Time to start judging the journos!

[Shane Peel]

Hey RS's,
As you know a while back I offered to supply a free stay at a surf resort I am involved with (Shut up Longi it's not a promo!) to either Shearer or NC which ever one you guys on RS voted as providing the best coverage of Bells online. For mine Shearer has done the hard yards for the duration of the event and has supplied some great insights from his posts on Swellnet. NC has only just waded into the melee choosing to start his heat after the hooter so to speak. Neither of those two are "New Deal" Journos and from what I have seen around the interweb are providing the best commentary on the event. Shearer has a slight disadvantage being coupled with a bit of a new comer on the camera in Adam but NC has the back-up of one of the best in the game in Andrew Shield altough … looks like Andrews best stuff has to be kept aside for the print coverage so Adam has the luxury of being able to post his best shots.
I know it's of no real interest to you guys who hate background stories and only wanna know about the surf but I would love to hear what you all think. The decision is wide open to bribing, back room deals, favor calling any sort of rigging you want but at the end of the day the monsters get the call!

[bytimbaker]

Hey Peel, I am loving Shearer's coverage, only just discovered it and read the lot in one sitting. Brilliant. Nice to see someone do "new" journalism (which is actually 40-odd years old) with wit and style. Hilarious that he is being accused of copying the demented Smiths, like they invented it! Also, read NC's latest and he is still the master of actually informing people what went down and understanding boards, technique, psychology, having an informed rapport with the players. There's all the rabble and then when NC weighs in it's kinda like God speaking. Chas's stuff that I've bothered to read is just the most unbelievably woeful, ignorant embarrassment I have ever ever come across. I think he was better off not trying to discuss actual surfing, And that ain't just because I have complete contempt for the character. But think Shearer has the lead for sustained performance over the duration thus far, but watch for a late charge from NC. Me, I'm just sitting here watching the wheels go round and round, I really love to watch 'em roll.

[steve shearer]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ML1OZCHixR0

[LONGINUS]

My God...it's full of stars

[shambles]

This round goes to Sean Doherty on surfermag.com I think.

[Buff_Brad]

Hey Peel, I am loving Shearer's coverage, only just discovered it and read the lot in one sitting. Brilliant. Nice to see someone do "new" journalism (which is actually 40-odd years old) with wit and style. Hilarious that he is being accused of copying the demented Smiths, like they invented it! Also, read NC's latest and he is still the master of actually informing people what went down and understanding boards, technique, psychology, having an informed rapport with the players. There's all the rabble and then when NC weighs in it's kinda like God speaking. Chas's stuff that I've bothered to read is just the most unbelievably woeful, ignorant embarrassment I have ever ever come across. I think he was better off not trying to discuss actual surfing, And that ain't just because I have complete contempt for the character. But think Shearer has the lead for sustained performance over the duration thus far, but watch for a late charge from NC. Me, I'm just sitting here watching the wheels go round and round, I really love to watch 'em roll.

Tim , as requested it's time to start judging. C. Smith has told the punter more than most journos about the scene ;

1a Pro surfers are mostly very uneducated ...... hence the dumbass outburst by MF which managed to get covered by most broadsheets. Full marks.

1b Hawaii is full of dickheads. Some great people too but way too many idiots.

2. You were there Tim remember? And in a bizarre way tried to "Do our Chaz in"....bad form TB......you came out looking almost as much as a tool as Fanning.

3. NC is good. Insightful....slightly sycophantic and cringey but regardless he's a good read....and it's not bc he was Australian surfing champ back in '48.

4. Shearer is gratuitous but good.

[lovenutz]

Seems like 99% of journos suck off the pros heavily. Never here any criticisms....all peachy.
I liked that Samuels guy from postsurf. He ripped into the system. Was so overdue. That top 44 evaluation he did was the best article in surfing and very very accurate 99% of time time. He has more skill that every other journo put together...bar maybe Blakey. He really lit a fire under guys. Mick has had his arse kissed by the surfing media for so long. Took guys like Samuels and Chas to call him out for surfing conservative.
Mick is actually surfing way better this year

[2000man]

I've opted to critique the current protagonists that pen the stories filed under 'surf journalism'.
unleash the beast (in no particular order)...

