I'm not sure how up to date the entry list is?

Not one competitive windsurfer in Victoria?

Excellent location in Cairns i.e Family friendly but also with a huge party scene,
Perfect sailing conditions...check out the wind graphs,
Well run event...just turn up and sail.
Fantastic time of the year...Middle of winter here, peak season up there,
Cheap: Qantas $169 each way.

Would be great to have Victoria represented. We need someone to knock QLD off the competitive windsurfing hierarchy.

Well, there is one...But word is he can't be taking another "break" ;) this year...Maybe the rest are too busy seeing "red" to see "green"

Would love to but no leave and no $$$ left after 3 weeks in Europe over Xmas/NYE and have just got back from another 3 weeks away in tahiti on honeymoon. Maybe next year for me.

$2.5k is just a bit too steep for me to justify for a solo holiday

Anyone that's keen to go should get in touch with the organisers. There is really good share accommodation available(Townhouse not backpackers) at excellent rates. Expect to pay 1200-1500 for flights, accom, entry etc.
It would be great to see some Victorians taking up the National challenge.

Sometimes i wonder how spoiled some sailors are..

What is wrong with some sponsored sailors!!!
They save thousands,, yes thousands on there gear every year. Part of a sponsorship ,is to travel to national events?? Not just do a gps challenge locally and get good results. ( all disciplines included).

From what i understand the savings off gear helps sailors fund turning up to national events, promoting the sport and backing the Brands/products that gave them a good deal.
Dont be sponsored if you dont want to do this.!!
Perhaps Dealers/sponsors should look at sea breeze more regularly.
Too many guys getting good deals i think,.
Just an opinion

I guess we are being baited by the interstaters because of the lack of entries in the Nationals - sad
I expected to see healthy discussions from all the other states however nothing of substance on SA, WA or Vic. It would be interesting to see what states the entries are coming from and what the overall numbers are.
I do not have an extended history of windsurfing in Victoria so my comments are limited to a history of 10 years, a few antidotes from "older" sailors and a few assumptions.

Why don't we have an interest in Slalom racing? I have not seen any organised slalom racing(apart from the social stuff - Stern chaser, B2B, a few attempts in the last 3 years by WV) As a previous club organiser I can understand if there is not the interest then why flog a dead horse.

There seemed to be an interest in racing during the 1990's
I know there was a reluctance from previous WV committees to run Racing due to the insurance angle?
Did this kill it off?
Have we got the locations suitable for Slalom racing in Vic?
Did GPS TC provide a better alternative?
Did GPS TC provide an easier alternative?
Are windsurfers in Victoria a bunch of non competitive sailors that only enjoy social sailing?

I look at Yachting Vic and 80% of their work is racing and 20% is social sailing

Do we want to rekindle competitive, on water tooth and nail fighting, fast action, slam bam action or are we happy doing what we are doing?

Be interested to hear from a few of the heavy weights in the game that have been around for awhile like Kato, Foxy, Daff, Red, Mike Meyers, Wooz etc(forgive me if I have missed a few) as well as the rest of us hack sailors

I have been watching this thread with interest... I'm glad you raised those questions Doug. I'm a hack myself but wanted to respond. My opinion is probably of little interest to most, and I'll probably get a lot of flack over it shortly but here goes. My interest in windsurfing is (or was) mostly fueled by the thought of slalom style racing. There was a lot of "hype" regarding a regular "free race" event 3 or 4 years back. Nothing ever happened. Out of the 4 years since the only event I have officially raced in each year is the breakwater to beacon. This year I decided to sell all of my "slalom" gear due to the lack of events and go with just fsw gear and just windsurf and have fun. Personally I think there are a few reasons for the lack of interest in this state. 1) Victoria is limited with regards to decent racing locations - it's either too shallow (reduced safe sailing area eg. Inverloch area), too weedy or too rough. There's more to it than that but those are the basics as I see it. 2) Windsurfing is obviously very weather/condition dependent and I think events need to somehow work around this by being flexible - ie dates and locations. Personally I don't think you can run a successful event by sticking to a set date and location. Ok, it can work as is evident by the last three B2B races I have attended but in general it doesn't as is obvious by just about every other event that I recall. Slogging is not racing in my book. 3) I think the most important one - an interest or lack of from organisations, establishments and windsurfers in general. Most likely due to the above reasons and more.

I have been following the Queensland freeracing on Facebook or http://www.freeracequeensland.com/ and they seem to be able to hold regular races. Not sure how they do it or why it seems to be successful up there but it looks like fun. Maybe Slalom events in Victoria need to be held in a less "official" manner to bypass all the issues with insurance etc.

