As tradition holds, swag must be raffled off at a surf movie premiere and Thomas Campbell is not one to balk at tradition. But this was not just any raffle at The Present premiere.
For one, the ethereal Kassia Meador glided onto stage to assist with selecting tickets (making the event worth the price of entry). Kassia helped to balance the stutters and missteps of Campbell. Additionally, I felt pretty alright with walking away swagless because Kassia and I shared the same air for a short time.
The raffle started with the usual t-shirts and DVDs. Interest in the theater piqued a little when a hand-carved bodysurfing triflanx came up next. But, everyone had seen this swag before; nothing new. Until a beautifully shaped piney alaia emerged from behind a curtain. The room breathed in as one and exhaled in a rumble. I saw a guy leap to his death from the balcony due to uncontrollable excitement.
This, however, would not be raffled off to just anyone. Why give away such a work of love and beauty to some kid who doesn’t even know how to spell alaia?
The rules were simple: Campbell would ask a question. If you knew the answer, jump up, wave your hands, and shout the answer as loud as you can in order to get Campbell’s attention. After a couple of questions and a couple of people at the stage there would then be a final death round.
“Who was the first person to surf Pipe?” Of course, some people argued that they had said the answer first when someone else went up to the stage, but they forgot what the rules were; it doesn’t matter if you are first, it matters if Campbell notices you first.
“Who was the first person to use polyurethane in surfboard construction?” Dale Webster answered first. Dale is the guy who magically committed himself to surfing 10,407 days in a row. The crowd applauded as he walked to the stage.
“Who was the first person to put a fin on a board?”
At this point five people stood at the base of the stage. (I know it doesn’t add up. People complained enough about answering a question first to get Campbell to let them come up. Had to shut them up some how).
“Who was the first person to put two fins on a board?” This question whittled out the complainers and left Dale and this guy that Campbell knew by name–Mark the Shaper. The feeling in the theater was mutual: Dale should win this board. He deserves it, right? Who else in this room has more dedication than him?
“What surfer was named after a Rabbit?” The simplicity of the question startled everyone. Dale even. I was too far away to hear who answered first, but Mark the Shaper walked away with the alaia.
This seemed unfair and upsetting for one singular reason: Campbell at the start of the raffle said that he hoped Mark the Shaper would win the board. Surprise surprise! He did! What a fortuitous and entirely unpredictable out come!
Before we run down to the beach to pick up some cobblestones to throw at Campbell, let us reflect for a moment. First, it is his movie and his show. He can do whatever the hell he wants. Second, and most importantly, wouldn’t we all do the same thing? Imagine it: You have a sweet alaia to give away and you have the option to give it to a buddy or some random guy you don’t know. What do yo do? I like to think that if Campbell knew who Dale was he would’ve “fated” the board in his direction.
But really, what does it matter. We were all there to watch a movie. And a movie we did watch.
Yet another aside: Answers to the questions were purposefully left out. If you want to know the answers, go do some homework and find someone who knows. It will make you a better surfer and lover.
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