PHOTOS of a greedy world champ and his clown mate Bottle
Sure towing in is fun and a great way to catch bigger waves that can't be paddled into but wheres the soul in doing it in small waves. Surely these blokes get there fair share of waves a snapper burleigh etc..come on fella's if what this blokes reporting is true then it sounds like pretty poor form, however l don't think it warrants such a defamation of your character.
Hey in this world if you act like a dickhead you get called a dickhead. And going off the actions reported in this story that tag fits perfectly with our two heros.
Put it this way if these two egomaniacs tried this kind of caper with locals around here, at their expense...well, they'd better have a few more bows to their athletic quiver than just surfing.
I never believe this "good bloke" rubbish you get fed in surfing mags, first hand experience is what's needed to make a fair call not what some sicaphantic, grovelling wannabe journo reckons.
The report is true. The only thing I have overstated is the waves ridden by the rest of the pack. They did get to ride a few secondary waves that did not barrel or run on the reef properly. I saw two guys in the hour get a set wave and that was as previously stated only on the occasions where a two wave set came through. Mick Fanning and Jay Thomson towed (using a ski) into the all the others by sitting just a bit further out and just inside all the crew. They were the only ones with a ski, everyone else was paddling. Once I saw a guy try to drop in but by the nature of the wave, a fast traveling sucky pit, there was no way of doing this without colliding with the surfer already on the wave. You would just be dropping straight onto him.
They were catching the wave on the fat bit just outside the suck and were up and riding down the line before anyone else got a look in. The take off on this wave is on the suck.
I don't believe for an instance that they did not know what they were doing. I believe that they planned to get as many waves as possible during the golden backlit period just prior to dark. Ted Grambeau and a video guy were shooting from the beach. If you were out there at the time then "bad luck mate, my needs are more important than yours" was the attitude on display. Obviously getting their waves and their photographs are more important than the waves the average punters are trying to get.
It was probably one of the most outrageously selfish acts I have seen in the surf.
These guys surf "all day everyday" or put it this way they get so many more waves and of a standard that most of us dream of that how do they justify burning crew that are out to get their few waves through out the week.
Some "name" surfers ( and I can't help but think the most infamous one is probably pretty close to fading away) at least portray themselves as aggressive, low lifes. I may not like it but at least they call a spade a spade. In this instance that is not the case. Mr "Top Bloke" and Mr "Aussie Knock-around" push the aussie good guy stuff and yet they go and pull this type of stunt.
I see time after time images images of "the pro's" dropping in and generally displaying bad form on their lesser ocean sharers. Check Laurie Towner"s drop in on some guy in "Still Filthy". What a prick. The wave is an absolute smoker and Towner gets a filthy barrel. What am I meant to do, cheer? I would have cheered if the guy who had right of way had of been left to surf it without some self important goose burning him wickedly. Incidently Laurie where did the other guy finnish up? Bouncing across the reef, broken board don't know, don't care. Piss off idiot. Or check Slater in the Machado movie "the drifter". Drops in, looks at the guy inside and then intentionally burns him. "the best surfer of all time" I think not.
The media stuff is B.S. I don't care if you get your photo or not. I don't care if your earn $100 000 plus or not. Who know's what Mick earns but I bet it is a pretty hefty sum. Leave your bad manners at home or even better you can keep them but stay home.
Don't like what you are reading then act by responding to the other point of view here. Agree with what i say then avoid the products of the sponsors and let em know why. Rip Curl won't give a shit but they won't like the "image" bruised. DHD maybe they will care.
W-BAT, Well said. and thank you swellnet having this forum and letting normal surfers have a say without any of it being edited or only the most witty being published. I'm just a grumpy old fart, I've had my waves but you young guy's have to stand up to this bullshit, cause all the rules are going out the window. Let the sponsors know, they probably dont care but,they might. Gee I wish I was there I could shown you my falling out of the lip onto the who snaked me yet again manouver. If you ever attempt it yourself wear a helmet, you can go head first into him with confidence. Also Gordy I think defamation means making up lies about someones character whereas W-BAT was just describing what they were doing.
