I've got two favourite writers in the world right now - Charlie Smith and Fred Pawle. Both exhibit a rare talent for the arrangement of words and a thoroughness for reporting unseen outside of the world's great newspapers. I've known Fred for many years and was quick to sign the Sydney-based surfer when Stab was first mooted. Charlie is a late arrival, pulled from the pages of the brilliant Vice magazine.
Neither man is perfect, of course. One has shoe and handbag obsessions and the other has a curious fetish for masturbating dogs in public. I would class myself as a libertine, but being dragged out of bed by a phone call from a disgruntled dog owner is unpleasant at any time, let alone when your star writer has been caught enjoying his bestial pleasures and the owner is demanding recompense (a six-month subscription usually pacifies). Even so, it's a privilege, as editor of a small niche magazine, to present such world-class words to the Stab reader.
The politically-minded will recognise Charlie's name from The Global Eyeball - Stab's attempt to represent all those ghastly geopolitical issues facing us. This issue we wanted Chas to spread his wings a little so we gave him three diverse assignments. One, was to interview Anthony Ruffo, the Santa Cruz pro surfer convicted of dealing Ice (or Devil Dust, Crank, Meth, whatever you want to call it). Next, he was flown to the site of last year's Rip Curl Pro in Mexico. Did money, world-wide attention, the swell of a generation and the arrival of 50 superstar surfers welded to their mobile phones change anything? Finally, Chas enjoyed the company of Emmett Malloy (responsible for every fantastic film clip from the Black Eyed Peas to The White Stripes) for an afternoon, penning the why, where and how of Emski's success.
In recent issues, Fred Pawle has given us an enlightening look into the struggling comeback of Chris Davidson (An Angel at my Table) and how Clint Kimmins survived prison (Free Clipper!). His assignment this issue Was to profile surfing's greatest photojournalist, Paul "Sarge" Sargeant. The topic of Sarge is the elephant in the room around surfing magazines these days. For whatever reason, Sarge disappeared off the tour and into seclusion last year - and no one has asked why. Fred was knee deep in the story when it was suggested we pull back for a month or so while Sarge dealt with personal issues. We gave our assurance we would wait two months before proceeding.
While doing research for the Sarge piece, Fred happened to find Matt Branson, a close friend of Sarge's, glassing boards at JS's factory on the Gold Coast. Matt is surfing's original tough guy, all tattoos and with a heavy metal fetish. He is also gay. I suggested to Fred that given the closeting of current gay surfers on tour, we would provide a valuable service if Branno could make coming out seem okay. The story, in Stab Stud, is an interesting study of a man too proud and indeed too tough to live a lie.
This mostly uplifting story has its downside, unfortunately. To the horror of Branno's live-in boyfriend, Fred bonded with Branno over VBs and the pair soon became as thick as thieves. In response/the poor man imploded, severed the live-in relationship, and kicked Branno out of his crib - albeit temporarily.
Love hurts. - DEREK RIELLY
