Wade Carmichael Sets Sights On ASP World Junior Title
Wade Carmichael putting his powerful backhand on display at the Billabong Tahiti Nui Pro Junior. Pic Will H-S
In between events Carmichael works as a lifesaver at Avoca beach on the NSW Central Coast. With no support from a major sponsor, travelling and competing can be expensive, but Wade’s Aussie battler work ethic has seen him work hard for his money and achieve some impressive contest wins.
In April Carmichael won back-to-back events in French Polynesia, and overtook Cooper Chapman as the ASP Australasian Pro Junior Series ratings leader. Due to the cancellation of two events and the fact that there are no more contests on this year’s calendar, Wade has all but won the prestigious ASP Australasian Pro Junior Series title. There are a couple of potential event sponsors in discussions with the ASP about possibly hosting an event before the September cut-off date, but at the moment it’s looking like Wade will join the likes of Taj Burrow, Joel Parkinson, Adrian Buchan, Owen Wright and a swathe of Australian surfing stars who have claimed top honours on the ASP Australasian Pro Junior Series.
The next step for Wade is the ASP World Junior Tour, where the top rated surfers from all of the seven ASP regions (Australasia, Europe, North America, Hawaii, South America, Africa and Japan) will compete for the coveted ASP World Junior Title. Wade’s ability to mix devastatingly powerful carves with innovative aerials will see him be major threat to take the title, not-to-mention the fact that he’s already tasted success at two of the ASP World Junior Tour stops, he won the event at Burleigh earlier this year, and also won the Billabong Pro Junior Asia at Keramas, Bali in 2010.
ASP Australasia caught up with Wade to find out what it’s like being on top and what he can offer potential sponsors.
You won three events this year, what has changed from previous years?
I lost my sponsorship with Rip Curl at the start of last year, but ended up getting a scholarship from Surfing Australia to train with Jeremy Shepherd and Martin Dunn. It has been a big help working with them. Jeremy has been giving me a really good fitness program and I’ve been sticking to that and training hard. I wasn’t happy with my result in last year’s Pro Junior Series, so I wanted to do really good this year. I put my head down and had a good crack at it because I was sick of losing.
You’re number 1 on the ratings, how does it feel?
It’s a really good feeling. I’m happy with the way I’m surfing and everything I’ve been doing out of the water. It’s good to know that my hard work is paying off. I’ll keep it going and try push my surfing even further.
You’d be feeling confident about the ASP World Junior Tour, you’ve won a comp at Keramas, and you’ve won at Burleigh. Will Wade be the 2012 ASP World Junior Champion?
Yeah I’m confident heading into the ASP World Junior Tour. Keramas and Burleigh are both really good waves, I love surfing them and I feel comfortable at both spots. I’m going to try my hardest at both events and put in a lot of hard work to give myself the best possible chance of taking the title. It would be unreal if I picked up a sponsor before then because it would give us both great exposure.
What’s your sponsorship situation?
I currently have no major sponsor, but it’s not really affecting my surfing. If anything it’s made me push harder to try and win more and get better, but it’s harder to get everywhere out of my own pocket. It definitely hasn’t changed what I want to do in life. I’m just going to keep going and give it my best shot with or without a sponsor.
What can you offer to potential sponsors?
I think that I surf different to most of the junior surfers. I don’t just do airs all the time. I love doing turns, big carves and just mixing it up with some airs as well. I try not to be repetitive in my surfing. I’m always pretty happy, I’m surfing everyday, always trying to find the best waves and if there isn’t any waves around I’m always keeping active going fishing and playing golf… even though I’m terrible. I’ll do my very best to promote my sponsors and build a long lasting relationship with them.
What is it like having Barton Lynch in your corner as your manager?
It’s great, he has given me a lot of confidence in my surfing. He’s made me want to push myself more and helped me out with some areas I need to improve in my surfing and heat strategies. He’s made me believe in my strengths and know that what I can do is good enough to win and to just keep it simple.
Do you see yourself qualifying for the ASP World Championship Tour?
Right now without a sponsor I think it’s going to be really hard to do the ASP Prime and Star events all over the world, but I’m going to do what I can and see how it goes. If I can get a sponsor soon it will help me so much! Getting on the WCT is my goal and I’m going to do everything I can to get there.
