Rebel Tour

Australia's Surfing Life talks to Slater about Rebel Tour

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 3 August, 2009 : - - There’s little doubt that Kelly Slater has been stung by widespread criticisms of his perceived involvement in a proposed new pro surfing tour. Allegations that he was “cashing in” at the end of his career, dividing the sport, and even undermining the world title campaign of Joel Parkinson have been hurled at him since news of the proposed “ESPN Tour” broke during the Jeffreys Bay event.

While Kelly has sought to distance himself from the new tour, claiming he knows little more about it than any other surfer, his manager Terry Hardy is deeply involved. And after meetings with ESPN in California during the US Open, Kelly is in a position to comment in more detail on the tour, the motivation behind it, and his response to his critics.

“I will say that surfing has been my life since I was a little kid,” said Kelly in an email to ASL over the weekend. “Change always freaks people out and has caused a lot of negative stuff (along with positive) to be thrown my way,” he says. “I don't understand that ’cause I'm not changing anything alone and without full surfer support.

My only hope is to create a better environment competitively for surfing. The current structure is outdated and although it served a purpose at one time, in this day and age it's either time to change things while it's possible or continue to allow an outdated business model to limit the industry and hold back our tour's potential. If at the end of this the fans and the surfers have a better platform, why is anyone complaining? When you have the influence to make change, it's irresponsible not to do the right thing with that and the surfers have that ability as a group.”

While Kelly has been upset by the new tour being described as “Kelly’s Tour,” there’s no doubt he has been encouraging other surfers to listen the organisers’ case, and that his endorsement would be key to its success. Why does he see the need for a new tour?

“My main motivation is firstly to see pro surfing set up properly from the ground level,” says Kelly. “Most people out there probably don't understand the need or why this is happening. The ASP does not own their own media rights, the events (sponsors) do. This limits and effectively stops any chance to actually do business outside of what is controlled by the current sponsors, and the event sponsors are never going to vote away those rights at the board level (which they also control 50 per cent of). Ultimately, this change is clearly the best thing for the surfers themselves.

Also, it's to provide the best platform to show surfing and create the most dynamic format that gives everyone surfing the best chance to give the top performance they can. All this talk of trying to undermine what Joel is doing right now on tour is completely false. I don't seek to take away from surfing or what surfers are doing. In fact, just the opposite. If this is the right thing, Joel himself will be key to its success as will the other surfers.”

One of the inducements of the new tour is that organisers are offering comprehensive insurance coverage for all competitors, something that has been a sticking point between the surfer’s union, the WPS, and current event sponsors. They are also being offered travel and accommodation expenses and a share in an annual bonus pool for all competitors…

Head to surfinglife.com.au to read the whole article or join in the fierce discussion which has ensued since it was published earlier today.

www.surfinglife.com.au
www.morrisonmedia.com.au

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will Hayden-Smith

Rebel Tour - Surfersvillage