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Posted on Saturday December 5th 2009 at 7:28 p.m.
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Kelly after losing to Tiago Pires in France this year. Could his days on a tour with the likes of the Portuguese Tiger be over? Pic Roger Sharp.
*Surfers signed: Kelly Slater, Dane Reynolds, Andy Irons Bruce Irons, Ry Craike,
Rob Machado, Taj Burrow, Shane Dorian, Mitch Coleborn, Clay Marzo
*Surfers not signed & committed to ASP Tour: Mick Fanning, Joel Parkinson, Jordy Smith
*CST will consist of 8 events from September to December 2010, & a 9th final Championship event.
*ASP is adamant that any surfers who join the CST will be inelligible to compete on the ASP tour.
ASL report, 'according to rumours, the CST has signed a slew of surfers including Dane Reynolds, Andy and Bruce Irons, Ry Craike, Taj Burrow, Rob Machado, Shane Dorian, Mitch Coleborn, Clay Marzo and, of course, Kelly himself'.
'Not sure where you got that from but I will say, it's not dead,' Kelly Slater confirmed, when ASL asked him to comment on rumours that the so-called ESPN Champions Surf Tour (CST) was back.
Rumours heard by ASL say Mick Fanning, Joel Parkinson, and Jordy Smith, have all committed to the ASP tour.
The ASP has confirmed that Andy Irons is yet to commit to his wildcard position on next year's ASP tour.
Kelly told ASL. "ASP had a chance to go in a new direction and chose not to. That did seem to show that ASP maintains control of the sport's direction."
ASP meetings in Mundaka, Spain, in October saw the ASP surfers vote to support their existing tour.
At the time, it was assumed that left the rebel tour dead in the water.
"There are 16 guys who can possibly compete on the CST," says Neil Ridgway, Rip Curl's head of marketing and ASP Board member. "Then there's 1000 surfers on the ASP rankings all trying to get to number one, and 10 000 grommets behind ‘em."
The Sydney Morning Herald got it right when they wrote the piece about surfing being the last sport in the world sponsored, run, and controlled by the brands.
The CST has downsized its prize-money from US$1.5 million to $500,000 per event, with $125,000 for first and a minimum $25,000 per surfer. Surfer's contracts stipulate all travel and accommodation expenses, as well as insurance and a per diem, will all be covered for all surfers.
Neil Ridgway was heavily involved in the ASP meetings at Mundaka and fronted the media conference along with ASP Director Brodie Carr and Mick Fanning and Joel Parkinson to declare unity. "As for the surfers that they're (CST) recruiting, any ASP surfer who signs with them will be walking away from the ASP and will not be able to compete on the world tour." said Neil.
ASP is adamant that any surfers who join the Champions Tour will be inelligible to compete on the ASP tour.
Read the complete report at ASL - The Rebel Tour Rides Again