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We announced in our last newsletter that FORCEFIELD have donated to the organizers of the Currumbin Creek Surf Ski series a brand spanking new ‘Cruiser’ spec ski, (pictured above) which will be given away at the end of March in a lucky draw. All past and future entrants up until end March 2007 in the series are eligible to win the ski. The more times you enter, the more times your name goes into the hat.
The FORCEFIELD ‘Cruiser ski’ will be available each Sunday morning down at Currumbin Creek from 08h00 for all interested paddlers to come and have a try out before you buy. Paddles and a PFD are available if you don’t have your own. The benefits of the ‘Cruiser ski’ over others, besides its quality of build, is its design which consists of a wide flat bottom, which adds greatly to stability, and is suitable for novice, masters and ladies paddlers wishing to quickly master a surf ski, and progress with the minimum of hassle to being able to paddle out on rivers, lakes creeks and even the sea and in the waves, all the while on your stylish FORCEFIELD ‘Cruiser ski’. To book a session call Paul Mauger on 0405 474 778 beforehand. Other skis are available as well. If you have a second hand ski you wish to off-load, give Paul a call, or bring it down as well. RESULTS: RESULTS FOR RACES 24, 25 and 26 ARE NOW UP ON THE WEBSITE – Go to www.alphabit.com.au/paddler and click on results for more info. UPCOMING RACES: Only 4 races left for 2006 * SUNDAY 26TH Nov 2006 * SUNDAY 3rd Dec 2006 * SUNDAY 10TH Dec 2006 * Last race for the year SUNDAY 17TH Dec 2006 
Rod Taylor, the Queensland representative for Epic Skis for Queensland has offered to bring a selection of the new range of V10 ocean racing skis down to Currumbin Creek for any interested paddlers wanting to try them out. If you are interested in a demo paddle, drop me an e-mail at
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and we’ll get Rod down sometime and he’ll bring a selection of skis down on a suitable Sunday morning after the race. Getting sufficient numbers down will be important as Rod will be traveling all the way down from the Sunshine Coast, so if you’re interested, let me know asap. If you’ve ever wondered what all the HOO-HAH!! is about the new breed of ocean racing skis, here is an opportunity for you to try them out and judge for yourself. QUESTIONAIRE: IF YOU’VE EVER TAKEN PART IN THE CURRUMBIN CREEK SURF SKI SERIES, OR IF YOU’VE EVER BEEN MILDLY INTERESTED IN TAKING PART IN SURF SKI RACES, OR EVEN IF YOU’RE JUST A SOMETIME PADDLER/ RIVER KAYAKER, PLEASETAKE THE TIME TO READ THE ATTACHED QUESTIONAIRE AND RETURN IT TO
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IN DOING THIS YOU’LL BE ASSISTING IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SPORT OF SURF SKI OCEANQUEENSLAND. RACING, NOT ONLY ON THE GOLD COAST, BUT IN AS WE STRIVE TO BRING YOU A SERIES YOU CAN ENJOY, ITS IMPORTANT TO CONSIDER YOUR VIEWS AND WISHES IN REGARDS TO PADDLING, AND SPECIFICALLY IN OCEAN PADDLING AND OCEAN RACING. THE CURRUMBIN CREEK SURF SKI SERIES so far: To summarize so far: * We started the series in January of this year, and have completed 26 races thus far, and 30 races by years end, with 3x non starts due to inclement weather or clashes with other larger events such as the Anaconda and Coolangatta Gold races. * The race has remained unchanged - 9.5 kms from Currumbin creek to Tallebudgera shark nets and back. * To date no entry fees have been charged, but OTOH, we’ve also not been able to award prizes to any race or category winners. * We have at this stage been unable to secure series sponsors and advertisers to add value and provide prizes thus far, with the exception of FORCEFIELD, who have been generous enough to sponsor a surf ski for a lucky draw. * This is about to change as we are in talks with various companies regarding sponsorship. * We have had 120 individual paddlers start at least one series race. * We average 17 paddlers per race for the year. * We have tried holding races on Saturdays and also on Sundays. * Sundays have produced larger turnouts by far * There are 300 people on our mail out list from as far afield as Hawaii, USA, New Zealand, South Africa, Hong Kong, UK, all looking to receive updates and newsletters about the series. * Our website www.alphabit.com.au/paddler was founded by Scott Collins, for free and at no charge to any paddlers, and has had more than 1500 hits since inception 4 months ago, that’s almost 400 hits per month. On behalf of the paddlers, we thank Scott for his huge effort. QUESTIONAIRE: (Please cut and paste onto a word document, delete the appropriate YES/NO) return to
