The mouth from the south is back!
Bobby Martinez was a bright comet that streaked across our sky. Oh we all cranked our neck to the heaven’s and admired the Santa Barabarans’ backhand attack, his fearless tube weaving, his opinions on this and that. He was a beautiful distraction. And then, just like that in 2011, he was gone and we looked back toward earth. Toward each other.
Toward Todd Kline.
Truth and honesty are two rare traits in our surf world and Bobby wasn’t afraid to share and still isn’t afraid. A just-published, wide-ranging interview in the Men’s Journal brings him back. It is vital that you read the whole thing but here are some outtakes.
On his 2011 explosion: They wanted a ranking system like they use in tennis. They wanted surfing to be this broad-scale sport — like soccer or something. I knew it was wrong, and so did a lot of other people.
On his relationship with the WSL: I never heard from them ever again. I haven’t heard shit from these people.
On being part of the surf industry: I get nothing from the surf industry. I didn’t want to stay in their little box and be a yes man.
On the surf industry in general: But I’m so thankful that they have been with me like that because other companies like Billabong and Quicksilver — that are 100 percent about the tour and all this fucking surfing blah, blah, blah — would have cut me regardless. You can’t be yourself with those companies. The industry is horrible. It’s hard to find a company that just respects you and is going to let you be yourself. Surfers can’t say shit because where are they going to go?
On surfing in the Olympics: It’s the dumbest thing in the world.
On small waves: Brazilians are the only ones who surf good in small waves…
On surfers who will surf in the Olympics: I think they’re just going wherever their sponsors tell them to go. I don’t think they have a voice, or else they would have been speaking out when I spoke out.
On wave pools: Surfing isn’t done in a pool. Surfing’s done in the ocean. I mean, are you fucking really going to travel to Kansas to surf the world’s best wave pool?
On surfing Kelly’s wave pool: Maybe if it was literally in my backyard. But, no, I wouldn’t drive to it.
What is your favorite line? I can’t choose. Each is like a beautiful but different child.
Bobby can say whatever he wants but at the end of the day he’s still getting checks from one of the giants of the energy drink industry. Good for him though, seems like the guy has a solid life and all he has to do is surf
can we see footage of bobby in the ring or on the mat?
the hole poking is what keeps me coming back
Not sure if I should blame the stubby fingers, small phone screen (u right next to i) or too much listening to Rosy and Giggs commentating).
P.S.I Bobby (not Bob ya cunt) DOES NOT EDIT SHIT!
P.S.II I’ll go with blaming Rosy as my stubby fingers have also been known to be sticky because of her… hard to “trancision” to regular English after watching those legs during the post show reports!
Nah mate. Again, if you knew Bobby well enough, you’d realise the absence of ALL CAPS and spelling/grammar mistakes makes it impossible for me to be him. Also notice lack of profanities.
P.S. He’s probably the only one who’d make me wish I was as good and going screwfoot.
It’s really fucking hard to be the moral guy when Monster pays your bills.
he pushed paul fisher to show his true feelings for penis, stop surfing and become a dj. thank you for getting rid of that cunt
who the fuck did fisher blackmail to even get sponsored? C grade ability an possibly the most annoying cunt in the universe. Must’ve caught someone high up at reef doing some dodgy shit.
“I’ll show you photos of my girlfriend’s titties if you sponsor me…” would’ve done it easy.
still missing the point of not being a yes man
So if you get paid to have a sticker on your board you have to become their bitch? Are you your employer’s bitch or are you still allowed to retain some smidgen of dignity, personality and opinions?
You’re either a submissive lackey or nazi-style owner of a small company. Maybe get Derek to interview your tamed ass so you can spill monotonous corporate garbage…
Hint: nobody will read it let alone comment on it.
im going with submissive lackey
You’re obviously not very versed in Bobby’s career… best rookie ever with two wins and a 6th place if I recall correctly. Most refreshing goofy approach since Occy. He stopped winning because the format rewarded safe, conservative surfing when it wasn’t on and he lost motivation. They choose their darlings and judging is fucked (just watch the Gudauskas push at Huntington) so maybe don’t be such a negative cunt about one of the most authentic personalities we ever had on tour. Bobby embodies the untamed, wild aspect of surfing which is amazing for someone who was a pro in these times.
I think Bobby has a point with the ever decreasing Surf Industry , some call it a crisis as turnover $’s keeps dropping , no Surf Co except RC is making a profit , teams and workers are getting cutback bigtime , a career in the Surf Industry in an absolute no no .
so what’s happened? its all become marketing and sanitising surfing to where there is a disconnect from the business to the culture .
Surfing is an old man’s sport , the demographic has changed dramatically in 20 years , having said that isn’t Bobby still riding CI’s which is owned by a billionaire and keeps pushing Als shapes that are 10 years old and has vey suspect commercial terms to shops !
Bobby for the win…
Bobby, Laird,Joel, I love the characters of surfing that have something to say. Meat and potatoes instead of marshmallow fluff. Miki Dora would be proud of these guys.
Eeeehr… I think he left, hence this can’t be considered a whine? I’d say it’s more… an honest opinion?
BTW, getting paid to compete/perform should not imply becoming a mindless, opinionless vegetable.
Do you think Bobby is whining?
Good for Bobby that he’s happy where he is in life and has no regrets.
“The ocean is the answer, and that’s it.” nice line. But still know meat and potatoes journalism. Fluff questions didn’t learn a thing..
I’m betting the intelligence of your average Men’s Journal reader is lower than that of your average Beach Grit commenter, so fluff questions aren’t too surprising.
Nice to see Bobby remain forever the martyr. Comforting stability in an ever changing world…
thats a bit much, don’t you think. he’s being asked his opinions about the surf industry.
frankly, i think if the pro surfing tour’s goal is to create interest and grow the sport, someone should have made an effort to bring him back into the fold. a convincing “rebel” badly needed.
I don’t disagree.