Blonde skies peek through brunette clouds!
First I must say, as someone who occasionally introduces himself as a “surf journalist” at parties, that Longtom’s coverage of the 2016 Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast would win the Graham Stapelberg Award for Excellence in Reporting™ if we had such a thing. We don’t. Surf journalists go unloved, at best, gratingly tolerated, mostly, despised, sometimes.
But maybe we surf journalists should form an academy? Longtom are you in? Nick Carroll? Matt Warshaw, of course you, and who else should be included? Who are the greatest living surf journalists? Yes, we will form an academy and next year bring you the Graham Stapelberg Award for Excellence in Reporting™ but let’s first talk about the weather!
Filipe Toledo’s injury is a massive blow and could it be possible that the Brazilian Storm has finally broken? The system was set to push squall after squall for the foreseeable future. First Gabe then ADS then, I thought for sure Filipe, then Gabe again then Italo then Filipe then Filipe then Ciao then Filipe etc.
With Filipe’s injury, though, is there going to be a shift in pattern? Just look at the top ten. Dirty blonde, blonde, injured, blonde, ADS, Australian brunette, permed blonde, blonde, Ciao, Japanese American.
I can’t imagine another ADS jog, can you? Gabe maybe but Filipe seemed like the one to run wire to wire but with his being erased will Kolohe win it all? JJF? Disco Stu Kennedy? Parko? And if a non Brazilian wins will another non Brazilian slip in behind him? Will Brazil lose its footing? Will the clouds part never to reform with such strength again?
By the way, I’m very much enjoying Beachgrit’s slow seduction of Nick Carroll. Hopefully it’ll work and he’ll relaunch ‘Ask Carroll’ over here; I’ve got a backlog of pointless questions I need to ask him, like what’s with MR’s pronunciation of Tomo on the webcast and whether the Wilko 2.0 backhand reminds him irresistibly of David Brent’s dance in The Office
So have I actually been awarded the first Grahammy?
thats wonderful, really nice. I shall go buy a sixer and roll a joint to celebrate.
Sorry, the relentless name dropping and quotations from people that the common man has to google ruled you out of contention… But keep up the good work, next year is fast approaching.
Derek said it was an educated crowd and I should write smart.
hey tron, would you please link me to fantasy again, I only have wsl’s…
Search BEACHGRIT in the public clubs…
The best part of it all is that I put a bet on Wilko after round one, 31:1 baby.
Disco Stu is classic. I’m really hoping that sticks…
I like the idea of an Academy for surf journalists , might have to be careful at your AGM , as certain powers within the Surf Industry could then lobby or eradicate any truth or meaning in surfing by collectively taking out all of them at the AGM!!!
As for the Brazilian storm , ah their age compared to the Australian ol blokes , seems to be a very relevant issue , why does it take Aussies 6-8 yrs on tour to ah mature , and those Brazilians just qualify , win world titles and contests , when the Ausssies are still at home being trained to………become journey men??
Because the journeymen are coached by washed up journeymen?
Jack Robinson is Australia’s best hop because the journeymen haven’t been able to get their hands on him yet.
are you saying , mediocrity breeds mediocrity , and that “the System” in OZ is only there to provide jobs ? Agree about Jack R , will be interesting to see how he goes on the QS , trying to grovel his way onto the CT!
Correct. At least if Jack R grovels his way onto the CT he’ll be able to handle some of the real waves on tour unlike many others who make up the numbers. But I bet there a lot in the system itching to bring his style and technique into line with what the manuals say.
yes Jack is a very interesting case study of how the Australian System is now producing older journey men and no real contenders, so in affect is not really working. He is ready to go at 17 years of age , to surf any of the waves on tour , but first there is that pesky QS to grovel thru , this is jacks only weakness , but easy to teach heat management , hard to learn how to be competitive and want to surf Pipe or chopes or Jaws?
I thought that Owen Wright was heading down the journeyman path a few years ago, he looked like he had any personality coached out of his surfing but then he seemed to pull away from it and started getting results again. I hope he comes right and gets back on tour soon.
