Canadian surf sensation Erin Brooks in real
danger of missing cut for ’25 championship tour
By Chas Smith
What a strange brew.
There was a time, but a few short months ago,
when it was impossible to picture this world without Erin Brooks on
the World Surf League Championship Tour. Canada’s finest-ever surf
export, the 17-year-old had just stunned all-comers by winning the
Fiji Pro as wildcard thus signaling that this world was embarking
on a new maple leaf festooned era.
Surf fans greedily licked their lips at the prospect of Brooks
joining Caitlin Simmers, Molly Picklum, Sawyer Lindblad and Tyler
Wright making the women’s side of the draw much more interesting
than the men’s.
A gilded new era.
But alas, things have not gone quite to plan and with one more
Challenger Series event to go, the Saquarema Pro, Brooks has yet to
qualify. Bella Kensworthy, and Isabella Nichols have already locked
their slots along with the evergreen Sally Fitzgibbons, who has
become an inspiration to all with her never-say-die attitude.
But not Brooks, who has the Spanish maatadora Nadia Erostarbe,
Tahitian darling Vahine Fierro and Brazil’s own Luna Silva nipping
at her great white northern heels.
What a strange brew.
With any sort of stumble, especially an early exit in the land
of order and progress, Brooks will have to push qualification off
until 2026, which certainly feels an eternity away.
A Canadian fanbase very much holding its breath, preparing for
an extra-cold winter.
The Saquarema Pro kicks off in but three days, anyhow, and there
might be enough justification to Open Thread: Live Chat. Thoughts
on that?
More as the story develops.
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Kelly Slater acolyte Lewis Hamilton drawn
into Diddy imbroglio after deleting post describing rapper as “my
man Puff”
By Derek Rielly
"To stand here today as brothers is an honour and a
privilege.”
Over the past few years, FI ace and surfer Lewis
Hamilton has become quite the regular on these pages.
With trademark sun-kissed braids pulled into a sensible bun,
Hamilton was subsequently filmed polishing off a wave with a cool
“what-me-worry” style.
Lewis Hamilton’s surf bona fides have long been documented. A
regular at the WSL’s Surf Ranch, he has ridden the Melbourne tank
and in 2021 posted a moving tribute to Kelly Slater on his
Instagram account.
And, who can forget when Lewis Hamilton nearly died at “25-foot”
Pipeline following a dare from Slater.
“This thing was massive, a huge tunnel, and I could see Kelly
coming right down it in front of me,” he continues. “And I just had
to make sure I didn’t get sucked in. So I dived down and grabbed
the reef and prayed. I could hear the thing land behind me, like a
bomb going off. My board got ripped off and snapped in half. I was
very close to the end. But that excites me for some
reason.”
Earlier today, Lewis Hamilton was again in the news, this time
after deleting a tweet where he described the rapper Sean “Diddy”
Combs as “brother”.
The post, shared in 2018, read: “I grew up watching and
listening to my man Puff. To stand here today as brothers is an
honour and a privilege. I appreciate you bro for all you do, for
being a GOAT and for always showing love. God bless.”
Diddy in the news, as you know, after being arrested on sex
trafficking and racketeering charges. Back in March Diddy’s joint
got raided by the FBI and agents confiscated AR-15s and one
thousand bottles of baby oil and other unspecified lubricants.
Dry ass need juice, no matter how rich you is.
Anyway, the charges detail his alleged leadership of a criminal
enterprise that engaged in activities including sex trafficking,
forced labor, kidnapping, arson, bribery, and obstruction of
justice. Specifically, Combs is accused of orchestrating
drug-fueled events termed “Freak Offs,” where victims and sex
workers were coerced into sexual activities, often under threats or
use of firearms.
The indictment also highlights his misuse of his business
empire’s resources to facilitate these crimes, including arranging
travel, accommodations, and the provision of drugs and cash for
these events. Moreover, there are allegations of physical and
sexual abuse, with law enforcement seizing weapons during raids on
his properties, including AR-15s with defaced serial numbers. These
charges not only paint a picture of Combs using his influence to
exploit individuals sexually but also to maintain control through
intimidation and corruption, thereby allegedly running a
sophisticated operation that crossed into numerous illegal
activities.
Kelly Slater, meanwhile, is making organic clothing and enjoying
exhibition surfing events in France.
Who’s the better pal?
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San Diego surfers in wild-eyed panic after
first ever locally acquired case of dengue fever surfaces!
By Chas Smith
"Vector Control are working closely to respond
quickly to prevent mosquitoes from spreading the illness in this
area."
