Michael Tomson arrested on drug charges, again

Stu Nettle picture
Stu Nettle (stunet)
Swellnet Dispatch

mt_portrait.jpgCo-founder of Gotcha and one-time pro surfer Michael Tomson has again been on arrested on drug charges. The Laguna Beach Indy is reporting that police found scales, "plastic baggies" and $2,000 worth of cocaine in Tomson’s home during a routine 7 am probation check. The discovery resulted in his arrest on suspicion of drug dealing. 

In 2013 Tomson was charged with two felony DUIs and suspicion of cocaine possession following an early-morning traffic accident in Laguna Beach.

As the cousin of Shaun Tomson, Michael Tomson was one of the 'Busting Down The Door' generation on the North Shore. He finished 5th in 1976.

Tomson then co-founded Gotcha in 1978 with Joel Cooper, selling boardshort from a Laguna Beach garage. The company grew into one of the surf world's most recognisable brands with edgy graphics and obnoxious ads ("If you don't surf, don't start").

In 1997 Gotcha founders sold the company, and now Perry Ellis licenses out the name which is sold at retailers like Kmart and Sears.

Tomson is currently being held on bail.

Comments

mibs-oner's picture
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mibs-oner Thursday, 25 Jun 2015 at 2:07pm

fuck that slogan wouldn't go astray now huh haha

stunet's picture
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stunet Thursday, 25 Jun 2015 at 2:50pm

The ironic thing is that slogan - "If you don't surf, don't start" - was a great recruiting force. The year the ad campaign went live Gotcha posted its biggest sales figures ever, and its reach extended well beyond the surf world. Everyone wanted to become part of the special club. 

Bob's 2 Bob's's picture
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Bob's 2 Bob's Thursday, 25 Jun 2015 at 8:18pm

I agree Stu, The Special Club. Is that similar to Swellnet's Punters Club?

westcoastnz's picture
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westcoastnz Friday, 26 Jun 2015 at 3:25pm

And this is the sort of corporate low life that has helped shape what surfing is! No wonder surfing has turned into a selfish,hedonistic fuck fest.

blindboy's picture
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blindboy Friday, 26 Jun 2015 at 4:08pm

I remember him way back as a very friendly character with none of his cousin's overwhelming egotism. But time, substances and a decade of greed appear to have worked a character change. Very sad.

Bob's 2 Bob's's picture
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Bob's 2 Bob's Friday, 26 Jun 2015 at 5:46pm

Was he also a member of Stu's Special Club BB..."back in the day?"

blindboy's picture
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blindboy Saturday, 27 Jun 2015 at 8:52am

I don't think Stu could have been more than a smile on his daddy's face at that time.

maxe's picture
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maxe Friday, 26 Jun 2015 at 8:23pm

From co founding and owning a giant surf brand to now dealing cocaine and being a DUI felon,.............where to from here, probably a movie ....sigh

the-spleen_2's picture
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the-spleen_2 Friday, 26 Jun 2015 at 8:26pm

"plastic baggies"?? Was that an official charge or are you hepped up on goofballs and doing the drug talk thing?

stunet's picture
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stunet Saturday, 27 Jun 2015 at 9:00am

I think Chief Wiggum works for the Laguna Bay police 'cause that was the exact description - plastic baggies.

uplift's picture
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uplift Friday, 26 Jun 2015 at 10:28pm

'From co founding and owning a giant surf brand to now dealing cocaine and being a DUI felon,.............where to from here, probably a movie ....sigh'

Probably the tell fuck all book first, then a cutting edge, shock/horror OMG, bare bones and all 60 Minutes segment. Probably followed by being sighted surfing on the eastern board, probably Manly(?) with fucking tone. Of course the ultimate reward, if he's really lucky, and can push his way in front of a salivating stewart, is a blessed sighting, at an unspoiled, memory laden, eastern seaboard surf paradise, with the mighty aussie, thonged, heavy heaver, hocko.

