BeachGrit principal in podcast interview. Find out who Chas wants to sink!
On a recent Thursday afternoon, the writer and BeachGrit principal Chas Smith was invited to participate on the Surf Splendor podcast.
Smith, of course, upholds the standard for candour and in this almost hour-long interview chisels dangerous topics with an assured and passioned improvisation.
Highlights
On slinging mud:
“I would invite people to write whatver they wanted about me. For fun! I could lob grenades all day into peoples’ houses, drive home and there wouldn’t be one grenade at my house. I’m confused. Why not have fun? Nobody, ever, ever. I try, I really try to get some kind of response from other surf media. But they’re lifeless.”
The host responds that The Inertia gets half-a-million clicks a month so why should they care about Chas’ grenades.
“I completely understand that reasoning. What I don’t understand is that we’re still surfers at the end. We can still have fun.”
On The Inertia:
“I would love to sink that piece of shit! It’s terrible. I would love to bring it all down. I think I can say it’s the worst website on the internet. It’s worse than Brietbart, it’s worse than the lefty version, it’s worse than anything. Why? Because it has no point of view. There’s this weird ‘We celebrate all points of views’ but they really don’t. It’s curated toward a specific goal. And not to admit it, to pretend that you don’t and you’re the definitive voice of thinking surfers, is absolutely ludicrous.”
“When I encountered him (The Inertia creator Zach Weisberg) at a party, he was throwing his own writers under the bus saying, we don’t support everything our writers say. If I wrote for you, and you were at a party and saying you didn’t support your writers, what kind of crappy thing is that? That’s awful! Whether you agree or disagree is one thing, but to distance yourself? If it goes up, you should totally stand behind it.”
At this point, the interviewer, the very good David Scales, says, “They’re catering to a guy who rides a soft top, who bought it at Costco, who lives away from the coast, Arizona maybe, but he comes out every summer and surfs.”
Chas responds,
“Do you think he does? I would be shocked if even the soft-top riding surfer from Arizona is typing in, www.theinertia.com. I’ve never met one surfer who went to The Inertia or liked it.”
More, oh much more, if you press the little yellow button. Chas Smith might be a genuine asshole, but he is a stupefyingly gifted one.
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By the way, you better do a fucken good job with Lisa, boo.
Loved the train. Choo Choo!
Enjoyed the interview Chas. Agree with your thoughts on womens pro surfing.
I think they should make it separate and brand it differently. Promote women fashion and style. Make it more sexy. Love watching chicks that rip surf tropical medium sized waves. Would tune-in every time for a womens event at Keramas.
Have a traditional division, Girls flowing on fishes and Mal’s…. Mirroring the mens three to the beach format does nothing for Womens surfing.
I propose that the Owen Wright story is actually not interesting at all.
Tell Dave Tom’s first wave at JBAY was in ’92
I loved the “Uh, notable surf writer” bit in the intro. And that’s about all.
The trains really add to it’s authenticity.
Saw me a genuine The Inertia surfer this morning
Wasn’t pretty but was funny as fuck to watch
You had me at “Wasn’t pretty”. Do tell.
Ah let’s see. Pointbreak. Headhigh-ish. Backpaddled everyone. Visibly un-fit, taking breaks from backpaddling everyone to catch breath. Flattering to say ok when describing surfing style. Flattering. Constant need to tuck long Anderson-style hair back. Hurley Wetsuit. Didn’t see him make a section, yet still a wave. Was clearly menstruating and bleeding, gave him a wide berth with the mackerel running. Yep
Chas, you totally threw Rory under the bus!
I fear I’m next!
You’re already a skid mark
yes but chas has to say it!
i like you michael. We can be skidmarks together and look up at the stars.
write a story about Cori Shumacher.
I was waiting for the Rory/Chas bloodfeud to come up, but was disappointed when it didn’t. Did I miss something?
A feud need’s two parties that give a shit. Pretty sure Chas loses no sleep on the issue.
Did I? How?
I dare … no … double … no … quadruple dare chas to lob grenades at surf europe. Go on. Just try.
Bwark. Bwark. Bwark. Chicken!
“Chas” spelled backwards is “Sahc” which is almost “Zach” but not.
Yeah, fuck you Chas! I’m always here for you. Now look at me. “Lifeless” other surf media. This is appalling. Lifelessly flopping around out here, like some shitty smooth hound shark.
I goof on Chaz a bunch, but I guess I don’t count since I’m not “media”. Fuck you Chaz. Now get back to work and write something good this time.
Maybe this needs to change. The comments board is really one of only reasons people come to this / Stab (IMHO). Maybe if we cynical commenters were allowed to also submit long-form writing into a separate column, then we might see a lot more of the challenging stuff that Chas (and others) want to see. Legally (slander etc), I dunno how that would work.
I’d hazard a guess that if you submitted something good they would publish it!
As per Longtom’s discussion though, there is the fickle point of knowing enough about the inside mechanics of the upper echelons to interest people. I know sweet fuck all about them. My subject matter would probably be below the bar of the “No” vs “Go” article.
Give it a go, just don’t expect a paid trip to Fiji or a career out of it for your troubles!
Fair enough / furry muff
I dunno, my experience is that most commentators fancy themselves as writers. When given the chance they try way too hard.
But like Jimmy said below, submit it!
heh yeah. the trying has to be invisible, this is the trick.
Let’s just face it, apart from the act of riding a crest, nothing about surfing is cool. The guys who try to be innovative are still wearing Dylan Rieders (rip) wardrobe from 2010. The inertia isn’t cool, carbon fibre wrap isn’t cool, big groups of angry men floating around in neoprene was never cool. It’s too late.
And it’s not yet so uncool that it’s cool. It’s tepid
So it isnt even as cool as knitting yet
Ironically no. Sort of sits somewhere between rollerblading and scrapbooking
But I like it!
I guess surfers are so cool they choose to ignore that the other 99% of people on the planet regard surfing as the coolest fucking thing anyone could possibly ever do. but i suppose most basic motherfuckers are not qualified enough to be able to handle that distinction. so shit man, what is cooler? you subtly reference skateboarding… ok. i dunno, cigarettes? some sort of fashion that has yet to be seen? last time i checked everything has been done. indie music and motorcycles? puke, puke. if you head down the path of being too cool for everything, heroin is all thats left. its the ultimate man. and heroin users might give surfing the dozy nod of approval and may be even be able to muster up a shaky attempt at a shaka.
Please do not attempt to undermine my first featured comment. Danke.
dylan reider wanted to be a surfer. there is proof.
Chas is my spirit animal.
Apart from the shit sleeve tatts.
I hope you steer clear of the V-necks too
I’m actually allergic to V-necks. As are generally most heterosexual men
V-necks are better than having a logo cresting between your pectoral muscles. Plus women not girls.. Get to see some chest hair that they can run their fingers through. I will hate on a pocket sewn on a tee all day if that makes you feel any better. My grandfather was a WWII Naval veteran. Don’t know if I would call him a hero, but he was loved by the men he lead. He might as well as have been buried in his white V-neck. A man’s man all the way. Come to think of it he even shaved his pit hair, but that might have spawned from his Nova Scotia seafarer heritage.
So many good points raised here!
1) idiots wear logos
2) not shaving the chest hair is easier!
3) pockets on t-shirts are like nuts on cows
4) sailors and v-necks are like lumber jacks and beards. Fantastic until ruined by hipsters
5) my father was also naval! Vietnam though
count me as well on team v-neck. definitely the least problematic aspect of chas’ fashion sense
Are all the people who like v-necks also seppos?
That’s no v-neck, worse it’s a scoop neck.