FAO Boyd, Elan, ocean peeps

[Michael Heaven]

Interesting things will be happening on next year's ASP tour...

Summary...

-Prospects for a 'Rebel Tour' have basically been put to bed.

-Transition to a one-world rating system, including a reduction in the field of the CT from the top 45 surfers to 36 (32 + four wildcards -2 event wildcards & 2 ASP wildcards). This will reduce the amount of time for a event, needing to only utilize one swell. Also, using this new rating system, WQS surfers will have the opportunity to get on the CT that same year if they're doing well but CT surfers will be in danger of dropping off the tour that year if they're sucking. Not sure how that's going to play out. Should be interesting.

-Prize money for events will be increased from $350,000 to $400,000 in 2010, $425,000 in 2011. The women's up to $100,000. No prize money cap if licensees want to go higher. As did Hurley for its two events this year.

-A $100,000 bonus for the World Title in 2010. $150,000 bonus for the World Title winner in 2011.

http://www.surfline.com/wct-contest-zon ... r_31214/1/

[elan]

Definitely interesting. I'm up for a little change to see what pans out.

On one hand, don't really want to shorten the contests, but on the other, it may help for these fickle spots - like the European leg. Probably bring more excitement as well to have a hungry WCT'r come in and try to upset everything.

On a different note, girlfriend, Carrie, and I just got back from two weeks France and Italy. We only caught one day (more like 45 minutes) of the Quicksilver Pro in France. Swell was pumpin the day we showed up late in Biarritz (about 15 miles south of Hossegor), but it was a lay day for the next couple days. They started up again on the 3rd day in unexciting conditions, so we took two buses and walked a mile to catch Parko going down, and Slater winning his heat (they fuckin mobbed Slater as he came out of the water). Had to make it back to catch the last bus, so that was about it. Great time though! Love me some France.

Just booked tix to catch Pipeline Pro in December as well - got my sister working on getting us a place in walking distance from Pipe for the week. So psyched for this!

[Michael Heaven]

Sounds like a solid trip. Stoked for 'ya!

The Euro leg has had some poor conditions, so far. They had to move the Billabong Pro - Mundaka this morning to Sopalena which had some really choppy surf. Hopefully, with the dropping tide they'll move it back to Mundaka for Round2.

http://www.billabongpro.com/mundaka09/live.php

[cramela]

Until the tour somehow finds a way to get more coverage on a major outlet(sorry Fuel) the tour's growth will be limited. The new rules might be a step towards getting better coverage, but swell unpredictability and time differences will likely continue to restrict mainstream marketability and major network or cable coverage. You can argue whether this is a good thing or not depending on your opinion on contests and whether you spend much time in the water surfing.

[Boyd Westerman]

Here ya go.

Kirra - early 80's, I've got this vid on Betamax

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKGbtUYJGmE

[elan]

Didn't want to start another surf thread, but have you guys seen the vid from Mundaka a few days ago? ridiculous! Looks like a circus out there at times

Same swell that ripped apart the stands for the pro search in Portugal

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Z1QdkaVwbc

[Boyd Westerman]

Sick

[Michael Heaven]

This video has been removed by the user.

[Boyd Westerman]

This video has been removed by the user.

It was for this vid http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sovv077tqMc but looks like, as Kirra died, so did the unlicense segment of it.

[elan]

This video has been removed by the user.

Hey Michael, here's the original one of Mundaka that was on youtube and got pulled: http://www.globalsurf.tv/video.php?id=412

[Michael Heaven]

Whoa! Some sick footage! I bet the CT guys are pissed they didn't get that swell in the contest.

Surfline coverage of the swell...

http://www.surfline.com/surf-news/early ... a_31613/1/

[Boyd Westerman]

The Search is going off today - http://live.ripcurl.com/?aid=532

[elan]

The Search is going off today - http://live.ripcurl.com/?aid=532

Hell yeah, some serious poundings out there. Feel bad for Owen, kid was on fire.

Since all my FL boys are out, I'll go ahead and root for Parko - kinda like Bede too though.