What is Blast?

This is probably the most asked question we get, and like many projects of it’s kind, as a living breathing thing, its often one of the most difficult to answer correctly or completely. How do we fully explain in a few words the gist of what is now an ever-expanding community project which, through the very nature of the people involved, almost defies explanation – but we’ll do our best to capture the core of what Blast is.

A small idea grew to something amazing

Right up front we need to highlight that the Blast project is a not-for-profit. The aims of the Blast project are simple and clear, to grow and support paddle sport.

The original little paddling group based in Sydney, has grown into a project which has been established to support and grow paddle sport of all types and all forms.

The Blast project has, over the last couple of years, grown from an idea to a reality, which has developed a life of its own through the support of an ever increasing community of amazing people with a common desire to give something back to the sport they love.

Building a global community you can be part of

Blast is a community project – it is supported by and run by a now world wide community of some of the most amazing people you could ever wish to be associated with.

Something simple; an idea which grew as the brain child of an IT geek who started paddling on plastic “tubs” ( AKA Sit on top kayaks ) as a way to get back in shape and lose some weight, is now an idea which has grown a life of it’s own, being shared by thousands of people around the world.

Sharing a common passion

After a couple of months getting back in shape, loosing some weight, and figuring out how to stay on the top side of a surf ski and kayak, the paddling bug had well and truly bitten, and the desire to share that passion became the core of a desire which has driven the project to go from an initial local paddling group to making the Blast platform available now to hundreds of people around the world who share a common desire to grow and support paddle sport of any form.

Why not play your part

So now the question is “how do you want to get involved”? It’s really that simple, if you like paddling in any form, then you can get involved, and play a part, from simply joining and participating in any of the local Blast paddle groups near you, or if there isn’t yet one near you, then why not step up and form one yourself. Why not play your part in the Blast paddlers project, get out there, be part of it, join a local Blast near you, or start your own.

What makes a Blast what it is

There are a few common elements which make a Blast paddle group the success they all are. The key is consistency; everyone likes routine, so when we establish any local Blast paddling group, we ensure that the local crew keep to a regular routine that you can come to count on.

This remains true for the very first Blast setup; every Saturday the Balmoral Blast runs at the same location, same time, and to the same format; local paddlers know they can get up in “auto pilot” mode on Saturday mornings and come and enjoy their local time trial, catch up with friends, and get back home in time to get the kids to soccer or swimming lessons.

Simple common structure

The structure is also simple to fit into, it’s a no nonsense format, and we stick to it every week. Naturally we mix up our courses and we paddle a fun and interesting range of courses to keep things challenging and yet fun for all. But when you turn up at a Blast, you come to assume that the process from setup, registration, the briefing ( including the event ), safety, the course, conditions etc, flow to a similar format. Here’s an example of a Saturday morning Blast that will give you an idea of the sort of event format you can come to expect from a local Blast:

• 6:15 am – 6:30 am ( setup, put up a tent, tables, chairs, break out the laptop & “run sheet” )
• 6:30 am – 6:55am ( registration, get signed in and get your handicap )
• 6:55 am ( event briefing, course, conditions, safety etc )
• 7:00 am ( race start, i.e. scratch group goes off )
• 8:30 am ( race closes when last paddler crosses the finish line )
• 8:45 am ( results presentation and prize giving )

Your local Blast will have a similar format, some will differ if they run say mid week in the afternoon, i.e. Wednesday evening, but the basic format will remain, this is a big part of what makes a Blast work, it’s simple, it’s consistent, and it just works.

Everyone’s a winner

When you paddle a Blast time trial, you’re part of a great bunch of people, and it doesn’t matter if you’ve just started paddling, or if you’re a lifetime veteran, every paddler paddles to a personalised handicap designed to get everyone back to the finish line at the same time.

Immediately after the last paddler returns to cross the finish line, the crew gather up to run through their results, and we make it a point of recognising individual improvers, personal bests, the top spots in both the line honours and adjusted times. Even the smallest local paddling crew will find some outstanding results on a weekly basis.

Another fun element of a Blast time trial or race event is that we are strongly supported by all of the leading manufacturers and retailers who regularly pitch in with fun prizes we can provide to the crew, from caps, tee shirts and paddle tops, through to things we can all use such as leg leashes, PFD’s – you name it, someone has offered it as a prize and some well deserving paddler has been awarded it.