Coast pair ready to stand up for Hawaii's toughest

Coast pair ready to stand up for Hawaii's toughest

Matt Johnston, Maroochy Journal
From: Quest Newspapers
July 30, 201112:00AM


Paul Jones of Maroochydore and Woogie Marsh of Peregian are doing the Molokai stand up paddle event in Hawaii. Picture: Ben Vos Source: Quest Newspapers


Sunshine Coast mates Paul Jones and Woogie Marsh will put themselves to the test this weekend when they attempt to cross one of the world's most treacherous stretches of water in the 15th Annual Molokai 2 Oahu event.

Peregian resident Marsh has completed the 32 mile stand up paddle crossing nine times before. Jones is on his first trip and said he was happy to have his mate by his side.

"I've got a good mentor and I appreciate someone like Woogie taking me because you would never do it by yourself," the Maroochydore resident said.

"It's good because I don't know what to expect and I'm a bit naive but it's a ride and a challenge and spending two weeks in Hawaii is happy days."

Marsh, on the other hand, knows exactly what to expect in terms of the mental and physical effort required but not even the most seasoned competitors can fully prepare for the confrontation with the fickle Ka'iwi Channel the channel of bones.

"This my 10th crossing but I'm still very much a learner as well. You never know what you're going to get. You can train your butt off and think you will do well and then the channel will just hand it back to you," he said.

"It's one of the largest bodies of water and gets the majority of the swell with winds and trades, so you can get up to 20ft breaking seas. You can get other days with k'ona winds and it will be as flat as.

"There are somewhere between five and seven races a year and if you want to go up and have fun in Hawaii, you don't do the Molokai.

"It's a personal challenge, physical challenge, mental challenge. It's not a pure down winder but you can go out and experience one of the biggest bumps you have ever caught in your life."

Marsh said the locals possessed an advantage with their knowledge of the stretch and the best courses to take but he said ultimately it came down to the conditions on that particular day.

The duo will be looking to break 5:30:00 for the challenge, which starts in Kaluakoi Beach on Molokai and finishes in Maunalua Bay on Oahu.

The stand up paddle event will be at the same time as the paddle board, which is shaping as a huge event. The Gold Coast's Jamie Mitchell is chasing a 10th victory.

Stand up paddle surfing continues to grow in popularity across the world and specifically the Sunshine Coast where more and more people are opting to pick up a paddle.

To monitor the boys' progress visit www.molokai2oahu.com

Winter Solace Time Trials

Start this Saturday 16th April 2011

7:30 at the Noosa Surf Club
8:00 Start

Bring your longer SUP Boards, Ski's OC1, Paddle Boards

Course TBA on day.

Catering for Advanced to Intermediate. (Open Ocean Paddling introduction to Downwind Paddling)

If you want to know me get in contact with me.

8 year old SUPing with Dolphins- A dream Stand Up Paddle surfing day in ...

Clean Up AUSTRALIA DAY

Noosa Heads Beach Boy Surfing Club in conjunction with CLEAN UP AUSTRALIA DAY.

Date: March 6th 2011
Noosa Woods 7:30 am (Claude Batten Drive Frist Car Park on Left)

Bring Buckets, gloves, ties

Goal to clean up Noosa River and mangroves along Noosa Spit.

Kids & Ladies - Noosa Woods / Noosa Spit (Dog Beach)
Men & Ladies - Noosa Sounds / Noosa Lions Park

When Finish we will head to the beach for a wash off.

Living the Stoke Movie....

Just a few days short of a year from when we filmed the trip....Finally it's out Here's the link to the trailer and the e-broucher for the Australian Premier , hope you enjoy the fantastic vision and original Australian sounds tracks. Please forward this to your friends...

Click here to watch the trailer>>http://vmail.fotomedia.com.au/livingthestoke

LAGUNA BAY LONGBOARDS STAND-UP PADDLE DIVISION NOOSA'S BIGGEST EVER

"War on Water"

Noosa's own Laguna Bay Longboards will sponsor the biggest ever stand up paddle division at the 2011 Noosa Festival of Surfing. In a joint announcement, Laguna's Tully St John and festival director Phil Jarratt said the expansion of the division was in keeping with the tremendous growth of stand up around the world.

The four-year-old Stand Up Paddle Pro surfing event will be joined by amateur divisions for seniors (over 45) and women, plus a 5-kilometre "loop" race on Laguna Bay prior to the Festival's opening ceremony on Sunday, 13 March.

"We wanted the SUPS at the Noosa Festival to reflect what's happening everywhere in the world of stand up," said Tully St John. "That is, everyone is doing it, from surfers of all ages to serious watermen and surf paddlers, from kids to mums who see it as a great workout. Laguna Bay Longboards SUPS will cater to all of them, and we expect to attract stand up paddlers from all over."

Festival director Phil Jarratt said he was delighted that a local surf company had come in as sponsor. "Under his various surfboard brands, Tully has been a major player in the local industry for quite a while now, and it's great to see him developing SUPS alongside traditional surfboards. While stand up has developed a life of its own in many land-locked places, on our coasts we want to see it grow side by side with surfing, and so does our governing body, Surfing Australia. We're all from the same tribe, and the Laguna Bay SUPS division at the Noosa Festival will demonstrate that."

Tully said he had been inspired by recent stand up paddle races, such as the Battle of the Paddle in Hawaii and California, to work with surf club officials in creating a loop course close to the beach, so that spectators could watch the entire race "up close and personal". Competitors will paddle five times around a one-kilometre triangular course, punctuating each circuit with a beach sprint. "Racing is always thrilling when you've got the paddle in your hands," Tully said, "But we want to make it just as exciting for the spectators." The Battle of the Paddle at Doheny Beach, California in early October, broke spectator records with almost 10,000 people gathering to watch a thrilling race, with more than 800 competitors in the water.

Entry forms for the Laguna Bay Longboards Stand Up Paddle division are now available on-line at the festival site, or you can download the attached form and fax to 07 5473 5974. For further information phone the hotline.

Other divisions now open are:

Fin-Free Pro, Noserider Pro, Tandem Open, Family Challenge

SUP Australia Inc. Peak Body Finally Born!!!

Standup Paddlesurfing in Australia has been crying out for a national association and finally due

to the hard work and dedication of Tania Nesbitt, SUP Australia Inc. has been born. The aim of the

association is to provide rules, regulation and training in the sport and support clubs with start-up

as well as providing competitively priced insurance packages. The association will also consult with

local councils on SUP School accreditation and genral requirements.

The progress so far..

• 7 Clubs have come onboard.
• Former ASP Head Judge Perry Hatchett has come onboard to compile the rules & regs.
• The surfing rules will follow the criteria as set by the SUP World Tour. (See Details HERE)
• Sponsorship being finalised.
• Event program being prepared, expect at least one major event before the end of the year!

The current Board Of Directors are:

• Jamie Mitchell
• Will Anido
• Darren Borg
• Simon Dodd
• Andrew Cassidy
• Stuart Murray
• Paul Jackson
• Jodie Marsh
• Woogie Marsh

The association is on the lookout for representives from WA, TAS, SA & VIC to sit on the board.

All interested parties can contact Tania at info@sup-australia.com