‘I really love NZ’: Kelly Slater on Izzy Adesanya, NZ Golf Open, Raglan & more

When The Morning Rumble get the world’s greatest surfer on the line, you don’t muck around. 

The 11-time world champ is in New Zealand for the NZ Golf Open, and he’s certainly no stranger to golf and New Zealand. 

“I’ve been lucky enough to be invited, and I’ve played at Tara Iti a couple of times, which is New Zealand’s number one golf course,” Slater said.

He’s even teed it up with Israel Adesanya.

“It’s pretty funny,” he said. “And you know, maybe you wouldn’t think a surfer would love golf; maybe you wouldn’t think a fighter would love golf. But there’s just some burning desire there to improve the technique that resides within us.”

With the WSL heading to Raglan, he reckons it’s a big moment.

“Obviously, Raglan is sort of the premier name when you hear about surfing in New Zealand, so it should be a really great event. I imagine the crowds will turn up.”

Surf-wise, he admits he hasn’t had heaps of time in Kiwi waters.

“I actually don’t have much surf history in New Zealand; I have probably more golf history. We never had a full-fledged world tour event in New Zealand till now, so that’ll be great.”

But his lack of surfing in New Zealand doesn’t make him love it any less.

“I gotta say, I really love New Zealand. I mean, I’m not just saying that; I really, really love it here. I love Australia, but this feels like a throwback to when there were fewer people in Australia. Just around every corner is just beautiful, and the people are super nice.

“I’ve actually thrown it out there to my girlfriend and other friends that, you know, I could definitely live here and consider that sometime.”

THE Kelly Slater reckons he could live here.

Someone get the man some jandals, a flat white and a section in Raglan, stat.