Surf contest embraces alternatives

There are no thrusters allowed at the alternate surfing competition Anything But 3 event to be held at Whangarei Heads Ocean Beach on May 5.

The rules for the competition are simple - ride any sort of surfboard but a thruster, which is a board with three like-sized fins.

Round one of the Anything But 3 contest was held at Mangawhai on March 24 to celebrate the birthday of contest instigator, Steve Morris from Auckland-based surf company Morris Surfboards.

The event had such a high level of interest it was decided to expand it into a series, said one organiser Kevin "Nudge" Piper from Nudge Custom Surfboards at Ocean Beach.

Event two will be hosted by Ocean Beach Board Riders Club and it was timed to coincide with the full moon because this generally brings more settled weather patterns and good waves.

Future events could be held this year at places like New Plymouth. Competitors from as far away as Taranaki and Christchurch entered the first event and about 60 were expected for the second.

Anything But 3 aimed to embrace different surf design, said Piper. "The thruster was a design that came out in 1981 by Simon Anderson and it is three like-sized fins. It's probably the most common board that you are going to see at any beach, Piper said.

"In the last 30 years surfboard design has changed and improved. There's so much alternative equipment out there with a multitude of fin set-ups."

Another attraction was the log division for surfers riding traditional single-fin longboards.

"I've been very involved with the Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour which is based around high performance longboarding as opposed to the more traditional styles. That is what this event is about - nose riding and traditional manoeuvres - as opposed to high performance surfing."

Piper was impressed with the support from local businesses, including the likes of Steve Bowling Contractors and Cowley's Hire, Tribal Surf, Tutukaka Surf Experience, The Surf Emporium, West, Nudge Custom Surfboards and Thirsty liquor, he said.

"We also have support from some of the bigger Auckland-based companies like FCS, zepher.co.nz, Morris Surfboards, Ding King and Pipe Surfa and most of the prizes would be spot prizes and a trophy with a usable fin would be presented to division winners."

"It's an event where egos are thrown out the window, both with sponsors and surfers ... " he added.

The event has attracted a high calibre of surfers such as Whangarei's Under-14 double national champ Manu Scott-Arrieta, national longboard champ, Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour champ and Auckland champ in both longboard and shortboard Thomas Kibblewhite; plus 2011 women's Hyundai Pro Longboard champ Shelley Jones.

Judging will be present, led by Piper, a level 2 International Surfing Association (ISA) and Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) judge. Entries close May 1 and are available from zepher.co.nz, The Surf Emporium and Nudge Custom surfboards at Ocean Beach.