In an interview on Australian TV, Slater has described the use of recreational drug as “rampant”.

Asked if there was a recreational drug problem, he said: “There clearly is – absolutely. There’s no denying that, it’s rampant, it’s full-on.”

This is despite the widely publicised introduction of drug testing by the ASP at the start of last year. Slater though doesn’t seem to think it has had much effect. “They tested us at the first event and I never got tested again all year. Why talk about it and not do it? Why bother? Either do it or don’t do it,” said Kelly.

Drugs in sport is currently the hottest topic in Australia right now with the country’s Crime Commission report finding widespread doping and illegal drug use among Australian athletes across all professional codes. When quizzed on the use of performance enhancing drugs Slater was less sure. “I don’t think there’s a drug you can take to make you surf better”.

In the interview Slater also committed himself to challenging for a 12th world title, saying old dudes around the world keep asking him to push on. On the eve of the Quiksilver Pro, maybe Slater is just about playing some serious mind games with his party loving competitors, or maybe he is just speaking a truth that most inside the industry, and plenty on the outside, have failed to do.