Ha'atafu Needs Us

Maz Quinn 20 years ago at Ha'atafu in a winter south swell

We are all going slightly crazy in lockdown and it is quite hard to to think outside of our respective bubbles. But last week our tropical playgrounds got absolutely nailed by Cyclone Harold. The Solomans, Vanuatu, Tonga and Fiji were all hit hard and they seem further away than ever at this time. 

Dean Amess on the same piece of Tongan reef as Maz in a north swell just 15 years ago

The Burlings and the surf resort they created 41 years ago got hit super hard. Ha'atafu Beach Resort on the west coast of Tongatapu has long been a go to for Kiwi surfers wanting to escape the cold clutches of winter. It's close, it's cheap, it has a bunch of set ups all within walking distance... it's easy. Don't get me started about the epic dinner buffets...so fricken good!!! 

Steve Burling, the OG, the patriarch of the whanau and founder of Ha'atafu. Now retired and living in Ahipara with his wife Sesika

I've been fortunate to enjoy the Burlings' hospitality four times over the last 20 years. You don't return that many times if it isn't something special. In winter south swells pour up from the Antarctic turning on all the left hand set ups, the most famous being Motels, aptly named as it's the one straight out in front of Ha'atafu. In summer north swells push down turning on all the right hand set ups, some of which are truly world class. 

Luke Hughes, 2005 at/in one of the South Pacific's premier waves

Mischa Davis on one of Tongatapu's outer reefs

Deano in a Tongan north swell...how's the line up!

Tongan paradise and better days

Ha'atafu beach and marine reserve

Before…

Now

There is a Givealittle page set up for the Burlings to help them get back on their feet. Wouldn't it be amazing if every Kiwi surfer that has surfed Motels threw down a cheeky 50...a round of Ikhale's. 

The page is HERE 

Thanks to everyone that visited Recreational Society  you guys made for a solid spike in traffic. 

Daryn's Art Of Giving

Daryn at the Logger Heads Comp a few weeks lockdown

Daryn McBride is a living legend in the longboard scene, for his ability and talent as a master of traditional longboarding, for his incredible art and, he'll hate me writing this, his passionate disagreements with the judging panels. He used to be quite the wily competitor. You don't win heats if you don't care. Daryn has always worn his heart on his sleeve. 

Daryn has one of the biggest hearts I know. When he does something he pours everything into it. It is why he is such a good surfer, it is why he is such an amazing artist. But it comes at a cost. Daryn will burn bright, then burn out, suffering terrible mental strife in the process.

Download this via Daryn's site HERE

14 days ago, Daryn blew our plan to make millions wide open. We were going to make a NZ Surfing Colouring-in book together. It was going to a beautiful A3 bound hardcover, with perforated pages and mixed paper stock...all made to be pulled a part. And I couldn't be happier that he did it, some things are bigger. 

Bigger download HERE

Daryn has made all his drawings free and downloadable for everyone to be able to print them and then colour them in. Every day of lockdown Daryn posts a new drawing for everyone, you've got 15 there already to catch up on. 

"Over the last two weeks it's been an exercise in learning to take a compliment.' Daryn goes on...' It has been extremely rewarding mentally for me, anytime things get a bit much, someone posts a coloured in version and it makes my day!!!'  

You can download the colouring in pages on the website Daryn has made HERE 

And Happy 16th birthday today Harper, Lennox and Willow! Daryn's triplets. This is an image we made together in 2007.

Thanks to everyone that visited Recreational Society last week, you guys made for a solid spike in traffic. 

I'd love you to visit the site, have a look around and get back to me. What do you like about it, what's lame? Are you interested or have some sort of camper? Do you know someone with a great set up?

The Book Store & Galleries

We aren't able to ship books or prints during Level 4. If you want to order, and people are, you are welcome, but there will be a delay in shipping at this point. 

The Recreational Society

This is not an April fool's day post. The plan was always for this week's post to be about the Recreational Society. Most of the time there is a plan, mostly.  When the post date coincided with April 1, the ol noggin got to whirring. Prank you with a post about a special monthly, 1 day concession to being able to go surfing??? Ouch... too soon Craig, too soon. 

