2019 Starboard Australia Black Blade National Short Course Titles

 

GO WEST

2019 STARBOARD BLACKBLADE-AUSTRALIAN SHORT COURSE TITLES…Supported by Starboard SUP & StandUp Paddle Sports

 

Exciting news ahead for this year’s Blackblade we have reduced the SUP short course distance to 3.7km. SUP’s will now complete 2 x laps of the main race course with the inclusion of a  “Boomerang” turn at one end . “You choose when and where to complete the turn which adds another tactical element to the race – should excite the Technical Racing Paddlers!"

 

2019 STARBOARD BLACKBLADE-AUSTRALIAN SHORT COURSE TITLES…Supported by StandUp Paddle Sports

 

The Starboard Black Blade presented by Stand Up Paddle Sports is the finest SUP Short Course regatta in Australia. The Black Blade was the first SUP Short distance race on a buoyed course in the world outside America. This event has a unique decathlon style format with distances of 200m,500m and 3500m,4500m for OC paddlers

Athletes race over the 3 distances with the times calculated to award the best paddler over all 3 distances

 

Race numbers are drawn from a hat to create a starting list for 200m heats, paddlers are then ranked into A,B and C races for the 200m final and 500m sprint race according to their heat times not age groups, this means we will have the fastest paddlers matched against each other. Paddlers will choose their lane according to the heat seeding. The short course  race will be a mass start.

 

To achieve a fair outcome over the 3 distances your time in the 200m is doubled the 500m stays the same and the short course time is divided by 3.

 

This modern, tried and tested handicapping system means you have to well in all distances to take out the title for your age division, but can make up time in distances you are better at. It’s a twist on just flatwater racing, it’s paddling consistency – sorts out the ultimate paddler – whether a Downwinder paddler, Flatwater racer or SUP Surfer – who’s got the Engine, Endurance and Tatics.

 

Paddle Loopers have not been forgotten novices can enjoy the day in a safe environment, we will have a 200m Race and a 2km course for any board size!

 

Board Class Main Event: Race Boards 14ft and under (must use same board for all 3 races)

 

Trophies awarded for Open/Elite* – Male/Female 1st,2nd and 3rd

 

Medals awarded for

Male U/40 1st,2nd and 3rd

Male O/40 1st,2nd and 3rd

Male 0/50 1st,2nd and 3rd

 

Female U/40 1st,2nd and 3rd

Female O/40 1st,2nd and 3rd

 

Junior Male

Junior Female

 

*Top 3 best overall times will constitute the Open/Elite division -recognising the most outstanding paddlers. Paddlers finishing outside of the top 3 will then be broken down into age divisions.

 

The Overall 1st placed SUP Open/Elite Male/Female will also have there name etched onto the Major Perpetual Trophy as well as the fastest SUP Paddler over 200m

 

We will again this year be inviting OC and V1 paddlers to race over all distances a trophy will be awarded for 1st,2nd and 3rd in the Overall category and a medal for the fastest OC over 200m.

 

SUP and OC paddlers don’t often get to race at a world class venue with certified photo finish timing so get your entries in early and start training and GO WEST for this great day of racing.

 

Who will be the fastest paddler over 200m? Who will be the overall Champion?

 

 31st of March 2019

Venue opens at 0730 for course warm up’s

Registration and Briefing: 0930

Race Start 1030

Presentations at 1430

Venue closes at 1530

Champion Lakes Regatta Centre, Armadale, Western Australia