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Nazis in Sheep's Clothing

12th October 2004 Brandon Foster

These are just a few of the complaints going around in our sport. You want to know what the reason is? You, the bodyboarder, so stop your whining. You, who wear your Volcom, Hurley, Quiksilver, O'Niel, Rip Curl etc. You are all hypocrites. The reason our sport has gone down the drain is the major clothing and shoe sponsors have finally realised how stupid we all are.

I am calling out everyone here and I feel nothing.

First the pros are you not willing to sacrifice just a little to, maybe, get to a place where we could earn some serious cash. Some of you even go against your contractual agreements wearing product from other companies that don't sponsor you. FOOLS. Take off those labels that put your sport down every chance they get. Next to the general consumer, that's all of us. I was recently in South Africa and saw how big the bodyboarding scene was, remember that's moms, dads, sisters, brothers, grandma and grandpa etc_ All kitted out in non-bodyboarding, actually anti-bodyboarding apparel. Your kids, parents or family members sport is being jeopardized by you not supporting the companies that support the sport that you, your mate or family member enjoys and or competes in. Please help.

A while back I got to talk to a major clothing company representative. I asked him why he puts no money back into bodyboarding when so many bodyboarders buy his product. His answer was "Those kooks buy our product anyway so why sponsor anyone or put any money into their contests." Then he blew me off. Can't you see what is happening? I have an example I always like to use in cases like this, to make it hit home. Any bodyboarder buying or wearing one of these anti-bodybording company's brands is like a Jew, back in the time of the Nazi's, buying or driving a Volkswagen car. The car made by the people that are killing you. You are putting the money in their pockets to further their tyranny. For years now these companies have advertised against and helped fuel the propaganda machine that is anti-bodyboarding. So every pair of shoes or shirt you buy helps to fund their adverts and propaganda.

You might say that me buying a shirt or cap here and there makes no difference. Hell no, don't you realize that whenever you buy something you cause a chain reaction. Someone likes what you have and therefore goes and buys one too, and so on and so on. You are often walking bill-boards advertising for those companies.

I have heard all the excuses too, "but bodyboarding companies don't make cool clothing or any shoes". Yes, I agree with them, the only companies with anything worthwhile right now in are guys like, No Friends, Rejected, Grand Flavour etc. I have also heard people say that it's hard to come by or out of date in the stores. The fact of the matter is it is going to take sacrifice in the beginning to get ourselves out of the hole we have dug for ourselves.

Imagine the reaction we would get if every bodyboarder in the world and including South Africa said screw you to those big name brands. Someone would take notice.

Start removing labels from the cloths you have already and for the love of 'God' throw away your T-shirts that are blatant advertising for those companies. Start shopping at Salvo's for no-name brand stuff, or non-sports related company's brands. First off this is cheaper and you can get pretty good stuff. Then start mocking your mates or people who wear those large corporations' products. Let's start a revolution! The stories I could tell of the numerous companies who have bared me just because I was a bodyboarder. It is blatant racism in a way. They hate us just cause we bodyboard, well I say screw them. I will not give them another dime. Let's force one of them to support us, or lose our sales. This will also give way for companies like No Friends or a new company to become like Volcom so we can have our fair share of support. Aren't you fed up with the pro surfers/skaters getting money that should be going into better contests or sponsoring more riders in bodyboarding? Australia has started the revolution with their four clothing companies like Invert, Rejected, No Friends and Tension making pretty sick clothing and shoe companies like Human Shoes even making signature model shoes for bodyboarders.

Please guys and girls, let's come to the realisation before it's too late. There are thousands of us and we can make a huge difference. Let's hit them where it hurts the most, in the pocket.

Thanks for listening!

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