Great footage Casso, the guys are ripping what was essentially wind chop. How good is little Harry!

I felt sorry for bigger guys like Beau having to surf that powerless cr@p. Having the Aussie champ decided in surf like that is kind of embarrassing for the sport IMO. I reckon Kai would have been a big chance as well in more 'normal' conditions.

Any word on changing the time of year for 2014??

All good OG and I am sure all the sponsored riders will compete regardless. I have no problem with competing in **** conditions and had a ball with my young bloke in tow over the 3 days up there.

I think the problem Surfing Aust will have is getting numbers to the surfing comp from other States, apart from those people who are either Title contenders and or sponsored or have industry connections. While I love competing I consider my self a 'punter' with no real industry ties who goes to these things for the fun of it as much as the competing side. While it is good to catch up with crew and hang out, ultimately you want to make a bit of a surf trip out of it and a couple of grand for 1 foot onshore isn't something I'd be rushing back for.

That's the reason why I don't do comps..it's a shame to surf that for an Aussie tittle

Great Video Casso, absolute shame the surf wasn't up to the standard that befits the calibre of surfers that were at the Nationals.
The problem is to try and get all three genres of supping in optimum conditions when all three have different criteria, although bop and marathon are more similar, maybe in the future the surf event can grow to a stand alone event at a time more conducive to getting the right conditions?
Having said that Currmbin was a great area to hold the event and Surf Aust did a terrific job in running the events.. Lots of fun...

OG SUP said..

My Clairvoyant channeled Chopper Ried for me and his response was:

Or use some common sense (which seems missing more these day than the teaspoons of cement that are being handed out) and dont hold the Australian Titles ( the top of our national and probably any SUP Surfing comp here in Oz) in a place, at a time of year, when its about a 98% of being absolute junk conditions.

Although I don't know John Christianson personally I have the upmost respect for a guy and his opinions that has competed world wide in a variety of conditions and has been a multiple world champion. Surely there is some cred to this whole situation, surely it's not a case of I didn't win so blame it on the conditions, me thinks not. Why is it too late for 2014? why are sup surfers told not consulted? Are there not state representatives that have a voice or is it falling on deaf ears? Am I barking up the wrong tree? green for no, red for yes or better still tell me.
ps, couple of words come to mind, token gesture

For the record my comments are not about making excuses for 'not winning' as it is difficult enough to make a final let alone win one. Knowing the Goldy well, I had very low expectations surfwise so no complaints on that front as it panned out as most of us expected. Had a holiday with my son, caught up with crew and surfed some surprisingly fun heats.

There were 7 spots vacant in the open due to crew not coming from other states. Why? Maybe the time of the year, maybe the expected surf. I am told this time of the year suits the competitors competing in the Worlds - all 3 of them in the surfing, 2 or 3 in the racing. Yet Surfing Aust are trying to increase numbers. I agree with Sparx, consciously or not the new set up is moving towards a model that suits the racing side of things (note the surfing is held mid week as well).

I am interested to hear other peoples opinions on this. I loved being part of the Surfing festival at Port Macquarie and thought that last year at least they accommodated the surfing well, moving the venue both days to the best location. While this years event was very well run they were happy to keep it at the Alley I am told on the first day (which was barely breaking) until Dogman spoke up for us and it was moved to the beach break. Why was the Spit not made an option prior to the event when the prevailing wind in Nov is from the north?

Anyway it would be a shame for the sport of SUP surfing to decline due to having our Nats in an unsuitable time of the year for what could potentially be a decent location. Obviously there are lots of factors to consider but this will filter right down to State level as many crew go to State to qualify for the Nats.

goatman said...
For the record my comments are not about making excuses for 'not winning' as it is difficult enough to make a final let alone win one. Knowing the Goldy well, I had very low expectations surfwise so no complaints on that front as it panned out as most of us expected. Had a holiday with my son, caught up with crew and surfed some surprisingly fun heats.

