Last night I watched Real Sports on HBO and I have officially had it. I am livid.
For those who didn’t see, the final banger fifteen minutes of the episode was on drugs and surfing. What Bryant Gumbel called “hard” drugs as he twiddled his reading glasses and sunk his non-existent chin into a horrible suit jacket/shirt combination. And then off to Santa Cruz where Anthony Ruffo and Flea spoke about methamphetamine and the segment reporter, also in a horrible shirt/pant combination, asked leading questions about the surf industry complacence in burying the wild addictions of its stars against the backdrop of Andy Irons’ death. Which led to their one self-righteous conclusion: Surfing needs drug testing.
This followed Outside magazine’s two exposé pieces on Andy’s death and, again, the implication that the surf industry buried truth in order to maximize dollars at the expense of Andy himself. And the same one self-righteous conclusion. Surfing needs drug testing.
Bullshit.
Surfing doesn’t need drug testing because it doesn’t need broad, meddling, top-down responses to societal problems. Surfers aren’t taking steroids in order to boost performance (save Neco Padaratz). They are partying and maybe too much and maybe too often but, fuck, since when did parenting adults become the obvious solution? Each country in which the tour stops has drug laws. Surfing doesn’t need to add more dumb red tape to an overly legislated area.
But more to the point, both HBO and Outside assume a watchdog tsk-tsk position, reporting the “facts” while not being involved in the space in any way, shape or form.
HBO’s look was an obvious piece of shit. They didn’t speak with anyone close to Andy and, while I love them both, Ruffo and Flea are outliers in Santa Cruz doing an outlying drug. Meth or ice or shards or devil dust or whatever is weird. And I know Santa Cruz and Oregon and the Ozarks and Hawaii have problems with it but, still, it ain’t the norm. Surfers aren’t ice-heads.
Outside’s was more insidious because it had the ring of truth, which is always more insidious. Mormonism also has the ring of truth. But the work was shoddy. The writer had a clear supposition before interviewing, compiling and writing. He knew what his last sentence was. He supposed Andy died of a drug overdose and he supposed the industry was at least partly to blame so he worked backward to prove it. Yellow and shocking. The writer twisted what he needed to in order to make it all fit. I know because he clearly and purposefully twisted me. Rude and small.
Even still, some armchair pundits applauded the bravery. And so, the editorial staff at Outside got what they wanted: All the feel-good whistle-blowing amazing of cracking one tough nut of a tale. The surf industry’s cursed silence! The surf industry’s wanton blindness! They got to be Woodward and Bernstein.
The only difference is they are not Woodward and Bernstein, Andy’s death was not Watergate and the story had massive holes spackled over with insinuation and even more self-righteousness.
Andy’s life, told in a moralistic “Let’s all learn a lesson from his death. Guess what everybody? Drugs are bad”-way, is cheap and tawdry. It is a bad story.
And that is just it. I once wrote, “If nobody tells a true story then what is the point?” I still believe this, firmly and passionately, but the emphasis is equal on both true and story. And the surf family did tell Andy’s story. It was told, orally, in line-ups around the world. It was told by those who knew and loved him. It was told by the surf magazines. It was told well. Beautifully.
HBO and Outside have nothing invested in our world. They know nothing and can come in and wave a stick around and beat their chests as purveyors of awesome and unbiased truth, but their perspective is worthless. They could have invested time and energy. They could have talked to interesting people. They could have come to a less ham-fisted conclusion or chosen not to have their minds made up before damning an entire industry. But they didn’t. Because they are content with spilling out the same dribble Nancy Reagan did thirty years ago: Drugs are bad. They both told bad stories. Rotten ones.
And frankly, while I am being livid, I am also livid at the surf family for not telling HBO and Outside to fuck off vociferously. So I will say it for all of us.
Fuck off. Vociferously.
Now let’s party! —Chas Smith
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posted by Chas Smith / Blogs, Editorial / March 14, 2011
Matt Warshaw is so wrong! Terribly wrong!
