Good news just keeps pouring in from the surf world. GrindMedia, the producers of the Lowers Pro since 2004, announced today (March 5, 2013) that the ASP Prime surfing even at Trestles has been canceled for 2013. Though their official headline says the event was “postponed” the truth is that it’s not going to happen this year, though they say it will be back in 2014.
“We are committed to operating the Lowers Pro at the Prime level to deliver the most value to the surfers competing, our audience, and brands supporting surfing,” said GrindMedia Director of Event Operations and Lowers Pro Event Director Sean Nielsen. “Due to the economic climate and timing of the transition of the former title sponsor, we have not secured a new partner in the title position to operate at the Prime level. The content emerging from the Lowers Pro rivals that of any World Tour event, and we look forward to delivering this experience to surf fans next year.”
For a longer, more polite version of the cancellation follow the jump. [click to continue…]
The one thing New York City needs right now is another surf shop, right? And Patagonia is going to give it to them right straight in the Bowery. Work has reportedly begun at 313 Bowery according to a story on Bowery Boogie.
A batch of permits was recently filed with the DOB for “structural work in an existing store” and for the forthcoming illuminated “Fish” sign. Plus, a mess of scaffolding also made an appearance yesterday morning. Patagonia initially intended to open the surf shop in the fall, but Hurricane Sandy totally sidelined the project. With work already underway, a summertime launch doesn’t seem out of the question.
Yeah, they’d almost have to have it done by summer. For more, click the link.
With all that’s been going on with Billabong and Quiksilver lately, it probably isn’t the best time for Rip Curl to find a $400 million buyer and the owners have reportedly abandoned the sale, or at least that’s what co-founder Brian “Sing Ding” Singer is telling The Australian.
“I doubt (the sale) is going to happen,” Singer said. . . “The public market looks like a bit of a cesspit at the moment. . . But Mr Singer, who set up Rip Curl with Torquay surfing buddy Doug “Claw” Warbrick in 1969, said a sale was still on the longer-term agenda. . . He predicted the founders would exit “at some point in the next few years”.
Then again, if someone were to offer them $400 million right now, we’re guessing they take it.
Kelly Slater is showing absolutely no signs of slowing down (even though he is an official 41 years old and he had to surf against Dane Reynolds and Kolohe Andino in Round 1). 2 John Florence seems to get better with every heat he surfs, Travis Logie nabbed they days high score for the goofy-footers with an 18.20, Matty Wilkinson didn’t let 2012 ASP World Champ Joel Parkinson stop him from advancing directly into Round 3, and while Quiksilver may be going through some interesting times at home, on the Goldie things are looking rock solid as the 2013 ASP World Tour season kicks off with the 2013 Quiksilver Pro. Even Mick Fanning was gushing a little.
“It’s a new year and everyone is feeling fresh,” Fanning said. “When I was younger, I mostly stuck to Snapper Rocks and Kirra, but since the sand has filled in, I’ve spent a lot of time surfing through Rainbow Bay. It’s a fun wave and provides a nice wall for a variety of maneuvers. Compared to Snapper and Kirra though, I think Rainbow probably lessens the local advantage as it’s a pretty user-friendly canvas. . . “That’s the goal every year – to with the title,” Fanning said. “Seeing Joel (Parkinson) win last year was great because he’s a mate, but it’s back to the job at hand this season. There are no easy heats and everyone on tour is a threat.”
For the official word from the ASP, results from Round 1, and next round match-ups of both the Quiksilver and Roxy Pro, follow the jump. [click to continue…]
Boardistan readers may remember what we said the day (January 29, 2013) images appeared of Garrett McNamara riding what was at the time reported as a “100-foot wave” in Nazaré, Portugal. We mentioned that it seemed that the measuring sticks were getting shorter and shorter.
Now, McNamara, who is a gifted, hardworking big wave surfer, has removed his wave from the Billabong XXL Awards after images appeared that made the wave look much, much, smaller, according to a story on ESPN.com/Action. Here’s what McNamara told Jake Howard.
“We decided to pull my waves from Nazare out of Billabong XXL because I do not ride for Billabong and I did not go out that day and surf for a world record or to win any XXL prize money,” said McNamara via email. “I was out there because I live for big waves, it’s what I love to do!! It is not necessary to have a Billabong panel measure it. There have already been quite a few educated professionals who have measured it anywhere between 60-110 feet!”
