claiming an extraordinary 11th world crown after the American finished runner-up in the Rip Curl Pro Portugal, Daily Telegraph reports.
Slater is poised to secure his 11th world crown on home surf in the US next month, needing only to win the first two heats of the next World Tour event in San Francisco to snare the crown.
"I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't win the last two events,'' Occhilupo said of Slater ahead of the Rip Curl Pro Search in the US next month and the season-ending World Tour event at Pipeline in Hawaii.
The unexpected exit of rising Australian star Owen Wright in the third round of the event in Portugal removed a major hurdle to Slater's defence of the world surfing crown with the American going on to finish runner-up to red-hot Brazilian Adriano de Souza.
While Australian Joel Parkinson conceded defeat in his push for the world title before the start of the tournament, Wright was still well within striking distance of his maiden crown before his upset round three exit.
