Yer i reckon events like that would be great Teatrea

How would you be able to watch a 16km event as a spectator other than being on a boat following them?

These oversized boards are probably great fun and all, if you are heading in the right direction, have the money to buy one, a truck to carry it from place to place and a loyal support crew to pick you up at the other end.

A good race should be about the athletes rather than the equipment imho. This event seems to be equipment focused - XP vs DC16 vs Penetrator. It also seems to be the ocean equivalent of a walking race... surely a kayak would be way faster than stand up paddling.

Sorry guys, but I don't get it either.

Have a look at this C4 video showing them doing a down winder in Hawaii. I can see people doing this around Sydney in the sea breeze during the summer.

oliver said...

How would you be able to watch a 16km event as a spectator other than being on a boat following them?

These oversized boards are probably great fun and all, if you are heading in the right direction, have the money to buy one, a truck to carry it from place to place and a loyal support crew to pick you up at the other end.

A good race should be about the athletes rather than the equipment imho. This event seems to be equipment focused - XP vs DC16 vs Penetrator. It also seems to be the ocean equivalent of a walking race... surely a kayak would be way faster than stand up paddling.

Sorry guys, but I don't get it either.

Oliver, have you been drinking again? I suppose it is Friday night and damn it if I'm not throwin' down a couple cold Dark n' Stormies as I write but that said I think you may be 5 or 6 ahead of me! No. 1, you DO NOT attempt to paddle these boards INTO any sort of wind, that, my friend WOULD be the equivelant of a walking race, a backward walking race at that! As far as spectators go a good set of binoculars and a chase car would take care of that or perhaps it could be filmed after all do you sit in the channel and watch the CT blokes go at Chopes' each year? Plus I'm talkin' bout doing, not watching! Second, the cost question again, I thought I covered that one last night? Those who know me would realise that as a board builder I make less than an Indonesian roadworker yet in a heartbeat I'd whip Granny down to Cash Converters if it meant getting my hands on one of these O.R. sups. You want it bad enough you do whatever it takes, haven't things always been that way? Thirdly, most sports are not just about the athlete but also the equipment he or she choses to use. Next up, the transport issue. What car can't carry something that weighs between 12 and 15 kilos? Or Oliver, have you lost your license? As for support crew, has your problem cost you your girlfriend as well? Finally, this post is about O.R. sups, yes kayaks are faster and you could carry your beers in one as well.............Just messin' with ya' buddy, thanks for the questions and Ah, CHEERS!!!!

Clarky said...

Hey Stuey
Great to hear your comments on your board, I totally agree with your thoughts on hull design. Is your new board going to have any steering system and how many does it sleep in the cabin. Thanks for your offer of technical advisor, it would be a huge help and piece of mind to have your input.

For those with a death wish Tweed river bar could be the place to go tomorrow if the wind co-operates. Just don't lose your board on the outgoing tide or you'll be in New Zealand for lunch.

Clarky at present we are working on our own steering system as the Hawaiians want $400us just for the kit to use theirs! As for the sleeping arrangements it depends on whether you go for the centre or aft cockpit model.

teatrea said...

why the focus on ditance events? i think shorter sprint races would also be exciting and make it more accessable for the average punter with shorter boards.Sprint races out through the break and maybee 3 to 4 k would be exciting and also would showcase the skill required to get out through the break particuarly if it has a bit of size , not to mention getting back in.I personally get a real buzz out of succesfully getting over some large breaking waves.it would be a good spectator sport too much like surf boat racing.You could aslo include some beach running ect ect.

teatrea, I think yours is a great idea. However it should be part of Sup SURFING events not downwind racing which as I have said before is also surfing, just not as you know it.

i love internet forums its fun getting a rise out of people.StueyC and AissieWahine i do get your love of down wind and the personal challenge,s it brings .Maybee stuey when you have a few boards you could hire them for races for those people who cant afford one.

Blushing red

teatrea said...

aussiewahine said...