Now, any surfer worth her salt is very familiar
with dengue fever. The mosquito-borne virus is extremely common in
those exotic tropical locales that feature desirable waves and the
aforementioned adventuring wave sliders are tangentially aware of
the aches and pains, high fever and rash associated with the nasty
little bug. Even the surfer who prefers cold waters and cold
weathers is at least aware of dengue as it was first fingered being the
cause of Andy Irons’ untimely death.
Well, San Diego surfers are currently in a state of wide-eyed
panic as the first-ever locally acquired dengue case has just been
reported in an area more known for India Pale Ales and fussy street
tacos.
The county is reporting that a resident of Escondido became
bitten by a mosquito and developed the dengue while not traveling
to an exotic tropical locale.
Dr. Ankita Kadakia, County interim public health officer,
attempted to tamp down fear by declaring,
“While the risk of widespread transmission of dengue remains low in
San Diego County, County Public Health and Vector Control are
working closely to respond quickly to prevent mosquitoes from
spreading the illness in this area.”
He then began spraying Escondido residents’ houses with toxic
chemicals in order to kill the li’l biters for it is those pesky
ankle swarmers that are most responsible for spreading the
disease.
While there have not been waves in San Diego for months, now,
any surfer who wishes to visit is being encouraged to go to Lower
Trestles instead.
Over to you, now. What is the most exotic disease you’ve ever
acquired? On a trip to Middle East, many years ago, I was graced
with amoebic dysentery and forced to spend a week in a Jordanian
hospital on heavy IV.
Those were the days.
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Kelly Slater slashes $3.5 mill from listing
price of redundant beachfront compound on Hawaii’s North Shore
By Derek Rielly
Price of Slater joint on the North Shore's best
street gets a wild haircut!
The eleven-time world champion who recently came out of
retirement to compete in an exhibition event in France bought the
six-bedroom, 7.5-bathroom house for a little under eight mill in
2017 and, earlier
this year, perhaps to buy his new unnamed baby pretty things, put
it on the market for twenty mill.
Despite the sprawling beachfront compounds myriad delights, the
joint has failed to generate any serious interest hence the wild
17.5% discount.
That buyer paid $143 for every square foot; at
sixteen-and-a-half-mill it’s over two gees a square foot.
Kelly Slater listed it for rent in 2018 for 80k a month, dropped
it to 72k in 2019, 59k in 2019 before sitting on 45k in 2020.
No word if anyone actually took up the rental, even at the
cut-price rate of 10k a week.
If you didn’t know, Laniakea is a little way off the super
highway traffic of Pipeline, Rockies and Sunset. It’s back on the
western side of Waimea Bay and is a raw righthand point break that
will reward the intrepid surfer who ain’t afraid to brave the
paddle that is also home to the less-than-friendly Hawaiian tiger
shark. If you like lefts, just around the headland is a joint
called Jockos.
It’s interesting to note the previous owner tried to sell it for
twenty-two mill almost ten years ago and settled on the
almost-eight mill Kelly Slater paid.
Hot Rumor: Palm Springs emerges as surprise
frontrunner as surf venue for ’28 Los Angeles Olympics!
By Chas Smith
Huntington Beach, allegedly, out.
The Olympics and its pomp and its circumstance
is on its way to Los Angeles after a triumphant stand in Paris. I
was there, if you recall, nibbling foie gras under that magnificent
Tour Eiffel, watching various games of handball and Seine swimming
though I did not get to witness the surfing bit as that was
contested halfway around the world at The End of the Road. By all
accounts, it was a dazzling show, though, with Teahupo’o flashing
its glory for two days. Caroline Marks bringing home gold for the
women. Kauli Vaast for the Frenchmen.
All but memories, now, with attention fully on the City of
Angeles and the biggest question of all. Where will Olympic surfers
surf?
Fernando Aguerre, chief of the International Surfing Association
which acts as gatekeeper to the big show, has long declared that he
will not have our heroes striving for medals in a wave tank,
insisting it must be in the ocean. Thus, Huntington Beach and Lower
Trestles emerged as early frontrunners. A hot hot rumor has floated
right into my ear from an extremely well-placed source. It claims
that Huntington has been dropped from consideration, not surprising
do Surf City’s political radicalization, leaving Trestles and a
stunning other potential frontrunner.
Palm Springs.
The desert town some 100 miles east of LA was mostly famous for
its lush golf courses and Liberace soirees but is now famous for
its Palm Springs Surf Club churning out gorgeous Tom Lochtefeld
art. It had some technical issues, upon opening, and was shuttered
for a time but is back now and cranking. Reports from those who
have sampled nothing but ultra-positive.
The rumor, anyhow, suggests that powerful television interests
could steamroll Aguerre over the desire to have surfing scheduled
and not left to the whims of nature.
So?
Would you like to see Palm Springs crown ’28’s baubles or have
you not had enough of Lowers yet?