"But perhaps it’s time for a return to someone on the inside."
The reemergence of once-proud Surfer Magazine, founded by the legendary John Severson, helmed by Nia Peeples’ ex-husband amongst many other icons, as a retreaded kook machine is one of the funnier bits of our current surf era. That and the World Surf League’s most wild implosion.
Two weeks ago, the casual observer would have imagined everything was just plain wonderful. The momentum of professional surfing, the extremely popular Chief Executive Officer of the World Surf League declared, was real.
But then, overnight, the charismatic Oklahoman, who had a magical wetsuit of armor, was ruthlessly and brutally fired right in the middle of an event. No information was given in the terse press release and none from the booth, where Joe Turpel instructed those listening that if they wanted to know what it felt like to surf like a professional, they should play a video game.
Yikes.
But who could replace the man known as ELo?
Who could?
Currently the WSL’s Chief People and Purpose Officer, Emily Hofer, and Bob Kane, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Legal Officer, are at the helm but they will clearly not stay long. Chief of Sport Jessi Miley-Dyer seems to have been angling for the top job for some time now and could slip into ELo’s vacated office fairly easily. Other’s feel the International Surfing Association’s Fernando Aguerre would be a nice fit.
Kelly Slater? Some seem to think the greatest of all-time might be able to take a break from making turtle sandals and inspire.
Surfer, though, has another option. Per the Bible of the Sport:
(Dave) Prodan would be a good call, someone the surfers know and trust. The WSL took a big swing with E-Lo, an outsider to the industry with strengths in certain areas (broadening surfing’s appeal to the masses) and weaknesses in others (knowing much at all about surfing or surf culture). But perhaps it’s time for a return to someone on the inside.
Dave Prodan has been in the room for decades now, polishing the apples of this or that leader. He has survived at least five different regimes and that sort of knack means… something. Who are some very famous lackeys that have survived regime change besides the universally adored Dr. Fauci?
Currently, Prodan runs a podcast that is the most effective World Surf League propaganda machine around though does it mean he can lead?
Who would there be to polish his apples?
More as the story develops.