Thunderstruck!
The World Surf League Chief Strategy and Brand Officer, Dave Prodan, has seen some things. The Ventura bred man, inscrutably handsome, has been involved in professional surfing since the dawn of time. He was there when it was called the Association of Surfing Professionals toiling under the strong hand of Rabbit Bartholomew and his chosen one Brodie Carr. He was there when billionaire Dirk Ziff purchased the ASP for free, transitioning it to the WSL with Paul Speaker promising it would soon eclipse the NFL. He was there for Sophie Goldschmidt, her Backward Fin Beth, Oprah’s Erik Logan and he is here, today, perceiving all, knowing all.
And so let us bend our ear to a very recent chat that Prodan conducted with Australia’s Jack Robinson. Aside from his role as CS and BO, he is the sphinx-like face of very popular podcast The Lineup, inviting the most important professional surf personalities to share from their experiences.
Prodan, as you can hear yourself, asks Robinson what his least favorite wave is but then feels bad for opening the door to spot-shaming so asks his favorite wave, or more specifically, a wave that Robinson could surf singularly forevermore.
Robinson says North Point, there in Australia’s broad west, but includes that he has never surfed Cloudbreak and threw up a prayer that it might someday return to tour.
Prodan, cards usually sewed right into vest, let loose a sly smile before adding that it wouldn’t be so crazy to see Cloudbreak returning.
Wow.
Do you think it is still sponsored by Outerknown?
The dream tour is back!
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This is the typical kind of bull shit rumor that obfuscates the inevitable: The WSL as we know it is not long for this life!
Imagine the WSL boardroom chat: “Let’s get rid of the best wave on the planet in Cloudbreak and put in Rio and Margaret’s! (Board laughs). Hilarious, let’s make the final at Lower’s! (More laughter). I got it, best idea yet, let’s put Pipe first!!! (Crowd cheers). Job done, let’s call it a day!
Over a beer, yes, but not on here.
Jack reminds me so much of this guy…neither I suspect had too much difficulty attracting the attention from members of the opposite sex
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Shane Powell in Feral Kingdom. So good.
“Another Cloudbreak beauty! Owen Wright can do no wrong.” Very Excite!
Give his bro a wildcard!
Both those boys are legit at Cloudbreak.
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Chas I am surprised you’ve not noticed or linked together that Strider is at cloud break this very moment, has been for the last 2 weeks, and also staying at the island that used to host it all ….tavarua. When the tour stopped going to Fiji that island went under financially. I actually remember having a tavarua tshirt in the 90s…. Was not a great tshirt.
but those 90’s trips were golden with exclusivity.
don’t care what modern inclusionists say, that era was perfect.
The Ranch of the South Pacific. But with good waves.
I’ve got a few mates who’ve lived in Fiji for yeeeeeeeaars and surf Cloudbreak (from their own boats) as much as anyone, they say it’s been PUMPING lately but haven’t seen Strider out there.
Maybe he only surfs restaurants…
Ive seen a video of a young JR at cloudbreak.
He gets interviewed and tells its pretty gnarly.
Wayne Lynch told my old man that cloudbreak was the only wave he was glad he was not surfing on his backhand.
After fighting it since inception I finally went to the Outerknown website and laughed. Why do athletes like Slater put their name behind brands touting average yet expensive products. Slater isn’t well known outside of surfing…and Outerknown is expensive when compared to quality brand
Solomon Island pro proudly sponsored by GWM.
The Spratlys Pro, Brought to you By Great Wall Motors.
Crimea pro searching for new sponsor!
Is that the same guy you do your podcast with or do all middle aged Californian surf podcasters sound the same?
I would help you out but never listened to one.
A podcast about surfing, without Slater’s I know all wisdom, why bother?
* A podcast about surfing, why bother?
Kinda like Seinfeld, a show about nothing
Great connection. Bravo.
I was never a huge Seinfeld watcher either
Evan more impressive. Hit a soft spot for me. Been a fan since ‘96. Used to tape them onto VHS off the TV.
Musk is in Rob’s dome? How does he have time with his twitter and Tesla issues?
The wildest thing Prodan has seen was watching Sophie screw up WSL and now a redneck Okie is further damaging the brand…or whatever it is these days.
sooo as of right now its “Couldbreak”…
Never mind Outerknown and their $200/pr socks. Let the Fiji contest be forever known as the Hurluley Cloudbreak Pro. Only those in the know get to sport a Hurluley sticker on their boards.
The only thing I have over Jack is that I have surfed Cloudbreak, very dreamy.
I surfed in on Wii many times
I think it’s on Surfer Monopoly too!
I think the only time it was actually on Wii is when I was shrooming…
bet you got the “high” score
That is the only thing I have in common with Jack.
Hard not to like Robbo, Im sure we’ll think of something. His headphones were kind of annoying.
Does Outerknown exist outside of a logo on Kelly’s board?
Hahahahar, fucken good question.
Has to be one of the most retarded brand names ever.
Endorfin
VSTR
I still hear people say rivka and da keen.
Hurluley
Hahahahar
always on brand CB
If I have one talent, it’s flogging a horse until all that remains is a stain on the ground and the hushed ghostly whispers of friendships exiting over the horizon.
Deepackedarse or however it was spelt was pretty dumb too
They used to have a large section at a touristy “surf shop,” last time I went in that section was no longer in sight….so no?
I’ve literally never seen a single Outerknown item ever
I have seen it in precisely one “surf shop”, one of those places with fancy decor and no hardware, i.e. not a shop that surfers actually buy anything from.
It was nice enough quality, but plain like something you’d see in lululemon, and way over priced.
There’s no way it can be making any money. Kel has fallen into the same trap Martin Potter did.
Only as brochures in landfill
They advertise on pod save America. If you know what that is it will explain a lot about who is buying outerknown.
Innerknown / Outerunknown