Laird doing American Express commercials

[Free Range Lobster]

:eek: :mad: :nonono2: :nonono2: :nonono2:

[Plakespear]

Hey, traveling the world searching for 100' waves isn't cheap, and Gabby's Playboy money won't last forever.

[Free Range Lobster]

Guess Oxbow shit isn't selling well.
And I don't think Riding Giants did so well either although it might as well have been a total ripoff of a couple big wave riding website histories.

I don't think he's won a Billabong XXL either.
Must be running out of money.

[cj001f]

Gabby's Playboy money won't last forever.
Isn't she single now?

[tuffy109]

Isn't she single now?

no.

laird's sponsored by some french athletics company.

[mushmouth]

Guess Oxbow shit isn't selling well.
And I don't think Riding Giants did so well either although it might as well have been a total ripoff of a couple big wave riding website histories.

I don't think he's won a Billabong XXL either.
Must be running out of money.
Maybe you should should be questioning someone else 'cause this guy's been nothing but true to his passions his entire life.
If Amex approached you with an offer that could fund your dreams AND your family for a long time and you passed, you'd be an idiot, and I'd post a message saying so.

[TomMN]

I've never see Gregg Noll or any of the other Hawaiian legends do video parts let alone magazine or tv ads.

[cj001f]

no.
I appear to have missed the narrow window of opportunity when she could have been mine.

[Artie Fufkin]

I thought it was odd that the aim of the commercial is to portray him as outside of mainstream corporate America, he says something to the effect that he can't imagine his life if he had to be in an office in a big city. Yet he's pimping one of the great corporate giants where alot of people work in their offices in a big city. I don't know much about surfing, but I am assuming most surf bums don't carry gold cards. I would assume that trustafarians traveling the globe surfing carry gold cards.

Regardless, he has a gift, a hot wife and he's making some money, so there is nothing wrong with that, though the commercial is a contradiction.

[tuffy109]

I've never see Gregg Noll or any of the other Hawaiian legends do video parts let alone magazine or tv ads.

gerry lopez did plenty of movies. he had a part in Sprout, which just came out a few months ago. AND he was in the greatest movie ever, North Shore.

also, i'm not sure how widespread vcr's were back in the 50s and 60s, but greg noll was in a couple of bruce brown's movies.

get of the d.

[Big E]

I don't think he's won a Billabong XXL either.

Hasn't he always chosen not to submit the photos/vid necessary for that? Seem to recall at least once where they said he was pretty much a guaranteed winner but declined to enter.

Laird's been on the cover of National Geographic, so it's not like he's really tried to avoid the public eye. He hasn't, however, starred on Baywatch.

[tuffy109]

He hasn't, however, starred on Baywatch.

hahahahaha

they have this show on OLN called Fearless. The did one on Kelly a ways back and they were showing a comp where the announcer kept calling him Jimmy Slade.

[mountainbored]

Laird is laughing all the way to the bank!
And dont forget Gerry Lopezs' best movie "Conan The Barbarian" w/ Arnie.

[Free Range Lobster]

Hasn't he always chosen not to submit the photos/vid necessary for that? Seem to recall at least once where they said he was pretty much a guaranteed winner but declined to enter.

Which I don't quite get considering you'd think he'd do this before he did an Amex commercial.

I agree he's pretty much the god of big wave surfing, teahupoo and all, but biggest wave ever? His reluctance to submit footage makes it all seem very fishy. Better to be quiet about it all and let them think he's #1 without entering rather than have him enter and get shown up by one of the Santa Cruz/Mavericks guys, because no matter how much they say that they're all buddy buddies, there is alot of internal strife there.

[Plakespear]

also, i'm not sure how widespread vcr's were back in the 50s and 60s, but greg noll was in a couple of bruce brown's movies.

VCR's weren't around until the mid 70's, and didn't really become widespread in the US until the early 80's.

