unlimited multi hulls

[paddlebuilder]

I would love to see a really unlimited class for those that want to compete with both technology and the human engine.  For those that can't go unlimited but still want to race we keep the stock lengths.  Personally, based on the way technology often impacts price I will never be able to paddle super high end technology but I have tons of fun racing my garage built 12-6.

[mittenkitten]

Frankly, I think both Corran and Celeste are right. Basically you want 2 classes:
- full unlimited, no rules.
- one design from a non-overpriced manufacturer, so that anybody can compete, rent gear on site, keep the same board for years, buy used boards.

With the current situation you get the worst of these worlds: make the sport progression stall, and still have people pay huge sums of money to get the "best" gear obeying the artificial rules (full carbon, hollow,...)

Agreed. It's nice to feel like I'm on an even playing field when competing in a race, not having my ass kicked by some uber athlete on a custom freak of nature board that I would never be able to afford. And if I were able to afford or make such a board, I would want to compete against others paddling something similar as opposed to blowing poor John Doe on his 11" rec board out of the water. What's the fun in that?

[Celeste]

Frankly, I think both Corran and Celeste are right. Basically you want 2 classes:
- full unlimited, no rules.
- one design from a non-overpriced manufacturer, so that anybody can compete, rent gear on site, keep the same board for years, buy used boards.

With the current situation you get the worst of these worlds: make the sport progression stall, and still have people pay huge sums of money to get the "best" gear obeying the artificial rules (full carbon, hollow,...)

But anyways, who i am to speak, my fastest board for cruising is a 8'0" :-)

I think we are as well, I fully agree with Corran about the desirability of a fully unlimited class, and I have no issue making it the elite class, to ensure that development and innovation does happen, but I also believe that there should be lower classes that are more restrictive.  I don't care for the single design idea, it can work for local events, especially when a manufacturer signs on in support of the race series, but other wise single design classes don't interest me much.

 

[mittenkitten]

In my multi-tasking state I must have skimmed over the single design point - I'm not really for that, either. Pretty satisfied with the categories as they stand now actually, with the addition of a the truly unlimited class as mentioned.  I competed in an event this year where there were about 5 surf-ski's that competed. They had their own class and came in waaaay ahead of any stand up competitors.

[SURFnTURF]

Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it.    The first kayak surfing competition That I attended was mabey  12 or 15  years ago at Folly Beach, SC.   well over 50 competitors, most in plastic WW boats with a few composite models around.   Those composite boats cleaned house!    The introduction of the composite surfing kayak simultaneously raised the quality of surfing to new heights, and killed the sport as a whole.   Most of the entrants to these events were whitewater kayakers.    When everyone was in plastic boats, they did fine, but had no hope of competing with the speed and green wave surfing ability of a composite boat.   They were relegated to an "also ran" class and stopped coming to competitions as their spinning  and cartwheeling in the foam piles scored poorly against those who could bottom turn in the green.    Now, at least on the east coast,  we are lucky to have 15 people show up to a kayak surfing competition; and that is one that is well promoted.
    Of course it's a different sport, and one has to have a reliable roll to seriously enter these competitions, a skill that takes many several years to master, and some never do get it, so they stay on their  sit-on-top models, which is another "also ran" class.
      Now there are composite whitewater playboats that are half the weight  of even the lightest of the plastic models, making anyone who does not have one (at $3000.00 a pop) unable to be competitive  in WW competitions.   And as soon as these carbon playboats makes serious contact with a rock...   But then again if you're loaded, or have a corporate sponsor,  it's no big deal to crunch a boat.    Which brings me to another class.   Slolam boats.   Many are made so light and fragile that they to be used for one competition, then they are done.    The win is all that matters.
     I personally am a middle of the pack-er in the elite division of SUP.   I have been at it too long to seriously consider any other division, but want to compete against the real competition, who will be on the fastest available  models available.    Right now, the absence of unlimited SUPs on the east coast, almost makes them an "also ran" class against all of the 14 er's and 12'6 ies.    However, once someone starts making them in quantity on the right coast so they are readily available I'm thinking that most of the fastest people will want to get one, if it is financially viable for them.    Money talks.
     I'm not saying that there should be  restrictions on unlimited hulls; quite the opposite.   Simply the term "unlimited" should mean just that.   No restrictions.   But be careful for what you wish for.