Surfers need nature on board

Ocean Beach this weekend hosts one of Northland's premier surfing competitions - provided the weather plays its part.

The Ocean Beach Boardriders Summer Session, sponsored by Steve Bowling Contractors, has a $500 cash prize for the open winner and $100 for the junior and women's division winners. All placegetters get prizes and a major spot prize is up for grabs for all who enter.

Ocean Beach Boardriders Club president Rupert Newbold said he hoped the $500 cash prize would attract some good Northland surfers.

"We're hoping to have a good turnout after having been in touch with quite a few local board riding clubs," he said. "There has definitely been a good response, especially with the bigger cash prize from last year."

The Ocean Beach Boardriders aim to use the weekend's competition to stir some interclub rivalry around Northland.

Newbold said if the weather played its part the highlight would be the open division final. The event would go ahead if there was a decent swell that was able to be surfed.

INFO

Registration will be from 7.30am at the lookout, with the intention to have the first heat hit the water by 8.30am.

Entry is free for club members and $10 for non-club members, all entrants to be limited to one division.

Divisions available are junior, senior, women, longboard and open.

Food and refreshments will be available all day on site.

In the event of a cancellation, the competition will roll over to Sunday.