Kelly Slater Speaks About New Tour

Monday, 03 August 2009 00:00

The nine-time world champ breaks his silence on ESPN’s plans, the ASP and his critics

Kelly competing on the current World Tour in France.

“When you have the influence to make change, it's irresponsible not to do the right thing with that, and the surfers have that ability as a group.” – Kelly Slater

By Tim Baker

There’s little doubt that Kelly Slater has been stung by widespread criticisms of his perceived involvement in a proposed new pro surfing tour. Allegations that he was “cashing in” at the end of his career, dividing the sport, and even undermining the world title campaign of Joel Parkinson have been hurled at him since news of the proposed “ESPN Tour” broke during the Jeffreys Bay event.

While Kelly has sought to distance himself from the new tour, claiming he knows little more about it than any other surfer, his manager Terry Hardy is deeply involved. And after meetings with ESPN in California during the US Open, Kelly is in a position to comment in more detail on the tour, the motivation behind it, and his response to his critics.

“I will say that surfing has been my life since I was a little kid,” said Kelly in an email to ASL over the weekend. “Change always freaks people out and has caused a lot of negative stuff (along with positive) to be thrown my way,” he says. “I don't understand that ’cause I'm not changing anything alone and without full surfer support. My only hope is to create a better environment competitively for surfing. The current structure is outdated and although it served a purpose at one time, in this day and age it's either time to change things while it's possible or continue to allow an outdated business model to limit the industry and hold back our tour's potential. If at the end of this the fans and the surfers have a better platform, why is anyone complaining? When you have the influence to make change, it's irresponsible not to do the right thing with that and the surfers have that ability as a group.”

While Kelly has been upset by the new tour being described as “Kelly’s Tour,” there’s no doubt he has been encouraging other surfers to listen the organisers’ case, and that his endorsement would be key to its success. Why does he see the need for a new tour?

“My main motivation is firstly to see pro surfing set up properly from the ground level,” says Kelly. “Most people out there probably don't understand the need or why this is happening. The ASP does not own their own media rights, the events (sponsors) do. This limits and effectively stops any chance to actually do business outside of what is controlled by the current sponsors, and the event sponsors are never going to vote away those rights at the board level (which they also control 50 per cent of). Ultimately, this change is clearly the best thing for the surfers themselves. Also, it's to provide the best platform to show surfing and create the most dynamic format that gives everyone surfing the best chance to give the top performance they can. All this talk of trying to undermine what Joel is doing right now on tour is completely false. I don't seek to take away from surfing or what surfers are doing. In fact, just the opposite. If this is the right thing, Joel himself will be key to it's success as will the other surfers.”

One of the inducements of the new tour is that organisers are offering comprehensive insurance coverage for all competitors, something that has been a sticking point between the surfer’s union, the WPS, and current event sponsors. They are also being offered travel and accommodation expenses and a share in an annual bonus pool for all competitors.

Joel Parkinson after his first of three wins so far this year.

“All this talk of trying to undermine what Joel is doing right now on tour is completely false. I don't seek to take away from surfing or what surfers are doing. In fact, just the opposite. If this is the right thing, Joel himself will be key to it's success as will the other surfers” – Kelly Slater.

How would the surfers be chosen for the new tour? “That is to be determined by the surfers themselves,” says Kelly. “Personally, I would suggest a combination of ways, obviously contest results determining most guys, the bulk from current ’CT then a number from top ’QS results. I think there should be a trials format at each venue to pick two to four guys who are the best at those locations and then a couple spots each for tour-chosen wildcards (at each event or full year exemption) and sponsor wildcards. I would think something like this would make most sense to the guys involved and the fans. This would never be just some cherry picked group of media friendly guys. That undermines competitive credibility altogether. I'd also like to see ex world champs and past event winners have certain exemption periods to show at those events (if) they want to and get a spot. Maybe if you come in as a qualifier/wildcard and win an event you guarantee yourself a seed the following year and wouldn't have to surf a ‘QS style system at all. It should have more incentives like that and interesting chances tied to it. You should have to qualify as anyone else but if you can beat the best guys consistently at any spot maybe that should be your proof of qualification.”

Would the winner of this new tour be called a world champion? “Most likely that is the objective but only if it's unified as the only world champion,” says Kelly. “Nobody wants to split surfing down the middle. Surfers will ultimately decide this if and when it happens also.”

If the "ESPN Tour" gets off the ground we may see more surfers like Rob Machado in comp jerseys.

“This would never be just some cherry picked group of media friendly guys. That undermines competitive credibility altogether” – Kelly Slater.

The choice of event venues and the logistics of gaining permits from local governments and organising events is a complex one. Most current WCT events have been running for years, and all those issues ironed out of time. Rip Curl’s floating Search events take a good 12 to18 months to organise. Is it realistic that this new tour could be up and running by mid 2010? “It sounds like they're getting some serious and genuine interest from current events and some sponsors who can't even afford to run events in the current format. That would probably work itself out, though we will see people doing their best to try and stop it from happening from inside the current system,” says Kelly.

Recent discussions between ASP and organisers of the new tour have hinged on whether they can work together under the ASP umbrella to produce one unified world title, or whether the ESPN tour goes it alone. To use a cricketing analogy, what remains to be seen is whether this tour – if it gets off the ground – would become a World Series Cricket style breakaway tour, or a lucrative IPL-style sideshow to traditional competition.

Kelly is clear that his preference is for ASP and ESPN to work together. “It seems like good progress is being made on some fronts going forward, and also many hurdles to be jumped and people who would like to see no further progress be made on it weighing in behind the scenes and mostly in private to try and derail positive change. As I understand it and would like to see it, ASP would fully continue in terms of surfing’s governing body,” Kelly says.

While Kelly insists he has “as many questions as anyone” about the precise format of the proposed new tour, more details are emerging.

The so-called “Champions Surf Tour” would be made up of 16 surfers - 12 to14 regulars and the rest wildcards. They would compete in eight events spread over a five month season from July to November, culminating in a final world championship event. Each event would have a seven to eight day waiting period and take one and a half days of actual surfing time. A one hour TV show would be produced on each event and televised through ESPN within a week of the event, reaching a potential 98 million homes. A dedicated web production team, including commentators, would work on the entire series of event.

