Comments for Live Updates From the Durban World Cup at http://www.surfski.info , comment 0 to 20 out of 79 comments http://www.surfski.info Wed, 07 Jan 2009 19:50:35 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.2 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/450/147/#pc_1191 Awesome - awsome conditions - but lets be honest this race was marred by the complications at the harbour wall. The question has to be asked - if there was no ship - would the results be the same??????But we cant changed what happened - so here is my suggestion : lets make sure we have the same turnout for this years Cape Point Challenge ! In order to be fair, a race of this stature should involve varied conditions ( some upwind) - and of course no ships crossing the route. The Cape Point will guarantee this. I suggest that ARB and the race organisers find the ways and means to get all the chaps who finished in the top 20 down to Cape Town in December and lets do it again.....cheers. Well done ARB - great effort. - Trautmann Tue, 03 Jul 2007 12:13:58 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/450/147/#pc_1183 Yes, the paddlers' times were taken at the holding point. Therefore if Hank McGregor had simply kept in touch with Oscar on the final sprint, he would have won on elapsed time. And, yes, the red flag procedures were explained in the race documentation; at the race briefing on the Friday, and finally on race day itself. So all the paddlers knew exactly what the procedure would be should a ship get in the way. The race organisers had a representative IN the control tower with the harbour master who was in radio communication with race officials in the boats at the holding gate at the harbour entrance. - Rob Mousley Tue, 03 Jul 2007 06:19:19 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/450/147/#pc_1182 With hindsight the procedures for shipping interruptions were planned and executed very professionally, hats off to you guys. Consider Formula One Grand Prix races where the safety car is out as many as three times during a race. Despite the huge amounts of technology at their disposal F1 officials do not adjust drivers times to keep the leads constant, the cars just line up behind the safety car forfeiting their relative leads and nobody moans. I did not know that paddler's times were taken at the ship and that the final results would be adjusted for these times. I apologise if I created the impression that there was chaos at the ship. Maybe Gavin and company can teach F1 a thing or two about race organisation. Tell me Gavin - were the red flag procedures for shipping explained at the race briefing? - Alain Jaques Tue, 03 Jul 2007 00:32:18 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/450/147/#pc_1179 Thanks Rob , Trevor for the perspective. I am one of the many people involved in the organization of the event. We are having debrief sessions this week( as we did last year) with a host of people including National Sea Rescue , Harbour Authorities, Sponsors , Race Committee and others. We will then be in a position to provide a comprehensive report on the race. We will also be completing our interviews with some of the rescuers of the day and then the big task of editing 14 hours of footage will commence. This will be condensed into a 52min TV documentary in a 2 part series to be screened on local and hopefully international stations. We will also be producing a DVD of the programme which can be ordered. The World Cup site will be updated over the next few days with reports , results , photos and stories. I am proud to be involved with a great sport and some fantastic people who make it all possible. Cheers and thanks to all who participated and contributed. - Gavin Searle Mon, 02 Jul 2007 17:52:18 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/450/147/#pc_1173 Hi All, Rob thanks for putting the events of yesterday straight. I am not a frequent contributor to this website, but I am very perturbed by some of the comments made about The ARB World Cup race & the organisers. Unless you were invovled in the race or on the beach it is unreasonable for comments to be made about the event and it's organisation, especially people who were not even present at the event. This I believe is detrimental to the sport of Surfski paddling, especially when we are trying to grow the sport worldwide, by attracting new participants and sponsors to this wonderful sport. All sporting events have controversy, otherwise it would not be sport, including events held in other countries other than S.A. We are all invovlved for the good of the sport and try our hardest to get these races to run as smoothly as possible, but remember we are involved in a sport that is influenced by the weather, safety and other influences (Shipping Activity into & out of Harbour) that are beyond our control. So please, before making rash comments on the site, remember it could be detrimental to the sport. Regards Trevor Martin - Trevor Martin Mon, 02 Jul 2007 13:51:10 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/450/147/#pc_1171 I think most of those who mouthed off about the "controversy" should be feeling a little sheepish right now. (Note: "sheepish" in this context is not meant to refer in a derogatory way to any Australians!) - Gary Kroukamp Mon, 02 Jul 2007 13:10:16 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/450/147/#pc_1170 HI guys - well done - great coverage. Is it possible to post the full results? - oceana Mon, 02 Jul 2007 12:33:16 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/450/147/#pc_1169 First off - thanks to Alain for doing the live commentary in my absence. I had an absolute ball in the race - I bettered last year's result and came 99th out of 196 finishers. Conditions were truly hectic, but produced the single most enjoyable, exciting downwind paddle I've ever had. I'll write more about this in the next few days. However, I've come back to find a storm of controversy, not just about the Hank/Oscar thing, but there have been emails going to the event organizers full of speculation and total bullshit, an email entitled "What a disgrace" comes to mind. Fact: This was the best organized event I have EVER attended. Fact: The best race course had to go past the harbor. We were all fully briefed on the procedure and the harbor master was fully involved in the organisation. Fact: Oscar and Hank were stopped but were then allowed to proceed. Hank was 7 seconds ahead of Oscar when they were stopped. Fact: Oscar took a line along the harbour wall, initially at right angles to Hank's route but sheltered from the wind i.e. Oscar paddled further than Hank but in less windy conditions, and made 200m (about a minute) on Hank. Fact: Hank protested (and I don't have the details on why exactly he protested), the race committee heard evidence from the officials in the boat who let them proceed, from the harbor authorities who watched the incident from the control tower, from the paddlers themselves, and