surf aotearoa

Tony Charch Schafer: Shreds an onshore mushburger
Hickory Bay: yep sometimes 'The Boss' strikes out too!

Tommy E a 29 degree Taylors session; Not a Japanese whale boat in sight - thank goodness!

Japanese Whaling Fleet Heads South

Just as we're getting into the groove of summer, just as the temps start hitting close to thirty degrees, finally just as the water starts to warm up. Yep 'The Boss' reads in the paper that the Japanese Whaling Fleet has left port to head down towards Antarctica. The Boss aint one to wish harm on anything, but we can tell that once more he's quietly fuming on this once. You probably don't realise that for years bloody decades even after World War Two some people wouldn't buy a VW car. Just what could we do to make Japan realise that killing whales is absolutely unacceptable in this day and age! There seems to be only one thing that counts today, yup you guessed it money! How can you raise money to support the Sea Shepherd in its quest to drive a wedge through the Japanese whaling programme. Think about it ay - cos you can bet bull shit and jelly beans that once more whale meat (For scientific purposes only of course!) will be on the shelves of Japanese supermarkets come halfway through our summer! And no right leaning politician in good old New Zealand is gonna give a monkeys as to how many whales get slaughtered this summer! Happy surfing aye - and see just what you might do to help save the whales.

Author Paul Hersey fires off the bottom: Taylors Session

Single fin shralper: Taylors Mistake

Great Waves

The changing weather means that there has been some great swell along both coastlines of Aotearoa NZ. Those who have managed to travel a few K's or got up early to beat the onshores have scored. There's been more than a bucket full of spots that have been working especialy on the loads of south swell that's been around. Check out the shots below which show a few breaks north of Christchurch and into Marlborough county where the waves have been pretty damn good.

We've also got a couple of shots on our gallery page from a recent small north swell that came through.
We've also snuk in some other updates around the site while tha boss was down the road at the bakery check'n out the Kumera and mutton pies, not to mention the half doz cream buns that usually arrive in a brown paper bag!

Sam Dunfoy: Meatworks

Hayden Brain: Above and Below

Peak: Marlborough County

Great to see Russell Ritchie has organised another of these events. The little Humans Comp is now in its fifth year thanks to Russ and a few of his helpers plus the sponsors that he's able to bring in!

Surfing New Zealand Deserts Its Grass Roots Base

Dunedin not rated by NZSA as one of the top surf areas!

Dunedin: Not one of NZ's best or most consistent surf spots.

Dunedin: Doesn't have enough good waves to be considered by NZSA for an Open event!!

Blaketown: "Nah not good enough!" says NZSA!

Blaketown: One of NZ's best waves has never seen a nationally rated stand up event!

Here at Surfaotearoa we received a press release from Surfing New Zealand ( there's a definite irony in their name) about the premier series of competitions being held in parts of the North Island over this summer. The release itself is not only wrong because it definitely is not visiting the best surf locations in the country. Visible by their absence are indeed the two best surf destinations in New Zealand - Dunedin and New Plymouth. Quite frankly at that time of year both Greymouth and Westport would rate markedly higher than Gisborne or Whangamata for consistent quality surf.

Tauranga Bay Westport: Pumps all summer long!

The release goes...

Export Gold will partner with Surfing New Zealand and will be the naming rights sponsor for the Export Gold Series – a five-event series that sees the top surfers in New Zealand visit the best surf locations in the country. -- Yeah the sponsors might believe you but the surfers, those who ride waves, those who you are supposed to represent know a damn sight better!!

The Export Gold Series will see events held at Gisborne, Whangamata, Raglan and Piha, boasting a total prize purse in excess of $40,000. The Export Gold Series culminates in the prestigious Export Gold Super 16 which will be contested by 16 of New Zealand’s elite surfers. To qualify for the event, surfers must gain enough ratings points from the first four events to secure their invitation.

Tauranga Bay Westport: Part of the National body's list of forgotten breaks.

Once again South Island surfers , surfing and the public miss out. Imagine if the Rugby Union ran its sport like this great teams like The Crusaders and The Highlanders wouldn't even exist!! Surfing New Zealand has done so little to promote surfing in different areas of New Zealand it is in danger of becoming little more than a promotional front for a few holiday season local authorities and beach front dairy owners. "Their presence can be noticed by a couple of fancy sign written vehicles - rather than the great work they do !" commented one local administrator who didn't want to be named for fear of having the little support that was given chopped altogether.

Cobden: Needs to break more perfectly to be rated, or thought
of as a good enough wave to hold a contest in by NZSA

Cobden Breakwater Greymouth: Not good enough for a nationally rated event - Yeah Right!!!

There's no doubt that Surfing New Zealand parade themselves around their corporate clientele as representing surfing, and surfers of Aotearoa New Zealand. There's also no doubt that over the past five years as their body has got larger the support in the regions has become less. In the South Island which has it seems blindly supported the national body there has been one nationally rated contest of any prestige in almost two years.
What must be most embarrasing for them is that the local Taranaki Association went out and brought in a world Circuit Competition under their very noses. "Some of us are beginning to wonder why they even exist and worse still why we have been supporting them over the years!" added the administrator.
There's obviously got to be some changes before more damage is done to our great sport. Those who parade themselves as the National Body do not appear to be acting for the best interests of the sport, could it be that they're acting in their own best interests - "you be the judge" - says the boss!

Free Fresh River Water
A Licence to Print Money and Poison the Land!!

The Hurunui River in North Canterbury is under seige by greedy dairy farmers. Their greed fails to help them understand that actually there is no room for compromise. There is no need to compromise, The Hurunui should not be up for the fattest cat who can manipulate the system to gain access to a national treasure - fresh, free flowing river water. Short term gain and fatter, fat cat wallets at what price?

Above a river bar very similar to the threatened Hurunui.

Indeed how could anyone attempt to put a price on nature's balance, along with forever lost recreational pursuits. The outrage of environmentalists and river users is fully justified. The growth of dairy farming must be stopped before the last river has been poisoned, the last creek has died and all wildlife are condemned to live in fenced off sanctuaries because of mankind's greed - reckons the boss!