No, this is for real. 

There's a new website. It has been in the pipeline for a few months, with the help of Luke Darby who went above and beyond with the design. 

The Recreational Society is live and rolling now. It's about everything and anything Kiwi adventure camper related. It is not a surf website. It's not a #vanlife site either. The common thread is the NZ'ers that have a stoke and want to figure out how to stay where their stoke is. 

The Recreational Society features an extensive How To section that will continue to grow. This was a huge part of the original idea for the site. It is so hard to find out how to do anything camper related from the New Zealand perspective. What actually is self containment? Where  do you get it? While it's great looking at camper builds on You Tube from overseas for inspo, half the products used aren't on Kiwi shelves. 

For inspiration, hints and hacks the Recreationalists is up and rolling. This is an ever growing series of profiles on Kiwis that are out there and doing it. I suspect that as this series grows it will offer as much information about how to and the How To section. There is already a wealth of wisdom from those interviewed so far. 

I'd love you to visit the site, have a look around and get back to me. What do you like about it, what's lame? Are you interested or have some sort of camper? Do you know someone with a great set up? 

The Book Store & Galleries 

We aren't able to ship books or prints for the next 4 weeks. If you want to order, you are welcome, but there will be at least a 4 week delay in shipping at this point. 

To Surf Or Not To Surf

Billy Stairmand on an isolated beach...before he stuffed up his knee

Here we go, collectively into government imposed shut down. Jumping on the band wagon, I'm in agreement that our government is doing the right thing and they have responded swiftly in unchartered waters. 

Bill Byers keeping his distance

There's been so much chat about what we can and can't do as surfers. It's going to be an ever changing playing field, so what is right today will no doubt be erroneous next week. I think it's foolish for anyone with a voice to encourage anyone to go surfing. This isn't a 4 week weekend.  Surfers are selfish, we pride ourselves on our individuality and living outside of normality. But this isn't the time to be all consumed with your own self.

hmmm...maybe taking the 2 metre rule too far?

UP DATED Will I be surfing... probably NOT. I live at the beach, but I still have to drive to the beach a couple of minutes. As of Wednesday arvo the NZ Police made it very clear that Level 4 means driving for essentials only.  For me surfing is everything, it’s my fitness [don’t laugh] it’s my mental leveller, it has been my job. This is gonna be challenging, but here we go; thinking selfless for a greater good not selfish.

practising safe distancing

Don't be a dick about it. Exercise some common sense. 

The Surfing NZ stance is HERE

Stay safe, be kind ...and for f@ck's sake be considerate. 

The Book Store & Galleries


We aren't able to ship books or prints for the next 4 weeks. If you want to order, you are welcome, but there will be at least a 4 week delay at this point. 

Surfing On Hold

What a surreal Friday.  South Piha was filled to the gunnels with aspiring young international surfers practising their craft. The waves were good, very good. The tide was coming in and North Piha was starting to show form too. I knew where I was going. 

First bank check 'brooo have you heard the latest? It's cancelled!' 'whaaat, nah.' 'Yeah bro the whole week is off'. 

11am. The day before kick off. All the fixings in place; the massive scaffolding city, the food vendors, the Corona Bar...everything poised. 

Friday; all ready to go

I did what any sane person would do. Go surf. Kind of in denial, kind of wait and see what unfolds. As the bank comes on with the tide, more crew paddle out. 'Have you heard the latest bro!- the comp is off, the whole thing- done.' 

And that's how I found out. 

Until this point Covid 19 had been somewhat of an abstract form. I am a news watcher, I like to feel connected. Firmly leant to the skeptical side; validation of facts, not opinion dressed as truths. 

Covid 19 has reached surfing in NZ. Our biggest event in years on permanent hold. As you read this, the scaff city is being torn down. South Piha is returning to business as usual. Some of the pro's are still around, some opting to chase the East swell coming. 

