Kelly Slater joins conga line of legendary tuberiders at a wave brokered to the world by a computer nerd in 2008!

One of the most beautiful things about Kelly Slater is, even at fifty-one and with twenty mill or so in his purse, his pursuit of barrels is as relentless as it was thirty years previous.

And yesterday, continuing into today and with a spike in the swell expected tomorrow, Slater’s vast suntanned presence has overshadowed a stacked crew of the world’s most accomplished tuberiders including vlogger Nathan Florence, little bro Ivan, Jamie O’Brien, Craig Anderson, Harry Bryant, Balaram Stack, Brett Barley, Benji Brand and WSL commentator Strider Wasilewski at Donkey Bay in Namibia.

 

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The story of Donkey Bay aka The Namibian Rickshaw is pretty wild:

The joint was fiercely protected by a cadre of locals and South African surfers until it was  brokered to the world by a magazine and a computer nerd in 2008.

The Google Earth challenge was a Surfing magazine initiative to shoot a little out of the box, readers using the then new Google Earth tech to discover secret waves.

Deal was, you tell the mag, they let you join a photo shoot to the joint.

Brian Gable, an IT specialist, was a runner-up to the contest in 2007 (a wave in Western Sahara was chosen though no trip was made).

His loss drove him nuts.

As he wrote in Surfer,

“From that moment, I committed to nothing else. Logging some serious late-night hours online, I focused on studying the country, the terrain and bathymetry, the people, the marine life, weather-patterns, the cost, travel, logistics, etc. I corresponded with locals halfway around the world. Obsessed and possessed, I selfishly put personal and professional duties aside and spent my days formulating the ultimate package for the ultimate magazine surf trip. To me, it wasn’t just a free adventure for myself. It was a chance to prove that the gem I found not only stood up to every other world-class setup, but was on the very short list at the top. Then, on Wednesday, Sep 19, 2007 at 10:03 AM, I got the call. First prize, the Indians take the pennant, the whole freakin’ enchilada!”

Skeleton Bay, of course, is now a photo studio, many pro’s and so on.

Better than snorting crystal blow, as old-timers used to say.

Watch how it was discovered here!

Australia's Ethan Ewing has been scratched from Tahiti Pro after a spine-shattering wipeout.

The Australian world number two Ethan Ewing has been forced to withdraw from the upcoming Tahiti Pro after breaking the L3 and L4 vertebrae in his back while practising for the event.

At around nine-thirty in waves described as “six foot, sold, west and proper” Ewing wiped out and was shuttled to shore on a jetski.

As per WSL form little mention has been made of the injury save for “Ethan Ewing has withdrawn following an injury sustained while practising at Teahupo’o.”

 

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The twenty four year old from North Stradbroke Island famously won the Bells Beach event this year 40 years after his late mama had won the women’s there and was considered a considerable chance to wrest the world title from Filipe Toledo.

With Finals Day less than one month away, that appears less likely.

More as it comes.

"My favourite move to share with tourists and surf influencers."

The surf world has divided itself into two camps tonight after a mid-wave assault, captured on video and loosed to the wolves of Instagram, went viral.

In the video, two surfers take off on a small wave. It is winter for both men’s lean surfer-boy physiques are sculpted against the clingy rubber of their full wetsuits. Shortly after launch, the surfer in front (the drop-in) is taken down by the man behind him, the attacker pushing hard on his toes, grabbing the unwanted guest and pulling him backwards, with both surfers falling on the wave.

 

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It’s not an unheard of move, your ol pal DR half-jokingly took down an MMA enthusiast a few years back and was quickly disabused of the notion of a beach fight as the man, German, beautiful long blond hair, and with rattlesnakes in his clench fists, screamed, “I put you to sleep soon cocksucker.”

Commentary around the event was roughly divided for and against the shakedown.

We all have our own techniques of how to handle people snaking you. My buddy got arrested for doing this same thing and holding the guy underwater in a choke hold at Tourmaline and he made the local news. I have more fun just grabbing their leash personally.

Both Kooks! If the guy behind really knew what he was doing he would’ve pumped down around him, lifted old mates nose up a bit, which would’ve flicked him off, then keep going. Happy days, no wave blown and physical alteration pretty much avoided

My favorite move to share with tourists and surf influencers

No doubt he’ll explode with road rage on the way home then beat his wife and kids. An upstanding citizen.

This is exactly What!, you DO!!!!…. Don’t let anybody snake you!!! And add a face punch!!

You ever body-locked another surfer in the water for the crime of wave-sharing? Been body-locked?

Did you respond with force or did you take it like decrepit ol crone you are?