2020 WSL Championship Tour Calendar Released
The 2020 WSL Championship Tour will see the world's best surfers return to G-Land. Photo: Quiksilver / Testemale
LOS ANGELES, California/USA (Wednesday, November 6, 2019) - The World Surf League (WSL) today released its 2020 Championship Tour calendar, taking the world’s best surfers to the most high-performing and exotic locations on the planet and further elevating surfing to new heights.
Crowning World Champions since 1976, the WSL Championship Tour has cemented itself as the benchmark and proving ground for the world's best surfing, celebrating champions from Mark Richards (AUS) and Margo Oberg (HAW) to Tom Curren (USA) and Frieda Zamba (USA), Wendy Botha (ZAF), Kelly Slater (USA), Lisa Andersen (USA), Andy Irons (HAW), Layne Beachley (AUS), Mick Fanning (AUS), Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), Gabriel Medina (BRA), Carissa Moore (HAW), John John Florence (HAW), Tyler Wright (AUS), and many more.
“The WSL Championship Tour is the home of the world’s best surfing and 2020 is poised to be a major year with the Olympic Games and our strongest calendar to date,” Sophie Goldschmidt, WSL CEO, said. “The performance levels seen in recent seasons, and especially in 2019, continue to go to new levels and excite an ever-growing global audience. Further highlighted this season by both the men’s and women’s title races coming down to the final events in Hawaii with multiple contenders on both sides.”
The 2020 WSL season will once again deliver the world’s best surfers in the world’s best waves across Australia, Brazil, South Africa, French Polynesia, California, France, Portugal and Hawaii. The Championship Tour will also be returning to the iconic world-class lefthander of Grajagan (also known as G-Land) for the Quiksilver Pro G-Land.
“The goal in designing the WSL Championship Tour calendar is to ensure we’re elevating the world’s best surfing in the live arena,” Pat O’Connell, WSL SVP Tours and Competition, said. “There are some unique challenges around the Olympic opportunity in 2020, but we’re really pleased with where we landed with on the schedule in terms of variety in world-class waves.”
2020 Men's Championship Tour Schedule:
Corona Open Gold Coast: March 26 - April 5, 2020
Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach: April 8 - 18, 2020
Margaret River Pro: April 22 - May 2, 2020
Quiksilver Pro G-Land: June 4 - 14, 2020
Oi Rio Pro: June 18 - 27, 2020
Corona Open J-Bay: July 7 - 19, 2020
Tahiti Pro Teahupo'o: August 26 - September 6, 2020
Michelob ULTRA Pure Gold Freshwater Pro: September 15 - 20, 2020
Quiksilver Pro France: October 1 - 11, 2020
Meo Rip Curl Pro Portugal: October 14 - 25, 2020
Billabong Pipe Masters: December 8 - 20, 2020
*NOTE: the 2020 Olympic Games in Japan - featuring surfing for the first time - will be held from July 24 to August 9, 2020.
“The world’s best surfing happens on the WSL Championship Tour,” Adrian Buchan, CT surfer and Surfers’ Representative, said. “Never before has that been more apparent than in recent seasons and the 2020 calendar looks amazing. Off the back of our extended agreement between the surfers and the WSL, it’s a really exciting time to be on tour. G-Land was where the Dream Tour was born and it’s so exciting to be heading back there. I grew up watching the likes of Kelly (Slater) and Tom Carroll compete there and I can’t wait to see how this generation of surfers approach the wave.”
2020 Women's Championship Tour Schedule:
Corona Open Gold Coast: March 26 - April 5, 2020
Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach: April 8 - 18, 2020
Margaret River Pro: April 22 - May 2, 2020
Quiksilver Pro G-Land: June 4 - 14, 2020
Oi Rio Pro: June 18 - 27, 2020
Corona Open J-Bay: July 7 - 19, 2020
Michelob ULTRA Pure Gold Freshwater Pro: September 15 - 20, 2020
Roxy Pro France: October 1 - 11, 2020
Meo Rip Curl Pro Portugal: October 14 - 25, 2020
Hawaii Pro: November 25 - December 6, 2020
*NOTE: the 2020 Olympic Games in Japan - featuring surfing for the first time - will be held from July 24 to August 9, 2020.
“The WSL continues to elevate and support women’s surfing and the 2020 CT calendar is the best I’ve seen,” Tatiana Weston-Webb, CT surfer and Surfers’ Representative, said. “The 2020 schedule will be exciting with the return to G-Land, the first ever Olympics and the new Challenger Series. I think it’s going to be the most compelling year in surfing ever.”
Surfing in 2020 will be further elevated by its inclusion into the 2020 Olympic Games in Japan. As such, the holistic WSL schedule - Championship Tour, Qualifying Series and Pro Junior Series - has accommodated both the Olympic Games and the qualifier event to ensure the world’s best surfers from the Championship Tour have the opportunity to represent their respective countries next summer.
