During a trip to Torquay\u2019s Australian National Surfing Museum in January, local Terry Mervin, 73, noted an absence
\nof surf-themed board games among the memorabilia.<\/p>\n
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\u2019s exactly what he did.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt 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\u2019t have any or know any that existed,\u201d Terry said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI 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
\nthe 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople know Bells Beach. I\u2019ve been surfing for 57 years and have surfed it so many times I know the breaks so thought let\u2019s do that game around that.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said the game titled Ride the Surf at Bells Beach is suitable for everyone from 10 years upwards, whether they\u2019re surfers or non-surfers.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve always enjoyed playing board\u00a0games with the family (kids and grandkids), and friends when you\u2019re camping. We always played Cluedo, Family Feud and of course Monopoly.<\/p>\n
\u201cI enjoy the fun of games themselves but more so sitting around with everyone and that\u2019s why I didn\u2019t want to make this game electronic.\u201d<\/p>\n
Terry said the design allows people to play as simply or strategically as they want with various game elements offering different rewards.<\/p>\n
\u201cI had to work out an algorithm for the risk and reward of each ride, exactly the same as when you\u2019re surfing. If you want to take big risks, there\u2019s big rewards or small risks for a small reward.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat was the most memorable part of the whole thing. We used a professional surf photographers\u2019 material for the rest of it.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe 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.<\/p>\n
In the packets there\u2019s a poster of someone surfing, information on the Wadawurrung people, and Bells Beach history.\u201d<\/p>\n
The game is currently stocked at the Strapper Surf Shops and The Australian Surf Museum, the game
\nis also available online for free delivery anywhere in Australia, go to ridethesurf.com.au.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
During a trip to Torquay\u2019s 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\u2019s exactly what he did. […]<\/p>\n