Geraldton Windsurf Club is hosting the 1st Annual Geraldton Windsurfing Festival at Coronation Beach from the 5th - 7th January 2007.

The aim of this windsurfing and social event is to put the fun back into the sport similar to the Merimbula Mambo Competition. Entry fee (entry form and event details can be downloaded here http://www.gspotxtreme.com ) includes BBQ's for Saturday and Sunday and a quality T-Shirt, with the G.B.H. as our Party venue. This competition does have a serious side, that is to go sailing until you can't hold on anymore and then party until you can't party anymore. This will be the combined format the judges are using to score the winners. The judges will remain anonymous and will also be sailing. Sailors will complete a detailed description of all there sailing gear, board type, sail design, sail numbers, colour, etc. and will also fly a streamer off their mast to indicate they're in the competition. There are 4 divisions; Juniors, Womens, Veterans, Open.

There has been some very generous prizes donated by our sponsors on short notice which is greatly appreciated, special thankyou to Sailwest, Ezzy Sails, Geraldton Beach Hotel, G-Spotxtreme, Aeron, Flying Objects, Brighteyes - Geraldton and Surfsail. Also a big thanks to Steve Sullivan and Eric B. for donated the uniquely designed trophies. Updates to follow.

Sounds like a great event, pity the dates clash with the Nationals in Freo(6-10th Jan).

Ill Take that as tounge in cheek. Mr spotX.

It should be a fantastic weekend, of FUN.
Heaps of effort has been made by the Gero windsurfing club.
The T-SHIRTS are flash ,and theres, been heaps of Young guns, doing all these new school wave riding tricks, flat water slides WITH spins.Heaps of Euros and chicks windsurfing out there.

Hi from sunny Melbourne.....well maybe cold wet and WINDY Melbourne.
There are a bunch of us coming over to Gero, and we'll be keen to join in the fun. Does our Windsurfing Victoria membership apply? Less money spent on entry fees means more spent at the Pub!

Agree with the Mambo style events....thats all we ever run now.

Also agree on Jager having to compete in Juniors. We used to have a junior called Jason that wasnt allowed to sail in the open class!!

Brett & Deb

Cool. We are all listed on the AWA Members list off the AWA web site....so no worries about proving membership.

You are right, $35 is fantastic value.....depending of course on how good the chefs are at the BBQ.....the Mambo Chefs are hard to beat.

See you there.
Brett

I have heard the orgiser is arranging a private sssion with a skmpy for registration on Fiday night.
The only problem is how old is a veteran entrant. I have heard a few ages thrown around, mostly 1 yer younger than the competitor.
Hopefully not every Gero sailor will be competing in the OAP's.

Didn't anyone go?

Got this via email so am posting it:

Wicked, cool, sick, hot, describes the very successful
Inaugural Geraldton Windsurfing Festival held at Coronation
Beach on the 6th and 7th January 2007 thanks to the hard work
of organiser Matt Ruthven, his partner Lucy and his band of helpers.
The laid back style of competition with anonymous judges
checking out sailors' performances both on and off the water
attracted 62 entrants with a 50:50 mix of locals and visitors in four
divisions - Open, Juniors, Womens and Veterans.
The Red Bull Girl had the boys smiling while waiting for
the wind to arrive on the Saturday, while the ladies were heard to
ask "Where's the Red Bull Boy?" The bbq lunch was popular too
with everyone lining up for some protein before going sailing.
Thanks to IGA - Glenfield for the meat.
After a light start, the wind eventually kicked in at full strength and
started stretching arms with most guys overpowered with too big a
sail. There was a big crowd at Coro with over 100 sailboards
counted at one stage and there was plenty of action with guys
"going loopy" everywhere.
After a pretty long session on the water, people started heading
for the Geraldton Beach Hotel (GBH) for some R & R - no not
"Rest and Recreation" - "Rock 'n Roll" and what a great night!
Local band "The Remnants" were really rocking, playing the
best rock songs from the 70's, 80's and 90's. The lead guitarist
was really going off and obviously inspired Kenny (aka Jimi) and
Shane (aka Angus) to "Go off" too when the air guitar competition
started. Did someone have a video camera? Tim was getting
harder to understand too as the night wore on but between drinks I
think he was yelling out to the band "You Guys Rock!" before
joining them on stage to show the crowd his latest dance moves.
He really was trying hard to win the "Party Animal" award. Thanks
to the GBH for supplying the band and the drink vouchers and a
great night.
Unfortunately on Sunday the wind was hungover and didn't show
up but the jet ski action towing fully rigged sailboards around at
death defying speeds kept the crowd amused. The bbq was again
well patronised all day with everyone gaining a few kilos. A few
sailors did go for a grovel including Tanya who got on the TV
news Monday night! - Star!
To wrap the weekend up, the Presentation was held, with heaps of
prizes handed out. Ben Severne (from now on to be called
King Ben) attained Regal status being crowned "King of the
Festival 2007" with his outstanding performances in all disciplines
at the GBH (oh, and on the water too). "Loopy" Andy, who is
still wandering around dizzy, took out the Open Division with a
dazzling display of partying and sailing. Other results are listed
below. Thanks to the trophy makers Steve Sullivan and Eric
Brokken for the unique trophies and to the sponsors G-Spot;
Sailwest; Ezzy Sails; GBH; Surfsail; West Glazing; Skilled;
IGA (Glenfield); Bright Eyes; Aeron; Flying Objects; Water Corp.
and to West's for the shade gazebos; GBH for the party venue;
IGA Glenfield for the meat; the ladies for cooking the bbq and
"manning" the door at the GBH; Langy the M.C.; Tim and Jen for
the caravan, P.A. and genset; the Judges; the Competitors and
the main man Matt who is already working on the Second
Geraldton Windsurfing Festival for January 2008, which will be
even bigger and better. Well done Matt.

Results

King of the Festival - Ben Severne

Open 1st Andy Freers
2nd Eric Terrien (New Caledonia)
3rd Michael Kain

Veterans 1st Shane Morris
2nd Don Williamson
3rd Alan Gwyne

Women 1st Sarah Delavnay (New Caledonia)
2nd Karin Robertson
3rd Kirra Young

Juniors 1st Sabre Stone
2nd Niels Van Tor
3rd Hendrix Stone

Bravery Award Peter Kenyon

Party Animal Award Ken Shaw

Best Up and Coming Sailor Award Mathew Gwyne

Most Consistent Drinker Award Eric Brokken