goatman said...

'Breezers in the 3km race:

1st - Sam "WindSurfnSnow" Parker - Naish
6th - Andrew "Casso" Cassidy - Paddle Surf Hawaii
7th - Roger "Tha Dogman" Saunders - Naish
8th - John "Goatman" Christensen - 11 foot PSH (thanks AA)
9th - Simon "NewcastleSUP" Dodd - The Mutant
15th - Melissa "JB Mel" McManus (or you could put it as 3rd last & the poor guys behind me were on very short boards for a paddling event) - 11'NSP

I agree "Super fun event can't wait for the Mambo!!"

No worries Casso.

It was interesting watching the surfing and checking the 2 distinct 'styles' of riding. Pretty much determined by the board designs people had, the more longboard type of SUP surfing verses the more shortboard style. To me Casso and Dogman stood out completely in the final but unfortunately didn't get the best of the tiny dribble on offer.

Their turns are more of a shortboard carve verses a longboard type pivot. The reos were where the most noticeable difference was, with Casso's board in particular snapping off the top with greater speed and tighter angles. With another couple of foot Dogman would have been absolutely going off!

Casso was generous enough to give me a sess on his 8'8" DC and even with my green legs on it, the feel of the board was very interesting. It really feels just like riding a shortboard with a paddle.

I can see SUP performance surfing going nuts in the next 12 months with this 'style' of SUP design. Which is basically a blown up shortboard. I can picture all you folks out there already riding these things nodding knowingly to this comment.

The big difference seems to be in the amount of curves used - in both the outline and the rocker. The pulled in tail and nose coupled with the increased nose and tail lift seems to allow the board to be put into parts of the wave not available to the 'straighter' curved SUPS. This won't suit everyone and that is the great thing about surfing - SUP in particular - there is a type of craft to suit everyone. Very interesting times ahead for the sport of SUP!!

Such a fun event! Filthy i didnt make it though though! Stoked to see some great surfing and stuff to aspire to! also found my new board when i get a chance... haha... psh 12'0''... thanks for the lend AA!! haha....

Matty Boy

goatman said...

No worries Casso.

It was interesting watching the surfing and checking the 2 distinct 'styles' of riding. Pretty much determined by the board designs people had, the more longboard type of SUP surfing verses the more shortboard style. To me Casso and Dogman stood out completely in the final but unfortunately didn't get the best of the tiny dribble on offer.

Their turns are more of a shortboard carve verses a longboard type pivot. The reos were where the most noticeable difference was, with Casso's board in particular snapping off the top with greater speed and tighter angles. With another couple of foot Dogman would have been absolutely going off!

Casso was generous enough to give me a sess on his 8'8" DC and even with my green legs on it, the feel of the board was very interesting. It really feels just like riding a shortboard with a paddle.

I can see SUP performance surfing going nuts in the next 12 months with this 'style' of SUP design. Which is basically a blown up shortboard. I can picture all you folks out there already riding these things nodding knowingly to this comment.

The big difference seems to be in the amount of curves used - in both the outline and the rocker. The pulled in tail and nose coupled with the increased nose and tail lift seems to allow the board to be put into parts of the wave not available to the 'straighter' curved SUPS. This won't suit everyone and that is the great thing about surfing - SUP in particular - there is a type of craft to suit everyone. Very interesting times ahead for the sport of SUP!!

John,

(And for those that don't he's a bloody legend in surf skis-no not the goatboat type [no offense intended John]-the type that surfs places like Wink at The Bower and DY Point-the kind that blows away most shortboarders with his moves)

Sorry, for the brief interlude-just wondered whether there was a judging bias towards longbaord style riding? Considering the Snowy is a mal orientated contest.

Like you I saw Casso surfing the 808 DC a few weeks ago and he was surfing it really well shortboard style-so wonder whether the results at all reflect a bias towards a longboard style?

Umm... during the heats I think there might have been a little bias.... but for the Final, Sam was up there judging and helping the judges understand SUP surfing... Was quite stoked they came over and asked for help! I think for the final the judging criteria changed up a bit to suit SUP surfing and not longboarders so much... It was great to hearing and see the enthusiasm from the judges about SUP and how it is meant to be surfed.. and also from the commentary coming from the douche that was on the microphone the whole day! Looks like our sport is growing rapidly! Stoked to be apart of it!

Matty Boy

PS: Credit has to go to JBMEL who took to the water with no competition experience whatsoever just to encourage the ladies out there to get into it!! Her winning smile and endless enthusiasm is going to get a LOT of women into the sport! ONYA MEL!!

Thanks AA, you are very kind. I am just amazed at what a great bunch of people the SUP crowd are! It was great to put faces to the names on the Breeze.

I had so much fun at the Snowy and by the number of women who came up and chatted to me during the weekend, I am sure we are going to see heaps more come into the sport.

