Florida's Kelly Slater clinched his record seventh world surfing championship yesterday during the Nova Schin Festival in Brazil, ending a three-year reign by Kaua'i's Andy Irons.

Slater was eliminated in the fourth round, but still clinched the 2005 championship when Irons was eliminated in the quarterfinals. Irons needed to reach the semifinals to remain in title contention.

"In a lot of ways I feel like my life is getting better, and this just really capped off the back half of my career in a great way," Slater said.

The final day of the contest was completed yesterday in 3-foot waves at Imbituba, Santa Catarina, Brazil.

Florida's Damien Hobgood won the contest, but Slater grabbed most of the attention with his unprecedented accomplishment.

When Slater won his first world title at age 20 in 1992, he was the youngest surfer to win a championship. Now at 33, he is the oldest surfer to win a world championship.

No other male surfer has won more than four world titles.

Irons entered the Nova Schin Festival as the only surfer with a shot at catching Slater.

"Andy didn't really get in gear until the end of the year and I knew at some point he was going to make a rush," Slater said. "I really didn't expect him to go out early here. I thought he was going to win. I'm feeling for Andy at the moment."

Slater was upset by South Africa's Travis Logie in the fourth round, 14.07-13.66.

Irons was then upset by Australia's Nathan Hedge in the quarterfinals, 17.7-16.8. Irons led early in the heat, but Hedge took control with a late 8.7 ride.

Through 10 of 11 events on the 2005 World Championship Tour, Slater has an insurmountable 7,896 points. Irons is No. 2 with 7,260. The final event of the tour is the Rip Curl Pro Pipeline Masters next month.

Bruce Irons, Andy's younger brother, is No. 12. Fred Patacchia Jr. of O'ahu's North Shore, who was eliminated in the fourth round yesterday, is ranked No. 13.

All of the top surfers, including Slater and Irons, are expected to compete in the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing, which is scheduled to begin Saturday with the OP Pro Hawai'i at Hale'iwa Ali'i Beach.