Race/Distance Board Showcase
January 16, 2009 · Print This Article
Well, I’ve done it. I committed to doing another board showcase on Maui, though this time it’s going to be Race/Distance/Downwinder boards and I’m going to try to keep it small and manageable. I’ve sent this letter to all the manufacturers I know of who make race/distance boards:
We are preparing to do a showcase for Distance/Race/downwind SUP boards on Maui at the end of February or early March similar to the general SUP board showcase we did last year. This showcase will not be a direct performance comparison–we don’t have the facilities or the expertise to rate board performance. It will reflect the paddler’s subjective opinions of the boards and provide general specifications. We will also provide some GPS data about general performance in downwind (a Maliko Gulch run), flat-water paddling, and over a Battle Of The Paddle-style closed course with legs in four directions.
Just to set expectations, this will NOT be a big event like last year’s showcase. Because of the nature of this showcase we expect to keep participation fairly small, and we will have only as many paddlers as we have boards.
Boards will be grouped in categories of Stock (12’6″ or less) 14 foot, and open length. All paddlers will try all boards (I hope). The showcase will run over multiple days to accommodate wind and weather as well as deal with the three venues.
If you would like to participate, please let me know as soon as possible. We cannot be responsible for your equipment, and you are responsible for getting the board(s) to us and any shipping cost for return. Please plan on us having your boards for at least a week. I understand this may be cost prohibitive for you, that won’t prevent your boards from appearing in the showcase. Shortly after the showcase is published we will provide a self-rating form that will enable you to add information, update specifications, upload pictures, screenshots of GPS data, or add boards to the showcase. In the event that you are not able to participate I believe you will find this system provides much of the showcase benefit.
If you have paddlers associated with your company that would like to participate, please let us know. We will need contact information for any participants. The participants will need to be available on relatively short notice for the three trial venues from roughly 2/25/2008 to 3/4/2009. We will try our best to complete all three in as short a timeframe as possible, but we’re counting on the cooperation of weather and swells.
The current general SUP board showcase receives about 11,000 visits per month. It’s a worthwhile place to have your boards listed. In the event that some of your boards are not in the general SUP showcase you will find the form for explaining the design aims of your boards, riding impressions, providing specifications and uploading pictures here: http://www.kenalu.com/report/board-showcase-form/ . Listing boards and paddles is completely free.
All the best,
Bill Babcock
Editor
Ke Nalu e-Magazine
Paddlesurfing’s Web Journal
As I said in the letter, this will NOT be an event like the last showcase. It’s going to be low key and mostly in the water. Last year’s showcase was fun, but way too much work and quite a bit of expense. I’m going to do my best to keep the lid on this one. You’ll see it all unfold right here.
Are the results posted for the Race/Distance Board Showcase?