......but was GCCC spokesman wearing white shoes?

I've heard Michael Lynch was in Kalcutta , India during the Margies Pro and was stranded in his hotel for the entire duration. Couldn't get a taxi, a meal or service to his room.

The whole country came to a standstill.

Everyone was too busy watching Bedes rematch against Taj to make the country function apparently.

Somehow this article makes me feel sick.

"In the reaction to the Gabriel Medina interview, the WSL laid bare their plans for handling controversy. When pirate copies of the interview were removed from the 'net ..."

Not ALL of them:

Well, not yet anyway ;)

Edit: Note for reference, 34,210 views of that clip at time of posting this comment.

Do you think it was the swearing or the dissent that was suppressed ?

Smiling happy faces people.

In a council report, the GCCC Events Advisory Commitee details ongoing negotiations in order to secure the event for the City. "Although a smaller amount is preferred," the report states, "the event is unique in the benefits it provides to the City as a surfing destination and the risk of losing it is significant."

Hang, on what?

" ... the risk of losing it is significant."

Risk of losing the event to where? What location? What other government body is going to throw $45,000 (the previous amount GCCC put into the event) at it to "steal" it away from the Southern Gold Coast points?

Oh, hang on, risk if losing it, as in the WSL going broke and the event cancelled?

Maybe that's what they meant?

Going to another council, I suspect (at GCCC's level), or going to another state (at Qld Tourism's level). Just like Adelaide losing the Grand Prix to Melbourne - and who may lose it to Sydney - apparently sporting events are a window into the economic health of a region. So no-one wants to 'lose' an iconic event as it may suggest that broader business is better done somewhere else.

This is only 1/8th of the whole story to come forth soon.

The funniest part. QLD was only putting up 50k to 100k for these events. But all taxpayer money. What was NSW willing to give up for all the "rumors" do Dbah?

I thought Australia was paying for these events, not paying for the parking meters.

Someone needs to go back and rewrite their fantasy reporting on Australia underwriting pro surfing. Math is as simple as 11+1-1+1...

All of this is public record. It's all public money.

There is ZERO reasons why Swellnet can't obtain the exact numbers the WSL used to sell QLD on extending the waiting period. Even if QLD was paying for mat most 3% OG overall costs.

Collusion.

Jail.

Good times.

Run it at Bondi i reckon

There's good banks at Bondi at the moment .....Said no one ever.

Good to see Rottmouth back . Or not. Maybe . Fuck it, good to see you back cobber.

I don't see why they don't just stream the surfing live from in front of a green screen at the WSL headquarters at San Clemente or wherever the fuck it is.

That way they can just superimpose their scripted winner on the winning waves.
Saves dragging the whole circus to Queensland and pretending that Parko didn't get barrelled off his nut behind the rock while Gabriel does Reos on the shoulder down at Marley.

...bob Woodward, Carl Bernstein ..stu nettle.? Well not quite as important as de-throning the US President ...but kicking the shaky foundations of professional surfing is important if you're (ironically) part of the minority that care.
...meanwhile mates 16 year old gets Oneill sponsorship last week, surfing a new freebie with vigour over weekend - oldies enjoying the show from the water, proud father; round one of state titles race next weekend..he'e dreaming of the dream tour? Do we need to be careful what we wish for..or is Rome burning to the ground without our cynical assistance?

I think WSL have been chatting to Putin about how to run a good gig. Wonder if they will call in the Hells Angels for crowd control like Putin's Night Wolf's. Look out Stu they may come to a suburb hear you.
http://rbth.asia/society/2013/11/12/russias_night_wolves_ride_alongside_...

You know what? Pro surfing is boring! Unless its pumping then why watch it?unless your fav. Surfer is surfing why watch it? I reckon there is only 10 or 12 guys on tour that me personally like to watch. Would take time out of my day to watch unless the comp is 10ft pipe/chopes. Plus the format is stale.man on man is boring all the time.why not have events like 10 man heats? Change it up..more waves ridden...more watchability..more diverse veiwers..ATM its only the core comp watchers watching..i didnt watch 1 wave of the snapper comp

Nah hate watching pro surfing, give me gladiator movies any day.