Tom- Greg Noll, Miki Dora, Billy Hamilton, and plenty of others from that era were in lots of surfing movies. Back then they were shown at high schools and legion halls, much like Warren Miller and Dick Durrance's films were at the time (my dad saw Endless Summer at the same catering hall my parent's wedding reception was held at)

And even Miki Dora did stunt work for some of those chesseball Beach Blanket Bingo type movies.

[Superstar Punani]

Which I don't quite get considering you'd think he'd do this before he did an Amex commercial.

I agree he's pretty much the god of big wave surfing, teahupoo and all, but biggest wave ever? His reluctance to submit footage makes it all seem very fishy. Better to be quiet about it all and let them think he's #1 without entering rather than have him enter and get shown up by one of the Santa Cruz/Mavericks guys, because no matter how much they say that they're all buddy buddies, there is alot of internal strife there.


Do you even surf? No? Then SHUT THE FUCK UP, DICKHEAD!

http://www.cs.ucsd.edu/users/ssikand/hamilton.jpg

http://www.surfline.com/odyssey/images/lairdhero.jpeg

http://www.towsurfer.com/archives/walker_120802/images/Laird009L.jpg

http://www.the-daily-dose.com/people/hamilton/ha01-01-01.jpg

[warthog]

Maybe it's cause he is strapped that he won't submit the photos. Do they allow that in Billabong XXL?

He has always struck me as a purist. I Tivoed a show about Jaws with Laird as the central star a while back. I can't remember the name of it, but it was pretty good. Laird seems like a pretty down to earth spiritual kinda guy.

Is getting paid for doing what you love selling out? Cause if it is, we can start a long list of sell-outs.

[Alkasquawlik]

Maybe it's cause he is strapped that he won't submit the photos. Do they allow that in Billabong XXL?

Yes. According to him, he believes that people shouldn't be risking there lives for a monetary gain in contest like Billabong XXL. Hmmm, but doing Amex commercials because of fame created on riding big waves is alright... :nonono2:


Laird seems like a pretty down to earth spiritual kinda guy.

If by earthy spiritual kinda guy you mean egotistical, chest-thumping meat head. Then, why, yes. Self-spoken quotes on a TV show I don't think really capture the entire perspective of a person.
Personally, I know a few of the Santa Cruz/Mavericks crew. They pretty much think he's a jackass, whose ego is too big to get beaten by Flea, Makua or 40 year olds. (Cabrhina)


Is getting paid for doing what you love selling out? Cause if it is, we can start a long list of sell-outs.

No, your a slut, but not a sell-out.

PS. I'm a Shluuuttt.

[warthog]

I'm a wannabe slut.

Howd the Kiting go this season? Our season is just getting going again.

[crashnburn'd]

I have an Amex card...

[Free Range Lobster]

Personally, I know a few of the Santa Cruz/Mavericks crew. They pretty much think he's a jackass, whose ego is too big to get beaten by Flea, Makua or 40 year olds.

Last year during the super heavy hurricane surf New England got, Laird and the strapped boys were up here looking for heavy heavy locations. Needless to say they were chasing some of us around and paying local charter fisherman off to tell them where to find waves.

They never found any of the heavy heavy spots thankfully. Yes they are fucking meatheads. (A friend relays that he was approached by one of them and when asked "what he gets out of showing them breaks" they said he should feel priveledged just to hang out with them... He called them kooks and took off.)

Pics of what we actually found in some spots we knew would get big later.
We just weren't exactly aware of just how big the east coast could get.

[mountainbored]

I went to school with Lairds partner Dave Kalama. He was one of the funniest, coolest, laid-back guys around. As far as Laird goes, he might have a bit of an ego but doesnt everyone who is #1 in their sport? Shaq, Bodie Miller, Tony Stewart and dont even mention snowboarders.
And no matter if you like him or not, he IS the best and you gotta pay the bills some how.

P.S. Where are those east coast pics!?

[Free Range Lobster]

Yeah yeah, I'm digging for them,

just wish I could find them already.

[Alkasquawlik]

Howd the Kiting go this season? Our season is just getting going again.

