Lewis Samuels is in the house
On Saturday the new and improved ASP played their best card yet. Featured on the revamped ASP website was a Power Rankings update from proto-blogger, Lewis Samuels. Samuels, as many would know, once ran a Word Press blog called PostSurf that served as an outlet to commentate, critique and heap hilariously-worded scorn on surfers and industry figures. Post-GFC and pre-Twitter, PostSurf was a product of its time.
Since he shut down PostSurf in 2010 Samuels has contributed the odd article to STAB and Surfer but his voice has largeley gone missing - till now. And as someone who's fielded numerous calls from the ASP about content on Swellnet 'undermining the sport', Samuels' return is a welcome one. Reading the play, it shows the ASP is looking for media engagement and giving the fans what they want, and for a large percentage that ain't press releases and stat sheets.
"It's an opinion piece," says Samuels of the surprising alliance, "and that means my opinions don't necessarily reflect the opinions of ASP. If they wanted more advertorial press releases, I don't think they would have brought me in."
The ASP's move to in-house media content isn't unique, a few pro sports have introduced it with varying degrees of transparency and accountability. However, the question is always this: How does an organisation report upon itself? What happens if, say for instance, there's a mathematical error and a world title is incorrectly awarded. Ripe material indeed. But can a commentator bite the hand that feeds? Where exactly is the line?
"There's always a line," says Samuels, who once accused employee Surfline of licking advertiser's balls, "but it's hard to define where that line is until you cross it. So far it's been more of hands-off than people might expect."
All of which bodes well for spicy commentary from within the House of ASP. Something unimaginable twelve months ago.
POSTSCRIPT: Twelve hours after this story was posted the Power Rankings were pulled from the ASP's website. Lewis has refrained from commenting ("for the time being") and the ASP isn't returning calls or emails. We'll provide more information shortly.
Comments
This is great news, Stu. Although Lewis may need to employe a proofreader, excellent, entertaining piece of work by said Samuels.
Up next, maybe new mgmt hires B.R.E.W?
Well he's written the Surfline Power Rankings before - ghostwriting for JOB - so we know he ain't afraid to tow the line and take the money.
31 - Mitch Crews - "...2014 will prove him to be either the next sugar-free Julian Wilson substitute, or an Australian Pat Gudauskas. " - hahaha
Lew is very good at the Jim Goad style of describing/writing.
as to taking the money, hey, maybe he's being paid in bitcoins.
Lew? Does Samuels fix cars in Hazzard County between writing gigs?
Swing for the fence with impunity son!
And while we're talking bout non-corporate shills, when's the Outsider gonna making a reappearance? That piece he wrote during the Code red swell with Nathan Fletcher was unreal.
http://www.swellnet.com/news/swellnet-dispatch/2011/09/12/outsider-death...
Great to see ASP court controversy from within, but I wonder if they'll see the funny side if Lewis starts taking potshots at the management as well as the surfers. Paul Speaker has been shown to be a little thin-skinned in this area in the past.
I'm also impressed that the new website is inviting all media to apply for event accreditation as long as they're prepared to give all images to the ASP and ask the media director for permission before they talk to anyone. (That's what it says, thanks Mark Onorati). Makes it a bit hard to earn a buck, but on the other hand, a media pass might get you into the pissups.
Quoted because it's true.
uh-oh.
There ya go
bring back the surfer
Who's 'the surfer'?
that was you stu, when you wore a straw hat and didn't care much, when you was pretty and surfed good - salt on the shoulders every day - asleep on the lounge an hour after dinner - booking a front seat to the south coast with every mate who had a car - when every job had an exit.
http://www.aspworldtour.com/posts/23695/preseason-power-rankings
Has LS been silenced already ?
it was actually Kelly Slater that said Shane Dorian surfed like a cat on acid and it's on the sons of fun. Don't make me quote that whole movie
Damn dunsta76, serious? after approving it, the ASP deleted it? That's a telling ball of fuckery right there..... sure hope someone somewhere saved screen shots of that latest Lewis rankings, as it was so well done. The way in which he really buried his edge with his takes seems to have offend lower ranked guys more than motivated them to move on up.
ASP, wtf?
Screenshots? pfft.
http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:KOxXo7-EKzQJ:www.as...
Lotta talk going down about the removal, no answers.
the ASP ... the more things change, the more they're the same.
How bad is the new asp website, btw ... It looks like a colourblind grade 11 girl's (with quite possibly a yeast infection) wordpress site.
Least the ASP had the decency to replace it with a Brett Simpson interview.
Dont worry uncle Mibs is here to help you if you missed it...
http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:KOxXo7-EKzQJ:www.as...
This is great, it feels like the season has already started yet the Quiksilver Pro is still weeks away.
BTW, thanks Mibs.
My pleasure! (thumbs up emoticon insert here)
It's the gift that keeps giving
I don't know about great. I was looking forward to Part II, being the business end of the seedings. You spoke to Lewis, StuNet. Do you know what;s happened?
