Bliss-Stick Whitewater Kayaking Festival

BlissFest OhhEight

2008-09-30T20:59:00.002+13:00

For more information on BlissFest 08

www.nzfks.co.nz

Bliss-Fest 07 Clip

2008-03-28T16:20:00.002+13:00

Here it is!

Thanks To Pete Eley for the great work on producing this clip

More details on this years event Soon!!!!!

The 07' is nearly cooked!!

2007-11-21T11:58:00.001+13:00

Hi there Folks

Finally some breathing space, Everyone has this problem, time, lack of,the most precious consideration these day's!

In fact it's probably what every one wants for xmas, some of your time!

Anyway

Blissfest 07 Wow bigger than Ben Hur!
Another big Thank you to all of you for taking part, and to those who put there shoulder to the grindstone to make the wheels spin!

We have a bunch of footage that will be available on utube in the future.
A sweepstakes will be run on when!

BlissFest 07

2007-10-18T16:20:00.000+13:00

Wow is all i have to say!
Thanks to all of you that came to Dunedin to get yourselves on channel three news!
A huge shout to the folks who supported, helped and made it all happen thanks so much !

What a weekend!
i think i might be still a bit tired!

Big shout out to the Christchurch boys for dominating the party with their big city stylings!

The video will be forthcoming along with more photos and a run down of the weekend and results

PS there is heaps of water out there so go boating!!!!

Ramping Up

2007-10-03T15:10:00.000+13:00

Hi Folks

United Scaffolding and Fahey and Kwiat have been beavering away on the Wharf to get this First Dunedin Big Air Comp all ready for kick

BlissFest update Number 3

2007-10-02T16:42:00.000+13:00

Hi There Folks!

Well Its raining here in Dunedin, might have to take the day off and paddle
Lee Stream tomorrow!

Focus, back on track .........BlissFest07

Today the crew from United Scaffolding started on the ramp.. slowly but surely it's getting more exciting!!!

At the Navy Reserve Wharf on Fryatt Street opposite the Wharf Hotel!

Just can't say enough about the good people helping get this show on the road!

So more Information for yous!

Late on Sat night / Sun Morning we will have the Big Screen for the Rugby. It will be on late though.... still need your beauty sleep

As previously mentioned we are planning on having the Fine Emerson's Ale on site this year along with a BBQ, bangers onions and bread, standard fare....

So bring your gold coins to make the Beer and Bangers easier to obtain..

Along with that we are thinking of having another BBQ so you folk can use to cook your own Kai.

I you have a Short film for us to show on Sat night , Make sure it will play on a laptop, as thats what we are bringing out to the basecamp!

Over and Out

Chris and Craig

blissfest@gmail.com

BlissFest07 update 2

2007-09-24T15:29:00.000+12:00

Hi there Folks

So here we are 2 weeks out or so and its getting more exciting by the minute!
I have just got back from the wharf where i met the guys from United Scaffolding.
Awesome... these lads are all over it!

Should be

exciting!.........

Exciting yes........ death defying NO

just want to allay any rumours saying we are building the biggest ramp this side of Waipiata.

Well it might be the bigggest ramp this side... yes, this side of Waipiata because its the only ramp south of Murchison

We are after participation, from you folk, always have been!

its about getting out there and giving it a crack.

cheers!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

So here is the latest installment of information to smooth your path to Blissfest07

Accomodation:

Same as last year, out at the A and P Ground outside the small village of Mosgolia (Mosgiel). Good Takeaways!!!! one of the pluses of Mosgiel

It proved to be a sturdy venue for the crowd last year, lots of room for camping and parking.

There is the Taieri A and P ground
Shown on this map with the squiggle Which is supposed to show the Intersection of Dukes road and Gordon Road, and it should be straightforward from there!!! Maps are handy you outdoor types!

The A and P Ground will be available on Friday afternoon / or after the Pool Slalom for people to set up tents etc

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Don't Forget the Pool Dual Slalom at Moana Pool off Stuart Street at 630pm

Of course if you can you will be entering, they are after fun in a pool with two head to head shots guaranteed

Prizes thru participation

Any questions around this separate yet involved event

Contact:

Andy Thompson 021 735 536

Dylan Thompson 027 600 4838

------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Post Jump Saturday Night .. A &P Ground
Cumec Magazine's Antz Longman will be present to give us the low down on the

National Freestyle Kayak Series

The first event of which is the Sunday Surf Comp at St Clair Beach.

