2024 Entry

2024 Taranaki Wave Classic OPEN!

Enter Today to receive  free after sail BBQ’s with free Beers, after-event Dinner & Party!

The 2024 event runs over NZ Labour Day weekend: 26th-28th October
TWC Entry: $95


Use the form below to enter.

Be part of the biggest, funnest windsurfing event on the NZ calendar!

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TWC 2024 Entry Form

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TWC Entry $95Youth (under 18) Entry $60

Additional Meal Tickets for Prizegiving Party? $25 per ticket

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TO COMPLETE YOUR ENTRY REGISTRATION – PLEASE PAY BY BANK DEPOSIT.

TWC Entry: $95

Additional Meal tickets: $25 each

Make Bank Deposits to: 15-3942-0645156-00 Code: TWC24 Reference: Your Last Name Particulars: Your First Name

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The Old Days

Event History

An annual wave event in Taranaki has been running since the early 1980’s. Some of these previous events have gathered legendary status, like the one in the 1984 where double mast Kina Road trashed a jet ski and plenty of windsurfing equipment. Or 2006 where the waves were so big, only 3 sailors made it out the back. Some years are like this, where we get full on gnarly conditions pushing on double mast high. Other years there is not much sailing and the focus of the weekend is catching up with windsurfing buddies from around New Zealand as well as the rest of the world. The best years however, are ones like 2007 with playful wind and waves suitable for sailors of all levels. The one thing that has been consistent through the history of the event, is whatever the weather conditions delivered on the day, everyone who turns up has a great labor weekend.


hist_biggy hist_dale hist_mike hist_terryWavesailing started in Taranaki in 1979 with Biggie Smithers and Paul Freeman
purchasing two 12′ blanks from Trax, and shaping up a board each. They took a foot off Pauls, while Biggie kept all 12′. Living in Oakura, and learning to sail off the beach soon gathered a crowd also keen to give it a crack. Zimmo, Ton Deacon and Glen Crozier were all hooked within a few months. By Christmas of 1980 there were a dozen guys sailing regularly. They slowly progressed from the beach, out to Butlers Reef, to Ahus, to Weld, and finally out to the Boiler.

 
The South Easterly was not sailed until 1983 when the Wave Sailing Downunder movie was made with Sirocco. The film crew were down capturing some Weld Road action, when the wind flicked South East. With the film crew on hand, the Sirocco team headed around the coast to try and find somewhere to get some action. Zimmo lead the crew to a beach he had seen while traveling around South Taranaki farms as a herd tester. Manihi Beach was sailed for the first time, and became the setting for the now legendary Wave Sailing Downunder Movie. Within a few months Kina Road had become THE SPOT. It was not until 4-5 years later that Fin Fuckers or Pungarehu as it is know known was first sailed.

hist_weld1983 was also the year that the Sirocco Expression Session was born. Biggie along with his popular board brand Sirocco ran the first wave sailing contest in Taranaki.. It was modeled on the Mambo event in Australia, where time on the water was maximized for all competitors. This format proved an instant success with 60-70 sailors participating. Numbers peaked in the mid to late 80s, with the biggest year recording 120 entrants. The Sirocco brand continued to grow through the 80s and 90s, while Biggie’s focus slowly shifted more towards building surfboards. By this time Carbon Art had moved into the region and were bringing the latest windsurfing shapes and technology from Maui to Taranaki’s shores. In 1998 Carbon Art lifted the load off Biggie shoulders and continued with the event rebranded the Carbon Art Classic. This continued until 2002 when the Carbon Art Classic was revamped to become the awesome Taranaki Wave Classic we know today. The TWC is about fun, with its expression session format, where competitor’s free-sail in whatever conditions occur at the chosen location for that day. There are no heats, no man on man elimination, and no stress. The winner gets glory and a bottle of bubbly, while most participants walk away with a spot prize.

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Taranaki Wave Classic – The Event

1983 was the year that the Taranaki Wave Classic was born, in it’s first guise as the Sirocco Expression Session. Biggie Smithers, along with his board brand Sirocco, ran the first wave sailing contest in Taranaki. It was designed to maximise time on the water for all competitors – this format proved an instant success with 60-70 sailors participating.

By this time Carbon Art had moved into the region and was bringing the latest Maui windsurfing shapes and technology to Taranaki’s shores. In 1998 Carbon Art lifted the load off Biggie shoulders and continued with the event rebranded the Carbon Art Classic. This event continued until 2002 when the Carbon Art Classic was revamped and renamed to become the awesome Taranaki Wave Classic we know today.

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New Zealand - Windsurfing Paradise!

LOCATIONS

Taranaki has 105 kilometres of world famous coast line. This spectacular coast line is followed by Surf Highway 45. Surf Highway 45 gives access to untold amounts of amazing windsurfing locations. The Taranaki Peninsular has 180 degrees of coast line allowing for amazing cross-off shore windsurfing in any conditions. World class port and starboard tack down the line wave sailing is on offer.

The Taranaki Wave Classic is held at 4 possible locations, this gives us the best chance of finding some good conditions somewhere along the coastline.

 

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