The Jewel of Torquay was left off National Geographic's list but huzzah! Vogue!
You have, of course, read National Geographic‘s list of the world’s top 20 surf towns and maybe you’ve read it twice. Those in Tel Aviv, Raglan, Queens New York, Cornwall and Tofino are cheering wildly. Throwing their arms in the air like they just don’t care. “We matter!” they chant in unison. “We really really really matter!”
Those in Encinitas, Santa Cruz, Bondi, Coolangatta and Torquay, on the other hand, are weeping. Weeping hot tears into lukewarm beers and mumbling, “What have we done? What have we done to be thrown from the light to outer darkness?”
Well Torquay, home to the famed Bells Beach, you can stop crying! Vogue magazine says you sexy too! Shall we read?
As the April sun rises on Bells Beach, Australia, barefoot locals descend on the renowned surf spot by the hundreds. City kids load up their parents’ Kombi vans with friends and boards and head for Great Ocean Road; residents of neighboring Torquay and Jan Juc push signs on their front yards pledging support to surfers Nikki Van Dijk, Tatiana Weston-Webb, and Courtney Conlogue; cafés turning out caffeine to bleary-eyed athletes set their televisions to the Rip Curl Pro Tour, the country’s version of the Super Bowl. One of two locations the World Surf League visits annually in Australia, this beach that sits on the Victoria coast is legendary for its early autumn point break and seemingly endless lineup of crisp and long hollow waves. As a reference, this is the site of the last scene in Point Break when Bodhi tells Johnny Utah that his “whole life has been about this moment.” Surfing here is not just a novelty or a sport, it’s a way of life.
The pictures that follow exhibit Torquay, and her Bells, in all glory. I’ve spent much time there and while the company was grand the sky was always grey. The breakfast was good though. And Neil Ridgway’s (Rip Curl’s marketing guru) benevolent charm can be felt everywhere. It infects the town like some beautiful virus. Like good AIDs.
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Obviously not a lot of time in Bondi either Chas?
Bondi a surf town??????? Not since the 80’s mate.
Bondi is the world capital of fuckwits not surfers. I say this even after spending much time in the States. The human crud that infests Bondi, made up of wanna be models, Z class reality TV stars. rugby league players and every type of poseur you can think off.
Surf town nah. sad indictment on society yes.
Coolest bloke still there is the great Fred Pawle.
sounds like you live in a real surf town , there’s just been an evolution of the surfer species , with Fred Le Paw being the Godfather to all the new disciples , just as Chad is in SoCal!
The good ‘ol Rip Curl Pro Tour. When’s the next event? The “Gromsearch” at Salt Creek?
Coupla things. Can anyone at Vogue count to 3? (As in tour events). Anyone ever seen a local at Bells in thongs in Easter? Cos that’s hardcore. And since when does Chas cosy up to the Rip Curl? Is there a goody bag in the mail?
They seem to have a very confused idea of the weather there at Bells, yes.
Yeah Chad, can you believe Vogue writes about surfing – I bet who wrote don’t even surf or have a Defend Hawaii T-Shirt!!
how much time have you spent in Torquay Chad? the whole article is a Point Break exercise in marketing and the WSL could sure use more , to promote a dyeing culture , death throes of a once “great” town , now a city , crowded and an urban sprawl , but back to Bohdi ,” it was a way of life!”
I’ve probably spent a good three weeks all in. Chad’s basically a local!
That’s what I’ve been hearing from San Diegans!
It’s a slow week for news. Don’t blame Chas for sliding into Inertia. Where’s the fire Chas?! No mention of sweat shops? Come back mate you’re eyeballs deep! xo
well get Chad to make something up , he’s a local at Torquay , and the Godfather of San Diego’s surfing culture , and c’mon he wrote the story for Vogue!!!!
Yeah fuck it that list is whack. Tel Aviv is a fucken joke.
Vogue tempted the heretics with that whole novelty and sport nonsense. For surfing’s sake, good thing we landed back on terra firma with “way of life”.