NC... File under 'Prolific'. Arguably the current doyen of the genre. Consistently offers an informed, articulate critique on aspects of professional/performance, through to recreational surfing. Endures an inordinate volume of static from crew via this forum...
Lewis Samuels... File under: 'Miscellaneous'. Mr entertaining calculated fckery. Was he ever going to have a seat when the music inevitably had to stop? Almost but-not-quite single-handedly, inspired a surf-cultural-shift from passive consumerist submission to ironic neo-conservative bitchy nihilism and back again. 'The Surfing Industrial Complex' momentarily awoke from a self-induced palsy to a world that rented up-town yet lived down-town. Was surfing ever 'cool'?
Tim Baker... File under 'NC' – but left of centre. A humanist with the ability to craft a sense of true empathy from, and for his subject. Although I respect his right of reply and opinion; he should resist the urge to retaliate to the jibes from his Bondi-based contemporaries. 'High Water' is a delightful and recommended read.
Vaughan Blakey... File under 'Pendulum'. As Editor of SW, this masthead has stepped (almost too easily) into the distant forgotten weathered blundstones that was 'Deep'. Intelligent, considered, in-depth but not too, er... deep. Although the man makes a painful, acute and unbearable racket in that fcken awful awful awful band, he somehow manages to articulate the obtuse with relative ease.
DC Green... File under 'D.O.A.': I've always found the cartoons that illustrated his work to be of more interest... a boozie self-deprecating Australian version of Hunter S. Thompson... recommended reading only whilst taking a poo!
Chris Binns... FIle under 'I've been everywhere man...' searching for an editorial persona 'Binnsie' has opted for the (yaawwwn) gonzo surf scribe patiche... (courtesy Tim Baker circa 1995) but with a touch of earnest 'pro-ho' bewilderment.
Shane Peel... File under 'Agitated'. Is it just me or does this man always seem to be either pissed, pissed-off or both? Seems to have crafted an idyllic lifestyle which is the envy of many, yet why so angry Shane? ALB was consistently brilliant throughout his editorial tenure. Shoots nice images.
Ryan Glen... File under 'Nugget'. This lovable gent possesses a big heart and it shows in his writing. His ASL work was tonally perfect for the demographic and should be 'binnsie's' doctrine for the future. Haven't read much of his WAVES work... but I know it would be worth its weight and the grommets would froth on it.
Derek Reilly... File under 'FUCK'. Always entertaining, tangental, self-indulgent (passé?) and hilarious. Kinda lost all relevance to the act of surfing through his almost plagiaristic adoration of VICE, (American) Esquire, soft porn and gonzo journalism per se. However, with the (temporal?) demise of Lewis Samuels - will relish his status as 'basterd provocateur' of the genre. A tragic fashion victim aware of his own limitations.
Chas Smith... File under 'Derek Reilly' and I mean - 'Under. Derek. Reilly.' Enjoyed his infrequent, entertaining posts on likebitchin.com. Writes with an aire of worldly contempt that only an American whom travels can. Proof that sometimes three chords are actually enough. Second verse same as the first.
Bruce Channon... File under 'legend'... !
Sam Macintosh... File under: 'FREE! Cover Mounted DVD'. This fella's writing is akin to an attempt at describing off-white paint - it exists, neither offends nor challenges, yet flourishes through ubiquity. Came to the fore as WAVES Editor by riding the coat-tails with deft aplomb, of an incredibly talented Art Director in Campbell Milligan, and ditching 5th colour flourescent tomfoolery. I suspect he is the president of the Taj Burrow fanclub and reluctantly (que: Derek Riley) subscribes to the Markson Sparks any-publicity-is-good-publicity school of media manipulation*. Blurs the editorial line as contributor to a title which he is also publisher... now pays for 5th colour flourescent tomfoolery!
Steve Shearer... FIle under: 'Coastal breeze'. The relative n refreshing new man-child on the block. Can I say a bad word about a man who can overlay 'the smiths' as soundtrack to the post-modernist lines of Dane Reynolds? Of course not! I've enjoyed everything this man has contributed thus far...
Tim Fisher... File under: "Arse-clown". A genuine yet gregarious man. [genuine men are not always sociable & vice versa] A factual journalist who knows his craft. His tenure at ASL was paint-by-numbers journalism utilising a palette limited by internal/external pressures, yet he survived if not flourished. Would make a great PR/marketing scribe for the ASP or 'big three'.
Colin Bernasconi... File under: 'the "Arse-clown"'. I read tracks very, very, very infrequently so I can't comment on the quality or lack thereof his writing. (However, years ago I had the displeasure to witness this moron outta his mind n obviously in his natural element – the dancefloor. Rather, to be precise – swinging from the ceiling above the dance-floor spitting booze over those below.)
Luke Kennedy... File under: 'Bert Newton'.. (as previous) plays the 'straight man' parry with ease to his northern beaches arse-clown side-kick.
Graeme Murdoch... File under: 'Brave Heart'. Talent ooozes from every pore of this demented yet great man's body. Really should bathe with greater frequency, lest someday someone MMANAGE$ to bottle his ode de gra.
Fred Pawle... File under: 'ACA EXCLUSIVE!' The journo responsible for the timely Australian piece and thus this thread. [As disclosed, Fred is mates and contributor to STAB; whose record of shameless*, skillful (albeit awkward), promotional subterfuge is lengthy. Let's be frank: the piece was pure spin. Published in the Media Section of the Australian and aimed almost exclusively at Media Professionals (buyers, journos, agency execs. etc), with probable omissions made by a sub-editor... either via internal legal advice or simple pagination spec.]
The origin of this diatribe is Fred's sarge exposé. I believe the piece was worthy ONLY cause it highlighted the apparent contempt displayed by those allegedly in the loop. Was it in the sport's best interest and worthy of public consumption? Or cynical tabloid sensationalism? – a vehicle to promote an aspirational (surf) journalist and the masthead which published it, at the expense of an obviously troubled man... ?

