Next Sunday morning, March 22nd, get Onboard the train to lighten the load, whoo hoo
WA's best and only SUP Marathon race.
Held this year in the beautiful surrounds of Bayswater - near the finish for the Avon Decent.
The WA Surf Flatwater20 is the premier marathon even, its a rewarding challenge and it is tactical, the key is to draft your competitors, which results in a long conga line of paddlers - which is quite spectacular to watch.
This year we have a couple of new additions to make the racing even more exciting. Teams of either 2 or 3 can enter - electing to either paddle the course as a team or divide the course into relay legs or both! Team paddling is similar to the Tour de France where a team of 2 or 3 will create their own train and swap over the lead to get the fastest pace - by mindful however, that you will be timed off your slowest paddler (don't fall off the train!). The relay option is simply doing a lap or 2 each of the 4 lap course (5km per lap). The change over pen holds the paddlers, as your paddler comes by you tag them to change over or you can elect to paddler with them as a team - tactical options The change over pen is a set area of ~100m, you must tag within this zone to chahnge over with your team member - if you are outside this zone (ie you both paddled past without tagging) then you are deemed to be paddling together as a team (draft train) - the time or chnageover person on the next lap will be taken off the slower paddler in the team.
This will make for excting racing - anyone can draft anyone (within their gender), so there will be trains and break aways - something always going!
For course the real focus will be on the solo paddlers.These guys and girls represent the top paddlers from the state - taking on the full 20km for National representation. Should be a great day - make sure you you get onboard a train!
Board length - 14'
Divisions Open Female Solo Open Male Solo O/40 Female O/40 Male O/50 Male Open Female Duo Open Male Duo Open Female Trio Open Male Trio
Presentations immdiately after the final competitor finishes.
Register here ~ http://www.supwa.com.au/tidyclub/event/1415
Exciting new format with teams racing - another first in Australia!
2 or 3 person teams taking on the 20km course. Only one person from each team does the start and first lap, after that you can choose to have your whole team on and work a train or continue to tag each other every lap.
There is a Tag Zone watch out that you tag within the zone area ~100m, if you go beyond the tag zone - even after you have tagged your partner, you will be deemed to be both racing (train option) and the time will be taken from the last paddler on course in your team!
Brings a few tactics into play. You can draft anyone (except opposite gender), so the solo guys are going to find a few trains available. If your paddler on course falls off a train, does your whole team tag in to form a train to catch up and run the risk of burning out or do you continue to tag fresh paddlers in?
Great viewing for spectators with running commentary from the beach. The Tag zone will be great fun, watching paddlers coming off and on trains!
For newer paddlers it is a perfect distance. Your 3 person team means one paddler will do the 5km lap twice. You choose when that is, but it is suggested that your stronger paddler do the first lap and rest for two laps and then do the Final lap. 5km will take ~40-50mins for most beginner paddlers - just a bit over the distance for a full PaddleLoop. So about an 1.5hour break between 5km legs for one paddler, which is very achievable. The beautiful surroundings of ascot make this a sensational event to paddle in and the circuit course makes it easy for family and friends to watch.
Very, very excited about this race - something for everyone!!
The team race is certainly a great format, very achievable for any level of paddler so much so my 12 year old son wants to enter!
He has a partner but is there a site where paddlers without a partner can get paired up with other paddlers to form a team?
Should be a fun day, can't wait.
Select to expand quotemocka said..
The team race is certainly a great format, very achievable for any level of paddler so much so my 12 year old son wants to enter!
He has a partner but is there a site where paddlers without a partner can get paired up with other paddlers to form a team?
Should be a fun day, can't wait.
I can't make it due to work 
But there are couple of south west paddlers looking for a third. Anyone from the south west keen to make a team?
Please contact Event coordinator Joe at jfry@enerflex.com if you require a partner for the event.
I haven't heard portage mentioned, I take it there is none this year?
Also I think I have entered but couldn't see any confirmation email, there's been that many paddles the last few weeks I can't keep up, is there a start list somewhere or can someone from SUPWA check for me.
BTW yep I agree cool looking trophy.
Yep portage is dead. Only Joe will be Portaging - but it will be after the race and from a glass 
I think you will find Joe will be Port-ageing the whole race.
have you ever checked his Camelbak
We have some people looking to build a sup team for Sunday morning.
