Hi everyone,
I was just reading over the forum re. the best OC1, the surfrigger was described as a 'slug', I tend to agree, interesting thing is that the Surfrigger is the OC1 to be used at the 2006 Sprints, for those planning to compete what does this mean to you?
Also, I think that this ties in with the discussion about whether outrigger paddling could one day be an Olympic sport.
It would seem to me that there is a problem that from year to year (Sprint to Sprint) the canoes used change, wouldn't the world va'a assocation need to decide on a 'universal' design?
If you used an Olympic water sport like sailing as an example, there all the boats in a 'class' have exactly the same specs. So from year to year, regatta to regatta, all sailors in a class are using the same boats. When the Olympics come around, they can compete knowing that they 'know' the boat they're competing in and are not disadvantaged by different equipment.
Do you think outrigger paddling is the type of sport where your 'knowledge' of a particular canoe is an advantage? Or is is just how each individual paddles?
Submitted by ocsamoa on Mon, 11/08/2004 - 5:23pm
I think 'knowledge' of a canoe is definitely an advantage, though maybe not as much in sprints.
Regarding the next sprints, I really know nothing about the surfrigger, but I did get a good look at Tiger's canoes used in Hilo. I only went out for a 5 min paddle in one of them, but from that and watching everyone race (I've never watched so many races in my life) I thought those were great canoes for the sprints and would be a good candidate for a 'universal' ivf design.
#1 Mon, 11/08/2004 - 7:05pm
You would also have to please all of the different countries/associations, rudderless/rudder, open cockpit/sit on top, clip in iakos/traditional lashing the list would go on...
http://www.moananui.co.nz/surfrigger.html
anyway here is some info on the surfrigger
#2 Fri, 11/12/2004 - 12:42am
We have to get 70 odd countries paddling at international level before outrigging can even think about competing at the Olympics. And that my friend will be a ways off. I think we are at 20 to 30.
I'd say that the Surfrigger is a good flat water boat. They probably weigth in abit heavy, around 15kg and have very little rocker, so on the bumps there are heaps better. But straight line, flat water, rudderless they are pretty sound.
I think everybody is going to have a shock when they go to turn one of the Mahi Mahi. They have a sharp edge at the back and front. Not flat bottomed like else where.
As far as your last question.
The best are the best. There are pretty much flat water canoes and ones for swell. Most flat water work around the same theorys and if one is slightly more sensitive than another, if your good you'll be on top of it.
Just race hard.
#3 Thu, 11/18/2004 - 9:09am
were there 70 countries competing in walking... or that funky handball sport before they put it in the olympics? i cannot imagine that either of those sports were competetively as large as paddling until after being included in the olympics. Are there seventy countries competing at an international level for crew?
#4 Thu, 11/18/2004 - 10:02am
In Europe you can fly over 20 countries in a day, european handball is most likely massive over there. I used to play judo - its a 'nothing' sport in Oz, but second biggest sport in the world thanks to the Asians and Europeans. Outrigger canoeing just can't compete at the moment. And I think more Australians play Judo than outrigger canoeing!
#5 Sat, 11/20/2004 - 3:24am
[quote="ocsamoa"]
It would seem to me that there is a problem that from year to year (Sprint to Sprint) the canoes used change, wouldn't the world va'a assocation need to decide on a 'universal' design?
If you used an Olympic water sport like sailing as an example, there all the boats in a 'class' have exactly the same specs. So from year to year, regatta to regatta, all sailors in a class are using the same boats. When the Olympics come around, they can compete knowing that they 'know' the boat they're competing in and are not disadvantaged by different equipment.
[/quote]
At the olympics they also take their own equipment to compete in, whether it is rowing, cycling, shooting, canoing, etc. Are you suggesting that each country ship their own canoes to the world events (as long as those canoes are within the officially recognised specification) ?
#6 Thu, 02/03/2005 - 2:48pm
In the Olympics currently the ICF sets standards for boat specs like maximum length and minimum weight. Those are typically the only dimensions that have restrictions. The hull shape and narrowness of the boats (i.e. Kayaks & C class canoes) is up to the builder/Athlete and their weight/skills. There is no reason that "general" rules like these cannot apply to Outrigger canoes as long as the same flexibility to hull shape and width is allowed. Essentially most of the top flat water kayaks and canoes converge to similar design patterns for hydrodynamic and stability reasons as would OC designs that were meant for either flat water or open ocean conditions. The ICF sets guidelines not explicit dimension/shape requirements. Imposing explicit restrictions on shape/size etc does not help the sport and boat manuafacturers evolve designs and survive real world marketing and business for their livelyhood. Let the athlete decide what boat is best for them under "flexible" guidelines.
#7 Tue, 02/08/2005 - 11:42am
Kia ora,
After reading all forum regarding the OC1 for the worlds at karapiro 06 I think its time everyone got ova their concerns about the Surfrigger. A thought; Maybe spend more time paddling and preparing urselves for the event so that the limitations of the boat, what you think they are, have as little affect on your perfromance in NZ. The Surfrigger is by far the most common design of OC1 in NZ. Tried and proven I guess. We like all other countries experience different sea conditions, swell and tide, wind and weather. And the surfrigger tends to perform the best across the board, especially when trying to source a waka that competes relitively well in most conditions. Don't worry team, if your on your game then you will do well in NZ, regardless of what canoe u drive. I can tell you that our Governing body is working real hard to make this the best worlds yet. The course is on a fresh water lake and is the same place that our world champion/Olympic gold rowers train and compete. Facilities are awesome.
Remember its the paddler that wins the race not the waka.
Signed 'Slug' Driver
#8 Sun, 02/13/2005 - 10:34pm