THE RAGING BULL SURF
MERIMBULA
CLASSIC
23rd - 26th NOVEMBER 2023
Merimbula Sailboard Club members welcome you to the 41st Raging Bull Surf Merimbula Classic.
THE EVENT
THE RAGING BULL MERIMBULA CLASSIC 2023
Thursday 23rd – Sunday 26th November
MERIMBULA SAILBOARD CLUB’S 41st ANNUAL EVENT IS BACK
Incorporating
– The Naish SUP surfing expression Sessions
– Foil surfing & Winging
– The Longboard SUP revolution Over 10’ surf off
While primarily a celebration of wind and waves, with wave sailing, kite surfing, wing and foil surfing and SUP surfing, in some of the best conditions the Sapphire Coast can produce, we also take pride in the quality of our famous Barbeque and MSC members’ hospitality.
The Classic provides opportunities for newer trends such as winging and foil surfing. There will be plenty of that on show!
As well as being a great fun event for competitors, this event is recognised locally as a popular community event.
Totally run by volunteer members of the Merimbula Sailboard Club over the years, the event has contributed to many community organisations and needy causes.
The event is recognised as a significant contributor to the local economy, injecting much needed revenue in an otherwise quiet time for the primary business of tourism on the Sapphire Coast.
We hope the good times, good vibrations and hospitality you experience at this event will encourage you and your families and friends to revisit this spectacular coastline with the great conditions for wave sailing, kite surfing, Stand Up Paddle surfing, foiling and wing surfing.
With the wind and waves on offer, this event offers no excuse to be out of the water except to feed up on the club’s famous BBQ or join us at Rob, Lizzie, Sue & Grub’s beer tent for the daily happy hour where you can relax and wind down, and wash away the salt.
Our aim is to feed you, entertain you, and get you out on the water doing what you love whether it be sailing, kiting, foiling or SUPping, in the best winds and waves available over the four day extravaganza.
Rock’n in the Jungle
In October 1974 one of the great sporting events of the era was the heavy weight boxing title fight between Mohamed Ali and George Foreman. Held in Africa, this battle was promoted as “The Rumble In the Jungle”.
We think 50 years is too long to wait to celebrate a new Jungle rage, so we are planning a mighty event for November 2023 in the wilds of the deep south lands of Merimbula.
The contest will take place on the rolling ocean swells of the bay and with weapons of kites, SUPs, foils and wind sails the battle will take place over the 4 days of 23rd- 26th November.
The crackling fire of the BBQ will provide a feast of meat, chicken and fish to maintain your energy for the raging battles ahead. There will be cold jungle juice to quench your thirst at the end of each day and the mighty rhythms of the drums will pound out on the Saturday night tribal dance at Club Sapphire. So resurrect that old leopard skin and monkey mask. Practise your Tarzan calls and swing your way across the vines to land in our tribal sacred grounds. How could you miss it?
10AM DAILY:
Check in at Mission Control, the green shed at Ford Park on Main Beach.
We will brief you on local conditions, expected waves and wind and safety arrangements for the day.
Daily weather reports and forecasts will be available for you to peruse over a cup of Ragino’s home blend coffee, and catch all the dawn patrol SUP surfers strutting their stuff.
Contest Area: An area will be marked off with buoys in the water and flags on the beach.
The Kite surfing area will be separated and down wind from wave sailing.
“Buffer zone” DO not sail/kite/foil or SUP in this area.
The inflatable rescue boat will be based in the buffer zone with marine radio contact.
Judges are out there day and night watching every move you make, so be nice to them.
After Hours:
Club Sapphire (Merimbula Bowling Club) will be the official watering hole during the event
The bistro serves great meals and succulent Merimbula oysters.
Child minding is available at the Club, although children are welcome at the presentation, and under 18s can attend evening functions, accompanied by an adult, until 10pm. There is a basic dress code for patrons of the club.
Ragino’s home blended coffee bar will operate daily at event site from 7:30am.
Thursday 23rd NOvember
10am OFFICIAL OPENING blessing of the BBQ AND SAFETY BRIEFING at the FORD OVAL CLUB SHED followed by REGISTRATION
After many years Merimbula Sailboard Club has increased the entry fees to ensure the viability of the event so we can continue running this event into the future.
The entry fee includes the event T shirt plus a rash vest for all competitors PLUS all you can eat off the club’s BBQ
The entry fee of $150.00 and $100.00 (for juniors) covers all the fun you’re going to have.
Day food pass $20
4 day food pass plus T shirt $100
INSURANCE: It is a requirement for you to be insured to enter this event.
- Wave sailors must fill out and sign the insurance form on the back of the entry form and if you are not covered, as a member of a club/association, by paying an extra $25 you become an associate member of Merimbula Sailboard Club.
- Kite surfers and Wing surfers will have to be a member of Kite Surfing Australia (KA) to obtain cover. You must join or renew your subscription to KA online, prior to entering the event. Proof of alternate insurance is necessary.
- SUP only riders should be covered by membership in SUP Australia or a registered club. Please show membership when registering.
Happy hour at the beer tent 4 to 6pm Enjoy a crispy, cold Coopers ale, our beer sponsor.
Evening free to relax and discover Merimbula’s great eateries.
Friday 24th November
Same again. Bacon & eggs from 9ish and briefing at 10am
From 4pm to 9pm Happy hour Please join us for a cold Coopers
A TASTE OF THE SAPPHIRE COAST
The happy hour will be extended to include selected food items that showcase the high quality foods available from the oceans, estuaries and hinterland of the Sapphire coast.
