NO PWA WAVE FINAL IN MAUI – Unfortunately the PWA released the news today that the Aloha Classic 2017 will not be a PWA event.
PWA: “Despite widespread efforts on the part of the PWA and our partners, the 2017 Maui Aloha Classic will not be a World Cup event due to budget shortfall. This means that the Mercedes-Benz World Cup Sylt will be the final event of the PWA Wave Tour this year. The Aloha Classic will still proceed as an IWT event. We look forward to seeing the Aloha Classic back on the PWA calendar in 2018.”
There were already many rumors about the PWA event in Maui if it will happen or not. There were four successful events in the past 4 years, sponsored by the windsurfing industry, twice by NoveNove, once by Severne & Starboard and once by JP-Australia.
Although the event had always a result and the conditions were probably one of the biggest in 2016, there won’t be a 2017 PWA edition.
What went wrong? Why isn’t it attractive enough for sponsors to support an event in the windsurfing mecca Maui? Why doesn’t it attract companies outside the windsurfing business?
But the good thing is, the Aloha Classic will happen. It will be an IWT only event and we expect to see the Maui riders competing. Let’s see if any PWA riders will participate in the event, too. It will be the final tour stop of the IWT tour and will take place from October 29 till November 12 at Ho’okipa beach park.
I guess some pwa people are reading this, ( because this tiny austrian webpage is the only mass media windsurfing has) so i would love to know:
1. all in all, how many full-time employees does the pwa have? ( i guess/hope the judges are paid for each event?)
2. how much does it approx. cost to set up an aloha classic event?
Besides me being interested in how the whole thing works, if there would be a bit more transparency, people wouldnt be so mad each year and yes, i would consider some crowdfunding, too!
Honestly it doesn’t really matter the PWA is a Slalom tour. I’m not surprised that they can’t find funding, what value do they offer to investors? The live stream usually doesn’t work, the camera work is terrible, the commentating is usually done by only one person with random guests that don’t know how to talk. Perhaps if they polished up the webcast, and ran a couple of events that people wanted to see, you would probably get more people tuning in and then more advertising money, which could mean the PWA could be self funded. Look at the WSL they… Read more »
I completelly agree, there is still so much potential for marketing there, like clothing, merchandise, TV advertising, better live streaming, poster printing etc. They could just copy the business models of other sports like surfing and kiting, who have general tour sponsors like Samsung and Virgin.
Just to jump in here, the WSL runs at roughly a $3 million loss and is privately funded rather than via corporate sponsors.
It is a shame only three wave events, one of women freestyle. The organization with its high rates only worries about its pockets. The livestream, security and infrastructures is not so expensive because they do not pay it all just put their hand to collect.
Circuit of five events in 2018 waves, freestyle and slalom. it’s time to change the spots or improve. South africa, mauritius, mexico-baja, hawaii, france return to turkey, bonaire.
The merchandising has to improve to ease costs also association of major brands of windsurfing if they do not want to die in a few years.
PWA does not organize shit, the local organizer do the hard work, PWA just run the event providing Judges and and comp runners, I heard they ask more than 60 000 Euros alone just for that, on top of that, organiser have to fund a prize money, water safety, water ways with councils etc…
PWA Tenerife ( Danny bruch) ,PWA Pozo ( moreno twins) ,PWA Sylt ( Mercedes 0-o) They dont sweat to get the sponsor ,easy life , full pocket.This people fight to make possible the events not the PWA.
The should reduce the prize money and try to make more events. The should ask to competitors.
This tour is dying its clear.
You have forgotten Fuerteventura(Rene Egli and island of Fuerteventura). As far as I heard the whole organisation is made by the Rene Egli team there as well.
Have heard the same thing. It sounded a bit ridiculous to me at first, but I have heard it on quite a few occasions now.. Can anyone clarify if this is a rumor or actually true? Because if it’s true, it would be damn absurd
As long the PWA judges can live and travel all year by the few events of the PWA distributed over the year you do not have to wonder where the money goes. Looking at the high entry fees the riders need to pay and the few money which can be gained in the events there is no transparency at all about procedures within the PWA. Some of the recent years decisions in freestyle windsurfing were quite strange as well and did not help either. I can really understand some of the riders loosing motivation to do this sport professionally while… Read more »
Does anyone know which budget for an Aloha Classic is needed? Would crowdfunding be an option in the future, if only some cost can’t be covered? Maybe an Aloha Classic and the resulting images would be worth crowdfunding for the windsurfing community. At least I would pay at least 5€ to see the action.^^