Tracking Sandy Part Two

EPIC.... I would have given anything to be in South Beach the last few days.... !!

This shit rubs me the wrong way. Fucking tacky-ass Surfline publishing a photo essay of XXL surf sessions while countless millions are financially ruined with their lives disrupted for a long time. Millions are without power, food and clean water, their property totally destroyed, and the death toll is still rising by the day. This is a major disaster that may set back the U.S. economic recovery for years to come. I enjoy photos of great waves as much as anyone, but one would hope that Surfline could hold off at least until the unfortunate victims of nature's wrath are no longer suffering from such bitter consequences.

^ word.

@danimal Has Surfline ever held off? There was at least one slide of devastation. Looks like it was firing though!

danimal, the concern you expressed for the storm sufferers and victims is admirable...noble, even. But surfline is in the surf business and, by extension and with purple blobs and swirls, the storm business. Personally, I fail to see the disrespect in publishing surfing vids and photos from this storm. Just WHEN is it the correct time to publish? Who gauges, and how is it gauged that people are "no longer suffering from such bitter consequences"? May I ask if you looked at the pics and vids?

@SWS and sharkturd- thumbs up! btw, what's happening back East?

Sharkturd, fair questions. How about Surfline at least waiting until those with no power can log on and enjoy the fucking thoughtless and flippant comments from the 2nd rate pros and "Wavejet Founders"? Every time I check for updates on Sandy, more people are reported dead.

The photo of the 4 Lost idiots flashing toothy grins and shakas, and the follow-up comment of the dude that's moving to Miami so he can score more waves the next time a disaster hits the East Coast set me off. At the very least, Surfline could've included some more shots of the not so fortunate folk's belongings floating in the pounding storm surge and tempered their enthusiasm for "hurricane chasing" with honest reporting about how many people's lives are totally destroyed by this type of storm.

Just my opinion, but I believe it's harmless to those unaffected when Surfline provides images of a few surfers taking advantage of their good luck to be in the right place to surf killer waves, and harmful to the victims when Surfline ignores the fact that many millions more people are completely fucked while a few insufferable hedonists brag about their 9 hours of good times in the water.

If you feel surfline ignored the storm carnage, just flip on the news or open a newspaper. Why didn't you respectfully avert your eyes from those surf pics?

@Danimal: I suggest you don't come to NYC then... I'm stuck here, and lots of people are having a great time. Power is cut off below 39th street (meaning about half of Manhattan is without power), and I've never seen New Yorkers so happy. I'm sure there's lots of people saying "think of the hospital!", but for the most part there's an amazing amount of comraderie and helping each other out, and downright enjoying what you see as an unmitigated crisis. If you brought your attitude here, you'd be shouting at strangers on the street.

Pull yourself away from the TV, this isn't as bad as you think, at least not for everyone, and pointing out the good parts can only help the situation.

By the way here's my favorite story from the storm: my brother and I were walking up to my father's apartment just as Sandy was arriving. We stopped at a bar for a drink and Bloomberg (the mayor) was on TV telling everyone to STAY INSIDE! DOOM! We finished our beers and walked the rest of the way right up the middle of 2nd Avenue, amazed at the absence of any cars. Surreal.

Sure enough the storm was getting much worse. Really strong gusts, stuff falling over. We got to my dad's, then looked out the window and all hell was breaking loose, trees going crazy, wind so loud you had to shout. We thought we'd gotten there just in time, like we'd narrowly escaped some tragedy. Then someone comes into view walking their frickin lap dog, casual as anything, right in the worst of the wind, smoking a cigarette. The dog lifts his leg to pee, no big whoop, then walks away.

Oh well.

There are disasters and suffering of untold horror happening all over the world every day. Children literally starving to death, family members split in half by car bombs, average families thrown out of their houses on to the street and most of the time my main concern is getting a sticky bun before they are sold out, or how the swell is going to be on the weekend, or why is that person driving so slowly when I am rushing to the beach to surf. Horror lives alongside with joy. On one block they are crying on the next block they are laughing. What can be done? When it comes to surfing my priorities are pretty severely skewed. Here's an idea; instead of buying a new board, give that money to the Red Cross. Oh my god that's a scary thought.

Somewhere out there on the east coast. This is a big wave.

At least Surfer had the decency to hold off on posting photos of Sandy surf sessions on their website before the full extent of this disaster has been vetted. Good to know that NYC locals are finding some happiness despite this experience. Not sure how my friends from New Jersey are doing. I just saw a helicopter shot of a coastal town in NJ where every single beachfront building is gone. For Surfline, Wavejet and Lost to use this storm as a vehicle to market their brands before the tally of damage is complete in some areas is beyond my understanding of the concept of *respect*.

I'm done with this rant. Its not helping anyone, and I regret starting a negative dialog...

@danimal, I don't regret reading your posts about this situation. It's something to consider and brings up the notion of consideration for the feelings of those who may be suffering because of this storm. Nothing wrong with that.

Lighten up people. Yes, it is a tragedy of immense proportions, however find a lighter side, and if you can, donate to the Red Cross.

BTW, found this pic that will touch many of you as it did me ; - )

Great sign! If they had added surfboard wax to the list, they'd be batting a 1000.

For every swell you catch on your side of the ocean, there was some sucker stuck in a storm on the other side, that's the nature of living on this planet. I'm glad some people back east were able to get something positive out of Sandy, and if they have some pics to show for it, nothing wrong with that, I don't really see any disrespect in it. As long as you don't hurt anyone, you should be free to do what you want, even if there's a hurricane going on. Also, it should be said that for many places on the east coast, hurricane swells are the only time they ever get any decent surf, that should give them some cause for celebration: when the shit hits the fan, go surfing.