"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.