Announcing a KILLER Concept! The Spearboard Best Trip Report Challenge!

[SpearMax]

Guys and gals, it is my pleasure to announce a brand new endeavor on Spearboard - The Best Trip Report Challenge. :notworthy

Because we are the world's largest Internet discussion forum for the sport of spearfishing, we are able to generate huge traffic for our sponsors. Many of them are stepping up to the plate and donating prizes for this worldwide Best Trip Report Challenge.

At first we will do it quarterly and then move to monthly depending on the response. The idea is to have fun with this and recognize the best of the best.

The official rules are located at this thread which is in a new dedicated forum:

http://www.spearboard.com/showthread.php?t=126333

The first nomination thread is located here:

http://www.spearboard.com/showthread.php?t=126334

Please note that the nomination thread is ONLY for nominations and seconds.

If you have any questions or comments, please ask them in this thread or start a new thread in the new section.

[rhyne]

great idea... i look forward to reading some exciting reports!

[Bill McIntyre]

Shall I kick this off? Allow me to make a first attempt, if I mess up the format let me know:

Author: Aussie
Tread Title: Dorothy, You Aint In Kansas Anymore: A rookie's intro to Kelp Beds.
URL: http://www.spearboard.com/showthread.php?t=120619
Geographic Region: USA West Coast
Description: Aussies Intro to Kelp Hunting
Reason for Nomination: Entertaining description of a new guys cold welcome to spearing in the kelp forests of southern california

I believe that the rules say that he has to nominate himself.

[jfjf]

I believe that the rules say that he has to nominate himself.

Yeah he did a good job on the nomination, but all entries have to be self-nominating, so it doesn't count.

You are not in the contest unless you SAY you are in the contest (i.e., you have to enter to win). Seems reasonable to me.

[ApneaAddict]

I realize that these posts are liable to get pulled because they violate the policy about this thread only being for nominations and seconds, BUT:

I think that we should be able to nominate other peoples' posts so long as the original poster seconds it. I would personally feel kinda lame and very awkward nominating something that I wrote as the "Best Report". True watermen should have more humility than that, IMO...

[North Star]

I agree.

[LwrKzUndrH2OHunter]

I realize that these posts are liable to get pulled because they violate the policy about this thread only being for nominations and seconds, BUT:

I think that we should be able to nominate other peoples' posts so long as the original poster seconds it. I would personally feel kinda lame and very awkward nominating something that I wrote as the "Best Report". True watermen should have more humility than that, IMO...

Please I think of us would be honored to be nominated by someone else!!!

[beconfly]

Clearly you guys have put a lot of thought into this, and I think its a great idea that could drastically improve the content here on spearboard. But i'm having trouble with why you've decided that entries must be self-nominated?

As a humble guy, I wouldn't feel right nominating myself on a regular basis even if I thought I had posts worthy of distinction. I know that many others here, especially those that write the best trip reports are probably of similar minds.

[ApneaAddict]

Agreed!

I think that we should be able to nominate other peoples' posts so long as the original poster seconds it. I would personally feel kinda lame and very awkward nominating something that I wrote as the "Best Report". True watermen should have more humility than that, IMO...

[North Star]

x2!

[Corndawg]

I think that we should be able to nominate other peoples' posts so long as the original poster seconds it. I would personally feel kinda lame and very awkward nominating something that I wrote as the "Best Report". True watermen should have more humility than that, IMO...

I kinda like this idea... I agree that you have to enter to win, so by seconding your own post, you enter.

[SpearMax]

OK guys - the feedback is excellent!

For the "true watermen" who might be shy (just kidding), the rules are now changed to allow the following:

A. Primary Nominations can be made by the trip report Original Poster who must be one of the divers on the trip or by someone else. If nominated by someone else, the Original Poster must also post an acceptance of the nomination after it has been seconded by a third party. If an Original Poster is nominated by someone else and does not wish to accept the nomination, please send a PM to the Forum Administrator Spearmax and he will delete the posts involved.

My associates and I have been working on this project for months to make the Board better for everyone. The concept is to make the challenge as democratic (small "d") as possible by letting the members have the final say in the voting for "Best trip Report".

Your input is very good and we are flexible in changing the rules to make the challenge better. So now, can anyone contact Tanc (aussie) and tell him he has been nominated?

Thanks everyone!

[ApneaAddict]

OK guys - the feedback is excellent!

the rules are now changed to allow the following:

:thumps:

Love the concept!

[North Star]

SpearMax rocks!

[Kraken]

I hate nominating myself but I also think its nice to share stories and memories from great days on the water. And I was always taught that if you want something, you gotta go get it! And I could really use that mako 140!!!
Author:Kraken
Location:Gulf Coast (Clearwater)
Thread:http://spearboard.com/showthread.php?t=125124
Description: An epic day on the water with great friends and monster fish!
Reason: What I feel every report should look like on here. Sure shooting fish is fun but at the end of the day what do you usually have to show for it? Sometimes its worth it to take the extra time to enjoy the memories. This was a day ill never forget simply because of the guys I was with.

