Making course racing even better (aka the super buoy)

[greatdane]

At yesterdays Vancouver SUP Challenge, the race director implemented the super buoy rule.  Similar in concept to what has been discussed on SUPRacer.com, an extra buoy was placed outside the set course in both the 12'6" course race & the sprint course.  The "super buoy" added about 10-20 seconds to your lap time, and each racer had to go around the super buoy once, on a lap of their choice. As a racer you could opt when and for what reason you took the super buoy. It made for a much more exciting race for racers and spectators and broke up the inevitable & predictable draft trains.  It was the most fun I've had in a race in a very long time.

[Jacko]

At yesterdays Vancouver SUP Challenge, the race director implemented the super buoy rule.  Similar in concept to what has been discussed on SUPRacer.com, an extra buoy was placed outside the set course in both the 12'6" course race & the sprint course.  The "super buoy" added about 10-20 seconds to your lap time, and each racer had to go around the super buoy once, on a lap of their choice. As a racer you could opt when and for what reason you took the super buoy. It made for a much more exciting race for racers and spectators and broke up the inevitable & predictable draft trains.  It was the most fun I've had in a race in a very long time.

stoked you enjoyed the super lap and its great to see people out there giving it a go!! Most of the feedback I have received since putting it out there in supracer has been all positive and now with the ultimate SUP showdown using my other race idea with the split bouy's and this also getting some very good feedback we might see some even more exciting racing in the future.

[SUPtanker]

They have been using this concept for a few years for the Monster Energy Cup Supercross race. The riders have to go through a "Joker Lane " at least once during the race that is a little longer and rougher. It really does add excitement to the race.

[XLR8]

They have been using this concept for a few years for the Monster Energy Cup Supercross race. The riders have to go through a "Joker Lane " at least once during the race that is a little longer and rougher. It really does add excitement to the race.

I really like this concept and would like the chance to race with it.  Here in the Great Lakes a core group of paddlers hit most of the regions races.  Except for the occasional visiting pro or strong regional paddler who doesnt travel as much as the rest of us, the lead pack starts to look the same a lot.  This concept could shake that up and maybe add some fun comraderie as we hoot and holler at the choices people make.  Guys that dont like to draft and dont like to pull could peel off if they wanted.

[PonoBill]

Sounds like fun, a great way to mix things up. It would require some close scorekeeping attention at bigger events though.

[peterp]

Sounds like fun, a great way to mix things up. It would require some close scorekeeping attention at bigger events though.

For the bigger fields you use the split buoy and the super buoy can be used for smaller 8-12man heats. I proposed the split buoy to Tristan over a year ago after watching the guy getting to the first buoy win virtually all sprint races in the Stand Up World Series.......

[Slow Ride]

Glad to see some changes getting traction. Hopefully the changes come to more than just the Pro level events. Did the BOP the open race which was a ton of fun, however I would have rather done the BOP surf race. Problem is too slow to paddle with that group.  I think there are lot's of strong paddlers out there who can compete in these new (and old BOP) racing formats, just not at the speed of the Pros.