Stab Magazine | Dogs Are Now Towing Into Outer Reefs

Live Now: Chapter 11 Mini-Documentary With Dane Reynolds

902 Views

Dogs Are Now Towing Into Outer Reefs

Today, in “surfing.”

news // Jan 26, 2018
Words by stab
Reading Time: < 1 minute

So, Garrett McNamara, a blind guy, a dog, and a Jet Ski roll up to an outer reef…

In 2008, that would have been the start of a bad joke. The punchline would have landed somewhere in the vicinity of Garrett expecting the trio to tow him the whole time. Barking orders, not being able to see their side of the argument, etc.

However, it is not 2008. It is 2018 and so that is simply the start of a story.

The blind guy, in this story, is Derek Rebello — a legitimately inspiring fella from Brazil. Garrett McNamara is Garrett McNamara. And the dog is @bonosurfdog, who happens to have more followers than a handful of CT surfers.

“[Bono] was a champion, handling the poundings out there,” said the man who invented Nazaré.

Couple thoughts:

-Technically, Bono would have beaten Filipe Toledo in that 2015 heat at Teahupo’o.

-Fact check on the “biggest wave by a dog” claim. Two words: Richard Marsh.

-Just because you’re a dog doesn’t mean you get a pass for riding a SUP.

-But honestly, this is probably against some sort of animal protection law, no?

At this point, though, I’m almost more concerned about the welfare of surfing than that of the dog. Is this really where we’re at?

I blame Instagram. I don’t necessarily understand how it has gotten so powerful that it would convince an entire group of grown adults into believing that whipping a dog into a wave at an outer reef is an idea worth pursuing. But we’ll blame it anyway.

So here’s an Andy Irons section from Billabong’s Trilogy, from before the App was invented, to remind us what surfing is again. Thanks, AI.

 

https://www.youtube.com/embed/MYqg5F2-kko

Comments

Comments are a Stab Premium feature. Gotta join to talk shop.

Already a member? Sign In

Want to join? Sign Up

Advertisement

Most Recent

Watch: João Chianca Had A Remarkable Hawaii Season Before His Injury

Plus an update on his condition.

Mar 28, 2024

Pittar’d And Feathered

Do the WSL judges deserve the internet's wrath? We asked the man of the hour.

Mar 28, 2024

Robbo, Pickles, And Tyler Wright Become The Underdogs Breakfast At Uninspiring Winkipop

The foreboding blade sharpens and inconsistent judging prevails on Day Two in Torquay.

Mar 27, 2024

“I Don’t Always Win Heats, But When I Do, I Try To Beat John John”

Slater shines and the axe begins its descent on Day 01 at Bells.

Mar 26, 2024

Back Against The Wall: The Ramzi Boukhiam Redemption

Morocco's first CT surfer on speaking six languages, having no coach, and snatching Fil Toledo's…

Mar 25, 2024

Will Kirra, Babies or JJF Stop a GOAT Winning at Bells?

Bluesky BOAG advice from a Superman specialist and former Trials winner.

Mar 25, 2024

Bells Preview: The WSL’s Victorian Sword Dancing Equinox Ritual

Will a Brazilian crack the Top 10 at Bells?

Mar 25, 2024

69 Shin Bones Later + the Anticlimactic State of Big Wave Record-Breaking

Lucas Chumbo might have surfed the biggest wave ever this year. But how will we…

Mar 23, 2024

Watch: ‘Fresh and Fried’ Ft the Quik Kids

How taxing is it to tackle the Gold Coast’s Triple Crown in a single day,…

Mar 23, 2024

The Popular Vote: The People’s Stab In The Dark With Kolohe Andino Champion

Which board looked best — to you —under Kolohe's talons?

Mar 22, 2024

Six Key Learnings From Portugal

Three CT events in, what do we know? 

Mar 21, 2024

‘Zipper’ Is Going On Tour, Here’s Where You Can Watch It  

Dates, times + locations for the Venice, Encinitas, Sydney + Byron premieres.  

Mar 20, 2024

Dane Reynolds On His Future, His Past, And Chapter 11’s Raison D’être

Our 9-minute plunge into the collective psyche of Ventura's pillar(s).

Mar 20, 2024

From ‘Blue Ribbon Cross Country Runner’ to Vogue – How Steph Again Is Back With A Rip Curl Remix

Everything we know about the she-GOATs sponsorship boomerang.

Mar 18, 2024

Stab Interview: Darren Handley Explains Why You Can’t Buy The Winning Stab In The Dark Model

And his decades-long standoff with Slater.

Mar 17, 2024

Griff Embraces Portugal’s Eternal Time Loop To Vanquish Medina + Ewing, Defay Delays The Inevitable

A redeeming closing act at Supertubos.

Mar 16, 2024

The Secret Behind Lungi Slabb’s Inconceivable Greenmount Funnel

Six broken boards, one leaking forehead, and five days of Superbank mysticism.

Mar 16, 2024

Cheat Codes: A Million Miles Worth Of Travel Advice From Coco Ho

Hard-earned wisdom from more than 2,000 hours in the troposphere.

Mar 15, 2024
Advertisement