This cements Starkey's future as WSL CEO and the eventual rehoming of the WSL downunder.
High, high times for hacks in the surf-jern biz. Glorious Woz Piñatas swinging in front of us on the daily.
Temperance and accuracy can go to hell when hitting the keys is this much fun.
Today tops all.
Starkey and the Australian taxpayer have double-handedly rescued the 2021 World Tour, in a stunning power move that reflects the historical and current reality of Oz as the centre of gravity of professional surfing.
Last week, Stark was riding a donkey in the desert, today he’s in the penthouse toasting four CT’s in the house and a well of human hatred run shallow and dry.
It was the brute force display of power I’d expected all along from my man.
Let’s be clear: his methods may be Machiavellian but Stark has kept the lights on in the building in a way no-one else could.
Imagine Elo trying to seal these deals across state borders with multiple political realities and stakeholder pressures?
Poor flim-flam man folds like wet lettuce and can’t even get the paperwork tight and right. This cements Starkey’s future as WSL CEO and the eventual rehoming of the org. downunder.
His pasodoble with NSW Deputy Prem John Barilaro has been legendary. Think of a famous pairing: Beavis and Butthead, Peanut Butter and Jelly, Fish and Chips, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Ali and Frazier, Batman and Robin, Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth, Don Quixote and Pancho Sanza, Sonny and Cher, just off the top of my head.
Stark and Barilaro best all of them without a doubt.
The line-up, as we already know, is a mixed bag, but generally praiseworthy.
Newy will be the weakest link in the chain for quality surf. Narrabeen offers a rare, quality left beachbreak with punchy rights at the Alley and excellent pies at Ocean Blend, the cafe directly across the road from the Northy carpark, the former site of Damien “Dooma” Hardman’s pie shop.
Maggie River we are well acquainted with along with the outrageous advantage offered to JJF at Mainbreak Rights and Jack Robbo at North Point or the Box.
Rottnest or Rotto, as DR has pointed out, suffers under the weight of a very dark history as both a penal colony and site of unimaginable animal cruelty when the inevitable Quokka kicking episode occurs during the islands regular Bacchanalian convulsions.
There are numerous B+ reefs on the Island with competition likely to run morning times before the dreaded Fremantle Doctor “breeze” blows out the main spot of Strickland Bay. A kind of cool-temperate reverse poor man’s Keramas if you need a mental image to sustain you. Very fun wave.
Five events locked in. Teahupoo likely. Tub, Trestles final. Australia, Hawaii, Tahiti, California. A Pacific World Champ.
Leaving aside that WA faces the Indian, it’s a concept too beautiful not to pay lip service to.
In a final sign of the ascendancy of Australia Bureaucratic Dominance and the shifting of power from USA to Aus, poor Patty O has been permanently benched from his role as Senior Vice Prez of Tours and Head of Competition after deciding “to transition out of his role to pursue new opportunities”, which I believe is polite corpo-speak for being shown the door but having as much time as you need to collect your stuff from under the desk.
Patty is being replaced by former CT competitor Jessi Miley-Dyer.
Pat’s reign was memorable for, um…..um…. I haven’t got much except missing the day of the waiting period at D-bah on a bad judgement call trying to get Snapper in 2019 when he was newly minted in the role. He brought a cheery presence and an understated credibility to video presentations with Elo and will one day have an excellent memoir ghost-written about his time at Santa Monica.
Australian Company Rip Curl, which sold 70% of the biz to NZ outdoor apparel Company Kathmandu in late 2019 for 350 mill and which has been enjoying bumper Covid induced sales has stumped up an undisclosed figure for the naming rights to Newy, Narrabeen and Rotto, the latter under the dormant Search Banner.
To the best of my knowledge I can see no resistance to holding comps at any of the proscribed locations, which makes Covid19 and the Great White Shark the only remaining challenges to getting things run and done.
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the closest there was , was probably Australia’s Indigenous culture , but we continue to denigrate them , and let western ideals take us to hell!