LUV SHAUN
I recently had the misfortune to encounter AI, Fanning, Parko, Occy & Luke all at the same time out at average Snapper. Initially, I thought I was in for a show (at least one I'd enjoy) but I soon discovered that with the exception of Mr Egan, these greats were all about bullying guys off waves. Of course, they are not the only ones out there doing that but you'd think they'd rely on their ability to get waves.
Ironic how the crowds they helped create through videos and mags etc, are now seemingly a stone in their shoe. Is that karma?
Rosco
Spread the word. Three cheers to the hardcore south oz crew.
I will give them three cheers and a hip hip hoora when they shoot Smucho the clown for his relentless exposure of Streaky Bay for personal profit and ego.
LUV SHAUN
Yes, I don't no about shooting but I understand the grief. From what I can gather the only guy who wants to promote the area has a vested interest in getting the exposure. Doesn't his kid want to be a pro?
I'll tell you an interesting thing. Stab magazine/website had a forum up on the feelings towards the exposure they gave that contest.(not sure if that was the basis of thread but the posts took it in that direction anyway). I put forward my view, well thought out and presented and definately on the side of "leave the place alone". It is what it is and that is the way most of the crew there like it. Anyway the thread on the forum was pretty pro contest. Guess what happened to my post. Never made it to air. Somehow it mysteriously was erased prior to getting up on the web. Pretty suspicious I reckon.
A key point here is that once these places have been used up and exposed they never return to the simple beauty of what they were. They just get worse and worse. And then they become useless to the exposers and then they go and find somewhere else to screw over. Think Jack McCoy's exposure of nias then gnarloo then iluka every one of them went from a little piece of heaven to a shit fight.
It will be interesting to see if swellnet keep this forum open and honest or whether industry politics will come into play.
Funny thing, I got a letter published in Tracks a few months ago and they said that all the letters published won a prize pack , but they didn't contact me or answer me when I emailed them and asked them about it. I dunno, do you think the surfers bible would lie to it's readers.
LUV SHAUN
The prize might be a gun!!!
think I know the session you are talking about w-bat, mates were out there when Mick and jay were towing. didn't sound good when I heard it.
can't defend him but I've met Mick a couple of times and he seemed to be a really good bloke. suppose we all do dumb things?
why didn't anyone ark up? silence is approval and all that...
Its be going on for years the "Im a pro, don't you know who I am!" treatment to punter surfers.
I grew up at a break with two World Champs and one was OK the other was a C..t (the goofy footer). How many times i was burn by him, droppped in and snaked really annoyed the hell out of us older gromms who were locals as much as he was.
Then we had to endure the media hero worship of this guy. He could surf bloody well and was fearless but to blatantly use his status to create rules for himself was maddening.
Incedently he received a Pointy Nose surfboard right up the date after burning some older bloke. Karma.
The story of the greedy wolrd champ is not a new one and can totally relate.
Its the worst scenario you can imagine is having a session with a few crew or mates and along come sticker whores to wreck a session with there over inflated egos.
Next time you see them on a jet ski anywhere near a surfer contact NSW Maritime authority on 131256 there are strict guidlines in relation to these craft. As a boat owner and surfer i don,t know how they get away with it.Pro surfing has alot to answer for in the destruction and comercialisation of the sport, not to mention the wankers it has produced.
think I know the session you are talking about w-bat, mates were out there when Mick and jay were towing. didn't sound good when I heard it.
can't defend him but I've met Mick a couple of times and he seemed to be a really good bloke. suppose we all do dumb things?
why didn't anyone ark up? silence is approval and all that...
By: "patty"
You know this area is pretty mellow in the water most of the time. i've seen it flare up once or twice but never to major. Actually now I think of it one guy did get choked out. I have lived in places that were pretty localised and respect was demanded. If not you were pretty quickly told.
I wonder if that will change. No doubt the crowds are getting worse and there is a driven culture of surf development amongst some of the more business orientated older guys. They want to develop the surf culture etc. More buis more jobs more, more, more. But that is another can of worms that I won't go into here.
