Author Topic: Adios PPG  (Read 4006 times)

PonoBill

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Adios PPG
« on: October 21, 2016, 12:09:30 PM »
The PPG trophy looks good on the hanger, the aqua ribbon stands out. But unless there's some radical change it will be my last. I know I'm not alone in thinking that silly board rules and a 14 minute "technical" race (at geezer speed) are pretty poor compensation for putting 3500 miles on my truck and spending a small fortune in hotels and food, not to mention a hefty entry fee.

The Open class has always played second fiddle in races that combine it with a pro element, but race organizers like Big Winds for the Gorge Paddle Challenge show a lot of love to all the racers, where SUP the mag treated them as an afterthought--except for the quality of the medal. I swallowed my misgivings after the high-handedness of the first year of the PPG and participated despite concerns. Even bought a 14' board. But this year doubled down on the dismissiveness, so Adios PPG.
Foote 10'4X34", SIC 17.5 V1 hollow and an EPS one in Hood River. Foote 9'0" x 31", L41 8'8", 18' Speedboard, etc. etc.

Night Wing

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Re: Adios PPG
« Reply #1 on: October 21, 2016, 12:29:41 PM »
Sometimes a man has to do what he has to do. At least you "went out with a bang".
Blue Planet Duke: 10'5" x 32" x 4.5" @ 190 Liters (2 Dukes)
Sup Sports Hammer: 8'11" x 31" x 4" @ 140 Liters
SUP Sports One World: 11'1" x 30" x 4.5" @ 173 Liters
CJ Nelson Parallax: 9'3" x 23 1/2" x 3 3/16" @ 78.8 Liters (prone surfing longboard; Thunderbolt Technologies build in Red construction)

SUPcheat

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Re: Adios PPG
« Reply #2 on: October 21, 2016, 12:32:48 PM »
No more Pono to kick around any more.
2013 Fanatic Prowave LTD 9'3"x30.5x@134L
Sunova Speeed 8'10"x29.12@131L
Sunova Flow 8'7"x30.25"@121L
Carbon 9.3x32@163L Hammer
Me: 6'1"@230 lbs 68 years old

kayadogg

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Re: Adios PPG
« Reply #3 on: October 21, 2016, 12:43:52 PM »
I agree Bill. We used PPG as a nice way to break up our trip to Maui for our honeymoon. If we had made a trip just for PPG, I would be pretty disappointed. I had written a reply to a PPG thread shortly after the event but deleted. I also still have a draft email sitting in Gmail, that I had written to the organizers but have yet to send. Since we're on the subject, some of my (and many others I spoke to) big gripes were:

  • Promoted that people registering before Sept. 1 will receive free Maui Jims. There were no MJs at all. None. We got Salt Life beach towels instead.
  • No lunch for paddlers. Really? Up the cash purse for the pros but no lunch? I mean seriously, even a basic box lunch would have gone a long way with people.
  • The open technical race. Where do I even begin? The winner finished in less than 12 minutes. It felt like paddling in a large toilet. The 4 "turns" were really just a circle. The women's start was 2 minutes after the men which put them directly in the path of the men finishing their first lap. At the very least they could have made the course a triangle shape, stretched it out a little bit and actually made it "technical". Yikes. This was probably the biggest letdown of the weekend.
  • No 12'6 board class for men. Please be consistent. Last year they reluctantly added the 12'6 division for men. This year, "14' and Under". Right, because it's fun to race people of similar age and ability on a board that is a foot and a half longer. Let's not get into a board length discussion here. The fact of the matter is that a lot of guys still own and race (and enjoy it) 12'6 boards. I'm one of them.
  • The cost of the open races. $195 for both races if you chose the combo pack. About $135 each if not. This is steep for open fees. I understand they put on a world-class event and that there are a lot of costs associated with this that they have to attempt to make up but when you drop the ball on the open tech race, board classes, etc. it makes this fee seem even higher. Sure you get a nice Sweet Waterwear jersey, which will go into my drawer with the one from last year. I also don't need any more trucker hats. A pair of MJs for those that commit early would have really been nice. Last year's Olukai slippahs were nice. Again, be consistent. It was nice knowing that when you signed up for the BOP, you got a pair of slippahs no matter what. Sign up for two races and get two pairs! Maybe that's why they were losing so much money and it ended after 7 years.

After re-reading what I just wrote, I hate coming off as someone that is unappreciative and focused on only the bad. There was a LOT of good at this event.

