It's Competition, Jim, But Not As We Know It
The ASP released its 2011 pro tour schedule this week. But look, before I continue, let me assure you that this is not another column singing the praises of professional surfing.
Of interest is that Australia has only 3 qualifying events on the calender while Brazil has 12. And just as this column isn't about patronising the pro tour, nor is it a parochial rant about how unfair the Aussie surfers have it compared to the Brazilians.
Yet the numbers stand; Brazilian surfers have four times the opportunity to qualify while enjoying the hometown advantage compared to their Australian counterparts. The accepted wisdom, at least amongst the cynical commentariat, is that the unequal distribution of events is being engineered by the ASP.
The ASP, so the theory goes, is deviating from its Dream Tour ideals and chasing the money. They are sacrificing good waves to service the emerging surf economies. Hence the concentration of events in burgeoning markets such as Brazil and Europe and a dearth of events in saturated markets such as Australia.
But I've got another theory...
When it comes to qualifying events, the amount of contests that any one country can have is limited only by the amount of sponsors willing to fork out the cash. To this end, it would seem that there are many companies in South America willing to put up prizemoney for a contest and support surfing in this way.
This is no surprise - surfing in Brazil now is like surfing in Australia was in the 80's. The surfing population is still relatively young and the feeling is that, if the excitement is harnessed and young surfers are nurtured, then surfing will boom and success will follow.
But what about here in Australia? We may no longer have that 80's enthusiasm, yet surfing is as popular as ever, so why aren't there companies willing to support contests here?
The answer, I believe, is that there is - however, they're not supporting surf contests as we've known them.
In the last five years the surfing world has taken to the online world with increasing gusto. We've taken back our verb and are Surfing the Net more than ever. This is especially true in advanced economies such as Australia and the United States. What is happening is that the money is following the market. Companies are still willing to financially support surfing, however they are doing it via the internet.
Witness Jim Beam's online surfing competition, 'The Break', with a total of $75 000 prize money, or the Kustom Airstrike with $50 000 first prize, Hurley's Money Clip with ongoing $1000 prizes, or Innersection with a $100 000 first prize. These online competitions, and others like them, are testament that the support is still there but the nature of it is changing.
This 'changing nature' feeds into a growing perception that contests - that is, traditional head-to-head beach contests - are restrictive and outdated, and that the best surfing happens outside of the traditional competition format. Online surf competitions tap into their intended Gen-Y audience by harnessing the internet experience. They provide flexibility to contestants, who can surf and film as much as they wish, and also to viewers, who can watch the results at any time and from wherever they have an internet connection.
In some cases the viewers are even empowered with judging rights thereby turning a surfing competition into a democratic election.
Rather than being a temporary diversion it is my belief that the number of online competitions will only grow, and it is hard to imagine that traditional surfing contests in Australia won't somehow suffer. So with nearly a whole rung removed from the competitive ladder it needs to be asked what the long term affect may be. Does Australian surfing have an infrastructure sound enough to overcome the threat? Or will online competitions undermine our international surfing success?
Comments
Great! More unco arm waving and constant claiming from the Zilla's is all the elite WCT and it's online/TV audience needs to promote the sport. I can't help but switch off when one of theses one trick ponies enters the water for a heat. And watch them fail miserably in waves of consequence. The World Tour needs consistent surfers who can handle whatever is dished up at them.
A country with millions of desparetely poor slum dwelling people can afford to sponsor 12 prosurfing events? no doubt low taxes allowing big profits for those businesses sponsoring the events. maybe a bit of money laundering from dodgy dealings? all from a supposedly christian country. its sure not australia!
Mate hate the game don't hate the player!
Brazil is trying to do the best for its surfers and yes Brazil can afford the prosurfing events, world cup (2014), olympic games (2016) and whatever they want. I don't think you're being really fair saying things you don't know about a country who really open its doors for anyone and has a really friendly people.
The deal here is not saying bullshit about a country which has been growing heaps. You keep it to yourself. The goal is discussing what Australia does to help the australian surfers!
great to hear brazil will be hosting the Olympics and World cup as well as all those prosurfing comps. my point is maybe brazil needs to concentratete on social issues before sport. news this morning is they are rioting in the streets and burning cars! I just hope before the Olympics brazils solution to all those undesirables isnt to breakout the death squads again!
Yes, yorkesurfer. There is no money laundering, big company exploitation, and rioting in the streets in Australia (witness Cronulla, Redfern, Macquarie Fields riots) [sarcasm intended]. Think about how what you wrote could be considered racist ...
im talking about a country that, unlike australia doesnt look after its poor but can afford to run the biggest sporting events in the world. to compare the riots in cronulla to whats going on in the slums of rio is ignorant at best. no one seemed to mind the arm flapping comments above which i think is a bullshit generalisation.