Someone did attempt a drop in but that was the most resistance that I saw.
The key point is it still comes back to their actions not our approval. I'm sure they knew exactly what they were doing.
If it is the world champ I'm thinking of I remember an article on him at Gland where his brother wrote. "and dickhead pulled rank and dropped in on everyone". The photos showed 8 to 10ft G land. Not the sort of place you want to be dropped in on. same guy has had his share of issues so karma comes back to bite you eventually.
I wonder where this behavour will ultimately end.
Regarding towing-in through other surfers. Maritime Safety Queensland have a draft Code of Conduct out for comment on their website. Check it out at the link below:
http://www.msq.qld.gov.au/About-us/Msq-headlines/Headlines-tow-in-surfin...
The Code of Conduct will prohibit this type of crass stupidity when other surfers are in the water. If you want it to happen then read the document and send MSQ an email at the address given. The more people who tell them they agree with the policy then the more likely it is to be put in place. ACT NOW! YOU ONLY HAVE UNTIL 26 FEBRUARY TO COMMENT.
Soul Surfer.
"silence is approval", thats it. Even if they are pro's rip their heads off.
sunny, patty, pablo, w-bat, brucecam 50.
This is brilliant! Good on you guys for telling it how it is.
I can almost hear some surfers thinking to themselves 'the Maritime safety who/what?' conduct of codes what?
thanks brucecam50 for letting us know about this application on 'tow in surfing'.
check out the link (Maritime) that brucecam50 told us about. Link
Hey w-bat if there is you and others (witnesses) who saw these surfers towing in and around surfers and swimmers i think you have a case with the maritime authority to have them handed a nice tidy fine and to be reprimanded.
That would be damn funny. 'world champ fined over towing into three foot waves at his home break and endangering the lives of other swimmers and surfers'
Someone has to deflate their ego's
forgive me if I sound rude, but did any of you tell them to piss off or just sit there and cop it?
I've noticed over the years that most of the tow in crew that you see around the coast are very bullish egotistical people, that's not saying that all tow crew are like that. I know quite a few mellow jet ski owners, you just never see them because there on an outer reef or at an inaccessable break, using it for what the original ideal was.Getting away from the crowds and surfing waves you cant paddle.
As a 50yo knackered-back, now an occasional WA tropical waters surfer, I've seen this crap for some 40 years wombat, greed, drop-ins, soulless nonsense. Marine authorities would love some pics of this latest scourge/incident, the jet ski, as would the media, sponsers-NO!! Stick it up em. Personally I'd paddle out on someone's mega mal and just get in their way for a carton of coronas, $5 each between the 10 of you, money well spent I reckon. Throw in some good vodka and a lip launched hardwood 11 footer wouldn't be out of the question either. Man-up as a group and circle the ski, rotate each surfer for each set wave. Whatever you decide, just take a stand, legal that is.
All the best, keep surfin no matter what, Asto
In part, I think this is inherent in the nature of surfing. Pros are competitive, and that streak will come out whenver they surf. Combined with the natural pecking order that most surf spots develop on the basis of ability, then we often end up with a situation where the best surfers seem to consider themselves more entitled to waves than others (on the basis, and I have heard this said often, that someone else will 'waste it'). The pro who I thought had the best approach was MR - I remember reading an interview where he said that just because he could surf well did not make him a better or more worthy person than the next guy. I reckon we could all take something from that - how many of us have exploited a situation where we were surfing with people less skilled than ourselves, and so dropped in, snaked, etc? Not nearly the same as dominiting the lineup on a ski, but is it a small step in that general direction?
Hey Astro as a 50 year old surfer you wouldn't be Captain Goodvibes mate by any chance? Speaking of which I wonder how he would deal with this situation.
The pig of steel would have come in on a battleship and spray the lot of them with acid so everyone could sit and ponder what the world had come too. Mind you that would just be a ploy so that Astro could tow him in without anyone bothering him.
Surfing has lost its innocence since the Captain departed to surf better, more consistent galactic reef breaks elsewhere. These days there is a breathtaking sense of entitlement among the elevated surfing elite, who on the whole appear to display no humility or sense of equity in the water. Conversely they are capable of turning on all the charm in the world for the surf media. Good corporate media training will do that.
