Failed “Rebel Tour” Catalyst For ASP Format Changes
josh hunter
- October 12 2009
- 762 views
- 9 comments
According to reports from The Australian, rumors of a “rebel tour” proposed earlier this year were put to rest following an Association of Surfing Professionals meeting held in Mundaka, Spain last week.
Following the meeting the ASP released this Press Release, stating that several changes will be made in its World Championship Tour (WCT) and World Qualifiying Series (WQS) next season.
The major changes include more prize money and better benefits for athletes, a revamped ASP board structure, and the transition to a new rankings system that will reduce the number of surfers on the”Dream Tour” from 45 to 32.
“Base prize money for the ASP World Tour events will increase from the current US$340,000 to US$400,000 in 2010, taking the total prize pool on 10 events from $3,400,000 to $4,000,000 per annum,” the press release says. “On the ASP Women’s World Tour, total prize pool will increase from US$630,000 to $800,000 in 2010 … Along with the increase in event prize purse, an additional US$100,000 bonus will be awarded to the year-end ASP World Champion, as well as an additional US$30,000 bonus to the year-end ASP Women’s World Champion.”
Also, halfway through the 2010 season the WCT will be reduced from a 45 man (plus three wildcards) tour to 32 competitors per event. “By trimming back the current Top 45 field as well as instituting the one-world rating format we ensure the ASP World Tour continues to be the most progressive and dynamic professional surfing tour on Earth,” Mick Fanning, ASP World Champion (2007) and Surfers’ Representative, said. “The ASP has been the home of the best surfers and the best waves for over 30 years and our commitment to instituting these changes is illustrative of our position at the forefront of surfing.”
When asked if the “rebel tour” had brought about these changes, ASP CEO Brodie Carr told The Australian that is was “definitely a catalyst … We’d been working on some of the things for a number of years, but we were motivated to move quicker.”
Stay Tuned to Transworldbusiness.com for updates on this story as they happen.
Here’s the Press release:
ASP Surfers, Events and Management Announce Plans for 2010 and Beyond
MUNDAKA, Euskadi/Spain (Saturday, October 10, 2009) – The October 2009 ASP Board of Directors meeting has completed, with all surfers, events and administration uniting to activate landmark improvements that make the ASP World Tour bigger and better for 2010 and beyond.
“On behalf of the Association of Surfing Professionals, I am pleased to reaffirm the commitment from both our surfers and events in progressing the sport in a unified and collaborative effort,” Brodie Carr, ASP International CEO, said. “We have just completed a period of intense discussion with the world’s best surfers and the world’s best events which culminated in the unanimous support of the ASP and the commitment to the continuation of crowning undisputed world champions, as we have done so for 30 years, for generations to come.”
First and foremost amongst the historic changes is the transformation to a one-world rating format and the trimming back of the ASP World Tour field. Beginning in 2010, the ASP will move from the current two-tier format to an all-inclusive one-world rating format where both ASP World Tour and ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS) events will be used to determine a surfer’s rating.
Halfway through the 2010 season, the ASP World Tour field will be reduced from the current 45-man plus three wildcards format to a 32-man plus four wildcards field. The timing of this reduction in field is to allow everyone qualifying for next season’s Dream Tour ample opportunity to establish themselves in the Top 32.
“By trimming back the current Top 45 field as well as instituting the one-world rating format we ensure the ASP World Tour continues to be the most progressive and dynamic professional surfing tour on Earth,” Mick Fanning, ASP World Champion (2007) and Surfers’ Representative, said. “The ASP has been the home of the best surfers and the best waves for over 30 years and our commitment to instituting these changes is illustrative of our position at the forefront of surfing.”
Prize money at the ASP World Tour and ASP Women’s World Tour level is set for a substantial increase in 2010. Base prize money for the ASP World Tour events will increase from the current US$340,000 to US$400,000 in 2010, taking the total prize pool on 10 events from $3,400,000 to $4,000,000 per annum. On the ASP Women’s World Tour, total prize pool will increase from US$630,000 to $800,000 in 2010.
Along with the increase in event prize purse, an additional US$100,000 bonus will be awarded to the year-end ASP World Champion, as well as an additional US$30,000 bonus to the year-end ASP Women’s World Champion.
“The surfers and events continue to work together with ASP Management to create a world class sport,” Rip Curl’s Neil Ridgway, ASP Events’ Council Chairman, said. “There are over one thousand ranked surfers from juniors to pros chasing an ASP World Title, and tens of thousands behind them dreaming of winning one themselves. Our tours provide sporting, economic, social and environmental benefits to almost every continent on the planet. We uphold the career pathway and continue to nurture the millions of fans who follow their heroes on the ASP World Tours.”
In addition to the increase in prize money, the ASP will institute an increase in surfer benefits that include full insurance coverage as well as a pension plan.
The third major change to be activated in 2010 is the evolution of the ASP Board structure. Transitioning from the current 5-person (1 chairman, 2 event and 2 surfer) model, the new ASP Board Structure will consist of three independents, two events and two surfers – including a women’s representative.