There were 7 spots vacant in the open due to crew not coming from other states. Why? Maybe the time of the year, maybe the expected surf. I am told this time of the year suits the competitors competing in the Worlds - all 3 of them in the surfing, 2 or 3 in the racing. Yet Surfing Aust are trying to increase numbers. I agree with Sparx, consciously or not the new set up is moving towards a model that suits the racing side of things (note the surfing is held mid week as well).

I am interested to hear other peoples opinions on this. I loved being part of the Surfing festival at Port Macquarie and thought that last year at least they accommodated the surfing well, moving the venue both days to the best location. While this years event was very well run they were happy to keep it at the Alley I am told on the first day (which was barely breaking) until Dogman spoke up for us and it was moved to the beach break. Why was the Spit not made an option prior to the event when the prevailing wind in Nov is from the north?

Anyway it would be a shame for the sport of SUP surfing to decline due to having our Nats in an unsuitable time of the year for what could potentially be a decent location. Obviously there are lots of factors to consider but this will filter right down to State level as many crew go to State to qualify for the Nats.

Hey mate, great surfing over the Aust titles, I was admiring your talent and style well done.
I'm a big believer in conditions being secondary to the battle between the opponents, but I agree that people traveled a long way and if surfing Qld/Aus moved it north to the spit it would've been a sick comp in 2-3ft surf in semi offshore conditions.
Surfing Aus emailed a questionnaire to all competitors last week, I'm hoping everyone filled it out and sent it off to improve next years event.
Cheers Jonesy

62mac said..

March is where its at here,heaps of waves and some wild SE wind for the race,reading the above the guys are spot on move it to a more suited month so all 3 disciplines can excel.

it's a sad day when i have to agree with mac. the goldie could turn it on for the 3 disciples in the right time of the year no problems at all.


for instance i can bop training at laceys lane high tide early morning, then surf the alley. dw later in the day when the south easters kick in .

any time after christmas to april ish or even later.

the surfing -only the spit would have been better on those days. saturday technical race wouldn't have mattered where you were. i thought it was a good spectacle as opposed to the qld titles.

SA did a pretty good job all up considering the limits imposed by red tape and the time of year



ps regardless of waves, the one day i checked out the surfing i thought the level was exceptional

Surfing QLD/Aus only have "X" amount of events they can run in a year and only "X" amount of weekends they can allocate to each comp.
With small numbers turning out to state titles and people not turning up to fill Aussie titles; add to that 0 to little spectators, support or sponsorship $, plus all the complaining that goes down on these forums about comps. Believe it or not, SUP is not a high priority in the list allocating prime surfing calendar dates!!

goatman said..

PTWoody said..

Okay so I don't know if this is an option due to existing commercial agreements but to condense Goatman's previous call, would the surf crew prefer to re-align with the Festival of Surfing, while the racing remains separate, with possibly an expanded and more widely inclusive format?

Yes (my personal opinion only).

Well I wasn't going comment on this but some of you have asked the question!
Firstly, to all the crew that did surf the comp, well done, and all the finalist deserved to be there. And the winners kicked arse!
In my opinion, at a national level we should be holding the titles at or around the best possible time of year for waves, no matter where it is held. Currumbin was a great spot for the racing and I would have to say a great spot for the surf if we had more than a 5% chance of having waves that will showcase everyone's surfing.

I ask you this, would Surfing Australia hold the Surfing Festival at Currumbin in November instead of at Port Mcquaire or anywhere at the right time of year? I have read from some of the crew from QLD, mainly surfers, and from what I'm seeing is that they are all for holding it there, but at the right time of year. If Qld can't hold it at the right time of year, run the surfing with the Australian surfing festival. My Opinion Only!

How in your opinion would we get more spectators? Hold it in good surf? Run it with the surfing festival?

From what I saw at the event over the full 4 days, there weren't too many racers watching the surfing and not too many surfers watching the racing. Last year I watched both races as I wasn't racing back then, I also watched all the surfing even after I bombed, and it was great to watch, especially the surfing finals followed up by the bop at the same place.

I even heard from a ex Aussie Longboard Champ and current Aussie Sup Champ, that he didn't go to the Australian Surfing Festival to compete in the titles because the Sup had been removed.