The fires of these egos are stoked by the very corporate surf industry that we all contribute to feeding. These are the suits who want Average Joe Surfer to idolise the elite and then shut the rest of us mugs out of the best breaks, in the best conditions so they can hold the comps to further promote their elite heroes who are the vehicles that promotes the over priced crap they sell. This is then flogged off to every aspiring grom from Melbourne to Moscow.
Their healthy corporate bottom line is why millions more people take up surfing world wide every year and why you now find people from land locked nations clogging up breaks in Indo and on the Goldy.
Nobody should have anything against someone discovering the magic of waves in their own way, but voracious corporate overkill of the surfing culture across the planet is relentlessly choking off the simple pleasure of enjoying a nice wave. No wonder Goodvibes left, he could see the writing on the wall.
Nice one W-bat for turning over this particularly nasty malignant rock.
Thanks Fergus.
I intentionally don't buy surf brands except for equipment and even then I will try for a brand like patagonia which display ethics in their product choice and production and I assume in the overall ethical culture of the company. Read "let my people go surfing" by Yvon Chouinard. He is the person who started patagonia and It is an interesting read. I don't go near Billabong or Quiksilver or Rip Curl. If you purchase you are so buying a brand more than the product.
Interestingly I almost purchased a DHD last year as I was returning to the north coast of nsw for christmas. I was going to go for a pro comp type board thinking it would be fun just to feel what the pro's are riding in the softer waves of that area. So glad I didn't. I would hate to think that any of my hard earned $'s were going to an individual or company that condoned this behavior.
Funny thing is I did end up getting the same equipment two days ago. I went and purchased a jet ski.
Better go burn some crew!!!!!
Did you see Rabbit's Bartholomew's comments in that movie "Fun in the sun". (forgive me if this isn't 100% accurate but the general gist is correct) His point is that surfing is a competitive sport and that when he surfs he goes out with a strategy in mind. Whilst he is saying this the movie cuts to a shot that shows rabbit dropping in on three guys. No Way!!!! No wonder surfing and surfers are displaying absolutely terrible manners to each other. This guy was in charge of the professional development of surfing.
I have seen the slow creep of this attitude into my old home town of Yamba and now i can see the early signs of it coming here. I'm not foolish enough to think it will stop but I really hope I can get through my surfing days before this sick attitude is prevalent. I reckon I got ten years of hard surfing left.
This is really sad.
^^^ they almost never send the prizes out, they are usually kept by the mag staff.I know some of the editors. As to the whip in situation , thats totally wrong for those two to carry on like that it is absolutely against the law also.Just give the rego number of the ski to the cops and follow it up.I had a similar situation 3 yrs ago with luke steadman and mikala jones whipping in at 2 foot sth whale beach, stedman had a photog on the beach doing insight ads.The clubbies wanted nothing to do with it until i told them about all the laws they were breaking . They pissed off asap.
those guys are actually breaking current nsw martime law which states pwc are not to be operated within 60 m of other people in the water (swimmer, surfers).Also they need to wear those life vest things, which none of em wear when they are doing whip-ins.The new laws coming into qld are basically going to end towing or whipping in
Too true W-bat. It is sad to witness the decline of a culture we all love, but its a lesson in what can happen when people either never understood, or somehow forgot the real reason that they took up surfing in the first place.
The ethos that you should want the people in the water with you to have as many waves and as much fun and satisfaction that you have is the real principal. It's right up there with showing respect, humility and courtesy and taking your place at the visitors end pecking order when at another break, regardless of how good you are. It's only the minority of Olympian Hero's, who have flight feathers wielded to their ankles, and a much more toxic attitude to their brothers and sisters in the water who don't adhere to similar beliefs.
As for "the Rabbit", he would have to be the Chief Architect Emeritus of the current Darwinian, dog eat dog mindset that prevails. He's the Commercial and Corporate Competition poster boy, but he's a mighty poor role model. It's all about "compete or die scum". That attitude was the reason a large number of indigenous Hawaiian surfers severely smacked him around in the 70's. Now there's a culture of people who understand respect and humility.