Tony Parsons: In 'The Bay' Mangamaunu

Spring: Between the Snow Storms

IIts been the kinda weather that makes you want to curl up and read the latest surf mag while eating a steak'n kidney pie from the local bakery. Well that's what the boss reckons anyway. Still we can at least wrap up warm - its not as if we're trying to save our lives by running from an earthquake or trying to escape a tsunami.

Those two devastating events have taken thousands of lives in the past weeks. Both areas hit by these tragic events are also surfing destinations for many surfers. The boss was lucky enough to travel to Samoa and stay at Salani Surf Camp a few years ago. Apparently the surf camp doesn't exist anymore! The beach resort further down the coast was also wiped out with the cost of many lives. Samoa is a wonderful place to visit, a friendly and safe place. Over the next few months the Samoan people are going to need a lot of help to get through this tragedy. If you are able to help by making a donation to this worthwhile cause please do.

Nat's Back

Surfaotearoa caught up with Nat Parsons recently in Kaikoura. He was just getting back in the water after breaking his collarbone surfing some heavy reef break in Western Oz. Anyway he's now shifted back to Dunedin to work over the upcoming summer and not doubt surf his brains out in the quality breaks that surround surf city!

Great White Sharks in Kaiks

There's been about four Great Whites cruising the sea off Kaikoura in early spring. No doubt they've arrived for the seal pup season. Some reports say that there could be as many as seven but this has not been confirmed. It is known that one of them - quite possibly the biggest was about seven metres long. Too big to get it on board the fishing boat that accidently caught it we've been informed.

09 in INDO

Billy Stairmand: Perescopes

Rangi Ormond: Perescopes

Billy: Perescopes Baz Section

Rangi; Perescopes inside air section

Mike Christensen : Lakey Peak (Craig Sheriff hogging the foreground!) Sequence: Right and below

To us at Surfaotearoa surfing is as much a celebration as it is a sport. This roll over features a celebration of this past season in Indo. It features some hot young rats from the North Island and some older dudes from the South. Yep these guys are right into surfing, some are sponsored some are underground chargers.

Rangi and Billy waiting for lunch at Fatmahs.

Either way its the sport, the thrill, the excitement of the last surf that always drags them back.Two of these young rippers share their Indo experiences with us. Its worth reading if only to wet your appetite and get you saving to surf someone else's local next winter. Aaaagh - and of course leave yuh attitude at home. If yuh do:-

You'll have more fun!
Meet more people!
Understand the locals a lot more!
Come back home a much wiser person!

Billy Lakey rights launching pad.

So we're pleased to welcome Billy Stairmand and Rangi Ormond for their thoughts on this past Indo season. We're stoked to have them share their experiences with you - our readers! Like us you too might just be surprised as to what goes on in the minds of a couple of super hot young rats as they surf perfect , heavy, warm waves while most of us are freezin our butts off in front of the fire! Or pack'n in another cream bun like the boss would have been if he wasn't in Indo himself savouring sates, or chilli prawns! Yep you know it!

Rangi: Lakey Peak

Leon Santorick: Lakey Rights

THE LATEST SOLID SWELL AT DESERTS

Craig Sheriff our Indo Agent was there to surf this solid 6 foot swell.

TOMMY E Shoots Himself!!

Tom Entwistle has just spent his usual winter break of at least a couple of months in Indo. This year he managed to have a couple of boat trips and luck into a lot of swells everywhere he went. Tom's a cruizy dude, enjoys a few Bintangs in the evenings and hunts out the biggest waves on the solid days. We're stoked to get these up our surfing website.
Keep charging over the spring and summer Tom and hopefully we'll get hold of some more great shots of yuh!

Tommy Entwistle; Macaronis. Camera Board shot by Tom himself.
Exceptional Baz shot Tommy - great for letting us have this selection of images from this past winter in Indo.

Tommy dropping in to a nice four footer.

Tom stalling for the baz

And finally slamming one off the top.

We still have a couple of free sticker packs to give away. Simply
email your name and address to The Editor link at the bottom of
this page and list your name and address. The boss says he'll do
the rest and post you a pack of jazzy SA stickers like the ones
above - Yeah Free Stickers!!

SCAR REEF

Henry Weir: Draws a nice line for our photgrapher in Indo.

We thought that this was a kind of 'Morning of the Earth' style
surfing shot - well the boss did any way. He made us write that caption. We just thought 'John Doe carves the curl' would fit ok!

Byron Bay local at SCARS - surfing a Parsons too -
go Sammy P keep charging on dat planer!!

A massive 'Hands Up' to Sammy Hawke from Christchurch. Placing
3rd in the Fantastic Noodles Big Wave Challenge off South Australia.
Great to see another South Islander overcoming all the barriers and charging in monstrous surf. Well done bro - you've even impressed
da boss - no mean feat believe us minions who grovel weekly for our pay cheques.

The boss took this snap at Canngu in Bali. Not a bloody pie shop in sight. Unknown young pro lift'n the pastry with a video crew and big
lens on da beach just to shoot him, Yup its a hard life for up an
comers with a stack of talent.

P Bay one of a number of line ups da boss is into at the mo. He
seems to be getting nostalgic tucked up in a rug next to the heater.

P Point more nostalgia, an uncrowded line up. Makes you realise
how lucky we are to live and surf in Aotearoa New Zealand. Aaagh there is a guy on the inside wave, yup not so uncrowded after all!!

Reef south of Brighton along the coast road towards a number of
good breaks. Yup funny how the bosses memory slips sometimes,
until he's standin in line ording the steak and red wine gravied out double pastry coated man sized grand daddy Truckers pie!!

S Bay: The walk in will burn off even the the tennis ball sized lump
of fat in the Truckers pie listed above!

Marlborough County

NEW ZEALAND'S SURFING WEBSITE

Grimma floats one: Mangamaunu
Is this an Environmental Concern?

