wollongong comp 2005 when

[Don]

Good discussion... We're listening over here in the US ... we don't offer cash prizes for our comps. Friendships and good times are the rewards for now. Sponsors donate boards and gear which we use to sell raffle tickets. We assemble some of the donations in lots and offer gear as the prizes for top placers. The funds help pay for contest fees, trophies and keep KSUSA going for another year. We're not talking about a lot of $ here folks.

Winners get trophies. Raffle winners get boards & prizes.

I must say the trophies we have access to from our own internal creators (Jon Manss, Tom Backer, Bob Welch) are works of art.

My personal opinions are to stay agnostic on cash prizes. I don't think the US would have any more entries if we had a cash prize than a comp without cash. I could be wrong.

The spirit of US kneeboard comps is in a good space and each year we attempt to improve on our previous efforts. Our Sponsors (aka Friends of KSUSA) have helped us grow the sport and my feeling is there is a symbiotic relationship as I see so many different boards in the water now than a few years ago.

Please keep the discussion going in the interest of sharing ideas. The Aussies have decades of comps under their belt and it helps to read about the history and of course, with it comes emotion.

My only request is that we continue to respect each other in our discussions and know the outcome may lead us to find common ground... or not

Food for thought - our youth development program was kicked off last year at the Newport Gathering and we took as many boards as we could from our personal stash and donated them to any youngster who showed up. Come to a Gathering - take home a board!

Now that's rewarding for all of us!

Cheers,

Don

[waka]

KSA update
www.kneeboardsurfaustralia.com

[Headwax]

Hi Steen

Cash came up cause it was reported that contest was cancelled because of lack of sponsorship.

I assume this "lack of sponsorship" could be transcribed as "lack of cash". Could be wrong.

As a result Prof Hart asked previously what was required of a major sponsor. Unfortunately the question is still unanswered. ????

My suggestion of no cash prizes assumes that cost of entry could be made to cover contest outgoings, rather than just reward the few "winners". (And we all know that assumptions can make "asses" out of ourselves)

After all, as you so succinctly put it, it's the fun that matters.

And I reckon Albert will still turn up even if there's no money.

PS Ross, I'm an outsider too..... just with nothing to do after a hard day of staring a little old ladys' corneas.

From Carly Horadam's letter about her dad Grot. (available on Kneebaord Australia site)

I would also like to mention my dad. MY DAD IS THE WORLD'S GREATEST DAD. He is a Kneeboarder and has been surfing since he was 15, which is a very long time. When he competes he surfs in the
R O B division, which means really old boys. He takes the family to all the kneeboard competitions for hilarious holidays

She's so dry young carly.

Regarding Sponsorship Fiasco's:

Imagine back in '79 at the last "Sitmar Cruises" won by an exhuberant and very starry eyed young Dave Parkes who mounts the darkened stage at the Maroubra Seals, to much cheers and applause who, when he is presented with the prize ( a cruise for two people) from Sitmar's general manager, announces while swaying back and forth, something like "thanks very much, ummm... I don't know what I can do with this, maybe I can sell it".

Well, the general manager's jaw (older chap, tall and skinny, almost bald, nice pin stripe suit and droopy Raaf moustache) dropped to the floor and we in the audience just cracked up.

You see, we all knew that none of us were in it for the prizes.

We just wanted to surf.

Dave Parkes knew it too.

By the way, that contest actually raised money to donate to the Quadraplegic Association. You see, the Maroubra Kneelos, in some small way, supported the Quads Association.

Not the other way round.

Dave, if you read this, please forgive me.

[ross]

steen,
i'm keen mate.next decent swell and you guys are on it,let me know and i'll be on the road.
had sick waves down south on the lefts of that break at the end of the potholed road(being cryptic here people)3-4 weeks ago.3 foot to myself
any excuse to head south suits me.
seems like this thread is heading positive again
one question though.
i just read the KSA site and it claimed that surfers not involved with clubs appeared uninterested in joining for the sake of creating a teams event(unless i've misinterpreted).
when and how were non club surfers approached on this matter or was there just an assumption made in regard to our reaction?
what if prizes were only offered to our juniors and cadets?
the rest of us are old enough to buy our own gear,me thinks.

hey wax!if kneeboarders are outsiders and we are outside them,me must be supremely wierd

[Steeno]

Hey Ross....your on......very cryptic lol

And regards to non club members not wanting to join a club, I felt that was a little harsh...what was said, was an assumption. It looks like a dig at guys who aren't in a club at the moment to me.

the Idea of a teams event instead of club event was so there can be more than 3 teams (there is only 3 clubs). There is no A or B teams then either. we are all the same.

