Tallwood Constructions Battle of the Blades
The Battle of the Blades is an iconic event that takes in some of Bunbury's most picturesque aquatic locations including Koombana Bay, The Cut, Leschenault Estuary and Australinds Ridley's Place. The event is open to SUP’s and Outrigger Canoes (OC1). The Blades boasts one the best novice courses with a downwind orientation on the West Coast, and is the perfect starter event for anyone interested in taking their first steps into paddling competitively. Originally a local club run, this event has been thrown open to all comers, especially those who are visiting WA on the back the amazing week that is Warden Marr Week presented by SUPWA. Watch this space as this event progresses. Presented by Paddlers for Paddlers, The Bunbury Wavemasters Outrigger Canoe Club.
Where/When
December 12 Ridley's Place Australind
Check in 1100 - 1230
Briefing 1245
Race Start 1400
Divisions
Tallwoods Battle of the Blades (8.5km)
Open Men/Women SUP - 14 foot and above
Open Men/Women OC1
$100 to 1st place each division. $100 and trophy to line honors.
Community Course - The Mervin 4000 (4.3km)
Men/Women SUP 12'6 and above
Men/Women SUP Cruisers
There will be a cash prize pool on offer provided by our main sponsor Tallwood Constructions, as well as spot and place prizes thanks to the support of our secondary sponsors YOB Australia and Jet Juice. The Blades full course will also be a handicap, with a hand painted trophy ( a paddle blade) by one of our juniors going to the line honors winner.
The Mervyn 4000 is a crossing of the Leschenault Estuary using the same winds that bring us Warden Marr week. Run completely in enclosed waters, paddlers looking to build on their downwinding experiences as well as new paddlers looking to explore downwind, can do so in a fun safe environment free from contradicting swells that often come in a ocean environment. YOB Australia and Jet Juice have generously donated a great prize pool to help make this a fun and inclusive event.
A facebook page has been set up for event updates, and a webpage is about to come online.
We'd love to share our little run with you. Part downwinder, part flat and a sneaky surf break in the mix, the Blades is like cross country running, except on water. And with no running.
Check : www.facebook.com/events/991427727547302/
Email : bunburysup@tpg.com.au
Our event premise is simple. To share and enjoy the stoke that is our sport to seasoned paddlers and newbies alike, and to encourage more events to grow in regional WA.
Another great poster by one of the local juniors for the Blades. For the racers out there, the event is now a compulsory part of the lead up for paddlers aiming for Outrigger nationals, which should see a great field of OC1's vs SUP for the run across the bay. A great little race for any traveling paddlers staying on after Warden Marr week, Bunbury is about a 1 1/2 drive south from Perth and an hour from Margaret River.
I did the run today in a weak 15knt WSW'er. Plenty of bumps the whole way. You just gotta know where to find them??
The entry portal for the event is now up via: aocra.com.au/race-listings.php
A week out the weather models are showing a seabreeze which will make it a fairly quick run across Koombana Bay and up the Estuary to Australind.
Todays line honors winner not only will pick up some handy prize money, but the coveted Blade custom painted by one of our club juniors.
Conditions are still forecast for a 20 knot tail wind. Perfect conditions to explore doing a downwind event. You can register at Ridley's Place Australind from 1100 onwards.
AOCRA members $25
Non Members $33
Full boat support on course from Bunbury Sea Rescue and worth coming for a look just to be apart of the best paddle raffle you can be in. A carbon paddle, YOB Australia store voucher and a signed King of the Cut courtesy of SUPWA.
Results from Saturdays Tallwood Constructions Battle of the Blades and pics via Connie Hughes Photography.
Bunbury Wavemasters came of age on Saturday when they hosted their first downwind event. The course followed a long known local run across Koombana Bay, through The Cut and up to the finish at Ridley's Place Australind. This was also the first ever event catering to the Aloha Classes, SUP and Outrigger Canoes. Including juniors who were chaperoned separately, just over 40 paddlers competed in this first for Bunbury.
Rated as one of the most accessible downwind run's in WA, the field not only attracted some of the states best paddlers in both disciplines, but many first timers and juniors looking to get their wings on a downwind course. With a consistent 20-25 knot SW wind blowing, whilst not the ideal wind direction, the scene was still set for a fast track.
SUP's were given a three minute head start on the OC1's after the race committee took into considerations the downwind component v's flat water. Freo Pod paddler Will Lee quickly asserted his claim to the prize of the coveted "Blade", by setting a fast pace across Koombana Bay to The Cut. OC1 Paddlers Nathan Piacentini and Dario Mestrovic led an assault from the OC's in a bid to catch him. The OC2 pair of Annie/George Williams, although their class not in contention for the coveted blade, also joined this lead pack working their way through the SUP field to try and bridge the gap.
In the end, Will proved to strong for the faster chase pack of oc1/2's to catch him, and took out line honors. In a display of dominance, he actually put distance on the OC2 pair in the flat sprint to the finish, as if he was toying with them in the downwind section to the finish.
he real story of the day was the number of juniors and first timers alike that took part in this event. The course although challenging in it's own right, is the most accessible in WA during the summer seabreeze season. All competitors were over the line in just over an hour, with the first competitor over the line in 46 minutes.
Many thanks to our sponsors who supported and believed in us to get this event up and running;
Tallwood Constructions - Our gold sponsor who backed the idea of this event from day one. Managing Director Alex was one of the first people in the south west to take up SUP and has been involved in the scene from day one.
YOB Australia - A huge supporter of SUP in the South West and coming into their third year of involvement with the paddling scene here. WA SUPS, paddles and accesories made for WA conditions.
Jet Juice - A local juice and sushi bar franchise, that approached us to be involved in this event. There food is what powers our lifestyle.
Carbon Kevlar Paddles - Local OC paddles built for local conditions. Check them out, MD Adam is a passionate paddler who love his OC and has the creative drive to create dynamic and intuitive designs for WA conditions.
SUPWA - for there assistance in promoting the event as well as providing a signed KotC race singlet for our raffle to raise finds for Bunbury Marine Rescue.
Bunbury Marine Sea Rescue - another bunch of passionate vollies, these guys provided on water support for the event, bringing valuable expertise, resources and experience to confidently run this event.
See you all next year. May the froth be with you
