Australian Matt Banting blitzed the ASP Qualifying Series in 2014. Photo: ASP
The last year has been one filled with major changes to the ASP. From a complete overhaul of their webcasting, a new logo, and most recently, a planned name change, the Association of Surfing Professionals is in the process of making themselves much less surfing and much more professional – which is good or bad, depending on who you are and what your opinions about surfing are.
They’ve just announced yet another change: a restructuring and rebranding of the Qualifying Series. Taking effect in 2015, there are two less events. Moving from seven events to five, the QS is also changing the names to ones that make more sense (and sound way more like NASCAR). The new names reflect point offerings from each event:
1-Star to become “QS1000”
2-Star and 3-Star to merge and become “QS1500”
4-Star and 5-Star to merge and become “QS3000”
6-Star to become “QS6000”
Prime to become “QS10000”
“Our goal with the Qualifying Series is always to ensure the best surfers are advancing to surfing’s highest level of competition, the Championship Tour” Kieren Perrow, ASP Commissioner, said in a press release. “The changes being made to next year’s Qualifying Series are designed to enhance the process already in place and improve the experience for our athletes, fans and event partners.”
The ASP is making some changes to its Junior Program, as well. Starting in 2016, the 20-and-Under Division will become an 18-an-Under. The Junior Program has long been an indicator of future talent – they crowned Andy Irons, Parko, Gabriel Medina, Sally Fitzgibbons, and Jessi Miley-Dyer, just to name a few.
The recent purchase of the ASP by ZoSea Media Holdings has been the catalyst for more changes to the sport’s professional side than fans have ever seen. The intent seems clear: to turn surfing from a fringe sport to the next NFL, with viewers all over the planet watching live events from bars and living rooms. But whether that happens or not, surfing will always remain something different from the NFL – no matter how big surfing the sport gets, there will always be room for those who don’t think of it as a sport. Because, after all, that’s not what surfing started out as.
