Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Steve Pike
THE Mick Fanning shark scare in Jeffreys Bay three months ago resurfaced twice in the news this week.
An Australian newspaper reported that a fried chicken TV advertisement in South Africa had infuriated Fanning’s mom, and that the WSL may sue KFC to withdraw it. Then, an Aussie website reported that the JBay Open of Surfing, where the incident took place, may be in jeopardy after a vote by the top 34 surfers.
KFC has been airing the reenacted parody of the shark incident, with Fanning depicted by Cape Town big wave charger James Taylor, who wears a replica of the blue vest Fanning wore in the final.
The ad ends with “Fanning” lifting the shark into the air, and holding it with one-arm as the shark arches like the “swan” move in tandem surfing.
In a funny coincidence, Taylor and his partner won the tandem surfing event at the Earthwave Festival in 2013!
The slapstick spoof seems intended for millennials, or those barely older, promoting the Jacked Up Double Crunch as “next level awesome”.
However, Fanning’s mother Elizabeth Osborne, and apparently the WSL, aren’t amused.
The Sydney Morning Herald quoted her as saying: “First of all, I don’t know how it sells chicken. I think its disrespectful to Mick, but also to every person and family who have either been attacked by a shark or have had fatalities, because it brings back the trauma.”
The article also claims that the WSL is preparing legal action to force KFC to take the ad off the air.
In the second drama, rumours also surfaced that we could actually lose the JBay competition after professional surfers took a vote at the Quiksilver Pro France during a meeting recently.
According to South African surf journalist Craig Jarvis, writing on surf website Stabmag.com, the two most affected by last year’s shark scare, Fanning and Julian Wilson, were keen to keep JBay, but current world champion Gabriel Medina and fellow Brazilian Jason Andre were not, which has put the event “in jeopardy”.
This would be a fresh blow to SA’s potential footprint in the surfing world after Dungeons was voted off the list of venues for the WSL Big Wave World Tour. There is legitimate debate about what having Dungeons on the tour means for South African big wave surfing, but losing JBay after all the work that has gone into restoring it again would be a catastrophe, certainly for the townsfolk of JBay.
JBay is the best right-hand point break in the world, with a great setup for spectators and athletes, even if you might be bumped or even bitten by a shark now and then.
Newsflash! There are sharks in the sea! Hawaii gets shark attacks. So does Australia. Focusing on areas with shark activity would put most events in jeopardy.
As a friend told me the other day: During a holiday overseas, he asked a local in a small coastal town if there were sharks. The man said: “Put your hand in the water”. He did. “Does it taste salty?” the man said. My friend replied: “Yes, it does”. “Then there are sharks in the water here,” came the reply.
Anyway, most surfers feel that statistically they are safer at a spot after an incident there because the beady Sauron-like eye of fate turns its attentions elsewhere, or perhaps we’re just trying to convince ourselves.
In an attempt to understand why, Jarvis suggests that Medina and Andre under-perform at JBay because their goofyfoot style is not suited to it – was removing J-Bay in Medina’s interests?
Either way, the WSL may not like fried chicken, but it needs JBay.
Peniche Panache
THE penultimate event on the 2015 Championship Tour, the Moche Rip Curl Pro Portugal was called on in 3-4’ surf yesterday. The iconic beachbreak of Supertubos, Peniche, is a hollow beachbreak.
The likes of Medina, Fanning, Filipe Toledo and Kelly Slater will advance direct to Round 3 after winning their Round 1 heats. Interesting to note that former tour campaigner Travis Logie is now WSL Deputy Commissioner.
Eyes Whine Shut
DURING a training ride for the FNB Wines2Whales Adventure next week, the funniest thing happened to me. Riding up the Rhodes Memorial single track, my tyre slipped on a rock and I fell over, puncturing my can of pepper spray. It got all over my hands, in my eyes and on my back. Needless to say, that ride was a real burn.
Weather Tip
FUN 4-5’ waves today in light NW with fun 2- 3’ lines at Muizenberg. Tomorrow looks wobbly SW in smaller 3’ bumps. Muizenberg looks weak 2’ bumps in mild sideshore going miff onshore.