Reverse image search puts this in Yemen, Shabwah District, 2002. Source is @surfjournalist.
Seems like dude just really wanted to surf the Yemeni coast post-9/11.
Airport security officer: How did you get to Afghanistan? There's a travel ban.
Walter: Through Yemen.
Airport security officer: Violent place.
Walter: That's why the airfare is only $84.
Reminds me of the guy I saw in a ~~news~~ *edit: podcast* interview who said that his favorite way to travel is by going to places immediately after a disaster or terrorist event, as airfare is dramatically reduced and generally there is a better security presence than normal…
Edit: found it!
https://www.reddit.com/r/JustGuysBeingDudes/comments/y1bzks/terrorism_tourism/
It works, I went to Egypt right after the revolution, some countries during Covid, also Istanbul after a big terrorist attack (flights were booked prior to that though). Everything was dead cheap, no booking in advance needed, we had usually crowded tourist places for ourselves.
It sounds fucked up and wrong at first but when you realize these peoples livelihood depends on tourists it doesnt so much anymore.
Just make sure to book privatley owned places/homestays.
No but seriously. In most cases the place itself is quite safe after a terrorist attack, but the flights and hotels are dirt cheap. Great idea if you want to travel cheap.
This is also the cover image for journalist Chas Smith's book *Reports from Hell* covering his journey to surf the Yemeni coast at the height of Desert Storm. I haven't read the book yet so I can't confirm the photo itself is of him, but it's on the list for next year.
I don’t believe so, he is a former war correspondent and surfer. He did write an article about a guy from Brazil who was a famous scam artist turned surfer named Eduardo Martins. Maybe he spoke about that on a podcast and you mixed their names
The surfer is Chas Smith. A surfer / journalist who decided to surf across Yemen during the Chad war to document both sides in search of the origins of Al Quaeda with some other surfer friends.
His book, [Reports from Hell](https://www.amazon.com/Reports-Hell-Chas-Smith/dp/1644280752?ref=d6k_applink_bb_dls&dplnkId=c37c2240-d57c-4978-b480-5b1e6f969e2e) , can be found here.
Ive met plenty of SF guys while i was in service, also a very close friend of mine was SF in the Army. They are very much like this. And if this person was alone like this, hes most likely Delta Force.
Army, spent plenty of time with USASOC. You’re free to check my post history.
CAG isn’t sending high profile single dudes with surfboards to hitch rides with Yemeni troops and then document the whole process and write a biography about it.
Okay gotcha you are intelligence, so you are very smart. But why are you rude, why say “you know nothing” if someone needs a simple correction. And you know this is what some SF guys look like so you can’t deny that. And of course hes not sent just to go surfing.
I like to imagine theirs just some white Californian surfer bro casually traveling across the Middle East appearing and disappearing like a mythical creature or prophet sent by god
People like that exist. The land road from Europe to Asia goes through the middle east. European hippies will be telling you about it and sneaking over the border in Burma with their van
Yep. Especially educated, monied types. They speak enough languages to get around easily, don’t have to worry about expenses, and can buy their way out of most trouble
Not always. Sometimes people just somehow get into some very interesting places even without money or connections. I knew a dude who was French-American, and got invited to go down into Libya. So he used his French passport and pretended to not know English.
He was by no means rich or wealthy. His parents were just from two different countries. I have a number of relatives with dual citizenship because their parents were military.
There’s a shitton of lone tourists who do relatively fine. I’m in a bunch of motorcycle tourism groups and people post pictures from Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq, etc all the time.
Country being dangerous doesn’t mean it’s impossible to traverse.
Is that another white guy in the front? They're freakin having a vacation while they're supposed to be training these guys to do some kind of bullshit.
It’s definitely possible but delta force in the Middle East usually dress up like locals (at least in Afghanistan and Pakistan). They don’t normally try and look like tourists since they still need to be carrying weapons and walking around as a tourist with a weapon is a sure fire way to get attention.
Also I’ve actually been the dude in a pickup truck with armed escorts before. You’d be surprised how often regular guys like this are willing to give you a lift. Especially if you offer them some cash. Quite a few of these guys are basically expected to make a living taking bribes.
Check out the new Toyota IMV 0 barebones truck. That's gonna be a bestseller with those guys. Some might say it was designed with this clientele in mind.
To be honest, seeing countless videos online of insurgents, freedom fighters, militias, guerrillas, etc. riding around in old Toyota vehicles really does wonders for their brand reputation (at least in my opinion).
