Gossip Girl: Is Luke Davis Dropped? Who’ll Score Bruce Irons?

There’s been a lot of chatter about Luke Davis, re: Reef, and whether or not the fans of passing through still engorge his bank account each month (just FYI, Luke’s a $20k p/month kinda guy). The surf industry is highly prone to grapevining, so take this with a cup of salt, but word is he’s been cut. Everyone from Kolohe Andino to Taj Burrow was under the impression that the partnership was no more. However…“”No, everything’s fine,” Luke told Stab. “It’s all good with Reef.” He said he knew nothing of departure rumours. But, he’s been removed from the Ambassadors section of the Reef site, and Stab heard rumblings that he’d pissed off his bosses by declaring he was done with competition (which he communicated through a Stab story). The problem was, he mightn’t have got that signed off before announcing it. Two completely unrelated things: Luke Stedman, surfing’s greatest hustler/smile, parted ways with Mambo but kept tight lipped and didn’t peel off his stickers, because he understands the importance of perception. And, in 2015, the power of Instagram, and those who wield it, is nearly immeasurable in its heft.

Two generations of Hawaiian surf royalty in one West Oz tube. That’s Bruce at the back there, capturing an angle that’d later take Instagram hostage. Photo: Chris Gurney

Bruce fucking Irons, who holds an eternally warm place in Stab’s heart, is no longer on team Fox. While it was shit to see Bruce part ways with Volcom back in 2012, the Fox split is far less sad. Anyhow, BI is officially a free agent. This bodes well for Bruce because right now, he’s more on his game than he has been in the five years since his brother’s death. He’s pumped on surfing, he’s in amazing physical shape, he’s stopped riding quads and is back on thrusters (all Channel Islands), surfing as well as ever. All this will be compounded by his excellent cameo in John John Florence’s new film, View From A Blue Moon. No doubt we aren’t alone in our joy at seeing Bruce enjoy some time in the sun.

Quiksilver has been a source of much discussion lately. Since they filed for bankruptcy last month, the company has been in fat-trimming mode. And many assumed that’d mean removing the suction caps from its teats, i.e. condensing their well-paid surf team. First we heard Dane Reynolds’ deal had been iced immediately following the chapter 11. But he negotiated a few more months to ride out the year, at which point, there’ll be another more long-term renegotiation. In the unlikely case Dane splits, Stab guesses Vans (head to toe) would be the likely choice. Then there’s Mikey Wright. Stab was told, with absolute certainty, that Mikey was headed for Billabong, where he’d compete for the young adult space with Jack Robinson. But that ain’t true, either: Mr Wright just signed with Quik for another five years. A strong factor was the relationships he has with those at Quik, as well as the focus he’ll be given from the company, where he won’t have to fight for attention in his bracket. The banger of a clip he dropped yesterday wasn’t coincidental timing. Quik 2.0 is just everything!

Taj Burrow’s contract with Billabong is up at the end of the year. The new baby-daddy still has a ridiculous amount of value as a teamrider. He’s a perennial top five, should he chose to continue competing, and if he navigates the next phase of his career (once he reaches it), he’ll become more Rob Machado than Ross Williams: Timeless. Laird bless the West-Australian deity!

xoxo, Gossip Girl