deepfried.tv forum - Taranaki Wave Classic

23.08.07 12.09 pm

Entries are now open, so save $ and score stuff.

All right! This is my favourite weekend of the year. Daylight saving has just kicked in, the suns is out, and the spring Sou-Westerlys are firing. Life is good!

See you all in Taranaki for labor weekend.

I have accommodation booked. And me and a mate are starting training (not really). But I am applying to get training days of school when it blows 20knts plus NE in Auckland but we will wait to see if the school principal bites....

I CANT WAIT.. ALREADY GETTING EXITED!!!!

same.... house booked 6 months ago. Hope it still there after the tornadoes.

Wish there was some wind here in Wellies!

Nice you tube vid. Keep em coming!

My entry is in the post. Looking forward to catching up with everyone again.

TWC is the first thing I write on the new year planner when it goes up on the wall at work. I'm trying to get a few more of the Nelson guys to tag along this time but it's proving difficult, but will keep at it. Have a Helmet camera set up now so hoping to get some great on water footage. Hopefully I can get it onto a disc properly this time!

For those of you who haven't yet booked your accommadation. Motorhead are playing at the bowl that weekend, and accommadation may get scarce. Book early!

Motorhead!..... rad!!!!

Have windsurfed for over 15 years but still a newby to waves. Have far too much experience on flat water living within 10 minutes of Bucklands/Eastern Beach, and not being bothered driving further a field. Other than many days at Eastern Beach in a good NE, my lumpy water experience (can't quite call them waves) is limited to Waiheke, Takapuna and Shakespeare a couple of times and one day with almost real waves at Orewa that weren't quite big enough to ride but great fun - why did I wait so long!!!

Thinking about coming down for TWC, but wondering if there is any possibility of actually getting on the water. Perhaps I should develop some skills at Takapuna and Orewa and get more out of it next year.

Don't get out as much with 2 kids now and a demanding job and a big mortgage.

Any thoughts appreciated.

I sailed for the first time in waves ever in 25knts Pangs mast high waves. It was mean and not scarry at all. you just stick to the shoulders of the waves until you get confident and then go get rinsed. Even my dad when out on one of the smaller days at Kina Rd and he hasn't sailed in 15 years. You gota brave it some time and it's actually easier in Tara's than in AK.

I fully agree with Lanky, First time I ever sailed was Pungarehu as well, maxed on a 4.5, at least mast high....just stay away from the white water, fantastic especially if you can see the mountain. You never know what the conditions will be like until you are down there, but if you never try it...you'll die wondering. Only problem is it's really addictive. It's also quite comforting when there's a bunch of other people out there, well about 60 actually, if it's good.

So I should just harden up and go for it.

Kinda what I was hoping to hear, I suppose what you're saying Lanky is its easier when there are well formed waves and sets to work around as opposed to large messy onshore chop.

My other problem is my smallest sail is 5.3, may have to go shopping...:-) Need to talk to the 'boss' about that some more.

What about other locations for an easier intro into Naki conditions, especially if it is big which a lot of you guys will be praying for. Waitara??? Haven't spent much time in the Naki so only know the names from threads and mags.

Accommodation wise, any good camping grounds central to the venues?

the TWC is an awesome event. well worth the entry fee to get a t-shirt, an good prizegiving party and a good chance of excellent conditions. Then there are the spot prizes at the prize giving. last year, I think everyone that entered got a spotprize. I walked away with a new 4.7m naish wave sail. wohooo..... roll on labour weekend.

Hi Mickel

I would recommend Oakura Camp Site. It is right on the beach. The most central camp ground to all the sailing locations.

and the best thing is it is stumbling distance from the party!!!!!

Thats were we are staying....

Regarding sail sizes. You only need two. 5.3 and 4.7.

We sail 5.3 most of the time, with a fair bit of 4.7. Occasionally I use a 4.2, but not often. I am only 72 kg, so a bigger guy would almost never use a 4.2.

