Just general surfing stuff

[PeepeelaPew]

...

[Yuke Hunt]

I guess he’s cash in the bank for the WSL. He’s probably the only surfer most people know.

Exactly, and an 11 times world champion ... of course he gets the wildcard.

[steve shearer]

I guess he’s cash in the bank for the WSL. He’s probably the only surfer most people know.

Correct.

They will roll their most bankable asset out until they no longer can, no matter how ridiculous it makes them look, or how much they trash the integrity of the "sport".

[buddy]

[Yuke Hunt]

I guess he’s cash in the bank for the WSL. He’s probably the only surfer most people know.

Correct.

They will roll their most bankable asset out until they no longer can, no matter how ridiculous it makes them look, or how much they trash the integrity of the "sport".

Haha integrity in sport ... you funny guy hey.

[foamy]

I wonder if viewer numbers still go up when Kelly surfs. Not much I reckon, particularly as the chances of Kelly being in the later heats are now not great. Kelly still has a name recognition value but I suspect his friendship with fellow Floridian Dirk Ziff might be a pretty strong factor in him getting the wildcard.

I assume the WSL is still running at a significant loss. It won’t ever run at a profit. The problem is not the integrity of the comp. The problem is that pro surfing is inherently boring to most people. It’s inherently boring to most surfers. The WSL is a bit of a charity project really and I reckon Dirk can spend his surfing dollar how he wants. It’s not like the fans are chipping in to help with costs.

[Beanpole]

Here’s a laser sharp insight into surf comps using Slater as an obvious example. If he does something amazing and surfs brilliantly people will be engaged. If he just duds out people will lose interest quickly.
If everyone keeps waiting out the heats with priority the comp will lose viewers.

[Pants]

Makes a mockery of every rule they’ve set.

[foamy]

If there was a strict set of rules determining the recipient, it would not be a wildcard.

[The Mighty Sunbird]

They need a Eddie the eagle type character that would get viewers in

[alakaboo]

I nominate Croissant.

Does he have the bus fare to get there?
Will he make it out the back?

[steve shearer]

I wonder if viewer numbers still go up when Kelly surfs. Not much I reckon, particularly as the chances of Kelly being in the later heats are now not great. Kelly still has a name recognition value but I suspect his friendship with fellow Floridian Dirk Ziff might be a pretty strong factor in him getting the wildcard.

I assume the WSL is still running at a significant loss. It won’t ever run at a profit. The problem is not the integrity of the comp. The problem is that pro surfing is inherently boring to most people. It’s inherently boring to most surfers. The WSL is a bit of a charity project really and I reckon Dirk can spend his surfing dollar how he wants. It’s not like the fans are chipping in to help with costs.

You've almost got it Foamy.

Pro surfing's chief function is to serve as a loss leader for the Tourism industry.

In that game, and for the suits who run it, Kelly Slater is the only bankable name and is crack cocaine for the decision makers who keep the lights on at the World Tour.

They want him there and the WSL will rewite whatever "rules' they need to to keep him there.

The big game now, is getting Kelly Into the Olympics.

[Yuke Hunt]

Pro surfing's chief function is to serve as a loss leader for the Tourism industry.

In that game, and for the suits who run it, Kelly Slater is the only bankable name and is crack cocaine for the decision makers who keep the lights on at the World Tour.

They want him there and the WSL will rewite whatever "rules' they need to to keep him there.

The big game now, is getting Kelly Into the Olympics.

I'm not so sure about a lot of that, Steve.

There's a lot of bankable names in the industry, with the new crop of Australian surfers on the mens side, along with the top 3-4 Brazilians having enormous followings. Yeah, Kelly is the biggest name in professional surfing, but he's not the Kelly of old. I can't see the issue with giving Slater the wild card for 23-24. The WSL did the same for Sally last year ... and speaking of the women, they've got a massive following (Hi Tyler) and are extremely bankable.

As for the big game being to get old baldy to the Olympics ... I doubt that the WSL could give a fuck about that. Kelly wants Kelly to go, and maybe some of his bigger followers, but the vast majority of surf fans probably don't care all that much.

It'll be interesting to see how Kelly goes at the pool and at Chopes ... his abilities have been talked up at those venues, especially Tahiti.

Anyway, I'm liking the new Kelly, he seems happier than he's ever been. Maybe knowing that he's probably not a title contender any more has softened him somewhat.

I'll be Yeeewing for Ewing !

[steve shearer]

I guess my views on this have been shaped by actually researching the funding streams for Pro Surfing and being told directly by Tourism agencies how vital Kelly Slater is to the metrics which determine that funding.

[Yuke Hunt]

I guess my views on this have been shaped by actually researching the funding streams for Pro Surfing and being told directly by Tourism agencies how vital Kelly Slater is to the metrics which determine that funding.

Which tourism agencies have you been in contact with ?

[steve shearer]

QLD and WA.

[Yuke Hunt]

QLD and WA.

What about other locations on the tour, surely you'd need to look into Kelly's influence on those too.

.

[steve shearer]

Look at the marketing and who are the major partners for the events.

It's mostly Tourism funding.

This is all very well documented by now.