At North Narrabeen on Saturday, the beach and its associated culture that shaped Davo, hundreds of mourners celebrated the sneering, Billy Idol-esque preternatural talent that electrified surf fans. | Photo: Carlie Maudson

Hundreds of mourners farewell slain surfing legend Chris Davidson as man charged with star’s death remains behind bars

"Chris was larger than life. He had a big lion heart, he had amazing charisma. He was loud, cheeky, and funny."

A little over one month ago, the Narrabeen surf prodigy Chris “Kingswood Black” Davidson died after an alleged one-punch attack outside a bar in rural east coast Australia.

Davidson, who was forty-five, was allegedly punched in the face by Grant “Grub” Coleman outside the South West Rocks Country Club at around eleven pm on Saturday, September 24.

Sources close to BeachGrit allege the pair had a run-in at the bar and that Coleman was allegedly thrown out by the club’s security.

Paramedics treated Davo at the scene and he was taken to Kempsey Hospital but pronounced dead a short time later.”

At North Narrabeen on Saturday, the beach and its associated culture that shaped Davo, hundreds of mourners celebrated the sneering, Billy Idol-esque preternatural talent that electrified surf fans.

Davo’s two kids and his sister, Carlie Maudson, paddled floral tributes into the Narrabeen lineup, joining the circle of mourners.

“We had the wreath on top of the surfboard … they took it out to the middle of the circle and said a few words and let the wreath go, let the board do one last catch of the wave in,” Maudson told ABC news.

A service, with speeches, photos and previously unseen videos, followed.

“I think he’d be surprised at how many beautiful memories we put up on the screen and how many beautiful photos that we’ve found looking through all the old surf magazines,” she said. “Chris was larger than life. He had a big lion heart, he had amazing charisma. He was loud, cheeky, and funny.”

Davo’s alleged attacker Coleman, who is forty-two, was refused bail and remains behind bars.

He’ll face court on November 23 for assault causing death and intentionally choking a person.

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Brazilians go to polls for hotly contested election as World Surf League signals intent to mine precious resource from developing nation for exploitative colonization-era windfall!

Passion.

Brazilians are heading to the polls, this morning, in one of the hottest election in years. On one hand, the right one, countrymen and women have incumbent Jair Bolsonaro. The firebrand has made much news, over the course of his reign, with provocative statements, eyebrow-raising stories, a great and important friendship with professional surfer Gabriel Medina. “I’m expecting our victory, for the good of Brazil,” he told reporters as he cast a vote for himself. “God willing, Brazil will be victorious today.”

On the hand, this one left, sits Luiz Incio Lula da Silva, a former union leader, who was once much-loved and president for seven years but then got tossed in jail but then released.

The race is impossibly tight.

“Politically, Bolsonaro is stronger than had been imagined,” said Rodrigo Prando, a professor at Mackenzie Presbyterian University in Sao Paulo. “Mathematically, Lula is in front.”

No matter who wins, one thing is certain. The World Surf League has signaled its intent to come south and mine a precious resource from the developing nation and ship it directly north, to the United States of America, and its vast eyeball and click vaults.

In naked provocation, WSL CEO Erik Logan told Brazilian news outlet Exame, “Currently, there is no other market like the Brazilian one for professional surfing. Just see what happens with our events held in the country. When you arrive at the Saquarema stage and see 50,000 people on the sand, the passion of Brazilian…”

The thought remained unfinished, though was clearly taking a left turn.

Or maybe right turn.

In either case, talk of a United States-based company referring to the Brazilian “market” for “our” events smacks of such colonization-era behaviors that it is, frankly, shocking.

Do you think either Bolsonaro or Lula will be able to stand up to the Yanqui menace?

Trouble.

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“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.

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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.

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“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.

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