Asp/wsleep .
Muppet show
what a load of wank
May the whole show fold and the grumpy old dudes in the balcony take the piss one last time.

That's what the Internet is all about Wayne ....
Either that or people don't feel the need to sugar coat shit , and just open both barrels on people they don't like . I think the majority of people that post here dislike commercialist business types , and some more extreme atack the hand that feeds them , or in this sites case try to kick down the soap box on which they are spruiking from . Shaun , I'm looking at you . But atleast you get a mention and a nod . Blot mouth u don't exist !

ahh the smell of taxpayers money being abused in the morning.......

Interesting that the Vic govt was giving RC $500K for each event......still about $400 K......plus the local council chips in another $100K of services etc......and then throw in the gate money...approx. $100 K......

the question is can the WSL afford 2 events in Australia as they lose money......so which comp would the choose...the one that costs the least?

we have 3 now brutus, margs went from QS to CT last year

Great article Stu.
Would like to see more!

Not tuning into an online free streaming surf comp on account of the surf being small is as valid as not going for a surf when it's a bit inconsistent and the on the small side...

Or wearing children's costumes featuring bunny ears when one is an adult.

Such is the world of those suffering mental illness. And leftist whinging progs.

BB. I knew I wouldnt get those white shoes past U. Okay, Hot off the press, The 2016 Quikkie Pro is on the move. After many long and drawn out discussions the WSL and Wombat Wigglings have announced three exciting new concepts. DONNY< SHEEPY, Welly and RAVE have worked tirelessly with BIG CLIVE to get his cruiser/s to run laps behind OWI or Coolum BEachfront to get it rockin. LOcal Butcher right into it, Sausage SIZZLE of all time he's frothin. AS a last venue we have a soft unforgiving wave down in Tassie boardshorts only needed and boards under 5'10 ,called the bluff. IF it goes flat, we will hold human lure comps behind the safety ski's with the winner being the claret champ. Working on two other back up options but one a bit cactusty at the moment and one needs a bit of rebuilding after a puff of wind blew down local contest tower.
WE have full local support, can give ZOSea the full aussie experience and anticipate viewerships numbers to be their greatest ever. So excited and we will be f**k*D if we pull any great use of the english/brazilian language off the broadcast.

Don't bring me into it Ravo, please edit that.
I'm watching Vikings it's way more exciting. Norwegian princesses that kill poms;)

WSL need to look at a couple of things..........
Where's the money? Does the world surfing industry revenue stream predominantly come from old and bitter slightly overweight veteran surfers in the over 40 bracket who sit and blog on various surfing sites? I'm a tight arse..... Don't see me buying the latest shit.... I'm flat out buying a surfing mag'....
The money comes from grommets whose parents wallets are open, or from 21yo "aspirational surfers"... same as the music industry,... If i was in charge of the WSL, I wouldn't give a fuck if a 41 yo starts whinging, cos that's what 41yo's do..... A 13yo looks at jon jon on a 3 foot chop throwing an insane air, and analyses it, talks to his mates about it, tries it out at his local, and dreams of being the next big thing.... He buys the posters, the fin system, the brands.. The 41yo whinges about the conditions...
The other sector of the industry that rakes in the bucks is the boomer/retiree longboard sector....
I'm sorry.... But we are irrelevant...... We aren't the future.... Just the bitter past.... WSL needs a marketing strategy purely targeting the 8 to 25 yo bracket.....
But if they are determined to "please everyone", then may i suggest a world longboard title held in conjunction - doesn't have to be held at every event - I think 5 or 6 events would be suffice..... There were small longboard waves peeling off during the lay days at snapper..... Fills in the time..... Attracts the boomers and pseudo cool brigade.... Some aging pros may cross over.... Heck, one day may even have an "undisputed all round world surfing champion" lol.....

thats why they need multiple heats, attention span very limited instantaneous gratification the go. live go, straight into sick replay, multiple angles- extravaganza

Epic article and pull-out quote on '1/5 of the world's population' @stunet - ripping round the surfing world too.
You are probably across it but Matt Warshaw shared and referenced it widely on twitter this morning before going on a rant inspired by this article, drawing the attention/comment of Dane Reynolds (or 'Not Dane Reynolds', depending on which way you look at it...)

