It's a wrap, folks.

Earlier in the week, I received credible information from a trustworthy source that the World Surf League was hours away from making a grand announcement regarding the future of professional surfing. According to shim (English’s wonderful version of Latinx), the first event of the year would be Dec. and Hawaii, likely Pipeline, and would roll directly into the 2021 season.

I waited with bated breath and…. crickets.

It is now Friday afternoon, past the hour for any announcement major or minor, and what the hell is happening in Santa Monica?

Another source confirmed that there was, indeed, a “major” announcement planned but it had been mysteriously scuttled without explanation.

And so, is this moment the official end or was the official end a few months ago?

Hard to say.

I used to assume there was some play happening behind the scenes I couldn’t comprehend, as I am not a smart man, but rather a surf journalist.

I used to assume that professional surfing’s current owner co-Waterperson of the Year and exclusive southern plantation co-owner Dirk Ziff was wise and that his CEO Erik Logan was also wise.

But they are not wise.

Ziff is likely mentally checked out, worrying about other business ventures and/or his southern plantation. Logan is in well over his head, understanding neither sport nor storytelling nor surfing, Covid-19 exploded the tour and there was, truly, nothing else in the cupboard, except for his corpo double-speak and Dave Prodan’s interview skills.

The World Surf League bills itself as “The Global Home of Surfing” but it is not nor ever was. There is no “Global Home of Surfing” except for maybe Peru, where it all began (buy here in brand new paperback and signed by author).

So it’s over and my only question to you is should I take joy in tossing dirt onto the corpse or be sad whilst doing?

"Once you have seen it you can't unsee it..."

It has been a grim year what with the cancelation of professional surfing and also the loss of any World Surf League missives. The Santa Monica headquarters once so bold, so brash has gone entirely silent. Not a peep even after promises of exciting news.

Scared?

Possibly, but about what? The legions of Great White sharks encircling America’s northeast and New Zealand in never-before-seen numbers?

A Covid-19 that has re-invigorated and extra-feisty, closing borders, filling hospitals, indiscriminately killing our obese elderly with underlying heart conditions?

Racial unrest that threatens the bucolic charm of World Surf League owner and co-Waterperson of the Year Dirk Ziff’s extremely exclusive southern plantation?

Satan himself coming out of the clouds to finish the whole business off for good?

Maybe.

An Australian woman recently purchased a print of what she thought were clouds except when she looked closer, realized it was actually a portrait of Satan.

‘So after finding a demonic face in this picture, I don’t want it above our bed anymore. Where else can I hang a cloudy picture?’ she said in a Facebook group.

Many terrified people quickly responded, urging the woman to get rid of the popular canvas or ‘burn it’.

‘Once you have seen it you can’t unsee it… I would get rid of it,’ one said, while another added: ‘Oh dear, I can see it! Looks evil.’

I did not see this print in World Surf League CEO Erik Logan’s office, when I last visited, but he did proudly show off a giant framed picture of Laird Hamilton riding a SUP.

Disturbing.

At least we have Lawn Patrol.

"As a way of saying thanks..."

Well I sure put myself in a kettle of hot water yesterday by penning what was seen by many/most/all of you as a tone-deaf, ill-timed, poorly-executed obituary for Santa Cruz surfer turned Bali transplant and BeachGrit contributor Mara Wolford.

Nick Carroll swung in last night and wrote a beautiful, stirring memorial but I’m still sticking by mine. Not as better than Nick’s, no way, but as proper and fitting.

The golden rule states, “Whatever you desire for people to do to you, you shall also do to them…” and, maybe I’m broken, but when I go down, I sure as heck hope there ain’t just deafening silence. You all better be writing snarky, tone-deaf, ill-timed, poorly-executed obituaries about me.

Also, as uncomfortable as it is to look at death we just have to. So, sticking by mine even though the great Wiggolly’s Paddling Style told me, “You gotta learn to admit when you’re wrong Chozza.”

Which gave me long pause.

And, sadly, it appears I was most recently wrong by declaring, SURFLINE QUIETLY INCREASES SUBSCRIPTION PRICE BY 35%, GOUGING SHOCKED CUSTOMERS DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC!

Emails bounced into my inbox fast and furious from Surfline’s own Marcus Sanders, pointing out the error that the subscription price was not quietly increased but announced in July 2018 with the following message:

Hi [username],

It’s been 15 years since we raised the price of an annual Surfline Premium membership. During that time, we’ve added over 300 cams, 10 full-time forecasters, increased model accuracy by 30%, brought Surfline to iOS and Android and built a blazing fast, mobile-responsive website. In addition, as of today, 48 of our most iconic cameras are available in high resolution, exclusively to Premium members such as yourself.

Also as of today, an annual Surfline Premium membership will cost $95.88 ($7.99/month) for all new subscribers. But, as a token of our appreciation for your ongoing support, we’re automatically applying your existing rate of $69.99 per year the next time you renew. That’s right: No price increase today and no price increase the next time you renew. For more information, check our New Premium Pricing help article.

Also, seven days before subscription renewals, Surfline sends out another message, this one too long to print here but the following sentence can be found in the middle of paragraph seven, page two:

…last July we increased our annual price for the first time in over a decade by about $2/month. As a way of saying thanks for your membership, we kept your annual rate at $69.99 for the past year. When you renew this year, you’ll be charged the current price of Surfline Premium, $95.88 annually.

Sorry, Surfline. I was wrong.