“There’s a lot of moral compromise involved with making money off of
surfing…period.” Samuels told me over the phone in February of 2010.
“And I’m not immune from that either. There are definitely times where I
wonder. I have my little code I live by in terms of writing about
surfing and surf spots and what I will and won’t write, but at the same
time there is something kind of opportunistic; it’s kind of a vulture
thing. It’s like the spirit of Miki Dora in one way, whatever keeps us
surfing or allows us to surf more that’s justifiable. A lot of people
looked at his life and felt bad for the guy. The things he did to keep
surfing weren’t necessarily things that a normal person would be proud
of.”
Apologies if you don’t think this is relevant…it was posted earlier in Industry Talk and one of the posters suggested to move it over to the General Discussion…
“I don’t think a Target or a fill in the blank can support these athletes like we can,” says McKnight, who co-founded Quiksilver in 1976. “We meaning Quiksilver, Billabong, Hurley, Volcom, O’Neill, whoever, because there’s a lot more to it than just giving them a pay check. You have to support them through their highs and lows through their career, their health issues and injuries. You have to support them when they show up in Japan or Australia or Indo or France, if they’re sick or they run out of money or lose their bag or can’t get a plane ticket to the next place or lose their passport. We have offices everywhere and people on the ground that can help support them.”
no mention though whether his interview was before or after AI passed away.
Many of the older guys, from the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s did have questionable morals so Dora wasn’t alone. Very hard to make it back then being completely honest. Lot’s of scams going down and a lot of the guys didn’t really want to work, just surf. Just the way it was. Completely different from today I think. Pretty easy to find a place in the sport today by comparison.
Howzit surfiber, That was one of the questions are asking about Billabong and Andy Irons,Why weren't they there to support and help get Andy back to Kauai instead of leaving him to to do it by himself. You would think they would be very concerned about one of their top riders and should have had somebody with him. Aloha,Kokua
howdy kokua, perhaps a case of highly-placed people believing their own press releases ? hmm! " )
AI’s untimely death should give them enough motivation to manage surf comps and their team surfers the way they manage their bottomlines on a daily basis. sometimes people forget that other people matter
[quote="$1"]
...one of the questions people are asking about Billabong and Andy Irons, Why weren't they there to support and help get Andy back to Kauai instead of leaving him to to do it by himself. You would think they would be very concerned about one of their top riders and should have had somebody with him. Aloha,Kokua
[/quote]
howdy kokua, perhaps a case of highly-placed people believing their own press releases ? hmm! " )
AI's untimely death should give them enough motivation to manage surf comps and their team surfers the way they manage their bottomlines on a daily basis. sometimes people forget that other people matter
cheers,
[/quote]
The surf industry and most who participate in it on the larger side including the sponsored surfers = It's all about me. Surf magazine writers with integrity...ha ha. Don't think so. You can't keep your job.
Howzit Solo and surfiber, he presof Billabong was well aware of Andys problems and the pres of Lost was also and the Lost pres got in touch with a fellow Sway brother and told him what was going on with Andy and tried to get somebody to hep him while he was in Miami. If I was paying a person a lot of money to represent my company I would want to protect him since he is an investment that makes him part of the bottom line in business.
I would like to point out the irony of the title, there is no reporting in surf media. It is a bunch of writers, who can’t write, writing for people who can’t read.
Hey Kokua, I read the article and all the comments. I prefer not to comment on the article though I will say this, of all the books written about famous surfers, how many do you think are accurrate? Maybe M.P.'s and Hakman's,and there's no way they would tell the whole story, What about the guy who cut his Dick Brewer in half , cause he got Art and Dick mixed up.They were going off on poor Dick at the end, cheers H.
in that case they either don’t manage their underlings that well, or somebody really had a death wish to fulfill. either way the system sucks as it is hmm…
Traveled with Art years ago and have known him for a long time. He’s seen too much loss in this sport and speaking out as he has on this is his way of attempting to make something positive out of a obvious tragedy. As far as Billibong’s roll, it could have been more positive. But this was a 28 year old adult … a baby sitter is something he shouldn’t have needed.
And how can you fault surf mag writers … a bunch of 21 year old journalism students who are interning for free. Gotta go up a wrung or two higher to see where the real problem lies.
I would like to point out the irony of the title, there is no reporting in surf media. It is a bunch of writers, who can't write, writing for people who can't read.
[/quote]
Ha Ha...very true. Here is a great vid of a surf industry exec/surf journalist:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEh4Q_0yxuI&feature=related
For as long as I can remember the surf media has never done any real reporting on the darker side of surf culture.
It's True you can't babysit Adult Pro Surfers. On the other hand Most Pro were first noticed and get some sponsorship when still in High School. It might not be a bad idea to have mandatory Drug testing for underage Pro Surfers.
Kokua - thanks for the link. I read the article, and it had more ring of truth than anything I'd read so far. Because it included comments from his family and friends, because it refrained from jumping to conclusions, because it gave a background picture of patterns in his life, rather than sensationalizing on unfounded speculation. A I was a tragic figure, who himself spoke of his "inner demons". Kinda shows that talent fame and money cannot fill every need, which is nothing new, but still comes as a shock to some.
For as long as I can remember the surf media has never done any real reporting on the darker side of surf culture.
It's True you can't babysit Adult Pro Surfers. On the other hand Most Pro were first noticed and get some sponsorship when still in High School. It might not be a bad idea to have mandatory Drug testing for underage Pro Surfers.
[/quote]
The surf media and companies certainly didn't invent drug use, party lifestyles well into middle age or females for the sole purpose of men's sexual satisfaction...but they have certainly created their entire industry around the Spicoli types and glorified the whole burn out look and attitude. I remember when it was fine paddling out with cut offs. Try it now and you are labled a kuk. I see some kids in pictures with Volcon stoned hat on getting signatures from famous surfers from the past. Many of whose wildness is recored as some great accomplishment.
Yes..there is some personal responsibility, but like all western style of capitalism, there is such a thing a psychological manipulating by hype ads for a buck. Few industries outside of clothing fashion or music are quite as rotten as the surf industry. Most only have partial B.S. because some of them actually fit better or take talent to create.... the surf industry is almost entirely made up from lies, half truths and inuendo.
Ultimately who is responsible...first the individual who should know better, but they were certainly aided by greedy adults who trained the when they were young and helped create and atmosphere arena they had to compete in to make it. Complete with the equipment they must ride, clothing they must wear and attitude they need to cultivate.
Some of these ex pros are truely pitfiful when you consider some more intelligent and influential person could have actually been in a position to help them rather than use them like you would use a pant brush to paint a wall before tossing it and etc. There are good examples of pros or icons in surfing, but they are the exception not the rule.
Howzit Huck, That article was definitely an eye opener and since Bruce gave the OK on it, it was a true look into Andy's life and what kind of pressure the tour can have on it's players. Aloha,Kokua