I have read a little of Yvon Chouinard and the Patagonia Company. I was impressed that they seem operate in a very different and more ethical manner than the corporate surf cowboys that fill the Oz surf media with junk advertising. I think you've inspired me to vote with my credit card.
Enjoy the J-ski. I'm sure you will put it to much better application than Surf Miester Fanning and his band of cohorts.
Having spent most of my spare time between burleigh and snapper during the last swell trying to get a few photos, my general observations were about 99% of drop ins were regular surfers dropping in on each other and most of those were at burleigh. And there were some shockers! Showed the total decline in manners in general in and out of the surf.
While everyone who had the balls to do a free fall drop into the bazza at snapper were getting respect including boogs:P
While it feels good to have a vent/whinge about the whip ins unless someone gets off there ass and reports it to the authorities nothing is going to change..
w-bat i live in iluka and within the space of 2 years its turned into a squabbling burleigh barrel. take your stab magz and beat it!
The information below is from NSW Maritime's PWC Handbook. It is based on the NSW legislation regarding use of PWC. Every state has similar legislation. If PWC are giving you greif, take note of the vessel's registration number and if possible get a good pic of the vessel breaching the safety distance limits, then email it to the agency in your state responsible for marine safety. They generally take public reports on PWC pretty seriously and will carry out an investigation and question the vessels registered owner with a veiw to either prosecuting or at least caution the offender depending on the severity of the alleged offence. Plus it will go on record.
Distance Off
When driving a PWC at 10 knots or more or towing a person, you must keep the vessel and the person being towed a minimum distance of:
30 metres from power-driven vessels (including other PWC), land and structures (including jetties, bridges, moorings and navigation markers) or, if that is not possible a safe distance
60 metres from persons or non-powered vessels (sailing and passive) or if that is not possible a safe distance.
a safe distance from any vessel towing a person.
I reckon there were times when they were 5 meters away and every takeoff was maybe fifteen at the most. The driver (Mick) then turned away across the front of the guys in the line up. So if the ski had of been caught inside it would have been straight back on to the paddlers.
I reckon this site must be fairly popular in QLD. Can some one there let these guys know about this thread and get them on for their input. I would love to know what they were thinking.
Yep, I am a sort of lid (...it's a long story) and mostly surf less crowded stuff down the coast a bit (c-reef, hastos, blackies etc) and can take off inside most, even "them" but I have seen this happen at DBah and Letitia. I have also been having a quiet one at the local when the "jet set" arrive and just take over the place. A while ago blackies started firing like a small pipe on roids but within 30 mins we had the photogs telling locals to get out of the way so they could shoot the "boyz". Generally now if they turn up I just go somewhere else cos you know its over until they leave.
Hey W-bat.
Why'd you go ahead and get a ski ?
Seems kind of incongruous after that experience.
Can't quite believe that with 10 blokes out not one had the sack to stand up and say something to rectify such a blatant act of fcukery.
Hey W-bat.
Why'd you go ahead and get a ski ?
Seems kind of incongruous after that experience.
Can't quite believe that with 10 blokes out not one had the sack to stand up and say something to rectify such a blatant act of fcukery.
By: "freeride76"
Got the ski for other purposes. Answered the second question earlier.
Thats not really the point is it.
I've never been a brawler. Can't speak for the other crew.
fair enough.
pretty easy to shut down in NSW by phoning Waterways.....as has been pointed out.
we went through all this at the Ox a few years ago.....now the skis stay away from paddling surfers.
Recreational surfers need to stand up and speak if they want to get rid of this greedy crap.
Nothing against people towing in at outer reefs or spots inaccessible to paddling....but stay away from people paddling.
To present another side, the Pros have been down here recently and behaved well...i think they realise they won't get away with any crap down here.
Sharpen you stakes lads, and we will vanquish these blood-sucking corporate slaves.
I will contact the local waterways crew today. Just read the local rules etc and it is pretty much the same here.
