SOTY?

IMHO, I don't like the idea of a SOTY at this stage.  Too few divers with too disparate skill sets. 

I think it'd be better to have a couple events during the year to share info/advice and maybe have a mini-derby at one of those events.  There are a ton of local events outside of NCKA for competition if that's your cup of tea.

Is there another forum site for sprearos that might have enough divers to hold a virtual SOTY?

Pretty much just Spearboard.com & they're spread across cali down into baja.
I think it also takes a bit of civility and community to run a successful AOTY type event... which Spearboard has never had much of.   :



Since my last post, I've been juggling with the thought - "would something like SOTY encourage more divers to get in the water or create more of a distraction?"  Honestly, I have no idea... 

Lots of NCKA'ers getting into it now & it takes less than a season up here to be able to find the big fish (if you do it right).  From a safety perspective, it just seems more prudent for these divers develop their core competencies & familiarity with the water, but diving in 50degree water with bad vis, huge swells, & GWS isn't very prudent to start with...   


Maybe just leave it open to members - if over 10 want to sign up, then start a SOTY... whether this year or another.  If less than 10, then wait.

We did have a Spearo category in the past and Rich / Granite Dive won it with a nice ling speared at Linda Mar.

All good points; there is no wrong answer here.
I guess I was asking about SOTY as a means to bring together those NCKA members who already spearfish (and if it generated some extra $ for the site, then bonus).
More so than a means to increase participation by newbies. Because it wouldn't be prudent to just create a competition and say "Ok, now everybody jump in the water and spear a fish, regardless of ability/experience." But it w/b cool to create a place where spearfishers of various levels of experience could come together and share the knowledge...in a somewhat-competitive format. Although, those same goals c/b accomplished through an event or two, like maybe a SOTD spearo of the day. But just for the brothers & sisters of NCKA.   

Pretty much just Spearboard.com & they're spread across cali down into baja.
I think it also takes a bit of civility and community to run a successful AOTY type event... which Spearboard has never had much of.   :   .............

Well said!  Spearboard is a SoCal board with a major lack of civility.  Spearboard is "I'm an awesome spearo and your not worthy, NCKA is about how you can help a brother out, enjoy the sport and just plain camaraderie.  O2B, Tote, SaltyDog, Ravensblack, Bloodbath, FishMaster1 and many others have all exemplified this spirit to me in the past years.

I think an SOTY may be fairly limited with this primarilly Hook and Line Crew, but let's do an NCKA Abalone and/or Fish Money Between Friends (MBF) tourneys at the events I've posted under http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php/topic,22269.0.html  You wouldn't even need to pay an entrance fee if you don't want.  Just meet us there, but all entrance fees except the Picasso Open go to a great cause so I encourage you to enter.  Even if your a newbie the Picasso will yield a prize/raffle better than the rest so I'd sign up for that one too.

Brian G still owes me $5 from the Picasso Open 2 years ago, and I think I enjoy razzing him about collecting better than getting the $5 bucks.

Here is one other option for those of you that want to be in a SOTY this year.
http://www.norcalskindivers.com/comps.htm
There is no forum but they do an email group that is pretty close where you just email all 100+ members the same way we post here.

my 2 cents worth, see ya on the water! 

I personally don't like the SOTY idea for the reasons Fuzz mentioned.  I dove competition for a long time and there were plenty of days we were out diving when we probably shouldn't have been.  I think it changes the atmosphere of a group to compete against each other.  Plus I hate the thought of Fuzz getting all the big fish AND all the money every year, eventhough he is my hero.
Dave

I personally don't like the SOTY idea for the reasons Fuzz mentioned.  I dove competition for a long time and there were plenty of days we were out diving when we probably shouldn't have been.  I think it changes the atmosphere of a group to compete against each other.  Plus I hate the thought of Fuzz getting all the big fish AND all the money every year, eventhough he is my hero.
Dave

are you implying that my 10 second breath hold to a depth of 8 feet with my vast experience of 6 times in the water with a pole spear cant compete with Fuzz?