Did any one go down? How was it?

sounds bad, was there much of a turnout

Light wind, small waves and even some rain, but in think I had the best MAMBO yet! I was one of those "persevering" sailors on the Naish 11'6" SUP (230 ltrs BTW). I had my kite gear rigged on the beach but was having much more fun on the SUP at the bar, the waves awsome even though they were only knee high (on the big ones). In those conditions the SUP boards allowed us to ride in the best area and have a lot of fun! I strongly recommend trying a SUP in light air, it not only gets you on the water, but it is also a lot of fun!
As for guys who can't ride a waveboard, just to clarifiy, Chris and I have both been windsurfing for well over 15 years and spend 95+% of your time in the waves wavesailing (this is not implying that we are any good either, just that we technically can). I normally only really get onto my pole gear each year when I'm in Maui, or if Newport reef really blows up with some strong wind and big swell, the rest of the time I usually dangle on my kite gear (until now!).

Anyhoo,

Sick event, more toys, more fun! Big props out to the Merimbula Sailboard club for putting in so much effort to ensure we all have as much fun as possible. See you all next year.

Reagrds,
JB

There's one in Geraldton - 4th Jan or something like that. Much better chance of wind!!

Congrats to deano!! howd you go mick? Bummed out I didnt go now, sounds like it would have been perfect for a skeleton on an oversized board

yea but you know it would still be better sailing the day before or the day after the comp no matter how many days you run it over, thats the nature of the beast.

glad you got your jollies.

Mambo was fun, i was one of those deperate guys on the 220 litre boards, didn't even get my wave board out the car, but i guess all the real wave sailors stayed home or on the beach and complained about not sailing instead of trying something new to entertain them, sailed with JB at the bar, was awesome fun. think the event was great, apart from not getting bigger waves or wind, but everyone made the most of it.
It was a fun weekend away hanging out with new people into the same thing as me, think thats what it all about...

I think that we will see them at most comps now when the wind is light and guys just want to get wet, and where are the rules to say you have to sail a short board with straps, i liked the freedom of no harness or straps to get in the way, love it, definately doing it all summer, well in 5 to 15 knots anyway..

I think it would be great for wavesailing comps, as an option to actually have a comp in conditions that you would normally have a non event. You can turn the SUP pretty hard when you get the technique down, the main trick is to use a small sail and keep everything light, then you can step back and really drive the tail into turns. It will never look as impressive and powerful as 25kn and logo high sailing, but looks much more impressive than sitting on the beach waiting for something to do.
Many guys waste week ends going to wave events on the east coast due to not enough wind, this is the main reason I kite majority of the time over windsurf, to many days off work to go to a comp were the wind never came in strong enough. With sup, at least you can all have a laugh and get some water time, and it's technically still wave sailing. It fun to blend in some longboard style, cross overs, and stalls with sailing. Bring it on i reckon!

JB

It's like riding a mal in a shortboard comp. If you turn up to a shortboard comp, people do go for surfs on there mals but you don't compete on them.

I think I had the technique down in about 5 minutes, I was turning the thing fine. Got some nice cutbacks and good bottom turns but i was there to compete on my shortboard. I myself don't care if the conditions mean we don't compete. I'd rather that than have a result that is dependant on equipment rather than skill. Maybe have a non serious comp on those boards but you shouldn't be expected to own one to compete in a wavesailing comp.

I agree with ma, big boards are mad fun, but its hard to justify buying one over a proper board. However I had heaps of fun in maui on the big boards with alex (9yrs old). He could do all the usual learning steps on it, then we could jump on it together and go out to the reefs and see the turtles and catch waves together. If you got a kid its great fun to get a board that can take the both of you at once. Best way to get them into it, especially if you can get them feeling planing on a wave.

Whyner definately picked up the technique easily. The couple of waves I saw him ride were definately the best out of the guys riding the beasts. Great novelty value for those with extra cash to burn. Maybe the guys trying to promote them might like to bring enough boards to the next comp so as everyone can have a crack at it if there is not enough wind to have a real comp.

ka222 I went to a secret spot north of Merimbula on that Tuesday.
Nearly logo high waves and 20 + knots of wind. But a small storm killed it for about an hour so I packed up and went back to ford oval where it was goin ballistic. Must of been 30 knots but had to do the family thing so the missus and I took my young fellow for a walk along the boardwalk around Lake Merimbula.Surprised you guys didnt get a mention at the prezzo as I thought you were both havin a good go at it.
Cheers

Joel
Not so secret anymore.
No seriously a lot of people know about North Tura beach( Theres a viewing platform there) but its a national park and cost 7 bucks to go sailin. Bit like up here where I sail it costs money to enter but you can get a season pass for $22.
Will be sailin there next year if its small at Ford oval.
Cheers