This is the third and final article in the great Aussie-Yank catfight trilogy that begins with Bill Cleary's 

 This piece, "The High Performers Answer Australia," ran without a byline in the July 1967 issue of SURFER. It is the sound of defeat and anger and denial and hurt pride. To his credit, Witzig didn't bother responding.

John Witzig struck a tender nerve when he wrote last issue that the Aussies are tops in the surfing world. Shouts of protest echoed from Makaha to Malibu and Narragansett to Cape Kennedy. Among the complainers were three of California's celebrated High Performers—David Nuuhiwa, Corky Carroll and Mike Hynson. David, Corky and Mike got together to discuss Witzig's charges that "everything California is built upon means nothing!" SURFER was there with a recorder and this is what went on the tape as the High Performers answer Australia.

 It seems to me that John Witzig’s article in the May issue of SURFER (“We’re Tops Now”) did more to hurt surfing than it did to help. It was derogatory and hurt California and surfing in general. I don’t know whether Witzig spent much time in California, but he seems to think that the Australian surfers are a lot more advanced and that California is just a degenerate place—which it is not. If you look back in time, the Australians have learned most of their surfing from styles that have been set by California surfers during the last ten years. What do you think about the stuff Witzig was saying, David? DAVID: Bunch of garbage. Who is John Witzig? What is his purpose in surfing?

 When I was in Australia, I saw both Witzigs. Paul is an outstanding representative for surfers. He helped us out when we went through. John, his brother, just sat on the side and didn’t do anything as far as I saw. He may be a nice fellow, but he’s a pretty presumptuous writer. He uses negative thoughts. Surfing’s beautiful, and the people in surfing are beautiful.

One thing that Witzig says is that Nat crushed the pansy surfers of California and also thrashed David. I don’t see how Witzig can say that when the only time that Nat came up against David in the whole contest was once during the finals of the first day—and David beat Nat! So I don’t see how Witzig can claim that Nat’s better if Nat’s never beaten David. And, in fact, Nat lost to David the only time they were ever against each other.

But does it really matter who’s better? It’s like saying your father can beat my father. We’re not playing that game.

Witzig claims that California surfers, and especially David, are strictly noseriders. Well, that is an oversimplification and simply not true.

David’s approach to surfing is much more than just noseriding. Noseriding is just one functional movement of surfing. And it just so happens that it’s hard to stay on the nose. And Californians should know because we surfed for many years and have led the way in every functional movement that surfing has. And even now, David has gone farther than nose rides. He takes the back end of the board and sticks it in front of himself, stands up, switches around, goes around in a circle, stands on the nose, spins the tail around and paddles in. You know, try that. John Witzig, if Nat Young can stand on his head, then send us a picture because you will be progressing.

 I think Witzig was so far behind the times in the World Contest, he didn't even understand what David was doing there.

 During the whole World Contest, Nat surfed very well. He surfed like he says, aggressively; he got good waves. He got good turns, good cutbacks. He rode the nose fairly well. You know, he was just an all-around good surfer. But during the contest, he didn’t do one maneuver that was spectacular. He didn’t do anything outstanding where the crowd went “Yeah, yeah!!” If anyone had been there that first day, the whole beach was screaming and tears were coming out of their eyes when David was up on the nose for so long. Right in the right spot in the curl, too, which is what counts.

 I remember one circumstance in the semifinal heat I was in with Nat. I was behind Nat, and Rusty was in front of Nat, and we were all three going along ... it looked like it was going to be kind of tight, so Nat straightened out in a position where there was no way I could straighten out. The only thing I could do was go behind him. Rusty made the wave, and I made the wave; but Nat, who was supposed to be so aggressive and take anything, straightened out when the going got rough. So I don’t see how he can say that he’s more aggressive than any of us. I don’t think that we’re more aggressive than him, or that he’s better than us or we’re better than him or anything. I think that this deal of we’re fast and we’re better than you guys shouldn’t even enter into the deal. We don’t care who’s best.

 We’re all looking for good surfing. We all want to know what it’s all about.

 Yeah, we want to make something out of it.

 We want to make surfing good, not bad. Sure, the Australians are entitled to their views, but their personal, petty criticisms were ridiculous.

 I don’t see why the Australians say that California surfers aren’t aggressive. If California surfers aren't aggressive, why did Rick Grigg win the Duke Contest in 15-18-foot surf ... and where was Nat that day at Sunset?

