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Kelly uses his two signature fin templates, the FCS K2.1 and FCS K-3, from 2 foot Trestles to 10 foot Teahupoo. Many of the world’s best surfers have now adopted his theory.

Kelly kicked off 2011 with a win at Snapper Rocks. He rode a quad in the early rounds and finished the job on his FCS K2.1 thruster set-up.

While Kelly celebrated many of his competitors were hoping this would be his last dance. He’d go on to disappoint them.

Kelly loves experimenting with his equipment, and the Gold Coast is the ideal testing ground for funky shooters with four fins. His ability to think outside the box is part of the reason why he is still on top.

Pre-event interview. “Well I’m not sure if I’ll go for a World Title at this stage…” Kelly didn’t win Bells, but his name is on the trophy.

It’s no secret KS has a love-hate relationship with Bells, surely the love is growing. With more open face to work with Kelly opts for the FCS K-3.

Having fun at Bells with two of his hero’s, Tom Curren and Martin Potter. These two surfers were at the top of world surfing right before Kelly exploded onto the scene.

Pre heat preparation, visualisation is a huge part of Kelly’s heat routine. Despite being noncommittal in interviews about the title, he was clearly focused and had intentions of winning from early in the year.

Getting ready in Rio. The short punchy beach breaks on offer saw Kelly jump back on his FCS K2.1 thruster set-up.

Kelly is renowned for having incredible flexibility and core strength. Here he contorts his body and kicks the fins free during a backhand snap.

Slotting into a foamy one in Brazil. Kelly has and uncanny ability to weave through any pit, in this case he’s putting on the breaks.

While the rest of the tour was fighting for points at J-Bay, Kelly was surfing the swell of a lifetime in paradise riding everything from a 5’9” shortboard to huge 9‘ rhino chasers. At this point the sceptics were claiming he was done with the tour.

In Tahiti Kelly rode his FCS K2.1 quad set-up to get more drive and acceleration in the barrel.

Comfortable in the eye of a storm. Kelly likes to ride small boards in big waves, riding a quad helps him to do just that.

Kelly pumped on his victory at Teahupoo, while Owen ponders what he needs to do to beat him. These two surfers would make three consecutive finals in a row.

Kelly showing incredible positioning and poise as he floats over a critical section in New York.

Kelly surprises the surfing world by adding a fifth fin to his quad set-up. The FCS VS ‘KNUBSTER’ would become the hot topic of the week, along with this huge front side air reverse.

Although Kelly came second in NY he was clearly looking like the man to beat.

Kelly continued to use the five fin set-up during the early rounds at Trestles. The added speed and drive made it easy to propel above the lip.

Kelly releases his fins at the end of a trademark snap. Trestles is all about high performance surfing and Kelly pushed his surfing to the limit in this event.

On the final day Kelly adapted his fin set-up to suit the conditions. The FCS K-3 PG paired with a PC-2 in the centre gave him drive off the bottom and allowed him to release a little easier off the top.

France dished up a variety of conditions from big onshore lumps to clean offshore peelers. Kelly again shows his adaptability.

With bigger, cleaner conditions on offer, Kelly jumped back on his signature FCS K-3’s and sliced off the top.

The hollow beach breaks of Portugal were ideal for Kelly to continue experimenting with the five fin set-up. “That fifth fin makes your quad set-up feel faster, smoother, and a little more in control”. A second place to Adriano would put Kelly in an almost unstoppable position coming into San Fran.

Kelly won his first heat in San Fran riding his FCS K2.1 quad. Two more good scoring waves would seal his 11^th World Title.