Select to expand quote

PTWoody said..
One thing you have to give Kai and Connor credit for - if not for this incident, no-one would be talking about the race that was once the most important single event in the BOP calendar. Now, no-one seems to care. Has Battle of the Paddle jumped the shark?

I bet all the people that were there had a ball, thought it was great and still talking about it… Shame the organisers are making it only for "the few". I get they may be trying to establish something bigger. A brand, a top tier package etc, but if instead of trying to get a whole new audience, they should probably worry about the 1000's of recreational SUP'rs that already have a connection to the sport and can relate, there for, be interested.

Select to expand quote

husq2100 said..

PTWoody said..
One thing you have to give Kai and Connor credit for - if not for this incident, no-one would be talking about the race that was once the most important single event in the BOP calendar. Now, no-one seems to care. Has Battle of the Paddle jumped the shark?

I bet all the people that were there had a ball, thought it was great and still talking about it… Shame the organisers are making it only for "the few". I get they may be trying to establish something bigger. A brand, a top tier package etc, but if instead of trying to get a whole new audience, they should probably worry about the 1000's of recreational SUP'rs that already have a connection to the sport and can relate, there for, be interested.

My understanding is there were far fewer spectators this year than in previous years so even that aspect is falling away.

I don't buy this notion of the big TV deal. They've been trying to pull that one off for 3 years now. Boyd cranks out his first real video production of the Ultimate SUP Showdown and manages to get a CBS broadcast straight away. Battle of the Paddle has missed the boat. If BOP was an AFL club, they'd be headed back to the draft in rebuild mode.

Select to expand quote

PTWoody said..

husq2100 said..

PTWoody said..
One thing you have to give Kai and Connor credit for - if not for this incident, no-one would be talking about the race that was once the most important single event in the BOP calendar. Now, no-one seems to care. Has Battle of the Paddle jumped the shark?

I bet all the people that were there had a ball, thought it was great and still talking about it… Shame the organisers are making it only for "the few". I get they may be trying to establish something bigger. A brand, a top tier package etc, but if instead of trying to get a whole new audience, they should probably worry about the 1000's of recreational SUP'rs that already have a connection to the sport and can relate, there for, be interested.

My understanding is there were far fewer spectators this year than in previous years so even that aspect is falling away.

I don't buy this notion of the big TV deal. They've been trying to pull that one off for 3 years now. Boyd cranks out his first real video production of the Ultimate SUP Showdown and manages to get a CBS broadcast straight away. Battle of the Paddle has missed the boat. If BOP was an AFL club, they'd be headed back to the draft in rebuild mode.

fair call, and you follow this stuff closer than I. It has been said that it costs a lot to do a live feed, again I don't buy that. Sure you can spend massive $$$ to have the slickest live coverage, but its not nessecary to get live coverage of some sort.

As for spectators falling away, could it be the location on the day and the local demographic?

The way I see it is, get more world wide coverage and more people will show an interest, with that, if they can build the event even if in myth, they will attract more...

If it was local to me I would have gone for sure. SO, all we need is some one in SEQ to step up and put on a similar event

Select to expand quote

teatrea said..
where are all the piccies and vid of the event?

Here comes the vids..

At the 1 minute mark. is that Connor throwing his board around well before the Kai incident. They seem to cut away at the time of impact

@6:40

Select to expand quote

jenkz said..
At the 1 minute mark. is that Connor throwing his board around well before the Kai incident. They seem to cut away at the time of impact

your right, a really bad look.


i'm wrong about kai. he didn't start it

im not half interested in watching- i know the results

Select to expand quote

laceys lane said..

jenkz said..
At the 1 minute mark. is that Connor throwing his board around well before the Kai incident. They seem to cut away at the time of impact

your right, a really bad look.

i'm wrong about kai. he didn't start it

im not half interested in watching- i know the results

Yeah that's pretty unbelievable from Connor. Whatever Kai does later, Connor definitely starts the drama. Not cool.

5:10 mark..... looks like coner went for kai twice, then kai got him back

This is the way to do it! Man up!

One of the lowest acts I've seen in sup,Conner should have been disqualified.

Select to expand quote

Macaha said..
One of the lowest acts I've seen in

Just like another day at LM

Looks like Connor hates Kai more than he loves winning.

Being a surfer I really don't get into the race scene but watching these pair rip into each other is good value. Every sport needs great rivalries to gather interest from outside the core supporters group.I usually would prefer to watch paint dry to bop racing but I cant wait to see the next instalment bring on the carnage!!!!!

Are these guys racing 12'6 or 14's? I can't tell..

Select to expand quote

chucktheskiffie said..
Are these guys racing 12'6 or 14's? I can't tell..

12'6''

The whole format's ridiculous. Racing should be on flat water. Surfing in waves. That equipment just doesn't belong in waves, not to mention they took over a popular break on (presumably) a sunny weekend day. As an example, in one of the clips there's a guy on (from memory) a green board who does a bit of a cutback, so presumably he rides waves and knows how to. But then the limitations of a long, flat, boaty board kick in as he nose dives and flips. Plus the carnage of all the other competitors shown. It's a wonder they don't make helmets compulsory and it's a wonder no-one was seriously hurt, mostly from someone else's board. Even the frontrunners have to do a weird crouchy tightropey thing on the tail of their board as they catch whitewater in. Sure it's entertaining in a schadenfreude kind of way but it seems really stupid and luck plays too much of a part. A bit like sending out antiquated SLSC surfboats in a big swell - stupid.

That is EPIC!!!!!!!

get em in the ring and fight

Select to expand quote

Piros said..