[Shane Peel]

It's a race to the bottom.

Geez Dino I nearly have to agree mate I guess it would not be a RS thread if it did not get derailed in spectacular fashion. The whole reason to start this one was a TWO HORSE race. The idea was for all of us "Regulars" "Barnacles" etc etc to say who we thought gave the best reports from Bells out of NC and Shearer. The winner scoring a free stay up at the resort I am involved with.

So to get to the point what's the call people NC or Shearer??? Voting closes TUESDAY. For the record I reckon Shearer was all over NC in the early stages but Caroll finished strong and hard with the first posting of the two after the event finished and it was an exclusive Kelly Slater vid interview, I would suggest Shearer will have some pretty good shit on SN tomorrow so I'm still on the fence.

Monsters let us hear your howls!

[Lucky Al]

i reckon all the surf journos mentioned in this thread should post pics of their bums so we can judge them who's got the nicest bum

[gra]

I don't even know where NC's reports are.

try http://www.surfinglife.com.au/news/asl- ... bells-2010

cheers

[shambles]

It's a race to the bottom.

Geez Dino I nearly have to agree mate I guess it would not be a RS thread if it did not get derailed in spectacular fashion. The whole reason to start this one was a TWO HORSE race. The idea was for all of us "Regulars" "Barnacles" etc etc to say who we thought gave the best reports from Bells out of NC and Shearer. The winner scoring a free stay up at the resort I am involved with.

So to get to the point what's the call people NC or Shearer??? Voting closes TUESDAY. For the record I reckon Shearer was all over NC in the early stages but Caroll finished strong and hard with the first posting of the two after the event finished and it was an exclusive Kelly Slater vid interview, I would suggest Shearer will have some pretty good shit on SN tomorrow so I'm still on the fence.

Monsters let us hear your howls!

Ok sorry. I'm a "regular' reader but not a "regular" poster so no sure if my vote counts.
NC gets my vote. Shearer speaks to much drivel and spends too much time worshipping the messiah to give you any sort of idea of what actually went down.

[Shane Peel]

I've opted to critique the current protagonists that pen the stories filed under 'surf journalism'.
unleash the beast (in no particular order)...

