What is Thundercat Racing?

Thundercat racing is a high adrenalin, high action sport with explosive wave jumping and tight competitive surf racing in a tunnel hulled inflatable boat. The crew consists of a driver steering the boat and a co-pilot who uses their weight to stabilise the craft and obtain optimum speed.

Thundercats have taken New Zealand by storm, entertaining thousands of spectators at some of the most popular beaches around the country such as Whangamata, Omanu, Waihi, Waipu, Papamoa, Pauanui, Orewa, Takapuna Beach, Piha and Mount Maunganui.

Thundercat Racing has been seen on various TV programs over the years such as the Nestle Lion Bar Thundercat Series aired on TV One's Countrywide Grandstand, Prime TV and Sky Sport in 1998; the Challenge Series aired on TV One's Countrywide Grandstand & Sky Sport in 1999, and the 2001 Trans-Tasman series aired on Suzuki Sportzone & Sky TV in 2001/2002. The NZ Championship Series was seen in 2003 and in early 2005 the King of the Cape SurfHaul at 90 Mile Beach was seen on SKY TV.

There are four types of racing:

SURF-CROSS

(as seen on TV). Racing is run traditionally at surf beaches which provide spectacular jumps, thrills and spills with boats reaching 80kph in the surf. Surf-cross races start with a ‘Le-mans' style start where the driver dashes out into knee deep water to the co-pilot holding the boat. The teams then battle it out over several laps on a rectangular shaped course running parallel to the shoreline in as little as 300mm of water. The finish is dramatic as boats skid up the beach for co-pilots to leap out the front of their boats and run to the FINISH line.

SPEED CIRCUIT

More identified with traditional speed boats and raced on a buoyed course on flat water (ie Lake Karapiro).

LONG HAUL

Long distance racing on either rivers, lakes, bays, or down the coastline. During a longhaul event there are compulsory stops where competitors must come ashore. Some of these stops involve compulsory re-fuelling. Endurance, reliability and team organisation become very important. Longhaul races can range between 100 - 200km with generally a mass start of all competitors.

SURF HAUL

Unique to New Zealand, this type of race was first seen in 2004 and is run down the coastline where all boats must remain within 200 metres of the shoreline. Typically 60 km in length for the 1st leg, then refuel and repair and then head back down the beach to the finish line. Very demanding on crews and gear alike as a combination of rolling surf, changing tides and running in shallow waters can change the course in an instant. Great for support vehicles and spectators to follow along the beach in their vehicles.