Kelly Slater’s surfing credentials are beyond dispute. He has earned an impressive seven Pipe Master titles, one Pro Pipeline win, eleven world championships, a victory at The Eddie, and numerous accolades like “Surfer of the Year” nominations and countless magazine covers. Beyond surfing, Slater is widely known for his prowess in golf, his musical talent with the guitar, and his angelic singing voice.
Recently, Slater showcased another skill—marksmanship. Participating in an event organized by the Special Forces Charitable Foundation, he took to the shooting range with a pistol in hand. Reflecting on the experience, Slater admitted shooting was unfamiliar territory for him. He shared that while he had some experience as a child, decades had passed since he last fired a gun. He emphasized the importance of creating a “natural environment” to excel in any activity. He compared shooting to surfing, where his instincts take over and his brain doesn’t interfere, unlike other activities that require deliberate thought and slow him down.
Meanwhile, in the broader world of surfing, the industry is poised for a significant boom. Economic forecasts predict the surfing tourism market, currently valued at $9.58 billion, will reach $12.31 billion by 2028. This represents a compound annual growth rate of 6.5%. Key contributors to this growth include surf schools, camps, resorts, guided tours, and equipment sales and rentals. Companies such as Channel Islands Surfboards, Firewire Surfboards, and Wavehunters Surf Travel are among those expected to benefit from this surge.
This market growth is partly attributed to the pandemic era, which spurred interest in outdoor activities. Many newcomers to surfing took to the water during lockdowns, purchasing boards and wetsuits and fueling a boom in the surf gear market. While many of these beginners stuck close to home initially, demand for surf tourism is now on the rise as they seek new experiences and destinations.
For anyone considering entering the surfing tourism industry, this bullish forecast suggests now might be the right time to dive in, with opportunities spread across various aspects of the market.