Does the implosion impact your life? Hopefully!
And it is like Las Vegas as the 1990-2016 surf industry built upon a foundation of hyper-sensitivity, paranoia, self-importance, bald-faced conservatism and red-faced hypocrisy implodes.
I am not one to say, “I told you…” but, dear surf industry, “I told you!” Nobody wants a surfing packaged for fucking Christians. Not even me and I’m a fucking Christian!
Those suckling on surf’s ripe teat were so damned afraid of letting one peep of naughty whisper escape that the thing, the brands, stopped carrying any meaning.
I know but I know trends are fickle. They come and go and come and go but let’s look at Thrasher magazine for one minute. By unabashedly embracing bad/rough/untethered behavior for decades it has become the hottest thing around. It is so intent on dying on that cross that when Justin Bieber or Rihanna get caught wearing it founder Jake Phelps calls them “Fucking clowns.” and says, …”The pavement is where the real shit is. Blood and scabs. Does it get any realer than that?”
Of course surfing is not skateboarding. It is not hardcore and bloody and scabby and street ratty. But it does have its own sun-soaked rebellion that has been buried, absolutely buried, for the better part of two decades.
Unnecessary cover-ups, denials, tsk-tsking and humorlessness were, instead, left to flourish. Oh if I had all the advertisement money that various surf brands pulled over my nudge here or poke there I’d have a small vacation home somewhere near greater Orlando and a Toyota Tacoma (without any frills) to boot!
The World Surf League is now the last bastion of bland. A very funny friend pointed out yesterday they likely make $400.00 on their mid-event commercials. $400.00 as they appeal to some boring, artificial, sporting core. The same boring, artificial, sporting core that stopped buying Volcom.
What does the surf industry apocalypse mean for you? For me? We have the chance to rebuild. A majestic Bellagio atop the creaky Dunes! We have the chance to keep the fucking Christians out. Besides me!
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It’s only Dirk’s and Natasha’s support of 30 million a year to the WSL that is keeping them afloat right now. Without them–the Wsl would probably sink like a rock. How much of that 30 million–do you think Paul Speaker and Terry Harder get–right off the top–for their salaries? (Might make a good story?) The WSL has about a year and a half left–before the ‘Ziff” gravy train runs out. It takes more than calling yourself a Christian–to actually be one–your actions and words don’t match your so called title as Christian. –J.C. had a name for people like that–I think it started with an Hyp…
That photo is from a fidlar album https://www.discogs.com/FID…
Skateboarding is cool because you fall on pavement and bleed? So, toddlers are the coolest people of all then?
Funny you mention skateboarding. We feel the Surf Industry Apocalypse is beautiful. Remember when the big skate companies dropped all their riders? What did it do? All of those riders started new brands and nobody needed the big guys. Skaters identified with the new breed. It brought diversity. It brought opportunity. Bring on the Apocalypse Now.
Someone give Bieber a WSL shirt, or better yet, a Medina jersey.
Circus Circus be my jam, baby.
They obviously have Giggs in on scab wages, the shittest cunt aye?!
Volcom just opened a flagship store AT DISNEY WORLD
so core
You lost me at, “…and I’m a fucking Christian!” Please be kidding.
So it seems like people might be losing jobs, prospects, houses etc. Tell me again why that’s a good thing?
Out of the ashes, dear omlete…..
Oak trees grow?
No, just great weed.
If your house is built really badly and nearly falling down its probably for the best that it burns down so you can rebuild it properly.
cause the bro network died 15 years ago and guys like Phelps would have been pushed out so USC mba’s could clean our little pastime up for the soccer moms who hold the checkbooks. training? what the fuck is that? you think skaters have to pretend to be training in the off season? that’s jock shit and we’ve got a fucking NFL guy at the helm right now. you see Rihanna wearing a Stab shirt?
For some reason I read “Rihanna wearing a Slap shirt” and could somehow picture it. Must have been the Huf x Slap collabs and the legacy of Chris Brown…
Crailtap wifebeater
don’t worry…..all those ma’s are moving to cali, oregon, etc, to take over the ganja biz, where the real money is at.
yup, already got ganja hedge funds, not just ganja hedges
hey look – an adult
Is this some sort of riddle relating to Salty “Mad Hueys for Christian Yanks” Crew? And you posted a fishing article too.
Again, BitchGrit
Bitching on bitchgrit…
The circle of life is magical.
Just wait until BitchGrit launches! Soon!
The is BitchGrit. No launch, this is a rebrand – What are you, an illiterate ??
Speaking of the apocalypse – why not drive the whole surf industry to Florida park it there and cleanse!!!
By the sounds of it,mother while industry will be moving to a wave park at either Lemoore or Austin. (Retail space available…)
Thrasher subscriber since the nineties. Compulsive BeachGrit reader. Coincidence?
I’d say so, yeah.
What if I said Vogue and Overdrive Trucking News?
α = 0.05?
https://imgs.xkcd.com/comic…
We’ll never know.