OG SUP said...
I'm putting in my 2 cents for open discussion, what I have written here is only my point of view, add subtract, flame it out do what you like but planning and learning from the past is the only way forward. I guess the point is do you want to bitch and carry on and take you bat and ball home or do you want to make a difference and change the future?

1) SA's core business is short board surfing and SUP surfing can be seen to be in direct conflict with its core business. In many ways it would be in SA's best commercial interest for SUP Surfing to reach an early demise.

2) SA's interest in SUP is the possibility that some point in the future SUP Racing will go to the Olympics and thats why they are investing in the sport. SUP racing is also a low time / infrastructure investment for a relatively high return if the numbers are high enough. You don't need judges and days of peoples time you only need a few hours for a much higher bottom line. Again remember SA is a business not a charity they are there to be profitable.

3) Until the equipment cost is at a relatively affordable level that allows SUP to become mainstream (unlikely due to volume in Australia) you can all but forget inclusion on a broad scale. $100-250- 400 deepening on your wallet for a second hand prone long / short surfboard and bare minimum $600- 900 for a second hand sup. Mum and dad most likely won't or simply cant fund it for the kids to even have a go.

4) Fastest growing water sport in the world? It may be, however in the scheme of things in Australia it would be lucky to be the pimple on the ass of an elephant compared to short boarding. Just on the West Coast of Vic at my local beach there are circa 3 x 30 kids x 2 session a day on the weekend going through Vegimite Surf Groms training x how many beaches just on the West Coast of Vicco? In Qld I imagine the numbers would be staggering.

5) Up until recently when there was a 180 deg turn around, the suggested age of a junior in the sport was 25+ go figure on that one. With little support for any type of junior program to that point, you get what you sow. If you don't get the juniors involved you don't have a future.

6) With the focus changed to Elite racing in the last few years and the perceived demise of the fun aspect of the club sport the numbers in Vicco (not talking about any other state) dropped significantly. Joe blogs doesn't jump out of his car walk up and say yea sure I want to jump on a board and slog paddle 12km-20km. SUP Vic addressed this at the GMP and there turn around was pretty staggering. Fun and inclusivity 1st will broaden your base, $$$ and clout.

7) The removal of the unlimited board and the farce that was the 12'6, 14 class also had a large effect including confusing the retailers on what to even stock and it affected who would even come to an event down here, combine that with the arms race and need for a quiver of 3 - 5 boards flat water downwind inflatable etc etc etc and your average joe was totally left behind. The confusion of what to buy combined with the cash to fund even 1 competitive board was beyond the average punter. Make it simple and fun and they will return in time.

8) The SUP Sport here in Australia has its focus on the 50- 200 at the top end when for the sport to grow it needs to broaden its base and build its numbers at the punters end to the 1000s and get back the froth and fun that it had 6-7 years ago. The shops make max bottom line with broad based numbers and when the shop / sponsors have money rolling in from the numbers they are happy to pony it up for events /travel etc thats really a no brainer. Build the base and you will get your funding for ISA and many other things.


9) SUP needs its own Governing Body with people dedicated to the long term future of the sport and a 5 - 10 year plan that looks not only at the elite aspects of the sport but growth and sustainability not a fast return now attitude.


Flame it up as much as you like as I said above its about getting a group together with an interest in the sport to guide and nurture all aspects and disciplines moving forward "said in best Julia Gillard voice"

angie pangi said..

I think they are putting a press release out today from what i hear and also heard both Terrene and Ang have been Selected!!

PTWoody said..




Presumably Karla can't go and so they have offered the spots to second place in each race. Either that or they've expanded the numbers for each country.

PTWoody said..

Very interesting point that OG SUP raises here - with a limited pool of money available, should we be overly concerned that 8 of the elite sponsored athletes are not receiving funding to go to world titles? Or could the currently limited funds be better spent growing the sport at grass roots level so that an eventual broad based appeal of the sport translates to lifestyle brands, banks and fast food chains clamouring to attach themselves to the sport, which then provides excessive amounts of filthy lucre for the elites to bathe in Evian water if they so choose.

You don't build a skyscraper from the top down. You need solid foundations.

teatrea said..

Its good to discuss this stuff constructively without silly snipers taking pot shotsIts always helpfull i feel to try and look at something from anothers point of viewNot only is relatively high cost of equipent a barrier , but so is our fixation with ocean and wave races.Which are great buy the way , but think about it from a parents or young kids perspective. Being in the ocean is dam scary for a lot of people , particulary those that dont have a surf background. Expecially when shark week has promos like Great White Serial Killerect ect. If you look at the big growth overseas its flat water , nice quick fun races , not 20 or 30K slogfests , they have their place no doubt.But they arent an entry level thing.The other side to the coin is do we want more numbers

husq2100 said..

PeterP, please tell us more on your ways of "pulling mums"???.Im always keen to "pull mums" some of them are bloody hot and with about a 50% fake breast population here on the GC you cant go wrong