Organisers of the ESPN Tour have forecast some sort of formal announcement this month, and the back room maneuvering between now and then will be fascinating. Stay tuned.

Comments (111)

f the haters this sounds awsome it'd be something like baseball

kelly hates to loose heats 1 or 2 against non-top16 surfers in bad surf. (it hurts his ego)

He`s thinking: if I could make the lower two halfs of the draw dissapear... make everyone focus on "the show"... help my "little broder" dane by giving him a sistem in which the "strategic value" is being a Jimmi Slade...

Prefer the proffessionalism, selfimprovement, hard work, courage, that proved merit to be of importance in our sport (take adriano). As you say... gives some validity to the tour.

Look, the fact that top sufers like Occy would win thirty thousand dollar paychecks for a top event in the late 80's / early 90's, compared to winning the same amount of money for a WCT event today, is rubbish.

Change is what the sport does need, but it must come from a collective agreement between the current tour representatives, the ASP and those that are proposing the new tour.

Let surfing remain in good hands by collective agreement.

Greg

I don't c how any of this makes my surfing expirience any better. More crowds, more agro in water, will we oneday have to pay to surf name breaks as our sport has progressed so much and Kelly and his mates will be only one's who can afford to partake. Kelly and ESPN are saying that everything I love about our sport/lifestyle is for sale. I love kelly Surfing but if dollors is the language of the times. Maybe his sponsers need to look at how this will effect their sales to the core surf group. I know a company that I'm considering a boycot. Maybe as a colective we need to show that it's the everyday surfers that control the destiny of our sport.

Yeh...whatever. Maybe Kelly's parasitic money grubber can sell some movie rights based on the "Surf Wars" concept he's created and piss off back to Hollywood or wherever he dreams of being. Leave pro surfing to evolve in its own time controlled by it's own people (surfers)in it's own way. Surfers have a unique culture envied and admired by everybody. Dont turn it over to suits with hair gel. Control your own destiny Gentlemen.

Surf does not need to be more mainstream.
Unlike football, cricket or baseball we have limited areas to practice. Bigger crowds create more risks and tensions.
Bigger coverage will bring even more people to already overcrowded spots...
I don't see any interest in making it bigger.

There is only one constant and that is change. It's long overdue. The Pros at the top of the game should get what they deserve. I'm stoked and excited that this is going down. Those fearing the change are those who are comfortable and in control. This whole thing needs a good shake up. Game on!!!

Mr chips23, you're an absolute tosser.Be constructive and jump out your little bubble.

Back in the day Occy won 30 grand in a contest that had trials, the dream tour guys surf heavier places without insurance and pay out more. Dont they need more money? And because some of the most dynamic surfers on the planet ie Jamie Obrien etc couldnt be bothered groveling in the WQS dont we need a way to have them meet up with the WCT guys more often? Like, I watched JBay and loved the Curren heats, the Reynold going hard, and the wild card kicking butt as was also done buy the wild card at Bells. Though the US open having none of the 45 winning the 100grand price should flag that there is greater talent out there than the chosen ones, lets use them and grow the sport. Otherwise people will choose not to ride short boards as at my sons school that has a lid plague, three goat boaters and two short boarders.

the more it "grows" the more crowded it becomes and less enjoyable, take snapper and ullus for example. sure i love surfing but it scares me where it seems to be going, and it seems to be all for the dollar. be careful what you wish for because their will be a crowd growing near you.

We are at a stage where surfing is now accepted as main stream. We have thousands of pros making this there professional career every year. Yes i agree surfing is a purist sport at heart, hell i am one of those people that believe this. But it's time ASP gets with the program, for our pro curcuit is one of the lowest paid professional sports. Look at golf, tennis, basketball etc why should surfing not be a mainstream sport and reward the pros that make this there career choice. More tours more pro surfers more time for us purists at our secret spots....

I find it strange, surfing used to be something that surfers wanted to keep to themselves, empty lineups, friends with the same lifestyle, now it seems as surfers get older, they want to introduce the sport to as many people as possible, why, because theres money in it...soon if surfing goes really mainstream, it will be like golf, anyone and everyone will be doing it..the soul , which is what has always made us a different bunch of people and a totally different sport, would be lost..
Frankly already it is too mainstream, surf labels are found in chainstores, the surf shops as we know it are almost gone, we could become just another sport, like football or golf or tennis....

i agree with Jez...
but it does seem that there doing this for finalcial gain, hopefuly for the sport and not just top surfers and businesses.

that banana comment was gold.

why are we on here
we should be gettin sik barrels

what kelly and this nwe tour wants its to put surf in the major midia, i mean the surf is really a radical sport and need to have the same space in midia as other radical sports, and also have the same level of payment.
ALOHA!

Its reminds me of the time i was washing my hair in the shower and slipped over on the slippery suds from shampoo.
I landed right on top of a banana. I swear it was a 1 in a million shot. It went all the way in and boy was i feeling lucky, after that i tried bigger and bigger bananas chasing that high but they were not as good as that first time.