Seriously Both these boys look like they need to go on report and/or be sent to the sin bin for a bit of quiet time to reflect on their actions

Then made to sit-down and explain "their actions" to a judiciary panel

and be made an example of....... "BY SUSPENDING THEM BOTH" for the next big race......BOOM!!!!

that will stop all this sort of sh1t getting out of control

a bit of bump n grind is ok and great viewing for the crowds

but things look like they are getting a little bit "outta hand" or in kai's case getting a little bit "into his hand" .....where it shouldn't be

Neither of these paddlers will get any kind of sanction because there is no sanctioning body who could decide upon or administer it. They could have sliced each other open with their paddle blades and still nothing would have happened, outside of the police being called.

And there's the problem. With more money coming into the sport for wins, and no sanctioning body to control behaviour, this sort of thing is only going to increase. There really is nothing to stop paddlers cheating like crazy at the moment, outside of obvious in-race infringements like going the wrong way round buoys etc. Anything requiring judgement such as matters of sportsmanship are not going to be dealt with by race organisers. What race organiser is going to risk their neck by DQing both Connor and Kai here? These lads know that and so it will get worse, just like the teacher has left the class alone for the afternoon. The only hope is that their sponsors have a word with them because it reflects badly on the brand if your lead paddler is acting like a cheap thug. If I was Mr Starboard or Robby Naish I'd be issuing a "cease and desist" order right now. I've lost a huge amount of respect for Kai and Connor here. They look like aggressive spoilt brats not international role-models.

I think Robby would have given Kai a pat on the back and said good on you Kai for standing up for yourself.. because he shouldn't be able to get away with that.. (Connor blatantly trying to take him out).. because no one else is going to punish him in a race like this..

The BOP has always been about people hitting each other with their paddles.. Pulling on the other guys leash.. Ramming someone in front of you on a turn.. and pushing and shoving on a wave.. That's what the word 'battle' means in Battle of the paddle.. Let them play I say..

DJ, Kai would not have to have "stood up for himself" if there was a sanctioning body and clear rules.

My sympathies are with Kai - although we don't know what skulduggery he might have been up to away from the cameras we have seen so far. However, two wrongs don't make a right.

If these kinds of races are all about this kind of behaviour then why maintain the illusion of "sportsmanship"? Just make it the water equivalent of rugby and let everyone tackle each other pretty much whatever way they wish. Last man standing wins. Because that is where we are headed anyway unless behaviour like Connor's (and maybe Kai's) is not stopped.

This has completely put me off BOP style races. I was considering doing a couple next year but if this is what it is about, then forget it. I'd bet your take on this would be different DJ, if one of these kids was in a wheelchair for the rest of their life. Since you work in a hospital I'd have thought you'd have been more sensitive to the issue of intentional injury.

I appreciate that you might find it all very amusing to watch the youngsters knock each other about, but eventually someone will get hurt, and I can't see many people being attracted to the sport by this - except perhaps people you wouldn't want to race with. But I guess it doesn't affect you maybe DJ since you don't take part in these sorts of races?

I'm very aware of the dangers in competing in the Battle of the Paddle.. and so are the competitors.. and if you have a problem with that you shouldn't be there.. btw I have a problem with it and so you'll never see me there.. Sounds like you do also so I'd suggest you don't either.. .. Theres plenty of other SUP races with lots of rules and control/safety.. The BOP is a unique race.. It's brutal.. It's for the pros and no place for the scaredy-cats like us..

Select to expand quote

DavidJohn said..
The BOP is a unique race.. It's for the pros ..

Everyone in those clips were pros? Wow.

Select to expand quote

Legion said..

DavidJohn said..
The BOP is a unique race.. It's for the pros ..

Everyone in those clips were pros? Wow.

Ha.. When I say pros I mean better than you and me..

Select to expand quote

Legion said..

DavidJohn said..
The BOP is a unique race.. It's for the pros ..

Everyone in those clips were pros? Wow.

troll......

bop will have a short life with that kind of thinking.


numbers are already dismal.


funny how there was well over 50 training at the alley two Saturdays ago- a real sight.


now why aren't those numbers racing - just doing the training and that includes me.


hmmmm

Select to expand quote

Ted the Kiwi said..

Macaha said..
One of the lowest acts I've seen in

Just like another day at LM

I thought herding you and chrispy into the corner with my 12'6 and taking the best waves was right up there with the lowest

Select to expand quote

laceys lane said..
bop will have a short life with that kind of thinking.


numbers are already dismal.


funny how there was well over 50 training at the alley two Saturdays ago- a real sight.


now why aren't those numbers racing - just doing the training and that includes me.


hmmmm

You should be racing. What did they put in your chest when you took your turn? Your paddling like a machine old fella.

I'm not scared, DJ. What would stop me competing would be two things. First, the overly aggressive manner of the people, and my reaction to it. I would find it depressing, and if someone acted towards me like Connor was acting towards Kai then we might end up in a life-changing situation together. Life is too short and precious to put yourself in situations like that.

Second, I pay for my own boards. I can't imagine how much the total damage to the boards must have been at the BOP. A fair bit of that was probably avoidable since colliding with each other is a great way to get dings. I can't afford to be spending ?50-100+ on ding repair every time I race. And then there's the depreciation to the board's value.

You may have your own reasons for not taking part, but those are mine.

DJ, I suspect you've taken a position than is actually rather more extreme than you would normally do, and now can't find a way back, because usually your opinions are pretty grown-up. Or maybe you just don't want to risk any criticism of Kai since your blood runs yellow.

Are the women behaving like this in the BOP? They are professionals too. If they can race without intentionally risking the hospitalisation of their colleagues, then why can't the men?

And on that note, incidentally, I've seen lots of footage of the men's races but only one vid of the women. The most exciting thing for me at the BOP was the Candice/Annabel battle, so I'd love to see footage of it.