Check out this link. http://www.oxboweb.com/news-221.html
why?
That was pretty stupid, and they think they have the best idea!
How have they gone too far? They’ve set up a contest which defies the original contest format, allowing the surfers to display style to be judged by agreed upon peers and not company execs. They’ve pushed the style end of things rather then technical movements and allowed individuals, regardless of sex, to compete on their board of choice. To me, this sounds like an amazing contest getting back to some of the more grassroots exhibitions of surfing. Granted, it’s not going to be the US Open of surfing, but it’s not intended to be. Perhaps you could elaborate on why you think they’ve gone to far? Is it the “change”, if so, it’s called evolution.
I agree with you Christian. I thought “style” and “soul surfing” were the battle cries of the average guy who surfs but isn’t a pro. So why not cheer for Oxbow now that they have decided to embrace a more low-key, surfer oriented contest and judging process? Another observation: there are scores of Pro surfers out there who have plenty of style and love surfing just as much as anyone, so I really don’t get all the negative talk about pro surfers. They’re doing their best to make a living just like the rest of us. Granted, they have to be connected to the business side of life to do it, but which one of us “other surfers” who have regular jobs aren’t connected to the business world? Surfing and having a great time, ain’t that the bottom line? Doug
The list of twelve surfers looks like the oxbow team plus a few… Really come on…
These guys are all tri fin tail riders, besides Joel Rusty Keaulana - Hawaii Bonga Perkins - Hawaii Duane De Soto - Hawaii Colin Mc Philips - USA Joel Tudor - USA Taylor Jensen - USA Zack Howard - USA Mattew Moir – South Africa Jye Byrnes – Australia Beau Young – Australia Alex Salazar - Brazil Phil Rajzman – Brazil
What is this notion of tail rider or nose rider. What happened to every surfer having his own style. I like the guys who can mix it all up. People are trying new contest because the asp and pointed nose chips are a joke anyway. Who besides a bunch of kids can relate to that stuff. Who cares what type of contest Oxbow wants to run. Gone to far how… not falling for all the hype of the surf industry. Not playing the establishment of surfings rules.
surfing contest?? New, or old same old tired shit. Blah blah
Tri fin tail riders? This being the same bonga perkins who in SInglefin: Yellow took a new board made for simple cruising with huge square fin out at pipe on a good 8 - 10ft macking day? And Colin McPhillips, yeah no good either. Beau Young, the son of the guy who believes in riding anything well, yeah right again. Oxbow stepped up and made a contest built around the surfer’s peers, it doesn’t get more fair or respectful than that. Not to mention that Oxbow also sponsors most of the Longboarders out there anyway, hence the large number of team riders. Last ASP contest I checked about 12 to 14 of the guys were sponsored by quik… shame shame one them.
Good point Christian form NJ. The whole tail rider things comes form longboarders who can’t turn so they must cut it down. The older longboarders form the sixties were happy to have longboards that turned easier and is part of the reason they went short in the fist place. Granted it has gotten out of hand with pointed nose chips, which is why longboards and now hybrids have made a comeback. I like the format of the Oxbow contest. I look at guys like Cheyne Horan, Gary Elkerton, and Luke Egan who should have won a world title, but were unfarily judged because of not kissing ass to the asp closemindedness. ASP does not reward anyone on anything other than thruster chips.