Just bring your paddle , how many people would have a crack at that?

Hows that for a coincidence,Ryan.

The Hobie one class" Put Your Money Where Your Mouth "is $50 entry winner takes all 2 K lake sprint concept we were brain storming on the way home in the car Sunday night is happening in Europe.

Six Identical 12'6 boards,,bring your own paddle,,use the kayak lanes[no wash riding] 2 k from the bottom of lake to the finish tower..heats fastest paddlers advance,age groups,staggered starts etc...all can be refined to a useable format.

As for the Noosa event,we are only following directions from the contest organisers,and as such we are a tag on the a mal event,which is fine.Our only designated tasks for SUP Sunday was to pass on issued information from the event organisers to our contact data base.The stand alone Coolum Ocean Addicts where Swanie,Jonesey , RJK and myself have direct input will just get better and bigger every year

scotty100 said...
Lot of constructive ideas for a change!! I can't see why we can't have a ranking system based on 4km flat water time trial oz wide over 4 time trails average !! Done by club meets or the like .race day different race starts each catagory
12 per division with top four up next race bottom 4 down next race 3 races per event . We don't have enough racers for good age divisions so I think the ranking system would help get more involved and more satisfaction for those competing against people of similar skill , can even mix up juniors and ladies! Just a idea will need fine tuning

Excellent idea, but along with Swanie's terrific post on the previous page, I think it is ever so slightly wasted hidden within the discussion of the Noosa Surf Festival. Perhaps a new thread to discuss ways to increase participation in club race events around Australia?

I'm a Noosa local and ride my SUP in the surf, I don't train, I'm not really interested in BOP style racing, I don't own a 12'6", nor have I really had a go at it. However I was down there on Sunday and if I'd known it was only $40 bucks to enter plus you got some goodies I would gladly have begged/borrowed a board and had a go (even though I probably would have struggled after coming off a fat 9'6" onto a skinny race board). As someone else said, when do you ever get to surf Noosa First point with a small crew for an hour? That alone should be worth the price of admission.

My past impression of 'SUP racers' is that they are all a bit serious and that's what makes me normally avoid them like the plague. I guess a lot of us (casual SUP surfers and paddlers) feel out of place in events like this which we perceive to be only for the go fast/serious/elite crew. However the event certainly looked like fun, and there were plenty of smiles on the dials of those who were going around and around.

Maybe next time a 5km timed race for the serious crew and a shorter 2/3km untimed race for the punters? A few giveaways for all competitors and it should be a success. Just my thoughts.. Cheers. Dave

Like the idea of turning up with a paddle.
I recently sold my 12'6 to buy a 14' because the downwind stuff is where we have the most fun on the Sunny Coast & we have good turn out for our paddles we arrange.
Have been off BOP due to dings I received in events, repair costs & the fact it impacts the resale.
Can't afford three SUPS in 12'6, 14' & surf SUP so I had to choose.
Take the possibility of carnage out of the event, let 14's go in it maybe over a longer course, try something different.
Do we have to follow what is happening abroard.
The Lake Kawana stuff that Woogie & Andy initiated is testament to that.
Noosa is the best place I've been to in Aus for a race, it would be great to have a seperate event there and try something new.

40 bucks for first point with less than a thousand people....priceless.......