We catch up with the Wavepool Surf Tour co-founder and COO, Clyde Martin, for some insights on what’s happening with the tour and where it all began.
Clyde’s pedigree reads as such: Over three decades in professional surfing. Competitor (1987–94), ASP Europe Tour Manager, WCT Judge, and COO of World Professional Surfers (1995–2012). International Head Coach at the 2023 Asian and ISA World Surfing Games. The man has the credentials, so we climbed straight in with some direct lines of questioning.
You've been involved in professional surfing for almost 40 years. Why was now the right time to build something new?
The tech has given the opportunity, along with, in my opinion, the lack of first-level opportunities for the kids just starting. It's just another rung in the career path opportunity.
You've been a competitor, judge, tour manager, administrator, and coach. Which of those experiences has influenced the Wavepool Surf Tour the most?
Honestly, all of the above. I have watched maybe tens of thousands of heats. Nothing of significance has changed since the Stubbies and the Peter Drouyn man-on-man heats back in 1977.
When designing the competition, what were the biggest frustrations with existing formats that you wanted to solve?
Making the events open to any, and everyone. Giving the best professionals and the guy who just wants to have a go a chance to enter with his mates.
Does an online-first tour actually ask more of surfers than a traditional event?
No, it does not. Wavepools are mostly near high-density populations. We want people who would normally be surfing regularly to enter and have fun doing so. Keeping the entry price down to an absolute minimum. Ideally, we do not want guys travelling to compete. Some of the top guys chasing ratings qualification will travel, but not many. In two months, you have to get two waves. No tide, no hustling, no onshore, no random wave size and conditions to worry about. Everyone is competing on the same waves. As a competitor, I simply cannot imagine a better or fairer opportunity.
You've judged at the highest level. Has that changed the way you think about what makes great surfing?
Absolutely. Surfing is a visual sport; it is judged by people with different personal ideas and preferences. Mine is simple: no matter how many turns you can do, if you're flailing around all over the wave, it's not very nice to watch. It has to be beautiful. Simple.
The Triple C Criteria feels familiar but different. What was the thinking behind refining the judging system?
Wavepool surfing has given the opportunity to be able to just judge the surfing, with no variables. Making the criteria simple and easy to understand.
Wavepools create an incredibly level playing field. How does that change the way surfers approach competition?
Again, the simple answer is, to get an excellent score on the Wavepool Surf Tour, you need to tick each of the Triple C Criteria points: Commitment, Creativity, Control.
How important was it to include divisions like Adaptive Surfing, Longboarding, Bodyboarding, Masters, and Legends from the very beginning?
From minute one, the idea was to make this tour fun, inclusive, and bring back a good feel to competition. So, it was always our priority.
Running a global tour is a huge logistical exercise. What's the challenge that people never see?
The number of hoops you have to learn to jump through. You end up feeling like a circus ringmaster who has to keep sticking his head into the lion's mouth.
What has surprised you most since launching the tour?
Honestly, the general good vibes we're feeling. I expected the haters to go crazy. Especially on me personally. Not a single bad word has been said "yet". DEFCON 1 is still fully deployed.
Is there one misconception about the Wavepool Surf Tour that you'd like to put to rest?
Nope, not yet. It's so different and such a new way to see competitive surfing events that it will take a while for everyone to get their heads around competing in a two-month window and just uploading their two best waves to potentially qualify for a World Final. That's our main mission now: educate everyone about the fact that there is another way to do this.
Looking five years ahead, where do you see competitive wavepool surfing?
Consolidated, accepted, another option.
What would make you look back on Season One and say, "We got it right?"
Lots of smiling, happy faces.
Quick Shots
Favourite contest you've ever worked?
Pipe Masters
Favourite surfer to watch?
Ethan Ewing
Best judging seat in the world?
JBay.
Hardest decision you've ever had to make in competition?
Sunset Beach 2001, seven straight world title heats. (That was the year of 9/11, and a consolidated tour saw a very intense final event of the year.)
One word that defines the Wavepool Surf Tour?
Evolutionary.
