in the last week…
I feel like the weekly web log is always starting with; sorry there hasn't been one in a while. There is no real excuse. Lack of discipline and an awareness of not clogging up your in box with filler are what I'm rolling with. The last 7 days have been rather eventful. Yet again, un-seasonably good waves, and lots of books being bought.
AND 8x National Champion, Billy Stairmand's final comp for the year. The Challenger Series final at Hale'iwa, Hawaii. It was a mixed affair of conditions. Hale'iwa is a hard wave to suss, with a gnarly current drawing you into the impact zone. Bill looked confident, more so than his European outings. And this showed, as it was his best result of the year, a 1/4 final placing. Of course the goal was to make to World Championship Tour this year, but the result sets him up well for next year. He finishes the year sitting pretty at 40th on the Challenger Series; " Yeah it’s been an amazing year and felt I have learnt a lot more this year than the rest. And stoked to finish with the best result of the year. Can not wait to be home now and catch up with eeeeveryone. I haven’t even celebrated after the Olympics. So it’s gonna be an epic summer."
You may remember Billy had one day out of MIQ from Tokyo before the country was put in lockdown again.
ahhh seems like a bloody lifetime ago... Billy and Ella Williams at the Olympic press day
And training at the Millennium with Woody’s Movement Workshop
The Aotearoa Surf Film Festival 2022 is a go! This will in fact be the 10th year of the ASFF, wow, go Nick Stevenson, the creator and driving force behind the Festival. I have the honour of being one of the founding judges.... And I've signed up for my 10th. So, so many bad shorts endured! But also some moments of pure Kiwi gold. The whole concept of the ASFF is to foster and encourage surf film makers, to provide a goal. I really believe over the decade it has achieved that.
So filmers! Here's your chance. And yes, I will be watching and very Judgey.
Submissions opened Friday, November 26th. Close of submissions: Wednesday December 22nd.
Get a wiggle on. Enter HERE www.asff.co.nz/2022submissions
Swimmy Swimmy
Nat Fitt ventured west for a day. As it turned out it was hands down the best window of conditions. Nat's a second generation logger, his old boy Rhys styles it on a log too. Nat's a top competitor, he was in the finals of the Longboard Nationals, The Single Fin Mingle and Logger Heads.... you get the idea, the guy is very very good.
We had a big day of shooting, a super fun day. Nat made it fun. Here's a wee gallery of the day...
See, told you he was good
And bloody good to see Daz Gerbic the stomping grounds of his/our youth! Love ya bro!
Nat, all stez, all day
Resident grub Will Hardie finding some shade
Oooshhhh... Rich Hodder putting on a masterclass of gouge
Leia Millar schooling the old boys, literally in her back yard. And sporting her new O'Neill sponsorship- yeah Taddy!
Nat, no cheater 5 here
Or for the matter there
Narrel??? Yep I'm calling it, it's not a barrel, it nearly is, it's a Narrel, but bloody heck, could you imagine positioning your 9'6" single fin like this!
Brydee on the burn???? No. It would be easy to assume Local surfer Brydee Climo has sizzled the bloke behind. But a photo is only a millisecond. Brydee had sat out multiple sets, every time the surfer behind her got a wave, he and his mates would paddle back and snake Brydee. She'd see a peak, paddle, then pull back because she'd been snaked again. On this one, Coff Junior and I started yelling, GO Brydee!!! Go Go Go!!!, it was well past her turn. She went, the snake went... good on you Brydee. And guys; take off your blinkers, have a look around and recognise other surfers may just a bit more polite than you. Sharing is caring.
Booky Books
And yep they are going! You are now able to walk into a book store nationwide to get a copy of The Recreationalists. It's also in fine retail outlets like all the North Beach stores, The Garden Party, West Supply, Haus Blank , The Poi Room/s, NZ Shred, Exit Surf, Barkers, Shut The Front Door, Salt Air, Sadhana and Kanuka... I've missed tons, but the point is, it's around. If you don't want to get around though, NZ Post reckon the cut off for NZ delivery is only a week away.
Personally I would muck around though, if you want it, think it is the perfect gift, order now. Check out The Recreationalists book HERE.