“It’s fantastic that the women will become voting members of the ASP Board of Directors,” Jessi Miley-Dyer, ASP Women Surfers’ Representative, said. “The current board has done an incredible job in directing the tour and has been instrumental in providing career pathways and tours for both male and female surfers. Having a female representative on the board dovetails perfectly into the positive, global response we’re receiving on the ASP Women’s World Tour right now, and I look forward to seeing the benefits of such a shift in focus.”
“We remain open to enhancements to our tours that reflect our core principles,” Carr said. “Our primary focus is in doing what is best for professional surfing.”
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October 12th, 2009 at 6:28 pm
What a bunch of idiots. I think the ASP has been great for surfing, but it is out dated and the changes made are minimal and insignificant. Let's take the real issue into account, money. Particularly prize money. These surfers agreed to a $60,000 increase per event. So let's say it was cut evenly amoungst every surfer which it won't be, that would be an extra $1875 per event, per surfer. Based on the new 32 surfer format. Still no television coverage and poor quality web coverage. I also find it interesting that no Hawaiians or US surfers were present or quoted at the press conference.
October 13th, 2009 at 1:23 am
What happened toward an investment in media exposure and the overall reach of surfing through the WCT events/athletes? All that is listed here are benefits for individual surfers and changes to the board. Hardly revolutionary and perhaps a bit narrow sighted? If I read correctly, the "rebel tour's" mission was much bigger picture than just additional prize money…ie sourcing out the world's best waves and bringing the action to viewers, fans, enthusiasts and the GP worldwide. Maybe is there more that hasn't been released yet?
October 13th, 2009 at 5:24 pm
Interesting, but it's not over yet. ESPN Money, the Giant Billion Dollar Surf Corporations and Kelly Slater will decide when it's over.
October 13th, 2009 at 7:09 pm
This is great news for the surfers and well deserved as well as the aligned rating system which correlates to easier understanding among the viewers. But the missing piece in professional surfing is the media exposure? They need ESPN or a global media company to present the sport in the right way to gain more of an audience. The webcasts (although they are not great) give the endemic surfer the right medium but to reach out to more viewers they need a mainstream media outlet involved. They have to tell unique story's about the athletes and their lives. They have to have a cohesive show that has the same announcers on the same site,
There is still a lot to do and I hope either the ASP does it or Kelly/ESPN do it,
Sincerly,
Glass half empty for now
October 14th, 2009 at 6:23 am
Clip the girl surfing that nobody wants to see anyway and give that money to the guys. Does anyone even care to watch girls surfing? NO.
October 14th, 2009 at 6:25 pm
This list of demands came from surfers, not the general public. The general public doesn't give a shit about surfing. They can't relate to it because they're much more likely to watch the World Championship of Poker than a WCT event. Not saying it's right, but it's the way it is. Every wave looks the same to the general non-surfer and to be honest, the judging is so subjective in ASP events that the only thing that should matter is the money to surfers! The judging is so bad that winning a world championship really means very little unless you're marketing director in the endemic market. If surfing wants some press, Slater should keep punching photogs in Israel while in the company of super models that previous dated Leo.
October 14th, 2009 at 8:54 pm
its not a huge change but I think that it has more merit than splitting into two tours, especially when the second tour would be handled by ESPN and packaged for those who don't surf. I cant imagine how bad it would be to watch a tour event where all the 'tricks' have to be explained to the public, let alone having three events out of nine in california. Yes california has some good waves but by no means are they the best in the world. The 'dream tour' has great locations already, they just need to streamline the webcasts. I think that Rip Curl's search events have been a great success and that more mobile event locations could be something to look into in the future (maybe replacing some events such as Mundaka, which had no surf for the entire contest window). The ASP model is a proven success, maybe not the commercial success to the same scale of say golf or football but is this a bad thing? The thing is that these sports are much more accessible to the public. There are golf courses in every town and the same with football fields therefore the publics interest has been engaged at a much younger age as they are familiar with the rules etc. There are never going to be surf breaks in every town. Why is surfing trying to measure it's own success against sports like this? The surf industry is now one of the most lucrative in the world, why do we need to push it even further onto a uninterested public? I think we should leave surfing for surfers and those who are interested enough will go online and watch the great live feeds already available, we dont need to watch it on prime time TV. Im not saying there is anything wrong with the non surfing public becoming interested in our sport, i think its great for sales, i just dont think that we should change the entire pro surfing model to suit them. After all, who are we catering to? Surfers or the general non-surfing public?
October 15th, 2009 at 1:12 am
Nothing has changed, the ASP can't figure it out. Scaling back the number of competitors on the CT and upping the purse amount should have happened anyway! The ASP needs some serious direction along with some new judges. Watching that last contest makes me sick to my stomach. No US judges and Adriano gets overscored by two Brazilian judges which gives Adriano the victory. That shouldn't happen. We need fair and balanced! Maybe we need some judges from Fox News :).
October 19th, 2009 at 6:20 pm
media rights seem to be the key here, as everyone wants more exposure for the tour, athletes and brands involved, but don't want the kooks at ESPN f-ing up the sport into an x-games event. but, you can't have it both ways though. the asp should partner with a credible media outlet like fuel tv or surfline, so a 3rd party would pay for the rights rather than the individual events/brands holders. this would provide for broader exposure and more $ for the fellas!