Chas don’t get your panties in a bunch. You’re acting like an upset gay man. Do you think anyone is going to take you serioiusly????? Is this supposed to be a serious post now??? What a f-ing joke!!!!! hahhahahahahah
What all these critics don’t realise is that the whole world is in an era of drugs and addictions, the fact that surfing was associated with drugs 20 years ago is understandable, but these people should go out of their own little world and they would see all the pill poping coc snorting f***ers that exist, seriously they are everywhere. You just have to go out in a night club (try england which is real bad from experiance) and you can quikley realise the extent of the damage. Every part of society has its druggies surfing is no different. It is most likely that andy did drugs and not just weed but that is no reason for taking the whole surfing community and generalising it. I think it is quite the contrary today, surfing projects an image of healthy life style and good values.
You can’t critiscise when you haven’t got any experiance in the domain, so to all the stupid and ignorant, don’t lash out at what you know nothing anything about.
baby take it off.
I agree that surfing needs to keep that rebellious, counter culture spirit alive, because without it it’s just another mainstream sport for the masses.
But Chas you are majorly contradicting yourself here because you obviously love all the things that are trying to bring surfing to the masses (i.e. the US Open, Quik Pro NY, Target, Saturdays NYC yuppies, etc., etc.). The non-surfing public will scrutinize and demand for drug testing because they are not surfers. It’s the double-edged sword of trying to popularize surfing while losing it’s don’t give a fuck, no rules essence. But you can’t have both.
I like this style of writing and the stance Chas takes on this issue. He makes several valid points. However, I would take the article more seriously if there weren’t random exclamation points and curse words used haphazardly throughout the piece. As an armchair pundit, that’s just my opinion. Thank you.
Here’s the solution, announce that surfing will be inducted into the olympics then talk about a drug test.
Surfing isn’t a sport, and people outside of surfing don’t care about it, they just think it’s pretty. The end of that HBO piece likened riding a 50 foot wave to driving a race car. While driving a race car is probably equally dangerous, how could anybody that’s never been out in heavy water equate anything to surfing 50′ waves. We care about surfing, and the people in it, because of the act of surfing, not the contest results or how the general public sees it. We are dejected about the mainstream’s positions and words on Andy because of the respect and admiration we all shared for him. People that don’t surf don’t know what surfing is. It’s because of this paradox that surfing will always be counterculture and subversive.
Thanks for the article Chas.
I saw the HBO special on this. it pissed me off to because bryant gumbel ended the peice by saying “it seems surfers just sit around,surf and get high”. F you gumbel kook!!!! u don’t know shit plastic surgery ugly F!!!
I did not see the HBO piece. One who truly loves surfing must ask; How is this type of journalism bad? Isn’t this what we want? Bring it on… Parents do not let your children grow up to be surfers! Or actors or musicians. For that matter investment bankers, hedge fund managers or m and a guys. oops I spaced, those guys just do 6 different types of prescription medication. Never mind…
so why are you livid?
live and let live bros….keep living the dream working at the corporate surf mag
Hey, if you guys at the surf magazines and in the surf industry want to grow, you need to get used to the mainstream press criticizing and scrutinizing everything about this sport. The only people bringing this attention on surfing and the surf culture is the surf industry. You want to blame someone, blame yourselves. The industry wants to raise the profile of their surfers by having contest in mainstream media capitals, this is whats going to happen. Mainstream press who don’t have a vested interest in surfing are going to start scrutinizing it because they don’t care if one of the major surf brands advertise in their publications.
I think the Outside article raises a different point of view to what has been generally covered in the surf industry and whether you agree with it or not, at least we are finally getting some diversity of opinions in surfing and what happened to AI. Chas, should we all get in line and blindly follow what the industry dictates? Would that make you happy? Should we all blow smoke up the surf industries butt and tell them they are great and not criticize them for their flaws? I think it’s about time the industry had the magnifying glass directed on it. Chas, it seems that you would rather surfing stay this coddled nepotistic nook of the world where we tell each other we are great and everything about surfing is wonderful with pixie dust and fairy farts? Please. It’s about time surfing grew up and got honest with itself and honest about the negative aspects of our culture as well as celebrate the positive things we cherish. But Chas, you’re on the industry dime. Why should anyone believe a word you say. Your magazine is paid by these companies and surf writers for this publication are frequently interchanging jobs from writer to rep to marketer and back to writer. The surf magazines are fun to read and they make us feel good about ourselves. But, they are far from being real journalism. And that’s ok. just don’t expect people to take you serious when you want to write something serious or critical.
