Stephanie_Gilmore_World_champion_ASP_surfing_tour_2010_schedule_one_ranking.jpg

After a dramatic 2009 - from a super tight men's title race, Stephanie Gilmore winning the Championship for a third time, the effect of the economy, to record breaking conditions to wrap up the season - the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) have announced 2010's schedule, including major new events, date shifts and a brand new One Ranking structure. The calendar updates were apparently planned to ensure the best surf conditions for contests, as well as create space for new events, said Brodie Carr, ASP International CEO. 

ASP World Tour schedule dates confirmed so far are:

Men's tour:

Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast, February 27 - March 10, 2010
Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach, March 30 - April 10, 2010
Hang Loose Santa Catarina Pro, April 21 - April 30, 2010
Billabong Pro Jeffreys Bay, July 15 - 25, 2010
Billabong Pro Teahupoo, August 23 - September 3, 2010
Hurley Pro Trestles, September 12 - 21, 2010
Quiksilver Pro France, September 25 - October 5, 2010
Rip Curl Pro Portugal, October 7 - 18, 2010
Rip Curl Pro Search, October 30 - November 10, 2010
Billabong Pipe Masters, December 8 - 20, 2010

Women's tour:

Roxy Pro Gold Coast, February 27 - March 10, 2010
Rip Curl Women's Pro Bells Beach, March 30 - April 5, 2010
Taranaki Women's Surf Festival, April 11 - 16, 2010
Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic, April 21 - 26, 2010
Movistar Peru Classic pres. by Rip Curl, TBA
Rip Curl Pro Portugal, October 7 - 11, 2010
Rip Curl Pro Search, October 30 - November 4, 2010
Gidget Pro Sunset Beach, November 24 - December 6, 2010
Billabong Pro Maui (Tentative), December 8 - 20, 2010

As for the One Ranking Structure, 2010 will act as a bridge year for a new unified ranking system, incorporating both the men's ASP Dream Tour and ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS) (no news as yet on changes to the women's tours...) 

From 2011, the first year of the system's full operation, a surfer's tour ranking will be determined by their best eight results from any ASP event in the last 12 months - and thus will change throughout the year. 

It sounds complicated, but is pretty simple in reality - mirroring the TTR World Tour and the unitary ranking system for crowning an annual male and female World Snowboard Champions - rather than one each for the Dream Tour and WQS. Will Stephanie Gilmore win her fourth title in 2010? Will the new system make much difference to scoring and ranking? Perhaps, but with Kelly Slater fronting the new ASP surf contest alternative, the so-called 'Rebel Tour', this is definitely a pre-emptive move by the ASP to hone and improve their long-established contest series.

Either way, 2010 is already looking like a damn exciting, and very busy, year of surfing already: bring it on!


[Image: Stephanie Gilmore, credit ASP/CI/Kristen via Getty Images]

Love this? Then read more surfing & contest stories on nollie: