Well another Merimbula Classic has passed.
I come away every year with the same thoughts - this has to be the most fun event on the SUP calendar!
From morning to lat at night it is one BIG SUP FEST. party, party party, on the beach, on the water and through the night.
The SUP OFF's is just one small part of the event that we are involved in - the Beach to Bar SUP OFF on Saturday and he Surf team SUP OFF's on Sunday. Numbers were down a bit this year due to the Nationals the weekend before but most people I spoke with who did both said if you had to choose between the two, it was a no brainer!

Enjoy!


BEACH TO BAR SUP OFF - Saturday 11am ( plenty of time to shake hangovers and get a surf in)
Merimbula put it on for this event - sun and waves. Conditions were near perfect as the 13 teams lined up at the start.












There are always some memorable moments at these events.

The race started with John Smythe holding the start, "guys we are just waiting for the sets to roll in"

Then there was Toby Cracknell with a broken foot racing on his arse (check the outrigger paddle above, how he ran I don't know ) and Starboard Rod collapsing on the finishing line in blissful pain from his feet giving him grief the whole way, was in the true sprit of the race.
Sneaking a few waves at the Bar on my race leg was also a hoot!
Here's how they came in:


<div>12'6 Class
<div>1st Team FANATIC 1
<div>2nd Team FANATIC 2
<div>3rd. Team NAISH
<div>4. Team STARBOARD
<div>5. HMB
<div>6. Team HOBIE
<div>7. Tribe 2
<div>8. Tribe 1
<div>9. Team Grumpy Pants ( Cafe - yum!!)


<div>11' Fun Class
<div>
<div>1st Balmoral bandito's - SUP ATX
<div>2nd Rod's All stars - STARBOARD
<div>3rd. DJ's team - Naish Glide

Then there was Sunday.......

The Surf team SUP OFF's - Sunday 11am
Not quite enough time apparently for some to shake of the excesses of Saturday night!

The clouds rolled in for the Surf team SUP OFF's on Sunday morning. With on-shore winds and some punchy 2-3' sets rolling in, mixed with sore heads, we were always guaranteed some action.



The same teams compete in the BOP style SURF SUP OFF"s on Sunday.

Some were quicker than others at the start. Go the Air! You can catch Andy smashing this leg on the Naish 12'6 One in the video

Nice clean start for Deano. This man looks like a man in control!


Casso looking clean, then shaky for the first leg








Many memorable bits in this race - check out the Vid in the next post!

This is how they came in in the Surf Team SUP OFF


12'6 Class
<div>1st Team FANATIC 1
<div>2nd Team FANATIC 2
<div>3rd. Team STARBOARD
<div>4. Team NAISH
<div>5. Team WOW
<div>6. HMB
<div>7. Team HOBIE

11' Fun Class
<div>1st Balmoral bandito's - SUP ATX
<div>2nd Rod's All stars - STARBOARD
<div>3rd. DJ's team - DNS

In typical Meribula Cassic Style, prizes are in abundance and can often be consumed immediately.

OVERALL WINNERS
12'6 Class
<div>1st Team FANATIC - Case of Crownies
<div>2nd Team FANATIC - Case of Platinum Blonde
<div>3rd. Team NAISH - 4 Long Necks

11' Fun Class
1st Balmoral bandito's- 1 Case of Crownies
2nd Rod's All stars - Case of Platinum Blonde

Best team effort - Rod's All stars - more beer
Best dressed - Kieren - Carbon SUP ATX paddle
Best effort form the ladies - Kim - team Rod's Allstars - Carbon SUP ATX paddle

Efforts worthy of note:
Best ride - Ali in the Surf Sup offs - catches wave from buoy to beach!
Best effort overall - Toby surfing and racing all weekend on his arse - pulling in too down at Pambula!
Best Juniors - Max and Harry


Team Rod's All-stars and their haul!
2nd in Fun Class, Best overall team effort. Best Effort from the girls! Nice work guys and girls!

If anyone has any other pics of the other teams at prize giving or the races- please post them here.

You can follow our Merimbula journey on our Facebook page-
www.facebook.com/BalmoralPaddlesurf

Next -the video with all the race action. Just uploading.........

(Sorry about the Div's - Laurie can we fix that?)

Nice work AA.
Haha.....in control until I got to that stupid bloody yellow buoy!!
Laughing about it now
Looking forward to the vid

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Deano72 said..
Nice work AA.
Haha.....in control until I got to that stupid bloody yellow buoy!!
Laughing about it now
Looking forward to the vid

I thought you were just trying to stall Casso so I could get past until you both fell in again & blocked me too - wouldn't be a true BOP without some carnage no matter how few teams braved the cold windy weather to have a go.

Thanks for another fun race AA... and fingers crossed that next year the sun is out and the wind stays away until lunchtime on Sunday so we can get twice as many teams on the water!

Ha Ha! Carnage there was. Thanks Ali!
Yes, it is all there in the video, which should be up soon.
Missed out on one of the best moments though when the last man in Team, Rod's All-stars hit the shore break,in the last leg and the board went right over his head! Came out smiling though with a great finish by the team all crossing the line together.

Thanks goes out Casso for joining the team, holding his spot with some sweet manoeuvres around the inside buoy and doing most of the Video shooting and Sam Watts for the editing!

Martina and the girls behind the scenes who quietly make this event happen.

The rest of the Merimbula crew for showing us how to run a great event.

Everyone who came down and joined in the fun!

Stay tuned for more 'SUPing Off' next year when we hope to add another exciting, individual event to the Merimbula Classic.

Onya AA and team for the video, must admit I'm still having a chuckle at Deano's antics at the yellow buoy......

Gold!

How anyone gets their board stuck on a buoy THAT badly - is beyond me. Too funny Deano.

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Casso said..

Gold!

How anyone gets their board stuck on a buoy THAT badly - is beyond me. Too funny Deano.

Serious design flaw with those buoys
Now who do I send the bill to for providing the comedic relief?

Ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!! That's brilliant!! I never saw Casso doing that!!
My hat is still off to Toby Cracknell for his effort sitting down with a broken toe!!

Yeah classic moment Deano! Thanks for entertainment!!

From the crew at the Merimbula Sailboard Club

“We had plenty of waves for the SUPs, lots of wind early on, some heavy duty storms, a sting-ray attack, mad parties, lovely ladies, plenty to eat, we won the golf, we won the footie, we won the cricket. Yes folks … there IS a god ! ?And Adrian Roper reckons we can easily thrash the All-Blacks, ho ho 100% YES ?For a sporting-mad nation, this weekend proved “We are the champions, my friend.” But before we get too cocky about these wins, we must never forget that “gratitude is the attitude" and the great surf-god Kahuna is the dude who really rules The Merimbula Classic… “

As usual the event was blessed with great waves, good vibes and plenty of prizes for every competitor. Thanks to the sponsors, the riders and of course the team who manned the BBQ and made the whole event possible.

Thanks for the adjustable paddle prize too guys.

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Kieranr said..

Thanks for the adjustable paddle prize too guys.

No problems mate! Anyone who turns up to a race looking like a very well hung Xmas ornament deserves a prize!