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NNSUP said..
I agree with Rob. Bring in the over 55's. Having said that the over 50's in NSW is super strong. We've beaten the 2nd and 3rd over 40s the last two years in the State Title marathon. We need more than 3 over 50 places at Nationals.

As for the argument that competing once you're over 40 is meaningless. That's complete BS. What's wrong with competition? If you don't want to compete there's always a break you can find down the beach by yourself.

Competition for me has kept me fit and I've got so many great mates from all around Oz all because of competition.

Absolutely agree, I would have to say however meaningless comps are. They improve your ability and you meet some great people, I only wish there were more comps I could get to.

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NNSUP said..
....
As for the argument that competing once you're over 40 is meaningless. That's complete BS. What's wrong with competition? If you don't want to compete there's always a break you can find down the beach by yourself.

...

Competition may or may not be meaningless, but assigning people to arbitrary categories so you can say you beat someone most certainly is meaningless.

You can have age-based categories if you want, purely because you want people to come along and participate. That's fine.

Splitting the categories into ever finer gradations starts to become absurd. Exactly which year did you notice your performance switch from old guy to slightly older guy?

Should there be a separate class of the 60 year olds who train every day to compete with the 40 year olds who drink lots and eat Maccas?

The simplest is to have an Elite class and a Fun class. The purpose is to remove the excess slow paddlers from the Elite class so they can get a clear go of it. Put everybody else into the Fun class where the aim is participation and inclusion.

Add in other classes if you need to break down the size of the Fun class for logistical reasons. It doesn't matter what criteria you use as long as the numbers in the class balance out.

What about the ladies 50+ etc.?
noted i think the Vic's have a 40+ only for the ladies - wish i had been supping when i was 40, but that was a while ago

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Gorgo said..

NNSUP said..
....
As for the argument that competing once you're over 40 is meaningless. That's complete BS. What's wrong with competition? If you don't want to compete there's always a break you can find down the beach by yourself.

...

Competition may or may not be meaningless, but assigning people to arbitrary categories so you can say you beat someone most certainly is meaningless.

You can have age-based categories if you want, purely because you want people to come along and participate. That's fine.

Splitting the categories into ever finer gradations starts to become absurd. Exactly which year did you notice your performance switch from old guy to slightly older guy?

Should there be a separate class of the 60 year olds who train every day to compete with the 40 year olds who drink lots and eat Maccas?

The simplest is to have an Elite class and a Fun class. The purpose is to remove the excess slow paddlers from the Elite class so they can get a clear go of it. Put everybody else into the Fun class where the aim is participation and inclusion.

Add in other classes if you need to break down the size of the Fun class for logistical reasons. It doesn't matter what criteria you use as long as the numbers in the class balance out.

Couldn't agree more. Age based categories promote participation but splitting them down too much is certainly a waste of time and counter productive. Having an elite class and a fun class doesn't work either. I've tried it with events I've run and numbers dwindle. At the moment the Opens, 40s and 50s is a good spread. If we start getting a reasonable number of 60 year olds turn up I'll create a category for them also. (Flat water, downwind and State Titles included) As far as the fun class goes we're busy adding a 10 foot plus class to our races to get people into the sport.

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SupChickadee said..
What about the ladies 50+ etc.?
noted i think the Vic's have a 40+ only for the ladies - wish i had been supping when i was 40, but that was a while ago

Here's a tip - if you want to win a medal in Victoria and you are a woman, you've got a better chance in Open Women or Over 40 Women than you would in Over 50 Women as no-one beats Jean but especially not other 50+ year olds.

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Gorgo said..

Competition may or may not be meaningless, but assigning people to arbitrary categories so you can say you beat someone most certainly is meaningless.

I guess it comes down to the choice of arbitrary categories and how they best suit the participants within the sport. Considering other sports, it seems the category divisions are usually based on one of these considerations:

1. Age
2. Weight
3. Ability
4. Experience
5. Handicap

The SUP community has decided age is the best way to arbitrarily divide up participants. I don't know if it is fair to say that an age category is meaningless but it does need to be put into perspective - whether it's Over 40s, Over 50s, Over 60s or any other permutation, aging is subjective and the rate of decay that one person experiences by, say, age 55 will be entirely different to the next person. So the winner of the proposed Over 60s may not be the fittest, fastest, strongest or the most talented, but instead will be the one whose hips, knees, back and shoulders held out for the entire event.

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NNSUP said..

Gorgo said..

If we start getting a reasonable number of 60 year olds turn up I'll create a category for them also. (Flat water, downwind and State Titles included)

As mentioned the recent 12 Towers Event on the Gold Coast had something like 26 over 55 year olds competing. In a few years time there will be an even greater participation in the over 60's category. Whilst it was also mentioned that the category should have at least 10 or more entrants before the category, I believe the 60's category should be included if there are 5 or more paddlers.
Also with regard to the women's aged categories because of lower participant rates it may be 3 entrants to make a category.
The popularity of older folk competing in greater numbers is more apparent in NSW and QLD than the Southern States hence lower entrant rates participating for the category needs to be realized.
I glad the discussion has moved on from the expression of negatitivety about the 60's category to what is a more fruitful conversation about the category inclusion.
There are many older folk still wanting to participate and are still not only skillful enough to do so but enthusiastic as well.
It really is important for everyone to understand this and get behind the 0/60's inclusion for all events, thanks...
Regards MJ

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PTWoody said..

SupChickadee said..
What about the ladies 50+ etc.?
noted i think the Vic's have a 40+ only for the ladies - wish i had been supping when i was 40, but that was a while ago

Here's a tip - if you want to win a medal in Victoria and you are a woman, you've got a better chance in Open Women or Over 40 Women than you would in Over 50 Women as no-one beats Jean but especially not other 50+ year olds.

Hmm sounds like a challenge (Sup Surfing)

Great discussion . Many other sports have similar challenges with their own systems to keep the older competitors interested . ie cycling ,triathlon. For racing events graded and handicap systems could be used . A handicap race would be a great way of involving all the competitors in a single race . Time trials also a great way . Maybe in a surf comp if there are a certain number entered say 6 a new age group forms . Take care all.