This weekend I had been given the dubious task of taking on the role of MC for the last event of the Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour.
A step outside of the judging tower was a welcome change but little did I know and realise how HUGE this weekend was going to be!
I am always stoked to be a part of this event and last year I was abroad when it was on so I was amping on a great weekend this time round.
Having good mates and lifetime friends who call the Port home too, its also a good weekend of catching up with them all over many a bbq and an ale or a bottle of Port.
Thur nite I hit the sea-side set-up with a few foes in tow and settled in at my good mates, Silverfox's, home and proceeded to partake in lots of brews, three bottles of Port and as the first nite frenzy enveloped us in laughter and story telling, the hours slipped by.
And then I woke up!
On the couch, fully dressed still, with a pounding head, memory loss and a very, very unsavoury taste in my mouth!This was gunna be a very long day..
Day 1 of the comp we had grey skies, a stiff cross/onshore wind blowing and a chunky 4ft swell rolling into the Port. Not too flash.
With the trying conditions and a queasy stomach the day started pretty poorly but as I shrugged off my hangover, the sun shone thru, just a lil, and the surfers started catching some of the left hand runners and things looked promising.
Phil Morris, Dylan Barnfield, Sam Johnson and many of the Open Men got amongst the lumpy, bumpy waves and made it look more like a fun-park and less like a wonton soup bowl. The older crew also surfed really well but definetly felt the effect of the sweeping drift and usually after a wave it was common to see them hit the shore and run the beach to paddle out in the cove again, a distance of about a km on sand, lots of heats only seeing between 2-5 waves ridden. The ladies feared well too but the juniors seemingly suffering the same fate as the old boys and struggling to paddle against the currents and tide. Wave choice was critical.
The day was a massive 10hour affair and after what seemed one of the longest days of my surf-comp working life I was elated when we called off the SUP's and decided enough was enough for today. Time for a beer..or maybe a rum. Or maybe not. Many.
The Fire Station in Port Waikato is the only place that has a bar open on fri nite and with my invitation in place we dragged ourselves down there for a few quite ones with the locals, a glutton for punishment I am.The people that volunteer here at the station are nothing short of amazing!
The work they do in and for their community is awesome and this eclectic bunch of individuals never cease to humble me with the manner in which they accept me and our travelling gypsy surf circuit to town.
They are "salt-of-the-earth" people and with their classic humour, yarns and banter they make a quite fri nite a pretty special time.
Day 2 and the guns are blazing as I sound the hooter and hit the mike to begin the days festival. The suns rocked up to play, the waves have calmed and those surfers left are charged up to take the title honors. This event is the last of the Tour and at days end event champs and Tour champions will be crowned.
With a clear head I've found my feet again and hit the ground running, verbal diaroreahh dribbling forth, here to inform the surfers and entertain the crowd. Too easy! The surfers relish their role in this great play too and with Port Waikato our stage we perform to an amassed crowd of many and with drama filled heats and comedic commentary I feel like the day is another great performance for all.
Without getting into it all too much, the days events pan out with no-one really knowing by days end who has taken the event division wins and everyone is left wondering just who are the Tour Champs for 2010.
That nite the reins are handed to me to deal with the official presso. Nobody had told me it was part of the deal but I was up for it, its mainly a whole bunch of mates and as the beers flowed we started proceedings.
The whole presentation took about an hour, but highlights were: The amazing speech/presentation by Shane Baxter as he gifted the organisers with a carved paddle and did an awesome haka!
: That all the cash raised from the raffle and bbq was gifted to L.J., the Port Waikato Fire Chief to continue on their great work.
: All the event winners.
: The results of the Open Mens final being read, Sammy J wins on a countback, Owen Barnes just missing out on the Event and Tour Titles.
: Jeremy and Vic from Starboard SUP's gifting Big Howie and GT sick 12ft SUPs.
: The RYAN Family being crowned as NZ's Best Longboarding Family!
: All Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour winners being crowned! Especially DYLAN BARNFIELD & DAISY THOMAS!
Another epic Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour thru-out NZ, good times, great crew and some hell waves!
Chur, sea you all next year.
Gav IINAMI.
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