For Better or Worse

Within hours of the announcement that the Big Wave World Tour had been bought by the ASP, the grumbles began. Social network posts and comments on the press release proliferated last week - the wires ran hot with more than a dose of sarcasm.

On the surface, the deal is positive. The big wave tour will enjoy operational support by the Association of Surfing Professionals in 2013, and formal sanctioning from 2014. Founded by amiable big wave rider and shaper Gary Linden - South Africans will remember him as long-time contest director of the Red Bull Big Wave Africa at Dungeons - the tour will not only enjoy the considerable event expertise of the ASP, but also its pervasive marketing and PR network, and not forgetting its access to sponsors' money.

The skepticism is understandable after many hiccups and internal ructions in recent years. Bobby Martinez summed up the criticisms in 2011 during his rant about "this dumb $%^$-ing wannabe tennis tour" at the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast. The ASP also had to withdraw an announcement that Kelly Slater had won his 11th world title. He hadn't. Yet. There was also the controversial decision not to run the Volcom Fiji Pro in 2012 despite perfect booming 15 foot barrels, among other debatable errors of judgment, some of which are well, lets say mildly embarrassing.

On Twitter, some joked that the big wave tour would be moved to New York and Rio to be held in small, sloppy waves. For big wave riders, hara kiri, or even a tennis tour, would be preferable.

In the official announcement, the ASP hinted that more surfers on the elite tour would be able to participate. Kieren Perrow, ASP Commissioner, said it would make it “significantly easier for ASP Top 34 surfers to compete in big-wave events”.

Sure it's early days and probably a lot of planning and negotiation remains, but what does this mean?

The criteria for entry into the Big Wave World Tour are strongly influenced by peer review. The big wave brotherhood is a strong, if small, community, who, my romantic ideals tell me, don’t relate to the razzmatazz of the elite tour. Most big wave guys thirst for corporate cash only because they ply their trade from rusty pickup trucks during poverty-stricken episodes of swell searching. Their motivation for financial aid, unlike some on the elite tour, stems more from the need to fund their thirst to ride big waves than to fuel a quest for fame or glory.

As Twiggy points out below, several SA surfers deserve the recognition, and if this means they will, then great. This probably includes Frank Solomons, Josh Redman, Jeremy Johnson and Barry Futter, among others who charge hard, not including a growing number of South Americans.

Chris Bertish, Cape Town's most decorated big wave surfer after his 2010 win at Mavericks in giant surf, says it is great news in terms of the operational nous and media exposure that the ASP brings to the table. But he agrees that while it's still early days, the ASP needs to properly explain how surfers will be selected.

"It's all fine as long as the two tours are kept separate, and that the world tour surfers are selected using the same criteria as the big wave guys. Some are obvious choices because they have proved themselves, such as Shane Dorian, Kelly Slater and John John Florence."

Many elite tour surfers have not yet earned proper big wave cred, says Bertish, who earns automatic entry into all future Mavericks events after his win. "A guy like Parko, and I only mention him because they include him in their press release, is a phenomenal surfer, but does he have adequate big wave credibility?"

Yes, says Bertish, probably, but how does one compare Parko's amazing career - and his string of high-profile results - to the more modest credentials of your average big wave journey man? Can you even compare them?

"What about the specialist big wave rider who has been focusing only on big waves for the last five years. Do you put a elite tour guy in the event at his expense?"

It was no-one's fault, as such, but just something to consider.

One thing is for sure. The big wave tour will shed its fringe status when it merges with the big leagues. While it will be sad to dilute the rough-edged mystique that makes big wave surfing so unique – that makes it stand alone, it is this self-induced isolation that many say has caused it to struggle.

Big sponsors have often stayed away – perhaps wary of a broader perception that it was an isolated niche with limited appeal.

That will change, for better or for worse, either which way you look at it.

The Big Wave World Tour is on high alert. The Quiksilver Ceremonial at Pichilemu in Chile has been called on for Tuesday 4 June. Click here