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per the winded discussion on the Montauk Prime event previously, the ESA has pulled out of Surfing America. http://surf.transworld.net/news/the-esa-pulls-out-of-surfing-america/. thoughts?

ah, the politics! ESA has to use an old phase, 'cut off their nose to spite their face' OR 'If we can't play by our rules then we'll take our ball and go home' This sort of political BS will only hurt the kids in the long run and probably in the short term also........this sort of stuff when on all the time in the 70's and 80's between NSSA, GSA, WSA and ESA everybody fighting for a bigger hunk of the surf pie.....it was really nasty when the NSSA dominated the US Team for the world titles in (i think) 1984....ESA 'demanded' that ESA surfers were placed on the team even when they had proven that they didn't deserve a slot, and then WSA got into the mix and demanded their guys who had been blown out in the trials be placed also.....and then the downward slide of the US team began.....

Yeah, remember the good old days Ct...ESA vs. NSSA. None of it was good for the kids, and neither is this. All politics is local and I suppose so will surfing events. It's a real shame.

The irony is that Debbie complains about the lack of transparency and non-inclusiveness of the ESA Admin in decision making? Since when was the ESA Membership at large consulted about this vote??? Are you fuking kidding me? No parent that I have spoken to, and I know dozens, have ever been asked their opinion or voted on the ESA withdrawing from Surfing America. This is complete Bullshit. Maybe we can just surf in Regional Surfing America Qualifiers to make the US Championships? In the long run the ESA is only going to loose members.

Bad move for ESA. While it may not necessarily hurt their membership overall, it will most likely take a bite out of the elite membership. Now the only way to qualify for the Primes will be through NSSA, and every kid that is worth his/her weight wants to surf Lowers with only 3 other people out, so this might actually boost NSSA's membership. Taking into consideration all of the complaining that was going on about paying for yet another contest series, the financials of this decision could have an impact. If a kid really wants to make a go at it in surfing and can only afford to do a limited amount of events where do you think the money will flow? What is more important to a kids sponsors, surfing at Easterns in Hatteras, or surfing against the best in the country at Lowers? This is not to say that a bunch of kids won't still try to do both, but when it is time to start pinching pennies, I think I know where the money will flow.

Additionally, when was the last time you saw an ESA event of any size covered on Fuel TV? The weekly update just did a recap on the Prime stop #2 on the West Coast, and will be doing the same for the Montauk event in the next couple of weeks.

Bad move for ESA. While it may not necessarily hurt their membership overall, it will most likely take a bite out of the elite membership. Now the only way to qualify for the Primes will be through NSSA, and every kid that is worth his/her weight wants to surf Lowers with only 3 other people out, so this might actually boost NSSA's membership. Taking into consideration all of the complaining that was going on about paying for yet another contest series, the financials of this decision could have an impact. If a kid really wants to make a go at it in surfing and can only afford to do a limited amount of events where do you think the money will flow? What is more important to a kids sponsors, surfing at Easterns in Hatteras, or surfing against the best in the country at Lowers? This is not to say that a bunch of kids won't still try to do both, but when it is time to start pinching pennies, I think I know where the money will flow.

Additionally, when was the last time you saw an ESA event of any size covered on Fuel TV? The weekly update just did a recap on the Prime stop #2 on the West Coast, and will be doing the same for the Montauk event in the next couple of weeks.

Right on Meaty. Good insight. However, I'm no longer a fan of the NSSA either since Ian and PT left in the 80's. The North East NSSA doesn;t go "North" of LBI. When Ct. and I ran it back in the day we had events in New Hampshire, Cape Cod and Montauk, in addition to Jersey. Perhaps Keenan would explore that tour again?? Hell most of the kids at that level are home schooled...lol.

It's a shame no one consulted the ESA membership on this. I also heard that ERGO may pull out as an ESA Sponsor now.

I am stoked to see the Prime Series and Surfing America coming to the Right Coast, and even more stoked to see our Jersey Grommies ROCKIN the first event. Can't wait to see them rippin on Fuel TV.

Couple Items to think about for you weary passengers......

There has been nothing but lack of communication from all aspects of Surfing America on what we were suppose to tell our kids when their first brainfart about prime was coming to the east coast. Many attempts to get the info about the contest format and who could possibly surf in this event way before Easterns was not forthcoming. Ironic how all the kids were the contacted without our notification that they would be invited. Surfing America was suppose to work with us, to work in that general direction and decided to leap frog over us to say we are now the only way to get to the US Championships. As I said to the ED of Surfing America and have said before on this forum, "What is the harm of waiting one year to impliment this so we (ESA Directors and all member Orgs....HASA,TGSA,NSSA) could properly make a decision on this event??" Meaning, what could we do to make this the best thing that's ever happened since sliced bread??? Bands, givaways, heated tents, a full arena for them (the competitor). Oh ya, that's right, I forgot that we are the orgs that make up Surfing America....silly me. We have know say in what we are gonna do. Oops!