Try being in Bali when they run the Rip Curl invitational at Padang Padang.
Ive never seen a bigger bunch of prats.
Ok Ok...Enough exaduration batman..I was out there too that afternoon and sorry mate I have to pull you up on this one..I understand your anti establishment, anti pro surfer sponso rant..Everyone to thier own, chose your own path I say..But to say they were being gready is a major overerstatment. Everyone was getting some that day. I got plenty..My mates got plenty..I was super supprised with the patience of Mick and Bottle as they would sit and wait only taking one wave out of each set every 10mins or so..There were plenty waves for everyone else. Sure there were only two 2 wave sets pushing head and a half every 10mins but in reality if Mick were to paddle this day he would have been on these waves either way. The only reason I say this is for the lack of local chargers this day..I was quite suprised to not see as many regular faces in the line-up..The line-up was filled with blow ins and school holiday groms..Very lucky for those guys!!..There were only three others this day who even wanted the sets! It was the day the circus came to town and for us country folk it was entertaining..I only heard one guy having a rant about it out there and for everyone else they all looked pretty stoked getting a close-up view of some pretty mad surfing. Sure MF was breaking the law..Call the cops if your so angry? Even my first reaction was..What the F*CK, they can't do this as i walked up the beach. But in a a credit to them they were being fair. Whipping in from at least 30m deep then fanging the ski out and wide as not to fill the line-up with jet wash and only taking very few waves. I'm not saying tow surfing in paddle zones is OK..I'll be the first to tell someone to piss off. But in this case...F*ck man it was our new world champ and he was being a good bloke! Luv the DEIZ
pffft "World Champ" .. so what. What they were doing was illegal and also showed lousy respect for the paddlers (blow-ins or not) who have right of way. This is not complicated, Diezal. Why make it all into a grey area when it is black and white. If we start making exceptions then who gets to make those exceptions. Why make exceptions for them? Other will then begin to say, "well, we though we weren't 'that' bad, you know, we let them have some waves". People always have excuses for poor behaviour, but it doesn't wash.
you guys should take a back seat and re read the dribble you have posted... At a glance im guessing most of you ride lids... therefore voiding any of your opinion's towards surfing. It's sounds like fanning and bottle were doing the wrong thing, however that surely does not warrant a tyraid of hate from you geeks.
P.S anyone who supports localism can get a dog up em... the surf is for everybody!
We must be talking different days but I bet we are not. That is so not as I saw it. As I said earlier the only waves other crew rode were when there were more than one wave in a set. Incidently they took the first wave of every set so I don't think they were looking after anyone else and the fact there was a second wave that you got to ride was more good luck than them bothering with the rest of the crew.
If those guys were to paddle then I reckon they would have a hard time continually paddling inside after every wave. Much easier to stay away out the back. .... and if that is case why not paddle and be part of the crowd.
Plenty of one wave sets and they took those to. I saw one or two guys get decent waves other than the tow crew. Obviously that was you. Nice Barrel by the way.
Do you reckon if the waves had been spread into a level playing field maybe a few more guys would have got a few. This is where I really disagree with you they took a wave from every set and there were plenty of one waves sets leaving everyone else with zero.
I'm not sure how they came across as being good guys they sure as hell didn't interact. Just tow in, ride, pick up, tow in, ride, pick up, etc etc.
I'd love to like the world champ, he is an aussie, but they took a wave from every set on an inconsistent day and lots of sets had one wave. Being the champ or a pro gives you no more rights than anyone else.
If you are a Bottle or Fanning fan, no problem, I respect that. Read the thread and form your own opinion as you choose. (good to get a different point of view by the way). I'm just not trusting enough to fall into that pro hero B.S.
Consider this.
This scenario which, if you are completely correct, still has them towing where they shouldn't, taking more waves than their share and with a unfair advantage.
Second scenario, Paddling with the crew, being part of it, still getting a fair amount of waves which their standard of surfing would dictate. What would we be talking about now. How fantastic it was that they came to town and shared some waves with us.
Scenario two is not how it went down.
