What a weekend!! Only now have we got a moment to reflect on what was a cracker of an event!

Firstly, without the support of Yamaha NZ we simply couldn’t have done it. They were the first sponsor back on board from the inaugural event and to have title sponsorship support from the word go was amazing. So a huge thank you to Brendan and the team at Yamaha NZ. We hope to have you back again for next year!

To our major sponsors, JetskiJunk.co.nz, 701 Industries, Krash Industries, Supreme Blast & Paint, Thank you. Kevin and Cathie, Dave, Nick, Brendan and Darryl, without your support we wouldn’t have been able to take the event to level it was at. You’re all an invaluable part of making it what it was.

To Random Performance, KP Parts, Pro Rider Magazine, NZfreeride, Jet Pilot, Air Time Products, Australian Jet Ski Parts, Thrust Innovations, and Ethika Underwear thank you for your extremely generous support at the event. We can appreciate how hard it is to give to the many events that are out there and choosing to support our event is very humbling.

We also want to that Nigel and the team from Rogers Boat Shop for the utterly fantastic BBQ that they put on both morning and at lunch each day. The food was absolutely delicious and hit the spot. It was the icing on the cake and was appreciated by all. Also, a big thanks to Red Bull for providing some much needed energy drinks for those that needed the extra lift after a hard night.

To all the riders that entered the event thank you so very much for supporting the only free ride event in New Zealand. We’re so lucky to have such a fantastic location to hold the event and most of you have a long way to travel to get there so we appreciate you coming. You all pushed the limits in your own way and its awesome to see people progress. To our international riders, from Auzzie, Leigh, Lucas, Stu, Mitch and Dan, thanks for trekking across the ditch and we hope you all come back next year. To Matt “the Sinker” from Tahiti, awesome to have you at the event with your French Polynesian flair. I think Nigel is trying to hunt you down though 🙂

Thank you to those that help with marshaling, especially Jack Burton who selflessly provided his ski and time to get out on the water both days. Also thank you to Wally for his efforts on the Friday.

A massive thanks to both Grant and Guy for taking photos and video all day each day. Can’t wait to see the photos and event vid production. Very much looking forward to it.

A huge thanks to Pauly Paul for sussing out a lot of the gear we used on the beach. Most appreciated. A big thank you too to Brendan Lucas and Norm McFarlane for their efforts in helping secure sponsors. Also, to Norm a huge thank you for liaising with the international crew and ensuring that they were looked after over the weekend.

A big thanks to the Marine Medics team for being there both days to make sure we had the appropriate medical cover. Also a big thank you to the team from the Karioitahi Surf Life Saving club for being on-site with a rib each day in case of emergency out on the water.

To all the others that have contributed to the event, you know who you are and thank you so much. Without support from people in the scene we simply couldn’t present the event in manner it was. Thank you to everyone that chipped in with setting up, running, and packing down the event. Awesome stuff.

All going well, in the coming weeks we’ll have the video to present that will capture the essence of the event. We’ve still got plenty of sponsors thank you’s to send out and admin work to complete so its not over yet, but we really do want to express our appreciation to all those that were involved with the event. As they say, “Support those that support the sport”, so please ensure that next time you need something for your ski or yourself you take a look at those that have supported this event and choose them.

Yamaha NZ Festival of Freeride 2 – Results

The Stace Hopper Memorial Trophy
NZ Festival of Freeride Award Winner – Brendan Lucas

Sickest Trick – Stand-up – Mitch Young

Sickest Trick – Blaster – Darryn Nagle

Biggest Air – Stand-up – Mark Colling

Biggest Air – Blaster – Dan McKenzie

Cherry Popper – Adam Bainbridge and Hayden Brownlie

Distinguished 180 – Simon Heaps

Daredevil Dismount – Paul Coker

Rock’n Re-Entry – Brendan Cash

Pushing the Limits – Paul Santo

Wrenching Award – Lincoln Shaw

Meticulous Presentation – Brendan Lucas

They See Me Roll’n – Matthieu Courtios

Surf Style – Dan Williamson

Havin’ a Crack – Rebecca Check

Biggest Bail – Daniel Pearl

Great to have some more local support for the FoF. Supreme Blast & Paint is an industrial sand blasting and spray painting business located in Palmerston North. If you’re needing something large refurbished, like farm machinery, swimming pools, or any steel or concrete structure, then these are the guys to call. Contact details are in the pic above.

Another quality company is supporting the Yamaha NZ Festival of Freeride. Thrust Innovations is well know for its high quality parts, like the hugely popular EZ-Pull Trim System. Not only do they offer a huge parts catalog, but in house machining and servicing. Its awesome to have them on board. Check out their online shop at www.thrustinnovations.com.

Great news – The team at Pro Rider magazine are on board for the Yamaha NZ Festival of Freeride. Pro Rider is the worlds premiere watercraft magazine and has established itself as the essential source of information and inspiration for personal watercraft action sports. Pro Rider will be covering the event with a full spread in the following months issue so make sure you’ve got your Pro Rider stickers on. Check them out at www.proridermag.com.

Once again NZfreeride has stepped up with a cash prize for the Cherry Popper event at the Yamaha NZ Festival of Freeride. So if you have never done a backflip, and think you’d like to give it a shot, then the cherry popper just might be a lucrative choice. Check out NZfreeride FB group here.

Its great to have JetPilot back on board at the Yamaha NZ Festival of Freeride. JetPilot has been making high quality wetsuits and apparel for personal watercraft racers and freeriders since 1986. They have always been extremely active in the sport of freeriding. Make sure you check out their recently released “This is Now” video on the culture of freeriding here.

Much to our delight Rogers Boat Shop has offered its support to the Yamaha NZ Festival of Freeride. They have loaned a ski to the event for international riders, will be bringing 4WD support to the event, and will also be putting on a BBQ each day. They offer the full range of OEM Yamaha parts to get your ski up and running and if you’re in the market for a new Superjet then they’re the place to go. Check them out at www.rogersboatshop.co.nz.

We stoked to have Ethika underwear on board at the Yamaha NZ Festival of Freeride. Ethika is an internationally renowned underwear brand, worn by many celebrities, athletes, and musicians. Look out for Ethika underwear at the FoF 2.

The Yamaha NZ Festival of Freeride 2 has another sponsor returning again from the inaugural event. Krash Industries is once again supporting the local NZ scene and its fantastic to have their support. Krash has now cemented itself as one of the major brands of aftermarket freeride hulls and composite accessories. Check them out through their FB page here.