Author Archives: Fred Pawle

About: Fred Pawle

Surf Writer, The Australian

Fred Pawle is an Australian surf journalist who has worked mostly for newspapers. He’s never worked full-time for a surf mag, but has a hunch that they are mostly sycophantic and commercially compromised. He was once nominated for a major journalism award for his profile of gay former pro surfer Matt Branson, and wrote an extensive investigation into the life and times of Paul Sargeant, a photo-journalist who was kicked off the pro tour for sexual misconduct in 2005. Both of these were published in Stab, a magazine that sometimes breaks the surf-publishing paradigm. He now works only for The Australian.

Michael Peterson Champion Surfer RIP

Surf Icon Michael Peterson Passes Away

Friday, March 30th, 2012

Michael Peterson, the Queensland surfer who was widely regarded as the best in the world before proper world titles were introduced, has died. He was 59.

A fight on the North Shore instigated a wave of rumors involving tension between Hawaiian and the visiting surf community. Photo: ASP

North Shore Fight Ignites Conspiracy Theories

Sunday, December 18th, 2011

A recent fight between two Hawaiian surfers has led to speculation about a revival of international tension during the Hawaiian leg of the pro tour.

Gabriel Medina earned the right to fly his flag once. But can he, logistically speaking, do it again? Photo: ASP/Kirstin

Flying The Flag: Business Before Patriotism

Sunday, November 20th, 2011

Gabriel Medina won the Rip Curl Pro, but he couldn’t fly his flag during the post-victory celebration. Simple question: Why not?

Drugs Pills Nexium

ASP Begins Drug Testing in 2012

Thursday, November 10th, 2011

The Association of Surfing Professionals will introduce drug testing of athletes next year. The decision was made at an ASP board meeting in San Francisco yesterday.

Kelly Slater Ocean Beach Rip Curl Pro Search

Slater’s Triumph an Anticlimax

Saturday, November 5th, 2011

When Kelly Slater won his 11th world title, one of the greatest moments in surfing – and sporting – history was diminished by being staged in the equivalent of a lumpy, dried-out suburban footy ground.

Jeremy Flores Sunny Garcia Fight Burleigh Breaka Pro

Video of Fighting Pro Surfers Stirs Debate

Thursday, February 24th, 2011

Ian Cairns said the ASP “had its tail between its legs” regarding the fight as it might have “repercussions” when the circus hits Hawaii.

Andy Irons Walk Obituary

Obituary Pierces Silence on Andy Irons’ Life

Monday, November 29th, 2010

“Every single person I talked to, said there was more to it (than a mere obituary),” Melekian said. “I couldn’t ignore that.”

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