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This first, Hayling Island Paddleboard Challenge, attracted 35 competitors and proved to be a huge success, to what is to become an annual event.
We've a way to go to catch up with California or Hawaii, but what a great turn out! Thank you to all who supported, organised and made it possible. Next year this event will rock even harder. Expect big things. I do as there seems little point in thinking anything else.
A few lessons learned:
We need a cruiser division for non-racers
2 Races seemed enough for one day based on tides, fitness levels
Would like to see a second day of racing (just one race - a long one maybe)
We need more industry support.
Paddlers do want races, organised events such as this.
Gallery of Images - Malcolm Harris Photography
Photos below Courtesy Peter Clayton who snapped these
off unofficially while we paddled past.
Well, what a day, indeed what a build up!
More Images
Firstly, I want to thank everyone who attended for being so upbeat and positive in the face of impending weather conditions, which by divine intervention or otherwise, turned out to be spot on for us. At the start of the windsurfing event - 12pm, the time at which we were to originally start, driving, freezing rain and a maximum wind gust recorded in the HISC race tower was an impressive 51knots!
With less than an hour to go, everyone readied themselves regardless, then the wind swung around to the SW, blue skies appeared, the wind moderated to a kinder 15knots, at which time I think we all thought our event was truly blessed.
Thanks to HISC for their support of SUP, to the staff members, especially Colin Ralph, Marine Manager and to Gemma our lead boat driver (even if she did make our first race longer than intended..) race officials, one and all.
You know when an event has gone well, when you wake up the next day and feel a tinge of depression that it's all over; that the madness that was the day before, the smiling faces, the banter, the build up has now passed and your day now seems somewhat empty by comparison leaving you longing for next year; I think by that measure alone, I would hope that next year this event can build upon the pioneering support and participation of all that took part on Friday.
This was the largest participation number of any SUP event to date in the UK, which in turn makes it one of the largest in Europe. We learned some things along the way and welcome any comments to improve upon the day. I for one would like to see a two day event, I can see some international participants, more racing teams and a situation where we aim to expand from 40 -80 participants in 2011.
The SUP industry as a whole in the UK, now needs to wake up and cease from fence sitting and loitering in what seems to be an obvious indifference towards 'SUP Racing' and confusion as to how to make SUP grow. It's clear to me now that SUP events such as this, based on attendance and the stoke generated from it are critical to the sports growth and development towards greater mass appeal and understanding.
If importers, distributors, retailers and manufacturers, having the largest financial stake in seeing this sport grow, wish not to support events such as this and others, hoping, praying that folk will just walk in off the street and buy into the sport - well good luck with that. In the meantime, thank you again for your support!