"The government has really put an emphasis on surfing (and bitcoin!) here."

The world’s best surfers are currently enjoying some of the world’s good enough waves, this time in Central America’s El Salvador where the World Surf League finds itself for stop seven. The sun is shining brightly, Chris Cote and Mitchel Salazar are taking turns talking and everyone looks like they are enjoying themselves. Everyone, that is, save the World Surf League’s Chief Executive Officer, Erik Logan, and its Chief of Sport, Jessi Miley-Dyer, who are noticeably absent.

Troubling.

But where do you think the two are hiding? What do you image they are doing? Is their refusal to show face a sign of timidity in light of Brazilian death threats or is it a brave stand in not supporting a right-leaning country which Human Rights Watch declares there is “no safe haven for LGBT people” and further reports state it particularly lesbian-unfriendly.

This is, after all, Pride Month.

Well, while culture watchers were trying to sort out if the WSL twin chiefs are chicken or gallant, Kelly Slater bomped them right on the head with an apparent official endorsement of the country. So official that the staggered are wondering if the eleven-time World Champion is an ambassador.

“Really enjoying #ElSalvador and learning a new place that hasn’t ever been on my travel itinerary,” Slater wrote. “The government has really put an emphasis on surfing (and bitcoin!) here. Good to see our life and work bruns such a positive thing these days. It’s a far cry from when I started as a pro surfer.”

The hashtagging of #ElSalvador a usually clear sign of paid endorsement.

Do you think the country’s lesbians feel all the bruns of positive things these days?

Does Slater’s very public endorsement signal that he might take some side hustle citizenship and ride for El Salvador in the upcoming Paris Olympics which will hold its surfing portion in Tahiti?

Exciting days.

Fun and flirty.

Glory be, long-suffering surf fans, glory be. We have been wandering in this desert for so long. So very long. Coming home each night to light candles in our windowsills, waking each morning to find them burnt to stubs before we wander again. Looking for love in all the wrong places. Remember how when news broke that Gisele Bündchen and Tom Brady were breaking up and we imagined a reuniting with Kelly Slater and then surfing would have its first glamor couple since the Brazilian supermodel and 11x World Champion broke up the first time around?

Alas, the weeks passed with nothing then months with Bündchen making some rumors with a jiujitsu instructor and Slater continuing along with his Chinese girlfriend.

While we were waiting, though, Shakira and her soccer playing stud Girard Pique split and the Colombian chanteuse, who has long dabbled in our favorite pastime, proceeded to mend her broken heart by going on a surf vacation. While Shakira and Slater seemed a long shot, the hit maker went to Miami for F1 and was briefly linked to Tom Cruise, a pairing that could have been claimed by us thanks to maritime law.

Well, those appeared to be just rumors too but all good things come to those who wait? For the internet is currently burning to the ground with images of an apparent “surf date” between Shakira and Lewis Hamilton currently going viral.

Shakira and Lewis Hamilton?

Bingo.

The British racer is, also, smitten with surfing, having enjoyed Kelly Slater’s Surf Ranch many times and has publicly praised the Pro Pipeline, writing, “He probably doesn’t know this but Kelly changed my life for the better. I want you all to know how great of a human being this man is. I am forever grateful for the time you have given me, for the insight and your passion for the waves. Thank you @kellyslater! Can’t wait until we can hit the waves again (praying hands emoji).”

Powerful.

And a Shakira x Hamilton duo would certainly be the moment we’ve been waiting for.

According to People Magazine:

“After a series of public outings, a source tells PEOPLE that the singer and Formula One driver are keeping things “fun and flirty.”

“They’re spending time together and in the ‘getting to know you’ stage,” says a source who knows them both. “It’s fun and flirty.”

Fun and flirty.

The only cloud that may darken this horizon is Slater and his issues with not being in the spotlight. You recall that it took the 51-year-old over eight years to apologize to Brazil’s Adriano de Souza for shading him badly, Slater finally declaring, “Maybe we should’ve waited a week to sorta be politically correct or respectful enough to Adriano… I don’t think any of us foresaw how viral the thing was going to be. We knew people were going to be, ‘Oh that’s super cool.’ But we didn’t know it was going to take on a life of its own.”

Politically correct.

In any case, how excited are you about Shakira and Hamilton? Will you throw a party to celebrate and invite all your friends?

Me too.