The ASP World Tour 2011 schedule promises to bring another fantastic and exciting year of surfing around the world. With the New ASP World Tour format, only the most elite surfers from around the world we be eligible to compete in the newly distinguished World Title Race.

The 2011 ASP World Tour Top 34 is comprised of the top 22 finishers from the 2010 World Title Events, the top 10 finishers in the ASP World Rankings, plus 2 Wildcards.

The 2011 ASP World Tour will kick off on the Gold Coast of Australia for the Quicksilver Pro on February 26th, followed by Bells Beach, Jeffreys Bay, Teahupoo, Trestles, France, Peniche and the Hawaiin legs. Once again, this year will feature the Rip Curl Search ‘moving contest’. This 10th stop on tour labeled as ‘somewhere in’ provides for an event that could be located anywhere. Rumors have it that this year there is a strong possibility the event could be held somewhere in China, which would be the first debut for any ASP contest in the country.

The 2011 ASP World Tour dates are:

Feb 26 – Mar 9, 2011 Gold Coast, Qld, Australia
Apr 19 – 30, 2011 Bells Beach, Victoria, Australia
May 11 – 22, 2011 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
Jul 14 – 24, 2011 Jeffreys Bay, South Africa
Aug 20 – 31, 2011 Teahupoo, Taiarapu, French Polynesia
Sep 3 – 12, 2011 East Coast, United States of America
Sep 16 – 24, 2011 Trestles, California, United States of America
Oct 4 – 13, 2011 South West Coast, France
Oct 15 – 24, 2011 Peniche, Portugal
Nov 1 – 11, 2011 Somewhere In, Rip Curl Search
Dec 8 – 20, 2011 Banzai Pipeline, Oahu, Hawaii

Confused on how the new ASP World Tour Rankings work?

So am I. But this is my best attempt to explain the new system moving forward in 2011.

Traditionally, the ASP featured two separate contest circuits. The World Championship Tour (WCT) and the World Qualifying Series (WQS). The former consisted of the top 45 ranked surfers competing in exclusive WCT events for the World Title, while the latter WQS served as a path to qualify for the WCT.

Currently, the ASP has trimmed the amount of surfers competing for a World Title to a lean Top 34, providing an even more cut throat tour than ever before. The caveat however, is that the ASP will adjust the top 34 more frequently. Competitors with good results will replace underperforming competitors more quickly. Rather than make surfers slog through an entire year of WQS events, the idea is to match up the very best surfers at the very best events as quickly as possible.

To facilitate this more flexible format the ASP merged the two former circuits into on umbrella “ASP World Tour” banner distinguished through the “ASP World Title Race” and the “ASP World Rankings.”

The way I understand it is that all competitor’s results will contribute to their respective ASP World Rankings. However, only the top 34 surfers will be eligible for ASP World Title competitions aka ‘Dream Tour’ events.

Going into 2011, the ASP top 34 is comprised of the following: The Top 22 finishers from 2010, the next 10 ASP World Rankings finishers, plus 2 ASP Wildcards. The part that gets confusing is that the ASP hasn’t clarified how often it will adjust the top 34. All we know is that at some point during the year, and possibly more than once, the ASP will adjust this top 34 based on the current overall World Rankings.

Here is the 2011 roster (including Wildcards Kai Otton of Australia and Gabe Kling of Florida):

1. Kelly Slater (United States)

2. Jordy Smith (South Africa)

3. Taj Burrow (Australia)

4. Mick Fanning (Australia)

5. Bede Durbidge (Australia)

6. Dane Reynolds (United States)

7. Adrian Buchan (Australia)

7. Owen Wright (Australia)

9. Jeremy Flores (France)

10. Adriano de Souza (Brazil)

11. C.J. Hobgood (United States)

12. Michel Bourez (Tahiti)

13. Chris Davidson (Australia)

14. Jadson Andre (Brazil)

15. Damien Hobgood (United States)

16. Kieren Perrow (Australia)

17. Brett Simpson (United States)

18. Joel Parkinson (Australia)

19. Taylor Knox (United States)

20. Heitor Alves (Brazil)

21. Matt Wilkinson (Australia)

22. Bobby Martinez (United States)

23. Fredrick Patacchia (Hawaii and United States)

24. Kai Otton (Australia)

25. Patrick Gudauskas (United States)

26. Tiago Pires (Portugal)

27. Adam Melling (Australia)

28. Daniel Ross (Australia)

29. Raoni Monteiro (Brazil)

30. Josh Kerr (Australia)

31. Alejo Muniz (Brazil)

32. Dusty Payne (Hawaii and the United States)

33. Julian Wilson (Australia)

34. Gabe Kling (United States)