Thundercats back on coast for State Champs
November 10, 2014
The high-flying, thrill-seeking Thundercat pilots and co-pilots are returning to the Sunshine Coast this weekend for a spectacular showdown to decide the 2014 Queensland Champion.
Last held on the coast in 2012, this year’s Surfair Beach Hotel Queensland Thundercat Championships will see the nation’s best crews hit the surf at Marcoola for two days of high-speed, high-flying surf cross action in an all-out battle for supremacy.
“The Thundercats are once again heading back to the sunny coast, this time for the 2014 Queensland Titles. The boys have bounced back with all the vigour displayed in July’s ‘King of Coolum’ event,” Brisbane Coast Thundercats President, John Kerrisk said.
“The competitors are all well-qualified with last year’s Queensland champs as well as the reigning ‘King of Coolum’ champs racing over the weekend.
“All of the crews are excited to be ‘Racing at Ramada’ and we thank Ramada Marcoola and Surfair Beach Hotel for their generous support of the event. It’s starting to look like the Sunshine Coast might just be the new home of Thundercat racing!”
Defending champions Jay and Nathan Durstan will rely on their brotherly bonds to hold off challengers, but admit they’ll face some tough competition from last year’s top placing crews.
“The Queensland titles are about as big as it gets for us. This event and the King of Coolum earlier in the year are our premier races and it’s fantastic that both are on the Sunshine Coast. The people are always so welcoming and we don’t get that everywhere,” Jay said.
“There’s no doubt that Shane and his new co-pilot Joel will be chasing a win after placing second last year, but Nathan and I have been racing together for about four years and you can bet we’ll be doing everything we can at Marcoola to hang onto our title. Bring it on!”
The sport of Thundercat Racing features 4.1m long inflatable Catamaran-style boats, specifically designed for action in the surf.
Guided by their thrill-seeking pilots and co-pilots, the boats can reach speeds of up to 90 km per hour and jump up to six metres in the air — making it an exciting family-friendly spectator sport, with events attracting thousands of followers across the world each year.
It’s clear the rivalry will be intense among the front runners, with the current state champs also placing second at Coolum earlier in the year and facing-off against both the reigning King of Coolum winners, Nick Routledge and Tony Aitkenhead and last year’s Titles runner-up, Shane Hopson and new co-pilot Joel Damme.
“My new co-pilot, Joel Damme and I are really pumped to race in this years titles, because it’s Joel’s first time. We are going to push the boat to its limit and with some luck take out the title,” Shane said.
“But most of all, I am looking forward to giving the spectators an adrenaline pumped weekend with lots of speed and showing everyone what these boats can do.”
Presented by Brisbane Coast Thundercats, the State Championship race has the full support of Ramada Hotel and Conference Centre Marcoola and Surfair Beach Hotel.
“Surfair Beach Hotel Marcoola is proud to be the major sponsor of the Qld Thundercat Championships, to be held in our ‘beach backyard’ on 15 and 16 November,” said Hotel director, Tony Scanlon.
“We are thrilled to be hosting this great event and to bring all the action to Marcoola. These competitors will be vying for the Queensland title and we are sure to see spectacular racing from these highly skilled competitors.”
“We look forward to welcoming all the competitors, officials and spectators to this exciting event and enjoying your company at the Surfair Beach Hotel during the action packed weekend.”
“With our new Beach Bistro menu in full swing, Surfair Beach Hotel is open for breakfast, lunch, dinner, coffee and drinks. Our licensed entertainment venue is open until 2am on both of these days and can be directly accessed from the beach, behind the competition area,” he added.
The Surfair Beach Hotel Queensland Thundercat Championships will be held on Marcoola Beach between 9am and 2pm on both Saturday and Sunday, 15 and 16 November 2014.
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For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/events/1567331936811630/ or www.brisbanecoastthundercats.com.au
Media enquiries: Kim Anderson – P: 0414 772 908
E: misskim6@bigpond.net.au
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