Yes Rager I agree very sad. I am a father of three and grandfather of one. This is tragic for the family of the lad. I do agree with your ideas of having some other controls in place. Maybe the easiest thing to do would be to postpone the event until conditions were a bit tamer, after all it is under 15 we are talking about here.

I joined the local surf club a couple of years ago and when doing rescue board training saw a few nasty accidents and more than a few close calls. Coming from a surfing/supping background asked the instructor at the time why they don't use leg ropes and he said it was more dangerous as the force of a wave taking the board would pull your leg too hard and risk injury. Not convinced personally as I've had a few close calls surfing where the leash (or remaining attached to the board) was the only thing that saved me.

Such a tragic accident and I really feel for the boys family. Let's hope that off the back of this tragedy SLSA is prepared to put years of tradition aside in favour of a safer future for all their members.

R.I.P. young fella..

What was the size and condition of the surf?

Was this unfortunate but freak accident?

Only asking as I have no idea what the surf was like at the Aussies, but do organize surf carnivals for school age children and it is good to gauge the public perception of what is deemed unsafe.

Also as a club we organize races in the surf races for all ages. I personally loved the footage of the twelve towers race and heard it was one of the best races to date. We coul also have similar conditions at the Coolum race we run in November. It is interesting to see people's perspectives in reflection of our own sport.

I think the above ideas have some credit especially in relation to the kids.

Swanie said...

What was the size and condition of the surf?

Was this unfortunate but freak accident?

Only asking as I have no idea what the surf was like at the Aussies, but do organize surf carnivals for school age children and it is good to gauge the public perception of what is deemed unsafe.

Also as a club we organize races in the surf races for all ages. I personally loved the footage of the twelve towers race and heard it was one of the best races to date. We coul also have similar conditions at the Coolum race we run in November. It is interesting to see people's perspectives in reflection of our own sport.

I think the above ideas have some credit especially in relation to the kids.

It wasn't big, maybe 3-4ft but it's one of those open beaches that has a wide gutter and shallow bank out the back. The wind has been blowing pretty strong SE -E (onshore for that end of the coast) and depending on the tide even a smallish swell can hit the bank hard which I would imagine makes getting through it pretty tough using the old roll technique on a clubby board. With consistant swell and winds (even possible cyclones!). It is completely the wrong end of the coast at the wrong time of year for an event like this in my opinion.
Legropes for junior board paddlers definitely need to be a requirement. I can't think of a boardriders club whou would let grommets paddle out in 3-4' surf without one. If everyone is wearing one there is no disadvantage and if someone is knocked out they will be within 6' of a board that will always float.

This is so tragic and my heart goes out to his family.Matt was no ordinary 14yr old competitor he was a champion junior surf life saver who had won Queensland medals and was identified as a future champion of the sport. Which makes this lose even more tragic.

Talking to some crew at the event the accident happen on the way out in the race he rolled under a wave and didn't come up .Other competitors watching the race responded immediately and swam out trying to find him. Starting the heart wrenching search. His board apparently has a large depression in it probably from where he hit his head.(I cannot confirm this 100%)

Conditions weren't big about a 1m of swell but it was breaking hard on the bank , it was rough but nothing competitors haven't tackled many times before in training or racing but 3 deaths in 5 years is going to turn this sport upside down.The event is still going to run and be moved to North Kirra.

The blame game has started and I am absolutely disgusted by a certain QC who called for manslaughter charges on the front page of the Gold Coast Bulletin even before Matt's body had been recovered , that was so irresponsible and heartless for his parents to pick up that paper the next morning while the search was still going on.

Pete from what I understand the boaties were relocated to Coomera by the officials (still water) and they refused to race in the still water. It wasn't the boaties refusing to compete in the surf.

laceys lane said...

that is tragic. i feel for everyone involved. being a budding champion is irrelevant.

surf life saving has it's dangers like a lot of sports, but it's a sad day for all concerned


there could be some lessons to be learned for sup bop, technical racing as i think it is only a matter of time before somebody gets hurt in these formats.

sup needs to be prepared.

Looks like legropes are becoming mandatory in a lot of races and helmets might be something that need looking at too, especially with a dozen or more 12'6"s trying to swing around a bouy in the break at the same time. If you get knocked out on the football field everyone can see where you are and you are relatively safe. In the surf if you cop a knock and go under much smaller chance of someone seeing you unless you are attached to your board.

Our hearts go out to the family, the club and Surf Life Savings, who in general do a magnificent job of helping our kids grow into fit, healthy, young adults.

