On Saturday the 2nd of October and Sunday the 3rd of October
the annual Bliss-Stick Kayak Festival will see white-water
kayakers from all over the lower South Island descend upon
Dunedin. The event is the first for 2010 in the NZ Freestyle
Kayak series which includes events in Tekapo, Rotorua, and
Taupo over the summer months.
'Bliss Fest' as it has come to be known is the first major
kayaking event for the Spring season, encompassing a range of
kayaking disciplines; from the technical moves and speed of
the Teva Giant Slalom, to the action packed four-way Rasdex
Boatercross, then get set for some aerial freestyle action at
St Clair beach in the R & R Sport Surf Competition.
The Bliss-Fest event is a celebration of the start of the new
kayaking season, and many paddlers will dust off their gear
after a winter up the mountain. The Taieri river is a perfect
venue for the whitewater action, the 'grade 3' run has short
but technical rapids that will challenge many of the
kayakers. St Clair Beach then provides the perfect arena as
competitors will switch their kayaks for smaller more
maneuverable 'freestyle' designs to allow them to spin, flip,
and cartwheel their way on to the podium. The R&R Sport
Surf Competition is a great opportunity for spectators to
catch a glimpse of a sport that is often hidden away from
public in secluded gorges across New Zealand.
On the Saturday night there will also be an event party
featuring a home-grown kayak video contest. In the age of
YouTube where every kayaker is an aspiring film-maker, the
quality of films being produced is outstanding, we look
forward to viewing this year's entries before settling into a
great night of music and dancing.
Pre-Registration
Pre-registrations are now available for the event and
includes a free t-shirt if registered before the 22nd of
September. Event entry is $50 for the weekend including
Saturday racing on the Taieri River, the Festival Party, and
the R & R Sport Surf Competition at St Clair beach on
Sunday the 3rd. To pre-register visit www.nzfks.co.nz
Sponsors
Bliss-Stick Kayaks from Taihape have been the major sponsor
of the event since it's inception back in 2005. At each
year's Bliss-Stick have given away one brand new kayak worth
$1500 to one lucky competitor. To see their full-range of
kayaks visit them online at www.bliss-stick.com The organisers
would also like to acknowledge the support of Teva Footwear,
Rasdex NZ Ltd, R & R Sport, Cumec Magazine, Smith Optics,
Em's Power Cookies, Wild Earth Adventures, and Otago
Polytechnic School of Adventure
NZ Freestyle Kayak Series
The NZ Freestyle Kayak Series started in 2007 with the aim of
linking together a series of unique and fun kayaking events
across the country. Each event sees kayakers testing their
skills in a variety of disciplines, and vying for the title
of NZ Freestyle Kayak Series champion. At each event there is
one feature competition where competitors can earn points
toward the national title. Other events in the series include
the NZ Pyranha Tekapo Throwdown (November 6th/7th, Tekapo),
Paddle-Power Xmas @ Kaituna (December 18th, Rotorua), and the
Freestyle Jam @ Full James (Date TBC, Taupo).
More information
Contact Antz Longman on 021 721 770 for more information
about the Bliss Fest event or the NZ Freestyle Kayak Series.
You can also visit the event website at www.nzfks.co.nz
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