We Shouldn't Be Friends

THE AGEING DILEMMA, WITH SHANE DORIAN

Does anyone really think they’ll get old some day? The whole notion of ageing seems to run counter to surf culture’s obsession with youth — after all, at some level, maybe staying young is what it’s all about. But how do you manage that as your body and mind begin the inevitable process of change through mid-life and beyond? Be like a modern tech-bro and obsess instead over immortality? Kick back on the couch, add a few kilos, and reminisce? Or just try to do the best with what you’ve got? The fabulous Shane Dorian, now unbelievably 53 years of age, joins Nick and Hannah to explore this modern dilemma.

GETTING IT DONE, WITH “NOW DAYS” CREATOR JODIE NELSON

It’s one thing watching a surf movie, or any movie really. It’s quite another thing to make one. “Now Days”, the recent release via Red Bull’s highly skilled and solidly funded media team, is a classic example. It come across as clean, sharp and clever — you see the surfing, but you never see the work. Jodie Nelson is a surfer and film-maker from Seal Beach, California who has spent decades developing the skills required to pull off such a project. Jodie is formulating culture on the run, driven by smarts and an intensely competitive nature, and Nick and Hannah dived right in with her on what this stuff takes. Watch the film here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okE2130c4Xw

SEEING THINGS DIFFERENTLY, WITH TRENT MITCHELL

What’s a “designer?” Can a designer even tell you? Trent Mitchell is a highly gifted photographer and graphic artist who’s well into one of the most interesting career arcs of his generation. If you’ve seen his book “Australian Lustre” you’ll already know that. But Trent has also signed on as art director of Surfing World, which means he’s deeply tangled up with Nick’s and Hannah’s supposedly creative lives on a possibly far too regular basis. We spoke to Trent as he was bracing himself to view proofs of an entire SW re-design, which he’d tackled on about a week’s notice. All we can say about that is we’re glad he’s around … but he’s a lot more than his work with us, as you’ll discover here.

THE END OF THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT: SELLING THE TOUR

What happens when you sell a business? Everything changes, that’s what happens. Which means very interesting times ahead for all the people involved in the amazing, entertaining, possibly confusing yet all round brilliant circus you just watched go down at Snapper Rocks. Because the World Surf League is hunting a buyer — or as the press release put it, after “a significant amount of inbound interest”, they’ve decided to “explore strategic alternatives to accelerate the next phase of growth”. It’s anyone’s guess how this will play out, but of course Nick and Hannah have a few ideas. Has the WSL’s 13 years in charge actually made pro surfing worth someone else’s money? And how might this affect the slow burn between pro surfing and Olympic selection for the LA Games?

IN THE WARM SEAT: FELICITY PALMATEER

Talking for a living isn’t the cakewalk people assume. This is especially true in sport. Even if you have something to say, it can be spun by circumstance — maybe you don’t mesh with the commentary team, maybe nerves mess up your message, maybe your voice is just plain unpleasant! None of this is true of Flick Palmateer. In the WSL CT broadcast machine, she brings a sharp mind to the game, along with that rare ability to warm up the room — when Flick’s talking, you’re in no doubt there’s a fellow human being present. Plus she’s in the midst of a career expansion you don’t often see, from pro surfer locked in the surf culture to a public figure with bigger goals. Plus she has Nick and Hannah’s favourite quality: she doesn’t muck around!