Outrageous!
The World Surf League, which bills itself as “the global home of surfing,” has certainly tried to be a big tent. Or maybe not tried but attempted to at least pretend. There is, of course, the regular Championship Tour featuring high-performance surfing. There is the Longboard World Tour, though it has been chopped nearly unrecognizable with only a small handful of stops and sitting champions who are not allowed to compete. And there is the Big Wave World Tour which, hours ago, is no longer any sort of tour at all but rather a front for the Guinness Book of World Records.
Per the stunning press release:
Today, the World Surf League (WSL) announced the WSL Big Wave Record Chase, the new model for verifying and celebrating Big Wave World Records. Through this new property, the WSL will continue its commitment to big wave surfing through a revamped strategy focusing on GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS titles for the women’s and men’s divisions across the paddle-in and tow-in categories. The WSL will host a total prize purse of $500,000, which will be allocated to athletes who achieve new world records for Men’s Biggest Wave (Paddle), Women’s Biggest Wave (Paddle), Men’s Biggest Wave (Unlimited), Women’s Biggest Wave (Unlimited).
“This shift is designed to elevate and refine the World Records property,” said Jessi Miley-Dyer, WSL SVP Tours and Head of Competition. “By creating a more transparent process, rewarding the achievements of the athletes, and shining a light on their incredible achievements, we hope to build a platform to showcase the immense talent of big wave athletes.”
WSL Big Wave Record Chase: Submission and Review Process Submissions will be open to all big wave surfers who surf and capture their rides within the eligibility window. The submissions will be open via the WSL’s online portal WorldSurfLeague.com/worldrecord, and submissions must be registered by the designated timeframe to be analyzed and considered for a GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title.
But do you recall perusing the Guinness Book of World Records in elementary school? Oh, I very much enjoyed learning who had the longest tongue, mustache, fingernails, hairiest family (pictured above) etc. and am thrilled that our big wave heroes and heroines have found a place alongside of them.
Rewarded achievements.
Light shone upon incredible achievements.
Immense talent.
Interestingly, it appears the tour is now open to you and me, as well, as long as we capture our rides within the eligibility window. Will you alter your business card to read “Big Wave Athlete?”
I’d recommend.
Quickly, though, while you are here, what is the “World Records property” that is being elevated and refined?
More questions than answers.
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FROM THE WSL SCHEDULE:
Nov 15 – Mar 31
Quiksilver JAWS Big Wave Challenge
Presented By TUDOR
Jaws, Maui, Hawaii
Big Wave
_______________________________________________
UpcomingNov 15 – Mar 31
TUDOR Nazare Tow Surfing Challenge
Presented By Hurley
Nazaré, Leiria, Portugal
Big Wave
Curious as to what big wave maestro and wsl corporate bootlick pete mel has to say about this. Positive noise?
he narrated his kid’s heat in SC yesterday…nepo?
update. was thinking about who the best surf commentator is/was. Dave Stanfeld did beach commentary for decades and was excellent. Purusing old surfer mag, I saw the name Pasqual Stanfeld. his kid?
Wonder who will commentate the The Tudor Big Wave Series…Dave Wassell would be great!
Looking forward to tuning in if it’s on a webcast.
James Jones in the comment booth. Just for the stories we haven’t all heard before.
Jesus wept! Considering JMP was a real surfer and has a real surfing background the sheer volume and surreal level of corporate bullshit-bingo-speak she spews is unbelievable.
Hurluley will also be turning over its data on ‘Inflatable Penis Fish Rodeo Pool Toys’ for a Guiness Booky Record World Book World Guiness Thing.
Wow, so now in years with lackluster big wave swells there is literally no opportunities for these guys to get paid. Well played wsl
SO. FUCKING. LAME.
So, the WSL is now outsourcing the decision making re: big waves. They are literally useless. What does the GBOWR know about the non-measurable factors involved in the big wave game.
In theory, a 4-pack of world record size Nazaré burgers (EDIT – Not actually burgers and very big waves ..yes..but still, a boring wave) will take all the chocolates, while a paddle Chopes bomb will never win anything, not to mention nothing for the Mavs chargers nor the Maui, Mex, Irish nutjobs and WA Slab hunting crews.
I’d like to speak to the manager please.
Per JMD- Elevating and refining are common processes on photoshop that will form part of the Biggest Wave (Unlimited) category.
Jeez that’s going to bring out every wanna be hero on every half decent swell … Oh yeah it’s happening at nazare already …
When some kook drowns trying to win the 500k can their family sue wsl ?
I think that Portuguese big wave guy is already suing the WSL for bad water safety during a contest that let him drown.
Is there a world record for most articles on Kelly and Gisele? Asking for a friend.
I used to stop by the WSl and leave a comment now and then—looks like the Wsl might’ve lost their main anchor advertiser—JEEP.
Which seems like it would be a major blow to them as I can see no other big name advertisers.
I’m sure if Jeep dropped them, stopped advertising there, it would have affected Netflix’s strategy to acquire it.
No tears here if true— it seems like it would be a major setback for them, (for Dirk and Elo), and the wall of positive noise..
The budget is getting tighter.
Give it another year
The only guinness worthy of note is a foamy cold one.
Depends on the pub and how they clean the pipes.
True, and a much overlooked issue. All hail the pipe master!
I liked the world’s fattest twins on their tiny motorcycles. One dude here uses that image as his avatar. Nice call.
World Fail League shoots itself in the foot again !