Hive Blog

Hive Team Rider Bridget McCulloch was recently invited down to Burleigh for the Surfing Queensland Awards night to receive an award for winning the QLD State Titles for the Under 18 girls earlier this year. Congratulations Bridget!!! Well done!
 
NSW State Titles - Race Events

NSW State Titles – Downwind and flat water races were held over the weekend of 18-19 February on the Central Coast.
There was great turnout, with fantastic sunny weather and conditions on both days of the event.

Downwind Race
The downwind race direction wasn’t decided until on the day. There were 44 participants, racing from Terrigal Haven to Toowoon Bay. Sam Parker took the lead and raced into 1st place in a time of 1 hour 1 minute to claim the $1000 cash prize (14ft and under) sponsored by ASI. Will Anido, the central coast’s talent wasn’t far behind at 1 h 8 minutes. A surprise 3rd place to another local boy, Brett Jones, at 1 hr 11 minutes. It was his first downwind SUP event, on a borrowed board, but he did have previous downwind prone paddling champion experience. Hive Swimwear was happy to sponsor the event and give prizes for the winners.

Terrene Black, placed 1st in the women to capture the $1,000 cash prize sponsored by Jamieson Park Paddle. In 1 hr 14 minutes, Terrene further solidified her position as undoubtedly the best female paddler in Australia. 2nd place to Neelie Herbert who recently had a young baby but that didn’t deter her. 3rd place to Michelle Malehden. Cash prize 2nd and 3rd of $200 and $100 were also sponsored by Jamieson Park Paddle.

Flat Water Races
6 km race and 1500 metres
Held on the Sunday 19th February, at Memorial Park, the Entrance, Central Coast. Set in the heart of the popular town centre, exhibitors were kept busy doing demos for potential new suppers and the spectators enjoyed the races, cheering on their favourites. It was picture perfect conditions, some great racing with close finishes and new talent being displayed. Thank you to The Entrance Town Centre Management who helped sponsor the event and Hive Swimwear for supplying prizes for the winners.

Click on the link below to see Amy Kotch news.

http://saltgypsy.com/2012/01/06/amy-kotch/ 

Women’s SUP Event Attracts More Prize Money Than Men’s Event

Its another first for women suppers in Australia.  A SUP event that is paying more in prize money than the mens event.

SUP Australia  recently  announced that Mark Mitchell from Jamieson Park Paddle has sponsored the $1,000 cash prize for 1st place in  the NSW state titles Women’s Downwind event on the  Central Coast on 18-19 February 2012.

But, Jamieson Park Paddle has also generously sponsored  2nd place $200 cash and 3rd place $100 cash.

This is a great opportunity for women  to be involved the first ever event  where the women will take home more cash than the men.  The event is open to all women, with the stage set to see some great race action.
 
SUPA Australia is also proud to announce that Hive Swimwear is sponsoring cash product vouchers for the Qld State Titles womens downwind event on 11 February at Sandgate Brisbane. $200 for 1st place, $150 for 2nd place and $100 for 3rd place.

The mens open downwind event offers $1,000 cash for 1st place at both the  Qld State titles (11-12 Feb)  and NSW state Titles (18-19 Feb)  Sponsored by ASI.

Come along and enjoy the buzz and excitement of SUP racing at its best.  Remember, having fun is what it’s about !

Click Here for More Information

Last August I packed my bags and set off across the sea to Mexico, to a city just north of the Guatemalan border named Tapachula. For these past 5 months I have had the privilege of visiting Mission Mexico Refuge, an orphanage run by an Australian couple, Pam and Alan Skuse. It is here that I experienced amazing Mexican traditions and customs, the excitement of travel and the sensation of stepping outside of my comforts. But ultimately, I experienced the feeling of hope and the importance of love.

Upon my arrival to the refuge I entered feeling overwhelmed at the sight of what seemed like hundreds of kids. But within seconds I was greeted with smiling faces from all of the kids who were welcoming me into what they knew as their home. Within minutes I was painting girls’ toe nails, dancing and playing. It was then that I realised this was not merely an orphanage but a family, a family consisting of 2 parents and just over 50 kids.

Hearing the story of how Mision Mexico came to be, reveals the selflessness of Pam and Alan’s actions. In the year 2000, Pam and Alan travelled to Tapachula to volunteer in a children’s refuge, but after just 6 months it was closed down. So instead of abandoning the children they decided to stay, leaving behind their life in Australia to establish their own refuge. Today it is known as Misión México Refuge, Giving Love, Life and Hope.

Throughout the week the kids are all blessed to have the chance to go to school, have tutors, music lessons, swimming lessons, dance lessons and they now have the opportunity to attend university. This is purely achieved by the help of sponsors and donations. One day that the kids all look forward to is Sunday. On this special day the 50+ kids, volunteers and Pam and Alan travel the 45 minute journey to the beach. Once they arrive it is just magical. That was where I truly witnessed the healing powers of the ocean. These children have dealt with things that just seem unimaginable to me but watching them in the water, whether it was surfing, swimming and playing by the shore, it was clear to me that they were free. The ocean acts as an escape for them, where the troubles of their pasts are nonexistent for a while and instead they are all smiles, laughs and happiness.

For me, this was an amazing experience and being back in Australia it has allowed me to appreciate what I have more. I am realising the everyday things that I take for granted, such as opportunities, freedom and simply, the ocean that I visit every day. The refuge is a perfect example of how love and hope can change lives. It has given me an understanding of what others go through and introduced me to the realities of life outside of my little bubble.

Here are some photos of the girls in their new hive bikinis! Thank you so much Kat for the Hive donation. The girls were so stoked to get fashionable and surf friendly swim wear, which they now wear every week!

For more information visit:

www.lovelifehope.com or view the documentary Somewhere Near Tapachula by Stefan Hunt & Jonno Durrant.