Billabong Pro Jeffreys Bay Downgrades from ASP World Title to ASP 6-Star for 2012
The famed righthanders of Jeffreys Bay will play host to an ASP 6-Star event in 2012.
COOLANGATTA, Queensland/AUS (Friday, February 24, 2012) – The Billabong Pro Jeffreys Bay, Event No. 5 of 11 on the 2012 ASP World Championship Tour, has been officially downgraded to an ASP 6-Star event for 2012.
In an official statement today, Billabong said: “The change in event status follows a broader review in which we are seeking to identify cost savings throughout the business. By retaining an event at Jeffreys Bay, it now provides two qualifying events back to back in the South African region. The move to an ASP 6-Star also opens the event up to South Africa’s aspiring pro surfers for the first time in 20 years and ensures continuity of the event for the local businesses in Jeffreys Bay.”
The downgrade drops the 2012 ASP World Championship Tour calendar from 11 events to 10, with surfers now counting their best 8 out of 10 results towards their ASP World Title ranking.
“We agreed as a Board that whilst very regrettable, the commercial realities are such that a pragmatic approach by ASP at this time seemed sensible,” Richard Grellman, ASP Executive Chairman, said. “Billabong have been long-time supporters of professional surfing and still sponsor three of the ten World Championship Tour events and we look forward to our deep relationship with them continuing.”
The 2012 ASP World Championship Tour will commence this Saturday, February 25, 2012, with the Quiksilver and Roxy Pro presented by Land Rover.
The event will be webcast LIVE on http://www.quiksilverlive.com/
For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com
Comments
Category: All ASP News, ASP Star News, ASP World Tour News
As the South African government turns a blind eye to white tourists and locals being slaughtered by criminals, this is a very rational action by billabong and other international decision makers. Lets hope Zuma and Pillay realize this too.
Sadly dissappointed. Business is business and as a local, now international traveller, there is no business without an exchange of services for a competitive fee. JBay needs to up its competitive marketing to stay in the game. It’s not always about the wave, it is how the game is played. Long live JBay, let us play on.
Au revoir.
Sad day for J-bay, South Africa, Billabong, Country Feeling and fans
Gee,this sucks. Every year I’m a traveller from Jhb to JB, and just so enjoy the vib down on the beach. Any comments from the TOP GUYS… what are their views on missing out on JBAY.
bummer. just lost a bit chunk of my enthusiasm for this years tour.
Very sad news indeed. In stead of angrily posting I took some time to digest this info. I have been watching this event since it was the Country Feeling classic up ’till modern times sitting in a London office watching the live stream (sad times in itself :p )
I can understand possibly why another sponsor haven’t swooped in, given Billabong’s super strong brand presence in the area. Everyone knows it as the Billabong pro, it would be hard to change that perception and brand awareness of a J-Bay hosted event to something like the ” Monster Energy J-Bay classic” for example.
On a more positive note, I’m happy the local rippers can surf J-Bay and increase their exposure, hopefully against a handful of the top pros, who knows
Finally, I hope that J-Bay throws a defiant finger in the air and pumps out some epic conditions, like that time Tom Curren surfed it in that Pink Rip curl wetsuit of his all those years ago
!!!
It gets even worse. The nuclear plants seem to be going through and Thyspunt/near Jbay is one of the frontrunners to be approved. When this wave and town needs it most, it gets dropped. The more they take away the international importance away the greater chance that this will go through.
I challenge the ASP top boys to come and surf Jbay as the 6 star prime event.
Idiots. All I can say, I am surrounded by idiots.
your Monday newsleter is broken. i tried to click on the Awards and it took me here.
Our apologies. Try here: http://www.aspworldtour.com/2012/02/23/2012-asp-world-surfing-awards-honors-champions-amidst-rock-extravaganza/
I used to watch all events live, but now that we moved to the city events, I lost interest a bit. It’s not a worthy arena for the best surfers in the world. Jbay of the calender makes it even worse. Is redbull, Energy or any other foodcompany not interested?
Those branches are usually more crisis proof.
This HAS to be a joke. Take the best wave on tour off the tour? WHAT? Has everyone lost their minds.
well just look at what the bodyboarders are getting this year,they just had solid pipe and next event is the box in WA…later on in the year its arica ,el gringo.puerto escondido,etc.surely spongers cant be competing in better waves than surfers?
Fine don’t post my comment, I will make sure it gets out there on another platform…..you guys (ASP) used to rock my world and now you are becoming this dictatorship – destroying what so many fans love. Try to listen to other peoples advice sometimes and take criticism the right way and lets grow together.
Not sure what your comment was Brian. Maybe try again.
Wonder if it was offered up to someone – like perhaps Nike? I think the comp should be a CT event, and ASP should really be backing the best waves as venues for the best surfers. If Billabong can’t afford it, then some other brands should be given an opportunity to take that on. Or even co-sponsor like the Australian Open recently. Commercial reality means some diversification and some clever thinking, but it could mean some great partnerships that run further than just the event.
