“You can now own a piece of Championship Tour
history with a signed event winner jersey from the Lexus Pipe
Pro.”
Just over a week ago, the World Surf League
found itself embroiled in its most serious controversy to
date. The Championship Tour was in Abu Dhabi, as you
certainly recall, yet eagle-eyed surf fans noticed a glaring
omission. Namely, flags had been scrubbed from the competitor’s
singlet sleeves. No Brazilian order and progress, no Australian
southern cross, no American stars and stripes and for Tyler Wright,
no pride.
The two-time world champion had added the rainbow emblem during
her 2021 campaign, declaring at the time, “Today for me feels like
another step in my realisation of my true and authentic self. As a
proud bisexual woman of the LGBTQ+ community as well as an
Australian, I’m delighted to be able to represent both this year on
my competition jersey. The number change to 23 represents, to me, a
new phase of my career and my growth as a human. The Progress pride
flag represents a love that opened my eyes more to who I really
am.”
The World Surf League added it “proudly supports Tyler in using
her platform as a World Champion and a proud member of the LGBTQ+
community to express a message of inclusivity. We believe surfing
is for everyone and are incredibly proud of our athletes.”
Though it did not proudly support Tyler’s platform in the United
Arab Emirates where same sex couplings are frowned upon.
And it is not proudly supporting Tyler’s platform in its newest
offering.
As reported
yesterday, the global home of surfing is offering
signed memorabilia, excitedly sharing, “You can now own a piece of
Championship Tour history with a signed event winner jersey from
the Lexus Pipe Pro presented by YETI and the Surf Abu Dhabi Pro. Be
one of only a few people who score a Tyler Wright, Barron Mamiya,
Caity Simmers, or Italo Ferreira authentic event jersey. Quantities
are extremely limited. Shop today!”
It might be thought that the “signed event winner jersey” might
have been used in the event or, at the very least, copies of those
used in the event.
Here’s Wright at Pipeline.
League)
But now let us examined the signed $299
version currently on offer on the World Surf League
website.
No pride.
No progress.
Now, do you think the World Surf League is falling in line with
other corporations around these United States cutting diversity
programs etc. or does the jersey simply come with an assortment of
identity patches that the buyer can iron on at will?
Currently more questions than answers.
