Kneeboard Surfing USA Community Forum

I couldn't attend the worlds so that is why i'm asking the question, after seeing some of the pics of the chosen site and also of beyond the contest site, why was it held in fat waves? It seems all contests are held in spots that are more convenient for organizers / spectators etc. Some of the photos of other breaks in the area looked insane top to bottom high performance waves. Was it access to these breaks? or is it like other comps where the council will only give a permit for a couple of spots [ lunacy ]

I always wondered the same thing.

Why not have a contest in the most consistent, but barreling, sucky waves available? Probably logistics and crowd control

It was a case of the contest site chosen offered contestable waves right through the tides with off shore winds and a good angle for the swell that was running.
Also it was user friendly for the spectators with no access issues.
Along the Taranaki coast there are so many good breaks that would offer a
steeper ride but their quality depends on the wind and swell directions and also the tides.
These conditions were not on offer over the worlds so the correct venue
for the size of the comp was spot on.

Doc Turbo wrote: Why not have a contest in the most consistent, but barreling, sucky waves available? Probably logistics and crowd control

I would say logistics and crowd control werent all that high on the list of priorities when compared to having contestable waves throughout the event. The wave may look fat to most people, but there were plenty of sections with enough grunt if you knew where to look for them. Yes there were some fat sections to the wave, Arawatha road is not typically known for being sucky, but the first and last section of the wave were very whackable.

Any other options would have been subject to tide (i.e. not breaking except for maybe 2 hours either side of the tide) and shifts in the wind (most days we had NE to NW winds which affect most breaks in this area in adverse ways), or were only accessible through walking on private property for close to a km (we had front row seats, everyone in the event had the best vantage point possible). Other options were considered on a daily basis, and consultation with the comp organisers, internet forecasts and locals were ongoing throughout the event (something which is NEVER seen ANYWHERE in the contest scene).

I would suggest anyone who believes this contest wasnt held in 'good enough' waves to find somewhere where regardless of tide, possible predicted shifts in the wind and angry locals would have been able to secure the best possible waves in the region for 6 days straight without having a single incident where free surfers interfered with the event!

While the place wasn't sucky, I would have to say it was a good venue. Great for spectators, always had overhead waves that people ripped on, long rides, waves available all day long, and nice waves to warm up on, or for fun right next to the contest reef. Relatively speaking, access was easy for competitors. The organizers did a great job, I couldn't really expect better unless I was in nirvana.
The walk out during low tide was a nightmare though for tenderfoots like me.

It was a great venue. The grandstand (cliff) for watching was great and it even it even had a break next door for free surfing. Good solid waves during the week led to some great surfing to watch and some good fun drops when you were out there. Was it a perfectly shaped wave for 7 days straight? No but it was never going to be given the length of the comp, I think we were pretty damn lucky to get the size and conditions we did get. Ticked all the boxes for mine and was a great experience. Big congrats to Murry and the team.

Sounds good thanks. Now we need to work on the oz comp site locations ?