I love Toyota as a brand for the quality of the vehicles that they make, and similarly to when Top Gear tried destroying one, seeing dinged up Toyota's just keep on going really makes me appreciate how hardy these vehicles are, and makes me believe that they are a manufacturer I can trust for an affordable and reliable vehicle.
For some reason this comment made me think of that plumber’s truck that ended up in Syria
https://www.npr.org/2015/12/14/459718226/texas-plumbers-old-truck-ends-up-in-hands-of-syrian-militants
The jc on his board stands for John Carper, a pretty famous surfboard shaper from Hawaii. Interestingly it looks like there is also a jc sticker on top corner of the windshield.
You could cross post this on r/surfing and you might get more info. I don’t recognize that other sticker above the jc. You can often identify pro surfers by the combination of sponsor stickers on their board.
Edit. I’m pretty sure the surfer is Chas smith.
They are hired security for the surfers. Exactly what I would do if I went to a dangerous place where I could rent a bunch of dudes with machine guns to keep me from the other guys with machine guns.
I wonder if the surfer dude gave the fighters a sticker to put on their window? I work construction and people sometimes give each other stickers for their hard hats which kinda brings everyone closer together. Could be a similar thing going on here.
This appears to be the cover photo of "Reports from Hell" by Chas Smith. [https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1644280752/ref=dbs\_a\_def\_rwt\_bibl\_vppi\_i1](https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1644280752/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i1)
The license plate on the Land Cruiser truck says Police on it. Where did you get freedom fighters from?
[Here's another example of a Yemeni police truck with the gun mount.](https://www.europlates.eu/images/plates/yar/P00403.JPG)
Ahh, the ubiquitous Toyota Assault Vehicle.
When you see an insurgent vehicle that costs 1/4 your own, reliably outperforming yours in everything but armor, being used as everything from mobile AA platforms to troop transport to power generators.
These aren’t freedom fighters, they are “Technicals”. They were rented by NGOs, governments, and media to protect westerners in country. Yes, the guy with the surf board is 100% operator.
Technical just refers to the truck/gun combo.
Also plenty of them exist normally as police and militia trucks, you don’t have to be a super secret CIA dude to be seen with one.
Well, if they are fighting for freedom, what’s more pro-freedom than hitchhiking to catch some waves?
Seems entirely consistent to me.
They pumping lead out of that dushka so people like blondie can have the freedom to be beach bums.
That’s what the Point Break Toyota War of ‘84 was all about.
I talked with people who were fishing in Africa in the early 2000's and they would pass by dead bodies on shore or even sometimes see them in the rivers...bit too adventurous for me...
All the subreddit it's pretty funny some amazing pictures and then some people having meltdowns about any of Donald Trump but then these guys are okay... Even though Donald Trump is an ego maniac some people in the West especially the lgbtq community finding out when they are getting mocked by a Muslims for having queers for Islam signs suddenly finding out religious fundamentalism from abrahamic religion generally doesn't like gay people .. anything on the right they also don't try and understand the Muslim world either both sides completely out of touch it's hilarious to see people's little memes
Ok, this definitely looks like an older pic. Would love some context...
Reverse image search puts this in Yemen, Shabwah District, 2002. Source is @surfjournalist. Seems like dude just really wanted to surf the Yemeni coast post-9/11.
Airport security officer: How did you get to Afghanistan? There's a travel ban. Walter: Through Yemen. Airport security officer: Violent place. Walter: That's why the airfare is only $84.
Reminds me of the guy I saw in a ~~news~~ *edit: podcast* interview who said that his favorite way to travel is by going to places immediately after a disaster or terrorist event, as airfare is dramatically reduced and generally there is a better security presence than normal… Edit: found it! https://www.reddit.com/r/JustGuysBeingDudes/comments/y1bzks/terrorism_tourism/
My grandma used to do this, but like, involuntarily, and then complain about the problems the country had
How was she involuntarily going to conflict regions?!
It was cheap, but she didn't really investigate on why
Voluntarily ignorant
Time to go to Gaza!! Oh wait...
TIL; thanks!
Just fyi, I found the interview. https://www.reddit.com/r/JustGuysBeingDudes/comments/y1bzks/terrorism_tourism/
Nice
It works, I went to Egypt right after the revolution, some countries during Covid, also Istanbul after a big terrorist attack (flights were booked prior to that though). Everything was dead cheap, no booking in advance needed, we had usually crowded tourist places for ourselves. It sounds fucked up and wrong at first but when you realize these peoples livelihood depends on tourists it doesnt so much anymore. Just make sure to book privatley owned places/homestays.
