kissa said..
Inflatables are a novelty, but really, I would never want to seriously race on them.

Great discussion.I think the starting point should be:

1. Limiting race fields to 15-20.

2. No turning buoys in the break zone. Make them in deep channels or do shallow water portages.

3. Wear PFDs.

4. Piss off 12'6s and just have 14s - sorry, couldn't help throwing that one in...

I`d just add, 5.helmet. to Dave`s list.
If nobody gets hurt that is great for the sport and a bonus for each competitor.
If that 1 in a million major injury could have been avoided by a simple helmet, vest or course rethink everyone would reassess the importance of each when it happened to them. It`s just foresight and it sounds like everyone here has it.
Anyone dismissing safety gear should put their name to a few big events and the insurance policies!

OG SUP said..

Leroy13 said..

OG SUP said..

My 2 Cents,

With all this discussion regarding safety issues in a public forum like this you would have to be a very brave contest director with little or no assets at risk or understanding of duty of care to run a future event and not cover off as many points raised as possible.

There also has to be onus on the competitor to make a valid decision, if your not convinced you can handle the conditions and you believe you will put yourself or others a risk do everyone a favour an don't do it!

The images of Kaos may impress some grounded in the sport , but how many people do they totally put off BOP racing and SUP all together?

Reduce the numbers in the individual race to a more manageable number and run several heats, I think this already happens in some races.

I believe its great that this discussion is happening regarding racing it should also be opened regarding surfing and conditions limitations for SUP Surfing. You don't duck dive a sup under 6ft white water for example.

Helmets and vests make sense no different to PFD IMO.

Rather than arguing back and forward, might be a good idea to establish a common ground set of rules to minimise the risk.

It appears to me the risk assessment being applied to SUP is based around safe surfing and safe SLSA conditions does it hold true, many SLSA competitors would have to be considered almost professionals?

Might be time for a revamp of the paradigm.

Phill, that's common sense so the same people that don't listen won't listen again. I've come to the conclusion there is no such thing as common sense anymore, there is just anarchic chaos theory. Didn't you know winning is everything and if you say it isn't, you get red thumbed, accused of being simple minded and pushing unwanted agendas. People want to compete at any cost, bugger the consequences and if you can't win create a new category that you can win or a situation which levels/changes the playing field!! Really, mate get with the program!!!! Accidents don't, can't and won't happen so why take any precautions??? Surely all those guys know they are completely invincible and nothing will happen to, them, they fully understand the risks and effects on family and friends Ironic really isn't it!!

Leroy,

Your just to vague for me, I wish you would stop beating around the bush and just tell it like it is

LOLLOL again. Talk soon Phill. I still owe you that rather large beer!!! LOL again. Too, too funny!!! I can now see why Legion and Doggie became addicted to it.LOL again. How'd your not so little champ go OS. PM me if you get a chance and I'll ring you! LOL again.

surfershaneA said..

JonesySUP said...

This is the best photo I've seen from the Qld titles BOP race! Epic
Thanks to Pieter Plooy from SUPworld Mag

As above, all I can see is someone getting seriously hurt as has happened in Surf Lifesaving events up there. Maybe it is time for tighter water safety and flouro pink rashies?

I also note that a waiver will not protect anyone in cases of gross negligence. I wonder if the paid Surfing NSW staff realised this at a recent comp where a young competitor lost his board, got caught in a rip and ended up having to be rescued by a fellow competitor?

Get off the DRUGS. This is nothing like the Surf Lifesaving incidents. NO WAVES.
IT is just a photo of a bunch of people who have had to stop to turn around a buoy.
It was FLAT.
Its a PHOTO. Take a good slow look at it. We were there.
There is no danger.
It is 6 feet from shore and 3 feet deep.

Ironic isn't it @peterdorries; you were concerned at clubbie comps about safety, told officials and they ignored you! Someone died!
People are telling you that they are concerned with safety elements of a bop style race (not just a photo) and you're ignoring them.
Who's on the drugs

Better get your kids off those bikes too!

Also did you know the CHEERLEADING results in over 30,000 serious injuries to girls every year and some deaths!! So better stop your girls from dancing too.




:) Angie

Haha some of you guys are funny!!

Let's really think about this BOP racing, and lets talk about the 2 most dangerous parts which are paddling out and turning the Buoys. 99% of the time when we are turning the Buoys we are moving at about 1km per hour which come on guys is not going to do much damage to anyone!!

Now Paddling out through the waves, yes it has some danger but very small and you would have way more risk of getting hit out the alley paddling out!! 90% of these comps are held in 3ft surf and under and usually in a wave that is nice and fat.

