I may sound like a rookie but WTF??

which association do i join??

i dont comp shortboard surf, just SUP.

I have had a bad run with SURIFNG SA and SURFING AUS in the past but i'm open to ideas

Whats peoples thoughts??

If you want to join something, join your local club.

S.U.P.A. Just do sup!! surfing aus. spread themselves too thin ie. too many fingers in too many pies.

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PTWoody said...

If you want to join something, join your local club.

Thus why iam asking.
My local club is SUPA.
Ive always been SURFING AUS.

I agree tho. they do seem to spread to thin.

cheers

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CheeseStick said...

PTWoody said...

If you want to join something, join your local club.

Thus why iam asking.
My local club is SUPA.
Ive always been SURFING AUS.

I agree tho. they do seem to spread to thin.

cheers

Come again?

SUPA is an organizing body or a peak body or an association. Or something. Nobody seems to quite know exactly what they are. But they are definitely not a club. As an individual, I don't know what the merits would be of joining an association, whether that is Surfing Australia or SUPA. If you join a club affiliated with one of these associations, then you are automatically a member of the association.

Tell me what state you are in and what city or beach you are closest to and I will try to work out your nearest actual SUP club.

Ive had a member contact me from my local club.
Thanks.

The thing that is becoming more obvious is that there are 2 sets of comps, run by 2 different organizations/groups.

After qualifying for my previous state team and having little support form SURFING AUS im wondering if SUPA has been started to do a "better job"??

Just asking the question if one will eventually take over from the other?? and therefore is better to join the superior now??

Its looking like SUPA is going to be the better option.

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CheeseStick said...

Ive had a member contact me from my local club.
Thanks.

The thing that is becoming more obvious is that there are 2 sets of comps, run by 2 different organizations/groups.

After qualifying for my previous state team and having little support form SURFING AUS im wondering if SUPA has been started to do a "better job"??

Just asking the question if one will eventually take over from the other?? and therefore is better to join the superior now??

Its looking like SUPA is going to be the better option.

What sort of support are you expecting mate? Free airfares, accommodation?

SUPA have a website and some dates, that's all we have seen so far, so early days yet. As PT said, join a club, best way to get into comps.

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CheeseStick said...

Its looking like SUPA is going to be the better option.

What makes you say that?

Have a look at the other thread that was created around this topic. There are a lot of for and against in there.

www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Stand-Up-Paddle/SUP/SUPA-NSW-and-Australian-Titles/?SearchTerms=supa

Don't get confused with SUPSA (Stand Up Paddle Surfers Australia) which is the name of the local club on the Gold Coast.

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Casso said...

Don't get confused with SUPSA (Stand Up Paddle Surfers Australia) which is the name of the local club on the Gold Coast.

Just support you local club first

I didnt start this thread so that people could get fired up.
Im newish to sup comps, and have only competed in surfing aus run events, unlucky i guess, but the event was expensive to enter, was boring, and seemed to be a money making venture and showed no support for SUPs future as a sport. Thus leading to a no show at nats, from my state. Ive been in contact with my now local club, all is chummy and looking swell.
Thanks again.
Good luck competing this summer

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Piros said...

Casso said...

Don't get confused with SUPSA (Stand Up Paddle Surfers Australia) which is the name of the local club on the Gold Coast.

Just support you local club first

us guys and girls south of the boarder have started a new club!
LPSC will be a bit different from most clubs
in line with surfing australia
more to come

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CheeseStick said...

I didnt start this thread so that people could get fired up.
Im newish to sup comps, and have only competed in surfing aus run events, unlucky i guess, but the event was expensive to enter, was boring, and seemed to be a money making venture and showed no support for SUPs future as a sport. Thus leading to a no show at nats, from my state. Ive been in contact with my now local club, all is chummy and looking swell.
Thanks again.
Good luck competing this summer

It's odd that you make that accusation because it's a similar assumption made of SUPA in the other thread. The truth is, no-one makes money out of these events, they are expensive to run and often times organisers are left with a loss at the end of it all.