Someone sent the boss an email to say that SURFING NEW ZEALAND was having a special general meeting at the end of August to remove its environmental focus from its constitution.
The boss reckons that this is a load of rubbish - yuh know - "There's no way that the governing body of our sport in Aotearoa New Zealand could possibly be axing its environmental focus from its constitution."
So like sheep we're prepared of course to believe him. And yuh know what he's gotta be right.
Surfing New Zealand the governing body of our sport in New Zealand would not walk away from its environmental responsibility. After all the ocean and coastline around this beautiful country of ours is never under threat from:-

Marinas being built
Sewerage outflows
Too much mussel farming
etc etc

So we don't think that there is any truth to this story. If you have heard that there is substance to the rumour could yuh flick an email to the editor at the link on the bottom of this page so we can get to the bottom of it. No one at Surfing New Zealand would be so stupid - nah it couldn't happen could it?
Then again the current government did bring back knighthoods and we note that 'Golden Boy' Russell Coutts was one of the first to step up and take a bow. (Pun not intended but by all means enjoy it if you get it!)

Knighthoods, Yachting, Marinas -- Just maybe there could be a link there somewhere eh!

Whoops!!! We've had a break!
Yep the boss got generous and shouted the crew an Indo trip. Spoilt rotten - 30 degree water and air temps for over a month and not a cream bun in sight! Although we did bust him at the Dunkin Doughnut shop at least twice!

Al Temoananui: Racing the silver curtain.
So yep we can share a few shots from here and there. But the main focus this roll over will be an "INVITES ONLY" spread to link in with a recent spread in KIWI SURF MAG.

Sam Dunfoy: Testing his dad's board

Matt McCory: Malibu magic or madness?

Manu Schafer: Invited himself

Text Demon: Dave Lyons

RIP Johnathan 'Fang' McCarthy

While we were away we learnt of the untimely and tragic death of Sumner Longboarder 'Fang' . He has done a great deal for surfing in Aotearoa for years to come. A deep thinker, hard worker and all round cool dude Fang will be missed immensely not only by his family but the surfing communities of Sumner, Christchurch and New Zealand.
Aloha Brother - A cool dude who gave so much to the sport and the environment he loved.

June 2009: O'Neill Cold Water Classic
Kaikoura

Levi O'Connor 2009 Coldwater Champ
Above: Levi warming up between heats, Day One, Meatworks.

Yep we hit Highway One to Kaikoura. Got there a couple of days early and managed a couple of extra shoots. Below are a few shots snatched from in and around the contest. We'll have more on our News Page too as we build, plus a session or two from around Kaiks on our Gallery Page. Check em out - you just might be starring!

Some of the Kaiks crew sheltering from the cold.

Great vibes on the beach in Kaiks. Great also to catch up with a few other surf photogs and chew the fat. Better than being office bound with nothing to chew on but a cream bun '- eh boss!'
Well done to the Kaikoura crew for putting on such a cool comp.

Hot bath - anyone? The Baxter Bathhouse was again popular this year!!

May Line Ups

Sometimes the boss goes on a bit about this and that. One day he was saying that a photo is a lot more than an image, he reckons that a good shot will evoke feelings." A good shot is about the total feelings that you get as you view it. Sometimes drawn from your own experience as you take in what's happening in the photo" he mumbled.

The guys in the office didn't agree and started to argue with him, we were bloody certain that a photo is just that - a bloody image. Then the boss started to show us a few line up shots, and you know what - we found out he was right. Looking at line up shots we were imagining all sorts of things to do with the day, the waves, what it was like, etc...

Check these out -- you might start thinking like we did, then again, you could just be taking another bite from a cream bun like the boss did knowing that he was right again!!

Dave Lyons above: Unaware of all the firewood on the beach.
May Roll Over

Yep, you guessed it New Brighton - North of The Pier voted worst beachbreak in Aotearoa by some spoilt brat prosurfers from north of the Strait. But yeah they had really bad no waves to surf in a comp once. For a much maligned bad beachie it does get quite photogenic in the 2 - 3 foot range!

New Brighton: South of the Pier
Makes you almost want to put your Indo tickets on hold - right...wrong!!!!!! Still not a surfer in sight. What's that I hear, a member of the breakfast club waxing up his mal somewhere past Doug's shack in the northern carpark.
We've got a lot of new Pier Action on our Gallery Page for you to check out!
Indo

Thinking about Indo!
We've got another early season update from Craig Sheriff's recent three day visit to Desert Point. Just a few shots to tempt you with - go on book those tickets now before its too late!

Jeepers a real wave at last!!

This little baby formed deep in the Antarctic Circle by fierce South Westerly winds blowing off a deep low. Double overhead on the peak it was screaming for someone to surf her as she broke, hollow and powerful and damned near perfect too!

'Big Al T'
"Check these out" yelled the boss almost dropping his cream bun, when these shots were sent in by an anonymous photographer. Apparently the shots above and below were taken just south of Spot X, where a few of the Kaiks boys scored some hell drops on some solid lefts.

Dave Lyons, hunting for a couple of beginners to take surfing.

Matt McCory: Hmmmm... Is that bigger than Sumner last week?

April Roll Over

An Easter Peak: Somewhere along the East Coast.

A south east ground swell brought some nice clean waves to the eastern coastline of Aotearoa over Easter. The break coupled with mild weather meant those who camped out along the coastline of both islands scored some nice clean fun waves. A few more scored some rather intense waves on the more exposed points, reefs and beaches.

A Left Point: Also breaking over Easter
Kinda what a holiday should all be about really. Away from the stresses of work and the city, sharing a few fun or quality waves with some close friends, even meeting new members of the tribe who all share the same passion for this great sport as you do.

Curtis Lowe: Enjoying what the Easter Bunny gave him!
We had a couple of photogs out and about. They came back raving about how good the light was - or something similar, yeah light; most people simply raved about the clean waves. Photogs can be a bit of a breed of their own, but hey we're happy to put up with'em as long as they continue to come back with the goods.

Dave Lyons: Above and below

Just like the boss who nearly always gets a bag of cream buns for morning tea from the bakery down the road - share and share alike whether its quality waves or a cream bun for morning tea - they both seem to put smiles on people's faces. Waves also have a habit of washing off the icing sugar!

