The PWA just announced the cancellation of the event on Aruba. The slalom discipline got cancelled already a few weeks ago, but now also the freestyle discipline got cancelled.
PWA:“The present economic situation, brought about by the closing of the Valero Refinery, has greatly affected Aruba. As a consequence sponsors for the event recently informed us that they are forced to cut down funding support for events and projects on the Island because of the present insecure financial situation. Government budgets have been cut drastically and as such the needed budget for the PWA event cannot be supplemented from that source either.”
I’m completely agreeing with GARY S: Yes, it’s the best time to be a windsurfer: The gear is performing better than ever before and the spots aren’t as crowded as a tennis court in the 80ies. So, what the individual can do on the water – how the individual can benefit from the given opportunities – is beyond everything WHAT WAS IN THE SO CALLED GLORY DAYS OF ROBBY AND BJORN. But, you have to be (an) individual for that. You have to be motivated intrinsically. If you only do what the crowds do because you are image orientated and… Read more »
Why would any of these brands want to invest in a windsurftour which makes the sport look stupid? As long as the pwa is in charge, nothing is going to change. The way they communicate the sport is not interesting – I wouldn’t consider getting my brand connected with that, if I was in charge of a brand which was capable of that kind of sponsorship. Even the industry is reluctant to put money into it. Maybe because they can see, that the PWA is not doing very good?
there is no money in the industry. but why should there be? do surfboard brands have any money? no! for a hardgood supported industry windsurfing actually does really really good, probably the best in the world.
in other sports all the money comes from softgoods (clothes, etc). thats what we need.
do you want windsurfing to grow? 1) teach your friends and young people to windsurf, do it for free, do it for fun, do it for the sport and 2) support the few windsurf clothing brands that exist or start your own.
All right I get it. Lets go where the money and margin is. Thats ultimately soft goods and multi sport corporations. Approach Nike and Adidas. If not them go to the power and soft drink industry. Coca Cola, Pepsi, Red Bull, Monster would work. These are companies that have the money and power to make it happen in a mainstream market. Have Fun and Good Luck
The major surf clothing companies are one of the only reasons surfing is so prevalent in the mainstream market and for boycotts they don’t care. If every windsurfer stopped buying their stuff they still make tons of money in the USA and Australia which drive the surfing industry. Honestly building local competitions through these sponsors is the way to go. That takes time, effort, approaching the brands sales reps, and getting the local shops involved. Take the Hatteras Wave Bash and the other AWT stops as a examples of how to make things work and go from there.
Man, these events you speak have no money. thats impossible to have a pro tour this way. and the big surf brands hate windsurfing. literally. if you talk to the people at billabong they say it. hurley, billabong, volcom, etc are never going to touch our sport. ive actually talked to some of the global marketing people behind these companies. they want nothing from the windsurf. the point is: if you arent buying your surf clothing from these brands, you are buying it from other brands (hopefully ones that support windsurfing). then they have more money and an incentive to… Read more »
because at the end of the day, what is there 150 thousand active windsurfers in the world? maybe 200? it’s not a whole lot of people but its enough to support some big clothing brands that then could branch out to people who dont windsurf. and that would be enough to create a sustainable sponsorship base for riders and events.
HERE IS ONE ANSWER
Kill the clothing companies that don’t support windsurf.
Billabong wants no windsurf riders and sponsors no events. Don’t buy Billabong clothes. Be vocal at the surf shop too.
Oneill does basically nothing. Quicksilver does a little more but not mutch. Don’t buy their clothes!!!
Support Oxbow or Ion. Or push these other big companies to support windsurf.
ASP is strong because of Billabong, Oneill, Quicksilver, Hurley, etc. They don’t support us, let’s not support them!
By the way: Did you already buy a Continentseven T-Shirt? 😉 Haha.
@ Will and all you dudes who need a competition to follow I have been windsurfing since I was for 20 years (my dad first put me on a board when I was seven and I have been hooked ever since. For me it is the experience of going out with your friends, living in the moment and living a heathy lifestyle. And windsurfing has given that to me without any professional competition. I live in Ontario Canada where few amateur races are held in relatively low wind but we have fun anyways. Besides if you guys really want to… Read more »