NC... File under 'Prolific'. Arguably the current doyen of the genre. Consistently offers an informed, articulate critique on aspects of professional/performance, through to recreational surfing. Endures an inordinate volume of static from crew via this forum...
Lewis Samuels... File under: 'Miscellaneous'. Mr entertaining calculated darn. Was he ever going to have a seat when the music inevitably had to stop? Almost but-not-quite single-handedly, inspired a surf-cultural-shift from passive consumerist submission to ironic neo-conservative bitchy nihilism and back again. 'The Surfing Industrial Complex' momentarily awoke from a self-induced palsy to a world that rented up-town yet lived down-town. Was surfing ever 'cool'?
Tim Baker... File under 'NC' – but left of centre. A humanist with the ability to craft a sense of true empathy from, and for his subject. Although I respect his right of reply and opinion; he should resist the urge to retaliate to the jibes from his Bondi-based contemporaries. 'High Water' is a delightful and recommended read.
Vaughan Blakey... File under 'Pendulum'. As Editor of SW, this masthead has stepped (almost too easily) into the distant forgotten weathered blundstones that was 'Deep'. Intelligent, considered, in-depth but not too, er... deep. Although the man makes a painful, acute and unbearable racket in that steenkinbodges! awful awful awful band, he somehow manages to articulate the obtuse with relative ease.
DC Green... File under 'D.O.A.': I've always found the cartoons that illustrated his work to be of more interest... a boozie self-deprecating Australian version of Hunter S. Thompson... recommended reading only whilst taking a poo!
Chris Binns... FIle under 'I've been everywhere man...' searching for an editorial persona 'Binnsie' has opted for the (yaawwwn) gonzo surf scribe patiche... (courtesy Tim Baker circa 1995) but with a touch of earnest 'pro-ho' bewilderment.
Shane Peel... File under 'Agitated'. Is it just me or does this man always seem to be either pissed, pissed-off or both? Seems to have crafted an idyllic lifestyle which is the envy of many, yet why so angry Shane? ALB was consistently brilliant throughout his editorial tenure. Shoots nice images.
Ryan Glen... File under 'Nugget'. This lovable gent possesses a big heart and it shows in his writing. His ASL work was tonally perfect for the demographic and should be 'binnsie's' doctrine for the future. Haven't read much of his WAVES work... but I know it would be worth its weight and the grommets would froth on it.
Derek Reilly... File under '****'. Always entertaining, tangental, self-indulgent (passé?) and hilarious. Kinda lost all relevance to the act of surfing through his almost plagiaristic adoration of VICE, (American) Esquire, soft porn and gonzo journalism per se. However, with the (temporal?) demise of Lewis Samuels - will relish his status as 'basterd provocateur' of the genre. A tragic fashion victim aware of his own limitations.
Chas Smith... File under 'Derek Reilly' and I mean - 'Under. Derek. Reilly.' Enjoyed his infrequent, entertaining posts on likebitchin.com. Writes with an aire of worldly contempt that only an American whom travels can. Proof that sometimes three chords are actually enough. Second verse same as the first.
Bruce Channon... File under 'legend'... !
Sam Macintosh... File under: 'FREE! Cover Mounted DVD'. This fella's writing is akin to an attempt at describing off-white paint - it exists, neither offends nor challenges, yet flourishes through ubiquity. Came to the fore as WAVES Editor by riding the coat-tails with deft aplomb, of an incredibly talented Art Director in Campbell Milligan, and ditching 5th colour flourescent tomfoolery. I suspect he is the president of the Taj Burrow fanclub and reluctantly (que: Derek Riley) subscribes to the Markson Sparks any-publicity-is-good-publicity school of media manipulation*. Blurs the editorial line as contributor to a title which he is also publisher... now pays for 5th colour flourescent tomfoolery!
Steve Shearer... FIle under: 'Coastal breeze'. The relative n refreshing new man-child on the block. Can I say a bad word about a man who can overlay 'the smiths' as soundtrack to the post-modernist lines of Dane Reynolds? Of course not! I've enjoyed everything this man has contributed thus far...
Tim Fisher... File under: "Arse-clown". A genuine yet gregarious man. [genuine men are not always sociable & vice versa] A factual journalist who knows his craft. His tenure at ASL was paint-by-numbers journalism utilising a palette limited by internal/external pressures, yet he survived if not flourished. Would make a great PR/marketing scribe for the ASP or 'big three'.
Colin Bernasconi... File under: 'the "Arse-clown"'. I read tracks very, very, very infrequently so I can't comment on the quality or lack thereof his writing. (However, years ago I had the displeasure to witness this moron outta his mind n obviously in his natural element – the dancefloor. Rather, to be precise – swinging from the ceiling above the dance-floor spitting booze over those below.)
Luke Kennedy... File under: 'Bert Newton'.. (as previous) plays the 'straight man' parry with ease to his northern beaches arse-clown side-kick.
Graeme Murdoch... File under: 'Brave Heart'. Talent ooozes from every pore of this demented yet great man's body. Really should bathe with greater frequency, lest someday someone MMANAGE$ to bottle his ode de gra.
Fred Pawle... File under: 'ACA EXCLUSIVE!' The journo responsible for the timely Australian piece and thus this thread. [As disclosed, Fred is mates and contributor to STAB; whose record of shameless*, skillful (albeit awkward), promotional subterfuge is lengthy. Let's be frank: the piece was pure spin. Published in the Media Section of the Australian and aimed almost exclusively at Media Professionals (buyers, journos, agency execs. etc), with probable omissions made by a sub-editor... either via internal legal advice or simple pagination spec.]
The origin of this diatribe is Fred's sarge exposé. I believe the piece was worthy ONLY cause it highlighted the apparent contempt displayed by those allegedly in the loop. Was it in the sport's best interest and worthy of public consumption? Or cynical tabloid sensationalism? – a vehicle to promote an aspirational (surf) journalist and the masthead which published it, at the expense of an obviously troubled man... ?

