Slàinte.
The surprise of the year, so far, has certainly been the implosion of the World Surf League and subsequent disappearance of its Chief Executive Erik Logan, who appears to have entered the witness protection program after infuriating then infantilizing the proud South American nation of Brazil. Near eclipsing, though, has been the continued stratospheric rise of Scotland as a surf culture powerhouse.
Who could have possibly seen that coming?
But here we are and it’s true. The northern bit of that Great Britain, usually known for delicacies made from intestines and plaid, has placed itself firmly alongside California, New South Wales, Hossegor as an arbiter of wave sliding cool.
It all started to shoot skyward, of course, with a keen-eye’d writer from one town, or another, up there who rose to be the definitive professional surf tour correspondent. Yes, a contest is not truly over until JP Currie has opined. How are we supposed to feel about what we saw without his direction? Without his dissection of this or that? He is, now, firmly number one stepping right over the great Longtom and whichever hungry hippo Stab has trying to make sense of Callum Robson’s backside attack.
And continues its vertical climb with the just-announced opener of the august Edinburgh International Film Festival.
Per Variety:
The world premiere of Scottish writer-director Johnny Barrington‘s debut feature “Silent Roar” will open the 2023 Edinburgh International Film Festival on Aug. 18. Billed as a “teenage tale of surfing, sex and hellfire” set in Scotland’s Outer Hebrides, the film stars emerging actor Louis McCartney as Dondo, a young surfer struggling to accept his father’s recent disappearance at sea. Caught up in grief, he is brought to his senses by rebellious crush Sas (Ella Lily Hyland), a high achiever who dreams of escaping the island. When an oddly-behaved new minister arrives on the island, Dondo begins to have cosmic visions.
By the description a must-see but have you ever been to Scotland?
I have, once, to the aforementioned Edinburgh, in fact. I was very taken by its Georgian scowl, medieval fortress perched on giant stone, glowering. It felt exactly like it should feel, which is a fine trait in a city and I ate many fishes and many chips and read Irvine Welsh, or at least thought about someday reading Irvine Welsh.
An injection, anyhow, of the Scottish flavor to our surfing world is so very welcome. Less preening, more punching.
No Oklahoma.
Slàinte.
How dare you encroach on my beat.
Neighbours is their favorite show
HUGE in the 90s
Haven’t watched a movie from start to finish since No Country For Old Men. Sounds corny, anything surfing related seems to these days. Really love me some JP though, especially when he’s not writing about surfing.
This! JP is not the right man to preach on hood surfing. Anecdotal writing about his pupils is entertaining…. Golf journalism maybe?
Chas, spend some coin and get a proper scribe of surf.
uhh, not what i meant in any way, JP is fantastic, my own cynicism is the issue
There are two solutions here.
1. The surf industry all of a sudden becomes awash with money again, pro surfing goes mainstream bananas, and I / BG can afford to follow the Tour, attend every comp in person, and get down in the weeds and up on the pedestals with the whole scene.
2. Fuck off and read someone else.
No amount of money is going to teach you how to surf , that’s what you are lacking in your writing. Not being at the contest
You just keep banging your lonely drum and riding your longboard.
Better yet, why don’t you use all your alleged expertise to write something?
Writing about pro surfing is pointless. Everything has been said . The contests are ridiculous, you are wasting your time . Write about surfing is Scotland. That’s interesting.
I’m not a longboarder but i do ride one when it’s small and condition are right. . You should to , it’s good to diversify and expand the possibilities of enjoyment
You are a good writer JP. I do like when you wax eloquently and anecdotally about our human condition.
I just learned recently that judging surfing is quite subjective!
Maybe I was a little harsh.
It’s Chas trolling us.
“Yes, a contest is not truly over until JP Currie has opined”.
Beautiful sarcasm
I could happily live in Scotland–at least in the summer.
Chas won’t allow Elo to get away Scot free
The Guardian asked the Trainspotting author:
What led you to the novel’s transgender storyline?
I just thought it was such interesting waters to go into. We’re all
asking fundamental questions about identity now that the things that
defined us are slipping away. It’s complex, moving-picture stuff. You
don’t know how much of it is a distraction to keep us at each other’s
throats politically: if trans women compete in athletics, or if they’re
barred, it’s not going to change the fact that lots of people are going
to die because everybody’s getting fucked with their heating bills over
the winter. It’s obviously difficult waters to go into because
everything has become so shouty. We had a trans adviser on the book and I
was dreading it. I thought, this is going to be another layer of
censorship. But it was incredibly educational. I learned a lot.
Dane asks the author:
What was the motivation behind Jennifer Connelly’s character gettin double dildo’d in the bar scene?
“She was so shouty during the entire film, I though she should get it in the (rear) end and quiet her up! Plus she’s also a great moaner.”
There is a certain hoity-toity-ness to Chas’ writings and I still can’t decide if I love it or hate it.
https://uploads.disquscdn.c…
And the trouble with everywhere else is it’s full of cunts!
and cunts are beautiful but you still got the Scots
Running late to the 2023 Edinburgh International Film Festival.
https://youtu.be/Dr9mmd0XS24
where’s dat goat, Papa?
Cold Scottish night alone with Baaabara!