PSAA (Professional Surfing Association of America) |
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Known at various times as the PSAA, the Body Glove Tour, the Bud Tour, the Clarion Tour and simply ASP North America, the domestic professional tour has had its share of ups and downs. From its humble beginnings in 1985 to overwhelming success by 1990 and a gradual decline ever since, the tour has provided a medium for Americans and foreigners alike to showcase their talents in the land of opportunity. And that, more than anything, was the reason it was created.
By 1979, Joey Buran had conquered the amateur ranks, and he peered over the edge of the earth staring into the precipice. There was nowhere for him to go other than the IPS World Tour. The events were in places such as Hawaii, Australia, Brazil, South Africa and Japan, a world away for a 17-year-old Californian. He went, and had great success, culminating five straight seasons in the Top 16 with a win in the 1984 Pipe Masters. Then it was time to give back. Wanting young pros to have the stepping-stone he never had, Buran launched the PSAA, offering a few bucks in prize money and an avenue for B-grade Californians. John Parmenter and Mike Cruikshank won the first two years, with the total purse hovering around $40,000. In 1987, it more than tripled, and ASP burnout Mike Lambresi earned his first of three consecutive titles. By number three, Budweiser owned the PSAA, and the annual purse had tripled again, now offering nearly half-a-million dollars in cash. Up until that season, the elder Californians were having their way with the youngsters, and the tour seemed more of a landing pad for ASP rejects than a launching pad for future greats. By 1990, a host of burgeoning talent had emerged. Shane Beschen, Christian Fletcher, Dino Andino, Chris Brown, Pat O'Connell, Taylor Knox, Rob Machado and Kelly Slater were on the scene, virtually signing the death warrants of the old guard. All but Fletcher were on their way to the world tour, and this was their coming-out party. Furthermore, the Bud Tour was now being telecast nationwide on a network known as Prime Ticket. Former professional world champ and coach Peter Townend was hired to give the play-by-play, Aussie cohort Ian Cairns was running the show and, to grommets around the country, the Bud Tour was the shit. In 1992, the ASP abandoned its trials format in favor of a two-tiered, annual qualifying system, the World Qualifying Series feeding the World Championship Tour. Trialists now had to scour the globe for points in hopes of making the cut by season's end, and no one was doling out more points than the Bud Tour. With the New School heading into combat and another crop close behind, American professional surfing was rosy. But the writing was on the wall. Tom Curren had "gone soul," opting for videos over competition and taking a generation with him. As the early '90s recession milked promotional budgets dry, the number of domestic events evaporated while Australia, Brazil and Europe gradually picked up the slack. As the domestic tour sank, so did the American presence in the upper echelons. Nowadays, the only way to hit the big time is to hit the road, crisscrossing the planet in hopes of qualifying for the WCT. Weeklong grovel-thons in m ediocre American surf are tired compared to big-wave battles and flashy airshows and have little chance of attracting any interest. The number of significant domestic events can now be counted on one hand with fingers to spare, but the worst is likely behind us. With the emergence of the Professional Surfing Tour of America (P.S.T.A.) in 1998, and its steady climb to respectability, the void is slowly being filled. Buran's dream is coming full circle, as it appears the stepping-stone he created will soon be back in place. -- Jason Borte, March 2001
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