Al Temoananui: Nice little baz.

The Autumn Connection

Welcome to the change of seasons roll over. Autumn is always looked forward to on this Southern Hemisphere island. A time of increased south swells a time too of river mouth and point perfection. Either way it a harvest time -for surfers and those who work the land.

Haydo Brain: Whale Rock

Its a time too of cooler water temps, more off shore breezes and hopefully great waves with a few friends. Enjoy our wonderful country, don't abuse the privileges we have to surf pretty well any damn beach we want to; that is if you follow the basic rules and throw a bit of courtesy in or may be a half dozen as well when you speak to the local farmer. Courtesy and a little fore thought goes a lot further than bluff and bull shit we reckon - ay! Sooner or later the bluffers and the bull shitters will get what's comin - karma catches up. In the mean time don't let em spoil it for the rest of us!!

Rowan Morris: Amberly Beach - Yep that's right Amberly!!!

This Roll Over:
Check out a couple of new SICK SPOTS:
Whale Rock (See line ups above) and
The Captain's Island

We've got the latest Kiwi Surf to share a glimpse of. The editorial crew reckon its great to have a New Zealand Surf Mag that pays more than lip service to and regularly covers more than the top ten ...know what we mean!! Great to see Silas steppin up and kill'n it with style and imagination behind the lens too.
Also check out:-

Our Gallery Page for more free shoot'n
Profiles for a couple of newbies
Other pages we may have updated... (While the boss has been away at the bakery down the road!)

Cheers, The Editorial Team
Surfaotearoa

Sometimes You Score

Sometimes You Score
That is if you can drag your self out of bed at 5.30am, or if you're not stuck surfing some competition in a spot that seldom gets waves - if
you know what we mean! Yeah we scored, along with a few others who got there even earlier than us and a carload or two that rocked up about the same time. Kinda worth the effort wouldn't ya think. But even now we realise we're probably preaching to the converted cos nothing, absolutely nothing beats surfing great waves! When ya look at an empty line up like the one above ya gotta feel more than a little envious - go on we know ya do!

Same place, same morning;different time, different sand bank - yahoo!

All power to the crew of The Sea Shepherd in doing their best to support the whales living around Antarctica. The Japanese continue to murder these defenceless creatures during the Antarctic summer. Just maybe we should be having some Paper Crane Remembrance Ceremonies to remember the thousands of whales this country kills every year.
If you would like to support The Sea Shepherd cause check out their website to see what you might do! The Sea Shepherd - Immense courage under fire while many countries remain quiet in supporting the plight of the whales.
Our Oceans, our world are finite resources. Our surfing tribe must be at the forefront of this environmental cause.

Canterbury Womens Champs

Finalists in the Canterbury Womens Champs
Left to Right: Kristy Zarifah, Leilani Brain, Hayley Coates

Go to our Girls page for more shots

Daisy Thomas Does The South Island Proud

Whale Rock: Big, mean and hollow!

Above: Twelve Year Old Luke O'Neill greets a new day with a dawn surf and ten over at his home patch. Yep - he also got to school on time!

Sumner Beach Christchurch: An early morning in December. Just made for Malibu surfing. Noosa like waves from the Breakwater to Stoke Street. Yep if we hadn't seen it for ourselves we probably wouldn't have believed it either!
A glimpse from the past...

1972 NZ Junior Champ Roger Strahl of New Brighton Beach surfing Taylors Mistake. Roger has been back in Christchurch for the past year and a half to help his elderly mum. During the late 1960's and early seventies he was one of the top South Island Juniors, he's been living in Sydney, running a surf school and nursing for the past twenty years. He's enjoying being back at uncrowded New Brighton surfing both sides of the pier!

noticed. One things for sure through passages of time an's sizeable air reverse - Check out Clinic although we're not too sure how he regularly pulls moves like this!
From our Archives : Warren Hawke Photo

Wazza Findlay : Scarborough Reef 1984 :
No doubt an Orwellian Tube

Bali Bed and Breakfast; run by Craig and Kelly Sheriff
Check out their website for bookings.
Craig is an expert Indo guide and surf photographer
as well as the perfect host.

Advertising spaces are filling up on our site but we have a few more available, plus additional spaces as contracts run out. You can contact us through the site if you want to get your products out their to Kiwi Surfers. See the contact link at the bottom of t