These formats where not orders of any sort, they where just ideas being thrown in the air to see what sticks.






but...................nothing stuck

[Headwax]

Steen

Maybe John is feeling a little sensitive at the moment cause the Gong contest didn't come off?

I'm sure he didn't mean anything caustic.

He works pretty hard.

As far as getting something to stick, it has to be in the active sense rather than the passive sense.

If you know what I mean.

[grot]

Headwax
Boy have you got a knee to the groin coming from Carly , the school speech thingy was written by Monique Horadam aged 9 NOT Carly Horadam aged 17. doh

grot

[Headwax]

I just left town yesterday

[Irish]

Well done lads this is more positive, we are all in this together to cherish and push our sport/lifestyle and stick it to the surfing establishment who believe that kneeboarding is dead. I wholeheartily agree with Steen and his comments well said mate.
I know i am new to the whole contest scene but I LOVE IT and i love the friendship and the characters on the circuit, I try as hard as hell but at the end of the day i leave a weekend stoked.. if i could see more of you more often then that would be brilliant.....
So looking forward to the Phillip Island comp and all that this special weekend holds for us all..... and anyways if we dont have waves Turtle is organising a trout fishing comp at his property with the winner taking home some primo trouty stuff not cash!!!!!
oh yeah Albert its cool to be a token Aussie its the in thing, just ask Pommy, Im one as well but proud as to be living my life here!
love you all
Irish

[john -]

anybody who chases cows is dinkum - dont matter where they were born

[grot]

I'm with you Irish, do you wanna join the Novo's???
grot

[albert]

Hey, I just remembered. Wasnt there a raffle that was supposed to happen just after Coffs for a Parkes board?

Does anyone know anything about this? Is it going to get raffled off at Phillip Island or what?

Thanks
Albert

[hart]

albert

I wonder if your post has something to do with the latest update on ksa about a raffle



hart

Is this just a follow-on from Coffs as you suggest..



Or perhaps something new altogether

I hope all who read this know I'm just asking, huh?

[scoop]

Gee

Looks like some action is required......lots of answers needed here....let me look into it......though seems like there are lots ready to give opinions without standing up and being an official office bearer ....(it is so easy to judge) but just as easy to put up your hand end step on board and give help in an officail level when needed to get things happening......a comp isnt just 2 days of surfing......when you are dealling with councils....Surfing NSW....Surfing Aust...prospective sponsors etc ( you guys) it takes a real effort
Nobody gets payed for this.....and we keep real jobs too.....
And I have contributed heaps of my own money to make sure this circuit
keeps going....(OK I get a Tax deduction but not near what I outlay) ,,,and I am not looking for gratitude...just a comp for everyone to come and have fun.....whether or not you may be THE winner on the day

Bruce... All our major sponsors have given cash...since I have been on the committee ...

to all
and I believe no more debters have come forward to claim funds owing from the world titles ...so hence we are free of debt

At the bendalong comp we employ a head judge...2 x days pay...plus meals ..plus lodging
We didn't get any takers for Coff's or Cronulla after applying to Surfing NSW through the correct channels
Dave Parkes offered us a board (without asking) at Coffs but through difficulties ...couldnt attend ...hence we didnt have the said board for a prize ...John offered it as a raffle to all competitors ..But as I know still hasnt been received...(not that I feel we wont) ...so as far as I know still is available as a prize....
RE prizes.... Most are bought... of late as no major product sponsors jump on the bandwagon ..(a HUGE THANK YOU to our smaller ones)

I hope something comes from the WOOLONGONG COMP even if tagged onto their (WAKA) monthly comp or whatever....
I have been unavailable to offer help (why I stood down) for Woolongong.... so cant offer any excuses but personally feel it still could go on whether a teams event or kept the same format as always
I havent spoken to John or Smurf in a while but hang loose and I will get back to you all as soon as I can
John and I have been able to bring the circuit this far over the last year or so but to be honest need more people giving DIRECT input via the KSA organisation by means of positions on the board ....It doest take a lot of time.....just some......There are a lot of people out there who want a comp to hapen each year....put your hand up and have a say
Maybe there is something in a no cash comp
But places like this are not the place to do it
It has to be done through the proper chanels
OK ... my speel over for now... I wil get back soon

cheers guys and thanx 4 the patients

Tony

[hart]

Bruce... All our major sponsors have given cash...since I have been on the committee ...

Tony, your post sounded laboured..and it shouldn't be.

You are no longer part of the executive.

Please understand that my question(s) was all about what amount of 'cash' it took to run a kneeboard contest as a major sponsor..

Because obviously without one, Wollongong didn't happen..



And maybe if we know what it takes ($) we can do something about it in the future..

hart

and thanks for confirming that the latest ksa raffle is the result of a previous unfulfilled contest commitment and not a new arrangement