The Assessment Part III: Number of Newcomers Per Rotation
Josh Kerr (AUS), 27, has been around the qualifying block a few times. Now he's locked in, imagine that.
COOLANGATTA, Queensland/Australia (Friday, October 21, 2011) – ASP World Tour Manager and multi-decade veteran of the the ASP Renato Hickel has offered the the first two portions of his insights into the radical transitions that the sport has undergone in the past 24 months, and now we’re prepared for number three. Spawned in the ASP Board Meetings of October 2009, these transitions dealt specifically with the system for determining the world’s best surfers who would ultimately decide the undisputed ASP World Champion. In August of 2010, we reduced the number of elite-level surfers from 45 down to 34 and introduced the current 36-man event format. In December of 2010, we used a bridge qualifying criteria which took a select number of surfers directly off the ASP World Title rankings and another select number of surfers directly off the ASP World Rankings.
Commencing in 2011, this transition took full flight with the launching of the ASP World Rankings and the rolling 52-week determination of an individual surfer’s ranking. In August of this year, the ASP completed its first official rotation of the ASP Top 34 with newcomers Gabriel Medina (BRA), 17, Miguel Pupo (BRA), 19, John John Florence (HAW), 19, and Travis Logie (ZAF), 32, becoming full-fledged members of the ASP Top 34 beginning with the Hurley Pro at Trestles. The ASP Technical Committee, comprised of surfers, events and ASP administrators, has been monitoring the situation closely and will continue to do so. Renato Hickel was kind enough to offer his perspective on a number of questions that will be provided in segments and here’s the third one. This…is the story…
Number of Newcomers Per Rotation:
We have four new surfers integrated the elite ASP Top 34 from this recent midyear Rotation. Taking into consideration that with the previous system (CT/QS), we averaged an exchange of 10 new surfers out of 45 per year (22% annually) –> to exchange four out of 34 in a six-month period (11% semi-annually which is on par for 22% annually) is exactly the same as the previous system.
Here, I would like to bring to your attention that the quantity is not really the main objective behind any designed system, rather the quality of the eventual new surfers on the Elite. We will likely have Rotations with more than four surfers and others with less, all pending on the success of established ASP Top 34 and the newcomers able to obtain the necessary points on offer. As examples, John John Florence, Willian Cardoso and Granger Larsen could easily have made into this Rotation with QF births in Star events throughout the European leg. John John didn’t even enter the European events (basically did half year of results) but had still enough points to be the first surfer in with the relinquished position of Yadin Nicol. William Cardoso and Granger Larsen simply didn’t perform in Europe.
The opportunities are absolutely there for those who wish to pursue them.
For those who are only just checking in, be sure to read up on The Assessment Part I and Part II
Comments
Category: All ASP News, ASP Editorial News
I think you should be even more agressive with the rotations. Instead of a 6 months rotation, make it at every event. It won’t be necessary to have 2 ranking systems, only the one world ranking and only the best 32 are allowed to compete in the wt events, reshuffling and re seeding at every event. A better distribution of prime and star events in between the wt ones would be necessary, but it’s possible. Take a look on CJ’s case. He could be back in the field after azores.. It would be even more dynamic… Just a thought…
I agree with Cristiano, just think about it…
Why bother with this useless discussion…let’s get this sport off the net and into ESPN or similar, after all the surf industry companies are making a killing, and considering the days when Occy was a grom where the contest winnings bought a condo in Sydney, so really it has all gone backwards, and the effort and innovation required to win contests is more than these ASP explanations…pay the guys (and surely the women – better than most guys) rewards matching their effort…I love the sport, so I want to see the continuous innovation and advancement for all involved. From Hawaii (a great place to live)…
I do support reducing the field to 34 and retooling the format to complete events in three days. Wise. I also like the round 4 three man shred fest; it definitely makes the action hotter at a point in the event that makes sense. I think it’s a great idea to create a format that makes it requisite for top CT surfers to attend QS events; their presence at such is a bon in every way. I love the positive spirit of competition and the levels it pushes people to. But…
… who are you really serving with this euphemistic “rotation” and why? This new addition seems awfully cannibalistic. The stress levels it places on athletes, most of whom are not paid well, isn’t necessary and only reinforces a selfishness that is already a serious problem in the world of surfing. What is best for the spectators (most of whom do not surf and likely never will) is not necessarily in the best interest of the surfers or surfing. The only thing that really sells surfing is great surfers in great waves. All the silly “tactics” and mind games the ASP is playing with itself is distracting, unnecessary, and appears to be contrary to acceptable behavior in local lineups, which has been making going surfing for people who live the lifestyle increasingly unpleasant.
Slater’s dual heat format was infinitely more interesting to watch. Why you chose not to implement it more often is a mystery not only to me but to most of my friends, several of whom are among the more well known and respected surfers anywhere in CA and beyond.
Medina would have gone on to blow minds and win events on the CT with or without this “rotation.” People will remember 2010′s bomb fest much longer than 2011′s final day of flyboy groveling (which is in no way intended to diminish the abilities of those who advanced).
I think it’s great that you are constantly taking creative approaches to figure out how to best promote the sport and I know that it is no easy feat to do so without possibly stepping on what makes the act so precious. But that is what needs to be considered above all else: at what point do we diminish the joy of what we love and devote our lives to in order to profit from it? In my opinion you guys have jumped the shark on this one. Careful you don’t fall in the tank and get eaten by your own show.
Why did this require three seperate posts? You guys look desperate to get people back here. Excellent reading, stop milking it though.
eliteism… The politics of this sport is mind boggling.. Keep it simple stupid.. Cut offs, 2 tier, big corps, blah blah .. Try to tell me Otts pit wasn’t the highlight of the event. Thats what we all tune in for..
F*#% all the tricks and theatrics and the ridiculous claims & turkeys in the booth ,my only beef is i chewed up all my monthly data allowance in two days viewing..