Mystifying.

Surf fans near and far have come together, today, in an attempt to solve a great mystery roiling the professional landscape. Hours ago, World Surf League CEO Erik Logan posted an image to social media featuring himself and current world number six Kanoa Igarashi, captioning it, “Having an opportunity to speak the worlds best surfers is something that NEVER gets old! Last week I had a chance to speak to our sponsors at the Vans US Open, and no question one of the highlights was having an ability to interview Kanoa. He’s a very special person, global superstar and one of the best surfers in the world. I wanted to thank him for taking such great time for our partners and giving us some extra time to talk! #graitude #surfing #lovewhatyoudo”

On the surface all very wonderful, but what is stumping fans, here and there, is the secret finger message on display (see top photo).

Igarashi, on the left and appearing somewhat dazed, is holding up one finger pointed at Logan’s eye. Logan, on the right and grinning broadly beneath model-perfect beard, is holding up two fingers somewhat limply pointed at his own chin.

Neither is known to affiliate with a gang nor is either a 12-year-old girl.

What, then, is the message?

1 – 2?

Professional surfers and management coming together to ensure a Kelly Slater title for 2022 thereby exciting mainstream news and, tide rising, floating all ships?

Igarashi letting the world know that new-look Logan stands for peace and is our time’s John Lennon?

Later, the two shook hands in an uncommon way further muddying waters.

Do you have a decoder book?

Ring?

Are you a 12-year-old girl?

Help.

Yikes!

The Outerknown Tahiti Pro officially kicks off tomorrow. Though it will likely not run immediately, it can be certain that the world’s best small-wave surfer Filipe Toledo will be pleading with the senior vice-president of competition, head of tours Jessi Miley-Dyer to get the party started as quickly as possible.

Surfline, the World Surf League’s official forecasting partner, is calling for minimal initial swell that will grow to shoulder high through the first weekend with gorgeous east northeast winds grooming.

“Perfect. It’s perfect out there. Run. Run today. Fun-size. Fuuuuuun-size,” he will maybe whisper through the screen of Miley-Dyer’s bungalow window in the pre-dawn hours, hoping beyond hope the message seeps subliminally.

Toledo will, of course, have one very nervous eye on the back half of the contest window where Surfline is calling for a “run of swell from the 17th-19th (that) may provide solid double overhead+ surf for Teahupo’o, potentially a little bigger on occasion.”

Yikes.

And you will certainly recall the 2015 Teahupoo contest in which Toledo refused to paddle for a wave, earning a 0 point heat score in what was described a brave act of cowardice.

Historic.

The wind those big days, however, may be a problem. While Surfline does its very best to bolster the WSL’s Wall of Positive Noise with sheer happy ludicrousness, the statement, “Models have been all over the place with just how the wind will play out for next week, as they struggle on a solution of a front sweeping through the region during that time. We’ll likely see a mix bag of good, bad, and so-so winds throughout this run, which for now, it’s still very uncertain when those times will be exactly,” does not inspire confidence.

“Bad winds on the way. Naughty winds coming,” Toledo will possibly chant near Miley-Dyer as she eats her lunchtime veranda poisson cru.

Will she be swayed?

Will the event run early or late?

More as the story develops.