Teatrea..See I never understand people who stir others for fun. My husband and I have been together for 14 years and have had about 2 arguments in this time. I guess it's not in my nature to try and upset people. Anyway as long as you are having fun...that's cool. And you're definately not getting a rise outta me. I'm going for a surf ! See ya.

Geez your lucky ive been with my wife for about the same time and we have 2 arguments every day!

I'm still cracking up from that last comment...... In my disastrous 15 year relationship we used to have arguements every 2 days that lasted for 2 days !!!!

This sport has NO BOUNDARIES - I love it!!

I am going to wear my new wetsuit for the downwind race

Just might have to bolt my feet to the board!

NewcastleSUP said...

This sport has NO BOUNDARIES - I love it!!

I am going to wear my new wetsuit for the downwind race

Just might have to bolt my feet to the board!

I love it, I"ve said to woogie before, "there's no rules yet, someone should come up with a winged suit". Imagine whipping out a kite! There's another way to power up.

ATTENTION '' POOR WALLIES ''.....IMPORTANT NOTICE....PLEASE READ

cue Indian accent : "In order to keep up with public demand the directors of
Laguna Bay have ordered me to come up with a dirt cheep
Penetrator or it's my job"!!!

Seriously though paddlers I have got good news, heaps of discussion has gone on about the apparently astronomical cost of O.R. sup equipment and after speaking about it with Tully today we have a solution. Though he has yet to fully crunch the numbers he believes we can do a 16' Penetrator (less the carbon frame) one colour, matt finish for.....believe it or not....$1,800. We're gonna have to streamline production for this model and it wont be anything fancy but you'll still get a fully-fledged Penetrator, though heavier as in order to obtain the same strength as the carbon race version we have to add more glass. So, don't say we don't listen, there's an affordable entry level 16' O.R. Sup.
In other news however, the top of the line, carbon race versions of both the 16' and 18' will increase in price! Although I still think they're a bargain considering what I have to go through to make one. I imagine at this stage a Penetrator 572 will set you back somewhere around $4500. For that you get 5.72 mtrs (that's 18'9"), of lightweight, handshaped polystyrene core, handbuilt carbon/epoxy frame, self centreing rudder system with lightweight hand-foiled foam carbon skeg, lightweight epoxy skin and finished in a variety of metalic or pearl colours.
I'll have some photos up of the progress of the first 18' during the week and will have more about the fist version of the ladies model soon......Stuey

Hey Stuey, David, NewcastleSUP...I know some of you are already members of my "ning" website. You might find it interesting that I just realised that a very good friend of mine Guy Pere has been a member also for a few months. He's hiding under a humble profile. Anyway Guy won the Duke's distance SUP race last week. He also won the Honolua a few months back. He came 2nd overall in the race of 119 SUP and paddleboarders in 1hr 29 mins. Less than 2 mins behind the Paddleboard winner.

He was in the 14.6ft and under category. They have 12.6 ft & Under, 14.6ft & Under and over 14.6ft categories. I'm not sure what brand board he rides but he would be a great person to discuss Distance Boards with as he is clearly leading the field on this in Hawaii at present. I loaded full results on my site thismorning listing all the categories if you haven't already seen them elsewhere.

For those of you who don't know about my "ning" SUP web site, it's kinda like Facebook or Myspace but exclusively for SUP paddlers. It has over 320 members so far from all over the World including Board & Paddle manufacturers, Pro surfers, Publishers, Reps etc. It's a place to meet SUP surfers & paddlers from all over the World, load photo's, video's bla bla

Some say it's 80% the paddler and 20% the board...

DJ

NewcastleSUP said...

I agree with you DJ, the engine is the thing that powers it. I think the 18's will kill any race on flat water but may struggle in the big winds/swells but I guess time will tell. Hard to judge. Dave Kalama won the Molokai on a F18 SIC board.
Maybe there should be a one design class like the good old one design windsurfers where everyone rode the same craft.
Stuey, you would be amazed how many people have talked about sewing some wings into their rashy, I think you will see something sooner rather than later....

Yeah, even a baggy t-shirt would make a difference