Bert (surfing’s Banksy!) strikes for Halloween

In San Diego, within eye-shot of Highway 101, two men sneak into a room. One of them is photographer Steve Sherman. The other is surfing’s very own version of pop culture street artist Banksy. His name is BERT. Their plan is to document BERT’s newest work, an ode to The Shining, bespoke for the world tour of surfing, just in time for Halloween.

Photos below by Bert

Anonymity comes with the territory where street art is concerned, so very few know BERT’s true identity. Kelly Slater is one who does – he has two pieces of BERT art hanging in his house. You may also remember last year after each CT event, the anon artist chose a blank wall in Southern Californian to create a visual commentary of triumphs and controversies.

BERT’s latest project, Surf Street Art of Horror, is very clever. Keeping with the Halloween theme, he’s recreated the happenings of the Rip Curl Pro, Portugal into Stanley Kubrick’s classic, The Shining. The cast: Mick Fanning as madman Jack Torrence, Gabriel Medina as Jack’s tormented wife, Brett Simpson as little Danny Torrence, Richie Porta as the chef, Kelly Slater as Lloyd the bartender and the Hobgood twins as the Grady Girls.

And here’s BERT’s vision: “Fanning is seen smashing through a locked door toward Medina as if at one time Mick was considered out of the title race. Mick disagreed and not only pounded on the door, but with his win in Portugal, smashed right through it back into title contention. Medina, who had been in a comfortable lead through France, now stands shaking and scared watching Mick creep closer with every slash. Medina remains confident due to his faith in God and the support of all of Brazil. Brett Simpson “murdered” Medina’s chance of winning the title in Brazilian-friendly Portugal, and is seen writing “murder” backward across the wall. Slater was not able to capitalise on Medina’s loss, but like Lloyd the bartender encouraging memory erasing at the bottom of a glass, Slater offered up a stiff dose of dizziness with his historical 540, ultimately drowning any memory of his early Portugal elimination. In the movie, the chef attempts to save the Torrences, but finds an axe to the chest much like what Medina most likely wanted to do to head judge Richie Porta once he learned that he did not receive the score needed to advance through his heat against Brett and possibly win the title. And who better to play the Grady twins than the Hobgoods?”

Photos below by Steve Sherman