Kelly Slater Incorrectly Awarded Surfing World Title, Officials Say

After awarding Kelly Slater his 11th Association of Surfing Professionals world title Wednesday, officials at said today he hasn't won yet. 

According to the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP), competition officials said in an apology that a mechanism in the ASP's scoring system designed to break ties awarded the win to Slater over Australian contender Owen Wright based on Slater's higher seed position, but Owen statistically could still win the championship.

"Our rankings’ system is designed to split tie-breaks based off of seed points," Renato Hickel, ASP World Tour Manager, said. "Kelly (Slater) and Owen (Wright) tied at best nine of 11 results, so we went to best eight of 11 results and the system gave it to Kelly based off his higher seed position. We were operating under that assumption and created the ASP World Title scenarios based off of that. This was a mistake. In the end, we’re responsible for this and should be held accountable. We apologize to our fans, the surfers and to Owen and Kelly." 

Slater is still in 1st place, however. 

He will need to win one more heat to clinch the title--either here in San Francisco or at the tour's next stop in Hawaii--and Wright must win the competition in San Francisco and the one in Hawaii for the title, Rip Curl announced.

Slater and friends at Pacifica's Wednesday, but they may have to return depending on what happens on the waves. 

on Pacifica Patch via Rip Curl. 

Below are Rip Curl's revised world title scenarios:

- "If Kelly wins either Round 4 or 5 (one more heat win) in San Francisco, he will confirm his 2011 ASP world title.
- If Kelly fails to win another heat in San Francisco, Owen must win this event to send the 2011 ASP world title race to Hawaii.

- If the race goes to Hawaii, Kelly must advance out of one heat to confirm his 2011 ASP world title. If Kelly fails to advance through a heat at Pipeline, Owen must also win this event to stay in the 2011 ASP world title Race.

- If Kelly fails to advance out of another heat this season, and Owen wins in San Francisco and Pipeline, the two will tie at best of nine, eight, seven, etc. events, and the 2011 ASP world title will be decided in a 'Surf Off'." 

Event organizers will meet tomorrow morning at 7:30a.m. to guage surf conditions for apossible competition start of 8a.m.

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