Is this the future of localism?
Do you recall last summer when a teenager at Salt Creek, a gorgeous slice of sand in Orange County’s champagne escape of Dana Point, California, was slapped for his transgressions against an older surfer?
The story was the most hotly debated topics on BeachGrit in 2017, creating a schism between surfers on whether grom abuse is ever warranted and, in this case, whether it deserved police intervention.
The real winner in the whole drama was Michael Ciaramella, whose story about London Almida on BeachGrit summoned Christian Fletcher into the fray and ultimately led to a compelling interview.
Even the teen’s dad, Chris Almida, was moved to post an outpouring on the Facebook page of London’s coach Ian Cairns.
The incident at Salt Creek last week involving my family has brought many issues to the surface both positive and negative and I have decided that there is nothing to be gained for anyone by further action on my part and as such I have no intention to pursue any legal recourse. While I respectfully disagree with the idea that bullying is ever justified or that violence is merited as a response to “disrespect” or misbehavior, I can appreciate that others have a different view. It has been very hard to hear this negative feedback and I have run through the gamut of responses from defensive to anger to righteous indignation and finally to resolution that this must be made right.
One bit of feedback that has rung true is that I need to take a deep look in the mirror and see what part I am playing in the creation of this dynamic. In looking deeply at what I have role modeled I can see the many ways that I have been selfish, aggressive, entitled and easily offended. While I tend to exhibit these traits in a passive aggressive manner they are none the less what I have unwittingly role modeled to my son. This behavior has set my wife into a mode of protection within our family that has been expressed outwardly when the same dynamic plays out in the wider world. For my part I do apologize – first to my family, to my friends and peers and to the surf community as a whole. My lack of acknowledgement and ownership of this behavior has ultimately created this situation and the blame lies squarely with me. I will continue to dive into the root of these issues and work to unravel this behavior and do better for my sons, wife and all.
In respect to London, he has as you may imagine, had to face some serious introspection and participate in some very difficult conversations. He has had to take ownership of how others have experienced him both positively and negatively. London is a good kid with no negative intentions and he will be working hard to show this by his actions and engagement with others.
In peace and aloha and with hope for a new beginning for all involved I offer my apology.”
Well, it appears, possibly, as if London hasn’t quite grasped the concept of respecting proper lineup etiquette. Sources in southern California say Almida has continued dropping in on long-time locals without fear of repercussion. These same sources claim the reason he doesn’t fear any blowback is because his mother, waiting on the beach, is allegedly very quick to call local police.
Fed up with the antics and not wanting to wait till the kid turns 18, where it’d be less of a legal battle to give him a physical deterrent for surfing without traditional manners, an online petition has been started to ban Almida and his family from Salt Creek under the guise that they drain taxpayers dollars with the various police calls etc.
Is this the future of localism? In an age where a smartphone video can be cut, edited, and posted to social media to instantly create a trial of public opinion, is this the only way to curb violence and bad behavior?
If you like this sort of bloodless bureaucratic revolution, you can sign here!
all i gotta say is that i googled this shitgrom and watched a video of him surfing in hawaii in MAY… in a FULLSUIT. and for how ever old he is, he is truly awful. go back to regular school kid.
I work in a retail store in North Laguna, The whole town knows about this family but not in a good way. They do have a lot of money but it comes from a different source then you would think. I was shocked to see this. As a mother I would be ashamed!!! copy that link, Beach Grit keeps deleting my link lasvegassun.com/news/2001/d…
I work in a retail store in North Laguna, The whole town knows about this family but not in a good way. They do have a lot of money but it comes from a different source then you would think. I was shocked to see this. As a mother I would be ashamed!!! https://tinyurl.com/yasbe5c3
I work here in North Laguna at a popular “shopping place”. The whole town is fed up with this families attitude. Little known Laguna secret is how they really got so rich, https://lasvegassun.com/new…
Do none of these “older locals” have teenage sons to sick on the kid with the call happy mom?
Because thats how we took care of shit up here.
London’s mom DeeDee is a delusional a whack job. Has no grasp of reality. His dad is even more out there. Google “Chris Almida Torus Tech”. Read the copy on their website. After you read it, you’ll ask yourself, WTF did I just read? A total whack job. London has no idea how the world goes around, but I’m sure he’ll find out the moment he turns 18.
