Rebel Tour: Who's Aboard?

Speculation continues to rage over which surfers have committed to the so-called Champions Surf Tour.

Taj Burrow denied rumours he has committed to the new tour, while Andy Irons has told Surfline that he will be taking up his ASP Wildcard in 2010.

Meanwhile Kelly Slater remains committed to the new breakaway tour, masterminded by his manager Terry Hardy and former boxing promoter Matt Tinley.

Sports network ESPN is not backing the tour financially but has agreed to broadcast events on ESPN2 (to cable subscribers) and online at ESPN 360 (for free). At this stage it is not clear if anyone other than Tinley and Hardy’s own company will put money towards the tour or its potential events.

On Friday, December 4, shortly after the ‘Rebel Tour Rides Again’ story appeared on ASL’s website, Taj tweeted: “And for Champions tour, no i haven't committed to anything but heard its all going ahead. Soon find out I guess.”

Over the weekend Taj confirmed he had been approached by the CST promoters but told The Australian newspaper: "I don't really like the sound of it, to be honest. It sounds really unorganised. The guy I spoke to didn't seem to know that much. It was kind of bizarre. I just thought they'd be a lot better and a lot more organised in their approach. It didn't seem very professional.”

Taj in full control. Click here for the full gallery of this session. Jones/Stryker.

Taj also revealed that he didn’t compete at Sunset because he forgot to enter the event. “Thought i was in Sunset event, but just found out i'm not! what a genius i am...even had a free surf out there to prepare! haaa idiot,” he tweeted.

Speculation about the involvement of Slater, Dane Reynolds and Burrow had been fuelled by their absence from the early stages of this year’s Triple Crown, and by a proposal for the new tour sighted by ASL sources.

While some have said the Champions Surf Tour could be a home for surf stars who have retired from ASP competition, one possible contender quashed rumours of his involvement. Shane Dorian said that “I don't even know what the rebel tour is. I'm so far out of that loop it's ridiculous.”

Dorian at OTW last week. Click here for more shots from the North Shore Jones/Stryker.

Many of the surfers approached by the CST are believed to have signed non-discloure agreements, which prevents them discussing their involvement until it is formally announced.

For the time being, the world’s pro surfers assembled on the North Shore of Oahu remain more focused on the impending swell-of-a-decade and the looming world title showdown at Pipe, which gets underway in possibly epic conditions on December 8.

Click here for Friday's report.