When the sigh becomes a global, horrified groan.

westcoastnz's picture
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westcoastnz Saturday, 27 Jun 2015 at 7:59am

My thoughts exatly Uplift,how can you have any respect for thier kind of behaviour and to make matters worse how many guys have been fucked over by drug taking cheats in comps over the years, if any cheats had any balls at all they should hand back any titles they ever recieved.

udo's picture
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udo Saturday, 27 Jun 2015 at 8:44am

Cheats who were they - lets start with MP at the Stubbies comp.
Maybe few Cocaine charged Pipe wins by some.

blasphemy-rottmouth's picture
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blasphemy-rottmouth Tuesday, 30 Jun 2015 at 3:30pm

First, allow me to compliment the site on going 99% aggregate surf media. The Inertia must have you by the balls.

Second, Michael Tomson is the only person in surfing even close to being capable of selling a book, TV, or movie rights to his story. It might actually make money... As opposed to Tim Baker or Nick Carroll publishing odes to their dick pumps. MT's fingers reach deeper into the depths of the modeling industry, real estate, drug, and banking industries. As deep as you can get. It's Taylor Made for Hollywood.

Third, we'd get to hear him tell everyone the Andy Irons' story. Just give MT a break every 20 minutes to clear his nose, and he'd be more than happy to talk.

Cool thing is, Swellnet is good enough to know that reposting bullshit from other websites, trying to put more cameras in your back yard, and piggy backing Social Media for ideas about Pro Surfing audiences will lead to awesome things.

Like, yews!

tux's picture
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tux Tuesday, 30 Jun 2015 at 3:47pm

Love all the crew jumping up and down about him taking or selling drugs....glass houses fella's....glass houses

hovercraft's picture
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hovercraft Wednesday, 1 Jul 2015 at 9:29am

Stop the presses a surfer involved in drugs, in the US of all places. Shocking just shocking.

Next.

blasphemy-rottmouth's picture
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blasphemy-rottmouth Wednesday, 1 Jul 2015 at 2:41pm

Shocking? No.

This will shock people:

1. The Irons' family suing Billabong for directly enabling his addictions.

2. Public shareholders suing Billabong for using a "non-profit" institution, the ASP, to lie about their audience for years, using their own paid announcers to propel their agenda online, live, to the rest of the public.

Sure, there may not be much cheese left in the Bong satchel, but hey, insurance!

Meanwhile, Quiksilver and Rip Curl await like bob's on the skewer...

I'm hungry.

blindboy's picture
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blindboy Wednesday, 1 Jul 2015 at 4:17pm

Interesting BR but wasn't Lyndie Irons doing promos for Billabong as recently as December? There is a class action by shareholders against Billabong but I haven't heard that the ASP were involved. No doubt you have your own sources. In terms of your comments about Swellnet.......well you're still here!

blasphemy-rottmouth's picture
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blasphemy-rottmouth Wednesday, 1 Jul 2015 at 4:40pm

December is recently?

Cmon Derek... I mean Blindboy. And yes, I am here. Now. As in my monthly PMS. Swellnet's decline in content is reflected thuswise and soforth as you know. Finless is best (insert imoji).

blindboy's picture
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blindboy Wednesday, 1 Jul 2015 at 4:43pm

Derek? Your credibility as a source of inside info just suffered a severe setback.

blasphemy-rottmouth's picture
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blasphemy-rottmouth Wednesday, 1 Jul 2015 at 5:02pm

Please pass on my credibility gaps to your boss. He seems to think my stories on social media have credence.

Also, we left a straw for you in your grave.

blindboy's picture
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blindboy Wednesday, 1 Jul 2015 at 5:07pm

My boss? Didn't know I had one. My grave? Still got a pulse.

blasphemy-rottmouth's picture
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blasphemy-rottmouth Wednesday, 1 Jul 2015 at 5:09pm

Keep sucking that straw Derek.

blindboy's picture
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blindboy Wednesday, 1 Jul 2015 at 5:24pm