The new Issue of Cumec Magazine will be available at Blissfest 07, i hope you all bring your dollars to purchase an issue to support the mammoth effort that Antz has being putting in to bring to us our very own classy NZ/Aust Whitewater Magazine. Great work! now its up to us to support him! its cheap enough maybe even subscribe?!?!!?

----------------------------------------------

We are Fully stoked that

this year we will premiere'

the new

Bliss-stick DVD

"Aotearoa 2"

--------------------------------

Short Film Fest

Again we now put out the call to all you budding filmmakers to get finished with your editing, and be ready to present your Adventures in Short Film to the crowd!

----------------------------------------------------

So some important questions need answering about further on into the night!

The Julian Temple Band

Will be Playing

Also

DJ Sam

The Beer involved is our own local micro brewry

Emerson's

nice!

and since we are having brew's best fire up a BBQ as well

So thats all for today

the updates will be coming hard and fast...

Just like you will be sliding down this ramp!!!!

Looking forward to seeing you soon!

any questions or helpful tips

blissfest@gmail.com

021 705 716

Peace

Craig and Chris

See you in the Surf

Blissfest Update: Number One

2007-09-07T15:25:00.000+12:00

BlissFest07 is winding itself up here in Dunedin

We are super stoked to have so much support again for this year’s BlissFest

Bliss-Stick

Stoked as always to have Norm coming on down to fly the flag for Bliss-Stick

R & R Sport

Hydraulics

Feed the Rat

Cumec Magazine

WildEarth Adventures
Teva

Smith

Icebreaker

Red Bull

This year in getting the ramp sorted, it has been a great example of local businesses coming together to help us with this local event.
The Big Air ramp would be dead in the water without the amazing assistance of

Port Otago

United Scaffolding

Fahey Kwiat Construction.

NZ Navy

To make the first weekend in October the most full on kayaking weekend of the year here in Dunedin

Breaking news!!
Just add water...
into the mix of the BlissFest weekend

Dylan Thompson (last years BlissFest winner) and Andy Thompson,(are the twins?) have organised a warm up for the weekend

Dual Slalom, at Moana pool at 630pm on
Friday the 5th of October

If your travelling from out of town, maybe get away a little bit earlier! pack another boat!?

Big Air Ramp in the Harbour Basin on
Saturday 6th of October

Surf Comp at St Clair Beach on

Sunday 7th of October

This year we are excited to be the first stop on the national tour
Cumec National Kayaking Freestyle Series . or a name close to that meaning something along those lines

Accommodation:
We are sorting out a venue for you folks to camp for the weekend, available on the Friday night after the pool slalom, through to Sunday morning before heading to the surf comp. Sweet

Buy Sell & Exchange:
Bring all your old kit, ill fitting kit, good kit I’m sure no one will want to uy your garbage though.
Last year it proved to be quite the market place.

Since we have been at this for a couple of years now, we thought it would be a goodtime for us to start giving back to the people who do so much for all of us, the

Team Bliss-Stick paddler: Sam Sutton is making the journey south to represent the Northern Island. Awesome

More Soon!

Chris and Craig

BlissFest 06 footage and time to wind up for BF07.

2007-08-08T15:00:00.000+12:00

Hi Folks

Contrary to popular opinion, we are not dead or abducted by aliens, convicts in Folsom Prison.... we have just been busy!

Thats the reason, instead of a feature DVD, we have this charging clip from last years comp, you guys made it go off, thanks so much.

Yet again we are putting together another Charging Weekend for you all here in Dunedin again this year

October 6th - 7th

"BlissFest07"

Mark it in your calendar, save you pesos for fuel and get yourselves down here...

Be ready!

Updates here very soon !!

Cheers

Chris and Craig

Footage of last years Surf Comp 05'

2006-12-08T12:31:00.000+13:00

Here is the Channel 9 footage from 05' bit flat but still had the goodtimes.

Whet the whistle for this years footage, which is in the pipeline.

Its Done and Dusted, BlissFest 06!....now how about Blissfest 07

2006-10-12T10:18:00.000+13:00

First up a big shout out to all you folk who came on down, up, along, across to be part of it here in Dunedin. For Boaters by Boaters. Stoked you could make it happen.