I've been in contact with Lewis this morning: "Hey Stu, sorry to say I can't comment on record at the moment..."
Which sounds like we may know something soon.
And I agree with TTBB, it feels like the season has already begun. Speculation! Controversy! Let the games begin!
Thanks Mibs, that was cool. Hope we get to see part II.
'the non-mum approved Matt Wilkinson' - ha ha! Gold!.
Thanks to the person who captured the now deleted pages.
I was excited like a kid on xmas eve when I saw that LS was back with the Power Rankings. I thought, wow, the ASP has really changed, for the better, they have the best , non industry conformist surf writer in the business posting weekly to their site! But no, they folded because some Benjamin Button clone went wee wee wee all the way to his sponsors door. It's like Dranolds is the CEO of the ASP and is just feeding his own fire.
"Hell, Dion Atkinson is the only true rookie and he's been on the world tour so long he remembers picking up chicks on MySpace"
Priceless
Haha, I enjoyed that one as well!
Thanks for linking the article mibs!
Samuels hasn't lost a thing, absolutely vintage.
Still, to play devil's advocate for a second…
Like everyone, I am surprised that the ASP even considered green lighting it in the first place. Similarly, it is unsurprising that it has been taken down. I think LS has a brilliant, honest and creative voice in the realm of pro surf commentary/writing but I don't think the ASP should be the platform from which it is presented. If your employer was publicly publishing and backing externally sourced opinion pieces that were potentially critical, irreverent and denigrating, would you be happy about it?
I wouldn't, and I don't think it is professional or appropriate for the ASP to be doing so. Sure, their media releases and railroaded puff-piece interviews are boring, biased, and largely bullshit, but is it really their place to be promoting largely uncontrolled content from an independent voice? I don't think it is.
Samuels absolutely deserves to be paid to express his views. They are amongst the best read going round in regards to pro surfing. But he needs an independent platform by which he can write completely unfettered and uncensored material without any potential for conflict bias or cross-purposes… (could you pay him enough Stu, Ben??)… It also needs to be independent for the simple fact that the ASP are the official friggen association for Pro surfing… they are NOT an independent media outlet and in my view they therefore have an obligation to represent all professional surfers and surfing in as positive a light as is reasonable and possible. This does not mean they have to bullshit or lie. They could certainly do with a little more flair, honesty and objectivism. But if you can't say something nice, don't say it. LS obviously shouldn't heed that maxim, but the ASP should unless they have a duty to report/address something negative in special circumstances where it relates to competition or surfer health/safety etc… their realm of professional obligation.
They shouldn't be applauded for giving LS a platform, it was ill-conceived and unprofessional. It had to be taken down. Maybe we can see part two on Swellnet instead???
You're bang on the money, Grug. Nailed all the pertinent points about organisations reporting on themselves. One thing to take from this: The ASP - or at least someone within their media team - likes LS-style irreverence. Surf publications have cowered before for fear of jeopardising their ASP media partnerships, yet this shows that coverage can be candid and controversial as long as it's done well. I hope this means we'll see more of it.
And as for LS on SN...we'll see.
The ASP should however be applauded for trying something bold.
Grug's argument is well balanced but I think is rather too reverential towards the " it has to be professional" attitude.
If the ASP can't break out of the current format it is doomed to being a small circus battling other forms of entertainment.
Too much fear and trepidation will just result in a very boring product - the Aussie Open was such a case.The fluff was just overwhelming and viewers aren't thankful of being treated as
fools.
What the answer is eludes me and I have to confess if it all disappeared that would also be fine for well I guesstimate 70% of the full time surfers I know.
How long and how prevalent the hipster revolution last many hold some answers here as if an entire generation is alienated then commercially it's curtains and thanks for all the fish.
Lewis made valid observations. And the lower ranked riders should take these entertaining critiques as motivation to up their game.
It's a competitive world. You're in a competitive game..... Competition is good.
perhaps some of them are Marxists ....
Marxism.
if so, are they about to be proven wrong again?
Well well…
ASP trying to get all progressive… guess that didn't play well with some old fashion minded boys up in the peking order of most brands. Was this a "better on our side (payroll) than out of control" kind of move?
Seriously hope the power rankings still come out and voice some of the criticism that ASP and the brands have had so much difficulty to deal with. Twitter has been, for the last years the nest for most of the inspired critics but it doesn't find its way to everyone.
My congratulations to Lewis who seems to keep all the stats updated and his analysis skills well oiled. Although I might add that I sense a more diplomatic tone to his comments… I hope I'm wrong.
Entertaining as the Power Rankings were/are what I would really like to see is a series on all those management boys at ASP, Quiksilver (same difference?), Rip Curl, Billabong, etc…
The Pros are well paid prima-donas/jocks but they put in the effort and (most) still have a resemblance to us normal surfers and they've been the ones taking all the heat when in reality the greedy selfish ones selling the sport (?) for a profit get to live the good life behind the lights and, for the most part, free of criticism or accountability.
