Kelly Slater’s Air… Was it a ’10’ ?

Kelly Slater has once again shown why he’s the greatest surfer ever, producing a mind-blowing aerial move against Mick Fanning at the Hurley Pro, in California.

Surfing on his backhand, the 11-time world champion launched himself into the air, spinning 360 degrees and becoming detached from his board at one point before landing in the whitewash and emerging to finish the wave.

Yet, amazingly the 43-year-old was scored just 4.17 after the judges ruled the move incomplete because he failed to land on his feet, despite climbing from his stomach to stand-up and ride out.

Slater reached into his bag of tricks to pull the never-before-seen manoeuvre on his second wave during a round five elimination heat against Fanning.

The move thrilled the large crowd at Trestles and left the commentators raving, but somehow failed to impress the five judges with the wave failing to count among his top two rides.

Many fans felt the move deserved a 10.

The low score proved the difference in the heat with Fanning emerging victorious 16.10 to 14.90 and ended any slim hope Slater had of mounting a charge on the world title race.

The win put three-time world champion Fanning into the quarter finals against compatriot Adrian Buchan, while 2012 world champion Joel Parkinson also progressed to the last eight against Brazilian Felipe Toledo.