Connor Lyons, surf coach, WSL surfer, charged with sex
crimes against kids.
WSL surfer and wildly popular surf coach
Connor Lyons charged with “sick” crimes against children
By Derek Rielly
"I know many of you hesitate to send or take your
kids on a surf trip…This is a once in a life time opportunity…in a
fun yet safe and controlled environment."
In what you might call the ugliest surf-adjacent story
of the year, Sunshine Coast surfer and wildly popular surf coach
Connor Lyons has been granted bail after being charged
with sex crimes against kids.
Lyons, who is twenty-six, is accused of the indecent treatment
of two children over a 14-month period on both the Sunshine and
Gold Coasts.
The allegations involve him exposing his penis to the children
and engaging in inappropriate physical contact, including an
incident during what was described as a “naked massage.” Both
alleged victims reported discomfort and asked Lyons to stop.
Police allege that Lyons deceived the parents of the children to
leave them alone with him, which facilitated the alleged abuse.
Despite opposition from the police citing Lyons as posing an
unacceptable risk to the community, he was granted bail with strict
conditions. These conditions include no contact with children under
16, not attending venues frequented by children, and reporting to
police three times a week. He is also restricted from coaching
children under 17.
The incidents came to light when both alleged victims made
complaints within a two-day span in mid-December 2024.
For whatever reason, Lyons’ Instagram account is still active
and in light of the allegations ain’t doing him any favours.
The History of Everything Except Surfing
with Matt Warshaw!
By Chas Smith
Come get smart.
Matt Warshaw needs no introduction, here. The
Dogtown-raised, Berkley-educated former professional surfer, surf
magazine editor and author is both the first and last word in our
favorite pastime’s history, penning such masterpieces as The
History of Surfing and the Encyclopedia of Surfing (subscribe here). His weekly letters
provide joy, yes, but also incomparable insight to the
salt-encrusted life but is that all there is? Waves, boards, Filipe
Toledo’s legendary fear of size and reef?
Hmmmm.
Yesterday, I sat down with Warshaw and David Lee Scales to plumb
both his interest in and knowledge of the history of everything
except surfing. There are, of course, those amongst us who
cannot get enough history. Netflix binges of Vietnam conflict
documentaries, reading lists filled with thick books on the Roman
Empire. The famous shaper Matt Biolos, as you might know, has a
penchant for World War II aircraft. Derek Rielly adores
post=Balfour Declaration guides to making a desert bloom. I can’t
get enough neo-classical ballet but you?
Any history kinks?
As with such important academic matters, our get together
included a pop quiz featuring the following questions.
1. What was the Great Game?
2. When/where did Attila the Hun die and what was his
nickname?
3. Who was the last czar of Russia?
4. Who was the last king of France?
5. When did women receive the right to vote in the United
States?
6. What was the Rosetta Stone, where was it found and what
languages were engraved upon it?
Well?
How did you do?
Listen for Warshaw and Scales’ grades below.
Essential.
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I can’t believe it’s the holiday season already. We’ve
been so busy and the time has just flown by so quickly! It’s been a
very eventful year for the Robbins family, for sure. We hope you
are doing well and enjoying this most wonderful time of
year.
Happy Christmas from California’s ultimate
surf family, “Santa is bringing everyone ebikes!”
By Jen See
Live life to the fullest and be beautiful!
Hello and Merry Christmas!
I can’t believe it’s the holiday season already. We’ve been so
busy and the time has just flown by so quickly! It’s been a very
eventful year for the Robbins family, for sure. We hope you are
doing well and enjoying this most wonderful time of year.
We recently moved into our beautiful new house in San Clemente
just blocks from the beach. Since we moved in, we’ve seen some of
the most beautiful sunsets from our gorgeous back deck. It’s like a
tropical fantasy back there with hibiscus, bougainvillea, and
palms. Just an explosion of color! The built-in bar and pizza oven
is getting some serious use, too, let me tell you.
The kids are stoked to be so close to the beach and the boys are
surfing every day. Little Zoe recently started tagging along with
them. She says she’s bored with ballet, but she still wears her
pink tutu everywhere. Kids sure are funny, aren’t they?
Anyway, it seems like Zoe wants to be a little surfer girl.
Don’t tell, but Santa is bringing her a new pink board for
Christmas! What a lucky girl!
We’ve been so excited to watch Jaxon and Rex fall in love with
surfing. They just keep getting better and better! We can’t wait to
see them make the most of everything that San Clemente has to
offer. The waves really are awesome here.
Jaxon recently won his first QS heat up in Morro Bay and he’s
been shredding the NSSA contests. This year, he started online
school, so he can put even more time into his surfing. He’s just so
dedicated. We’re sure his hard work is going to pay off and he’ll
be picking up sponsors in no time. Who wouldn’t want to support
such an amazing young man!
Rex is our little daydreamer, and he’s coming along a little
more slowly than his older brother. He likes live in his own world.
Just last weekend, we drove to Rincon for a family surf day, and of
course, Rex forgot to bring his wetsuit. We do love him, and
fortunately, Jaxon brought a spare. It didn’t fit super well, but
at least Rex got to get out there and surf.
This past year, Rex won his first ever NSSA event, which was a
huge step forward for him. When he focuses, he’s a real winner!
We’re confident he’s going to grow into his talent. He’s just going
to take his time about it and that’s okay. We have to meet our kids
where they are, amiright?
As for little Zoe, well, she’s definitely over her ballet phase.
She’s gotten really excited about surfing and always seems to want
to do whatever her brothers are doing. Fortunately, they’re pretty
patient with her and there’ve only been a few tantrums. Okay, maybe
a lot of tantrums, but that’s just growing up!
