Much surprise.
Aftershocks are still reverberating through the surf community after last night’s earthquake (feat. Chris Cote) at the inaugural Surf Park Central Surf Park Awards. Recap here, but for those short on time/attempting to preserve remaining brain cells, the shocker occurred when Spain’s Wavegarden snatched “Most Appealing Wave Technology” from the grasp of Kelly Slater’s Surf Ranch.
Audible gasps and shocked sighs filled the lushly wood paneled public library community room somewhere in San Diego.
Surf Lakes, Yeppoon clutching a bespoke monogrammed Occy clutch to breast. Waco, Texas taking the stage unexpectedly, standing there in front of Wavegarden saying, “Yo, Wavegarden. I’m really happy for you, Ima let you finish, but Kelly Slater made one of the best waves of all time. One of the best waves of all time.”
Wildness.
So much wildness that, as reported earlier, URBNSurf, Australia there just off Melbourne’s International Airport, almost didn’t hear its winning of “Most Appealing Surf Park Destination.”
Melbourne, a world-class city, would have been completely confident going against Yeppoon, Waco, Spain, Lemoore ahead of the awards but, as a surf journalist, I would like to call for a recount on the votes.
Berlin was on the list.
And so was Lemoore.
Surprising at it may seem, I have been to Melbourne’s Crowne casino and I have been to Lemoore’s Tachi Palace.
Sorta potato, potato there.
Much closer than it would otherwise appear.
Melbourne has superior fussy cuisine, Lemoore a superior Applebee’s Bar + Grill.
Potato, potato?
Where would you rather vacation?