"They don't build 'em like Christian Fletcher anymore..." or do they?
There was a time in surfing’s illustrious history when talent was found not made. When scraggly boys with snarling attitudes ripped beach breaks and point breaks and reef breaks not because daddy wanted them to make millions of dollars on professional surfing tours but because their hearts beat bad.
And hasn’t daddy just wrecked it all? Turned the scraggly boys into li’l machines! Turned them into empty-headed robots check-turning robots!
Turned them on to homeschooling!
And these homeschooled vessels with every edge sanded right off, sanded right down to Crest Whitestrip smiles, are the modern faces of the brands. They are our icons!
Except I heard the most wonderful rumor the other day. I heard that one man, who comes to us from skate and music, is out to change all that lame and his name is Damon Way.
Does it sound familiar? Oh but it should!
You’ll remember Damon as part of the heated rumors surrounding Dane Reynolds and co.’s aborted brand Destroyer. It was whispered that he would be the genius behind it all because he is a genius, having created/sold DC and a heap of other things.
Destroyer died in a heap of bloated ego (allegedly!) but Damon don’t need it because he has Fact. a white hot skate/music brand that the kids are . And rumor has it that he is thinking about dipping into the surfs!
A very good source tells me he was posted on the sand at Trestles very recently, wearing all black, scouting talent, trying to find the right surfer to fit the Fact. ethos. Scraggle. Snarl.
But maybe his trip was unsuccessful. He was heard mumbling, “They don’t build ’em like Christian Fletcher anymore…” as he headed back up the path, though my very good source says he’s not giving up.
Ditch daddy, boys! Head down to Trestles and get wild!
Homeschool’s out for summer!
Homeschool’s out forever!
Remember seeing C. Fletcher in 80’s long hair puka necklace, with a pot leaf dangling; doing a summer tour with I. Paskowitz… Will admit being stoked to paddle out and surf a session with him on a barrier island.. Fast forward to the images I see of him now; and I perceive years of selfish behavior, entitlement, and no discipline has shaped the man we see. The fletcher family gene pool must hold pure talent because his son is impressive skater no doubt. Only hope they have a strong father son relationship that will carry him to his last breaths. In the end this rock & roll bad ass you guys are looking for is very very fleeting.
helluva lot better than what Charlie and Felipe’s Pop do nowadays
Am in – maybe we both wear Nacho Libre full kit, masks and all – then after the ride completion both snap Felipes and Gabby’s boards over our knees simultaneously while elbowing them in the head – then yep on the boat to cheers and mass hysteria
maybe you can make another comeback and together we can tear the WSL a new asshole
We all know who the hardest bad ass in the game is. Pure metal.
I know many bad professional surfers. But they don’t surf Lower Trestles.
not when their agents and team managers have the sensibilities of soccer moms
I will happily fit whatever image for Damon. I would be more than happy knocking out competitors, snapping boards over my knee after a dodgy decision, ripping doors off the judges tower, sculling rum vodka beers before and after my heats whatever it takes to mix it all up
or you could just learn to skate. they all make a living without having to pretend to be Boy Scouts. surfing is 15 years behind on this issue.
Sponsoring surfers is sooo 1985.
I’d have more love for a brand if they had Nick Carroll and Trojan Fan on the “team”.
Our sister website STAB posted this painful little exercise in bollocks yesterday… painful, pointless, tacky and stuck in the past. Presented by Oakley http://stabmag.com/stabcine…
I fear for Facts’ financial solvency if scouting for edginess in Orange County is the plan.
Cuz Trestles is so edgy.