You, Yes YOU, Can Now Buy A Ticket To Ride The Kelly Pool – Nick Carroll
Wilko's face after hearing the price of stuffing his backside into one of these tubes. Photo: WSL/Rowland
NINE THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED US DOLLARS.
You can surf the Surf Ranch! Yep, you read that right.
So tickets are now on sale for the WSL’s Founders’ Cup event — the teams contest planned for early May at the WSL Surf Ranch in Lemoore, California.
Naturally, I am interested in the finances of this organisation. Since pretty much the whole future of professional surfing rides on them. So I went looking for ticket prices — as you can too.
And my God.
Did you know that aside from the cheap seat daily price of $99.00 and the $80 Grom Admission (children 10 and under one day only), and the VIP whole event ticket including food etc for $499.00, you can buy an actual ticket to RIDE THE PLACE.
For $9500.00.
It’s called The Surf Ranch Experience package, and here it is:
“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 session 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 throughout the event complete with VIP seating, lounge access, free food and beverage, premium gift bag, parking pass, and Tachi Palace hotel room for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights.”
Plus introductory dinner! Plus concert afterparty!
Nine thousand five hundred dollars plus $288.80 booking fee.
Now for a number of reasons (see story coming later this week), the days of the world tour haemorrhaging cash may be coming to an end. After over four years of eye watering expenditure, it may even be on the edge of breaking even. That is as long as you separate it from where the investment’s now going — into the pool (and soon to be pools).
But this is next level. If the WSL can sell out premium attendance packages at a pool event for what amounts to US$10,000, their crazy dreams might not be so crazy after all.
So what price does this put on a Ranch wave? Look away while I do the sums. Tachi Palace three nights at $200 a night = $600. VIP weekend at $499.00. Total: $1100. Subtract total from package: leaves $8400.
$8400 for a one hour surf at the Pool. In my experience, an hour in the Pool will get you four waves: two rights and two lefts.
That’s $2100 a wave.
I think the Pipeline Posse ought to get together and start selling Experiences At Banzai.
See for yourself and buy tickets right here.
Nick Carroll: The WSL Is Still Planning a Pipe/Maui Kickoff this Hawaiian Winter, but How?
Hawaii’s On! Maybe!
Nick Carroll: After 30 Years of Thinking About It, Rabbit Hops Into Politics
“I’m Going To Bring All My Passion and Competitive Juices To This”
Nick Carroll: They're Not Your Pets
More People in the Water, More Encounters of the Unplanned Kind
Mick Fanning: Save This Shark
This is Mick Fanning’s take on that crazy incident at J-Bay in 2015 - the most watched moment in surfing history.
Job Opportunity: We Need a Weekend Forecaster/Surf Reporter
Watch: Episode 6 of Rivals – Shaun Cansdell at Home on the Coffs Coast
Sean Doherty: The East Coast White Attacks – Where To From Here
Nick Carroll: The Terrible Attack at Greenmount Will Blow the Shark Narrative To Pieces, Again
Mick Fanning: Save This Shark
This is Mick Fanning’s take on that crazy incident at J-Bay in 2015 - the most watched moment in surfing history.
Watch: Episode 6 of Rivals – Shaun Cansdell at Home on the Coffs Coast
The best surf tv show format keeps on rolling!
Sean Doherty: The East Coast White Attacks – Where To From Here
The situation is crying out for moderation.
Sean Doherty: The East Coast White Attacks – Where To From Here
The situation is crying out for moderation.
Watch: Episode 6 of Rivals – Shaun Cansdell at Home on the Coffs Coast
The best surf tv show format keeps on rolling!
Mick Fanning: Save This Shark
This is Mick Fanning’s take on that crazy incident at J-Bay in 2015 - the most watched moment in surfing history.
Mason Ho Surfs Hurricane Swell Chaos, Italo's Andy Tribute, and Soli Bailey Ripping At Home
This Week In Surfing: Ten Things from Surfing & the Internet on the Week That Was September 11 2020
Video: The Fizzlot kids – SW Grom Bash
A stoked out portrait of Australian Junior Surfing in the year 2018.