 Yeah, aggressive surfing’s been in a long time. But we’re only aggressive in the water. An aggressive surfer is one who goes out at Sunset Beach and competes in a contest under the most terrifying elements that surfing has yet to offer—other than the Banzai Pipeline. I didn’t see any Australians at Sunset. If this new Australian movement is aggressive and powerful and strong and dominating, well then, let them bring this power, domination and aggressiveness—bring it to Sunset Beach and Banzai Pipeline.

 During the whole World Contest, Nat surfed very well. He surfed like he says, aggressively; he got good waves. He got good turns, good cutbacks. He rode the nose fairly well. You know, he was just an all-around good surfer. But during the contest, he didn’t do one maneuver that was spectacular. He didn’t do anything outstanding where the crowd went “Yeh, yeh!!” If anyone had been there that first day, the whole beach was screaming and tears were coming out of their eyes when David was up on the nose for so long. Right in the right spot in the curl, too, which is what counts.

 Why does it matter if your country is better than our country, or your island is better than our island, or your waves are bigger than our waves? So what? Competition is a friendly thing where everybody gets together and goes out. It’s hard to measure but you see who does best on a certain day, and after—you laugh. CORKY: I’ve talked to a lot of other Australians, and it seems that the whole of Australia doesn’t feel the same way as Witzig and Nat. It seems like Witzig and Nat have a certain little clique going over there. This clique represents Australia as far as surfing competition goes. They’re speaking for the country as a whole when they say all those things, but I don’t think they share the views of the average Australian surfer. I think the Australian basically respects California surfers.

 Witzig said David was only a noserider. Do you think of yourself that way?

 Not really—but it is fun to get up on the nose and go.

 I remember David in Hawaii, and this brings back old memories. David never used to ride the nose. He did other things—things that were unbelievable! Things that I don’t think the Australians have even seen yet! It’s just that he’s projected a lot of his energy lately towards this noserid- ing because noseriding just happens to be a fun, functional movement. Something that hasn’t really been mastered yet. David is mastering it. And that’s just one step. He’s mastered other things.

 Hey, come on, Mike. You’re laying it on too thick . . .

 Australians don’t understand that California has progressed so far with its surfing. Ask Nat Young about power surfing with Barry Kanaiaupuni. I mean, there’s a power man. Do you remember, David, what happened to Nat and Barry in Hawaii?

 Well, I pulled up to Velzyland with Butch Van Artsdalen. And we saw a little happening going on in the water. There was Barry and Nat, and they were just going head-on. Barry would take off on a wave and get back into it. And then Nat would take off and get back. Pretty soon Barry was so far gone you couldn’t see him. And then Nat would be in the same position. But you know, I can’t say who won that meet. After the surf-out, they came upon the beach and got into a little fistfight. That’s how this thing was boiling over.

 A big complaint by Witzig was that David got 20 points from a judge at the World Contest on that long noseride—the best ride of the contest. George Downing was the judge who scored David’s 20 points, and there’s a guy who’s strictly a functional surfer. Downing’s from the old Hawaiian school where functional surfing is “in” and it’s a good philosophy. So George Downing gave David 20 points on that wave, and if Nat Young or John Witzig wants to talk about functional surfing, talk to George Downing about it. Downing’s been around surfing about five times as long as they have and knows about five times as much about the ocean and surfing as they do. There’s a functional surfer.

 Here is one viewpoint that should be expressed. Nat Young is in surfing for his livelihood. He is using surfing commercially and selling himself out in order to better his position. Nat Young will do anything . . .

 Well, hold on a minute, Mike. A lot of us surfers are devoting our lives to the sport —and that includes making money at it. You, me and Corky are all making a living designing, building and testing surfboards we hope will progress the sport we love.

 There’s more to Nat’s sellout than that. He’s got a big ego, and I’ve seen him burned. I’ve even burned him shooting pool—broke his ego. I’ve broken Nat Young’s ego so bad shooting pool that he was no longer aggressive. He could not be aggressive because his aggressiveness is his ego

 Mike thrashed the pansy Australian pool player.

 Yeah, but I don’t want to say that because I don’t want to make fun of the kid since he is World Champion. He did win the thing. But he can’t do anything else.

