…Sexual crimes.

To deny there’s some connection between surfing and sex… Wait. Backpedaling A step or two. That criminal abuse can exist in organized sport, that it does, and has, doesn’t ignore that the sexual predator/victim scenario is, and always has been, part of our shared history.

I have added comments on numerous Instagram sites that were covering the suspension of a World Surf League competitor after he and others engaged, allegedly, in a sexual attack on an under aged Australian girl.

While many of the comments followed the usual arguments of ‘alleged, not proven,’ and ‘why let one indiscretion ruin a man’s career,’ it was encouraging to see support for the victim, and for a ex girlfriend of the alleged perpetrator who revealed his violent acts toward her. Seeing Slater and Media and Toledo, an others, condemning the criminal acts was reassuring.

Then there are the deniers. Like, “This couldn’t be happening.” What? I have to believe that anyone who went to high school, public or private, went to summer camp, went to any dances, had any contact with others at all, has to know stories, most likely has stories of predators, frequently offering drugs, liquor being a drug, in order to achieve what they will report as a conquest. Not a relationship.

What happens to the conquered? Depends. If reputation matters, it is frequently a lot, a frequently for a long time. Perhaps the aggressor gets to be labeled a womanizer. Whether this is a good thing comes down to intent. Conquest over relationship?

I realize I at risk of appearing to be, I don’t know, old fashioned. May be true.

If I say we shouldn’t victimize others, to have respect, I must add that ignoring known sexual criminality is very close to condoning it. Still, I have never really intervened in the (several) instances where I was an an almost witness, or had knowledge of. Still, I’ve never respected anyone who bragged about their sexual conquests.

NOTE- I did want to write about this subject on Word. There will be edits and some lame excuses for my alleged wave hogging.

Oh, and China, since you’re so intent on following realsurfers, STOP. NOW!