Cairns Resigns From Pro Surfing Post in Wake of Riot

Ian Cairns, who founded the Assn. of Surfing Professionals in 1983, has resigned from his position as executive director of the world tour in the aftermath of the riot at the Op Pro surfing championships at Huntington Beach Aug. 31.

Cairns, camping in Yosemite with his family, was not available for comment. But ASP officials confirmed he announced Monday that he would resign on Oct. 15 and move back to his native Perth, Australia.

Cairns, one of the individuals responsible for the recent growth in popularity and profitability of the surfing tour, was extremely distressed when violence broke out a quarter-mile south of the finals.

The riot resulted in injuries to 30 beachgoers and 10 police officers, as well as $225,000 in damage to a lifeguard building and four vehicles. A crowd of 70,000 was forcibly cleared from the beach by police in riot gear and 22 persons were arrested.

Former tour representative Al Hunt has been appointed general manager of the ASP until the board of directors can name Cairns’ successor. Hunt said Cairns indicated that his departure was primarily a consequence of the disruptions at the contest.

“He always had a dream of what pro surfing could be--right up there with pro baseball and other sports--and what he saw at the Op disillusioned him, I think,” Hunt said. “It wasn’t what he wanted to be involved in. It wasn’t what he wanted surfing to be.”

Although the instigators of the riot did not appear to be members of the surfing contest crowd, Cairns said at the time that he feared that professional surfing would be “set back 10 or 20 years” by being associated with the events of the day.

“It’s more than disappointing; it’s depressing,” Cairns said after the riot.

Shaun Thompson, a professional on the tour and a member of the ASP board of directors, said he was saddened by Cairns’ resignation.

“I think he leaves a tremendous vacuum,” Thompson said. “He was a very talented and very imaginative administrator. He had great ideas and aspirations for what professional surfing could be.