Surfing legend Kelly Slater will end his glittering career after the 2019 world tour.
The 11-times world champion made the announcement at the World Surf League championship at Jeffreys Bay, where he made his return this week after suffering a foot injury in the event last year.
"My basic plan is to get myself really healthy, again, and get ready for April next year. And next year will be my last year on tour - and just be done with it," the 46-year-old said during the Corona Open J-Bay broadcast.
Slater made his plans public just a day after Australian surfing star Joel Parkinson announced he will retire from competition.
"I thought it was a great announcement, it kind of inspired me to get my focus on here," Slater said.
"His post was really honest. It felt full of excitement for where he's going and what he's doing."
Slater said the seriousness of his foot injury was initially hard to swallow, but was "pretty minor in the scope of life".
"I went through my whole career only ever missing a single event at a time from injuries, I never had a long period of time out.
"To have an injury at this point instead of when I was 22 is a blessing," he said.
