We are starting to get more downwind enthusiasts on the Gold Coast, which is great to see. Downwinding is really good fun (once you get a little bit of experience) and it is also a really good way to spend those windy days when the alternatives are limited (unless you are a Kitesurfer or Windsurfer).
Downwinding can also be very dangerous!
So, I would like gauge the level of interest out there on who is into it and more importantly who wants to get into it.
For those that are already into it we can organise group downwinders, so that people of similar experience levels can hit those runs together. Racing types can train together and long distance cruisers (like me) can do some hits together.
For those that want to get into it we can organise some training for you. There is a lot to doing downwinders and it certainly helps if you can learn from people with experience rather than the hard way. It is also important that we standardise our safety precautions so that we do not have any accidents out there.
Please send me an email (to keep your contact details private) with the following details, if you want to get into this:
Name:
Age:
Contact (for SMS) details:
Do you own a LD SUP?
If so what size?
How long have you been doing LD SUP?
Are you interested in racing, cruising, or both?
What is the longest Downwinder you have done so far (if any)?
Do you have transport (for car pooling)?
Are you also into SUP surfing?
There may also be a few distance SUP enthusiasts who want to stay in the rivers, creeks, dams etc. If so, please let me know as there are plenty of really interesting paddles out there that are waiting to be done...
Sorry for all of the questions but this will help gauge where you want to slot in to start out with.
Thanks - Mike
I have received 3 emails so far and we are going to get together at the SUPSA meeting this Sunday. If anyone is interested in getting into this please come along.
You will find more details about the SUPSA meeting on "THE XBUWHDDCCAAGM EVENT" posting by Just Wrong
Can we do the same on the Sunshine Coast
Name:
Age:
Contact (for SMS) details:
Do you own a LD SUP?
If so what size?
How long have you been doing LD SUP?
Are you interested in racing, cruising, or both?
What is the longest Downwinder you have done so far (if any)?
Do you have transport (for car pooling)?
Are you also into SUP surfing?
Give me an email - the last couple of days we have had some great conditions
Tomorrow (Monday 4th Jan) looks good for a downwinder. We will meet at the Talle creek (Northern Bank) at 10am tomorrow morning. We intend to run from Rainbow bay to the Talle Creek.
If you are interested in coming along be there. Bring a leg rope as the wind will be pretty strong...
So far we have Dale, Mark (Lacey) and myself
Mike
Thanks Mike - PM sent.
How long do you estimate it would take to paddle from Coolangatta (rainbow bay) to Talle Creek with the wind at your backs?
cheers Froggo
Yes, that was Dale, Mark (Lacey) and I at around 1-2pm.
What an absolute gem of a run! We had 2 of Mark's DC17's and I had my DC16. All of these boards lapped up the excellent conditions. we had some of the best runs we have had on this route in a long time. They were really easy to catch and maintain and it was great fun. Marks new DC17 (the green one) is an absolute gem of a board and it lapped up those conditions.
It was very tricky coming in over the Talle bar as the outgoing tide was very strong. Depending on who comes along tomorrow we might change the route to end up coming into Currumbin. Talle Creek is for experienced paddler only.
G'day Mike, email sent. Is meeting place on the burliegh side or old playroom side(park)?
Hey Labs,
We are meeting on the Burleigh side of Talle Creek, West of the GC Highway Bridge. There is a beach shower which we normallly use at the end of some paddles.
The conditions are not that great today but come down anyway and meet some of the crew.
We will meet between 9.45 and 10.00 and will decide on the route when we get there.
I sent you an email with my phone number so call me if you want
Mike
Out of the question for me today though, 1st day back at work!
Me too 
lets us know how it went.
Rob
lets us know how it went.
We did the downwinder as planned (sorry no pics this time). The wind was not as strong as we were hoping for but it had a good direction so we went for it anyway.
We started at Rainbow Bay with 2 x DC17's, 3 x DC16's and 1 Naish Glide 12.
It was a little lumpy out there with a kind of a cross swell to the wind. There were some really nice runs to be had but obviously the 12' was always going to struggle to keep up with the longer boards.
We had a really good section of runs near the Alley and these continued right through to just before Burleigh.
Travis paddled with us and he sure knows how to paddle downwinders!
When we got in to Burleigh the wind really started to pump. The Seabreeze prediction had it strong early and lighter later but it ened up being the other way around.
I sent out sms messages to all of those that expressed an interest in downwind paddling. Send me your details if you are keen to join in next time...
You should have gone this afterernoon it was quite good. Went from snapper to the shop and got good runs the whole way.
Jacko
today was good!!!! totally agree!!! :) did snapper to currumbin... mike - sending an email!
You now have a race to train for.
Sunshine Coast Paddlers are putting on a King of the Coast - Ocean Craft Race.
Organiser: Sunshine Coast Paddlers
Registration for: King of the Coast - Ocean Craft Race
Date: Sunday 24th January
Location: Moffat Beach to the Wharf Mooloolaba
Online registration closes on: 22/01/2010 at 4:59 PM(AEST)
For entries check out the website.
www.registernow.com.au/secure/Register.aspx?ID=2339