A Roaring Success!
The Surf on Sunday was epic! and the standard of competition has definitely jumped up in the year since the first surf comp!

Awesome to see the growth in peoples skills and what can be acheived in a plastic boat and a few waves.

Already Chris and I are plotting and scheming for BlissFest 07'

Second, I want to again give our most sincere thanks to the sponsors of BlissFest 06'

Bliss-Stick Designs
Hydraulics
R and R Sport
Wild Earth Adventures
Wet West Film Festival
Feed the Rat
School of Adventure

Please support these businesses so they can then support us again in the future!

The Winners

The Comp was taken out by Dylan Thompson

In a tight final with it being slugged out till the end with Ian Waterhouse last years winner coming in a close 2nd. Then Ewen Rodway and Jono Ramsey 3rd equal.

The Womans Final

Sohpie Ballagh fought off Anna Hughes and Kate Downer whom tied for 2nd

Sophie Ballagh

We will have more photo's loaded up as they come in

if you have any crackers you want to share send them to Blissfest@gmail.com

Dylan in the Pipe

Sunny Dunedin, and yes we have Tee shirts for Sale

2006-10-05T23:03:00.000+13:00

Hi there Folks,

Probably the last update prior to the big weekend

Looking forward to it, it has been a while in the preparation, so it is great to be finally taking it out of the oven.

Lots of chefs to thanks for all their help, getting to this point.

The Blissfest

The advice mentioned in prior posts is still upstanding.

Although we have been defeated on the Taieri River by the hinterland irrigators (Future event managers take note, its a strange feeling having your river sucked dry from upstream)

I am certain the 6 hours clearing wood out of, and cutting a path down beside the Pipeline Rapid will be looked upon by future boaters who run or walk the rapid as time well spent. (esp the paving stone work done on the portage track)
Just this weekend it won't be you folk.

The 5 cumecs that they have removed drops us below our cut off point for having four boaters racing.

Now what?

So we have a couple of options, for entertainment on the Saturday.

So stay the course, and we will see you on Friday Night, or Sat Morning.
and we will have the plan ready for you.

Other than that

There are some cool films being brought down for our viewing pleasure. nice one!
Plus a couple of Premiere's

The band is fired up for a Big Party, which is funny as that seems to be what the Surf is doing too. bring a beach ball maybe!!!! Sunday should be exciting

So big weekend ahead folks!

Cheers

Craig and Chris

Got the Marshmallows?

2006-09-28T18:58:00.000+12:00

Seems that someone's safety briefing has got out of hand on Signal hill today.

View from my work carpark!!

Ciao

Hey I can only do one day of the festival... what can I do?

2006-09-28T18:05:00.000+12:00

Just wanted to make it clear that if you cannot come and join us for the whole weekend,
You are more than welcome to bite off what you can chew!

If you are up for the Hydraulics Boater X, then rock up on friday night to sign yourself up (or early on Sat morning), and definitely after the Boater X ,hang out for the Film premiere's on Sat night and the live entertainment!

Whereas if you are in to a bit of surfing, the show up at 9am at St Clair to sign yourself up for the R and R Sport Surf Comp. Still, come on out on Sat night to the basecamp to enjoy the festivities, and sign up for it there.

Entry For either event is $20.00

Entry for the weekend is $40.oo

Time is counting down.....

see you soon!

Chris and Craig

Recaffeination....

2006-09-28T09:50:00.000+12:00

We are stoked to have Alice turning up on site at Basecamp, as resident Barista ....ummmm

She will be on site for those critical times

early on Sat then back for the late session on Sat arvo/evening.....

Most importantly Alice will be there on Sunday morning!!!!. To ge the crew Amped up of the big day in the Surf

Cheers

Chris and Craig

Entering Blissfest, The How 2.

2006-09-27T21:02:00.000+12:00

So your mad keen to be part of this festival.

How 2?

The best thing would be turn up to Basecamp on the friday night

1 - From there we can sign you and your boat up!
2 - take your cash! $40.00
3 - hand over your entry pack ( info sheet, bib, sponsors product, etc)
4 - Check you have the compulsory kit (throwbag, knife, flotation, etc)

Then we can stash your boat on the trailer for transport, then and there....and send it off when we get enough!

The more people we can process on Friday night the less full on it will be on Sat morning.