I think it is a classic of different horses for different courses.
Slalom events are very "conditions" sensitive, which makes planing and organising pretty difficult.
But GPS speed etc is clearly very popular. Maybe Victoria has unofficial get togethers that are nothing more than posting on FB, SB etc...
But plan to come to an Organised event in perfect conditions in the middle of winter for something a bit more competitive (it is still a ton of fun)....

Essentially that is what is happening in NSW...Lots of Wave and Course racing events, but Slalom just never seems to be quite right. GPS is thriving. So turing up to GI Nat's is the time to do some quality racing and 1 hour GPS in a more competitive environment.

i guess i'm just surprised that a fantastic windsurfing state like Victoria has basically no present at National events. Especially when Victoria has a very competitive reputation in almost every sport played in Aussie....

In the back of my mind, I have this vision of the GI Nat's becoming a truly National event, where the best of each state get together in perfect conditions to do battle for bragging rights....QLD certainly have a head start on the rest of us!!!!!

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geared4knots said..

Sometimes i wonder how spoiled some sailors are..

What is wrong with some sponsored sailors!!!
They save thousands,, yes thousands on there gear every year. Part of a sponsorship ,is to travel to national events?? Not just do a gps challenge locally and get good results. ( all disciplines included).

From what i understand the savings off gear helps sailors fund turning up to national events, promoting the sport and backing the Brands/products that gave them a good deal.
Dont be sponsored if you dont want to do this.!!
Perhaps Dealers/sponsors should look at sea breeze more regularly.
Too many guys getting good deals i think,.
Just an opinion

Fair enough but how many sponsored slalom sailors are there in Vic. I cant think of many.

The National series is not just about Slalom. There is also free Race and Freestyle. I've seen some really high level freestylers in Victoriathat should be competing. Anyone that is highly competitive in GPS has the potential to enter Free Race, Slalom or both. Interesting post elsewhere, quoted below.

Interesting point with regard to the gps guys not being more forward in wanting to compete on a level playing field. Same place same conditions. With the sites this is all part of the fun but for me it certainly provokes thought about true ability. Not only, if your able to make your windsurfer perform to these nationally recognized "good numbers" why not race slalom, the ability is obviously there, or at least unbiased free race. I think some blokes put themselves on a pedestal because of there ranking on the gps sites and aren't prepared to put there money where there mouth is with equal advantage.. conditions and place.. Food for thought anyway, in my opinion there are some soft cocks who are sponsored as a slalom gps sailers based on their online presence but in the ring cant stack up against a guy who isn't getting the support but is a better sailor. Forced comparisons would be interesting. Obviously general comments not directed at anyone.

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geared4knots said...
Sometimes i wonder how spoiled some sailors are..

What is wrong with some sponsored sailors!!!
They save thousands,, yes thousands on there gear every year. Part of a sponsorship ,is to travel to national events?? Not just do a gps challenge locally and get good results. ( all disciplines included).

From what i understand the savings off gear helps sailors fund turning up to national events, promoting the sport and backing the Brands/products that gave them a good deal.
Dont be sponsored if you dont want to do this.!!
Perhaps Dealers/sponsors should look at sea breeze more regularly.
Too many guys getting good deals i think,.
Just an opinion

Did Burrum Windfest instead and the whole family had fun too..Yes it would be great to do both but sometimes you have to make a choice. Did 4 and a bit weeks of holidays for the same money to do GI for 1 week.

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buzzy said..

The National series is not just about Slalom. There is also free Race and Freestyle. I've seen some really high level freestylers in Victoriathat should be competing. Anyone that is highly competitive in GPS has the potential to enter Free Race, Slalom or both. Interesting post elsewhere, quoted below.

Interesting point with regard to the gps guys not being more forward in wanting to compete on a level playing field. Same place same conditions. With the sites this is all part of the fun but for me it certainly provokes thought about true ability. Not only, if your able to make your windsurfer perform to these nationally recognized "good numbers" why not race slalom, the ability is obviously there, or at least unbiased free race. I think some blokes put themselves on a pedestal because of there ranking on the gps sites and aren't prepared to put there money where there mouth is with equal advantage.. conditions and place.. Food for thought anyway, in my opinion there are some soft cocks who are sponsored as a slalom gps sailers based on their online presence but in the ring cant stack up against a guy who isn't getting the support but is a better sailor. Forced comparisons would be interesting. Obviously general comments not directed at anyone.

I think NOT having a dedicated Freestyle and Slalom section on these forums pretty much sums up those disciplines in Australia. Lack of interest, not so much from those wanting to do it but from elsewhere.

Interesting the passion coming from interstate.

I guess Brett if you have a vision of every state competiting in a National Slalom competition that is the AWA vision as well.

This is where my lack of history in the game will show however I will wade in.

