Pop the champagne!
And in New Zealand, the other country Down Under, we are seeing one apocalypse wane as another apocalypse waxes. You are, by now, aware that the entire globe has lost its collective mind over the sniffle-inducing Coronavirus. Schools shut, restaurants shut, bars shut, Kelly Slater crooning from a secret Gold Coast hideaway.
But there was an apocalypse predating this Coronavirus one. The surf industry apocalypse. Two decades plus of death, destruction, famine, sallow eyes, pale skin.
Well, the “Chinese Flu” has put an end to one corner of the surf industry apocalypse and in stunning fashion. Should we read from the New Zealand Herald?
It is both our right and our duty.
While the country prepares for lockdown, one Kiwi surfing franchise had their busiest weekend since Christmas.
Backdoor chief executive Geoff Hutchison said surfboards were flying off the shelves ahead of the lockdown.
“We had a really strong day on Saturday and Sunday wasn’t too bad as well, it was sort of like Christmas shopping.”
Hutchison thinks the rush is due to people hoping to catch waves during the nationwide shutdown.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced yesterday that New Zealand was at Covid-19 alert level 3 and would rise to alert level 4 on Wednesday, for at least four weeks.
Backdoor isn’t the only surf company seeing a boost in sales – Wellington’s Lyall Bay surf shop Organic Dynamic also reported being “flat-out” over the weekend.
“There was clearly a bit of panic buying of surfboards and surf equipment, but not so well with apparel.”
And I can hear champagne corks popping from Jon Pyzel’s North Shore home, from Matt Biolos’s San Clemente shaping bay. All across Australia’s Gold Coast up to Matt Parker from Album and Britt Merrick from Channel Islands.
Happy days are here again!
Except for the apparel market where the surf industry apocalypse sallies forth.
Showing ribs, sleepless nights, thirsty throats etc.
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Yawn 🥱
You’d be hard pressed to call anyone who goes into the Backdoor shop(s?) as ‘surfers’ though.
Including owners, workers, suppliers and customers.
VALs, kooks and gayboys (hence the brand-name) the lot of them…
Hasn’t Geoff been nz champ a few times? He was always good to us when we were groms…
The over 50’s comps never get the best surfers
Christians always wanna hook ya when ya young
He used to surf pretty good and loved to snake anyone with fairer skin on the points !
Mainly well known as king of the poo stance though…
Lemuria actually blows wide open the hypothesis which I read in Chas Smiths’ book Cocaine and Surfing A love Story where surfing may have begun in Peru rather than Hawaii. Surfing (and to a lesser extent Cocaine) must have began on Lemuria!
Apparently, Lemuria had epic waves.
They’re just board.
I’d order more boards online, but I worry about my computer catching a virus.
I’ve thrown away all my money.
It’s a bit grubby.
Yeh ok, so where is Old Zealand?
Perhaps the first apocalypse was longer ago than we realise.
Holland!
That reminds me I need wax
You really do. I went a couple of 3 for 10s last winter so should be ok, for now. It’s probably 3 for 12 this winter!
Except surfing is a no no here! Raglan locals have said no and there some scary fellas there. Mind you three cars in the Manu carpark already on day 1
Danny K is a sweet heart, whaddaya mean?
Danny K needs to sort that carpark out
Send Tux down.
cops on it… https://uploads.disquscdn.c…
In these uncertain times, if you’re interested in riding the best, most progressive equipment out there on the market, purchase a board from my surfboard label, Suspicious by Nature. For only $1,200 U.S. you have the chance* to own a perfectly crafted, hand shaped, an unintentionally asymmetrical, board, with personal hand made gnarled, angular fins, that will make you the envy of all kooky punters you’ll see in the lineup upon your return to the water,* whenever that may be. Take your performance to the next level: The KVF Level! As team rider, and Global Brand Ambassador, ’89 World Chimp, Martin Potter says, “(long, deep sigh) it’s all about Radical Maneuvers™… (sighs)!”
*If I get around to it. Otherwise, thanks for the money!
Hurluley will have no choice but to sue you for use of it’s ‘take your performance to the next level’ catchphrase.
I’m sorry, but the corporate lawyers have it now and there’s nothing I can do about it.