“Jessi has been incredibly influential in competitive surfing, not just as a competitor, but for her vision and commitment to fairness and excellence."
In a shock missive sent to important news outlets this morn, the WSL has announced the departure of Jessi Miley-Dyler from the biz after a storied reign that spanned more than a decade.
“A former Championship Tour competitor, Miley-Dyer transitioned from professional surfing to sport leadership at the end of 2011, joining the WSL, then known as the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP). Since then, she has been instrumental in shaping the modern era of professional surfing and advancing equity within the sport.
“Miley-Dyer played a key role in many defining moments, including the historic introduction of equal prize money for men and women in 2018. From there, the fully combined men’s and women’s Tours were announced in 2022. Most recently, she drove the expansion of the women’s Championship Tour field, set to take effect in 2026, solidifying a more equitable future for the next generation of surfers.
“Ryan Crosby, WSL CEO, praised Jessi Miley-Dyer’s contributions: “Jessi has been incredibly influential in competitive surfing, not just as a competitor, but for her vision and commitment to fairness and excellence. Her impact on the WSL and the sport as a whole is profound, and she leaves the organization in a stronger, more inclusive place. We’re grateful for her years of service and wish her nothing but success in what comes next.”
Jessi Miley-Dyer’s final event as the Commissioner is the upcoming Lexus Trestles Pro. The window opens on June 9 in Lower Trestles, California.
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Jessi, who just turned thirty-nine, has had a wild ol ride in surfing. Australian titles, World Junior title, won the WQS, fourth in her first season on the CT, rookie of the year, injuries forced her off the tour, moved into the administrative side of the biz, and here we are.
I’ve known Jess for years, my kid grew up with her lil sisters and her mum is sweet as anything.
I’d see ’em at the beach periodically and, each time, every single dang BeachGrit story would flash through my head. The greetings got cooler and cooler, as you might imagine.
Whatever you think of her reign, tough job, she leant into it, rode the bump, studied like hell and punched out a couple of degrees to ensure a fine ride into the sunset.
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JMD is getting kudos for taking prize pay off the merit system and sinking it deep in political correctness? And here I thought the Aussie ideal was fairness.
Her impacts were profound all right. PROFOUNDLY BAD. NO HAMSAMMISH.
In a world/surf league that at times felt dark and bleak she always had a way of making things feel only Mildly Dire
Any meat behind the potatoes that the WSL is looking to spin off the woman’s into a separate entity with separate funding ??
Please let this be true.
She’s a big part of why the WSL sucks today. Good riddance. Can we go back to having completely separate contest schedules now?
Fkn oath.
Ok I am biased towards JMD , as I shaped her boards and helped her become a CT surfer. She was one of the best woman surfers at that time , unbelievably strong willed and extremely intelligent.
I have watched over the years , as she grew in the WSL role but was surrounded by the macho elite , which she challenged and changed the sport of surfing…..for the better!
I just read all the negative comments on her from a group of macho blokes…….since the Ziffs came onboard and especially with Elo……..a corporate plan was devised to bring surfing to the masses,LOL…..which didn’t exist……as we and they now know….it was a failure….I know she battled behind the scenes for womens surfing , and leaving the sport way better than under Elo….in fact we have come full circle….back to pipe for the last event…a new.old World Champ system….logic and surfing has prevailed…..as did JMD…….were there mistakes , fuck yeah……was it malicious,Fuck no……she is a class act and I can only wish her success in her new life…thanx JMD!
While on the WSL subject …Jo Turpel is actually really good guy, bit of surfing historian……he has the worlds hardest job…..to fill in between waves in a 30 min heat where at best there’s actually 5 mins of surfing and replays……..and there is a strict code for the commentators……don’t say anything negative about the surfers/surfing ….anything…….yeah his voice is grating…but he lives mission impossible every comp!!
Have a great sunday!!
👏👏👏
you lost me at world’s hardest job.
Someone pointed out rightly so that i can be a touch negative, well in a effort to change for the better…
Great news from the WSL regarding JMD.
See I too can be positive
you cunts.
I guess this is a watershed moment for BG , will we still get JMD updates, ?
I suspect the moment she lost her job was when the female athletes told her to get fucked the other week when she asked them to go surfing at Margs that Arvo when it was pumping off the scale.
After a long frustrating day of messed up decisions, including the Box disaster, her power and respect was lost when she didn’t show leadership and strength and tell them to get the fuck out there.
She’s been winging it for years in a job that obviously didn’t suit her. Wish her the best though. She gave it a go but came up short. Dirk will be sleeping slightly more soundly tonight after giving her the boot.
Helped ruin competitive surfing as a spectacle by running men and women at the same comp. Good luck to whatever she fucks up next.
That pig gave us Bailey’s ladders….
Take Kaipo with you
On another note, I’m really enjoying the Newcastle surf fest presented by Vaughan-Soy
Upvote for an apt Wire reference
Next stop for JMD? I’m assuming she’s not flush for early retirement.
Just watched Josh Kerr’s heat. Bummer. Clearly the more competent surfer, but couldn’t land those mad airs. Lost to safety surfing. Oh well. Sorry old-dog. I feel ya.
How can the women get equal pay when the men surf so much better than the women and bring in way more revenue…
talk about unfair…,
Oh I forgot, Natasha’s pulling the strings and Dirk’s a P-whipped nut-case—I mean a P-whippped billionaire….
millions to burn on his wife’s hobby…
So what? Millionaires burn millions on much stupider shit than professional surfing
But when they try to bs you they’re successful when they’re not—that riles me.
Can you tell me if the ladder company is still their main sponsor?
Why should we give a fuck who the sponsors are? Of course it’s bizarre that it’s not Coke, Fosters or Budweiser; some of the largest a, wealthiest corporations on earth and the traditional sponsors of the sport.
But it’s not. The whole thing loses money either way you spin it. So have a Bonsoy for me
Give it up 55, this narrative has run its course.
The truth never goes out of style
“Bring in way more revenue”
Bwahahahaha! The WSL net loses millions every year. Only reason it exists is a billionaire makes up the difference. They could pay the local seagulls an equal cut too and it wouldn’t be unfair, just a super rich guys choosing where he wants to spray his money.
how can men get so much more pay in politics when all they do is fuck us over and go to war,,,,,,,
Maybe the wsl has finally realised the conflict of interest of having the person in charge of making the call being too close to certain top woman “athletes” and having them decide if they want to surf or not being problematic
Good riddance JMD
Call Rip Curl!
Fantastic news! This new CEO hasn’t put a foot wrong since coming in. Hopefully he will do something with the judging next!
Is this the true end of the poo poo touch era? Will a core lord like Braden Dias fill the position and push the tour to a 6 event season from October- March at Pipe only and the rest of the words best breaks left available for the CS?
Someone’s been watching Sterling Spencer
#UKnowDaRulez
Brado knows da rulez. Sterling is one haole.
Almost two, really.
Dang, would much rather see tributes flowing for a retiring Joe Turpel.
If only dreams come true