Another major component of the 2020 season will be the implementation of the WSL Challenger Series.
The 2020 Qualifying Series - the development and qualification tier for the CT - will feature two primary segments: the Challenger Series (events that award 10,000-points towards a surfer’s QS ranking) and the QS 5,000, 3,000, 1,500 and 1,000 events that will all contribute to a surfer’s year-end QS ranking as they work towards qualifying for the CT.
The Challenger Series will increase the number of 10,000-point events from six to seven for men and from two to four for women, offering equal prize money for men and women. A full Challenger Series calendar will be released at the end of November.
Comments
Fascinating that Quiksilver have finally seceded from the Gold Coast event. Though, I imagine they're wanting to leverage some form of continuity with G-Land.
I have an old poster from the quicky pro gland with Tommy carroll standing tall.. all 5 foot of him
Great to see G land on the tour,but Honestly that fresh water pro is the most boring event on the calender. As much as I would love to surf there, It didn' do much to excite me and I'm sure a lot of people felt the same way
Agreed. Pool contests can have their own tour. Slaters pool was boring to watch. A big part of watching surf contests is the unpredictability of the ocean. Surely it won't last
Couple of other observations:
1. Another later start to the season - Gold Coast kicks off March 26.
2. Tahiti still has no sponsor - 2020 will be the third consecutive year. This is wild.
3. Margaret River also has no sponsor for the third consecutive year, but I assume this is as expected given government funding etc.
4. No event at Keramas this year - Corona Bali Protected is gone. Again, this is radical - one of the better WCT venues I thought (usually great waves, reliable, high performance, easier access/production).
I remember hearing on Aint that swell a few months ago that keramas had been somewhat ruined recently by a development upriver that ruined the sand flow and ultimately affected the quality of the wave. Haven't seen or heard anything else about this but could this be part of the reason?
@Barrel Daithwaite
I remember being in Bali a few years ago and the locals were saying it back then. It's maybe not as "world class" as it once was. But it's still a high performance wave on it's day - Look at the contest last year. As Ben mentioned, easy access and reliable!
The quality of the wave at Keramas still rivals 75% of the slop served up by Wozzle tour stops this year. I'm glad there bypassing it for 2020.
Makes me cringe to think though 2 weeks back at Keramas a Japanese crew bought the break for the day and no one else was allowed to surf! WTF! I was in fuckin disbelief this was happening. Perhaps the Woz's quote for Keramas 2020 was too high a price to pay. The wave is still good but the greed of the fat controllers is ruining it faster than the shit flowing out of the creek from the first wet season rain.
I'm starting my own tour, schedule as follows;
1. Mad Hueys Gold Coast Masters
2. Big-M Johanna Pro
3. Bush Chook Gnaraloo Gauntlet
4. Bulla Cloudbreak Pro
5. G-Land by Joyo and Jack
6. Andy Irons (RIP) Teahupoo Tube Fest
7. Some fuckwit wave pool (Scratched)
8. Sunset, Pipe, more Sunset, and some more Pipe/Backdoor
You said it Ohbilly fuckwit wave pool event
treading water.
Had a long chat to Sid Cassidy last night about the state of play. Twenty-something years after he ran the ASP he's still emotionally invested in its wellbeing and he despairs at their direction: lots of money, no vision. We'd semi-convinced ourselves that today's news would be equal to the pre-announcement fanfare, maybe they'd scotched the BWT for a reason and a big wave venue or two would appear on the CT? Really shake up the two-tour format Sid and Fatty Al designed 25 years ago.
Alas, no.
The Woz adding a big wave venue or two?
That was never, ever going to happen.
Just spitballing, so to speak. If you recall, it was only two years back the wozzle were gonna shake it all up, start with Pipe, end with Chopes, grab the top six surfers and sail off to Indonesia for a tropical death match to decide the world champion.
What happened to that..?
Hmm, may well have worked.
Compress the whole spectacle for the finale and really delve into the psyches. Put 'em on a boat together for two weeks, scour Indo for the best waves and watch the talent either rise or unravel or both.
Imagine getting stuck on a boat with Charlie Medina for an extended period of time and then throw in an interference call. Now that has fun written all over it.
What happened to all the tables chair and where did my boards go ?
' Charles medina did it #
What happened to all the tables chairs and where did my boards go ?
' Charles medina did it #'
Was wondering exactly the same Stu. What did happen to that?? So much talk and it just went down the drain without even a gurgle.
Certiantly sort out some some of the guys who mostly only rip in small waves.
womens event at Gland will be interesting if its solid........seems like Corona has stepped up with some cash,not sure how that goes down with Mum taking little johnny along to watch the Corona pro.........ummm beer.....maybe get a cigarette company on board and its back to the 70s..........na only joking.
I'm fine the women get the opportunity, it's the way to improve. I just hope they don't dodge the tube like Honolua Bay last year.
dodging the tube ...
http://www.boardaction.eu/en/steph-gilmore-honolua-bay/
More tube dodging
A 10 point ride for a two second tube.
