Author Topic: 2012 Ducks Unlimited Blackstrap Ice Derby Cancelled (Read 2735 times)

farmboy · « **on:** Feb 23, 2012, 03:19 PM »

Wasn't able to go myself but thought I would give everyone that was planning on going a heads up that the derby is officially cancelled due to lack of interest according to the DU site. Too bad, I knew a lot of people who were looking forward to it.

ryder29 · « **Reply #1 on:** Feb 23, 2012, 03:21 PM »

I just received an e-mail. It's too bad. I know I was looking forward to it.

The Beachcomber · « **Reply #2 on:** Feb 23, 2012, 03:37 PM »

I don't understand why there was not enough people, if Jackfish can get 2500 people for their derby **censored**. Maybe there were other issues.

ben-lucky · « **Reply #3 on:** Feb 23, 2012, 03:45 PM »

That's kind of poor on their part. I would imagine only about half the people that go to these derby's pre register. The other half are waiting on weather, work or last minute permission. How do you judge turn out before you have the derby? Were the prizes to big for the derby?

fishwhisperer · « **Reply #4 on:** Feb 23, 2012, 03:46 PM »

That sucks. I was really looking forward to it. I wonder how many registrants they needed to go ahead with the derby. I can't believe they didn't get enough. I'd pay double the price of my holes to keep the derby alive. Very disappointing.

The Beachcomber · « **Reply #5 on:** Feb 23, 2012, 03:50 PM »

At least this time we will get our $$$$ back, not like the last time at the Blackstrap derby when the scum bag took the money and ran. I guess I have Big River and the Pas to look forward too.

toki4040 · « **Reply #6 on:** Feb 23, 2012, 04:01 PM »

Man this is lame i was just about to leave to go get my tickets.

adipose · « **Reply #7 on:** Feb 23, 2012, 04:13 PM »

No matter how many were going they should have went ahead with the derby . Its not like DU has no funds. They get tons of funds from corporations all over the world. Maybe it was as simple as not finding any persons to run the dang derby. who knows. Seems the bigger the organization, the more politics are involved. Just my two cents worth.

freespiritlabradors · « **Reply #8 on:** Feb 23, 2012, 04:19 PM »

this bites!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Layne · « **Reply #9 on:** Feb 23, 2012, 04:31 PM »

They should have let this one ride out either way.. Im sure this will help them get a better turnout next year, or not.

basdif · « **Reply #10 on:** Feb 23, 2012, 04:40 PM »

Wow! Pretty surprising given the proximity to Saskatchewan's largest city. I was really looking forward to winning that SnoBear!

ran7ger · « **Reply #11 on:** Feb 23, 2012, 05:24 PM »

you said it layne, can't see myself registering if they try this again in the future. i had purchased 4 holes, 2 for myself and 2 for my bro as a xmas gift. so now it's almost march and i have to go xmas shopping again

maybe everyone that had planned on going should get behind the big river derby and give them the support instead?

Malayney11 · « **Reply #12 on:** Feb 23, 2012, 06:20 PM »

Very lame! my old man and I planned on making a weekend out of it. Good luck getting us to buy tickets next year

IceMan08 · « **Reply #13 on:** Feb 23, 2012, 06:37 PM »

That sucks I kinda wanted to go!
When is the big river tourny?

Malayney11 · « **Reply #14 on:** Feb 23, 2012, 06:49 PM »

How do we get out money back? if I paid by visa will the money just be deposited back on my card?

bite-me7 · « **Reply #15 on:** Feb 23, 2012, 07:08 PM »

That sucks!

I was looking forward to it! You would think they would have more interest than Jackfish

I think you made a big mistake DU!

Come spring I'll shoot every duck in this province.

