Race organization/ what can we expect ?

What services can paddlers expect from the race organization ?

Submitted by eckhart on Sun, 02/24/2008 - 5:12pm



a t-shirt and lunch.


#1 Sun, 02/24/2008 - 6:14pm


what about safety etc. ?


#2 Sun, 02/24/2008 - 7:25pm


what about breakfast?


#3 Sun, 02/24/2008 - 7:28pm


pre-race breakfast with scrambled eggs and a nice cup of coffee - hm, great idea.


#4 Sun, 02/24/2008 - 8:10pm


safety? but you can count on a t-shirt and lunch.

Ok in any given island one man race you can expect what ? 4-5 escort boats and that seems to be an acceptable amount. We won't question that. OK but these 4-5 escort boats cover sometimes over a hundred one-manner. Imagine if 10 got into trouble? You are not safe at all. On the ocean, safety is an illusion, count only on yourself, hope others will help.


#5 Sun, 02/24/2008 - 8:35pm


You are right regarding safety. Don't be so sure about the T-shirts, they may cost extra now.

I would like to find out what others think about this:

a race costs an entry fee; what do you expect in return ?

I have no idea how much it costs to set up a race. Thus I have no opinion on the fee.

Safety - how many escorts should there be for 100 participants ? One jetski is not enough.
Would you wish to have paramedic/physician/nurse as back-up in the field ? We have participants in the 50 - 60ies.

Food - do you mind about the quality ? optional ?
T-shirt - do you care about it ? Rarely something really nice.
Awards ? Hm.


#6 Tue, 02/26/2008 - 1:00pm


Hmmm. Why did this subject come up now? Did someone do today's race?

I've heard from a couple different people they were none too happy with how it went. Not sure what happened exactly, but there were some bummed out paddlers.


#7 Sun, 02/24/2008 - 10:09pm


jc9_0 -
for me this subject came up when I heard that the Molokai Hoe had been sold to Epic. It turns out, that this is a rumor only and not true.

Funny as it may seem to me: after paying a race fee in a for profit environment, I feel like I am a customer.

My suggestion: have a race entry fee that covers the actual cost of the event - no profit. This should be evenly split; the race organization should never have to cover cost.
Offer lunch tickets, T-shirts, souvenirs, photos, you name it, - if you want to make a profit.

I am not involved in organizing the races; I wouldn't mind to help though.


#8 Mon, 02/25/2008 - 4:03pm


Having put on cycling races for many years, I think that first and foremost competitors want a race that starts on time and has the results up promptly.
Beyond that, people want to feel that they are getting value for their money. That means, food, t-shirts, good distribution of prizes, etc. unless the entry fee is truely minimal.
Safety. With large numbers of paddlers spread out over several miles, its only realistic that paddlers realize that first and foremost they are responseable for their own safety. Yes, there should be some sort of safety "net", but you got to be able to save yourself until you get saved.
Fun. Some races just have a good atmosphere.


#9 Mon, 02/25/2008 - 5:53am


Molokai Hoe was sold to Epic?


#10 Mon, 02/25/2008 - 12:07pm


MikeA - please correct me if that is wrong.


#11 Mon, 02/25/2008 - 1:16pm


How much are paddlers willing to spend? As a group paddlers are pretty cheap, Obviously not in the equipment we buy but what we want for our money, Honestly 15.00 for a race for what you get is outstanding, Look at any other sport ie, cycling, running, triathlons, You are hard pressed to find an entry fee for less than 20.00, That generally does not include lunch, or a t-shirt.
For 15.00 I think you can expect to get a race, period. You want lunch, safety boats, insurance, permits, and a t-shirt. Get ready to start paying for it,
Safety should be the first concern for any race organizer, I have seen too many times that one or two of the minimum three safety boats that are supposed to show don't, The race is held anyway because you know there will be huge grumbling if it is not, The biggest problem is many times Safety boats are donating there time and expenses, If they don't show or the weather is too cold what are they out, Generally nothing, I honestly think we should have certified safety boats, they should know the rules and what is expected of them, and how to deal with situations, I heard recently of a safety boat that left for the harbor knowing there was still a very slow paddler on the water that they were tired of watching, or the time a paddler doing the Malibu to Marina race had a rudder problem, after being given a tool to try and fix it was told they weren't sure if the rules allowed them to help and took the tool back and left him to paddle zig zag for the entire race, Or there was the time I watched safety boat pull up to paddlers, ask them if they wanted to jump on the wake and proceed to pull them ahead,
You will get what you pay for,


#12 Mon, 02/25/2008 - 1:20pm


What about free post-race beers and strippers?


#13 Mon, 02/25/2008 - 2:24pm


I learned, that it is a rumor that the Molokai Solo had been sold; thank you for clarifying this - now I am happy again. :)

I generally like the races, courses do not matter that much to me. It is always nice to get to some place where you would normally not paddle.
Haleiwa was a great race two years ago.
The championship races, the relay have been great.

The race starts are not that bad, everybody knows how it is done. Just for the time keeping it must be a mess.


#14 Mon, 02/25/2008 - 3:59pm


Numerouno, the closest to beer and strippers is the Kailua Iron. Hooters girls and 1 free beer.

oceanohana is right. I imagine its very difficult to organize a race. There are so many factors to worry about. Plus you'll never make all the paddlers happy. Someone will always bitch and moan.

eckhart, I would be willing to go out on a limb here and say I bet very few race organizers make money.

Poops on all of us.


#15 Mon, 02/25/2008 - 7:10pm


poopoopaddler - yes, that has been confirmed.
Probably it makes more sense for someone like Epic; they can likely see it as marketing expenses. I do not know.

I do not think that some profit would be a bad thing.

The Honolulu marathon generated ~ 18 million dollars for the city, so I was told, many volunteers to help, Red Cross, etc.


#16 Mon, 02/25/2008 - 7:41pm


We pay $ 20 no free t-shirt but good grinds, nice trophies, even NAC rose to medals after last years rolls of Duct tape for reward.
A boat at every turn. Last paddler gets herded in by last boat on course.
I love it and so does everyone else, I think.


#17 Mon, 02/25/2008 - 7:45pm


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