In the words of Pottz, WOW!!!
6 days for the Freshwater Pro - why?
Sally for the win in G-land.
There's a parade for Kelly every second day.
Best comment ever. Too funny. Oh hang on this could be serious.
Need to wait for swell & the right tides.
This will sound incredibly sexist but if it’s proper G’Land only 2 or 3 women will be getting barrelled. The rest of the heats will be a tube dodging show.
Just my observations going off past events where hollow waves are on offer.
Ps, I still have never had a proper backhand barrel
People may try accuse you of being prejudiced, but according to the definition, you are in fact not. As per Oxford Dictionary - "preconceived opinion that is not based on reason or actual experience".
Tired of this unsaid rule that we must adhere to some politically correct moral law where we get ostracised for stating the obvious. Hope we get proven wrong and they give it a good crack. But I fear the risk of them coming unstuck by mistiming a speedies lip will result in a scalping that will affect their instagram Kombucha promotions.
Want pay equality but drop Teahupoo off their tour schedule?
Bring Keala back. She knows what's up.
This isnt new either goofyft, on a huge day back in 97 they surfed the end reef of speedies and its been named quicksilvers ever since !
12-15ft on the bombie with "quicksilvers" 5ft
Camp is back !
Slaters pool again? Really? Absolute shit comp. I guess it just goes to show Slaters clout with wozzle. I would bet my left but none of the surfers want to go back there accept Medina and Toledo. They all want trestles back.
Of all the comps that was the sure thing. Never will it be dropped, despite rumours on other sites, as the sale of Kelly's tubs hinges upon marketing derived from the CT.
Remember, Dirk bought into KSWC before he bought the WSL so those two assets have, in business parlance, synergy.
There, I said it.
You need a shower ASAP
Sure about your timeline there Stu?
Ziff acquired ASP via Zosea in 2012.
Bought majority stake in KSWC in 2016.
Yep. Already had a stake in it prior to majority ownership.
Haven't got sources at hand, but shouldn't be hard to track down.
they had a stake in it prior to 2012?
got a source for that?
Somewhere, but right now I'm busy procrastinating elswhere online
A six day comp will only re-inforce in the market's mind that 3 minutes between waves is a joke when other technology can spin off almost non stop waves.
It can be surfing's Test Match.
Two teams of 11 players, breaks for drinks, tea, lunch. Lots of camera pans over the surrounding countryside (love that bit). One captain can see he's got 8 good rides of 9 or above, then declare, and send the other team back in to ride. No ball tampering allowed.
The s word, WTF@STUNET........
The Margies pro should be renamed “The Bread and Circuses Pro in lieu of funding for Regional facilities” brought to you by the taxpayers of WA.
Actually, that’s not quite correct, because the bread and circuses was designed to mollify the people , whereas the Margs Pro is structured to underwrite the bottom line of a few businesses which are not necessarily local.
It’d be interesting to see the figures for return on the investment dollar for the alleged $30 Million it costs WA to stage this thing. I’d say the chances of $30M of direct return on the event to the state of WA would be virtually nil. You could just about count it as an import expense.
The "Beer Fridge" Invitational.
30 mil really? That is crazy I hope that isn't in Dirk Ziff dollars.
[ Q&A PRICE CHECK ]
The cost of a WSL comp is a state secret...
blowin added a zero to avoid jail time.
$30,000,000 is code for $3,000,000
Just don't mention $3m or you go to jail
2014 M/F Bells cost $_ _ _ see news article.
ABC left WSL price tag on > budget cuts ever since
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-04-16/a-sea-of-changes-for-bells-classi...
More of tbb's fantasy tour reveal down the page...
will the WSL leave the jungle 'better than they found it'???
No worse than the search and exploit events
Vince Neil Ridgeway .
Nope, but they'll run environmental campaigns telling everyone else that they should be doing more.
“The world’s best surfing happens on the WSL Championship Tour,” Adrian Buchan, CT surfer and Surfers’ Representative, said. “
Yeah sure Adrian....this is done by about 3 men surfers and 1 woman surfer only. PLEASE!!!!… stop the dribble. So that's 2 weeks in prime time G Land these fuckwits will take...how does this impact the general surfing population heading there in 2020?. Will it be ongoing year on year you think?. Fuck you Quicksilver and fuck you WSL.
your totally on the money
how do you stop these fuckwits?
"how do you stop these fuckwits?"
Ummm.......ya don't unfortunately. Not in Indonesia anyway unless you've got more coin than Dirk.
According to Indo history, it stops by serious economic instability and Presidents going down.
And not long after that terrorism keeps the idea on ice for many more years.
What i mentioned above is precisely why the original G land comp got canned in '98 and didn' t run again in the years after that.
Totally correct.
