Australian Surf Rowers League

There has been recent commentary in respect of finishes.

Comments range from;
use of technology (still or movie camera shots of finish line)
placement of flags in relation to the line of the wave at the shore line
runners at start/finish could trip over
take the starter out of the equation
puts more emphasis on the ability of the sweep
a boat that hits the beach first should be declared the winner
a surf boat race replicates a rescue (our core value as a lifesaver)

I personally favour a dry finish
less pressure on the starter
it encourages a sweep to start at his/her discretion (yes you don't have to go when the gun goes)
it encourages a sweep to steer a straighter course back to shore (after the gate cans)
any of the 5 crew can run
Have a start/finish judge at each start/finish pole with a stop watch. When the gun goes start the stop watch. When the runner makes contact with the start/finish pole stop the stop watch
finish judges aren't exposed to the elements for an extended period of time
finish judges health & safety isn't at risk (read out of control boat hits finish stand)

There are probably more cases to support my comments. But think of this. OT is the (supposed) pinnacle of surf boat rowing. We all aspire to compete in OT but there are obstacles (mainly $$$$'s). BUT, they have incorporated run starts/finishes.

Over to you..............................

Tony,

OT has wet starts and dry finishes otherwise no real need for a Check-Starter.

In OT this year there were 17 Young Guns, 24 Open Men and 12 Open Women, the Young Guns only competing in the last round.

I think that generally the OT crews are the ones who would do all if not most wet starts and dry finishes in competition throughout the season.

Crews have to be experienced in dry finishes and some of the comments about the dangers etc appear to come from those who have never or rarely do them.

OT crews have 9 races each round so that is for the Open Men - 216 starts and finishes each round, 864 over the four rounds. There wasn't a problem with any of the 864 starts, and if there were half a dozen 'misses' at the finish out of the 864 I would be surprised. Same goes for the Open Women who have half the races each round - 108 and 432 over four rounds, no start problems and I would be surprised if there were half a dozen misses.

Obviously it is generally the bowman doing the running and they are all very competent, both Women and Men.

As the bow chick, I'm not sure if I like the idea of having to run up the beach after doing all in my power to row the boat - I have trouble "going for a run" after a race as it is!

Yes, I know it can be done but to lose a race that my crew would've won on a wet finish because I fell over running up the beach...

In the end, a dry finish is up to one person, not the crew. I like being part of a crew effort...

I have competed in every year of Ocean Thunder from day one and have loved every second of it. The event is made for television and run finishes make for good viewing, especially when it's near flat.

I do not agree that running in any form of normal SLSA/ASRL competition should be favoured to a wet start or finish unless extreme conditions warrant such. There have been some bad accidents in the OT post bowman getting out that have seen sweeps and rowers being run over by the boat and equipment being damaged, all because everyone loses focus on their surrounds as they urge on their runner and or because they have lost balance and direction.

This whole debate is based on many starters being dead set useless. Lets face it, when we get a good start from a good starter, knowone complains.

The talk of a coaching clinic/workshop that outlines correct procedure for starters and check starters should be turned into reality.

Just my view!

1. Stop watches at the finish wouldn't work, too much room for human intervention without a check in place.
2. If a starter can't get a 4 boat race right they should retire. Most OT races are 4 boats.
3. OT is a stand alone series and needs to be different to stand out from the crowd.

Scott's comments come from someone who has been in the thick of it, they cover the whole thing well.

daboatie wrote:


THIS.

FYI we hold a 2 day officials coaching weekend every year up here for the boat officials. They have a great weekend, and we love how good they are on the beach every carnival.

Guys n Gals, great commentary.

Some observations.

My first sentence, it's more about finishes, but starts come into it.

1. Stop watches at the finish wouldn't work, too much room for human intervention without a check in place. There were used in athletics & swimming for years & years & years and they worked. We still use stop watches in still water rowing. Tell me, would you prefer to sit on a tower for the best part of a day exposed to the elements OR sit in a tent an every 7 minutes press a button on a stop watch when the gun goes, then stroll to your designated finish pole and press a button when someone touches the finish pole?
2. If a starter can't get a 4 boat race right they should retire. Most OT races are 4 boats. That's the point in respect of starts. Some guys just cannot get it right. There is also the conspiracy theory based on bias and even to the extent of nepotism.

C'mon Catt (with your dodgy knees) It can be any of the 5 or all 5 who run, it's the first crew person to the finish pole

Hey, our brother board paddlers run to the line carrying a board

It's about eliminating the variables.

Have a great day all

Tony,

if I was a Starter and saw those comments about the conspiracy theory based on bias and nepotism I'd be really pissed off.

I have been check-starting National competition for 18 seasons and I have never seen a starter biased either towards a crew from his own club or a crew that a family member was the sweep of or biased against a crew from another club and deliberatley gave them a bad start, and that goes for nepotism as well. I have Check-started for them all in all of the scenarios described.

In recent years ALL the Starters at the ASRL Open Championships including Stockton two weeks ago, the Aussies including Scarboro and Kurrawa, Coffs Harbour & Ocean Thunder have all been of the highest standard regularly in the 'washing machine' and other difficult conditions and have always maintained the highest degree of integrity.

Comments like that also attack the integrity of Referees who would allow something like that to go on without doing something about it.

And I so advise!!

That will do Greg....

I am sick of hearing how many races you have check started, where, when and who.... I DO NOT CARE

You may be right and every start was splendid with no favouritism and no bias to a club or a crew, however when there are family members involved both with gun and boat in the same race, no matter how courteous to all, the starter is subject to extra scrutiny.

That was Tony's point....

So, if the starter gets on the stand and has a family member or perhaps even club mate (crew) present on the line THEY should take the initiative and step down for that race and pass the gun on to the next bloke, it is not hard.

People these days often withdraw from situations that may subject them to a CONFLICT of INTEREST despite their integrity or intentions.

I for one would think that starting a sufboat race would be one of the 1st places you would not want to be in that situation.... the surf plays funny tricks and despite giving everyone an equal start, 2 strokes into the "Washing Machine" things change pretty quick and funnily enough the starter is the 1st bloke everyone looks at....

Apart from that and seeing I am here, I voted wet/wet....(you still have a job Greg) My view is to get technology onto the finish line, blokes have put stuff up on here before about it, there are programs that can handle it, someone just has to do it. Run finishes are not the answer, I have the photos to prove it!

.... Oh and as for the (wet) starters, 100 metres of course, 6 or 7 lanes (boats) are you dreaming??!! That is virtually impossible to get 100% correct, the rule book gives you choice on the way out, deal with it as best you can, sometimes it works for you sometimes you go drinking.

RS,

I know what Tony's point is all I am saying is that I have never seen bias by a starter in competition I have been at.

If a starer chooses to sand down for whatever reason then that it his choice.

Starters do their best in the circumstances as they exist at the time.

Rocket Surgeon wrote:


RS surely you know by now that all carnivals revolve around Greg Davies check starting? Sometimes even in "washing machine" conditions!! In 3 weeks time we will get the rundown of how unfair Kurrawa is too with the repost of what a check starter's job is.

gd,

thats bullshit i have seen starters favour certain clubs or sweeps. i know there is human error but not in finals or in near flat conditions. its the same on the finshing line

beaver has just completed his gun licence gee i cant wait to see the topic when he statrs a big final.. please....

re check startes cmon give us a break we had our own personal 1 in the state final making sure we were doing the right thing most carnivals its the same. they favour certain crews and sweeps also.

Dan wrote:


Sorry Dan I have never noticed....