And for my two cents worth, I reckon that in no time at all this sport is going to need a shortboard division and a longboard division just like normal surfing: the styles are so different that I would hate to be a judge! From a spectator point of view, one is like ballroom or ballet while the other is like hip hop (sorry that was a very girly comparison). How about this, one is like dressage & the other is like showjumping (no still too girly!!!!), ok last try, one is like precision driving, the other is like a smash up derby??? whoops, I think I gave away my preference there!

Once we have dedicated SUP events (rather than being an event tacked onto a longboard or windsurf event) I think there would be the numbers in each board size to warrant the two divisions (plus a few age groups)? That would give people more than one event to enter, plus provide an opportunity for an overall 'allrounder' winner? Could even add in a 'tricks' event? Bring on the Sydney Paddle Surf Club & dedicated SUP events !!!!!!!!

I agree with you Andrew.. Three cheers for Mel..

Here's a great shot of Mel from last years Mambo.

It's great to see she's moved on from that big old Mistral Pacifico and that heavy-as-lead Naish paddle..

DJ

DavidJohn said...

I agree with you Andrew.. Three cheers for Mel..

Here's a great shot of Mel from last years Mambo.

It's great to see she's moved on from that big old Mistral Pacifico and that heavy-as-lead Naish paddle..

DJ

I dont care who you are... that looks like a sick floater! YEW!! GO MEL!!

Loco.... speak to Dogman about switch hitting! HAHA!!

JB Mel said...

I had so much fun at the Snowy and by the number of women who came up and chatted to me during the weekend, I am sure we are going to see heaps more come into the sport.

After over a year of me hounding my wife to get on a SUP - to no avail, JB Mel has single handedly converted her into some kind of SUP freak. In just a few hours of chatting to Mel on the beach at Manly over the weekend - Ali is now telling me to buy her a wetsuit, lend her a board and look after the kids because she is on a mission "to be just like Mel". Flat water stuff isn't even cool enough for her - she wants to hit the waves (but just on the small days ... when the sun is out).

Look out girls if you are thinking of joining the Sydney Paddle Surfing Club - you've now got another contender for the Women's division!

Thanks Mel - you're a legend.

goatman said...

Hey Mel, I will send my wife to you for a chat also. She is keen to have a go, but my little ripper is a bit much for her. The club is gonna be great for this kind of social stuff for sure!

Hey Goatman,
Can't wait, but you guys are all going to be sorry when I teach all the wives to get their priorities right (ie SUP comes BEFORE housework!!!). When we do have our first meet, I will bring the famous old Mistral that everyone seems to enjoy 'bagging out'. It is just the easiest board ever and I have got a whole bunch of my friends going on it.

Might have to load my roof racks up like in OG's and DJ's photos on another thread going at the moment. I can bring a nice old Southpoint 11'6" and a nice new NSP 11' for the girls to have a go on. I think it is important to make it as easy and fun as possible!

See you
Mel

NewcastleSUP said...

camo hosk said...

Casso and Dogman battling it out with NewcastleSUP (below sea-level) and Kialoa Sam (first girl over the line) chasing:


Whats the go with NewcastleSUP,

Paddleboard/hydrofoil?

HaHa what a shot! You cannot imagine how much effort it took to paddle that thing full of water!
Camohosk - A blog of its life can be found here
http://www.newcastle-standup-paddlesurfing.com.au/myblog/?cat=4

Simon...

What happened dude? did a set come or something?

Matty

tha dogman said...

i finally made it home

wooohooo!!!!!! no more crowds

hi to JBmel, homeally, goatman, casso and his family

and big thanks to (windsurfnsnow) Sam, (AA) andrew and (Newcastle SUP) simon for giving me a few test rides of your boards

all your smiles and laughter made my whole weekend a blast

i'll be back

Took ya time! HAHAHAHAH!!! a day of quaranteen maybe? HAHAHAH!!!!

Dude... was such a good weekend... we need more of it! HAHAHAH!!! Mambo maybe??

JB Mel said...

Leggie goes on front foot cause I have no anterior cruciate (and hardly any meniscus) in my right knee. If the board gave it a good yank, bottom half of my leg could just come away from the top half eeeek!! It really annoys me if I do a little walk up the board cause I often tread on the leash but I don't have the skill to be riding without one at this point (and given I don't like the idea of chasing the board all the way to the beach I probably will always wear one)

Those rude doctors told me it was not worth doing a reconstruction on such an old bag (I'm allowed to say that AA !!!) and to be honest I didn't like the prospect of 6 months rehab after reconstruction either. I am starting to discover that SUP is safer than those pesky horses (I can rattle off a pretty long list of injuries if anyone gives a damn) and the board costs way less to maintain!

PS - I still love my old mistral but a couple more goes on the Walden 9'11" and I could forget all that! It didn't take me long to fall in love with my Kiakaha paddle though!

You never know do you?

Good on you Mel, going at it with a bung knee!