Our small island has been invaded.
For so many years professional surfing has been our secret garden. A place only we knew existed. We could slip into its WSL app after work or sometimes even during work and be amongst 379 other likeminded souls. There we would sit, comforted by the velvety tones of Joe Turpel and insights into what it takes to be ’89 world champ. We would watch Jeremy Flores wiggle for an extra .3 or Adriano de Souza pump his fist and feel… ok. It was ok to watch because 378 other likeminded souls were watching too.
Our own private Idaho.
But no longer.
First the WSL did a deal with Facebook and we nervously laughed, then the WSL did a deal with CBS and we looked around confused. Now the WSL is doing a deal with Turner Broadcasting and Bleacher Sports and are you still here to even read the press release?
Bleacher Report Live – Turner Sports’ new premium sports streaming platform – has reached a wide-ranging partnership with World Surf League (WSL) to distribute live coverage of elite surfing competitions, while becoming the official destination for championship-caliber video on demand content, replays and highlights for the league. As part of the agreement, beginning this season, Turner Ignite Sports will also partner with WSL to sell sponsorship opportunities.
The new partnership – showcasing the world’s best professional surfing events – will begin with the inaugural Founders’ Cup of Surfing presented by Michelob ULTRA Pure Gold, May 5-6. B/R Live will offer 12 hours of live Founders’ Cup coverage at the WSL Surf Ranch, in which five teams representing USA, Brazil, Australia, Europe and a World Team will compete over the two-day specialty event held in Lemoore, Calif.
“World Surf League has an established community of very passionate fans and B/R Live will serve as a destination for those seeking direct access to these exciting competitions that showcase the best surfers in the world,” said Hania Poole, Vice President and General Manager, B/R Live. “From live event competitions to on-demand content and a deep collection of video highlights, we’re looking forward to creating the best experience for fans to discover this premium content on B/R Live.”
“It’s an exciting time for surfing and the World Surf League as the sport’s popularity and interest continues to grow,” said Sophie Goldschmidt, WSL Chief Executive Officer. “Our new B/R Live partnership is evidence of this and we are thrilled to offer sports fans another way to enjoy incredible WSL surfing action live and on demand.”
WSL joins the growing portfolio of live sports events that will be available directly through B/R Live including UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League, NBA League Pass games, 65 NCAA Championships, PGA Championship, National Lacrosse League, The Spring League, World Arm Wrestling League and more. B/R Live is currently available on iOS, Android and the Web.
Now I know how the gays felt when their bars turned into trendy drinking holes for open-minded social explorers.
We should make a secret handshake so we know who’s who. Right?
I along with most people left FlailBook and will never be going back, think my grandma still uses FB, maybe she’ll support you WSL but doubt she’ll tune in, nobody trusts FB anymore, don’t you do your market research of “who” your customer is or is the only thing you care about getting Mark Zuckerberg’s check?
The tones of Turpel are as velvet as Trump’s physique is chiseled.
Where is Wayne Lynch when you need a sell out poster boy , been ripping you all of for fucken ever.
you missed Blue Crush?
only time will tell , will surfing go the way of the publicly traded surf Co’s?
Plus the clothes look stupid
I had to read the headline about ten times , yea ok im a tard agrred but it finnaly sunk in, pro surfing created to be mainstream , now freaking because guess what it fucking is.
Nb ; i did actually realize this some 30 years ago ,but choose to ignore the fact until i became somewhat conversant with social media.
Cunts.
In yet another deal apparently Andrew Stark formerly Surfing Australia appointed WSL head of Oceania – here is his mandate!!
“Stark will be focusing on Partnerships, Marketing and Public Relations, Event Operations as well as the development of the first WSL High Performance Training Center in the region, leveraging the Kelly Slater Technology.”
So where’s Kelly’s pool going here? Maybe Fiji – since they took off tour? That be smart
Somewhere near the Gold Coast
Nah. Just across the road from the macadamia castle.
Just remember it’s not really surfing so it doesn’t matter. Let the hordes follow the pool tour, it will help direct them from the ocean. They can have it.