Will be interesting to see how they do the judging at Gland. There is a few hundred meters of reef between the wave and any potential judging tower spots.
I was there this year and there was talk of a judging tower being build smack bang in the middle of the reef. Not sure if this will be the case but if it is will be interesting to see if they address this. As it clearly doesn't align with their pure campaign.
I know there was a tower for the old event but it has been taken down. Are they planning to resurrect it? This can't be good for the reef.....
There's the big tower out the front of Jack's camp. That really needs some TLC though. It's getting pretty rickety. Feels like a a gust of wind or a few burly lads on it would be enough for it to fall apart.
Oh and the monkeys are pretty firey around there too.
Was quietly shitting myself on the last few flights of stairs on that thing. Still way to far away to judge with the naked eye from it.
I spent many hours in that tower and it's way to far away to judge with the naked eye. But additionally, you don't get a good view of the last section of the wave which is probably where they will run it if it's pumping.
Well i imagine 7 months is plenty of time to build a new one.
It'll probably get built between the start of 2020 and before the camp opens for the season next year, before the bigger swells start hitting and before construction activity would be a blight for the guests staying there.
What I don't get is the 3 day turnaround for them to get from Gland to Brazil. How is that for a logistic nightmare. Lets give everyone 3 months of doing nothing, and miss some cyclone swells while we are at it, then cram the 2 comps furtherest apart geographically by the shortest possible time-frame to get there and prepare for the next event. I can see more than a couple surfers missing their first heats in brazil if they run on the first day.
Crew congratulates #1 Stu & #1 swellnet for award winning WSL G-Land scoop!
https://stabmag.com/news/wsl-confirms-g-land-as-tour-venue-will-return-t...
Swellnetonians return thanx... to Stab & BeachGrit for Quicky pull out scoop. Cheers!
https://beachgrit.com/2019/08/good-news-for-the-modern-man-part-ii-quiks...
Peer articles are very clear that Quicky dumped Goldie for G-Land.
More to the Point WSL Surf Stars have long plugged grog on Goldie > Corona Open.
Burleigh XXXX Stubbies is rebranded Gold Coast Open or Corona Open Gold Coast
Mayor lost Sands Beach Concert battle & needs Beach Bars & WSL needs grog venues.
Precedent affords walled off private wave zone Ibiza clubs for town's mobsters.
14 March 2018 Tourism & Events Qld - WSL (2019-21 Press Release)
Deal will see iconic GC events Quicky & Roxy stay on Goldie for another 3 years.
GC Mayor: Proud to have Quicky & Roxy Pros as part of Major Events portfolio.
Sophie: Gold Coast has played a critical role in Pro surfing since 1976 inception.
All parties backed Qld / Goldie / Quicky / Roxy
https://teq.queensland.com/news-and-media/past-media-releases/gold-coast...
WSL also very much locked in Quicksilver naming rights GC & France-2021
https://ministryofsport.com.au/wsl-expecting-a-big-year-with-sponsorship...
2020 mid contract Sophie's WSL had dumped the lot.(Cue: NSW / D'bah / Corona)
https://www.worldsurfleague.com/posts/430728/the-full-2020-schedule-prev...
MF's Tourism OZ (2020 Events)- Quicky & Roxy (backward mob will soon get there)
https://www.australia.com/en/events/sports-events/quiksilver-roxy-gold-c...
Gold Coast City Council (2020 Events) upgrade their Boost Mobile but love a Quicky
https://www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/thegoldcoast/major-sporting-events-4729...
State Govt (2020 promo) skips the (Grog Open) for own "Gold Coast Pro"
End of today site swap to 'Corona Open Gold Coast'.(Pro on Download Calendar)
https://blog.queensland.com/2019/10/18/queensland-surf-events/
Qld Events Glam Calendar launched last week.(WSL opened their brew this week?)
2020 (Feb) [WSL" Gold Coast Open ][ Open Gold Coast WSL] (March)
https://www.worldsurfleague.com/events/2019/mqs/3023/gold-coast-open
WSL fandangled masterstroke has even outwitted Qldurrz. (One of Us One of Us)
Thankfully Qld events mopped up...WSL have no idea of what comp goes where?
Love Qld + Oz Surfing reply... It's fine, we don't exist, we get that!
tbb's fav' is GC travel Hub for going where no man should ever go.
2020 "Gold Coast Men's Pro" sponsored by GaryG.
https://www.goldcoasttravelhub.com.au/events/gold-coast-mens-pro/
Surfing's Olympic debut starts off in complete disarray from the very first comp.
Lowest priced Games ticket is worth less by the minute...thanks for everything WSL.
tbb salutes The Aussies for holding off until April 18-26
2019 Bully big brother Aussies stole the crowds from D'bah Quicky.
WIsh Cloudbreak was more economical - I'd be missioning there now the focus has shifted...
Something else of (minor) interest.
