Rebel Tour / Champions Surf Tour (RT/CST ??)

Rebel Tour ruckus roars, Claims and counter-claims abound

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 7 December, 2009 : - - Last week, Australia's Surfing Life (ASL) magazine reported the Rebel Tour were holding negotiations with surfers, and claiming to have signed up Kelly Slater, Dane Reynolds, Andy Irons, Bruce Irons, Ry Craike, Rob Machado, Taj Burrow, Shane Dorian, Mitch Coleborn, Clay Marzo.

Mick Fanning, Joel Parkinson, Jordy Smith were reported to be definite NOs, and would be staying committed to the ASP World Tour. It was revealed the  CST (Champions Surf Tour/Rebel Tour) would consist of 8 events from September to December 2010, with a 9th final Championship event. The ASP confirmed that Andy Irons is yet to commit to his wildcard position on next year’s ASP tour.    

Kelly Slater reportedly said, 'Not sure where you got that from but I will say, it’s not dead,' (the Rebel Tour), when ASL asked him to comment on rumours that the so-called ESPN Champions Surf Tour (CST) was back. 

Now the counter-Claims;

This morning,  The Australian suggested last week's rumours of the rebels being a formidable force are greatly exaggerated. Taj Burrow and Bede Durbidge both confirmed to The Australian that they had been approached by representatives of the rebel tour.

Outcome? Burrow had declined; Durbidge would "probably not" defect.

Burrow said "I don't really like the sound of it, to be honest. The guy I spoke to didn't seem to know that much. I just thought they'd be a lot better and a lot more organised in their approach. It doesn't sound like they're going to get the very best guys. If that's the case, I'm definitely not interested".

Burrow continued, "I'd only do it if all the very best guys were doing it. I'm not interested in separating the top ten in the world. it seems silly. it will just dilute it, i think. I haven't heard any figures, or seen anything in writing. It would have to be a hell of a lot for everyone to jump ship. Everything is set in stone with the ASP. The ASP is getting a lot better. My feeling is to continue with the ASP, they are getting better and better. 

Andy Irons confirmed to Surfline on the weekend he would be accepting his wildcard spot on the ASP tour in 2010. And Slater? ASP CEO Brodie Carr told The Australian he hadn't spoken to Slater lately, but had assumed he would be returning to the ASP fold in 2010. "Kelly's qualified (for 2010), so until he tells me otherwise I'm assuming he's on the (ASP) tour," Carr said.

Carr said he had confirmation two other rumoured defectors - Dane Reynolds and Clay Marzo - would not be signing with the Rebels. Shane Dorian another rumoured Rebel Tour participant told the Australian "I don't even know what the rebel tour is. I'm so far out of that loop it's ridiculous."

The rumour mill is alive and well, claim and counter-claim will no doubt continue into the immediate future and right to the end of the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing. The coming holiday season will no doubt deliver developments, and fianlly it would seem, surfers willing to join the Rebel Tour, will have until the Quiksilver Pro in late February 2010 to make their postion known, if they want to surf in that event. 

Read The Australian  - Rebel surf tour still trying to take off

Read the ASL report - The Rebel Tour Rides Again

Related articles:

04/12 - Rebel Tour (CST) update: Looking like it's ON for 2010
16/11 - Scott Bass gives Rebel Tour eulogy: Elvis sightings next
12/10 - Rebel Tour officially pronounced dead by the Australian
21/09 - Hawaii Rebel Tour update after Trestles, same old thing
19/09 - Rebel Tour hits a naming problem with golfing drunks
15/09 - Confusion reigns over issue of Rebel Pro Surfing Tour
07/08 - mesurf.com has a laugh about all the Rebel Tour hype
05/08 - Financing for new alternate pro surfing tour scrutinized
03/08 - Aus. Surfing Life gets latest from Slater on Rebel Tour
31/07 - Dubbed 'Kelly's Tour', breakaway system rolling ahead

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