How come Matty? Not even a little bit interested?
Pocket Shaka for secret handshake?
Pro surfing hasn’t been anybody’s “secret garden” since the 50’s… even less so since the 70’s when Australians shit all over the surfing world with their bastard creation called pro surfing. And who’s the most to blame for our loss? You surf media suck boys like Bitchgrit, Stab, Transgender Surf and all the other fringe dwellers media types leaching off the blood of the real surfers of the world. You guys are like big tabacco… you know your product is killing us all but you don’t give a shit because it makes you money. If you had any integrity left you’d shut this page and every one like it down you soulless cowards. Oh ya here’s your secret handshake. https://uploads.disquscdn.c…
Heavy, man
Upvote for Miki
Nah, I reckon that’s fair enough.
Two sides at least to every story
I thought Transgender Surf went broke?
Duh, it was around when Miki was alive-this is some heavy zombie post shit by Miki.
fuck yeah , now there’s view of surfing !
or when Pro surfing happened there was no real thoughts of riches or fame , it was more about putting down foundations of a sport , because one of the reasons surfing comps were so liked by the extremists of surfing was you would get to check out new Surfboard designs , exchange ideas see how people rode different designs….and be part of the evolution , which was progressing so much that the boards you rode last year were outdated sometimes in 6 mths………….
The came the industry , the $’s , fuck there was now fame and fortune , which when you look back , what was once a sport of surfers , became a breeding ground for the fame and fortune seekers , which they did at any cost , even going public onto the different share markets , billions were made , and then lost as surfing actually ripped off the stockmarkets , a few lucky people made fortunes and now…..
The sanitisation of surfing had begun , which has left the sport as just a mediocre kinda recreational thing some people do….mediocrity has become the Modus Operandi , no real surfboard design now on tour , bloated competition formats , claims of ” as the sports popularity and interest continue to grow” which is just the same tired bullshit that came out of Speakers mouth…..question , did they sell out Lemmmingmore , as surfing has been sold out , but then again mediocrity seems to be accepted by one and all!!
To be perfectly honest Chas, this all seems like it is happening on some other fucken planet.
Maybe we could take some inspiration from Homer’s Stonecutters secret handshake. How the fuck do i post a video link. Someone, someone. I like giving up.
I guess if you have a cock, you’re going to show someone eventually.
Here’s mine https://uploads.disquscdn.c…
A proud specimen!
Thank You !
I like to think so
I’d tell you a joke about my cock, but it’s too long.
Which of the current 27 bro-down surfer handshakes should we use?
it surely has to involve 4 thumbs
Surely the one between Rick and Chandler (starts at 0:37)*, no?…
https://www.youtube.com/wat…
*not the official ending scene, but the handshake is the same.
Hey Kelly Slater, you’re worse than Taj’s plastic bottles.
The next logical step for professional surfers is to unionize and demand a collective bargaining agreement in order to share in this new revenue stream.
when there’s unsponsored guys in the top 32, not sure they’ve got the leverage. i’m not sure their agents are ready to roll the dice either. plantation days will continue. Kelly could have been our Curt Flood and look at him.
Pretty sure this will be, or will turn into a pay-per-view set up. Seems the WSL won’t miss a trick to try and get into your wallet.
Agree. It was only a matter of time.
So we’ll at least have a choice.
Either give away your privacy to good ol pimple face Zuck or pay/view to a network.
Or just say fuckit and watch a delayed stream somewhere out in the wild.
The end game is now in place and complete.
It’s all good, Ziff is happy, Surfn Soph is thrilled again.
What a fukkn shambles
Don’t think Ziff will really be happy until he can find some advertisers willing to pay for all this stuff. The problem might be, who’s gonna want to advertise to a bunch of surfers who are all saving their money for their next board to add to their quiver?
Well, that’s the thing of it.
What’s Ziff got ?
He’s got an organised tour that crowns a World Champ.
He’s got a QS that ensures competition.
He’s got a good bunch of surfers.
He’s got a specialised production crew with equipment and expertise.
He’s got judges and a known format.
