Timely given BJ Penn’s similar near-death experience at a wavepool.

The Canary Islands-based big-wave bodysurfer Ahmed Erraji has snatched a harrowing Go Pro clip of his almost-drowning, which bears examining, I think, and which is timely given BJ Penn’s similar near-death experience at a wavepool.

Morrocan-born Erraji, who is forty-ish and swings by the nickname Hijo del Mar (son of the sea), ain’t afraid to swim out at thirty-foot Nazaré.

So he knows his chops.

In this short, we watch as Erraji is pushed by an eight-foot wave into a cave in the cliffs.

He don’t die, no plot spoiler there, but Erraji is trapped inside the cave for two-and-a-half hours, waves completely filling his little grotto, causing the viewer some anguish as he tries to imagine how he would react if jammed into a cliff, never knowing if you’d exit etc.

“Have you heard of the saying “Fear Kills”? That’s the exact job of fear,” Erraji told Wavelength magazine. “Fear tells you: ‘If you’re going to bodysurf that wave, you’ll never come back,’ but with time I learned that on the other side of your biggest fears, there are the best things of your life.”

A very out of character attack from a non-combative man. 

One month after the mainstream press slammed The Surf Ranch Pro as the “most boring surfing event in the world” and y’pals at BeachGrit asked, “How many more stinging barbs will it take for the WSL to take Lemoore off the tour?”, the pool is officially off the 2022 schedule.

Y’seen the press spiel already, read here if y’ain’t, but surf fans were quick to point out a Finals Day location had yet to be announced and the pool was nowhere to be seen ergo it had to be the pool, yeah? 

I would think a Finals Day at the pool preposterous, but one lapse of judgement can quickly create a situation in which only foolish choices are possible. 

So maybe yes?

Now, the WSL’s Chief Strategy and Brand Officer Dave Prodan, who is remarkably careful with his words, soapy probs best describes ‘em, an anti-Hemingway kinda guy, has come out swinging, calling anyone who suggests such a thing a “tin foil hat” wearing conspiracy theorist.

On David Scales Surf Splendor Instagram account, Prodan writes, “You can put the tin foil hats away. World Title will be decided in the ocean.” 

A very out of character attack from a non-combative man, although he does seem like the sorta cat who would leave notes around the office that say, “Please check if you flushed!!! Thank you!!!!!” and “Milk spoils if door of fridge left open!”

The lady doth protest too much etc.

Do you think sad at the Surf Ranch Pro’s failure as a wave tech and a contest?

Or just thoroughly contemptuous of surf fans?

All social, sports, political, cultural and religious gatherings have been prohibited. There's black fungus kicking around, too.

The WSL’s highly anticipated event at Barra de la Cruz in Oaxaca, Mexico, which begins in one week, may get iced after “massive contagions by COVID-19” forced the closure of all beaches surrounding Puerto Escondido for two weeks, August 1 through 15. 

As well, all social, sports, political, cultural and religious gatherings have been prohibited. Rule-breakers will be hit with fines and jail time of up to thirty-six days. 

From Mex’s Today in 24,

The municipality declared itself on high alert due to the massive increase in infections and deaths. According to data from the Oaxaca Health Services (SSO), Santa María Colotepec registers 202 accumulated confirmed cases and 7 deaths. While the Coast region accumulates 3 thousand 707 accumulated cases and 337 deaths.

Also, local news sources are reporting a third case of black fungus from COVID-19, an aggressive as hell mould that gets into your lungs, turns your skin black and you break out in blisters and ulcers. Real unpretty. 

Now, Barra ain’t Puerto. 

It’s eighty or so miles east and maybe it’ll escape the lockdown. 

And, sources at the WSL are saying it’ll be a bubble scenario anyway so it’ll go ahead, no matter what happens.

But getting in and out of Mex, with Tahiti on the other side, how many withdrawals y’gonna see? 

Or is the game over for Mex this year. 

Barra, you’ll remember, or maybe not, been a while, was the 2006 contest that affirmed everything good about the pro surfing game. An impossibly perfect sandbottom point most people had no idea existed. Professionals who’d been everywhere calling it the best wave they’d ever surfed, the best contest ever. Best-evers dripping through the floor. Andy Irons, who won the event, nailing the biggest frontside air in competition. The longest tubes seen in an event since Kirra was a thing.

It turned into a surf ghetto shortly thereafter. The council built a cabana and bathrooms on the beach for the influx of visitors. The coastal road was gated and an entry fee levied.

Tourism. Jobs. Money.

Who can argue with the capitalist ideal of the free market bringing wealth to the poor?