Now BR, take it easy there son, I know just how you feel. Been there done that. Dirty mofo corps screwing the life out of surfing and all those layabout execs sucking on the fat sows tits while honest hard working types( ie you and me) can hardly get a wave amongst the hordes of wannabe idiots over crowding every wave worth surfing and a lot that aren't, all because of the promotional activity of the aforesaid corporate scum. Ethical behaviour in the surf industry? Not in my lifetime. You want justice over Andy Irons, what about Michael Peterson? What about generations of adolescents led up the garden path of a potential pro career and exposed to all the risks of that lifestyle without a single responsible adult to guide them, just coke blown idiots mired in their own narcissistic neuroses. Me? I never sucked at that tit and I still don't. What about you? Derek? No mate, not my name, not my style......I love my fins.

blasphemy-rottmouth's picture
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blasphemy-rottmouth Wednesday, 1 Jul 2015 at 5:58pm

Woah, you mean you aren't Riles? I got my Derek's mixed up.

*wink*

Yeah, MP was a tragedy. Imagine if Graham Stapelberg bought all his drugs? Inconceivable.

And for me to think surf media was paid in things besides cash is absurd. I know. It looks weird. I got your back bro.

blindboy's picture
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blindboy Wednesday, 1 Jul 2015 at 6:02pm

I had never thought about it but I can see how my name might have led people to believe I was a Derek. My identity is no great secret though I don't want it on screen. Stu will tell you if you are interested.

blasphemy-rottmouth's picture
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blasphemy-rottmouth Wednesday, 1 Jul 2015 at 6:02pm

" You want justice over Andy Irons, what about Michael Peterson? What about generations of adolescents led up the garden path of a potential pro career and exposed to all the risks of that lifestyle without a single responsible adult to guide them, just coke blown idiots mired in their own narcissistic neuroses?"

Well, you are responding to an article copied and pasted about Michael Tomson.

That ring a bell?

blasphemy-rottmouth's picture
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blasphemy-rottmouth Wednesday, 1 Jul 2015 at 2:45pm

The Surf Media will not be immune from the coming cleansing. We are nigh upon five years after the Andy Irons incident. Which, in the real world, is about the ripening time for the actual cogs to start clicking.

Michael Tomson is the key binding pro surfing together (past and present).

He holds more keys than Rabbit could stick in Occy's arse.

hovercraft's picture
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hovercraft Wednesday, 1 Jul 2015 at 2:57pm

Well if that's the case, which i hope its not, then every dead rock stars family should start suing record companies.

Maybe behind the scenes surfing just so f*cking boring that it doesn't need an enema, it needs someone like AI back. F*ck the clothing companies, who cares,the future is phones, cars, cock rings..etc....

Blowin's picture
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Blowin Wednesday, 1 Jul 2015 at 3:52pm

I'm putting together a civil lawsuit against Orchy juice company for enabling myself to have so many blissful stoned moments...ahem....I mean so many traumatic drug events by apportioning their product in a container so suitably designed for utilisation as a drug smoking implement that it can't have been pure chance.

Got them on the ropes for sure.

Anyone keen to jump on board the gravy train ?

We can sidestep personal responsibility and get rich at the same time....it's beautiful.

blasphemy-rottmouth's picture
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blasphemy-rottmouth Wednesday, 1 Jul 2015 at 4:58pm

Why don't you pay me, a billion dollar corporation a few hundred grand a year, supply me with kilos of coke and meth, and pay for my international travels and then step aside when I OD with Blair Marlins needle? All personal responsibility?

Interesting how the Libertarians run to personal responsibility until it comes to the, coming clean on the banks that fund them. Bong was owned by how many International banks?

But let's make sure the smallest majority on earth, the individual, is responsible. Let the big Corps and Banks go free. Fucking Libertertarian retards. Almost as dumb as right wing racist assholes like Wade Davis.

hovercraft's picture
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hovercraft Wednesday, 1 Jul 2015 at 5:40pm

There needs to be an investigation. Royal commission?

hovercraft's picture
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hovercraft Wednesday, 1 Jul 2015 at 4:20pm

What about Nylex hoses?

norchock's picture
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norchock Wednesday, 1 Jul 2015 at 4:34pm

Ai loved the ice pipe .who knows were he went in those years before he passed,I take it he was a good bloke.in his early 20's he was pretty extreme.i saw this first hand when I and some others punched on with andy,wardo and some big Hawaiian cunt that was all talk no action.these surf heroes were fuckwits..brucey was a little skinny cunt yelling something about a surf off next day??? We all have vices or whatever. Ai died so fucken what..get a grip on reality the world is full of people's greif.

blasphemy-rottmouth's picture
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blasphemy-rottmouth Wednesday, 1 Jul 2015 at 5:11pm

until next month...