Chas, you ramble and ramble and ramble but there is zero substance behind your words. If you’re going to criticize the well-reported work of legitimate media, you ought back it up with some reporting and facts of your own. If there are holes in the work, what are they? You call the work that of outsiders, but I’d argue that Brad Melekian, at least, is about as insider a surf journalist as you may find. You’re not a journalist, clearly. You’re decent with your prose and you seem to have an eye for fashion. Beyond that? Not sure. You are allowed a voice because of your “insiderness.” You’re a bro and cool with the other bros, so they let you into their circle. Excuse the fact that real journalists actually want to dig in and understand the truth behind Andy Irons’ death. He was one of surfing’s most famous and controversial figures, and his death was tragic and a mystery. If Kobe Bryant or Rafa Nadal or Shaun White passed away suddenly, at the peak of their career, with a back history of recreational drug use, and there were whispers of a cover-up, you don’t think that would be a story the media should pursue? Come on, Chas, get off your pedestal and take a look around. Surfing is now a legitimate sport and industry. What comes with it is the watchful eye of the media. And since the surf media doesn’t want to lend a skeptical eye or ask the tough questions, the pros have to come in and do it for them. Clearly, you won’t do it.
Outside and HBO had to do pieces on Andy’s death because “surf journalism” treated Andy like a god and totally ignored the role drugs played in his death. He was a very flawed person who was a great surfer.
I love to surf and I love to look at surf magazines but any editorial and journalistic quality is poor. Every time I read anything Chris Cote writes I feel dumber. If Chas Smith is indicative of surf reporting at large, Outside and HBO’s pieces are definitely necessary to address a serious issue.
you write like a twat
I haven’t even finished reading the, well, whatever it is, and I’ve got to ask, have you ever been to Hawaii? We must be going to different Hawaiis if the one your going to doesn’t have a ice problem.
Andy Irons was just a human being. As noted in previous posts, humans are inherently flawed creatures. Surfing does have a lot of drugs and shady characters involved in it. This piece is obviously written by somebody looking from the inside out, who doesn’t like the idea of the party ending. If the sport is elevated to a serious tone of professionalism like the NFL, MLB, or NBA than surfers are going to have to be more accountable for their actions. The shenanigans gotta stop or stay locked away behind closed doors. The mainstream media and American culture hold celebrities to a higher standard than they hold themselves. That’s the way it’s always been. Destroy and rebuild the industry into something respectable or leave it where it’s at. Thing is, right now it’s this mismanaged, retail oriented entity that is completely unattached to the ASP. As far as marketing is concerned, the ASP isn’t in the same realm as Surf Magazines or websites.. There’s gotta be unity in the industry, but there’s not. Company owners bicker about the stupidest things. But even more than that, it’s the ASP not doing it’s job. If they were, the companies would keep their athletes in check because they’d have to. Tour surfers would automatically be the most successful, media prone athletes by far because it truely would a Pro League in the traditional American sense-full of the best of the best and internationally syndicated on t.v. Comparing pro free surfers(in most cases) to pro Tour surfers should be like comparing European basketball to the NBA. Instead it’s like comparing Double A minor league baseball to single A- nobody cares about the difference. Surfers are some of the most naturally gifted athletes on the planet and it’s a damn shame that unlike other sports, staying in top physical shape and living a healthy lifestyle is almost shunned upon in our culture. At that level, it should be a prerequisite.
Chas’ journalistic credo: I always carry one end of a banner in the processions. I always look cheerful. Always yell with the crowd. It’s the only way to be safe.
All interesting takes on this topic.
Just one question how do you hold your breath on Cristal Meth?
Dosen’t it make your heart pound, body temp increase and therefor burn oxygen faster?
