"What was once exotic and had to be earned has now become a playground for thrill-seekers, many of them wealthy..."
This world, man. Ever more a tale of two distinct classes. The haves and the have nots. Those who struggle to make the car payment on aged Toyota Tundras and those who enjoy the comforts of the Aston Martin Valour. Now, in times past the uber-rich were happy to stay in their exclusive enclaves and do their exclusive things. Summering on Lake Como, for example, and taking the Alpha Zs across to the Clooneys for luncheon. Post-Covid, though, things have changed.
Billionaires like Mark Zuckerberg and Jeff Bezos, who came into their wealth through nerdy means, lack taste entirely. That vacuum is filled with all manner of lower-brow endeavors that should not interest them. Fighting mixed martial arts. Pumping weights. And, according to a terrifying new report, surfing big waves.
Nazaré Gets Kooked
Yes, a reporter from luxury publication Forbes just spent time in the Portuguese hamlet with big wave star Justine DuPont and her husband/sled-driver Fred David.
He was in town to ride on the ski and get a peek at the “huge swells barreling” but excess wind derailed that plan and so the trio merely explored Garrett McNamara’s beautiful baby.
Metaphorically.
While wandering and sipping various chocolate milks, the writer bemoaned:
As for surf purism, big money comes in now from amateur fat-cats from all over the world wanting to “tow in” say, to one big wave, take the accompanying trophy photo and then head home to brag about it. Unfortunately, it’s part of the current trend of tourists paying exorbitant sums to “experience” adventure. What was once exotic and had to be earned has now become a playground for thrill-seekers, many of them wealthy, and now, unfortunately, Nazare is beginning to feel that surge.
Bleak.
While DuPont and David took the bad with the good, happy that local businesses were benefitting, I think we should do a better job of shaming the “wealthy thrill-seekers.”
And those who help facilitate their “experiences.”
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Water into wine( or tequila) might be the craziest.
we all know why GLopes moved to OR…so he could practice going backside on soft icy slopes in case he falls…https://i.pinimg.com/originals/81/7…
being left-handed has hampered me my entire life…unlike Steph, I can’t surf right. BTW, can appreciate Bethany giving yur friend’s daughter a high praise. # metoo. GNARLY! (cheers)
need snow?
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/khdG…
Wild story! I watched an avy come across I-70 on Vail pass in the narrows back in the 90s and hit a few cars. No one was hurt or lost an arm but a few windows were blown out.
Bet she gives a hell of a wristy! (especially if she likes a drink)
This is so wrong yet so right for the heathens on BG.
Think that was how Justine got started
Sounds like she’s got a rubber arm.
Since the age of five I have nearly drowned many many times. Still I throw my hat in the ring. Still smoke though very very little. But gasping for breath is truly awful.
Check-mate*
I knew it. There is something all surf spots in New Jersey have in common with Nazare afterall!
Agreed. Yikes.
I’m hopeful BG will post his final implosion manifesto if Dad will write it for us to critique
EXACTLY! Three ways I don’t want to die: drowning, avalanche suffocation and slowly/painfully.
What about wanking suffocation?
You mean, if you get hit by an avalanche you start wanking?
HMMM, need some time to contemplate that one.
that’s INXS. poor Michael. he should’ve surfed…
We avoided Nazare this summer for this very reason, surfing in Biarritz and San Sebastian instead. Will I ever go there to watch? Maybe…
i love that ‘surf’ still has a working class tall poppy syndrome and people love to pile hate on a kid who had opportunity like hes not worthy of ‘surf’ because his family had success. Its embarrassing and only keeps the poor poor. play the hands youre dealt. use others cussess to lift your own game. being a jealous bitch is sad. oh and even though these so called rich kids getting to pay to play, they still gotta play. Cant fake it. but poor little me. my parents broke up boohoo i didnt finish school boohoo i didnt get a high paying job boohoo only i should be allowed to surf big nazare, only i never would.
My only Qs are as follows:
– Are you bitter about your dad bod or accepting of it as I am?
– How do you define rich?
It´s not about the money, it is about being a cunt! Nonetheless, when someone pays to be a cunt that just makes him an even bigger cunt.
Is this Sebastian Studer,s dad?
Cant they be happy with an “eddie would go T”?
These narcissists make a crust off publicising Nazare and themselves, and then bemoan the fact that it’s being ruined by other people wanting to surf there and take a photo, oh the hypocrisy!
Amazing how Forbes mag became the beacon of core values, taking such a cold hard stance on wealthy blow-ins.
Who said surf journalism is dead?
expose’ of the creepy culture that we inhabit: buy, sell, or hold?
If that keeps them away from my local I am all for it!