Comments for Twenty Beaches Race Report (Aus) at http://www.surfski.info , comment 0 to 3 out of 3 comments http://www.surfski.info Thu, 28 Aug 2008 21:46:34 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.2 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/595/147/#pc_1886 We are seeing such a spurt in the growth of our sport, it is highly important anybody running a race or series recognizes that events need to run on pro commercial platforms only. When the organizer has a vested interest in doing the job - it works, when it is a bunch of club amatures, or 'guys who like the sport & throw an event together' we get situations that are out of sync with the reality of the sport. It is my view that the South African are dominating in this sport as they operate out of the Men's Health series - which is well run, structured and managed (on commercial terms...what else?) and pushes out good races paddlers. In Dubai we learned a very valuable lesson this year. You cannot do these things 'part time' or depending on favours. You have to have a solid commercial base (or the start of one...ie working with sombody or an organization that has a long term view on commercial sucess in the sport, Billy Harker in SA is a very good example of this) and off that comes, happpy paddlers....and sponsors & sucess follow. - Gavin Dickinson Fri, 21 Dec 2007 10:51:32 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/595/147/#pc_1877 Unfortunately I was in Singapore over the weekend and missed a race I was looking forward to (having missed all of the other races due to OS travel). I have spoken to alot of fellow paddlers who completed the race and the majority agree with Karl. The start was a complete and utter f#$%k up. However, personally I think we should be careful before we start critisising the organisers so harshly. Apparently, they are well aware of the general concensous. Noethern Beaches SLA branch from what I understand have taken over basically what was the Mens Health series. It is a great shame that it wasn't on this year as Dean really did a fantastic job. If the organisers of the Ocean Series feel as if the races are a flop then they won't do it again next year. So no Ocean Series and no Mens Health. Most of the guys out there are happy to be able to paddle with 100 people and aren't kept awake at night with memories of losing 1min at the start. (Tim Jacobs may be the only one can be annoyed). Basically, with so few races on the NSW calander, beggers can't be chosers, we should make the most and enjoy the events that are on. Everyone knows it was a disaster but everyone who did it, loved it and in hindsight would do it again desite the start. What we need is someone to develop another series to build on what Dean and the Ocean Series have created. my two cence. - Ben Hines Wed, 19 Dec 2007 23:40:15 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/595/147/#pc_1872 The 20 beaches race was set to be a wonderful race for all concerned. 20 knots from the NE. A straight 22km course and a field that boasted some of Australian's best: Jacobs, Cotter, Kissane, Reese just to name a few. Last year's 20 beaches was universally dismissed as a disgrace after reaching the beach following a 2 hour slog only to find no finish line and no signage or officials to record times. The organising team failed to arrange a finish line or people to record accurate finishing times. Surely this year had to be a better show...ah nup. The race was again an embarrassing disgrace. Picture this... 150 paddlers take to the water to paddle out to the deep water start of the East Coast's most prestigious and historical race. Many have travelled from interstate and a few overseas (Katie Pockock being one), being told "paddle out about a km and you will see an IRB (zodiac) that will start you . A whistle will indicate the race start." As paddlers start paddling out to sea, the field spreads across a 1km span as no one really knows where to go. The majority head towards the horizon expecting to see something that resembles a race start (buoys maybe, a few IRB's..something). Whilst most paddlers were just leaving the beach, a few people apparently heard a faint whistle). Most however, just kept heading out looking for the start. After 5 minutes, you could hear people asking "where do we start from?".. followed by "have we started yet". Yes, the race had started, and a very long time ago. Most paddlers were between 1 minute and 10 minutes (for those who never heard the whistle) off the start. The truth is that the idiots organising this race had f*cked it up yet again. After watching Ash and Deano put on a superb event in Perth with very little resources, we get to the Northern Beaches SLS Branch organised event only to see a class field and awesome conditions sacrificed by trademark basic incompetence. Even race favourite Tim Jacobs missed the start by a minute and finished 3rd. There was never a line established and the majority of the field never heard any whistle. All that was heard on the beach some 22kms later was "What a shocker, great conditions but why can't these d*ckheads get anything right.' The reality of today was that people sacrifice work commitments, family and money to train for and participate in the inaugural 20 beaches downwind event - the only downwind event in NSW. People juggle children, their work schedule and make significant sacrifices. The sponsors: Bennetts Surfboards, Lifestyle financial planning and Manly Surf Life Saving were seriously let down today. Ironically Barry and Greg Bennett are the most competent, hard working operators, as is Dave Kissane and his financial planning firm. The organisers should be offering apologies to the sponsors and all involved along with refunds to all competitors though their disgraceful display incompetence. Hopeless. Again illustrating that Surf LIfe Saving - Northern Beaches Inc should stick to running surf carnivals and leave distance paddling events to people who know what they are doing. Most of us are very angry about this amazing waste of time and money. Karl Treacher - jackal Wed, 19 Dec 2007 10:11:44 +0100