Vanished in the night!
I spent much of yesterday pondering the newly released 2019 World Surf League championship tour schedule and can we all admit that it is almost perfect? Oh of course it is our job to grumble, and we get paid very well for it, but really it feels like the WSL listened to our pleas and responded.
The season ends at Pipeline like it’s supposed to and begins on the Gold Coast, a nod to those simpler times when the Association of Surfing Professional’s offices occupied a tidy second story Coolangatta floor. Marg River might not be a favorite but I do love that the WSL is returning to a very sharky land maybe hoping for another “Mick Bump” as the sky high ratings for J-Bay ’15. The rest is as it should be, as we’ve grown accustomed,
Many openly question the viability of the World Surf League moving forward but ’19 is robust. The only thing I’m really curious about is the naked events. Sponsors disappeared into the night. Vanished without a trace except Meo and Oi which may or may not be cell service providers and Billabong for Pipeline and Rip Curl for Bells.
But the rest? Where did they go? Quiksilver has been sponsoring the Gold Coast event since I cut my teeth on surf journalism. Quiksilver has been synonymous with France since Tom Curren was a competitive threat. Same-ish with Billabong and Tahiti and Billabong and Teahupoo.
So maybe it’s only Oaktree brands which have been disappeared but still 7 out of the 11 events are nude.
And do you think it is possible, even the slightest chance, that we could crowdfund title sponsorship of one? The BeachGrit Bali Pro say or the BeachGrit Pro Bells Beach (in association with Rip Curl)?
Which do you think we should choose?
Gold Coast Men’s Pro: April 3 – 13, 2019
Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach: April 17 – 27, 2019
Bali Men’s Pro: May 13 – 24, 2019
Margaret River Pro: May 27 – June 7, 2019
Oi Rio Pro: June 20 – 28, 2019
J-Bay Open: July 9 – 22, 2019
Tahiti Pro Teahupo’o: August 21 – September 1, 2019
Surf Ranch Pro: September 19 – 22, 2019
France Men’s Pro: October 3 – 13, 2019
Meo Pro Peniche: October 16 – 28, 2019
Billabong Pipe Masters: December 8 – 20, 2019
Call me a conspiracy theorist, perhaps the WSL is paving the way for much larger sponsorship for their events in the near future. Follow with me: The Olympics are coming!
Lululemon developed/released a technical men’s boardshort for surfing last year and happen to also sponsor Miss Malia Manuel. Should she, or the rest of the female competitors win a CT event, will be paid an equal prize purse to her male counterparts for the first time in the history of most professional sports platforms* beginning in 2019.
Also, anybody noticing more and more of the Hurley team donning the swoosh somewhere on their boards these days? Anything “surf” related you click on their website take you directly to Hurley branded gear, but I cant seem to find anything on their page about any Nike endorsed surfers.
Call me crazy, but methinks the mainstream might be on its way!
*In my personal opinion, the competitors are professional performers of the highest caliber without question. However, surfing as a “professional sport” is wildly up for debate and will be for some time to come.
Just saw a surfing clip on the newest Nike commercial while watching the reigning Super Bowl Champion Eagles vs. the Falcons in the NFL season opener, shortly followed by a closing scene with Colin Kaepernick.
Correlation?
Nice work you are onto it
Caption: Wade Carmichael’s attempts for likes were getting desperate
This is best stupid idea you have had yet. It could actually happen,
Bali for sure presented by the mad Huey’s let’s party like its 1990
Well dang i sure would hate to be second tier sponsored surfer as the wild card thingy is going to get very interesting with out the big label pressure in the background.
Like have said to Brutus if they cant cut the QS then they are not going to make it onto the big stage and never more so than 2019.
The Surf Ranch BeachGrit Pro and the judges would be Chas, Derek and Jen
As long as there are lots and lots of drinks? I would need a lot of tequila to be a judge, I think!
Yes there will be tequila and any other drink that is desired for the judges!
Michelob ultra not good enough
Okay…conspiracy/cynicism time, kids.
No Hurley again this year means that JJF is “reevaluating his priorities in life” and may never be seen at a WCT event again save for a Pipe wildcard some time in the next five years.
As mentioned yesterday fewer sponsors means less prize money and that means less for the men while giving slightly more to the women. We may have to start calling it the SJWSL after all.
On that note…at some point very soon there will be no sponsors at all save for The ‘Bong trotting out AI’s “Memory” every year so we can all maintain our passive aggressive approach to mental illness and drug abuse. Each comp will have the same prize money.
Now who is laughing when Quik put up a cool million for the NY comp seven years ago???
Hope he never goes back. Kick over some chairs and flip em the bird on the way out. If not for the fact he has 3 titles and fuck all money, he should do it for the NS locals disdain for imperialistic sporting organizations. Do it for Bobby. Do it for any and every reason. Be a fucking surfer!!
He should do it (just don’t do it?) just because you said “fuck” twice in that comment!
Was the third word I learned as a pup.
Wait, does he have 3 or 2? I honestly don’t remember.
I actually don’t know either, but it rolled off the finger tips well.
Anyone watching the Pond Pro? So far it’s getting an upvote from me.
Notes to WSL:
1. Pupo has boosted his scores by at least a point with the hair, but I would like to see more sequins.
2. Strider as cheerleader is inspired. Maybe some pom poms for round 2?
3. Break up the commentary with some jousting, coffee table leaping or cocaine, please.
I’m going fishing, might catch a few heats later, after I catch nothing!
runs cuz
You need to go to one of those stocked fish ponds where you pay (thru the nose) per catch afterwards, that would be more fitting for today.
i was keeping an eye on the scores, now saying server down
Yeah, 502 Server Error. What a day for technology to save competitive surfing!
Your best bet is to put all of your savings on Connor O’Leary for the win at the Pond, then straight to Tachi (everything on black).
Then add a new event at your favourite African Secret Spot.
It’s cool, the waterman of the year will pick up the tab.
How much? 2 million? (USD) Asking for my cousin Vinny.
It is incredible that with all the money that pays for surf related adverts there is no money for the WSL. I mean, we all agree the product is flawed but every fifth ad on tv is surf related. Surf is still sexy! Just not the WSL.
HA HA you put surf and journalism together
It could only ever be the BeachGrit Surf Ranch Pro Lemoore.
Start at the beginning. The “Cocaine and Surfing” Gold Coast Pro has real potential.
The Cocaine and Surfing Drug Aware Pro at Margaret River, Indonesia
surely you blokes can scrape together enough cash to set a bill board at fair few of the tour stops.
That really is a good idea and our basic capacity.
When’s that shop going to be up and running again?
Yeah for reeelz.
I’m going to have to bootleg a BG shirt soon.
Maybe a BG budgie smuggler.
surely there is value for money in Brazil, goldy might be a bit heavy on the pocket.
with a few the same quality as your first one it will quickly be the most anticipated thing associated with the wsl comps.
they should probably be better than the shitty ones I can think of
a picture of Ziff as a real estate agent with the obligatory “water man of the year”
someone surfing in tennis attire
zuckberg in his crocs with his soft top
if you are coming up short you could pass a hat around. a grumpy old mans version of “kickstarter”