As we go into lock down the ASFF has also pulled pin on screening until Spring. Last night Surfing NZ officially postponed The Rip Curl Raglan Pro and word is more local surfing events and gatherings will follow suit. 

It's going to be a rocky few months for us all, regardless of surfing, stay safe out there fellas. 

From The Book Store


It just keeps on selling! Thank you to all of you guys that have already bought a copy of Warren's latest book, The Collection Vol II, it is seriously such a stoke to have been a part of something so successful. We still have copies available. Don't know what the hell I'm typing about... well check it out HERE

At Logger Heads With The Piha Pro

Paul Brown inspects one of Daryn McBride's older shapes

I know I've banged on about it before, but it is of quite remark. In 2009 when I secured the contract to be the photographer for the Hyundai Longboard Tour it was exciting. The tour already had a reputation of being laid-back and having a grass roots friendly vibe. In fact long boarders pride themselves and actively foster that. For 6 awesome seasons I was firmly on the Hyundai gravy train, Hyundai got their marketing value out of the tour for sure, but they also pumped a lot into surfing. The Hyundai end of Tour parties hosted by Howie Spencer have become talk of legend... they were. Gossip has it that Howie would through down 50K for the party- I don't doubt it. I made so many friendships over those years that to this day stoke me out.

Griffo, Willow and Daryn pre and post heat briefing

Tony Baker's Logger Heads event, held last Saturday at Waipu Cove, taps into and radiates all those good vibes and then some. It really is a congregation of the tribe. The heats get in the way of catch ups. 

John Sutcliffe, the artist charged with making this year's trophies

Wini Paul finally showed up for her first Logger Heads comp....and won it

Wini styling thru the shorey

Second generation Logger Jay Ryan, Jay literally grew up on the Hyundai Tour with her parents Caroline and Kelly competing

Auckland Surfer/shaper Ollie Le Noel was on fire

Me ol mate Daryn McBride returned to the Loggers this year, this time he brought his daughter Willow on their first surf roadie

Dozzle, styling as ever

vibes

Get the picture... Wini and Brownie

Sam Guthrie back in a surf comp singlet instead of a triathlon one

Simon Egglinton charging down the line

TV star butcher Mr. Trent Lillis taking a backwards step forward

vibes

Orewa perennial Mark Hoyle

Ohope ripper Dylan Barnfield taking out the Noseriding division

Jordan Griffin on his way to his maiden victory in the Open

Griffo and Tony at the presso. Griff has had 2 seconds prior to this year, it seriously was a case of having to get that monkey off his back, he wanted the win bad.

Every year the Logger Heads grows and Tony refines the formula...long may it continue. 

The Piha Pro Gets Postponed!!!

And at the opposite end of the scale, the carnage WAS about, well really has started, here on the westside. Troll through social media and sure enough you'll find more than your far share of haters for the invasion that WAS about to descend on poor Piha. From the language just used it would be easy to assume I'm one of those haters. I'm not. I was cautiously somewhat warily, optimistic about it all. Piha has long been a venue for sporting events including a long list on international surfing events so all the naysayers... lighten the f%ck up.

BUT then on Friday morning the WSL pulled pin, citing that they weren’t prepared to put their athletes, officials and ground crew at risk of the Covid 19 virus. At this stage all WSL March events are on hold. It’s so heavy. All the work gone in already, the prep. On Friday evening the organisers opened up the event site to the locals and turned on the beer taps as a thank you for the support. The surf forecast was very favourable, but now we can only wonder what might have been.

The mini city of scaff going in this week at South. Photo Roachie

the completed site- Friday. Photo Ren

Don't forget the Aotearoa Surf Film Festival is touring right now, check out the dates HERE

From The Book Store

It just keeps on selling! Thank you to all of you guys that have already bought a copy of Warren's latest book, The Collection Vol II, it is seriously such a stoke to have been a part of something so successful. We still have copies available. Don't know what the hell I'm typing about... well check it out HERE

Logger Heads Is ON!

The draw is full, the behind the scenes juggling and hard yards has largely been finished off by founding organiser Tony Baker... now all we need is waves! 

