The Polar Bear Classic was first held in 1981 as a fundraiser and an excuse to invite other clubs who could make the trek for a good party in the middle of winter, a fun competition at Sandy Bay on the Tutukaka coast. Although the surf is unpredictable at this time of the year, we have had some impressive surf and some even more impressive surfing from the region’s top surfers, plus a few from as far away as Gisborne & Taranaki.
Local Surf Comp at Sandy Bay is in its 37th year!
This year (2018) the North Coast Boardriders is proud to offer $1000 to both the Open Men’s and Open Women’s division winners for the first time.
Equal prize money is just one step in recognising our top female athletes for their contribution to the sport and paving the way for equal opportunities within the surfing community and the surfing industry. We are at the forefront of this movement in NZ as one of the few clubs in the world encouraging women and girls in surfing through equal prize money.
The Women’s division will be named the ‘Dive! Tutukaka, Open Womens’ in honour of our generous sponsor.
Dive! Tutukaka also sponsors the club throughout the year and are committed to equal pay, sustainability and youth development, just like we are.
Mammoth Insulation is our major sponsor again this year and put up the prize money for the ‘Mammoth Insulation, Open Men’s division’.
The Polar Bear is always well supported and there are surfers who are now surfing in the over 40’s & 50’s divisions that attended those early Polar Bear as grommets. Prizes over the years have ranged from custom surfboards to a sheep (it was taken home alive) but everyone leaves with a sponsor’s printed t-shirt for their efforts.
The 8 Divisions for the 2018 event are,
The Open (this is the Trophy division) Open Women’s, Over 40’s, Over 50’s/60 ’s, Longboard (over 9ft), Under 18’s, Under 14’s, Under 10’s
