Just when we were about to throw in the towel on the ASP World Championship Tour’s J-Bay Pro, we get word that the ASP’s disciplinary panel has returned their verdict on Jeremy Flores‘ apparent violation of ASP rules conduct following his Round 2 heat loss to Sebastian Zietz. Flores has been suspended from the tour until August 27, 2014.
The incident involved the athlete confronting ASP officials and event staff in an unsportsmanlike manner and resulted in the Rules and Disciplinary Committee, after completing its investigation, fining the surfer US$6,000 and suspending him from ASP competitions until August 27, 2014. As a result, Flores is ineligible to compete in both the Vans US Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach (an ASP Prime QS event) and the Billabong Pro Tahiti (an ASP WCT event).
Stab Magazine (which apparently still pays people to travel to surf events, watch them all day, and then write about it) described Flores’ altercation with the judges as follows:
Craig Jarvis wrote for Stab, “He came out the water bristling, and continued to bristle all the way up to the tower, where his board being thrown onto the deck made such a loud noise that it sounded like some sort of structural damage had happened. . . “Then there was a torrent of angry, abusive words aimed at the judges. Grannies tut-tutted down below, parents put their hands over their kids’ ears, and security went scrambling, eventually placating the situation. . . “As everyone watched closely the ASP closed ranks and went into a huddle. Jeremy returned. The huddle broke. It was announced that Jeremy had apologized to the ASP and that a disciplinary committee would deal with the matter. Thus ended Jeremy’s African adventure.”
Apparently passionate surfing is still alive and well on the ASP Tour. Hopefully, we’ll get to see this contest all wrapped up in solid surf over the coming days. For the official word from the ASP, please follow the jump.Flores Suspended for J-Bay Open Incident
French Surfer Suspended Until After Billabong Pro Tahiti
Caption: French surfer Jeremy Flores has been suspended from ASP competition until the completion of the Billabong Pro Tahiti.
Photo: ASP/CESTARI
LOS ANGELES, Calif. (Friday, July 18, 2014) – ASP Top 34 surfer, Jeremy Flores, has been suspended from competition until August 27, 2014, resulting from an incident which occurred following his Round 2 heat at the J-Bay Open in South Africa on July 12, 2014.
The incident involved the athlete confronting ASP officials and event staff in an unsportsmanlike manner and resulted in the Rules and Disciplinary Committee, after completing its investigation, fining the surfer US$6,000 and suspending him from ASP competitions until August 27, 2014. As a result, Flores is ineligible to compete in both the Vans US Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach (an ASP Prime QS event) and the Billabong Pro Tahiti (an ASP WCT event).
Flores has apologized, both in writing and in-person, to the ASP officials involved and will be eligible to return to competition at the completion of his suspension and in time for the Hurley Pro at Trestles from September 9 – 20, 2014. Flores has told ASP officials that he accepts full responsibility for his actions and that he will not be contesting the suspension or fine.
The J-Bay Open, Stop No. 6 of 11 on the 2014 Samsung Galaxy ASP World Championship Tour, is down to its final 12 competitors and a projected swell in the coming days could see the event recommence as early as tomorrow.
