"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.

Not to be missed.

Tomorrow morning at 11 am Pacific Standard, 2 pm Eastern, ABC will air the entirely compelling Monster Energy Big Wave Sessions in these United States of America. And it is easy to, sometimes, forget there is surfing productions beyond the WSL. Filmmakers, storytellers to use the parlance of WSL CEO Erik Logan, who can weave a narrative out of surfing’s various and sundry strands.

Tales for the masses, yes, as ABC (American Broadcasting Corporation) is network television but tales for us grumpy locals too.

Emmy Award winner Paul Taublieb is one such storyteller and in charge of tomorrow’s program.

Taublieb, co-creator of ESPN’s X-Games, producer and creative director for MotoGP spectacular Fastest narrated by Ewan McGregor (one of my very favorite actors) and aforementioned Emmy Award winner for ESPN’s Hawaiian: The Legend of Eddie Aikau, applies his iconic style to big waves and their surfers.

What will we learn?

Rumor has it that the Big Island’s own Shane Dorian will announce his retirement, Keala Kennelly will speak to her bi-polar diagnosis and Billy Kemper will recount the harrowing Morocco accident wherein he almost perished but this time not long and drawn out into five episodes.

Short and to the point, the way better stories are told.

We will also see Kai Lenny risking life and limb, swimming into the impact zone in order to fetch a loosed tow board just so no one else will be able to learn his dimensional secrets. What’s he hiding?

Mark Zuckerberg?

Find out tomorrow.