So much for all the comment on seabreeze over the last week regarding the judging criteria. 90% of the competitors at the titles displayed "poor form" by paddling out not standing. In fact Josh Constable paddled out laying down every time he paddled out and only stood up when out the back. It was somewhat surprising and encouraging that Josh fell off while paddling for waves in round 1 where got third behind Dogman.

Having said that, from the repercharge onward he was unstoppable and demonstrated his competitive experience (as did Lummers) in all the rest of his heats, semi and final.

His longboard competition experience came through with style (again as did Lummers) whereas all the others riding shortboard style with layback slashes/jinky tricks (looked like paddle twirling to me ie not too much value on the wave) were not rewarded by the judges despite the beach commentator talking up the slashes.

Josh and Lummers both walked to the nose on several of their waves with Josh doing a soul arch with paddle over his head on one wave.

Dogman and Casso both went "deep sea fishing" waiting for the wave out the back that did not arrive all day and were forced to take any waves just to score something while Josh was getting 4 better waves to their to 1.

Josh was riding possibly the longest board 9'6" Lopez allowed early entry and good speed on small waves.

As for the discussion regarding judging workshops, my wife and I sat on the hill above the beach and while my wife has never been on a board in her life could pick the winner for each heat with first to 4th in the final. I think that there is too many people taking SUP competitive surfing too seriously.

The event had a touch of "display" or novelity status with 4 heats of the over 40 shortboards starting off the day which meant that the SUP semi and final were 90minutes later taking them into the dribbly onshore part of the day. I am sure that the shortboard finals will be timed for morning rather than after lunch when conditions had deteriated.

All that said, it was a start and the best surfer won the day.

Steve

Having been there all day and talking to most of the competitors through out,not one of those guys said a word about Josh Constable being in it.
Dispite the "jinky tricks" by the paddle twirlers, it was very close every heat.
And for the 90% of guys that paddled out "prone" I saw may 2 guys do it,1 of which never paddled out standing,but hey,its done and dusted.
The sportmanship of the competitors was so honourable,it did SUP proud.
Goodonallofyas,
Robbo

Ps,and if I can find the friggin camcorder cable to upload the footage I will,but then again, it might just ignite a whole new sh%itfight?????

goatman said...

Of course a more longboard style of SUP is gonna surf better than a 'shortboard' style in 1 foot dribble. That's why I have been riding my 10 foot Oxbow a few times lately - bit of a no brainer really.

I wonder what the result would have been in 4-5 foot (swell size)?

You mention the 'novelty' status - all the more reason for SUP to have it's own association and contests.

I would expect a guy who surfs dozens of contests each year (such as JC) to have a better contest 'head'. At the end of the day comps are won by catching the best waves.

yeah goatman,you know it,contest head is spot on for jc,he can do it in size as well.would have been the same result imo.

I thought under the new surfing rules that the longboard class started at 9 ft thats why all comp boads are 9'1. Thats the way they ran i at the Vicco titles.

The old 8 ball (8ft and above) class to my knowledge is now gone.

They questioned Kristiana's board at 8'9 but when they knew it was a sup there was no issue at all.

Phill

elbeau said...

Watching Josh Constable win the Australian SUP title on the weekend it appeared clear to me that SUP is a long board discipline.
Even the shorter SUPs at the titles where 8'6".
I didn't see any shorter ones.
8'6"is a LONGBOARD.
You should move around on it backward /forward etc to get the best performance from it. Constable did that to good effect

OG SUP said...

I thought under the new surfing rules that the longboard class started at 9 ft thats why all comp boads are 9'1. Thats the way they ran i at the Vicco titles.

The old 8 ball (8ft and above) class to my knowledge is now gone.

They questioned Kristiana's board at 8'9 but when they knew it was a sup there was no issue at all.

Phill

elbeau said...

Watching Josh Constable win the Australian SUP title on the weekend it appeared clear to me that SUP is a long board discipline.
Even the shorter SUPs at the titles where 8'6".
I didn't see any shorter ones.
8'6"is a LONGBOARD.
You should move around on it backward /forward etc to get the best performance from it. Constable did that to good effect

My point was really that anything over 6 to 7 foot is in reality a longboard.
It is a board and it is "long" compared to the average shortboard.
Anyone riding a board longer than say 6' would be smart to "walk" the board to obtain maximum effect.
I see the top short boarders adjust their weight forward in critical sections. How much wiser is it for longboard riders to do the same.
I agree with those that say we need to evolve but to think that an 8'6" is a short board is to be in denial

Garethg said...

dtm said...

if it had been over 2 foot i would have put my money on the guys with the shorter sups ! mate guys who ride the bigger boards and walk the nose look boring and should be in a longboard comp and the guys doing layback slashes and so called jinky tricks are the ones pushing the sport lets face it jump on a longer board than normal and ride the nose is heaps easier than shortboard riding supping lets push the sport forward with shorter more surfable boards not step backwards to a long board trend

Spot on ! Casso, kiahi and tully rip on shorter sups, it is much easier to walk up and down the board, than rip like Tommy Carrol on a powerful short board style. Sup should be unique in style, not just longboarders who happen to have a paddle.

Well done done Casso, Kiahi, and Tully, torn between my support for NSW and the Laguna bay boys! ( especially with a rooted shoulder casso)

Yeah, what he ^ said-spot on too.