Shit cunt
On another unimportant note… never did I ever truly realize the true extremes in the heights of Owen Wright or Tom Carroll until seeing them next to one another in the pic… learn something new everyday at Beach Grit…
Put another check mark on the list of why the U.S. is a failed state and we seppos deserve nothing but a seat in the nosebleed section when it comes to administering anything – including a pro surf tour. Here’s hoping the best for an Elo/Dirk-less ASPWSL-what-ever-you-want-to-call-the-tour in the future.
My only hope is Beach Grit writers can find it in their hearts to still remind us the of the damage those VAL hacks have done to the sport on every level. Never Forget…
Thanks Nick, but I know there are some crew who surf Rottnest regularly that aren’t at all happy about a WSL comp landing there. It has been a tourist island for decades. But you know the old story, can’t please everyone all the time.
if there was no forgiveness , there would underground blackfella resistance…..the blackfellas I know all feel sorry for the whiteman culture!
but we all love cunts, especially when the head with no brains takes over ..
what?
of course they will be able to light up the Point.
how do you think Fanning did it way back then?
it’s always been a free surfing haven, for pros and joes alike.
As someone who lives close to Bells I agree that a comp is great to go and watch your heroes. I was about 13 when Nicky Wood did that famous floater in the shorebreak to win in 86 (I think it was) and I was standing there with my dad on the rocks about 20m from it. Everyone in Victoria supports it 100%.
But having said all that, Mick needs to realise that the locals voted against it by a huge majority. You gotta respect the wishes of the people who live there, not slag them off as being philistines.
he should stick to beer, foamies and Real Estate, poor cunt is clueless on this issue.
Considering Mick is still sucking on the WSL tit do you really expect a different response. It was more his counter argument that was completely out of touch. If he had bothered to reach out to any of his local friends and heard what they thought, he would have got a gauge for local sentiment. Even Jai was against it. Unlike QLD with its border closures, NNSW has been manically busy with domestic tourists. With a lot of restaurants in Byron having four week waits on booking a table over summer. Not to mention a 40% increase in house prices and a rental crisis over the greater northern rivers. The whole area is a wash with money. The last thing it needs is CT right now, which have will far more negative effects, than positive.
A particular highlight is the 1:10 mark where footage of (possibly Margaret Dupree) being all nudie on the sand comes up and the soundtrack goes weird for a sec, like the her aura distorts the time space continuum. Anyway, carry on.
always forgivable , know quite a few Noongar Elders who still just want to educate , not demonstrate…….
Just read Wayne Murphy’s take on Rotto , and he’s claiming it as the perfect place for a comp……and the wave swill be more than adequate , as the sea brezze starts to stop in May….I am actually looking forward to it !
Aloha nui Brutus. As with all European colonial atrocities inflicted upon indigenous peoples, I’d like to think that maybe someday it might be possible to forgive the unforgivable.
it’s unbelievable the hurt that has been passed onto me today….as the WSL/WA Govt did not consult the indigenous local Noongars…..the following is a quote from a text I received today…
“Can I give you a call back soon regarding the WSL event at the extremely culturally , spiritually and Historically significant venue of Wadjemup / rottnest , that is also Australia’s largest death in custody site.”
they keep forgiving , Rotto is a horrific story of hopelessness , incarceration and death…ahhhhh
Wow a Beachgrit endorsement, it will be interesting to see how this effects Beachgrit’s nauseatingly repetitive and annoyingly political anti WSL coverage. Will it be Team Stark saves the WSL from here on out? Like when a Fox candidate wins or loses, it’s all shit or all roses for the next 4 years. Will runs of shit waves, contest obstacles, and inevitable covid hiccups be forgivable (dressed in a new creative font of flowery beachgrit corpo speak) now that you have a new savior? This feels like you’re building the foundation for a new improved wall of positive noise. Will Dirk dollars start flying your way like beautifully crafted paper airplanes? Honestly, I’m alright with that. Do what your gonna do. I wanna watch live surf contests again. If he can get Sunset to run by the end of the year maybe he is worth all the praise.
I think a realistic expectation is a lot of flip flopping in the tone of the coverage.
but considering the scope of the achievement, a reach around does seem appropriate, no?
That’s the spirit! Whatever it takes to help get surf contests back. My entertainment well’s run dry and I think Joe Turpels lullaby drone helps me sleep at night. Hopefully his cameo in Free Scrubber can hold me over til April.
