The Dirk Ziff Center for Kids Who Have Zero Skill Other Than Sick Snaps.
Now, as you are well aware, BeachGrit has been on the bleeding edge of World Surf League coverage since the Association of Surfing Professionals was purchased for free by trust funded billionaire Dirk Ziff back in 2015 circa 1976. The “global home of surfing” has been an absolute dead money pit since. Dreams of a sporting juggernaut well faded. Vanished CEOs making a mockery of leadership. A bloated product shrinking hard in viewership numbers without even the slightest bit of flim flam anymore.
Surf fans around the world have been wondering “Why?” the plurality of the time. Why keep the draw at thirty-two? Why not start with the mid-season cull number of twenty, or whatever it is, then cut further?
Entirely counterintuitive and increasingly so in light of competitions like Bells where nonsense heats are run in pumping swell while quarters, semis and finals are run in thigh high slop.
Ziff could both please surf fans and save money by sending a pink slip to Matt McGillicuddy, having Turpel et. al. call the action from a remote studio in Tallahassee, Florida and wrapping events in two days.
It’s really a no-brainer and so why does the sixty-year old not implement any changes?
It has long been thought that he is either ignorant or playing a heady financial game wherein bills of goods are sold to Saudis but what if there is another answer?
What if Dirk Ziff is a benevolent philanthropist with professional surfers as his cause?
I wondered this, particularly, during the aforementioned Bells after I heard, or read in the open thread live comments, that a surfer winning zero heats was awarded $13,000 per contest. MacKenzie Scott has donated billions to affordable housing initiatives, Bill and Melinda Gates to microchipping third world children, Derek Zoolander to kids who can’t read good and wanna learn to do other stuff good too.
Could Ziff be the Jerry Lewis of professional surfers?
David Lee Scales and I discussed during our weekly chat and, increasingly, it seems the only angle that makes sense. History will remember him fondly. We should too.
Listen here.
Holly fk, why am i ready this shit or replying to this crap
Dirk ziff..c’mon is someone playing games here, its a piss take isnt it ?
Imagine if you did some reporting and answered any of those questions
WSL tax write off and plaything for the wife nothing more
Another quote to confirm your post:
“Natasha Ziff is a ‘conservationist’, and investor. As co-owner of the World Surf League (WSL), Natasha has ‘guided’ the WSL to become a global leader in ‘sustainability’ and women’s ‘equality’ (pay) in professional sports”.
And I think it’s not that Dirk doesn’t wear the pants, (he may or may not), I just think Dirk is smart enough to let the little lady have her play thing, (hobby, pass-time), to keep her occupied and happy, and thus keep his wife busy and content.
I’m sure Dirk also gets, (how shall we say), a little something in return from her.
And, yes Chas, please do your due diligence.
She probably doesn’t like his oil business. So she gets professional surfing with the greenwashing trailer hitched firmly on. Happy wife, happy life
I’ll listen to it later
(though only after Party Pete’s listened first and said it’s worthy…)
Dave Chas riffin’ podcast, yippie ki yay. Got my self help mouthin a bubbly musty suck of Ivan metal can. better than hoe down. I’m having an effervescence release. Debonair Uprightly lofty bells a ringing self-help.
“and so why does the sixty-year old not implement any changes?” and
“What if Dirk Ziff is a benevolent philanthropist with professional surfers as his cause?”
Well, from the little research I did, by all accounts, it is Natasha Ziff that was the driving force behind the creation of the Wsl.
One quote I found
2018
“You could argue that Natasha Ziff is the real reason the Ziff family got invested in professional surfing.
As recounted at the Waterman’s Ball on Saturday night, she fell in love with surfing first, and reportedly told her husband he needed to get on board because this was something they were going to be doing a lot of in the future”.
There are other facts that support her as the driving force, (behind the scenes), of the Wsl, (and possibly the one preventing any changes—like less surfers to watch).
As for Dirk, well, happy wife—happy life. I’m sure keeping Natasha happy has other fringe benefits also.
Since it seems Dirk does not surf—(and even if he did), the above seems like the Only logical explanation, (for a somewhat astute businessman), to keep a losing money pit floating.
Stab announcing new WSL CEO as Ryan Crosby – another VAL dork from the entertainment industry. Wonder if he will be a massive creep too
Great just what we need, a tech bro in charge.
Former employers Netflix, Hulu, and Microsoft. Grew up in Pittsburgh and went to the University of Arizona.
Fell in love with surfing recently when moved to Venice beach.
Sounds core
Easily hateable
is that why JMD disappeared in “chief of sport” title??
Sounds like his predecessor:
“Fandom is the engine that drives interest in content and brands, so I think the industry is figuring out how to best drive those discussions through more nontraditional methods.”
Wonder how many pro surfers he’s already approached for a reacharound?
Does any cunt listen to these things?
Easier than reading the articles.
You must work for the WSL based on how dumb that sounds😬
Lol! 😆
Yeah good point
Come sample what you’re missing!
I listen to Ain’t That Swell, is it better than that?
Not even close, but they don’t platform Koby Abberton.
Didn’t ask you, meme bitch
4.5 out of 6 beers for me,
The accent and lack of the word of cunt makes it hard for me decipher some of the content.
0,5 for the Voltron reference though
The more you listen the funnier it gets. Fucken annoying for a bit though initially. I got hooked when all my usual podcasts were in low supply.
Xox
https://uploads.disquscdn.c…
you have to listen.
Chas Smith’s melodic cadence and dulcet tone tingle the auditory senses.
Chas Smith is the Barry White of surf media.
Isn’t that Jamie Brisick you’re talking about?