This is intresting, https://lasvegassun.com/new…
oh my fucking god….you have to go to the website and click on the product portfolio. Utter fucking nonsense. I’m laughing my fucking ass off right now. At least Chris has a “high personal vibration…”
That’s what happens when you’re trust funders. The mom is a trust funder, and with her husband, they are living off her dad’s business fortune. The two of them have probably never had to work a real job in their life. Fact, most trust funders have no real direction life, nothing to work towards, so they get involved this pseudo science bullshit. And more sadly, they rarely have any grasp on realities of the ‘normal’ people they interact with on a daily basis. Things just don’t compute. And they are raising two home schooled kids who probably will also be trust funders. This is how we end up with London’s of the world.
Ah, Beachgrit.
My Woman’s Day.
how about a petition to just ban surfing from salt creek period. It would be a much nicer place
Is there a huge wave of London’s headed to a beach near you?
I had a meeting with Ian once in a carpark in SW Oz. His young 1 year old was laughing at me through the window so I said to him not knowing who he was, “Happy Grom!”, he looked at me and replied, “He’s probably never seen anything so ugly before” to which I replied, “He’s in your car mate”. I finally realized who he was and thought to myself, “Ian Cairns, you are a Perthie cunt”
I’d like to sign a petition that allows all involved to ONLY surf Creek.
https://www.instagram.com/p…
This clearly shows London’s mom is crazy and is the problem.
You see what happens Donnie? You see what happens when YOU SLAP A LONDON IN THE FACE? His sponsors are gonna get yaaaaaaaaaa….
Send in Chris Won! He handled the Lunada situation so gracefully.
I’m with ya twillsy, this is a Kookarama of spectacular proportions.
All the evidence you will ever need.
https://www.instagram.com/p…
I blame home schooling.
Or failed parenting?
The two aren’t necessarily mutually exclusive.
It’s failed parenting. Her parents are kooks and living in some alternate reality. Sucks for Almida and probably his younger brother too. They are growing up not understanding how the real world operates due to the ‘safe place’ their parents are trying to keep them in.
You tryin’ to tell me no one in Salt Creek has a coffee table to sort this out over?
Where’s the petition I can sign to keep from having to read anything by Jake M. Tellkamp?
…”Salt Creek, a gorgeous slice of sand in Orange County’s champagne escape of Dana Point, California”.. means what?
It means he is appropriating a style he thinks Derek/BG will like.
The comments down below are as bad as the story. We should’ve already had this petition as a precautionary measure.
Bad grammar takes me out of the movie.
As a native Hawaiian, it saddens me deep in my heart that London’s mother uses the Hawaiian words “ohana,” “mahalo nui loa” and “aloha” on her social media. She doesn’t deserve to use those words. Her perspective and attitude is that of a colonizer: take, take, take, take, take and take for personal gain. Then tell everybody else what they are doing wrong.
As a native Australian I get deeply saddened when people use the words “VB” and “pingas”. With all due respect, listen to yourself mate. They’re just nice words. She’s a dumb bitch, who cares.
I shared a VB with Danny Green in the Lenny carpark last Anzac Day.
Thought that cunt would be able to afford something better.
Doubt that Cunt would be sophisticated enough to have taste buds mate.
Danny’s alright, though shaking his broken boned hand is like picking up a bag of peanuts, and when he drops in on you it’s his wave.
It was funny, his first wave he got the Lennox welcome….old mate was paddling back out and I said …..you burned Danny Green, he’s coming for you now.
The look on his face was priceless.
Seemed like a champ to me.
I got a good view of his back as he surfed in front of me at “Bears” a few years ago, and I realised I must have been snaking and straightened out. Discretion and Valour and all that.
But, yeah, he is a true champ.
Ha! Simon Anderson dropped in on me at Narrabeen. And said “sorry”.
Happiest day of my life!
VB and Pingas are native Australian words?
Definitely mate.
Depressing that you hold those items so close to heart. Enjoy the Cycle of Poverty.
Cheers mate
What does pingas mean I’ve always wanted to know. Or is it Pingers?
Ecstasy
Shall we call it haolesplaining?
or Brownstripping
Y’all deserve each other.
Just keep all that shit at Salt Creek, much appreciated.