WSL’s Chief Strategy and Brand Officer eviscerates surf fans as “tin foil hat” wearing conspiracy theorists following elimination of “most boring surfing event in the world” from 2022 tour!

Derek Rielly

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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?

Home-wrecking World Surf League shines spotlight on “America’s greatest up and coming talents” ahead of The Ultimate Surfer; first up world #572 Alejandro Moreda!

Chas Smith

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"He might be smiling, but this is a man used to winning at life."

Now that the Olympics is behind us and the upcoming Mexico event is very much hanging in the balance due a Covid outbreak in Oaxaca, even though Surfline has just given the swell report a “favorable” rating, and the 2022 Championship Tour has been announced to fanfare-adjacent, rabid surf fans are looking for the next next and, thankfully, the World Surf League is here to deliver.

The Ultimate Surfer, to air August 23 and promising to find “America’s greatest up and coming talent,” is putting its greatest up and coming talents, those who hope to crack the aforementioned Championship Tour and maybe win a title, in the spotlight.

First up world #572 Alejandro Moreda from America-adjacent Puerto Rico and let us read and learn together.

For the last decade, Alejandro Moreda has been at the beating heart of Puerto Rican surfing. The natural footer has been considered one of the Island’s best surfers, mixing stone-cold bravery with oodles of style. And while his surfing has been compared, favorably, with the late, great Andy Irons, unlike his peers like Brian Toth and Dylan Graves, “Ale” he never strayed too far from his beautiful island home.

For the ever-smiling, ever-moving Ale, it was just a way of giving back to the place he loves. With his partner Mia Blakeman Gomez, one of Puerto Rico’s top models and entrepreneurs, he has carved a life that balances eternal surf stoke, a sense of community, and successful business life. Make no mistake though, this is a serious surfer with serious talent. He might be smiling, but this is a man used to winning at life.

But wait.

I thought the World Surf League was set to play matchmaker on the show, introducing former Bachelors and Bachelorettes to the cast in order to spark romance?

How will Mia Blakeman Gomez feel about that?

Oh drat.

Breaking: World Surf League announces “Landmark Fully-Integrated” 2022 Championship Tour and Challenger Series!

Chas Smith

By

Lemonade out of lemons!

“When the world gives you lemons, make lemonade,” is a fine aphorism, one that inspires and delights in times of trouble, one that the World Surf League has just utilized by revealing next year’s “landmark fully-integrated 2022 Championship Tour” in order to paper over the now-more-than-likely cancellation of the upcoming Barra de la Cruz event.

As you know, Covid has ravaged the state of Oaxaca and images of smiling professional surfers traipsing in for play play fun time will likely not make a positive impression on locked down locals. Also, the WSL does not have the best track record as it relates to its patented “abundance of caution™” as CEO Erik Logan contracted the respiratory illness at the beginning of the year, in Hawaii, even with much daily testing, promises of safety procedures etc.

But on to the lemonade, and per Santa Monica’s press release:

The 2022 WSL CT will include 10 regular-season events in seven countries, starting in January at the world-famous Pipeline in Hawai’i, for the first-ever men’s and women’s joint event at that legendary break. The CT will return to G-Land, Indonesia, which is back on the CT for the first time in 24 years for the men and for the first time ever for the women, and conclude in August at the infamous Teahupo’o in Tahiti before the second-annual Rip Curl WSL Finals in September, where the WSL Final 5 men’s and women’s surfers will face off for the undisputed World Title.

“The WSL exists to steward and celebrate the world’s best surfing and this redesigned Tours and Competition framework is historic in many ways, serving as the core engine of our business,” said WSL CEO Erik Logan. “In collaborating with our surfers and partners on delivering events like the Billabong Pro Pipeline, the MEO Portugal Pro, the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach, the Quiksilver Pro G-Land, the Oi Rio Pro, the Margaret River Pro and others, we’re thrilled to announce one of the most exciting WSL Championship Tour calendars in history for next season and set the framework for the sport for years to come.”

2022 WSL Championship Tour Schedule*

Pipeline, Hawai’i – January 29 – February 10
Sunset, Hawai’i – February 11 – 23
Peniche, Portugal – March 3 – 13
Bells Beach, Australia – April 10 – 20
Margaret River, Western Australia – April 24 – May 4

Mid-Season Cut – 36-man and 18-woman fields reduced to 24-man and 12-woman fields.

G-Land, Indonesia – May 28 – June 6
Trestles, USA – June 15 – 22
Saquarema, Brazil – June 27 – July 4
Jeffreys Bay, South Africa – July 9 – 18
Teahupo’o, Tahiti – August 11 – 21

WSL Final 5 determined to battle for the undisputed men’s and women’s World Titles.

Rip Curl WSL Finals, location TBA – September 7 – 18

How do you feel about that?

Refreshing and delish?

Lightly bitter?

Cops confiscating boards at Puerto. | Photo: @moralesedwin

World Surf League’s Mexico event in doubt after “massive contagions by COVID-19” and over three hundred dead in Oaxaca force closure of Puerto Escondido’s famous beaches for two weeks; residents and tourists threatened with fines and 36 days in jail!

Derek Rielly

By

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?

Nicaraguan surf camp publicly rejects financially-rich offer from large SUP group: “For your safety and ours, I say this with love. F*ck no.”

Chas Smith

By

Proud.

I am often made proud by our wonderful grumpy locals, our gorgeous salt-crusted grouches. Out there, barking, frowning, paddling over VALs, paddling through VALs, trying to drive over SUPs left in parking lots, not allowing large SUP groups to come to surf camps.

Speaking of, Thunderbomb Surf Camp in southern Nicaragua which asks, “Why not get uncrowded waves with great accommodations? With our surf vehicles and local boat captains you will have the freedom to surf more than just the beach out front. Here you can surf world-class waves, get barreled at The Boom, carve epic points, or even learn to surf without the crowds that plague the beaches of Costa Rica and southern Nicaragua,” just received a sure-to-be-financially-rich offer from a SUP group and publicly said, “Fuck no.”

The reveal was met with much praise. Proud. Proud that grouch is praised more highly than the mighty Córdoba. Proud that 8 mistaken men, some with wives, are going to have to think about life choices and reflect.

Proud.

So very, very proud.