surfaotearoa- New Zealand's Surfing Website!
	Tony Charch Schafer: Shreds an onshore mushburger Hickory Bay: yep sometimes 'The Boss' strikes out too! Tommy E a 29 degree Taylors session; Not a Japanese whale boat in sight - thank goodness! Japanese Whaling Fleet Heads South Just as we're getting into the groove of summer, just as the temps start hitting close to thirty degrees, finally just as the water starts to warm up. Yep 'The Boss' reads in the paper that the Japanese Whaling Fleet has left port to head down towards Antarctica. The Boss aint one to wish harm on anything, but we can tell that once more he's quietly fuming on this once. You probably don't realise that for years bloody decades even after World War Two some people wouldn't buy a VW car. Just what could we do to make Japan realise that killing whales is absolutely unacceptable in this day and age! There seems to be only one thing that counts today, yup you guessed it money! How can you raise money to support the Sea Shepherd in its quest to drive a wedge through the Japanese whaling programme. Think about it ay - cos you can bet bull shit and jelly beans that once more whale meat (For scientific purposes only of course!) will be on the shelves of Japanese supermarkets come halfway through our summer! And no right leaning politician in good old New Zealand is gonna give a monkeys as to how many whales get slaughtered this summer! Happy surfing aye - and see just what you might do to help save the whales. Author Paul Hersey fires off the bottom: Taylors Session Single fin shralper: Taylors Mistake Great Waves The changing weather means that there has been some great swell along both coastlines of Aotearoa NZ. Those who have managed to travel a few K's or got up early to beat the onshores have scored. There's been more than a bucket full of spots that have been working especialy on the loads of south swell that's been around. Check out the shots below which show a few breaks north of Christchurch and into Marlborough county where the waves have been pretty damn good. We've also got a couple of shots on our gallery page from a recent small north swell that came through. We've also snuk in some other updates around the site while tha boss was down the road at the bakery check'n out the Kumera and mutton pies, not to mention the half doz cream buns that usually arrive in a brown paper bag! Sam Dunfoy: Meatworks Hayden Brain: Above and Below Peak: Marlborough County Great to see Russell Ritchie has organised another of these events. The little Humans Comp is now in its fifth year thanks to Russ and a few of his helpers plus the sponsors that he's able to bring in! Surfing New Zealand Deserts Its Grass Roots Base Dunedin not rated by NZSA as one of the top surf areas! Dunedin: Not one of NZ's best or most consistent surf spots. Dunedin: Doesn't have enough good waves to be considered by NZSA for an Open event!! Blaketown: "Nah not good enough!" says NZSA! Blaketown: One of NZ's best waves has never seen a nationally rated stand up event! Here at Surfaotearoa we received a press release from Surfing New Zealand ( there's a definite irony in their name) about the premier series of competitions being held in parts of the North Island over this summer. The release itself is not only wrong because it definitely is not visiting the best surf locations in the country. Visible by their absence are indeed the two best surf destinations in New Zealand - Dunedin and New Plymouth. Quite frankly at that time of year both Greymouth and Westport would rate markedly higher than Gisborne or Whangamata for consistent quality surf. Tauranga Bay Westport: Pumps all summer long! The release goes... Export Gold will partner with Surfing New Zealand and will be the naming rights sponsor for the Export Gold Series – a five-event series that sees the top surfers in New Zealand visit the best surf locations in the country. -- Yeah the sponsors might believe you but the surfers, those who ride waves, those who you are supposed to represent know a damn sight better!! The Export Gold Series will see events held at Gisborne, Whangamata, Raglan and Piha, boasting a total prize purse in excess of $40,000. The Export Gold Series culminates in the prestigious Export Gold Super 16 which will be contested by 16 of New Zealand’s elite surfers. To qualify for the event, surfers must gain enough ratings points from the first four events to secure their invitation. Tauranga Bay Westport: Part of the National body's list of forgotten breaks. Once again South Island surfers , surfing and the public miss out. Imagine if the Rugby Union ran its sport like this great teams like The Crusaders and The Highlanders wouldn't even exist!! Surfing New Zealand has done so little to promote surfing in different areas of New Zealand it is in danger of becoming little more than a promotional front for a few holiday season local authorities and beach front dairy owners. "Their presence can be noticed by a couple of fancy sign written vehicles - rather than the great work they do !" commented one local administrator who didn't want to be named for fear of having the little support that was given chopped altogether. Cobden: Needs to break more perfectly to be rated, or thought of as a good enough wave to hold a contest in by NZSA Cobden Breakwater Greymouth: Not good enough for a nationally rated event - Yeah Right!!! There's no doubt that Surfing New Zealand parade themselves around their corporate clientele as representing surfing, and surfers of Aotearoa New Zealand. There's also no doubt that over the past five years as their body has got larger the support in the regions has become less. In the South Island which has it seems blindly supported the national body there has been one nationally rated contest of any prestige in almost two years. What must be most embarrasing for them is that the local Taranaki Association went out and brought in a world Circuit Competition under their very noses. "Some of us are beginning to wonder why they even exist and worse still why we have been supporting them over the years!" added the administrator. There's obviously got to be some changes before more damage is done to our great sport. Those who parade themselves as the National Body do not appear to be acting for the best interests of the sport, could it be that they're acting in their own best interests - "you be the judge" - says the boss! Free Fresh River Water A Licence to Print Money and Poison the Land!! The Hurunui River in North Canterbury is under seige by greedy dairy farmers. Their greed fails to help them understand that actually there is no room for compromise. There is no need to compromise, The Hurunui should not be up for the fattest cat who can manipulate the system to gain access to a national treasure - fresh, free flowing river water. Short term gain and fatter, fat cat wallets at what price? Above a river bar very similar to the threatened Hurunui. Indeed how could anyone attempt to put a price on nature's balance, along with forever lost recreational pursuits. The outrage of environmentalists and river users is fully justified. The growth of dairy farming must be stopped before the last river has been poisoned, the last creek has died and all wildlife are condemned to live in fenced off sanctuaries because