UW RACE DAY Video & Still photos are up

[ricki]

From The Gold Coast UW Grand Prix Dive Scooter Race. This is only the second such race and the venue was largely set for SCUBA divers. So, I wore one for the race. The gamble may have paid off as I might have taken second overall. They're still figuring it out. Some folks from PFD did a demo relay race of sorts at around deck level of the Tracy. The next one is on the Benwood off Key Largo in much shallower water. Perhaps something for free diving might be put together if there is enough interest?

Lots more images in full size and resolution at:
[ame=http://fksa.org/showthread.php?goto=newpost&t=9965]RACE DAY VIDEO & STILLS - Gold Coast UW Grand Prix - FKA Kiteboarding Forums[/ame]


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[sross]

Hmm,

My guess is that if someone were to really optimize hydrodynamics they'd clean up in this race. Most people seemed to have a lot of stuff hanging out in the current . . .

 

[ricki]

I am not saying anything other than there are some parallels to early kiting concepts about eight years ago. Sometimes, more is less!

 

[ReefTroll]

Man that looks like SO much fun!!!!

 

[ricki]

It is, even better when you show up in the top three as opposed to not showing up at all! So it took a month. Just got the official finishing times.


The final results for the race just went up:

1. David Ulloa 7:34 ... One Silent Submerge Scooter

2. Rick Iossi 7:54 ... One Apollo Scooter

3. Dean Vitalle 8:05 ... THREE Pegasus Thrusters

3. Greg Marvin 8:05 ... One Apollo Scooter

4. Marissa Wiganowski 8:06 ... TWO Pegasus Thrusters

5. Mitch Horn 8:22 ... TWO Hollis Scooters

For five laps or around 2100 ft. in 70 ft. of water in the Modified and Expedition Classes.


and


Michael Vivona 6:22 ... Seadoo

Lisa Mongy 6:23 ... Seadoo

Dustin Clark 6:50 ... Bladefish

For three laps or about 1275 ft. in the Recreational Class.


From: http://wreckracingleague.com/?page_id=563

Scooters were broken down into three categories based upon whether it was modified (multiple thruster units), lower cost production unit (recreational class) or a moderate to high priced single thruster unit (expedition class).

David came in first traveling real fast on his Silent Submersion scooter, I came in second 20 seconds later with Greg coming in third 9 seconds after me. The three of us turned in the fastest over all times out of all the classes. Greg and I were on production single thruster scooters.

The concept is new, there are unforeseen challenges in many aspects of an underwater race, even finding out who completed all the laps and with what finishing time. Dave had to pour over multiple video recordings and still shots just to figure out things, which took time. I understand there will be multiple cameras recording folks as they pass the mandatory finish line. That should simply things and improve reliability over a single camera at the finish.

[ame=http://fksa.org/showthread.php?goto=newpost&t=9965]RACE DAY VIDEO & STILLS - Gold Coast UW Grand Prix - FKA Kiteboarding Forums[/ame]

 

[ReefTroll]

You sir, have far too much fun. =D