Yesterday's big race was great and here's some of my pics for those that missed it..and also for those who went.
I first stopped off at the point and checked out the conditions.
It was fine and sunny day with a light wind blowing from the southeast.
The course was to start from the back of the beach (red cross) and run to your board at the waters edge.. paddle around the yellow pole.. and then up to the Cerberus (the Cerberus is a half sunken shipwreck).. then back and around the pole again and finnish with a run up the beach to the finish line.
This is me after positioning my board next to the Penetrator on the start line.
Here's a couple of pics of that beast of a board.
This is Mike explaining the race rules and saying the main thing is to have fun.
More than 40 boards lined the beach ready for a start.
The flag dropped and we're off.
When I first stood on my board did the big windmilling arms as I almost fell off the back of my board.. but I regained control.. and tried to get on the tail of the Pene.
It was a good clean start and we all headed off.
We soon started to string out as we headed for the Cerberus in the distance.
The Pene opened a gap straight away and continued to pull away from everyone due to half Matt's paddling and half due to the Pene's shape.
Matt was the first back..winning by a country mile.
Dave the fireman was second on his 11'6" C4.
I came in third on my 12' Nash Glide.
It seemed like one Glide after another coming in after me... This was me shaking my mate Dave's hand after the race. I was rapt for us to finish 2nd and 3rd because we train and paddle together.
This was a great race for 5th between my friend Christian (Lobes) and the famous Aussie windsurfer Luke Myres from SHQ.. both on Naish Glides.
They kept coming in and running to the finish line.
My good friend Dave (the Flock) finished well on an old wally-windsurfer board.
This was a classic moment (sorry..I shouldn't laugh) when this paddler jumped off to run to the finish line forgetting that he still had his leggie on..
The Glides kept coming.
This is Matty from GSI (Global surf industries) coming in on the 10'6" Kalama.
Here's someone finishing on the Laird board.
Nice to see a wood paddle paddler finish.
Next another friend and Breezer (Ronny) finishing.
This is another friend who has only demo'ed a few boards in the past and entered on a demo board with his Dad.. Both keen to buy them selves boards now.
His Dad fell as soon as he saw my camera.. That'll do it every time..
.. and good on them for entering the race and completing the course.
They kept coming... I'm not sure these guys completed to whole course.
My friend Christian took the Pene for a test paddle (after the race).. thanks to Matt for letting others have a go on his new board.
It was smiles all round after completing the course.
Here's a few Breezers getting together after the race.
Next it was over to the presentations and SUP clinics that I'd been asked to help out with.
Before that there was time for a quick snag from the BBQ.
Here's another Breezer (Rich) getting stuck into one.
Mike (the event organizer and main sponsor) explained how all the money raised from the day's event would go to the Red Cross Bush Fire Fund... Thanks Mike.
He passed the Fireman's helmet full of money over to my friend Dave.. It was his helmet I think..btw.. Dave finished second overall and first in the under 12'6" class.
The legend Matt Lumley won first place and gets his name on the trophy (for the second time) that was made form a SUP paddle blade... Very cool I thought.
Dave came in second and picked up a trophy in the shape of an old woodie-wagon.
The best junior was also given some recognition... they're the future of this sport.
There were heaps of prizes and all competitors names were placed in a hat and names were drawn out.
Everyone waited and hoped that their name would be called.
It was great to see new paddlers that finished way back in the field win new carbon paddles and other great prizes.
After that we had our clinics..and I talked about getting into SUP and flat water paddling... Matt talked about SUP'ing in the waves.
Matt's an amazing talent being one of the best SUP surfers and also one of the best SUP racers in the country... I wish him luck in the Noosa comp next month.
It was a great day for SHQ.. GSI.. and the other sponsors.. It was also a great day for Kialoa paddles with the first three places paddling with their paddles.
This is me with Matt from GSI.
This was Christian..He also finished strong on the Glide..and won a cool Naish paddling shirt.
Matt tied his Pene to the roof of his wagon and headed off to Torquay.
He needs to be careful going through a red light camera because if it changes after he's gone through and then changes to red the Pene might get him booked for going through a red light... just kidding..
That's about it.. Last year was our first ever race with only about 14 paddlers.. this year we had over 40.. and next year I expect well over 140... We'll see.
There's more pics and info on the SHQ site..
www.shq.com.au/ ... Thanks guys for putting on a great event.
DJ
and when I spotted one on the beach after the race with a SHQ sticker on it I grabbed it for a paddle until realising it was Big Daddy's DJ's race board
I was about to pinch and promptly returned it
well done on coming 3rd mate. I remember reading last year's post thinking "wow that would be great to have so many people in one place on SUP's", How far we have come in a year hey.