of mankind's greed - reckons the boss! Tony Parsons: In 'The Bay' Mangamaunu Spring: Between the Snow Storms IIts been the kinda weather that makes you want to curl up and read the latest surf mag while eating a steak'n kidney pie from the local bakery. Well that's what the boss reckons anyway. Still we can at least wrap up warm - its not as if we're trying to save our lives by running from an earthquake or trying to escape a tsunami. Those two devastating events have taken thousands of lives in the past weeks. Both areas hit by these tragic events are also surfing destinations for many surfers. The boss was lucky enough to travel to Samoa and stay at Salani Surf Camp a few years ago. Apparently the surf camp doesn't exist anymore! The beach resort further down the coast was also wiped out with the cost of many lives. Samoa is a wonderful place to visit, a friendly and safe place. Over the next few months the Samoan people are going to need a lot of help to get through this tragedy. If you are able to help by making a donation to this worthwhile cause please do. Nat's Back Surfaotearoa caught up with Nat Parsons recently in Kaikoura. He was just getting back in the water after breaking his collarbone surfing some heavy reef break in Western Oz. Anyway he's now shifted back to Dunedin to work over the upcoming summer and not doubt surf his brains out in the quality breaks that surround surf city! Great White Sharks in Kaiks There's been about four Great Whites cruising the sea off Kaikoura in early spring. No doubt they've arrived for the seal pup season. Some reports say that there could be as many as seven but this has not been confirmed. It is known that one of them - quite possibly the biggest was about seven metres long. Too big to get it on board the fishing boat that accidently caught it we've been informed. 09 in INDO Billy Stairmand: Perescopes Rangi Ormond: Perescopes Billy: Perescopes Baz Section Rangi; Perescopes inside air section Mike Christensen : Lakey Peak (Craig Sheriff hogging the foreground!) Sequence: Right and below To us at Surfaotearoa surfing is as much a celebration as it is a sport. This roll over features a celebration of this past season in Indo. It features some hot young rats from the North Island and some older dudes from the South. Yep these guys are right into surfing, some are sponsored some are underground chargers. Rangi and Billy waiting for lunch at Fatmahs. Either way its the sport, the thrill, the excitement of the last surf that always drags them back.Two of these young rippers share their Indo experiences with us. Its worth reading if only to wet your appetite and get you saving to surf someone else's local next winter. Aaaagh - and of course leave yuh attitude at home. If yuh do:- You'll have more fun! Meet more people! Understand the locals a lot more! Come back home a much wiser person! Billy Lakey rights launching pad. So we're pleased to welcome Billy Stairmand and Rangi Ormond for their thoughts on this past Indo season. We're stoked to have them share their experiences with you - our readers! Like us you too might just be surprised as to what goes on in the minds of a couple of super hot young rats as they surf perfect , heavy, warm waves while most of us are freezin our butts off in front of the fire! Or pack'n in another cream bun like the boss would have been if he wasn't in Indo himself savouring sates, or chilli prawns! Yep you know it! Rangi: Lakey Peak Leon Santorick: Lakey Rights THE LATEST SOLID SWELL AT DESERTS Craig Sheriff our Indo Agent was there to surf this solid 6 foot swell. TOMMY E Shoots Himself!! Tom Entwistle has just spent his usual winter break of at least a couple of months in Indo. This year he managed to have a couple of boat trips and luck into a lot of swells everywhere he went. Tom's a cruizy dude, enjoys a few Bintangs in the evenings and hunts out the biggest waves on the solid days. We're stoked to get these up our surfing website. Keep charging over the spring and summer Tom and hopefully we'll get hold of some more great shots of yuh! Tommy Entwistle; Macaronis. Camera Board shot by Tom himself. Exceptional Baz shot Tommy - great for letting us have this selection of images from this past winter in Indo. Tommy dropping in to a nice four footer. Tom stalling for the baz And finally slamming one off the top. We still have a couple of free sticker packs to give away. Simply email your name and address to The Editor link at the bottom of this page and list your name and address. The boss says he'll do the rest and post you a pack of jazzy SA stickers like the ones above - Yeah Free Stickers!! SCAR REEF Henry Weir: Draws a nice line for our photgrapher in Indo. We thought that this was a kind of 'Morning of the Earth' style surfing shot - well the boss did any way. He made us write that caption. We just thought 'John Doe carves the curl' would fit ok! Byron Bay local at SCARS - surfing a Parsons too - go Sammy P keep charging on dat planer!! A massive 'Hands Up' to Sammy Hawke from Christchurch. Placing 3rd in the Fantastic Noodles Big Wave Challenge off South Australia. Great to see another South Islander overcoming all the barriers and charging in monstrous surf. Well done bro - you've even impressed da boss - no mean feat believe us minions who grovel weekly for our pay cheques. The boss took this snap at Canngu in Bali. Not a bloody pie shop in sight. Unknown young pro lift'n the pastry with a video crew and big lens on da beach just to shoot him, Yup its a hard life for up an comers with a stack of talent. P Bay one of a number of line ups da boss is into at the mo. He seems to be getting nostalgic tucked up in a rug next to the heater. P Point more nostalgia, an uncrowded line up. Makes you realise how lucky we are to live and surf in Aotearoa New Zealand. Aaagh there is a guy on the inside wave, yup not so uncrowded after all!! Reef south of Brighton along the coast road towards a number of good breaks. Yup funny how the bosses memory slips sometimes, until he's standin in line ording the steak and red wine gravied out double pastry coated man sized grand daddy Truckers pie!! S Bay: The walk in will burn off even the the tennis ball sized lump of fat in the Truckers pie listed above! Marlborough County NEW ZEALAND'S SURFING WEBSITE Grimma floats one: Mangamaunu Is this an Environmental Concern? Someone sent the boss an email to say that SURFING NEW ZEALAND was having a special general meeting at the end of August to remove its environmental focus from its constitution. The boss reckons that this is a load of rubbish - yuh know - "There's no way that the governing body of our sport in Aotearoa New Zealand could possibly be axing its environmental focus from its constitution." So like sheep we're prepared of course to believe him. And yuh know what he's gotta be right. Surfing New Zealand the governing body of our sport in New Zealand would not walk away from its environmental responsibility. After all the ocean and coastline around this beautiful country of ours is never under threat from:- Marinas being built Sewerage outflows Too much mussel farming etc etc So we don't think that there is any truth to this story. If you have heard that there is substance to the rumour could yuh flick an email to the editor at the link on the bottom