No more WSL app, surfing in tank at 2020 Olympics and more!
I apologize deeply for yesterday’s silence. I’ve got a story coming that is going to make you laugh and laugh and laugh and laugh but have to sort out some details first. In the meantime, it’s a good thing that BeachGrit’s still around because otherwise you’d have to pay Stab 20 cents for its new premium service to learn that the World Surf League will make 30 million dollars from its new Facebook deal.
Thirty million dollars!
And let me cut and paste some bits from Variety for you here and free.
Facebook, which is moving aggressively into the business of live sports, locked up a two-year agreement last week with the World Surf League.
The deal brings more than $30 million in licensing revenues to the league, and also comes at a pivotal moment in the history of professional surfing. Last fall, the WSL held an event at the Kelly Slater Wave Pool, a facility in Lemoore, Calif., that creates artificial waves. The league is now working to build several similar facilities around the world in hopes of making the sport less dependent on ocean currents and more amenable to TV viewing.
Some of the more salient bits of the interview with WSL CEO Sophie Goldschmidt.
-Surfing is not available on American TV, though the league does have agreements in other territories, including Australia and Brazil. Since its rebranding a few years ago, the league has fashioned itself as being “digital first” — offering its events on YouTube and through its mobile app. Last year, the WSL signed a non-exclusive deal with Facebook. The new agreement provides for exclusivity, meaning that live events will no longer be available on the WSL app.
-In addition to the scheduling issue, the wave pool will allow the WSL to create its own stadiums, bringing spectators much closer to the action than they would be if they were standing on the beach. The predictability of the waves will also open up the possibilities for camera angles. The league can also host nighttime events, with floodlighting to illuminate the surfers.
-The WSL’s moves have riled some traditionalists who see surfing as a spiritual communion with the ocean. Goldschmidt is careful to stress the league’s support for ocean conservation efforts, and also emphasizes that ocean surfing is not going away.
-“It’s not about wave systems or the ocean,” she says. “I think we can have our cake and eat it too. The values and culture of the sport have never been more important, but we can be innovative and push the boundaries.”
-The WSL has broken ground on a second wave facility in Florida, and has plans to build more in Japan and Europe. Surfing will be in the Tokyo Olympics in 2020, which the WSL sees as an opportunity for a broader audience.
-“We’re planning to build a wave system (in Tokyo) in time,” for the games, Goldschmidt says. “Maybe there’s a chance they’ll do it in the wave system.”
So, no more WSL app, the future of professional surfing is the pool and they 2020 Olympics are going to be its grand showcase. Right? But who are these traditionalists who see surfing as a spiritual communion with the ocean? They sound like bastards to me.
And that’s big news right there. Ultra premium for free!
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There’s some actual Premium content in this article! Thank you Chas!
is going to be beeeeeg
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I know two things I’ll never pay for, one is to watch the WSL push it’s nwo elitist agenda on the surfing world, the other is to view the word vomit asstin cockins tries to pass off as journalism on stabmag
So the Facebook guy signed up with the same financial advisor as ol what’s his name, zillionaire guy. Just like drug dealers, large sums of money are hard to hide. Sometimes one needs to just burn it for the whole tax deduction thing. Besides, sitting around king Arthur’s round table and having a story to tell is priceless. I have always thought being super stupid rich would be so boring. Not for these guys, atleast not anymore. I saved a cool 30 mil last year, says rich prick #1. Well, I saved 45, rich prick #2. Well, I saved 60, and killed those degenerate surfers sport! Hooohahha. Well played sir smuckburger!
I’ve been thinking about this all day. Stewing on it even. And the outcome? I think it would be good for the professional side of our sport to move into pools. Why you ask? Let me tell you (all 2 mods that is since I’ve commented too late).
Firstly, I think it will remove ‘safe’ surfing from competitions. Competitors will (probably) be given 2 waves each per heat. They’ll probably be exactly the same. Very similar to skate comps. Either give it your all or be burned.
Secondly, it will stop the WSL closing off breaks to the public for comps.
And thirdly, ah fuck, who am I kidding, no ones reading this or probably cares. Plus I’m still upset about Sabre.
WSL CEO Sophie Goldschmidt:
…”and also emphasizes that ocean surfing is not going away.”
“Ocean surfing?” That is now a term. Not going away? That’s so nice of her.
“It’s not about wave systems or the ocean,” she says. “I think we can have our cake and eat it too. The values and culture of the sport have never been more important, but we can be innovative and push the boundaries.”
Surfing is no longer about the ocean.
We’re fucked, and we’re witnessing it here right in front of our eyes. Shit’s over folks.
Going to the beach is now refereed as “Organic Surfing”
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No you’re not. Really. I mean how are you or any of us fucked? The WSL is trying something. It doesn’t and can’t define surfing, it may well be about to go so far out on a limb it can’t come back. It’s fascinating for sure but I truly fail to see how it means anyone’s surfing life is fucked. Sophie is a strong character but she also cannot define surfing nor can she define anyone else’s experience of it. I personally think the WSL is taking a huge risk with what they call “wave systems”, they are completely dislocated from the past 100-something years of surf culture and they’re yet to demonstrate any appeal to anyone who doesn’t already surf. But I do totally know it’s their thing, it’s not our thing, and it truly offers no threat to anyone who just loves to surf.
