Today’s episode of Spit! features an interview with Slurpee Wave photographer Jonathan Nimerfroh. But first, Scott and David discuss why today’s best rivalries are happening between surf media (not surfers!) and why all surf media is ignoring the biggest and most impactful stories in surfing. The boys also discuss the local surfers included into the Mavs comp, why Nazare didn’t go, and they even commit to ambitious New Year’s Resolutions. Plus, Dukes, Kooks, and much more. Enjoy!
SLURPEE WAVES
Photographed by Jonathan Nimerfroh www.JDNPhotography.com and follow @JDNPhotography
FOLLOW UP
Scott’s ongoing board review. Follow him on Instagram to see updates. @BoardroomShow
Tomo’s Big Wave Guns
1966 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP AND WHAT IT MEANS IN 2018
Click to read the full feature on Matt Warshaw’s EncyclopediaOfSurfing.com
Is media infighting good for surfing?
Where are the surf journalists?
Do we minimize Gabriel Medina’s accomplishments?
BIG SURF BIZ
Boardriders (dba, Quiksilver) buys Billabong. How much or little do you care? Link to full article.

Stab releases the “Rich List”, surfing’s highest paid athletes. Link to article.
Stab also quantifies how much it costs to qualify. Link to article.
MAV’S LOCALS LIST
Comprised of the Top 10 surfers on the BWT rankings; standouts from the Big Wave Awards; BWT wildcards (not necessarily locals); BWT alternates; and the hotly contested field of local wildcards. For that last group, like at every other Big Wave Tour location, the six slots are reserved specifically for locals at the event’s break. So when it was time, BWT Commissioner Mike Parsons asked a small group of Mavericks pioneers to make this year’s picks. Two key members of that panel were Washburn and Flea;
2018 Mavericks Challenge Regional Wildcard Invitees:
Ben Andrews — Half Moon Bay
Tyler Fox — Santa Cruz
Travis Payne — Pacifica
Pat Shaughnessy — Santa Cruz
Jason Stark — Half Moon Bay
Anthony Tashnick — Santa Cruz
MEANWHILE, IN HAWAII
Dusty Payne suffers near-death wipeout at Backdoor.
Woman survives shark attack.
Da Hui runs day 1 of the Backdoor Shootout
MUST-SEE MOMENT
Kelly’s Backdoor pit.
KOOK
The BWWT for not Yellow-lighting, nor at least drawing attention to the potential start of the Nazare Challenge. It went huge, yet no update?
DUKE
Nic Lamb for winning his 2nd consecutive Punta Galea Challenge to very little fanfare (in regard to media coverage). Bravo, Nic!