The surfers should be very careful with their upcoming decision on allowing a rebel tour to exist, especially if it co-exists with the current ASP world tour. For two reasons,
1. Someone comes in like ESPN, throws shit loads of money at the top surfers for say 3 to 5 years realise they are not seeing the return they wanted and walk away leaving pro surfing in a shambles and a few lucky rich surfers (only a few).
2nd reason
The benefits Kelly and others talk about can take place without a rebel tour. The problem for the surfers is the current structure of the ASP board and the dominant input that surf brands have over the tour.
Don't get me wrong, i deeply thank Quiksilver, Billabong etc for all the money they have put into surfing at all levels over a long period of time but.....
The problem with the ASP today is they are actually rejecting sponsors from outside the surf industry who are coming and offering their support to professional surfing just to protect the interests of our large surf companies. Sooner or later the ASP need to take charge of their tour and sport and welcome all forms of sponsorship, why reject Nike's proposal for a surf contest a few years back......hmmmm, sounds like a few too many billabong employees on the ASP board. Nike had to buy Hurley just to start getting a look in. We don't need a rebel tour for this just unbiased, un-influenced members on the ASP board and a smart leader.
Cheers.

does anyone else fear the imminent push the mass marketing of the sport will give non-surfers to paddle out into already crowded, kook-filled lineups? broadening the mainstream exposure of surfing for the pros will actually hinder the countless average-joe surfers out there that would be forced to deal with any possible ballooning of local lineups.

remember, it may bring those guys a few extra dollars and some much needed health insurance coverage, but none of us regulars get to go surf our local spots--much less "dream tour" waves--with only one other guy out.

we surfers should root against this for the sake of keeping more people from our breaks. i don't say that as a "local" demanding Wolk Pak-like dominance at my spot either (if you can surf and understand the code of conduct in the water, then come on out); i say it as someone who loves surfing but already has to deal with scores of people who don't know what they're doing.

I hope i get to see a lot of bottoms in this new formula.
Whay dont camera men zoom in on forhand surfers bottoms doing a big bottom turn?
Its what everyone wants to see.
A muscley pro sexy surfer bending over at the hips putting it all on the line.

ooh golly gosh i want to try surfing ones day it looks jolly splendid.
Surfing is fun and should be seen by everyone.
Nobody owns the waves so why cant everyone jump in and join eachother to make it one big happy party!!!
Jolly good fun old chap.

I agree with all the live webcast lovers out there. Pretending to do work while watching heats is a past time I definately don't want to loose, and sitting in front of the computer while the missus is in the other room is gold, until bedtime of course. you know what I mean.....
Anyhow,I guess I don't know enough about the actual thoughts of the people that count being the top surfers in the world. Whatever happens "IT HAS TO BE UNIFIED" and the surfers have to be happy....otherwise the sport will go backwards. And don't forget the live webcasts or else.
"I KELL YOU"

The interesting thing is that Kelly went to a TV expert to take surfing to the next level. Nearly every educated person on earth knows that the television medium is on the way out. He should have found a webcasting expert if he wanted to make a dent. Besides professional surfing would be horrible for television - too much uncertainty.

The Australian is reporting that Bernard Hopkins sued Matthew Tinley for $1.79 million for breach of contract in 2004.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,,25886438-5013406,00.html

Holy FUCK! Why the fuck does Kelly think it's good for the sport to be in bed with this corrupt motherfucker?!

This is so good I wish i could claim I wrote it, but I pulled it from STAB...courtesy of Harbinger of Doom...

Okay, so please correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't this concept really just a glorified old man's tour?

I mean, this "rebel" tour is supposed to sit above the CT, which sits above the QS, which sits above the Pro Junior...so...for a hot up-and-comer to make a push for the world title, he must now go through a whole other level?

This sounds ridiculous.

I understand Kelly is upset at the state of professional surfing, but maybe the tour isn't the problem...maybe it's our champion.

Dude's been at the top for 20 years it seems like and he becomes less likable each season. Face it, I'm not buying products because Kelly uses them...none of you are either.

Surfing was never as exciting as when AI beat the shit out of Slater for three years. It wasn't just Andy's surfing (which was bullshit), it was the fact that it signified a new era in surfing, change, progression, a new dynasty.

We don't need a history lesson to see what has happened since, but frankly, professional surfing will not move on until Kelly leaves...and it would be even better if the boys smashed him on his way out the door (not unlike this season).

The phenomenally talented surfers on tour (Parko, Mick, Dane, Jordy, etc.) have all had to weather their careers under Kelly's shadow...I cannot think of anything worse for them than having to join the "Kelly Tour".

does this mean there will be no live web cast? no ability to watch a live heat without actually being at the contest?

what i love about the live webcasts is watching an event all day from my home office (small section of my monitor dedicated to the event whilst i crack on with my work). yeah there are some dud heats sure, but when one of those closely fought heats arises where both surfers see-saw for the lead, pushing their surfing to the limits - it's thrilling to watch! i put it up there with watching any of the great sporting clashes.

a televised wrap-up of an event doesn't capture the moment. it has to be real-time, you have to feel that last five minutes of a heat when the ocean goes flat and a surfer is chasing a high score; only for a wave to appear 10 seconds before the hooter. one shot! i'd rather endure dud commentary for that 5 minutes whilst the anticipation builds.

i guess i don't care which way it goes, as long as there's a live webcast.

Kelly rips, but his Ego Tour is a bad idea. It's proponents are shady characters who don't surf. It will diminish the credibilty of both world title winners.

The ultra-elite format of just sixteen surfers takes out the fun of an underdog upset.

Reminder: the ASP Tour has come a long way from the parking lot tour with Huntingon/Japan mushy beach break days of the 80s/90s.

Jeffrey's Bay this year was one of the best contests in years, great webcast too.

surely ESPN can sit down and negotiate a deal for TV rights with the sponsors if that is the main issue ???
other sports do it but at the end of the day it will be about the money and not surfing really....

there has always been this dream of bringing large ouside corporate dollars into surfing,but among the first companies i have seen suggest is target (usa?). I dont see say billabong or rip curl freeting too much if parko and mic sit with kelly at a quikie pro press release as essentially they are all in the same bed. i do however see a problem if the same three surfers or any team rider is trotted out for a target pro press conference or used in later instore photos wearing the contest singlet to promte maui and sons or any department store knock off of major surfwear lables.Essentially there would be tremendous problems of what major event sponsors could be used as the potential for ambush marketing are ripe and love them or hate them the major lables have a lot of money invested in their surfers

I read the artical and felt sick. While the prise money is obviously going to be better why can't it be made better by the big three selling half the properties they don't even live in. Giving half to the ASP and the other half to marine research and ocean environmental groups without destroying what to the fan is a great set-up and very exciting to watch the two tiered system. I like four days of surfing in variable conditions. J-Bay was as good as it gets and proved the existing system can work.

surf is spirit, fun and respect NO MONEY!..fuck monetary sistem and all surfer want live for this

What if you could do the same job for a shitload more money? You would swap jobs so why can't surfers?

bunch of seppo's chasing more money

Here's a question...considering the new tour promised an official announcement during US Open, just after US Open, during X-Games and then just after X-Games, it's clear that the organizers haven't really worked anything out at all - ESPN is sidestepping away as fast as it can, and today's update in The Australian indicates that neither the surfers nor the ASP are anywhere near backing this thing. Obviously the new tour is going to go down in flames...question is, does it take Kelly down with it? I love Kelly, think he rips. But let's face it, his behavior and associations throughout this debacle have been less-than-honorable. I reckon he's going to take a major hit here.

