Wyatt Fields, not feeling very alone at Mavericks. Photo: Ben Ginsberg
By now, I am sure that most of you have heard that the Mavericks Invitational has been dropped from the Big Wave World Tour (BWWT). For many this is shocking news, especially less than one month after the most successful events in Mavericks’ big wave history. Some are calling the recent event the most watched surfing event in history. If this is true, more people watched Grant ‘Twiggy’ Baker, Greg Long, Ken Collins, and Shane Dorian charging in the cold Nor Cal waters than Kelly Slater and Mick Fanning dueling it out during the Pipe Masters for the 2013 ASP World Title.
But guess what? The Mavericks Invitational is better off by itself than being run by the ASP. After all, this is the same organization that thought it would be a great idea to drop J-Bay from the World Championship Tour (WCT).
We still don’t know how the ASP will handle the Big Wave World Tour. Let’s not forget that the ASP tends to favor the surfers with the biggest names and biggest contracts. What does that mean for the BWWT when surfers like John Florence, Slater, and Mick Fanning are in the line up along side Greg Long and Grant ‘Twiggy’ Baker? Will the judges still favor the big name over the big drop?
Ultimately, we don’t know how the ASP’s acquisition of the BWWT will play out. On one hand, it could launch Big Wave surfing onto the same level as the WCT, finally legitimizing the sport in terms of athlete endorsement/recognition and solidifying its place in mainstream surf media. On the other hand, the ASP and surf media alike could continue to ignore the skillset and courage a surfer must have to charge big, cold waves.
Mavericks doesn’t need the ASP to continue its legacy as one of the most exciting Big Wave surfing events in the world. The notorious event will continue to draw big names and talent from all over the globe.
I think Ken ‘Skindog’ Collins said it best, “The way I see it right now, Mavericks will be alright without the ASP Big Wave World Tour, and the ASP Big Wave World Tour will be alright without Mavericks.”
