Screw you, Surfline and probably Stab.
The U.S Open of Surfing, biggest surf contest
in the entire world, has wrapped but you wouldn’t even know it,
would you. No. And why? Why didn’t you read of the tens upon tens
of thousands of fans packing Huntington’s beach? About
tour-clinching wins by Maui’s Eli Hangmen and San Clemente’s Lawyer
Sinbad?
Exactly.
The surf media is no longer valuable.
It’s true, and sad, but also true as highlighted, properly, by
master shaper Matt Biolos.
Lost surfboards, currently crushing the Vissla CT shaper
rankings, absolutely lit in to Surfline and Stab in a scintillating
missive, declaring:
Still stoked from Sunday @usopenofsurf.
@elihanneman @sawyerlindblad and @crosbycola with career making
performances. But I’m a bit sad for them. The complete and total
lack of surf media covering the event.
In the past, the events would be crawling with surf
journalists, reporting on the comp, in detail.
Now?
Nothing.
Crickets.
Lemme try:
There was easily 20,000+ people on the beach. Thousands more
up/down Main St. In the surf shops , restaurants, bars. Scantily
clad girls, surf stoked groms and tuned-in surf fans clashed
together with inland OC masses, looking for fun on a summer
weekend. Big VIP tents, filled with event sponsors mingling with
what’s left of surf industry stalwarts. Brand leaders, Mktg
directors, Team managers, Sales Reps, Announcers, Coaches, Athlete
Managers and gruff surfboard shapers. All passionate as
always.
Waves and weather were great. Peaky, punchy, fun Ca warm
water beach break. Not typical one turn, close-out/Huntington
hopping, hoping for quick close out on the sand. Most days stayed
glassy past noon. Waves were surfed top to bottom, with multiple
maneuvers. Everyone there was saying the same thing, every day:
“Damn, waves look so fun out there”.
But somehow, someway, we’ve managed to lose any semblance of
surf media. No magazines…at all. Not one person from a Surfing
website. To thier credit, @stab tossed up a 2 min story, written by
someone who wasn’t even there, saying the waves were shit and then
running through #ChallengerSeries qualification scenarios. Yet
overlooking the events winner (Eli, ranked 4rth on CS) out of
possible qualifying (Sorry Ethan).
The @wsl site has heat replays and a few click through,
video highlights, but that’s like @mlb or @nfl having to do their
own news!
Where’s the @espn of surfing?
The elephant in the room? @surfline, who’s global HQ has
been anchored 100 yards from HB pier, for decades. Not a peep on
the website, or even the IG feed. Can’t be bothered. Those
parasites content to take everyones money, to check waves on
“cams”. Nothing goes on Surfline without paying Surfline.
Where’s that leave us?
Can someone step-up?
I’d sure support it.
Thankfully, at the end, I suppose, there is
BeachGrit.
The People’s Surf Blog.
I visited Inherent Bummer’s epic Factory by the Sea, this year
and it was in Huntington while the U.S. Open was in town and
reported upon it, I think.
Brett Simpson and I had a lovely conversation.
The end.