Queen of Crazy Mason Ho buys $3.1 million beach shack once owned by ‘the bravest surfer who ever lived’

And not for one, but for three days!

Good That certainly took a sharp turn. More later, but in the meantime, Kelly Slater and his Surf Ranch have changed surfing in more ways than can be neatly summarized here. The reality that a wave could be summoned, almost perfectly, at the push of a button instead of waiting for Surfline to call storms, that surfing can be enjoyed anywhere on Earth, that waves have monetary value, all groundbreaking.

And it is with regard to the latter, the economically determined price of surfing, that we set our scene. A day at Surf Ranch reportedly costs $50,000 in the off-season, up to $70,000 at peak times. Groups can come together and split the cost, although of course the number of waves per person is adjusted. Still, the facility is private, no intruders feeding on crumbs etc.

According to a source in Mexico’s deep south, a group of enterprising surfers, “middle-aged guys from Southern California,” reportedly took the Surf Ranch financial model to one of the world’s best right hand point breaks, Barra de la Cruz, and rented it for three days for a total of $20,000.

Barra, you’ll recall, burst into the surfing consciousness in 2006 when the World Surf League (née Association of Surfing Professionals) traveled there for the “Search” event. The waves were perfect, pumping barrels overhead, and the late, great Andy Irons took home the trophy with an unforgettable performance in what is still considered “the greatest contest of all time.”

Back in modern times, the source said he/she drove up to Barra’s gate and was greeted by a woman who told him/her the beach was closed for a private event from Tuesday through Thursday. Initially it was assumed it was for a competition, but after some digging they tracked down the middle-aged Southern Californian buyer.

The locals were not happy about it. They were excluded from the house fire and it also set the precedent that a wave like Barra can be bought by rich interlopers.

Difference in prosperity etc.

At first glance, $20,000 for three days in Barra de la Cruz seems like the deal of the century. But in this climate of more and more going for less and less, the optics, as they say, may not be great.

Thoughts?

And if you could rent any wave in the world for three days, which one would you choose?