of this page so we can get to the bottom of it. No one at Surfing New Zealand would be so stupid - nah it couldn't happen could it? Then again the current government did bring back knighthoods and we note that 'Golden Boy' Russell Coutts was one of the first to step up and take a bow. (Pun not intended but by all means enjoy it if you get it!) Knighthoods, Yachting, Marinas -- Just maybe there could be a link there somewhere eh! Whoops!!! We've had a break! Yep the boss got generous and shouted the crew an Indo trip. Spoilt rotten - 30 degree water and air temps for over a month and not a cream bun in sight! Although we did bust him at the Dunkin Doughnut shop at least twice! Al Temoananui: Racing the silver curtain. So yep we can share a few shots from here and there. But the main focus this roll over will be an "INVITES ONLY" spread to link in with a recent spread in KIWI SURF MAG. Sam Dunfoy: Testing his dad's board Matt McCory: Malibu magic or madness? Manu Schafer: Invited himself Text Demon: Dave Lyons RIP Johnathan 'Fang' McCarthy While we were away we learnt of the untimely and tragic death of Sumner Longboarder 'Fang' . He has done a great deal for surfing in Aotearoa for years to come. A deep thinker, hard worker and all round cool dude Fang will be missed immensely not only by his family but the surfing communities of Sumner, Christchurch and New Zealand. Aloha Brother - A cool dude who gave so much to the sport and the environment he loved. June 2009: O'Neill Cold Water Classic Kaikoura Levi O'Connor 2009 Coldwater Champ Above: Levi warming up between heats, Day One, Meatworks. Yep we hit Highway One to Kaikoura. Got there a couple of days early and managed a couple of extra shoots. Below are a few shots snatched from in and around the contest. We'll have more on our News Page too as we build, plus a session or two from around Kaiks on our Gallery Page. Check em out - you just might be starring! Some of the Kaiks crew sheltering from the cold. Great vibes on the beach in Kaiks. Great also to catch up with a few other surf photogs and chew the fat. Better than being office bound with nothing to chew on but a cream bun '- eh boss!' Well done to the Kaikoura crew for putting on such a cool comp. Hot bath - anyone? The Baxter Bathhouse was again popular this year!! May Line Ups Sometimes the boss goes on a bit about this and that. One day he was saying that a photo is a lot more than an image, he reckons that a good shot will evoke feelings." A good shot is about the total feelings that you get as you view it. Sometimes drawn from your own experience as you take in what's happening in the photo" he mumbled. The guys in the office didn't agree and started to argue with him, we were bloody certain that a photo is just that - a bloody image. Then the boss started to show us a few line up shots, and you know what - we found out he was right. Looking at line up shots we were imagining all sorts of things to do with the day, the waves, what it was like, etc... Check these out -- you might start thinking like we did, then again, you could just be taking another bite from a cream bun like the boss did knowing that he was right again!! Dave Lyons above: Unaware of all the firewood on the beach. May Roll Over Yep, you guessed it New Brighton - North of The Pier voted worst beachbreak in Aotearoa by some spoilt brat prosurfers from north of the Strait. But yeah they had really bad no waves to surf in a comp once. For a much maligned bad beachie it does get quite photogenic in the 2 - 3 foot range! New Brighton: South of the Pier Makes you almost want to put your Indo tickets on hold - right...wrong!!!!!! Still not a surfer in sight. What's that I hear, a member of the breakfast club waxing up his mal somewhere past Doug's shack in the northern carpark. We've got a lot of new Pier Action on our Gallery Page for you to check out! Indo Thinking about Indo! We've got another early season update from Craig Sheriff's recent three day visit to Desert Point. Just a few shots to tempt you with - go on book those tickets now before its too late! Jeepers a real wave at last!! This little baby formed deep in the Antarctic Circle by fierce South Westerly winds blowing off a deep low. Double overhead on the peak it was screaming for someone to surf her as she broke, hollow and powerful and damned near perfect too! 'Big Al T' "Check these out" yelled the boss almost dropping his cream bun, when these shots were sent in by an anonymous photographer. Apparently the shots above and below were taken just south of Spot X, where a few of the Kaiks boys scored some hell drops on some solid lefts. Dave Lyons, hunting for a couple of beginners to take surfing. Matt McCory: Hmmmm... Is that bigger than Sumner last week? April Roll Over An Easter Peak: Somewhere along the East Coast. A south east ground swell brought some nice clean waves to the eastern coastline of Aotearoa over Easter. The break coupled with mild weather meant those who camped out along the coastline of both islands scored some nice clean fun waves. A few more scored some rather intense waves on the more exposed points, reefs and beaches. A Left Point: Also breaking over Easter Kinda what a holiday should all be about really. Away from the stresses of work and the city, sharing a few fun or quality waves with some close friends, even meeting new members of the tribe who all share the same passion for this great sport as you do. Curtis Lowe: Enjoying what the Easter Bunny gave him! We had a couple of photogs out and about. They came back raving about how good the light was - or something similar, yeah light; most people simply raved about the clean waves. Photogs can be a bit of a breed of their own, but hey we're happy to put up with'em as long as they continue to come back with the goods. Dave Lyons: Above and below Just like the boss who nearly always gets a bag of cream buns for morning tea from the bakery down the road - share and share alike whether its quality waves or a cream bun for morning tea - they both seem to put smiles on people's faces. Waves also have a habit of washing off the icing sugar! Al Temoananui: Nice little baz. The Autumn Connection Welcome to the change of seasons roll over. Autumn is always looked forward to on this Southern Hemisphere island. A time of increased south swells a time too of river mouth and point perfection. Either way it a harvest time -for surfers and those who work the land. Haydo Brain: Whale Rock Its a time too of cooler water temps, more off shore breezes and hopefully great waves with a few friends. Enjoy our wonderful country, don't abuse the privileges we have to surf pretty well any damn beach we want to; that is if you follow the basic rules and throw a bit of courtesy in or may be a half dozen as well when you speak to the local farmer. Courtesy and a little fore thought goes a lot further than bluff and bull shit we reckon - ay! Sooner or later the bluffers and the bull shitters will get what's comin - karma catches up. In the mean time don't let em spoil it for the rest of us!! Rowan Morris: Amberly Beach - Yep that's right Amberly!!! This Roll Over: Check out a couple of new SICK SPOTS: Whale Rock (See line ups above) and The Captain's Island We've got the latest Kiwi Surf to share a glimpse of. The editorial crew reckon