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With all the new boards arriving soon it's time for me to consider a new race board for the coming season. I just wanted to see what the general consensus was regarding what size board most people are riding. I fully understand the merits of each length but there is no point buying a board in a particular size for racing when most people are racing the other size. I'm talking about general racing and not downwinders specifically.
For instance at the NSW titles I was the only one riding a 12'6" in the old guys category, yet there must have been 15 old guys on the 14 footers. Certainly made it easy to win the case of beer though.
Would appreciate any thoughts.
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How old, tall and heavy are you?
Do you also want to race BOP type racing.. If so 12'6" is the only choice.
DJ
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Mate...........you can ride a 10' board and still win I've seen you paddle
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DJ, If I give that to you , you'll have an advantage at the Surftech Winter Classic.
Turning 50 this year but still reasonably competitive. 82kg. I'm comfortable on a board such as the Fanatic Carbon 12'6" etc but really want to make sure I purchase a board that is competitive. Most of the competition seems to be in the 14 footer class at the moment, however, world wide 12"6" is beginning to become popular.
Maybe I just need to bring one of each to Melb and see how I go.
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Sorry DJ missed your question. I'll keep my current 12'6" for BOP style races but I'm tending to do the 6-15km races more.
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Go with 14 for ocean races. I think we are going to see more age group categories than board categories in the future. If there are going to be classes in ocean racing it will probably be 14s and unlimited...IMHO
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agree with Kissa - go 14'....it's faster and the real fast guys will always choose faster, so if you are competitive, thats the way to go.
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We'll be looking to phase out 12'6" as a category in all but BOP races here in Victoria to be in line with global trends. But as Kissa says, the push is on for more age categories. If you are looking at the longer distance races, go the 14'.
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If it was a one race board quiver I'd be recommending the 12'6" but seeing you have one already I'd say defiantly go with a 14.. See you in s few weeks.. 
DJ |
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Thanks guys, it seems like the 14s are the future apart from the BOP style races. I'd be interested to see what the Queenslanders think. I know Jacko is spending alot of time on the 12'6" but that's probably because the Worlds are racing that size. Having said that, I've just organised a Fanantic 12'6" for the Melbourne event as it came with foot warmers for cold water paddling.
Having come from a windsurf industry background I'm interested to see where the SUP side of things goes. Unfortunately windsurfing died a slow death due to the technical side of things isolating the average rider. There is alot to be said for a one design class that has everyone on an even level, though I know this wouldn't be popular.
I do like the inclusion of more age group categories in future events.
Also, well done Kissa in Hawaii - look forward to you getting back to our weekend time trials.
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NNSUP said...
Thanks guys, it seems like the 14s are the future apart from the BOP style races. I'd be interested to see what the Queenslanders think. I know Jacko is spending alot of time on the 12'6" but that's probably because the Worlds are racing that size.
The story going around is that the ISA will change to 14' for long distance racing.
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14' is the easy choice. The hard bit is choosing which one. This year there'll be plenty to sort through and things are going to get a bit skinnier.
Sam.
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As sam said go the 14!! if you have a 12'6 already then go the longer board!!
I love my 12'6 but this year with a 14ft board a bit more my size i am going to do most of my DW paddling on that. If we had conditions like in those vids just put up i'm sure we would all be saying get a 17!! but in Aus 12'6 and 14 will do for most of the time and if you have the $$$$ get a 17 as well!!
At the end of the day its all about who has the most toys anyway!!!
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PTWoody said...
NNSUP said...
Thanks guys, it seems like the 14s are the future apart from the BOP style races. I'd be interested to see what the Queenslanders think. I know Jacko is spending alot of time on the 12'6" but that's probably because the Worlds are racing that size.
The story going around is that the ISA will change to 14' for long distance racing.
I can see everyone ending up having both a 12'6 and 14ft.
The 12'6 for BOP races and then a 14ft for Long course Ocean or Flat racing.
