Venerated surf journalist has greatest idea of last decade!
You don’t get to be a venerated surf journalist by being just any dumb asshole. No. It takes work. Precision. Dedication. A lifetime of watching men in neoprene pantsuits, or virtually naked, dance upon the water.
The few who last a decade plus in this profession are uniquely qualified to weigh in on this or that. To truly call themselves “surf journalists.” I barely qualify even though I have spent the past fifteen years talking to Dane Reynolds et. al.
And I am very much put to shame by Nick Carroll, the most venerated surf journalist of all and maybe of all-time. He just weighed in on surfing’s inclusion into the Olympics, writing:
Surfing shouldn’t be in the Olympics, just in the Special Olympics.
The simplicity, beauty and truth of that one sentence is almost more than I can take. More than I could ever create. Also, an unsurprisingly, Nick Carroll is totally right.
Surfers are special. We think of ourselves as special, act special, want to be treated special, do special things. We belong in the Special Olympics.
For those unawares, the Special Olympics were founded by John F. Kennedy’s sister Eunice in 1962 in order to bring the wonders of athletic competition into the lives of the physically and intellectually disabled.
The organization has since grown into a gorgeous representation of humankind at its best. Its website reads:
Special Olympics is a global movement of people creating a new world of inclusion and community, where every single person is accepted and welcomed, regardless of ability or disability. We are helping to make the world a better, healthier and more joyful place — one athlete, one volunteer, one family member at a time.
And just think what magnificent social reverberation would occur if the International Surfing Association informed the International Olympic Committee that we surfers chose to be with our peers. That we chose to be Special Olympians.
It would be a better Olympic story than Cool Runnings! A better Olympic story than the Miracle on Ice! A better Olympic story than Eddie the Eagle.
The best Olympic story of all time.
And thank you Nick Carroll.
ISA? Let’s do this thing!
I think Brad Gerlach would have been perfect for this role only if he wasn’t special like the rest of us.
https://youtu.be/OkzaOwAmDmA
I know it is somewhat of a pisstake by Nick – but special Olympic athletes work probably harder than able bodied ones to get there!!! I work with different disabilities everyday see some heavy shit, and I don’t like to get on my soapbox about it, but don’t know if that was the right comment by Nick to be honest – and I know will be hammered here.
However drove 500km and spent the day with guy who is spinal patient when he fell off a wall – puts all in perspective.
I for one would rather watch surfing skating and snowboarding in the Olympics than fuckin athletics, swimming, archery, etc just saying – even if surfing will be a shit show
I’ve been working with disabled people for six years as well, and this article left a sour taste in my mouth. I know BG (Chas primarily) is all about clickbait and provoking commentators to do his dirty work for him, but this was needless and in bad taste. I I’ve looked up to Nick for a long time, but since he chose to make light of disabled I’ll take this rare opportunity to make fun of his comically neanderthal brow. Sorry mate.
“I I’ve looked up to Nick…”
I’m not sure if that was on purpose but you made us collectively think we may have a stuttering reading disability.
Who’s us? I I don’t understand ;0
Whales the wo world over.
Man, anyone who looks up at me is either under eight years of age or has a totally different kind of disability.
HaHa!…You’re being a bit rough on Neal Kearney, don’t you think?
https://www.youtube.com/wat…
Yeah it was a bit facetious. But this is Beachgrit. I’m just trying to fit in.
Didn’t OJ Simpson bring up this same defense?
What can I tell ya, even my defence is facetious.
The olympics is the tail wagging the dog. Surfing will fit right in
Glen Hall’s last google search: How short do I have to be, to be considered physically disabled?
So are we just researching for stories in the comments section now?
Always!
Frankly you could be researching stories from the back of Weet Bix boxes and still do better work than the Inertia. Did you know Steph Gilmore enjoys Weet Bix with warm milk and brown sugar during winter?
That honestly sounds delicious and I’m frustrated that we missed the scoop.
Hook me up with some deck grip and I’ll let you in on how she likes them in summer
I don’t know why but when I read your response, I could hear this song:
https://m.youtube.com/watch…
Oh Chas, don’t be self-deprecating! It doesn’t suit you.
Let’s rank living surf journalists. You are 1. and if charity is given I am 6.
Come on bro, we don’t need no stinking’ badges.
Jarrett, Witzig, Kampion… still breathing unless I missed the obits… little early for the mutual reach around
But unparticipatory. The art of surf journalism is in the mundane everyday!
why, cause a dead surf journalist wouldn’t be rank?
Or, are living surf journalists also known as the “embalmed living”?
So Rottmouth is 5?
Shit, whatever happened with that guy?
Yes. And drug testing is mandatory after each heat. If you are found not to have any drugs on board, you are immediately DQd and sent home in shame.
In order to be a surfer you need to have “thisability.”
they should have a surfing contest with nothing but surf journalists. chas, of course, would be dead last. mikey c would prob win, with a 25 year old nick carrol in 2nd place. zach weisberg takes the bronze, but gets jumped afterwards in the parking lot by everyone.
The Special Olympics Committee through their Special Olympics Athlete spokesperson had this to say in response: “Including professional surfing in the Special Olympics would set our historical achievements back to 1961. Thanks. But, no thanks.”
https://uploads.disquscdn.c…
How long have you been holding that piece of art?
You mean my Leotardo De Vinci?
https://uploads.disquscdn.c…
I grew up with a guy who shaped boards, looked exactly like bubbles. Whenever you’d catch him smoking weed at the factory, exact same look.
I’m guessing that “poop stance” is considerd an imparement, right?
That’s a perfect 10! According to the criteria, “The surfer with his/her arse closest to the surface of the water shall be awarded the maximum points.”
Julian Wilson would finally be a World Champ!
Oi!