Jeremy got off lightly
When news of the ASP’s suspension and fining of Jeremy Flores for unsportsmanlike behaviour broke last weekend, the blogosphere predictably lit up with shock and horror that the governing body should treat surfers like sportsmen, rather than like, well, free-spirited, high octane, dummy-spitting surfers. Personally, I think Jeremy got off lightly with a $6,000 fine and missing only one tour event and one six-star QS.
I say that from the perspective of some one who is an occasional critic of the ASP and a fan of Jeremy Flores since he was just out of nappies, and I would much rather be arguing the opposite case, but the facts are that at J-Bay Flores was way out of line, and perhaps more importantly, he is a serial offender.
I met Jeremy and his father, Patrick, back in the late ‘90s in France when the little grom from Reunion was just starting to make waves, in both senses. His precocious talent in the water was already apparent, but what impressed me was the graciousness and impeccable manners of the son and the flamboyant bonhomie of the dad. I was by no means close to Jeremy, but I remember waving to him one morning when he was about to hit the surf at Noosa. The 10-year-old returned my wave, put his board down on the sand and ran across the beach to kiss me on both cheeks in the French tradition.
As he grew up, Jeremy became a ferocious competitor and Patrick an extremely volatile manager and coach, but at the Quiksilver Pro France in 2003, contest director Rod Brooks and I (as event director) were both stunned when, following Jeremy’s elimination in the trials event at Hossegor, Patrick stood in front of the judging tower and made the throat-slitting gesture of a Mafioso. I expected Jeremy to be mortified, but he seemed equally disgruntled with what was a fair, simple and completely standard judging decision. It was the first indication we had that winning had become everything.
The following year, when Stephen Bell and I tried to put together a television pilot for a reality show called Surf Stars, using Quiksilver’s emerging European team riders, everyone was co-operative and supportive, except for Jeremy, citing his need to focus on his Pro Junior performances. Perhaps that was a fair enough call, but he was already beginning to distance himself from the rest of the team, to the detriment of his popularity.
When you play that card, you’d better have the talent to back it up, and Jeremy certainly seemed to, winning the 'QS tour and becoming rookie of the year on the CT in 2007 while still a teenager. As a surfer, he was the complete package – smooth but radical and totally committed on everything from two feet to 20 plus. And when he became a Pipe Master in 2010, it seemed his time had come.
Since then his career trajectory has been patches of brilliance punctuated by attitude and aggro. Currently residing at equal 28th, Jeremy needed to be focused on winning heats if he wants to stay on tour. Instead, in Heat 10 of Round 2 at J-Bay, he started whining about the result while the heat was still his to win, then blew the bomb he was given at the death. Seabass surfed pretty well, but Jeremy’s performance dictated the result. He had every right to be angry with himself, but no one else.
Flores has apologised in person and in print for his post-heat tirade against the judges, and at 26 he still has the time and talent to turn it all around, and maybe even claim that world title he was groomed for. I hope so. No one, not even this sentimental old bugger, expects Jeremy to start kissing cheeks again, but just a hint of that youthful grace and charm might help his cause and win back some friends, even in the judging tower. //PHIL JARRATT
Comments
As someone from the Australian / American surf industrial complex that is determined to continue the oppression of repressed European surfers you would say that though wouldn't you Mr Jarrat ?
Just because you took him under your wing, grooming him and giving him every opportunity possible to pursue the farcical notion of riding a surfboard for a living and being paid extraordinary amounts of money to do so whilst journeying the world and being feted as a superstar due to your efforts at promoting him and allowing him the privelidge of utilising all of your resources and contacts to further himself in the pursuit of his dream... We still know the truth.
One day the disenfranchised European surfers will rise up and wrest control of this pro surfing business that was raised from nothing by the evil Australian slave oppressors.....and then , and then you will truly see what ingratitude means.
Well said Blowy and it's been quoted so you can't have second thoughts and hit the delete button, HAHA.
.
Proletariat Surfers rise up against your Arial Master (oops I mean Arian Masters)
Cultural Marxism finally takes on the 'surfing industrial machine'.
To all you 99%'s ... "We're entitled to TUBEs, and we want them now!"
You don't frighten us, Australian pig dogs. Go and boil your bottoms, you sons of a silly person. I blow my nose at you, so-called "Surf King," you and all your silly Australian Knights.
