Fast Times in Boston.

If there was one bit of news that cheered nostalgic Gen Xers, this year, it was the reunification of iconic alt band Jane’s Addiction. The band, formed in the mid-1980s and featuring Perry Farrell, Dave Navarro, Eric Avery and Stephen Perkins has had many ups and downs throughout the years. Breakups, reformations with different members, hiatuses etc. Then in May of this year, the clouds parted and all four originals made up and the aforementioned young bloods toasted Capri Suns while smiling broadly.

The Imminent Redemption Tour kicked off almost exactly one month ago in San Diego, California with a bang before swinging oddly around the United States until landing in Boston on ominous Friday the 13th.

And it was there, at the Leader Bank Pavilion, that a surf fight broke out onstage between the two most famous members of the band, songbird Farrell and lead shred Navarro.

Video of the incident features Farrell pacing back and forth across the stage like a caged animal, grunting at the audience before moving over to Navarro, giving him the classic surf shoulder check. Navarro absorbs it before raising a classic surf forearm to Farrell’s chest. Farrell responds by barking in Navarro’s face, classic surf, and throwing a poorly time off-the-mark classic surf punch that might land somewhere in Navarro’s chest.

The whole business was broken up by Avery, though the media is citing bad blood has been brewing for months, Variety reporting, “This emotional explosion — coming on the heels of some ‘off’ moments in other cities that have already been a subject of discussion in reviews and on social media — has some fans waiting to see whether the remaining gigs on the band’s long-awaited reunion tour, their first in 14 years, will proceed as scheduled.

All, and once again, classic surf.

But do you recall the time I surfed with Perry Farrell in North County, San Diego?

It was 10 years ago, now. The waves were small but fun, the water warm, the sun too hot. We bobbed next to each to each other waiting for set waves, which took forever to appear. He caught some lefts. I caught some lefts. I couldn’t see how good his backhand approach was (he is a regular foot) because I always waited for the better waves but I could see his head moving very very very slowly down the line. He rode a thick, too long egg. I rode my wife’s (and Dane Reynolds’) Neck Beard.

We did not fight but, afterward up near the showers, his wife yelled at their kids.

A possible sign of things to come.

Calling Nathan Florence.

The great United States presidential election of 2024 is still two-ish months away but are you thrilling at every turn, every bob and weave, in this reality program? Did you, for example, watch the debate? Opinions on the back and forth? While you’re thinking, it must be reported, here, that a Fox-owned website has reported that Trump’s daughter, Ivanka, is in training for big wave winter surfing.

After new clips surfaced of the former first daughter doing some squats, the culture and sport portal opined:

Over the last couple of summers, Donald’s daughter with Ivana has spent time behind boats and at surf experiences like the Flow Rider surf simulator in the Bahamas, but we haven’t seen her on the real deal. The back squatting workout might be an indication that we might be seeing Ivanka tackle some serious waves in the near future. Name another daughter of a President who is or was this athletic.

Before you get to naming another daughter of a president who is or was this athletic, it must be wondered. Is Ivanka’s weight training inspired by notable big wave surfer, and powerlifter, Nathan Florence? It must be thought “yes” and, following logic, must then be thought that Ms. Kushner is not just training to tackle big waves but, as actually referenced in the piece, serious ones.

Slabs.

This all might seem pure conjecture except, again, the source is Fox which has a very unique relationship with the Trump family and would not actively spread disinformation or “fake news.”

All to say, Ivanka Trump likely to join Florence Marine X.

Thrilling days.

So long dirty ol' Wedge.

We are all but living in Kelly Slater’s world. The second-greatest ever surfer, 11x world champion and father to a nameless son exploded the very idea of possibility, nine years ago, when he released footage of his Surf Ranch wave pool up Lemoore way. Sure, there had been tanks before, Wavegardens even that looked playful and fun but Slater’s tub oooooeee. That was something else and the rush was on. Though his plow technology was slow to find a home, the second Surf Ranch having just been built in Abu Dhabi, others built Waco Surfs and Palm Springs Surf Clubs, URBNSURFs and Rusty Plungers.

And now, for the first time in recorded history, Newport Beach, California’s city council has approved a study to explore dropping a water world right next-ish to The Wedge.

Introducing Surf Farm.

The group Back Bay Barrels LLC is paying the the $277,000 to study the impact a wave pool would bring to an area currently being used as a golf course in the upper Newport Bay preserve.

According to the Orange County Register:

Councilmember Erik Weigand said at the recent council meeting there has been misinformation in the community and the action the city was taking was not to approve the project, but rather a step in the process that will include not just environmental review, but also public input at community meetings and discussions both at the Planning Commission and City Council meetings.

Still, impossible to tamp down excitement. The proposal includes a large lagoon with seating around, cabanas etc. and three “warming pools” plus a building that would have a “surf-related” retail store. A smaller building is also in the plan which would have “overnight rooms” for athletes.

More questions than answers, of course, and it all still has to get approved, but how do you think the facility will impact Newport Beach’s surf culture?

Here’s a reminder of what it, currently is.