The 21st century
Nov.2000 The
Mambo wavesailing plus kite surfing spectacular. 230 plus competitors
so we're back over 200 wavesailors as in 1990. It's looking
good. We sailed daily with classic Fordys on Saturday, greatbear
aways. Rowan Cudmore takes it out yet again!.
MSC released the official video of twenty years of the Mambo
Merimbula called "two
decades, too decadent" which was shown at presentation night.
Sept 2001 MSC
released the official club website.
Nov 2001 The conditions
at Merimbula were almost perfect for the club's 21st event.
It was a huge success! The swell, the wind, and over 200 competitors
really got it on. Friday 23rd November was the magic day and
the sky was a blaze of colour as both kites and sails made
the most of the swell generated earlier in the week by a massive
Low in the Tasman Sea. Andrew Gibbon took out King Mambo, Jennie
Williams won the ladies in the wave sailing. Local boy Ben
Wilson was King Wipika and Ingrid Zolezzi was queen.
Feb 2002 Merimbula
Sailboard Club held the National Wave Sailing titles in Merimbula
for the second time. The week long event was very successful
although threre was only two days of sailing.
Nov 2002 Merimbula
host its 22nd event with a slight hippie/psychedelic theme.
The kiters outnumbered the wavesailers for the first time.
Kiters enjoyed the south east conditions over the first three
days. The night time entertainment was fantastic with the Mills
bros having a nice acoustic jamming session on the Thursday
before the big band event on Saturday. Roxygen rocked the socks
off everyone ....a few guys got a little too excited. Saturday
afternoon proved a great day for the "champagne bar" to
open on the viewing platform with Craig playing an influential
role in hosting the "event" with also a visit from
two motorbikers who burnt some rubber. Sunday was a great day
for the wavesailers to prove their worth with strong nor' easterly
conditions. The testing conditions also provided a great opportunity
for experienced kiters to get some serious air. Presentation
night proved a very comical show. From Austin Powers' over
the top entrance which set the tone of the event, to Austin
holding a "judge the ladies" competition. Ty Bodycoat
took out the King Mambo with his spectacular aerials at Tathra.
Local girl Jade McManus won Queen Mambo. Kitesurfing champion
was Mike Raper who took it out with his big air manoeuvers
and tricky shore break riding. WA girl Theresa McKirdy took
out the ladies event through sheer determination, even coming
a week early to sus out the locations.
Nov 2003 This
year saw particularly nasty weather greet over 200 competitors
and our first double winner, Stewie Martin, past wave sailing
King Mambo, taking out the open Kite surfing from John Messenger.
Beck Nicholson took out the ladies and Andrew Regan Kite veterans.
Dan Berry won the open wave sailing. Luke Johnson was junior
wave sailor, Carol Nugent ladies, Lloyd Ellis veterans and Warren
One knot Holder took out the Legends.
Nov 2004 "In
the Mountains of Izu Province" was the suggestive theme for the
2004 Classic with once again over 200 wave sailors and kite
surfers coming along for the journey of enlightenment. Ben Wilson
took it out in great surf and wind conditions beating Wallabi
Point’s Lee Kavanaugh.
Matt Tobin, past king Mambo wave sailor won Senior Mens.
Jessica Van den Burgh took out Ladies whilst a roaring, streaker
crazy (can’t get in the pub yet, (Joel Becus), showed us
the kiting future and took out the juniors.
Terry Gallagher of Kiama was Legends winner and continued his
generous ways by donating heaps of cash to the up and comers
of both sports…bravo!
Merimbula’s Ricky van der Toorn won the wave sailing
from Dan Berry.
Luke Johnson was awarded the prestigious Gary MacKenzie-Smith
trophy and showed also the future for wave sailing.Waza and Dave
Frame were Legends, Lloyd Ellis
the Veteran and past multiple winner Rohan Cudmore took out the Masters.
Central Coasts Ben Hawkes took the Juniors.
