Bobby Martinez ain’t happy

Bobby Martinez’s absence from J-Bay was remarked upon as much as that of Dane Reynolds’ and Kelly Slater’s. No mean feat, considering the latter duo are generally regarded as the two best surfers in the world. For the last few months, Bobby has sustained a steady flow of ASP-bashing and fuck-the-world sentiments via his Twitter account, (ASP IS PROB GONNA FINE ME AGAIN! BUT AT LEAST I AINT A PUSSY WHO IS SCARED TO VOICE MY OPINION AND AFRAID OF CONSEQUENCES!) clearly disillusioned with the state of WT competition in its current form. He recently had a concise discussion with Channel Islands guru, Trav Lee (who’s boards Bobby now rides). Bobby’s known for the incapability of having a discussion that’s anything but frank. And the discussion with Trav was no exception. It certainly gives clarity to one of our fav goofy-footer’s plans for the rest of 2011 (and 2012). Is it better that Bobby does his own thing, or does the tour need the honest voice of men like him? Below are some snippets from the interview. Y’can read the whole thing over on the Channel Islands’ site. Travis Lee: You missed the J-Bay event; do you plan on doing Tahiti? Bobby Martinez: No, I am not going to do the Chopes event. I love Tahiti and that wave; I just don’t like being there for an event with everyone there. Will you go to the Quik NY event? Yes, my new sponsor is based out there and so I will go to support them and go out with a bang. So, you realize NY will be your last event? Yes, I really don’t want to be part of the tour anymore unless it changes. So is it the new tour that has you fired up? Yes. I just don’t agree with the halfway cut. Not only do those surfers that come on at the halfway point have no chance of winning a world title, which is pointless, but they barely get a taste of it and then they will probably fall right off it. Everyone deserves a whole year. I think it takes at least a year to really figure it out. You don’t hate surfing do you? No, it’s been both a blessing and a curse to me. It brought me together with my wife and given me the lifestyle I have now, but I just hate the new tour and whole industry side of it and a quite a few people in it. It’s kind of a catch 22. What I have, I love, and I wouldn’t have gotten without surfing. But, the other stuff I could do without. Some of your Tweets are pretty vulgar with a lot of cussing. What do you have to say to the parents that disapprove of this for their kids that may follow you? They don’t have to let them follow me. This is reality. Their kids are going to grow up and become their own person, just as I have. Are you saying that’s just you… take it or leave it? If I wanted to be like everyone else and please them all I would bleach my hair blonde, wear tight skinny jeans and put in blue contacts and become a “yes” man. I am just trying to make a living and reach my goals. It’s the real world; people aren’t perfect and proper wherever you go!