Spewing guys
Have to work on Saturday morning.Have a great race and hope the weather Gods are kind
Cheers Mel
A few of the crew plan to run the course early tomorrow morning. Meeting in Pier Rd at 6.30am.
The ZU Boardsports is proud to announce the inaugural Spirit to The Zu Stand Up Paddle Race to be run in St Kilda on Victoria's Port Phillip Bay on Saturday the 21st of January.
Aiming to establish itself as one of the better flat water SUP events on the Australian calendar, the inaugural Spirit to The ZU Race will take advantage of the great setting of St Kilda and the Port Melbourne's beaches.
The ZU Boardsports at St Kilda's West Beach will be the starting point for the event. Headlining the schedule is the elite 6km Spirit to The Zu race, followed by a 3km Social Paddle, a fun Kids mini race in the protected marina and the availability to demo gear.
Entry fee for the Spirit to The ZU race, in either the 6km elite race or the 3km social paddle is $10 for SUP VIC or Bass Sup members. This fee entitles the entrant to participate in all activities (including race, social paddle and board demos) as well as a free coffee and snack at West beach Pavilion. Competitors may join SUP VIC pre-race and for $50 join or renew their membership, register for the race, and get the benefits of 12 months of insurance.
There are many great prizes available to random lucky draw participants, you'd be mad not to come along and join this family-friendly and fun stand up paddle event.
Prizes:
Winners Trophies
Lucky draw:
$500 Starboard Voucher
$500 Naish Voucher
$500 Simon Anderson (Walk on Water) Voucher
$200 Quickblade Voucher
$200 Kialoa voucher
$ 50 West Beach Pavillion Voucher
The ZU Boardsports kindly acknowledges the generous support of our major sponsors: SUP VIC, Starboard, Naish, Simon Anderson, Quickblade, Kialoa and West Beach Pavilion. A full list of sponsors and supporters can be found on our website.
For more information, check www.thezu.com.au or contact the store at 03 955655 and we'll hope to see you there this Saturday.
Running Sheet
What: Sprit to The ZU SUP Race
When: Saturday January 21
Time: Rego from 7am. First Race start: 8.30 am
What to bring: Leg-rope compulsory (PFD recommended)
Parking: Please drop of your boards at the store, before parking at other side Beaconsfiled Pde
Costs: $10 for Sup Vic/ Bass Sup Members ($40 to become a Sup Vic member)
Times:
07.00 - 08.00 Rego for 6km race and 3km social paddle
08.15 Briefing 6km Spirit to The Zu
08.30 Start 6km Spirit to The Zu
09.45 Briefing 3 km Social paddle
10.00 Start Social paddle
11.00 Briefing and Start Kids Mini race
11.30 Presentation and Prize giving
There will be coffee, food and cold drinks, available from West Beach Bathers Pavilion during the day.
Spirit to The ZU is officially part of the VICTORIAN FLAT WATER SUP CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES!!!
See you on the water
What is: The ZU Boardsports
The ZU Boardsports has recently opened its doors and is a specialist SUP store for serious water sports lovers focusing on sales, hire, lessons and Events.
Paul Nederhoed and Ivan Salmon have together over 30 years experience in Kitesurfing, Windsurfing and are responsible for the first intro of Stand Up Paddle Surfing in Victoria. They now work side by side with some of the world's leading brands and have combined at one of Melbourne's best Stand UP Paddle locations on St Kilda West Beach.
Should be a nice little tail wind on the first leg, then heading back into the mild breeze, that should sort out the genuine racers from the show ponies. 
Apart from the hard work required to get upwind and back to the car for a quick nap, the course is a very scenic one looking back to Beaconsfield Parade with all the prime homes and large date palms on the waterfront not to mention the Port Melbourne end with all the Heritage timber Piers leading to Station Pier and the Mighty Spirit of Tasmania, which will all add to the event.
Latest forecast for tomorrow, should be nice paddling conditions. Wind should be still quite light in the morning.
Make sure you come down to go for a paddle, check out the action or try one of the latest Naish demo boards.
Thanks to those that shouted out when I was heading the wrong way and sorry that I bumped a few of you around when I was back on track.
Not used to being in the lead!!
Fun race, thanks.
Paul and the team at ZU combined with SUP VIC did an awesome job yesterday. Top effort guys!
Changing the race to a 3 circuit BOP style race was a great call and provided some serious challanges in the upwind legs.
I was blown away by the number of kids at this event and there are some serious grommie contenders building experience for races to come.
The spirit of the race was fantastic with lots of mate against mate bragging rights on the line.
Smokin stuff guys and a first class effort to kick off 2012.
Phill and Kristi
Some images from my blackberry from yesterday, the laser cut trophies were all time.