Contact Joe to lighten the load & join in the fun, all aboard the sup train :))
Contact jfy@enerflex.com
Might pay to leave a bit earlier to get to the FW20 on Sunday as some lanes will be closed on the Kwinana and Mitchell freeways for a bike ride or do as Stimo is doing and just paddle there!!
Select to expand quoteWFry said..
The old frother is portaging right now!!!!
Nice first post mate your all over it
OK I'm in for the long haul.
The forecast of 22knots SSE could make things 'interesting' I'm not to familiar with that section of the river, hopefully we can get a bit of protection on the upwind legs and have a bit of a downwinder on the way back.
We know this stretch of river well. It will be a grind on those upwind legs going towards the city, there is moderate protection in parts. A killer when paddling adjacent to the island. Then the fun part when all is quite, the down wind leg :))
Ahh yep that will be tough then, I had visualised paddling the other way, upstream.All good though, be kinda like the Black Blade and SUPFest 5k'ers, effort then sweet reward.
Heard from Peter Martin at Ascot Kayak Club, he know this part of the river very well. There is a lot of shelter from the breeze in around Ascot, it certainly won't be like the Black Blade, in terms of an upwind slog. If we felt the event was going to be compromised for all divisions, we would have re-scheduled it, Peter's feedback is the water will be fine.
Entries will remain open tonight until 8pm - enter onlinehttp://www.supwa.com.au/tidyclub/event/1415
Good number of entries for 2moros WA Surf FW20. Great to see a WA Surf team in the mix. Who will take out the teams race - will 2 man or 3 man teams work? Will they relay it or hold a team train? A world first, team racing - if you not paddling, make sure you come down tomorrow to check it out.
The WA Surf FW20, redefining Flatwater racing!
Report below from smokin Joe Fry.
The WA Surf sponsored – Stand Up Paddle - State Marathon Championships were held in Belmont City waters. The beautiful surroundings at Garvey Park at Ascot Kayak Club and the protected waterers made for another great event put on by Stand Up Paddle Western Australia (SUPWA) .
Line honours went to to the incredible Will Lee who fought off the determined young gun Wesley Fry. Fry stayed with the champ for 3 laps of the four lap course but was belted by Lee in the fourth.
Belinda Stowell Brett was outstanding in the Ladies Open, Belinda lead from the start and was never threatened by her competitors – although the very talented Susannah Wilson showed guts and determination in her first event and is looking forward future races.
Over 40 mens was tightly contested between the very fit Vance Bryan and the old plugger Joe Fry. Vance lacked power in the early stages and gave the more powerful Fry a 100m lead on lap one and the race smart plugger was able to hold off the very impressive Bryan.
Over 50 Men belonged to Kent Wright who is talented in flat water and ocean racing and surfing, the old frother held out the ever improving Steve McCullough and newcomer Sandy Burt.
The 2015 Event incorporated male and female 3 person and 2 person team events that proved to be great fun and added colour to the gruelling 20km race. Many highlights in the teams including young Sam McCullough who paddled strongly to ensure his team won gold. Annabelle Brockman was so determined she paddled past the turn point and did a tour of the Swan Valley before returning to edge out Anne Hooper who also paddled very well in her first marathon.
Open Men – State Marathon Champion
1st place - Will Lee
2nd place – Wesley Fry
3rd place – Peter Pridmore
4th place – Leo Beyers
5th Place – john Verity
Women - State Marathon Champion
1st place – Belinda Stowell Brett
2nd place – Susannah Wilson
Over 40 Men– State Marathon Champion
1st place – Joe Fry
2nd place – Vance Bryan
3rd place – Gordon Stimson
Over 50 – State Marathon Champion
1st place – Kent Wright
2nd place – Steve McCullough
3rd place – Sandy Burt
TEAM DIvision DUO Men
1st place – Cameron McKay & Marcus Tardrew
2nd place – Jace Burton & David Slater
3rd place – Jack Howe & Blair Harrison
Trio Team 1st place – Sam McCullough, Luke Jenkins & Matt Cairns
2nd place – Trenton Smith, Darren Hope
1st Place - Annabelle Brockman, Michele Jenkins, Anne Lockwood
2nd Place – Anne Hooper, Ashleigh Smith
Check out more pics from the day from photographer Paul Smyth ~https://www.facebook.com/paulsmyth.fotography
