Surfpolitik Kong: On Andy Irons, Parko, and surfing now

In: Surfpolitik by Stu Nettle 74 Comments Mon 3rd Dec '12

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Gary 'Kong' Elkerton has just released his book, Kong: The Life and Times of a Surfing Legend, which details his unique upbringing and lengthy professional surfing career. Known for always telling it like it is Kong doesn't dissappont in print, he's honest about his rampant drug taking during his early-20s and the culture that permitted it. He also opens up about the despair at finishing second in the world four times, including two heartbreakingly close efforts, and the personal changes he underwent during his career.

Swellnet: How does it feel to be the first surfer to come out and give a completely honest account of pro surfing?
Kong: I'm actually proud to do it, it's been a long time coming. I've got to thank Tommy [Carroll] and Rabbit and Kelly and all those guys for their books because they really made me want to write something that's the truth. That's just how it was back then, you know, some people won't like it but that was my life.

Think your gonna cop any grief for what you've written?
I don't care.

Fair enough...
I don't care at all about that 'cause....it's a very fine line, it's about me but there's other people there but I'm not putting them in that same picture. And, you know, I'm kind of fed up with this whole pro surfing thing of people walking around and painting this beautiful picture of themselves - how good they are and all this stuff. It's not right, you know. Look, in a sense it's not bad stuff really, it's recreational drugs really, they're party drugs. We're not talking about EPO or anything like that. And they were the days back then, that was how everyone rolled.

People are going to make the link between what you've written and the fate of Andy Irons, is that fair?
I wasn't into the same kind of drugs, that's for sure, and never have been. But there's a point being made and that's that the support system was not and still isn't in place, and that's the whole story there. I don't want to be compared with Andy in any way....well, maybe his surfing. But the point that I'm making is that enough is enough. There's no WADA testing in surfing and that is ludicrous. What that means is, if you're on a path, well, you have to change that path. If I had the choice between partying and competing, and it was really defined, I would've stayed surfing and so would've Andy I'm sure.

So who failed Andy then?
It's not for me to sit here and pinpoint that and accuse someone. The whole system failed. The whole system: the sponsors, the ASP, and maybe a few of his close friends. It's the whole package and it's a very delicate thing to speak out. But, you know, at the end of the day it should never have happened.

Your book opens with you collapsing on the beach in France after finally winning a world title – the World Masters – and getting the 'gorilla off your back.' You were runner up a few times, how must Parko be feeling as his date with destiny draws near?
I think Joel's in a good place right now. He's got the right people around him. I reckon the only way Joel's gonna get beat is if Kelly gets pushed ahead of him.

Pushed, by the judges?
I believe Joel should already had the world title. That manoeuvre that Dusty Payne did at Santa Cruz...

The air reverse at the end of the heat...?
Yeah, that fucken thing, how he didn't get a ten for that...I am just gobsmacked. We are praying that doesn't happen again at Pipe and I'm flying over there tomorrow and Joel's gonna have my full support. I'm sure everyone else around him is giving him full support as well because he really does deserve the world title this year.

You had some dubious incidents happen when you were vying for the world title, how's your relationship with the Hawaiians now, particularly Michael and Derek Ho? (Michael infamously blocked Kong during the 1990 Pipe Masters costing him the World Title)
We have a really, really close relationship, now. A little thing that amazes me now on tour is how friendly everyone is. We were never like that. Obviously there were times when we were, say, at a party or after someone won a contest. But we were warriors mate, and I've always said that to Bede, you know, it doesn't matter what you do or say on tour, you're a warrior and you've got to treat yourself like that, because when it [your professional career] is all over you become mates again .

But yeah, I had some pretty hard ones over there in Hawaii, but God I love it and I'm so stoked to go back over this year.

After ten years of air reverses it seems the power hack and the layback snap are coming back in vogue, that must be something that makes you happy?
It should never have been left out. Look, I don't agree how it's all being played up.

How's that?
They kinda called it an old school thing and for a long time it was under-judged. Kids were being brought up on this thing of breaking the rail in the turns, sliding the fins out. Which can be good, but not all the time, they're missing a lot of rail turns. I like that air stuff, but I like to see really hard power turns while holding the fins and then going into some freak aerial thing. But they've got to keep that in the repertoire, they should never have been under-judged.

Yeah, it's great it's coming back. I mentioned before that aerial that Dusty Payne did at Santa Cruz. I still cant comprehend how he did that.

Surfing's changed a hell of lot since you were a pro, is there anything that the guys these days are missing out on that you had?
There's less freedom and theres a lot more pressure now. With the communication world, you know everything is seen and replayed instantly. You do something and it's seen on the other side of the world straight away. It took us a few months to get it, had to pick up the dirty old Tracks magazine in the toilet and find out what going on. But with all that comes a lot of pressure to perform

The other thing that amazes me is how much pressure the corporate world are putting on young kids. I think it's completely wrong. All these 12-year-old kids and pro juniors, yes, the world has changed but let the kids be kids. Let them free surf till their 16 and then maybe let them have a crack. We're seeing a lot of young kids getting eaten up and spat out by the machine. But other than that the level of surfing is just phenomenal. When the boys are laying it down, jeez, I never imagined that was going to happen .

If you were growing up in this day and age would you have had your own blog?
Ha ha, of course mate, the Kong Blog!

Thanks Kong, hope you get a few waves in Hawaii.

Kong: The Life and Times of a Surfing Legend is published by Harper Collins and is available now.

Editor's Note: Contrary to the information above the ASP has an Anti-Doping Policy that was drafted from WADA guidelines and they've been conducting drug tests all year. Swellnet asked Dave Prodan, ASP International Media Director, how many surfers have been tested and their results, this is his reply:

"Unfortunately, due to the confidentiality of the testing protocols, I can't specify who has been tested and where. Suffice it to say though, we have conducted testing throughout the year at both the men's and women's elite levels of competition. In all instances, testing has been conducted by certified, independent third parties. Consistent with ASP's policy, test results are confidential. Reporting will only take place in the instance of an athlete testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance and/or three positive tests for recreational substances, both resulting in automatic suspensions. We're happy to report that neither of these situations has occurred this year."

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