The SUPWA Flatwater 20 - 2013 State SUP Marathon Championships
The first ever Flatwater Marathon State Championships in WA, proudly sponsored by Stand Up Paddle Perth will be held on Sunday the 17th of March.
This is a new format for SUP flatwater paddling using a circuit course and portages (running the board on land). This creates an exciting event for spectators and competitors as there are skill elements of turning and board entry/exit off purpose made pontoons. This type of racing exists in kayak racing and the event is actually part of the State Champs for the kayaks and Canoeing WA are kindly assisting us in officiating the event and including the SUPs.
In addition to the marathon, there will be a SUPWA Splash - an all ages 2km paddle around the short marathon course (see below). Participants will start 10 seconds after the main field. Free entry.
Location: Ascot Kayak Club
Time - Registration at 0600, briefing at 0700 for a 0730 start
Distance - 19.2km
Cost - $30 SUPWA members $40 non-SUPWA members
Safety equipment - NO PFD, leash or flares required (this is a sheltered waters event)
Entry - via Surfing WA website payment portalhttp://www.surfingaustralia.com/wa/events.php
Entries close Thursday 14th of March midnight.
Divisions:
Female Open 12'6*
Female Open 14'
Male Open 12'6*
Male Open 14'
Male O/40 14'
Male O/50 14'
*please note if a full division is not subscribed to in these classes we will absorb this divsion into the Open 14'
Prizes - $2000 worth of prizes on offer including a $1000 board voucher generously donated by Darren at Stand UP Paddle Perth. This is a draw prize for all the competitors. SUPWA medals will be handed out for division placegetters.
This will be the biggest flatwater marathon in WA! Poster to come
www.marathon.canoe.org.au/wp-content/uploads/old-files/marathon/downloads/MarathonCourse%20-%202013%20Western%20Australia[1].jpg
I would have loved to have been there but will be in Bali for a wedding on the 16th so will probably be nursing a sore head on the 17th anyway. 
I hope I get some nice waves on the day to make missing it a bit easier.
Nice work SUPWA and Darren (Stand Up Paddle Perth).
Hi Peeps,
Many thanks to Greg and SUPWA for giving Stand Up Paddle Perth the opportunity to sponsor this event. We're excited to be a part of a marathon event on the river, especially a State Championship and hope to field a reasonable number of paddlers from our group.
We look forward to a great event and and having some fun with you all. Thanks again to SUPWA and CWA. We look forward to seeing you there one the day.
DM
I'm in for the O50 14'
Should be a good test for a newbie!
Home for dinner, hopefully!
DJ
Sounds like a great event- good example of the sports breadth with the combo of SA, CWA and SUPWA.
Excellent draw prize too...
Good work Darren and Todd of SUPP!
Nice work Buccaneer, good to see the o/50's class powering on. And Tightlines - no excuse mate. Gordon has even bought a new board specially for the event !!
Great to have Darren and Todd from Standup Paddle Perth on board as the main sponsor of this BIG event- thank you guys. It'll be great to meet up with some (all?)of your training group.
This could be the largest SUP event on the fantastic SUPWA comp calender !!
**IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR RACE**
The Open 12'6 male and female division will now be over 6.2km with no portage.
This will be a standard race, (no State Championship) open to all those competitors that would like to race, but find the 20km distance a little daunting.
This 12'6 division (male and female) will also accept 14' boards. So if you are fast and keen on a State Championship Medal - contest the 20km, if you just want to get out and race, enter your 14' in the 12'6 race division on the SWA registration gateway.
SUMMARY:
Female Open 12'6 = 6.2km (no run) and open to 12'6-14' boards
Male Open 12'6 = 6.2km (no run) and open to 12'6-14' boards.
*the feedback we got got from everyone, is nobody wants to do a 20km flatwater race on a 12'6! (I for one, completely agree)
HI BT
yes, not a problem for you to do the 20km on 12'6 with the 14's. I have sent you a PM.
Cheers
Greg
Good move guys : Good to hear there is now something in between ie
Male Open 12'6 = 6.2km (no run) and open to 12'6-14' boards.
Looking forward to it
Yeah stimo those new 12.6's fly! I wouldn't expect to see him far behind the leading 14's. That is if he survives this weekend!!! He's a buck for the next 3 days in Melbourne.
Cost the same for all the races? $30/$40 seems quite costly for a 2km race (especially if trying to attract newer paddlers to racing).
Kev and I went out to Champion Lakes to try out the transition change over for the Flatwater 20 Marathon. We were unsure whether this kayak format would work well for SUP. I was surprised that even a gumby like me could dismount and get back on the board with minimal problems.
The key points seem to be:
1. Approach the pontoon at a very shallow angle and let the forward quarter of the board touch the pontoon as you check the of board lightly on the opposite side. This puts you parallel to the pontoon and you can step off.
2. Use your paddle to keep the board close to the pontoon and run off the momentum of the board down the pontoon (this will also allow room for other paddlers behind you coming into the pontoon)
3. Run with the board parallel to the side of the pontoon and bump the board with your hips just before you throw it forward and down on the water to ensure you kick the tail out and avoid catching the fin. (this is easier on boards with a side handle or raised handle, bit trickier with a recessed deck handle)
4. Have your paddle in the opposite hand with paddle aft, so you are prepared to take the first stroke on the pontoon side once clearing the pontoon
5. Jump onto the middle of the board with some commitment
6. Maintaining the momentum on both entry and exit of the pontoon seems important. When you slow too much and try to get off it is more tippy, same goes trying to get on.
The footage below demonstrates the basic idea done at medium pace. In the actual Flatwater 20 marathon there will be 2 separate pontoons - one to enter, then you run 100m to the exit pontoon.
May have to set up a permanent camera to catch some of the action on the second pontoon
My back just started hurting when I saw you bend down like that to pick the board up
Check your front rail for ding think it hit and you don't want that ace getting any heavier
Looks good I was thinking it was going to be more of a ramp like the triathlon exits
Good stuff though thanks for doing the testing did you stack it at all like big time ramp carnage
The pontoon has a thick rubber strike rail, no issues with hitting the board on it. Kev and I did it over 20 times each, a few of them after a 90% 2km paddle back to back and no stacks. It was easier with the ACE to pick the board up and throw it down by holding on the side of the cockpit. Kev found his jimmy Lewis centre mounted hand grip a little trickier - you had to tip the board over to get a rail up to lift the board.
Adds a new dimension to the racing. It was interesting to feel the run was a nice break on the legs, rather than more fatigue it was good to work out the stiffness - perfect for distance paddling!
Hi Everyone
To eneter for the 6.2km race at the Flatwater20, go to the SWA portal (link below) and select either Male 12'6 or Female 12'6. Both these races are over 6.2km and it is not an issue if you have a 14' board in this division.
SUPWA Splash Race is for any sized board and is free (no need to enter online). http://www.surfingaustralia.com/wa/events.php
*All marathon 20km length races are for 14' boards (except for BT and co)
Hi Everyone,
we need a handful of volunteers to help man a couple of check points. If you can help out please contact Peter Kemp the event co-ordinator - 0439438501
You will earn a beautiful SUPWA tee shirt for your time!
