Just read this..
http://surfinglife.com.au/worldtour/home/48-asl-world-tour-blog/7002-asp-under-fire-here-we-go-again
The ASP will be the subject of a take over bid at the US Open according to strong and persistent rumours from credible sources close to ASP.
And some of the same people behind the failed Rebel Tour in 2009 are believed to be behind this new bid, most notably Kelly Slater's manager Terry Hardy.
"I'll take the fifth on it and wait for it to play out. I do know who's involved but I honestly don't know details (by choice)," Slater told Surfing Life via email from the Mentawais, where he is on a Momentum generation reunion trip. "I've just kept myself out of the loop. If I snooped I could get the story but it's only a couple weeks away and we'll all know. Better than just trying to predict. US Open is news time from what I hear."
ASP Surfers' Rep Keiren Perrow did not deny the rumours but said he was legally unable to comment because of his position on the ASP Board.
ASP's International Media Director Dave Prodan said only: "The ASP does not comment specifically on rumour or speculation. The affairs of the sport are constantly being discussed and analysed by members of the Board - this involves structures, formats, media rights, new markets, guidelines, etc. It's safe to say these topics are discussed at every Board Meeting and will be again in Huntington Beach at the end of the month."
The ASP has been without a CEO for six months, since Brodie Carr resigned over the infamous world title miscalculation in San Francisco last year. And the tour has been looking increasingly vulnerable with its almost total reliance on the major surf brands, as those companies experience tough times. Jeffreys Bay was the first casualty, downgraded from a World Championship Tour event to a six star, and now facing a dream swell window of back-to-back swells. The World Tour surfers are bitterly disappointed they don't have an elite event at Jeffreys Bay, which may strengthen the mood for change.
The Billabong Pro J-Bay started last night (Australian time) in pumping surf. Did you go looking for the webcast? Lack of live web coverage on the first day was one of the casualties of the budget cut by The 'Bong. Jack Freestone ripped, no matter if the world was watching or not. And the webcast should be back live tonight. Photo: ASP/Cestari.
In recent times, there have been frequent calls for the ASP to reclaim its media rights, which it licensed to individual event sponsors' back in 2007 to raise funds. Without owning media rights, its critics argue, ASP has been critically hobbled in its attempts to seek broadcast deals or mainstream sponsorship.
"It's in a very precarious position at the moment," former CEO Brodie Carr told SL, from his home in France. "Times have changed - we're lucky to see Billabong continue with Teahupo'o and Pipe this year. I'm surprised they haven't tried not to run those ones . The costs to run an event have spiralled upwards. It costs between 2.5 and $3 million to run an event. That's a lot of T-shirts to sell . I don't think I could sell a world tour event at the moment . There's a correction upon us. This time we're in now is new terrain for everyone. The shareholders and bean counters of the world are going to have a say on it. It's a tough sell."
Kieren Perrow agrees the tour is vulnerable because of its dependence of the major surf brands. "I think it is. I've always thought that. I think it's pretty well shared by every surfer on tour. I think they've been aware of that for a long time. I think it's reached a feeling that it's not going to fulfil it's potential without some kind of letting go . I think it's key. Guys have been pushing for that for a lot longer period of time than most people are aware. It's a difficult argument to have. It's a sensitive topic. They've been crucial in building the tour to what it is and they need to retain some involvement."
KP. Thinking man's surfer, charger, and Top 34 mouthpiece. Photo: ASP/Cestari
ASP founder Ian Cairns is emphatic that major change needs to occur for pro surfing to progress. "Consolidate media rights. Create a coherent media strategy that reflects the future of media. Go to a mix of Pay-Per-View for key content and free for the rest. Consolidate the events, media and multi-national platform into a clearly understandable sponsorship package and use the industry event support as a global co-promotion asset. All simple in concept, but revolutionary in practice. Who has the gravitas to spearhead this effort? ... Kelly. But he would need a team of VERY savvy people, big dollars and a board completely independent of the surf industry to make it work."
But Slater is obviously intent on keeping out of this latest bid. He was deeply stung by the backlash against his support for the failed Rebel Tour in 2009. In a candid interview at Jeffreys Bay that year he explained his reasons for supporting an alternative tour, motives that seem just as relevant today. "My main motivation is firstly to see pro surfing set up properly from the ground level," Slater told me in '09. "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 event 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. 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."
Nearing the end of his career, with 11 world titles, Slater is deeply conscious of his "legacy" in surfing. If he is to be associated with this new bid he will be determined that it is done right and is successful.
Stay tuned for more news as it develops throughout today and the next few weeks. Surfing Life has a major feature on the future of the ASP in its next issue, which goes on sale August 1.
SP
> 9 months ago, 13 Jul 2012