Ha Ha- just kidding! Not impressed.

duke1 · « **Reply #16 on:** Feb 23, 2012, 09:25 PM »

not impressed

ilikefishing · « **Reply #17 on:** Feb 23, 2012, 09:50 PM »

Quote from: freespiritlabradors on Feb 23, 2012, 04:19 PM

this bites!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

actually this is a bite.....

rutherbefishin · « **Reply #18 on:** Feb 24, 2012, 07:32 AM »

Did they give a reason why?

saswhitetail · « **Reply #19 on:** Feb 24, 2012, 07:55 AM »

Not enough interest!! $:-\$

Husser · « **Reply #20 on:** Feb 24, 2012, 08:22 AM »

Quote from: IceMan08 on Feb 23, 2012, 06:40 PM

Website: bigriver.ca
Event Details:
An 800 hole fishing derby on Cowan Lake from 12 noon - 3pm. Registration and pancake breakfast 8am. $10,000 first prize for the largest fish, prizes for biggest perch and walleye; hidden weight prize. Ten tagged fish, prize for first fish caught. Prizes totalling $20,000 with additional bonus prizes added this year. Early bird draw entry deadline Mar 8, 2012.

I think that was the problem. Big river = $20,000 in prizes. Blackstrap = over $200,000 in prizes. Too big too fast.

fishwhisperer · « **Reply #21 on:** Feb 24, 2012, 09:17 AM »

I'm not really sure what they expected for turnout. I'm sure jackfish didn't have 2500 people it's first year. Word usually spreads by word of mouth over the years and more people start to look forward to it each year. By canceling the derby, it is going to be even harder for them to get support in future years. I know if I see a DU derby in the future I will be very hesitant to get my tickets early(if at all).

fnsdeuce · « **Reply #22 on:** Feb 24, 2012, 09:24 AM »

Gota be more to the story. Not enough interest my ass.

Diggs · « **Reply #23 on:** Feb 24, 2012, 11:36 AM »

Interest was there, but if no one buys their ticket until the day of the event (which most people do for every fishing event in the province) it leaves the organizers with little to work with not knowing how much income they will take in.
The early bird tickets can give a good indication as to how many anglers will show up.
If you need to sell 1500 tickets and only 600 enter the earlybird, do you want to take that chance that you will get the remaining 900 tickets enter the last week or walk-up the day of the event? And that would be just to break even.
The Fact this event is new and the advertising was not that great would have played a big factor in lack of people knowing about it.
Other than the forum sites that have talked about it or walking into a shop that had a poster up, would you have known about the event?
Unfortunately word of mouth will only go so far.
To bad, because this would have been a fun event to go to...similar to Jackfish lake.

Pathfinder97 · « **Reply #24 on:** Feb 25, 2012, 09:24 AM »

was just on the DU websight looks like it's true. too bad would have been fun. with the awesome prizes i find it hard to believe there was a lack of enterants.

Pathfinder97 · « **Reply #25 on:** Feb 25, 2012, 10:52 AM »

NOT HAPPY!!!!

Broom Jockey · « **Reply #26 on:** Feb 25, 2012, 12:22 PM »

It would appear that DU reached too far too fast. They didn't have the pre-registration numbers due to how new it is and the advertisement, word of mouth and a poster in the Fish'n Hole can only get you so far. $200k in prizes is great but they probably should have started lower and worked their way up to that prize number.

fishin_crazy · « **Reply #27 on:** Feb 25, 2012, 07:22 PM »

so how is u guy supose to support next year? dissapointing forsure!!! so any word on the money back? paid cfredit card are they just going to credit it back? man this sucks it would have been a great time!!!!!!! when is jackfish lake tourney??? and where abouts is jackfish hahahahahahaha

Diggs · « **Reply #28 on:** Feb 25, 2012, 08:37 PM »

I believe that if you purchased tickets from the Duck Unlimited office or website that they will refund to your credit card.
If you paid for tickets at a remote location they will more than likely be sending you a cheque.

The Beachcomber · « **Reply #29 on:** Feb 25, 2012, 08:51 PM »

I received a call tonight as I purchased my tickets at the Fishing hole in Saskatoon. The DU office will be sending a cheque out by mail and they should arrive in 30 days. It will take this long because so many retailers were selling tickets and it takes awhile to contact people, issue cheques and send them out. They apologized for the whole thing!

News:

Author Topic: 2012 Ducks Unlimited Blackstrap Ice Derby Cancelled (Read 2735 times)