Sun to shine over WinchFest

ROBERT CHARLES/FAIRFAX NZ

CHECKING IT OUT: Professional New Zealand wakeboarder Brad Smeele gives the Oakura winch park a test run before competition starts at WinchFest 2012 this weekend.

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WinchFest 2012 organisers are counting their lucky stars they sought a weather prediction for this weekend's event.

Sun is forecast for both days of the action sports and music festival which starts on Saturday in Oakura, and "Moon Man" Ken Ring is the one they are thanking.

Organiser Jane Symons said she had originally planned to hold the event on January 5-6, but Mr Ring's prediction changed her mind. "I'm glad it did because I think it rained that weekend. Hopefully the weather will hold out," she said.

Wakeboarders competing in the event had already started rolling into town, and professional New Zealand rider Brad Smeele was the first to give the park a test run on Wednesday.

Smeele, who has multiple national titles and two junior world titles to his name, said he was impressed with the calibre of the park.

"It's the best thing New Zealand wakeboarding has seen in a while," he said. The 24-year-old Aucklander said he had ridden a similar park in Canada but felt the Oakura home-made park was a step up.

Three ponds stretching 140 metres are separated by ramps and rails that the 20 competitors will slide, spin and flip on as they transition between ponds.

"People will definitely see some carnage this weekend," he said.

Changes had recently been made to the park, with the original winch concept ousted by a cable system from Wakepark NZ.

Symons said the cable was an over-head system that ran back and forward continuously along the ponds, while the winch had only allowed riders to go one way.

The on-water action would be complemented at the weekend by music from top bands including Katchafire, Cornerstone Roots, Tijuana Cartel and The Red Eyes.

World-renowned, award-winning drum'n'bass act MC Tali, originally from Oakura, had also returned home to host and play on Saturday.

Symons said all going well, she might look to make WinchFest an annual event.

- © Fairfax NZ News