Surfing legend, environmentalist, and leading surfing ambassador George Downing has died on March 5, 2018 at his home in East Oahu, according to story on Hawaii News Now. He was 87.
Born and raised on the island of Oahu, Downing was one of the last of the old-time Waikiki beach boys mentored by Duke Kahanamoku. . . He later became a mentor himself to generations of watermen and fought to protect coastlines from erosion and development.
Downing is survived by his sons Keone and Kainoa, daughter Kaiulu, grandchildren Kaohi, Kirra, Kainoa, Keola and Nalei, and two great-grandsons. His wife Gildea Lauwe Downing died before him. Our thoughts are with Downing’s family and friends.
The Surfing Heritage and Culture Center in San Clemente, California is hoping to get the State of California to produce a “The Endless Summer” special interest license plate and you can help.
The State of California requires that SHACC submit a minimum of 7,500 applicants before it will approve the plate and proceed with its creation. SHACC has opened a “pre-registration” site in order to gauge interest and gather names for registration when the time comes. The pre-sell will commence after the sponsoring state agency files a letter of intent with the Department of Motor Vehicles and the proposed license plate is approved by the Department and the California Highway Patrol.
For all the official details follow the jump or lick here for the Surfplate website.
Hall of Fame surfer Ian Cairns is working as a brand ambassador for Clever Buoy, an ocean monitoring platform that detects large marin life (a.k.a. sharks) using sonar and acts as an early warning system for surf safety. Might not be a bad idea to have a couple of the water near our favorite beaches. For more info and how you can help make this happen, please follow the jump.
Regardless of what skaters may think, we don’t put a whole lot of thought into surfing, surfers, surfing journalism, nor surf media because while we may surf, we’re definitely not surfers. Last night, however, we listened to an episode of the Surf Splendor podcast (our first) and were pleasantly surprised. It’s nice to know that people still think and talk about surfing and surf media like it matters. The best part: not having to think about it ourselves.
Health-minded, recently vegan, seemingly ageless, best-surfer-of-all-time Kelly Slater is reportedly appearing in an advertisement for a major label beer brand that will run during the 2018 Super Bowl (a previously popular televised event where beer ads are separated by footage of large men repeatedly crashing into each other while trying to move a ball across a lawn).
We’re speculating that he’s appearing in the ad (which also includes sporting stars that we didn’t recognize) as part of a sales play to get said beer company to sponsor events produced by a privately owned entertainment company specializing in event and online streamed content production (mostly surfing sport) that Mr. Slater is involved with. But we have no knowledge of any such deals. What we did find entertaining was Mr. Slater rationalizing his appearance in the ad when questioned about it on Surfer.com.
I think everyone knows I don’t drink a lot, but I don’t mind a beer here and there, especially after a long day of surfing.. . . When somebody stands for something, people expect everything to perfectly align in that direction at all times. But I once drank a beer in a barrel in Tahiti in a heat. So I think people do understand that I have a beer from time to time. It’s just something culturally that goes along with the celebration of a win or competition or a long day doing something. Obviously anything done in excess is not a good thing, but I think a beer goes along with celebration.
And there it is. Kelly likes beer just enough to be in a commercial.
Pierre Agnes, 54, the CEO of Boardriders Inc, the parent company of Quiksilver and Billabong reportedly went missing at sea near Biarritz, France, on Tuesday, January 30, 2018, according to an Associated Press story in the LA Times. Boats and helicopters joined the search immediately.
According to Agence France-Press, Agnes went out in his boat early Tuesday and later told authorities that because of fog, he would return later than he’d initially planned. . . The port authority of the Atlantic beach town of Capbreton said the search was launched after Agnes’ empty boat was found washed up Tuesday in nearby Hossegor. In a statement, Boardriders said that 54-year-old Agnes had gone fishing on his “beloved” boat, as he often did in the mornings, and that he had not been heard from since.The port authority of the Atlantic beach town of Capbreton said the search was launched after Agnes’ empty boat was found washed up Tuesday in nearby Hossegor. In a statement, Boardriders said that 54-year-old Agnes had gone fishing on his “beloved” boat, as he often did in the mornings, and that he had not been heard from since.
Our thoughts are with the Agnes family and we continue to hope for the best.
