Omaha is set to become a permanent location in the Demon Energy Summer Thunder racing series, the national competition for Thundercat boats, following a successful debut event there last month.
The series is a seven-race competition held between January and March at beaches across the North Island.
Thundercat Racing Association of New Zealand (TRANZ) president Blair Chant says despite calm conditions, Omaha was a superb venue.
“It’s a great setting for racing and plenty of people came out to support the teams,” Mr Chant says.
“There were some complications with getting boats on to the beach, but I think it was just teething problems being our first event there.”
Next year the association is looking at compressing multiple weekends of racing into one whole week, with Omaha to be included.
“This fits more with international series formats so it makes sense for our teams to get used to it if they want to participate against other countries.”
Omaha was treated to two race days on February 24 and 25, with a surf-cross event followed by the endurance race.
Waikato Sandblasting Services took first in both and clinched the series title with one race day remaining.
Protech Design Racing took second in both races, while Snells Beach team Thinkladder swept up two third places.
Thinkladder driver and TRANZ vice-president Steven Robertson was pleased to have the series brought into the Mahurangi region.
“I’ve been working with the committee to bring Thundercats to Omaha and the beach really delivered across the weekend,” Mr Robertson says.
He races with co-driver Josiah Diprose and was pleased with the team’s results.
“Second place would have been ideal in the context of the series, but to grab third twice was a great achievement, particularly in the surf-cross.”
The team only started racing last year, picking up the rookie of the season award, but were placed second overall in the series after the weekend at Omaha.
“Looking forward we are keen to win this competition and also compete internationally.”
Mr Chant says he would like to get more people involved with Thundercats after the sport suffered a downturn in New Zealand following the 2008 recession. “We used to have around 30 boats competing in the national series and that number got as low as four two years ago, but it’s starting to grow again,” Mr Chant says.
Each Thundercat team needs two people to drive the inflatable catamaran, which weighs around 150kg and is powered by a 50-horsepower outboard.
The driver steers the outboard while the co-driver uses their body weight to keep the boat balanced and avoid flipping.
“It’s a cardio-intensive role being a co-driver, and you have t o balance speed with stability, as these boats can be doing up to 100kmph.
“It’s definitely a sport for people who don’t mind being beaten up a bit as everyone gets a few bruises as these boats can race in cyclone conditions.”
Anyone interested in getting involved with thundercat racing or wanting to sponsor Thinkladder contact Steven on 021 621 061.
