He's baaaack.
The World Surf League has not had many wins during its eight year run as the “global home of surfing” (circa 1976). The then-Association of Surfing Professionals was purchased, for free, by billionaire Dirk Ziff back in 2015. Then, a wild bullishness filled the air. Surfing, the first CEO Paul Speaker declared, would soon be bigger than football.
Alas, one series of goofy mistakes followed another all leading to a silly unicorn named Erik Logan taking the reins. The Oklahoman with a magical wetsuit of armor gutted both credibility and viewership. Surfers revolted, the audience was revolted and everything turned into a pile of wet mush.
Save the World Surf League’s TikTok account.
Somehow, in some way, the League grew its Chinese group dance application to a massive 2.1 million followers. Millions upon millions of “likes” and “shares” followed. World Surf League Chiefs of This and World Surf League Chiefs of That sat back in animal blood-stained chairs and felt good.
Except.
The Global War on Terror Home of Surfing
That one bit of success is turning very problematic for them now. TikTokers, you see, are embracing a letter the slain leader of Al-Qaeda wrote to the American people some twenty-odd years ago in the thick of the “global war on terror.”
In his note, Bin Laden writes about how jihad is a form of worship for Muslims, how the West keeps meddling in Middle Eastern affairs and how it will continue to be problematic moving forward. The message is resonating with TikTokers and it is being widely shared amongst them. The Guardian newspaper, where the letter first appeared, has even disappeared it off their website, noting, “The transcript published on our website 20 years ago has been widely shared on social media without the full context.”
The Guardian became accused of censorship. Others, then, became aghast, shocked that young surf group dance enthusiasts are rehabilitating the mastermind behind 9/11.
While the ideological battle rages, the World Surf League simply worries its TikTok will be lost, taken away by governmental forces, and that will be that.
No more Joe Turpel doing hand jives to camera.
No more “trends.”
Sad.
Well, I went to Yemen, post-9/11 to surf those Al-Qaeda waves and, must say, the World Surf League should have shored up that audience sooner. Oh not the TikTok one, they are fickle, but the radical Islamic one. Imagine Finals Day in al-Mukullah instead of boring ol’ San Clemente.
Fireworks.
Gee, what a nonsense bumch of words.
Thank you. Looks good. Ive heard of his books…….I sometimes say the ocean is a like a desert (fresh water wise) You get really dessicated from the salt and sun, no stream trickle to poach from? One can get pretty spoiled with modern civ.
Ive done a fair bit of Ca. adventuring, always very aware of lack of water, especially in drought periods.
After last seasons rains, lots of little springs have popped up some spots on the SB coast. Dogs love em. I just kind of bookmark them, just in case.
Shit, the world of surfing news really must be flat.
Of all that is ALLAH…WHO THE EFF CARES?!?! I was hoping the article wasn’t this worthless, but lo & behold, Here I am wasting even MORE time on it, my feelings uncontent, until now, as I express my displeasure for an article with useless information, regarding a useless terrorist, responsible for useless deaths. By the way…the ALLAH line is my useless attempt at humor..& is now the most entertaining part of the article.
Tom Freidmans “From Beruit to Jerusalem” is recommended, Ive heard. Im so far behind the book pile.
ha 2 points for humor!! Not a book burner quite yet. Got any suggestions? I heard Tom Friedmans book “From Beruit to Jerusalem” is good.
It was just a matter of time before Osama got the Che treatment from liberal white women on college campuses.
I think that this journal entry speaks for some of us that keep journals and do creative surffarts…underlying message is that we should be afraid…very afraid…of this upcoming year with the WSL. (this graphic occurred in the Islands while seeking spiritual enlightenment on a substance some 50 years ago. and as Chas survivied the middle east journey, I also somehow survived…
https://scontent-sjc3-1.xx….
Charlie can surf! or die fighting…
https://www.thegatewaypundi…
Speaking of Chas’ trip to Yemen, a photo of it was recently posted on Reddit and the comments are pretty entertaining. https://www.reddit.com/r/pi…
One commnetor thinking he’s Delta Force
Sorry Mr. Marx, I didnt realize you posted the same thing.
The idea of Chas being some super CIA spy is hilarious enough to be repeatedly shared.
The perfect cover!
For a book about Socotra, yes. You as a spy, BAHAHAHAHAHAH!
That’s exactly why it makes it perfect!
double oh seven…who’s agent 99?
https://uploads.disquscdn.c…
I always thought Rob Machadosama
Rob SadoMachadoism
!!!
This has Pauly-meme written all over it.
I remember you telling me that. Gonna make it.
Osama Toledo
I think this one is from 3 years ago. Seems to enjoy the word “Hell”. Maybe needs some Xmas money.
I’d say now is the ideal time for Chas to head back to the ME for a follow up article.
The UAE controls Socotra island now. I wonder if anyone has gone surfing there since 2018. It’s safe enough that they were running tour groups through it for a bit, but I couldn’t find any websites selling the tours the last time I looked. It may have stopped after it got some international attention.
Also curious if Kathmandu or Authentic Brands or Surfline would allow a trip to an “occupied territory” like Socotra. My bet is that they’d just hype up the SECRET location and hope no one figures it out.
Also Chas if you haven’t seen this you should:
https://www.reddit.com/r/pi…
Anyone else notice how Chas seems to turn into a giddy schoolgirl when the topic of the Middle East comes up?
Chas at Beach Grit referencing Sportskeeda, a virtual publishing company out of Bangalore India, referencing TickTock users who are referencing Osama Bin Laden.
This must mean something, I’m not sure what.
No coincidences, eh?
Just amazed at the crazy inter web world people use now to form their opinions. Bad info must spread like wildfire in less educated places where people can’t tell what’s legit and what’s not.
so many headlines to twist into surf adjacency (Musk, Xi, Taylor S, Strider thinks people who speak truth about the Abu Dhabi wave pool are ‘haters’, etc) … why this percolated to the top is a mystery.
I might buy that book, would it shed light on current affairs? Discounted yet? (I did pay full on Welcome)
The middle east and its radicals got nothing on what Tik Tok, Instagram, Facebook, and the rest of social media are doing to destroy the world.
🎯
Real talk.