The SUP VIC Great Melbourne Paddle Regatta is back, bigger and better than ever, featuring the SUP SURVIVOR II event following on from last year's day that everyone came away from with smiling faces. More than just a race, the GMP Regatta is a full day of fun, demos, races, novelty events, sprints, SUP-X and more for the whole family, including kid's clinics, loan boards, BBQ, coffee and a whole lot of laughs.
The main event, the SUP SURVIVOR II - is a series of rounds on the circuit course, at the end of which a percentage from each division is eliminated. Those who survive move on to the next round until just ten competitors battle it out for the title of sole SURVIVOR. It even includes an immunity necklace that allows you to take it easy in the next round, and hidden immunity idol that gives an eliminated competitor the chance to get back in the game.
Thanks to all our sponsors and supporters once again, and the on-beach festa zone will have all the latest boards and gear from manufacturers and retailers there for you to try out.
See you there!
Here's all the action from last years event.
www.flickr.com/photos/supvic/sets/72157645304411677/
Select to expand quoteitbjam said..
Where do you register for this event
Beach Registration on the day itbjam.
Early.
Hi All,
At a special SUPVIC meeting on Wednesday night the club committee considered the forecast weather conditions for Sunday and have (reluctantly) amended the program for the GMP. Wind is forecast from the Southeast for Friday, Saturday and for Sunday , around 15 knots and freshening which will make for challenging conditions at Sandridge. Due to permit constraints and other events along the Bayside foreshore on the day it's not feasible to move the event, so:
For safety (and comfort) reasons the kids' clinic and kids' race will be postponed to the following Sunday at Half Moon Bay, to coincide with the SUPVIC family Christmas party.
There will only be one novelty event - a N1SCO relay race - at the end of the race program (pairs and SUP_X novelty will not run)
The Main race format will be altered to an out-and-back course (400m out, 400m back, upwind-downwind), with three laps for stronger racers, two laps for novices and 'sport' class each round (3 rounds). The race will no longer be an 'eliminator/survivor knockout series, participants will be able to contest as many or few of the three rounds as they feel like. Races will be scored on points ( 1st - 3points, 2nd - 2points, 3rd - 1 point)
The running order for the day will now be:
07:00 Commence setup (SUPVIC, Exhibitors, catering)
08:30 Registration opens
09:15 Registration closes
09:30 Pre-race briefing
(between briefing and round 1 paddlers will be advised to warm up thoroughly!)
10:00-10:20 Race Round 1
10:20-10:30 Rest/Recovery
10:30-10:50 Race Round 2
10:50-11:00 Rest/Recovery
11:00-11:20 Race Round 3
11:30-11:45 Organise teams (of 4) for N1SCO relay
11:45-12:30 N1SCO Relay
12:45-1:00 (approx) Prize presentations and lucky draw.
Paddlers should be prepared to get wet and to dress for the conditions. Coffee (van) and hot food (BBQ) will be available throughout the event.
We will try to stick to the program as closely as possible (to keep people moving and warm).
Board demos will be available on the beach throughout the event.
Keep watching for further updates here on SB, on the SUPVIC Facebook page and by email.
...aaaand a note about road closures on Beach Rd on Sunday morning (will only affect people coming from the south) There will be a triathlon on Beach Rd between Mordialloc and Charman Road AND the SUSSAN fun run is on between Glenhuntly Rd Elwood and Kerferd Rd Albert Park. Recommend taking the Nepean Hwy/Queens Rd/Kings Way approach.
Why dont they just run around albert park racetrack???
It costs us 30 mill a year to run the cars around it each year!
Select to expand quoteHelmy said..
Why dont they just run around albert park racetrack???
It costs us 30 mill a year to run the cars around it each year!
Yep. Perfectly good running tracks all around the city, why do they need to use roads? And while we're at it, why can't triathlons use bikes with the fat tyres that ride on the sand? And why can't they run on the sand? Then they never need to leave the beach and we don't have to shut down several beachside suburban roads every other week during the Summer. 
Well folks, the 5th annual Great Melbourne Paddle Regatta has been run and won. In what could best be described as "testing" conditions, 30 paddlers gave it a good, hard crack and made a fun day of it. BIG Thanks to the crew who made it happen - Al, Warwick, Kathy, Tim, Shaz and the rest of the SUPVIC Committee. Thanks also to Sean Carew for on-water safety, the crew from Ocean Grove NFC for snags and Bacon Rolls, Mel of Cappuccino Express for Coffees, to our sponsor/supporters who braved the conditions - Quinny from Fanatic, JB from Naish, Chris from Kite Republic, Jeff from PSUPS, Warwick from RPS, Sam from SHQ and all our other club sponsors and supporters who make SUPVIC and the GMP possible (in no particular order) NSP/GSI, Parks Victoria, Sunny King, Core Boardsports, The ZU, Starboard, Go Natural, Monkey Business and SUP HQ
I'll let some of the paddler feedback tell the story:
"Fantastic event this morning down at Sandridge for the GMP. Loved the format of the three separate races. Gave everyone a chance to paddle all morning without being eliminated and having to sit out. Tough conditions on the beach but awesome on the water with tough upwind and fun downwind legs. Well done for everyone getting out there. Spirit of the event and social aspect was great. Pity the sun wasn't out to entice a few more onto the water... You know who you are..looked cosy under that tent. Another great event and well organised by all involved. Look forward to some pics of the action... Cheers"
"Wet & windy but loads of fun had by all. A huge thank you goes to Sup Vic for making it happen in such a high spirited way"
"A "BIG" thank you to all the SUPVIC crew for organising a great event. The weather wasn't much chop but racing isn't about sunshine and glassy conditions, its about meeting up with old friends and having fun, even if the winds are 25 knots onshore, cold and raining"
Race Results:
Overall Champions:
Men: Chris Clarke, Women: Jean Ringrose
Open Men:
1. Paul 'Jonesy' Jones, 2. Steve 'Fergo' Ferguson, 3. Simon 'Simo' Albery
Open Women:
1. Jean 'The Machine' Ringrose, 2. Chrissy 'Pride of the Peninsula' Barrett, 3. Iseult 'The Weapon' Stephenson
O/40 Men:
1. Chris Clarke (also taking line honours), 2. Michael 'Abadaba' Abdilla, 3. Shannon Foy
O/40 Women:
1. Tiga Gilbert, 2. Kathy Naoumidis, 3. Sharon 'Shaz' Bourke
O/50 Men:
1. Warwick 'Wooz' Lee, 2. Alistair 'Ali G' Greenwood, 3. Damien 'Damo' Quinlan
Novice Class:
1. Rod 'The Mod' Clark, 2. Big Kev Fried, 3. Daniel Dodge.
More pics and vid to come
Thanks again to SUP Vic, well organised. Testing conditions alright but great fun.
Big Kev Fried,did,t expect that one.??
Did you guys have the "survivor" music cranking like last year.... Man that was funny!!!
Photos now up on Flickr. Thanks to Steve for sharing the camera duties in trying conditions.
www.flickr.com/photos/supvic/sets/72157649235938628/
Port Phillip Bay really turned it on for the Great Melbourne Paddle, lots of skills needed to come in on the shore break. Great job capturing the day Al and Steve. 
Select to expand quotecamelkathy said..
Port Phillip Bay really turned it on for the Great Melbourne Paddle, lots of skills needed to come in on the shore break. Great job capturing the day Al and Steve.
Photos don't usually capture how horrid the weather and conditions truly were, but those ones come pretty close. Good job.
