GABE KLING: BACK IN THE SADDLE AGAIN
Florida's Gabe Kling On His World Tour Comeback And His Strategy For Beating Slater
—Kling on his preparations for 2009
Few of us get a second shot at glory, but after battling his way onto the 2007 World Championship Tour and then failing to requalify, St. Augustine native Gabe Kling has fought his way back into the limelight. I sat down Tuesday afternoon with the guy who will start the year ranked 32nd in the world, to ask him about the lessons he learned in 2007 and how he plans on achieving his goal...a top 15 finish.
Joel: What are your feelings about being back on the Tour after a year requalifying on the WQS?
Gabe: I’ve been frothing. [Laughs.] By the time I got to Hawaii last November, I was safely qualified, so ever since then I’ve been looking forward to the first contest.
What did it feel like in 2007 when you failed to requalify? You had got close, right?
[In 2007] I had a bad year on the WCT, but I won my first big contest on the WQS in Japan, so coming into Hawaii, I was pretty sure I’d requalify. I was looking to get a result at Pipe, but I didn’t, and after I lost, I couldn’t even watch the rest of the contest. I flew to Maui to surf and that’s where I found out I was off. It was tough. It took me a while to get over that.
Were you crushed, or did it just seem like a momentary blip?
It was crushing at the time. I knew I could do it again, but the WQS is such a long, hard road.
Are you approaching the Tour differently this year, after having had the experience you did in 2007?
I want to be a lot more prepared, and I want to know my boards and the waves [on Tour] better. My first year on Tour, I hadn’t surfed a lot of the spots, and because I was doing the WQS and the WCT, I never really had time to show up early and prepare properly. I feel like the second time around, at least I’ll have had experience with all the spots.
I hear you’re training with Ian Cairns for the upcoming year. What have you guys been working on?
We work a lot on strategy, and he videos my sessions, so I’ve been watching myself surf a lot. Sometimes it comes with some harsh critiques, but it really helps.
How are you with criticism?
At first we didn’t know each other that well, and he told me, “I’m not gonna candy coat what I think at all.” And he doesn’t. I’m a pretty harsh critic of myself anway.
What has his biggest criticism of your surfing been?
Well, we’re working on being a lot more active in the lineup. A lot of events are at beachbreaks, so it’s about going out with a plan and trying to catch eight or ten waves.
What else are you guys working on?
Trying to get more vertical frontside, and being more exciting to watch. I mean, everybody can work on that, but [Ian] knows his stuff, and the things we’re working on are helping me get better, for sure.
I’ve heard a lot of guys say they’re going to work hard to deny Kelly a tenth title.
Well sure, they’ve tried that about nine times now.
Is that type of thing you care about, or are you more focused on your own goals?
I’d like to beat Kelly, but there are 44 other guys to worry about. It’s not just about him.
What are Kelly’s weakness? Does he have one?
Last year it didn’t seem like he did. All the things that should be his weaknesses he’s turned into strengths. It seems like everytime he’s combo’d, you almost know he’s gonna paddle back out and get two “10”s. It’s like the classic approach of going out and getting two “9”s just doesn’t work against Kelly. The few times he has lost, it’s been the opposite: he has a really strong early heat and loses in the dying seconds. He likes the dramatic finish, the comeback. I don’t know if he does it on purpose or what.
Which waves on Tour play to your strengths?
Snapper is tailor-made for any surfer, and I’m looking forward to it a lot. France is a beachbreak, and I’m really comfortable in beachbreaks. Lowers, too.
What kind of finish are you predicting for yourself in 2009?
My goal is to be in the Top 15.
Will you hedge your year by doing WQS events too?
In years past, you reevaluate your situation halfway through the year and jump onto the WQS if you weren’t doing well, but it seems like several QS events have been canceled or they conflict with World Tour events. I’ve decided I can do eleven WQS contests without really going out of my way.
So, Gabe, here’s the real question: What does Jacksonville have to do to win a Superbowl?
[Laughs.] I’m a big Jacksonville fan, and it was a disappointing year for us. Everybody got hurt, so I think if the team is healthy and we bring in some playmakers, we might be alright.
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READER COMMENTS
Wed Feb 4, 2009, 3:13 AM
G'wan n'git 'em Gabe! The second coming is always better than the first. Travel well & hit me up if you need a board caddie sometime (-; Joe Hannah
Wed Feb 4, 2009, 11:12 AM
Right On Gabe! Looking forward to watching you this season. Good luck to you!
Wed Feb 4, 2009, 3:37 PM
You've got the right attitude Gabe! Keep the Rhythm and stay focused and you'll make the top 10!
Wed Feb 4, 2009, 4:11 PM
If we draft any more Florida Gators onto our team, we will probably lose forever. Fred Taylor is the only good one. The rest suck ass hole. Maybe we could get a real defensive end, say... Everette Brown?
Wed Feb 4, 2009, 4:53 PM
Howdy Gabe! Yer gonna have a BIG ol' time back there on the double-ya see tee!
Wed Feb 4, 2009, 5:07 PM
You got smashed off the tour last time and you're talking about beating the champ? Cmon! Start worrying about how you're going to make it to the QS events in 2010.
Wed Feb 4, 2009, 6:35 PM
Go Gabe!! Go Jags!!
