The un-Abu Dhabi.
The surf fan, beleaguered from years of abuse, gazed at our snowboarding brethren with starving eyes, in 2008, as living legend Travis Rice launched an almost perfect event format in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Majestic terrain, iconic riders, a show for the core as opposed to some imaginary audience.
Natural Selection was honed, over the years, becoming a sort of tour in 2021, moving to Alaska and Revelstoke, Rice searching high and low for lines that would push the art to its limits.
And surf fans, sorrowful, gazed from a distance before turning teary eyes back to Kelly Slater’s Surf Ranch and its Surf Ranch Pro.
Then some rumblings.
I likely heard them first, as my wife is Rice’s longtime agent, but could not truly believe. Natural Selection entering surf? The chitter-chatter grew louder, over the next few months, real plans coming together featuring the renowned wave-hunting pirate Martin Daly and a spot he discovered in Micronesia.
Gaping blue barrels, sharp ouchy reef.
Filipe Toledo’s worst nightmare.
And then rumblings became reality.
Unlike World Surf League events, “Mother Nature is the lead character” and the supporting artists cast around her.
On the men’s side, Mikey February (South Africa), Victor Bernardo (Brazil), Kauli Vaast (Tahiti), Noah Beschen (Hawaii), Eithan Osborne (USA), Harry Bryant (Australia), Al Cleland Jr. (Mexico), and Soli Bailey (Australia). The women’s featured Coco Ho (Hawaii), Milla Brown (Australia), Anne Dos Santos (Brazil) and Kirra Pinkerton (USA).
The action will unfold over two days, the first going live in a few short hours.
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adios World Suurf Latrine
left handed. always a challenge~
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#gulfofstevemartinmicrotalentplayingbanjo…#giantwavesarecomin.
did you see aliens. SNL50. or those micro ladies getting crushed? but as the wind dropped, a better palate. More Performance Manana. keep scribin&patchin up coral cuts~
Overall I thought it was good, but am a whore for the drone angle. And Joe Turpel wasn’t there gangbanging everyone’s ears. Does highlight how easy it would be to usurp the wsl if anyone gave a fuck to. It’s bound to lose money so that narrows the possible investors list down to about the Saudis.
you’re fired! (kiddin)
Hopefully they keep these free for all “pop up” contests a long way from anywhere I am
over hyped
post micro contest convo: let’s discuss your latest encounter w/aliens, shall we? https://youtu.be/UWMN_TVDGfk?si=sItOZ45Sg4bQ9Ac0
noah beschen first wave OMG
I caught the first first first contest wave eva a this micro spot. tingles. go ethan!
Natural Selection for dar win!
We need to analyze the DNA of those naturaly selected 200 year old Americans!!
Probably could have moved forward with that whole reparations thing if not for all 100’s of billions leaving the Treasury under fraud and waste. Not now.
you rang? ,LOL
yep the USA is the only country in the world to have some kinda corruption in its admin/bureaucracy…….and there has to be $600B raised or saved to pay for tax cuts for leon and his mates…and their respective business’s!
The US doesn’t have a revenue problem. It has a spending problem. We’ve all known there was waste and fraud, but not until now has an Administration taken the task on bold, blunt action.
sex studies sell and are prompted at university concerts. also tranny medication, paul butterfield, leo kotke, and carlos santana in Arcata High Sckool Gymnasium. i love lil girls and hate the weird ones. age is a crime~
band broke-up we still have a great big fam in the smallish community~ https://youtu.be/Xlcr04CB4jM?si=Bum8e9Bb-uX71WMD
bold blunt and Leon is ya man……sounds like everything is going to plan……from the 2025 handbook……do you think that donnys comment that , ” he who saves the country does not violate any law>”
Youre like the captain of the titanic
He was just trolling. The media are so easily triggered. It’s the “Hey look! Shiney penny!” while he continues to sign EO’s and get shit accomplished
well,.lookie here https://x.com/ThomasCatenacci/status/1892321122693067043
Shame.
soda water and quinine on the wounds~(warning graphic patching up w/ band-daids) STICHECHS
well, lookie here https://x.com/ThomasCatenacci/status/1892321122693067043
Tip of the iceberg
livers are suspect. don’t offer booze…weak fuckin links~the indian died of alchol poisi0ning
pushed ‘notify me’ just now. what will i be watching and where? is this surf or snow?
The only real bit of surf journalism on here in years, and it’s courtesy of Chas’s wife. Bravo.
Has this so-called Natural Selection crew seen Trestles on a solid shoulder high day? Now, that’s must see Tv!
Nazare tow contest just finished is the best surf comp I’ve seen in a long time.
I just clicked over and saw it had run. How much you watch?
how quickly I forgot.
Unbelievably, more or less the entire thing.
Red Bull influence on production very clear: slick, professional, no gimmicks or cheesiness. Punditry interesting, authentic and sharp. Whole thing four hours beginning to end.
Sold! Be curious for your review of NS.
How many 80’s music references did Cote’ drop?
Missed it all, must have recap from you
Mr Paul Evans makes the commentary great, along with an interesting team and a refreshing lack of WSL-bullshitting. Good waves and honest commentary is all you need to make tour contests great.
Yeah, and he had the nous to let Burle and Machedo just go when they were having genuinely interesting conversations, rather than cutting over the top of them with abject nonsense like Turpel would.
chasing jet skis. chasing lunch. chasing some poor surfing lifers~
friend told me it’s best at mid-tide. offshores and 6-9 feet. “T, it’s just like Oxnard.”
If a surf fan watches a competition and there is nothing to complain about, are they really watching?
No. They’re “whiching” at that point, which coincidentally is that which is sorely needed.
15 mins in and so much waffle, get the fuck on with it. This is not a live stream, why do we need to listen to this shit.
chicken skin for sale~