"Weak."

Things are just not going the best, right now, for Vans. Eight-ish years ago, the iconic waffle-soled surf-infused classic was riding impossibly high. On the feet of every tween to twenty-something, sleek and cool, title sponsor of the Triple Crown, no cloud in sight. Then came “the big crash.” tween to twenty-somethings opting for a different silhouette, the World Surf League taking a hammer to North Shore competitive surfing, downturn, downturn, downturn.

As the United States economy rebounded, those sitting in the corner offices of Vans parent VF Corporation might have thought their luck was going to turn back good.

Then came the fateful decision to not invite Jamie O’Brien to the upcoming Pipe Masters.

Notables such as Josh Moniz lowered their aim and blasted “Vans has nearly ruined what it means to be a Pipeline Master. The way this event has been handled in recent years, since Vans bought the rights to it, feels disrespectful to one of the most iconic waves and events in the history of surfing—right here at OUR home in Hawaii.”

Less notables in the comments piled on, excoriating various “kooks” and “barneys” at Vans who had lost their way.

Worse than being called names by surfers both high and low, though, was being described as “garbage” by than Standard and Poor. Those who dabble in the financial markets are keenly aware of S&P and its rating system. Stocks are rated from AAA to D. VF Corp. was once sitting at a lofty BBB but just got downgraded to BB, officially a “junk stock.”

According to the economic geniuses, Vans was largely to blame.

“Vans declined 11% in the second quarter of fiscal 2025, after declining over 20% in each of the last five quarters, and in the teens for the past three quarters of fiscal 2023,” according to S&P. “The sharper declines in fiscal 2024 include an inventory realignment and strategic decision to take inventory out of the wholesale channel to make space for newer products, given excess inventory levels and products not resonating with consumers in a weaker demand environment. The weak demand and inventory misalignment led to significant deterioration of (VF’s) operating results and credit metrics.”

Not stated, but clearly implied, was the aforementioned JOB’s lack of Pipe Masters invite.

Dark days.

"Who has priority?"

Surfline, the largest swell forecasting utility on the planet, has unveiled a remarkable makeover, virtually overnight, pivoting its entire business away from crusty ol’ surfers seeking to “know before they go” into a vulnerable adult learning paradise. The new “surf etiquette, simplified” portal breaks down various topics for those just dipping a toe into this Sport of Kings, illustrating them in a pleasing palette of blues.

VALs learn…

Who has priority?

What’s the best way to get back out?

Where do I paddle out?

…amongst many other tips and tools.

To quote the great Derek Rielly, essential.

But do you wish this resource was available when you were learning the ropes or did you masochistically enjoy getting yelled at by grouchy elders?

"A friend anyone would want at their side."

When news that Kevin Costner’s next film project was to be a surf-themed thriller, surfers around the world felt a jolt of excitement but quickly tried to temper each other’s expectations. For every Point Break, you see, there are ten Point Break 2s. Movies that so butcher the very idea of this surfing life so badly that it becomes embarrassing to be seen anywhere near the ocean with anything resembling a board.

Headhunters, in any case, follows Costner’s Lazer “a washed-up American ex-pat with a mysterious past who finds himself living in Bali, Indonesia. Lazer recruits a group of surfers led by Bima, a local photographer, on a journey to an uncharted island to pioneer a ‘perfect wave.’ To their surprise, the island is home to an ancient tribe of headhunters guarding the land at all costs. What ensues is an adventure turned survival story of epic and bloody proportions on a tropical island which once seemed to be paradise but is actually closer to hell.”

Promising and yet things seemed to have already taken a turn for the worse with a real bitchy mole on the Hawaiian set sharing, “He’s been quietly trying to get in the surfing community for years and hasn’t even got a foot in the door because they think he’s lame and a Hollywood star who should stick to dry land. Surfers don’t like these amateurs infringing on their waves. Plus, he’s locked in this ‘I’m cool in my new life’ mode, and they’re saying, ‘Who does he think he is?’”

And also, “This is the way Kevin does things. But he’s got a long way to go, and he may never reach his goal because, let’s face it, he’s a lousy surfer.”

Well, in a likely attempt to shore up Headhunters surf bonafides, producers announced, today, that up-and-coming Australian star Sam Corlett has been cast as part of the adventure-seeking surf group as Sam, “a hard-charging Australian surfer with a friendly, approachable nature, who has a fearless edge, especially when it comes to tackling heavy waves. While he may seem rough around the edges, he’s grounded, quick to crack a joke, and easygoing — a friend anyone would want at their side.”

Corlett burst onto the scene in Netflix’s Vikings: Valhalla. As an out-and-proud vegan, he was uncomfortable wearing leather on the Irish set but was “provided with Desserto based body armour, a type of artificial leather made from cacti.”

More importantly, though, he hails from New South Wales’ central coast and does surf.

Mick Fanning-esque, no?

Will Corlett be able to shut down naughty “Kevin Costner is a kook” talk on set with his languid style or will the film continue to devolve?

More, certainly, as the story develops.