Noa Deane and Dion Agius apologise for Surfer Poll Awards

By now you’ve watched the video of the Globe team accepting an award for year’s best film at the Surfer Poll Awards. A good portion of the Strange Rumblings cast was on stage for the speech, led by auteur Joe G who looked a little like captain of a comedic Titanic. Everyone was in jovial spirits. After all, this is the biggest night in surfing!

Dion Agius mentioned Xanax. Noa Deane flipped the bird and said “Fuck the WSL.” And here’s the least surprising sentence you’ll read this year: Not everyone liked it. Albee Layer’s Instagram post is a good example of the general feeling in Hawaii towards Dion and Noa’s words: “Someone should let these kids know they aren’t rockstars and this is just surfing,” Albee wrote. “Joe g made an incredible film and everyone surfed undeniably great in the film But someone had to clarify not all surfers are like this. I’ve watched friends loose their lives to pills like Xanax, I’m all for having fun and not taking things seriously but don’t force it so obviously and publicly.”

The comments stream below Albee’s post was lined with agreement from surfers like Coco Ho, Brett Barley, Billy Kemper, Mark Healey, Jamie O’Brien, Skindog Collins, Flynn Novak, Stephen Koehne, Laurie Towner and more.

Noa also wrote in the comments below Albee’s post: “Albee, sorry if it came off the wrong way here, saying fuck the wsl was only a statement to express my feelings about the sport of surfing turning into some football jock sport.”

Dion just released this apology via his Instagram account:

“Ok, So I’ve been approached to do a few interviews regarding my actions at the Surfer Poll awards however I feel that this is the best avenue to apologise and explain myself… Firstly I want to make clear that no fucking war do i condone the misuse of prescription pills and I completely understand it is a huge problem for many people and not a laughing matter. I have suffered from anxiety in the past and have a huge fear of public speaking which has lead me to have one too many Mai Tais to help settle my nerves. I truly want to apologise for anyone that I may have offended. That’s super lame.

“Ps. @kellyslater is an absolute fucking boss and took the time to chat to me for 20 minutes backstage while I gushed at how much we all look up to, and respect him and what he has achieved in his career and done for the art of surfing.”

Aside from Dion’s mention of Xanax, talk around Hawaii has also revealed that it was Noa swearing in front of kids and families that was main catalyst for a bad taste in so many mouths.

And so, Noa has taken to his own Instagram to offer a formal apology:

”I would like to apologise for my actions 2 nights ago at the surfer poll awards, it was incredibly stupid, what i said was not targeted at any of the surfers on tour and they are on there because they are the best surfers in the world. I truly respect them and above all I’d like to apologise to the people of Hawaii and any kids watching. I’m meant to be a role model in surfing and my actions on the night were not appropriate and that was not the time or place to voice that opinion.

“My only goal was to raise the point of surfing not becoming a corporate sport like football but I can see and acknowledge how I came across and I am sorry… I’m truly humbled to receive the AI award someone who I looked up to as a kid and loved his surfing, and can’t believe that I over shadowed the honour with my actions later in the evening.

“Apologies to any one I have offended.”

There’s always two sides to a coin. So, here’s some things to consider:

– The problem with hindsight is that it’s always last to the party.

– Noa and Dion are both genuine people, and both apologies read genuine.

– We’ve all felt invincible at some point. Add some awards, some liquor and a microphone…

– What would we all talk about if people didn’t make mistakes?

– Pipe starts tomorrow!