Are you there, Dirk Ziff? It's me, Charlie.
You might have missed it, because the “global home of surfing” had already lost you, but weeks ago, the Word Surf League’s newly appointed Director of Athlete Relations Chris Heffner ripped a line straight from BeachGrit in declaring the mission was “no more chasing the mythical ‘surf fan’ that doesn’t surf,” adding “New management, along with ownership, is leaning into a ‘surfer first’ strategy…. and I’m here for it.”
And yet, even with the exciting pivot, the whole enterprise seems like it’s…. over. The biggest names fleeing the tour in their primes, or injured. Engagement cratering. I know that Portugal is a difficult timezone etc. but a measly 100 comments on the “Live Chat?” I don’t recall such low numbers since we began.
The wild swings back and forth seem to have ejected simply too many of the already very few surf fans.
Once champion of diversity, the WSL scrubbed LGBTQIA+ Pride Progress flags of singlets in Abu Dhabi. Once on the bleeding edge of equal pay between men and women, the WSL has zero reaction when one of its young stars, Cole Houshmand, highlights his wild-eye’d love of the self-described woman hater Andrew Tate.
The product, in the water, can excite from time to time (see: Jack Robinson) or provide comedy (see: Filipe Toledo) but, overall, seems listing. Like, really, really hard to care about.
Or maybe it’s just me.
So, question: how do you feel about competitive professional surfing right now?
Bullish or bearish?
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I disagree with the enjoyable food.
Pro surfing can be saved but it won’t be the tennis tournament they want it to be.
* Top 30 plus two wildcards. This Immediately starts the comp at what we now call third round. One to two days of competition saved. Cost: four stragglers who were never going to do anything anyhow.
Surfing needs to do a disc golf move and have everyone who joins the PSA can call themselves professional and enter the same contests as the pros.
Good call!
Nats son almost took his face off down vicco way…Apparently. Could be a story there you goons.
Which nat? Young?
2nd hand but yeah apparently
The old Asp couldn’t keep pro surfing alive so they gave it away.
It’s only alive now by the whims of Natasha, and her doting husband.
I watched that clip of Herring beating Slats back in ’92 and had to admit Super(no)tubos wasn’t looking too bad. But I bet the party afterwards was on another level. Can you imagine the celebrations at a WSL event these days? Jack and Griff trying to out-lotus each other, Italo doing backflips after his 67th Red Bull, the Clemente crew tying out their incel pick-up lines on the women, the rest analysing replays and drinking stem-cell smoothies… Maybe the coaches still go at it?
Bad venues. Bad forecasts. No John John.. I can’t be bothered watching, and I’m sure many feel the same
you forgot to upvote yourself!
Sacre bleu, mon esprit es fatigue!
Xox
Mickey Mouse has grown up a cow
ah PAPA C …what?
Seems pretty shit that they didn’t even have a livestream of the local Quey 1000 featuring the competitive re-birth of Julian Wilson onto the scene. (He won BTW)
Someone said they watched on “on the app”, but I ain’t got space on my old phone for that.
Why isn’t it “on the website”?
Wonder how much Ziff is playing to the MAGA anti-DEI thing in his various enterprises. Is he kissing the ring?
one has to watch when kissing the ring , that you don’t get sucked up the vortex which leaves you with a brown ring around your neck!
Whats going on with surfival. Used to get a pick breakdown once the comp started, and then a results email. Even his insta stopped updating.
Colapinto Curse struck again.
Surfival keeps me super interested in pro surfing. I want those boards!
Your shtick was never funny.
Time to learn how to make cabinets I guess. Wonder if it’s a recession proof career
Cabinet makers rule
So I’ve been told.
Portugal seems like a fine country, but I don’t think I’ve ever watched more than five minutes of live action at a contest there … see you at the next stop
Oh no man it’s the water the nuances in the water!
the greens the browns the bone particles!
good point re surfival
“Only 100 comments in the live chat”??
What the fuck do you expect when you either put the thread up a day late or, on two of the days, don’t even fucking do one?!
Only hope is a true dream tour. Hippy said over and over. 10 or 12 of the best on strike missions to true world class spots during active swell periods with long enough waiting periods.
I realize it’s financially almost impossible but there has to be a way
Where’s Dane been?