"theramrod" and "JCS" - if you don't like it, don't fvckin' watch it. I think it's stupid too. However, they surf better than me and they surf better than you. Stop your whining. They're funding it, not you. If you don't like it - make your own show. In the meantime STFU.
Considering there are an estimated 20 million surfers worldwide and virtually zero surfing-relevant content on television anywhere, I think a fair few people will watch "Ultimate Surfer" -
I don't blame the surfers for participating, it is hard to make money in surfing these days - you have to take what you can get.
Wave pools are easy. Just flip a switch to make a clean head-high wave, left or right. There's no waiting on the swell, tide, wind, sun, etc. In television production, time is money.
I DO blame the Producers. NFL quarterback rah-rah sports dude as the host? Surfing isn't American football.
Virtually all-white, all American casting? This concept could have been executed soooooo much better.
"Make your own show" - funny you should say that : )