He’s got a specialised commentary crew (don’t flame me on that, it’s what they are.)
He’s got sponsors for the events.
Anything I’ve missed ? Insert here
see below
How to turn a buck off of this ?
By selling the feed of the events to whoever. Zuck has the advertising covered and so do the networks. It removes the need for wsl to chase advertising income while providing hours upon hours upon hours of content on a global scale. One thing that broadcasters have to have is content. They either pay to produce it or buy it in. It’s test cricket on steroids – but with a few gotchas. Shark interruptions, slow conditions, a cheapskate fan base, weather affected events etc etc etc
edit: How did I miss it ? He’s got a tub. That may be the one real money maker. The on-sale of the tech. It just has to become way more affordable to us scumbags and sure, I’d have a go at it. Fuck I know my son would be all over it.
Let’s face it, no other man-made wave we’ve seen comes close to the perfection of that. And it will only get better as they’ve learnt so much. This iteration should really be seen as an expensive prototype.
its not just a cheap fanbase, its also tiny
heh, yea. I’ll bet Ziff omitted that commercially sensitive stat when he made his pitch.
He’s desperate, right. Lotta bucks tied up in all the gear that goes to make those pictures. Not to mention salaries. And airfares for staff and freight. oh and office crap n staff and rent n insurance ad infinitum
How else can he get a return ?
Ok, some fair points, but I doubt now if the Wsl is getting more than 5 mil a year from jeep and the others advertisers combined that they have on the Wsl website. How much these networks are willing to pay Ziff to broadcast these events are an unknown at this time. Say 5 million per advent? At that rate, Dirk would still be losing millions a year.
I’d love to know as well.
Or pretty soon – ISP>ASP>WSL>???
If I was still involved in business, looking at it from the outside, I’d describe the situation as tenuous. Lots of investment – for little return. At this stage.
edit: I expect these comments to get the chop. I’ll bet there’s an email getting sent about now to the BG mothership
jeez, I could go through this with ya but I did on Coastalwatch a coupla months ago. The WSL, after booting Fiji and Lowers and re-doing their naming rights stuff to pull in more cash, plus Jeep/Corona/Michelob Vomit etc and Facebook, is probably breaking even on the actual tour right now. Hell it is probably pulling in $3million on QS entry and licensing fees alone. It’s everything else that’s costing money — specially the Pool and upcoming underwriting/expenditure on that thing’s builds elsewhere including Japan and Australia (yes Australia, so look the fuck out poor ol GW, URBNSRF etc).
This thing on the weekend is definitely ahead of expectations re gate income and mainstream interest.
A big part of professional surfing is dislocating itself from actual surfing right now, in a way it’s never done before. I am kind of watching through my fingers.
Major disconnect. The pros are so far removed from the rest of us, as you say, like never before.
I just came back from fiji, I asked a couple of well known fijian skippers how they felt. All they said was, “WSL aren’t coming. We all thought they were.” That’s a fair bit of extra income they’d come to rely on just whipped away from them. They’re still a bit confused, I think.
I reckon Slater’s pool will be for the elite connected, or those driving then latest Range Rover and riding a fuckin’ HS Holy Grail (hahahahah), URBN, Surf Lakes etc, that’ll cater to the other 99%.
I just had another thought – get the 2 events at Lemoore done,
get the Olys out of the way.
If it all goes well then the tubs are a fait de complis.
Game, set and match, right there.
Then there could be an IPO on the table. Investment from the market required for expansion, of course.
Now that’d be fucken weird.
Pro Surfing answerable to shareholders.
He’s not a billionaire for nothing.
Build it up, dress it up – offload the risk to greedy investors. Cash in.
Bingo.
Thank you, thank you
And don’t forget to tip your boatmen.
i’ll buy you a boat if pro surfing ever has an IPO
mea culpa of TUI – I didn’t think it through properly.
Yea – he’d spin off the tub business as a seperate entity in order to do that.
But speaking of boats – I’ve got one for sale. I’m not fukkn using it, just sitting around doing nothing for 2 years. I’m so useless at selling shit I don’t need.
It’s over Johnny…