2003 Tairua Pipe Masters
The Tairua Pipe Masters - the first ever purpose built slider
event, saw the start of a new era in rail slide comps. With
the riders choosing the format and the rules - this was an
event not to be missed.
Taking its name from the classic Hawaiian Surf contest, it
all came about after wakeboarder Devan Rowe decided it was
time to get the most passionate riders together to have some
fun.
It couldn't have gone better. Swell pumped all week with
light offshores or no wind at all and the sky was a perfect
summer blue. In the best surf town tradition, local boardriders
and wakeboarders got together to help make a local tapas bar
right on the water front providing the venue, huge sound system
and fridge full of cold red bull.
Ten of NZ’s most talented riders were invited to take
part, including the countries most successful wakeboarder
Jeff Weatherall, who placed 7th on the World Pro circuit last
year.
Other riders down for the action were Auckland’s Darryl
Walker, (top ranked kiwi at last years X Air), and Nik Senior,
who have both just returned from coaching in Florida. Big
things were expected of Nik who was the first person to successfully
reach the end of a 136ft slider in Florida.
Building the course was a matter of scrounging PVC piping
from local plumbers, planks from local builders, and a couple
of ready made kickers and sliders from Liquid Force and others.
"Everything was built on land and we only had 2 hours
to fix it in place because of the 2 hour window of tide"
said Devan Rowe.
Action kicked off at 5.30pm and ran until dark keeping the
banks lined with about 500 people enjoying the riding, the
sunshine, Nick Roberts and Ali Smith on the decks and the
commentary by American PJ Marks.
Last minute changes to the competitor line-up saw the inclusion
of 2 of NZs leading women wakeboarders - Collette Riley and
Jen Langton. Mother of 3, Collette and regular competitor
of the countries event circuit threw down an impressive display
of tricks including a backside 360 over the 1.5m ramp anchored
in Tairua Harbour.
Aucklander Justin Sweeney rode the course on a wakeskate
including the 12m rail and kickers in style. But event founder
and Tairua local Devan Rowe, took top spot after votes were
counted by all the riders.
"I feel like it was more a vote of appreciation for
the event but they didn't need to do that - it was so much
putting it all together. I'm planning to do it all again next
year for sure "
Weatherall finished 2nd and Ant Collings 3rd.
It would probably be the most progressive event we've had
so far in NZ" said Weatherall "Its not the conventional
serious hang-out at a competition with everyone antsy about
everyone else because there is money involved. But at the
same time it was progressive because the format allowed us
to ride as good as we could, and we could all fall as many
times as we wanted without being knocked out of the comp.
It was all about fun and that’s the main aim of wakeboarding"
Everyone is looking forward to bigger and better sliders
next year – good work
Devan.
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