The Lion Island Challenge will be held on Saturday October 9th 2010. This year the event will feature a surf boat and board race as well as the ocean racing and spec skis. More information closer to the event.
Ocean Series Ski Race - Lion Island from Ocean Sports Media on Vimeo.
More photographs of The Lion Island Challenge at www.blastpaddlers.com
The Lion Island Challenge – October 2009
Once again The Lion Island Challenge lived up to its name with more than 162 competitors taking to the water in what can only be described as truly tough conditions. For the experienced it also has proved to be one of the best ski races in the Northern Beaches Oceanseries thanks to the fantastic organisation by Brett Greenwood and members of the Avalon Beach Surf Life Saving Club.
Freshwater Beach’s Tim Jacobs year confirmed his dominance over Sydney's paddling scene by taking out the Challenge for the third year in a row as well as winning the Epic Dash for Cash to the first buoy in the race.
With a howling southerly wind, and rising southeast swell, Race 2 in the Bing Lee LG Ocean Series race was a true test of skill and grit for the 162 starters as well as the many volunteers who manned everything from registrations to the breakfast BBQ.
As Jamie Stewart wrote on
www.surfski.info.com. “The first long section of the race after the hotspot was an upwind battle to south Palm Beach, around Barrenjoey Headland. This headland has claimed many a ski in prior years and is not to be messed with, but despite the thumping swell there was no major carnage this year.
The organisers made the most of the conditions, putting a buoy well out to sea off Palm Beach, right in the thick of the swell. This meant that the run from Palm Beach back to Lion Island brought a grin to the faces of fit, experienced downwind paddlers.
“Coming back around the headland, some of the swells resembled mine shafts, and with the outgoing tide it made for some really exciting surfing - if you could pull on to them that is. A lot of paddlers struggled to get on the swells and link up the runs as the wind, which was buffeting from the south all the way to Lion Island, made it difficult to pick the right line.
“Simply finishing the Lion Island Challenge in 2009 was an achievement in itself. Three paddlers were forced to pull out or were rescued mid-race by the safety craft, due to the challenging conditions. Full credit to the race organisers and safety crews who made sure that all paddlers were accounted for at the end of the day.
“Before the race, organiser Brett Greenwood was considering altering the course to more sheltered waters, but I for one am glad he didn't. The Lion Island Challenge for 2009 was tough, but fun, and a real challenge for everyone who took part.
Coming in behind Tim Jacobs was Olympic kayaker turned downwind ski paddler Tony Schumacher in second and former iron man champ Michael Clues third. Former Olympic kayak paddler Yanda Nossitter won the ladies' race.
The Lion Island Challenge, has grown into one of the most prestigious paddling races on the calendar and is always popular due to the many “extras” such as valet ski handling on the finish line, cash prizes, fantastic lucky door prizes and of course the showbags.
This year a new timing system from Blast paddlers was also trialled. Avalon Beach SLSC would like to thank all the sponsors who continue to support this race and in turn surf life saving on the Northern Beaches.
“Following is a comment from Long reef President, Doug Lucas which he posted on
www.surfsk.info.com”
“For the last 4 years Brett Greenwood and Avalon Surf Life Saving Club have hosted what I personally believe has been an outstanding race at the Lion Island Challenge. The race certainly has a few tricky / technical conditions, the odd broken rudder on hidden rocks not to mention a touch hard slog back to Palm Beach but I don't think you would find to many people who would say a bad word about the event and every competitor has a large smile on their face.
Brett and his team have been each year incredibly well organised and this year despite shocking conditions managed to pull off a great race. Brett has really done a great deal for the development of the sport in Sydney and has allowed competitors to grow, develop and continue their sporting dreams.
So as a competitor Rabbit I just wanted to thank you and your team for doing a great job. See you on the water”
For a full list of results please visit http://www.oceanseries.com.au.sponsor-ed.com.au/
about the event..
The Avalon Beach SLSC co-ordinated ' Lion Island Challenge' is a race in a class of it's own!
A part of the Sydney Northern Beaches ' Ocean Series ', the Lion Island Challenge is the only challenge set in Sydney's beautiful Pittwater, and is the pioneer competition with both a board division and a ski division.
Run every year in October.....
Competitiors meet on the Pittwater side of beautiful Palm Beach under the gaze of the historic Light House.
The Board Race couse ventures across Pittwater to Lion Island, around a marker buoy, and return to the start area.
The Ski race has two courses, both an 'A' grade and a ' B' grade.
'Class A' race heads from Pittwater start line around Barrenjoey Headland, heading south across Palm Beach, around marker buoy at beache's southern end, north towards, and around Lion Island, then back to Pittwater start area.
'Class B' paddle heads in an opposite direction to Class A. West towards Sand Point, out across pittwater to 'The Basin' and return to start area.
The Lion Island Challenge founder and director Brett Greenwood, takes pride in the race's philosophy and emphasis on ' fun ' and ' participation ', above the' winning' factor. Hence the name 'Challenge'
The challenge has a vast number of sponsors. Each competitor is eligable to receive any one of dozens of lucky door prizes, including ski accessories, sunglasses, clothing.
This challenge is both run and coordinated by Avalon Beach SLSC volunteers. Powercraft water safety is provided
by Avalon Beach SLSC Surf Lifesavers.
TO VISIT THE OCEAN SERIES LION ISLAND EVENT PAGE...
CLICK HERE