Friday, January 27, 2006
X-Air 2006
So last weekend we headed down to X-Air, the free "Xtreme" sports event held on the Wellington waterfront. Luckily we had good weather on both days.
Day 1
On arrival at the waterfront we checked out the street skateboarding heats at the Queens wharf events centre. The centre was about 2/3 full. I tried to take some photos but it the camera takes too long to auto focus. You press the button but by the time the shot is taken the skater is gone.
Next we went over to the Michael Fowler Centre for the half-pipe. We waited in line for about half an hour to get in. We watched the skate and inline heats inside. The skaters were doing some cool tricks but the inliners were uninspiring. We walked out and had a fantastic view of the BMX dirt course through the window. There were two riders battling it out and doing some massive tricks.
At the end of the day was the water jump. This is where people ride a BMX or skateboard down a 3 storey high jump and land in the lagoon. A couple of guys pulled off double back flips.
Day 2
Day 2 looked even busier than day 1 so we decided to stay at the Queens wharf events centre for the duration. We saw the street skate, inline and BMX finals.
There were some good American BMX riders doing some big tricks and the crowd was really getting into it. Unfortunately there were also some big crashes and a couple of people had to be carried off by St Johns.
The water jump today was more daring and dangerous too. At one stage four people went down at once. A policeman went down and perforated his eardrum. Another guy landed on his bike and needed waterside attention. It finished with two kayaks going down. The first just made it off the ramp into the water and was fine. The second went of the side and narrowly missed landing on some very sharp rocks.
Check out the photos that came out OK.
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Day 1
On arrival at the waterfront we checked out the street skateboarding heats at the Queens wharf events centre. The centre was about 2/3 full. I tried to take some photos but it the camera takes too long to auto focus. You press the button but by the time the shot is taken the skater is gone.
Next we went over to the Michael Fowler Centre for the half-pipe. We waited in line for about half an hour to get in. We watched the skate and inline heats inside. The skaters were doing some cool tricks but the inliners were uninspiring. We walked out and had a fantastic view of the BMX dirt course through the window. There were two riders battling it out and doing some massive tricks.
At the end of the day was the water jump. This is where people ride a BMX or skateboard down a 3 storey high jump and land in the lagoon. A couple of guys pulled off double back flips.
Day 2
Day 2 looked even busier than day 1 so we decided to stay at the Queens wharf events centre for the duration. We saw the street skate, inline and BMX finals.
There were some good American BMX riders doing some big tricks and the crowd was really getting into it. Unfortunately there were also some big crashes and a couple of people had to be carried off by St Johns.
The water jump today was more daring and dangerous too. At one stage four people went down at once. A policeman went down and perforated his eardrum. Another guy landed on his bike and needed waterside attention. It finished with two kayaks going down. The first just made it off the ramp into the water and was fine. The second went of the side and narrowly missed landing on some very sharp rocks.
Check out the photos that came out OK.
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Monday, January 23, 2006
Kaikoura Roots Festival 2006
Our friends Tash and Ben kindly invited us to travel with them to the festival. As bad luck would have it Lou and I had come down with colds days before the trip. To counter the effects we got some Day and Night cold tablets from the chemist. We have a new tent and bedrolls (half price from Kathmandu) so we were ready for Lou’s first festival experience.
Day 1
We met up with Tash and Ben in town and drove aboard the Blue Bridge ferry. Straight Shippings’ Blue Bridge is the new kid on the block for Cook Straight ferry crossings, taking on Tranz rail’s Interislander. It was Lou’s first time crossing on the Cook Straight on a ferry, we spent most of the time inside playing cards. This was my first time travelling down the east coast of the South Island. We travelled past what seemed like endless beautiful beaches. For a break we stopped to see a seal colony. Even though we were a fair distance away the smell was noticeable. On arrival in Kaikoura we checked into the motor camp and had fish and chips. We slept in a cabin by the railway tracks, in the wee hours of the morning a train stopped outside and for 30 minutes I could hear refrigerated train cars. Luckily I had packed earplugs and managed to find them in the dark.
Day 2
Waking up late we had a lovely breakfast across road from the motor camp. On our way out we met Billy, a friend of Tash and Ben’s. He rode with us to the festival but had to go in the performers entrance as he had his name on the door. Arriving at the festival site we set up our tent (we had practiced at home so we didn’t make fools of ourselves). The festival opened with a powhiri where the local tribe welcomed us onto the site. It was clear but windy during day, lots of dirt was blowing around which made wearing glasses compulsory.
Although it is called a roots festival the music was an eclectic mix of reggae, dub, hip-hop, drum and bass and soul. There was a chilled out vibe and everyone was on a slight hill so all had a good view of the stage. The best band was Kora, a mix of dub, reggae, rock and drum and bass. They had a lot of energy and the front man had charisma. Unfortunately Fat Freddie’s was too slow and the songs too long. We topped off the night with Shapeshifter who built up the crowd like a house DJ. We got into our tent at about 4 am.
