Scintillating.
The World Surf League, née Association of Surfing Professionals, has long been the only governing body the average surf fan cares about or pays attention to. It lays claim to the world’s best surfers, the world’s best waves, and while that notion has been challenged in recent years with the advent of Kelly Slater’s Surf Ranch and contests there, it remains true that no great competitive professional surfer surfs off the WSL.
Well, for many years the International Surfing Association has worked in the shadows, building a vast network of countries (109 and counting), their national sporting dollars, hosting “World Surfing Games” etc.
The ISA’s chief, and onetime Reef sandal founder/owner Fernando Aguerre, has been a tireless champion for its mission, to “make a better world through surfing (2 ft beachbreak closeouts),” which culminated in surfing’s being accepted into the Olympic Games, the ISA its official governing body ahead of Tokyo.
Very exciting.
Covid, of course, threw (or through depending on dialect) a wrench into the Olympic works but it is all officially back on and months away.
Before Olympic surfing, though, comes the World Surf Games in El Salvador, and here Aguerre sees his moment to wrest more, maybe all, power from the World Surf League.
In a sizzling rumor, it is whispered that the man well-known for colorful suits and playful cultural appropriation, is forcing WSL surfers who have qualified for the Olympics to attend the opening ceremonies, to surf their heats, then attend the closing ceremonies.
Ten-ish full days in El Salvador right in the midst of the WSL’s season.
The World Surfing Games are set to run from May 29th to June 6th. The World Surf League’s Rip Curl Rottnest Search is set to run May 16th to May 26th. If it goes the full window, Olympic-bound WSL surfers will have but days to cross the globe, quarantine in El Salvador, march and wave to adoring fans, surf, march and wave to adoring fans, fly home, quarantine, train, fly to Tokyo, quarantine, train.
The Olympic-bound WSL surfers are, allegedly, furious but Aguerre is unbent. This is his moment to break the World Surf League’s hold and he will not succumb to any pressure campaign.
First alternate on the U.S. team Kelly Slater, it is rumored, has received a doctor’s note that will allow him to miss the World Surfing Games yet attend the Olympics.
Dang trick foot injury that only allows him to surf pristine barrels.
With the WSL in reported financial straits, will this be it? Will owner and co-Waterperson of the Year Dirk Ziff hand surfing’s reigns to Aguerre and say, “Good riddance…?
Next year’s World Champ crowned in Tel Aviv?
More as the story develops.
Makes sense to me , the ISA should simply take over the WSL , proffesional surfers want to be recognised as a main stream sport , then joining the ISA is a no brainer.
I would be more worried about getting hepatitis than Covid in a that nasty El Salvador water.
There goes Fernando Valenzuela throwin’ them curveballs again.
Kelly can’t get a guernsey unless JJF or Kolohe drop out. The US quota is full. And if he wanted to surf for Syria, he needed to have done it back when everyone else changed allegiances. Too bad for baldy.
I think it was Senegal, and I have no idea!
Excellent article – shade in all the right places
Tlayuda. – or Pizza *muff maybe
Nothing ever happened. – Putos Gandallas
Just trying to light up. – Southern Hemisphere, is ALL
Asiescorazoncito. – Melapelo con Cualquier A
* no, es Jhony cuando no
Puto. – pues, the isa guy; except for Jhonatan Corzo *Prewitt, or is it double double
Faltaba. – La hache
I can’t remember, Has Seabass retired or just dropped off the rankings for CT? Or can’t be arsed?
I believe he is a surf coach
So, can’t be arsed.
Are you allowed to ‘retire’ if you haven’t won a world title?
Maybe it’s just called ‘quitting’?
There was a great burn on Kelly by Stace Gailbrath at Margs on the big day – the booth asked if he’d been out & he said no, he’s got a foot injury!
Correct me if im wrong but havent all the Aussies, us, French and Brazilian surfers (plus kanoa and jordy) qualified already on the basis of wct placings? Isn’t the world surfing games just to get the other 10 or so spots from non powerhouse nations?
Wouldn’t this only affect say frederico Morais and Leonardo who didnt finish high enough for entry via the wct route?
Not sure how Kelly can get that third us entry anyhow as it requires not enough qualifiers from the non powerhouse nations I think.
Andino’s high ankle sprain would see him in yeah?
Jjf and kolohe have already qualified. Kelly can only get the third us spot through very unlikely circumstances. Same goes for pip
Flashbacks of the Tel Aviv Pro what in ’88? Hans Hedman vs. Michael Ho or some shit? @mattwarshaw?
Waves were dog-shit.
Worse than being asked
To go back to your old school
To clean out lockers
Finally, a chance for all of the world’s covid strains to get together in the one spot and battle it out for ultimate supremacy. When it comes to administrative surfing bodies making stupid decisions, no one’s immune!
USA! USA!
They would never do it but it would be pretty legendary if every pro on the CT just no showed for his ridiculous little get together. What then? Olympic surfing would immediately lose all its integrity/legitimacy as a showing of the best. One and done.
Yes I can see them all doing that and one Robert Kelly Slater renegade on the deal, it would be his finest work!
Having lived in France , and having had close friends involved in the Fédération Française de Surf from 1990 to 2010 , it always seemed that the ASP was representing the English speaking world , while the ISA was way more important to the non English speaking surfing world and its Surfing Federations ….. In France , the creators of the modern Olympics , the top of the Pyramid of the Sporting Bodies is the Olympic Committee from which subventions( CASH ) flow down to the various national , regional and departmental sporting organizations …..So while surfing was just an ASP Circus , with no drug testing etc etc or link to the Olympic Movement the funding for surfing remained low …. Now , along comes Fernando and his ISA dream of SURFING AT THE OLYMPICS …. This ignites a burning flame under Surfing Federations from outside the big 4 at the time ( Hawaii , US mainland , Australia and ZA )
If surfing becomes an Olympic Event SHOW US THE MONEY ! ….So , many countries , though not turning their backs on the ASP / WSL dived happily into bed with the ISA to get the result required .
Misogynist here can’t even squeeze out a para on the dickless wonders.
They’re still stunned by the judges jacking Malia against Sally
Lovely Malia
Would tap.
tap ’em both!
So jacked
And we all laughed at Rhonda Harper calling herself an Olympic coach – she will probably have three athletes on the podium in Tokyo. She who laughs last laughs loudest!