Surf’s up for Mervin

During a trip to Torquay’s Australian National Surfing Museum in January, local Terry Mervin, 73, noted an absence
of surf-themed board games among the memorabilia.

When he inquired with staff and found none existed, his wife Leone suggested he make one and so between February and July of this year, that’s exactly what he did.

“It was totally out of the blue, in January we went to the surfing museum and were looking through their stuff and I thought about surfing board games and they said they didn’t have any or know any that existed,” Terry said.

“I told my wife and she suggested I make one. I thought it was a good idea as I know a lot of the breaks down on
the coast, I immediately got some ideas about the nature of the game; rolling the dice and moving the token to paddle and catching and scoring on a wave.

“People know Bells Beach. I’ve been surfing for 57 years and have surfed it so many times I know the breaks so thought let’s do that game around that.”

He said the game titled Ride the Surf at Bells Beach is suitable for everyone from 10 years upwards, whether they’re surfers or non-surfers.

“I’ve always enjoyed playing board games with the family (kids and grandkids), and friends when you’re camping. We always played Cluedo, Family Feud and of course Monopoly.

“I enjoy the fun of games themselves but more so sitting around with everyone and that’s why I didn’t want to make this game electronic.”

Terry said the design allows people to play as simply or strategically as they want with various game elements offering different rewards.

“I had to work out an algorithm for the risk and reward of each ride, exactly the same as when you’re surfing. If you want to take big risks, there’s big rewards or small risks for a small reward.”

The game explores the three main breaks off Bells Beach – The Bowl, Main Break and Rincon, and to depict these locations professional surf images of someone surfing at each spot was used.

“For the board back drop I hired a plane and they removed one of the doors. They strapped me into the seat next to the open space and I took the photo myself from the door of the plane.

“That was the most memorable part of the whole thing. We used a professional surf photographers’ material for the rest of it.

“We also spoke to the Wadawurrung people and told them our plan and asked if we could mention them in the board game and their connection with the area.

In the packets there’s a poster of someone surfing, information on the Wadawurrung people, and Bells Beach history.”

The game is currently stocked at the Strapper Surf Shops and The Australian Surf Museum, the game
is also available online for free delivery anywhere in Australia, go to ridethesurf.com.au.