Good, thanks for asking. Actually the big wave season is just getting going now. Hopefully tomorrow, Sun, will be good. Forecast = first REAL big swell, with high NW winds. Could be sweet
(keeping fingers crossed, knocking on wood, and all that other anit-jinxing shit)

[gonzo]

not sure if likwids are any better, but here are a few good ones.

http://www.nesurf.com/Pics/gal/Rhode_Island/0309_06jiruggles3.jpg
http://www.nesurf.com/Pics/gal/Rhode_Island/0309_06jiruggles2.jpg
http://www.nesurf.com/Pics/gal/Rhode_Island/030322bandersen3.jpg
http://www.nesurf.com/Pics/gal/Rhode_Island/030322bandersen2.jpg

[Alkasquawlik]

Fuggin Sweeet! Huge North was starting to show tonight in Santa Cruz and Little Wind 'n Sea was doing its best impersonation of J-Bay. Head high, racing, super (I mean SUPER) fast barrels. No turns, just point it down the line, stay high, and pump hard, while getting covered up. Uber-Sickness.

[tuffy109]

great photos.

[Free Range Lobster]

the nesurf pics will have to do for now.

i'd probably get shot at for posting pics of other Only Accessible By Boat (tm) locations that are tow-in possible during hurricane swell. but it was about twice what ruggles was getting

ruggles kinda sucks now because every jong comes out and tries to surf it when it fires now. too much media coverage and every other junior writer from every paper within like 100 miles pouring down to interview people and screw it up.

[gonzo]

dude. i really want to see your pics!

i watch ruggles - too many rocks for this guy. i have heard of a good longboard break between pt. judith and naragansett somewheres. know it?

[Free Range Lobster]

longboard spots along that route? hmm
tough to say where exactly, im sure there's a ton of spots though

1st and 2nd newport are awesome longboard spots though.
horseneck when everywhere else is past longboarding possibilities/loaded with jongs

ruggles can be nasty esp. if you go over the falls in the wrong spot.
i don't think anyones eaten shit there yet though... but give it time with the media publicity its been getting


i'm still digging for the pics
gives me an excuse to clean out my harddrives and backup my websites.

[Free Range Lobster]

AH HA

Secret Spot.
Pics not taken by me. (all parties would like to stay anonymous on this location and who was there)
Will not divulge where this is, so DON'T ASK.



http://www.ifeelhappy.com/tgr/blah2.jpg

http://www.ifeelhappy.com/tgr/blah7.jpg

http://www.ifeelhappy.com/tgr/blah8.jpg

[Alkasquawlik]

WHERE IS THAT!?!? If you tell me, I'll give you candy bars.

Golly Darn I love getting barrelled. I just wanted to say that cause, you know what, getting barrelled if friggin' sweet. I got barrelled today. It was a small barrel, but none-the-less it was a barrel and it was friggin sweet.

[Free Range Lobster]

a spot only accessible by water.

candy bars? psh i've been offered bling for another spot :fmicon:

[Plakespear]

I know you won't divilge WHERE that is, but WHEN was that swell (I'm sure it only goes off like that on special occasions)

[mountainbored]

a spot only accessible by water.

candy bars? psh i've been offered bling for another spot :fmicon:
:biggrin: Excellent Eastcoast!

[Alkasquawlik]

a spot only accessible by water.

candy bars? psh i've been offered bling for another spot :fmicon:

Actually I was mostly kidding. That spot doesn't even look that great. I mean, it's definitely cool, and having zero people out is always a plus, but there are about 3 lefts better than that within a two minute walk out my front door. And the sad thing is, Santa Cruz is regarded as having no lefts. Cool, but nothing to cream your pants about. It's worth about 2 snickers, 1 oh-henry and maybe a Baby Ruth.

[mushmouth]

I think I know where that is and I think it was last year...I was out fishing that day and the swells were huge, but calm otherwise and on the way back in it was breaking where I've never seen it before. It's on the ENE side of an island, right?