The man himself, Dave Crabb, organiser of the 2nd annual Kerikeri Vert Jam, on the tin ramp he built 18 years ago
I've bleated on in the past about how much I love shooting vert, how it is a full circle thing for me; how the very first photos I took were of Tony Hallam and Mark Robinson in the bottom bowl of Bob Hill Park in the early '80's. So when me ol' mate Cale Tolley suggested I jump in for a roady up to Kerikeri for Dave Crabb's Vert Jam, there was no pondering, just a firm f%ck yeah bro- let's go!
Roadie mates Ants McCloud and Cale getting ready for Friday evening's killer session
The Prez of Skateboarding NZ; Ramon Thackwell showing the flare that would earn him a healthy second in the Masters
Ants warming up
On Sunday, Ants reckoned it was probably time to break in a new pair of skate shoes
Much to everyone's surprise Dave opted not to enter the event, later citing, quite rightly, it's too hard to run a comp and have your directer hat on and then swap over to competitor mode. But on Friday, the 57 year old had all the other Masters worried
Cale... he's gonna kill me for this head shot... but...it's so funny
Cale limbering up on Saturday
Wanaka's Chris Curren
Uncle Mozza, Andrew Morrison, Morri, free from being the contest director this time, went on to win the Masters and the Highest Air
Pretty sure this is the winning Air
Cale's nose grind that was part of the run that got him the third in the Masters
Ramon's Crail Slide
Working out runs
Chris Curren backside feeble
Wellington's Chris Wood, defending Open Champ
Well on his way to backing it up
And he did... but this guy was nipping at his heals...
Meet 12 year old Wanaka local Zedyn Fellows... second in the OPEN
And no surprises... Junior champ
But right there behind him was Taupo's Remus Hanare, getting higher and more powerful every comp
Ants's fakie Ollie...crowd and judge pleaser
Ever the generous host, Dave Crabb invited EVERYONE back to Crabb Cove for a BBQ. It's a rad comp, Dave repetitively hammering home that it's all about good vibes and hanging with the NZ Vert Family. No doubt the legend nailed it for another year.
NZ Surf The Collection Volume II is now distributed nationwide through all good Bookstores and Surf shops.
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