loco4olas said...

petemc said...

It would appear there is a serious issue of integrity and fair play. The organisers need to fully explain their reasons before this whole thing becomes a farce.

Pete

Yeah-I'm calling bullsh$t on it!

Remember that the history of SUP in Australia that the first champ was Josh Constable!

And he was drafted into the comp AND (according to posts above) didn't even stand up paddle back out.

I tend to agree unfortunately. I understand it is not JCs fault and that he does ride a SUP, but that is not the point.

If Surfing Australia are going to dictate that we can only have 'X' number of competitors allowed compete, with 'X' number from each state well that should be way it is run. If someone from WA doesn't show up I don't think it is fair to the guys who have shown up to their State qualifying comps to just let anyone compete.

There is no way that would happen in the longboard or shortboard events. Anyway it's too late now, so hopefully it doesn't happen again.

It would be great also to increase the quota for next year inline with the increase in SUP numbers - maybe even an Over 40s section as well?

Suppose I will be the red thumbs person on this then. Is the decision wrong or right. Wrong on behalf of those guys and girls that competed in their respective state titles and were eliminated. Right decision for SUP as a whole when your objective is to showcase the sport on a national platform. Think of it this way;
(1) State Titles and National Titles are governed by Surfing Australia and respective State Branches which are Federally funded Government Sporting Bodies, so yes even in Stand Up there is the Government and the Public Service to deal with and get permission from to run these events and
(2) If you have got rushed approval to include SUP in your National Titles, and you want it to be successful and showcase the sport to as many people as possible, I am afraid a national title with half a dozen people people in it won't cut the mustard, so guess what, if it fails this year pretty doubtful that it will be on again again next year.
People running things like this sometimes have to make quick decisions, sometimes these aren't the most liked decisions but they need to be made. Thankfully, we will have number of people in the water rather just a few.
Yes, there is a need to have a few more people offering to help Surfing Australia with direction with the support but it has to be done in a manner that will assist not hinder if you get my drift. (And talking about it on an Internet Forum won't help either)
Chris

Just Wrong said...


Yes, there is a need to have a few more people offering to help Surfing Australia with direction with the support but it has to be done in a manner that will assist not hinder if you get my drift. (And talking about it on an Internet Forum won't help either)
Chris

I am happy to give them my uninformed opinion but not sure if that would count for much. I guess it would have to come from some sort of SUP association. Maybe our Sydney SUP club could offer some help for example.

Talking about it on a forum at least provides some sort of platform for discussing issues like this - as long as it is constructive.

petemc said...

Just Wrong...as I said "But then again perhaps I'm being naive."

I accept your slap on the wrist for having the gall to post my thoughts on an internet forum

I also accept your reasoning that showcasing SUP as a national sport is more important than a fair go and trust in the selection process to qualifying competitors.

Pete

Pete, never slapped you on the wrist ..... so you can safely remove your ice pack and get back to normal duties.
As I said the decision was both right and wrong, depending on who you are and where you sit. But then again, it's just my opinion. Do with it what you want.
Chris

i would like to go back a bit and talk about the qld trials. not sure how it happened, but only the sunny coast guys knew about it. no one from brisbane or the goldie seemed to know until the results were posted here. there was a few mumblings around the gold coast i can tell you. but, as just wrong said, at least there was a national title and a first champion. well done

My 2 cents,

1) The committee had time to make phone calls to other qualified competitors and they didnt. That was their call, the decision to do that is very questionable.

2) JC surfed 4 or 5 heats and that was a huge effort on its own to get to the final.

3) JC from what I hear won fair and square.

4) The result stands in history now.

5) Its not that much worse than the WWF when you think about it

Phill

JC Rips on just about anything,

From what I hear he hadnt surfed sup in 12 - 18 months seriously.

He took the opportunity deserved the win, he was the best on the day.

More power to him.

Phill

jc shouldnt have even been there if someone couldnt make it from a state then the next guy inline from that state should have taken his spot not some random guy who hadnt even ridden a sup in 12months ripped off

Come on DTM,

Then Lummers would have won and hes from Vicco, sure that would make you happy either

Phill

all this rubbish is making me feel ashamed.how many states had real trails besides vic? the qld trails were a joke, more like sunny coast qld trails.guys like billy, jamie and woody didn't get a chance. i think people don't like the idea of a guy hardly riding a sup at all and winning the title. if mick fanning asked for a spot, hadn't been on a sup much and won it, everyone would be tripping over themselfs in raptures. i know i going into red thumbs for this

On the topic the Qld titles, (1) it was very last minute (2) it was promoted by Qld Surfing as it was on the back of the Bradnhams Longboard series (3) I personally sent messages to guys that were in the comp scene under the SUPSA banner letting them know (4) If you had competed in SUP events previously, Qld Surfing did send a letter advising of upcoming event.

lacey said...

i would like to go back a bit and talk about the qld trials. not sure how it happened, but only the sunny coast guys knew about it. no one from brisbane or the goldie seemed to know until the results were posted here. there was a few mumblings around the gold coast i can tell you. but, as just wrong said, at least there was a national title and a first champion. well done

Absolute bollocks ! It was well known that the sunny coast comp was on and that it was the qualifying comp for the aussie titles. It was a comp that was open to anybody and if nobody from brisbane or the goldy bothered to turn up then that is too bad for them. So according to the results of the sunny coast comp the best sup surfers surfed and earnt their place in the team - END OF STORY.

champcrow said...

All good reading guy's but where are the photo's

i second that!

Competition brings out the beast or is that bollocks

Its only early days in the evolution of SUP , sure mistakes and oversights will be made , but like others have said we are on the map now!We dont want to get a reputation as wave hogs and whingers.