It's probably booked out for cabins now as I booked one of the last ones the other day. Worth a try but failing that, the Oakura motel just up the road is a good alternative.

Otherwise there is the on-site caravans (samurai vans) which are owned by other local people who will tow them to Oakura beach camp for you. More expensive as you have to pay for the on-site van as well as camp fees but very comfortable and you couldn't get a better location. Just ask Jan or Al at Oakura beach camp about these.

Sailing at Taranaki can be easier than Orewa and Takapuna once you're out but there are some rules about getting over a shore break which you should learn before you go out to avoid gear damage. Often the gusty winds and currents make it difficult inshore and the bigger waves and rocks make any mistakes a bit more serious.

The great thing about TWC is that there is plenty of people around to help you and you shouldn't get into serious trouble. Make sure you ask someone who knows whether you should go out and, if so, where and how to enter the water. I still ask the locals where to enter the water, how to get out (grovel upwind or plane out), where to exit if I get into trouble and what hazards to watch out for.

As for locations, it's probably the wind and wave conditions which make a spot easy or hard. Waitara is great but still can be tricky at high tide.

OK I'm in!!!

Spring is here, need to start intensive training:-)

Anyone tenting at Oakura beach camp?

Thanks for the input guys.

Would of been a good week to have the event this week.

Consistent SW 15-25 knots each day with just over head waves all week.

fun times to be sitting in the office

Chris, how much is it if you register on the day? Cheers

I'm guessing anywhere between $10-20 more than the Pre-reg price. but it hasn't been finalised yet.

Main reason for doing the pre registtation is so that there are enough T-shirts and entry packs. Stocks got very low last year and some of the "on-the-day" entries missed out.

I need help to find some Accommodation!!!!!!!

We booked a house 6 months ago (deposit and all), but the place is being used by some who's house got trashed by the twister, apparently repairs are held up.

Fair enough, but we're still pissed off and out of pocket for a place we thought we'd secured.

I'm taking my family so we'll pretty much a need whole house. Does anyone (local?) know of something we can rent?

I'm no local but when we were looking for accomodation all I could find were a few small houses in the countryside or the Oakura Camp ground!!! We chose the camp ground because at least it's close to the beach!!!!

Will keep an ear to the ground for you Chris,

Might be something still available on holidayhouses.co? There's a 10 bed place listed there - maybe someone might be keen to share with you..

LINK: http://www.holidayhouses.co.nz/New_Plymouth.asp

That was the website we went through. We stayed at the place at the top of the page last time but they were booked this time. might be worth trying them though because it was a nice big clean house with a pool table and someone might have cancellled

We stayed there once too... that was back in 03 (i think) and we had the young wellington rock band staying with us who were playing the TWC prize giving. After the 'show' they got a bit drunk and took some of the bedding to the beach - not sure we'll be all that welcome back... even though we are now old and responsible and no longer bring rock bands with us to TWC ...

Thanks for the suggestions though !

just been told that there was an error in the TWC Newswire sent out.

Re: your ref to "El Nino laying down some good lines....."

The Southern Oscillation Index is slightly positive & other conditions such as water temp, tradewind strength etc indicate that a La Nina is developing.

cheers for that Ernie, what it means for us I don't know......

Its a tchnical description which translates to 'we still have no f***ing idea'....

According to NIWA.. It should be warmer, wetter, and don't expect to see much of our staple SW flow..

The good news though, is that all our favorite spots that are cross-shore in a SW should still be cross-shore in a NE.. just on the other tack.

That will be weird! Time to break out the floaty boards perhaps?

Even Pungharehu will still be cross-off.. just on the wrong tack, not as clean and probably with hardly any swell.. which takes out pretty much all the good features of Pungarehu..

I agree with Lawrence though, when it comes to being specific and not using words like 'may','should', and 'possible' they really have no idea what is going to happen!

After talking to some of the guys who entered the TWC last year and didn't even sail, I'm sure that it'll be a good time regardless of La Nina!

LINK: http://www.niwascience.co.nz/ncc/faq/ensonz