Is Kelly Slater hanging it up?

from floridatoday.com:

"Despite leading the strong force of competitors from the U.S. who qualified for the 2010 Association of Surfing Professionals World Tour season, surf legend Kelly Slater was cautious in announcing his commitment to the Tour next year.

“I don’t know if I’m going to do the tour full-time next year,” said Slater, of Cocoa Beach. “I’m sort of feeling it out. I’ve just competed for so many years, doing the same thing and going to the same places, it’s a little monotonous. When you find some meaning in it and it’s bigger than just going and surfing, then it becomes more exciting, but, unfortunately, I had a pretty lackluster year in a lot of ways, both personally and competitively and it probably showed in my surfing.”

Slater, 37, owns nine world titles and finished this season at No. 6. He was the top rated American to requalify for next year’s quest for surfing’s throne after a near-immaculate performance at the Billabong Pipe Masters, where he finished runner-up behind Australian Taj Burrow, 31.

C.J. Hobgood, 30, of Satellite Beach, who was the 2001 ASP World Champion, finished his year No. 7. He capitalized on his impressive barrel-riding skills at Pipeline to finish his season with a fifth at the Billabong Pro while posting one of the event’s perfect 10-point rides for a massive forehand barrel.

Also finishing at No. 9 was Damien Hobgood, 30, of Satellite Beach, who posted his best result of the season with a runner-up finish at the Billabong Pro Jeffreys Bay."