I don't usually play this much beach
Mauao Beach Ultimate Tournament 2024
This will be a brief entry in the grand scheme of things, but I do want to write about it to share a few cool moments (also to stay on track to reach my goal of blogging every tournament I attend this year).
Another beach tournament is on the books, this time for what will be the final hit out this year. Mauao is hosted each year by the Mount Maunganui Ultimate club and I have attended every instance of it that I could since the inception in 2019.
That original year playing beach ultimate with an awesome group of friends, on the beautiful white sand, beneath a mountain, in front of the ocean truly solidified that Mauao was a tournament I would always make time for in my calendar. This year was no exception, the first time since 2019 where we had gorgeous weather and not 50 km/h wind and rain. An atmosphere so good where even the most sand-phobic ultimate players couldn't help but enjoy themselves.
The team I have played this tournament with since the beginning is called BIG, originally we were all from Auckland but now are spread around Aotearoa. The team name made its way into our new club that started in 2023 but has its roots here, at Mauao.
This years tournament used a swiss draw structure, one that I haven’t played under before. It provided a great level of competition for all teams across the tournament and allowed everyone to have well fought, fun games no matter the skill level. So much so that come playoffs on Sunday we were the only unbeaten team and the next 5 teams had a tied win/loss ratio1.
Throughout the tournament massive plays were made from every team and I want to mention a few of my highlights here. One point against Bikini Bottom, Josh and I dribbled up the entire field at full pace, the give-goes eventually ended with a goal closely followed by a laying out opposition defender that had been trying to catch up the whole way.
Another play I want to call out was against Yip yip; a wayward io flick huck went up and started leaving the field, at this point every player (both on and off the field) gave up and started making jest at the situation, we then realise that the disc has turned over and Carenza Elley was still chasing, she ended up saving the throw with a full extension layout whilst dragging the field line tape with her foot. Crazy.
I was super proud of this next play, a 'simple' 20 m scoober to Helena on the break side of the end zone. The first lefty scoober (see Ōakura Classic blog) I had thrown in a game that was not complete jank.
Another honourable mention was early on day two, after sluggishly making our way to the field just in time for the first pull, Emma (my youngest sister) and I had an awesome point playing in a 2 person handler isolation together. In the final Emma also had a huge falling grab to reel in a bladey backhand that I forced down the breakside sideline.
Onto playoffs.
Out the gate our semi final was an awesome experience thanks to getting to play 4cheers3 for the second time this weekend. A team full of super enthusiastic, talented players whose shenanigans with a well executed short pull pre-stall nearly caught us sleeping. On our side of the pitch Holly was making some very well executed help-d blocks off both the front and back of the stack. The game ended in high spirits from both teams and we were onto the final. My personal favourite point from this game was one where I absolutely launched a low flick blade down the inside channel to Jack making a full tilt cut across the field, which I then chased up to receive a swing followed by a give-go scoober back to Jack for the score.
The finals of Mauao bring me so many great memories. They are always filled with music, good hecklers and followed by a spirit circle in the ocean no matter the result. This year we played against Frizzy Bees, a team from Hamilton we have versed 3 times previously in the Mauao final. Both teams wanted to please the crowd and the first point is a marathon with hucks going up in each direction to some big defensive plays. The point finally ends when the team in yellow decides to work the disc and walk it into the zone for a goal. over the next few points BIG starts to pull away, thanks partly to our deep poaching (read as: slow pull chase) and roster synergy. Throughout the match both teams are making exciting layouts and moving the disc in a way which was very pleasing to watch despite the hindrance that is changing directions and accelerating in sand. As expected Charles makes some big plays on defense and Tara finishes the match 14-6, with as close to a knee slide as is possible on sand. We come away with the victory and are rewarded with some Avocado Oil and a 7 hour drive home.
A huge thank you to all the effort put in from the organisers for the event to run so well, especially to Aroha who created an experience that we are craving to recapture next year.
With a Swiss draw this sort of situation is relatively common and placements are figured out using the same algorithm the rest of the tournament follows.