Announcing the 2009 Spear Wars Blue Storm Tournament Series

[SpearMax]

We are now accepting registrations for the 2009 Spear Wars Blue Storm Tournament Series.

Go to www.SpearWars.com to register now!

“Spear Wars Blue Storm Tournament Series” is about the spirit of competition in the rapidly growing sport of Spearfishing. The series has raw excitement, danger, and competition. Contestants compete against each other for prizes and trophies in the largest such aggregate scoring contest in the world.

The three tournaments for 2009 are in these locations with these dates below.

First up is the SBO which is in the same place as always on the west coast of Florida. We will be doing most of the same things as in the past years.

Then, we move to the east coast of Florida to a wonderful venue that has a cool waterfront restaurant and a nice meeting hall at the popular diving marina in Riviera Beach.

Lastly, we cap off the series in Key Largo. This location is in relatively easy driving distance for all traditional SBO contestants.

SBO Blue Storm Classic

Thursday, May 14 - Captains' Meeting
Saturday, May 16 - Shooting Day
Sunday, May 17 - Weigh-in, BBQ and Expo

Rain Dates: None

Registration begins NOW!

LOCATION :

Rotary Pavilion, New Port Richey, Florida


Palm Beach Blue Storm Open

Thursday, July 23 - Captains' Meeting
Saturday, July 25 - Shooting Day
Sunday, July 26 - Weigh-in, BBQ and Expo

Rain Dates: August 8-9

Registration begins June 15

LOCATION:

Riviera Beach Marina
Tiki Waterfront Sea Grill
and Newcomb Hall
200 E 13th St
Riviera Beach, FL 33404
561-845-5532


Keys Blue Storm Open

Thursday, November 4 - Captains' Meeting
Saturday, November 7 - Shooting Day
Sunday, November 8 - Weigh-in, BBQ and Expo

Rain Dates: November 14-15

Registration begins October 1

LOCATION:

Key Largo Marriott Resort
Largo Key Conference Center
103800 Overseas Highway
Key Largo, FL 33037

305-453-0000

Please note that the Spearwars website is incomplete in some areas like the sponsor list. We will update those items quickly. We are trying our best to generate a greater level and number of sponsors than last year.

[SpearMax]

Here is the 2009 flyer and the T-shirt artwork.

[scubajobert]

we'll be there.

[dive4bugz]

You can count on Team Dumpster Diver making an appearance!

[OceanEd]

Finally! I thought you had forgotten about the contest, Tony.

[biggsy]

This is your weigh-master checking in. I will be there!

Remember to have your fish properly gutted and iced. Also, check out the rules very carefully...there are some changes from last year. Go to this thread to check out the rule changes.

http://www.swregistration.ambulanceproductions.com/pborules.pdf

[SpearMax]

I added the T-shirt artwork to post 2 above. Check it out.

[smilinmatt]

I added the T-shirt artwork to post 2 above. Check it out.

What's up with the clownfish??? :D

[Hat-Nasty]

What's up with the clownfish??? :D

:lol: Since they are indo-pacific it is a little odd for them to be on our Gulf of Mexico/Atlanic tourney shirts.

Thanks for posting all of the information for all three tourney's at one time this year!

We will be ready for the storm.

[Teh Wicked]

I dont think I will make this one...Too much other stuff going on in May.

[headhunter561]

Hmmmmm, ................the doc says I'm supposed to wait until June 1st before I slip into a pair of fins but the SBO is calling my name.

:thumps:

If I listened to the doctor I think I would still be in a hospital bed.... Team Hypnautical will be there representing!! We are gunning for overall Best Boat

[SpearMax]

Here is a photo montage of last year's SBO. Enjoy!

[keezdiver]

"What's up with the clownfish???"

a lionfish would be more accurate ;)

[SpearMax]

"What's up with the clownfish???"

a lionfish would be more accurate ;)

Ahh.....that is one of the mysteries set out in this trilogy of the 2009 Spear Wars.

Notice the clownfish is a courtier of the mermaid. ;)

The species mermaid is located where? :confused: :confused:

That is the most scientific question. :cowboy:

courtier   Spelled Pronunciation [kawr-tee-er, kohr-] –noun

1. a person who is often in attendance at the court of a king or other royal personage.

2. a person who seeks favor by flattery, charm, etc.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Origin: 1250–1300; ME courteour < AF courte(i)our, equiv. to OF cortoy(er) to attend at court (deriv. of court court ) + AF -our < L -ōr- -or 2 ; suffix later conformed to -ier 1

[one shot]

Finally! I thought you had forgotten about the contest, Tony.