And your vote Mr Byrnes

[Lucky Al]

i thought nick's reports from bells felt freer and easier than stuff he wrote last year. i reckon this year he might really cut loose.

[Lucky Al]

murdoch's very good but he doesn't offend. how are you going to make it as a surf journo if you don't offend?

[huie]

murdoch's very good but he doesn't offend. how are you going to make it as a surf journo if you don't offend?

give it to sherrer carrol gets to many freebies

besides hes balding

[mustkillmulloway]

i read a half or less page run down in my local newspaper

factual, quick and precise

pretty much all i wanted know

but u guy's continue on writting your million word master pieces

peely read it with one hand down his pants

surf media = the ulitimate circle jerk

p.s i vote for lewis ...and he didn't even report

[Shane Peel]

Hang on a sec. We're meant to vote so one of those **** get a free trip to peely's fat mal rider Gulag? Fuck that.

I want to see work that equals Mailers 'Fight' or Delillo's Underworld before I would even consider any scribblings by those two second-rate litterateurs.

Then again if Peely can guarantee that the free trip will coincide with Muklas and his family having their first holiday in 5 years, (they get 10 days off to travel by foot and easily sinkable ferry, to Nias to visit their village. It takes them 4 1/2 days each way) the "winner" of the contest will cover the families' chores while they are away. These consist of everything from ferrying the North Ryde IT Corporate longboarders club out to the various suicidal ankle snappers on offer. Videoing and hooting on various fat middle management types as they do more damge to the art of surfing than a chinese abortionist at a free birth control clinic in Tibet. To cooking, cleaning, ( Muklas' 6 year old twins are experts at keeping the septic system running smoothly. They're the only ones that can fit into the tank to clear out any blockages. They used to be triplets.) and looking after masser peely's special nocturnal needs.

If the trophy has those conditions attached . I vote for shearer.

Hang on he might gain some strange druid like cathartic joy out of the, deprivations of the brown man heaped on him by overseer Peely.

In that case My vote goes to Carroll but only on the condition that Shearer does a wetsuit road test at ASL while Carroll is away. He's got bring Greenough and Brocky with him and they've all got to stay in a Meriton serviced apartment at Willoughby.

So Dino your on the fence I take it? We need a clear call buddy!
PS. Can you keep it low about the triplet!