Battle of the Brands 2013
Being asked to represent Starboard at an event such as the
battle of the brands was very much a dream come true, finally after racing for
almost 2 years and picking up some good results I had the opportunity to showcase
my abilities. There was some concern leading up to the event if it was indeed
going to get the go ahead, conditions were looking fairly horrendous and the
RNLI didn’t really want the event to happen, fortunately the case was submitted
that all the riders were at some level professional and sponsored and able to
handle said conditions. I was particularly please as I wouldn’t have been able
to make a different day due to work commitments. The Saturday racing went ahead
and conditions were tough but doable, I personally prefer having some
challenging sea conditions because it’s what I train in and gave me a slight
advantage over someone who only would paddle on lakes/rivers. So with chop and
a F5 wind to deal with I felt confidant despite being on a fairly narrow board I
hadn’t previously set foot on (26” wide all-star).
The Event had 3 races of which we were assigned a team mate
for all 3, the main race, 5k was shortened due to conditions so it ended up
being 3 races of into wind slogs and
downwind chop surfing. The first race was a 400metre sprint out to a
buoy, turn and surf back in catching the runners in the swell and using the
wind, up the beach round a flag and back till you had completed it 3 times,
when coming back in the 3rd time you tagged your team mate for their
3 times. My team mate was Carl Thomas. The sprint out was fairly tough getting
used to the board but after that first surf back in I had got used to its
balancing points and was happy with how it handled. The 2nd sprint
out I managed to pip a few places and caught a great wave back in and pulled a
further 2 places, I powered through and tagged carl for his set of 3. Even
though it was a cold day with a biting wind I was very warm by now.
The second longer distance race was very much the same but
more of a box shape so involved an initial sprint out with side on wind a
section parallel to the beach and then that downwind swell surfing back to the
beach where their was a surf zone buoy turn and back for lap 2, no beach
running was involved or tagging, everyone at the event was racing and as a
team, getting over the line first didn’t mean a first place it counted when the
2nd person in your team crossed the line. Carl was struggling with the
conditions a little bit and so I was holding back waiting for him but I didn’t want
to go off and leave him, we started as a team and I made sure we ended as a
team. I did how ever have a bit of time to chat with Marie Buchannan on our
surfing 1st leg, the benefits of living by the coast and SUP surfing
as well as flat water racing certainly paid off.
The last race as the same as the first race, but just 1 leg, sprint, buoy turn, up beach
tag and done. All in all a great experience and myself and Carl finished as the
8th Team in the Battle of the Brands a respectable placement.
Starboard took the bragging rights with Ryan James and Roman, being top dogs
for the day. Surf tech second and Starboard (Paul Simmons and Peter) 3rd.
I really hope I can make it to next year’s BOTB and represent starboard yet
again. Thank you to everyone down at WESUP for setting up the event, Tushingham
and starboard for their continued support and my team mate Carl Thomas, cheers
buddy good racing with you.
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