We have a new event kicking off in QLD this winter. In Short we are re-introducing Wave Slalom racing to Australia and have put a new spin on it.

The event will be forecast based.

Last winter a couple of us had a free session at the location in question to test it out with everything going to plan and recently preliminary talks with Legislative bodies have ended in a positive outcome.

Now WindWanderers are in the process of formalising the required approvals.

more details can be found here
http://extremesailing.windwanderers.org.au/

So a bit like the old super cross (or am I just showing my age) ?

Would be a lot of fun!

yeah a few people have made that comparison so I guess it kind of is.

the difference here is that there is no rules forcing people to complete a manoeuvre. the manoeuvre part it is more a way of trying to level the playing field between gear types and skills.

the thing to remember really is it's a roll of the dice to pull a move because the fastest way around the course is to blast flatout. pulling a loop will slow you down a lot. I found myself the fastest way around the course was to actually stay on the water and avoid getting any air at all which is possible at this location if you weave your way between swells.

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Gestalt said..
yeah a few people have made that comparison so I guess it kind of is.

the difference here is that there is no rules forcing people to complete a manoeuvre. the manoeuvre part it is more a way of trying to level the playing field between gear types and skills.

the thing to remember really is it's a roll of the dice to pull a move because the fastest way around the course is to blast flatout. pulling a loop will slow you down a lot. I found myself the fastest way around the course was to actually stay on the water and avoid getting any air at all which is possible at this location if you weave your way between swells.

Needs good wind on the day but if it works it would be awesome.

I will certainly turn up and give it a go.

I'll give it a go but I'm scared Leo might wipe me out on one of his forwards

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JoLee said..
I'll give it a go but I'm scared Leo might wipe me out on one of his forwards

Might slow him down though !

Although unlikely.....

more the merrier!!! I'm really hoping this is an event that can bring everyone together. the wave guys, the freestyle guys and the slalom guys. no gps required.

i'll be taking my windsup so if the wind ends up light i'll catch some waves.

there are certainly a few guys that are pretty quick even when they are 6 foot in the air. I'm not one of them.

And hopefully a great spectacle for the crowd on the foreshore. It's one thing that current windsurfing events lack is exposure to the public. It's always great to have a bunch of windsurfers lined up with a gun going off and it's mayhem as everyone jostles for position from the start. Any exposure is good but this is taking it to a somewhat crowed public area so fingers crossed for you Justin this all works.
Cheers
Marty

Sounds good except for the bonus point system. I can't do any of these manouvers...

Its a bit like the speed and style event at X Games.

Hey Justin
Sounds rad, like remo i cant do any super flash moves, though if I caterpault can I claim a forward loop! What if I did 4? I recon a couple of us from GC will be keen to give it a go

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Gestalt said..
more the merrier!!! I'm really hoping this is an event that can bring everyone together. the wave guys, the freestyle guys and the slalom guys.

In that case, I'm thinking that by allowing to use the bonus point in every heat would help to even it up. That would give the wave rigs a chance at least. Not to mention enhancing the entertainment/fun factor.

As the intro says "Wave Slalom racing is fast, action packed and spectacular racing on windsurfers in the surf. competitors are rewarded for aerials and tricks as well as outright speed."

Other than that, I'm excited.

sometimes combining 2 great things into 1 does not make it better...or even good.

www.cracked.com/photoplasty_161_two-awesome-products-combined-to-make-terrible-one/

just saying.

I can't do any flash moves either. well I can gybe.

@da vecta,

I think the scoring system will need to have a review and some tweaks at some point. I tend to think you are probably right and it would be possible to provide a bonus point in every heat and make it more fun.

we will start of conservatively and see what happens.

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boardboy said..
sometimes combining 2 great things into 1 does not make it better...or even good.

www.cracked.com/photoplasty_161_two-awesome-products-combined-to-make-terrible-one/

just saying.

I think that No.19 is a good idea.

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Gestalt said..
I can't do any flash moves either. well I can gybe.

@da vecta,

I think the scoring system will need to have a review and some tweaks at some point. I tend to think you are probably right and it would be possible to provide a bonus point in every heat and make it more fun.

we will start of conservatively and see what happens.

Thanks for the reply. Sounds great.

wanted to bring everyone up to speed with this event.

I am currently sorting out the rescue craft for the event. as you can imagine an event being in the surf zone requires more than a tinny hired from the local hire shop and that presents it's own unique criteria to be satisfied.

it has been slow going but the door looks to have finally opened as I've started discussions with SLSQ who have provided 2-3 potential options. now it's just a matter of getting a plan signed off from slsq and then back to MSQ for final approval.

being the fist time for this event it will take time to get everything up and running. once up and running things become a lot faster.

will keep all informed.