Hi All, as a recreational paddler, I am looking forward to doing some of the many downwind races scheduled on Sydney's northern beaches this summer. This weekend the 'Ocean Series' (run by SLSC) begins with a loop from Dee Why to the Bower and back, strong northerly's are forecast which will make for a gruelling run back to Dee Why.
Can anyone share any experiences with this series?
Is it great or not so great?
How's the vibe between the SUP's and ski's?
And how the heck will I get back to Dee Why from Manly in a 20 knot Northerly?
I'll be on a Lopez 14' Kaiwi Kai & am just assessing if this race is right for me with the potential heavy upwind leg.
JP

I've come down from Queensland for half of the races in the series for the previous 2 years.

Having competed in a large number of events across Australia over the past 4-5years, in my experience, the Ocean Series events have been some of the best run & organised events I've done. Every event can have it's hiccups (though I can't think of anything major for any of the Ocean Series races I've done) but overall I think the years of experience these guys have with organising races, as well as many of them having a racing background for a lot longer than SUP's have been around, really shows (not to say that we don't have some fantastic stand alone sup races up and running now too).

As for inclusion and integration of SUP's into a primarily ocean ski event, I think a huge part of the success of this can be attributed to Dave Kissane for his efforts to always ensure we can make the most of the conditions on the day, by adapting the SUP course to suit, and working with the race organisers to allow for the different courses for SUP's and ski's to work well together. Even when there's been a different completely different start location for the sup's, there's always been sufficient time to allow us to get to the registration at the ski start, then make our way to the race start, and they've timed it well so we finish around the same time as the ski's and be included in the presentations. And on top of that, he's also offered generous sponsorship to the series from his company, Lifestyle Financial (which has nothing to do with Sup), to really encourage people to participate throughout the whole series.

Alongside Dave, WindSurfnSnow (particularly Sam) have also done a lot for getting the sup series up and running, by offering great prizes at every event, and always being helpful with organising boards and transporting boards (particularly helpful when travelling from interstate.

If you're concerned about the conditions forecast with respect to a particular course, you can pretty much be guaranteed that these guys will do their best to work with conditions on the day. Sometimes there will be tough conditions regardless, but they will usually consider the options available, even if it means a last minute change of course, to make the most of whats on offer.

Don't think i'll be able to make it down for as many of the races as I have for the last couple of years, but at this stage hoping to be up to racing the 20 Beaches at the end.

NNSUP said..
Wouldn't surprise me if a DW is organised for the SUPs. Just thinking aloud DK.

Hint hint

Hi John,
This series has been great over the last few years. The SLSA has run awesome races but it is primarily a ski series with courses not always appropriate for SUPs. The skis and SUPs have worked well together and sometimes our courses have been modified. They have been very accommodating in the past , however, this year there is a series focused on SUP and downwinding. This series is being organised by SUP paddlers. It will be difficult to do all of the races that are on across both series and this new series will be the focus for most SUP paddlers this year from what I am hearing.

This is a copy of an earlier post. Hope this helps.

"SYDNEY SUP DOWNWIND SERIES"

Hi Guys Pacifica Ocean Paddlers Club and Narrabeen Lakes Health and Fitness Charity are going to run a series of Downwind Stand Up Races races from North Avalon to Fishermans. There will be a short course downwind race included from Mona Vale basin to Fishermans . The series will be a little fast and loose Races Dates will be weekends so as to take advantage of the best conditions If there is no wind on that weekend the races will be run at either Fishermans or Mona Vale Basin and will be sprint races Put the following dates into your summer race diaries

Race Dates
22nd September Reef to Reef ( points included for overall point score )
26/27th October
16/17th November
21/22nd December
11/12 January
15/16th Feb
1/2nd March
Also make note of 15/16th March Battle to Paddle MS event Collaroy NOT TO BE MISSED The main aim of the downwind series is to raise money to run free after school programs for kids so come along and support a great cause.

for any sponsorship enquires please call Sam 0415769218

I think most people will do both which doesn't leave many spare weekends. Great year for downwinding!!

Thanks again for the advice guys, I'll give this weekend a go, it's a bit outside my comfort zone (mainly the prospect of an upwind leg) but it's a good opportunity, I reckon, to get a bit uncomfortable with all the safety gear required and crew in the water. Fingers crossed for good winds during the Reef 2 Reef, looking forward to that one.
JP

Hi guys. Just letting you know that I will not be involved in helping to run the Ocean Series this year. I was really just helping them to get it established for the first couple of years - now it is up to them.
On Ali's point, I constantly stressed to each race organiser that they need to really think through the courses they set for SUPs. Head winds are horrible - side winds are even worse. If they get it really wrong one year, they will probably have no-one return for the next.
Unfortunately, I think it is unlikely they will make it downwind for this weekend.
Regarding the downwind series run by Sam Williams, this is something everyone has talked about doing for years. Pure downwind, directional flexibility and, most importantly, a 2-day window for each event. Good on you Sam for doing this.

kissa said..

Hi guys. Just letting you know that I will not be involved in helping to run the Ocean Series this year. I was really just helping them to get it established for the first couple of years - now it is up to them.
On Ali's point, I constantly stressed to each race organiser that they need to really think through the courses they set for SUPs. Head winds are horrible - side winds are even worse. If they get it really wrong one year, they will probably have no-one return for the next.
Unfortunately, I think it is unlikely they will make it downwind for this weekend.
Regarding the downwind series run by Sam Williams, this is something everyone has talked about doing for years. Pure downwind, directional flexibility and, most importantly, a 2-day window for each event. Good on you Sam for doing this.

For sure well done Sam for putting this one together. The DW community have been waiting along time for a series that includes all the things mentioned by Kissa above. Looking like promising summer..

Anybody else have issues getting orange flares?

Cool, ev said that but for the life of me I haven't been able to find the announcement anywhere!! I was starting to get a tad nervous that I would miss the race!! All good now though!! :)