The basic problem remains the same. Surfing competition has very little drama, long spells of inaction and, compared to other sports, a very small fan base. If the WSL can conjure a viable business plan out of that, good luck to them. I just don't think it is possible to continue at the same level as the past when private companies were willing to spend without expecting a return on their investment. The long term decline in the profitability of the surf clothing industry and the movement of the major players into public ownership are huge obstacles to the survival of the enterprise.
Non surfing businesses wishing to exploit surfing's image have no reason to support a professional tour. The image they want is cool young people having fun in exotic locations, or tanned retirees on longboards. Professional athletes in t shirts are exactly the wrong look.
Sorry Sheepy but none of this has much to do with the perspective of the commentators. Yes, some of us feel some sense of justification in watching an enterprise we did not support start to fail, but it is failing and the odds look good that it will continue to do so.

do u notice how stephanie has been in a lot of lifestyle shots around the media since qk15.
agree bb. u spot on
as for u sheepio
imagine how much money all those surf mags of yours would be worth now?
great waves, good on edge dangerous surfing. wont work live, unless multiple action.
good idea for surfsite places like SN to cash in on but entertain.
too dear to watch at moment, 8 gigs an hour here at tweed at moment- 8 gigs a month!!!!!!!

Here's a thought. Let's get Bernie Ecclestone to run funding at zoosea. He manages to extract $millions from governments everywhere. Funding problem solved!
(Then again I think most lands in his bank account.)

yawn, moan here's a thought : WHO FUCKING CARES

So the general consensus seems to be that the WSL/Pro surfing is destined to fail, seemingly sooner rather later. Can anyone think of the last professional sport that had a profile like Pro surfing has had that failed and subsequently became non existent??

Not up yet but the margies drugless ware pro is coming. Another completely state gov and local shire sponsored event. Don,t know figures involved but in the guise of West oz tourism all paid for with out taxes and rates money so the local and gov bigwigs can hang in the VIP tent eating free canapes and squinting into the sun while wondering what the fuck is going on out there. The pro,s all hate the break judging by sounds of last years wingefest, (most of the locals hate the contest just as much) Organisers dreaming of running heats at the box which always provides good viewer action but a 2 hr tide window and less common swell direction, hard to score too i imagine - you either get tubed with maybe a flyaway air at the end for a 10 or don,t make it out ,so wouldn,t bet on that happening either .It,s the last year for the CT of a 3 yr deal, hoping it doesn,t, get another run but wqs is an even worse alternative. Pray for no surf, just going to go up to the point and start a rain dance now.

A semi related question/s to any shapers or those in the know reading;.... What company is the major producer/supplier of surfboard blanks? Are there several suppliers? Or does 1 company have the monopoly?
And how many surfboards are made worldwide every year?

And btw, I just had a look at the WSL website.............................................
If you want the situation fixed, WSL, just fuckn call me lol ..... There are several marketing and advertising strategies staring you in the freekn face...... Pull ya finger out.....

Sheepy, just wondering - with zillions of boards being made in Bali.......the indo's blowing there own blanks ....surely they are not importing them ?
Brutus whats the blank story there ?

Well, udo, someone's making zillions..... Just like to know the profit margin per blank, then multiply by amount of boards made per year.....

Anyone know how many shaping machines in Bali ? I heard 7 .....with 5 of those cutting round the clock ?
Where is that waste foam [dust] going ?

Udo, my point I suppose is that alot of people are making big bucks.... i though that most blanks, like nearly everything these days, come from china.... If by chance there is a major player, they should be hit up for some spon'...... Seems alot of companies are making alot of money via supplies ( resin, blanks, even fins and deck pads - every board needs fins and most have a pad).... But not many want to chip in and sponsor a comp'...

not everyone thinks surf industry is doomed - warning direct competition website
http://www.coastalwatch.com/surfing/14113/reimagining-the-modern-surf-co...

