Break-away Tour

[rdennhs]

I just saw this tonight, but had heard about it a week or two ago briefly. What chy'all think.


http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au...013449,00.html

[DeeAre]

Doesn't he know AI will be back next year and then it's ON for #10?

On the other hand, watching this group of 16 charge Cloudbreak on ESPN HD would be fucking rad. Sure would beat the shitty little webcast screen.

[Hugh Conway]

The Champions League in soccer is the best soccer on TV because it takes the highest finishing teams in each of the leagues with the better leagues getting more places. They've beaten everyone else. Then they winnow that league down to the even better teams.

This league with 8 "permanent" and even worse 8 "wildcard" surfers looks like a surefire way for sponsors to lock in their favorites, greying stars to lock in their retirement and generally stagnate and kill the already dull beast that is professional surfing. In short it's as far from

Basically they are looking to present a fully professional sports package of surfing

as you can get.

The May-September time window is stupid as well (or is this to pander to Aussie's?). No Pipeline? WTF? It's like Monaco, not good competition but a fixture that has to be there. Teahupoo is bad enough for competition whats the point of a contest at Cloudbreak? Watching them hold a long barrel?

Not that pro surfing is perfect; it's far from it. This new tour just amplifies whats wrong with surfing as a sport - not enough competition from outside the top, too much influence from sponsors, too much emphasis on picking waves for photogenic media stills and not quality surfing.

[rdennhs]

are you saying no pipe in the new comp format? that would suck.

I am not a big fan of chopes, or cloudbreak but they definately would pull in more viewers..

[DeeAre]

Well said Hugh.
Restaurants then.

[Ottime]

I've surfed for over 25 years, and except for a few years when I was a teenager, I have never followed professional surfing. IMHO, it has always been boring, except for a few venues each year.

Still, if you think cloudbreak or chope are boring, how is it that pipeline is not? Generally, a similiar wave. Left had barrel.

But honestly, I don't really give a shit. I most likely will not watch or follow any of the tour anyway.

[rdennhs]

I should hold my breath when it comes to tahiti surfing, because both of those places are top 25 on the planet, and I have never surfed them, so it's not my place. Pipe on the other hand is a whole 'nother animal. The oval barrel at chopes is fascinating, but there isn't any room for turns or maneuvers. Pipe is just a dream, and i'm sure it will always be a part of the tour, no matter who runs it.
Ottime, I never followed pro surfing before they starting using the live webcam, its just much easier to follow now, and I like just watching the cam play thru the day and the sets come thru.