I hope the SUPA series actually happens (the NSW event looks genuine but the VIC events are a total mystery to everyone down here). Quality, competitive events are all everyone wants and it doesn't really serve the sport's best interests to play these organisations off against each other in a super-league type battle to the death. Because there's one thing you can bet on and that is Surfing Australia is not going to die any time soon.

So you can criticise the running of the nationals (yes we get it, the cost was prohibitive for some) but Surfing Australia remains the official peak body accredited by the Australian Sports Commission. So they're going to be around for a while I suspect. SUPA on the other hand still need to establish themselves, gain credibility and demonstrate a national presence and national relevance before many of us will be able to take seriously their contention that they are in fact the governing body for the sport.

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CheeseStick said...

I didnt start this thread so that people could get fired up.
Im newish to sup comps, and have only competed in surfing aus run events, unlucky i guess, but the event was expensive to enter, was boring, and seemed to be a money making venture and showed no support for SUPs future as a sport. Thus leading to a no show at nats, from my state. Ive been in contact with my now local club, all is chummy and looking swell.
Thanks again.
Good luck competing this summer

Hey CheeseStick,

Just becuase you had a bad experience with a couple of events does not mean that its the same in every state or at every event.

I can say that Surfing Victoria has been extremely supportive of all local clubs. They have gathered sponsors to run events, footed the bill for insurance to help out and supplied thier staffs time at no cost.

They continue to assist with negotiation with land managers to gain and continue permits and often assist with infrastructure for our events.

Is it pefect, no but they seem to have a genuine inteterest even if it is commercial in the growth of the sport in this state.

Max and his staff are open and transparent and happy to listen to and discuss just about any points tabled so far.

I can only say it has been a positive experience to this point.

Maybe you should sit down and discuss your concerns and see what you can change in your state, what ever state that is ???

Who is SUPA, what are their interests commercial or otherwise, who represents them, what are their goals?

A little transparency goes a long way and builds trust.

Phill

Why belong to a club? This seems to be a very Australian thing. Coming from a windsurfing background in the early 80's in Canada and then to a move into surfing in Japan in the 90's, belonging to a "club" has always been frowned upon. After all, aren't we all out there to enjoy nature's gifts and absorb the energy the ocean's waves and wind provide? Personally, I don't want to sit with people to discuss how to go about it. Just get out and ride, people. Peace out.

at the end of the day ,good representation for our sport is what we are after, not a side show when waves are crap throw in the sups or the girls ,or change the already decided rules, like expand state of origin - eg. now we are increasing the numbers already, we did the trials with numbers decided ,those turned up that were interested , now you swap it with your clubs best performer, someone who wasnt interested at the start . Also we want judging from sup surfers , how would you know how hard the turn is if you dont sup . -bop will become big ,so will ocean racing, surfing will be thrown in amongst it. we need our own association, or serious commitment from those already there to move the sport into the future and make it a healthy growth.

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green menace said...

at the end of the day ,good representation for our sport is what we are after, not a side show when waves are crap throw in the sups or the girls ,or change the already decided rules, like expand state of origin - eg. now we are increasing the numbers already, we did the trials with numbers decided ,those turned up that were interested , now you swap it with your clubs best performer, someone who wasnt interested at the start . Also we want judging from sup surfers , how would you know how hard the turn is if you dont sup . -bop will become big ,so will ocean racing, surfing will be thrown in amongst it. we need our own association, or serious commitment from those already there to move the sport into the future and make it a healthy growth.

Nothing wrong with all your saying but the key is "good representation". At the moment in Victoria, we have a professional career sports administrator at Surfing Victoria with a hotline connection into the Premier's office as well as pretty much every politician in the state, who is also highly committed to advancing the sport of Stand Up Paddle and who is coming up with ideas for the sport that are bigger and bolder than any of us who actually participate. So yes, we have exceptionally good representation.

On the other hand, the SUPA organisation appears to be run from Sydney by people who, with respect for all they're trying to do, are not necessarily very experienced in the area of sports administration, have zero links into the club scene in Victoria, and do not appear to have a strong working knowledge of the surf geography of Victoria, much less the political landscape. But again, I admire their passion and their intentions.