Well,, Australia doesn't look after its poor and disadvantaged either, consider the treatment of our indigenous population and the many homeless. Yet, we could hold the Sydney Olympics. You are writing about a country you know little about and painting a verysimplistic picture of what is a very complex nation. Rather than pointing fingers it is worthwhile turning the lens back on oneself. Those in glass houses and all that. By the way, what is ignorant is thinking scale is what determines whether an event is relevant or not. Also, I did not only mention Cronulla, but you chose to focus on that because it suited your argument. It didn't, though. It was a riot, people were hurt, there were ideological battles going on, etc. Yes, the issues were different, but they are in every event. Your comment was about actions taking place and was vague and general, my response was the same. Nevertheless, the actions remain the similar - rioting, hurting people, police invovlement, media involvement, government response, etc. - while the reasons differ.
50% of rio's population(approx.2million) lives in slums called favella's. no welfare whatsoever. dont for one second try to compare this to australia. i personally know many indigenous people coming from rural south australia. all have access to welfare and medical help if they want it. they have the choice. what choices do the slum dwellers of rio have?
I am simply pointing out that before you jump up and down about Brazil it is worth considering your own backyard, rather than telling those you have never met what to do and how to live their lives (you know nothing about life in the favellas and what they want or not), and you then seem to think you can tell these people how to handle their own national affairs. By the way, There are plenty of people who are in difficult situations in Australia would think that things are anything but OK. The choices you claim are there are often part of the problem. Anyway, I don't think the choices are there that you think are. There are structural inequities, despite the "choices" offered. Anyways, back on your high-horse telling the rest of the world how to behave and what they should do and think ... hi ho silver, away.
Its funny. You call a Brazilian surfer an unco arm waving kook and its all cool. You comment that they could look after their poor people a bit better and you get called everything from ignorant to racist. Im neither but I tell you what.....all Brazilian surfers are arm waving kooks:)
Gee Whizz pal.. The only one who mentioned ignorant first was you.. Is there some projection going on here?????
Ive got the name of a good CBT therapist if need be..
Thanks Jim i will take you up on that offer. is it okay if i mention your name, you sound like a regular customer. if you want more imformation on whats been going on in rio in the last few days heres a link. http://www.boston.com/news/world/latinamerica/articles/2010/11/24/bomb_t...
Guys, the answer here is very simple:
Brazil's population: 200Mil
Australia's population 20Mil
See, more costumers, more brands, more $$$, more surfers overal.
Dont be surprised if China becomes the biggest surfing country at some stage (they already are the biggest english speaking one!).
Ps: Not all people that live in the slums are poor, in fact, the majority have jobs and are just as hardworking as anyone else.
Also, Brazil doesn't have a doll system, that allows lazy people to take advantage of taxpayers money.
People need to get informed to form an opinion!!!
Yourkessurfer: good points mate, but do you think that simply giving money to the poor instead of supporting sporting development will make the country wealthier?
Really?
Nevertheless, we should be using surf as a message of love.
Jesus himself came and was walking on the waves...
Listen to his message cause he knows what he talks about...
Doing good up to that last point Cleb. Lost me there mate. Big time.
Jesus was the original green surfer, no toxic boards or westuits needed. And he found waves in the Mediteranean. Got a bit lucky there. Jesus was love, but his Dad is a real bastard ... he smited millions so his son could have all the waves to himself. Actually, maybe he knew what he was doing ... lightning bolts as crowd control at Snapper, anyone?
Smite is a great word, isn't it? Love to hear it used out in the surf, like during a a bout of surf rage. 'I shall smite ye down'. Wouldn't matter who said it, they're some mighty words and you'd be a brave man to face up to them.
And I don't mean to be pedantic, but didn't Jesus walk on the Sea of Galilee? Not the Med.
Oh yea, my bible studies fail me. Alas, I am to be smited. Nevertheless, surfing and wave on the Sea of Galilee is even more impressive. I have a pond out back needin' some swell ... now where did I put those rosary beads (no, not there you bastards).
How about we keep the focus on what Australia can do to help its surfers?
They say a turtle lives up to 100 years because it lives its own life!
Think about it!
Fair enough Luiz, but sometimes the comments have to be free to roam...
Anyway, to bring it back to the ranch: the reason I wrote the article was to question Australia's surfing future and I used Brazil as a comparison - in terms of stages of 'surfing evolution' (for want of a better term) each country is in.
Australian (and US) surfers are in a sort of 'post-competitive' period. Surfers here now have the flexibility to be paid freesurfers if they so wish. There is, after all, a young audience back home watching and waiting online for their latest freesurfing clips. The appeal of the freesurfing route is growing ever stronger and, as I mentioned in the article, an important part of the competitive infrastructure has been removed making the competitive route harder.
So when it comes to the World Tour the future belongs to the Brazilians and the Euros. Not this year, or even the next, but in five or so years.
Mark my words...