Dude most of us actually like watching surf contests. Ol mate Samwaters probably takes a guilty peek every now and then too.
But just because we like watching surf contests doesn’t mean the WSL isn’t run by a bunch of Turkeys at the moment. It’s been cluster fuck after cluster fuck and a whole heap of hubris thrown in. Good on them for wrangling something together at the last minute.
Ya, I figure most everyone here wants to see surf contests, just like me. I just don’t buy the ongoing narrative BG has been slanging that everything’s a complete failure at the wozzel. Listen to Elo’s latest podcast on that website Chas despises so much. It’s nuts and bolts stuff, bureaucratic mazes, boring logistics that CEO’s everywhere are dealing with right now. The NFL had its full season with it’s random bizarre covid related situations that arose, they also had 700 total Positive covid infections. BG jumped all over the WSL for 5, and 4 days off to deal with it. I just see BG’s narratives as being more of a power move to generate negative sentiment, because there is power in that. Guaranteed Sunsets cancellation was due in part to the onslaught of negative press, which was over looking simple truths like 4 tested people in the water during a contest is less likely to spread the virus than 100+ untested people in the water during any given swell.
Negative sentiment sells
If you go back a bit Chas interviewed Elo and it was all peachy (that’s where that photo of the two of them doing the thumbs up came from). But then everyone here slagged him off for being a yes man and not asking any difficult questions. That’s when the narrative changed. Each to their own. Chas has got content to generate and kissing ass probably belongs on Stab or that other limp wristed site.
Elo copped a lot of flak on here for going to Hawaii and for getting covid. I thought that was out of line because of course you expect the CEO to go to the events (I maintain he would have been slagged off if he didn’t go!). And it’s not his fault he caught covid. Hell, the guy could have died and all he got was disrespect. I thought that was out of line.
Ultimately though, he’s the boss and has to be accountable. I reckon the WSL has been run by out of touch non-surfers since the re-branding.
Ya, before the first Elo interview, Chas and DLS would rail against the WSL’s commentating a lot. I could care less if Turpel rambles between set waves, I just want to see the surfing. So I summed up all of Chas and Dave’s complaining in the podcast as a desperate ploy to gain some power, influence, or access in the WSL. Their first interview with Elo completely confirmed my suspicion. Elo dangled the carrot of future access/relations with the WSL and Dave and Chas turned into obedient puppies. Elo read their desires perfectly. It was amazing. Anyway, I disagree with the “WSL is doing everything wrong” sentiment here, so it’s fun to pipe up an opposing opinion. It’s interesting how everyone Falls in line behind those BG narratives so easily. Hard to believe any surfer would give a shit about what type of permit the WSL used to put on Pipeline? Gov bureaucrats might care how that’s being portrayed in the media though. BG couldn’t help but tattle on the WSL for using something other than a contest permit to get the show running. The NFL had 700 positive covid tests. I think most people who watched were still stoked to have games on and not whining about the leadership. Gotta hand it to Chas and BG, they’re gifted at ramping up negative sentiment. Look at all the comments it helps generate! In an attention economy it gets both sides attention. It’s clearly got mine..
I gave you the Narrabeen scoop a couple of days ago. you’re welcome. suppose its my own fault for dribbling so much shit in the comments. next time I will specify if its not dribble
(definitely dribble)
Interesting moment in surfboard design. Some single fin holdovers, a few twins and I believe just Simon on the thruster still. Geez there was some bad surfboards in that clip.
Northie not favourable in a sth wind of any kind when they running this shit – basically if like it is now with se/e airflow gonna be unwatchable – whats the dates or do i have to read more?
At the nudie in December (the other time I was at ground zero for a covid outbreak) it was holding up quite well in ESE wind. Just needs that E in swell. It was contestable for a national level comp, though. hardly worlds best surfers in worlds best waves. But gotta take what you can get, I guess
Was the most likely outcome given any of the regional areas of WA would have given them the Lennox treatment. It was the only hand left to play. What other options did they have, risk somewhere on the South Coast of NSW and get another thanks but no thanks? Having said all that, I’m stoked that something will happen. As much as I think the WSL is pretty much inept in execution I still like to watch the surfing. Feels very 80s/90s when all the comps were near population centres.