There is more than 1 comment in here mentioning surf industry,( maybe not clothing labels) Kind of related as the money will need to come from somewhere once Samsung realise they arent selling enough smart phones to surfers.

No indos making millions from surf industry there not even rupier millions.got a mate from lakeys firmon works at the light factory at bukit gets paid fuck all dont buy a known brand board from bali

I met a cool Balinese guy selling" Indofins" in Bali, has small booth outside supermarket at Balungan intersection heading toward Ulu,s. Very good quality replica fcs and futures, made from fibreglass and around 40,000rp a set, which is about 1/3 Aus retail for the same fins. He does custom colours and can copy any model if you have a few days or otherwise bunch of stock ready to go. Good on the Balinese I reckon, doing what they have always done despite what,s going on to their island . Don,t blame them, blame us surfers for putting them on the map if anything.

From over on page 1, extract from a comment:

"... The money comes from grommets whose parents wallets are open, or from 21yo "aspirational surfers"... same as the music industry,... If i was in charge of the WSL, I wouldn't give a fuck if a 41 yo starts whinging, cos that's what 41yo's do..... A 13yo looks at jon jon on a 3 foot chop throwing an insane air, and analyses it, talks to his mates about it, tries it out at his local, and dreams of being the next big thing.... He buys the posters, the fin system, the brands.. The 41yo whinges about the conditions..."

Yep, and who are the parents of the 13 yo? Where does the 13yo get the money from to buy said posters, fins systems, brands, etc.? Yep, the 40ish whinging surfing dad who is going to influence his kids, and will have a pretty strong influence over where the family disposable income is spent. This is precisely what zosea / WSL have forgotten. If you don't keep the late 30's into 40's surfing dad's engaged, you'll lose the next generation.

As for the 21yo aspirational pro, well, truth is, by then they have either "made it" and are sponsored or haven't "made it" and still need the fiscal support of their parents, who again will have strong influence, and again, who will be in the late 40's to 50's age ... again, keep them engaged to keep the flow into brands, etc.

The only market without fiscal influence from a 'whinging' late 30's through 40 ish to 50's parent are the guys and gals out there working, treading their own path, earning coin and making their own way in life. And this young adults sure as shit aren't spending hard earned coin on surf industry products ahead of travel and technology.

IMHO, Zoseas / WSL have the whole demographic wrong. And, in the same respect, so too the surfing industry brands. The core consumer for their products is heavily influenced by the working family demographic.

You've got to question WSL's commitment to their sponsors when on the WSL site an article on the Bells venue begins :

"As a location, Bells isn't exactly idyllic. It's cold and regularly crowded."

Tourism Victoria would be thrilled with that rap.

Quote from Breaking down Bells right for beginners.

Wingnut, you write;
"Yep, and who are the parents of the 13 yo? Where does the 13yo get the money from to buy said posters, fins systems, brands, etc.? Yep, the 40ish whinging surfing dad who is going to influence his kids, and will have a pretty strong influence over where the family disposable income is spent. This is precisely what zosea / WSL have forgotten. If you don't keep the late 30's into 40's surfing dad's engaged, you'll lose the next generation."

Ok... Lets look at your point 1..... " Where does the 13yo get the money from to buy said posters, fins systems, brands, etc.? Yep, the 40ish whinging surfing dad who is going to influence his kids, and will have a pretty strong influence over where the family disposable income is spent".
For starters, my parents didn't surf..... Neither of them.... Alot of gromments take up surfing, and not all of them have surfing parents.... Secondly, as far as influence goes, if you wont buy a new fin system for your son because you are pissed off with professional surfing, Well, I feel sorry for the kid....;) Most parents will buy their kid a new wettie if they need one, regardless of whether they are impressed by WSL, or even if they don't surf themselves....

Your second point... "This is precisely what zosea / WSL have forgotten. If you don't keep the late 30's into 40's surfing dad's engaged, you'll lose the next generation."

No they won't.... They wont lose the next generation just because they make the next generation their target, and dad's shitted off about it....."One direction" don't have to keep the parents engaged.. Parents still buy their shit for the kids..... If your kid is seriously into music, are you gonna make him stop because he likes doof doof and you like Cold chisel? I dont think so.......
The thing is, wingnut, surfing is about stoke.. You know that.... You're not gonna make your kid turn his back on the ocean just because WSL hasn't got you "engaged"...... Your kid will probably say "fuck you dad, I'm going surfing.... You coming or what???".......

