Kelly Slater signed a deal with William Morris Endeavor (WME), one of the world’s largest talent agencies.

The most successful competitive surfer of all time joins a strategic partner and professional intermediary and advocate for artists, athletes, creators, and brands.

WME helps them secure work, build their profiles, and manage their careers across entertainment, sports, fashion, music, books, speaking, and media industries.

Slater, 53, won 11 surfing world titles and is widely regarded as the greatest professional surfer of all time.

The partnership with WME will allow the Floridan to maximize his professional interests by delegating contract negotiations, endorsements, and licensing deals.

Ultimately, the agency will secure opportunities that align with its client’s career goals and market trends.

WME will capitalize on the fact that Kelly Slater is both the youngest (20) and oldest (39) surfer to ever win a world title.

Access to a Network of Opportunities

Firms like WME identify suitable opportunities – auditions, modeling gigs, endorsements, brand deals, or sports contracts – and pitch their clients to casting directors, producers, studios, brands, and other decision makers.

They use industry connections and a contact network to gain access to roles and opportunities that aren’t widely advertised.

Slater has built a well-known web of surf-related brands and products.

His new agents will negotiate terms, compensation, residuals, and contract conditions on behalf of the surfer.

They will help Slater secure fair deals and protect his professional interests by leveraging deep knowledge of industry norms.

The talent agency will also provide additional public relations and marketing support, as well as manage logistics that might be related to his new business commitments.

WME’s negotiating expertise and power go back a long time.

The company is the result of a merger between William Morris Agency and Endeavor Talent Agency. The former was founded in 1898.

Today, it’s a one-stop integrated service connected with brand partnerships, live events, sports management, and content production.

Maximizing Success Among the Stars

Kelly Slater’s career also includes five Laureus World Sports Awards for Action Sportsperson of the Year, two X Games gold medals, and five ESPY nominations for Best Male Action Sports Athlete.

The founder of the Outerknown clothing brand also appeared in the “Baywatch” TV series, the movie “Surf’s Up,” the reality show “The Ultimate Surfer,” and more.

The legendary surfing champion lent his name to one of the best video surfing games ever released, “Kelly Slater’s Pro Surfer.”

In 2015, the surfer from Cocoa Beach, Florida, developed and launched the new generation wave pools through his Kelly Slater Wave Co.

Amy Schumer, Ben Affleck, Billie Eilish, Christian Bale, Denzel Washington, Dua Lipa, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Jennifer Garner, John Krasinski, Luka Doncic, Matt Damon, Serena Williams, and many others are some of the names in the WME universe.

Terry Hardy will continue to serve as Kelly Slater’s day-to-day manager, while the Beverly Hills-based WME will be finding outstanding deal opportunities for the veteran surfer.

If opportunity knocks, Slater is now ready for the next wave of ventures life will have for him.

Words by Luís MP | Founder of SurferToday.com