Quit wining!!
Who cares what people think of surfing? Maybe, if the main stream thought we were all losers ( and many surfers are ) we’d have less corporate sponsors and that would be good for the people who actually surf! Less contests, Less pro’s, Less surf clothing and advertising, would be just fine with me……
Ruffo needs to do his time… Then he can be legit. His surfing hobby has nothing to do with crime and paying your dues to society. Trip after trip to Indo while the rest of us are working ain’t paying your dues….
Hey Chas, here’s food for thought: I surf, Andy Irons is my favorite surfer ever, and I definitely want to know about his drug use (as well as everything else) BECAUSE he is my favorite surfer. There are responsible ways to discuss posthumous drug use which don’t belittle or take moral high ground. Just months ago there was a terrible editorial entitled “Is anybody listening?” which scolded the surfing public for our disinterest in the surfers as people, as opposed to waveriders. Surfing magazine implored us to be interested in the tight-jeaned, scribbly art (though still honky white and privileged) endeavors of certain darlings because said surfers were interesting people and shame on us for not being interested in ALL aspects of the surfing experience. Well Mr. Smith, AI’s drug use is a major aspect of the surfing experience,as well as a story that the public actually gives a shit about, a story that fleshes out the most interesting, emotionally labile world champion in virtually any sport, and you suddenly tell us NOT to be interested in anything other than his waveriding, save perhaps your vapid discussions of his sartorial sense. AI’s story is the story of MP, Archy, Fletcher, Flea, Eggers, Herring, and many others, and absolutely vital to the “human” part of our surfing experience. If you don’t want to report on it then fine, but stay out of the way of the real journalists.
chas, youre about as smart as sarah palin
the only thing worse than bad writing is pretentious, deluded, hypocritical writing.
problem with robs statement is everybody’s a hypocrite in some way,shape, or form. The sooner we realize this the sooner we ail stop being dissapointed withpeople whether it b the way they write or the way they talk.
Mormonism? Really? How long did it take you to come up with that clever little dig, which I might add shows the, ” The writer had a clear supposition before interviewing, compiling and writing. He knew what his last sentence was.”
Good work on demonstrating exactly what you are griping about.
Anthony Ruffo is the biggest pile of shit on the face of this earth. He hasn’t done anything positive for surfing in twenty years and I really wish we could trade him for Andy…
Preach on Ben.
hey chas i was very close to andy! also a boat trip…., i was THERE!!!! SO *%&!!!….IF YOU DONT LIKE THE TRUTH THEN WAT KIND OF JOURNALIST ARE YOU !!!??? if the truth about MY life and drug addiction hurt your feelings ,to bad! i didnt do this peice to make friends ,but to help others not make the same mistakes i did!!! im not proud of my choices but the only way to move forward is to be honest and understanding that its never to late to get rite!!!!!haters will be haters no matter how good someone is or is tryn to be ,i know one thing is for sure ,that most people dont look in the mirror and clean out their own closet!!! RUFFO
I’m sick of Chas Smith posts about A.I. From the very beginning, every time he has written about Andy, is supposes that he is the authority as to how Andy’s legacy should be handled. It borders on self righteous hubris. HAS ANYONE NOTICED SURFING’S AND CHAS SMITH’S RADIO SILENCE ON BRUCE IRONS NOT BEING IN TEAHUPOO CONTEST? I think Chas cares more about the sponsors (aka Billabong) than the surfers. I’m starting to think all of his posts have really been a defense of Billabong, and Surfing, and the whole surf industry than about Andy. You should be ashamed of yourself. You are no journalist, you are no spokesman for surfers, you are just an industry propagandist. Leave A.I. out of your defense of surf Industry.
hey, remember when Chas twisted Mick’s jew-hating comment to sell some mags? Man, that was a story worth telling.
Anyone ever listen to Bloomberg news in the morning? Keene on the Economy, hosted by perhaps the single most boring guy in the world, is hands down the most interesting show on the radio specifically because the host knows his sh*t and digs at it without bias. Chas seems to be the anti-Tom Keene…all that flash with nothing interesting to say.