Preach. (Climbs on beach cruiser, rides down to check the surf)
Yes we are fucked because surfing is about to enter goofy town, and our esteemed WSL is taking us straight into it because they are absolutely without a doubt going to create two kinds of surfing competitors here. I don’t know Sophie but I’ve read her words. She’s a mainstream jock who majored in corporate speak and has her goals: To gain territory, increase revenue, and expand viewership etc., etc.
Pool surfing is not fascinating. The engineering is, but that’s it. We’re watching because we’re not allowed in. Mother Nature is fascinating. She can fuck you over at any moment and she creates a an unequal playing field which is the beauty of competitive surfing pro and amateur.
I’ve said this before: The surf industry has imploded under the weight of reaching for the mainstream, and the WSL is heading full bore for the same fate and taking us with it.
They see by now that non surfers don’t watch or care about surf contests. But you got it wrong. This is our thing not theirs and it is a direct threat against the history that lots of us have played a part in. This is a direct threat on the last shred of integrity we’re trying to hold on to.
Ocean surfing and pool surfing competitions should be separate.
Dudes, none of this, I repeat ‘none of this’ would be happening without jerk, wait, I mean, without Dirk and Nastasha Ziff throwing in millions and millions and millions of dollars to finance all these ‘schemes’, seems they might be in this for the Long Haul after all, no matter how many millions they keep losing each year.
Hooray for Scientology.
Chas Smith is the best copy and paister in the game. Content this good comes at a premium elsewhere
What can I say… it’s my special purpose!
these guys all bought bitcoin at $19.5k
Knox does surf great in that video! Weirdly he looks kinda slow, but only because he locks in early into big arcs off the bottom and off the top and never changes track once he’s set his rail. Bet he’s easy to photograph because once he leans on his rail you already know exactly where he’ll be 3 seconds later.
So those of us who aren’t on facebook dont get to watch comps.
So Zuckerberg buys half of Hawaii and tells locals they cant walk through his site to access beach to surf, same guy ends up telling WSL people gotta go through his site to watch their surfing!
Irony ?
Noa Deane was right, fck the WSL.
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but isn’t Noah at the Volcom Pipe Pro right now?
I said he was correct when he said they were fucked….i didn’t say he wasnt a hypocrite.
Isn’t that good business, the WSL’s pivot from being a third-rate sports league to a developer of wave pools and a media company. Bringing in execs from outside of surfing seems to have been a great move.
All thats left is to have Surfstich do up the Merchandise for them.
The book by Phil Jarrett called Salts and Suits will now have a follow up im thinking.
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Just like the big brands going public. We just never learn.
This really sucks, oh well, can/t fight progress.
Actually , Ms Sophie / WSL are going to build a pool in Japan . They have already bought the land and plan to construct a pool , how much do ya reckonthat would cost?
I think there wouldn’t be much change from the $30m , the ISA has already said no to the pool , so you punt $30 m that the IOC/ISA might change their mind ?
It is obvious that part of the WSL’s plan to make $’s, is to roll out the grand scheme of Surf Theme parks , which will not work in Japan as there are not enough surfers good enough to ride the WSL pool , surfing is an old man’s sport in Japan .
the French have jumped the gun for the 2024 Olympics , and are installing a wavegarden in Paris , so the whole WSL pool deal , well is not a done deal yet , this could be surfings biggest punt yet!
Don’t be surprised if there is an oil spill prior to Tokyo to ensure a pool event!!! Also agree $30 mill probably wouldn’t buy 2 grandstands at designated ranches!!
ISA = wave garden WSL =smelly skater ranch. Webber = ? I am from Sydney I vote for Bondi’s Webber( 5million of us can’t be wrong + Tom Carroll , Barton Lynch, Damien Hardman and Marco jay Lucianno Occhilupo) SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL WAVE MAKER NOW ! Make Sydney Surfing Great Again . SNOWY BOBBY NAT MIDGET CHEYNE CRAM DAY FLINTOFF OLEARY and blow in Sam Macintosh ETC Jon Jon ain’t from here so f…. him if you dare ?
Don’t over surf it………….the new Mantra of coaches in the Tub Era.
Damn, Coca Cola and CVS ads on the grit? Fucking a-right.
Right when that fat slob Rory wrote some kind of interesting article. All for the best I think, Kauai hates that guy
That’s so funny. There acting like everyone watches skating because it takes place in a skate park. News flash to the wsl no one who doesn’t skate watches skating. Just like no one who doesn’t surf will watch surfing if it’s in a wave pool or at pipeline or on fucking Mars.
But really if it was on mars it would be like that one level in KS pro surfer and be awesome.
Wave systems are sexy right now! I know, right? Gush.
Subliminal pitch to woo another sponsor https://uploads.disquscdn.c…
That ship has sailed! As sweet as it was.
Like finding a perfectly working mini-disc player with the $1000 price tag still attached.
New judging criteria as imagined by Slates in KSPS: https://uploads.disquscdn.c…
… sorry, Mick.
Finally we’ll be able to see someone nail that elusive backhand heelflip to barrel to method to floater combo and get suitably rewarded. Probably not Jordy.