Last weekend I had the absolute honour of being the shooter for the 2023 Hurley Boardriders' Cup. I've bleated on before how much I love shooting comps, seeing different surfers evolve, catching up with old mates. Making new mates- all the good stuff.
Relax, this isn't going to be a blow by blow account of the weekend. What I will add is that the format of the Hurley Cup is great, the nation's board riders clubs are invited to bring a team along. It consists of one O40, 2 Open surfers, one woman and one junior. What happens is each boardrider club brings an entourage of competitors, supporters and parents. It's as close as you can get to grassroots surfing. It is encouraging involvement and activity at a boardrider club level.
The Mountie grubs, there in support and as it turns out support for the winning club.
It is a great event and you can see all the action on the Surfing New Zealand Facebook gallery HERE
Established, I love surf comps, as unpopular stance as that may be. And I loved my 15 years of working at New Zealand Surfing Mag; loved being a salaried surf photographer, but equally I learned to love the production process. Creating an issue, working on the flow and pagination of that edition. Working with the printer, I was tasked with press checks; Every 2-3 hours the next 16 page section of the magazine page plates would be loaded onto the press. I'd sit in with the printer and we'd tweak the colours. It's amazing what can be done on the press. I remember the Printing company's Rep visiting us and stating the page rate had to go up because we were using 25 kgs more ink than any other magazine our size. Mission achieved, in my books..wait magazines?
So this convoluted mansplaining leads to how I still edit photos. I think and shoot editorially. I'm rounding out a story line. And as always looking for that cover shot. Page 1, the most import page of any magazine or book. Now, I'm not going to claim I'm good at choosing covers, in fact I'd argue that my history proves I'm f@cking terrible and choosing cover shots. But once in a while a surfer does something in front of the lens and the old default kicks in... that's a cover shot.
On Saturday morning Oakura Boardriders team member Tom Butland was having a warm up surf prior to the comp starting. I've been shooting Tom at comps since he was 12, he's totally an example of that stoke of witnessing a surfer evolve thing. And he got a cover shot, an old school, early 2000's style cover, full frame, highly technical shot. Only problem, there's no cover for him to go on. There is no NZ Surf Mag. I do the rounds with his sponsors... no budget, no place to put it if they did have. So just for shits and giggles... Tom, here's your cover shot bro.
Here's the full frame ...
Butters- good bugger with a crazy air game... actually check out his clip on Vimeo HERE
...OH and Speaking of Clips
The 11th Aotearoa Surf Film Fest is in full swing and coming to your town...if it hasn't already been. HERE is the schedule.
FROM THE GALLERY
Shot at dawn on 30 December 2023 and later claimed as one of the best swell and bank combinations in a decade. So chuffed to have been there to have made this image of Whanga Bar you like it? You could totally have it on your wall! The link to it is HERE for media and sizing options... go on you know you need it.
