“Explosive creative talent” responsible for surfing’s most iconic images gravely ill following liver transplant; family buried under insane medical costs, “The bills are exorbitant with his specialty critical care…the first bill received exceeds 250K (with insurance!)”

Peel off a shekel or two and help a legend in the surf game… 

It’s impossible to overstate the influence ol’ Arty Brewer, the American surf photographer who, among other things, created the legend that surrounds the surfer Bunker Spreckels, who died aged 27 after walloping a fifty-mill inheritance in six years.

“Without all those incredible Brewer photos, we wouldn’t even be talking about Bunker Spreckels,” Warshaw told me a few years back. “Bunker in many ways was Art’s muse. He made Art a better photographer, helped bring out the genius.”

Wildman Spreckels by Brewer.

Art, who is seventy-one and “referred to as the sport’s most naturally gifted surf photographer”, owned the seventies, eighties, nineties in the American surf mags before splitting to do more lucrative commercial work, although his surf spirit still soared.

Art’s photo of Martin Potter.

The Encyclopedia of Surfing has a lovely entry on Art,

“Brewer’s size (he once weighed nearly 300 pounds) and flaring temper, meanwhile, further suggested the idea of grand, even explosive creative talent. At times Brewer played on his aggression. Asked to supply a self-portrait for a 1997 portfolio, ‘this big elephant seal of a man,’ as described by surf journalist Evan Slater, provided a green-tinged face shot negative, jaggedly cut in two, then taped and stapled back together, with the handwritten caption: ‘Surf photography constipates me!’”

But also: “Brewer’s eye for color and framing is unmatched in the surf world, and much of his best work has been done as a portraitist, when he has unfettered control over light, texture, and mood.”

Art has been in UCLA’s intensive care unit since July following a liver transplant.

And, this being the US, his fam is drowning under medical bills. In a GoFoundMe set up for Brewer, Nena Cote writes,

Art has recently been experiencing life-threatening medical issues that have become a substantial financial burden and stress on his family. I have organized this fundraiser to help pay for medical bills and ongoing care. The bills are exorbitant with his extended hospital stay and specialty critical care…the first bill received exceeds 250K (with insurance!)

One-fifty gees sought, thirty-two in the bag so far.

Throw a shekel or two here.


Slater (left) and Murray in Scotland (@kellyslater Instagram)
Slater (left) and Murray in Scotland (@kellyslater Instagram)

Surf great Kelly Slater appears to be Bill Murray’s only remaining friend after Vanity Fair publishes exhaustive list of all those who have beef with iconic comedian!

Semper fidelis.

Kelly Slater, and his enduring friendship with Bill Murray, is becoming one of the most precious stories of all. The surf great and iconic comedian most recently enjoyed each other’s company in Scotland, wearing fine suits, looking dapper. As it turns out, Slater might be the last remaining person on earth publicly admitting to that pleasure.

The Saturday Night Live alumn has become the subject of much scorn, lately, with everybody but everybody coming out of the woodwork to share “Bill Murray caused either emotional or physical harm” stories. It was lightly difficult to find them all, as he, apparently, hurt across multiple genres, but thankfully, the august Vanity Fair magazine has just released a complete “Everyone who has publicly accused Bill Murray of Misconduct” list.

Names include:

Chevy Chase

Geena Davis

Richard Dreyfuss

Seth Green

Anjelica Huston

Solange Knowles

Lucy Liu

McG

Jennifer Butler Murray

Harold Ramis

Rob Schneider

Laura Ziskin

Names do not include:

Kelly Slater

Semper fidelis.

Here, anyhow, is a new Slater video wherein he shares his love of golf and other things. I do believe it was shot on the same trip as the above picture.

Tying it all together.


“Feral soft-top anarchy” predicted on iconic Waikiki as Hawaii’s Land Board repeals requirement for surf instructors to be permitted!

Yikes!

Any surfer worth his, or her salt, has certainly made pilgrimage to Oahu’s Waikiki. Oh, I know that the strip of fine sand, fronted by crystalline waves, abutted by a menagerie of hotels from various eras, on Honolulu’s southwest is not everyone’s cup of tea but its historical importance is without shade or shadow. Kings and queens used to ride those soft lulls breaking in the shadow of Diamond Head. Duke Kahanamoku, and various beachboys, establishing the very idea of “surf culture” on the sand.

Well, as Waikiki grew into a very popular tourist destination with more and more and more steaming, then flying, across the Pacific to relax and maybe try some of the surfing for themselves, the beachboys became savvy businessmen, paddling the corn fed into the soup, giving them a taste of real life.

Those who provided surf, canoe or catamaran lessons had, for decades, been required to carry a “blue card” provided by the State that ensured they were qualified in “first-aid, safety and hospitality” though, days ago and in a shock decision, Hawaii Land Board has repealed the stipulation.

Per Hawaii News Now:

Testifiers at Thursday’s board meeting said the beach needs regulation and experienced operators.

