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Final Four is a sports term that is commonly applied to the last four teams remaining in a playoff tournament. The term usually refers to the four teams who compete in the two games of a single-elimination tournament's semi-final (penultimate) round. Of these teams, the two who win in the semi-final round play another single-elimination game whose winner is the tournament champion. In some tournaments, the two teams that lose in the semi-final round compete for third place in a consolation game a tournament format where four teams play two rounds of single-elimination games, resulting in a single champion.

The term "final four" is most often used in the United States and in sports heavily influenced by that country; elsewhere, only the term "semi-finals" is in common use. "Final four" first appeared in print in a 1975 article for the Official Collegiate Basketball Guide, whose author Ed Chay was a sportswriter for the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Chaye stated that the Marquette basketball squadron "was one of the final four" during the previous season's tournament. The NCAA began to use the term and later trademarked it.^[1]

The oldest and most common use of the term is in reference to the final four teams in the annual NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship. Each Final Four team is the regional champion from the East, South, Midwest or West regions of the tournament. (Other region names have been used, such as "Mideast" replacing South, or "Southeast" and "Southwest" replacing South and Midwest.) The teams travel from the four separate sites of their regional rounds to a common venue for the Final Four. In the men's basketball tournament, a team must win four consecutive rounds (games) to qualify for the Final Four. The four teams are matched against each other on the last Saturday of the tournament. The two winners emerge to play in the national championship game the next Monday evening.^{[citation needed]}

The NCAA also uses "Final Four" for other sports besides basketball, such as the Men's and Women's Volleyball Championship. For ice hockey tournaments, the NCAA uses a variation of the term: the "Frozen Four".

Because the term is now a registered trademark of the NCAA in the U.S., no other organizations in that country can use the phrase to refer to their tournaments. Organizations in other countries may officially do so. Many basketball organizations outside the U.S. use the term for the semifinal and final rounds of their tournaments—such as ULEB for the Euroleague and Eurocup, the Israeli Basketball Super League, and the University Athletic Association of the Philippines. The CEV Champions League in volleyball also uses "Final Four" for its final rounds.^{[citation needed]}

Non-sports use[link]

"Final Four" refers to the crew of STS-135, the final Space Shuttle mission.^[2][3]

The term is also used in some television shows to denote the last remaining four contestants, such as the Philippine TV series StarStruck and the reality show Survivor.^{[citation needed]}

See Also[link]

• NCAA Men's Division I Final Four appearances by school
• List of the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament Final Four participants

References[link]

External links[link]

• NCAA official website

Kelly Slater
Personal information
Born	(1972-02-11) February 11, 1972 (age 40) Cocoa Beach, Florida, U.S.
Residence	Florida, California and Hawaii
Height	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Weight	160 lb (73 kg)
Surfing career
Years active	1990–present
Best year	Ranked 1st on the ASP World Tour, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2011
Career earnings	$3,030,755 (as of 2011)[1]
Sponsors	Quiksilver wetsuits
Major achievements	11 time ASP World Champion Victories: 55 World championship tour (WCT) surfing wins: 48
Surfing specifications
Stance	Regular (natural) foot (left foot forward)
Shaper(s)	Al Merrick
Quiver	5'6", 5'8", 5'10", 6'1", 6'3" and 6'6" boards when on the road
Favorite waves	Kirra and Pipe
Favorite maneuvers	Airs and barrels
Website	kellyslater.com

Robert Kelly Slater (born February 11, 1972, Cocoa Beach, FL, USA) is an American professional surfer known for his competitive prowess and style. He has been crowned ASP World Champion a record 11 times, including 5 consecutive titles from 1994–98. He is the youngest (at age 20) and the oldest (at age 39) to win the title. Upon winning his 5th world title in 1997, Slater passed Australian surfing legend Mark Richards to become the most successful champion in the history of the sport. In 2007 he also became the all-time leader in career event wins by winning the Boost Mobile Pro event at Lower Trestles near San Clemente, California. The previous record was held by Slater's childhood hero, 3-time world champion Tom Curren.^[2]

In addition to the ASP tour, Slater has also competed in the X-Games (in 2003 and 2004). After earlier being awarded the title prematurely as a result of a miscalculation by the ASP, on November 6, 2011 Slater officially won his eleventh ASP world title at the Rip Curl Pro Search San Francisco, by winning his 4th round heat. In May 2005, in the final heat of the Billabong Tahiti Pro contest at Teahupo'o, Slater became the first surfer ever to be awarded two perfect scores for a total 20 out of 20 points under the ASP two-wave scoring system. (The corresponding honor under the previous three-wave system belongs to fellow American Shane Beschen who achieved the feat in 1996.) Since 1990, Slater has been sponsored primarily by surfwear industry giant Quiksilver.^[3] He exclusively rides Channel Islands surfboards equipped with his own signature series of FCS fins.

