Thursday, October 21, 2010

Longboard Festival due to start in Taranaki


The flash moves are out and the surfing styles of the 60s will reign during the longboard contest at New Plymouth's Fitzroy Beach this weekend. New Plymouth Surfrider's Club president Mark O'Connor said competition would be all about hanging ten and walking the board. "It's an old school competition which we started about three years ago. We go back to the old moves that were common in the 60s," he said. "It's all about smaller surf, about two to three feet, which we call logging waves. The forecast is good with fine weather, light winds and a two metre swell."

The contest is restricted to the first 48 entries and one division covers everyone. "No-one gets eliminated in the first round. The emphasis is on fun until the finals when it'll be a bit more serious." The top prize, a $1700 Del-designed glide model longboard, will be offered as a spot prize.

Surfing will be at Fitzroy from 8am until 2pm on Saturday and Sunday. The weekend is dubbed "a festival of surfing, art and music". An art exhibition of works by surfers cum artists, Daryn McBride, of Mt Maunganui, and Tony Ogle, of Gisborne, will be held in the clubhouse. "They are both recognised artists and their art is for sale from $100 to $3500," O'Connor said. The music starts during registration tomorrow night with local band Cut the Chord, continues on Saturday night with Johnny Dillon and ends with Wellington group, The Common Ground, on Sunday.

No comments: