Who ever wrote up anything positive about WSL transition to Facebook streaming in the last two days must be being paid in wavepool tickets, because most the internet is throwing to angry emojis and either revolting or just giving up and switching off in their thousands.
While it is true some have had no problem judging by the comments all over social media and on WSLs website it is not a common experience.
It’s now day three and internet fans have been battering the WSL Facebook transition. It’s been a PR disaster. If FB paid $15 mill a year for a two exclusive year deal they should also have provided the tech backup a cast iron launch. Obviously they didn’t. While some have called for the WSL CEO to resign, it’s the techies that should be carrying the can.
WSL have offered apologies for the disaster, saying it has made the switch to keep the feed free, but it sounds like a PR body swerve. They even pointed out the FB data use terms, which is funny. Everyone knows what FB does with the data, and how they track users in our brave new world.
“Our switch to Facebook was to enable the entirety of our audience to continue to view each event for free, and also to further expand our fanbase throughout the world.
“That being said, we apologize for any issues you may have experienced during our transition over the last two days and we hope you continue to enjoy the Corona Open J-Bay.
Live on Desktop:
We have worked with Facebook to fix the broadcasting issue we experienced during the early rounds of the event.
We are now offering the live stream on our desktop site — with adjacent round information and heat scores — without having to login to Facebook.
“Replay and Heat Analyzer:
All heat replays can be viewed by navigating to our event detail page, and also directly by clicking here.
Many of our fans have asked about Heat Analyzer, which is also now up and running and can be viewed by clicking here.
Concurrent Viewers:
There has been much conversation about the concurrent viewership number displayed in the top-left corner of our live broadcast.
The number displayed on your stream does not represent the total concurrent audience viewing the event. Because we’re serving localized ads against our programming, what you’re seeing is the audience total for the regional stream that you’re connected to.
The total cumulative audience will be defined as the summation of all regional streams across all platforms and connected devices.
In short, what you’re seeing is a much lower number of people viewing than actually are.
Personal Information:
Facebook is a major platform for media and entertainment, similar to linear cable and satellite providers.
“They offer a variety of live and original sports programming – from PGA events to Tom vs Time – and require minimal user data to access their content offering.
“For those of you curious about what Facebook does with your personal information, please see their data privacy policy by clicking here.
Again, we would like to apologize to anyone that has experienced an issue and thank you for your patience.”
Miguel Pupo verses Michel Bourez must have been one hell of heat because it has been on my Facebook for about an hour now. I’m trying to watch Jordy Smith versus Thomas Hermes, or anything more recent than one that happened 11 heats and a shark warning ago …7 hours 45 minutes.
As a regular viewer of WSL I’m not of the whinging variety. I love the live surfing and I understand saltwater and sand do not mix well with cameras and internet. I also remember the time when ringing someone in Hawaii and then waiting three months for photos to appear in mags was cutting edge world tour coverage.
But this Facebook take-over sucks BIG TIME. It is unwatchable.
The stream of angry faces tell me I am not the only one. Probably the most used emoji on the live feed thus proving we all got the hang of that button pretty quickly.
I have nothing else to say. I’m that disappointed. As roll outs go, it’s an abject disaster.
Proof is in the comments section few screen grabs of which are below.
The 2018 English National Adaptive Surfing Open comes to a close with adaptive surfers from around the world taking to the crystal-clear Cornish waters for an unforgettable day of competition and celebration.
The event brought the surfing community together, but what is this community we speak of? Well, community is defined as “the condition of sharing or having certain attitudes and interests in common”, and that is what adaptive surfing is – it’s a discipline of surfing that brings a group of likeminded individuals together to share the stoke and the wonderful joy that surfing brings, no matter the challenges that they may face. So, for Surfing England the focus of this event was to providing the opportunity and grow the impact it holds.
With the country basking in a classic heatwave and the lack of swell forecast, led to a unique move from Surfing England to consult with surfers in the days leading to the event to discuss the very small surf forecast, and with a resounding ‘absolutely, we will surf and enjoy whatever the conditions’ the competitors and organisers charged on.