Thursday, I wrote;

"And btw, I just had a look at the WSL website.............................................
If you want the situation fixed, WSL, just fuckn call me lol ..... There are several marketing and advertising strategies staring you in the freekn face...... Pull ya finger out."

Well.... Still waiting for the phonecall......... Do you want it fuckn fixed or not!!! ;p

mate spoke to them up here, but they think they know how to do it. In fact they were so arrogant they seemed offended that anyone cold put forward a suggestion,
.
Its like the huge Quiksilver store they opened in Coolangatta recently, huge rent, wont have enough sales, people will lose their jobs, the bar will struggle to make money, I suggested they get local filmer to film all local spots and put up on big screen so the locals could come in, maybe see themselves surfing, have abeer, listen to some music and thet looked at me as i was nuts, they said they had it sorted, walked past the other night, five people in there, five staff on, do the maths, too big, and shortsighted. WSL seem to be the same.

Well it's their loss, Davo.... Met many arrogant fucks in the advertising/marketing game.... "Went to uni"... "Got a degree in marketing blah blah blah"..... You know the type...
My father and I established Australia's first ever "Over 50's" magazine back in the early 90's - glossy cover tabloid - extra large print for older eyes - articles on over 50's holidays, aged care, health, guest columnists like the lefts Fred Daley and the rights Bruce Ruxton...... .... I was an ex fisherman ex car spare parts interpreter.... Dad was a bloke who left school at 15 to work in an abattoir..... Real people... Not these hitch hikers guide to the galaxy know it alls... Needless to say, our quarterly publication soon became monthly, soon became Australia wide....
A certain media group made us an offer we couldn't refuse.... Of course they fucked it within 3 years.... But hey we got the spon.....

Anyways, WSL, if you are reading... I see you are struggling to get a named sponsor for Rio, Fiji, and J bay.....
I've already given you a legs up on a "manufacturers championship", probably best held at J bay, with it's historical link to design via T Fitz etc.... I'll be fucked if I'm gonna tell you the surefire plan to arc up the rio pro.....
I've given you a heads up on linking the longboard tour to the main tour in 6 to 9 comps, therefore filling in dead time PLUS SAVING MONEY!!!!!! Holding the comps in conjunction IS THE LOGICAL THING TO DO!!!!!!! Create a carnival like atmosphere so the it is more than just a comp.... Boomers thru to grommets..... Bands playing- you'll get decent local bands wanting to do it for just for exposure.... Fuck even rides for the kids... Fairy floss ffs.....
From what I can see, there is a world longboarding comp on right now......
http://www.worldsurfleague.com/events/2015/mlt/1216/australian-longboard...
Well who would've fuckn known............ Held at snapper during the small days, or at upcoming bells, more exposure, more interest, less administrative and logistical overheads.....
It aint fuckn rocket science.....

lol...... Memla, I think we have been spoilt in the last decade with chopes etc..... Seems if a comp doesn't have ALL TIME waves, out come the critics..... Some really intriguing battles were had back in the MR/rabbit/Carroll/Curren/occy days that didn't involve 10 foot death defying conditions.... I think if the fanbase expects epic conditions at every comp' then it is set up for failure... WSL can't control the swell..... But what they can do is control the stuff OUT of the water...... In the water will take care of itself......

I think the rio pro should be tweaked.... Having said that, I think the Snapper pro should be tweaked, too...... Already stated that the Aussie leg of the world longboard comp should be held in conjunction.... Even the junior tour too maybe..... Imagine finals day!!! It'd be like the different classes of moto bikes all on one day.... 3 champions carried from the water, one after the other.... First final - the battle of the young guns..... Second final,with a totally different contrast ( which is needed at these events) is the longboards.... 3rd final is the mens....
You know it makes sense lol ;)

A new name with an old writing style... Even the same insults, aye "muppetbreath"..... so funny..... lol....