I will compete next year no matter where or when, but would love to be able to watch and compete against the best in Australia in waves that that are worthy of the best, mabe just then will we see more people watching the best in Australia.

Once again, well done to all the winners and place getters, I had a ball just spending a few days away from work in the sunshine and warm water.

joeyjojo said..

Surfing QLD/Aus only have "X" amount of events they can run in a year and only "X" amount of weekends they can allocate to each comp.
With small numbers turning out to state titles and people not turning up to fill Aussie titles; add to that 0 to little spectators, support or sponsorship $, plus all the complaining that goes down on these forums about comps. Believe it or not, SUP is not a high priority in the list allocating prime surfing calendar dates!!

Sorry can't help myself but respond.

Our State Titles (NSW) had over 60 entries in the surfing - held in a great spot in one of the best months for surf (May) - we had good sponsorship and prizemoney also. People did not up to this year's Aussies because of the aforementioned arguments.

If SUP surfing is not a high priority up there (as you say) then move em back to Port Mac in August. I actually think it is QLD that has the problem with SUP surfing numbers as the focus up there is racing. I can see why as for 6 months of the year there is buggar all surf.

PS, if giving feedback is complaining - too freaken bad.

goatman said..

joeyjojo said..

Surfing QLD/Aus only have "X" amount of events they can run in a year and only "X" amount of weekends they can allocate to each comp.
With small numbers turning out to state titles and people not turning up to fill Aussie titles; add to that 0 to little spectators, support or sponsorship $, plus all the complaining that goes down on these forums about comps. Believe it or not, SUP is not a high priority in the list allocating prime surfing calendar dates!!

Sorry can't help myself but respond.

Our State Titles (NSW) had over 60 entries in the surfing - held in a great spot in one of the best months for surf (May) - we had good sponsorship and prizemoney also. People did not up to this year's Aussies because of the aforementioned arguments.

If SUP surfing is not a high priority up there (as you say) then move em back to Port Mac in August. I actually think it is QLD that has the problem with SUP surfing numbers as the focus up there is racing. I can see why as for 6 months of the year there is buggar all surf.

PS, if giving feedback is complaining - too freaken bad.

We all know that the Northern beaches of sydney and all that inhabit it are Gods blessed Sup children. But im just saying that in the grand scheme of things, sup surfing is not a high priority in "pure" surfing associations agendas. and will always get the crumbs.
60 participants over how many divisions VS the number of surfers in NSW state surfing events and local boardrider comps! Not having a go, just looking at a comparison. The qld titles have never been well represented!
Maybe it is time for sup surfing to have its own "official comp". what did the "Wave ski riders" do back in the day!

joeyjojo said..

We all know that the Northern beaches of sydney and all that inhabit it are Gods blessed Sup children. But im just saying that in the grand scheme of things, sup surfing is not a high priority in "pure" surfing associations agendas. and will always get the crumbs.
60 participants over how many divisions VS the number of surfers in NSW state surfing events and local boardrider comps! Not having a go, just looking at a comparison. The qld titles have never been well represented!
Maybe it is time for sup surfing to have its own "official comp". what did the "Wave ski riders" do back in the day!

Why the sarcasm dude? You are however correct, we are coming off a month of consistent overhead surf and good banks here in "Gods blessed Sup children's" country.

Clearly you have no clue as to what has been happening with SUP surfing comps on the East coast over the last couple of years as "SUP Australia" was launched in 2012 with mixed success at running its own series outside of Surfing Australia.

The sport is young and may or may not continue to grow, it would be nice however to give it the best chance possible by having comps in venues/times that have some chance of getting reasonable surf.

Well said, Goatie and Gareth, to be able to see the top surf suppers able to perform in the best possible conditions would something to witness, it's now a great opportunity to continue the momentum for change to next years surfing venue now by talking to those involved in local clubs, State and National representatives to make that change. I was involved in a forum at the Nationals with Surfing Aust and they are listening and would like to see the sport grow and evolve in all genres of Sup, so speak up now and get involved in a positive input for change .....