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* I think it would be great to have a numbers placed on our skis to make time keeping easier as numbers grow, as well as provide better control and safety over people entering? YES./ NO. * I think it would be great to pay a series sign-on fee to go towards personal insurance/prizes/singlets/t-shirts, together with a sign-on party to meet and mix with our paddling mates and raise and improve the profile of the series and build growth? YES./ NO * I think it would be great to start a surf ski club where we can meet with our paddling mates, store our boats, have change rooms and raise and improve the profile of the sport and build growth? YES./ NO. * I think it would be great to pay an entry fee for each race which could assist in running expenses and go towards prizes? YES./ NO. * I think it would be great to have more organized starts – with the starter to use a megaphone and a hooter, and as the sport grows, to have batched starts with Elite paddlers to go into their own batch? YES./ NO. * I think it would be great to have prizes – either cash or goods for class winners and/or lucky draws? YES./ NO. * I think it would be great for all entrants to get a series vest or singlet in which they paddle, to provide some spectacle, and raise the profile of the sport? YES./ NO. * I think it would be great to have a regular dedicated once a month double ski race? YES./ NO. * I think it would be great to have a downwind race such as the outriggers have, where it would be a requirement for paddlers to have downwind ocean racing proficiency? YES./ NO * I think it would be great to have different courses to take into account differing wind directions? YES./ NO * I think we should include race distances longer than 10 kms? YES./ NO * I think we should have earlier or later starts? EARLIER / LATER / SAME 08H15 am * I think we should have weekly, bi-weekly on once a month races? WEEKLY / BI-WEEKLY / MONTHLY * I think the series should be throughout the whole year or races from April – Sept/Oct only? 12 MONTHS / 6 MONTHS ONLY * Currumbin Creek Surf series has raised awareness of surfski ocean racing on the Gold Coast, and is contributing to its growth? YES./ NO * Given the laws pertaining to insurance and safety requirements, how important is having personal indemnity insurance for series races? VERY IMPORTANT / LESS IMPORTANT / NOT IMPORTANT * In order to assist the sport to grow, and it is taken as a given that entrance fees should be charged, as it provides for prizes, insurance, t-shirts etc, and if you agree to pay entrance fees, how much of an entrance fee would you be prepared to pay per race? $5 / $10 / $15 / $20 / NOTHING – I WANT IT FOR FREE!! TUESDAY NITE DICE – (Nite race at Emerald Lakes) RESULTS: http://www.nrcc.canoe.org.au/ Not surprisingly 18 paddlers in all manner of craft turned out last Tuesday 21st Nov. Times are taken by Ian and Julie Frost (Frostie to all his mates)….with thanks from all us paddlers. This means that within 2 months the growth has been nothing short of phenomenal. Big things are expected of this series in the future. Why not come down and have a try. This is a fantastic way to cram in some extra training if you can’t make the early morning ski or kayak squad sessions that are normally on the go at this time of year. It’s a great venue, very safe, no other motor craft are allowed on the water, not too windy, and there’s a great bunch of guys paddling, (we even have the odd beer afterwards) and we expect this series to develop and grow in the coming months as we head towards longer daylight in summer. REMEMBER: It’s FREE, and all paddlers are welcome. Skis/kayaks/TK’s/ Sea kayaks as well. The distance is 7.5 kms, and we hit out in the twilight, and finish in the dark, but it is VERY well lit, the course as well as the start/finish, so no need to bring a torch, you’ll easily find your car afterwards.
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