  • The 3 day format definitely made it feel less rushed and allowed for a more relaxing pace of the weekend.
  • They also did the open awards on the same day (shortly after) of the technical and distance races. This was nice to avoid waiting around until Sunday afternoon.
  • The course for the pros was a nice setup with enough action close to the beach while still giving the pros some room to make up ground with strategic paddling throughout the course.
  • The WEBCAST. About as good as it could have been. I have still been going to their site to re-watch some of the weekend. Kalama is a natural announcer for this sport and he was the perfect choice. Dan Gavere was also very good. The quality of the webcast was top-notch and very impressive. I wish the Waterman League would take some notes from this. I'm sure it's not cheap to produce that type of webcast but man it would be nice if some other events stepped up their game to that level, especially the Heavy Water event but hopefully the Red Bull production they put out will be just as good.
  • The vibe on the beach was awesome. This was probably the best part. Re-connecting with old friends, making new friends, relaxing on the beach watching some amazing performances, surfing solid chest to head-high Doho, drinking beers in HOT sun in early October. This part was a blast.

All in all, it wasn't a major letdown but it was very evident that the open events were included simply because they had to, since a good portion of their registration profit came from these races. I may think twice about heading out next year unless I can schedule a work trip or another honeymoon (kidding) around it.

SaMoSUP

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Re: Adios PPG
« Reply #4 on: October 21, 2016, 12:55:56 PM »
Ditto on your thoughts kayadogg. Thanks for spelling that out.

I didn't register this year for the same reasons on the gripe list. But I did attend anyway for the same reasons on the good list. With the great webcast though it may be better watching it from home next year. Unless there's a good swell.

It smells like some of this sport is selling out and alienating the grass roots.

stoneaxe

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Re: Adios PPG
« Reply #5 on: October 21, 2016, 12:58:07 PM »
Bummer...I was thinking about maybe joining you next year... :(

Sweet "righteous brother" trophy you have there..... ;)
Bob

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PonoBill

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Re: Adios PPG
« Reply #6 on: October 21, 2016, 02:47:04 PM »
Come anyway and we'll surf SoCal. Kind of scary to think of, but it will be good. Actually, come for the Gorge Paddle Challenge and then we'll cruise the coast on an extended surf trip. Oregon to San Diego. It will be great.  Come back up the middle (395) and take in Yosemite. I think My buddy Roland is still the overall executive chef for all the national park restaurants. Haven't seen him for a long time (Since John K. died) but it would be cool to reconnect.

We don't need no stinkin' PPG.
Foote 10'4X34", SIC 17.5 V1 hollow and an EPS one in Hood River. Foote 9'0" x 31", L41 8'8", 18' Speedboard, etc. etc.

TallDude

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Re: Adios PPG
« Reply #7 on: October 21, 2016, 04:13:23 PM »
Glad to hear you'll still be visiting SoCal for surf. You and your bro hanging out at SanO would be awesome. I'll treat both of you to Riders Club.
I said Adios to the PPG from the get go. I look forward to plenty other local races throughout the year. $50 entry gets you a shirt, a fun race, and sometimes a spot on the podium. Like running a Saturday morning 10K. 
It's not overhead to me!
8'8" L-41 ST and a whole pile of boards I rarely use.

kayadogg

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Re: Adios PPG
« Reply #8 on: October 21, 2016, 04:37:43 PM »
Glad to hear you'll still be visiting SoCal for surf. You and your bro hanging out at SanO would be awesome. I'll treat both of you to Riders Club.
I said Adios to the PPG from the get go. I look forward to plenty other local races throughout the year. $50 entry gets you a shirt, a fun race, and sometimes a spot on the podium. Like running a Saturday morning 10K.

I did the "Off Da Couch" race last weekend at the NAC and that was exactly the vibe. $25 entry fee, t-shirt and chili, etc. afterwards. Pint glasses as the trophies. Pretty laid back and super fun. Makes you realize you don't always need all the glitz.

starman

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Re: Adios PPG
« Reply #9 on: October 22, 2016, 10:14:28 AM »
Wouldn't it be a good idea to let the event organizers know you thoughts about the event? If you want to make it a better event then let them know of your concerns. Hard to fix something if you don't know it's broken.

PonoBill

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Re: Adios PPG
« Reply #10 on: October 22, 2016, 01:39:58 PM »
Really? Really!!?  You know me pretty well Starman. Would you suppose I haven't made my opinions clear?

For that matter, anyone in the SUP industry that isn't paying attention to the zone has a screw loose. They don't post here--they view it as a competitor (yeah, I think that's not bright), but they read it.
Foote 10'4X34", SIC 17.5 V1 hollow and an EPS one in Hood River. Foote 9'0" x 31", L41 8'8", 18' Speedboard, etc. etc.

starman

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Re: Adios PPG
« Reply #11 on: October 22, 2016, 03:48:33 PM »
Oh I'm well aware that you would make you're views known Pono. I'm just not sure others do the same. People don't always voice their opinion. They just quit attending events. It would be smart for participants to speak out and not just in a negative way. Let them know what was great and what was a turn off. If participation declines causing promoters to quit doesn't help if you want to race.

