It’s no secret that the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) is struggling.  Between having surf industry companies backing out of sponsoring ASP World Tour events due to a lack of finances, to egregious errors like miscalculating Kelly Slater’s 11^th World Title at last year’s Rip Curl Pro Search San Francisco resulting in former ASP CEO Brodie Carr resigning without a successor in place, to constant criticism of both judging and biased webcast commentating, in addition to previous takeover attempts by AOL.com in 2007 and by a Rebel Tour led by Kelly Slater’s management team in 2009, the ASP is in deep trouble.

Now, according to Australian publication Surfing Life, a group led by Kelly Slater’s manager Terry Hardy is set to make another takeover attempt, with the news likely to become official sometime between July 28^th and August 5^th, the week of the US Open of Surfing at Huntington Beach.  Slater, who is currently in the Mentawais as part of a Momentum reunion trip where Taylor Steele is documenting some of the world’s greatest surfers joining together 20 years after their revolutionary surf movie was released, commented via email regarding the rumors.

“I'll take the fifth on it and wait for it to play out. I do know who's involved but I honestly don't know details (by choice),” Slater wrote to Surfing Life.  “I've just kept myself out of the loop. If I snooped I could get the story but it's only a couple weeks away and we'll all know. Better than just trying to predict. US Open is news time from what I hear.”

Surfing Life then went to ASP’s International Media Director Dave Prodan to comment on the story.  “The ASP does not comment specifically on rumor or speculation,” said Prodan.  “The affairs of the sport are constantly being discussed and analyzed by members of the Board - this involves structures, formats, media rights, new markets, guidelines, etc. It's safe to say these topics are discussed at every Board Meeting and will be again in Huntington Beach at the end of the month.”

Former CEO Brodie Carr provided what was possibly the most insightful of comments regarding both the current state of affairs with the ASP and the possible takeover bid by an unknown group.  “It’s in a very precarious position at the moment,” said Carr, from his home in France. “Times have changed.  We’re lucky to see Billabong continue with Teahupo’o and Pipe this year. I’m surprised they haven’t tried not to run those ones.  The costs to run an event have spiraled upwards. It costs between $2.5 and $3 million to run an event. That’s a lot of T-shirts to sell.  I don’t think I could sell a World Tour event at the moment.  There’s a correction upon us. This time we’re in now is new terrain for everyone. The shareholders and bean counters of the world are going to have a say on it. It’s a tough sell.”

Pro surfers Dane Reynolds and Jamie O’Brien, both very vocal critics of the ASP, went on twitter to voice their opinions regarding the possible takeover of the ASP.  “Are you ready for the Vita Coco ASP World Tour? I know I am,” wrote Reynolds on his Twitter account, in reference to one of Kelly Slater’s sponsors.  O’Brien added through his Twitter account, “soooooooo the US Open of Surfing. A circus. best place for hyping new roadshow ¿ CBBRWT = City Beach Break Retailers World Tour ?”.

Surely more news will be coming through the rumor wires as the US Open of Surfing gets closer to happening.  Speculation is rampant that a larger company like Nike may be the one making the takeover attempt, especially given they are the official sponsor of the US Open of Surfing, or a group similar to the one associated with Kelly Slater that wanted to run the Rebel Tour may be behind the attempt to run the ASP.  Regardless, there definitely seems to be a need for the ASP to be in better control for future success.