Interbase Boardriding

By CPLs Jesse Liddicoat and Reece Tamariki

This article is dedicated to the memory of Corporal Ben Carson, a hardcore board rider who was in it from the beginning. He will be sorely missed at next year’s competition.

The Royal New Zealand Air Force Boardriders Club Interbase Competition was held in Raglan, 26–27 March 2010. Corporal Nic Hale and Leading Aircraftman Greg Allen worked long and hard to organise a fantastic competition for the RNZAF Surfers, Kiteboarders and Wakeboarders.

Surfing

Having left home early—or sleeping on location—the surfers arrived to some nice waves at Manu Bay, Raglan. The lads ‘battled the waves’, during Heats One and Two, with FGOFF Andrew Salt, CPL Jesse Liddicoat, AC Carlin O’Neill, and CPL Hale making it to the finals. Around the corner at Whale Bay, where the waves were cleaner and less crowded, the finalists paddled out and battled in the waves for 20 minutes. It was an exhausting day and we even rescued a distressed surfer.

Kiteboarding

The five kiters were on the water by midday and the wind was solid, giving them the opportunity to have some fun. After the wind eased off CPL Carson decided to pick up the kite reigns and test the water. When he met the middle of the channel, the wind backed off to nothing and his kite fell into the water. Ben fought for at least an hour before he decided to swim it in.

CPL Nic Hale

Wakeboarding

The wakeboarders lucked upon some nice water at Lake Karapiro, where the competition got underway. LAC Allen almost took out big points with a near backflip, and fellow Ohakea riders, CPL Carson and AC O’Neill’s rides set the bar high for Auckland. Undeterred, LAC Dillon McDowell, CPL Alex Yule, SGT Fisher, CPL Hale and CPL Rob Larman threw down. Able Helicopter Crewman, Tiffany Kalin even showed some of the boys how wakeboarding should be done!

Saturday afternoon was spent at Mount with some social surfing in some small waves. We then celebrated the successes—and some epic fails—of the competition.

Thanks to all the organisers, and the competition sponsor—Stash It Board Bags, from Whenuapai—Interbase Boardriding 2010 was awesome.

Results

Image Gallery - Issue 116