watched video that shows clearly that the front two were allowed to proceed. The protest was thrown out. Fact: the rest of the leading bunch were held up while the ship came past, then started together, with their arrival times at the gate taken into account. So please, show a little restraint in commenting when you don't have facts to back up your statements (e.g. Nigel Reynolds was way out of line in suggesting that the race committee hadn't spoken to the harbor master. Completely inaccurate.) One thing we are going to do is ask you to use your real names when you comment. It's all too easy to make inflammatory, inaccurate statements when you're doing so anonymously. To make this easy, we're going to switch the requirement to log in to make a comment back on. Thanks to WC organisers, the sponsors, the other paddlers - especially to all the overseas guys who made the effort. What a great bunch of people. Rob - Rob Mousley Mon, 02 Jul 2007 12:21:58 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/450/147/#pc_1163 The race organisers have said that the race referee will be issuing a formal report on the protest, the inquiry and the reasons for disallowing the protest... but they haven't said when it'll be available. We'll post it when it is. - Rob Mousley Mon, 02 Jul 2007 11:24:28 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/450/147/#pc_1162 I love downwind paddling and there is a great thrill catching a screamer for a couple of hundred meters. Think realistic guys the ocean serves up all kinds of conditions and I feel whatever the conditions are on the day should be raced in. Having a window for downwind conditions only makes it possible for 2 or 3 guys to win. Does this mean tha we are going to have upwind races?? Time, money, work and family are all sacraficed when travelling to do a race. Staying for a 4 extra days for most means an extra added pressure on nearly everyone. If these races are to be sanctioned by the ICF and have serious credibility a course must be set. Do we see the tour de France changing courses on the day to be run with the wind up their bum?? or all the cyclists get a lift up the hills by their support craft?? Be true to the name ocean paddling. And give every paddler the chance to revel in their favourable conditions. Dont get me wrong I love watching the Old Timers' win races, just dont tailer the events for them. In regards to craft, we are at the point where they will probably not get too much faster. the only way to get it faster is by going lighter. I would love to be able to buy a ski that weighs 7.5 kg, if I sold my Dog, 2 ski's and moved back in with my parents I would be able to afford it. My views Set courses regardless of the wind, weight restrictions for a more level playing field and drug testing. once again awesome work Oscar, Hank and Dean on your championship performances. Lets make this sport grow with structure. - Michael A Mon, 02 Jul 2007 11:21:38 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/450/147/#pc_1159 Good chirps Fruit Bat. Like your style. By the way is Fruit your real name or did your parents have a sense of humour??? - Gary Kroukamp Mon, 02 Jul 2007 10:41:36 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/450/147/#pc_1156 Boys, its like a good talk radio show - you get the good, bad & ugly. A lot of people call radio & do not write to papers b'cause you can mouth off. Some of the banter has been very funny - including Karl & Ed. So the boys got a little aggro - so what it is a high energy sport & not for weaklings. If there is anything way offsides the ref just hits delete. We are big enough to police this site ourselves while still enjoying a bit of banter. If you keep it all so pc correct it is dull. Let it roll. I suggest all the saffa's and Ozzies are lined up on a beach & we have a massive tug of war. Oscar anchors for SA - Deano for Oz. Winning team all get Epic v10 elite ski (Shmamaal style) and losers get to train the frog's. Enjoy it boys, it is the best sport on the planet (other than in flat water). - Fruit Bat Mon, 02 Jul 2007 05:56:18 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/450/147/#pc_1154 I agree with Karl 100%. Rob, I think it a great idea that people can only comment using their real names and not under the safety of anomimity. People are much more likely to make sensible and thought out comment as opposed to mouthing off and insulting others to make a point. Besides if what they have to say is valid then why not use their real names? May be out of habit developed from them using more dubious web sites (if you know what I mean?). ;) ;) ;) ;D - Ben Hines Mon, 02 Jul 2007 03:12:21 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/450/147/#pc_1151 Oscar won get over it and stop making excuses - CC Mon, 02 Jul 2007 02:59:16 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/450/147/#pc_1150 Nice work again Rob on your coverage mate. Sounds like we will be hearing many differing views for some time yet. It is good to see that all world cup events now are sticking to the agreed criteria of downwind conditions. I only make comment regarding poor organisation due to the sacrifices many paddlers make to compete. It is always disappointing when you have sacrificed time with family, money and career opportunities to train for an event and it is badly run or isn't in line with international standards. Sounds like this event was well run, just may have missed the ship thing. Its a pity some people get all worked up about these suggestions when I only make them to increase pressure to ensure we all get a fair go. I would also suggest Rob that you get people to sign in as their own name verified by email to help people stay away from abusive and unecessary comments...many of which are untrue. People are more likely to pull their head in if they know that they can be identified at a race... Again, good job. - Karl Treacher Mon, 02 Jul 2007 02:58:05 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/450/147/#pc_1148 Franck fifil did really well, finished about 40th single. He was padling for the Caribbean team -Ludovic Gaffin (19 yars) alo di well, finishing in justover 2 hours. - xpat Sun, 01 Jul 2007 23:32:33 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/450/147/#pc_1146 Rob the roving reporter has a memory stick full of pictures, unfortunately real-life has intervened and he will be away on a business trip tomorrow. The pictures will be up as soon as Rob has a chance. - Alain Jaques Sun, 01 Jul 2007 21:55:53 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/450/147/#pc_1144 enough what-ifs, anyone got some pics for those of us that couldn't make it? - Mulletman Sun, 01 Jul 2007 21:12:58 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/450/147/#pc_1143 even franck fifils ?? - eric marinier Sun, 01 Jul 2007 18:56:52 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/450/147/#pc_1142 They all struggled and didn't finish. It was way to big for them. - OP Sun, 01 Jul 2007 18:28:50 +0100