The Surfers' Sibling Rivalry: A Tale of Envy and Admiration
Are you the less-cool sibling in your family? Imagine the Florence brothers, John John and Nathan, secretly wishing they had their brother Ivan's effortless charm, both on and off the waves. This is a story that will make you question the dynamics of sibling rivalry, especially in the world of surfing.
I, the narrator, have a brother who is six years younger and significantly cooler. While I've had my fair share of surfing adventures, my brother has lived an extraordinary life. He's spent 20 years off the grid in West Africa, mastered martial arts, speaks three languages (including a tribal dialect), and has faced deadly snakes and bandits with ease. He's a real-life action hero!
But here's where it gets personal: I haven't done any of these things. The gap between our 'swag' is like comparing a strip-mall accountant to a surfing legend. If you had to choose between us for a dinner party, you'd pick him every time. And this is the part most people miss—the internal struggle of being the less-cool sibling.
You might be wondering, what does this have to do with surfing? Well, surfing culture is filled with famous brothers these days. The Colapintos, the Chiancas, and even the Carrolls are making a comeback. But what about the siblings who aren't in the spotlight? Do they feel a constant bitterness, like the Brazilians do towards WCT judging?
Take the Fletcher brothers, Christian and Nate. One is an aerial pioneer, the other a fearless charger. Who feels inferior? Or the Florence crew—is Ivan envious of John John's world titles or Nathan's slab-riding fame? It's a complex web of emotions.
From an outsider's perspective, these families seem perfectly content. Each sibling has their unique niche, a legend in their own right. But the truth is more nuanced. Some siblings undeniably outshine others, even if only by a sliver.
Now, I present my subjective ranking of surfing siblings, based on years of obsession and personal experience. You might disagree with some (or all) of these:
- Crosby > Griff
- Makua > Koa
- Damo > CJ
- Caity > Timo
- Tom > Joe
- Parker > Coffin
- Coco > Mason
- Matt > Sam
- TC > Nick
- Dane > Tanner/Pat
- Mikey > Owen/Tyler
- Cory > Shea
- Chumbo > Joao
- Derek > Michael
- Sam > Miguel
- Chris > Dan/Keith
- Andy > Bruce
- Sean > Kelly
But do these 'lesser' brothers really lose sleep over it? Maybe not. Some have world titles to console them. But what if you're not a world champion? What if you're Joao, living in the shadow of a big wave legend? Is a world title the only way out?
And this is where it gets controversial—even monumental achievements might not ease the envy. You might feel worse, realizing that your success is still overshadowed. It's a complex emotional journey.
In these moments, I turn to ancient wisdom. The Tao Te Ching offers a guiding light:
Fill your bowl, but not to the brim.
Sharpen your skills, but know when to rest.
Chase excellence, but value serenity.
So, to all the siblings out there who feel the weight of comparison, remember, the path to peace is within. See you in the water, where we're all equal.
