Crappy day and probly’ crappy year for the IBA – IBA 2013 PIPE CHALLENGE CANCELLED !
http://ibaworldtour.com/2013/01/iba-2013-pipe-challenge-cancelled/
This is seriously catastrophic for the IBA 2013 tour as Pipeline is obviously the one and only wave that NEEDS to be surfed on the world tour, its the shiz niz of waves, the one and only banzai pipeline. IBA stated it’s a lack of support from the industry and sponsors that forced them to cancel the event. If only one contest was to be kept alive on the tour it’s Pipeline! Why not push the event to the end of the 2013 calendar and save time to try to find more sponsors and keep the event alive?
From the IBA site this morning:
It is with great disappointment that the IBA announce the cancellation of the 2013 Pipe Challenge in Hawaii that was scheduled for February 2013.
The 2013 Pipe Challenge has been forced to be cancelled as a result of the complete lack of industry sponsorship for the event.
The IBA had been in sponsorship discussions with industry companies and out of industry companies for a period of over 6 months. There were a number of positive leads that have fallen away over December and January for various reasons, the most recent being this week. All options have been explored to continue with the running of the event, though the decision taken to cancel the 2013 IBA Pipe Challenge.
“The industry needs to support the IBA World Tour to ensure growth and prosperity for this sport. It’s a sad day for the IBA, its athletes and supporters.” – IBA World Tour Manager, Alex Leon
The Men’s and Women’s 2013 IBA World Tour is now scheduled to commence in Australia in April 2013, with further details to be confirmed in the coming weeks. The DK World Tour kicks off in Peru in March 2013.
For further updates please refer to www.ibaworldtour.com and www.facebook.com/ibaworldtour