David Arens of Free Range Catering will be preparing a range of tasty dishes.
You will also get to enjoy succulent award winning Broadwater Oysters
Local musicians will ensure the good vibrations continue into the evening.
You will be privileged to listen to the talented musicians Humans Being plus more
SATURDAY 25th NOvember
Bacon & eggs and morning briefing at 10am then just sail, kite, sup, foil or wing.
LSR event within the event preliminary heats 8am to 10am or until wind comes up
Happy hour 4 to 6pm! Enjoy a cool Coopers
Evening at Club Sapphire
Music by The Generators – a great band who hail form Sydney and will enjoy rocking in the jungle.
HJs Theme this year is Rock’n in the jungle
Don your jungle gear and dress to impress.
Sunday 26th November
Come on down for breakfast and coffee from 9a.m. and briefing at 10am.
10:30am – for 11am start
We’ll hit the wind and waves for the rest of the day, then it’s off to Club Sapphire for the PRESENTATION of the trophies and prizes worth $50,000.
The doors to the Sapphire Room will open approximately 5:00pm, presentation should kick off at 5:30pm and last for about 2 hours.
Light supper will be served afterwards.
General INfo for all participants
· Contest Mobile 0407 260015
- Daily reports, forecasts and updates of all the action will be broadcast on 2EC Radio, POWER FM.
- At the daily briefings we will explain sailing venue, expected conditions and arrangements for kite-surfers, wave sailors and SUP riders and wing foilers.
- You must read the safety guidelines relevant to kite surfing, wave sailing foiling or SUP surfing, and be aware of the arrangements for different wind directions.
- When conditions are suitable for you to get out there and go for it.
- Don’t wait for your heat as there won’t be one.
- Don’t crowd the one peak, rather spread out, sail or kite or foil safely, and enjoy the conditions.
- Check out and abide by the separated kite/wave sailing areas: basically this will have kite-surfers down wind of wave sailors at all times
- Sail and kite and surf and foil with safety at all times, respect others in the water and on the beach.
PRIZES
These will all be displayed at the Presentation, so have a good check of the display for you will soon be choosing your prize.
The members of MSC run this event for the enjoyment of wind and waves, we are all volunteers because no one pays us – enjoy
RULES : No whingeing
SUP SURFING INFO
- The Naish SUP Sessions will take place in the mornings before the wind gets strong enough for the kiters and sailboarders.
- The Longboard SUP Revolution over 10’ surfing event
- The SUPs will use the designated Competitors water area until the wind is strong enough for the wind warriors. At this time a red flag will be placed on the beach indicating the SUP’s are to leave the contest area to allow the kiters, wings and sailboarders to begin.
- Plans regarding the SUPs will be reviewed each day according to the conditions.
- Best advice: use initiative, go for it and don’t whinge.
WING DING AND FOIL Sessions
When conditions suit there will be an area set aside for wing & foil surfing.
Format is expression session.
THE LONGBOARD SUP REVOLUTION IS COMING TO MERIMBULA
The Merimbula event is coming up in November and with the official blessing from the crew at the Merimbula Sailboard Club we have decided to run the longboard sup event over two days.
Day one will be a traditional style 10 ft longboard sup comp. Judges will be looking for all manoeuvres to be “Old Skool”, soul arch, toes on the nose, drop knee cutbacks, quasimodo, cross stepping etc
Day two will be the LSR longboard sup event as per last years comp, judges will be looking for 50/50 mix of high performance and traditional manoeuvres, this year the board length will be 9ft plus longboard sup.
Of course no one gets away with just rocking up having fun and going surfing, well you can do that too but it is expected that everyone puts in and helps out with the logistics and or judging of the events, it’s a community thing ok and that way everyone’s a winner and those that win the comps will be the winners winner.
So get on down to Merimbula. At the opening of the event, complete the registration form put your name down for either the traditional event or the LSR event or both and be happy, cause there is no whinging allowed.
If there’s good surf we may have two days of pure longboard sup bliss and a chance for all those involved to show the world you like it both ways.
If conditions are right the events will be on the Friday and Saturday.
Hoping we get a few crew entering the events and putting on a great show.🏄♂️🏄♂️🏄♂️
Stay tuned for further details.
BBQ
The BBQ crew will, following a breakfast of free range eggs and bacon each day, prepare a sumptuous feast of locally grown, marinated, beef, pork and chicken kebabs, fresh fish from the trawlers of Eden and steaks and snags, to keep the energy levels up so that you can sail/kite/SUP/foil longer and stronger.
This is free to competitors and cheap to non-competitors. Judges are often patrolling the BBQ spit and will be severe on any breaches of etiquette, so be warned!
Meal tickets are available for non-competitors at $20 per day
A four day food voucher plus a T shirt is a bargain for $100.
KITE SURFING
1. Luca Duffin
2. Beau Blake
3. Jack Bailey
RAGING BULL MERIMBULA CLASSIC 2022
Our Sponsors
A fantastic array of prizes has been generously donated by our many sponsors, which are listed below. We greatly appreciate their generosity and to show our appreciation, we should endeavour to buy their products, and bestow upon them accolades of greatness.
Mckenzie Smith family
Ragino Coffee
Tura Beach Bakery
Raging Bull Merimbula Classic 2023