its great to have a New Zealand Surf Mag that pays more than lip service to and regularly covers more than the top ten ...know what we mean!! Great to see Silas steppin up and kill'n it with style and imagination behind the lens too. Also check out:- Our Gallery Page for more free shoot'n Profiles for a couple of newbies Other pages we may have updated... (While the boss has been away at the bakery down the road!) Cheers, The Editorial Team Surfaotearoa Sometimes You Score Sometimes You Score That is if you can drag your self out of bed at 5.30am, or if you're not stuck surfing some competition in a spot that seldom gets waves - if you know what we mean! Yeah we scored, along with a few others who got there even earlier than us and a carload or two that rocked up about the same time. Kinda worth the effort wouldn't ya think. But even now we realise we're probably preaching to the converted cos nothing, absolutely nothing beats surfing great waves! When ya look at an empty line up like the one above ya gotta feel more than a little envious - go on we know ya do! Same place, same morning;different time, different sand bank - yahoo! All power to the crew of The Sea Shepherd in doing their best to support the whales living around Antarctica. The Japanese continue to murder these defenceless creatures during the Antarctic summer. Just maybe we should be having some Paper Crane Remembrance Ceremonies to remember the thousands of whales this country kills every year. If you would like to support The Sea Shepherd cause check out their website to see what you might do! The Sea Shepherd - Immense courage under fire while many countries remain quiet in supporting the plight of the whales. Our Oceans, our world are finite resources. Our surfing tribe must be at the forefront of this environmental cause. Canterbury Womens Champs Finalists in the Canterbury Womens Champs Left to Right: Kristy Zarifah, Leilani Brain, Hayley Coates Go to our Girls page for more shots Daisy Thomas Does The South Island Proud Whale Rock: Big, mean and hollow! Above: Twelve Year Old Luke O'Neill greets a new day with a dawn surf and ten over at his home patch. Yep - he also got to school on time! Sumner Beach Christchurch: An early morning in December. Just made for Malibu surfing. Noosa like waves from the Breakwater to Stoke Street. Yep if we hadn't seen it for ourselves we probably wouldn't have believed it either! A glimpse from the past... 1972 NZ Junior Champ Roger Strahl of New Brighton Beach surfing Taylors Mistake. Roger has been back in Christchurch for the past year and a half to help his elderly mum. During the late 1960's and early seventies he was one of the top South Island Juniors, he's been living in Sydney, running a surf school and nursing for the past twenty years. He's enjoying being back at uncrowded New Brighton surfing both sides of the pier! noticed. One things for sure through passages of time an's sizeable air reverse - Check out Clinic although we're not too sure how he regularly pulls moves like this! From our Archives : Warren Hawke Photo Wazza Findlay : Scarborough Reef 1984 : No doubt an Orwellian Tube Bali Bed and Breakfast; run by Craig and Kelly Sheriff Check out their website for bookings. Craig is an expert Indo guide and surf photographer as well as the perfect host. Advertising spaces are filling up on our site but we have a few more available, plus additional spaces as contracts run out. You can contact us through the site if you want to get your products out their to Kiwi Surfers. See the contact link at the bottom of t		PRODUCT PAGE A major change! Surfaotearoa is pleased to announce that we are now marketing a unique Classic Range of Surf Prints. Go To Our Products Page to check out these superb prints. Framed Prints also available from Barron Surf Shop Bower Ave Christchurch Jonny Wardrop New Brighton Pier Left and Below Spring Fever Above Sam Dunfoy Above and Below Grimma Felix Dickson Salani Left Jai Earnshaw Salani Rights Samoan Fire Dance Salani Check out our Kaikoura Shooting Gallery on our Gallery Page Nat Parsons Above,Below and Left Billy Rangi Go to our NEWS PAGE for an indepth INDO spread and some of the experiences of these two rippers! Plus a shot or two of a few old dudes scoring some great waves!! Leon and lunch Craig and Chilli Garlic prawns. Rocky "U want ride to Perescopes mista?" Bejeepers if only we could speak Indo as well as they speak English!! Leon S Rangi Billy Go to our News Page to see the full shots and Indo breakdown! Thanks to Craig Sheriff for these water shots. CUBA Surf Jam Go to our news page for some of the action from this event! Pier Action Baccy Dylan Barnfield Dan Warren Go to our mal page for more of this action. More Pier Action Will Newman Ben Rees Go to our gallery to see a massive new Pier feature This New Roll Over: We've got a bunch of early season shots from Indo. Thanks to Craig Sheriff and his photogs for sending these across the wires!! Mick Fanning 2009 Hyundai Christchurch Longboard Taylor Jensen Wins! We're still building this page: A few more days and a lot more shots plus the odd cream bun or two and we'll have it finished. In the mean time check it out and watch it grow! Womens Champs: Go to the Girls Page for some Photos: A Session at H Bay Go to our Gallery Page. Jonny Wardrop Check out our Product Page for shots of Shaun Streeter charging Nias 2009 Canterbury Surf Champs Go to our News page for Photos Also Check out our Grom Page for a small feature on Ben Bennett and Geordie Dearns of Dunedin. We've finally managed to get a few grom Comp Shots up as well. Our New Shooting Gallery The Christchurch Grom Comp Show Weekend Why was Doug Young (Above) also mumbling Mudlucka? Check out our sick spot page for a taste! Shooting Gallery Go to our Gallery Page To check shots from Magnet Bay Sunday 12 October And Taylors Mistake On Tuesday 7 October 2008. This Rollover: Zenor: Lakey Craig Sheriff Photo Product Page Snap City Snap City Snap City Sizey Spot X Above Matt Macgill Above and Below Carl Everett Above Matt MaGill Above Images From Meatworks Sam Dunfoy above and below. Carlin Chambers Matt MacCrory Images From Hickory Craig Sheriff Manu Schafer Craig Sheriff The previously damaged sign at Hickory Bay. Must make a few idiots proud to call themselves surfers. Be great to know who these idiots are so they can pay for their work! Some Roadie Images from Dunedin Above and Below Jamie Richards Nat Parsons Luke Murphy Jai Earnshaw Images From Taylors Mistake Mike Christensen Axe Stanley Axe Stanley Sam Dunfoy Hamish King Ben Lubbers South Sides Ben Lubbers Pier cranking Reeso cranking Dougie Cranking Hayden Brain Robbie Peck: Pier Mike Losness Dion Agius Alex Gray Dion Agius Levi O'Connor Mike Losness <>Thanks to Warren Hawke for making <>the above shots available	KIWI SURF 115 Get this issue with a bonus Volcom DVD. Check out our Kiwi Surf page for a Preview Of Issue 115 Surfboards Fresh From The Gold Coast Check out
	From our Archives: Surfaotearoa's Piece of New Zealnd Surfing History Kahutara: 1990 Tich Williams : South Island Pro Champion 1979: Taylors Mistake Adrian Taylor: Kahutara: Circa 1990 New Brighton Changing Sheds: 1981: L to R: Unknown, Kevin Moore, Phil Shuker, ___ King, Unknown, Paul Bennett.
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