The Big Wave World Tour is now part of the ASP family. Image Credit: ASP / BWWT

Remember when watching the webcast was kinda… interesting? Like, exciting? When seeing Pipe and Fiji and Chopes and J-Bay pumping was all new and rad and Dream Tour-y?

It seems these days, folk have got a bit jaded and bored with DeFloata’s poo stance (outside ‘Zil anyway) and bored with Jake the Snake saying ‘Hector’ Alves (outside ‘Straya… in ‘Straya they haven’t noticed) Throw in a couple of years of average surf here andf there and it seems like the ASP World Tour lost a bit of its wow factor. Well guess what? There’s gonna be an ASP sanctioned Big Wave World Tour next year. Wow!

Just in case you haven’t read the press release on every other website in the surf world, here she blows:

ASP International is pleased to announce the acquisition of the global Big Wave World Tour (BWWT), with arrangements for support in 2013 and formal sanctioning commencing in 2014.

“We are very pleased to have finalized the deal between the ASP and the Big Wave World Tour,” Paul Speaker, ASP CEO, said. “The competitors on the BWWT are some of the fiercest and most-respected watermen on the planet and we are eager about the opportunity to take their tour to the next level. This arrangement also allows the world’s best surfers on the ASP World Championship Tour (WCT) to compete in big-wave events moving forward. 2014 will be an exciting year on all fronts.”

Currently servicing six international big wave events in Pichilemu/Chile, Punta Hermosa/Peru, Lincoln City/Oregon, Half Moon Bay/California, Baja California/Mexico and Punta Galea/Spain the Big Wave World Tour was founded by Gary Linden and pits the world’s best big wave surfers against the elements in some of the most intense venues on the planet.

“The Big Wave World Tour is thrilled to be joining the ASP family,” Gary Linden said. “ASP run the best events in the world and we’re thrilled to have their support and guidance as we continue to build the platform of big wave surfing. We also look forward to seeing some of the world’s best surfers tackle some of the world’s biggest waves in the coming years.”

The new-found arrangement between the ASP and the BWWT will allow for top ASP surfers such Kelly, Parko and John John amongst others to join respected BWWT surfers like Greg Long, Grant Baker and Carlos Burle in competition with waves in the 25-foot-and-above range.

“The Big Wave World Tour is a great addition to the Association of Surfing Professionals,” Kieren Perrow, ASP Commissioner, said. “It adds another dimension to the sport and will make it significantly easier for ASP Top 34 surfers to compete in big-wave events. We have the utmost respect for the athletes on the BWWT and we really look forward to working with them.”

Now they just need to find a way to render big wave events more mobile so they can act of XXL charts last minute, thus avoiding the current situation in Chile with everyone waiting around for 25ft surf to run the Quiksilver Ceremonial at Pichilemu.