[ApneaAddict]

I hate nominating myself but I also think its nice to share stories and memories from great days on the water. And I was always taught that if you want something, you gotta go get it! And I could really use that mako 140!!!
Author:Kraken
Location:Gulf Coast (Clearwater)
Thread:http://spearboard.com/showthread.php?t=125124
Description: An epic day on the water with great friends and monster fish!
Reason: What I feel every report should look like on here. Sure shooting fish is fun but at the end of the day what do you usually have to show for it? Sometimes its worth it to take the extra time to enjoy the memories. This was a day ill never forget simply because of the guys I was with.

I will absolutely second that thread! You've got some fantastic photography.

Tony, is there a limit to how many threads we can "second" :D.

[SpearMax]

I will absolutely second that thread! You've got some fantastic photography.

Tony, is there a limit to how many threads we can "second" :D.

Since we are just getting started and navigating the rules, I will answer this here. You get three seconds per region.

I just clarified the rule as follows:

Members with over 50 posts may second up to a maximum of 3 nominated trip reports per region for a total of 9.

[speargunhunter]

:thumps:

[ralphthehalibut]

I realize that these posts are liable to get pulled because they violate the policy about this thread only being for nominations and seconds, BUT:

I think that we should be able to nominate other peoples' posts so long as the original poster seconds it. I would personally feel kinda lame and very awkward nominating something that I wrote as the "Best Report". True watermen should have more humility than that, IMO...

Well, screw humility:lol:

You and your bro should self nominate your reports from the trip you took to 'lupe/cedros/benitos.

That's gotta be the best vid I've seen on here.

[ralphthehalibut]

one other suggestion: Make a sticky in each region for nominations..

[Bill McIntyre]

I nominate Chris Oak for

http://www.spearboard.com/showthread.php?p=1456196#post1456196

This is the sort of report that I treasure. Its well written, humble, makes me feel like I was there, and even has family values (just married).:)

[SpearMax]

I nominate Chris Oak for

http://www.spearboard.com/showthread.php?p=1456196#post1456196

This is the sort of report that I treasure. Its well written, humble, makes me feel like I was there, and even has family values (just married).:)

Bill, that is a great trip report Chris wrote, but it qualifies for the next challenge starting July 1, 2011. I would second it myself.

Please find one for the time period listed above:

 Trip report thread origination – From January 1 to March 31

Thanks! :)

[Bill McIntyre]

Oh well. I should have known it would be too complicated for me. :)

[SpearMax]

Oh well. I should have known it would be too complicated for me. :)

LOL :D - Wait 20 days to nominate that one by Chris and find another one that was posted in the first quarter of this year. ;)

Writing the rules was a "challenge" in itself. It can't be harder than trying to understand fishing regulations. But, I think like most things in life, once people figure it out, the fun will start. BTW, you were so right about the push-back on self-nomination. The compromise of allowing both types of nominations is workable I think. I may nominate some other people's reports myself. :scratch: :D

[Bill McIntyre]

LOL :D - Wait 20 days to nominate that one by Chris and find another one that was posted in the first quarter of this year. ;)

Writing the rules was a "challenge" in itself.

I'm sure it was.

But in all seriousness, I can see a problem for those of us with short memories. If we have to wait for the end of the quarter, we won't even remember some of the best trip reports. How can we easily scan the entire quarter to refresh ourselves and decide who to nominate?

I suppose there could be a sub-forum in each geographical forum where all the trip reports should go, but then half of us would forget we were supposed to put them there.

[SpearMax]

I'm sure it was.

But in all seriousness, I can see a problem for those of us with short memories. If we have to wait for the end of the quarter, we won't even remember some of the best trip reports. How can we easily scan the entire quarter to refresh ourselves and decide who to nominate?

I suppose there could be a sub-forum in each geographical forum where all the trip reports should go, but then half of us would forget we were supposed to put them there.

For those of us with short memories, I may have a solution.

(Ahhh - I love the creative process) :p

How about this Bill (and others)?

I found in my Admin Control the ability to implement Thread Prefixes on a Forum by Forum Basis. As a test, I set up a prefix called "Trip Report" that is chosen by the thread originator when they start a new thread.

I applied this to the Texas Gulf Coast forum to test it out and to show everyone. I applied it retroactively to just two trip reports. check it out here:

http://www.spearboard.com/forumdisplay.php?f=115

Note that you can go to the bottom of the page and use the filter control to display only the Trip Reports.

Let me know if that works, and I will go back and implement it in only the regional spearfishing reporting forums.

[Bill McIntyre]

OK, it worked.

[speargunhunter]

I can see a problem for those of us with short memories. If we have to wait for the end of the quarter, we won't even remember some of the best trip reports..