ISA will remain with 12'6 only for BOP and Long Course as logistics for carting a 12'6 & 14ft to countries like Peru, is a Nightmare!!!! It was hard enough travelling with a 12'6ft board on 4 different flights.
I can't see ISA adding the 14ft for Long Course, way too difficult for competitors to travel with and also board companies to air frieght to out of the way places.
See what happens i guess.
XX angie
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That being the case, it does make you wonder why we run national titles on 14' boards (long distance race) in order to pick a team to compete on 12'6" boards.
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Interestingly enough the ISA path if I remember correctly was for the eventual selection of SUP as an olympic sport.
Just as NN has said above in this case it would most likely head down the path at that level of one design for racing just like windsurfing. All other olympic sports also have strict equipment criteria above just being 12'6 long.
I seen the boards for the windsurfing at the olympics. Certifiably identical.
So the ISA will at some point in the future have to decide if they want to follow the olympic path, the National selection per participating country path or try to get the Americans on board to legitimize the whole thing globally.
Reality is it's a young sport and after 1 year it is feasible to think that in 10 years will probably be very different to today......
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Interesting reading everyone's comments as we are having a similar discussion over here.
I think ultiamtely you will end up with the three class' (12'6, 14' & unlimited) and multiple age catgories in each it is only a matter of time until the numbers get big enough to cater for this. Look at races like the Naish Maliko race or even any of the Rainbow Sandals BOP races where there are hundreds of people which allow for catagories such as women/men 12'6 age group 30-35, 35-40, 40-45 etc for example.
Personally I enjoy 12'6 and at training it gives me extra incentive to catch and keep up with the guys on 14's. When competing aginst these guys and people on unlimited I know I will never be the fastest on the water, but can be the fastest in my class.
For the average punter I believe that 14' is the way to go and something like the current Starboard Coast Runner or even Fanatic Ocean are great all round boards. They may not be the fastest at either but for someone who can only afford 1 board they are good options.
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PTWoody said...
That being the case, it does make you wonder why we run national titles on 14' boards (long distance race) in order to pick a team to compete on 12'6" boards.
Yep, i wondered and said the same thing mate.
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Must admit though, I do get weary of this "every child wins a prize" scenario where we have multiple age categories on top of gender division and then 3 or 4 board categories on top of that. Want to win a trophy? Just turn up with several boards and a few forged birth certificates and possibly a very tight one piece bathing suit, then just figure out which category has no-one else entered. 
Or just go racing and see how well you match it with the best.  |
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Evening gown is my specialty but we do what we can.
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PTWoody said...
Must admit though, I do get weary of this "every child wins a prize" scenario where we have multiple age categories on top of gender division and then 3 or 4 board categories on top of that. Want to win a trophy? Just turn up with several boards and a few forged birth certificates and possibly a very tight one piece bathing suit, then just figure out which category has no-one else entered.
Or just go racing and see how well you match it with the best.
100% agree....and it makes huge demands on organisers to come up with hundreds of prizes instead of handing out more to the guys who worked hardest.
Wrt. 12'6 vs 14 travel logistics - both are a mare so its not really an argument - whats a mare is if you want guys to bring a 12'6 and a 14....which is the case in some races + who really enjoys a long distance race on a 12'6'? Yes, the 12'6 is fun in and out - but a 14 will be as fast.
My gut feel is that ISA will choose 14's for next years worlds - it hasn't been decided yet - or at least announced as far as I know.
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PTWoody said...
...I do get weary of this "every child wins a prize" scenario...
You haven't worked with a lot of Gen Y's have you? Or maybe you have... 
To the OP...eat some pies...then eat some more pies...repeat...pretty soon the choice will be simpler. 
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HumanCartoon said...
PTWoody said...
...I do get weary of this "every child wins a prize" scenario...
You haven't worked with a lot of Gen Y's have you? Or maybe you have...
To the OP...eat some pies...then eat some more pies...repeat...pretty soon the choice will be simpler.
I gotta say, in all this gender, board size, age group everyone wins a prize talk didnt see anything about OFBs..............discrimination 
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