Haha the first OZ title was won in that fashion if I remember correctly,didn't sit too well either !!

Contests equal rules.
If you want rules to surf or paddle by - go in a contest.
If you want to freesurf or freepaddle stay away. No rules just lots of pleasure.
It is easy.
ET.[}:)]

might have to look at riding one design sups at different sizes eg 8ft -9ft or 10 ft at comps it is then up to the riders skills.... no board advantage...or maybe there is only a small pecentage that want to compete.....

My 2 cents worth- The sport is based upon standing on the board paddling & the associated skill however there has to be a common sense approach based upon the surf conditions at the time of the comp & the level of the comp such as at the local club level if the rule was strictly enforced it will only pi55 off the casual surfer which will only result in fewer numbers attending- shooting the sport in the foot, the higher the level of competition the greater the rule would be looked at being enforced but again it should be decided on the day of comp by organisers as to how much prone paddling is allowed depending on the conditions, not because the the rider has chosen a board (so small that its a submarine with a paddle as a periscope) which is too difficult to handle.

Mixup said...
This thread was more of an 'additional' to the pages that were written regarding how to increase numbers at surfing events. The events are all fun and it would be a shame to see numbers drop right off.
Many people were commenting on the 'standard' or a minimum board size as a way to level the playing field. This would be unfair to the younger paddlers coming through into the Open division for obvious reasons. So enforcing the prone rule may be a way to achieve the same result.
If the average guy who paddles every weekend, puts in the hours with the one board (that he can ride in all conditions) wants to have a shot at the title then he has a real chance. If he is paying big bucks to enter, then enforcing the rule that is in place already is the least the organizers can do to encourage more participation.
Perhaps this is where SUP riders as judges may have an advantage as they can appreciate the effort it takes to not only surf but to get out there in the first place on your feet.
Sorry Goaty, have to disagree on a few SUP comps you mentioned, I witnessed it firsthand in the 2011 Surfing Aussies, 2012 Surfing NSW state and recently have heard of incidents in the recent 2013 Longboard Open. This is not at all a reflection on these events merely examples.

Overall it is more a question of do you care if anyone prone paddles in surfing competition? If so, then lets promote the rules in place and if nobody prones everyone is happy!

I have no problem with the rule being created/enforced just don't see it as a big issue but perhaps I am missing something. Can't say I have ever been in a heat and thought 'damn that guy is prone paddling back out what a cheat'.

I agree that paddling out standing is part of the skill of SUP surfing but if someone chooses to ride something too under buoyant for them any advantage they might gain surfing will be lost when it comes to hassling for waves, getting into position, etc.

Enforcing minimum board sizes is both impractical and the best way to have people leave the competitive side in droves.

I am still not seeing this 'decrease in numbers' that some on here are talking about with the exception of the 2 large Mal comps that are not great value for the expense of attending. We have a club comp this Sunday that I am sure will have 30 - 40 crew and as said before it's all about making it fun (while still being competitive). My 2c

Hi everyone,
My thoughts on this subject (prone paddling /knee paddling) in comps were explained in the thread its time something was done.

Just to remind you all.

Paddling is OK, as long as it is only to get out of the impact zone.

There is a PENALTY, and that is you have to paddle in towards shore, not out the back over the waves.

If you paddle out the back , the PENALTY is your best wave is taken off your score.

I really don't see paddling out the back thru any conditions as a problem for the surfer. I see it as a design fault in the chosen board.

After all it is STAND UP paddle surfing that we partake in.

I see the current board designs from the big companies as two distinct design styles.

The youth/young male market with a weight range of 80kg and under, the "performance market".

The second is the hire school market, and this has all the long, wide, high volume easy to paddle, easy to stand on, hard to turn boards. But they can be surfed.

The board that I choose to ride is a custom pintail 78cm(30.75") wide and is very easy to paddle around in most conditions. It is 8'8 long and has a little bit more volume (118ltr) for my 95kg/59 year old weight. It is a twin fin and handles most of the wave sizes that I want ride ( about max 10 foot face).

So the main problem as I see it is that the board design has been going at such a fast rate towards the performance end of the scale, heading towards firstly malibu style, the earlier 9footers, and now towards 8'0 short board style driven by the under 80kg riders.

This a NEW sport and needs NEW design inputs.

It is a completely new way to surf waves by using a paddle to enhance longer board maneuveres.

The poore old medium to heavy weight just does not enter into the high performance design spectrum of most board companies.

goatman said...

Mixup said...
It would not be for other paddlers to say whether a fellow competitor is cheating or not more about bringing the rule to the surface as it has been with the Racers. The example is being set by the Racing side of the sport and how there is an agreed prone paddling period of approx. 5 strokes (?). Maybe without this race boards would be dropping in width to under 20" and those paddlers laying down in rougher conditions. A parallel would be a BOP race where the elite lay down to negotiate the break zone on narrower boards then back on their feet out in the calmer water...not sure how that would be received.
This was just an idea to help improve the surfing competition, never about individuals or events. As mentioned above, competition is about practical rules etc, these effects what equipment people choose to ride.
Competitive racing is going so well, I feel because it is more black and white in terms of rules and events (start and finish=times). Occasionally even the Ace design has come into question as to whether it is an acceptable, regulation board (I have one and love it...another thread).

Competitive racing on Flat water is very accessible to EVERYONE hence the so called 'numbers'. Down wind racing in NSW is lucky to get 20 people along so obviously it has nothing to do with board size/shape and more to do with whether a sport caters for a large market (eg flat water).

You guys are completely missing the point that when paddling through the impact zone in a prone position you are actually at a massive disadvantage over someone standing (unless it is done briefly just to get out of a tricky spot).

Massive beatup over nothing IMO.

I agere with you on this one Goaty, I reckon it's a hell of a lot harder paddling out prone. The thing I have a problem with is knee paddling - just looks so lame!!!

I agree with you dtm,... just look at the number of posts you've put up

dtm said...
Comp numbers would be up if you all stop talking about it online and go down and enter events and have a good time meet great people and get in the water ....

Exactly the bottom line of the thread! Getting more numbers to the events.
If the amount of posts relates to how relevant a new post is then maybe thats where part of the problem begins.
Been to plenty of comps, met lots of cool people and will continue. As mentioned before, just trying to see how we can improve things.
Guess I'll just stick my head back in the sand.

Wasn't referring to anyone in particular just a general rant .... Seen a few post topics along these lines of late ....
Allgood come and have a surf in our local comp this Sunday if around

I thought it was called STAND up paddling,,,,

whatsup

I don't feel this issue pointless at all.
Here's a senerio
In a final , conditions are tough two guys similair talent.
One guy reads conditions and feels he needs a slightly bigger board to negotiate conditions , gets through the break , stands between waves , surfs smooth with drawn out turns.
2nd guy chooses his smallest board , prone paddles out sits between waves because his board is too small to stand on. Surfs more vertical , gets more manourvers in , maybe pops an air and wins the event.
Is the second surfer rely the better STAND UP PADDLE surfer?
At some stage everyone needs to prone paddle when in the impact zone.
But your board should be big enough to stay standing between waves.
This in no way is a limitation on board size.
If you can master standing on such a small board all the power to you , and you deserve the win.

I reckon anybody who can prone paddle out an 8' SUP and duck dive it under a sizable wave deserves to win.

NO

ride a short board if you have/want to prone paddle.

I do/still can.