SES followed up with Randy Rarick and Jodi Wilmott following the news last week that Randy is officially retiring from his leadership role with the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing and Jodi will be stepping into an expanded GM role for the newly structured World Surf League Hawaii team.
Following the new ownership of the WSL, the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing management team now falls under the WSL umbrella, a change that went into effect last year.
Randy and Jodi answered some questions for us about the new developments.
What is the difference between the way the Triple Crown management used to work and how it will work in the future?
Randy Rarick: As General Manager of the region, Jodi will take care of the duties that used to come under Executive Director of the Vans Triple Crown.
All of our key team members are still in place and still vital to the ongoing success of our operations in Hawaii: Bert Ishimaru,Tour Manager, Hawaii; Faith Wenzel, Admin; Sean Wingate, sponsorship fulfillment and logistics; and Marty Thomas, Surf Director.
Even though their roles fall under the WSL now, they each have a long working relationship with the Vans family and a solid working history with the series. We expect that the series will continue to gain steam as part of the WSL’s international event platform.
What kind of changes can we expect to see at the events?
Jodi Wilmott: The 2014 Vans Triple Crown of Surfing was executed under full WSL operation and we enjoyed a great first year of full activation. Going forward you can expect to see continued growth and partnering in the areas of community and sustainability efforts. Of course, expect the Vans Triple Crown series to continue to strive for excellence.
Since my new role oversees all level of events from the Junior and QS 1,000 contests to the pinnacle, Pipe Masters, you will start to see the differences under a new five-year plan we have created based on the pillars of “Kids, Culture & Community.”
To that end, we are very proud to announce a new appointment: Sunny Garcia, the 2000 ASP World Champion and six-time Vans Triple Crown champion joins us as Youth Mentor and Development Officer. He will be instrumental to our vision to grow the next generation of Hawaiian pro surfers from the ground up.
We are currently working closely with local retailers and industry partners to develop our Junior and entry-level QS event offering for both men and women. We are also looking at ways to partner with them outside of events to offer workshops and opportunities that we believe will better support our young athletes with their careers.
Hawaii is the birthplace of professional surfing thanks to Randy and Fred Hemmings, and Hawaiian culture is an integral part of it. We will strive to honor that at the highest level.
How is Jodi’s new role different from what you used to do Randy?
Randy Rarick: Jodi will essentially take on the Executive Director position that I had, but with expanded responsibilities, as the WSL has added a General Manager of the entire Hawaii region. I am personally really happy to hand over the reins to her as someone whom I’ve mentored for the past seventeen years. I feel she is the most capable person to fulfill the role.
Jodi, will you still be managing all PR for the events as well or will the WSL team handle that? Will this be your full time job or will you still operate your business?
Jodi Wilmott: I will not be managing PR/media. We will have a new face or two to introduce in that capacity soon at the regional level, and we will all continue to work closely with WSL’s international PR, production and social media teams with the higher-level events.
This will be my full-time job with the only extra business being a reduced ongoing relationship with Turtle Bay Resort, which makes sense given all we do on a community and event level with them. I hope to pass along some of the great opportunities I have had in the past to new talent here in Hawaii.
Randy, you have done so much in your career. What are a few things you are most proud of?
Randy Rarick: I’ve spent the last 38 years building professional surfing and I’m proud to have co-founded the World Pro Tour back in 1976 with Fred Hemmings, started the Vans Triple Crown series in 1983 and legitimized surfing as a professional sport.
But most importantly taking my personal passion for surfing and sharing that with countless others around the world and helping four generations of Hawaii’s surfers realize the dream that I have lived.
What will you miss?
Randy Rarick: The thrill of making the call to run a contest that can make or break a surfer’s career. The camaraderie that the WSL tour brings to Hawaii every winter. But mostly, the self satisfaction of working with the Triple Crown “ohana” to do the best possible job for all these years.
