Dear Intrepid Surf Ski Paddler and OC 1 Ocean racer . . . .

Race report for Saturday, 28th Jan 2006

Turnout for the 2nd race was up from the first race last fortnight, with 14 competitors on the start line, 9 new entrants, our first double ski, and also our first official photographer, Ian Hamilton who was kind enough to offer his services to take photographs.

Wind was a light to moderate S/SE, with a small swell at the Currumbin corridor, so it wasn’t too difficult to negotiate.

The Ocean Racer newsletter

3^rd Edition

A Queensland newsletter for all surf ski ocean racing events

Results for Currumbin Creek surf ski series for 28^th Jan 2006

CURRUMBIN CREEK TT (9.5km)

Dear Intrepid Surf Ski Paddler and OC 1 Ocean racer . . . .

Race report for Saturday, 28th Jan 2006

Turnout for the 2nd race was up from the first race last fortnight, with 14 competitors on the start line, 9 new entrants, our first double ski, and also our first official photographer, Ian Hamilton who was kind enough to offer his services to take photographs.

Wind was a light to moderate S/SE, with a small swell at the Currumbin corridor, so it wasn’t too difficult to negotiate.

The ski paddlers bounced back this weekend and nailed the OC 1 guys, with Adam Morley absolutely smoking the field on his Zulu spec ski which looks very quick indeed. Adams time of 46:41 is thus the new course record.

Phew….thank goodness for a surf ski holding the course record over the ‘one arm bandits’.

Matt really missed his outrigger compatriots this weekend, and his time was a bit slower than last week, which he put down to the head wind, and choppy swell.

The double ski of George Green and Paul ‘Pappa’ Chalupsky came in at 51:08. Huh……? More training needed there fellas, to front the single skis.

For those who don’t know, Paul is the father of Ocean Racing legend Oscar, who has won the Molokai Surf Ski Marathon, which is considered by most to be the World Championships of Surf Ski paddling, a record 11 times over Australia’s Dean Gardiner (10 times winner), and his younger brother Herman, also a previous winner.

Paul has some notable paddling achievements in his own right, and we hope to do an exposé on his achievements in the coming months.

NEWS BRIEFS:

I received an e-mail this week from Bill White in California. Bill is a member of the Los Angeles County Lifeguards, Northcliffe S.L.S.C. and Gold Coast City Council Lifeguards.

In Bill’s words……

“In case any of your lifesaving contacts will be visiting the U.S. in early February, please find the attached flyer for the Weiland Shield Regatta. I know it's late notice, but you never know who might be traveling to L.A. for a quick vacation.

As a member of the Los Angeles County Lifeguards, Northcliffe S.L.S.C. and Gold Coast City Council Lifeguards, it's my pleasure to help spread the word on some of these lifesaving events and I appreciate all your hard work putting on events on the Goldie.”

Details of the regatta are as follows:

12/22/05

2006 Wieland Shield Regatta

Sunday, February 5th

Mothers Beach, Marina Del Rey

Race Start Time: 7- 9AM check-ins and sign-ups. 9AM (First Heat)

Types of Craft: Anything that you can paddle, peddle, or row on the water.

Course Distance: Approximately 4 miles. The course will start at Mothers Beach and continue out to the detached breakwater and back to Mother Beach. It will be a heat type start to allow for the speed of the various craft.

Entry Fee: $20.00

Particulars: Racers who sign up online prior to January 29th 2006 will be guaranteed a long sleeve T-shirt with their sign up fee. Racers who wish to sign up online need to send an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it and give the following information: Name, Age, Gender, Type of craft you will be racing, team members (for Crew, Dories, and Outriggers.) And most important, T-shirt size. There will be a small supply of T-shirts on hand the day of the race for people signing up that morning. All entry fees and releases will be taken care of the morning of the event. Entry fees are per person and not per craft. Depending on the number of entrants, heats will be set up with the faster vessels going in the earlier heats. Updated Regatta information can be found at Yahoo groups, “Wieland Shield Regatta.” If you have any questions please send them to the above email.

What is the Wieland Shield?

The Wieland Shield tradition started 50 years ago at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics. About every 4 years the best watermen and women are picked from various Lifeguard services throughout Southern California to compete against Surf Life Saving Victoria Australia for the Wieland Shield. The Wieland Shield Team is a non profit entity and Regatta entry fees will go toward team expenses.

THE SUGGESTIONS BOX:

* Ques:. Matt Carter suggested when the SE wind blows, we head out toward Kirra or Coolangatta as the runners will be better coming back to Currumbin.

Ans: I will be checking this option out this week, and hopefully work out a similar distance to the present course.

* Ques: How can we grow the series as quickly as possible to get to the magical figure of 100 paddlers on the start line.

* Ans: Pass this e-mail onto as many of your fellow paddlers as possible who may be interested, encourage them to get their old skis out of the shed, and get down to the next series race this weekend PRONTO!

* Ques: Why is the next series this coming weekend the 4th Feb.

* Ans: Because, dumbo, we run the race on every EVEN weekend, and this Saturday is the 4th Feb – i.e. EVEN DATE – Capiche !!

DON’T FORGET - pass this e mail on, and encourage your mates to get on the mailing list by subscribing to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Finally, A big thanks to Greg and Big Bill for doing the time keeping.

Till next time.

SEE YOU ON THE WATER!

IMPORTANT - Next race dates:

(NB all dates are Saturdays unless otherwise specified)

3rd race - 4th Feb 2006

4th race - 18th Feb 2006

Entries close at: 7.45 a.m. You MUST enter with your name, e mail address and telephone

number before the race starts

Pre - race briefing: 08.00 a.m.

Start time: 08.10 a.m.

Cost to enter: FREE merely enter your details with us at the start and get a number.

Distance: 9.4 kms as per Garmin GPS

Prizes: Subject to the organizers discretion and ongoing success at finding

suitable sponsors

Safety:

All paddlers will be responsible for there own safety requirements. If paddlers are unsure of their competency in negotiating the surf or rips at the entrance corridor to the creek, then we strongly recommend that PFD be worn by these paddlers and that all further precautions are taken by the individual to ensure his or her own safety, such as leashes to secure your paddles to your ski.

We recommend that paddlers be able to swim a minimum of 400 meters in 9 mins or less. No arrangements have been made for lifesaving IRB (inflatable rubber boats) to be in attendance. Under no circumstances will the organizers be responsible for individual safety.

For more info contact Paul Mauger on 0418 158 765

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