It would be great to have some interstate crew come down or across for this event, mmm what can entice surf mongrels? I know the beers will be cold, not to mention the water and weather but to play get to play in the Vicco smorgasbord of waves in an absolutely amazing environment away from crowds do?

From Surfing Victoria website:

Massive weekend planned for the HIF Victorian SUP Titles on the Barwon Coast

Ocean Grove, VIC/AUS (Friday 9th May, 2014): The HIF Victorian SUP (Stand Up Paddleboard) Titles Presented by Be the Influence is set to take over the Barwon Coast in June and will bring together the cream of Victorian Stand Up Paddleboarding for a massive weekend.

The deciding event for selection into Victorian State Team heading to the Australian SUP Titles will be held throughout the Barwon Coast region including the Barwon River for the Marathon races and Ocean Grove Main Beach for the surfing component.

Divisions for the weekend include Marathon races, Technical Races and Surfing events ranging from Under 18’s to Over 50’s.

Surfing Victoria CEO, Max Wells, is excited to see the Stand Up Paddleboard community come together for a massive weekend.

“Having all of the events together across the weekend will be a great spectacle and really showcase the level of talent within Victoria.”

“Our SUP surfers are a hardy bunch and will no doubt be excited to surf in some great waves during winter”

“It is going to be a great gathering for the whole SUP community”

Entrants can register via surfingvic.com

The HIF Victorian SUP Titles is Presented by Be the Influence and Supported by TeamUp, VicHealth, Play it Safe by the Water and Surfing Victoria.

Full Division Breakdown:

SUP Surfing (Enter here: http://www.surfingaustralia.com/vic/event.php?id=1070)
Under 18 Boys
Open Men
Open Women
O40 Open
O50 Open

Technical Race (Enter Here: www.surfingaustralia.com/vic/event.php?id=1071)
Open Men
Open Women
O40 Open
O50 Open

Marathon Race (Enter Here: www.surfingaustralia.com/vic/event.php?id=1072)
Open Men
Open Women
O40 Open
O50 Open

surfingvic said..

Casso said..

ockanui said..

It would be great to have some interstate crew come down or across for this event, mmm what can entice surf mongrels? I know the beers will be cold, not to mention the water and weather but to play get to play in the Vicco smorgasbord of waves in an absolutely amazing environment away from crowds do?

Is the surfing open to interstate punters?

Hi Guys, Unfortunately interstate competitors are not allowed as it is a Victorian State Title. Cheers.

More than welcome to come to the "TassieSUP Winter Classic"/ State Titles Casso, we let a Vic surfer take out our championship last year, looks like it only works one waybut we will have a separate division for surfers from the big island if you and your fellow sup riders from up there would like to join us

^Opening it up to interstate visitors to boost the numbers (and give the name sponsor more bang for their buck) sounds sensible. OK it's the Vic State Titles but that needn't preclude wider participation, all you need do is give the state rankings to the highest placed Viccos?

HumanCartoon said..

^Opening it up to interstate visitors to boost the numbers (and give the name sponsor more bang for their buck) sounds sensible. OK it's the Vic State Titles but that needn't preclude wider participation, all you need do is give the state rankings to the highest placed Viccos?

+1

It's very easy to accommodate interstate competitors in a race format and still maintain the integrity of state rankings across multiple age and gender divisions. In surfing, considerably more challenging with inevitable whinging from someone who gets bundled out early by a foreign interloper. However, if everyone agrees not to whinge about it after the fact, then it would be great to see an event with all the best talent. What are the chances of there being no whinging?

Either rate, as MJ says it's worth bringing up at the surfing forum the day before the event.

I can understand a point of view of being 'exclusive' if Olympic medals are up for grabs, but at a state level isn't it more about the opportunity to push yourself against the best on the day regardless of what postcode they reside in?

How many Australians have won the Australian open (m or f) in the last 10 years in golf or tennis? Do the 'foreigners' sit on the sidelines and watch the local who got 5th take home the big prize? I don't think so.

