A major career move!
I would like you to take a few minutes this morning to congratulate me on becoming a professional surfer. Thanks! It has been an incredible run from surf journalist to professional surfer, one that I never quite thought I’d make.
And how did I become a professional surfer? Oh. I just decided and let me walk you through the process.
The kind people who run the Building the Revolution Instagram account messaged me the other day with a question:
How easy is it to become a pro surfer? Skaters, wakeboarders and snowboarders have to have a company think they are worthy enough for a pro model. Pro team sports athletes need to be picked for a team. Golfers need to be on tour. Surfers? Who decides if a surfer gets pro status.
And this really got me thinking. I know how difficult it is for skaters and snowboarders to go pro. As stated, it is your board company who “takes you pro” and you must jump though many hoops and even very talented kids never get “pro” status.
As things happen, I was chewing on this when I bumped into a very famous surf agent in the grocery store. After exchanging pleasantries I asked, “Is there any formal requirement to become a pro surfer?” He answered, “As long as a kid makes 100 bucks surfing, he’s a pro as far as I’m concerned…”
I have never made a 100 bucks surfing but I am riding a tester board right now from the gorgeous Album Surfboards in San Clemente and I bet if I ask they will give me a t-shirt and a sticker.
Which makes me pro.
A pro surfer. I probably won’t do the tour or be a video pro or a travel pro. I’ll probably be a writing pro, writing about my experiences pro surfing n stuff.
So long surf journalism. You were always only second best.
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Moving forward using all my breath
Making love to you was never second best
I saw the waves crashing all around your face
Never really knowing it was always mesh and lace
I’ll stop the world and melt with you
Writings seen the difference and surfs getting better all the time
There’s nothing being pro won’t do
I’ll stop the world and melt with you
I looked for a long time at that photo of you and alternately saw each arm as being the leading arm. Either way it still looks like a Ken doll not quite sure what to do next, but throwing down radical optical illusions makes for 10’s in my book. I’m serious, totally got chicken skin.
Also, if you do ever decide to come back to journalism, “Venice adjacent” is heavy lifting for withered keyboarding muscles. Go with “Vajacent” until you get your strength back!
Nobody has knocked off as many Tijuana knock-offs as me, nobody. I prefer my Lost boards of the Vietnamese variety.
this is a damn good rule dude
You’re not a pro surfer until you work at the local shop and vibe beginners and try to “upsell” every person who walks in on a new Lost Carbon Wrap board because of the flex characteristics and a new Xcel Drylock X because of the celiant technology.
You’re the next Pluey, Chas! You’ve finally made it.
For reference:
https://www.instagram.com/p…
https://www.instagram.com/p…
wow
I think he photo-shops his own pics with his “sponsors” logos. Oh shit he has his own Pluey logo. Yikes
I know that guy. I was under the mistaken impression he just worked in the industry. Not that he, you know, did this…
Damn you for bringing this to my attention.
Not sure whether I envy you or pity you for actually knowing him. I think his insta is enough contact for me
Tester board? So modest. You’re working out your pro model before it’s released to the masses. The Yemini Cricket
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That board looks awesome. I think that “Chas” is even wearing his Gucci sandals while board testing.
Well to be technical, pro is short for professional right? And your profession is making money through surfing via writing about it, so by default you’ve been a pro surfer all along.
Now the next phase of your career can begin. Faded ex pro.
I think to be an actual pro you need a filmer, maybe. I mean, I tripped over enough of those bros on the beach this weekend anyway. They seemed like they were doing important things!
Don’t they seem like the cool kids, with all their techno gear and exclusionary insouciance!
Heh. I know some amazingly good humans who are photographers. But I’ve also dealt with enough ‘hey writer plebe carry my bags’ types to be… not that in awe of the whole thing really.
I only carry bags for the nice people.
Welcome to the BIG TIME Chas. You can now use this Shampoo. Thats right Ams, stay the F away from Pro Formula Shampoos. Your not worthy https://uploads.disquscdn.c…
If you are paid by your work to surf are you a pro surfer?
yes but just make sure thats what they are paying you for they probably don’t want you to be doing that
I was hoping you could analyse the long term future of this Nostradamus! I don’t think they realise I am a pro surfer yet
It seems too easy to become what one despises!
this new category of pro surfer (writing division)….buyers or sellers market?
I feel buyers. Got anyone who will give you stickers or hats?
I have some spare hats
is the $100 dollar limit mandatory?
I feel it was a suggested donation.
If that’s all it takes, I’m the original soul surfer* bro.
* Full disclosure. I have received a hat, stickers and t-shirt from my chosen board supplier, but even if I had to pay for said items, I still woulda.
I would go pro if it didn’t put my precious amateur standing in jeopardy
Remember when only amateurs could compete at the Olympics?
Getting paid was a bigger no no than steroids
Could be wrong, but it changed when basketball was included and Team USA wanted the best NBA guys on board. What a fucking team that was!
Virtually unbeatable. Not so sure about olympic surf team USA 2020 though…
Fuck that Chas! You oughta set your sights on the US Team! Go for Gold in Olympic Surfing, Receding Hairline Division!
Will you declare pro and join me? (For Australia of course…)
are you kidding, I’m Australian Champion in that division!
Hell. Then I’m coming for you Nick Carroll… and hell is coming with me!
In the immortal words of Beatrice Kiddo: “I’ll be waitin’.”
Everyone and their mother are pro surfers these days. But it also happens in skateboarding. There are tons of shitty board companies willing to put some kids name on a board just to have another SKU to sell on Instagram and through their Shopify store. I miss the days when it meant a lot more to be “pro” in anything. It’s the participation trophy era and we are all spectators.
Serf writing ho, to plank riding pro #congratulations
Thank you!
Serf writing is the best thing I’ve ever heard.
Peasant Prose
Abandoning The People™. All along it was you we were paying to do that patented down the line backside move? A plague on both your holiday houses, traitor.
I’m giving the money back in a goodwill gesture. You can go down the line backside free of charge for the upcoming year…
Patented backside down the line? Fuck, I thought it was a patented ‘zombie surfer attack’ costume. I’ve been hunting for some boardies that long for tonight.
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