To update you on the latest transfer talk in windsurfing, I've been counseling a few industry members on any expected signing activity. Not for anything negative. Just fishin' for news and hints about incoming team members.
Put simply. Things might just start heating up a little after the weekend - and the fact that the PWA calendar is set to be revealed next week makes the possibilities even more mouth-watering.
I'll be frank and mention that some brands are reacting more positively than others to the stories posted here. Some acknowledge the fact that, like it or not, people hear and talk about these issues no matter what they think I should or shouldn't publish. Some most definitely don't.
JP Australia for example, definitely won't comment. In fact they asked that the Poll to the left be removed. I'm pretty disappointed about that to be honest. I'd hoped in the modern and open Media Age that they might like a little input from the public on who they'd like to see sign a deal and develop their boards? Yes - that's the valuable, hard-to-come-by buyers who spend hard-earned money on their boards I'm talking about.
***UPDATE*** A new Poll has been posted since this article was published. The final results of the Poll asking:
'Who will JP Australia Hire and fire for the 2009 PWA World Tour Season?' are:
24.8 % They'll axe Campello and sign Albeau
45.1 % Campello AND Buzianis will make way for Albeau
30.1 % Albeau's staying put. Starboard want the top-3 racers and to own the Slalom podium
Thanks for voting and telling us what you think.
/Cont...If you read the latest issue of Boards Magazine, you'll see it's no secret that Martin Brandner [the JP Head Honcho] and I don't exactly see eye-to-eye. But I believe there's a good level of mutual respect between us. Regardless of this fact, Brandner doesn't like the terminology of 'axing' people. Fair enough. He’s got team-member relationships to protect. I appreciate that, but there's nothing personal meant by that kind of language. It's just a fact that people are interested, that it's anyone's right to discuss it, plus I think it's an opportunity for them to embrace and to use to connect with their customers.
He reckons these are 'radical times - economically'. That’s perfectly understandable. Of course JP want to protect and retain as many people on their team as possible. No matter what they say though, it doesn’t mean JP won’t have a re-shuffle or lose a key player or two does it? Brandner stated that if they are forced to 'let someone go', (remember - that's not axing now); it’s 'always with regret'. Only time will tell how this situation pans-out.
It'd be great to hear your views on this, or read your suggestions on which riders you'd like to see JP to hire or fire in the Comments section below.
Naish International seem to take a more upbeat approach. Maui-based Brand Manager Michi Schweiger’s not phased by the credit-crunch or shying away from the Beach Telegraph. Schweiger admits they’re not a ‘Big Buyer’ in the pro rider market anyway. ‘Our history and family philosophy has been to grow with riders…build them up to become champions rather than buying-in at that level’ he says.
Good point. Francisco Goya, Scott McKercher, Marcilio Brown and Kauli Seadi have been perfect examples of that thinking paying dividends. ‘Nevertheless you will still see some new additions to the team’, Schweiger adds. Sounds good.
‘Besides sailing ability, contest results and coverage we're looking for characters. The sport needs more charismatic figures and personalities. But, I have a feeling there will be a lot of available riders around for 2009...’
With that in mind how about a new Poll prior to that PWA calendar coming out? I’ll get to work on that now. I’ve heard most of the events from last year are back on and that a couple of stops that were missed last season are looking good to be back on.
I doubt if these will go straight onto the calendar until they’re confirmed, so the line-up might look a little sparse until more deals are done. That’s pretty normal, but the good news is that, despite the Global Recession, the tour seems to be doing a good job of raising funds regardless.
Got more to tell? Please drop us a line at hotgossip@beachtelegraph.com or let the world know in the comments section below.
Snippets of salty news for you after a sweep of the online surfing scene. 
If you haven't voted in the poll to the left then please click away. Not wanting to influence things too much, but a little bird told me that at the beach this week Albeau 'didn't exactly deny he's joining JP' and had a pretty wry smile on his face about it.
Breaking news: Neil Pryde International are apparently dropping star rider Levi Siver along with Alex Mussolini and Baptiste Gossein.