Hi everyone
I'm interested in everyone's thoughts on this.

We have some pretty handy Kiwis that live over in Oz and at present the rules for the SUP Nationals say only Australian Passport holders can enter. These rules are based off the Surfing Rules and obviously avoid American surfers, etc taking out Australian titles. If someone is a long term resident here (owns a house, pays tax, has a job, etc), should they be able to compete? vs an international that is on a holiday visa.

NB - I'm an Australian National, doesn't effect me, I'd just like to see the best in Australia compete.
NNB - It costs over $5000 to become an Australian citizen, that's a lot to just compete in an Australian title.

Should be able to race regardless. I'm not sure many of the Kiwis want to represent Australia anyway though. If a Kiwi takes a place the next placed Aussie in line to qualify gets the place.

You know the saying in New Zealand: They support New Zealand or whoever is playing against Australia.

Why would any internationals want to enter the Aussies , for what a tshirtSeems to me Aus is way behind the rest of the world when it comes to sup , yet we have the majority of the top paddlers??Something doesent seem right here

If I was a international racer and saw the paddlers from aus I would wanna do their nationals, I wouldn't care what's in the goodie bag either
I have entered German and French nationals (not sup) and they just skipped us in the results, easy.
Obviously the Aussie champ should be Aussie but the more paddlers the better!
Don't you guys in the eastern states go to each others state comps?.... Same thing?

Good point aus301, I was thinking for racing only, anything with heats makes it a bit tricky!

I'd like to see any long-term aussie residents (who aren't citizens) be welcomed to compete, just like they are in any other event. But where to draw the line with surfing is a tough call... I think Aus301 is right and you wouldn't want to be the one knocked out by 2 surfers in the first round who aren't even eligible for the title (though with only 4 girls surfing at qld titles this year, I would have preferred for the girls like Sarah and Molly Mason to have been encouraged to compete and boost numbers (regardless of whether they knocked us out), than to have waited all morning for a single straight final. It's always going to be a tough call with surfing and pluses and minuses to both options...

...but opening up the racing would be better for everyone. Bigger races, a higher level of competition (although its pretty damn high already), better exposure for our sport and fun for everyone who wants to have a go.

Bigger numbers could potentially reduce to costs for all racers, so its win win for everyone. Currently there's 150 allocated places in the marathon (though some probably wont be filled): 150x$110 =$16,500, plus 118 in the tech race ($12,980), all up that's very close to $30k to run 2 races, with minimal provision of water safety (if last year is a guide).

If you opened up the tech race to the same number of qualifiers as the marathon, then add say 50 extra spots available in both, suddenly you've got 400 total spots available, for minimal extra costs. If you could fill the event, the equivalent cost to paddlers is down to $75 per race and economising on team uniforms/comp shirts etc. for people who do both, you should be able to get away with $120-125 package entry.

Couple of 2-3 lap heats for everyone to 'warm up' in the tech race, with option for state team members to progress straight the the finals (regardless of heat placing) and tight racing, keeping it exciting in the battle for the remaining spots. And maybe reduce the length of the final to 3-4 laps as everyone will already be fatigued.

Downwind/distance race extra numbers would have very little impact on the cost to run the event (maybe and extra 1 or 2 jet skis/boats on the water, but that's pretty much it. With numbers starting to push the 100 mark in some local events across the country, how good would it be to culminate each year with the biggest event on the calendar, and lining up with 200+ other sup's, like Maui's International Paddleboard chamionships (previously Naish race), the Olukai, and take your pick of the Elite, Open and distance races at BOP. Looking forward to the day we get events that size running here!

Personally, I doubt there will be any changes for this years Aussies (I'd like to be proven wrong) but hopefully it will be a consideration for the future.... (I might get in trouble for suggesting this but maybe everyone whose not racing the marathon, but would like to, should just turn up at the start line "for an organised, but independent downwinder" and paddle alongside the racers - its a free ocean after all - and the more numbers out there paddling, the better the spectacle for those watching. I don't think I heard anyone complain about Jacko unofficially paddling alongside the pack in the marathon at last years Aussies and providing plenty of encouragement to the mid-pack racers along the way.)

lets take it a step further and say alians with six arms turn up for the world titles.then some top guys would be pisssed.
no, i dont like it. did someone else say stupid idea?

the aussies are meant to be a pthway to worlds..... but lets face it, there are only 5 in race and probably 5 in waves that are a chance to get there.. i dont think they would be phased by other nationalities entering.

you could seed surfing so any world stars are on opposite sides of the draw until quarters?

but really.. how many world stars will attend.. the yanks dont even go to worlds.

Like in all other sports I am pretty sure that to represent a country you have to be a citizen of that country and hold the passport of that country.

Zola Budd the South African runner who completed for the UK in the 80's is a good example, although she became a UK citizen pretty dam quick !!!!.


