Down with women.

The Committee for Equity in Women’s Surfing, has been on an important warpath of late, dropping Barbie-esque bombs on “Puppets of the Manosphere” while focusing most of its heavy arsenal on women. Big wave legend Keala Kennelly, inspirational hero Bethany Hamilton, the World Surf League’s Chief of Sport Jessi Miley-Dyer, pioneering extreme sport agent Circe Wallace each leveled in devastating attacks and those are just to name a few.

That ire directed at women, tinged with incel dogwhistles and open misogyny, was surprising though a Scud, whizzed straight from the Committee’s forward operating base in a secure and wooded location, landing in surf journalist, and PotM (Puppet of the Manosphere), Chas Smith’ inbox has shed some light.

The Committee for Equity in Women’s Surfing has, apparently, lopped “women” from its name and now goes solely by Surf Equity.

The word “women” scribbled out with such rage that even Andrew Tate would be impressed.

“Stop deadnaming SURF EQUITY” added for good measure.

So there you have it.

As much as I disagree, if you feel that women are getting to uppity, in the lineup, and need to be taught a sharp lesson, sent back to the kitchen etc., I guess there’s a new group for you to join.

In the spirit of surf equity, I hope you enjoy your time there.

Prices up, services slashed.

Surfline has long been the gold standard for forecasting. What began as a humble call-in line for California, based on National Weather Service buoy data in the middle 1980s turned into a juggernaut featuring wave cameras, detailed analysis, a worldwide presence and even the odd bit of reportage as the internet grew. In 2020, the company raised $30 million from The Chernin Group and bright skies all around for hard-working wave watchers, weather decoders, Marcus Sanders.

Dedication to craft paying off.

Except.

Reports from inside the Huntington Beach-based Surfline suggest evil monopolistic greed has taken over. A whistleblower has shared with BeachGrit, which presents its ultra hard surf candy free to all, that the Indian Ocean has been abandoned, no more of the aforementioned detailed analysis, cut backs in California, Europe, Australia. Forced quittings, shredding the marketing department, slashing hours and positions with “changes to the website” coming Sept. 1

Rumors floating suggest low subscription growth in the United States plus the need to keep up with higher returns to service the multi-million dollar investment are, mostly, to blame.

“The cams keep the base happy and there is no competition. They ate it all up. So it is capitalism 101,” our brave source, who is hanging on to job by thread, shared via robotic voice. “Dominate at any cost then up prices and reduce services and beat off any start-ups with dominance and market share.”

Nasty.

Now some questions.

Will the changes in service and/or upping of fees encourage you to flee?

Are there enough Covid-era adult learners aboard who don’t care about actual forecasts but just want to look at El Porto from their Century City office?

Can former World Surf League CEO Erik Logan be hired and turn the ship around?

If BeachGrit began a surf cam service that featured periodic song and dance numbers starring principals Derek Rielly and Chas Smith with guest ditties from Jen See and JP Currie would you enjoy?

Thank you.

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.

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A post shared by Matt Biolos (@matt_biolos)

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.