“Businesses can be created in months,” said Clyde Aikau, surf legend and Waikiki Beachboy. “Waikiki beachboy expertise, which we have, has been going for over 50 years.”

Brian Adam of Moku Hawaii Surf Shop said, “The beach has turned into a bit of a free for all. There’s guys renting surfboards umbrellas doing cash deals.”

The Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation now plans to work with operators to develop new regulations.

But what do you think will happen on those sands have descended into anarchy? Iowa VALs drowning en masse?

Erik Logan becoming beachboy himself?

Yikes.


"Harmonising a beautiful contemporary design with a commanding high set position, this exquisitely finished family home delivers luxury living and resort-inspired entertaining.” | Photo: Highland

Powerful, basso-voiced surf star sells beachside bunker for almost six million dollars despite “challenging” market, “You can be on a surfboard within a few minutes’ walk from your front door!”

"As a teenager he was often described as 'the next Mark Occhilupo'".

The “powerful, basso-voiced” former world number two surfer, Luke Egan, has offloaded his redundant beachside bunker in Cronulla for almost six million dollars despite a housing market teetering on its glitzy high-heels. 

Egan, who is fifty-three, and his Fox Sports presenter wife Jess Yates (Fox Sports V8 Supercars, F1 coverage, hosts NRL game day coverage on Fox League) commissioned the build of the five-bed, four-bath, four-whip cubist joint maybe four hundred metres from the sand at Wanda four years ago.

Too late to buy 20 Links Ave, Cronulla, now, but the accompanying real estate spiel is breathtaking, 

“Architecturally designed to capture the magic of its sublime beach-side setting, this world-class designer haven provides the perfect mix of luxury, tranquillity and privacy in one of the Sutherland Shire’s most prestigious and tightly-held beach-side enclaves. Harmonising a beautiful contemporary design with a commanding high set position, this exquisitely finished family home delivers luxury living and resort-inspired entertaining.

“From the timeless marble kitchen and butler’s pantry to the indulgent master retreat with opulent ensuite, walk-in robe and sun-drenched north facing deck, this home has the best of everything. At the top of my list is that the sand can be between your toes, or you can be on a surfboard within a few minutes’ walk from your front door.”

Egan retired from the tour prematurely, it was felt, in 2005 to become a marketing manager for Billabong, leaving eight years later.

Although rarely putting a foot wrong, his real estate chips are the stuff of legend, Egan’s one misstep was his foray into “adventure wear” with his brand Depactus, “a technical outfitter for surfing’s modern youth”.


Here we gooooo!
Here we gooooo!

Surf Fans grow manically optimistic for Kelly Slater-Gisele Bündchen fairytale reunion in light of supermodel’s official divorce filing from Tom Brady and his just-revealed “big no no!”

Wedding candles!

Surf fans could not believe this turn of events, this radical shift. Weeks ago, they were sitting by their windows, lighting candles as it was revealed that Gisele Bündchen and her husband Tom Brady were having a rocky go. Oh, there was no implied sadism, no hope for the destruction of a grand union, but there was an even grander union to repair.

Namely with Kelly Slater.

The Brazilian supermodel and world’s greatest surfer had dated over the 2005s and 2006s, forming up the grandest power couple in surfing history. She at the height of her art. He winning two Association of Surfing Professionals World Titles.

Aspirational.

As fate had it, though, Bündchen fell into the arms of a dashing quarterback, married, built a life but, now, all that is officially in the rearview.

Per People:

Gisele Bündchen and Tom Brady will file for divorce after 13 years of marriage, PEOPLE confirms.

Sources tell PEOPLE that they will both file in Florida on Friday morning. (Update: Brady and Bündchen have since finalized their divorce, according to court documents obtained by PEOPLE.)

“The settlement is all worked out,” a source with knowledge of the situation tells PEOPLE. “They’ve been working on the terms this whole time.”

The source adds: “They agreed to joint custody of the kids.”

The couple’s split comes after months of reports that the couple had been struggling, and that Bündchen, 42, “is done with their marriage,” another source previously told PEOPLE.

“She was upset about it for a long time and it’s still difficult, but she feels like she needs to move on,” the source said in early October. “She doesn’t believe that her marriage can be repaired.”

Though what, exactly, was Bündchen upset about? Surf fans worried that it might be Brady’s refusal to retire as Slater also plans to surf, professionally, forever. But no! According to an Us Weekly source, “Gisele told Tom either he leaves football to spend time with the family or she is gone for good. She doesn’t want him to continue to get injured and not be able to enjoy life in the future. She is doing it for her family.”

And there we go.

Injury worry.

Ouchies are extremely rare in professional surfing. Slater, for example, hurt his foot a long time ago and, again, foot. Not head or anything important.

The Kid from Cocoa Beach will be fit as a fiddle for years to come and talk about having cake and eating it too.

Bolo de Rolo.

Divorce, anyhow, becoming official. The next step, for surf fans, is a sort of Parent Trap bit of intrigue.

Ideas?