As always, we never argue with guys who ride waves that big. Respect to Mr. McNamara.
You’d think that after winning 11 ASP World Surfing titles Kelly Slater would be able to say pretty much anything he wants to say about surfing, but when Slater was quoted in an interview with Goldcoast.com.au things quickly got complicated.
Slater’s original quote was:
He [Slater] said he did not believe surfing had a performance-enhancing drug problem because he did not “think there’s a drug you can take to make you surf better”. . . Asked if there was a recreational drug problem, he said: “There clearly is — absolutely. There’s no denying that, it’s rampant, it’s full-on.” . . Slater said the Association of Surfing Professionals had introduced drug-testing last year, but it appeared to have faltered. . . “They tested us at the first event and I never got tested again all year,” he said. “Why talk about it and not do it? . . “Either do it or don’t do it.”
Slater then later reportedly emailed a statement saying his “rampant” and “full-on” drug remarks were taken out of context, according to story on Ninemsn.com.au.
Slater said his comments weren’t referring solely to the ASP World Tour or surfing in general but actually to sport as a whole. . . “I definitely think there are issues for athletes across all sporting disciplines that need to be looked at and acknowledged and serviced,” Slater said. . . “I look forward to working with Kieren (Perrow, ASP interim commissioner) and Paul and ASP Management in further enhancing any process that contributes to the betterment of the sport and its athletes.”
The fact that Slater’s longtime agent Terry Hardy and Hardy’s business partner new ASP CEO Paul Speaker own the Association of Surfing Professionals only makes this entire issue even murkier. Speaker, however, says the ASP is standing firm on doping: “The ASP has a very clear stance on doping that is consistent with protocols from other international professional sports as well as with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA),” Speaker said. “The ASP remains fully committed to adherence and enforcement of our policy.”
Scott Hultgren the design mind behind the Valhalla Design & Conquer agency has created an action March Logo Madness grid to find the best action sports /youth culture logo of all time, but he needs you to vote to make it happen. Here’s how he describes it:
That’s right, just like the basketball tournament but different. The voting will be open for a week, at the end of the week the votes will be tallied and the winner will go on to the next bracket. At the end, the designer of the winning logo will be able to claim he is the world champion of the logos and may receive a prize of some sort.
For the first round match ups click here. In the skateboarding category Independent and Thrasher go up head to head in round one. Man, that’s a hard decision to make. Check back each week as the winners go head to head in the next round.
Oi, mate. No one got to enjoy the pro today as the The 2013 Quiksilver Pro got off to a rainy lay day on day one of the waiting period at Snapper Rocks. So the new ASP season has yet to officially start. Apparently, the waves just weren’t cooperating.
“Small surf in the one-to-three foot (0.5 metre) range and heavy rains have prompted us to call a lay day for competition today,” Rich Porta, ASP International Head Judge, said. “We have plenty of swell forecast for the window so we’ll wait until we have improved conditions before commencing the event. Next call tomorrow at 6:30am.”
Look at all those happy, smiling faces. It’s Laura Enever, Joel Parkinson, Lakey Peterson, newly-appointed ASP CEO Paul Speaker, newly-appointed ASP Interim Commissioner Kieren Perrow and Brett Simpson. And what are they smiling about? The start of the new season? The demise of Quiksilver and Billabong? No, apparently they’re smiling because things are looking up at the ASP, and the fans are going to be number one. ZoSea Media says so.
“The surfers, the events and the current ASP staff have all been, and will continue to be, instrumental in elevating the sport during this transitional year,” Paul Speaker, ASP CEO, said. “Our focus this season is protecting the interests of professional surfers, preserving the integrity of competition, refreshing the ASP brand and establishing a new commercial model for the sport. The ASP will be more fan-centric – the structure of tours, the production of broadcasts and everything in between will be geared towards enhancing the fans’ experience. Good luck to all our competitors and events in 2013 and we look forward to taking this next step with you.”
One thing is certain, the next year or two of professional surfing will not be boring. For the official word from Coolangatta, follow the jump. [click to continue…]
Good news just keeps pouring in from the surf world. GrindMedia, the producers of the Lowers Pro since 2004, announced today (March 5, 2013) that the ASP Prime surfing even at Trestles has been canceled for 2013. Though their official headline says the event was “postponed” the truth is that it’s not going to happen this year, though they say it will be back in 2014.