Biography[link]

Early life and family[link]

Kelly Slater with fellow pro surfers Rob Machado and Christiaan Bailey

Slater was born on February 11, 1972 in Cocoa Beach, Florida, where he continues to reside. He has a teenage daughter named Taylor. He is of Irish and Syrian ancestry. He has an older brother, Sean, and a younger brother, Stephen.

In his spare time Slater enjoys playing the guitar,composing sonnets and spending quality time with longtime girlfriend, Kalani Miller who often travels and supports him on the ASP World Tour. His favorite surf spots are Sandspit in California, Pipeline in Hawaii, Kirra in Australia, Jeffreys Bay in South Africa, Minis in Ireland, Taghazout in Morocco, Soup Bowls in Barbados, Sebastian Inlet near his home in Florida and Bilgola beach in the northern beaches of Sydney, Australia. his three favourite surfing buddys from Bilgola are Ian morrison, James Burfitt and Jose Viera.^[4] He is also an avid golfer, with a +2 handicap. Slater is interested in the sport of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Some of his surfing inspirations are Tom Curren, Tom Carroll, Mark Occhilupo, Martin Potter, Andy Irons, Shane Dorian, Drew Phelps, Ken Wells, Hunter Collins, and Andrew Bloom.^[5]

Other projects[link]

Slater played the recurring character Jimmy Slade on several episodes of the popular TV show Baywatch in the early 1990s .^[6] He appeared in an episode of the reality show The Girls Next Door, and has also starred in many surf films throughout his career.

In the late '90s Slater, along with friends and fellow pro surfers Rob Machado and Peter King, formed a band called The Surfers. The trio released an album in 1998 titled Songs From the Pipe, a reference to the famous surf spot Pipeline on Oahu, Hawaii. Aside from his Love of surfing, Kelly also toured Australia with his band, performing in venues such as the Opera House, and parliament house. He was also given an honourary membership to the Rickson Cricket Club in northwest Sydney.

Slater performed a song with Ben Harper during Harper's concert in Santa Barbara. on August 1, 2006. He also performed "Rockin' in The Free World" with grunge band Pearl Jam on the July 7, 2006 in San Diego. In 1999, he appeared alongside Garbage singer Shirley Manson in the promotional video for the band's single "You Look So Fine". He played a man washed up on a seashore, then rescued by Manson.

A video game named Kelly Slater's Pro Surfer, by Treyarch and published by Activision, was released in 2002. Slater also appeared as a playable character in Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 prior to this, complete with a surfboard.

In 2003 Slater released his autobiography, Pipe Dreams: A Surfer's Journey. In 2008 he released a second book with Phil Jarratt, entitled Kelly Slater: For the Love.

Slater is passionate about preserving oceans globally and protecting temperate reefs in California through his relationship with Reef Check.

On May 8, 2010 the United States House of Representatives honored Slater in H. Res. 792 for his "outstanding and unprecedented achievements in the world of surfing and for being an ambassador of the sport and excellent role model."^[7] This resolution, sponsored by Florida representative Bill Posey and sponsored by 10 representatives, passed without objection by a voice vote.^[8]

Slater is also on the Board of Advisors (the Ocean Advocacy Advisory Board) of ocean conservation organization Sea Shepherd Conservation Society.^[9]

Stats[link]

Slater surfing in the Boost Mobile Pro at Trestles

Slater at Trestles, San Clemente State Beach, California

• WCT victories: 49
• World titles: 11

On 9/15/07, Kelly Slater passed Tom Curren's long standing WCT tour victory record of 33 with his win at the Boost Mobile Pro at Lowers Trestles.

