Definition: Beginning in the 1960's, surfers began organizing competitions, but big money and endorsements (and surfing as a career)were years from reality. Moving into the 1970's professional surfing competitions in Hawaii were becoming more "professional" and well-organized with increasingly large cash purses. Contests like the Smirnoff Pro, The Duke Kahanamoku Classic, and the Pipeline Masters boasted up to $10,000 in prize money.
The first incarnation of the ASP was the IPS (International Professional Surfing) under the steady hand of Fred Hemmings with its first World Champion Peter Townend. The IPS blossomed into a traveling tour of some 20 world-wide events and what we now know as the ASP (Association of Surfing Professionals), the modern governing body of professional surfing.
The ASP now holds over 60 professional worldwide competitions (both men's and women's events), which are part of a two-tiered system that involves the WQS (World Qualifying Series) in which surfers battle for slots on the WCT (World Championship Tour) and the Top 44 surfers who are already qualified.
Examples: The ASP put on an awesome event at Bell's this year.