So hoping all you local boaters, and some of you travellers will be there on Friday, and then leaving time for the late night arrivals to get sorted on Sat morning.

We will need to be at the "get out" to met the bus at 915am, so we will be all gone from Basecamp by 9am

It is important to us that we get everyone, on that shuttle!!!! As lots of cars on that road will be diabolical for everybody, especially the innocent bystanders using the road having nothing to do with Blissfest.

Any questions

please email us at

blissfest@gmail.com

Getting excited
See you soon

Craig and Chris

Gear you will need!!!!!!

2006-09-25T22:20:00.000+12:00

So the Hydraulics Boater X
is being held on the Taieri Rivers, Pipeline Rapid, it is the first rapid of the lower gorge.

It will be a full day trip

once the comp is done with the, river trip out is still to be done.

No park and play here!

Bring your Lunch, Snacks, H2O to drink, good river shoes (to walk the 1. 2 km in to the river, don't worry we will get your boat in for you.) and to walk up the rocky bank of the pipeline rapid for your semi final... final.

Every one will be playing a part in the safety of the competitors, whether safety boating after their heat, or filling a suitable throwbagging spot in rotation up the river bank. To that ends we are deeming it compulsory to bring a THROWBAG ( its a river trip, you'll be bringing one anyway, Right!) and if you can tie something up you should be able to cut it free, so a KNIFE also.

These items will be ticked off at the registration
when you hand your boat over for transportation

Cheers

Craig and Chris

A and P Ground Basecamp

2006-09-25T22:05:00.000+12:00

So once you have made it to Basecamp, what will you find?

Ample camping space for your tent, van, caravan or car.

There are limited kitchen facillities, there are many greasy spoons in Mosgolia for those not keen on cooking.

The camp site is available from Friday arvo, till sunday morning (we will be off to the beach) and the local pony club will be arriving for the day... scary. so we best be off by then.

The best thing would to be all registered on the friday night if you can, with the remainder on the sat morning before the mammoth shuttle up river.

We will have the registration table up and going for this on Friday night, so you can collect your event packs, and check in your kayak, so it can get transported up to the get in.

Things you will need to know...!

2006-09-25T19:50:00.001+12:00

Hi there Folks

time to let you in to some of the details..

like the location, of the Base Camp.

Just outside the village of Mosgolia(Mosgiel).

There is the Taieri A and P ground

Shown on this map with the squiggle from the paint shop pro program!

Which is supposed to show the Intersection of Dukes road and Gordon Road, and it should be straightforward from there!!!

Noice!

Chris and Craig

Wet West Film Festival .....

2006-09-25T19:37:00.000+12:00

Great News

The crew from the Wet West Film Fest have put up an awesome prize for the Homemade kayak film comp...

The Competition, bring your home built short kayaking film, get it shown on sat evening, and the crowd opinion could get you the prize

of Tickets to the 2007 Wet West Film Festival ... Awesome

Check out

www.wetwestfilmfest.com

to see what they have on offer,

We are stoked to have this support for our event, and we are stoked to support them!

Cheers
Chris and Craig

One boat, Two events...!?!?!?!?!?!

2006-09-14T20:41:00.000+12:00

What does that mean?

The 1 boat 2 events policy has been enacted.

Boater X, and Surf Comp same boat

To save everyone the bother of bringing 2 boats
To level the playing field
To make the "Pipeline" a wee bit more Sporting.
To make the rest of the river trip fun. (very important!)

Certainly a playboat would be the way forward for the surf competition!!

hope all is good, looking forward to seeing you soon

Craig and Chris

Flyer....

2006-09-09T20:31:00.000+12:00

Photo's to whet your appetite!

2006-09-08T16:54:00.000+12:00

Some Aoraki Poly Lads checking out the Pipeline Rapid.
Thanks Google earth, maybe you can study the fast line! (summer low water)
St Clair Surf Comp 05'

What now....?

2006-09-08T15:39:00.000+12:00

In the aftermath of the 05' Surf Comp, we got some great feedback.
Along the lines of,
-have something to span the whole weekend!
-Camping together is good
-entertainment
-liked the scoring system for the surf comp, style based.
-Great vibe!
-Fantastic Spot prizes!!!

So taking all that onboard we have bounced around ideas for what to do this year!