Gold.
World title ? We have already got one, I have seen it . It is very nice.
tennis players smash raquets, football players abuse and scream at umpires, golf players throw and smash there clubs it is called passion! i just watched it gain and if all he did was throw his arms up like that then i believe that he has been extremely hard done by! would u like competitors to turn into robots ?
It went a bit further than that islandman, Jeremy also charged the judges quarters and abused them. There's been mixed ereports about a physical attack.
Islandman,
From the ASP website: "The incident involved the athlete confronting ASP officials and event staff..."
fair enough! i thought there had to be more than that involved!
Would love to have heard him getting colourful in French, maybe with english subtitles. Nothing funnier than a raving frenchman
maybe jeremy has been hanging around sunny to long and the agro is rubbing off ! we all remember the breaker pro incident that was a disgrace
Jeremy can take my job 9-5 -5 days a week...weekend warrior...sometimes I'm lucky enough to surf mid week when its on..he can then complain about life and remember about life previously and how good it was to be a pro surfer, paid to surf great waves, live the dream, travel the world..no spreadsheets no reports..it must be hard life being a pro surfer.
Gee,do you reckon,you should of praised him a bit more or give him a kiss on both sides of his CHEEKS!I reckon he should be described as a selfish,primadonna pro surfer,little french fck,that needs a kick in the arse,instead of all u guys and his father kissing his arse!SPOILT PRO SURFERS CAN BE PREVENTED!
If you compete in any sport you just have to learn how to loose well. Jeremy is no under 12's player he is grown up (we think). I agree with some of the comments, the guy is surfing for a living (I wish) and has had a reasonably easy road thus far in the sport as he is a big fish in a relatively small pond (the depth in Europe is nowhere near what it is in OZ). Kelly, Mick, Parko and way back when MR all learnt how to loose well. Jezza needs to work real hard on it and get a bit of perspective (just look around the world - Gaza strip, MH 17, etc..)
Mem, with all respect try and remember this-
Be careful of loose change, you might lose it.
Jeremy spent a long time surfing my local when he was an up and coming grom. He was always respectful and well mannered to me and my mates. Back then I always hoped he would win a world title because he seemed to have the talent and certainly the right attitude. Fast forward 10 years and Jeremy has recently spent an extended period back at my local. In that time I realised he was still very respectful both in and out of the water. Certainly no pro hassling wanker in the water and still had the time to greet his old friends by name and enjoy a catchup conversation. I still hope he wins a world title and is not judged by one decent spat at the judges who at times probably deserve a rocket up the ass. All these guys want to win and showing emotion at times is par for the course. How many of the CT guys head butted their boards at JBay on the weekend in frustration???
Zen too cryptic for me. Syril great to hear he is good guy.
Mem, just a good way to remember the difference between 'loose' and 'lose'.
Jeremy's boardies may be 'loose' but he didn't 'loose' the heat. The heat was his to 'lose'.
Please don't think I'm being condescending.
Thanks Zen this one has slipped by me 54 years, not condescending at all. The English language never ceases to amaze or confuse me. Loose is from Middle English loos 'Free from bonds' which was from Old Norse lauss. Lose is from Old English losian 'perish or destroy'. One we got from the Vikings the other prior to their arrival. I thought you had a cryptic remark for me which mean't I was losing (not loosing) my marbles.
Thanks mem, taken in good spirit.
Hope a nice set comes your way soon;)
I think it's fair to say he has a loose temperament.
I love the way these posts take on a new life via a tangent like this. Yes I agree he has a loose temperament meaning: Not firmly or tightly fixed , careless and indiscreet in what he said (says).
Flores and World Title in the same sentence, got to be joking.
Have not seen the heat or following incident but when I checked the results on the day and saw how close the heat was, my first thought was, 'gee, I bet Jeremy was pissed, wonder if he chucked a wobbly'. He is building a bad reputation for himself. He is never gracious in defeat from what I have seen.
Yeah, syril, good inside, or is that outside (of the pro surfing bubble), info ...
Maybe, Jeremy will do better once he learns how to lose with style? A zen type of thing?
Definitely outside of the pro surfing bubble wingnut. I wish all the guys on tour would never lose it when my kids are watching loose surfing.