The new naming sponsor for the Freshwater Pro (i.e. Surf Ranch) is "Michelob ULTRA Pure Gold" (this year's one-time presenting sponsor Outerknown seems to be gone).
Interesting thing here is they've allowed both a company and its product in the sponsorship, which widens the branding real estate to four words: space is a premium on all marketing assets. Also, one of the brand words is capitalised, which I reckon slightly unbalances the aesthetics.
Anyway, why not just the "Michelob Freshwater Pro"? Otherwise, why not let the other brands do the same - we could have the "Quiksilver Highline Division Deluxe Pro France" or the "Rip Curl E-Bomb Zip Free Pro Bells Beach".
Sure, it's a minor thing, but from a marketing/sponsorship point of view, I'm curious how this was negotiated.
Outerknown is gone of course. Why spend your own money to support the event when someone else is happy to pay!
Awful beer is Michelob, really terrible actually.
I hope Quiksilver's lawyers have done their homework and got Gary G's permission for naming rights at Gary Land.
RIP G Land. That place is going to get plundered by every fucking surf carpet bagger on the planet. I fucking despise the bastards running the WSL.
For US wavepool leg 'inertia' covers as good as any.
US blames Goat > {RIP} Surfing USA .(For selling out all US surf tour comps )
(Trestles dumped) US Olympic Team & surf fans turn their backs on WSL landlords.
Imagine robbing Oz surf comps & paying $100 -for wave pool comp (tbb backs USA)
https://www.theinertia.com/surf/trestles-off-tour-2020-world-surf-league...
Michelob Olympic After Party {Freshwater Pro invitation} @ {Texas Ranch Reveal}
https://www.theinertia.com/surf/surf-ranch-austin-plans-world-surf-leagu...
Olympians surf Chariots in GOAT Arena for grandest wavepoolparty of all time!
WSL Olympic wavepoolafterparty - $999.99 Gazillion {*Backwash time share stalls}
an overview of WSL sponsors is telling;
3 x piss sucking events (Corona + Corona + Pure Gold)
Oi in Brazil - what are they? a phone company?
Meo in Portugal - another ethical phone company?
Quicksilver - an ex-bankrupt, didn't honour their debts
RipCurl - sold to a perpetual dicount chain, on a such a low price-earnings that suggests no more growth there
and the Big Wave Tour - whoopy weed to the rescue.
what a sad line up for the under 18's.
Yep, it just goes to show that as a business model pro surfing is a pretty shaky proposition. I'm a lifelong surfer and surfing is my absolute obsession, but generally I find most comps pretty dull to watch. I could only stomach about ten mins of the wavepool comp. So yeah, if someone like me finds it dull then what hope is there for the tour to attract non surfing viewers?
Legendary Form Guide may be excused as Mystery Comp has no time & place.
Margaret River [May 2 < ( ISA Mystery comp ) > 4 June] G Land
World Games Showdown Top 4 men + Top 6 women Qualify for Olympics
Olympic Teams must be sorted by end of May & presented come June
WSL / Sponsors / Federations will clash over which surfer to push & when!
Looks as if poor old Margs cops the raw deal again...tuff crew are over it!
Go for broke Pros + Sponsor's next gen may check out at Margs for ISA prep.
2020 is very much another WSL backseat year.(No true champion crowned)
+
Red Bull Airborne (1.Gold Coast) ( 2.Oi Rio? ) (3.France) (Anyone ?)
French are already training for 2020 Airborne so do we say it's on?
Its obviously a move that makes sense and if conditions come to play which is very highly likely could, we could easily see some of the best waves ridden all year.
But it is a real pity to lose Keramas, would have made much more sense to keep Keramas and add G-land, and ditch Rio
Logistically for surfers also much easier to get from Bali to G-land and then go from Bali to South Africa for J-bay.
Rather than fly all the way from Bali to brazil to surf shit beach breaks and then need to fly all the way from Brazil to South Africa
All just to have an event in Brazil for basically surfing politics reasons, im sure even the Brazil surfer would rather have good waves.
Plus the beach break thing is covered on the Europe leg
No one is ditching a Brazzo event any time soon if ever.
It's just not even up for debate for the WSL.
It's the 3rd largest surf market in the world now, possibly higher, and the best surfers in the world (going by rankings of course) are majority Brazzos now.
The waves could be 10 times worse they would still warrant an event there these days.
Based on those factors 0z should lose at least 1 event considering they have trouble getting anyone into the top 10 now and have no serious world title contenders anymore and likely won't for many years to come.
Unless Julian Wilson can get himself back in it but the guy is 30 and has been a serious contender only once in his career (last year).
The biggest flop competitively relative to talent and reputation in the sport's history hands down.
Yep thats the sad reality of it, but it still makes no sense because it comes at the expense go good waves and good surfing.
I do agree one event from Australia should cut though.
Stop with your logical thinking.
