Outline Overview and Venue Information
Waihi Surf Camp will be held from PM on the 23rd to midday to Sun 27th April 2025.
Whether you are a longtime surfing fanatic, just starting out or anywhere between, this is a great opportunity to advance your kayaking skills in the surf zone.
Check out videos about kayaking in the surf zone and last Years’ Outstanding Paddler, Ruari Wharton
For skilled paddlers who are a bit rusty there will be volunteers on the beach to assist you with launching, landing, bracing, and managing your kayak in the soup.
Every year, we try to change it up to make it fun and interesting with a surf contest at the end of the weekend to show off your new skills. If there is enough interest, we might even include other type of paddle crafts in this fun event, like paddle boards Whitewater kayaks, HP Surf kayaks, and Packrafts.
This year, to spread the organisational load, the team will consist of Dennis Hynes (On Water Training and Competitions), Allen Snowsill (Accommodation and Competitions), Bob Wishart (Catering), and Shaun Maclaren (Overall – Registrations and Finance).
Surf Contest – we are planning on heats being on Saturday with finals on Sunday, so if you are into fun and want to strut your stuff, please register your interest by emailing Dennis prior to the event or by no later than 5pm on Fri 26th April 2025 at Waihi.
Outline Overview
Wed 23 PM – 2pm – Access to Surf Club Bunk Accommodation
5.30pm – Welcome.
6pm – Bar Dinner
Thu 24 AM – 8am – Meeting – Risk Management and Surf Etiquette
Surf Sirens NZ (TBC) – Session 1
Novice Session and Surf Play
PM – Surf Sirens NZ Clinic (TBC) – Session 2
Novice Session and Surf Play
5.30pm – Daily Wrap Up
6pm – Bar Dinner followed by Presentation (TBA)
Fri 25 AM – 8am – Daily Briefing
Surf Sirens NZ (TBC) – Session 3
Novice Session and Surf Play
PM – Surf Sirens NZ (TBC) – Session 4
Novice Session and Surf Play
5.30pm – Daily Wrap Up
6pm – BBQ Dinner followed by Presentation (TBA)
Sat 26 AM – 8am – Daily Briefing – Surf Festival
All Day – Surf Festival
PM – 5.30pm – Daily Wrap Up
6pm – Bar Dinner followed by Film Show????
Sun 27 AM – Surf Festival (if required)
PM – Return Home
If conditions are not suitable to surf, there are other options including a coastal paddle exploring several local walking tracks and mountain bike tracks nearby.
Surf Sirens NZ –
In 2024, the inaugural training of Surf Sirens NZ took place at Waihi, and I am looking for volunteers to step forward and continue the event in 2025 and beyond.
Equipment & Clothing –
Dress warm as you will be on the beach, and in and on the water all day, and it will likely be chilly especially if it’s windy.
Having a windbreaker jacket and pants or a poncho/cagoule, or even a plastic sheet to wrap around you during the beach time will help you stay warm. A warm hat or neck gaiter might be useful.
Staying warm will help optimize the learning and the FUN!
Wearing a HELMET is a MUST. We will have a few extra, and if you have any extra helmets at home, please bring them!
Waihi Beach Lifeguard Services Inc is a charity supported by volunteers who have been providing a range of lifeguarding, event lifeguarding and roaming patrols along the coastline for the local community and surrounding areas for over 80 years.
The venue is an absolute beach front space,
offering exceptional views of the ocean with Deck and a large lounge facility inclusive of a Bar area. The upstairs lounge area contains sufficient chairs and trestle tables for up to a hundred people.100 chairs and 10 trestle tables. It is equipped with 2 x Smart TV’s, one in the lounge and one in the bar with HDMI
Kitchen – It has a fully working communal commercial kitchen complete with refrigeration,
deep fryer, stand up oven and hot plate, cooking utensils, plates, cutlery, coffee cups and glassware,
service platters and a BBQ.
Supper – Bar and or Arranged Meals – as pre-requested and paid for at the Bar.
Catering:
Evening meals on offer at the Surf Club cost $25 each and can be ordered and paid for when registering.
Evening Meals on Offer at the Surf Club are:
- Wed 23rd – Fish n Chips
- Thu 24th – Mexican – Chilli con carne
- Fri 25th – BBQ
- Sat 26th – Vegetable Curry
Dietary alternatives can be arranged.
Accommodation – consists of 7 bunkrooms sleeping up to 40 (rooms 1 to 7), with high quality comfortable mattresses. Bunkroom accommodation can be reserved at ‘online registration. Costs $25 per person per night and payment will be to Shaun Maclaren prior to departing from the event.
It is Club policy that bunkrooms are single gender and not mixed. Occupants will need to bring their own sleeping bag and pillow.
· Male & female bathrooms have 1 toilet and 2 showers each
· Individual keys for the room doors can be obtained, but if lost, they must
be replaced at cost to the occupant.
Terms and Conditions
· Keep the bedrooms in a clean and tidy manner during your stay, remove rubbish.
· Be responsible for cleaning after yourselves in the bathroom, kitchen and hallway and respect everyone staying in the block.
· No noise after 10 pm, close doors quietly, no talking or running in hallway.
· No smoking or vaping anywhere in the building or on the deck area.
· Club liquor license – only alcohol purchased at the club can be consumed in the bar area during operating hours.
General Venue Instructions
· Vehicles to be parked in the main public carpark and NOT in the Emergency Bays by stairs of the Club Building
· Keep the building and facilities free of sand by using the ‘foot wash’ sand traps located at the bottom of the beach stairs
· No wet shoes or wet equipment is to be taken inside of the main building.
· Please ensure all club doors and windows are locked and secured at night and anytime you leave the premises during the day.
· Swipe Cards are used to gain access during the day when the building is unoccupied/not in use. Cards will be held centrally by Shaun
· There are multiple CCTV cameras operating throughout the club at all times.
· If you see anything suspicious or concerning please notify Shaun on 021 2867412 or the office ASAP.
· Wifi – there is complimentary use available:
Connect to: WB Lifeguards Guest
Password: R3scu3tub3
Registration
Registration to be part of the FUN is $30 (it is non-refundable and covers facility hire and other minor costs.
Please email Shaun confirming that you wish to be there, which meals including any special dietary requirements, and if you would like to reserve bunk accommodation at the Surf Club and for what nights.
You will then receive a ‘confirmation email’ covering payment instructions for ‘registration, meals and bunk accommodation etc.
Please note that ‘registration is not complete until payment has been received.
Other Accommodation Options are:
Tasman Holiday Parks – Waihi Beach – see https://tasmanholidayparks.com/nz/waihi-beach
Tasman Holiday Park – Beachaven – see https://tasmanholidayparks.com/nz/beachaven
Bookabach – see https://www.bookabach.co.nz/