Winners of the First Quarter 2011 Best Trip Report Challenge

[SpearMax]

On August 31, 2011 the voting for the Best Trip Report Challenge produced the following winners. I ask them to please contact me by PM to determine which prize they want of the guns and the trips shown in the next posts.

This is the very first time we have done something like this on Spearboard and the intention was to let you members make the decisions. Everyone's participation is very much appreciated.

I will announce the opening of nominations for the second quarter shortly. Check out the links to the winning trip reports below. I will announce the winner of the Guess the Fish Weight Challenge tomorrow.

Congratulations Aussie, ny_er, and steepNdeep!

Voting Poll - USA West Coast ---> http://spearboard.com/showthread.php?t=130904



USA WEST COAST WINNER:

Author: Aussie
Thread 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
Date of Trip report thread origination: 03-07-2011, 02:08 PM
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

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Voting Poll - USA East Coast ---> http://spearboard.com/showthread.php?t=130914



USA EAST COAST (INCLUDING GULF) WINNER:

Author: ny_er
Title: Awesome couple days on the water
URL: http://www.spearboard.com/showthread.php?t=118487
Region: US East Coast
Date of Trip report thread origination: 01-23-2011, 04:37 PM
Reason: As Ben said in the post...Let the pictures do the talking.

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Voting Poll - International ---> http://spearboard.com/showthread.php?t=130721



INTERNATIONAL WINNER:

Author: steepNdeep
Trip Report Thread Title: COSTA RICA - Spearin' Safari
URL: http://www.spearboard.com/showthread.php?t=119403
Geographic Region: Central America (Costa Rica)
Date of Trip report thread origination: 02-11-2011, 11:17 AM
Description: Spearing adventure off the Guanacaste coast on panga and yak.
Reason for Nomination: This report made me feel like I was there. The poster's enthusiasm really showed through his writing and prompted me to choose the same destination for my spearing vacation this past April. I enjoyed it so much that I'm going back in December.

[SpearMax]

The original prizes for Best Trip Reports of the Quarter Ended March 31, 2011 are three speargubns valued between $350 and $500 dollars. These great prizes will be allocated as follows according to the official rules:

There will be a pool of prizes for the three regions. If the prizes are usable in all geographic regions, the three winners will try to agree which prize they want. If they can't agree, we will use a selection method like Rock –Paper - Scissors. Being awarded a prize should be a secondary consideration to the honor of being selected as the best trip reporter by your fellow spearfishing men and women.

DONATED PRIZE - ANDRE 120 CM SPEARGUN

The Andre GOLD 120 speargun is great for spearfishing around rock reef and coral areas in the shallows. Its shorter stock is easily maneuverable into tight spaces, like into cracks or under rocks where rock fish & snapper hide.

The GOLD 120 speargun also features a butt extension design for hip loading leverage. As you pull the power bands back, the butt extension makes it easy to rest the butt of the speargun on your hip without the handle getting in your way. The spear track is recessed into the stock to guide the spear accurately down the barrel. The groove is durable and an excellent design feature compared to eye hole spear tracks which break easily and reduce accuracy.

DONATED PRIZE - PELAJ KANJI 110 CM SPEARGUN

Made in Australia, the Pelaj railgun features numerous innovations including:

1. reinforced Rhino speed barrels allowing use of stronger multiple rubbers resulting in more powerful, accurate shots;
2. double clip in muzzles aligning both rubbers perfectly parallel to spear travel providing optimum energy transfer;
3. triple rubber clip in power band muzzles – a first on a production railgun;
4. exceptional interchangeability so every component can be (dis)assembled using basic tools.

Pelaj railguns have been built to harvest large powerful fish and are designed to last a lifetime.

DONATED PRIZE - MAKO 140 CM SPEARGUN WITH REEL

The “MAKO Oceanic ETR” 140 cm (Enclosed Track) Blue Camo Gun with MAKO South African 70M High Capacity Reel Filled with Yellow Spectra line.

Featuring a Fully Enclosed Track with a Twin Rail Barrel, this is the only gun of its kind and BUILT FOR BIG GAME!

The “MAKO Oceanic ETR” was designed by Chad Morris (aka Griswold) and Jeff DeRocher (aka Tin Man), two spearo/designers from the Bayous of Louisiana who spent years designing, machining and fabricating custom spearguns and related underwater hunting gear. Known as “The Bayou Design Team”, Jeff and Chad have built a reputation by combining innovative designs with the latest in high tech material and quality workmanship.

What is an Enclosed Track Railgun (ETR)?
By nature, Railguns are more accurate and more powerful than regular euro guns. This is because of the integrated rail barrel which supports and guides the spear down the rail (barrel) as it exits the gun. This additional support, by the integrated rail reduces “spear whip” and drastically increases accuracy.

The only way to improve upon this would be to incorporate an “Enclosed Track”, the length of the barrel, thereby further increasing accuracy and allowing for enhanced power and virtually eliminating all “spear whip” as the spear exits the gun. With an “Enclosed Track”, the spear is supported not only from the bottom. The spear is also supported by the surrounding walls and partial ceiling offered by the “Enclosed Track”, much like a bullet fired from the barrel of a high powered rifle.