My point was really that anything over 6 to 7 foot is in reality a longboard.
It is a board and it is "long" compared to the average shortboard.
Anyone riding a board longer than say 6' would be smart to "walk" the board to obtain maximum effect.
I see the top short boarders adjust their weight forward in critical sections. How much wiser is it for longboard riders to do the same.
I agree with those that say we need to evolve but to think that an 8'6" is a short board is to be in denial

That's like saying an 'Indo Gun' is a longboard. Totally different planshape and rocker. Completely different style of surfing. Same with 'shortboard style' SUPS vs 'longboard style. Until you try em both you really won't understand the difference.

dtm said...

if it had been over 2 foot i would have put my money on the guys with the shorter sups ! mate guys who ride the bigger boards and walk the nose look boring and should be in a longboard comp and the guys doing layback slashes and so called jinky tricks are the ones pushing the sport lets face it jump on a longer board than normal and ride the nose is heaps easier than shortboard riding supping lets push the sport forward with shorter more surfable boards not step backwards to a long board trend

Have to agree with Elbeau the most on this one. Just because the pointy boards look like a shortboard doesn't mean they surf like one.

Dtm what you have to realise is that if was bigger it would have still been a similar result. Just because they have a mal shape doesn't mean they surf like a mal. Josh was doing doing the most vertical turns out of anyone there and he was even throwing in a couple punts and you cant exactly say his board was a so called shortboard sup. I would have been stoked if we had some more size there and I think I could have got a better result if we had some swell. Just because the boards have a mal nose doesn't mean they are only good for nose riding. I would have been on the smallest board there and this can be achieved a lot easier by having more area in the nose.

There is not going to be that much difference in a pointy nose sup compared to a round nose one. The nose of a board doesn't exactly change that much. A lot of it is in the tail and all the shortboard nose might do is stop you from catching a rail a little easier.

And it's not like you can only do layback slashes on a shortboard sup. Sure Casso was doing them on his, but so was JC, Lumley and I was doing them as well. The mal boards open it up more and allow to noseride as well as everything else.

I'd like to see a comp where we get some good swell and see how differently these boards really perform. It won't be a huge difference.

My 2 cents
Keahi

My two cents.

Josh was the best surfer by far on the day. He was better at turning and hell, the guy even did a boost on one of his end sections. Overall, no one came close. If anything having josh in the event has opened alot of guys eyes up into what good suping is. For those who are writing it off, you would want to be good at sup or your comments will be falling on deaf ears.

As for me, I had a hard time with the judging as im one of the shortboard sup's and perhaps that was my downfall. Im one of the guys who have forgotten the "overall" criteria. So I cant really blame judges or anyone else. Im very disapointed with my result but have been treating sup as a fun sport to be apart of. For those of you who are being over critical, just have a sit back and appreciate the sport as its in its early stages. The criteria has now been set. You MUST perfrom both displays of surfing. In which Im fine with. Surftec have given me a longboard so im now hiting my local and going to learn how to hang my toes over the nose. hahaha

Overall, all the boys at the event spoke about it. Some questioned the intial scoring of the early heats but eventually the best man one. I didnt see anyone twirly whirly there paddle. But there was def a shortboard presence and a longboard.

Those of you who are being over critical. Just have a think about what your writing and I look forward at seeing you at the next sup event.

Appsy

Oh and one more thing,

Casso sured better with a dislocated shoulder hahahahha.

Sorry casso but you did. And you have know got me back for winning the snowy!!! after getting me in the last rep heat!!!

And dogman still had his sense of humour intact after the event.

Appsy

Keahi said...
And it's not like you can only do layback slashes on a shortboard sup. Sure Casso was doing them on his, but so was JC, Lumley and I was doing them as well. The mal boards open it up more and allow to noseride as well as everything else.

I'd like to see a comp where we get some good swell and see how differently these boards really perform. It won't be a huge difference.

My 2 cents
Keahi

Personally I was talking more about the longer, full nose SUPs - with a more longboard shape. The Lagoonas for example as Keahi states are really a more performance orientated shape with a 'fuller' nose - to allow nose riding and so they cam make em shorter.

I have just ordered one (a Lagoona that is) with a 'pointier nose' and had a good chat to Tully about them. He was saying that the rocker is slightlly different in the 'shortboard' model to make it perform better in slightly suckier waves. The irony is that mine will end up longer (8'9") to accomodate the pointier nose - which is fine as I want it for our gnarly reefs here in Sydney as well as the beachies.There are so many factors that make up a surfcraft and some are just a mix of many design elements - SUPs are a classic example of this.

It was really interesting to get Keahi and Appsy's perspective on JCs surfing - he is obviously a freak - lets hope he gets more into the SUP and towels the longboard

For me the best heat of the day was the one we had when all had packed up and gone and we sat on the grass havin a beer and laughin.
All in all SUP was the winner.Yeeeewwwwwwwwwww.
anyone seen that f%@$in cord for the camcorder!!!!
Sorry people,
Robbo
Hey Dog did you get home OK???

mags said...

couldnt be bothered reading most of those post! best surfer won on the day! great day pitty about the surf **** happens! on the lawn having a few bevvies was a crack, haven't seen cam cord? hopefully see ya friday, dogman where are you ? trolling!!!!!!!!!!!the site. cheer's

Goodonyamags,
Your a legend,
Robbo

To infinity & beyond!

appsy said...

Casso sured better with a dislocated shoulder hahahahha.

Sorry casso but you did.

Have to agree with you there Appsy. What's that about?

Hahaha, just wanted to cheer y for the last

Casso said...

appsy said...

Casso sured better with a dislocated shoulder hahahahha.

Sorry casso but you did.

Have to agree with you there Appsy. What's that about?

I think from now on Casso should dislocate his shoulder more often. The guys first wave scored an 8. I actually said to casso before the heat, "Ill take it easy on you mate" then he went out and wailed me.