Honolulu City closes door on any chance of a Pipe opener in 2019…
Have you been following the permit-roundabout between the City and Council of Honolulu and the WCT?
The nut of the argument was this: the WSL wanted to open the 2019 tour with an event at Pipe.
Honolulu said the WSL turned in their form late and therefore, “The Department of Parks and Recreation must remain fair to those who followed the rules.”
Honolulu’s Mayor, Kirk Caldwell, followed that piece of pedantry with a testy, “However, WSL believes the city should grant their request without hesitation, outside of the established rules, because of their economic impact to the community.”
Anyway, confirmation just came that the WSL’s grand plan for a tour opener at Pipe in 2019 has been officially binned.
The WSL’s CEO, Ms Sophie Goldschmidt, whom I’ve met once and adored, responded in the sort of opaque speak that can only come from someone who has been immersed in the patois of the corporate world her entire life.
“We are disappointed we will not be able to run the 2019 Billabong Pipe Masters. However, we are pleased that the Mayor recognizes that fundamental changes are required to the permit process that will benefit Hawaiian surfing, the surfers, the community and other stakeholders. We will assist however we can during this process and once we understand the changes, we will be able to determine which events we can invest in bringing to Hawaii in winter 2019 and beyond.”
Permits were granted to these events.
WSL PRELIMINARILY PERMITTED EVENTS FOR HAWAII
2018/2019
HIC PRO – Sunset Beach – Oct. 27 – Nov. 9, 2018
HAWAIIAN PRO – Haleiwa – Nov. 12-24, 2018
VANS WORLD CUP OF SURFING – Sunset – Nov. 25 – Dec. 6, 2018
BILLABONG PIPE MASTERS – Ehukai – Dec. 8-20, 2018
SUNSET OPEN – Sunset Beach – Jan. 18-28, 2019
VOLCOM PIPE PRO – Ehukai – Jan 29 – Feb. 10, 2019
Which raises the question, does it not, why can’t the Volcom Pipe Pro be lifted from a WQS event to a WCT event?
Easy enough, yes? A few scratches on a keyboard, a new press release, a change in event bunting etc.
Ah, but according to Honolulu, the law doesn’t allow switcharoos and therefore the Volcom Pro must remain the Volcom Pro.
Do you love bureaucracy as much as me (ie. not a lot)?
Where do you think the tour opener next year will be?
The WSL says it’s in negotiations for a new location and, therefore, can’t comment.
How about we take a wild guess?
Where’s good late February?