In designing this “Enclosed Track Railgun”, the main challenge for the Bayou Design Team was weight. With the added material of the “Enclosed Track”, the gun had to be light enough so the gun would float (without the shaft), but strong enough, to prevent barrel flex. In experimenting with various designs and materials, the Bayou Design Team came up with the idea of using 2 smaller integrated rails for strength (one on each side) instead of one main rail. By design, this Twin Rail Design (one on each side) would also capture a slide in “Enclosed Track” made of lightweight, yet durable, high density polyethylene.

Essentially, the Bayou Design Team took the MAKO Oceanic Pro Railgun barrel, which is the largest and strongest aluminum barrel on the market and made it even stronger with “Twin Rails” while adding very little weight.

Occasionally seen on larger and heavier custom wood guns, this “Enclosed Track Technology”, incorporated into a much lighter railgun makes the “MAKO Oceanic ETR” the only one of its’ kind. The result…. The most accurate BIG GAME ENCLOSED TRACK RAIL GUN ever built for blue water hunting, inshore hunting and even freeshafting.

[SpearMax]

The following are the dive vacation trips or dive chart boat trips added to the prizes. As you look at these certificates, please realize you must spend some money to get to these locations, at least as far as Baja, Mexico or Chandler, Arizona or West Palm Beach, Florida. There may also be some additional costs like alcoholic beverages and such. Please visit each website link below to find out more.

Whatever you winners do, please post up a great trip report on Spearboard after you take these trips.

Thanks, Tony

Baja Spearfishing Adventures - La Paz, Mexico

Website Link ---> www.bajaspearfishingadventures.com

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Aqua-Hunter Spearfishing Charter - Palm Beach County, Florida

Website Link ---> www.aqua-hunter.com

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Puerto Lobos Fishing Adventures - Puerto Lobos, Mexico

Website Link ---> www.fishlobos.com

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[SpearMax]

Please join me in expressing

Congratulations to

Aussie, ny_er, and steepNdeep!

[DiveGal]

Congrats Guys!

Now that I know it's a contest, I'll have to pay more attention to how I write my reports.

Looking forward to the next contest Tony!

[SpearMax]

Originally Posted by DiveGal

Congrats Guys!

Now that I know it's a contest, I'll have to pay more attention to how I write my reports.

Looking forward to the next contest Tony!

Hey Emily, your report made a good showing in second place on the east coast. I appreciate the good sportsmanship. You are right - there is always next time. Since members are locked out of enhancing their report later when they are nominated, I think the quality of initial reports may improve. Time will tell. I am accumalating some very cool prizes as we move forward. Thanks for participating, Tony

[steepNdeep]

Let's hear it for Spearmax & the sponsors for the amazing prizes! He did a great job putting this whole thing together and pulling it off!!! I'm sure that there was a ton of behind-the-scenes work to put this together. Spearboard fuels the stoke & is definitely a rad place... Thanx Tony!!

(I think it should be mandatory for Spearmax to accompany for quality control on each of the prizes trips...

[SpearMax]

Originally Posted by steepNdeep

Let's hear it for Spearmax - Tony did a great job putting this whole thing together and pulling it off!!! I'm sure that there was a ton of behind-the-scenes work to put this together. Thank you!!

Thanks - the original idea the mods discussed had us playing a role in the decisions about nomination and selection. However, over the years I have learned that the collective intelligence and wisdom of the current Spearboard members is amazing. So, I did alot of research on the rules and formats of other Internet challenges and modelled this Spearboard initiative after the best of what I saw out there, especially those took a participatory, democracy-like approach. There were a few bumps in the road, but everyone adapted and keep pushing forward. I firmly believe the contest was fair and clean. The winning trip reports speak for themselves. I look forward to future challenges in the coming quarters. Tony

[HeadHunter]

Great idea Tony.....darn good prizes also! Really fun watching this develop! Great job to all who were in the running!

[Tyson Brown]

I thought the contest was great - i really appreciated the chance to go outside my home area and read good reports from all over the world!

Congrats to the winners, and I look forward to future contests!

Thanks for setting this up, Tony!

[PistoleroDelMar]

Congratulations guys! hope you enjoy the prizes!

[SpearMax]

Originally Posted by BajaBum

Congratulations guys! hope you enjoy the prizes!

Gonzo, we all appreciate your donation of this prize along with the prizes from the other sponsors. We are working on who gets what and will announce the results soon. Thanks, Tony


Baja Spearfishing Adventures - La Paz, Mexico

Website Link ---> www.bajaspearfishingadventures.com

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[aussie]

Sorry I'm a little late to this thread I only just found it.

A big thank you to SpearMax and all who participated in the voting. SpearMax I know you put in a tremendous amount of effort into getting this competition off the ground and frankly I don't know where you get the motivation to do it! Regardless we're all very grateful.

SteepNDeep and NY_ER congrats on your wins. Loved your trip reports!

[SpearMax]

I am happy to announce that the winners have come to agreement today on the distribution of the prizes as follows:

aussie gets the Andre gun and the Puerto Lobos Mexican Spearfishing Trip

steepNdeep gets the Pelaj gun and the Baja Mexico Spearfishing Trip

ny_er gets the Mako gun and the Aqua-Hunter West Palm Beach Spearfishing Trip

Good job fellows! Thanks for your participation.

[steepNdeep]

Thanks again for all of your work Tony!! Thanks to the sponsors! Can't wait to hit some deep caves lookin' for Baja pargo & testin' the new gun...