Next year maybe you can start the show preview a little earlier for us out of staters. I will be looking hard at the next 2....

[diverlb]

I'm in!

[SpearMax]

I'm in!

Cool - see ya there!

[SpearMax]

The sign ups are going well. The prize tent is growing every day.

Keep in mind the price rises $20 next week :eek:, so sign up this week if you can.

Thanks! :thumps:

[Ninja Spear]

Question: How is if Fair for Non Commercial Divers to win When when we have to shoot with Recreational Limits. I just read a Post about the KWO and the Guys were Slayin the Blacks and Placed in the Tourny Oddly They had Commercial Licenses. That does not seem Fair for the Rest of Us who have to Follow the Recreational Rules.
Example: First Drop you see Two Nice GAg's and Take em out. They weigh 15-19 pounds apiece. Next Drop you see a 40 pounder and cant shoot him. Commercials Can And we get Hosed.

[kmoose]

I'll anwser that one, well at least how it is on the boat I shoot on. In the last SBO I competed on a commercial boat. The rules were like this..... Each person on the boat tagged their first five grouper (recreational limit at the time) No exceptions, that's the way it was. The same proceedure was applied to the remaining species. When you took your rec limit they were tagged with your tag.
Is there a potential for cheating, sure there is. As is with any other competitor comercial or not people can and will cheat. It is a charactor issue not a commercial thing.

Ultimately you have to come to peace with with the pitfalls of open competition. Last year a winner was disqualified for cheating after the results of a polyograph. I don't know if Tony is doing that again this year, but it may add a level of comfort for you.

The question I have for you is: Is your issue with competing with comercials at their level of performance or the fact that they could cheat.

I'm not commercial, but I have friends that are and to me it would not be a competition if they were not in it. If I could get a chance to golf in an open event, I would love to have a chance to play against Tiger Woods. To play against the best in a sport, the more exciting the competition. Everyone has the ability to cheat, rec, commercial, pro, it doesn't matter. Cheaters that win claim no real glory... only a trophy.

[kmoose]

The sign ups are going well. The prize tent is growing every day.

Keep in mind the price rises $20 next week :eek:, so sign up this week if you can.

Thanks! :thumps:

So what's on the table so far for the first event, what do the trophies look like?????

[Hat-Nasty]

Do we have a preliminary prize list yet?

That's the coolest thing about this tourney. No matter where you place you will go home something from the prize table.

[SpearMax]

So what's on the table so far for the first event, what do the trophies look like?????

Do we have a preliminary prize list yet?

That's the coolest thing about this tourney. No matter where you place you will go home something from the prize table.

Guys, almost all of the regular sponsors are back in at the same level even though we have a tough economy out there. They must like the huge traffic on Spearboard.com I guess. We are almost up to 10 million page views a month and continuing that double digit growth trend! I will post a prize thread tonight. Expect to see the usual suspects - Divers Direct, Omer, Biller, Florida Freedivers, Zeagle, Ocean Rhino, Armor, just to quickly name a few along with some newcomers like Mako. Thanks for all your great participation guys! Tony

[Ninja Spear]

The question I have for you is: Is your issue with competing with comercials at their level of performance or the fact that they could cheat.

.

ANswer: I am not worried about there LvL of Performance. I Can Probally swim circles around most commercial Divers and they not evenknow I was their. Thanks to My Strong DIR back Ground I am very compitant of my diving abilities. (my spelling could use some help tho) My only Concern is the fact that they can shoot until their heart is content and take the big fish in to weigh. Were as Most Rec Divers Shoot the First legals that we see.

Hell I give props for Slaying the Fish these commercial guys can do, Most of them have Great Numbers and have Huge Fish on em.

Personally I will hold out to shoot some monsters.

Good Luck to all and I hope to see you all at the SBO.

[FishDie]

ANswer: I am not worried about there LvL of Performance. I Can Probally swim circles around most commercial Divers and they not evenknow I was their. Thanks to My Strong DIR back Ground I am very compitant of my diving abilities. (my spelling could use some help tho)

That's a pretty bold statement, especially when some of the commercial shooters in your neck of the woods have been shooting fish before you were even conceived. :eek:

You're question is valid, and the answer you got from Kmoose is the best you'll get. IMO, having the opportunity to compete against some of the best is all I ask for.