Blowin's picture
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Blowin Wednesday, 1 Jul 2015 at 6:01pm

Norchock - punched on with Wardo etc.

Was this at settlers ?

Surf off the next day....gold.

That's classic pissed dribble.

No offence Bruce, we've all been there.

Maybe.

norchock's picture
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norchock Wednesday, 1 Jul 2015 at 6:41pm
Blowin wrote:

Norchock - punched on with Wardo etc.

Was this at settlers ?

Surf off the next day....gold.

That's classic pissed dribble.

No offence Bruce, we've all been there.

Maybe.

No doubt brucey and the boys would of done us...but it was at gas fuck we could outsurf the lids and shorty,dino and there mates but they were 14...

Rabbits68's picture
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Rabbits68 Wednesday, 1 Jul 2015 at 6:14pm

Struth Blowin, what are you doing naming a secret watering hole on social media?!? Clearly you didn't see the other thread re the problems this causes. Couldn't help yaself eh?!? Now the joints going to be overcrowded with wannabe drunks!! FFS........

Shatner'sBassoon's picture
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Shatner'sBassoon Thursday, 2 Jul 2015 at 11:18am

There were some world-class imbibers on tour there last Friday night. They're even sponnoed (check the clip). Being a factotum for said sponsors (old mate from Adelaide), I was involved in imbibing the product (which I provided) with these pros. Jeez, talk about "wake up and smell the concrete"! U.D.I's and all. Saturday was shit surf anyways, hey?

Shatner'sBassoon's picture
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Shatner'sBassoon Thursday, 2 Jul 2015 at 11:25am

* U.D.I = unidentified drinking injury

thermalben's picture
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thermalben Thursday, 2 Jul 2015 at 11:29am

Classic video!

hovercraft's picture
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hovercraft Thursday, 2 Jul 2015 at 3:44pm

"Shes only 19 and I'm a has been"

Song: Lost Cause, Band: Cosmic Psyhcos

southey's picture
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southey Thursday, 2 Jul 2015 at 11:02pm

Hey shat ,
( I may have shared this before in this site )
I once went to see the psycho's at " the Man " @ falls creek , 'even ' were support and the lads from Bendigo were well oiled before we started sharing beers with em listening to even . Anyway the lads were more interested in drinking and playing pool , (and were perhaps reluctant to follow the support of which the younger audience was digging on ) . Anyway they told the publican it wasn't going to happen and they went on to start putting their's and a few others drinks on their bill . The DJ played anything , and there was many a sore head the next day on the slopes . As musicians they were really dedicated to good times , who else would go to the snow , not play , perhaps forego their complimentary accom. And then proceed to rack up a drinks bill all with falls tax included .... ,?!!!!

hovercraft's picture
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hovercraft Friday, 3 Jul 2015 at 9:04am

Shame, when they aren't doing that they are awesome.

Shatner'sBassoon's picture
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Shatner'sBassoon Friday, 3 Jul 2015 at 10:48am

they do both...STILL...and that's awesome (in the true meaning of the word)

hovercraft's picture
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hovercraft Wednesday, 1 Jul 2015 at 6:26pm

hiccup...to late

Blowin's picture
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Blowin Wednesday, 1 Jul 2015 at 7:27pm

You weren't with Nugget at the time were you Norchock ?

Yeah Rabbits, I've blown it's cover.

Next thing you know you'll be getting served by a young girl with an Irish accent....wait a minute, I think I just described every watering hole in WA.

norchock's picture
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norchock Wednesday, 1 Jul 2015 at 8:35pm
Blowin wrote:

You weren't with Nugget at the time were you Norchock ?

