Have you ever fantasied about having a session at Kelly’s Surf Ranch? Imagine, just you in the tub stroking into half a dozen of those magical mechanical waves engineered to perfection. But have you given thought to how much you would pay?
Well the WSL have announced pre-sale tickets for The Founders Cup, a one-off event hosted in May, pitting nation against nation, competing for pride rather than CT points. The two-event is set to have ‘unbelievable surfing, amazing vantage points, live music, delicious food and be a historic sports experience like no other’ according to pre-sale Eventbrite page.
And if you want to do a hot lap of Kelly’s pool you can! But, it’ll cost you a mere $9,788.80 for the ‘experience’. I guess when supply is in short supply the demand (cost) is well…high!
Wanna know what 10 gees gets you?
“The Surf Ranch Experience. Don't just watch. Surf. After an entire weekend of watching perfect waves, you'll get your chance to join the very short list of people who have surfed Kelly's creation. The Surf Ranch Experience provides a one-hour surf session in the pool on Monday, May 7. You'll feel like the pros you just spent a weekend watching, with a personalized locker, coaching and professional photography and videography from both land and water. The experience includes full VIP treatment through the event complete with VIP Seating, lounge access, free food and beverage, premium gift bag, parking pass and Tach Palace hotel room for Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. In addition, you'll get an exclusive invite to the pre-event party and dinner on Friday, and the invite-only concert after party on Saturday. Ge ready for the experience of a lifetime. Questions about this package? [email protected]”
Crikey!
General admission for the day will set you back $99, or a two ticket $150. If you don’t want the hour-long surf session with Raimana yelling at you on the ski there are other VIP ‘experiences’ to be had. A $499 package gets you access to plush lounges, free parking, booze and food.
So, are you in?
How much would you be willing to pay for an hour-long surf session at Kelly’s pool?
If you are willing to saddle up and drive out to Lemoore it will be a historic event. The roster boasts multiple world champs, the mixed teams format allowing for a playing field in the competitive surfing context like nothing we’ve seen before from the WSL. The team format which was so warmly received at the Australia Boardriders Battle earlier this year will be on show for the world to see.
However, it’ll be the International Olympic Committee and the WSL that will be watching closest. The WSL seem heady with anticipation about potentially brokering the Donald Trump of all deals with the IOC and convince them to sub out Chiba for Surf Ranch at the 2020 Tokyo Games.
Rumour is the WSL have broken ground in Tokyo and are hurriedly building a Surf Ranch replica in time for the 2020 Olympic Games. The suits behind the scenes will be eagerly hoping The Founders Cup contest formula and wave will be enough to convince the IOC this is how you showcase competitive surfing to the masses.
And the teams are as follows:
AUSTRLIA TEAM:
Captain: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS)
Mick Fanning (AUS)
Matt Wilkinson (AUS)
Julian Wilson (AUS)
Tyler Wright (AUS)
BRAZIL TEAM:
Captain: Gabriel Medina (BRA)
Adriano de Souza (BRA)
Filipe Toledo (BRA)
Silvana Lima (BRA)
Taina Hinckel (BRA)
EUROPE TEAM:
Captain: Johanne Defay (FRA)
Jeremy Flores (FRA)
Frederico Morais (PRT)
Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA)
Frankie Harrer (DEU)
USA TEAM:
Captain: Kelly Slater (USA)
John John Florence (USA)
Kolohe Andino (USA)
Carissa Moore (USA)
Courtney Conlogue (USA)
WORLD TEAM:
Captain: Jordy Smith (ZAF)
Michel Bourez (PYF)
Kanoa Igarashi (JPN)
Paige Hareb (NZL)
Bianca Buitendag (ZAF)