Nov 2005 saw
some of the best wave sailing and kiting conditions since 1987
with good waves and wind over the four days.Wave
sailing was classic with the likes of Scott McKercher and Ricky van der Toorn
ripping it up…ah well everyone just had a ball and the results were
Ben Wilson from Stewie Martin in the open kite, Scott McKercher from Ricky
Van
der Toorn in the Open wavesailing. Rohan Cudmore was crowned King Mambo as
best in both disciplines, Theresa McKirdy took out the Ladies kitesurfing and
Caroline Nugent theLladies wave sailing. Joel Becus again won the junior kite
title and Ben Fawkes the junior wave sailing. Other award winners included
Gene Phoenix, Craig Spottiswood, Andrew Regan, Lloyd Ellis, John Warren, Legends
Dave Frame and Warren Holder, and locals Glenn Brunette and Ginna Graham.
Nov 2006 200
kite surfers and wave sailors, aged from 12 year old junior wave
sailor Zach Winter ( Coal Point, NSW) to over 60’s
kite surfer Terry Gallagher (Kiama) and wave sailor Dave Frame
(Sydney), came to Merimbula for the 26th
annual classic.
Others came from New Zealand, USA, Germany, Norway, France and Belize to join
the contingent of Aussies contestants at this unique, world renowned event.
Past junior kite winner Joel Becus proved he was now a force to be reckoned
with and took out the Open kites by simply going ballistic at every opportunity,
with
every gust, on every wave he could get his board into.He pipped out John Messenger
and Lee Kavanaugh in the Opens.Ricky Van Der Toorn took out the wave sailing
from Matt Holder and Mick Westra. CJ Jones, dressed in her best rootin tootin
cowgirl gear, was a worthy winner of the ladie kites from Angela Van Hoof,
and local Caroline Nugent again won the ladies wave sailing. Travis and Zach
Winter
were
impressive in the unior wave sailing, and Andy Yates took out the junior kite
award. Locals Glenn Brunette, Mark Hagan, Ben Cavanaugh, Lee Miller won an
award in their respective categories as did frequent visitors Dave Ward, Lloyd
Ellis, Rohan Cudmore and Terry Gallagher.
Nov 2007 If ever
anyone was going to break the One Sacred Rule, (no whingeing)
I
thought it may happen this year. The waves were tiny little
ripples.Not only that, it was pouring rain all over the coast
of NSW… and that may have put a lot of guys off coming.
But, not to worry, 150 turned up, ready and rearing to rip.
Following no wind on Thursday the remaining 3 days saw kiters
on the water from lunchtime till dusk. Waves were small but the
sun came out and there was enough bumps for the riders to impress
the throngs lining the shores of Merimbula Bay. Amongst the amazing
contestants was World Champion kiteboarder Aaron Hadlow, who
certainly blew out the crowd with his awesome display. In the
end it was Newcastle’s Stewy Martin who took out the event,
enjoying his second victory as a kite surfer (and having previously
won the event wave sailing}. Runner up Lee Kavanaugh turned it
on, both on the water and after hours in his stunning fluoro
gear.
Dean Hendrie again impressed everyone, and took out the wave
sailing title from Tom White of Barwon Heads. Junior kiters included
Justin Kachad from Coolum and Jessie Miller from Pambula who
was awarded the up and comer award. Michel Blinkhorn won the
ladies kites, and Cassie O Brien Grudd won the ladies wave sailing.
Other category winners included Glenn Hooper, Craig Spottiswood,
Kevin Johnson, Warwick Lee, Rob Smallwood, Warren Holder and
Reece Warren. The Air Lords were Ken Christenson from Forster
and Dave Frame who hot foots it here every year from Sydney.
The theme this year was “zombee-zombee” and
Matt Tobin was awarded King Mambo for a particularly zombeeish
performance
on the dance floor.
Back to history page 1 (the 1980's)
Back to history page 2 (the 1990's)
2