That's not the game here, a little more nefarious I think. The WSL are chasing cash, at the expense of the art. And, at the end of the day, surfing is art. Trying to mash a business model on it just won't work. However, if the focus is on the surfers, the waves and the environments they're surfing in then naturally the WSL would flourish.
If there's one event to cut in Aus it should be Margs. Reason being, I live here and I hate when that circus come to town. Although, it was quite fun being out North Point calling Toledo off waves. (He is actually quite a nice guy though)
haha. Gold!
The pros on the CT are supposed to be the best surfers in the world and be able to surf all different sizes and types of waves.
They're supposed to be all rounded so i think it's necessary to have 1 crap wave event on tour.
Let in be Brazil then it keeps that market happy while giving Brazzos at home the opportunity to see their surf stars perform and the Brazzos on tour the opportunity to have a home country event.
Having said that the last 2 years it was not the worst event surf wise on tour.
Yes and there are enough Brazillians in Bali/Indonesia to call it there home away from home. It could potentially give then a home town advantage! They are renaming Ulu's Ulipanema so this will work right in.
You're on it! Though they renamed it
Brazuluvatu and when you get dropped in on just scream.
"Vai pro caharyu pao paquina!
Sure to make a few friends.
I can’t really picture a wave that’d suit Gabby more than G Land.
Even the close quartered accomodations will allow him to mentally cripple his competitors. No more hiding in their hotel rooms between heats from the strutting omnipotentence of a rampaging Medina. They’ll have to watch him owning the common area as surely as he’ll own the line up.
Going to be funny seeing Charlie alone out on the reef strutting his stuff.
No-one, not even Medina, can own the common area like the legendary Cesar, filling the corner pocket with his testicles while railing up a line with one hand and sculling a beer with the other.
Yep he's basically owned all the barrelling reef break lefts on tour bigger or smaller since he came on the scene.
Cloudbreak when it was on tour, Chopes and Pipe.
G land will be an instant add on to that list.
He's famous slow starts to the season will be 2 or 3 events shorter than usual now.
We might see Medina be the first surfer since Slater in the 90's to hold up all fingers on one hand to count consecutive world titles if he wins the world title this year, which he likely will due to that dominant barrelling left reefbreak contest record of his.
I wonder if he can fight. We need to get the ginger ninja Mick Cambo a wildcard and see who really owns the common area.
even funnier when the tide comes in
Crowning champions since 1976, the WSL...
Shark season in Margs must have been moved again, what a firkin joke
Bye bye Gland, it was lovely meeting you
This makes me sad :-(
G land will see Canggu style villa development with the exposure the WSL is going to give the place. Fucking scumbags.
I was in Canggu the day before yesterday. That place has exploded and there is on one way in and out and it is chockers even on a scooter. That place is gone from zero to over the top in no time. There is a massive resort being built right in front of the right hander and a new bridge and road over the creek. Off the charts.
What BS every decent surfer on earth knows about G-land ever surfer that passes through Bali see's the signs on every street advertising trips to G-land, camps might be a bit busier and booked up thats about it, but end of the day the wave will sort the surfers out anyway.
Development of Canggu is completely different, any surfer can surf the waves it has a little spot for everyone and is more about being hip an cool these days like the new little Kuta, in no way comparable to G-land, a demanding shallow reef break on the edge of nothing more than a jungle.
Yep G-land aint no Canggu or vice a versa and spot on it is just a place to hang out now as is Ulu's but waves can still be fun at both with a bit of size.
adrian buchan the most boring surfer on the planet says : what ever wsl wants him to say
FUCK YOU WSL
Hey Wozzel , give Gerry Lopez a wildcard to G land ....
Luke Egan should get the first wildcard - defending champ and all...
He'll more likely get the first call from the commentary box instead.
Speaking of the WSL, Slater and the Coolum Wave Mess. https://beachgrit.com/2019/11/breaking-kelly-slaters-ex-partner-and-one-...
Here is a taste: " in a 2017 Tracks interview, Kelly referred to Bizzack as “…partner in everything I’ve done in the past few years… I’ve been the face of it but Jeff is just the bones and structure of everything that we’ve done.”
People of Coolum , this is required reading! The ethic they bring eh?
The sound of 20 handpicked groms choking on free pizza. ...
Sir Abacus Bent needs the Sunny Coast bookend.
Current WSL partner Consolidated Properties
Surfing Australia life member Don O' Rourke c/o( HPC)
Paid Govt bribes to get Sunny Coast CEO to upzone Kelly's Wave pool Site
Even has his own chapter re: WLS property (Business as Usual) Page 38...
https://aip.asn.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Donations_Queensland_Polit...
Every pollie in Qld knows this & carry on with promoting Kelly's Wavepool. (It's Sick!)
tbb, love your work, VERY interesting reading! This stuff needs to be exposed, keep it coming.
Not 10 mins before oceans11 posted ...tbb fired off a copy to Sunshine Coast Environment Council...also recently informed them on piping PFAS (24hrs) to ship onto docking at any one of 3 nearby PFAS treatment plants (24hs) later it's twizzlin' in yer ice tea...It's hardly airport science!