2012 Stats and results[link]

World ranking: Currently 8th
Points: 13,700

Event results in 2012^[10]
Quiksilver Pro presented by Land Rover, Gold Coast (Snapper Rocks, Australia): 5th
Rip Curl Pro presented by Ford Ranger, Bells Beach, (Victoria, Australia): 2nd
Billabong Rio Pro, Brazil: INJ

2011 Stats and results[link]

World ranking: 2011 Champion
Points: 68,100

Event results in 2011^[11]
Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast (Snapper Rocks, Australia): 1st
Rip Curl Pro, Bells Beach, (Victoria, Australia): 5th
Billabong Rio Pro (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil): 1st
Nike Pro US Open (Huntington Beach, California, USA): 1st
Billabong Pro Teahupoo (Teahupoo, Tahiti): 1st
Quiksilver Pro New York (Long Beach, New York, USA): 2nd
Hurley Pro Lower Trestles (Orange County, California, USA): 1st
Quiksilver Pro France (Hossegor, France): 5th
Rip Curl Pro Portugal (Peniche, Portugal): 2nd
Rip Curl Search (Ocean Beach, San Francisco, USA): 5th
Billabong Pipeline Masters (Pipeline, Oahu, Hawaii): 3rd

2010 Stats and results[link]

World ranking: 2010 Champion
Points: 69000

Event results in 2010^[12]
Quiksilver Pro, Gold Coast (Snapper Rocks, Australia): 9th
Rip Curl Pro, Bells Beach (Australia): 1st
Hang Loose Pro (Santa Catarina, Brasil): 2nd
Billabong Pro (Jeffreys Bay, South Africa): 17th
Billabong Pro Teahupoo (Teahupoo, Tahiti): 3rd
Hurley Pro (Lower Trestles, San Clemente, CA): 1st
Quiksilver Pro France (Hossegor, France): 2nd
Rip Curl Pro Portugal (Peniche, Portugal): 1st
Rip Curl Pro Search 2010 (Middles Beach, Isabela, Puerto Rico): 1st
Billabong Pipeline Masters (Pipeline, Oahu, Hawaii): 3rd

2009 Stats and results[link]

World ranking: 6th.
Points: 6136

Event results in 2009^[13]
Quiksilver Pro, Gold Coast (Snapper Rocks, Australia): 17th
Rip Curl Pro, Bells Beach (Australia): 17th
Billabong Pro, Tahiti (Teahupoo, Tahiti): 17th
Hang Loose Pro (Santa Catarina, Brasil): 1st
Billabong Pro (Jeffreys Bay, South Africa): 9th
Hurley Pro (Lower Trestles, San Clemente, CA): 3rd
Quiksilver Pro France (Hossegor, France): 5th
Billabong Pro, Mundaka (Mundaka, Spain): 3rd
Rip Curl Search (Peniche, Portugal): 17th
Billabong Pipeline Masters (Pipeline, Oahu, Hawaii): 2nd

2008 Stats and results[link]

World ranking: 2008 Champion
Points: 8832

Event results
Quiksilver Pro, Gold Coast (Snapper Rocks, Australia): 1st
Rip Curl Pro, Bells Beach (Australia): 1st
Billabong Pro, Tahiti (Teahupoo, Tahiti): 17th
Globe Pro, Fiji (Tavarua, Fiji): 1st
Billabong Pro, J-Bay (Jeffreys Bay, South Africa): 1st
Rip Curl Search (Bali, Indonesia): 17th
Boost Mobile Pro (Lower Trestles, San Clemente, CA): 1st
Quiksilver Pro France (Hossegor, France): 2nd
Billabong Pro, Mundaka (Mundaka, Spain): 9th
Hang Loose Pro (Santa Catarina, Brasil): DNS
Billabong Pipeline Masters (Pipeline, Oahu, Hawaii): 1st

History of wins[link]

2011

• Quiksilver Pro (Gold Coast, Australia)
• Nike US Open (Huntington Beach, CA)
• Billabong Pro Teahupoo (Teahupoo, Tahiti)
• Hurley Pro Trestles (California, USA)

2010

• Rip Curl Pro (Bells Beach, Australia)
• Hurley Pro (Lower Trestles, California, USA)
• Rip Curl Pro (Peniche, Portugal)
• Rip Curl Search (Middles, Isabela, Puerto Rico)

2009

• Hang Loose Pro (Santa Catarina, Brasil)

2008

• Quiksilver Pro (Gold Coast, Australia)
• Rip Curl Pro (Bells Beach, Australia)
• Glove Pro Fiji (Cloudbreak, Restaurants – Tavarua, Fiji)
• Billabong Pro J-Bay (Jeffrey's Bay, South Africa)
• Boost Mobile Pro (Lower Trestles, San Clemente, California)
• Billabong Pipeline Masters (Pipeline, North Shore Oahu, Hawaii)