Massive shame – JBAY is an incredible event – should be a CT.
The possibility of having other brands step in and support the event is always on the table.
I think this is a big blow to the surfing world. Quality surf is what makes a great contest. J-Bay delivers consistent surf most years. The ASP should have found another sponsor for the event and not taken the easy way out.
The opportunity for another brand to come in and support the event is always on the table.
My understanding was that nike got blocked a few years ago by the big three that comprise the ‘surfing capital’ of the world, and had to settle for a second tier event!
Well, we cannot comment on what happened a few years ago, but if that was the attitude then it has certainly changed in the last few years with Nike becoming a huge part of the ASP program with major event and athlete sponsorship. As we’ve stated a few times in the aftermath of the Jeffreys Bay downgrade, the opportunity for another brand to step in and support the event is always on the table.
Did the ASP approach other potential sponsors – who – before making this decision?
The ASP is open to other sponsors coming in to support the Jeffreys Bay event. That option is always on the table.
billabong should let brazilian event for a brazilian sponsor (hang loose, mormaii,etc…)and keep sponsoring jbay.i think it would be better for every one.billabong is known as a big and powerfull waves sponsor (such as pipeline, teahupoo and j bay) .brazilian sponsors gives more importance for the wave quality than they do about the profitable site (if billabong really wants an event at Rio de Janeiro it should be held on saquarema or itacoatiara)
thanks for the attention sorry for the english
Billabong may be sold to or face a hostile takeover by TPG Capital. The stock price has plummeted, they sold half their stake in Nixon and they just can’t afford certain things anymore. This may only be the start.
What is J Bay without Parko, Mick, TB, Slater (even though he didnt show last year – he definitely wont be there this year)? The top top 34 will not be surfing J Bay this year. I just hope the wave garden doesnt replace it.
Have I been in a coma and its aprils fools day, that is the only explantion for this
That sucks!!!!! Surfing is degenerating into a commercial monster where money is more important than anything else,how can billabong possibly justify this!!! I will never buy a billabong product again and will not watch another crap ‘one air wins it’ beach break event ever again.
Well then, ASP World tour is going to be pathetic without this stop. Rated as the second best wave in the world! One of the few spots where you can be sure that the best surfer on the day will win, not the guy who gets lucky by getting the best waves. This is complete BS. What is happening here????????????
Great for everyone on the way up! Get there and enjoy the best wave in the world. Help the local economy with non-stars who will actually pay for meals in the local haunts and appreciate the opportunity. 4 people out at Jbay is cool and every qualifying grom out there is salivating today. And when they become stars, they will never forget their first trip…
as a south african surfer it is a bitter sweet pill , from a WCT professional perspective its not that bad depending on who you are. If you Jordy or Travis then this is a loss however luckily these guys perform well anywhere in the world . But it does help boost our local circuit which only has Mr price pro as a prime rated contest. This event being 6 star is great for us as ive always dreamed of surfing perfect J-Bay with only 4 guys in the water.
Take away the carving, tubes and generally ‘solid surfing’ waves like J-Bay and the tour suddenly moves one step closer towards the aerialists; a good mix of waves is vital for the best surfer to win the title in 2012.
Shockingly sad!
This is devastating news! One of the biggest highlights of my year was driving over to Jbay to watch the pro’s in my ocean. I can’t believe it’s not going to happen this year! Can’t another sponsor save this event? I don’t want to even imagine what this is going to do to Jbay. Sis
Maybe the people at ASP anticipate the imminent disappearance of the wave after the authorities build their %$#&* nuclear reactor around the corner.
I’m sure that if the elites surfer had a choice of either Brazil or J-Bay there little arguement,regardless of the downgrade it’s going to be interesting to see how many of the elites surfers will still come to JBay.
I am not going to bag Billabong as they still hold the most CT events but drop the comp in Rio.Every other event on its day can be good to perfect but Rio come on no one dreams of surfing that place.I say boycot the web for that one.In fact my grom just said he would rather watch J Bay than pipe and so would I.
Damn. Good to have another 6 star for the boys back here in SA. But sucks to lose Jbay as a tour event. Guess we nees Jbay back next year and then another six star nearby. Maybe at that wave in Namibia. Def sucks a bit for Jordy.
wow! don’t expect too many spectators on the beach watching. If the top surfers are not going to be there….then neither will I.
>wow! don’t expect too many spectators on the beach watching. If the top surfers are >not going to be there….then neither will I.
Well, that’s part of the problem. The crowds were sparse for the Billabong Pro in past years. Unless everybody was hiding upstairs, there weren’t more than a few hundred watching … free of charge … free parking. So a few made it down from Jozi … where were the thousands who could not bother to make it from P.E. or the Western Cape?