To have a National Slalom competition and to get more people interested in attending, how is this achieved?

Getting the State Associations behind the idea and drive it
Be more inclusive and tour the competition - this has probably been trialled before? This gives the locals like ejmack and Jman and heaven forbid- old salty a chance to try out their passion. Making it difficult for people to attend makes it hard to grow the discipline. I feel for ejmack who had a passion to race but the national and state association he was part of did not meet his needs. I am guessing there are a number of others out there in similar situations.
I know some States would not have the ideal conditions like Green Island but heck we take up the many disciplines in this sport and do not go out in perfect conditions every day. Is it about sailing in perfect conditions or growing the sport!
Does the AWA have funding to sponsor a rider to attend the Slalom Nationals from every State? - they then become ambassadors

Then we look at development for the future - no good just doing this for now
Develop a Young Guns team in every state with youth training like the UK do with their T15's to feed the growth of the sport.

Sorry I will get off the lecturn now

Be great to see AWA's strategic plan on this Brett

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Jman said...

geared4knots said..

Sometimes i wonder how spoiled some sailors are..

What is wrong with some sponsored sailors!!!
They save thousands,, yes thousands on there gear every year. Part of a sponsorship ,is to travel to national events?? Not just do a gps challenge locally and get good results. ( all disciplines included).

From what i understand the savings off gear helps sailors fund turning up to national events, promoting the sport and backing the Brands/products that gave them a good deal.
Dont be sponsored if you dont want to do this.!!
Perhaps Dealers/sponsors should look at sea breeze more regularly.
Too many guys getting good deals i think,.
Just an opinion

Fair enough but how many sponsored slalom sailors are there in Vic. I cant think of many.

If someone wants to sponsor me I'll go!!!

I thought you were sponsored by Errin

No one is 'sponsored' in Victoria. A very few guys get a modest discount on some gear but it is essentially a 'self sponsored' sport. And the gear they buy is generally orientated towards high wind speed sailing for GPSTC, or wave sailing, 'cause when the wind does blow down here, it is often quite brisk! (Temperature and Strength)

There is no slalom racing in Victoria so there is no new, young sailors with drive, enthusiasm and experience. They don't have the gear, and they don't get to use it if they do. Its kind of a viscous cycle thing.

Also, Queensland has no wind!

Puddling around on 8m sails and 130 litre boards is not slalom racing, at least not in any Victorians experience! Even the most experienced Victorian sailors, the few that they are, would be in a foreign environment and it would be like being beginners again. Why would that be fun? Who wants to subject themselves to that? And some of the few that might have some experience are too old and decrepit, not to mention broke! (Speaking of myself of course.) Personally, if I had that money and time to spend, I would probably go the Luderitz again, or use it to fund a trip to Lake George.

I wish the event all success though, and I will certainly follow it with interest.

Wanted: Tabou Manta 59 2010 or later

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nazsail said..

Wanted: Tabou Manta 59 2010 or later

What happened to yours Pete?

Got the 69 110lt, like smaller version for my budget, windy slalom days :)

+

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sailquik said..

No one is 'sponsored' in Victoria. A very few guys get a modest discount on some gear but it is essentially a 'self sponsored' sport. And the gear they buy is generally orientated towards high wind speed sailing for GPSTC, or wave sailing, 'cause when the wind does blow down here, it is often quite brisk! (Temperature and Strength)

There is no slalom racing in Victoria so there is no new, young sailors with drive, enthusiasm and experience. They don't have the gear, and they don't get to use it if they do. Its kind of a viscous cycle thing.

Also, Queensland has no wind!

Puddling around on 8m sails and 130 litre boards is not slalom racing, at least not in any Victorians experience! Even the most experienced Victorian sailors, the few that they are, would be in a foreign environment and it would be like being beginners again. Why would that be fun? Who wants to subject themselves to that? And some of the few that might have some experience are too old and decrepit, not to mention broke! (Speaking of myself of course.) Personally, if I had that money and time to spend, I would probably go the Luderitz again, or use it to fund a trip to Lake George.

I wish the event all success though, and I will certainly follow it with interest.

+1 Daffy.

I'd love to go, but I spent a lot of dosh getting to Lancelin, which was run in 8knots and won by sponsored sailors using spinnakers mounted on skiffs, ended up with a badly dinged board from the airport chuckers and would probably prefer to go somewhere less isolated next time - in a car perhaps!

Wishing you all the best. Perhaps next year we can have it somewhere else and share the fun, otherwise we may as well call it the Green Island Champs, not the Nats.

Happy sailing!

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Perhaps next year we can have it somewhere else and share the fun, otherwise we may as well call it the Green Island Champs, not the Nats.
Happy sailing!