Maso....I'm surprised by your very nieve statement of how you think the members should have been notified about the vote and what their input is?? Is this a union meeting?? The ESA has been making decisions about the competition season for years through it's Directors. Now you wanna try and find fault within that. What.... are you a micro manager?? You know what's best..??

surf cat, you sound a bit defensive in this last entry. now i don't know you, but have heard lots of good stuff. ESA pulling out of the National Governing Organization of this sport just sends a lousy message everywhere. this sort of thing would never happen in skiing, or tennis or football...i have this image of a schoolyard basketball game breaking up badly, 'cause someone got pissed off. ESA at the very top has always been controlled by very strong individuals who wanted to hear from no one else on any issue where their decision had already been made (sorry to say Doc C was one such individual-a great guy, but don't cross him)

Since Surfing America is the NGO in the nations sporting eyes-USOC, other national sports bodies and so on---break up like this are going to raise a lot of questioning eyebrows.

Personally, i think i might be calling Ian and asking if he needs any assistance at the APril Prime event in hatteras , since i have a house there---could be a nice spring break. And this is coming from someone who walked away from surf contests in 1991---this is enough to lure me back,maybe.....

LOL...Hey Ct. I beat you to it. Ian and I have been staying in touch on this issue and I told him you may want to get involved and asked him to reach out. The bottom line is that after investing thousands of dollars to chase ESA Distrcit Points Surfers no won't be able to qualify for the US through Hatteras?? (I am talking about the ALL adult divisions now); that is simply going to piss a lot of people off. Frankly it's pissed me off. The good news is that we don't have to chase points next year to qualify for anything. Last year the Road to Hatteras ran through Jersey, this year that is a "Road To Nowhere", circa Talking Heads 1982...

NOTHING GOOD WILL HAPPEN FROM THIS ADMIN DECISION FROM ESA...They complained about being left out of Surfing America's Decision? How about US being left out of the ESAs' decision?

Oh and Surf Cat, as to putting this out to a Vote, I absolutely believe that the membership should have been consulted. You have dozens of surf parents that have already invested thousands of dollars into the ESA Memberhsip and competition to qualify for Regionals and Hatteras, NOW none of that matters??? That money was pissed away. Is that naive? Spare me. Now please explain to me the point of even competing in the ESA for 2010? Yeah some people may show up periodically to see friends, but that's it. It's now a local organization. Why go to New Hampshire to surf shitty cold flat surf next May?? This is a huge mistake, and we will see who is "naive". There are several parents I have spoken to who are pissed, many of whom are Drr.s, lawyers, Wall Street Execs, several of whom are in our District. I suppose they are naive too? Or perhaps my 40 years of surfing, MA and JD somehow make me naive?...I saw this happen 25 years ago when ESA railed against NSSA. The ESA told such tales that you could almost see Ian Carins in a Darth Vader outfit cutting Obi Wan Konobi in half with an ESA shirt on...LOL

This is petty political bullshit and the ESA has screwed it's membership for the exact same reasons they claim Surfing America screwed them. The scent Hypocrisy is so thick you can taste it. Oh and if you are going to use big words like NAIVE or call someone "naive" learn how to spell it (not nieve)...

This could be a huge boom for the NSSA Membership in that if people have to choose which events to surf, they will roll with NSSA as a link to the US Championships.

"This is petty political bullshit and the ESA has screwed it's membership for the exact same reasons they claim Surfing America screwed them. The scent hypocracy is so thick you can taste it. Oh and if you are going to use big words like NAIVE or call someone "naive" learn how to spell it (not nieve)..."


Wait a gosh darn minute...I don't know anything about this crap and am following out of complete boredom, but...did Maso just call him out for spelling a word wrong after spelling hypocracy in the prior sentence? That is both funny and hippocrytikal

wait a minute, i gotta question..
So what does this mean for the adult divsions now???
I understand how this sucks for groms cuz now the only way to make the US team is through the Prime Series, but what does it mean for adult divisions????//

Also, I would like to hear Goodwin's opinon on this

Well, the adult divisions are solid for this upcoming US if they finished top 6-4 in Hat. However, next year it's a different story. The 2010 season is going to pose problematic for the adult divisions. It's my understanding that the adults can surf NSSA / Explorer Divisions to qualify for the US in 2011. Of course in 2012, it's the end of the world as we know it...so after that this is all a moot point. Oh and grapeape, maybe you and Surf Cat had the same English teacher?

