CAUGHT INSIDE # 130



The question is can we keep it up? The answer is yes, as long as, like a satellite in outer space, we can keep our orbit from decaying. Our orbit being the entire biomass system of tourists and waves that keep the island of Bali’s heart beating. Right now the best we can do is deal with it. But dealing with something means having it in hand. Which we barely do.

What happens when we lose our grip? One need only look at the shortcut in Canggu to see what kind of inhuman chaos ensues. The answer? For everyone on earth to be thoughtful. Which millions of years on earth has proven impossible. It’s just not in our survival mode. So what’s next? Circle the wagons, I guess. Take our surfing world, observe our orbit’s momentum and health and keep it in hand. And we have such a wonderful orbit happening. But now, with the steamrolling effect of greed tourism and irresponsible development sounding like a death knell, it’s time to look at Bali’s surfing healthspan rather than its lifespan. The day to day stuff. The small picture.

The decisions right in front of us individually. And that is up to us. All of us, from the guys that repair our dings to the captains of industry to the members of the sacred culture that surrounds us all. The dollar is not sacred. This island is. Our waves are. We are. Think healthspan, not lifespan. A clean orbit. So that we can avoid disastrous splashdowns. It’s so damn easy. Do one great thing for this island home once a day. Even if it is a simple prayer, a simple promise. And then live by it. And live with it. We can do this. And we hope the beauty of the images and stories in this new issue of Surftime inspires you to do so. We have so much to protect. So much to be thankful for.

So much to do. It just isn’t that hard. And remember, we aren’t here to scold you. We are just hoping that all of us, maybe, just maybe, will someday live in a Bali where the noise of scolding will hide behind the noise of appreciation. Let’s get to it. It might start in the line-up, but it ends in your heart.

-Matt George, Editor-in-Chief

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