Long live VB!
A grey pall hangs low in the sky, this morning from Melbourne, through Geelong, all the way to the shore of Torquay and not the typical grey pall, either, but one infused with overwhlming sadness, with deep shame, with mourning.
For the region’s gilded crown has been plucked from its hung head and taken all the way across the sea, then a continent, and placed upon the regal pate of Virginia Beach where its professional surfing contest, the East Coast Surfing Championship, becomes the longest continually held surfing contest in the world, replacing Torquay’s Bells Beach and its Rip Curl Pro.
Much wailing. Many teeth gnashed. Tears falling, unrelentingly, into schooners of VB.
Victoria Bitters becoming woefully prescient.
And you will certainly recall, a few months ago, when the World Surf League cancelled the Gold Coast’s Corona Open followed shortly thereafter by the cancellation of the Rip Curl Pro due fears over Coronavirus. At that point in time, Bells had been surf contest king but with Santa Monica’s decision to let fear rule the cancelled the reign and now happy Virginia Beachers are dancing in their streets.
The contest kicked off yesterday, its 58th straight running, with the following Coronavirus adjustments in place.
-The event will not allow more than 50 people to be on site, with only surfers and staff allowed on location. No spectators are permitted.
-Unlike in typical years, no international surfers will take place in competition.
-Masks are required.
-The non-surfing sporting events and concerts that typically accompany surfing will not take place.
58 in a row.
Long live VB*.
But while I have you, do you think that stripping the one and only thing that allowed Bells to remain on tour will make it vulnerable to a cutting?
Quite possibly.
*Virginia Beach
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I heard that at Bells instead of a shark alarm they have installed a “ego” alarm , and the thing never shuts up.
Bells had great multiple Champs …. MP , MR , MF !
While Virginia Beach has MD ….that’s right Michael Dunphy , famous for being on the QS since its inception , and though never getting close to qualification has never lost his sponsor Quik ….. It’s a great day for VIRGINIA BEACH .
Ooh man that’s good Bicky!!!!!
Abcessed Llama will dominate the field, that much I know. Go get um and tell Bob Holland to drink some vodka will ya?
Mum has just really hit her stride in the home brew department, I may have actually drank my last VB. Hopefully. That shit is crook.
Homebrew is the perfect storm for the lockdown. Double sugar, double yeast will bump the alcohol volume up to about 7%-7.5%. With the additional benefit of the un-digested sugar making it taste sweeter. A kind of beer cordial if you like. Either way, knocking over a bottle or two is a much more than required kick off to a good night out.
Yes Sir! Finally writing something positive about my hometown.. You think Florida is charming!
This just proves Covid 19 is a Seppo led conspiracy !
Plandemic
Jen See’s recent article on Justine Dupont is well worth a read. Justine makes me feel like a very weak and pathetic person. Uplifting.
Agree, nicely written.
Also, we don’t drink schooners down here.
too bad, frosted they are sooooooooo good. Do you guys need the recipe for freezing glass?
I think we got our wires crossed – schooner is a glass size used in the northern states. Either way, please do give your recipe for freezing glass!
EDIT: added more enthusiasm for frozen glass recipe as I feared my initial nonchalance might lead to missing out.
Oh Wow thanks cheers cunt, but a bloke named Kelvinator sailed to our distant shores a hundred years ago and freed us from having to sail to Antartica once a week for ice supplies so we could chill our beer glasses..
Hey mate, I just heard Americans can be tolerable, free thinking, kind and humble.
Do you guys need a recipe to distrubute?
I think you just described Donald Trump…..well at least his alter ego!
Ha…just trying to see a medium… whats your thoughts MC?
You heard wrong amigo. No use throwing good energy after bad they say.
My bad,fuck off then.
Now all Virginia Beach needs now is waves …!!!….
Wes Laine 2020 World Champ
Dunphy 2020 , would have celebrated his 20th consecutive year on the QS .
Almost 8am here in NZ so have cracked a breakfast beer in solidarity… https://uploads.disquscdn.c…
Might have to enjoy a 6-pack of steak sandwiches for lunch here…
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White collar hands.
Soft … the way you like them
It must be like Fosters, because fuck all people drink VB in Victoria.
Point Break III just announced they’re shooting in VB. The hits keep coming!
VB?? VIRGINIA BEACH??
whats the word from vicco?
It’s cold, and closed!
they gonna arrest you like bodhi if you surf bells?
Boys from Lipped will tell you Salt Lager.
But I’m sure any over priced craft beer would be replacing VB in 2020
Can’t wait for Longtoms daily wrap up.
I’m interested to see how the masking of stateside QS hatchet men/women goes.
Masked during heats you think??
haha, we held the Easter Bells Contest this year , but decided not to invite the “Fake Media”…
the big question is will there ever be another Bells CT event…there is a criminal investigation going on at present , where it’s alleged that the former owners of the BB Competition license , transferred ownership to the WSL for millions of $’s…
Let’s know if ya want the results of this years Bells Comp , as we are now preparing next years invitees……as the will be no WSL tour next year!
no offense, Bells is not an elite tour spot and should be relegated to the QS.
There, I said it.
I think you are right , we have enough exposure and since the pandemic, it’s now 2 crowded with VALS to surf …haven’t surfed there in 5 mths……and yes I think there should be more comps in Portugal !!
I’ve been feeling dejected about my local also, but I’ve been encouraging every able bodied grumpy cunt to go out and claim it back and you should too. If you don’t we all suffer a fate worse than surfing surrounding mediocre waves. The cunts win. And they also lose, never having trudged the path of ridicule and harassment they never gain full enlightenment to grande grumpy cunt.
I think this is now the new era of mediocrity , and what we now see in the surf is just a reflection of what the World has become…lack of community, all about the individual and each person’s self absorbed world……so mediocrity is really what mainstream surfing has become….I surfed in a time of rebellion/pioneering/community……..now……..”Revolution is mans evolution” or is evolution the revolution…..?
Social inclusion is supported by mediocrity and the conscious decision to not strive. Consider this sacred Mid Length…. imagine a concession board before you acquire any skill and no peer pressure to evolve?
Farrk they must just love you in Torquay
Community is globalisation’s Achilles heal
The entire tour can be accomplished in 3 months in the southern hemi, lo siento Hawaii.
In that case Huntington , is not a surf spot and should be relegated to surf schools ? Giggles
HB is the epitome of a bad decision. No way a tour stop, it’s only qualification during summer is parking and space to host a skate board exhibition.
Even the bikini contests in the day required being amongst the great unwashed 909, an effort never worth the time.
“He who wants peace must prepare for war.”
-Mark Richards (reaction below) upon reading the article, answering the question at the end.
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oh my God Karl
Marcus Ricardius!
Speaking of competitive surfing, Morgan Ciblic just beat R Cal in the final of the MR man on man at Merewether this past weekend
Long Live the Underdog ! I checked out his tube and lip bash at last year‘s sunset comp , commitment plus , and he comes across as a bit of a character too .
That’s retirement level.
It looks more like Fanno on the gurn at Splendour m8..
They look so much alike they might be ……twins ?