The best in history did not spare praise for the young Californian Caitlin Simmers, “she is definitely the most exciting young woman to come along in a long time,” he said in the WSL broadcast booth during the Tahiti Pro.

He added, after the surfer herself had lost her heat to Sawyer Lindblad: “That’s why everyone loves Caity so much, she takes charge, she always goes, she never backs down when she sees a section.”

The world number one could lose her lead if Picklum, her runner-up, advances to the semifinals, winning her series against Vahine Fierro or if Brisa Hennessy wins the event.

Slater was in the broadcast booth at the Tahiti Pro alongside Dylan Slater, the newly appointed CEO of the Slater Designs, Firewire and Outerknown joint venture.

Asked by Joe Turpel about the name of his upcoming son, he said that for now there is no name but that the nickname will surely be Gator. “I have to keep my Red Neck roots alive,” joked the best surfer in history.

The women's quarter-finals of the Tahiti Pro were as follows:
HEAT 1: Brisa Hennessy (CRC) vs. Carissa Moore (HAW)
HEAT 2: Caroline Marks (USA) vs. Sawyer Lindblad (USA)
HEAT 3: Molly Picklum (AUS) vs. Vahine Fierro (FRA)
HEAT 4: Tyler Wright (AUS) vs. Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA)