May is normally a crazy good month for surf around New Zealand. Settled autumn weather and the start of Antarctic lows driving swell up both the west and east coasts. Cooling down but still not chilly. And still the option of a north east swell. Back in the heyday of NZ Surf Magazines, May was always a bittersweet month. You'd often end up with your best action photos from around the country, but the winter issue would be your lowest advertising revenue and therefore your fewest pages to fill. Inversely, the November/December issue would naturally always be your biggest advertising budget, but the hardest one to fill off the back of the end of winter and spring.
Sev Tolhurst linking one through
May 2023 was good, Raglan pumped with some beautiful swells, Shippies enjoyed some epic days, Taras, Gizzy and Kaikoura all had their days. Around here was a little mixed, but there was lots of activity, seemed like the Coro kept pulsing in swell around the 1-3 ft mark for weeks on end.
Yep, the Piha road is open
Napes and Jemarl pre surf amp
Still some western nuggs about
JK unloading on a shoulder hopper
Leia Millar hooking in the pocket
Will Hardie following suit
The Millar's neighbour, Luke Davis
Taylor Hutchinson up from the BOP on business
Taylor
Forestry had peeling waves
Actual visual proof of Forestry breaking in a surfable manner
Forestry's grass is greener lure...yep you should totally paddle down there bro :)
Ol' Mate Justin Bambury still dominating the wave count!
Then, not May
King's Birthday Weekend pumped
Ryan Health styling on his fat quad
Braedon Williams between shifts at the Whanga Surf Shop
Taj Millar Dal Bosco razor precision
In Other News
The very talented surf photographer Jean Pierre Guillotin has rallied the troops for an Exhibition/Fundraiser in support of our West Coast communities. Come along, and bring your wallet, it'll be a cool evening. To get more details click HERE
FROM THE GALLERY
Fast becoming the new best seller, wait, it is the new best seller. Not really surprising is that? Sooo stoked to have witnessed and enjoyed this day...ahhh take me back. In the meantime, if you like Day of Days you too could have it wall-side... like Shay, below.