As crew can read, Sunny Coasts two biggest elephants can be sorted simply by flicking thru any manual. We Qldurzz love playing dumb when we really couldn't give a shit either way. Sunny Councillor's after shave PFAS splash deserves a Gold medal.."Oh Yeah! Tastes so good I can't stop drinking it!"...hold up & pass the straw.
Who gives a flying f. I gave up watching a few years ago, when cloud break got chopped. They lost me and a lot of people over that.
Hang onto Dirk's teat for dear life you surfie wozzlers. There aint much left but him keeping the tour going.
ha ha ha ha
I'm devo about G - Land, such a special place for surfers. gonna be lots of crew going there now to surf it cos the tour surf it and not because they understand what G Land is. Hopefully the wave will sort it out, in the end its quite a tricky wave to surf well and can be frustrating for a lot of people - pinching barrels, long close out sections, windy, cold for Indo, ever changing (even Speedies is only flawless a few days a season) so maybe these crew will try it and then think fuck that I'll just go to the Ments and surf 4 foot glass for 10 days next year
Spewing about G-land. The reef is dissolving as it is from all the foot traffic. The new road and electricity lines have already changed the feel and rawness.. Good by paradise
Hopefully the monkeys that are getting more troublesome over time get em. Theres other waves in indo that rival G-land. And less spoiled.
The search continues
i dont think we should be preparing euology's just yet.
crew whot look for that type of wave already found it, and are generally humbled by the experience...
hipsters who had posters of airs on their bedroom walls probably reliving their boyhood dreams elsewhere...
cranky has-been's on old skool semi-guns, monkeys, expense, clean up sets, paddling, lack of distractions or alternate options, no chicks, no night life, the jungle - lots to dislike about the joint (depending on your perspective)
(this is me being glass half full)
Remember, not to many surfers go to waves like gland for 2 weeks and come back winners.
Lots of broken boards and tails between there legs.
Ask bainy about gland ? Fuck that !
They will build new tower on reef .
The rubbish disposal situation will be foul.
Ever seen where the rubbish at G-land goes?
(WSL comp costings + Govt Funding)
tbb toiled thru many soiled council minutes.
Both ASP & WSL prices were sourced.
All funding below has been converted to (2018 AUD)
We'll kick off with QS + CS WSL & work our way up...
(No.1 Sponsor averages @ 25% of Event)
QS 1000 ($100,000 to run) Council -$5-25,000 >$50,000 (tops) / State $50,000+
QS 6000 (Manly Council do not fund Event) State Govt only > $400,000+
CS 10,000-($1m to run) (New National festival model attracts 3 tier Govt funding)
tbb best estimates that new NZ 3 tier Govts funding could cover up to 80% of Event.
Cost of WSL Tour (total incl travel) 2018 -$75m / (2019 + equal prize pool)
Govts by charter or law must address equal funding prize pools.
It was possible to double cost men's events & calculate inflation to 2018 prices.
Notice as you read on that Comps are not the biggest impost on running a tour.
All Event sites are chosen by Govt kickbacks eg: France 10% Govt kickback.
Brazil, Portugal, France-Tahiti are all believed to pay similar to host WSL event.
The more your Govt pays, the more comps you get...as exampled in Australia.
WSL are aiming to target Qld for 2 Pro Events simply because Qld will pay for two.
WSL / SQ / Govt / GCCC have progressed this without Qldurrz & crew knowing.
Govts are won over by numbers of 'invisible viewers' in unimaginable countries.
None ever check, but Govts need to recite Goldilocks & WSL fits in just right!
So almost every renewal, Govt swears that WSL has a rocket to the Moon.
Financial return is made up, if anything is decreasing, it's all over the shop! (Really!)
eg: Quiky: 2014 - $7.2m > 2016 - $20m < 2018 - $4.3m ...(Any accountants?)
2016 All looked away as Laura + Courtney sold 100,000 G Strings @ $150 each.
WSL comps cost around $3m each to run x 10 comps = $30m (cost of tour $75m)
Seemingly the Comps are less than half the cost of running a tour.(A Surprising Fact!)
Typical Surf Sponsor-$25-50% may also be a Property Developer in the wings...
Airlines-Airports + Cars + TV Station + Phone Tech /Cams + Sports/Surf Apparel + BEER + Energy Drink + Snack Foods +(Not least- Scaffold Hire deals & ADS)
Based on $3m WSL Pro Comp (Oz Standard)
Local Councils- (WA $30,000>)+(Vic $160-$250,000 in audit/yr )+(GC $180,000 >)
State Aboriginal inclusion Grant : ($150,000) We see 1st Ceremonies at Surf Events!
State Govts -(Min: $2.5m) WA from [PURE] Mining & Petroleum Royalties
$1m/yr compliance upgrades for 'International Comp Sites' standard/s.
