Here’s what you’ll need to get from here to there and back again, fed, drunk, directed and informed in CHC for WWIII. As a note, there is no commuter rail in Christchurch, there are buses which are cheap and will take your bike on special bike racks (2 bikes per bus). That said CHC is a flat city and riding your polo bike around once you’ve installed yourself into your accommodation is a great option. Bring bike lights and a lock, it gets dark at about 5pm in June.
It’s getting chilly outside and daylight savings is all done and dusted… that can mean only one thing, Winter Whack is coming!! Christchurch Hardcourt Bike Polo Inc is proud of what Winter Whack has become in such a short time and we believe that WWIII will be even more amazing than previous events be it in sun, wind or snow.
Dates:
NZ Queens Birthday weekend 1 + 2 June 2012
The Format:
Winter Whack is a bike polo tournament for players and teams for all abilities, we’re here to have fun and play the sport we all love.
If you’re prone to over-competitiveness, dangerous play, temper outbursts, tantrums, pissing people off or bitching and moaning then this is definitely not the tournament for you to attend (in fact bike polo may not be for you eh?). If none of those things sound at all like you then book your tickets, boy do we have some polo for you!
There will be no refs and it’s up to you to keep yourself in check and the smile on your face. Tournament rules are on the tab at the top of this blog page – read them!
The main tournament on Saturday 2nd will run as pooled round robins to seed teams, the top half teams will proceed into the “Whackers” bracket and the bottom half teams into the “Hackers” bracket for their own single elimination “sudden death” play offs. This is designed to allow teams of similar ability and seriousness to equally enjoy the tournament over the whole day.
Teams:
This is a BYO teams tournament and will be capped at 18 teams, do your best to find teammates for yourself, we’ll try to ‘match make’ those who can’t come as a team so let us know if you need help.
Friday Night Knife Fights:
Somewhere between skill, luck and party is the 1 vs 1 knife fight polo event, we’ll be ordering pizza to be delivered to the courts (incl Vege, Vegan and GF) which is covered in your rego fee. You’ll need to bring your own beverages and party hat.
Court Facilities:
We’ll be running two courts of 17m x 32m at Heathcote Domain Courts
There are toilets and water available at courts
Hot food will be available at the courts (incl Vege, Vegan and GF) – Bring cash
‘Underground’ coffee car will be at courts – Bring cash
‘Basic Bikes’ mechanic – Free help and advice, parts for sale – Bring cash
Accommodation:
Full credit to Taupo for this idea – We’ve booked the local Scout Hall in nearby St Martins to accommodate our out-of-town visitors, it’s communal living for 30+ people for up to 3 nights, has mattresses, heaters, hot showers, toilets, a kitchen with all the essentials and we’re even providing breakfast food for those who stay there. You’ll need to bring a sleeping bag.
It’s only a 20 minute ride on a polo geared bike to the courts, we’ll organise a van to take your gear and bags to the courts on Saturday morning… you pedal your bike there, OK.
Prize Giving:
Will be held post tournament at Winnie Bagoes pizza restaurant and we’ve booked the whole back bar from 8pm (yes we’re aware that’s a lot of pizza in one weekend). We’ve worked a killer deal of $15 per person including your first drink (OK so you’ve probably already had a few by then so it won’t technically be your first). This is not covered in your rego fee and extra drinks are extra $$. Again this is about 20mins ride from the Scout Hall.
Registration:
Opens on Thursday 12th April at 9am NZST and closes on 4th May or when 18 teams have registered, which ever comes first.
To register your team and secure your spot please email chchardcourt@gmail.com all of the following info:
How much coin?
Tournament entry plus accom at Scout Hall: $35 per person
Tournament entry only: $20 per person
(Pizza at the courts on Friday is included in these prices)
How much Fun?
Too Meke (Much)
Another great NZ clothing brand. Paul from Solo has cornered the market for beautifully designed retro inspired cycle jerseys. I’ve seen Solo garments in photo’s of polo tournaments all over the world – they’re probably too pretty for the court but if you ride bikes elsewhere and love classic styling then they have a place in your wardrobe. Solo has a brother brand too – Derny. Urban cycle wear. Tailored styles that go as good on a bike as they do at the cafe sinking short blacks. This stuff is all seriously nice.
Cactus Equipment are another of the original supporters of Winter Whack. They make the most durable and well conceived outdoor equipment I’ve ever seen and owned, plus they design and make it all right here in Christchurch. This year they’ve upped the game and are offering spot prizes specifically for spectators (don’t worry they’ve got something for competitors as well). If this gets a few more people courtside and exposes bike polo to a few new people then that has to be a good thing. Oh they offer FREE shipping worldwide on all their on-line sales so whan you arrive back home and want a pair of the famous Cactus canvas shorts you’ll see a bunch of us CHC players sporting you can order ‘em up!
Surly have been a great supporter of Winter Whack since “the original”. Just prior to that tournament the guys at Surly developed the first easily obtainable, freewheel compatible, 135mm spaced, 48h polo hub. We had approached them as a possible supporter and they surprised us by sending over one of the very first sets of those hubs – prior to actual release for sale.
Today their supporter prize package for WWIII arrived via Fed Ex. It contained yet another set of 48h polo hubs (this time a fix /free 135mm spaced version) along with a great swag of other cool stuff. It speaks volumes of Surly that they supplied us with another polo tournament essential in that package – a whistle…. cleverly shaped as a glow in the dark set of breasts. Few other sponsors would be so brave! Whilst Surly are not rooted in bike polo they “get” us, get what we do and what we are about.
Winter Whack has always been pitched as a bike polo tournament for all abilities, one where newbies and “guns” can enjoy playing the sport they love in a tournament format. We’ve strived hard to run a tournament that keeps improving year on year, changing things that didn’t work and keeping things that do. Part of this inclusiveness has been how we distribute the prizes we’re given by our supporters. This year we’ve looked again at the prize format and where we can are approaching it in an even more inclusive way – everybody equal, something for all. Over the next few weeks I’ll introduce our sponsors and supporters on this blog, they are all real people who we’ve developed relationships with over the last 3 Winter Whacks and deserve more than just a logo on a poster and the link to the left there <.
Three Boys Brewery have been a Winter Whack sponsors since the very beginning and have generously given their brews as prizes to deserving winners and participants. They brew just down the road and their beers are un filtered, un pasteurised and damn tasty. This year instead of pretty bottles, giftpacks and glasswear they’re suppling a keg of their wonderful IPA. 25L of the finest local brew for all to share – Cheers Ralph and the Three Boys Brewery you guys are legends!
A treat for the polo geeks – We’re going to be screening the new full length Bike Polo Documentary Hit ‘Em In The Mouth from the good folks at 47 North Productions (Seattle) at WWIII. Suddenly I feel like this is becoming more of a bike polo festival than just a tap about on a frosty weekend. Film Trailer here. Details of when and where to come soon.
Somewhere between skill and luck is the 1 vs 1 polo known as Knife Fights. Monster Energy are bringing the party for this, a truck, sound system, wayyyy to much caffeine and sugar packed into a can… a perfect kick start to an awesome weekend! We’ll be running two Knife Fight courts this year to accommodate all of you wonderful polo peeps. More polo by more people more often!
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
It’s been a long time coming but here’s the podium shot of the winning shuffle team – Team Green. Well done ya’ll. MVP went to Andy (again). It was great to have out-of-towners come play with us, thanks to those from Timaru, Pleasant Point and Oxford for making the effort and to everyone’s favourite German player – Jojo for flying over from Brisbane – shot bro’.
Here’s the team lists for the 12th Feb… click it to see who’s with ya.