I don’t understand why Bruce Irons gets an autoslot in the Billabong Pro? Everybody is acting so matter of fact like Billabong should just let him in, but wasn’t he the one that chose to quit the tour? Everybody else had to earn there spot. Don’t get me wrong, I love Bruce Irons surfing but we all will or have lost family members at some point, does that mean we deserve free handouts? This whole I’m being a good guy fighting to get bruce in is stupid. I say let him freesurf in the contest while the heats are on because he’ll most likely go for the waves the CT guys don’t want. Seriously, isnt that what Dorian said he does anyways.
Pieces like this make me angry, due to the fact that the writer has obviously lost touch with the reality he says he lives in. Surfing and drugs go together at the moment. It’s a sad fact. Go down to the parking lot at any surf break that has a lot of dedicated locals, and you’re probably going to smell some weed burning at dawn patrol. Start to hang out with those “locals,” and you’re likely going to see some harder stuff burning in their pipes. It doesn’t have to be this way–but it is at many places. Ruffo admitted that, and turned his life around. And what does your ignorant–or perhaps self-riteously arrogant–rant do to solve this issue, Chas? Nothing.
I feel this piece does the opposite of its intent: it insults Andy Irons, AI’s legacy, his surviving family, and his fans. The family eventually acknowledged the drug issues and AI’s struggle in their public statement. But all you want to do, Chas, is keep “bro-ing down” worse than Chris Cote. And on top of that, you answer a legitimate concern by a real journalist with the flippant, cliche remark at the end of your article, “Now let’s party!”
This is laughable–and at the same time, something to cry about. Put down the beer bong (and whatever other bongs you are brandishing) and face the music, Chas. Do something to promote positive change, or the beloved passtime of many dedicated watermen who live the healthy lifestyle will forever be seen as a sport for drug addicts. Do you think Laird Hamilton lights up before surfing huge Teahupoo? I doubt it–but even he is likely subject to the stereotypes that are promoted by articles like the above. And to top it off, without forward movemnt, the ethics and morals of many of the sport’s role models–the sponsored professionals–may continue to slide off the map and into a messy oblivion.
Its a sad truth! I have family & even myself years ago that got caught up. I think every surfer at some point becomes a bad ass. At least we like to think so. So parties & stuff after a good sesh you want to keep it rolling. I say this it might not be everyone that goes this direction. Could be alcohol what ever! But the sad truth is this shit happens in surfing & a lot of sports. Were not the only radical sport & it does not even have to be radical. My step father is hooked on it right now. And it sucks! The guy whipped my ass for it & got my head straight. Now he’s hooked. Its a sad deal & even my brother was hooked with him at one point. But, this is a good thing Ruffo did. Surfers need to know this shit will keep you out of the water or at one point take you away from it. You ever heard of DEATH!!! Any ways. No need to cover this shit up! If you have a friend or family member that needs help? Time to start figuring out where to start. Pray you name it for your loved one.
Fuck by the way no need to cover shit up. Surfers & young ones need to know this shit can happen to any of us. We just need education & Ruffo obviously gets it. He went way above you Surfing mag. You guys should be more on top of this topic & not ESPN. Unless your hiding the monkey in your closet as well Chas & this is the way it seep out.. Guess we should be praying for you to
A drug`s a drug.sober.Yes to drug tests.Yes to honesty.
I’m an idiot. I make groundless claims. I failed logic in college. I wear two eye patches: one over my left eye, one over my right, so I can walk through life blind. I take them off at night and write my rants with one eye while taking a massive surf industry load in the other, then put the patches back on so it looks like I’ve got two black eyes– that way no one punches me in the water for being the piece of scum that I am, because they think somebody already finished the job. My family life is so messed up that I think the surf industry IS my family. I have daddy issues.
I have been surfing for 25 years but I have a mental problem with big waves (i.e. double O range, as big as it gets on this side of town). Now after learning that all these guys are on meth, I want to try some! I know it’s the worst thing I could ever do, but the temptation is there. If only there was some magic potion to give me the balls to get me deep and push me over the ledge on the biggest days!