Unlimited Prejudice! Again!

[swordfish1227]

Just a thought - You register for the races ahead of time, right? Why not have the organizers allow any class in that gets 5 or more boards? If you pre-register it shouldn't  be too big a deal I think. And if you don't pre-register you better check and make sure you will be in a class with enough entrants.


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[PT Woody]

Yes I agree with that - a class should have at least 5 entrants or forget it. At a recent state championship for longboard surfing, due to the number of categories enforced upon them, organisers handed out 36 trophies when there were only 45 entrants.

[upwinder]

At a recent state championship for longboard surfing, due to the number of categories enforced upon them, organisers handed out 36 trophies when there were only 45 entrants.

You'd be a bit miffed if you were one of the nine...

[TallDude]

In the beginning of SUP racing, there was really just an Unlimited class, and a Stock Surfboard style SUP class. The surf style was the original Lairds. The race boards were modified unlimited prone boards. Joe Bark and Craig Richmond (for the US west coast) made unlimited prone boards. They were the first of a handfull of guys, who started making SUP race boards. Most of them where Unlimiteds. I looked back at race results from races 5 years ago, and there are mostly unlimiteds, and Stock Surfboard class with only a few 14' and 12'6. The BOP format pushed for a race board that was maneuverable, faster than a surfboard style SUP, but could still be surfed. The industry has moved in that direction as well. 12'6 and 14' boards fit in most the CNC machines. Unlimiteds that are stringerless usually have to be done in two peices if they are CNC'd. 12'6 boards are cheaper to make. Then there is the logistics, 12'6 boards are easier to ship. So the 12'6 becomes the standard ( or Stock Class) minimum race board. The 14' finds it spot for the bigger people, and still surfs. Unlimiteds don't surf or turn well, but they are the still the fastest SUP's on the water. I guess the populace wants convenience. Ruled by popular vote?

[peterp]

. So the 12'6 becomes the standard ( or Stock Class) minimum race board. The 14' finds it spot for the bigger people, and still surfs. Unlimiteds don't surf or turn well, but they are the still the fastest SUP's on the water. I guess the populace wants convenience. Ruled by popular vote?
[/quote]

Popular vote would be easy to implement - ban classes and let line honours decide, then the 12'6 would die out pretty quickly, which perhaps goes to demonstrate that it is a class on life-support by virtue of competition rules more than popularity....granted it is slightly less cumbersome to ship/carry around, but honestly, what else has it got going for it? And do we really have to feel sorry for the Jackos of the world who get to travel all over competing in exotic locations....? I'm too jealous to even answer that question myself.....

[TEX_SUP]

This is getting funnier.  I didn't realize so many had a persecution complex. 

[TallDude]

There is a one way street here. The outrigger clubs were the first to welcome a SUP class in their well established events. They had already included prone paddlers, so there was aloha for the SUP. As the SUP events grow, there is no aloha for the OC's, Ski's, and prone paddlers. I guess that might be funny?

[pdxmike]

This is getting funnier.  I didn't realize so many had a persecution complex.  

You're right about that.  There's clearly some "persecution complex" evident here with the people who seem so threatened by unlimiteds.  

I can understand people not wanting one for themselves, but saying everyone should be on 12-6s, taking momentum away from 12-6s will hurt the sport, etc. is a bit silly.  To me, the more inclusive, the better.

[peterp]

Inclusive is good for the sport - diluted is not. If you have too many classes then you may not have the best guys competing against each other and the average guy will not know how far ahead the pro's really are and the spectators will be trying to figure out how the guy who came 9th became world champ. Bring what you want (=inclusive) but don't create too many classes....rather focus on age-groups with a minimum no of entrants to constitute a group. Then you can compare with people your age and the rest of the field as opposed to: "You did really well for being on a 12'6...."

I'm sorry if I'm ranting on about the 12'6 but I never understood it from day one...

The unlimiteds wil always be around but I think majority will be heading towards 14's in coming years.

[TallDude]

This dude was 6'+ and had a wide wingspan.  Not sure what his paddle length was but it was a good foot more than most others.  Looks like he was on a 12'6", I believe he won the elite race at Newport.


Hey Tex_Sup,
That dude at the Newport race is Daniel Hughes. He's one of the best SUS'g guys (kids about 19 or 20 years old) out there. If he was on an unlimited, I think he would give anyone a run for their money. We are starting to see these younger guys going from SUS'g to the racing side, mainly because of their sponsors. Some of them like it, and stay with it. I'm sure that shorter 12'6 or 14' race board felt like a cruise ship to a guy who usually SUS's on a 7' x 27 x 3.5 board. He's one of the first to 'get air' in competition. He just rips!!  http://www.youtube.com/embed/UvfSYHS1Ouk?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

I can't figure out this quote thing. It's like I'm trapped in here