Plain to see that each comp site looks more flash each year...(Not without question!)
WSL Breaches / Penalties
Leaving the Site = $30,000 day
Setting up a new site = $30,000 day
WSL have left all Oz Sites + Noosa. (Down the line next break may not count?)
Scale: (WSL International Events rank in premium State Govt Sponsorship range)
List is unofficially ranked by compliance & stately association with WSL
#1 Qld- Sunny Promo gets sold on interstate migration.
#2 Bells- Tradition gets sold for visitor nights & tour packages
#3 WA- Wilderness gets sold on Disney channel viewers stampede + Shark Money!
#4 PHIA -being told WSL will return your missing flock from the Mainland Comps
#5 NSW - All lining up to kiss Oz 1st World Surf Reserve blarney stone.
WSL Tour Surfers just signed a 10 year contract with WSL.(est 2012 re:Stu)
https://beachgrit.com/2019/10/indentured-servitude-professional-surfers-...
Feel free to correct any or all...just thought it fair to share WSL Tour tricks.
Use only as a guide, as shown only a few rare samples were found.
So rare that if any come across a Top secret State Govt docket..don't be shy!
From Joel Fitz...
totally agree.
Ulus has almost all the benefits as well as the extra one of being surfable and possibly hall of fame in a massive swell and none of the drawbacks.
Uluwatu is a very tight knit village and if the locals don't want the WSL to hold a contest it's not going to go ahead. Full stop. End of discussion.
I'd assume the Ulu locals had a very good look at how they did financially out of the last few days of the Margerat river contest, and gave the WSL a thumbs down for 2020. The WSL only needs to please a few camp owners and a couple of local officials to get a comp up at G Land. Shame about the long term fucking the place is going to get.
On another note can anyone explain why Carrissa who is no 1 at the moment has earned $ 436,000.....after 9 events and Italo has earned 391,600 after 10 events?
Women Surfers earn substantially more per surfing heat as women perform less. Men are also obliged to compete in extra lesser prize money events as to women. Sponsors had Italo compete in GC Red Bull Airborne. (Shitty cheap comp is considered way too less equal for women's tastes!)
Here's how the very first equal pay WSL leg played out...
Pro Woman progressed 5 hts (1 comp wins $100k) $20k per heat
Pro Man progressed 9 hts (2 comp wins $120k) $13k per heat
Pro Woman is earning $7,000 more per heat.
WSL women charge way more per appearance than men.
The more comps a Pro man enters + wins...
... the less he earns compared to a Pro woman.
Apparently Dirk's wife is a mad keen Chix Surf Fan & got Sophie to sort it! Tennis Chix earn way more per set of tennis & also charge way more per appearance .
2019 Woman No.1 Ash Barty earnings $16.37m
2019 Mens No.1 Novac Djokovic earnings $16.06m
Women earn 20-40% more appearance money in equal pay era.
Also get heaps more time for shopping...now that's fair.
Just read something unusual on Tracks, never thought it was even possible.
Then went to check & sure enough WSL are short 2-4 main sponsors for 2020.
Margaret River Pro (m/w) WSL kicked the Drug Aware habit now they're high & dry.
Tahiti Pro Teahupoo (m) (Olympic size Venue, you can't touch with a 4,000 ft pole!)
Hawaii Pro (w) Perfect if only it were on a nearer planet.
Interestingly the three most remote spectator waves on tour.
WSL C T
(m) 2 of 11 are without sponsor
(w) 2 of 10 are without sponsor
Remote Big Wave Tour
(m) 2 of 7 comps remain
(w) 1 of 2 comps remain
WSL - Long Board Tour
(m/w) 7 of 9 comps are tentative.
WSL New Challenger Series
(m) 3 of 8 Comps are tentative
(w) 2 of 4 Comps are tentative
WSL QF Series
(m) 39 of 71 Comps are tentative
(w) 27 of 46 Comps are tentative
WSL Groms
(m) 26 of 39 Comps are tentative
(w) 25 of 38 Comps are tentative
Specialty
4 of 10 Comps are tentative
Note: Many tentative events are new and not locked in!
WSL have been criticised for taking too long to lock Tour event dates down.
This failure was building & exposed here & now as we're into 2020.
Easy to see why Sophie had to go...this is shameful for a WSL tour outfit.
Tentative events build from March/April onward.
Tourists should be able book 6mths to a year ahead not one month.
Surfing is holding these towns in Limbo with no opportunity to plan or prosper.
Local kids Footy/Nippers has certainty so why is Surfing run by slothful Mobsters.
Only shows that WSL are mostly after free Govt handouts & free beach leases.
The delay is purely WSL trying to milk the best in-house deals ahead of sponsors.
WSL are giving surfing an untrustworthy name thru their conquest of Beach grabs.
WSL have nothing to do with Surfing whatsoever...plain & simple Mobsters.