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“A long time ago, John Scott was a surf photographer. During the 60’s he took a photo of glassy, evening Stockton Avenue that became one of the most popular SURFER posters ever. Sometime between then and now, Scott had a change of heart, and decided that cameras, the media and the surf-industrial complex were a dagger aimed straight at the heart of surfing. He chose to express his views by writing them in Magic-Marker on the exterior of his car. When a surf contest rolls into Santa Cruz, Scott rises early, grabs a choice parking spot along the walkway to Streamer Lane and presents his views to anyone who will read or listen.”
The Car writing includes the following passages :
Surfing Contests have no authority without your recognition, disregard them.
Contest surfers interfere with us every day of the year. Competition is a contagious virus injected by the media.
Ban the hostile take-over forever.
Wave riding lacks an immune system - without one the wilderness experience suffers.
Competition makes the rat race run faster, Your participation adds momentum to it.
BOYCOTT ALL CONTEST SPONSORS.
If it is illegal to have an open alcohol-container at the beach, how can it be acceptable to advertise at the beach, Just say No! Stop surfing under the influence - deprogram yourself, de-pressurise Surfing. Only hot surfers can burn cool surfers. TURN OFF THE RADIATION.
The crowd hates it-self - with good cause. If you hate the crowd, turn off the crowd machinery. Blackout the media. The ever increasing crowds of hyper aggressive surfers are living proof that surf movies and surfing magazines cultivate crowds of well conditioned consumers. It takes time, make surf photographers pay. Surfers, don't feel obligated to donate you day(s). Demand pay.
Make them pay per-hour or make them go Away.
When it becomes too dangerous and too competitive to enjoy riding waves, do you know whom to blame ? Blame your self. Blame yourself if you allow Surf Photographers to use you as unpaid stunt men. (ego feed is not payment) Blame yourself if you tolerate being an unpaid extra. BLAME YOURSELF IF YOU ATTEND SURF MOVIES. BLAME YOURSELF IF YOU SUPPORT THESE PARASITES.
If you you recognize the problem, be part of the Solution deprogram yourself - De-pressurise wave riding.
If even ten surfers each day would demand pay from all the surf photographers then either they would pay or they would go away and either way. wave riding conditions would improve. You have the right to on-the-spot compensation. otherwise you serve the media as a slave.
From SURFER Mag. 7/92 Vol.33 No.7