[Update February 1, 2018: The search for Pierre Agnes has been called off (Wednesday, January 31, 2018) the day after his boat was found washed up on a beach, according to as story in the LA Times. “Maritime authorities had struggled with waves of up to 8 feet and poor visibility Tuesday. They called off the search on Wednesday afternoon after canvassing the area with two boats, a jet ski and three helicopters, saying there was little chance of Agnes being found alive. . . Water temperatures were in the low to mid-50s, and that stretch of coastline is known for its fast, big and heavy barrel waves, making it a popular spot for surfers. At this time of winter there are also perilous riptides and shifting sandbanks.”]
Wanna watch Gabriel Medina (above) go after current world champion 2 John Florence next year on that surf series operated by a privately owned entertainment company specializing in event and online streamed content production (mostly surfing sport)? According to a story on Forbes.com you’ll have to do it on Facebook, because the days of watching the feed on the company’s website (and then airplaying it your TV) are over thanks to a payment of an estimated $30 million from Facebook for exclusive rights.
Facebook had non-exclusive rights to live WSL events last year with the competitions also broadcast on the WSL’s website and mobile app. Nearly 14 million people watched a World Surf League event on Facebook in 2017. “The exclusivity of this deal will elevate the profile surfing and the WSL have within the Facebook platform,” says Sophie Goldschmidt, WSL CEO.
Thrity-million dollars is a nice chunk for a business that has most likely been losing large sums of money each year since buying the tour. But we can say this, we watched a couple events last season, now if they’re only available on Facebook.com we won’t watch any and we don’t think we’re alone. So long pro surf tour. . .
The 2017 Pipeline trials winner Dusty Payne took off on a Backdoor monster yesterday morning (Monday, January 8, 2017) and was driven into the reef where he was knocked unconscious, according to a story on Surfline.com.
“I was paddling back out to Pipe and I saw Dusty going for the wave,” said Big Island charger Jimmy “Ulu Boi” Napeahi. “It was a super steep drop, right where you don’t want to fall. So when he fell, I knew it was a nuts wipeout and started paying attention. Pretty soon, Keoki [Saguibo, longtime North Shore photog] yelled — I caught a little wave and beelined to Dusty and tugged on his leash to see if he was there.. . . Ulu Boy continued: “Keoki pulled him up and was holding his neck; I had his legs straddled around my waist and my hands on his back so his neck was straight. Luckily, Keoki is a strong swimmer and a really good communicator. He was facing the waves and would call out when one was coming so we could spin sideways and go under. It was gnarly, ‘cause there was so much blood; it looked like Dusty hit his forehead on the reef and he was foaming at the mouth.. . . “Finally, we got him to the beach and there was a lot of people there so we let the experts take over. And I don’t how bad it is — but Dusty was yelling and swearing right before getting in the ambulance, and that’s the best thing I have in my mind right now.”
Payne was reportedly conscious and at the hospital yesterday afternoon. Our thoughts are with him. We hope he escaped any permanent damage and that he has a speedy recovery.
The International Surfing Association (ISA) today announced an agreement with a certain privately owned entertainment company specializing in event and online streamed content production (mostly surfing sport) on the qualification principles for surfing in the Olympics Games Tokyo 2020.
In principle, the agreement will see up to 18 of the 40 places at the Games reserved for WSL Championship Tour (CT) surfers (10 men and eight women), with the remaining 22 places determined at the 2019 and 2020 ISA World Surfing Games, the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima, and a single slot (each for men and women) for the host nation (Japan).. . With the support of the WSL, the ISA eligibility rules for Olympic participation will require surfers to make themselves available for their national teams to compete in the ISA World Surfing Games in 2019 and 2020 and, if selected by their National Federation, to participate.
A little less that half the surfers will come from theSounds like a nice compromise. For the official word, from the two organizations, please follow the jump.
Just a little reminder that while we in the Northern Hemisphere may be freezing our wee bits off, in the Southern Hemisphere it’s summer. . . or something like that.
Surfing legend, environmentalist, and leading surfing ambassador George Downing has died on March 5, 2018 at his home in East Oahu, according to story on Hawaii News Now. He was 87.
Pierre Agnes, 54, the CEO of Boardriders Inc, the parent company of Quiksilver and Billabong reportedly went missing at sea near Biarritz, France, on Tuesday, January 30, 2018, according to an Associated Press story in the 
