The Schnaps Class of 14

Organising a surf club contest is relatively hard work, but then try organising it in a town with no surf!!
Well, with the help of some dedicated folk we somehow pulled a rabbit out of a hat... then a carrot and then a Watership Down "Bright Eyes" single cassette.
Analogies aside, Friday night the paranoia set in as the forecasted slight swell seemed almost wishful thinking and by daybreak Saturday morning there was still an element of doubt as the sea remained "slight".
After reviewing weather maps and imagining surf forecasting before "swellmap" and "buoyweather" and going back to some old man of the sea coastal forecasts of 25 plus knot winds out to sea I took a giant gamble and called our Snappers Classic 2014 club competition ON !! with a midday start.

Marco Edwards took out 1st place with some slick slicing and dicing.

At 10am the decision to run still seemed a little optimistic but then as if it had been scripted, by half ten, the swell had kicked to a reasonable 2ft and a couple of the event "roadies" got out there with the free surf session an hour prior to kick off actually yielding some great waves with everyone keen to "Strut their stuff".

(above): Ben Winmill performs "La-Cockarocha" during the longboard final

The juniors kicked off the event followed by the opens and then the longboards and then the 3 finals of all divisions..  Some drama in the longboard semi final with Jackson Gregory scoring a perfect 10point ride and another high 8point ride only to get an interference call in the dying minutes with a drop in on Ben Winmill handing Ben and Geoff Noble a ride through to the final and Jackson knocking himself out wondering how it could have happened!! A special note to this longboard division... this was high standard longboarding even at a South Island National level and I know because ive seen it,,,, top effort boys!!

(above): Geoff Noble on his way to back to back longboard titles.

The contest was hotly contested in both Juniors and Open but the real winner at the end of the day was Nelson Boardriders surf club. After laying dormant for nearly 2 years the participation in the event was astonishing and with a large turnout and a somewhat "official" prizegiving at Geoff Noble's Tahuna Studio later that evening everyone left the evening with a smile.
This was no ego-tistical alpha chest pumping surf measuring tape type thing but  merely a surf club crew getting together being surfers and using any excuse possible to spend the day at the beach.

Special thanks to Mat Goodman for photography and Pat Griffin alongside Scott Edwards, Ian Richardson and Jason trotter for guest judging and all the crew that turned out and "kept the faith".
Thanks to the Sponsors - Tahuna Bar and Tavern. - Hogeys Surf - McCashin's Brewery - R and R sport,
Nelson Packaging  and Pit Stop.

Full Results:   Open - 1st Marco Edwards
                                2nd Rachel Clark
                                3rd Mark Nichols
                                4th Dave Pon

                  Junior-  1st Jimmy Wright
                               2nd Jack Malcolm
                               3rd Finnley Meekma
                               4th Jesse Forsyth

              Longboard -   1st Geoff Noble
                                    2nd Ben Winmill
                                    3rd  Graham Clark
                                    4th  Aaron Lyttle

*Of course none of these results actually mean anything apart from the fact that we all pretended to be pro surfers for the day and all had a freaking excellent time doing it!!!

See you late spring for the Rabbit Island Pro  ( wink wink )