Day 3
As you may expect we slept well but not for long. You can’t sleep in with noisy neighbours and warm sun streaming in turning the tent into a hot house. We had a relaxed day sitting on the beach and watching people swim with dolphins that came very close to shore. There was even a guy kite surfing. Back at the motor camp in Kaikoura it felt good to have a shower to wash off the dirt. There was more fish and chips for dinner (Lou had one lovely scallop). We were booked in the same cabin, this time I was prepared and put in my ear plugs before bed.
Day 4
Our ferry back was in the evening so we checked out the sites of Kaikoura. In town there are some nice art deco buildings (especially the theatre). While the ladies did some shopping (as you do when you are from the city and in a small town) the lads went out to the point to see seals, sea weed and the light house.
By this time Lou and I had run out of tablets so our colds were catching up on us. We enjoyed a quiet trip back on the ferry and a good nights sleep.
View the picture gallery
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Day 1
We met up with Tash and Ben in town and drove aboard the Blue Bridge ferry. Straight Shippings’ Blue Bridge is the new kid on the block for Cook Straight ferry crossings, taking on Tranz rail’s Interislander. It was Lou’s first time crossing on the Cook Straight on a ferry, we spent most of the time inside playing cards. This was my first time travelling down the east coast of the South Island. We travelled past what seemed like endless beautiful beaches. For a break we stopped to see a seal colony. Even though we were a fair distance away the smell was noticeable. On arrival in Kaikoura we checked into the motor camp and had fish and chips. We slept in a cabin by the railway tracks, in the wee hours of the morning a train stopped outside and for 30 minutes I could hear refrigerated train cars. Luckily I had packed earplugs and managed to find them in the dark.
Day 2
Waking up late we had a lovely breakfast across road from the motor camp. On our way out we met Billy, a friend of Tash and Ben’s. He rode with us to the festival but had to go in the performers entrance as he had his name on the door. Arriving at the festival site we set up our tent (we had practiced at home so we didn’t make fools of ourselves). The festival opened with a powhiri where the local tribe welcomed us onto the site. It was clear but windy during day, lots of dirt was blowing around which made wearing glasses compulsory.
Although it is called a roots festival the music was an eclectic mix of reggae, dub, hip-hop, drum and bass and soul. There was a chilled out vibe and everyone was on a slight hill so all had a good view of the stage. The best band was Kora, a mix of dub, reggae, rock and drum and bass. They had a lot of energy and the front man had charisma. Unfortunately Fat Freddie’s was too slow and the songs too long. We topped off the night with Shapeshifter who built up the crowd like a house DJ. We got into our tent at about 4 am.
Day 3
As you may expect we slept well but not for long. You can’t sleep in with noisy neighbours and warm sun streaming in turning the tent into a hot house. We had a relaxed day sitting on the beach and watching people swim with dolphins that came very close to shore. There was even a guy kite surfing. Back at the motor camp in Kaikoura it felt good to have a shower to wash off the dirt. There was more fish and chips for dinner (Lou had one lovely scallop). We were booked in the same cabin, this time I was prepared and put in my ear plugs before bed.
Day 4
Our ferry back was in the evening so we checked out the sites of Kaikoura. In town there are some nice art deco buildings (especially the theatre). While the ladies did some shopping (as you do when you are from the city and in a small town) the lads went out to the point to see seals, sea weed and the light house.
By this time Lou and I had run out of tablets so our colds were catching up on us. We enjoyed a quiet trip back on the ferry and a good nights sleep.
View the picture gallery
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Friday, January 06, 2006
Back in Wellywood
Now it is time for our lives to resume some form of normality. We are back in Wellington, staying with Lou's father and sister. We are updating our CVs and will begin scouring the city for jobs on Monday.
We both enjoyed our New Year and Xmas breaks. I spent my time in Orewa (north of Auckland) with my family. Down the road from thier house is SnowPlanet, an indoor snow slope with good, powdery snow and a terrain park. Where else can you go snowboarding then swim at the beach 20 mins later? The folks have a bach on Lake Mangakino where I tried wake boarding for the first time. It is pretty cool, like snowboarding but without the bumps.
Lou went down to Wellington to spend Christmas with her family. She arrived just in time for the King Kong premiere and took some pics of the stars. She also spent a lot of time enjoying her newly renovated family home, the warm sunny weather in Wellington, catching up with friends, her little niece and nephew and eating lots of yummy food.
Happy New Year!
(1) comments
We both enjoyed our New Year and Xmas breaks. I spent my time in Orewa (north of Auckland) with my family. Down the road from thier house is SnowPlanet, an indoor snow slope with good, powdery snow and a terrain park. Where else can you go snowboarding then swim at the beach 20 mins later? The folks have a bach on Lake Mangakino where I tried wake boarding for the first time. It is pretty cool, like snowboarding but without the bumps.
Lou went down to Wellington to spend Christmas with her family. She arrived just in time for the King Kong premiere and took some pics of the stars. She also spent a lot of time enjoying her newly renovated family home, the warm sunny weather in Wellington, catching up with friends, her little niece and nephew and eating lots of yummy food.
Happy New Year!
(1) comments
