New boards for Shortboard Pro

Registrations slow to pick up for the weekend's competition

Speculation over the surfboard scripts to be allowed at Saturday's competition came to an end today as Heather Goodliffe announced retail availability for new Havok4 scripts. According to Second Life Surfing Association (SLSA) sources, Heather will issue all competitors with a new-script competition surfboard for the Surfline Shortboard Pro which is scheduled for April 26th.

"We can't thank Heather enough for this solution," said Milo Voss, SLSA director. "What an awesome gesture! Also thanks to Rani DeCosta and Sally LaSalle for their support and follow-up. Here's looking forward to a great Surfline Shortboard Pro!"

"We've had updates ready for a while but we feared Linden Lab's fixes to their H4 issues would cause the updates to be broken, putting everyone back at square one," said Heather Goodliffe in a message posted in the SLSA Forum today. "In working with the Linden's, though not guaranteed, the sense is this will not be the case."

However, Heather was clear to point out that the new board scripts are not intended to change the way that the boards handle or interact with the wave (a fact borne out by SurfWatch's own tests on the new boards), although new board scripts that do affect handling are in beta testing. The new publically available board scripts fix three main issues: 1) the way the board floats on top the water in Havok4; 2) the camera settings, so that it doesn't automatically zoom in and out on the tubes; and 3) an improved sit target script.

Possible future changes to board scripts that would affect board handling and maneuverability are being worked on in tandem with working together with Linden Lab on potential longer term solutions for both surfboards and surfable waves. SurfWatch hopes, at least, that removing the uncertainty of what boards are permissable at Saturday's competition might prompt more surfers to signup for the remaining places in the Shortboard Pro heats since to-date some 30% of the competition places have yet to be filled.

Meanwhile, whilst a board replacement program has not been ruled out, it has been made clear that a board recall or board replacement program is not on the cards at the moment. "I'd hope most people would prefer I focus my talents on improving surfing in Second Life and not exchanging boards," said Heather's note. Very true (unless, of course, you've just invested in one of the latest new sculptie surfboards this year, in which case you'd probably just want it to work, wouldn't you?)

Update 23 April 2008, 06.50 hrs SLT
Well it seems that SurfWatch reported too soon as to the end of speculation about permissable competition board scripts. A lively debate is currently in process in the SLSA Forum on whether to use the new boards or the older boards with the existing pre-Havok4 scripts and frankly, since there are a lot of good points on either side, it may be too close to call at the moment!

SurfWatch: Rezzable changes Surfline venue (17 April 08)
SurfWatch:SurfLine Shortboard Pro competition postponed (5 Apr 08)
SurfWatch: Second Life grid lock-down could stop SurfLine competition (5 Apr 08)
SurfWatch: Wave concerns continue to dog SurfLine preparations (4 Apr 08)
SurfWatch: Tide turns as Shortboard Pro Heats Drawn (3 Apr 08)
SurfWatch: Linden Labs Code Change Threatens Second Life Surfing (2 Apr 08)
SurfWatch: New waves, new sim for SurfLine Shortboard Pro (2 Apr 08)
SurfWatch: Registrations close for Surfline (25 Mar 08)
SurfWatch: SLSA announces competition date changes (13 Mar 08)
SLSA Forum: Surfline SL announcement
SLURL: SurfLine Aloha

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