Saturday morning saw Surfing England’s first ‘Adaptive Training Workshop’ run in collaboration with Surfability UK, as part of their strategy for ‘a healthy surfing community’ -the training was an opportunity for volunteers from affiliated surf clubs and surf schools to come and experience, learn and engage with adaptive surfing – creating confidence and local leaders through a mixture of indoor and in water training, and over 30 coaches gained the fresh perspectives and knowledge to make an impact at their local levels.
As the mid-day sun sat above the site, the surfers arrived, as did the swell – as if by magic. The tide turned and 2ft clean sets filled in to Fistral bay, and after the surfer briefing, the competition got in to full swing.
The first heat got underway with Melissa Reid catching the first wave of the event, with good speed, power and flow, made even more impressive by her Visual Impairment. This seemed to set the competitive tone and the afternoon ploughed on through heats, with divisions identified by a surfers’ functional ability to surf in either ‘standing, sitting/kneeling, prone, assisted, open or visually impaired’ divisions. In a first for Surfing England, a liveheats scoring system was introduced and the elite panel of judges scored and placed the surfers with some progressing and others not, the camaraderie was exceptional and the vibe unrivalled.
Surf competition is for some, but for others such as paraplegic athlete Darren Edwards the sport of surfing was an unknown challenge until this event gave him a taste of its power. With the support of the amazing volunteers Darren took to the ocean for the first time since his accident 18 months ago, and rode his first wave, to the jubilation of those on the beach. After the surf, he said ‘I can’t describe this feeling, it’s an overwhelming happiness but I want to cry with joy’, to which one of the volunteers replied ‘that’s what STOKE is!’.
So with the high tide rising and the finals commencing, the atmosphere was electric and the surfers delivered, much to the joy of the beach goers and supporters alike. As the sun began to set so came the time for prize giving and rewards. A unique event also calls for some unique prizes and Darren Edwards picked up an unexpected ‘Newest Frother’ title, followed by Laurent Marouf taking the ‘Biggest Frother’ award and fellow Frenchman Benoit Moreau earning ‘Highest scoring wave’ with a 7.2 – Spike Kane collected his Surfing England Global Ambassador Award given at the 2018 AGM and took the moment to thank everyone for growing the sport and rightly noted “it all just starts with you getting up in the morning and going surfing”. All of the division results are continued below.
The beach activities kept all entertained with sponsors Stance and Pukka Herbs present and providing product to all, whilst Surfers Against Sewage and the Wave Project talking through the good work they do.
Surfing England would like to thank each and every person who contributed to creating such a memorable event. Special mention to the surfers, the volunteers, the staff, the supporters, the landowners and the partners and the sponsors. The Wave – Surfability UK – The Caravan & Motorhome Club – Korev Lager – Stance – Pukka Herbs – Hippeas – Jolly Brown Vintage – Quiksilver – Roxy – Waveproject – Surfdome – Jeep – Go Pro – Gul – Dryrobe – Pacsafe – O’neill – Fistral Beach – Fistral Beach Bar – Carnmarth Hotel – Surfers Against Sewage – Cornwall Mobility – RNLI.
It’s been a pleasure and an honour to document Parko’s storied career for the last two decades. One of the great stylists in surfing he was often underscored as he made things look too damn easy.
Enjoy the last go round this season champ then enjoy some feet up time with a few cold ones. Can’t wait to see what he does next… A Mick and Parko surf travel series perhaps?
WSL PRESS RELEASE
Today, 2012 WSL Champion Joel Parkinson, 37, announced his retirement from the World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT). Parkinson will surf the remaining CT events of the year (excluding the MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal) and retire from full-time competition after his final heat at the world-renowned Billabong Pipe Masters in Memory of Andy Irons this December.