Bill our memories arent that bad. im sure we can remember....:sleep::sleep:............. sorry i must have dozed off. Hey Bill............. what are you doing here?:confused:

[headhunter561]

Cool concept! I hope it inspires some of the talent on this board that haven't posted reports lately to bring the cameras and share the stories.

[ApneaSpearo]

Cool idea Tony, it's otherwise quite hard to separate the wheat from the chaff.

[miguelitro]

can't wait to post up my trip and be recognized as wheat, wait chaff...well i just hope to contribute to a great board! thanks
Mike

[Itchy Trigger]

YOu can pretty much pick any Shark Tales post and call it top notch! Those guys have THE most consistant and amazing posts of anyone on here!

[Louis Rossignol]

Well it's that time of year, and what's the Hell Diver's Rodeo without another close call.

Really nothing went wrong, and it almost all went right, but here it is.

We get to this rig, the depth finder has it at 358' deep. We all jump in, I'm just dropping and loving life, and by the time I hit around 180 I feel all alone for a change. This is a beautiful rig and we've gotten some huge red snappers off of it in the past, so I'm still dropping. Somewhere around 220' I see a big ass grouper, so I speed up in his direction and he comes straight up to me offering me forehead shot which I refuse, (lost too many like that). I wait for the fish to turn almost broadside, and smack the shit out of him in the head. Usually warsaw's are sluggish when they take off, not this one. He sucks me down on the pipe, so without even thinking about it, I clip his ass to the rig. I made sure he was cool where he was and I left him, knowing where he would be when I came back to retrieve him.

Just before leaving him, I checked my depth gauge, 235'.

I get on the boat, and know that I have to wait an hour. And let me tell you, it just sucks, knowing you have to go back to 235' to retrieve a big fish.

Mark Peart and David Hood agree to follow me down when we go. We jump back in one hour later, and I start buzzing on down. I never did get narced or so I didn't notice, but I remember thinking, Damn, the water is dirtier than when I shot the fish, I pull my depth gauge up and see, 260', wait, that's not right, it's gotta be 160', I pull my gauge up again, 270', hold on, is that a 2 or a 1. Holy Shit, I'm at 270. I turn around, and haul ass back up to 235' find the rope, grab my fish and haul ass up to start my decompression.

All I can say is I ****ed up, and maybe if I hadn't checked my gauge, I might have kept going down. I could have passed out with O2 poisoning and died. I hate that thought. At 20' while decompressing, I start to buddy breath with another person on the boat who stayed up higher in the water column, Jackson Wilson when my pressure got to 500psi. I sucked his air for a while, and then put my reg back into my mouth before going to the boat.

I got on the boat, drank a Guinness and took too excedrins to be on the safe side.

I made it, and I'm fine, but it sure scared the fuk out of me.
__________________________________________________ _

Other than the bullshit above, did I mention, on the pic with the Almaco Jacks, since Amberjack is out of season, why mine is so chewed up. I get to the boat, and tie mine off to the cleat on the back of the boat and wait till everyone gets in and gets their shit off before I clutter the boat even more. They all come back with lobsters, (out of season) and not just your ordinary lobsters, Mark, David and Jackson come back with 3 of the biggest lobsters you've ever seen, like 10+ pounders. I tell them, "guys, they are out of season, yall need to put them back". They're pissed but they do what I tell them, meanwhile I finally get my Almaco Jack up and the sharks tore his ass up. Marks Almaco weighed 44, mine weighed 41.5 after a bunch of meat was taken out of him. They were 1st and 2nd of the tourney.

Next, my crew mauled the 25-27lb. snappers, Wil lost a 100lb. Cubera, and David lost a 100lb. warsaw.

On the last day, we took 4 tanks a piece and the air compressor, I didn't think these guys ever wanted to come home. And just to piss Mark off, what I said after I landed my big warsaw, was, "I got my fish now, let's go home". Sure way to piss off the big guy, even though I was just kidding.

The RokZone won Best Boat and my crew was awesome. A trip I'll remember for a long time, even though quite a bit of drinking was involved.

The final pic is what the moon looks like on the RokZone.

Alright Tony, quit fukin' around, where's my prize?

[SpearMax]

Alright Tony, quit fukin' around, where's my prize?

Sure Rok, I will second the nomination when the time is right. I think this great report qualifies for next quarter's voting. :toast:

I make a copy of it right here for next quarter's nominations.

http://www.spearboard.com/showthread.php?t=126830

Good job Louis!

[DiveGal]

I know the BBO made this contest take a back seat. But now that it's over, let's get this ball rolling again!

[SpearMax]

I know the BBO made this contest take a back seat. But now that it's over, let's get this ball rolling again!

I am juicing it up a bit. :cool:

I found some cool blue spear-shaped trophies I can have winner's names engraved on and I am thinking of adding something to the prize pool. Should be up and running the voting polls this week.

http://spearboard.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=157009&stc=1&d=1312955614

http://spearboard.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=157010&stc=1&d=1312955642

[DiveGal]

Those are awesome Tony! :thumps:

[DVD]

:toast: