The Single Fin Mingle: Inside Longboarding’s Growing World Tour & NZ’s Surf Festival
Sumner, New Zealand – The world of longboarding is experiencing a renaissance, one that’s deliberately steering clear of the mainstream spotlight. While the World Surf League focuses on shortboard competition, a vibrant, grassroots circuit is flourishing, anchored by events like the Single & Unattached in the Philippines, Mexi Log Fest, the Loggerhead Classic in Florida, Gliding Barnacles in Portugal, and, most notably, the Single Fin Mingle, set to return to Sumner, New Zealand, from to .
The Single Fin Mingle, conceived and organized by Ambrose McNeill, has quickly become a celebrated event, blending a high-level surf contest with a music festival and a gathering of the “logging tribe.” McNeill, a product of the New Zealand surf scene, drew inspiration from events like the former Duct Tape Invitational to create something unique. Tickets for this year’s event are currently available, promising a weekend of surfing, music headlined by Babe Rainbow, and community.
McNeill’s involvement extends beyond just the Mingle. He also competes and commentates at both Mexi Log and Gliding Barnacles, positioning himself as a central figure in this burgeoning longboarding community. His ability to welcome international surfers to his hometown is a testament to the event’s growing appeal and the spirit of manaakitanga – a Māori concept encompassing hospitality, welcome, and a responsibility to care for others – that underpins the Mingle’s ethos.
From Rugby Fields to Longboards: The Genesis of The Mingle
The story of The Mingle is deeply rooted in McNeill’s upbringing in Sumner, Christchurch. Initially focused on rugby and skateboarding, his introduction to surfing came through friendships forged on the school bus. “I had assumed I’d get a shortboard and start getting Pipeline-esque tubes in no time,” McNeill recalls. Fortunately, advice from local surfers steered him towards a gift of a 9’2” longboard – a decision that would shape his life and, the future of longboarding in New Zealand.
Sumner’s established longboard club provided a nurturing environment for McNeill and his friends. While high-performance longboarding dominated the scene, the discovery of Thomas Campbell’s film Sprout and the operate of Joel Tudor provided a new direction. “Between the films of Thomas Campbell and Joel Tudor, we had found our North Star,” McNeill explains. He competed on the national longboard tour after graduating university with a teaching degree, forging friendships across New Zealand and venturing to Australia, California, and Mexico, immersing himself in the global longboard culture.
Returning to Sumner, McNeill felt a disconnect between the vibrancy of his travels and the relative quiet of his hometown. This coincided with the decline of the New Zealand longboard tour and the rise of Joel Tudor’s Duct Tape Invitational. Recognizing that the waves were only part of the experience, McNeill saw an opportunity to cultivate the strong community spirit that Sumner already possessed. “Sumner Beach is definitely not Noosa Heads nor Malibu, but one thing I had come to realise through my travels was that the waves were only a fraction of the fun of the surfing experience,” he said.
Driven by youthful confidence, McNeill set out to create a surfing festival that captured the essence of traditional surfing, inspired by the Duct Tape Invitational. He envisioned a competition that eschewed the “jockyness” often associated with professional surfing, prioritizing a welcoming atmosphere and a strong musical connection, drawing on his father’s background as a jazz singer and his own musical upbringing.
More Than Just a Contest: The Mingle Experience
Over the past 12 years, The Mingle has evolved into a fully-fledged festival, while remaining true to its core principles. McNeill emphasizes the importance of providing a platform for surfers to perform and a space for the community to connect. “We’ve always endeavoured to make The Mingle a stage that surfers feel really excited to perform on,” he states. The festival site boasts amenities like hot tubs, a sauna, a bar, food vendors, and live music, creating a vibrant atmosphere for both competitors and spectators.
This year’s event promises to be particularly special, with two major street parties planned and eight musical acts from New Zealand and Australia scheduled to perform. The headline act, Babe Rainbow, is a significant draw, adding to the event’s appeal. “The Babe Rainbow might just be one of the most iconic surf affiliated bands since The Beach Boys – and their playing on The Street In Sumner Village!” McNeill enthuses.
The Mingle attracts a diverse international field, with nearly 90 invited surfers representing countries including New Zealand, Australia, Japan, the Philippines, the United States, Hawaii, France, Spain, and Sweden. This influx of international talent fosters connections that often extend beyond the event, leading to collaborations and friendships that enrich the global longboarding community.
McNeill highlights the ripple effect of The Mingle, noting that past competitors, like Kai Ellis-Flint, who won the event last year, have gone on to achieve success on the world stage. “Last year, Kai Ellis-Flint won The Mingle in early April and went on to win his first world title later that year,” he points out. The Mingle’s commitment to fostering a supportive and inspiring environment is clearly paying dividends.
The Single Fin Mingle is more than just a surf contest; it’s a celebration of community, culture, and the enduring spirit of longboarding. It’s a place where friendships are forged, memories are made, and the aloha spirit thrives. As McNeill puts it, it’s a place to “mingle.”