The king of Jaws!
Oh, you heard all the hoo-ha yesterday, when mean ol Mike Parsons turned off the Jaws Challenge when the waves got real big, real scary.
Today, in waves Albee Layer described as “windy, small, average”, Billy Kemper won his third Jaws Challenge, another trophy to stack alongside his two XXL Ride of the Year cups, his XXL Wipeout of the Year and his 2017 Big Wave Tour Champion trinket.
Little Billy, who is twenty eight and looks like the kinda man dogs kick, finished the final ahead of Kai Lenny, Albee Layer, Tyler Larronde and Grant Baker.
In an emotional speech and in response to a question about his apparent calm, Billy said,
“There’s so much behind the calm and collective and seriousness. A month and a half ago, less, I was sitting in LA getting MRI’s and wondering if I’d surf this winter. I didn’t do this on my own.”
(Billy thanks various doctors.)
And,
“My fucking beautiful wife and children, I love you so much…a few years ago, I was a wildcard and I won it. I told myself I’d never stop doing it. Every time I surf a heat my goal is first and only first. I put blood, sweat and tears into it. It’s my pride and joy.
“Everyone of these athletes are not just surfers. This is our livelihood out here. Yesterday was the most radical day of surfing competition in history. I’m glad I got to kick that day off and I’m glad I got to end this event.
“(Yesterday) we set the bar for this event. I was bummed out that not everyone else had to surf the conditions we did, and push the limits, but I’m over the moon.”
At this point, Billy looked to the heavens. His mom Lisa died recently of lung cancer.
“This is for my mom. I know you’re looking down on me mom. This is for you.”
Weeps.
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That’s my favourite final line on BG all year.
I’ll let him punch me in the face for these comments. He’s a good cunt from most accounts.
He learned it all in La Jolla. Well done JoJo!
NC is the coolest.
Albee layer talked a good game and Billy Kemper won the contest but the true winner was Kai Lenny. Charged the event then charged when it was called off and most people went in. His sponsors must be shitty themselves with excitement with that picture of him from yesterday.
I fully support Bierke’s decision to become the first transgender big wave charger.
You know, I kinda feel I’m not in the club unless I’ve been banned from Stab.
What advice can you give me so I can start my Ban Title campaign?
Just say something honest about Morgan or Goggan’s writing. That will do it.
#thankscoach
He looks like Owen Wright slipped into a bath tub of bleach and came out with brain damage… oh no wait.
Tyler and Owen’s baby maybe