What a silly comment! GI is the most reliable place to hold an event that is worthy of National Title status, even WA in summer can be hit and miss, as you have pointed out!

I guess I must be the one person in this sport that never gets to sail perfect conditions everytime I go out

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sailquik said..



I guess I must be the one person in this sport that never gets to sail perfect conditions everytime I go out

You should go to GI then Salty! Have a look through the records. Definitely not a place to take a 130 and 8.0.
www.bom.gov.au/products/IDQ60701/IDQ60701.94284.shtml

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buzzy said..

Perhaps next year we can have it somewhere else and share the fun, otherwise we may as well call it the Green Island Champs, not the Nats.
Happy sailing!

Sorry if you took my comment as a negative. I was talking about location and sharing the love around, not about picking the windiest spot. If we did that, we could have it at Cape Grim, Tas.

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Bonominator said..

buzzy said..

Perhaps next year we can have it somewhere else and share the fun, otherwise we may as well call it the Green Island Champs, not the Nats.
Happy sailing!

Sorry if you took my comment as a negative. I was talking about location and sharing the love around, not about picking the windiest spot. If we did that, we could have it at Cape Grim, Tas.

I didn't really take it as negative, I can see your point about sharing the love. I just think that to have a successful event that people return to each year, it needs to be held at a location that has the potential to be the most reliable, definitely never mentioned windiest. Green Island ticks all the boxes with regular 15-25 knot winds. Relying on sea breezes and frontal conditions is very hit and miss. I'll take Green Island over Cape Grim any day(of winter) I really think that having a National Title held at the same reliable location each year, that is family friendly and easily accessible is definitely the way to go.

Over the last 15 years the national slalom a have been hosted at various locations such as Sandy point Vic , Elwood. Vic , south west rocks nsw, Botany Bay , wa and more recently green island.
I have sailed them all apart from wa.

Elwood was a great event think we had 3 days of south west winds 20kts plus each day it was in early January 99. We would have had 30 - 35 competitors, most from nsw but at least 6 or so from Vic..

Green island last year was a great experience with racing in a variety of conditions, I used 3 sails 6.7, 7.6 and 8.6 which to me indicates a variety of conditions., not to mention one of the best locations I have ever sailed , reason I'm heading back.

Talk about sponsored sailors and cost of attending is disappointing and I just think a lot of people are using it a as a cop out. Do some real numbers and compare to driving interstate and the additional time off and GI soon starts to be quite cost effective.

Lets see how this year goes.

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sailquik said..

Also, Queensland has no wind!

Despite this limitation, in the last spring, summer, autumn season, Queensland managed to organise successful slalom & freerace series, Windfest GPS event, state raceboard titles as well as regular regatta racing at RQYS and LCSC. The key to QLD's success in organising and running successful windsurfing participation events is
- dedicated organising committees
- flexibility on event dates to take advantage of wind forecasts
- every one is welcome attitude
- fantastic support from local retailers
- warm water and ambient temperatures

Go GI nationals, may the tradition continue

It is great to hear about the success Qld is having in running the event and the passion of some of our Taswegians.

However the real issue here is growing the sport of Slalom sailing for the future. Running successful events is a very important start however if you want better attendances from all of the States making it more accessable is the key.
I know a number of Vicco sailors who are as keen as mustard to give it ago and I know a number of Vicco sailors who would give it a try and maybe get hooked if it was on their back door. However to travel to GI to do it the number of sailors disappears.

Great to see the passion from WA, TAS, QLD and NSW but I wonder how many more would attend GI Nationals if the event toured their state every 6 years

Interesting comments about sponsorship....

You can get a full wave quiver new for about $10k... two boards, four sails, two masts, carbon boom...

A full slalom quiver is how much full price??.... $15k... so if you're sponsored, you can get a slalom quiver for roughly what a wave quiver would have cost you if you went in and put your credit card down and had no obligations.... and then somehow, the $5k that you didn't save is supposed to be used for flights to Queensland because if you win then your sponsor will be able to sell more dedicated slalom gear to all the people that want to sail dedicated slalom gear but aren't good enough to get a discount (next to no-one)

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John340 said..

sailquik said..

Also, Queensland has no wind!

Despite this limitation, in the last spring, summer, autumn season, Queensland managed to organise successful slalom & freerace series, Windfest GPS event, state raceboard titles as well as regular regatta racing at RQYS and LCSC. The key to QLD's success in organising and running successful windsurfing participation events is
- dedicated organising committees
- flexibility on event dates to take advantage of wind forecasts
- every one is welcome attitude
- fantastic support from local retailers
- warm water and ambient temperatures

Go GI nationals, may the tradition continue

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz lift zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. "Pant, pant".- "Hey guys, I think I caught a big one!!!!! "