"I was super supprised with the patience of Mick and Bottle as they would sit and wait only taking one wave out of each set every 10mins"
........................................................................................
Thanks Dezial for giving us the other side of the story, thanks to your description of events, any logical person can plainly see Mick and Bottle are greedy. But that's okay cause they would be just as greedy paddling in. But we of the lower breed of surfers wouldn't understand would we. I mean everybody else out there should have been grateful that Mick didn't use his super powers to ride both waves in the set, luck he's such a good bloke with a ton of patience for the lowly folk. Now if I've got the math right the set's were ten minutes apart, and mick was only taking one wave out of each set every ten minutes. So Mick was taking half the waves for himself. I think it's pretty black and white.MICK IS A GREEDY BASTARD!! and BOTTLE his wannabe hangeron mate is a CLOWN.
Who cares if they're greedy, better accept a large percentage of society is greedy. Get on with life, if someone is like that they're probably giving the rest of us a good example of how not to behave. Although I wish I could get that many waves.
stuz you just contradicted yourself
Funny you should mention this.
One of my brothers workmates surfed Angourie last weekend and mcfanny was out taking every set wave and his comment was the same, what a greedy bastard (actually is one I think).
Funny how the surf media never makes this sort of observation.
Stay tuned, any day now you will see him on TV doing the tokenistic bit of charity work, pushing some blind kiddy onto a wave, and the cretins will think what a great person.
Hey Dezial you know you got me thinking. I've kind of been sitting here thinking maybe I'm just a whinging bastard and should just shut up.
I just can't find one positive comment of substance about this crew on this thread or anywhere really that is not coming from any source that has no vested interest. To really rub it in a common thing through out this thread is that my experience is not isolated and more the norm than the exception.
Just to many contradictions to just lie down.
before things get to nasty and putting aside the whip in "incident" I dont think you can go bashing someones credability or personality just because they are a famous surfer without actually meeting them?? I know i wouldnt want people to judge my entire personality from one action?? I guess that is the internet for ya...
And the reality is the guy makes wads of cash surfing waves all over the world, would he even care about people having a rant in internet forums? lol
and then diesel was waiting anxiously on the beach, desperately trying to get his book signed but alas our world champ got doubled off into the sunset atop his mighty motorized, aquatic steed...So forlorn he went home and played Eminem's "Stan" over and over again.
And simsurf going by your logic I never met Hitler, nor did I actually witness any of his actions...so I suppose we'll give him the benifit of the doubt and throw him in the good bloke basket..
PHOTO LINK ON PAGE 15.
Ever think you are being fed the spin..... "what a top bloke" etc etc etc
About two weeks ago ago went for the late arvo surf at one of the locals. Paddle out into the line up and who should be gracing us with their presence but Mick Fanning and Jay Bottle Thonpson.
Now the surf was fair to good and would have been great, it was just quite inconsistent and most sets had only on wave. Offshore shoulder high and barreling.
Probably ten guys out sitting waiting for the sets. The in between waves just did not break.
Now our two legends decide they are a bit more important than anyone else and start towing in. Yes shoulder high with a crew out and they start towing through the pack. And they took every wave that came through.
As soon as they flicked off, immediate pick up and straight out the back sitting 30 mtrs out and slightly inside. Sure enough next set and they take that one too. I was out there for an hour and and the only waves that anyone else rode were on the rare occasions that a two wave set came through.
From what I believe "towing" when there are surfers in the water is illegal. But regardless that is just plain greed and contemp for every other surfer in the water.
We get fed a lot of b.s. in the media. "Top bloke" Mick, nice aussie bloke "bottle". I've always been sceptical of these claims and seeing these two in action was just reduced their credibility to zero.
I saw on Mick Fanning's twitter page later that he talks about surfing one spot in the morning and whip in's at this spot in the afternoon right next to the photo of his dopey smiling face. It could have spewed. He forgets to mention that he burnt every other surfer in the water that day.
If you know these two clowns please let them know that they are no better or more important than anyone else. They are not better humans, they have no additional rights and could they please deflate their egos and bring their over inflated self importance in check.