OUBBC Mid Winter Comp.
1st January 1970
They're a tough bunch of buggers in Otago. You'd have to be to hold a comp in the middle of bloody winter. Read on to how it all went.
The place: Allans BeachThe date: 16th July 2005
The weather: Blue skies, but damn cold.
The occasion: Otago University Bodyboarders Club 2nd Annual Mid-winter Bodyboarding Competition.
The sponsors: Christine Rutherford Body Boards New Zealand Distributor (NMD), Hydrosurf Dunedin, R&R sport, Boardbase, Poppa’s Pizza, Sun & Snow, Robertson’s meats and Hirepool.
It all started at St Kilda where, after taking in all the entries (16), the decision was made to head out along the amazingly scenic Otago Peninsula in search of waves at Allans Beach. Special thanks to the farmer that let us through his paddock to get to the cove where we were greeted to puddles of water with inch thick ice covering them and, more importantly, a solid wave that was pushing 4 to 5ft on the sets, even the odd 6ft bomb down the beach. Anyone who has surfed Allans will know this place is one of the heaviest beachies in the country, and a spitting 4 to 5 ft barrels induces a mixture of excitement and fear.
The first heat to test the waters was composed of last years winner Hayden “Goose” Parsons, local man Joe “Mincie” Nicolson, and two of the Christchurch trio: Liam Connor (a standup who entered for the fun of it), and Ryan “Ryno” Isherwood. Goose took the heat comfortably followed by Ryan, Joe then Liam.
The next heat saw local charger and current club points leader Mitch Frew catch a nice one before his heat but then get caught on the nasty inside for a good ten minutes before pulling out. Duckdiving is about twenty times more unpleasant when every time you go under you are treated to a solid ice cream headache. Christchurch bodyboarder Andrew Green pulled out a good showing to take the number one spot closely followed by our entrant from overseas, Jeremi Martin (Reunion Island). Jeremi had been bodyboarding for 8 years but hadn’t been in the water for 3 years, so having his first surf in the mid-winter waters of Dunedin was a huge shock to the system, but the judges were impressed by a drop he took with style into a nice pit that closed out. Jeremi said it was the coldest water he had ever been in and vowed not to surf again until at least October! Our sole female entrant was also in this heat. Erica was a bloody legend to paddle out on this day with the guys as the waves were super solid and intimidating. To demonstrate how solid it was she ended up getting taken out by a huge set only to come up and find the wave had snapped her leash, leaving her to swim in to shore to get her board! Huge respect to ya Erica!
The fourth heat saw Whangarei charger Mark Hubbard return to the icy waters of Dunedin in his gimp wetsuit complete with hood and zip. The cold water proved to be no hindrance to the fella as he took the heat comfortably over first year university student Andrew Williams. Brothers Brendan and Jamie Reeves battled it out for third and fourth, and younger brother Brendan eventually pulled through in third.
The last heat was won by last years second place getter, Paul McLennan Kissel. Casey Keen came in second with Tim Hutton in third. I also paddled out late for the heat where I felt the force of Allans getting caught inside on a huge set and taking a pummelling.
In the first semi-final there was one prevailing theme “GOOSE”. This boy was ripping, managing to slide his way into two very nice barrels and make them with pure style. Hubb pulled out a second placing to get himself into the finals as well. Ryan pulled out due to a migraine (who can blame him in seven degree water!). The second semi-final saw Keeno get one back on PMK. Keeno was absolutely ripping pulling out powerful cutties and spins he easily won the heat. Andrew Williams got second equal with PMK, while Jeremi decided the water was too cold and gave up half way through the heat. At the prize giving Jeremi was telling me how he was totally in awe of the bodyboarders today, even though he is used to people busting backflips and ARS’s all the time at reef breaks in Reunion Island, he couldn’t believe the way the fellas in Dunno’s charge out through the sizey beach break at Allans and get pitted.
THE FINAL:
The waves got a bit worse and the weather started to pack it in, but the boys still managed to get a few good waves. PMK took an early lead with a nice barrel, but of course Goose wasn’t to be outdone and managed a very, very nice barrel towards the end of the final. Hubb, Andrew Williams and Keeno were unable to get the better waves, and it was close between all three of these competitors.
The after party was held in a mint location in the upstairs of the Bowler pub. All the contestants got some prize for entering and paddling out on the day. Huge thanks to the Bowler for the free/cheap beers and Poppas pizza for the excellent feed. Highlights of the prize giving were Squaker and K-Hole battling it out on the couch and the huge love bite that resulted on K-Hole’s back, classic bodyboarder feralness prevailed! Haha!
Final Placings:
1st Hayden Parsons
2nd Paul McLennan Kissel
3rd = Mark Hubbard & Casey Keen
4th Andrew Williams
FINAL OUBBC RANKINGS FOR 2005:
1 – Hayden Parsons 280pts
2 – Mitchel Frew 198pts
3 – Paul McLennan Kissel 140pts
4 – Casey Keen 80pts
5 – Andrew Williams 50pts
6 – Oliver Simpson 42pts
7 – Mark Hubbard 40pts
8 – Will Tregidga 25pts
9 = Jamie Reeves 24pts
9 = Brendan Reeves 24pts
9 = Joe Nicolson 24pts
12 = Ryan Isherwood 17pts
12 = Danny Hellyer 17pts
12 = Andrew Green 17pts
12 = Mark Edmonds 17pts
12 = Jeremi Martin 17pts
17 = Aaron Eyles 8pts
17 = Erica Cusack 8pts
17 = Tim Hutton 8pts
17 = Liam Connor 8pts
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PhotoSet [ OUBBC Mid Winter Comp. ]