What has risen to the surface is

Blissfest 06

So yes, it is a weekend event,
that is not exclusivly for the gnarly boaters

you can enter for the weekend, or bite off just the Surf Comp!

-A river trip, with a competition on the side

-A repeat of the Surf Comp at St Clair

-We got a great camp site! The Taieri A and P ground, enroute to the River, sweet.

-A film Premiere of "Enter the Donkey" By Spencer Cooke

-A low Key homemade short film awards (get editing your footage now)

-Absolutly awesome Spot Prizes from our fantastic sponsors. yay

-Cash prizes for the overall winners of the weekends main events

Don't forget to register on blissfest@gmail.com
any questions welcome !

So a Boater X...?

Starting at the top of the Pipeline rapid (Grade 3-4, in GC's Guide)

a line up of 4 or 5 boaters and they have to negoiate their way downstream past a couple of buoys and the first one to touch the special rock in the special eddie moves on to the next stage.

and it goes on until it finished.

Since the Pipeline is the first rapid, after the comp we still have the river trip to go.... nice.

To protect future access to, the access to the river we are arranging a shuttle from the get out to the get in!

so allowing for flexiblity at the end of the day, and cutting out on the chaos of all those cars on the gnarly muddy road!!

Camp Ground
I will post a map of how to get there in the near future!
Available from friday afternoon it will be our base for the weekend!

Sat Evening

So like previously mentioned a Premiere, some of your films, they will need to be on DVD,
the rumour still persists of a Band playing, to be confirmed.

we will have a Mobile Coffee Cart in attendance for the duration so caffine will never be far away!

more on sat night at a later date!

Sunday Surf Comp

Very similar to last year!
for those who werent there last year, here is your chance to redeem yourselves!

heats of 4-5 boaters

10 mins to strut your stuff

winner moves up the chain, to the next, and so on!

We have a judging panel including folks who don't even paddle so but are artistically minded, so style is key. "Spirit of Fun"

Judges rulings are final.

Prize giving

Will be held just after the completion of the comp

Lots of goodies to give away so don't miss out !

those of you wanting a new Bliss-stick boat you should definitly be there

ummmm nice Spot Prize eligble to those who are in BOTH days competition!

and yes a bit of Cash to give away also!
Nice

So thats the start, a bit a of a Rant, but i think you get the picture.
We are stoked to be able to put this on for you, look forward to seeing you soon!

Craig and Chris

The History.... how did we get to here!!!

2006-09-06T19:26:00.000+12:00

I blame Chris Sinclair... he is a whirling ball of energy, and it was his idea last year to hold the Surf comp down here in Dunedin.

Well he was the one that pushed it a lil' bit further than the sitting around drinking beer, talking smack about kayaking, instead of actually kayaking. I was easily drawn into his contagious energy, cos hey this could be cool fun! always up for the adventure!
The thing i always wondered was, why these kind of things happen overseas, and in the North Island. I know now! It's not anything particularly special, you just have to get on with it and get it done.. Nice

So back in 05' we whipped ourselves in to a frenzy of down home Kiwi DIY,
and had the Inaugural Bliss-stick Surf Event in mid October. Wow, couldnt believe it, we were so stoked!

60 boaters from Invercargill thru to Central, Wanaka and from Christchurch all made it down to rip up the waves (the size of those waves could have been bigger, but maybe more people gave it a crack because they weren't so intimidating?!?)

It was a great vibe the whole day long. I think we were paticularly relieved when the surfers in the water just out front of the Espi were chased out of the water by a Sea Lion(that cost a lot of fish)

The gaunlet was thrown down that day, i remember standing by some local lads, hearing them say " these waves aren't big enough for us to do our moves!!" and in perfect synch the boater did a donkey flip ! the lads went quiet!!!!
Since then folks down this way have been expanding their view our what can be done! Awesome

The Surf Comp was sponsored by Bliss-stick cheers Norm, Hydraulics thanks Clare and of course R and R Sport much appreciated Miff.

with there support we were able to give all the goodies away to the competitors, we like doing that.

The best thing was seeing so many different types, ages, styles of kayakers all coming together for the day!

Cheers.

Blissfest06

2006-09-05T23:10:00.000+12:00

Hi there everybody,

This is the space to come and check out the details for the Bliss stick White water Kayaking Festival 06 being held on the

7th and 8th of October

in Dunedin

more updates soon