And when things don't go their way or they get a sniff of criticism headed their way they unleash their hounds (fake journos) to cover up all the mess and erase all signs of criticism, because all must be surfy surfy and $ must be rollin rollin…
Also, some Power Rankings on the commentary team… hope they also have to requalify at the end of the year and not just be friends with someone to keep their jobs… Turpel, really?
BTW is Renata Hinkel still around to mess up the maths? I seriously hope so, I've laughed myself silly with his fuckups..
Matt got the scoop-ish
http://encyclopediaofsurfing.com/eos-blog/lewis-samuels-talks-about-powe...
I watched the world premiere of Out In The Lineup last night, a doco about gay surfers. At one point the filmmakers ask why gay surfers are completely invisible in the marketplace, so, to answer their question, they attempt to interview Surfing Australia and the ASP. Surfing Australia refuse an interview, while Dave Prodan from the ASP accepts after much persistence from the filmmakers.
The interview with Dave begins...and then the image on screen goes fuzzy and the sound drops out. Viewers are informed that the ASP withdrew permission to run the interview at late notice.
You can make up you own mind the implied message, but there's a similarity between that and the current brouhaha with Lewis. The ASP ain't presenting a coherent media front and they're looking the worse for it.
Holy crap. Proves the point. Structural homophobia. Very poor form.
You present well, Clif. And hey, nice ornaments in your loungeroom...
Kindof Mug.
All Lewis said is that the ASP pulled the interview and he doesn't know why.
Which is exactly where we started this convo.
Sounds like the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing.
Does anyone have any comments form the pros themselves?? I'd like to get some perspective from them on how they viewed this return/review?
Surely there's some that aren't crying and can take it for what is?
Dear Mr Samuels,
Why don't you start a blog, put a up a pay wall and charge say $x for a subscription.
Do the power rankings for the season. Make some cash, entertain the readers.
If there is some sort of contract with the ASP where you can't be seen to be performing those rankings with power, let that other fella release it for you on his blog again. Please.
i think offshoreoz might be more on track with the call about internal pro pressure. consider even some of the ranks above, awaiting a funny but also negative slant on surfing style. Could that be said to appropriate bias in terms of impacting judging opinion at the upcoming event, in that the article is on an official site? Think if you were a manager of one of these guys, or a parent of one of the kids? Again, i find it funny and forget about most of it 10' later, but some wont forget too quick.
Hey, guys, i´ve just wrote a post about that subject un my blog, take a look: http://realsurfing.blogspot.com
have you bookmarked, james-b. btw, they are discussing this subject on the ASP's comment sections.
http://www.aspworldtour.com/posts/29351/quiksilver-pro-long-range-forecast
oh, and clearly ASP mgmt is listing to the audience. Not only have they dumped the two month midseason deadspot, mgmt has fully filled the void!..... J-Bay is back!
http://www.aspworldtour.com/posts/29469/asp-returns-to-jeffreys-bay
Good news!
mr roller please update your link for J Bay to the correct one here:
http://www.swellnet.com/news/form-guide/2014/02/25/asp-returns-jeffreys-bay
wink wink mods :)
Ha...cheers OO.
@offshoreozzie,
Right you are.
Swellnet forevahs!
CJ has a sense of humour and appreciates a bit of colour in the dullness that is surf-journalism.
see @hobgoods twitter feed.
Interesting how he points out the reason they were taken down was because other tour surfers complained.
Maybe the ASP can do a quick show of hands amongst the surfers, and see who is willing to be part of the LS Power Rankings, like good old CJ.
Donny just gave a big shoutout to Lewis! Proved himself big time in that heat against Kai.
Shoulda gave the kook another black eye...or a coner
yea, used it as motivation. good on 'em,
Man, Lewis Samuels' 'power rankings'?! Seriously, fucken what by fucken who? I was prepared for fireworks, and all I got was this damp squib?! Tsk tsk tsk (heavy sigh), it seems all too much the case with the kids these daze, generation whatever-it-is (generation 'whatever'?). Millennial angst has left them with goldfish-memory syndrome as a coping mechanism. Everything has been done, nothing is new, history has ended. So let's pretend we're doing something new, and don't forget to be super-positive about it to boot. No critics/haters, please. Haters gotta/gonna hate. AND I reckon the embourgeoisement of all things previously 'underground-ish' has to take the blame somewhat for this fawning balderdash masquerading as fucking worthiness. FUUUUUCK, I dunno what the fuck is bugging me about all this, but I do know this, comrades, Lewis Samuels is not fit to lick Derek Hynd's Gaza-esque eye socket. And yet, his splodgeness abounds. Jesus (or is that Yeezus?!) wept.