Eugenics reigns supreme
This is the end. Beautiful friend. This is the end. My only friend, the end. Of our elaborate plans, the end. Of everything that stands, the end. No safety or surprise.
The end.
I ran to Lisbon last night after the day of surf. I retreated to the Ritz Varanda bar, sipped a chilled bellini and thought of Mick Fanning. Thought of his teeth. The one in front that is chipped gives him a certain boyish charm. I like when a grin pulls tight across his face. I’m glad he doesn’t get it fixed. Joel looks good when he smiles too. His eyes are swallowed like a Chinaman’s. Both of them were smiling yesterday. Only one of them will be smiling today. And everyone knows who it’ll be.
Not Joel.
Even though I know the outcome I drive early to Supertubos. It is not supertubo today. It is Subparbeachbreako. But no matter, it is sunny and the local surf fans are hungry for a winner. The mayor of Peniche has been begging Neil Ridgway to give them a champion for days. Someone they can look up to for years. Someone who lives clean and surfs well but not recklessly. Neil looks over at Bede, at Joel, at Mick, and at Owen holding his ear. He guarantees the mayor a winner, both in and out of the water. Owen has tears streaming down tanned cheeks.
The surf starts ok. Offshore winds grooming smaller barrels. The crowd is ok too. Sipping espresso and reliving favorite memories of yesterday’s epic. An old man wearing a Tom Curren t-shirt insists that Joel’s barrel was as good as anything, “That damned Jew has ever done.” I have no idea who he is referencing. Is Kai Otton Jewish?But it turns wicked and onshore. It destroys the surf. Mick watches as Bede dispatches Joel. Bede gets better waves at the end of the heat, after it turns to shit. He does good, gliding up to the lip and sending spray back toward the crowd. Children opening their mouths begging for “Bede Juice.” It really is blowing heavily onshore.
Joel seems pensive after his loss. It seems to get him down, and why not? This whole cat was his for the taking just three short months ago. Now it is Mick’s for the losing. “That damned Owen Wright” he thinks. “Why couldn’t he have stronger ears, a stronger constitution or a different sponsor?” There is no Chinaman smile.
Mick vs. Bede. The final is set up to be a letdown and how could it not be? Yesterday there was pumping surf. Today there is onshore. Yesterday there were bone-crushing wipeouts. Today there are playful splashes. But it is not a letdown to me. I am leaning against a beach bar far away from the rest of the crowd. I am sipping a cappuccino and smoking a cigarette. What’s not to love? I am in Europe. A BMW is waiting to take me back to Lisbon. The sun is shining. I hear the final will be broadcast live in Australia. They should serve cappuccino and cigarettes to everyone who watches.
Mick wins. The surf is sloppy. He is chaired to the winner’s podium while the beach politely cheers. The mayor hugs him and screams, “Worship your champion, citizens of Peniche!” He then asks Mick to take over as mayor. He whispers, “I want to move to Lisbon. The Pasties de Nata are to absolute die for there.”
Dave Mailman presents the trophy to Mick. Mick is in a Vasco de Gamma hat and holds the trophy, a large globe, above his head. He represents the ascendancy of Western Civilization. A white man surrounded by a sea of cheering brown. Or olive. Dave Mailman is wearing the same pair of Crocs he has been for the duration of the contest. Crocs represent the decline of Western Civilization. Comfort over style. Whatever. I know Dave Mailman. He has a stylish heart and rolls his own cigarettes.
Bede stands beaming off to the side. He has a nice smile too. Small gaps between each tooth accentuate an earthy charm. He shakes a bottle of champagne, pops the cork and sprays toward Mick. The swirling onshores scatter sweet, alcoholic droplets into the audience. Once again the children open their mouths and beg. - Charlie Smith
The scenarios for the 2009 ASP World Title are as follows:
- Fanning finishes 33rd through a 9th at Pipeline, Parkinson needs a 3rd or better to overtake.
- Fanning finishes 5th at Pipeline, Parkinson needs a 2nd or better to overtake.
- Fanning finishes 3rd at Pipeline, Parkinson needs win the event to overtake.
- If Fanning finishes 2nd or better at Pipeline, he will clinch the 2009 ASP World Title.
RIP CURL PRO SEARCH FINAL RESULTS:
1 – Mick Fanning (AUS) 12.672 – Bede Durbidge (AUS) 9.87
RIP CURL PRO SEARCH SEMIFINAL RESULTS:
SF 1: Bede Durbidge (AUS) 14.60 def. Joel Parkinson (AUS) 13.27
SF 2: Wright Withdraws Due to Injury, Fanning Advances
CURRENT ASP WORLD TOUR TOP 10 (Following Rip Curl Pro Search):
1 – Mick Fanning (AUS) 7140 points
2 – Joel Parkinson (AUS) 6772 points
3 – Adriano de Souza (BRA) 6148 points
4 – Bede Durbidge (AUS) 6146 points
5 – C.J. Hobgood (USA) 5748 points
6 – Taj Burrow (AUS) 5524 points
7 – Kelly Slater (USA) 5514 points
8 – Bobby Martinez (USA) 5421 points
9 – Damien Hobgood (USA) 5116 points
10 – Jordy Smith (ZAF) 4828 points
Posts: 31
Reply #34 on : Sun November 01, 2009, 10:32:25