Round 1 - 11th March 2012

After our previous run of bad luck conditions wise, we had our finger crossed that event 1 for 2012 was going to have surf.

Besides being the first event for 2012 it was planned on being our first "heat format" surfing competition.

With the mix of ability levels in the club, we wanted to make sure everyone surfed two heats, got to mix it up in the water with all skills levels, as well as push themselves against surfers of a similar calibre.

With this in mind, every ones first heat was a random draw who you surfed with.  The second round of heat placements was decided via a ranking from each persons two highest wave scores from round one.

The top four scores were virtually the "A" final, next four "B" final and the "C's" composed of a three man final heat.   

Thankfully there were waves!  Low tide Ocean Grove main beach had some small clean waves pushing through for us.

Everyone bustled to get the tent set up, rego's signed, heats placements sorted and get in the water.

 The first walkout.

Sparx as usual, was looking for the lefts to smash.

Sparrow swooping off the bottom....

.....then off the top.

Alan looking down the line.

 Ant staying close to the curl.

John going hard.....

....and driving down the line.

 Leon using the rail......

...and drawing some S's.

Kev just stoked to be on the water.

 Tom and Leon both made some new friends.

Tom was frothing as usual and cranking some nice turns.

The judging was a very serious business!

New member Dave was a welcome addition.

Digging deep for one of the better waves of the day.

Michael showed the groms how it was done.

Lummers span and slashed his way to victory, making the most of the small conditions.

As the 'C' graders headed out, the first hint of the sea breeze was coming through.

While maybe  not as high performance as the other finals, the "C's" were just as competitive with Dave, Kev and Alan making sure they were catching just as many waves as each other. The placings here were Kev and Dave tied with Alan only a smidgen behind.

The level of surfing in the 'B' final was easily as high as the "A's" and any of these guys could have done well in that final.  This was taken out by Tom followed by Michael, Leon and John.

Sparx, Ant and Sparrow all pushed Lummers in the 'A' final in the rapidly deteriorating conditions.  With final placings being Matt, Sparx, Ant then Sparrow.

To the victors went the spoils.

With each final winner taking home some refreshments for the afternoon kindly supplied by VB.

We'd like to thank all those that turned up, helped out and made it an awesome morning.

 Our next event was originally scheduled for the 13th of May but someone reminded us this was mothers day.  So the next event will be Saturday the 12th of May.  Further dates to put in the diary for the rest of the year are the 8th of July, 9th of September and 11th of November with more detail on each event to follow.

Hopefully we will see you in the soup sometime soon.

Cheers

Bass SUP

Victorian SUP Titles 2012

The 2012 Surfing Victoria Stand Up Paddle State Titles were held on the 26th February based at Point Danger Torquay.

It was an early start for those in the Marathon Race, paddling 20km from Ocean Grove to Torquay in stiff cross/offshore winds.

Marathon 20km Race

Men:
1^st - Cam Hosking
2^nd - Heath Meldrum,
3^rd - Luke French,


The Surfing which took place at Point Danger was at a high level right from the start.  The strong offshore winds proved trying at times (especially for keeping the BBQ alight) but by the time the finals came around it had eased to nicely groom the 2-3' waves.

 Surfing Victoria did a great job, keeping the whole event ticking along with clock like precision to make sure the three disciplines got adequate time and resources to be successful.

Phill once again caused some lens envy.

Ant Stephens ripping it up in the over 40's

John Takle hacking his way to victory in the over 40's

Like father, like son, Matt Takle also shredding to take out the open mens.

The commentator said at one stage, "I think Graham Briggs has surfed every heat"

Will Cousins having a trip to the nose in the open mens final.

Graham Briggs (aka Sparks) was throwing water around that would have made a ye olde firemans bucket line proud.

Matt Takle showing why he took out the title.

Matt Lumley pushed the younger Takle all the way to take out second place in the open mens.

Sparks pushed his competitors both young and 'old' to make the open and over 40's final..

More senior Takle attack!

More of the Sparkle show.

Young gun Kristi Page took out the open womens this year.

Final results:

Surfing
Over 40’s Men:
1^st -  John Takle
2^nd - Graeme Briggs c
3^rd - Courtney Dalton

 Open Mens:

1^st - Matt Takle
2^nd - Matthew Lumley
3^rd - Graeme Briggs

Open Womens:
1^{st -}  Kristi Page
2^nd – Lucy Bell


Paul Harrington and Max Wells kept an eye on the conditions to plan a great course for the technical race.

It was spectacular to watch a whole field of 12'6" boards all scrambling to catch a wave across the point.

It was an exciting race to the finish, with the winner coming back from technical problems mid race to sweep past the field and take victory.

Technical Race

Mens:

1^st - Heath Meldrum

2^nd – Luke French

3^rd – Zeb Walsh

Women:

Jean Ringrose Coyne

Thanks to Surfing Vic for putting on a great event.  The Sponsors: VB, Strapper Surf and Core Board Sports and supporters Kahuna Street SUP and Farm Foods.

A big thanks to Torquay SLSC for the water support and for looking after one of our own when he needed it.

Also cheers to the guys from SUP Vic and some of our own Bass SUP members for advising to Surfing Vic on different aspects of the event.

Chrsitmas Paddle and AGM December 2011

On Sunday 11th of November 2012 Bass Strait Stand Up Paddle Club held its Christmas Event (#5) & AGM.  Once again the plan was to hold the surf component at Raffs near Barwon Heads.

We all arrived from 7.30am and the swell had risen overnight  from 1' to 3' so we were amping each other up to have a crack, even with the 20 knot onshore.  However it was just too windy with the occasional 25 knot bullets pumping through so we moved over to the river.

As always it had been perfect THE DAY BEFORE..., 28 degrees, clean  and offshore.  With a good set up on the Barwon, we still had heaps of fun.

Matty and Maizey on the mini downwinder

Justin ready for the social down wind race to the boat ramp

It was supposed to be a social downwind paddle but competitive spirit / red bull kicked in as the flag dropped.....

Placings.......Leon 1st, Nick 2nd, Justin 3rd.


Courtney, Nick, Matty and Rusho paddled up wind looking for waves at the Heads

After two down wind runs and van shuffles,  a few more crew arrived so the BBQ was lit to cook up a feast for Christmas.

Everyone kicked back....

....before the 'serious' business of the AGM.

It was great to see a couple of new faces for the events in Oran and 'Box Head'

With the formal part of the day complete we packed up in record time, pumped for some waves, the convoy headed back to Raffs for a surf after discussions of a drop in  the wind.

It was good for a kite or windsurf but still no go for a SUP surf

Some drove back to Cosy corner Torquay where it was protected from the wind and finally scored some small peelers.

BASS SUP - wish to thank all our members for a fun 1st year and we are looking forward to seeing you in 2012. 


We welcome new committee members in Nick, Graham (Sparx), Paul, Courtney and Justin with Matty M re-joining the committee and the office bearers being re-elected in Matt (President), Rich (Secretary) and Kev (Treasurer). 

We would like to thank outgoing committee members Phill and Cam without whom the first year of the club would not have occurred as successfully and look forward to their continued participation in Bass SUP.