it, there was media about 18-deep."

Slater went out and lost his next heat, to Whitaker, who snuck home courtesy of a perfect 10. "I guess I've got to thank Mother Ocean because she looked out for me there," Whitaker said. "That wave was phenomenal. I didn't really do anything, I just sat there and went down the line. It was a true Mundaka gem. But Kelly is the best in the world. He got a nine on a wave I wouldn't have even looked at. What do you do? It's Kelly's day, he got his ninth here and it's good to be out here with him."

Slater barely had time to get his hands on the world championship trophy before he was asked about trying to win a tenth crown.

"This hasn't even sunk in yet," he said. "We'll see. Everyone is speaking of what I have to do now. It's as if nine is not very good. What's wrong with nine? How many expressions are there with 10? You're not sitting on cloud ten, are you? It's almost seen as if No.9 is just a stepping stone to No.10. I'd be more than happy just to have nine."

Fanning is back on the Gold Coast recovering from a groin injury. Just before dark, Slater left Mundaka. He had his board under one arm and the trophy under the other.

He left alone.