Chas Smith reacts to Carissa Moore and Stephanie Gilmore quitting tour!

"Were these two greatest of all times pushed out to pasture? No they chose to go out to pasture and leave pro surfing behind."

So many tears and I told you so’s after pro surfing’s most endearing icons, Carissa Moore and Stephanie Gilmore, quit the tour within three days of each other. 

Five-time champ Carissa Moore, thirty-one, told the New York Times she wanted to peer over the edge and see what life looked like “out of the jersey.”

She wants to extract herself from the loose structure and warm cocoon of her sport’s global tour, to redefine success on her own terms and in her own mind. She wants to be challenged in a different way, even though the easiest thing might be to stick around.

“All those wins, the competitive part that’s so much of my identity, I’m taking that away, and I’m facing myself this year,” she said. “And that’s scary. Like, who am I? Am I going to be OK? Will I be able to love myself and think that I’m worthy without this?”

Eight-time world champ Stephanie Gilmore quickly followed Moore into the sunset. 

(The zenith for Stephanie Gilmore’s career came in 2022 when she dominated Finals Day, starting in fifth place, mowing through all-comers before beating Moore in the winner-take-all surf-off.)

Carissa Moore surfs her last WSL event Pipe but will defend her Olympic title at Teahupoo in July. 

And while all that was going on, Lisa Andersen was quietly exited from Roxy with the reclusive world champ Martin Potter breaking his five-year silence to slam the company. 

With the forthrightness that made him a beloved member of the WSL broadcast roster, Potter, who won the world title in 1989, wrote:

“I saw this coming years ago, why do you think I disappeared from something we helped build. Surfing or should I say pro surfing is dead. So sad.”

Between 1996 and 2006, Lisa Andersen’s golden years, Roxy grew from 20 mill to 650 mill in sales.

All of which makes Chas hate surfing even more.

Chas Smith reacts to Carissa Moore and Stephanie Gilmore quitting tour
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justiceminister

Less is Moore for Carissa. Her body clock setting off alarm bells. I suspect it’s the same for Gilly.

tim_nelsen

he had no charisma w/ Amber Heard…here’s Jhonny~

tim_nelsen

emmy’s did add a stand-up comedian award this year. Chas is always sitting down, though…

Urchin Sepsis

I like how you can see his feels on the matter by the featured brand of alcohol.

Barnycle

Hey, Jen. I just wrote Chas asking him whether he thought the Reynolds Chapter 11 film needed any revisiting since the change in the apparel industry over the last few months. Then I remembered that you covered his store and show in Ventura recently. Probably BG has said everything needed to be said about Chap 11 already but, also, maybe not. Keep the Ventura content coming. I enjoy reading it. Also updates on Former and any smaller brands that are growing.

Mark R

I make fishing videos on YouTube. They are typically just footage of me put over music. I’ve lately been considering getting wasted and commentating the footage, calling it “Drunk Fishtory”. Chas this latest video has motivated me to follow through with that idea.

tim_nelsen

that’s an understatement. chas is my sponsor and he drives me to drink! Do It…

tim_nelsen

pick his pocketbook?

tim_nelsen

steady eddie~

BIZERKA

I’m a fan of Lisa but will argue she wasn’t quietly exited. It just didn’t matter to anyone. She hasn’t been public for the brand in more than a decade. Their customers don’t know her. No one really cares. They don’t even have surf customers. Sad for US all but doesn’t tarnish what she did

tim_nelsen

Pismo Beach contest is on fire. not literally, nor figuratively. I don’t hate their clams! Kolohe IS HERE!

tim_nelsen

looks like a younger version of Peter Fonda…

https://i.pinimg.com/origin…

Chas Smith

That’s the best compliment I’ve ever received here.

tim_nelsen

fight the good fight…erin crock & chromiun 6…a bitch…keep the watch~

Rocks local

Caity is dazzling and fearless, Moana Jones Wong tracking down real Pipe waves, Sierra on the way, Erin Brooks a freak, Molly legit, etc, etc, etc….and yet this is like the 12th piece of content BG has pumped out about 2 surfers who were on the way out regardless. Carissa fantastic, love her, Steph surfs beautifully and that Keramas wave is still in my head, but jeezus … let them go, and let’s see what this next crew brings. WSL has some shit going on, but this isn’t the number 1 thing, not even close.

No Feelings

I don’t think any of these surfers will have the same impact as the standouts of the previous couple generations, just because it’s a different world.

That doesn’t mean they don’t rip. It’s just a different world than in the 1990s or even 2000s.

Rocks local

Maybe. But im not sure. Caity has a punk electricity that is really unique. Erin might end up pulling stuff we’ve never seen – in some ways she already is. Might not be WSL based, but just in terms of making a mark it could be like nothing we’ve seen. Will be interested to watch.

Stick man

You and this surfing thing should get a room…a green one at that!

Happy Camper

your hatred of surfing is really starting to show

Sellme fitzgobbins

Daytime drunk is an ugly look

AI (for ever) .

Marry me?

QuikRustyBongRip

Drink AG1 / Surf

Chief Hot stuff

Couldnt finish

Low wide stinkbug stance

I didn’t start

Antipodes

I’m loving the belligerent analysis of the pro surfing industrial complex failures. I hope Lisa Andersen had a deal with Roxy where she got a clip of sales as her commercial impact was massive.

astro

Riss, just shut up and get on with life and Potz, you can stop rocking the rox wear.

Com Turren

Chas, are you ever going to appropriately size the links in that watch bracelet? There is a certain amount of slack that becomes decidedly ungentlemanly and more than slightly uncouth.

deeks

And a barrio hair net. For fuck sake

Low wide stinkbug stance

It’s called the just rolled out of bed look.

Chas Smith

It’s a signature! Spretzaturra or wherever them Italians say.


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