Looking at Competitive Surfing in the Past and in the Future

I can't remember a better year to be a fan of surfing...

Slater comes back to the tour after winning his 10th World Title, he wins the first stop of the year and goes on to win an unbelievable 11th World Title, but then he didn't actually win it, but then he did!!! He faces off against Owen in 3 finals in a row. A new rivalry is born.

The Brazilian showed up, claiming 4 of the 11 tour stops this year. Medina made the biggest impact by getting on tour at the mid year cut off winning two events, stopping Kelly twice, and doing amazingly well in Hawaii. Medina is the real deal and WILL raise the bar of professional surfing in the future.

Bobby stated his case and left the tour amid a world wind of controversy losing his position at the mid year cut off to a young Brazilian that came on and killed it. In my eyes Medina's showing in 2011 proved that the one world rating and the mid year cut-off is a GOOD THING FOR COMPETITIVE SURFING.... and Bobby is just talking sh*t.

WAVES, REALLY GOOD WAVES for the last 6 events in a row!!! Tahiti, New York, Trestles, France, Portugal, San Fransico, and Hawaii all FIRED!!! Combine waves, with great surfers, and good webcasts and you've got a winning combination.

Here is the schedule for the 2012 ASP World Title Series:
Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast – Australia (February 25 – March 7, 2012)
Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach – Australia (April 3 – 14, 2012)
Billabong Rio Pro – Brazil (May 9 – 20, 2012)
Volcom Fiji Pro – Fiji (June 3 – 16, 2012)
Billabong Pro Jeffreys Bay – South Africa (July 11 – 22, 2012)
Billabong Pro Teahupoo – Tahiti (August 16 – 27, 2012)
Quiksilver Pro New York – USA (September 2 – 14, 2012)
Hurley Pro at Trestles – USA (September 15 – 23, 2012)
Quiksilver Pro France – France (September 26 – October 6, 2012)
Rip Curl Pro Portugal – Portugal (October 7 – 17, 2012)
Billabong Pipe Masters – Hawaii (December 8 – 20, 2012)

Notably absent from the 2012 ASP World Title Series schedule is the Rip Curl Pro Search, but the event will return in 2013. Back by demand we have the Volcom Pro in FIJI!!!

Here are the top 34 surfers for the 2012 season that will be competing for the World Title.
1. Kelly Slater (USA)
2. Joel Parkinson (AUS)
3. Taj Burrow (AUS)
4. Gabriel Medina (BRA)
5. Owen Wright (AUS)
6. Adriano de Souza (BRA)
7. Julian Wilson (AUS)
8. Jordy Smith (ZAF)
9. Alejo Muniz (BRA)
10. Michel Bourez (PYF)
11. Josh Kerr (AUS)
12. Damien Hobgood (USA)
13. John John Florence (HAW)
14. Mick Fanning (AUS)
15. Jeremy Flores (FRA)
16. Heitor Alves (BRA)
17. Miguel Pupo (BRA)
18. Adrian Buchan (AUS)
19. Kieren Perrow (AUS)
20. Bede Durbidge (AUS)
21. Raoni Monteiro (BRA)
22. Brett Simpson (USA)
23. Adam Melling (AUS)
24. Kolohe Andino (USA)
25. C.J. Hobgood (USA)
26. Tiago Pires (PRT)
27. Jadson Andre (BRA)
28. Matt Wilkinson (AUS)
29. Patrick Gudauskas (USA)
30. Dusty Payne (HAW)
31. Travis Logie (ZAF)
32. Taylor Knox (USA)
33. Kai Otton (AUS) *surfer wildcard (next on the ASP World Rankings)
34. Yadin Nicol (AUS) *surfer wildcard (injury)
1st Alternate: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW)
2nd Alternate: Willian Cardoso (BRA)
3rd Alternate: Chris Davidson (AUS)
4th Alternate: Thiago Camarao (BRA)

I'm really excited to see what 2012 has instore for surfing. What will Kelly do now, go for 12? Will Mendina dominate? Will Jordy shake off a bad year and come back hungry? Will the young bloods deliver? I guess will have to wait a full year to answer all these question.

Hopefully it will be as exciting getting there as it was this year.

And remember when it comes to SURFING no one knows it like PIONEERS!!!!!!!