[mjphawk]

My only Concern is the fact that they can shoot until their heart is content and take the big fish in to weigh. Were as Most Rec Divers Shoot the First legals that we see.

If we are arguing this point then the question could be raised that it isn't fair that the Gulf Coast guys can shoot 5 gag or black grouper when I can only shoot 2. The list of arguments could go on and on (deco diving, scooters, availability of specific species in different areas, etc). I choose to hunt this tournament because I am always amazed at what some other guys show up with. I will hunt my territory, under my rules, with my personal guidelines any day just for the fun of the tournament. That's what makes the open style tournament so much fun. Good luck and see you at weight in.

[kmoose]

My only Concern is the fact that they can shoot until their heart is content and take the big fish in to weigh. Were as Most Rec Divers Shoot the First legals that we see.
If a commercial shooter weighs in fish that he shot after he has already shot his legal limit, that would be cheating. As if a recreational diver shoots his legal limit of grouper and into the limit of any other person on the boat to aquire a bigger fish, that also would be cheating. What would prevent cheating from either group, recreational or commercial??? Why are you so focused on commercials??? Cheating is cheating, no matter who does it.

Hell I give props for Slaying the Fish these commercial guys can do, Most of them have Great Numbers and have Huge Fish on em. It takes allot more than good numbers and competent diving skills to win tournaments. Although they are an integral part of a winning strategy, there is no subsitute for spearfishing talent and experience.

I will once again reference golf as a comparison; I have the same clubs as the pros, same clothes, and have played at some of the same courses and have had professional lessons..... but alas I have no golfing talent and I will not be invited to the masters next year.:(

Personally I will hold out to shoot some monsters. That is certainly a good strategy to increase your odds of winning for sure. Staying focused on your game is far more important than what the other guy may be or not be doing. If you don't have any control over it.......it just does'nt matter.

I have been in a few tournaments and cheating has been and will be a potential factor in all of them. All you can do is stay focused on what you can control and do your best. That has always worked for me. Good luck and be safe!

[kmoose]

If we are arguing this point then the question could be raised that it isn't fair that the Gulf Coast guys can shoot 5 gag or black grouper when I can only shoot 2. The list of arguments could go on and on (deco diving, scooters, availability of specific species in different areas, etc). I choose to hunt this tournament because I am always amazed at what some other guys show up with. I will hunt my territory, under my rules, with my personal guidelines any day just for the fun of the tournament. That's what makes the open style tournament so much fun. Good luck and see you at weight in.

We are down to 2 gags on the westside now also.

As you have put very well, "the list of arguments could go on an on". Competing in this style of tournament has it's ups and downs, but as you said it is a lot of fun and is my favorite format. Good post.

[mjphawk]

We are down to 2 gags on the westside now also.

Sorry for the misspeak. What I meant was the 2 gags and 2 blacks can be included in the 5 grouper aggregate on the west side. East side is "No more than 2 fish may be gag or black grouper, either individually or in combination in Atlantic and Monroe County". Either way it doesn't matter. I look forward to seeing you guys at the weigh in. This year I plan shooting a tad more consistently (hopefully no 16lb aggregate weight for the first tournament that kills me for the aggregate score). Good luck to everyone!

Open style aggregate weight formats are certainly my favorite. I don't stand much of a chance in a big fish tournament, but in the aggregate style I always manage to take home something and score fairly well because it rewards consistent shooters.

[matt888]

I'm in! :thumps:

[SpearMax]

I'm in! :thumps:

Great Matt! :toast:

I remember a few years ago when you and your buddies were living in California and visited me here in Palm beach for some of your first florida diving. I think that was your first hogfish as I recall. Time flies! I guess you are now fully acclimated and joining the tournament circuit. :cool:

Good luck! Tony

[SpearMax]

So what's on the table so far for the first event, what do the trophies look like?????

Kenny, I am still pulling together a master list and prizes are arriving from sponsors. For example, I finally got a call back from Australia last night and Pelaj is in again at the same Gold sponsor level of $2,400 as last year. We have had a few dropouts due to the economy, but all in all it is looking pretty good that we will have prize tables, tents and walls that look like these photos from last year. Some new sponsors are coming on as well. I trying my very best to be sure there will be more than enough prizes for everyone to win something cool. Standing by, Tony

[SpearMax]

what do the trophies look like?????


Oh I almost forgot - here are what the trophies look like. They are pretty much the same high quality as prior years.

[SpearMax]

FYI - I started one of the prize threads here:

http://www.spearboard.com/showthread.php?t=83521

I am working on others.