2004 Tairua Pipe Masters

Crowds of up to 1500 flocked to Tairua's esplanade on the weekend (Saturday 24 Jan) for what has grown into one of the biggest wakeboarding events in the country - the Tairua Pipe Masters.

A dozen of New Zealand's best wakeboarders blew crowds away with huge off-axis spins and aerial tricks over a course of ramps and sliders.

The sliders - purpose built for wakeboarding - were made to specifications and erected that day by local residents and riders, using PVC piping and donated materials from Kopu's Tanners Timberworld. The event kicked off at 6pm with perfect skies and dying winds and riders competed through dusk until a prizegiving at 9.30pm.

"It's so satisfying to see all the effort of a few local boys and myself turned into a slider course of international standard," says organiser Devan Rowe.

"This year was twice as good as last year. The course was twice as good, the riding was at a higher level and there were so many families out enjoying the music and the action."

Riders judged the winner and the number one pipe trophy went to Hayden Maguire of Waiheke Island for a clean, controlled run with manoeuvres including a hugely technical 540 degree spin off the 18 metre slider.

"It's an event that everyone wants to go to because it's the most fun event of the year without a doubt," he said afterward. "It's by far the best slider event in New Zealand, best sliders ever built in New Zealand and definitely way up there by international standards as well," he said. Second place went to Ant Collings, of Rotorua, and in third was Darrel Walker of Northland.

Devan Rowe said Paku Bay was a perfect location for the contest, being sheltered from wind and with a channel that allowed perfect riding conditions just a short distance from spectators on the shore. "We had such great support from everybody including our harbour master Wayne Price. A lot more people will now understand what the sport is about and how much fun it can be."

Click here for the 2004 Tairua Pipemasters Photo Gallery!