It has been put to me that a Windsurfing Manufacturer may be willing to donate a significant prize to the wavesailor that does the most km's on the ocean in a year? It could be how many bottom turns in a year, your tracks will show bottom turns? Could be a comp for wavesailors only or ocean sailors?
Now the only way to verify that would be to wear a GPS & submit tracks.
We could possibly set something like this up on the GTC (Poor Nebbs
)
Its just an idea floated at the WWA night.
So I need some feedback, would you guyz be interested in something like this? What would motivate you do join such a competition & to wear a gps everytime you sail the ocean?
I have worn my gps wavesailing and its always interesting to analyse the tracks, but I do recognise that the true essence of wavesailing is the feeling of jumping and riding waves.
As a slight variation to this, if those shadowbox GPS's became popular, a "jump height" category would be an awesome separate category on GPSTC.
No doubt there would be some carnage chasing that record!
What is wave sailing? is it something you do when sailing? wave to each other as you sail past?
Jump height would be a great category!
i used to wear mine all the time in the ocean so id be keen. how do you classify its a wave sailor though . could be anyone out on the ocean really not just in the waves.. i know who my money would be on if its ocean sailors though and he doesnt live in WA
I think that shadowbox system is a real winner for wavesailors, can't imagine a wave oriented GPS competition without height 
You could also be able to determine the axis as well, so you could tell from the track if you did a forward loop or just a big jump.
As an aside, the inertial systems (that measure height and rotation) would also help to verify tracks where the GPS systems get confused. I think the next thing in GPS tech will definitely be those inertial systems, it's one step better than doppler imo
looking at the shadow box website there is lots that could be done.
highest jump,
biggest hang time
longest ride
most top and bottom turns
most tweaked top turn
biggest g force
fantastic device. 
Interesting how only gpsfreaks have responded so far? Wonder whether thats lack of understanding and education about gps or it doesnt belong w wavesailing?
If not enough interest from wavesailors then will make it open to all, people R throwin prizes at me but if not interested
GPS devices, and the GPSTC (along with seabreeze) , have been awesome in uniting the windsurfing community Australiawide, but largely to the exclusion of wavesailors.
If anything, windsurfers have probably been drawn away from waves, so to be able to run a wave oriented GPS comp would be great.
Most km in a year is a bit lame though, and the "ocean" is very hard to define - what about bays, sounds, Lancelin lagoon etc?
A GPS Wave comp is a great idea, but it really needs the shadowbox to make it work, as you can then have highest straight air, backie, forward etc, as well as some of the other suggestions above. It would be a helluva good motivator to go harder in the waves and really nail those big moves!
Very exciting stuff I reckon!
) and want to target wave & recreational sailors not just slalom & speed heads.
as a matter of interest..what does the shadow box thingy have that is different from the gt devices?
is it a software thing? or hardware?
cheers
as a matter of interest..what does the shadow box thingy have that is different from the gt devices?
is it a software thing? or hardware?
ok just goggled it
ok its got little spinny gadgets inside !
cheers
Sounds like a good idea Hardie,
but might be hard to police "wave sailor", using wave gear for ocean distance? or doing a string of half gybes to count as bottom turns? Maybe just start with altitude catergory.
Can we use our existing Navi GT GPS's? or would we all need US$500 Shadow Box devices for some form of accuracy and validity?
How accurate are the S'Box's?
Would they also be able to be used for record attempts in GPSSS? in conjunction with a Navi?
A single unit that does all is what is needed,
does the S'Box do this? does it have a dual chip set? 50hz etc?
For wave sailing I would prefer not to have a device strapped to my arm/body, I like the idea of the S'Box device mounting on deck using mast foot plate. One could easily make a plate to hold a suitable device in its waterproof case, as long as it had clearance from getting crushed from mast base. ie mount close and in front of uni-joint.
I'll leave it up to the Tech Heads to debate a comparison with the Shadow Box device re performance, accuracy, and cost against others if available and maybe a new device that Tom is working on and maybe its ability to record required data, it may need air pressure and temp added to it though to assist with accurate altitude measurement........
www.gps-speedsurfing.com/default.aspx?mnu=forum&forum=193&val=19874
Navi 50Hz....
"50Hz instrument, which can be described as "5 instruments in one", all fitting into a single GT31 case:
1. two (2) independent GT31 chipsets with firmware, sharing one SD card
2. three (3) accelerometers along 3 orthogonal axes, sampling at 50Hz each (150 acceleration measurements per second), logging to SD card.
Single SBN file from this instrument contains GPS data from 2 independent GT31 chipsets plus 3 sets of 50Hz acceleration data. "
I certainly enjoy, my GTC involvement, and my wavesailing, but I certainly don't want to mix the 2.
I suspect the manufactures who are offering these prizes don't really understand wavesailors.
i really think the idea of rewarding the sailor who does the most bottom turns or what ever in a year has got to be the most ridiculous thing i have heard in a long time!
if a manufacturer wants to follow this path then fine its their deal, how ever i would of thought the industry,and the sport of windsurfing in general would benefiet more from supporting and encouraging kids to sail instead.
why not offer the prize to a kid (under 18) that logs the most number of sessions for the year?
this rules out equipment advantages and rewards perserverance...
just my 2 cents...
Well said slave, and thanks for the photo!!!!!!
(You can see I've got my great GTC rashie on)
I've got the message loud & clear
Initially when approached, it was my gut instinct anyway..............but when sponsor/s come 2 u w $K's & say we want xxxxxxx & try to xxxxxxxxxxxx, I give it a go
The money and prizes will be reallocated back into the gtc...... sponsors have tentatively agreed. Watch the GTC space........
Will think of something uniquely wavesailing at some stage, tho my brain hurts.
How I've become an industry player I'll never know........... You have one tiny little Idea a brilliant web designer joins up w u &.......... I've created so much extra work for myself But at least windsurfing benefits
speaking from the cold south.
Maybe best action shot for wave sailors, IE a photo that is vouched as being taken in a particular MONTH or day?
Also I reckon the best Junior is a great Idea ???
Here in Tassie the Wave sailors have just made a big play for the organisational positions of office including the president and treasurer.
Of the wave sailors I've met only 2 even own a GPS, so yeah not likely to get a good result there.
