Time for predictions for the biggest race of the year , im predicting a while swag of aussies in the top ten for the men , with hopefully the jensen boys finishing one twoI hope the aussie chicks can smash it too.Danny Ching and Travis will be hard to beat with the format.should be a cracker.
Kelly, linc, Trav, in top 5 with Kai and Danny.
If boothy is there top ten for him with Jensen boys.
Distance race, beau top 5.
Ange to win BOP, top 5 for distance.
New format might see some dark horses come through the final over some big names missing out.
New buoys look interesting and I reckon will make for quicker turns less people getting caught up.
which race? and when?
PPG at Dohney beach Californyay.the race that has taken over from the bop.should be a cracker.
Jacko
Go for it mate you can do it , what do rwkon most guys will ride 12.6 or 14?
14ft i would say, maybe some might choose a 12'6 for the surf race with the swell thats here but i would say 99% will be on 14.
which race? and when?
PPG at Dohney beach Californyay.the race that has taken over from the bop.should be a cracker.
Any live coverage?
If you have not been watching you should check it out the live feed is world class and comes out amazing.
Some early results for the long distance.
Angie in 2nd in a sprint up the beach with Candice and Shae just behind and then Annabel 4th and Fiona 5th
In the guys Jake was the best of the Aussies with a 4th the i think trav in 6th and boothy in 8th and beau in 10th.
Sprints up soon which will be so hard to make the final in the mens. The level is by far the highest at any event ever.
If you have not been watching you should check it out the live feed is world class and comes out amazing.
Some early results for the long distance.
Angie in 2nd in a sprint up the beach with Candice and Shae just behind and then Annabel 4th and Fiona 5th
In the guys Jake was the best of the Aussies with a 4th the i think trav in 6th and boothy in 8th and beau in 10th.
Sprints up soon which will be so hard to make the final in the mens. The level is by far the highest at any event ever.
I watched yesterday and it was awesome live coverage.. Good to see you and Matt get through to today's finals.. I think the finals are on live today about 9am here.. Check out SupRacer for more info and links...
Good luck Paul in the final.. btw Angie did an awesome job.and good luck to her in the final also .
Got one of my boys in the final , smash it up jayden.good luck all other aussies.great webcast quality.
BEST COVERAGE OF ANY SUP EVENT I HAVE EVER SEEN.
This just goes to show how well an event can be run and broadcast and I think now sets the benchmark.
It didnt hurt that the racing was world clas and entertaining in the waves.
BEST COVERAGE OF ANY SUP EVENT I HAVE EVER SEEN.
This just goes to show how well an event can be run and broadcast and I think now sets the benchmark.
It didnt hurt that the racing was world clas and entertaining in the waves.
I agree, the coverage was first class - Thanks to my work for having wifi so i could stream on my tablet haha
Yes, FLAWLESS web coverage. Best ever by a mile. Commentary great and the video coverage was seriously good. From the point of view of someone watching online, everything about this event was great. Well done everyone involved in the coverage.
Yes, FLAWLESS web coverage. Best ever by a mile. Commentary great and the video coverage was seriously good. From the point of view of someone watching online, everything about this event was great. Well done everyone involved in the coverage.
I agree.. That was sooooooo good..
Yes, FLAWLESS web coverage. Best ever by a mile. Commentary great and the video coverage was seriously good. From the point of view of someone watching online, everything about this event was great. Well done everyone involved in the coverage.
I agree.. That was sooooooo good..
Seconded. Or thirded. Makes all the difference for the event's status and credibility to offer quality live webcast instead of chasing the elusive and delusional dream of an eventual television broadcast deal months after the fact on some pissant cable station with insignificant reach. Kudos to the organisers and also all the sponsors. I hope they reap the benefits of their support for this event so that it is sustainable.
PS. With all the predictions above, I can't believe that nobody tipped Connor or Candace for the overall. In fact on the Men's side, nobody got a single person right on the podium.
Also very interesting on board choice with a few guys taking 12'6 me included but casper and Kai were both on 12'6 from what i know plus some others im sure.
One of the toughest races ever as the ruslts show
They probably need to trim the numbers for the final next year , to much carnage when 20 guys are yrying to get around a litttle marker.
They probably need to trim the numbers for the final next year , to much carnage when 20 guys are yrying to get around a litttle marker.