 You know, there’s all different philosophies of surfing. You have Michael’s style—he has the liquid style. You have Skipper’s style and Corky’s, and you know each one has their individuality. That’s surfing—a great sport for individuals.

 The ocean calls all of us out there. Then we get back on the beach and start fighting about it. The ocean is running everything. She’s got us all right in her hands.

 I think part of being involved with surfing is to try to blend with whatever is happening with the wave. You know, try to go with the wave instead of fighting it. That’s the bad part—if you’re going to fight it.

 I just don’t understand this Aussie idea of powering over a wave. You know, “I’m going to make it at all costs,” this type of thing.

 They simply don’t understand. They have the wrong conception of involvement. They don’t understand what the word means. I think they’ve just found out how involved they can get.

 Surfing for the Aussies is fighting against the waves. See what they can do to the wave and how badly they can rip it up. What they don’t understand about California surfing, and I don’t think they have gone quite far enough to realize, is that surfing is not fighting against the wave —it’s flowing with the wave.

 We’ve always been ahead of the Australians. The pioneers have all developed from surfing knowledge gained in California and Hawaii. Here we have David Nuuhiwa, a representative of Hawaii who is just like Duke.

 Thanks for a great compliment, Mike, but there’s only one Duke. But I think it should be pointed out that the Duke did introduce surfing to Australia. It’s a fact, and Witzig can look it up in Australian history books.

 I think the viewpoint of Australia is “involvement.” Their involvement is how they can power over the wave, be aggressive on top of the wave, almost like their crude “king- of-the-mountain” game. Where our involvement consists of this philosophy: Involve yourself with the wave itself! Become the wave; don’t power over it. We respect surfing; we respect the wave; we respect mother nature. It’s a strong force. Their involvement is crawling over the wave while ours is blending with it.

 I think the California-Hawaii surfing background gives us a big edge in the tradition of the sport. We are heirs of a lot of great surfers: Rabbit, Downing, Froiseth, Weber, Cunha, Simmons, Edwards. A lot of those names were “involved” with surfing and waves even before Australia had seen the “Malibu” board.

 Yes, surfing has come a long way, but it’s really just beginning so it’s silly to say any one person or country is “on top.”

 Our surfing is progressive. I hope Australia can keep up. I hope these people will understand what we are trying to do. That our ways of surfing are just fundamental; they’re functional, and we take pride in what we do.

 The only thing in Australia one jump ahead of us is the kangaroo.

 Witzig also criticized the commercial interests in California surfing. The only thing I can say is that California has led in. the whole world in equipment. The surfboards come out of California. Just about all the major advances in surfboards have come out of California. One of the big exceptions is Dick Brewer, naturally, from Hawaii. Brewer is one of the leading shapers, and most of the advances in big-wave boards have come from Dick Brewer. Before that, they came from Simmons and people like that.

 A really good board is a key to good surfing.

 Witzig says that here is California involved with all of its special boards and models, etc., and Nat Young just takes his 9'4" board named Sam and goes everywhere with it. Now I’m sure Nat knows—Mike, David and me, we all know—that you can’t go everywhere with a 9'4" board. Nat had trouble at Makaha with his 9'4" board. Anybody would have trouble at Makaha with a 9'4" board. You can’t ride Makaha at ten feet on a 9'4" board no matter who you are. Even if you’re Kahuna, it’s too hard to do.

 Too bad they don’t understand. They’ve got all their boards from us; all of their advances in surfboards came from California ideas. One of the major things that helps out the progress of surfing is the surfboard. When the surfboard goes ahead, a surfer goes a little bit ahead. And when the surfer goes a little bit ahead, he demands a surfboard that is a little bit more ahead. The surfer and his board work together in advancing the sport as a whole.

 The surfboard is the tool that you use to do your job. Every day we think of something to make surfing progress—to make the whole industry move forward. It can’t be a log that you carve out of a tree anymore. It’s going to have to be a specialized thing for specialized surf. Surf comes in different shapes and sizes, under different conditions, different tempos—there’s a fantastic variety of things that you can do with surfboards and surfing. Certain boards can do unbelievable things for you.

 I wonder if the Australian golfer hits every shot with the same club?

 Please don’t bring up golf or Witzig will write an article saying the Australian golfers can thrash Arnold Palmer and make Jack Nicklaus look like a pansy.

"THE HIGH PERFORMERS ANSWER AUSTRALIA" (1967)

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