Kelly Slater, Mick Fanning, Bethany Hamilton and more put to the proverbial sword.
The Inertia achieved a major milestone, late last week, by reaching peak audacity. Former Surfer Magazine editor Zach Weisberg, casting his sensitive eyes over the space back in 2010, decided to “build a platform that celebrates the rich diversity of perspectives in surf and outdoor culture.”
Build he did, celebrating the rich diversity of changing ponchos, rinse kits, surf hats and waterproof adult diapers along the way.
Weisberg left The Inertia, a year or such ago, and now that daddy’s away, the staff has adopted a snarky tone, castigating surfers for their “head-scratching” product endorsement in a blistering new op-ed.
Here Are 5 Head-Scratching, Surfer-Endorsed Products begins by eviscerating Kelly Slater over his Purps energy drink before pivoting to a shaming of Mick Fanning and his bottle opening sandal. Next in the crosshairs, Kelly Slater, again, for his Rythmia hydrocolonic and ayahuasca retreat down in Costa Rica. Laird Hamilton and his Superfood coffee creamer did not escape scorn nor did Bethany Hamilton and her Sharkbanz.
Savage.
But I suppose in line with the times? Sixteen years ago, celebrating “rich diversity” was, well, celebrated. Today, of course, it catches a likely lawsuit from the U.S. Justice Department.
DEI gone the way of Zach Weisberg.
RIP.