Stab Magazine | Kelly and Channel Islands respond to Bobby's attack

Live Now: Chapter 11 Mini-Documentary With Dane Reynolds

1547 Views

Kelly and Channel Islands respond to Bobby’s attack

In this era of vanilla quotes and conservative surf heroes, Bobby Martinez should be applauded for his brazen brand of interview responses. In this talk with ESPN’s Jon Coen, Bobby waxes cynical on the one tier tour, the Rebel threat and, the most compelling barb, an attack on his former sponsor Channel Islands and long time friend […]

news // Feb 22, 2016
Words by stab
Reading Time: 2 minutes

In this era of vanilla quotes and conservative surf heroes, Bobby Martinez should be applauded for his brazen brand of interview responses. In this talk with ESPN’s Jon Coen, Bobby waxes cynical on the one tier tour, the Rebel threat and, the most compelling barb, an attack on his former sponsor Channel Islands and long time friend Kelly Slater. We sought a reply from the shaping firm and nine-time world champ, to the comments.

If you haven’t read it, here’s the excerpt we’re talking about:

ESPN: Let’s talk about Kelly Slater for a minute. Is he at risk of becoming like Brett Favre — tarnishing his legacy by staying in the competition spotlight for too long?

Bobby: I don’t know and I don’t care. I just hate how he says he’s not doing the tour and then he does the whole year. Obviously, he loves the spotlight, but to me I don’t care what he does.

ESPN: His board experimentation is clearly having an effect on design on and off the Tour. Have you made any changes to your quiver based on his ideas?

Bobby: He’s only riding fishes because he can’t get a good short board. That’s why I left Channel Islands. Like I said though, none of this is affecting me. I’m just going to go out in 2010 and do my best.

Here’s what Kelly had to say:

“Sometimes we all say things without thinking about the effect. Bobby’s had a long successful career with Al’s boards, winning more national titles, I think, than anyone ever and who also won three (of the four) events he’s ever won on tour on Channel Islands boards, so I’m not sure why he would say that.”

“As for my boards…I’m having fun. I had six wins from nine events just before staring to ride the experimental stuff. If those were bad boards I sure hope I get some good ones.”

And regarding their friendship:

“Bobby has been a friend of mine since he was a kid so I don’t take offense to it and the Channel Islands crew still love him and he knows that.”

The spokesman for Channel Islands and Al Merrick, Travis Lee refused to bite, apart from musing that maybe this was Bobby’s way of showing loyalty to his new sponsor (DHD). Travis said neither Al, nor anyone at Channel Islands, were concerned by Bobby’s comments. He always was outspoken, said Travis and “Dane’s 19.20 heat score at Snapper on one of our standard short boards tells a different story [to Bobby’s].”– Jed Smith

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: What Happens When A Brand Takes Its Youth Team To A CT Event?

A: Good things, typically.

Mar 29, 2024

Full Frame: Scandinavia Is Surfing’s Next Frontier

A 30-hour drive, bathymetric maps, and 10 years of searching yield surfing's newest discovery.

Mar 29, 2024

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
Advertisement