Zoe looks super cute in her pink wetsuit standing on the front
of her dad’s surfboard. In fact, Paul bought a new SUP just so that
he could surf with Zoe, and they’ve been getting so many great
waves together. They make the whole lineup smile, that’s for sure.
Zoe definitely has great balance already and we’re pretty sure
she’s going to turn into a beautiful longboarder. Gotta start ‘em
young, that’s for sure.
Santa is bringing me a new camera and tripod for Christmas so I
can record all our family memories. I can’t wait to show you all
the kids’ awesome surf clips. It’s a hard job but someone has to do
it! I feel so privileged to support their ambitions and I have to
say, hanging out at the beach all day is pretty great.
And as a bonus, since Jaxon started surfing seriously, I’ve
gotten so good at Instagram. It’s all about the algorithm, you
know. So, I’ve started my own online business, too, and it’s simply
thriving! Check out
forabeautifullife.com and I’d love to have you follow
me on Instagram. It’s growing so fast and I’m so excited to see
where it all leads.
Meanwhile Paul has been super busy with his consulting business,
but not so busy that he can’t spend time in the lineup coaching
Jaxon and Rex. He’s also been helping them figure out their boards
and their surfing has improved so much just from getting the right
dimensions — I guess, that’s what it is, anyway! Surfing is so
complicated! — under their feet. Paul’s just such the perfect surf
dad and we’re all so lucky to have him.
Oh, and I almost forgot our awesome family vacation to Baja this
past summer. I only got a little sick from eating some raw
vegetables, but how was I supposed to go an entire two weeks
without kale? That’s just too much to ask. The boys got some fun
waves right out in front of the resort and other than the
unfortunate kale incident, the food was scrumptious. I especially
enjoyed the spa and I’d love to go back next year.
But we’ve also been dreaming of a trip to Indo, so that might
mean postponing Baja. Paul’s been scoping out the zones with the
best waves and I’m sure he’ll come up with another amazing
adventure for us. The boys are excited to push their skills in
better surf, so the timing couldn’t be better. I can’t wait!
Santa is bringing the whole family ebikes for Christmas, so
we’ll be zipping around town in no time. The boys are going to be
at Trestles every day now. It’s going to be so amazing to see their
talents develop — and it looks like Zoe is right behind them.
I do hope your family has a wonderful Christmas and a happy and
healthy new year. Live life to the fullest and be beautiful!
Love from the Robbins Family
Paul, Jade, Jaxon, Rex & Zoe
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An artist's impression of Keramas' new floating
restaurant. Pump a little down the line and climb
aboard!
Surfers rail against plan to build floating
restaurant and marina at world famous Keramas in Bali
By Derek Rielly
"This marina will permanently destroy the surf
break and have a devastating impact on the surfing industry in
Bali.”
Ol Keramas, Bali’s eastside jewel,
has changed somewhat since me and a pal surfed it by ourselves, the
wave revealed via a hand-drawn map from a surf
photographer, back in the real early two thousands.
It wasn’t a total secret, not even close, but for a few days in
2003 we surfed it by ourselves, whiling away the days with reo
contests, and races across the black sand to the single warung for
dripping Coca-Colas pulled out of old buckets and supplemented with
banana and honey jaffles.
Later, Kuta Boogie for titty kisses and manual relief.
Today Keramas features a lavish resort called Kommune that has a
vast swimming pool and yoga lessons and delicious food and booze
and luxury suites to ease the ache of trying to surf the celebrated
right-hander with fifty manic locals.
The joint is under threat, howevs, after it was revealed in a
Keramas Village meeting on Sunday that plans are afoot to install a
marina and a floating restaurant.
The construction of a marina could “permanently destroy the surf
break,” according to a statement from Komune Resort.
“Keramas is known as one of the best surfing locations in the
world and has hosted three World Surf League events. This marina
will permanently destroy the surf break, resulting in the loss of
thousands of tourists each year and a devastating impact on the
surfing industry in Bali.”
There ain’t a hell of a specifics on the marina and floating
restaurant, including timelines, exact plans, or the status of
approval from local authorities, so it’s hard to discern where the
devil is, as they say.
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Luke Shepardson (pictured) wrangling a Waimea
bear.
Hawaii issues “First Alert” as possible 40
ft waves storm toward islands’ north facing shores!
By Chas Smith
Ready to rumble.
It is officially winter time in the northern
hemisphere. The weather outside frightful and extremely so
if one happens to be named Filipe Toledo and either on or thinking
about traveling to Hawaii any time soon. Yes, forecasters are
alerting the public a major swell event with waves predicted to
reach between 25 ft to 40 ft.
75 ft Hawaiian.
23 Jason Stathams.
432 Male German Lower Legs.
Big big.
Hawaii News Now
is warning Toledo, and others, that the business will get underway
tomorrow (Tuesday) and last through the week, declaring also,
“Models suggest the cold front will move into Hawaii during the
second half of the week as it weakens. Rainfall amounts do not
appear to be very significant, and will be brief as the front
quickly moves through. Winds will strengthen out of the north
behind the front around Thursday and eventually veer to the
northeast by Friday.”
Might it all be enough for the fabled Eddie to run? The most
famous surf contest in the world, now that the Pipe Masters has
been turned to junk, is called on when wave heights at Waimea Bay
tower to a consistent 40 ft throughout the day. It was last played
on Jan. 22, 2023, the tenth time in its history, but who could ever
forget when on-duty lifeguard Luke Shepardson won it at the
end?
Not a dry eye in this house.
Jamie O’Brien, it must be noted, was invited on the first Eddie
ballot thus saving presenting sponsor Rip Curl much embarrassment
or need for capitulation.
Whew.
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Jon Pyzel and Matt Biolos by
@theneedforshutterspeed/Step Bros
