Race News

Jan 22nd 2006- Round 2 NZ Surfcross Championship & The Southern Swell Challenge

There are few photos on this page, please be patient while it loads.

Congratulations to James and Cam in Signtech winning Round 2 of the Surfcross Championship.

Also a well deserved win to Brent and Stacey driving Reaction Screenprint (notice its an Aquarius), winning the inaugural Southern Swell Thundercat Challenge.

Confirmed placings and points to follow

Check out this story in the Bay of Plenty Times

http://www.bayofplentytimes.co.nz/localsport/storydisplay.cfm?storyid=3669619&thesection=localsport&thesubsection=&thesecondsubsection=

photos

and photos from Bill Hodges

BH Photography.

15 Graham Place Tauranga

New Zealand 

64 (07) 576-4941

Round 2 of the Thundercat Surfcross Championship and the Southern Swell Challenge

Mt Maunganui, Tauranga, Jan 22^nd 2006

Today was going to be an exciting day!

3 lots of film crews were present to film the racing…..and lucky for us there was reasonable surf to create plenty of action.

27 boats arrived on the beach at 8am and had the beach setup by 9.30am which must be a record, thanks to Steve and Steve for cracking the whip and everyone that pitched in to help.

Tony V who had organised the Promoted side of things was looking resplendent in his leg cast, the result of exiting the boat while racing at Whangamata, thank goodness for prop guards……..

Unable to race his More FM boat meant he could focus on ensuring that everything came together smoothly and in the right sequence. Once the racing started Tony was given the microphone and provided race commentary thru the day alongside ‘Derek the Chef’ our official commentator. Tony was so good he was affectionately given the title ‘Show Pony Tony’

Great to see Ritchie from the Goldcoast Thundercats on the beach and racing the 2^nd MORE FM boat as our guest.

I guess the surf was a bit small to get any real speed but you still managed to show some of the kiwi boys your rooster tail.

Watch this space for discussions on a Trans Tas.

The Mount has a very steep shore break and we were racing at high tide which meant the racing was very close to the shore and the 3,000+ spectators had a superb view.

Jump of the day has to go to the Veterans in the Plumbquick boat, they seemed to be in a real hurry and launched themselves big time into the sky, the crunch of the co-pilot landing on the transom looked damn painful from the beach but they recovered and carried on.

Bad luck to the Jungle Coffee boys who ran into engine trouble as they were setting the buoys, but luckily camaraderie is alive and well and they managed to borrow a boat to complete their heats and make it thru to the final. I know of no other sport where a competitor is given another competitors rig to continue on with.

Driving the MORE FM boat for the first time was the regular co-pilot Adam. Our rules allow the named driver to be substituted by the co-pilot only if the driver cannot race due to injury, so with Tony on the beach in his leg cast the glory was left to Matt and his new co-pilot.

Despite falling from the boat in one race right in front of D-Buoy and having another boat graze over him Matt had a good days racing and I think there may be a battle on when Tony tries to resume his seat.

Now who’s that person driving the Quicken boat? Not only did they hit the buoy twice, but on the 2^nd time he tried to hide the fact by taking it out to sea with him!! Top marks for effort.

Apologies to the  House of Travel boys from the webmaster, after seeing you both swimming twice thru the day, once at A-Buoy and once at D-Buoy, I have assumed that you Flipped.......but no, you had only  'stepped out' of your boat.

Paul in the Waikato Finance boat made a good comeback after his boat was popped on eh finish line. A quick patch repair job saw him back racing….but with only 10 psi in 1 pontoon, meant each time he jumped a wave the boat was wobbling like a jelly.

Nice to finally see the new Thundercat manufactured by NZ’s own Southern Pacific Inflatables.

These boys have been out testing and refining the design for a while now and all eyes will be on how it performs over the next few months. I guess the first flip of the day was bad luck but at least you’ve ‘wet’ the babies head.

After racing 12 heats and 1 final the winner for Round 2 of the Nationals was Signtech with James and Cam. These boys were our NZ Champions in 2004-05 and look set to do battle with the top boats again.

Now normally our race day would finish there but because we were filming the Southern Swell Challenge we continued on with another 3 races.

The racing was close…and controversial…… but the boat that hit the finish line first was Brent and Stacey in Reaction Screenprint.

Since swapping to an Aquarius these boys have raised the bar and are a strong contender to take out the NZ Surfcross Championship………but keep watching this space, the top 5 boats are grouped together quite closely on the points table and there are still 2 more rounds ahead of them.

Thank you to our Marshals and Officials who once again spent long hours, before, during and after the raceday preparing paperwork, forms etc and to Alan Astrop as Race Director. Never a easy job and it takes someone special to step up as Race Director and as Alan has other commitments for the next few months we will be seeking someone else to fill his shoes.

** Note from the Race Secretary, Cheers guys it was a long tiring day but I think we have all enjoyed it at the end. Thanks all the crews that made my life easier by getting every thing to me with ease and to the crews that either didn't get it to me till on the day or still haven't - Look out / do it now / or lose, your choice.

Thank you to all the helpers on the day and warned to stay away from the grumpy race secretary when at the beach, accommodation was a laugh and a half (see photo below) but Leigh enjoyed her morning coffee watching the Sevens Team training on the deck across the road……. to which the other male marshal's and race crews didn't mind the promo girls around at camera time (Rod & Brent)

Filming during the day was completed by Ian Rawkins using shore based cameras plus the one in the helicopter. The footage will be spectacular and hopefully we will see a program on air in February.

TV3 were also present of the beach taking footage which will be available to the club.

We also had a Correspondent from Tahiti Nui Television who filmed the racing and conducted a few interviews. Her piece will be shown in Tahiti, ESPN Asia, ESPN Europe and France.

Sunday night was a prize giving dinner at the local Surfclub, a superb meal followed by a ‘happy’ Kerry presenting medals (and kissing) to the winners

Once again congratulations to Signtech for winning Round 2 of the Surfcross and Reaction Screenprint for winning the inaugural Southern Swell Challenge.

Next race is at Mangawhai, Jan 29^th. This will be round 1 of the longhaul championship. Originally planned as a 220km race it has been shortened to 140km taking in 3 different beach stops, 1 x compulsory fuel change and 2 laps of a course that promises big swells, blue water and lots of sore, bruised bodies.

My advice to the new crews, if it’s going to be rough wear gloves, booties, a steamer and bring some strapping tape for your hands, arms, toes and knees……..blood really stains your floorboards!

Write-up by………not telling

D-Buoy Marshal Station was a popular place to break down..............

and finally, a big thank you from your Race Officials who appreciated the gesture of contributing towards the cost of our accommodation for a night.....is there any chance we could have a room each next time please, 6 to a room is fun but some of THEM snore !!

(sorry but the camera didn't work when the room was full of steam....)

Round 1 of the Thundercat Surfcross Championship

Whangamata January 2nd 2006

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