2003 XBOX Slider Jam

Take a secluded North Island lake resort, build floating rails up to sixty feet long in the water, design the course to test the confidence of kiwi wakeboarders, and then invite 15 of them to spend two days trying to avoid hospitalisation.

That was the ‘2003 Xbox Slider Jam.’

An original brain child of Jason MacArthur which was turned into reality by three kiwi blokes, Jason, Darryl McFarlane and Cole Simmons.

The Xbox Slider Jam was held at Orakei Korako Gyserland Resort on March 29 and 30 following the wakeboard nationals at the blue lakes Rotorua.

During the build up to the event, sliders were constructed and strategically placed in front of the Orakei Gyserland Resort to maximise spectator views.

Chief builder of the Xbox A frame, Cole, was first to test the equipment with a great success. As soon as the sea doos were in the water and the course set, it was hard to keep the riders on land!

The anticipation of the event built on the Friday night when the heavens opened up and delayed a lot of people arriving due to traffic holds ups on Auckland roading system.

However the arrival of the DJ equipment from Wellington and the sunshine on Saturday morning soon saw smiles on everyone’s faces.

The jam format for the event, provided the opportunity for riders to have all the freedom to just go out there and perform.

Music played all day, and spectacular riding was witnessed by Jeff Wetherall, Jason, Cole, Nick Senior, Brant Hales, Ants, Jennifer Langton, Andrea Fountain, Colette Riley, Craig Fountain, Devan Rowe, and Lance Blackmore just to name a few. The day provided an excellent opportunity for kiwi riders to hit sliders.

There were a couple of incidents during the day with Jeff Wetherall snapping a board on the Xbox A Frame and Colette Riley destroyed her thumb on one of the sliders.

Judging was in the hands of the riders through a voting system, which saw Jeff Wetherall take out first place. Second was taken out by Jason MacArthur and third by Ant Collins. Exact same result as the nationals. Colette Riley, took out the women’s title with her three children accepting her award while she was taken to Waikato Hospital.

Saturday was finished off by a ‘party’ held with DJ’s playing into the wee small hours of the morning.

Big thanks to all the supporters of the event, Xbox, Sea Doo Rolos Marine, Orakei Korako, Globe, Gravy, Plug, Spy and the riders who went out their and had fun.

Plans are already underway for a bigger and better event next year. Same place, 27 and 28 March 2004.

Sally Sheedy