Bare with me cos this could turn into a rant. About 2.30 this arvo I happened to log onto Seabreeze and noticed a very interesting post. It was by an individual who claimed to be part of Surfing Australia admin (the only one that did Stand Up as I recall) He was looking for ideas on who to seed into the Aussies as wild card entries. Threw out some worthy names, blokes who went through the trials but missed out by the skin of their teeth. Then came the semi pro long boarders who have at one time or another dabbled in SUP but didnt for whatever reason compete in the respective State Qualifiers. The immediate response seemed to be that the States should look after the selection of wild cards, guys like Lazza from Vicco or Noel Graham and the Goatman from NSW. Queeensland must have a dozen worthies who just missed out but on thier day could kick everyones butt. Whats the state of play in SA, WA and Tassie. So whats the story? Was this legit or is someone chain yanking. Will the Aussie Title holder this year be a grass roots ripper who has worked his or her way through the qualifying process or will it be someone with a sh.t load of talent but no real committment to the sport. Anyone really care that it kind of makes a mockery of the selection process in general? Why not just have an Aussie Title open to anyone who is a resident and can pay the entry fee?
The post disappeared after about 15 minutes before I suspect a monumental Sh.t storm erupted
Cheers
Sparx

bit off the topic as it doesn't relate to the above post, only in it's about semi pro longboarders, coincidentally right before reading this i was looking the ASP longboarder ratings. Semi pro is right and by definition only, check out the career and last years earnings
http://www.aspworldtour.com/rankings/asp-mens-longboard-world-ranking/

Not making any comments or judgements, just coincidence.

State selection gives those guys that don't have a name in the sport the opportunity to battle through a trial to get to the main event. Wildcards then give those guys that missed selection for one reason or another (illness, off day, whatever) a shot at the title.

Any true competitor wants to put their skills against the best, this allows for exactly that.

In most other sports you miss the trials bad luck. Wild cards are a good idea but not at the expense of others.

There's MANY underground longboarders who would kick serious butt on a sup but don't commit full on to sup'ing for whatever reason,just stating facts here so don't shoot me.
As Sparx title said (can of worms )and I did read that post thinking the same.
I agree the spots should go to the next person down the line.

PS,if enough people pull out who knows even LL could get a run

@ SP,mate all they get is free gear at the end of the day semi pro.


BTW may favorite colour is red

Well that would be me hehe

all in good fun lads

Sparx said...

Bare with me cos this could turn into a rant. About 2.30 this arvo I happened to log onto Seabreeze and noticed a very interesting post. It was by an individual who claimed to be part of Surfing Australia admin (the only one that did Stand Up as I recall) He was looking for ideas on who to seed into the Aussies as wild card entries. Threw out some worthy names, blokes who went through the trials but missed out by the skin of their teeth. Then came the semi pro long boarders who have at one time or another dabbled in SUP but didnt for whatever reason compete in the respective State Qualifiers. The immediate response seemed to be that the States should look after the selection of wild cards, guys like Lazza from Vicco or Noel Graham and the Goatman from NSW. Queeensland must have a dozen worthies who just missed out but on thier day could kick everyones butt. Whats the state of play in SA, WA and Tassie. So whats the story? Was this legit or is someone chain yanking. Will the Aussie Title holder this year be a grass roots ripper who has worked his or her way through the qualifying process or will it be someone with a sh.t load of talent but no real committment to the sport. Anyone really care that it kind of makes a mockery of the selection process in general? Why not just have an Aussie Title open to anyone who is a resident and can pay the entry fee?
The post disappeared after about 15 minutes before I suspect a monumental Sh.t storm erupted
Cheers
Sparx

Didn't this happen years ago for the Aussie title,
Wild card wins, Big can of worms..

PTWoody said...

I read that post this afternoon and couldn't help thinking the selection process was just a little half baked, being that it involved some anonymous Surfing Australia official asking people on a forum to identify the bloke who was ripping at Currumbin the other day.

It wasn't anonymous, the profile had a name.

I thought it was a good idea, sorry to offend anyone but it's a bit like a new footy team, nobody will watch it if it does not perform. Not saying that guys in the event already wouldn't be ripping but the more the merrier for spectators and the sports cred.

If you add the most exciting surfers that may not have qualified via state selection but there presence makes the event a higher level that's good for the event, sponsorship etc. It will no doubt offend some but as above the real competitors would want to beat the best to take an Aussie title.

If the post was legit there is nothing wrong with wild cards,look at the ASAP and see how many wild cards have knocked off some of the top 5 over the years,the only issue I have with this is,it comes at a high cost to the guy's on the tour full time and really costs some of them their career and lose of sponsorship.

62mac said...

If the post was legit there is nothing wrong with wild cards,look at the ASAP and see how many wild cards have knocked off some of the top 5 over the years,the only issue I have with this is,it comes at a high cost to the guy's on the tour full time and really costs some of them their career and lose of sponsorship.

it's not the end of the world mac, they either get better or join the real world like the rest of us. they don't have right to be on the tour- there's no guarantees in pro sport.

i'll bag me some yet

62mac said...

hey i know i was a male pro once

are we still talking about surfing?

Sparx said...

Boys
This aint the ASAP
or even the ASP
Its the Aussie Titles
There is a protocol for selection that is adhered to by every other division. I dont see Owen Wright getting a wild card into the open mens shortboard cos he would add to the 'spectacle' even though he undoubtrdly would. The only way anybody other than those who surfed in the qualifiers should get in is if they have a legitimate documented reason for their absence. Then they slot in only if a spot is available that no one who was at the qualifiers wants. And I mean right down to first round losers.
And Lacey I'll bite
Rather watch the Goatman chucking buckets and Noel aggro styling than Ray Gleave cross stepping or Josh Constable doing his hybrid thing. Ride a long board like a long board FFS.
Flame on!!!!!
Cheers
Sparx

agree

Oh Sparx,those longboarders you mentioned are class acts,so how do you rate Jackson Close then,are you calling him a cross breed

rahams said...

i pulled out for work.
always thought it went down the line .
maybe they dont have the numbers to fill the draw?

All good champ I was next in line and I got ya spot cheers Noel

Yeah same here,I read ripping got all excited then Currumbin was mentioned,nah not me don't surf there

Sparx said...

Boys
This aint the ASAP
or even the ASP
Its the Aussie Titles
There is a protocol for selection that is adhered to by every other division. I dont see Owen Wright getting a wild card into the open mens shortboard cos he would add to the 'spectacle' even though he undoubtrdly would. The only way anybody other than those who surfed in the qualifiers should get in is if they have a legitimate documented reason for their absence. Then they slot in only if a spot is available that no one who was at the qualifiers wants. And I mean right down to first round losers.
And Lacey I'll bite
Rather watch the Goatman chucking buckets and Noel aggro styling than Ray Gleave cross stepping or Josh Constable doing his hybrid thing. Ride a long board like a long board FFS.
Flame on!!!!!
Cheers
Sparx

Well said - on all counts.

I was very disappointed in just missing out on the NSW team for the Aussies this year but due to a couple of guys pulling out, I got a last minute spot. Stoked. I would have been furious if a wild card who hadn't put in the effort and coin to compete at their state title qualifications got in ahead of me.

It looks like Surfing Australia are doing the correct thing (this year) and working their way down the list of qualifiers as people pull out (for whatever reason) of their respective state teams.