From the Noosa Boaties last night ,was that The Surf Rowers League made a decision not to go out in the Kurrawa Surf , and you are right Piros,the Surf Rowers League refused to compete in a lake when North Kirra was the logical event site .

A few extra thoughts ,3 deaths from blunt head trauma at Aussies over 16 years,,Gath Helments??This years Noosa Tri an unfortunate fatality,4 deaths from Tri Races per year in Australia.

Leg Ropes mandatory on SUP Races

and leg ropes are in hinderance when using a clubby boards. Definitely not the solution. Will make more accidents...

PTSUP said...

A few extra thoughts ,3 deaths from blunt head trauma at Aussies over 16 years,,Gath Helments??This years Noosa Tri an unfortunate fatality,4 deaths from Tri Races per year in Australia.

Leg Ropes mandatory on SUP Races

i wear my gath helmet sometimes when i ride my race board, but mainly in big waves so i canhave somewhere to mount the gopro, not to good to swim in or bodysurf a wave with, it might take a bit for ski/board competitors to wear helmets,, but most boaties i know wear gath helmets already,

over all surflifesaving is not that bad with 3 deaths in 16 years when you compare it to other sports, like the 4 a year from tri racing and many other sports that would be much worse, it's just more widely publicised because it happens at the aussies and everyone flogs the **** out of it where this doesn't happen as much with the other sports,

was watching the news and one of the people they interviewed said "how could an accident like this happen again" or words to that effect, that is really the point it was a freak accident and nothing really could've been done to stop it

there was also a guy saying that they should have been wearing these inflatable rashies and it would not have happened, he was the creator of them so of course he wants people to buy his product because it will just help him line his pockets, had a quick look on the old google, they have ones which you blow up, manual one which you set of, and an automatic one, so how would this work, you cant blow one up or set it off manually when your unconcious, and how would an automatic one work you fall in the water or go under water and it gets set off

maybe boards and skis should have to be painted instead wome having white bottoms, because if people loose them you cant always see them in the white wash until its to late, i myself have been hit a few times for this reason

over all it was a freak accident and it is sad that someone has died, but after all it is what we all train for wether it be to save lives or compete, it was a freak accident and you can take all the precautions in the world and accidents will still happen, sorry for the rant

Jarryd

So why can't they wear Gaths? No one is really giving a good reason except to say you can't swim in them, which is not what anyone is suggesting.

Wouldn't a helmet prevent these sorts of tragedies? The new Gaths are incredibly light and fit really well - unlike the old models from the 80s/90s.

Jradedmondo said...

PTSUP said...

A few extra thoughts ,3 deaths from blunt head trauma at Aussies over 16 years,,Gath Helments??This years Noosa Tri an unfortunate fatality,4 deaths from Tri Races per year in Australia.

Leg Ropes mandatory on SUP Races

i wear my gath helmet sometimes when i ride my race board, but mainly in big waves so i canhave somewhere to mount the gopro, not to good to swim in or bodysurf a wave with, it might take a bit for ski/board competitors to wear helmets,, but most boaties i know wear gath helmets already,

over all surflifesaving is not that bad with 3 deaths in 16 years when you compare it to other sports, like the 4 a year from tri racing and many other sports that would be much worse, it's just more widely publicised because it happens at the aussies and everyone flogs the **** out of it where this doesn't happen as much with the other sports,

was watching the news and one of the people they interviewed said "how could an accident like this happen again" or words to that effect, that is really the point it was a freak accident and nothing really could've been done to stop it

there was also a guy saying that they should have been wearing these inflatable rashies and it would not have happened, he was the creator of them so of course he wants people to buy his product because it will just help him line his pockets, had a quick look on the old google, they have ones which you blow up, manual one which you set of, and an automatic one, so how would this work, you cant blow one up or set it off manually when your unconcious, and how would an automatic one work you fall in the water or go under water and it gets set off

maybe boards and skis should have to be painted instead wome having white bottoms, because if people loose them you cant always see them in the white wash until its to late, i myself have been hit a few times for this reason

over all it was a freak accident and it is sad that someone has died, but after all it is what we all train for wether it be to save lives or compete, it was a freak accident and you can take all the precautions in the world and accidents will still happen, sorry for the rant

Jarryd

3 teenage deaths in 16 years at the same event seems like a hell of a lot to me. All from head blows too. Doesn't take a genius to see what's required

Why would helmets make less people compete? I did slalom canoeing for 12 years and they were standard or you didn't get on the water. GPSs, legropes and even inflatable vests aren't necessarily gonna stop someone drowning if they get knocked out.