“I’ve decided this will be my final year on Tour,” said Parkinson. “I’m all finished at Pipe. I thought about going on for doing one more event. Doing Snapper as one year consecutive event, but I just thought there’s no better place than Pipeline. I’ve had so many great memories there. So many great wins there. I’ve decided this is it. This is my last time around the globe on this Tour. It brings tears to my eyes a little bit saying it aloud.”
“I just really am at a point where I enjoy my surfing, and I must say, I enjoyed wearing a jersey for a long time, but that part of surfing to me is not as strong as what it was. I don’t think I have the fierceness in my blood. Doesn’t boil from putting a jersey on. My blood boils for surfing good waves now.
“I’ll really miss the friendships. But I always thought, I’ll always be lucky after retirement that there’s a Tour stop in my backyard. So at least once a year, I’ll get to come down and see all the familiar faces, friends and family. And I’m excited to go back to some of these places when I don’t have to put a jersey on or there’s not an event on. I can’t wait to go to J-Bay when the event’s not on. Or go to Europe, see friends in France. And do stuff like go to Hawaii in January and February when events aren’t on. And I think that’s really when you’ll rock back on the friendships you made on Tour.”
The legendary surfer from the Gold Coast of Australia will hang up his competitive jersey after 18 years on the elite tour, 12 prestigious CT wins, and, of course, his illustrious World Title victory in 2012. Parkinson’s iconic style not only cemented his legacy in the history books but has influenced and inspired the next generation of surfers around the world.
“I mean, I was a prick of a competitor when I was younger. Arrogant, cocky. But, in saying that, that’s the thing that makes a great competitor,” Parkinson said. “I love when I see young kids come on and they’ve got a bit of a swagger, and they’ve got their chest out when they walk down the beach. I love that. I think it’s awesome. It’s the way to improve yourself. To be better in a competitive environment. But, it does get old after a long time.”
Parkinson announces his retirement on the opening day of the Corona Open J-Bay, where he is the two-time event winner (1999, 2009). Now 19 years later after his breakthrough CT win as a wildcard in 1999, Parkinson will surf the event that started his career for the last time. He will be up against current World No. 1 Julian Wilson (AUS) and local wildcard Matthew McGillivray (ZAF) in Heat 6 of Round 1.
“I’m going to have a smile on my face whether I’m last or first in these events. But I’m going to try and get first for sure. I’m going to try to go out with a really good way,” continued Parkinson.
“I can’t wait to take my kids around and take them surfing and take them to beautiful places where I don’t have to put a jersey on. I can enjoy my surfing. All those little things. It’s going to be awesome.”
The Corona Open J-Bay will be broadcast LIVE on the WSL’s Facebook Page. Also, check local listings for coverage from the WSL’s broadcast partners.
Following on from last year’s hugely popular anniversary events, organisers of the very successful Jesus Surf Series have now confirmed the dates for the two competitions that make up the Series.
Christian Surfers UK are pleased to announce that the 26th running of the Jesus Surf Classic, with around £2000 in prize money, will take place at its traditional venue of Croyde Bay, North Devon over the weekend of September 8th and 9th 2018. Traditionally, this event attracts over 140 of the UK’s top surfers, who compete in its eight categories starting with the under 12s right through to the over 35s division. Weather permitting, the event will also include the very popular Big Move skate contest on the mobile skate park. As always, a big thank you goes to Parkdean for allowing us to run the event on their beach.
Polzeath in North Cornwall will host the 11th Jesus Longboard Classic which grew out of the Jesus Surf Classic when its popularity made it impossible to run the event over one weekend, will be held over the weekend of October 13 and 14th. As usual, first-class hospitality and a warm welcome from our partners the Tubestation await all surfers and supporters. With over £1000 worth of prizes, competition levels will be high within an event that has a great community spirit.
Make a note of the date in your diaries now and more information will be out in the next month or so, with news of when the registration portals go live. As always, Christian Surfers wants to thank in advance their partners who help to organise these events, and obviously a huge thanks goes to all the Christian Surfers volunteers who run them, and the fantastic support that the events get from the competitors and support crew.
