Surfing Cancels European World Championship Leg
ASP today announced the cancellation of the European leg of the World Championship Tour (WCT). The decision was made after the American professional surfers agreed not to travel to Europe for the 30 day, three tournament World Tour leg.
In the aftermath of the tragic events of September 11th in the United States, the first event in Europe, Portugal's Figueira Pro, was postponed for a week to allow ASP officials to monitor any developing situations on a daily basis. The delayed start to Portugal gave pause, while American urfers grieved with the rest of the nation and rescheduled travel itineraries in the wake of massive disruptions within the airline industry.
Cancelling Portugal and continuing on with the Quiksilver Pro France, Oct 3-12 and Mundaka's Billabong Pro, Oct 13-24 was not an option for ASP. During a meeting of the European Surf Industry Manufacturers Association (EuroSima) earlier this week, it was agreed unanimously that if Portugal did not go ahead the entire European leg would be cancelled for 2001.
President of EuroSima and Quiksilver Europe, Harry Hodge said 'Since the tragic events in the USA last week we have been monitoring the situation with the ASP in respect to the European leg of the World Championship Tour. Quiksilver and it's management totally support and respect the decision by the ASP, especially the surfers themselves, and again wish to extend our sympathies to all those who have suffered.'
Derek O'Neill, CEO Billabong Europe added, 'Billabong respects the decision taken today by the ASP and the WCT surfers, which was obviously difficult to take, to cancel the European leg of the WCT tour. The latest developments after last weeks horrific events have shown that it would be hard to continue and we have been prepared for this. We hope that the tour can resume again soon and look forward to holding the Mundaka Billabong Pro in the future.
For the American surfers it was an agonising decision. After a traumatic week, the uncertainty of travelling abroad, amid breaking news about impending retaliatory strikes and fears of being stranded in Europe if War did in fact break out in the region, led to a unanimous vote by the American professionals not to travel to Europe.
Pat O'Connell, spokesperson for the American surfers said, 'Feelings and decisions on life after an attack on your home country are initially hard to sort through and as time goes by we realize what fears and feelings are true and what is obvious shock reaction. In a unanimous decision, we, the American surfers and our families, feel that it is not in our best personal interest to leave our country at this time. After a week of 'we are at war' news reports, transatlantic phone calls and genuine concern from our friends and family, we feel that it is still too soon to travel internationally.
With talks of Afghanistan ground attacks, possible air strikes against proposed terrorist targets, global alliance against terrorism & threats of biological attacks during the coming week, we feel that it is impossible for anyone to determine the outcome and whether we would be able to return home. We all realize the magnitude and consequences of our decision and we deeply regret the situation that these global events have put us in. We would like to thank the ASP, Sportsworld Media Group, the WPS, IPS and the event coordinators and sponsors for their understanding and support during this crisis.'
Full support from all the WCT surfers from around the world had already indicated that they would back the Americans, out of respect for their surfing brothers and sisters, and not go forward in competition without them.
ASP President / CEO Wayne Bartholomew said, 'The ebb and flow of this decision has been an agonizing and harrowing process. However, at the end of the day this situation represents an unprecedented emergency, and the sport stands behind the American surfers.'
For further information please contact:
Wayne Bartholomew
ASP President / CEO
Tel:61 (0)419 189489
Peter Whittaker
ASP Chief Operating Officer
Tel: +61 (0)7 5599 1550 office
Mob: +61 (0)419 189589 mobile
In the aftermath of the tragic events of September 11th in the United States, the first event in Europe, Portugal's Figueira Pro, was postponed for a week to allow ASP officials to monitor any developing situations on a daily basis. The delayed start to Portugal gave pause, while American urfers grieved with the rest of the nation and rescheduled travel itineraries in the wake of massive disruptions within the airline industry.
Cancelling Portugal and continuing on with the Quiksilver Pro France, Oct 3-12 and Mundaka's Billabong Pro, Oct 13-24 was not an option for ASP. During a meeting of the European Surf Industry Manufacturers Association (EuroSima) earlier this week, it was agreed unanimously that if Portugal did not go ahead the entire European leg would be cancelled for 2001.
President of EuroSima and Quiksilver Europe, Harry Hodge said 'Since the tragic events in the USA last week we have been monitoring the situation with the ASP in respect to the European leg of the World Championship Tour. Quiksilver and it's management totally support and respect the decision by the ASP, especially the surfers themselves, and again wish to extend our sympathies to all those who have suffered.'
Derek O'Neill, CEO Billabong Europe added, 'Billabong respects the decision taken today by the ASP and the WCT surfers, which was obviously difficult to take, to cancel the European leg of the WCT tour. The latest developments after last weeks horrific events have shown that it would be hard to continue and we have been prepared for this. We hope that the tour can resume again soon and look forward to holding the Mundaka Billabong Pro in the future.
For the American surfers it was an agonising decision. After a traumatic week, the uncertainty of travelling abroad, amid breaking news about impending retaliatory strikes and fears of being stranded in Europe if War did in fact break out in the region, led to a unanimous vote by the American professionals not to travel to Europe.
Pat O'Connell, spokesperson for the American surfers said, 'Feelings and decisions on life after an attack on your home country are initially hard to sort through and as time goes by we realize what fears and feelings are true and what is obvious shock reaction. In a unanimous decision, we, the American surfers and our families, feel that it is not in our best personal interest to leave our country at this time. After a week of 'we are at war' news reports, transatlantic phone calls and genuine concern from our friends and family, we feel that it is still too soon to travel internationally.
With talks of Afghanistan ground attacks, possible air strikes against proposed terrorist targets, global alliance against terrorism & threats of biological attacks during the coming week, we feel that it is impossible for anyone to determine the outcome and whether we would be able to return home. We all realize the magnitude and consequences of our decision and we deeply regret the situation that these global events have put us in. We would like to thank the ASP, Sportsworld Media Group, the WPS, IPS and the event coordinators and sponsors for their understanding and support during this crisis.'
Full support from all the WCT surfers from around the world had already indicated that they would back the Americans, out of respect for their surfing brothers and sisters, and not go forward in competition without them.
ASP President / CEO Wayne Bartholomew said, 'The ebb and flow of this decision has been an agonizing and harrowing process. However, at the end of the day this situation represents an unprecedented emergency, and the sport stands behind the American surfers.'
For further information please contact:
Wayne Bartholomew
ASP President / CEO
Tel:61 (0)419 189489
Peter Whittaker
ASP Chief Operating Officer
Tel: +61 (0)7 5599 1550 office
Mob: +61 (0)419 189589 mobile