Change is constant and always imminent, particularly when it involves sport, business and money. Surfing is no different! Its important to consider the possibilites, think about how competitors would get better support; insurance, prize money, acknowledgment. How audiences would benefit from a higher level of surfing, dynamic events and spectular venues to bring the sport closer to main stream sports and at least be considered a real sport like tennis, golf, formula 1, football, because its not even close right now and won't be until change happens! I say lets explore this possibility and see what good for everyone comes out of it...

So whey are we so scared of change? Kelly is right it is an old business model and kelly is just introducing a new one so lets see what he can do. This may just open up NEW DOORS for people. If I open up a new fish shop down the road with better prices do you come...

I am all for this new tour. Let's give it a chance and see how it works. Remeber, that it is the surfers that are the show, not the name of some organization. Sponsors will be there to cash in on surfing events. If the ASP dissapeared and this new tour took over, nothing would change. We would have the same surfers and we could watch the comps in person or on the tele. ASP does not equal surfing. It is just an organization. I hope Kelly has success with this new tour and that the surfer are benefited more because of it.

Also, for those of you that see fit to call Slater lame or some other ridculously innapropriate label, it's worth noting he's the only guy on tour who consistently gives a media interview straight after losing a heat. As far as I can see he just feels, probably rightly, that the tour needs a shake up, and is merely facilitating debate at this stage.

And as for the allegedly unsavoury history of Matthew Tinley. What do you expect from a media mogul who can help see through big changes? Rupert The Bear. Get real.

Maybe we should hope 23 Chips is right when he predicts that this will tear pro surfing apart. More exposre = unsustainable participation in already crowded waves. After all, we can't just build new surf breaks in the way that football pitches or tennis courts can be built. But then again, if we're all just surfing from our arm-chairs, maybe we won't need them.

I don't need ESPN blasting surfing for some couch potato from Nebraska to come to my break one day and see how hard he rips the first time he tries it.

All i know is the web coverage leaves a LOT to be desired,take the absolute crap coverage in Brazil as just one example,it was a total insult.
The only really-good interviewer on the ground is JT,who is great,but Christ a lot of the rest of them would give anyone a pain.
Dont know if a new tour would be any better,but there sure as hell is room for improvement in the web-coverage.

If the ASP does put in a lifetime ban, it just shows they do not have the interests of the sport at heart... just their own... it wouldn't surprise me. The brands want to keep being the only ones making money off these guys.

It's all about the money... the ASP/brands included. I wouldn't be surprised if this happened. We should just be cheering for the best possible format and considering where the ASP is, there's a lot of potential for improvement.

Check this interview Lewis had with Mr. Slater in May of 2008 - while he was in the midst of his record-breaking run towards a ninth title. At the time, Kelly had no reason to be vindictive towards the ASP - yet he laid out his grievances.

http://postsurf.com/2009/08/03/long-time-coming/#comments

Kelly's opinion has the value of experience and insight having grown up and gone through the wringer of the whole evolution of the revamped CT beast. He seems to be pointing out that the tail is wagging the dog(the ASP doesnt own its own media rights?!) and its time for the dog to wag its own tail! Pro Surfing aint a dog that is too old to learn new tricks but you should get the consent of its owner (the Pro surfers through their association the ASP) before its morphed into a new hound.
How about keeping the top 44 WCT and dream tour but organisng the CT into teams similar to the pro cycling tour? The teams then qualify,nominate or get their highest placed surfers into the extra 8 X 1,1/2 day events (maybe spread over 12mths). The "teams" sponsors could be non-surf industry bringing in new money while allowing pros to retain their surf industry sponsors and move across teams.
You could end up with a format that sees an overall winning team, overall individual world champion,(analogy- yellow jersey)Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Ocean Champion for CT tallies in each ocean(green jersey) Big Wave Champion (polka dot jersey) Rookie or pro junior (white) and Womens World Champion (Pink jersey). Including the womens CT and pro junior would help develop all aspects of our sport and make any "Tag team" events even more appealing.
Anyway I think I'd better stop now I might be getting carried away. thanks for reading
ps no mind altering chemicals were used in this post

Think football (rugby league - Australia) - both sides of the old battle between super league and the old competition still hate each other! We are now playing with fire. Even if Kelly was not on board... these guys would still try to get this going. I would say that now the genie is out of the bottle, it has to be dealth with.
S

Not only Kelly wants this thing to work with the ASP, but maybe he realizes that this tour cannot work without the ASP at all.
Let me put it straight:
Fact1: They want the tour to select a portion of it's competitors from competition results. ASP is compulsory there at the moment.
Fact2: we cannot see a tour evolving several years without some surfers droping off the tour and some new faces appearing from time to time.
Conclusion: If the ASP decides this tour is bullshit, they put a new regulation stating any surfer participating is banned from ASP lifetime. No chance to compete again once your drop off tour. This so called champions tour's only option to avoid this is to build a whole system from local comps to world class level independant from the ASP. It's very unlikely they can do that in less than 3 years. So they HAVE to work with the ASP.

If Kelly can convince ESPN to cover the WCT in the current format or maybe with 32 surfers (16 is far from enough), and convince the ASP to let ESPN organize a live webcast + daily web shows + a one hour comp wrap-up, so be it. Put in the overlapping heat format which is good to see as there is always some action in the water, at least from people in the non priority heat, and you have something not bad at all. There is absolutely no need to make a rebel tour. No-one would benefit of it as it will die soon after doing huge damage to the credibility of the ASP.

so much hatred over something so small...all kelly needed to do was work it out within the organization, instead he went outside the surfing community and broght a jekyll in. Pretty terrible stuff.

