Numbers don’t lie. When you add them up, the picture becomes clear. Recently, I wrote an article for The Inertia discussing the wondrous potential new high-tech gadgets, such as the GPS-enabled Trace Action Sports Tracker, have in terms of not only how viewers might watch future WSL webcasts, but also how they would make waves in the eyes of the judges.
Grateful for the feedback and social media sharing the article has received since being published, I also was pleased to hear directly from Trace. Apparently, my digitally influenced vision of real-time stats complementing every contest wave might be closer to reality than I thought.
Brad Blankinship, COO of the Southern California-based Trace Inc., reached out to fill me in on a unique virtual surfing contest the company is launching and hosting all this month called “Trace Up/Stack Up.” The invitational features 26 of the nation’s up-and-coming rippers, ages 13 to 16, challenged to battle it out in a marathon of electronically monitored and shared freesurf sessions officially starting December 1 and ending on New Year’s Eve.
Each competitor is supplied a Trace Action Sports Tracker and will be using it every day during the contest period as they take to the water to rack up their individual surf stats, collect data, and compare how they stack up to others in their category. Blankinship, who at one time served as president of RVCA, says competitors can surf anywhere they want, anytime they want during the duration of the contest.
Inspiration for this contest, according to Blankinship, came from the want and need to offer a unique competitive format that takes any guesswork out of the scoring/judging equation. “Surf contests are often criticized for being too subjective,” he says. “We thought a completely objective format would be a cool way to run a contest.”
Since groms are without a doubt the most digitally savvy of today’s surf tribe, having them be the focus of this inaugural event was a no-brainer. “We love the energy and stoke of the groms,” Blankinship says. “They are in the water all the time and most are highly competitive. We thought a digital contest would be a good platform to showcase the talents of tomorrow’s best surfers.”
Cash prizes will be awarded in six categories (Most total yards surfed: $250; Most waves caught: $250; Most number of turns: $250; Max speed on a single wave: $250; Best video with Trace overlay: $250; and Best overall performance: $500). The category winners will compete in a final heat at the Shoe City Pro in Huntington Beach next month to determine the overall winner.
Check back with The Inertia periodically throughout December for Trace Up/Stack Up leaderboard updates.
As far as Trace’s growing involvement in organized sports competition, Blankinship adds, “There are a lot of opportunities for Trace. We are currently working with retailers like HSS, Surf Ride, Mitch’s and other specialty retailers. We also have partnerships with Channel Islands and Futures, and we work with quantifying aspects of product design. We will continue to expand in core retailers through 2016.”
When I asked Blankinship if this kind of real-time GPS technology will eventually make it into the judges’ tower at future WSL events, he said not only pro surfing fans, but also fans of other sports would dig seeing more data about their favorite athletes. “Knowing the average speed of your favorite surfer and comparing that to your own speed, for example, could really advance the sport of surfing to the next level — in judging and in the broadcast experience as well. We are asked about the WSL almost daily. If the opportunity should arise to work with the WSL, we would embrace it.”
