So throw the poor bastards a shekel or two…
The crew at Joyos Surf Camp at G-land were getting ready for a good year, nay a great year.
First, they had the Surfing Doctors Conference lined up.
Every year the Surfing Doctors – a group of medical professionals who surf – head out to G-Land for their conference. They have some classes and lectures, they do benevolent health checks on the staff at Joyos, they discuss various CPR methods, and remote medical emergencies etc.
Tthey surf and charge out at G-land; they drink some beer and they unwind.
They also leave behind a well-stocked infirmary for the next round of doctors who do shifts at the camp.
They sometimes leave behind a few presents and a few tips for the staff.
Second, they had a WSL contest for the first time in a quarter of a century. There were roads built from Banyuwangi, and there were giant cables laid alongside these new roads for massive data transmissions.
New buildings went up, the helipad cleared of weeds, and things were beefing up for the massive onslaught.
Then COVID marched into town.
Indonesia was one of the last countries to start posting numbers, and it was way behind the curve on this dashboard, but COVID-19 was in Singapore, so it was just a matter of time.
It suddenly jumped, and now Indo is sitting at 7135 infections, while Australia is sitting on 6547.
As it hit, everyone started bailing from Indonesia and the Alas Purwo National Park, in which G-land sits, was closed down.
The Surfing Doctors had to cancel their conference.
They had members from all over the world working on the frontline across the world.
They had some of the inside scoops and knew that their conference, planned for May, was not going to happen.
At pretty much the same time, the WSL decided that the first half of the year was down the tube.
They pulled out of all events up to and including G-Land.
It was a shock, and a bummer, and is only going to get worse when they pull out of the rest of the year’s events, which is definitely going to happen. The WSL is pretty much as risk-averse as they come.
So, the crew at Joyos Camp at G-land have lost all their income.
They have lost the associated benefits that come with the Surfing Doctors conference and the benefits that were coming their way from the WSL.
For those of you that know the crew at Joyos or have spent time there, please donate to the fund started by Nick Gibbs.
As little as ten Australian dollars would be a bonus, and you get some free Surfyogis zinc in the process.
The Surfing Doctors have thrown some coin at it, as a group and as individuals, which is good to see.
The WSL, meanwhile, is throwing their money at the very exciting and cutting-edge Homebreak Challenge.
It is another one of their entities that people around the world are apparently consuming in large quantities, along no doubt with booze and meth in equally copious amounts as they deal with the boredom of lockdowns.
If you want to contribute to the Joyos Surf Camp fund – here.
If you are a doctor or a medical professional (paramedic, nurse etc.) and you want to join the crew of classic surfing doctors, here or here
If you want to get involved with the WSL Home Break Challenge and possibly make $2,500 or more –here.