So Kelly claims he's not really involved in the new tour, yet he is emailing surfers and so forth encouraging them to join? Um, I'm not a detective, but that's about the lamest thing I have ever heard. And he complains that ASP doesn't own the media rights, his own fucking company (Quiksilver) is on the ASP Board...so how does that work? Kelly's a muppet.

If this is true to what is being said, this would give Pro Surfing the exposure it needs to become an Olympic sport, which would give surfing an identity amongst some of the other sports it should be? Put in a proper dug testing program, and you never know, we might be watching surfing along side the 100m Mens sprint or the 1500m swimming? I say bring on the new tour????

I don't give a toss what Kelly has to say, he's totally abandoning professional surfing and the rest of the tour to cash in at the end of his career. Parko has scared the shit out of him this season and he's terrified of becoming redunant on the way out. Slater is old and wants money...and he's willing to destory professional surfing if that's what it takes. Tosser.

This all stems from the fact that Quiksilver was suffering financially, failed to meet Kelly's price last December during contract renegotiations and promised to back his manager's screwed up little concept tour. That's all...it's a failing company backing a crap idea from a failed manager for a diva performer. The fact that Kelly and Quik are doing this amidst Parko's title run is nothing but corporate posturing...and frankly, it is absent of honor. Disgusting.

yeah, why does Baker always back Kelly regardless? Carroll is at least an objective journalist. Baker just kisses Kelly's ass instead of asking the tough questions. I reckon ASP is pretty lame, but this is even worse. Kelly going around claiming he is the end all be all for pro surfing and bashing the organization that's given him everything.

There are no facts. There are no details. There is nothing but fast-talking and hollow promises from the new tour - hahahaha!!! Pro surfing is going down the drain and it's the best thing ever!!!

this is hillarious, I love how worked up everybody is, Is this actually happening just yet,?? Do you know the actual details and after reading everything again i dont remhen make an educated decision you moronseber reading half of the things that are now considered gosple in this site. calm down and take a step back , get all all the facts and t

Slater's a hack. Parko is the new dynasty. Professional surfing will not progress until Kelly leaves for good. Beat it Jimmy.

The Chips has only one question for pro surfers out there and "The Tour."

What have you done for me lately?

Let's see...helped draw more crowds to already crowded lineups. All in the name of making "the sport" bigger. Draw attention and crowds to unknown or low key spots. Barra anybody?

By and large, pro surfing has made the average surfer's day-to-day surf a worse experience as well as any trips said average joe may take. Because of the tour's self-promotion, the daily surfer has to work that much harder to find an uncrowded peak on the dawn patrol or go the extra distance on a trip. If you work in the industry, it's a different story. Then you have every reason to want surfing to "blow up".

Now, The Chips is always the alpha male in the lineup so this is largely irrelevant to me. But, all you knobs saying that you're worried about how the low ranked guys don't make enough money or get attention, why should you care about them? These are the guys most likely to drop in on you if you do happen to share a lineup with them (try surfing the North Shore prime spots when the cameras come out).

All you non-industry surfers out there, join The Chips in supporting Kelly's dream tour. The Chips is looking to invest big bucks and looking forward to the good old days when surfers were outcasts, pro surfers were on the bottom of the totem pole in the local lineup, and kooks were sent in for being kooks.

23 Chips

Call me crazy, but I think the 9x champ deserves us to respect (not necessarily agree... though I do) his intentions, opinions and judgment all this stuff... or at least not to get viciously sledged over it. All you guys know if you were face to face w/ the man you'd be fawning over him!

I am no fan of contest surfing but still... ASP needs reform and rethink on formats, webcasts and getting more free-surfers involved. There is no doubt that we would all like to see jamie o brien, bruce irons and rob machado surfing against dane reynolds and jordy smith, just to name a few. I dont think ESPN is involved for the sake of the sport, its all money. This quote from Brooks, Quiksilver contest director, makes my skin crawl: "There is an opportunity to make some money." Who the hell does he think he is and since when is surfing such a profit-driven sport? All companies answer to share-holders and need to generate revenue, but if you want to turn surfing into a money spinning, mass-produced McDonalds of sports, then you do not have my vote. It is what makes surfing unique, its what makes it the best "sport" in my world. I know Kelly has partial good intentions, but his desire to earn the same money as pro golfers, boxers and tennis stars is a well-known fact... Maybe he shuold go play golf in the PGA? or train to become the next IBF heavyweight? It is a pity that such a talented surfer is so focused on money and "bringing the sport to the masses"... Tune out and go surf, before your local break gets too crowded. Surfing is and has always been growing by itself, I notice it everytime i pull into a good break and cannot find parking...

he's on the money-go Kelly go-break the pro tour apart-who fuckin' needs it-go surfing....

I think this is good, sucks for our lineups going mainstream cause of crowding, but I think most people will watch it, think its cool and thats all. Fine with me, it supports the best surfers. Something that really isnt happenning so much right now. Maybe everyone else can be freesurfers and go to college and get an education. Maybe scholastic amateur events is something that is needed. Why the hell not?

Asp requires lots of help and resources to move forward and to be more profitable for both surfers and association. Asp has done nothing really to expand and reach its full potential. Kelly is not the problem here. It is the uneducated population. Fuck, hope I sound smart.

I think the best thing to come out of this bait is to flush out the discussions/opinions/ideas that the ASP seem to lack going forward. Sure a major change is a good time to intercept a possible market (queue ESPN) and full credit for chucking their name in the mix.
IMO the 'new' tour will not take root. But it will cause a new generation of the WCT and draw in a few more supporter's, backers and financier's.
Think of it as the de-fib that surfing currently needs......