Yeah Rabbits, I've blown it's cover.

Next thing you know you'll be getting served by a young girl with an Irish accent....wait a minute, I think I just described every watering hole in WA.

now I first up this incident was at knights...the tav had issues at the time...eric the big imbred wanted blood...knights was the only beerfridge venue and our hit was about eric....nugget the lid from nulla blowin?he was a loose cunt haven't seen him for years.

Shatner'sBassoon's picture
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Shatner'sBassoon Thursday, 2 Jul 2015 at 5:05pm

Eric the fucken Viking AKA Tarzan! Is there anyone who didn't have a beef with that nitwit? Funny, a mate of mine who was one of his biggest 'fans' back in those days was at the pub on Friday night (they still don't like him there after years!)...and so was old Eric! Don't think they met...lucky...probably...though both now mellowed with age...maybe...

norchock's picture
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norchock Thursday, 2 Jul 2015 at 9:59pm
Shatner'sBassoon wrote:

Eric the fucken Viking AKA Tarzan! Is there anyone who didn't have a beef with that nitwit? Funny, a mate of mine who was one of his biggest 'fans' back in those days was at the pub on Friday night (they still don't like him there after years!)...and so was old Eric! Don't think they met...lucky...probably...though both now mellowed with age...maybe...

Eric and myself had a mutual understanding in those days...we fucken hated each other.dont ever call him eric von conduit though,very sore point.many years ago he unsuccessfuly tried to gas himself in the car.poor old eric,we've put our beefs behind us he's really quite harmless.

Rabbits68's picture
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Rabbits68 Wednesday, 1 Jul 2015 at 8:36pm

Ha!! Love a girl with an Irish accent. Especially my wife.......

Blowin's picture
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Blowin Wednesday, 1 Jul 2015 at 9:35pm

Good times Rabbits, glad to see someone separated a ewe from the flock.

Yeah Norchock, Nugget the lid from The Nulla. He's not a bad fella. He's bought a place down Marg's now. You might run into him.

He wasn't bad on that lid. I remember watching him drag his pissed carcass out Monuments one day and he went hard.

Massive airs on the close out.

Loose unit , but funny.

Just get clear before things get crazy on the piss.

Maybe Nugget can sue Carlton United for enabling him.

caml's picture
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caml Thursday, 2 Jul 2015 at 2:14am

Blindboy thinks derek hynd while B R thinks derek riley . In case yous hadn't worked that out

blindboy's picture
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blindboy Thursday, 2 Jul 2015 at 8:36am

Nah caml B.ROTT changed his Dereks half way through.......unless Derek Riley is notorious for his finless surfing also.

the-roller's picture
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the-roller Thursday, 2 Jul 2015 at 9:08am

clearly, rottmouth/Talos is full on Blue Pill nutter,... but what readers want to know is when did the old man go full on tripfag?

Talos, you're leaking fluid.... Check it bru, you may be a liter or twenty low in the reality department.

There are no victims. bru.... Only Volunteers....

bondisteve's picture
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bondisteve Thursday, 2 Jul 2015 at 10:04am

Gees.....
all of you guys have burnt the last piece of bread on a Sunday morning!
Ha!

hovercraft's picture
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hovercraft Friday, 3 Jul 2015 at 10:59am

He's looking pretty happy in that photo, reckon he did a few lines prior?

worldview's picture
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worldview Saturday, 29 Aug 2015 at 9:08am

its time to treat the issue of substance activity like alcohol ... get rid of the stigma and try to be sympathetic ... Irons was a tragedy ... Hosoi, etc --- its in the culture. I saw many top pro surfers and industry leaders do their share of coke and other things on the tour, etc -
However, Michael at his net-worth after selling Gotcha, what's up with the dealing angle? That really does not make sense ... he surely does not need the money! There is something fishy about that claim ???? ... and frankly, I've seen Laguna's finest in action before ... I am not too sure about their ethics either!

From a Surf Industry Insider!