While Goodwin can speak for himself, it's my understanding he and Pat are split on this one, Pat for the split, Goodwin not. However, it really doesn't matter as the decision has already been made, and done so without consulting with the membership.

The bottom line is that this blows for the vast majority of the ESA Membership after spending money and time this past season for the Regionals in New Hampshire. Well, at least that will save some of us the agg. of driving to New Hampshire for crap cold surf next May.

maso, you are indeed a piece of work. it's not the end of the world that you called out someone for the spelling of "big words" when you had just committed that crime with your spelling of "hypocracy" in the prior sentence.
it's funny, it's ironic, not the end of the world. and by the way, the forum shows that you edited the post at 1:07...

surfnj, if the letter of the law is followed, the ESA adults do not have slots at the 2010 USA Championships. The Surfing America USA Championships is open to the ranked surfers from their member organizations (HSA, WSA, NSSA, TGSA and until a couple days ago ESA). OK I just read Masochist's post. Hmmmmm. I'll stand by my interpretation.

If you want to hear Goodwins opinion, try buying him a cold one. You may get more opinions than you wanted, on subjects you couldn't care less about, but it will be fun.

Rick, after speaking with Mike Gerard about the adult spots before Hat.:US adult invitees are based on slots from Hat. for the upcoming US Championships. As for this years Regionals in New Hammy, apparently they will be sparcely attended...LOL. Oh and grapeman, not really concerned about your editorial skills or critique of my posts; my point is if you or anyone else is going to call be a name please spell it correctly...lol

so your saying now for adults to make the US Championships we have to go through a SA organization like NSSA????
So now i guess ill be goin to NSSA next year?

And so ESA, all you do is surf the contests all season pay a shit load of money for Regionals to make to Hatteras, pay a shit load of money for Hatteras for nothing.....so with ESA the farthest your going is Hatteras???
Thats gay
But with NSSA you can make to the US championships??

Yep, that seems to be the case. Hat. is Hat and That is That...Hell why not just surf the "Other" East Coast Championship in Va Beach, with no qualifiers...lol...If Joe Keenan plays this right, this could be the best thing to happen to the NSSA in the North East since it's inception. As the ESA bailed after the Easterns, it is my understanding there will be slots for adults at the US this year. ..

for the record ... I voted to stay in ... if you want more details, talk to me at the next contest or when you see me at the pier or ring my cell if you have the digits

What I can't buy you a cold one? Where's the love over here?

I agree, that was the case before Hatteras, (back when the ESA was a member organization in SA). Now that the ESA is no longer a member, who knows what will happen? I've seen an proposed slot assignment for the 2010 USA Championships that did include the ESA (see it here http://www.nscsurfing.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/prime.pdf) , but that was before the ESA quit Surfing America. It would be kind of like a surfer who decided not to renew his membership in the ESA but still wanted to surf at Easterns. I know the analogy isn't the greatest, but you see my point. We'll see what the SA Board decides to do.

ok so i been looks at the NSSA website to sign up and when do I sign up for i guess 2010/11 season???
They only have 2009/10 membership up but the season is pretty much over?

Yo Rockaway brother ... you can always buy me a beer ... you know you and Jeff are family ... always all good

well maso.....I guess you really know how to sling some shit?? Is that what they teach you in lawyer school. Sling it on the wall and see what sticks?? Make a mess of things so it becomes confusing?? Not only do you talk smack about everything you know nothing about....you start making up stories about what is going to happen. What is going to happen Maso is that the people that spent all the thousands of dollars to compete in the ESA are still gonna get an invite to compete. Adults?? Yes. That has nothing to do with the Prime. Perhaps in all your talk with Mike Gerard maybe you should ask him why they decided to go over ESA and run the competitions anyways despite knowing the Regionals already happened and the Easterns were a month away and SA still decided to run with this?? This is not selfish to you?? This is not a completely unnecessary spendature of the dollar?? This is completely logical to you?? Logical order?? There is something in your mind that has to go off and say, " why run these contests this year when the people have already qualified." OK this is ridiculous! They just can't wait can they. Did Mike tell you how all the member orgs were waiting to get the memo on the breakdown. Have discussions about this "new qualifier" being implimented into all Member orgs systems?? Did he?? Or is he strokin' your ego tellin you what you wanna hear?? This is not a good decision on SA's part. This is bad business practice...... Go ahead and screw the people that really matter. They brought this to the table...not the ESA. So they are gona let the excuses fly why they couldn't have a meeting with us to give us the details in a nice little meeting?? Well???

And for the record Goodwin....our initial vote was to leave. You and I talked about this?? Remember? Or would you also rather write the story the way you want to??