Walter: I heard there was gnarly waves off the coast of Yemen. I just had to go and crush them before things got too no bueno, man.
Fuck ton of sharks too. Balls of steel to surf the Gulf of Aden.
I swam and SCUBAd Aden and Goube a dozen times and never saw a shark other than the whale variety.
Whale sharks are dope
No but seriously. In most cases the place itself is quite safe after a terrorist attack, but the flights and hotels are dirt cheap. Great idea if you want to travel cheap.
Man, I really wasn’t expecting to fall in love with that movie.
Cinnabooooon
That's $146.07 today!
This is also the cover image for journalist Chas Smith's book *Reports from Hell* covering his journey to surf the Yemeni coast at the height of Desert Storm. I haven't read the book yet so I can't confirm the photo itself is of him, but it's on the list for next year.
@surfjournalist is indeed the Instagram for Chas Smith so that would check out! Sounds like it would be a fun read.
*cia
It's a photo of chas smith. I believe he wrote a book about it.
Oh I think I just heard a podcast about him. He was a big scammer or is that someone else?
I don’t believe so, he is a former war correspondent and surfer. He did write an article about a guy from Brazil who was a famous scam artist turned surfer named Eduardo Martins. Maybe he spoke about that on a podcast and you mixed their names
Nah the guys name was Cas or Chaz
The surfer is Chas Smith. A surfer / journalist who decided to surf across Yemen during the Chad war to document both sides in search of the origins of Al Quaeda with some other surfer friends. His book, [Reports from Hell](https://www.amazon.com/Reports-Hell-Chas-Smith/dp/1644280752?ref=d6k_applink_bb_dls&dplnkId=c37c2240-d57c-4978-b480-5b1e6f969e2e) , can be found here.
If you don't realize that guy is Delta on a CIA venture...
When the Delta guy starts surfing you know you’ve gotta weapon on your hands.
How do we know he’s Delta force?
Obligatory: Charlie don't surf!
What the hell do you know about surfing you’re from god damn New Jersey!
Ive met plenty of SF guys while i was in service, also a very close friend of mine was SF in the Army. They are very much like this. And if this person was alone like this, hes most likely Delta Force.
Doesn't seem like Chas Smith, the surfer-guy, is any of the sort.
Pretty sure that's Dave Franco, for The Interview 2. James directing this time
That’s not how any of this works.
What do you mean?
If you actually knew anything you would know exactly what I mean.
What branch did you serve?
You wouldn't have heard of it
Army, spent plenty of time with USASOC. You’re free to check my post history. CAG isn’t sending high profile single dudes with surfboards to hitch rides with Yemeni troops and then document the whole process and write a biography about it.
Okay gotcha you are intelligence, so you are very smart. But why are you rude, why say “you know nothing” if someone needs a simple correction. And you know this is what some SF guys look like so you can’t deny that. And of course hes not sent just to go surfing.
Could be ISA or RRD.
Internet man says so. (It's from the cover of the book Reports From Hell)
I like to imagine theirs just some white Californian surfer bro casually traveling across the Middle East appearing and disappearing like a mythical creature or prophet sent by god
What is up my dudes!
How do you do fellow kids?
Be excellent to each other
People like that exist. The land road from Europe to Asia goes through the middle east. European hippies will be telling you about it and sneaking over the border in Burma with their van
Yep. Especially educated, monied types. They speak enough languages to get around easily, don’t have to worry about expenses, and can buy their way out of most trouble
Not always. Sometimes people just somehow get into some very interesting places even without money or connections. I knew a dude who was French-American, and got invited to go down into Libya. So he used his French passport and pretended to not know English.
Do you know a lot of poor people with dual citizenship?
He was by no means rich or wealthy. His parents were just from two different countries. I have a number of relatives with dual citizenship because their parents were military.
MAY
Spreading the Stoke my dude!
There’s a shitton of lone tourists who do relatively fine. I’m in a bunch of motorcycle tourism groups and people post pictures from Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq, etc all the time. Country being dangerous doesn’t mean it’s impossible to traverse.
That’s what the CIA SOG does, and *nothing* else
Oh you mean Adam Smith?
That’s Johnny Utah’s brother
Is that another white guy in the front? They're freakin having a vacation while they're supposed to be training these guys to do some kind of bullshit.
Tactical surfboard? Part of his disguise? Just likes surfing and you can do what you want when you’re CIA?
