Vans released numbers today saying that the Triple Crown of Surfing served 10.4 million live streams during the 13 days of competition for the 2011 season.
Even if you figure that many of the people (like us) signed in at least 30 times during those days that’s still a lot. in fact, Vans says 1.8 million unique individuals tuned into the events. They’re calling it an action sports record.
“Surfing’s audience is passionate, active and adventurous, and, if they cannot watch in person, they’re finding Vans Triple Crown of Surfing events on their computers and mobile devices,” says Vans Vice President of Marketing, Doug Palladini. “Hawaii also helps us to reach a broader audience than any other surfing event given it’s incredible scenery, dramatic waves and rich beach culture.”
Now, if we figure that one day of modern surf webcasting costs roughly $55,000 (on the low end), then Vans, Reef, and Billabong and the rest of the sponsors of the Triple Crown ended up spending about 40 cents to reach each viewer. That may not seem all that expensive considering the brand bath viewers are immersed in while watching surf broadcasts. On the other hand, if Boardistan.com charged those ad rates then we’d definitely have someone else typing these words right now.
“It is unfortunate that we announce the cancellation of the 2012 Quiksilver Pro New York,” Dave Prodan, ASP International spokesman, said. “The 2011 installment was a fantastic event with excellent waves, tremendous local support and some of the best surfing we enjoyed all season. That said, we understand the factors leading to Quiksilver’s withdrawal of the New York event from the 2012 schedule. We appreciate Quiksilver’s continued support of the world’s best surfers with the Australian and European elite level events in 2012.”
For those who are worried, Quik CEO Bob McKnight was quick to point out that this has nothing to do with Quiksilver’s commitment to surfing, “Quiksilver is still very much committed to the ASP and the professional surfing tour in 2012 with the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast (Australia) and the Quiksilver Pro France.” No, we’re guessing it has more to do with Quiksilver’s continuing commitment to the bottom line. NYC is expensive, right?
Eagle River, Alaska surfer Scott Jones was out for a December surf on Kodiak Island when Mother Nature began conspiring against him. He say he felt like “all the bad things that could happen, happened at once,” according to a story in the Alaska Dispatch.
“I started paddling against the rip and realized there was no way I was going to get out of this,” Jones said when reached by telephone Wednesday. So he did the smart thing and went with the flow as he angled toward shore. . . “That’s when the gale force winds picked up,” Jones said. He went ashore to wait, thinking they’d die down. They didn’t. He said he tried once to paddle out and around the point. But between the rip and the wind, sea conditions were brutal. “I was getting slammed by head-high waves,” Jones said.
He ended up having to climb into a cave where he waited for either the tide to go back out so he could walk back around the point, or a helicopter rescue. The later arrived soon after and now, Jones has a Youtube rescue video to remember it by.
Thanks to those tiny camera from that one company, we all get to see Pipeline the way the Mark Healey, Anthony Walsh, Mikey Bruneau, Jamie Sterling and Koa Smith see it. And it’s about as close as many of us will ever get.
Seems like everyone has a plan that involves getting people to give money via the crowd sourced funding site Kickstarter. Well, add Encinitas, California based super soul surf hippie site KorduroyTV. Here’s their pitch:
It has been two years since the launch Korduroy.TV and in that time we have independently produced over 200 shorts, 3 documentaries, and numerous events aimed at creating a new platform for independent surf culture. . . For a consistent flow of rad new shows over this next year we need to raise $18,000 USD to cover our video production, resources and labor costs in order for us to continue spreading digital aloha.
Those who enjoy their surf media served up in a painfully earnest, tragically hipster fashion (and we do mean fashion) click on over to Korduroy.tv’s Kickstarter page and ante up. A $25 pledge will get you a Korduroy Sticker Pack, New Tropi Treats Pineapple Snacks and limited edition “GOT DIGITAL ALOHA?” t-shirt.” Which isn’t a bad deal at all.
It appears Quiksilver is maximizing the marketing potential of their North Shore Quik House with a little online reality video programming. Here’s the first installment.
And here they are. The hard charging Association of Surfing Professionals Top 34. The guys who get to travel the world, hang out at beaches for weeks at a time, and contest surf in the big show. And yes, C.J. Hobgood is back after his tour through the minors. He’s number 25 right behind Kolohe Andino.
While Lindsay Lohan (pictured here with action agent Blair Marlin) was at a “house party” following the Billabong Pipe Masters In Memory of Andy Irons her $5,000 purse was stolen from her car, according to a story in The Sun.
And as well as the large amount of cash [$10,000?], the bag contained probation documents detailing her permission to travel. . . The bag, complete with passports and papers but minus the cash, was later returned by a local, who claimed to have found it in the street.
Lohan was reportedly at the contest to honor her “friend and fellow rehab buddy” Andy Irons. Apparently, even the starlets get taxed on the North Shore.
Kieren Perrow had a lot riding on the 2011 Billabong Pipe Masters In Memory of Andy Irons. Even though the 34-year-old surfer finished second last year at Pipeline, he had never won a world tour event. Not only that, he was in danger of dropping off the ASP World Tour. But he fought through pounding Pipeline surf to prevail over Joel Parkinson.
Perrow was stunned. “It’s amazing,” he said in his post heat interview. “I just can’t believe I made the final and didn’t get second. It took me up until now to get over it. I made a mistake and gave Jeremy the final last year. I kicked myself all season. It felt so good to get back here. I felt real comfortable. I didn’t feel nervous. It’s just amazing.”
Joel Parkinson was philosophical about his loss. “”It’s a hard one to lose because you’ve only got one guy to beat and you’ve beaten so many, but it’s the hardest one to win,” Parkinson said. “I couldn’t think of anyone more deserving than Kieren (Perrow). He’s a true Pipe Master and one of the best guys out there and I’m so glad he won.”
Perrow won, but the obvious dominator of the entire event (except for four minutes against the 11 time world champion) was 19-year-old John John Florence.
n winning the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing he has finally grown into (and owned) the potential that everyone has talked about for years. “There are some incredible names on this trophy,” Florence said while holding the trophy. “I’m so stoked to be here and to have won this. I’ve been surfing these waves my entire life and watching everyone over the years. To have my name with the great surfers who has won the Triple Crown, it’s incredible. I just want to say thanks to my mum and Pancho Sullivan and John Pyzel and all my sponsors. Thanks to everyone.”
Earlier in the day Kelly Slater, after sneaking by Florence in the quarter finals gave John John one of the best compliments possible. “I’m not taking him out,” Slater said. “I’m just holding him back for a few more minutes. He’s going to own this place for the next 20 years. I just want to get a couple before I’m done..”
Follow the jump for the complete results and official word from the ASP. [click to continue…]
Vans released numbers today saying that the Triple Crown of Surfing served 10.4 million live streams during the 13 days of competition for the 2011 season.
