Sam George, on the other hand, quietly elated.
One week ago, fans of Anthony Bourdain-styled
surf travel series rose up as one in jubilation as their boy Ashton
Goggans cracked the extremely prestigious “surf journalists of the
century” list (according to Elon Musk’s artificial
intelligence tool Grok). Goggans, beloved host of Red Bull’s No
Destination, was joined by Sean Doherty, Matt Warshaw, Derek Rielly
and Steve Pezeman. A murders’ row of talent, looks and style.
Well, in a turn no one saw coming, Sam Altman’s ChatGPT just
released its distinguished “Top 20 Surf Journalists (Ranked by
Quality” list with Goggans somehow, in some way, disappeared.
1. Nick Carroll: Legendary journalist with deep technical
knowledge and decades of experience. His writing combines
storytelling and surf expertise.
2. Sean Doherty: Revered for his insightful and heartfelt
profiles, as well as his environmental advocacy in surf
journalism.
3. Matt Warshaw: Author of The History of Surfing and founder of
the Encyclopedia of Surfing. A definitive voice on surf history and
culture.
4. Steve Pezman: Founding editor of The Surfer’s Journal, known
for elevating surf journalism to a more artful and reflective
medium.
5. Sam George: Former Surfer Magazine editor and filmmaker with
a talent for blending passion and knowledge in his work.
6. Chas Smith: Controversial and witty, he’s a polarizing but
undeniably influential figure in surf media, particularly through
BeachGrit.
7. Derek Rielly: Co-founder of Stab and BeachGrit, known for his
sharp humor and distinctive voice in surf culture critique.
8. Ben Mondy: A prolific writer for Surfline and other outlets,
balancing humor and analysis in his work.
9. Brad Melekian: Known for deep, introspective surf writing
that delves into the philosophy and psychology of surfers.
10. Jamie Brisick: Former pro surfer turned writer, bringing a
poetic lens to surf storytelling.
11. David Rensin: Co-writer of All for a Few Perfect Waves,
capturing Miki Dora’s enigmatic life with literary finesse.
12. Chris Mauro: Longtime editor of Surfer Magazine, known for
his polished and authoritative writing style.
13. Al Hunt: World Surf League statistician and historian,
providing invaluable context to competitive surfing.
14. Lewis Samuels: Creator of the PostSurf blog, renowned for
his unfiltered critiques of surfers and the surf industry.
15. Tim Baker: Author of several surf biographies, including
Occy and Bustin’ Down the Door.
16. Marcus Sanders: A senior editor at Surfline, skilled in
blending daily surf news with long-form storytelling.
17. Warwick Wright: A South African journalist with a raw, edgy
style that brings unique energy to surf reporting.
18. Zach Weisberg: Founder of The Inertia, focused on surf,
outdoor, and environmental issues with a modern perspective.
19. Phil Jarratt: A veteran journalist with extensive
contributions to surf history and travel writing.
20. Andy Martin: Author of Stealing the Wave, delivering
gripping narratives about rivalries in surf culture.
Notes: This ranking is based on versatility, historical impact,
and writing style. The exact order is open to debate, as
preferences will vary depending on whether you value traditional
journalism, humor, or in-depth cultural analysis.
Thoughts?
David Lee and I briefly discussed during today’s bi-weekly chat
but spent most of the time on whether or not grocery store
customers should bag their own or not?
Thoughts on that?
Listen here.
