Which is sharper?
Accomplished yet outspoken and brash Brit Russell Winter was handed a six-month suspended prison sentence. For what offense? He wielded a weapon far sharper than his cutback.
The 39 year-old, widely considered one of Britain’s best surfers, reportedly brandished an ornamental sword and directed it towards three men he had been arguing with, charges to which he pleaded guilty. According to the Cornish Guardian, the confrontation began when the three men broke a bottle on the ground while walking past Winter. Winter, in turn, accosted them, acting out with insults and otherwise menacing behavior before the argument escalated to include the aforementioned weapon.
This isn’t the first time Winter has accosted fellow Brits. Back in 2013, he blasted the their competitive circuit for a lack of passion: “I want everyone to see this!!! The North East Open contest just got cancelled by vote of the majority of SURFERS… bar one…ME. I would I just like to say I think it is PATHETIC that our future surfers lack any drive what so ever!”
Winter has been the English, British, and European surfing champion, and was the first European to qualify for the WCT (competing for three years), but his claim to fame may very well be beating Kelly Slater — although that could have changed since he went all Medieval LARP on the passers-by.
Now, come… let us gingerly touch our tips.