Category: All ASP News, ASP Editorial News
Agree with all the above comments
Its a nice story, glad to see one of the underdogs get up, also its rare seeing a new age kid focusing on rail to rail surfing while still having a new bag of tricks as well
My advice is that you do a lot of research into companies with money for example nike marketing budget is bigger than most major surf brands total equity also focus on your management chasing and following up deals…. Winning ASP pro juniors back to back MATE you should already be hooked up, unless you already have been knocking back deals cause your chasing massive $$$$.
I seen wade surf he does flare up…. keep working hard champ
Something else keep in touch with as many contacts and networks as you can ( bust down the door buddy) remember sometimes its not what ya know but who you know
Good luck
wade rips but why would main sponsors jump in straight away sure hes got a future in surfing but its only been 5 months into the year.just because hes been winning this year doesnt mean anything in my eyes.If he is still consistent at the end of the year/next year then yeah then he should deserve a sponsor just because hes in form now who knows what the the rest of the year may hold
At Macs,
Definitely not stabbing at Wade, he’s the nicest kid I’ve ever met. Like I said previously the kid is amazing and I hope he does get picked up by a sponsor who will take him all the way.
As far as being involved personally in one of the smaller companies is concerned thats also off the table, but the Central Coast is a small place. You see things, hear things and have that information confirmed by others you know within the surfing industry. My concern lays with Wade climbing the ladder.
Being in my line of work, I am constantly studying the financial market, and anyone who has been paying attention lately knows that all of the large brands are in a major cost cutting phase. Even the ones who aren’t publicly admitting it are going through cost cutting procedures to ensure that their best interests are served. Unfortunately this process requires the companies to cut team numbers to ensure they can keep their marquee members, theres a lot of surfers (and notable ones) out there at the moment who have all of a sudden found themselves without a ride, or been handed the ultimatum of going back onto a product sponsorship. Due to the economic downturn in the retail sector, the sad fact is that if you aren’t currently on a Major Label and earning the big bucks, your chances of stepping onto a major paying ride and extremely diminished.
My comments with regards to sourcing cash from a couple of smaller labels are simply that of someone who can see the advantages of if you take a few smaller deals to get you to the places that you need to be, you will eventually climb that ladder and land a Major deal. If you have a look back at some of the surfers noted in the above named story and their sponsorship history your will see that they also took the path that I am referring to.
Yeah, fair enough and you know it makes sense in that light. However once again as I said if you tie yourself up you may miss out on the big fish. The bottom line is a few thousand dollars goes no where in surfing. 2 maybe 3 airfares, I think he’s doing the right thing by backing himself but hey that’s just my opinion.
Why hasnt this kid been signed?,
Wins a contest in bells then the trials, then wins against the worlds best juniors,
Someone jump in!
Lets see volcom or hurly pick him up
Well in Aaron!
If you are a Major label and have read this story come on! Pull ya sox up!
Hurley – you sponsor Barton, why not take on his protege???
Comment 1. Sounds like you may be involved in one of these smaller companies and in your nicest words are actually having a stab at Wade.
The reason Wade would decline a small deal with a small local company is because he would have to sign a contract and possibly miss out on something bigger. He is the number 1, he will get his sponsor and he’s doing the right thing working for his cash. That will teach him good values for the long road ahead.
I too know and surf with Wade sometimes and he has the skills to make it, seems determined enough so good luck Wade, hope you get the junior world title bro.
This kid has real talent! Watch him surf regularly when he is at home and love watching him destroy his local at avoca.
Interestingly though, the sponsorship problem is still looming for him. Knowing some inside information would be interesting. Given the current financial climate for the industry it’s no surprise that companies are skint on funds to support a great talent such as Wade. With already dwindling team numbers due to budget cuts ect. It’s a great shame. He has some great support though from his shaper which is fantastic. Support has reared it’s head in the past though. He did have the backing of a small apparel company who were offering to begin paying the youngsters way for trips and contest entries. And a company affiliated with his current traction supplier had also offered a small amount of financial support. Which leads the question, why has this help been declined?
If I am honest it appears a ploy by “management” to receive a slice of the pie. Don’t get me wrong, the kid is worthy of a great deal and everyone wants that for him. But the failings of the retail industry are causing the kitty to run dry.
So the question remains, why did his manager advise him to not take on contracts that would see him traveling more and not having outgoing expenses for contests and travel?