A vicious battle over hearts and minds!
Have you been watching lots and lots of professional surfing? Did you catch each of the 3452 heats from Bells and the 1435 (and counting) heats from Marg River? Of course you have! What a wild Australian leg! Such surprise! Such drama! A never-ending story!
But let’s talk about the quieter moments when our heroes aren’t smashing, carving, dancing. Doesn’t it seem that the main World Surf League sponsors these days are tourism boards?
Victoria, the state that swaddles Bells as well as the Great Ocean Road, ran commercials between every break and during every heat of the Bog Rail Pro. “Visit Victoria!” they exhorted. I think Mick Fanning might have spoken glowingly about what the region means to him. Some others too.
And now we see Western Australia, one upping their southeastern brothers by basically snagging title sponsorship of Margaret River. Barton Lynch tells us that, while he doesn’t live in Western Australia, he always feels at home when he visits. And Tom Carroll glares at us while flying a small airplane. What are his eyes saying? Come get me or leave me alone? Nick, can you help here?
In any case, tourism is a finite resource. Only so many people visit Australia each year and Victoria and Western Australia are very far away from each other. The people must choose. The people must decide on one over the other and this is the essence of a Blood Feud™. So who is winning this vicious battle over hearts and minds? I think maybe Western Australia. I can’t get Tom’s eyes out of my head!
I vote WA, that petting zoo looks rad as fck.
I think it’s a good idea for people who get paid to write about surfing to continue just guessing as to how much the government is kicking down for these contests. 2 million. 500 million. 2 quid. Who cares? It’s not like lying about numbers has been bad for the surf industry thusfar…
More than likely to get to either WA or VIC and even QLD need to fly thru NSW – NSW gov should just smoke em all build the pool at Sydney airport double the prize money, give em some hunter valley wine and they can piss back off again – Done!!
I’ve never been to either, but WA has won my heart with 100% more Taj Burrows.
I think everybody should go to WA , wines better , but bloody Victorians are so sport mad , rumor is the state govt here is ready to put in $10 m , but as long as its at the new wave pool at the Airport., $1m for first prize , and you don’t have to leave the airport , Ha match that WA!!
I don’t see any commercials, just a notice that there is a commercial break. Is AdBlock Plus my savior?
yes! yes it is! The vans flip flop ad during the pipe masters pushed me close to breaking point! If you missed that you are truly blessed!
WA wins hands down because, according to Bianca Buitendag, it’s a Lilliputian wonderland full of beautiful little people. Still makes more sense than TC.
His eyes are saying “what the HELL am I doing here”
btw, in Australia, tourism boards and governments generally are by far the biggest contributors to the CT events. One cannot be sure yet since the filings for 2015/16 are still a way off (these boards have to report their expenditures, and sometimes you get to see ’em) but the real competition between Vicco and WA is over how much their respective govt bodies can kick down to help the WSL — I would guess $2m or more apiece. The Qld tourism people and the Gold Coast City Council also kick in extraordinary sums for the Snapper event. This is pretty common these days re sport in Australia, where State govts fight tooth and nail to get hold of big events like F1 and the Commonwealth Games (which is sort of a Special Olympics for ex-British Empire colonies). Why in NSW right now, the State Govt is planning to spend hundreds of millions of dollars on a new football stadium on public parkland just so the NRL (Australia’s pro football league) has somewhere even nicer to beat the crap out of each other in. I tell ya it’s a socialist paradise out here!!
ha ha special olympics! Did you cop the mascot? Bumbat the surfing Koala (or whatever the fuck his name is!)
kelly should have a purps pop up shop on the right ledge
Sandgropers versus Cabbage Patchers. They’re all bogans to me!
Every western country (except England – the North is farked) gets more “bogan” the closer they get to the equator mate. Don’t be mistaken. Especially if you’re a Queenslander. They’re actually bum fuck scum and an embarrassment to this country.
I noticed chaz was the first to like it on Facebook and he wrote it. Shameless! Lol
Oh I do that on every story! I’m a hard-bitten surf journalist, yes, but a businessman first!
I know sadly I do it on all my IG posts, pack mentality, even if it’s a pack of tards. All in good fun lol.
You need to get this site sorted Chas! Just have a “contest” for budding young graphic designers / coders. First prize – some jazzy new beachgrit shorts! Its the surf industry way – well at least the cottage surf industry way!
Isn’t this the same East Coast/West Coast feud that got Biggie and Tupac all shot up?
West Oz got better weed and more chicks driving Land Cruisers.
sold.
that spindly WA bush rubbish got nuthin on some dank S.E suburban hyge. those asians grow the maaad buds.