Fists shaking skyward.
The surfers are in the water, as they say, down Saquarema way but where a joy should reign, a spirit of carnival, sadness is the only palpable emotion. Sadness and a Nietzschean nihilism that not reared its head since middle World War II. For the greatest athlete to ever live, one Kelly Slater, has shockingly not healed from an illness that must be spinal meningitis.
Two-ish days ago, the 11x world champion took to Instagram and informed his dear fanbase that “When my sickness started the other day. On day 5 of being sick now. Fevers, sinus, chills, headache, stomach flu, etc. Glad I made it home amidst the onslaught.”
He included cryptic data from an Oura ring to establish just how dire matters were.
Surf fans knew there was only one thing to do. Head to the pantry, unbox the best candlebox, select favorite, light and station by the windowsill, think healing thoughts.
Alas, those pleas did not work and Kelly Slater is not there forcing most, if not all, to abandon belief in a higher power altogether.
Dark days.
Sleuths have discovered that the icon has not, in fact, surfed in Brazil since 2015. Eight years of misfortune. Almost like a curse, if we still considered such magic.
David Lee Scales and I discussed Slater’s absence, anyhow, and also things I don’t accurately recall since I am part of surfing’s great greying. So are you. I recommend listening at the highest volume.
Enjoy.