In 2012, both Mckenzie and his younger brother Tane Bowden were fast becoming the grubs to beat on the New Zealand circuit. Their dad Drew hauled them around the nation to all the comps. The family relocated from Whangamata to Victoria. Both Mckenzie and Tane started doing really well on the grom circuits there too. It would appear their pathway was set, become WQS surfers, attract lucrative sponsorships deals. You know it, the old carrot and stick. Well, a decade on, that's not quite been the path. Mckenzie’s overt sense of humour, and quite frankly epic dance moves are entertaining his 36K+ Insty followers.
Manu Scott-Arrieta, Mackenzie and Tane at the Piha Billabong Grom comp 2012
Mckenzie 2013 on his way to a credible 4th in the Nationals U16 Juniors
Mckenzie, Corban Hutchings, Elliot Paerata-Reid and Dune Kennings on the podium 2013
With the border open Mckenzie seized the chance to skip home over the ditch. He and old grom comp sparring partner Elliot Paerata-Reid kidnapped Piha grub Bill Byers for an epic southern roadie. The clips the trio have made are hilarious.
Mckenzie stoking on being back in the homeland
"We are working on a webclip, Elliot just got all this new camera gear and he's super frothing on getting creative with it, we get along really well and decided to go on a trip together and get creative capturing some footage... we saw a south swell hitting NZ so we boosted to the South Island... It felt amazing to be back in the homeland after not being back for a proper surf trip for about 8 years. "
Hard to believe this was just a week ago. Sure ain't today out west!
On Leaving The Homeland:
After spending our grom years in NZ learning to surf, as a family our parents were looking to expand a future for us all. We moved to Bells because we have family there and job opportunities for the parents were more expansive. Obviously there is a big industry with surfing in Australia so it just felt right. After a few years in Bells think we just got over the cold and decided to go to the warm Gold Coast and mix it up with the thousands of best friends in the line up out Snapper... so far so good!
Full style bandit in and out of the briny
Contesting;
I realised as I competed in a few comps in Australia that competing just wasn't for me, I didn't have the drive or the funds to support myself getting to contests. And I honestly, just could't surf in a heat to save my life so that kinda took the fun out of surfing for me. There was a window where I fell out of love with the the reason I surfed so I had to collect myself and remember why I did it in the first place. I realised I can just surf because i love the feeling of chasing waves going to new places meeting people and experiencing different cultures. So I would work any job and save for little surf trips.
Say What You do;
I’d say you got a few hrs, so I can chew ya ear off! Haha I'd say I’m just a salty dirty little hippi surf bum that loves the ocean and riding waves so I spend most of my time working towards assessing where I want to go to catch waves, proximately rights! Haha sounds so cheesy when I’m writing this...
Genetics;
Yeah Dad is an amazing musician, my brother Tane and I grew up watching Dad play late night in pubs playing gigs while on the road then we would shoot off to the coast the next day. I reckon it definitely has helped me to feel comfortable in front of the camera even though I’m not haha! think it has helped me get out of my comfort zone for sure
Employment;
I was helping the old fella with Landscaping there for a bit so he was pretty good with certain days I asked to have off if the surf was good. But now I'm on the road living like a bum assessing trips to get good wave and places I want to go to keep creating footage surfing and dancing around hahaha pretty loose schedule really so I’lll have to get back to you on that one.
Is Bill Byers about to get a haircut, dive deep grom!
Being home;
Yeahh! Just being back in the homeland after not being back for years felt so god damn good! Beautiful scenery and nature everywhere... when I saw you the other day we had a fun session out at Piha. The waves were nice and I was just looking back at the mountains pinching myself feeling grateful, so you caught me in a good state!
Check out Mckenzie’s Instagram account for some of the funniest clips HERE
From The Galleries
Piha Storm Pano; seems very appropriate for the weather we are having, love a good wild west storm and swell event. Wanna see it bigger, or maybe even look at print options? Well you can HERE