Maybe the smartest business on earth. Ever.
Sunday’s edition of the New York Times is the Paris Fashion Week of print and guess who was swathed in couture? The W.S.L! A feature titled World Surf League Takes Web-First Approach to Drawing Viewers highlights that, “An average of 6.2 million people tuned in live to watch the Billabong Pipe Masters, where Mr. Medina won his first title.” That is more people than watch the Stanley Cup Finals on TV. Moreover, 35-40% of the viewers streamed mobile.
Sport leagues around the world are trying to tap into an online market with varying degrees of success (you can read the full article here) but surfing is particularly awesome because, to quote CEO Paul Speaker, “Our strategy has been, since the beginning, let’s remove all stop signs and turn them into welcome mats.”
Ummmmmmmmmm? Wouldn’t it still say stop? Just on the ground? And wouldn’t wiping feet etc. pose difficult on a smooth metal surface?
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In any case, the W.S.L. has solid growth in the 25-44 demo and gets as many likes, comments, shares as the N.F.L. (according to the W.S.L.). Furthermore, surfing’s governing body is opening a 6000-square foot production studio in Santa Monica to create programming between sets, lulls, heats, during Bede Durbidge’s heats etc. because the 25-44 demo needs a Pat Parnell sit-com. They crave. They want a 60 Minutes style news magazine show where Occy interviews world leaders.
Lastly, the World Surf League would not disclose its revenues but CEO Paul Speaker said, “…live streaming is our bread and butter. I think many people will be looking at us and say, ‘How’d they figure it out?’”
Ummmmmmmmmm? Do you think that’s true? Do you think many people look at the W.S.L. and try to copy its business model?
while I certainly root for surfing as I enjoy watching, what Speaker’s saying surely can’t be true. If he is successful in selling this bs he truly is the best used car salesman of all time.
Ditch the entire fucking clownshow that is the WSL. Stream free surf sessions of the top surfers with wildcard special guests in exotic locations. Hold the first one at G-Land. Do it 12 times a year, once a month, 2 full free surf days per event, each event in one of the world’s best waves with a 3 week waiting period. It’s up to the competitors when and how long they surf each day. If the girls wanna surf, go for it, but they’re in with the guys. No priority system – game on!. At each event viewers vote online for best barrel, turn, air, wipeout, and best surfer. Category winners and top 3 in best surfer win prize money. Also same awards voted by expert panel (all former world champions get a vote). In December annual awards for the categories mentioned above plus surfer of the year (people’s and expert’s choices for all of the above). I would pay money to watch it. The first event should also start with a public stoning of Turdpell, Pottz, Parnell, Williams, Klein, Mel, and a lesbian jello wrestling session between Hodge and that chick that looks like a bus station skank…Chelsea I think her name is.
What!! 15 comments… the tide is turning.
…ever so slowly! Me and Chas were nearly ready to wrap this thing…
For a time I would wander around Rottmouth’s abandoned site, leaving comments no one would see, it felt like smashing windows in an abandoned warehouse, quite an exhilarating experience.
Before the days of commenting online I used to scribble my thoughts on toilet walls in commercial building sites in various overseas locations. Mostly silly nonsense to amuse myself.
But I did start a London Vs the North of England war by fueling the fire of hatred between the two, Luckily I got fired for an unrelated cause before I had to pick a side and knife someone.
The WSL PR department is the new Onion, man that was hilarious, who knew they could be this sharp.
Whoever is running the PR department needs one hell of a fucking raise. Clearly they haven’t listened to the mind bending bullshit of Joe T and the man barrel Potz.
I’m sure our friends at BeachGrit will confirm that any raise is a hell of a raise when you’re on nothing to begin with.
Going back to new ideas to improve WSL: how about making bottom 20 guys compete in two 10-man one-hour-long free surfs in order to qualify for the main event. The top 3/4 guys from each heat advance to challenge the top 8/10. The losers go back to the QS.
These high drama heats would replace the current first 4 rounds that don’t mean much anyway and the guys best positioned to win heats against the top 8/10 advance right into meaningful heats.
This would also cut about 40 shitty heats from a contest allowing them to run every stop on tour in 2 days (most likely consecutive days) and during the peak of the waiting period.
I’m in!
Would you believe The Bitchy Crab has a very soft spot for the surfer Bede Durbidge? Those wraps! Cruelly underrated!
I, too, like watching Bede surf. But I’m jet lagged! And can’t think of any names! And his face is boring!
God I would be scared to meet you, the fear of judgement runs strong in these veins.
Real men who do man turns usually look like farmhands.
WSL cut list
Bede
Ace
Adam Melling
Force Retire Mick
Joel and Taj
And cut The Brazilian hawaiin midget who just made it
And the rest of boring safe surfers
I love how Adam Melling’s name is thrown around when the boring conversation comes up. Bede too for that matter. They don’t get the hype so they’re boring. Ever actually watched either them surf? Maybe you like the fly weight chop hop contingent but I prefer my turns of the man variety.
Bede’s frontside wraps are more satisfying than drinking rainwater on a hot day. And, Melling’s bottom turns? They make me wet in the lower belly!
Consider me charmed-as-can-be by the Aussie-ism “wet in the lower belly.” Such prose!
So cut half of the best rail surfers on tour? No thanks.
I think you’re taking the likes, comments, shares quote out of context. I’m guessing they are referring to the engagement rates per post compared to the NFL. Makes sense that WSL audience could click at a higher rate since surfing is more niche and is only a fraction of the size of football’s fan base.