Kelly Slater in Black and White: J-Bay Edition
Back in 1991, the film Kelly Slater In Black And White marked the arrival of surfing’s next global superstar. Though Slater was already well-known, the monochrome production—filmed by Richard Woolcott at spots like Lower Trestles, Cloudbreak, and Pipeline—cemented the 19-year-old Floridian in surfing history with its timeless style.
Now, more than three decades later, we get another glimpse of Slater in grayscale. This time, the setting is Jeffreys Bay, where J-Bay TV captured him on his favored twin-fin during clean offshore conditions. The decision to present the session in black and white feels like a deliberate nod to that iconic film, lending the clip a nostalgic yet fresh edge.
At 53, Slater’s surfing remains smooth, composed, and playful. The Great White Twin gives him easy speed down J-Bay’s long walls, but he still takes time to carve with precision. With Slater gradually moving away from the Championship Tour’s competitive grind, his freesurfing has become even more fascinating. For decades, fans have mostly seen him in a contest jersey, but now he’s showcasing his refined fundamentals on his own terms.
Some believe Slater has a vault of unseen footage ready to be unveiled as a surprise all-time surf film. If this latest clip is any indication, there may be truth to that idea. Whatever comes next, this black-and-white session at Jeffreys Bay proves Slater’s surfing still carries the same timeless magic it did when he first broke onto the scene.