It's a privilege to represent your state at a national or interstate competition. Why should those people be excluded? We can't discriminate on racial, religious, sex or other social grounds. What right does a sporting body have to discriminate on a postcode? If 'foreigners' for example fill the podium, then the rights to represent the state at a national level go to those native to the state that finish in the top whatever, but the state champion should always be the person who was best on the day, regardless of where they live.

Just wondering whether anyone is free to enter the marathon race or do you need to qualify or be at a certain level? Interested in having a paddle but won't be breaking any records. Cheers

PTWoody said..

You're missing a very important point within your own post... the Australian Open golf and tennis tournaments contain the word "Open" in the title. There was a time when this wasn't the case, and there were limitations on who could and couldn't enter. In terms of discrimination, you might be surprised to learn the only people allowed to enter Surfing Victoria's state titles are members of Surfing Victoria. To enter Surfing Australia's national titles, not only do you need to be a member of a your state body, but you also have to carry an Australian passport.

Looks like I'm out of luck then without the right colour passport.

If that's how Surfing Australia wants to grow surfing in general and SUP surfing, I'm not sure I want to be involved with such an organisation. Our affiliations between Surfing Vic and the respective state/national canoe/kayak bodies seem to be chalk & cheese in terms of being welcoming & inclusive.

Whilst Surfing at State Titles level may require an ability of a reasonable standard due to the level of competition and heat format, let alone the conditions on the day may also add to that criteria.

This may also be a similar factor in Bop racing, although in our recent Sup Vic events we had some 30 participants, conditions weren't hugely challenging but the ethos was on inclusiveness of all skills and ability levels and therefore the emphasis was to provide a race format that may grow that genre of Sup.

Hopefully the format for the Titles can follow this lead that we have provided through our comps, marathon racing can also be along the same lines and embrace an opportunity of inclusiveness.

I know we are off to the State Titles but given that Sup in Vicco is still young I feel it would be great that they could be seen as an experience for all ability and willingness to participate and compete at that level, you gotta be fit though and have trained hard but it would be great to have the numbers at the starting line, the cream will always rise and win their respective events but we also want it to be inclusive and thats why providing an opportunity for interstate competitors helps achieve that as well.

I just hope there are lots of people getting involved in this event and don't let the mystique of a Titles event get in the way too much, its a really well run event...IMO

All good questions oneteam. I assume you will be coming to the Surfing Victoria SUP surfing forum to raise your concerns?

We passed on feedback to Surfing Victoria very similar to your last post. Seems most SUP surfers are on the same page. Not sure what factors went into the decision to go with the Barwon region for this event but so far as I know, this is the first time Surfing Victoria has used the Barwon coast for a SUP surf event.

Also agree, it should opened up to interstate crew. Racing easy to get Vic placing and run a separate division for anyone wanting to surf against interstate guys.

ChrisClarke1 said...
All is not lost guys, the 13th beach bommies are all on the Bawon coast. We could hold the comp out there then bop around them and marathon from the Barwon pub to ant Bommie and back. What's our chances??

As long as we don't do another ocean marathon in a flat water river and get some decent surf, I'll be happy.

Chris, the Marathon is same location as last year. It's not actually specified as an ocean marathon. The ISA marathon was on a lake paddling between islands.

Welcome to the world of surfing competition, magillamelb, where events can never be scheduled as precisely and conveniently as most other sports.

The irony is that this event is MORE organised and location specific than many of the surf crew would like it to be. Surfing Victoria has pretty much established that the surf comp and technical race will be held at Ocean Grove Main Beach on either the Saturday or Sunday, depending on which day's forecast promises the best surf conditions. Contrary to this, many surfers would prefer a wide array of beach options to choose the best conditions on the day, and they would ideally like to see the option of lay days to ensure that they get great conditions. So as you see, the 2 day window, and the strong likelihood of just one surf beach location is as specific as you are ever likely to see with an event of this nature and scope anywhere in the world.

As for the Marathon race, it will be held on the alternate day to the surf events. The plan is to run it in the Barwon River mouth at Barwon Heads. Once again, there are some who would prefer multiple course options in order to provide an ideal ocean downwinder, so in fact Surfing Victoria is more specific than some of the other state titles events.