Hi Guys On Saturday morning on the 7th of July we will have our first SUPWA race - The Stand Up Surf Shop - SUP 5000. Format: 2000m, 1500m, 1000m, 500m for Men 1500m, 1000m, 500m for women 1000m and 500m for Surf boards (10-12') Divisions: Mens 12'6 Open Mens 12'6 O/40 Mens 14' Open Mens 14' O/40 Womens 12'6 & 14' (depends on entry numbers if we sub catagorise) Surf - Men and women Start Time and Location Meet at 0630 at Deep water point Canning River - Mt Pleasant. Racing gets underway from 0700 and will be finished by 0900 ( we know its early,but the conditions are great and we get complete use of the rowing course) Free event for SUPWA members or $10 day membership for entry fee/insurance. Great family day - boards to demo from the Stand Up Surf Shop North Fremantle and prizes for place getters. Early moring sausage sizzle, cafe over looking the race course. This is our first event so any help will be appreciated. All welcome and all fun! Cheers Greg

Great work. Looking forward to it. 2 questions are you a SUPWA member if you are a Surfing WA member competing in SUP events. If not how do you become a member as not sure if this info is out there yet. And, any chance of throwing in some kind of kids race, even if its not an "official" one or a Dad or Mum and son /daughter race. I saw on the Cronulla SUP club website they have something like this. would be great and my kids would be stoked to be involved in this way

Will there be open board class 15/6 upwards ? Under stand main classes but there may be some open boards there

You still have to become a member of SUPWA even if you are a current member of Surfing WA. It is an additional $30 but gives you access to many more events yet to be announced. re: kids race, as the Junior Development Officer it is definitley something that I am trying to incorporate, depending on number of entrants it may be a kids only race or a parents/kids combo race. Deep Water Point is a perfect place to have a kids race and there will definitely be something for them.

Thanks Greg just there are a few guys round with 16 DW boards who manly do down winders so don't think they are that keen for flat water stuff but it would be great to see them turn up because they can paddle (hilly belly brucey ) etc if the surfs up I know they will be else were , And as to me looking for any extra yes your right I need all the help I can get and some , Shame no over 45 working on that . All good though

I forgot to mention in the first post: All paddlers that are interested in competing in the 20km SUP marathon at the Australian Surfing Titles in Port Macquarie (August 11-25th), please make sure you attend the SUP 5000 event for important details in regard to qualification for the State team. Cheers Greg

Does anyone have a board I can use in the SUP 5000? 12'6 and 14'? Thinking of coming up for a paddle?

Hi Greenie, Mike isn't much of a poster, but I'd say definitely there'd be a 12'6 or 14' Starboard, Fanatic or DC for you to demo and use..

Can someone possibly post a map for those of us who don't know where we're going? This event looks exciting... Should be a lot of fun!

Weekend weather is shaping up to be perfect for racing - a very light tail wind! Some good prizes on offer by Mike at Stand Up Surf Shop. Good viewing area for spectators too.

So with this wonderful weather we're having , is there any adjustment to the plans for tomorrow morning?

Thanks for organising and running the event guys. A great day and another amazing winters morning in Perth. Love the SUP5000 concept too. We are already looking forward to the next one. See you all next weekend at the 15th Whalebone Classic. PCK Bayswater Crew

What an absolute cracker of a morning and by all reports everyone enjoyed it and thought the format was well worth repeating. The day started off in the dark with paddlers gathering for the briefing. As the sun rose we were greeted with millpond perfect conditions, with the sun popping in and out. As racing got underway in the mens 2000m race, it was Marcus on his new 14 DC, followed by Mike Galvin and Greg Kerr neck and neck both on Starboard Coast Runners, a battle that would continue untiltheend of the day. The rest of the pack spread out across the course with a number of battles within the race taking place. It was the ladies turn next and it was Starboard rider Michelle England who jumpedout to an early lead and managed to hold onto it for the rest of the day. Close behind was Lorrayne with Jacqe and Natalie rounding out the field. As the men returned up the course to the start line, the sun came out and the mist hanging over the city started to burn off. Race number 2 (1500m) was much the same story with Marcus out in front and Galvo and Greg battling it out for 2nd and 3rd, as conditions only got better. Next up saw the two competitors in the surfboard division take to the water, the ladies paddling back to the start managed to offer a few pointers. As the races got shorter and the bodies became fatigued the field was closer and closer. By the time the last race (500m) rolled around the sun was out there was not a breath of wind and racing conditions were perfect. Michelle having not had enough in the womens division decided totake on some of the men and held her own. Final results: Womens 12'6 - Michelle England, Lorrayne Grullis, Jacquie, Natalie Surfboard- Gary, Justin 12'6 - Luke Jenkins, Rob Porzig, Ian Nicholson 14' - Marcus Tardew, =2 Greg Kerr and Mike Galvin Big thanks to Mike from Stand Up Surf Shop for providing prizes and getting behind the day.

It was a perfect morning for some fun racing. The format was great and the organisation was spectacular. It was great chatting with the gals on the way back to the start line while cheering on the guys. Thanks to Loch and Kevin for sitting on their boards starting and finishing us and to everyone else that had a hand in putting on this great race for us, to Galvo for sponsoring it and especially to whom ever called in the favor on the weather - absolutely perfect. It was hard to get out of my warm bed so early but I'm glad I did. Can't wait for the next one!

Yeah absolutely agree that it was a great morning. Spewin I had to leave early. Never thought that racing could actually be so much fun. Even though I'm not the fastest on the water I had a blast. Seriously though. If anyone out there who thinks they can't paddle as fast or just think they can't do it, I reckon you give it a try. All the race crew are great people, very friendly and very helpful. If anything come to the next meet and just hang out. You will enjoy it. Thanks SUPWA, Galvo and Ian

The Stand Up Surf Shop SUP 5000 was a great morning - Thanks to everyone that came down. You can see from the photos, the conditions were perfect for racing (thanks Cam and Lach for posting). The concept of the SUP 5000 was to have a racing event that is accessible for every level and also fun. The opportunity to have a chat and catch up after each race worked well, so I am stoked everyone had an enjoyable morning! We have organised the calendar of racing events to have good mix of variety - sprints, medium distance, teams racing, long distance and Downwinders (Surf and BOP will be held together). Our next race will be on the 19th of August - a 15km team relay (5km and 10km - good for couples!) so stay tuned. Our next SUP 5000 will be held in October - this time on a Sunday later in the morning (big demo day and kids events). Thanks to Mike from the Stand Up Surf Shop for sponsoring the event and Ian for coming down to assist Mike. Lach, Cam and Kev for officiating the event (which allowed me to compete ). The rest of the SUPWA committee for coming down and getting things done. Don't forget the Whalebone 4km next week and the Avon 7km paddle on the 4th of August. Racing is great fun and good motivation to get out and train and get fit. We will have more divisions as the numbers increase, so there will be more places and prizes on offer....so tell a friend to come down and get into SUP! Cheers Greg