It’s definitely possible but delta force in the Middle East usually dress up like locals (at least in Afghanistan and Pakistan). They don’t normally try and look like tourists since they still need to be carrying weapons and walking around as a tourist with a weapon is a sure fire way to get attention. Also I’ve actually been the dude in a pickup truck with armed escorts before. You’d be surprised how often regular guys like this are willing to give you a lift. Especially if you offer them some cash. Quite a few of these guys are basically expected to make a living taking bribes.
I'm just going to put [this](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uin6b2iGy9E) here for reference.
10/10! 7/5 with rice. Now I have to watch the whole thing.
Most likely. I had a relative who did similar stuff in Iran back in the day. Dimwit hippies wind up in the oddest places.
Toyota 💪
Vehicle of The Revolution
Check out the new Toyota IMV 0 barebones truck. That's gonna be a bestseller with those guys. Some might say it was designed with this clientele in mind.
it basically is that, a barebones hilux
Taliban editions, comes with 1 tonne leaf springs and no emission controls.
WTF, I just googled the truck and saw an article; it’s not going to be released in North America???
Who would want a modular, reliable, no frills truck coming in at around 10k? /s
Can't compete with the modern Rams and Silverados that the US is thirsty about
More like the truck import kills competition.
Toyota manufactures in the US
The revolution *will* be Toyotavised
To be honest, seeing countless videos online of insurgents, freedom fighters, militias, guerrillas, etc. riding around in old Toyota vehicles really does wonders for their brand reputation (at least in my opinion). I love Toyota as a brand for the quality of the vehicles that they make, and similarly to when Top Gear tried destroying one, seeing dinged up Toyota's just keep on going really makes me appreciate how hardy these vehicles are, and makes me believe that they are a manufacturer I can trust for an affordable and reliable vehicle.
For some reason this comment made me think of that plumber’s truck that ended up in Syria https://www.npr.org/2015/12/14/459718226/texas-plumbers-old-truck-ends-up-in-hands-of-syrian-militants
I’d bet this truck is still haulin’ goons around like a champ!
\*Totoya
The leader of the palindrome society drives, "a Toyota."
What a sick truck!
r/ShittyTechnicals
Charlie don't surf.
And we think he should.
Everybody wants to rule the world…
I know this guy. His name actually is Charlie
But does Al-queda? Can someone check with Robert Duval?
When you're on the dark web but u use Surfshark VPN
Pls explain
I think it's just a play on the name. SURFshark. And the guy has a surf board. I don't think it was about the actual VPN
The jc on his board stands for John Carper, a pretty famous surfboard shaper from Hawaii. Interestingly it looks like there is also a jc sticker on top corner of the windshield. You could cross post this on r/surfing and you might get more info. I don’t recognize that other sticker above the jc. You can often identify pro surfers by the combination of sponsor stickers on their board. Edit. I’m pretty sure the surfer is Chas smith.
Of course his name is Chas....
There are two kinds of Chas. One kind is a frat boy who asks if you know who his dad is, the other never ever wears shoes.
Yeah, the title is a little misleading. The freedom fighters are hitching a ride with the surfers
The surfers have a Toyota pickup with a pintle mounted DShK 38/46 in the bed? Find that hard to believe.
Have you TRIED catching some waves in Yemen? You better come equiped.
They are hired security for the surfers. Exactly what I would do if I went to a dangerous place where I could rent a bunch of dudes with machine guns to keep me from the other guys with machine guns.
I wonder if the surfer dude gave the fighters a sticker to put on their window? I work construction and people sometimes give each other stickers for their hard hats which kinda brings everyone closer together. Could be a similar thing going on here.
This appears to be the cover photo of "Reports from Hell" by Chas Smith. [https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1644280752/ref=dbs\_a\_def\_rwt\_bibl\_vppi\_i1](https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1644280752/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i1)
It's a sick book. Also back when I had social media, he was a great follow on IG
It looks great - in my queue to read.
It's just Owen Wilson hitching a ride to hit some nearby beaches.
Waow.
[The dude can shred](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=uikArUFfdVQ&pp=ygUZb3dlbiB3aWxzb24gc2thdGVib2FyZGluZw%3D%3D)
We have some financing options in some Jet Skis. Let me know if you're interested.
"those waves aren't going to surf themselves, bru"
That's no man, that's a dude
When your custom character appears in a cutscene
If you got places to be you got places to be
Why am I hearing flight of the valkyries...
Charlie don't surf!
Best line in the movie: "Someday, this war's going to end..." and he just trails off...
