"This format is (poo emoji)"

Owen Wright, longtime Rip Curl star, winner of the 2012 $300,000 New York Pro and brother of Tyler, took to Instagram just hours ago to announce the exciting news that his Torquay-based sponsor has signed a three-year deal with the World Surf League to title sponsor the new one-day finals day.

CEO Erik Logan, when not busy appearing in movies not about him, rolled this new format out a year ago after melting during last year’s Italo vs. Gabe Pipeline heat.

It was a winner-take-all affair, as the Brazilians were very near each other in the standings, and thrilling.

Wanting to replicate, Logan ditched the “It Takes a Tour to Make a Title” mantra and replaced it with “Filipe Toledo Might Win if He is in 5th Place at Year End and This New Final’s Day Happens to be in Gutless Little Waves.”

Owen wrote, “It’s true! Rip Curl is stoked to announce a 3-year partnership of the Rip Curl @wsl Finals, the new one-day competition that will decide the Men’s and Women’s World Surfing Champions. Follow the road to the #RipCurlWSLFinals. @ripcurl_aus @ripcurl_usa @ripcurl_europe what do you guys think of the new one day format to decide the world champion?”

And one must wonder what led to his decision to ask the question “what do you guys think of the new one day format to decide the world champion?” unless he thinks the idea is stupid though can’t say so himself?

Or….?

The response has been predictable.

One creepily supportive comment, “I’m happy with it as long as you are on the podium.”

Thirteen, “This format is (poo emoji)” “A stupid idea. World Champion has to be earned in all conditions after many contests. It’ll be a shallow trophy.” “How about a rip curl raffle to decide the winner.” “The winner won’t be a real world champion. That’s a fact.” “Sorry mate not a fan of this. If you surf all year and in different spots surf and conditions your the best. If you win on one day event your the best on that day.”

“Fkn dumb!”

Is it odd that Owen gets so few comments per post?

Also, the PR on this is clearly not good. No real surf fan will like but the page has turned on that relic.

Would Jonah Hill like?

A new filter for all our questions.

Currently more of them than answers.

More as the story develops.

Putting the V in VAL.

The just passed weekend found me, my best friends and our children (aged 4 – 7) smashing pickup trucks over boulders, camping near abandoned mines, skipping along a dried lakebed where the rocks move by magic in California’s Death Valley.

Very off the grid and I was loving every second. The children happy and filthy, danger lurking around every hairpin mule track turn, the nearest cell signal miles upon miles away.

I thought, “If only we could stay out of range forever…” while driving back home, phone registering “no service”… until the town of Ridgeway where its shattered screen fired to life, messages stacked upon stacked, buzzing furiously.

A sense of dread overcame me.

Through squinted eyes, I thought I made out the name “Jonah Hill” involved, or adjacent, to one.

I clicked and read the headline attached, “Jonah Hill slips into his black wetsuit for surf day in Malibu… before showing off his tattoos while going shirtless to towel off,” an informative, albeit slightly wordy, offering showing exactly what was professed.

Scanning further, I discovered that Hill had responded to the story, via Instagram, and slowly read his caption.

I don’t think I ever took my shirt off in a pool until I was in my mid 30s even in front of family and friends. Probably would have happened sooner if my childhood insecurities weren’t exacerbated by years of public mockery about my body by press and interviewers. So the idea that the media tries to play me by stalking me while surfing and printing photos like this and it can’t phase me anymore is dope. I’m 37 and finally love and accept myself. This isn’t a “good for me” post. And it’s definitely not a “feel bad for me post”. It’s for the the kids who don’t take their shirt off at the pool. Have fun. You’re wonderful and awesome and perfect. All my love.

Instantly I knew that surfing’s power of balance had fundamentally shifted.

Hill has been the face of surfing’s recent meteoric spike in popularity but has seemingly been reluctant to be its voice… until this just passed weekend. His message of inclusivity, of positivity, of empowerment sent shockwaves through the media landscape with celebrity after celebrity praising, average Joes and Janes sharing their own stories.

Surfing as vehicle for dialogue.

As vehicle for change.

An entirely beautiful moment that I missed thanks to dumb nature.

A sentiment so pure not even the grumpiest local can begrudge.

The VAL apocalypse transforming into a VAL utopia.

Note: I know that brutalist is a sort of architecture that does not reflect the Daily Mail’s overall aesthetic, which leans toward gothic, but “gothic tabloid” just don’t have the same ring.