Gary Hoosen and Peter Stewart in the 2013 Russell Birdman festival. Photo / Stephen Western
Gary Hoosen and Peter Stewart in the 2013 Russell Birdman festival. Photo / Stephen Western
Expect a gathering of crazy wharf jumpers at Russell's Birdman Festival, writes Donna McIntyre.
How could you ever tire of that view? Pohutukawa framing the waterfront, grass edging the pebbly beach where waves gently lap the shore, Russell's wooden jetty stretching out to the boat ramps, ferries coming and going.
It won't be that peaceful, though, next weekend with the annual hi jinx of crowd-pulling Birdman Festival. The brave and the barmy dance, run and waddle up the special ramp in costumes to "fly" as far as they can. This year the Duke of Marlborough's team will all be in Star Wars costumes. Tradition is that Gary Hoosen always jumps first - he was in the original Russell Birdman team.
It's a serious business, as the prize for furthest "fly" past the 7m threshold has jackpotted to $2000. The three-day event kicks off Friday afternoon with mural painting, photo safari and disco for the kids, with market stalls, cake and wok bake-offs, and street entertainment from the Russell Ukulele Band.
But the draw-card event is the Saturday Birdman, with a parade before the leap off begins.
There are Rules: entrants are not allowed to use a propulsion device (forget about bringing your cannon, trampoline, catapult or slingshot). But you could build your own hang glider. Each of the 18 to 20 entrants has to do a song and a bit of an act before they jump.
"If you build it yourself, you're fine. You can make your own wings," says Riki Kinnaird, entrant and one of the owners of the Duke of Marlborough. He's always a favourite with the crowds for his off-the-cuff comments. "It is quite technical; we have a lot of creative and arty entries."
Safety precautions include divers and boats to take the soggy birdmen out of the water. Groups of up to five can jump together but have to be careful not to land on top of each other
Contestants have leaped as Mrs Brown and a cup-caked Miss Katy Perry, some have done the ice challenge before they plunged. One visiting Japanese did a kamikaze routine. A Canadian covered himself in duck fat and said he didn't feel the cold. Local entrant Barry Price dressed as a can of baked beans and shuffled along the wharf to a baked beans farting song, a purple vapour trailing behind.
Lucretia Giffiths, left, and Dariann Sigley leap from the wharf in Russell.
Riki promises that if the Duke team wins the $2000, the prize will be going straight on the bar. "It's more about the entertainment than the distance." At the very least, contestants will win the applause of the crowd of 4000 to 5000 that gathers to watch the comedy and antics unfold.
The annual event started in 2007 by locals to generate some business ('to get bums on seats and heads on pillows", says Gary) during the quietest time of the year, and to raise a few laughs and some money for an educational trust for the town's primary school Year 8 students. The event is run by 100 or so volunteers.
It's much bigger than a few brave souls jumping into the 16C water. There are beach digs, kids' fancy dress, dinghy races, no-hands spaghetti eating and an Elvis Ball after the Birdman prizegiving, with Elvis impersonator Brendon Chase in the building.
Supreme winner of the 2013 Russell Birdman festival - Baked Bean Can man. Photo / Stephen Western
And don't forget the drag race which has women dressing as men and some of the town's macho characters in heels and dresses, trotting along the waterfront, stopping at drink stations and the Four Square for a pole dance on the way.
"It gets jostly. It's not a race for the fainthearted and it has been complicated by a splinter on the lap dance pole," says Riki. "The Birdman Festival is one of the few weeks we get to let our hair down," he says. "And it won't be cold."
Drive: Russell is approx 233km from Auckland. At Opua the car ferry crosses to Okiato, and Russell is 7km up the road.
Stay: Tanoa's Russell cottages, 16 Chapel St. Close to the waterfront, modern and super comfy. The spa pool is great on a wintry afternoon. Ph (09) 403 7737.
Eat: Most cafes, pubs and restaurants are on the waterfront or close to the water. Great food and amazing views. We ate at Sallys, The Gables and the Duke of Marlborough.