Wed Feb 4, 2009, 7:29 PM
Good luck Gabe, but there is no way in hell you have a prayer you have a chance against any of the top ten non the less Kelly. Your a good guy but you have a lot of dues yet to be paid
Thu Feb 5, 2009, 12:01 AM
Keep your eyes on the prize Gabe You can go as far as you can take it Just like our Jacksonville Jaguars And we will be back and better than ever Believe it JDP
Wed Feb 4, 2009, 8:47 PM
Gabe, We're pulling for you back home buddy... Don't listen to boneheads talking smack on the internet or anywhere else. Keep the great attitude & do your thing. Enjoy watching you surf back home in St. Aug when you're here. peace rich
Thu Feb 5, 2009, 5:45 AM
you guys who hate on gabe obviously didnt get very far in any sports. if you dont have the attitude that you can drop anyone else on tour, you shouldnt be there. with a suss attitude like that, you have lost before you even start. good luck gabe
Thu Feb 5, 2009, 8:32 AM
Brown sucks. need to draft Tebow and Spikes next year to the Jags then we'll be talk'. Get that FSU crap outta here, Good Luk Gabe! you other guys suck, leave Gabe alone, He wants to make the top 15, that is possible. Who thought Andy Irons would ever make it,he sucked forever until he got his groove on
Thu Feb 5, 2009, 8:39 AM
Stay positive & ignore the negative criticism. The Ancient City is proud of you accomplishments.
Thu Feb 5, 2009, 8:54 AM
So many haters....from what I read Gabe was very clear about the fact that his goal is not to beat Kelly, but to place in the top 15. And I would hope that would be the goal of any surfer on tour, considering the changes in the way that rankings and seedings for contest events has occurred. So on that note... ...rock on Gabe. Win or lose man; all of us here from the crumbly, wind blown N Florida surf are stoked for you and as proud as we could already be. Let us live vicariously through you, keep up the good work.
Thu Feb 5, 2009, 12:03 PM
Hey idiot. He said "I'd like to beat kelly" when asked. Who the hell wouldn't? Nah, I'm on the WCT so my main goal this year is to go out and lose to Kelly. Man if I can just lose every time, that'd be awesome. You are shit, whoever you are who wrote that comment. You should buy yourself a brain asswipe. -Jimmicane
Sat Feb 7, 2009, 6:29 PM
Gabe - Good luck bro - A lotta comp out there. FLORIDA RULES!!!!!!!!!!! Smack
Sat Feb 7, 2009, 8:41 PM
free ride to the outside, finish ahead of slater and there will be a boogieboard burn in honor of vilano stand-up surfing, injury negates, no phake. bbpp
Sun Feb 8, 2009, 10:14 AM
Way to go Gabe, I am glad you made it back to the CT. Watched you for the first time at the O'neal Pro in Florida and thought you have talent. Go big and set you goals up there, but don't get down if you don't beat the King. He is a freak and we all know it, but you will do fine this year. Good Luck Buddy... Warren with Refuge Board Sports Ministries.
Wed Feb11, 2009, 3:08 AM
Legendary accomplishments, legendary style! Of the oldest beach, in the second coming, the ripper who is Kling.
Wed Feb11, 2009, 3:12 AM
Good Luck Gabe! Keep living the dream!
Fri Feb13, 2009, 3:18 PM
Yeah Gabe! North Florida Reprazent!
Mon Feb16, 2009, 4:47 PM
LIfe is always there for whoever wants to take it! U worked your ass off to get there twice. Now show the world what u got in U. Remember Slater was just a grom from ESA. U have every opportunity and support u need to take it as far as u want! GOGABE!
Tue Feb17, 2009, 3:59 AM
So many times surfers who have failed on the Dream Tour have been asked what they would do differently. They all say they would turn up earlier to events, so my advice to all rookies on the Dream Tour is...TURN UP EARLY!
Fri Feb20, 2009, 7:26 PM
Hey Gabe, I don't know if you will read this or not, but I had you on my fantasy surfer team the whole season you were on the WCT, and I don't think you ever made it out of one heat! Best of luck this season from one East Coaster to another. Win a couple of heats and you'll be back on my fantasy team.
Sat Feb21, 2009, 2:02 AM
Gabe, Good luck, man. You're a cool humble dude, and you have what it takes to make the top 15. Any idiot who talks smack on the internet is probably some no-talent ass clown who sits around eating cheetos and jerking off to the underwear section of the JCPenny catalog. You've come a long way to get where you are right now. Keep fighting and do everything in your power to go a little further. The top 15 is well within your reach. Go out and kill em.
Sat Feb21, 2009, 5:02 PM
yeah gabe you goon, i hope you dont win a heat this year
Wed Feb25, 2009, 12:32 PM
Gabe! Aug Dog through and through! Super stoked for you man. Kill it out there....gotcha in on my Fantasy Team. Take one heat at a time, bro. ~Louie
Wed Feb25, 2009, 9:25 PM
florida has the worse waves and best surfers, if you can rip in florida's shity breaks you can rip any where go get em Gabe
Sun Mar 8, 2009, 11:23 AM
Congrats Gabe!!! Hope you kill it this year. Stay focused and rip. the Augie boys are classic.Gotta love those Flagler girl.. No comment on the Jaguars though..jk.. good luck!! Brian @ No Fear