I actually asked Kelly some questions about coaching via Dumbth Chronicles a few years back and he kind of disagreed with me but I maintain that maybe apart from some strategic advice the best surfers are made without coaches.
you can’t teach surfing , but you can certainly teach heat strategy , owen always had the ability , really needed to get stronger heat strategies and also he has much better bds now!
Another guy that would excel on the CT but could be lost in the QS. There’s something wrong about having to win in shitty waves to surf good ones. Jack would probably take more than a few scalps on the CT but to get there he’ll have to grovel through knee high shit that we wouldn’t even paddle out in.
Big time that is the main problem – they really should be having maybe QS at same locations where possible. Financially and maybe logistically hard but gotta wave quality waves that’s it
JF is an interesting example of whats wrong with the Australian system , when JF was winning world junior titles , the Brazilians were already qualifying , winning CT ‘s and world titles. It took JF 3 years to qualify after his junior years , but I agree that the QS does not prepare you for the CT!
And another thing wouldn’t it be appropriate that Stu Kennedy points be perhaps added to QS points so that he has better chance to qualify and then reward the fact that was called up and ripped. Not sure if they do?
Pretty sure they do that now. With the injuries to a few guys I think he gets the call for the tour for most of the year and keeps his points.
yeah thought so, was just checking and obviously not updated but it is WSL website after all
His dad is the weirdest dude tho!
And what about the surfing´s #1 underground non-journalist? James B!!
you’re underground? no way! you’re on BG!
Shit, am i a sold out?
https://uploads.disquscdn.c…
Wilko wins a WCT competition with a massive poo stance. He gets cheered and paid. I start poo stancing in front of Home Depot like that, I get thrown out and get arrested. Where’s the justice!?
Surf journalists investigate!
Shhh….don’t tell anyone!!!!!
I can’t see Adriano’s determination and Medina’s ability mixed with strategy going anywhere sometime soon.
What was nice to see was a good old fashioned load of blood and guts from Mr Kennedy. He’ll get under everyones skin this year. I, along with most sane people long for John John to cruise along and no-claim his way to the victory. Doubtful though.
Poor old Jules – he looks like a lost puppy again.
Man, John John with those arms glued is as weird as Wilko´s Byron-Snapper stance.
You’d rather him use his arms like the wings of a 747 ala Filipe wouldn’t you…
It’s style Jimbo.
Something they don’t score unfortunately, otherwise Ryan Burch would win every event and Machado would still be on tour.
Machado and Burch have great styles. John John has a glued pair of arms.
Ha!
This kind of attitude is why the rest of the world think surfers have shit style. Keep the arms down like skateboarding and snowboarding, anything else is ugly.
Hey, did you know that the world’s 2 best skaters are brazilians?
Aryans rejoice! the sport is back in your hands…until Bells
I just made my fantasy picks and realized it should be called “Team Mighty White.” I may have to do something about that but with Felipe out I’m struggling.
try a little Italo flavor to spice things up, he`ll be a 2nd or even 3rd tier at bells…
Not a bad idea. I may have to make that change.
I should have trademarked Disco Stu™ when I first mentioned it on Twitter. I could have been rich…
It fits perfectly and you should have…
Medina probably remains the one to beat… as for the surf journalists to be included amongst the other greatest living surf scribes, I, humbly, submit my name, Dr. Karl Von Fanningstadt.
Kudos for the use of Michael Fish in all his late ’80s ‘there will be no hurricane’ glory. Nice touch Chas – worthy of a Grahammy in itself
A Grahammy! I am dying! Now we must make the Academy of Surf Journalism just to hand them out!
I’m sure all of the BeachGritters will show up especially if there is booze…lots and lots of booze (because God knows there won’t be any actual women).
Nonsense! There will be women. Mimi LaMontagne will be there and the iridescent Sara Sanz Pinto. They will hand out the Grahammys along with the much coveted Paul Sargeant Lifetime Achievement Award. And it will totally shit on the WSL presso.
Two VERY lovely ladies and shitting on the WSL? Now that’s a party!
One can only hope.
it’s early, Chas, don’t stress.