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Anna Little – Race Director for the Big Dippa: This was a challenging day for a lot of paddlers. This is especially true for those who do not have much ocean experience. We decided to run the races with shortened courses, a reduced leisure fleet, and cancelled the juniors’ racing. The conditions were harsh, but it was a true ocean race. Some paddlers chose not to go out, but those who did came away with more experience and hopefully a drive to keep improving their ocean paddling skills.
Glen Sloss: As forecast, the waves were up! An exciting scenario: getting the opportunity to race in big waves. For some, it might have been their first time facing such conditions; some people opted not to paddle, some people chose to give it a bash and see how they went, and if it was too much for them, they came back in, and for others like myself kept pushing and pushing until we got through the break. From my Surf Lifesaving experience, I know I can happily handle myself in water like that if I were to lose my board. After a 4-minute tussle with a huge batch of seaweed wrapped around my leash, I knew my race as such was over in the distance, but I persevered and completed it.
By the time the tech race came, the waves had more of a shore dump. This made it tricky for the less experienced paddlers, but the likes of Annie and Hector showed it’ s possible to navigate the waves just fine. For me, part of the challenge of this sport is understanding the water and how to handle the board. The more chances people get to experience a race like that, the better we all become. Where I am from, we don’ t get waves that size or with that much energy and movement, so I really enjoyed the challenge and experience. I knew what to do, in theory, but putting it into practice was a different story!
Anna and co. run a great and safe event; the safety cover was always visible and nearby, and with plenty of eyes on the water, everyone’ s safety was ensured. Overall, I think it was a successful race day; there were a few bumps and bruises and damaged boards, but I think it’ s all part of the sport we choose and love to do, especially when paddling on the sea. Mother Nature is in charge.
Andy Burrows: It was fantastic to watch Hector, Annie and James paddle in those conditions. They displayed incredible balance and skill. Reflections for me were not to paddle directly into seaweed – it isn’ t easy to pick out of your leash or board when you get dumped in the break; take two boards to such races, one of them wide and stable; make sure your leash functions before you go out – because
paddling with it dragging behind you in such a swell is soul destroying.
I didn’ t enjoy the race, but I enjoyed the day. It was great catching up with people and hearing each other’ s trials and tribulations. There’ s a great spirit in those who come to these events, which overrides the actual race. It was a tough event to run. Great credit to the race director.