I would agree that the small events are great.  But it's also great to have events that the average person can rub elbows with the elite members of the sport.

I don't agree that everyone in the industry is reading this forum. I don't see evidence of that in my conversations with those in the industry.

TallDude

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Re: Adios PPG
« Reply #12 on: October 22, 2016, 05:19:54 PM »
Whether the "industry" takes notice or not, with a big 'Pro' only final, streaming live with commentary, big prize money events, there is no Aloha for the novice. It's all about business. I paddle and race for fun. I've always raced and paddled with some of the best in the sport. Sponsored or not, it didn't matter. Now the SUP business has gone corporate. The search for big money, and world wide distribution created a growing gap between novice and pro. Once business gets into the mix, I don't paddle with that. How about a SUP race where the proceeds go to a needy cause. Just a trophy, and a photo on the podium. I don't care what brand board people like as long as they are enjoying padding on it. My friend has a small SUP company and makes all his own race boards. He had some of his riders win events at the PPG. He doesn't have the money to pay all the entry fees for his riders, let alone for the manufactures competition. His boards were not shown on the winning board list, though they would have. The industry wants stars. The people I paddle surf and race with have no stars upon thars. I'm good with that.

Some actually do have stars, but they don't show them when there isn't a podium or winners check in their sites.
It's not overhead to me!
8'8" L-41 ST and a whole pile of boards I rarely use.

pdxmike

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Re: Adios PPG
« Reply #13 on: October 22, 2016, 05:40:14 PM »
Some of this PPG stuff seems related to the trend of people who've raced in the past dropping out of racing--not the cheaper, informal local races, but the expensive bigger ones where the non-elite person doesn't get enough to justify high entry fees.

One argument against the idea that racing will drop off further is the comparison with distance running, where racing remains strong after decades. Even if perhaps it too peaked years ago (I don't know) there are still lots of huge events.

But things like the 14-minute technical race makes me wonder if there's a difference between SUP racing and distance racing that will work against SUP racing that people haven't talked about much.  With distance running, racing is pretty much exactly like daily running.  You don't need "racing skills" other than some extra attention to pacing to go from fitness running to racing, and doing well in it.

But SUP racing requires skills--turns, drafting, starts, etc.--that aren't really needed for daily paddling.  Depending on the race, your performance can be highly determined by those skills. 
So going from paddling for fun and fitness isn't like going from fun/fitness running to doing a 5k or 10k or even marathon.  It's more like going to track racing, where you can't compete or even feel relaxed if you don't have racing skills like kicking, how to run curves, how to not get boxed in...And what percentage of adult distance runners do track racing--.001%?

That difference can make the step from paddling to racing intimidating. But more relevant to people who have already raced but are scaling back (although not necessarily to any particular person here) I think the need to take time away from what's most enjoyable--paddling--to practice skills you only need in racing starts seeming not worth it after a while for many people.
« Last Edit: October 22, 2016, 05:55:40 PM by pdxmike »

PonoBill

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Re: Adios PPG
« Reply #14 on: October 22, 2016, 07:26:25 PM »
Could be true, but for some races it's just the attitude and actions of the organizers that make or break the event, and there seems to be enough of that to push people out of the sport. The rule base is aimed towards pro competition but gets applied to open class to no purpose. Drafting rules? Board limits? Women can't ride 14's? To what purpose?

I've had this conversation recently:
"We stopped having surf and unlimited classes because there were so few people signing up."
"Really? Last time you had those classes it was a last minute change, and you didn't publicize it. But even so, even if it's only five people, why wouldn't you want them to race?"
"Everyone has race boards, if they don't have one by now, then they just aren't serious."
"Why do you need them to be serious?"

So yeah, I don't get it. Even major televised sports, consumed by couch potatoes, have a vast feeder system of amateur play. But sports like SUP, which will NEVER be a serious spectator event with anyone except amateur racers, needs that amateur participation in every way--to attract vendor sponsorship, to have anyone actually watch the webcasts, to fund the events, to have anyone on the beach watching. How could events afford to be less inclusive?  It seems to me to be a certain recipe for rapid demise.

So yeah, obviously, I just don't get it.
Foote 10'4X34", SIC 17.5 V1 hollow and an EPS one in Hood River. Foote 9'0" x 31", L41 8'8", 18' Speedboard, etc. etc.

 


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