The Quiksilver Pro, New York cancelled for 2012

The Quiksilver Pro, New York, the 2011 contest that took the most negative heat prior to running but delivered in spades (and gifted Owen Wright $300k!), has been cancelled for 2012. President of Quiksilver Americas, Rob Colby, told Transworld Business that due to cost overruns for the 2011 event, the 2012 instalment had an unfavourable outlook. “It was a big ticket item — we put a lot of time, people, and money into the event,” said Rob. “We’re going to take a breather for 2012. The Americas business is doing very well, but we don’t want to lead with our chin — we want to be cautious in 2012.”

The ASP’s Dave Prodan estimates that, for world tour licensees, an event can cost between three and five mil. The Quik Pro, NY however, could’ve easily ballooned out to more like $10mil. In response to the significance of the financial hit Quik took at the 2011 instalment, Rob’s answer was concise: “It was a lot.” Tearing down the contest site in fear of Hurricane Irene’s pending wrath, then resurrecting (and re-applying for permits) didn’t help the event’s costs. Other logistics at the 2011 event, like

The contest this year was a success, but was certainly a gamble: “No-one’s fooling themselves about the event,” says Dave. “We were really lucky with waves and that was what everyone was most worried about, leading up to the event.” The 2011 instalment also provided some of the year’s best drama and performances, like Kelly Slater spinning a frontside full-roter to pinch Taj Burrow in the last second of their heat, or Bobby Martinez spitting tennis/ASP comparisons into the mic post-heat and leaving the tour in a blaze of glory. But don’t worry, there’ll still be Snapper and France for next year: “Quiksilver is still very much committed to the ASP and the professional surfing tour in 2012 with the Quiksilver Pro, Gold Coast and the Quiksilver Pro, France,” said Rob.

So, what’re we looking at as a replacement? “Obviously at the moment it’s pretty late in the game to be organising an event for next year,” Dave told Stab. “But, we’re talking to a few potentials and hopefully we’ll have something to announce next week, maybe.”