Some bad typing... I meant to end on... I have a feeling next year's 1st places will get more than the 2k or whatever the 17 gets now

yeah, yeah i'm illiterate. please don't crucify me (i'm halfway afraid one of you is going to track me down and murder me in my sleep)

the input from this site is really negative, i'm surprised. Me buddies and I (Sydney) are all really fed up w/ the ASP... the watered down competition... the bad production... the poor quality stream... to the point some of us have just about given up following it. I don't see anything worth defending. This new tour is a long time coming... all I hope is it's done well (better shouldn't be too hard).

I'm durn happy these surfers are meant to be getting paid properly too... I'm not sure what exactly the figures 17 on are getting, I know it's not very much, but I have a feeling they'll be less than the new first places will get more than 2k or whatever the 17 gets now.

y'all haters must really love your surf-lifestyle t-shirts and boardshorts heh

I respect Kelly for trying to make pro surfing better for pro surfers and fans of pro surfing. Sure the ASP's format and tour is a bit stale but, the guys who run and control it are all surfers and thats the way it should be. If we as a surfing community let these non surfing sleazeballs take our sport into the gutter to make a few bucks, I say no way!! The ASP and the BIG tour sponsors should colaborate with the tour surfers and come up with ideas of there own to inject some excitement into pro surfing. I'm not sure why Kelly went outside the ASP? Maybe this a wakeup call and good shake up to get the ASP to come up with some dynamic ideas. Maybe this is what it will take....

The Chips can see the silver lining in this already. Kelly's tour starts a huge division in pro surfing and both tours eventually fail. Competitive surfing as we know it falls apart and pro surfers end up back where they started decades ago: pounding nails and dealing drugs to surf. They're forced to surf the same kook invasion and average days everyone else does.

Black shorts and black wetsuits will go back to regulating lineups and the funboard crowd will get tired of black eyes. The Chips is ready and willing to start this counter-insurgency, and truly hopes Kelly sets in motion the demise of pro surfing.

23 Chips

Let's give this thing a chance. Obviously there in the development stages. Let’s sit back cool our jets and see if they can work this out. There are probably allot more people involved in this thing than we think. Personally, so far I see this in its infancy, a breath of fresh air. Maybe some of the ideas that come out will trickle down to the amateur level which is really screwed up with over scoring, favoritism etc….I really hope a new scoring system is in the mix….

Kelly is a very intelligent and complex person. He is not going to associate himself with a tour or anything else that is not a winner. Being that he is well versed on many levels which would include Cancer research, obviously cutting edge surfboard design, physical fitness….basically everything. I’m as anxious as you to see what develops….

Say goodbye to being an avid fan; waking up in the middle of the night to watch heats, blowing off days at work, being connected to the elements at a distance location, and listening to great commentary from the likes of garret mcnamarra & other underground authorities... cause now we'll have to WAIT a week to watch the contest, sit through Hanna Montana commercials, listen to Ian Cains, Dino Andino and Shaun Thompson give each other hands jobs....geez, I wonder if Nike and Red Bull support the change?....Just Do It, Dude.

Are the rumours true that Boxing Promoter " Don King", has his hair raised in anticipation of the so called ESPN TOUR, 'GET IN THE RING!!'

It's Kelly and his guys on his Tour with lots of money, that's bullshit Kelly is "LE ROI SOLEIL"

At least in the 80's to present there is a tour. If the world tour is so bad why does every competition surfer want to be a part of it, careful what you wish for.
Time and again ESPN has taken sports under its wing and the tours that used to exist dissapear. Consider snowboarding, there used to be national tours offering opportunity to everyone interested in competing and they were televised on ESPN. These tours need the ESPN television to sell sponsorship. Once the network realized that it wasn't getting that sponsorship revenue, they pulled back the coverage and killed the tour. Surfing could suffer a similar fate. Caution advised, not all sharks are in the ocean.

lame.

I find it interesting how early reports claimed the new tour would be making an announcement during the US Open...no announcement. Then it was supposed to be just after...no announcement. Then it was supposed to be during X-Games...no announcement. It would appear that the organisers of this new tour don't have everything decided, and if I were a surfer, I'd be very careful as to who I threw my lot in with. Just a thought.

Why is it that Tim Baker does nothing but lavish love upon Kelly while Nick Carroll pokes holes in the already-swiss-cheese-like proposal on the map? I mean, Baker used to be the hard-hitting guy from Tracks who called bullshit on everything. Now, he's coddling pros and feeding the public nothing but manufactured excrement. It's like, growing up changes you or something. Nah, bullshit, Carroll's up there and he's a bastion of justice. Suck it Baker.

If Kelly or Dane finish outside the Top 16, then do they not get to surf 'the Kelly Tour'? That would be ironic.

Ummm Al? Is that a face? Is it an actual name? If you want to call bullshit on people expressing their opinions, I suggest you provide your full name, address and contact number. The term "Hypocrisy" must have been about nine grade levels outside of your reach.

Despite Kelly claiming that it was not his intention to undermine what Joel is accomplishing this season, the sad fact is that he is, and it's pathetic.

Kelly is basically calling the tour a joke, and by default, calling Joel's accomplishments this season a joke. Big words from a man who was too cowardly to put together a real campaign for a 10th title.

All the guys wading in to this conversation have to understand surfers have been given the bum ride by our representitive body for more than 20 years. kelly being the greatest ever, 9 world titles and dominating over a 15 year period has only amazed 2 million in total prise money...what a JOKE.

I see kelly's potiential for another tour and it is beyond time for some MAJOR Changes. The structure (asp/events) won't change in it's current form. It has people that just don't deliver or believe in surfing's future.

I would hate to see the tour (top 45) diluted but looking at the case being set forward and having an understading of the asp and events it seems like the right move.

I would like to see a wct format, but with maybe four GRAND slam events, being tahiti, trestles, Hawaii and a rotation of slams between OZ, FRance and prime wave location!

the issue of diluting parko's world titles linger's but this has been 20 years in the making and kelly to his credit if fighting tooth and nail for title 10!

I think it raises alot of the right issues our sport if facing!

You faceless commenting fuckers ever heard of tall poppy syndrome?

