"Once again, we will get to unite the world in peace through our sport’s community, youth, and love."
Well well and well, the World Surfing Games kick off today in beautiful El Salvador, sun shining overhead, waves lapping coarse shores, but reports coming out of El Sunzal and La Bocana, which infuriated Huntington Beach by dubbing itself Surf City, are filled with frowns and wailing.
Much gnashing of teeth.
As you know, International Surfing Association chief Fernando Aguerre, who’s organization is in charge of selecting Olympic qualifiers, forced every Olympic hopeful to attend the entire event, from opening ceremonies to closing ceremonies. Even those who have already qualified through the World Surf League Championship Tour like Australia’s deadly Irukandjis.
The WSL and Surfers’ Union have, apparently, fought hard for those already qualified not to have to make the trip to El Salvador in this still-exhausting time of Covid, attempting to placate Aguerre in various and sundry ways, but he was having none of it.
“The surfers must surf and march and flag wave in El Salvador!” is a relatively accurate summation of his general line.
“Except Kelly Slater!”
Frustration has continued to mount over Slater’s doctor’s note for a years old foot injury, exempting him from traveling to El Salvador but not from barreling in Hawaii or the upcoming Surf Ranch Pro presented by Corona. Joanne Defay has allegedly been given a doctor’s pass allowing her to pool but not Salvador too.
Bad blood running in the gutters.
Aguerre, unbent, released the following statement..
“These are historical times for surfing. We will crown ISA World Surfing Games champions and complete the qualification for the Tokyo 2020 Games. Once again, we will get to unite the world in peace through our sport’s community, youth, and love. While we had to wait a year, the 2021 edition of the World Surfing Games will certainly be one of the most special in history. It has been a challenging time for all around the world, but we have demonstrated our resilience. Our sport and community are stronger than ever. From a record number of women, to the world’s best surfers flying their flags, there are many reasons to be excited about what this event and the future of surfing behold. I would like to give a huge thanks to the Government of El Salvador, the organisers of the event, as well as to the people of El Salvador for the warm welcome and strong support.”
I suppose if surfing’s Olympic debut will unite the world in peace, youth and love then a few hurt feelings are worth it.
No?
Surfline believes so, running the biggest banner ads I have ever seen in my life featuring a video presentation of chief Aguerre.
At time of publication, 966 people have viewed.
Surfline, man. Let’s double it for them. Aguerre seems like a sweet guy, bringing peace between the English and Irish etc.
Do your part to end The Troubles here.
Olympic surfing belongs in wave pools. Period!
Man if I was a competitor & picked up the covid in EL Sal, I’d sue the shit out of the ISA!
why?
Well they’re pretty much coerced into going &/or unconscionable. I’d have a shot at it!
Heat draw below. Interesting team from the US. Oh, 11 athletes have already tested positive for the ‘rona.
https://isasurf.org/wp-cont…
I’ve never surfed down there. Similar to LA Beach breaks or more push? Looks pretty fun on the live feed.
Thing is on. +200 surfers, some good non-ct surfers, plenty I barely or never heard about, and gushing ct surfers. Smallish waves but some nice 5-6ft sets. Not bad a priori,
Looks fun. Wonder if Medina and Italo will actually try.
Simply put, Kelly is at the top of the surf heap. The Olympics need Kelly and he can call his own shots. And I’ve zero problem with that. He earned it in spades.
true……even though he’s a total douche
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Jerry! Jerry!!!
I’m acquainted with both of them, more or less.
Fernando better than Seinfeld – who snubs me because of a story I wrote in LA Weekly.
https://www.laweekly.com/weekends-with-jerry/
And because L_____ B____ wouldn’t sell his Lamborghini Miura 400S to Seinfeld – although how that’s my fault I don’t know.
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Fernando has let me shoot his surfboard collection twice, for two books.
Seinfeld don’t surf, that I’m aware of. He collects cars, not surfboards.
Seinfeld is wealthier. Much. He made hundreds of millions from the show.
Fernando made merely a hundred million or something from the sale of ReeF Brazil Sandals.
Fernando is more outgoing.
Fernando has triplets and another.
Seinfeld has three kids I think.
Fernando surfs.
Jerry don’t surf.
Seinfeld spends most of his time on Lawn Gisland and comes to California occasionally.
Fernando spends most of his time in Argentina and comes to California occasionally.
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ABBA recorded a nice song called Fernando.
ABBA did not record a song called Jerry or Seinfeld or anythin close to that.
Fernando shook hands with Obama and asked him to sign a shirt.
Seinfeld had Obama on one of the better episodes of Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee.
Some fucking Union the pros have. Unless there’s fine print somewhere that attending the world surfing games was mandatory in order to qualify, the union should have just said GGF.
When will the good blood gush?
I think the ISA should take over the WSL.
Your opinion and $5 will buy a cup of coffee at Starbucks.
Doubt it i only drink black instant
You’re slipping Ben, you could have given Chas one of your savage burns for using “who’s” instead of “whose.”
This makes me wonder how many emails chaz sent to stir this up…
Watching the wsl is hard enough. I’d rather get kicked in the balls repeatedly than tune into any of this contest
So don’t watch it, fuckface.
Hi Fernando
Fernando is classier than that.
He wouldn’t stoop to calling you “fuckface.”
He would just hire one of his goons to kill you.
Umm, research shows there are 103 nations in the ISA, with let’s say 20 people from each nation. The membership fee for individuals is $130 a year.
That equals roughly a quarter of a million dollars each year paid to the ISA.
40 people from each nation, that number doubles.
Not a bad gig for someone.
This dude looks like a used Vaccine salesman.
with the exception of one Robert Kelly Slater whose ego… I mean “foot” hurts.
Sounds like multiple slots are being filled at any given moment. Thanks!
Can we do Live comments on here then? I’m having withdrawls…
p.s. fuck Kelly Slater
You would think the WSL, Global Home of Surfing, would have some say in the matter. No?
Kelly Slater – Feigning injury since 1976!
Is it at Punta Roca?