What do Oprah, stand-up paddleboarding and professional surfing have in common? Come find out!
I’m gonna be honest with you. My eyes are still wet with tears over the sudden and swift departure of the World Surf League’s Chief Commercial Officer Beth Greve. Of course you and I know and love her as Backward Fin Beth. A wonderful ambassador of stoke and leisure, not to be confused with the World Surf League’s official Ambassador of Stoke and Leisure who is also currently missing.
Where did she go? Why did she go? I haven’t the faintest and so spend each day wondering and crying, intermittently.
But alas, the sun comes up once again, the world turns and the World Surf League hires a bold new friend directly from the very surf-centric The Oprah Network.
Let’s turn those frowns upside down and meet Erik Logan, new President of Content, Media and WSL Studios!
Erik enjoys warm nights and great friends.
Most days find him with a paddle in his hand and a smile on his face.
When he’s not getting out amongst it, he’s culturally appropriating at the SUP shop he owns in “the heart of downtown Manhattan Beach.”
But mostly you can find him with a paddle in his hand and a smile on his face.
What does the man himself have to say?
Today, I’m announcing that I will be stepping down as President of OWN, The Oprah Winfrey Network. Working for one of the greatest leaders in the world has truly been the most incredible opportunity in my career. I have learned and grown more over the past 10 years professionally than I did in the prior 20.
The accomplishments over the last decade have been many – from ending the Oprah Winfrey Show, transitioning the company to a studio, moving to LA, and making OWN the most high-profile turnarounds in cable network history. What has made these many years of work so memorable and enjoyable are the people who I had the opportunity to work and partner with.
My “Next Chapter” (as Oprah would say) is truly an opportunity of a lifetime. To marry my passion of surfing with my career is something that I never thought was possible or even imagageable 5 years ago. SUP, surfing, loving the ocean, were all things I’d never thought would be a part of my life. Now, it’s my life, my daily passion, and something that propels me into my next professional journey.
Joining the World Surf League is something I never thought this kid from landlocked Oklahoma would say, but it’s happening. I’m beyond grateful tothe WSL for the chance to join the already exceptional team for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
If I have learned one thing from Oprah over the past decade, it’s this: there is a “divine order” to the universe and our job is to get into that flow. We must LISTEN to what the universe is saying. So here I am. Marrying my passion with my career in this way is something only a higher power could forge for me. I’m humbled by this moment and still in a state of “I can’t believe this is happening!” But it is…. You’ll hear me say this a lot, but it’s true: #followyourpassion #liveyourpassion
What do I have to say?
I can’t wait for BeachGrit’s next billboard!
I am gonna domain squat WSUPL.com right now ahead of the name change…
Yeah, WSL rulezzz! Guys are killing it, AMAZING!
I’ve earned the lashings for this one. What I get for trying optimism I suppose. No more!
I remember surfing reeling first peak pleasure point in late 70’s watching roger Adams in the middle of his 8 hour sessions. Flying stylish all down the line to capitola
Sick. Keep boxing them shadows, Killer.
Basic Bitch 101 shit here Marks. Step it up or move or whatever. What kinda beer these H-words drinking? Hint: Can’t answer both IPA/PBR ways. Yr cred/tenure is negligible as well, but I ‘ll cop to being the dick in pointing out as much. Aloha. (Rips one-hitter, peels out shorn).
I’m sure i’ve seen him before somewhere. I think his name used to be Ty. Can’t wait till we get the “How to surf a SUP” tutorial series! https://www.youtube.com/wat…
Don’t have time to fully reply right now but you have a good point, every one of these guys looks almost exactly the same, short haircut,same build, same attitude, nothing really different about them.
Surfing in the Olympics (and I do believe you will see the WSL hyping it more),may come and go, but I still get the feeling that’s what they’re booking on, more interest leading up to it and more advertising to get people to try and get people interested, it’s a small window for them they seem to feel. I’ve been surfing for a few decades and have really no interest at all in Pro Surf Contests, like Sam George said, “real Surfers don’t want to watch, we want to ride”.
Like I said, right now it is all being financed by Dirk ziff, so I get the feeling their ‘plan’ is to keep throwing money at it and give it their best shot right up to the ‘coming Olympics,’ were they should get even more media exposure. And then see where they stand at that time as far as advertising dollars coming in and interest. If it doesn’t pan out for them by then it seems like only a fool would still keep throwing more money at it.
who the fuck is Beth Greves?
Well, I guess we’ll see in a year or two, or 3, this seems to be the ‘Great Experiment,’ to see if they can package, sanitize and sell surfing to the masses. None of this would be happening without Dirk and Natasha. It will be interesting to see how much more money Dirk Ziff throws at this and how this all plays out.
This guy is a asset to Beach Grit.
Laughable that these positions are being filled by kooks? Ben Marcus types.
#kooksontheloose
When did SUPing become surfing?
Even beggars on kneeboards know they aren’t surfers
Just peered into my great grand-llama’s glass testicle. Prediction: These kooks w/suits are going to turn professional surfing into soft core low tide version of its former self. The industry has seen a great exodus of the ripper with little to know education but line up credentials galore for degrees and Microsoft Xcell spreed sheet certifications. The tide will turn in favor of guys like MC. Having degrees and wave knowledge to sit in the same line up with top 30. Until then I look forward to BG burning down the castle.
That guy seems Happy, but full of himself! But Happy! Amazes me how his own social media would garner him a job w/ the sport of kings. I wouldn’t follow that guy anywhere!
Would Jebus have SUP’d?
A yankee oprah riding paddle smacking freakshow..maybe they could hire me im looking employable now
Yep
That was actually funny.