LOC 2018 Tell your story here!

Windxtasy said..
if the current event organisers are not going to continue, then maybe WWA could tender for the job? There are lots of project managers in windsurfing who could do it well and may be happy to do so if they were going to be paid for it.

ThePhil said..
Was there a sup race this year? Also it seems like the only problem is the 2:30 cut off, having anybody else organise it will not solve that.

Bails said..
Incidentally while I totally agree with the other comments here about the marathon start time, in contrast the wave event was run in A grade conditions.

I will throw another suggestion into the ring which is for some spectator boats to be organised for the wave event. My non-windsurfing sister drove up to watch the event and was disappointed to find it takes place 500m offshore. It's a shame this excellent event doesn't get the viewing it deserves. Get a few cray boats running trips from the jetty @ $10 a ticket, should be win/win.

Mark _australia said..
I am finding all this very interesting.

As an observer who became involved (but have not raced) about the time it changed to a private company running it, I agree with all the complaints. I have also said much of the above to the committee over the last few years, and its a shame that when MANY of us said the above in the online feedback to the organisers in the last two years they clearly have not taken it on board.

Maybe we need to petition Project3 to actually listen? They are a private company getting paid for this event...

History:
It was run by Lancelin Chamber of Commerce - all non windsurfers - with influence from local windsurfers who assisted the commitee.
BTW - Shout out to Werner who was on the committee and was the voice of reason at many meetings I went to. (eg: trying to finish at the "windsurfers park" a few years ago when Gem Events ran it, and they had no idea that we can't cross a 25cm deep weed bank at 30kn. He put a stop to that rubbish even though a finish there would have benefited his business)
There needs to be a windsurfer and kiter's voice of reason on that committee and whilst not a WWA event I implore them to please try and go to all meetings. If I was in Lano I would, but my presence on the committee was not as a windsurfer it was in a professional role and I have a conflict of interest in some senses. I can't... and I am 400km away now.
Anyway it worked well with non windsurfers at Lancelin CCI and Werner helping, now all these complaints are popping up are since a private company and Eventscorp (Govt funding) got into it.

Now:
Gem Events (2yrs) and now Project3 (4yrs?) have run it as it was the only way to ensure major sponsorship and the Lancelin CCI are worn out / limited in numbers etc.
We are very very very lucky to still have it..... the event would have folded about 4-6yrs ago without going to a private events mgt company. But now they have had our $$$$ for 4-6yrs we need to push them to make it like it was. They sent a survey out last year, and many of us made comments like the above ones in this thread, and they have ignored it.

Suggestions:
(1) as above an early start can be as dangerous as a late one. Wind picking up and people get smashed. Start it later, or if Project3 are too scared of liability at least get a wind reading from offshore turn markers - there are commercial vessels out there with $2K weather stations on board it will be a good reading - and have 3 people reach consensus as to when to start. Not just one bloke under pressure from an insurance company (and 200 competitors ) deciding to start in 15kn when we all know it will be 25kn soon, as that's what the boats are showing.


(2) The issue with first turn marker was the police boat being there. It is needed and we are very lucky to have it every year. BUT this year it was close to turn one and then moved, and same time as the course had been changed to suit an offshore wind (a dumb decision in itself) so of course ppl wondered where the first turn was. If that happened in any other professional event there would be people suing as they missed their prize money. Ridiculous and inexcusable.

The one year they used the Police boat as first turn marker (about 4yrs ago?) it was brilliant. It is huge, and it also has a safety advantage as if the Police boat is the first marker, when the last competitor goes around they can pull anchor and follow slowly acting as the sweeper. If a cray boat also followed it, the water rats would not need to rescue, just keep following the fleet . That way it is safer, you could start at 4pm if needed and no confusion about where 1st turn is. Fixes all the safety concerns.

(3) WTF is with wave event on Friday with a reserve day of Thursday? In effect people need to book an extra day of an already-expensive accommodation cost just to be sure.
The new organisers act like the waves event plays second fiddle to the race. No, the waves is a really good marketing tool. It has the flash pics and video. The waves should always run Thursday with reserve days of Friday AND Sunday as it needs more wind than a race so it needs reserve days.
If it runs Thursday, that's the chance to get it on the news and garner some interest for the weekend. But, no, for the waves we don't get any results at all, or pics or anything, until 2 or 3 days later.

(4) the event is big enough. It is famous. It does not need the last few years' additions of downwind SUP, jetski, beach runs, yoga or anything.
The only addition I reckon was good was a freestyle comp about 4yrs ago, just before sunset, in front of the Thursday night welcome party. Lots of non windsurfers saw that and thought it was bloody brilliant. As a non watersports person you would be on shaded grass, with 3 food van options, listening to a band, and see amazing talent 30m away busting out moves.
Now you have heat, no food, hot sand and nothing, to maybe see somebody come in on a board then a party 6hrs later. What 'normal' Perth or Lano dweller would be interested in that "spectacle"?

Back to grass roots. Waves & Race. Race starts when seabreeze has stabilised a bit, not 10min after we get a puff of southerly.
Waves has plenty of time to suit conditions.
Farken huuuge party. (Thanks for John Keating at Endeavour Tav for getting that right again, I'm still feeling it )


DONE.