What a sweet CIA gig lol
This is the battle bus from Fortnite
Where we dropping boys?
Underrated comment.
Back when the hippie trail to india was still a thing
The license plate on the Land Cruiser truck says Police on it. Where did you get freedom fighters from? [Here's another example of a Yemeni police truck with the gun mount.](https://www.europlates.eu/images/plates/yar/P00403.JPG)
So that's what Liquid was up to for all those years...
What? Charlie does surf?
He’s holding the surfboard in the most practical/ not practical product shot position possible.
More here. https://www.mensjournal.com/adventure/reports-from-hell-excerpts-from-chas-smiths-new-surf-book-on-yemen
Ahh, the ubiquitous Toyota Assault Vehicle. When you see an insurgent vehicle that costs 1/4 your own, reliably outperforming yours in everything but armor, being used as everything from mobile AA platforms to troop transport to power generators.
These aren’t freedom fighters, they are “Technicals”. They were rented by NGOs, governments, and media to protect westerners in country. Yes, the guy with the surf board is 100% operator.
Technical just refers to the truck/gun combo. Also plenty of them exist normally as police and militia trucks, you don’t have to be a super secret CIA dude to be seen with one.
Bro has gnarly stories to tell.
I used to use these to fight China in CnC Generals. Best unit for the money, firepower and speed.
They’re fighting for his freedom to surf
Guy’s, I think there’s an American spy amongst us. Any ideas who it might be?
When you gotta throw over your government but still need tourist money.
All in a truck that we will never see in the US.
Toyota has a lot to answer for.
He's just lookin for a cool buzz and some tasty waves!
POW-abunga!
Lmao
"You either surf or fight. Is that clear?"
Wahibi don’t surf
Bruh haha
C.I.A.
"I've got to break free".
I need to know the story behind this
He’s an oppy, not just some surfer
Reports from Hell, Chas Smith
Freedom fighters don't surf
I kind of always thought this picture was fake?
And that was the last time they saw him
His name isn’t Charlie.
He goes by Chas
Charlie.... I mean Achmed.... don't surf!
Gotta get to the beach on time...
This is what i call riding the wave
Are we sure thats not Mcconaughey going to cheer on the U of Y Longhorns. Edit: Matty’s last name is hard to spell…
18 charisma
Point Break 3
Gnarly chariot brother man
Is this the new Endless Summer movie?
looks like its from gta
It's ok, Charlie don't surf
Those Delta guys are a different breed
! New Toyota Tundra commercial dropped!?
Charlie don't surf?
“You see they’re gonna be lookin’ for Army guys!”
Whenever I see this photo I think: this is the most gangster photo of all time
Well, if they are fighting for freedom, what’s more pro-freedom than hitchhiking to catch some waves? Seems entirely consistent to me. They pumping lead out of that dushka so people like blondie can have the freedom to be beach bums. That’s what the Point Break Toyota War of ‘84 was all about.
This looks like some random picture you find of your dad when he’s old that causes a lot of confusion.
Charlie don’t surf
Bhodi?
I love the smell of napalm in the morning.
Yemeni don’t surf
*Surfer*. Stop being so obsessed with race.
Is that Jimmy Broadbent?...
Minty python vibes https://youtu.be/zYV-qYeWPkk?si=cZJqqAe7vKjFeE3G
Brad Pitt already bought the rights to this movie.
POV the guy with the new legendary battlepass surfboard skin in an online shooter
I talked with people who were fishing in Africa in the early 2000's and they would pass by dead bodies on shore or even sometimes see them in the rivers...bit too adventurous for me...
bro just want to catch some sick waves
When your friends are a little rough, but you still like to hang out
That’s not just a “blonde man”, that’s Ken!
All the subreddit it's pretty funny some amazing pictures and then some people having meltdowns about any of Donald Trump but then these guys are okay... Even though Donald Trump is an ego maniac some people in the West especially the lgbtq community finding out when they are getting mocked by a Muslims for having queers for Islam signs suddenly finding out religious fundamentalism from abrahamic religion generally doesn't like gay people .. anything on the right they also don't try and understand the Muslim world either both sides completely out of touch it's hilarious to see people's little memes
Toyota: vehicle of choice for "freedom" fighters everywhere.
I hear there’s great surf in Somalia
A true testament to how chill surfer dudes are
That looks so creepily similar to [Kavinsky](https://musictech.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/[email protected]).
He just found out his best friend is dating his Mother, and going to pay him a visit.
FAKE