If we're nitpicking, then I agree, less finalists, but an additional round of heats matched with shorter races would be ideal. I understand they originally planned a 20-man final but the entry numbers convinced them to extend it to 30. Having said all that, it's probably a bit disingenuous of us to complain about carnage when that's really the only reason to watch a surf race. Sure it's unfair on those who get smashed but if you want to run with the big dogs, you can't piss like a puppy.
Best event of the year by a mile - how is Connor pulling out two rabbits in a row - he was dead and buried in both races but he just doesn't give up and made things happen for himself. Mo Freitas is the one to watch in the future, if he can get his gameface on like he did in the tech final he'll be even better than Kai - in all disciplines.
Super proud of my fellow countryman Casper Steinfath, how he does it, I cannot comprehend. He has no-one close to his level to train with back in Denmark, yet he gets on a plane and mixes it up with the best time and time again - he was milimeters from winning overall, if Travis Grant had stuck his chin out on the line it would have been Caspers.
Interesting with the Naish boys choosing 12'6's for the tech race, it really did not seem to be an disadvantage at all, in one of the interviews Kai and Casper even indicated they were surprised they were just fine in the flats out the back. I like the fact that the 14ft rule allows the paddlers to make a choice. I do think going forward most guys would choose 14's as it seemed to me that it was the unfamiliarity of using 14's in the surf more than anything that had some of the guys go 12'6.
Absolute highlight for me was our own South African Wave Champ Justin Bing beating Danny Ching to the line in the Tech semi-final - we'll never hear the end of it!!!!!
Interesting with the Naish boys choosing 12'6's for the tech race, it really did not seem to be an disadvantage at all, in one of the interviews Kai and Casper even indicated they were surprised they were just fine in the flats out the back. I like the fact that the 14ft rule allows the paddlers to make a choice. I do think going forward most guys would choose 14's as it seemed to me that it was the unfamiliarity of using 14's in the surf more than anything that had some of the guys go 12'6.
My suspicion is the Naish boys expected their 12'6" boards designed for waves would compensate for the slower speed out back while hoping everyone else crashed and burned on their less suitable 14'ers. If 12'6" gets the arse from surf races from now on, I imagine all the board companies will scramble to redesign more surf friendly 14' boards.
Interesting with the Naish boys choosing 12'6's for the tech race, it really did not seem to be an disadvantage at all, in one of the interviews Kai and Casper even indicated they were surprised they were just fine in the flats out the back. I like the fact that the 14ft rule allows the paddlers to make a choice. I do think going forward most guys would choose 14's as it seemed to me that it was the unfamiliarity of using 14's in the surf more than anything that had some of the guys go 12'6.
My suspicion is the Naish boys expected their 12'6" boards designed for waves would compensate for the slower speed out back while hoping everyone else crashed and burned on their less suitable 14'ers. If 12'6" gets the arse from surf races from now on, I imagine all the board companies will scramble to redesign more surf friendly 14' boards.
I know mo's board was narrow and he nailed it today but to me it just went awesome. semi boof nose with what looks like a quick transition to flat bottom with some bottom rail still up past his feet. looked to have some nose rocker too
not to much nose to catch in the white water but enough volume and flatness to get up on a plane chasing down wave bumps with still good paddle speed.
flatwater ish displacement nose and rounded bottom boards at that level of surf racing aren't going to cut the mustard imo.
the starboard all stars looked pretty good on the bump catch stakes too. pt often says to me 'what if they good rid of that funny reverse bit under the nose how good would they be.
Apparantley kai was penalized a minute for unsportman like conduct , not the first time
Was that at around 11minutes something in bop final when he actually kicked Connors board behind him on a can when Connor smashed straight into him?
Apparantley kai was penalized a minute for unsportman like conduct , not the first time
Was that at around 11minutes something in bop final when he actually kicked Connors board behind him on a can when Connor smashed straight into him?
Dont know , but it doesent matter does it,
Apparantley kai was penalized a minute for unsportman like conduct , not the first time
Was that at around 11minutes something in bop final when he actually kicked Connors board behind him on a can when Connor smashed straight into him?
Dont know , but it doesent matter does it,
If that warranted a penalty then I don't know....everyones boards are on top of each other and Kai just pushed Connors off the tail of his own. I find it hard to believe that Connor would protest for that....but I guess it all adds to the spice.
Stoked on Caspers performance and super unlucky that he didn't win it in the end!
He rides his 12,6 in all conditions and looked very solid going round the bouys.