Pro Surfer Kelly Slater Shares his Travel Tips

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON LYST.COM - JANuary 2016

READ MORE

 Crowned World Surf League Champion a record 11 times, Kelly Slater knows his waves, but since founding his cult surf label Outerknown, he also knows how to translate that inimitable surf-cool vibe into your closet. From seeking out the world's best surf to the quest for sustainability in everything he does, Slater explains why it's always worth going that extra mile.

Seeking The Surf

For me, surf culture represents individuality. Often when I think about who surfers are, I think back to the 60s and 70s when the culture was embodied by peace-loving hippies who traveled around the world to surf and get away from the war. I think the sport represents a sort of freedom and relaxed lifestyle that so many people dream about. When you think of surfing your mind immediately goes to a beautiful beach somewhere. Because surfing is a sport that you can only do in certain parts of the world, there is a certain fantasy aspect attached to it that makes it seem cool and desirable.

I am lucky that I am always on the go traveling the world, so I am almost never sitting at a desk. Every day is different and what’s so rewarding and exciting is that I’m constantly learning by meeting new people, finding new places, and just experiencing all the different ways that people live life. I love to seek out those unique and authentic experiences.

I spend more than half of my time in the water. I like to step away from it sometimes, but I always want to get back out there. I hate missing good surf. For me, surfing is a lifelong journey. Not knowing what the outcome of the wave will be is still a rush, and you can always push yourself to try something new, or surf a new wave. So even when I get tired or a little burned out, I always return.

Seeking Sustainability

The Outerknown story began as I started asking if there was a better way to make clothing—did we even know where the clothes we were wearing came from? I believe we have an obligation to build better products and understand the way our consumption impacts the world around us. Outerknown’s foundation is sustainability and exploring the relationship between function and style to build a product that has a positive effect on the environment, but that also looks great and functions in the surf.

Every season we hunt down sustainable materials to create each collection—this season the signature items would be our Halcyon Plaid Blanket shirt in 100% organic cotton twill or our Baja Stripe Evolution Trunk made from recycled fishing nets and other nylon waste.

Always On The Move

I know I need to pack light and my clothing needs to be versatile. I never know which remote place I will be in next, so my bag needs to have the essentials that get me where I need to beand also adapt to the changing climates I may experience. The Evolution Puffer Jacket is the one item I always have with me. It’s a great item to throw in your bag for cold plane rides.

I usually wear our Evolution Trunks with pockets which are made of ECONYL’s recycled nylon when I'm in the water—though they're a great both in and out of the water.

Seeking The Perfect Board

I invested in Firewire surfboards because I really believe in their vision and commitment to the environment, which aligns with my own views on sustainability. Together we recently launched Slater Designs, which I’m really excited about. We have been working with some of the most innovative shapers from around the world to create designs specific for different types of waves and locations, and it’s been a really enjoyable collaboration.

I still don’t know if the perfect board exists, but we’re committed to creating something different in a new way that hasn’t been done before. Having the freedom to create something that will take me where I want to go on a wave is the dream.