Kelly Slater goes Wonka with wavepool
Surfers the world over crave perfection, and in his wavepool Kelly Slater knows he's got the thing that everyone else wants. They'll lie, cheat, and steal, to get a slice of it.
Now surfers have a chance to ride the wavepool via more honourable means with Slater offering a Willy Wonka-style raffle, golden ticket and all. From the press release:
"One winner and their guest will experience two days and two nights of perfect waves, BBQ’s and bonfires with Kelly and his closest friends at Kelly Slater Wave Company’s Surf Ranch in Lemoore, California. Fans can enter for the chance to win their golden ticket to surf Kelly’s exclusive wave for as little as $10 through Omaze."
Of course, Kelly ain't gonna pocket the undoubtedly enormous windfall, all the money will be directed towards WSL PURE, the philanthropic initiative of the World Surf League. WSL PURE are "dedicated to supporting ocean health through the key areas of research, education and advocacy."
Says Kelly of his golden ticket raffle:
"I've had more requests than any one person can field or imagine about the Surf Ranch. I am excited to be giving away the chance of a lifetime to whoever wins these tickets. I'm inviting a few pros to join us. So the winner will get to come hang at Surf Ranch for a few days and share waves and get tips from some of the best surfers in the world. "
More info below. You can enter here.
Comments
WSL PURE are "dedicated to supporting ocean health through the key areas of research, education and advocacy."
So, what does that actually mean in practice?
Where would this money be going and how exactly would it be spent?
Not being totally cynical, but in this day and age basic transparency should be a given.
Here's some info:
Why is that, as soon i saw the letters WSL, the cause lost all credibility...
Ha, ha I love your outlook on WSL Nick. I too have a hard time getting my head around WSL maybe it is just the Aussie outlook on life jarring with that of the USA. Hope you got a wave last week as this weekend definitely west is best.
Beautiful ironies all through that promo vid.
Mostly a technology being developed that takes people away from the ocean and any connection with the natural world by supplying man-made waves (at a profit, one guesses) being used to spruik research into the ocean.
Still wonder, how much of the money goes to scientific research , how much gets skimmed for fees and admin?
I always think those promos like book a surfing trip with pro surfers at resorts etc are totally lame.
But I have entered and I've never wanted to win a comp more in my life.
Ha ha ha...good luck ID.
06-06-16 come back
The only way it becomes a feel good story for me if who ever wins it is disabled or the ticket winner gives it away to someone who is. Philanthropy is always better then greed, but why do I feel like a peasant all of a sudden? Then again don't get me wrong, I would of bought a private jet not a wave pool in some freezing climate, about the same investment dollar for dollar?
For the record might put a business model in front of the honorable former MP for fisher. You guys have Webber's Number right, It's gotta have more merit then a dinosaur park, Not sure it will require 200 staff to run it either. All you pro golfers reading swellnet, back the fucker. There are countless starving surfer's in this neck of the woods. You get money we get waves- what's not to like? Appleby- call it Great white hope enterprises just to fuck with the shark. Palmer call it Palmer perfect. Build a wall. They will come.
IMO the surf ranch and others like it are the next wave, about to break the boundaries of surfing, by letting anyone have a break in their own backyard. I hope the Tokyo olympics get on board and build one!
Hey--Kelly's friends and the WSL boys get to surf there for free--why should you have to pay? The WSL has the backing of Dirk Ziff (who bought kelly's wave pool- he's a multi-billionaire) money to burn--He's giving the WSL 30 million dollars this year to keep them afloat--maybe he should be donating a mil or 2 and let a small crew surf the wave tank for free.. If you really care about the ocean and the environment--be responsible--don't pollute--donate to a worthy cause out of a good heart, and then head down to the beach today and have a 'free surf' in the 'real ocean'--you'll be glad you did...
Hey--Kelly's friends and the WSL boys get to surf there for free--why should you have to pay? The WSL has the backing of Dirk Ziff (who bought kelly's wave pool- he's a multi-billionaire) money to burn--He's giving the WSL 30 million dollars this year to keep them afloat--maybe he should be donating a mil or 2 mil. to this cause--and let a small crew surf the wave tank for free.. If you really care about the ocean and the environment--be responsible--don't pollute--donate to a worthy cause out of a good heart, and then head down to the beach today and have a 'free surf' in the 'real ocean'--you'll be glad you did...
K. s. can keep his wave tank. Am I the only guy who doesn't want to--or feel a need to--surf this wave tank?
(Dromodreamer) in footsteps of Giant Qld golfer/surfer 'Great White Shark' ! (GWS own surf Islands? ) +(freerider)Surf just Surf,pure with universal,bodysurfing endlessly shapeshifting new manoeuvres every second ever changing your ride thru life.Each ride physically surfing within you till returning to next. Must I be honest here ? I'm waiting for Surfside 760 to the station. Stretch limo rocks up.... with perfect waves oozing from jacuzzi,promo babes dancing barrels down all footpaths and lanes..Surfdevilkelly leans out deathly palms a sticker "Looks like you could do with some shade BRO"! ' I'm good thanks Mr surf Devil, I ride Sundays FREE on Go Card'! I swear if 760 or Huey stand me up one more time, then Huey himself will have to fish me out of kellywonkawaveworld.
Just tried to enter yesterday for the 3rd Golden ticket. Ticked the $25 option. A scam company in Dublin promptly withdrew $1500. Thank heavens the credit card company picked up on it. So, now I don't have an entry and I don't have a credit card. Man these internet scammers are arseholes!
Wow.. Really? That's heavy stuff.
Yeah, I've written to Omaze (the mob that the charity runs through) to let them know - but I'm doubtful that I'll hear anything back. I did a quick search and there are plenty of unsatisfied former donators who never received merchandise they were supposed to receive. Although not receiving merchandise is obviously different to having your card scammed. Maybe the page I was on wasn't the official page? It looked official enough, and I received a "welcome to Omaze" flyer in my emails.
Ol Baldy took a bunch of mates to his wave pool today - Stabmag
Jeezus , Bede Durbos Wave pool barrel .