A bit surprising to see Rip Curl throwing money around too.
Kathmandu, you mean…. Maybe their Rip Curl sector out performed other sectors over covid and they see value in investing in surf?
rip curl has been killing it with covid payments going to new rubber.
Bit harsh there Longtom calling Strickos a poor man’s Keramas. Don’t forget there is a really good left there too. Stricko’s you will see is an ideal wave for surf competition. And late May is way beyond summer and not the time of year for strong cooling sea breezes that spoil conditions mid-morning. In fact, in late May, it can often be glassy or offshore winds all day, in the right cycle. As for the actual wave, at 4 to 6ft it is undeniably a good performance wave. There is enough length and room for competitors to bang off two or three solid moves and show the judges what they have got, both backhand and forehand. At 6 to 10ft Sticko’s transforms into a bit of a monster, with an outside bubble, and wash-through sets anything bigger. When it gets big it can match just about any wave in the world for sheer power. Wipe-outs and hold-downs can be of serious consequence – think broken boards and bones, reef cuts, banged heads, and the dangers of getting sucked under ledges and down into reef holes and so on. Scary shit. The thick peak could be likened to Main Break at Margaret River, but more condensed, without the fat burger sections. Intense is a good word to describe Stricko’s when she’s on. The tapering right hander is a bit like Haleiwa in Hawaii, complete with a turbulent toilet-bowl finish. The freight train left hander can provide some nice tubes over very shallow reef, with a hairy finish before the lagoon for those who risk all running the gauntlet and try to make it that far. Be warned – fins can go missing there. And fins breaking the surface from pods of local dolphins sharing the waves there will surely give the pros another real thrill and/or scare too. Yes, there is a lot of sea life. What many people don’t realize is that the West End of Rottnest is 35km off the coast of Australia. It is a busy sea lane for creatures large and small of all description. Bottom line for me, as someone who grew up and learned to surf the reefs there, is that Rottnest is a really good choice for a pro surfing comp. Pure and simple it is a tourist island. Wadjemup (Land across the Sea) is also a very special place for learning more about Aboriginal culture and reconciliation. Hope it truly pumps. Well done and good luck to all.
Yeah nah … you should provide commentary alongside Turpel
Yeah good on ya, your name rhymes well with something else.
You’re a bright fella, if a little excitable at times
Thanks for reading Billy. Yes, you are right. I will admit to being a little excitable, at times. Having a WSL comp where I grew up and learned to surf reef break got me excited. Hope she pumps. Cheers.
any consideration and respect for the Noongar people?
Not just the Wadjuk Noongar as the TO’s of the island and seas, but also the many thousands of Aboriginal men and boys from all over WA incarcerated on the island in the 19th century
Here ya go Billy, a condensed 5 minute version of a film I made about that in 1992. https://www.youtube.com/wat…
Next he’ll be pulling his dick over 3rd reef Eddie island in Lancelin
The Lanno crew a good frothers themsleves there Turts – footy included – they don’t need any contributions from visiting day-tripper blow-ins like me.
Lano is spelt with one N. Don’t make me come down to floreat and regulate Wayn’o, I’ll plaster ya Prado in Pirates stickers
Ha ha, good one Turts, the plot thickens. FYI, you might have me confused with one of my brothers, Sean, who was a keen City Beach surfer. Scarbs was where I mostly surfed and hung out along that sandy stretch when I lived in Perth. Been in Ireland for the past 20 years though. Cheers. PS – The Wadjemup Warriors, our Rottnest footy team, played the Pirates one time. Pirates had some very good players, Finny Maguire, Willo and crew. Good fun.
Finny makes good pizza, I have no idea who you are though. Just a calculated guess based on stereotypes.
Say hi to Finny for me next time you see him. Ooby dooby, go Subi! Cheers.
Now that’s an idea, Flozza is well overdue for a CT.
Are you related to Wiggs by any chance?
Like I’d be related to a soft cock Mexican like wiggs
There’s a right at Strickos? Well I never!
Now as for Lyall’s ledge, that’s the spot….and not that I can do airs, but a southerly on the left at Strickos creates ramps aplenty. Italo hands down is my pick.
