Opinion: Whimsical messages regarding website failure only succeed in further enraging already overwrought victims!

"Wipe out! We're working on it. Paddling back out soon."

Yesterday, during the Billabong Pipe Masters in Memory of Andy Irons presented by Hydro Flask semifinals, the World Surf League’s internet feed crashed in the United States of America leaving great swaths of professional surf fans locked out of the action.

Technological glitches happen and I don’t fault the WSL, or its CEO Erik Logan, for the momentary troubles but I do blame them both for declaring “Wipe Out! We’re working on it. Paddling back out soon.”

Gabriel Medina was in the water battling against countryman Italo Ferreira who was wearing hot pants. It was tense, high-octane, a likely preview of finals day 2021. Professional surf fans were on the edge of their stools, early afternoon cocktails clutched tightly but unconsumed as the action was simply too great to turn away from.

All of a sudden nothing.

Frozen.

A suspended production.

Wild refreshing of browsers ensued which, eventually, was met by a bit of whimsy.

The professional surf fan’s blood, already boiling due the interruption, might have forgiven the WSL if surf jargon had not been incorporated into the message. “Wipe Out! We’re working on it. Paddling back out soon.” was a bridge too far.

Unconsumed cocktails were chucked at long-suffering dogs. Computers near cowering children.

Marriages destroyed.

What was otherwise an exceptional day turned dark and many lives will not fully recover.

“Wipe out! We’re working on it. Paddling back out soon.”

Sad.

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Hot and Bothered
Hot and Bothered
5 years ago

So my roommate unplugged the internet router to vacuum and I was like “Dude, whatt” and she quickly plugged at back in, but during this five second outage the other outage happened. So I kinda yelled at her. Then I figured out it was the Surf League’s fault. Oh, my roommate is also my common law gf. Oh boy.

I feel better now…

Corey Webster
Corey Webster
5 years ago

They should have consciously “misused” the BG’s lingo, “Live-streams down, whine about it at Beachgrit.com Val!”. Every mis-hap they should at least direct complaints to Chas’s email.

Phat-wan kerr
Phat-wan kerr
5 years ago

Thats Joe’s thing. making sense comes secondary to relentless lip flapping.

Audit In Progress
Audit In Progress
5 years ago

Man, post 1960’s Ventures is some rough stuff. Not a Mosrite to be seen…

Audit In Progress
Audit In Progress
5 years ago

Fingers crossed for a shark “incident” at Val D’Isere!

Shore pound
Shore pound
5 years ago

Whoever thought of the grinch collab is fucking idiot

Gil Gunderson
Gil Gunderson
5 years ago

Invokes images of backwards wetsuits, legs spread wide and feet dangling over the rails with loosely applied leggie, tail poking out and nose submerged, flat side arm paddling and mats of hair on the face as a relentless barrage of whitewater pounds them shorewards. WSL – geniusly self-effacing!

Ricky Spanish
Ricky Spanish
5 years ago

Do this please!

Ricky Spanish
Ricky Spanish
5 years ago

More kooks doing kook things. VALs probably thought it was clever.

Chas Smith
Chas Smith
5 years ago

We’ll give another go. The problem was that not everyone’s feed is the same so it quickly became apparent that we couldn’t really call live action. I’m sure there is a way to fix, though.

astro
astro
5 years ago
Reply to  Chas Smith

Watch out for copyright on broadcast, Chas.
They’ll crucify you if given the chance.

Joe Turdpile
Joe Turdpile
5 years ago
Reply to  Chas Smith

Thats no excuse… the WSL doesn’t call live action either.

longtom
longtom
5 years ago

I’m ready to go again.

nilly weelander
nilly weelander
5 years ago

How did E-Lo not have a grinch animation for this?!?! C’mon E-Lo get your friggin act together man.

Corey Webster
Corey Webster
5 years ago

Is there a difference between a grumpy local and the WSL’s whineging entitled couch surfing audience?

Return of the Samsung Board
Return of the Samsung Board
5 years ago

I mean the dog at least got money

Tomas' silky smooth arms
Tomas' silky smooth arms
5 years ago

Repugnant

Chief Hot stuff
Chief Hot stuff
5 years ago

Beavis and butthead

Tomas' silky smooth arms
Tomas' silky smooth arms
5 years ago

Again unrelated however very important. JJF is now married and Kelly is now single? You see where I’m heading with this

Tomas' silky smooth arms
Tomas' silky smooth arms
5 years ago

Off topic, but today I tuned into the local sports news where they only reported on Tyler’s win (obviously showing the rainbow on her sleeve) and said nothing about JJF’s. Didn’t even say he won.

Chief Hot stuff
Chief Hot stuff
5 years ago

Same

DavidC
DavidC
5 years ago

Same – Sydney Morning Herald.

Chief Hot stuff
Chief Hot stuff
5 years ago

I think they thought it too much work, being of the lazy white priveleged type

Return of the Samsung Board
Return of the Samsung Board
5 years ago

Wont somebody think of the dogs

Chief Hot stuff
Chief Hot stuff
5 years ago

Chas and Dave allready tried that, they even had guest interviews with Hemi and phone ins with Longtom.
WSL pinched all their ideas.
See who’s to blame here?.


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