Phil

Which leads back to the point - if the worlds don't have credibility, and the raison d'etre of Aussies is the pathway to worlds, then the Aussies have an identity crisis. Surfing Australia can continue down this myopic cul de sac if they must, but inevitably other events in Australia will eclipse this one for importance and credibility. Sooner or later, someone is going to put together a well funded event that attracts Danny Ching, Kai, Connor, Candace, Annabel and the other guns, and more importantly, actually manages to pull Travis and Jamie back to Australia for a weekend. More to the point, it will ideally be inclusive and welcoming to the masses. What's the long term vision for Aussies?

And why would the Aussie titles try to be a major pro event. They are two different things. What is your agenda PT, you seem to knock the ISA and the world titles at every chance. If they are meaningless with out the USA (and Hawaii that OTHER country!) Then why is its ISAs fault they choose to shun it. The joke is things like the so called world series and other USA world comps....

The Aussie titles is not geared at being a pro event but for representation of Australia at particular events. It is not stoping anyone from competing in pro events, on the tour or being sponsered.

What is your beef with that?

I agree. who cares if the yanks don't attend the worlds. Stuff em. If I was good enough to qualify for worlds for Australia I would sharpen my paddle and go full noise...

The 12 Towers and The Doctor can stand as international events.

SUP just isnt big enough in Oz yet to put on a comp like BOP Cali/Hawaii. Take a long hard think on what it costs to run that type of event, and then think if the organisers are doing it at a loss (either direct income, or return sales)....Do the same event here, same prize money and see if you can pull it off without going under.

Why is it then Surfing Aus responsibility to make an event like this? PT, maybe you should step up and put your money where your mouth is

PTWoody said..

I agree the world series is a joke. The true world championship events are Molokai and Cali BOP. And what is readily apparent with both of those events is they are inclusive - anyone can enter and participate.

I don't necessarily want the nationals to become a major pro event. I'd just like to see the sport develop in this country and it is stagnating,if not going backwards. The nationals as they are currently structured do nothing for grass roots participation. That may be fair and reasonable given their stated purpose, but as the peak body for the sport, Surfing Australia appears to be putting all their eggs in the one basket - running nationals.

If anything, I would prefer to see nationals become more of a mass participation event. If that cannot occur, then hopefully other events will emerge on a national scale to fulfil that gaping need.

I don't think Nationals are a flop by any means or that we need internationals... I cant wait to stick my Maroon Jersey on and take all the other states down!!

But but back to Jacko's point.... Can the Kiwis enter.... I think so, Call NZ a state of Australia for a day : )

At the Nationals you are representing your State and as such qualified through the state rounds to get selected. I wouldn't want to see international stars in the Nationals as wildcards, but if they lived in Australia and competed and supported SUP in their state, why shouldn't they compete in the nationals?

It would be difficult to apply this in surfing, which makes sense due to heats - but is it an issue for O/40 and O/50? Open is the pathway for National representation and it makes sense that you should have a passport for that.

SUP racing is a developing sport and inclusive by nature (which is what PT is referring to). Competition is what makes a sport/nation stronger and validates an event. If someone wants to represent their adopted state and is going to push the competition, then that can only be positive. If he competes in open racing - then let him race,but no title (this happens in every other water sport nationals I have been involved in - I don't think we need to take ourselves that seriously). If he is in a o/40-o/50 age group - does it really matter.

SUP is a great inclusive sport, our SUP Nationals are for the best racers and surfers representing their State - I reckon the strongest competitors should compete.

husq2100 said...
lets be honest here, we just dont need any more Kiwis in Oz

go easy brew or you might find youself upside down in a chulli bun. :)

Ali Cat said..


Couple of 2-3 lap heats for everyone to 'warm up' in the tech race, with option for state team members to progress straight the the finals (regardless of heat placing) and tight racing, keeping it exciting in the battle for the remaining spots. And maybe reduce the length of the final to 3-4 laps as everyone will already be fatigued.

That's clever, I never thought of that one. But don't let too many free spots for grabs or you won't have anymore good enough paddlers that might want to go to the state title if they know they can get an easy spot.....and even then, does it really matter?

Some one send big Clive a supboard , instead of installing a heap of dinosaurs on the Sunnycoast he would make a great patron of SUP.Build it and they will comeI know their are lots of guys girls here partial to Surfing Aus , personally i dont think they are the organization to be running SUP.What have they done? Dont seee them running junior clinics , putting on great events , spreading the gospel!( I take that back the events they run , are well organized). But their focus is surfing plain and simple , put your hand up breezoids how many of you would pay a yearly fee $50 $100 bucks to be a member of an independant sup organztion , that covers you for insurance whilst competeting and puts on kick ass events around the country , catering for all levels and abilities? I know i would and im unemployed Id actually pay more than that if it fostered real sup growth.For the good of the sport ditch surfing AUS