Yeah Harry, good selection for sure, along with Gabe Medina, if he doesn’t get too spooked. Jack Robbo I imagine might have some experience there already from junior State rounds, and some knowledge will count a lot there. John John will be my pick if it is big.
I bet you’re weighing the options of coming back for it…hope to catch up if you do, Murph!
Oh, and how do you see them fitting the CT infrastructure on the hill at Strickos (an A class reserve)? Or maybe quite a few competitors on boats? Could be a hard call.
https://wildlife.rottnestis…
I think the basic viewing platform there, along with the fences and walkways installed by island ranger Chaz Smith and the Offshore Boardriders back in the early 90s will protect the local environment there. The flora has flourished on the previously eroded dunes and scrub there since that work was undertaken, like it did at Bells Beach too. Treading lightly on such fragile and delicate ground will be important there of course Harry. I am sure the local rangers will be there to monitor and assist. As for any extra boats there, sure you know the story – no real view from where you moor anyway, as you mostly only see from behind the waves. Best view will be online for most of us. But yeah, would love to be there.
Jack Robbo has to be the lock for Margarets. With it being mobile (or is it this year??) he’s the only surfer you can guarantee will be a good pick at main break, box or north point.
There’s a right at Strickos? Well I never!
Now as for Lyall’s ledge, that’s the spot.
agreed, I’m a huge fan of that wave.
as a spectator free event, as long as the ding a lings stay off the dunes and refrain from quokka kicking it cold have a future.
Good man Steve. Yes, the cliff salt bush scrub there is more delicate than at Bells with much less rainfall for growth etc. I expect the island rangers will be there monitoring the comp and assisting.
talked to Lenny this morning……any consultation with the Noongars people about having the event in a very sensitive cultural area , doesn’t sound like it, had a couple of calls this morning about where’s the cultural respect?
It’s a global disrespect. You Colonial chaps try and ruin all dark skin cultures. Your privilege stinks, brutus.
my privelege …hahaha……fuck you are a moron…it’s not about me , but disrespect from people like you(proud oath keepers LOL)…….
Idi Amin, Robert Mugabe etc etc
Their privilege murdered thousands.
It’s just a dig at “brutus”. Don’t mean a word of it.
yes you do . it’s not me you insult and vilify….you are one of the” special people”….
So, you are racist!(?) Are you making fun of my heritage? My lineage is accurately traced back thru ancient cave drawings. Of all the drawings I’ve seen in the caves, there weren’t any light skinned people like you. Tends to lean towards you being special. Please stay in Australia, and don’t “conquer” any more indigenous peoples!?!
ya fucken moronic troll…haha….so which caves have you visited ….and it’s amazing when you see them you can see all the coloring of the different peoples….but as ya mate Trump says about you…being so special duh!
I talked to Lenny too. I have put Neil Ridgway and Mark Lane from Surfing WA in contact with Lenny. Yeah, they really need to get something sorted with respect to ceremony and the island’s deeply sensitive Aboriginal history and culture there. Maybe this comp might help put the spotlight back on the need for a proper Indigenous museum or cultural centre there where the old prison Quad is. It is falling into disrepair. Lenny would like to see it maintained and something new and informative built there. Let’s hope so.
Can’t they just do a Gold Coast commonwealth games and hire a shit load of Indian and N.z crew to do the welcome to country dance?
Way, way cheapest option
Surf media wouldn’t report and main stream media put it first page
Pity the respect wasn’t there from WSL/WA Govt to start with , and as RC is just a naming rights sponsor , and surfing WA the event organizers …..anyhow its Govts and WSL’s MO to consult with communities / indigenous and white last…..if at all !
Lets not hope…but really get this issue up and sorted …..
Wheels are in motion, they are meeting and discussing things they can do with regards to the island’s Indigenous history and educating more people.
Went there once in 1980,beers with the locals at the pub,managed to pitch the tent, in the cemetary,lined up a lift in the garbage truck to 6 foot stricko’s next morning,a couple of puffs on a joint to fit in with the boys (not a smoker) before breaking my dodgy legrope first wave,and having 3 more swims before calling it a day!A great wave I thought?Quokkas,a bonus!
That’s paying some dues. Hope you score better next time, deservingly so.