If you rock up to a event and the surf is big and they want to still run the race and you are not comfortable in the surf then dont go in it!! no one can make you enter and if you think its to big for you kids then you have the power to stop them going out.

I would like to know how many people here who are preaching safety have even done a real BOP? Have you mark? or OG?

Everyone wants our sport to be safe and never have any accidents but one day something will happen weather we are wear helmets and paddling with comdoms on our paddles for protection, some times **** just happens!! If you are trying to compare surf lifesaving to SUP races then good luck they are 2 very different sports, thank god!!!

I have done alot of racing from the biggest of the BOP right down to the local club events, i'v worn helmets in races and been taken out by boards at 100 different races and to date the biggest injury i have received is a dinged board!! we just are not moving fast enough 99% of the time. At the moment alot of you sound like one of those people next door who over annalise everything and always look to complain about every little thing instead of looking at how great our sport can be.

I want the sport to stay as safe as the next person and will always voice my concern if something is not quite right but i'm never going to do it so all the life gets sucked out of it on the way!! I look at people faces after they have done these type of races and they are buzzing and thats something that is missing alot in peoples lives these days.

It's funny how there's always someone else to blame these days other than yourself!!

If that specific photo is the cause of the concern it would be interesting so see that scene from another angle. I suspect compression due to a telephoto lens makes everyone look much closer than they are. You can see a fair amount of separation between everybody and no real looks of terror on their faces. The prone paddlers look like they're having a good time.

Would there not be a marginal difference in injury between getting hit with a normal racing SUP and 15-18kg inflatable sup, pumped up to 20psi? The skin of my SUP has a fair amount of flex in it.

It's good to see volleyball lifted it's safety game between 1991 and 1998. Volley ball courts were awash with blood back in the day.

PTWoody said..

petedorries said..

Its a PHOTO. Take a good slow look at it. We were there.
There is no danger.
It is 6 feet from shore and 3 feet deep.

Having seen about 10 seconds of video from the race, I'm sure you are right, the conditions were nowhere near as diabolical as everyone assumes. However, the take away from this photo is the two clubbies right in the middle of the shot. Putting prone paddlers in the same BOP race as SUP is not very clever and there can be no excuse for this happening again.

Forgetting this photo for a moment, I wonder if the elite BOP racers are even aware of how kooky they look when they are all spilling off close out waves on the way out. Of course, the rest of us would have no chance of staying upright either, but that's why we're back on the beach laughing our tits off at the carnage and how all the heroes suddenly look so lame. But it's probably not the best advertisement for the sport when it's held in impossible conditions.

Do you recon? I feel thats why the sport is getting bigger!! people love watching other people eat some **** and when some one who is good at the sport eats it its even funner!! The great thing about this sport is it makes even the best sometimes feel like a kook and that can bring joy to many!

When i ran in to the surf the other day in France and ate **** running in i no everyone laughed at me and i'm more than happy to be someone else souce of enjoyment!!

The best and only good thing about using blo-ups for BOP races is the no damage to the boards thing.

I still wouldn't want to be hit in the head by a paddle.. or a board.. even if it is an inflatable board.

Maybe we just need two classes for BOP.. Hard boards for experts.. and inflatables for your average Joes.

I think there might be more fun to be had in the average joe class..

DJ

500 paddlers per race, first can in 6 ft wave impact zone. sharpened fins, knuckle dusters, steel plated board noses. underwater razor wire traps around the cans. bamboo spikes in the run transition path and all competitors can fire one shot from a handgun per lap at a paddler in the way.


that ought to liven thinks up


future bop

Pretty sure if we made inflatable paddles mandatory equipment in BOP races we would never have to have this discussion again.....ever
Cheers
Sparx

Ummmmmmmmmmmm
I got nothing
Cheers
Sparx

paul.j said..

husq2100 said..

I once wrestled a giraffe with my bare hands.........

WHY?

becasue I like to party.....

Its been awhile since people where up in arms about how dangerous the Qld Titles where.
I thought i would put up the photo from bout 10 secs before so you can see how an angle can give a totally different view

petedorries said..

Its been awhile since people where up in arms about how dangerous the Qld Titles where.
I thought i would put up the photo from bout 10 secs before so you can see how an angle can give a totally different view

Did you have to bring this up again Ive just gone through a work place health and safety safety course, LOL.
But since you brought it up im compelled to comment , not on safety because its really common sense.One cooment only I hope the Aussies are not shafted to some back beach because the organisers dont want to cause waves with the surfers