Good representation requires clout and contacts and experience as well as the best intentions. I'd suggest that if you feel you don't have the commitment to SUP inside Surfing Australia or your state affiliates in QLD or NSW or SA (no complaints from WA?) then the best thing would be to integrate the SUPA people and their structures into the existing surfing admin establishment. Demand better representation from your state body. Demand that SUPA work with the state bodies, not against them. Because these existing organisations do have a lot to offer in terms of their connections and strength. A new entity with no experience or contacts representing such a small and insignificant sport as SUP will spend a lot of time pissing into the wind. That's my 2 cents.

this has gone totally the wrong direction.

I understand the situation better now.

Just seems funny that there are 2 totally separate associations/organizations. running against each other.

No other sport im involved in has this problem.

I guess ill have to join both to make use of all the events.

cheers

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green menace said...
[Also we want judging from sup surfers , how would you know how hard the turn is if you dont sup .

That would be OK if they were accredited judges with no industry links - unlikely at this stage of the game. One of the plusses of Surfing Australia running it, is the impartial and quite professional judging IMO.

goatman says That would be OK if they were accredited judges with no industry links - unlikely at this stage of the game. One of the plusses of Surfing Australia running it, is the impartial and quite professional judging IMO. Cant say i have seen that judging in qld , especially if your from sunshine coast and competing at the gold coast . Jobs for the boys ,as long as they do as head judge says , otherwise no more work , -- lets face it up until now SA has had an open run , making buckets of coin. Why do you have to pay to compete at aussies ,you paid to go in state titles , you qualified out of your state , (all those state memberships and all the camps kids get chosen for that you also pay for at cassuarina )- surely that would be the least they could do is not have another entry fee for making it thusfar.

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green menace said...
Cant say i have seen that judging in qld , especially if your from sunshine coast and competing at the gold coast . Jobs for the boys ,as long as they do as head judge says , otherwise no more work , -- lets face it up until now SA has had an open run , making buckets of coin. Why do you have to pay to compete at aussies ,you paid to go in state titles , you qualified out of your state , (all those state memberships and all the camps kids get chosen for that you also pay for at cassuarina )- surely that would be the least they could do is not have another entry fee for making it thusfar.

I have been in 2 QLD SUP comps run by Surfing QLD and I thought the judging overall was excellent - and this is coming from a NSW person!!

We had our own judges in the goat boat comps and there was lots of industry bias and crew who had no clue - that's my experience anyway.

Join a club or free surf and enter whatever you like. Then wait to see who shows the most commitment to the sport development and the SUP community.

Enough talk about it lets see some action and responses from both associations on what they will offer the SUP community, considering they are both nothing without the support of the SUP community.

steady as she goes, there's no need to rush into anything imo.

geez, supping has only barely touched the bottom rung of mainstream in three years.

its taken decades to get mainstream short boarding to where it is now.

local club growth is the key if comp surfing is your bag
cheers

Competition is the key to good service, Surfing Australia would not have gotten into SUP's if SUPA had not done it first. The most important thing is to get involved yourself, many hands make light work and great comp's.

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WA Surf said...

Competition is the key to good service, Surfing Australia would not have gotten into SUP's if SUPA had not done it first. The most important thing is to get involved yourself, many hands make light work and great comp's.

???Please explain??? I thought SUPA was a newly established organisation
Surfing Australia has been running a SUP national title for 3 years and Surfing Qld (branch of Surfing Australia) running events in Qld for at least 4 years.

We all got our SUP Instructors accreditation from SUPA about 3 years ago at the time Surfing WA had no such thing. They must have started up with that sort of thing before getting into comps.

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WA Surf said...

We all got our SUP Instructors accreditation from SUPA about 3 years ago at the time Surfing WA had no such thing. They must have started up with that sort of thing before getting into comps.

Really? SUPA existed in 2008? This just gets weirder and weirder. Their own website claims they set up shop in 2010. I don't know who to believe anymore.

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WA Surf said...

We all got our SUP Instructors accreditation from SUPA about 3 years ago at the time Surfing WA had no such thing. They must have started up with that sort of thing before getting into comps.

Are you sure you didnt get your accreditation from ASI?

SUPA and ASI are affiliated here in Aust but ASI has been going for a while longer.