Bored with your 9 world titles and the current ASP WCT Kelly?
I hear Baywatch is making a comback, time to dust of the meat hangers Jimmy Slade!

let me get this straight.
June to november= sepo summer bullshit
no bells, snapper, teahupoo, fiji. Bells being the major one at easter boo.
lame arse seppo shit

How can Kelly be a supporter of this new tour if he still has as many questions as anyone ? Smells like bullshit to me. Also...I know a few guys on the QS tour and they talk with the CT guys...who really know nothing about this and have NOT been consulted.
There is no question that kelly is a great surfer - probably the greatest ever but this doest give him the right to speak for all other surfers and it doesnt mean he is the best guy to make or drive such decisions....and finally I seriously doubt his manager or Mat Tinley have surfing as their primary interest - for them its all about the money.
I support change but only if managed correctly and by the right people.

I love kellys surfing, but hes wrong!!!

sure those 16 surfers will earn some serious coin.

but whose going to sponsor other guys not getting
the tv exposure.

surfing should not be about earning the big bucks
its a lifestyle.

There's so many questions we need answers to before we can judge Kelly or the ESPN tour. Here's some off the top of my head.

Who, exactly, is funding and negotiating this deal? What is their backgorund? What is their intentions? What do they stand to gain? What do they stand to lose if it goes sour?

What is Kelly's involvement? By the sounds of it he's just the PR muscle. The celebrity face putting his reputation behind the idea. If he's backing it publicly he knows more about it than he's letting on - otherwise he's a fool and that (more than likely) isn't the case. Letting the story out a little at a time is a stalling tactic & gives everyone time to get used to the idea in digestible chunks. Everyone is being groomed for the bombshell(s).

The WCT is funded by the brands and so are most competitors. Can the brands gain from the marketing potential of ESPN? Reaching 98 million homes is a very tempting offer...

ESPN's coverage means more nonsurfing surf fans.
Don't we have enough poseurs( idiots) in our lineups?

I think people need to ease up on kelly, at the end of the day he is only trying to do what is best for the future of the sport. In years to come people will look back and see this as the turning point in surfing, and if they can all work together i think it will be good for Pro surfing.

I cannot believe that shit about Matthew Tinley. That blows my fuckin' mind. How has Kelly even ended up with him?

Again and again and again, all we ever get from Kelly is spotlight-hoarding. Even when he contends that he's not hoarding the spotlight, he hoards it. It's the biggest joke in surfing. I, for one, do not care for what Kelly has to say about much. He's one of those rare individuals who understands just enough to be heard but not enough to say anything of substance. Unfortunately, his fame and status (that, may I remind all reading, is directly related to the ASP), hyper-focuses the attention that he should actually get. End of the day, they don't have it ready, they don't have the money, and they're leading the surfers like lemmings to the sea.

Maybe we should look at Kelly's interests outside of surfing

- Released The Surfers album...someone kill me.
- Started K-Grip surf accessories. Failed.
- Kelly Slater Celebrity Fiji Invitational. Failed.
- Started Kommunity Project accessories. Failed.

Ummmm....maybe not the best guy to be making business decision.

The latest rumor is that if this goes ahead, Kelly has already suggested that he will replace Adriano de Souza (current No. 3) with Dane Reynolds (current No. 20). Look, I would much rather watch Dane than Adriano, but replacing people who are deserving with people who have big media pull is not completition. It's an exhibition. Do we risk any fair system of competition for some shithouse exposure that won't be here in a few years? Nah, everyone needs to pull their heads in and respect what exists a little bit more rather than what some diva like kelly wants.

World titles: 9

WCT victories: 42

We should listen to any god damn thing Kelly wants to say. I highly doubt he is trying to sabotage the one thing that defines his existence.

People are either excited, afraid or ignorant of change...which are you?

Slater has been out of touch with reality since he was 16. And I love him for it. It's allowed him to take surfing performance to unprecedented heights, but to assume he's done this without the aid of the ASP is deluded. And sadly, this has caused him to be sucked in by ridiculous proposals from money-hungry managers like Terry Hardy and corrupt bastards like Terry Hardy. I cannot believe the stupidity of the surfers to even consider getting into bed with a sleazeball like this. I don't think surfing is perfect, but there has to be something better than the subjective, unjust and corrupt system they're proposing at the moment.

Is that stuff down there about Matthew Tinley for real?!!? If so, that is friggin' crazy! How could the surfers back someone like that. Look, I don't likke Rip Curl, Quik, Bong, etc., but fuck, at least they are surfers. Handing our sport over to that corrput boxing piece of shit sounds like a real problem to me.

Here's a question: Dane Reynolds is currently rated outside the Top 16...is Kelly willing to keep Dane off the "champions tour" based on principle?

Answer: No. Quiksilver is financing this operation and Kelly will squeak him in as a wildcard or whatever, destroying any bastion of objectivity that ever could have existed.

The "champions tour" will turn into a laughable parody of marketing initiatives featuring celebutants and leeches on society. Ripping will fall by the wayside, and we'll see Jimmy Slade cruise his way to another 5 "world titles" over perennial runner-up paris hilton.

The new concept is fucked.

True leadership would have been exhibited by Kelly working through the proper channels with the ASP, the surfers and current events. Instead, he made back alley deals with corrupt and shamed boxing promoter Matthew Tinley and his sleaeball manager Terry Hardy. No, that's not true leadership. That's cowardice. I expect more from a nine-time champion. I am a fan no more.

Mike, you are clearly a moron. Kelly's system benefits only 16 surfers. That's it. It's elitist and wrong and that's the end of it. Kelly claims that the 16 will be selected off the year-end ASP ratings, well if that happened at the moment, then no Dane, no Ace, no Wardo, no Julian, no Owen, etc., etc. Say what you want about the current system, but at least it provides an objective pathway for the surfers to earn opportunities based on their merit. Lame shit from Mike. Lame shit from Kelly.

