Julian Wilson's hometown the scene of much sadness.

But how good was it, just yesterday, to see Australia’s Julian Wilson return to vintage form at the Bonsoy Gold Coast Pro? Finding himself in the elimination round, the clean-shaven 36-year-old unleashed a torrent of air reverses to dispatch title-favorite Jack Robinson.

Very fine.

You know, of course, that Wilson hails from Coolum Beach there on the Sunshine Coast. You may not be aware, though, that the gorgeous stretch of almost tropical sand is currently in the midst of a battle so fierce, so polarizing, that grown men are being brought to tears.

The city council, you see, is proposing to ban off-leash dogs on Stumers Creek right there in town due environmental concerns. Off-leash dog lovers became so incensed that they collected over 6000 signatures to keep the beach free canine friendly.

A council spokesperson declared, “This feedback is now being reviewed with final recommendations set to be presented to Council. This plan is about shaping a future network of dog exercise areas across the entire Sunshine Coast — whether that’s parks, beaches or recreation reserves — that meet the needs of dog owners while respecting our region’s environmental and community values. The community feedback will help ensure we strike the right balance between creating safe recreational spaces for dog owners and non-dog owners alike, while maintaining the natural beauty of our region.”

One of the committee members, Bree Logie, declared how heartbreaking the debate between dog lovers and environmentalists was to witness. “I had to comfort grown men and women who were crying: Everyday people, at all ages, in tears,” she said.

The council will come to a final resolution on the matter in a few months but while we wait, when was the last time you cried?

You’re amongst friends here.

Also, are you a “dog-on-beach” sorta gal or do you prefer the sand feces-free?

“I'm an artist and I have disheveled clothes and stuff. I'm confident in who I am and my style..."

Strange days, these, and especially in Huntington Beach, California. Surf City, USA was once known as a place to watch surf contests and occasionally riot. Those times now long in the rearview. Currently, Huntington is a MAGA hotspot with libraries being renamed after the political movement, rainbow flags banned and neighbors on the lookout for homeless men involved in child trafficking rings.

Enter Chapman Hamborg. The 33-year-old Huntington Beach artist, according to People Magazine, “is often found painting and sculpting in his backyard studio or surfing the waves near his home. His favorite pastime, however, is spending quality time with the family.”

Thus, two-ish weeks ago found him outdoors, walking his newborn baby. “She’s in her fussy newborn stage so I take her on lots of walks and I wear her in the baby carrier,” the platinum blonde told the human interest publication. “I go out often in the middle of the night, like all times of the day and multiple times a day. It’s kind of like a routine to give my wife some rest.”

Well, this particular day, a police officer met him out front when he came home and demanded to see some identification. A neighbor had reported a homeless man walking around with a baby, you see, and thus Johnny Law.

“I’m an artist and I have disheveled clothes and stuff. I’m confident in who I am and my style and, you know, I’ve never been to a barber. I cut my own hair,” he shared. “I have no problem with it. Like I choose to dress the way I do for a reason and I’m not going to change the way I look because of it.”

He was also wearing Patagonia the morning of the incident.

The officer, anyhow, accepted the explanation, once seeing the ID, and left with a lightly bemused chuckle.

The cop caller, though?

“So I’ve kind of seen her car… I recognize the car, so I can figure out which house it is. And I’ve gone on several walks back and forth since then, kind of hoping to see her and just be like, ‘Hey, I’m your neighbor and I’m not homeless,’ ” Hamborg explained. “Not to be mad or guilt trip or anything. Because like my wife even said, ‘Hey, at least we know our neighbors are looking out for our kids.’”

A fine attitude.

Watch here.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Hannah & Chapman Hamborg (@thehamborgs)

What did others know and when did they know it?

Erik Logan has “not been with the company” for well over a year, now, though his legacy lingered until just yesterday. The much-maligned “Final Five” season ender, starting each year at Pipeline, ending at Lower Trestles etc. each horribly misbegotten ideas crammed down the throats of bewildered surf fans, worldwide, in the attempt, I suppose, to snare the illusive non-surfing surf fan, viciously erased.

Logan rolled out the changes, celebrating them on his Instagram channel in to-camera pieces that were applause-emoji’d by professional surfers and World Surf League employees alike.

Which brings us directly to our question. Was the former Oprah Winfrey executive solely responsible for conjuring then implementing the changes? Did he rule as a dictator, over-ruling the exasperated sighs of his Commissioner, say, and his Chief Marketing Officer?

Or, did those in the building help design and approve of the new direction, applause-emoji’ing the entire wayward traverse?

The World Surf League’s c-suite had become hostile and menacing before, and during, Logan’s tenure, treating surf fans with utter disdain and the media as enemy so it is difficult to say whether there was internal opposition, in those years, or offices full of open collaborators.

Vichy West.

Well, all in the rearview now. Bygones bygones and ’26 awaits. A fine thing for all, including 2x* World Champion Filipe Toledo who can build on an earth-shattering Olympic performance to shock and awe all haters and bring home a 3rd title at macking Backdoor.

David Lee Scales and I did not discuss any of this during our weekly chat but did ruminate upon the origins of May Day. I think you’ll find enlightening.

*tee-hee