2007

• Boost Mobile Pro (Lower Trestles, San Clemente, California)

2006

• Quiksilver Pro (Gold Coast, Australia)
• Rip Curl Pro (Bells Beach, Australia)

2005

• Billabong Pro (Teahupoo, Tahiti)
• The Globe WCT (Fiji)
• Billabong Pro (South Africa)
• Boost Mobile Pro (Lower Trestles, San Clemente, California)

2004

• Snickers Australian Open (QS)
• Energy Australia Open (QS)

2003

• Billabong Pro (Teahupoo, Tahiti)
• Billabong Pro (South Africa)
• Billabong Pro (Mundaka, Spain)
• Nova Schin Festival (Brazil)

2002

• The Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau (Specialty-Hawaii)

2000

• Gotcha Tahiti Pro presented by Globe (Tahiti)

1999

• Mountain Dew Pipe Masters (Hawaii)

1997

• Coke Surf Classic (Australia)
• Billabong Pro (Australia)
• Tokushima Pro (Japan)
• Marui Pro (Japan)
• Kaiser Summer Surf WCT (Brazil)
• Grand Slam (Specialty-Australia)
• Typhoon Lagoon Surf Challenge (Specialty-USA)

1996

• Coke Surf Classic (Australia)
• Rip Curl Pro Saint Leu (Reunion Island)
• CSI pres. Billabong Pro (South Africa)
• U.S. Open (California)
• Rip Curl Pro Hossegor (France)
• Quiksilver Surfmasters (France)
• Chiemsee Pipe Masters (Hawaii)
• Sud Ouest Trophee (Specialty-France)
• Da Hui Backdoor Shootout (Specialty-Hawaii)

1995

• Quiksilver Pro (Indonesia)
• Chiemsee Pipe Masters (Hawaii)
• Triple Crown of Surfing (Specialty-Hawaii)

1994

• Rip Curl Pro (Australia)
• Gotcha Lacanau Pro (France)
• Chiemsee Pipe Masters (Hawaii)
• The Bud Surf Tour (WQS-USA)
• The Bud Surf Tour (WQS-USA)
• Sud Ouest Trophee (Specialty-France)

1993

• Marui Pro (Japan)

1992

• Rip Curl Pro Landes (France)
• Marui Pipe Masters (Hawaii)

1990

• Body Glove Surfbout Trestles (California)

Filmography[link]

Films[link]

"Ultimate Wave Tahiti" (2010)
"Bustin Down the Door" (2008)
"One Track Mind" (2008)
"Kelly Slater Letting Go" (2008)
"Waveriders" 2008)
"Surf's Up" (2007)
"Down the Barrel" (2007)
"Surfers – The Movie" (1990)
"Bra Boys" (2007)
"The Ocean" (2008)
"One Night at McCool's" (2001)
"Letting Go" (2006)
"Young Guns 1, 2 & 3" (2004–2008)
"Campaign 2" (2005)
"Doped Youth" 'Groovy Avalon' (2004)
"Kelly Slater in Black and White" (1991)
"Endless Summer II" (1994)
"Wave Warriors 3"
"A Fly in the Champagne" (2009) (featuring Kelly Slater and Andy Irons)
"Cloud 9" (2009)
"Riding Giants" (2004)
"Step into Liquid" (2003)
"Thicker than Water" (2000)
"Fighting Fear" (2011)
"September Sessions" (2002)
"Kelly Slater In Kolor" (1997) <br

Cameo appearance[link]

"Surf's Up" (2007)

Television[link]

Baywatch, 10 episodes

The Girls Next Door, "Surf's Up" 1 episode

Bibliography[link]

• Pipe Dreams: A Surfer's Journey (2003) ISBN 0-06-009629-2
• Kelly Slater: For the Love (2008) ISBN 0-8118-6222-4

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Kelly Slater

• Kelly Slater the Official Website
• Kelly Slater Photo Gallery at Outside Online
• Kelly Slater at the Internet Movie Database
• Kelly Slater Pictures & Wallpapers^{[dead link]}
• Kelly Slater Interview
• Interview with Kelly Slater and Eddie Vedder Regarding Surfing and Their Friendship
• Kelly Slater In SPIN's November Issue
• Kelly Slater Shares His Memories of Rival Andy Irons at The Inertia
• Kelly Slater isn't new world champ yet; ASP says it made an error