Kelly has said (even in this interview) that he isn't speaking for everyone, he "hopes they will get on board". If you take a step back and look at what's happening here (and kelly says this), the plan is to make life better for the surfers, the fans and the industry.
If anyone oposes that, what are they saying?? "Let's keep surfers without insurance, poorly paid (for some pros) and under the thumb of what is and has been happening for nearly 3 decades??
why not be open to change, especially if it is planned well and is built around improvement.
I say, bring on the discussion about the new tour for as long as it takes to get right, once the plan looks good run it... no point rushing something that has the potential to last 30 years like the current format has. 2011 or 2012 would be worth waiting for.

Be open minded people, no point attacking Kelly for it.

Yep!!! time for change I say, Time to take a step back and look at what kelly is trying to do, not that he's a seppo, or he's not bud buddy with all the ozzies on tour, he just recognises his influence and ability to make a change.
Eventually (and why not now) this sport is gonna have to make a change to the mainstream where we can all talk about results and expectations with our non surfing friends and relatives.
Of course this shit is gonna get peoples backs up but these inconsistancies have pissed me off for a while, trying to watch each event with varying website capabilities, then having the damn websit crash during a final, there are many things that need ironing to bring this sport to the mainstream, and this is a chance to ignite the change.
In the end it's gonna work out for the best and we are gonna keep our fav's, our parko's and Mick's and then then some, with our local fav's havin a better chance to mess things up for the pro's. Get the local rippers right up there, taking it to the top 12 or 14 rather then battling it through the bullshit.
Dunno about you but when I watch the first round heats with lower seeded Ct'rs I often get bored just thinkin, comon mate Fark I could do that.
Surfing has evolved and it has made a massive shift in our lifetime, maybe we have a mothering hold on the sport because its been brought from nothing to something and we can't let it leave the nest.
Go the new tour!!! and Go Parko!

I think you internet cowboys should reserve your judgments until you see what actually comes of this... or know anything about it at all. Also... I don't know how some of you figure Kelly is some spawn of Satan... there's no real reason to believe that he's doing anything except his best for the sport and the surfers, and considering he's arguably the greatest surfer of all time, and has thus far done nothing but good for surfing, I think he deserves for y'all to respect his intentions, or at least to be given the benefit of the doubt.

I don't know why, as some of you say, surfers would be against more (I read one article that said a last place finisher on the new tour would net as much as a 1st place finisher on the ASP, close to 10x that for first place) pay, benefits and paid travel accommodations. They're the talent, and they deserve better than the brands (they are the ASP) are giving them.

Kudos to Kelly for stickin' to his guns and doing what he feels is right.

Just found this article. A representative of the new tour talks to Grind TV. Lays it out pretty well.

http://www.grindtv.com/surf/blog/7226/inside+sources+separate+new+dream+tour+fact+from+fiction/

They can't change the current ASP because, as Kelly says in the interview, the brands run the ASP and want to keep control of it. This means they control the media and not the ASP and it looks fragmented if/ when it reaches the audience.

The best thing will be for the ASP and ESPN to work together on this thing though so there's still one governing body and one champ can be crowned. This new thing will also give something for the juniors, WQS and current lower CT seeds something to aspire to, thus pushing the limits of the sport.

The system is outdated. Let's welcome the change surfing has been waiting for.

The idea that Kelly gets to select part of the 16 surfers to compete for a world title is laughable. The new tour has no idea how to run and they expect to start next year? It's a joke and is reflective of morons like Kelly thinking they can do anything but surf. He may have had a hand in building the sport, but he certainly is looking to tear it down in one greedy, idiotic maneuver. Lameass.

Give KS a break, look at what hes already done for the sport its clear that hes only trying to make it better. If this new tour works out better for the surfers and makes it more accessable to surf fans whats so wrong with that?

I'm sick of Kelly assuming the speaker role for all surfers. I'm on the 'CT, and Slater doesn't speak for me. In fact, he doesn't speak for anyone aside from himself. He's always coming out in interviews talking for Dane or claiming what's best for surfing. Fact is, he hasn't been consulting with us on this, and I know for a fact that he's terrified of the ASP. I don't like the guys working with Kelly, Terry and Tinley, and I seriously hope Kelly reconsiders.

Remember when surfing was about riding a wave???

Once again, it's appalling that the surfers and the media are allowing for the possibility of corrupt sport-killer Matthew Tinley to sink his claws into surfing:

Promotion firm America Presents down for count

By Dan Rafael, USA TODAY

Denver-based promotional company America Presents burst on the scene in 1996 with the signing of Olympic gold medalist David Reid and quickly established itself as a force.

It secured an exclusive deal to televise fights on Fox Sports Net and had contracts with top fighters such as David Tua, Hector Camacho Jr. and Joel Casamayor.

Now it's going down in flames under a heap of unpaid bills and lawsuits from fighters.

"We're going through a tough time, but we still have some good fighters," says embattled owner Mat Tinley. "I'm doing the best I can under difficult circumstances."

Jeff Fried, the company attorney who took over day-to-day operation after Tinley forced president Dan Goossen to resign...

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/boxing/stories/2002-03-22-america-presents.htm

At the moment, Parko, Fanning, etc., etc. have not spoke out in support of this thing. Kelly is out there all by himself and its starting to show. He's responding to critics and trying to salvage his reputation. I hate this stupid concept and the division it's creating within surfing.

I dont like the idea of all the wild cards etc. Most guys surf good at their home break, so they could knock out the guys doing the whole tour & their points mean nothing to the title.

Word...

Total Bullshit. Kelly has no clue how the new tour works, yet he is backing it 100%? Sounds to me like he's just responding to critics. The fact that this initially came out as a replacement to the ASP, and is now being lauded as working in conjunction with it goes to show that even the organizers of the ESPN tour have no idea - frankly, I think it's a shit idea. He should poor more money and the ESPN resources into the current format if that's how it can be changed.

It is about time pro surfing was brought out of the 1980s and into a format that rewards the surfers with good money and the viewers with good media coverage. Surfing is a spectator sport for surfers and non-surfers a like. In pro surfing's current form it is incestuous and held back by surf brands that don't want to grow the sport due to the cost involved. Prize money has barely increased since the ASP began 30 yrs ago. Bring in big business sponsorship and it all moves forward like tennis, golf and cricket. Let surfing move with the times ...

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