paul.j said...
There is about 6-10 of us going from the goldy
That's great Paul.. Make sure you bring that new 17' Glide..
I think we have about 30 or more coming from Vic.
For those who've never been.. Here's what to bring and what to expect..
DJ
So, let’s say you’re maybe thinking of coming to Merimbula for the Mambo, and you’ve heard just a little about it, but you’d like to know more… well, here’s a few handy hints.
First… What to bring ?
Be practical and go and raid your piggy bank. Though it may sometimes seem so, there’s no such thing as a “free” lunch. You’ll need petrol money, beer money, accommodation, entry fees, insurance, (and bribes for the judges) so your plastic will probably cop a bit of a beating.
Second, bring a happy positive attitude.
This is a fun event… always has been… so pack your smile (or a goofy grin) and maybe your Captain Goodvibes T.shirt. Now, speaking of shirts, grab some really loud shirts ( it’s this year’s MAJOR theme) and wear them always. Let’s all go totally over the top…(see if you can “out-shirt” me)
A prize for "MR LOUDSHIRT" is definitely on the agenda !
You’ll soon see that this is a gathering of the “water worshippers”. We get wet ! We ride the waves on kite-boards, sailboards and SUPs… so yes, it’s a SURFATHON. You’ll probably need a decent wet suit if you intend to take home a fine trophy. We reward the wildest performers, so go hard. You'll have to make sure you're covered by insurance however. ( more details on this later)
Where to go?
Gather at the green shed at Ford Park. That’s Merimbula Sailboard Club Central and it’s the nerve centre of the event. John Smythe and the team do their thing there… rego, barbie, briefings, etc. It’s just east of the bridge, so follow your nose (you can usually smell the sausages and onions sizzling).
What will you see?
You’ll see all the latest toys from all the big brand surf companies. There’ll be tents full of high tech surfing stuff. Some boards are for you to use, just to see how they go.
On the water you’ll see the best riders from all over OZ and some internationals too. You’ll also see the red hot Red Bull girls…(and a few crusty old farts who’ve been running the contest for twenty nine years). If you’re lucky you’ll see One Knot get his gear off (he’ll need a few beers), and other types of fruit loops doing dopey drunken deeds in the dark... ( but of course we don’t encourage any of THIS nonsense)
What about the contest ?
It’s an “expression session” so do your own thing, but SAFETY FIRST at ALL times (or else !) We have a lot of spectators checkin' things out, and it's YOUR responsibility not to harm a hair on their head, so be alert to ANY and EVERY possible danger.
The judging system is finalised by a “panel” at the end of the four days… and no correspondence will be entered into. These secret scouts usually get it right, but remember, the contest’s Golden Rule is , No Whingeing…. about anything.
What if I’m feeling lucky
The presentation on Sunday evening usually goes on too long and can get a bit crazy, but because the sponsors are so generous, there’s a really good chance you’ll score a nice prize (just don’t get greedy and grab two). And support the sponsors reverently ‘cause they are the gods walking among us mere mortals. They make it such a fantastic event ! We luv ‘em all, and feel that it's very important to pay them their due respect.
Pubs or parties?
You’ll probably enjoy both. The nocturnal activities are legendary, and the hang-overs may kill more brain cells than a nuclear bomb (most just grin and bear it)… but don’t forget the police will book you if you go bananas, or attempt to water the neighbour’s roses on your way home from the pub at some ungodly hour. So not too much bloody noise after mid-night, please. ... maintain your "cool".
Last comments… This event is what we all make it. Just remember that it’s “serious fun”, and have a great time. Leave your bull-**** behind and join up with all the wonderful water-worshippers to make it a huge celebration of surf, sun, steak and sand. (Of course there’ll be no sex please… we’re British)
