Surf Talk Guru

Brett Simpson, $100,000 Winner at US Open of Surfing

Have you heard about the pro surfers’ list of complaints about the pro tour? This is from the “Open Letter to the ASP”:

The Key Issues With the ASP
Disaffection from Senior Tour Surfers caused by:

1. Minimal growth in prize-money compared to other sports
2. An appearance of control by surf industry companies and charges that this is stifling outside sponsorship
3. Little change in formats and rules
4. Poor conventional TV and general media coverage

In a way, I can sympathize with them. People have been working hard on making surfing a mainstream sport for many years, and it’s still not up there with golf, or even pro bowling. But at the same time, do we want it to be mainstream? The only reason to increase media coverage and popularize the sport is to increase profit for those who stand to profit. The rest of us would get nothing but MORE kooks in the lineup.

Surf industry sponsors aren’t supplying enough freebies? Besides free comprehensive world travel, free Xcel wetsuits, C.I. surfboards, and Hurley sweatshirts aren’t appreciated perks? What do they want? Lifetime supplies of Bud Light and Doritos as well?

So Big Waah, tour surfers. Count your blessings and be happy knowing that the rest of us would kill to be able to make a living off our hobby.