The American surfer Kelly Slater has clinched an unprecedented 10th world title with victory in his quarter-final heat at the Rip Curl Pro Search in Puerto Rico.
Thousands of fans crowded Middles Beach in the Aguadilla region of the island and were treated to a surfing exhibition as Slater destroyed Brazilian Adriano De Souza with a two-wave score of 18.87 points out of 20.
Slater described his week as a story of two extremes.
On Tuesday he discovered his greatest ever rival Andy Irons had passed away aged 32, and on today he became a 10-time world champion.
Speaking immediately after coming out of the water, Slater declared he would trade his titles just to have Irons back.
The 38-year-old began his career way back in 1991 and wasted little time achieving success, claiming his first championship in 1992.
The Floridian then won consecutive crowns from 1994 through to 1998, before carrying his dominance through a second decade by taking out titles in 2005, 2006, 2008.