How did retail fare? Bearing in mind that Jeffreys Bay probably has 10% of the retail surf merchandise space that Torquay, Australia does. And probably less than 1% of the sales volume.
There’s still world class surfing to be seen at Supertubes with a 6 star event. Were those cheap “10′s” given out this year? If you Saffers don’t support it at this level, expect your surf culture to go the way of the now marginalised tennis scene.
It’s funny how no one mentions local South African money being used to support the event. I wonder why?
Its amazing that the pro tour of a sport / recreation, that is practised by millions of people of all ages worldwide is still only in existence as a promotional tool for several large surf companies. The forecast for retailing is bleak and some of the big brands have been around so long that their cool factor is sliding. The people who run the tour have to look to bring in sponsors from outside to open the sport up more, as i said we are in our millions and we are consumers of more things then just surf apparel.If the tough times continue for the major companies in particular how many more tour events will be downgraded or canceled.
This is a discrace! J Bay encourages down the line surfing! Big Curves! Big Barrels, Clean surfing that everyone loves! Good surfing is good surfing, puting it all together and not just a boring air reverses every wave that looks ugly! Julian Wilson is the only “new school” surfer who can match the clean down the line surfing that Parko,Fanning,Slater and TKnox have! I guarrentee that if you bring back waves that actually allow more than 3 turns, you will see the cream of the crop rise to the top! I for one am sick of watching surfing which is dominated by one turn! Bad Call Billabong!
It’s not exactly the “Dream Tour” if you take all the dream spots out. Tahiti is next I’m sure. Very sad….
terrible news. J-Bay is a classic competition & woeful for surfing that $ & corproate mishaps have seen this downgrade. yes the corporates bring the $ & make things like live webcasts possible (or at least I assume they do) however would be great if ASP continued to back this as a CT event and don’t know how lack of $ translates to it being a lesser event?
what if all the corporates lost money would there be no CT events?
This wave IS the most important on tour. It offers the longest tube rides, the best carves. It’s fast and technically challenging. Only the best of the best can read it right and draw the right lines. It requires top physical conditions and mental excellence. It should be mandatory for a world tour champion to show his worth at a place like Jeffrey’s bay.
Yet another unfortunate reality of the path professional surfing is heading down in this day and age. To think that Billabong were willing to demote an event at a wave as iconic as J Bay, over say, the beach breaks of Brazil, really shows where the priorities now lie. Brazil is obviously a huge potential market for revenue, and one to which South Africa, even in all its six-foot freight train glory (ok, except for last year), is incomparable. Now let’s not kid ourselves, surf companies have always and will always be businesses driven by sales profits. And the market is a tough place right now, there are more hungry companies than ever trying to grab a slice of that pie. But ultimately, with decisions such as these there are going to be losers, and the losers are the top 32 and the spectators. People want to see the best surfers in the world competing in the best waves in the world, and whilst a six star ‘qs event is nothing to scoff at, it is definitely not considered in the same league as the WCT.
It’s starting to feel more and more like those dream years between 1999 and 2005 were just a dream.
Nat, you can imagine how many surfers only surf beachbreaks on the world? Please, don’t put Brasil in your argument in this way, cause surf in beachbreaks is surf too. I really love JBay, like many others… sad day.
Well said…
Market fluctuations are like tides: they rise and fall, come in and go out. Every period of prosperity in all of human history is followed by varying degrees of decline. Some years we get one great swell after another and others we get hardly any swell at all. Surfing is no more immune to these vagaries than any other market. Cynical comments like yours, Nat, display tremendous ignorance and only fuel the kind of limited thinking that makes such declines both more inevitable as well as lengthier. Negativity NEVER produces solutions and requires zero talent. If Billy had the money to keep this event a CT-er for this season they no doubt would. Professional surfing, in relative terms, is still doing better than ever. This is merely a period of adjustment as it is for all markets forced to confront rising energy and transportation costs. The end of cheap and abundant oil is upon us and this will continue to affect everything – ESPECIALLY surfing, which, for most, is a luxury.
If the swell for this year’s J-Bay event is predicted to be good then I am willing to bet much of the CT’s top talent will make the trek (incentivizing top talent by kicking down appearance fees would be a good move as well).
Most of the events are still at top-tier breaks. Nearly every year has had at least one so-so spot and many of the prime locations have suffered pretty poor conditions several times (Pipe and Chopes have both had many very substandard days in the past decade during events while NYC shocked everyone – that’s nature for you).
When the whiners are ready to put their money where their mouths are they might have something resembling a point/argument. Til then save your nickel and dime negativity and try real thinking – for real change.
one of the best waves in the world relegated to a star comp, why? commercialism? admittedly i dont know the full story, but it still seems nuts…
BS iconic wave, only stop in Africa. Step backwards after some progress!
very unfortunate for south africa.. will the top 34 still head over for this event?
I would think only those who need the ratings points will.