Last year's assemblage

The Logger Heads is hands down one of my favourite comps to shoot and hang at. It's fun... just pure and simple. 

board meeting

happy comp heads

McCleod's goodness, Tony and Griffo heat debrief

start em young

Shindoggy!

Leggo top Griffo

Matt Newdick 2018 Loggers

shaping gurus 1; Jay Jackman and Daryn Mcbride

shaping gurus 2; Steve Morris and Rog Hall

Contest organiser Tony walking the talk

log jam

The surf report is looking very favourable...Tony will be having a sigh of relief. Come hang out!… word to hand is most likely it’ll be over the hill at Waipu Cove

Make a weekend of it! 'Cos straight after, at the’Pu is the annual Cove Fish Fry hosted by Mike Cunningham. It's a super cool day and you get to have a beat on some wild and wonderful craft, check out the FB page HERE

and Deeeennnn

Don't forget the Aotearoa Surf Film Festival is touring right now, check out the dates HERE

From The Book Store 

It just keeps on selling! Thank you to all of you guys that have already bought a copy of Warren's latest book, The Collection Vol II, it is seriously such a stoke to have been a part of something so successful. We still have copies available. Don't know what the hell I'm typing about... well check it out HERE

Billy Groms

The Billabong Grom Series is a summertime institution. The three contests are held at The Mount, Whangamata and the finale at Piha; the series has been running for a staggering 15 years with the constant support from Oceanbridge.

What's Oceanbridge? Well it's a pretty cool and sad story. Oceanbridge is a freight forwarding company owned by the Speedy family, Ocean Bridge has long been associated with Billabong as their Freight Forwarder. But that's not why Oceanbridge support the events; teenaged Fletcher Speedy tragically lost his life at Raglan in 1997. The Speedy family celebrate Fletcher and his love of surfing with their ongoing patronage. 

The Piha Finale of the tri-series hosted one of the biggest draws in years, 52 entrants in the 14U Boys. It forced the contest organisers into running double arenas for the first morning.

And what a first morning it was! Gale force winds and the first real rain in 49 days... the fortnight before; consistent pumping summer conditions, the week after, consistent pumping summer conditions. You could not have picked a worse weekend for beach dwelling! But the show must go on. 

The 14U lads in the rain

Jack Lee undeterred by the thunder

It's a tough gig for a photog, you feel the pressure of delivering decent images, but is it worth ruining 20K of gear. Of course Piha being my home and the beach I shoot at the most, the little tricks are all known, the places to set up out of the wind and rain, dodge the water drops, risk high velocity falling rocks, seems like a fair trade off. 

Local Mathias Thompson ripping during the finals

Sunday was a different story, sunshine, but still howling onshore. The contest machine rolls on through another 8 hours of 15minute heats.

Always watching, always judging

Former Senior National Champion Matt Groube's daughter Chloe giving the Bar a nudge

Local Liv Brown-Hysom speed checking into the Cove

Alani Morse on a tear in the Cove

The young woman to beat; Christchurch's Ava Henderson

Son of multiple National Champion Chris Malone, Navryn

Raglan's Kora Cooper dropping the landing gear on a heaving Piha section

Local lass Leia Millar was ripping

Mountie Jack Hinton

As local as you can get, Billza Byers

The Billabong Grom Series overall Champs with Aussie surfing stars Ryan Callahan and Occy bookending them

The Bay of Plenty took three series titles via Luis Southerwood (Whaka) in the Under 18 Boys Division, Georgia Wederell (Mnt) in the Under 18 Girls Division and Tao Mouldey (Mnt) in the Under 14 Girls Division.  Natasha Gouldsbury took a title for Taranaki in the Under 16 Girls Division as did Jayden Willoughby for Raglan in the Under 16 Boys Division.  Piha’s Leia Millar and Pauanui’s Chloe Groube shared the title for the Under 14 Girls Division.

For the full wrap up of the comp- check out SNZ HERE

Me? Well I love documenting the Grom Series, you get to see who is coming through, you end up with images that may well have timeless appeal... like this one of our own legend Paige Hareb 2007-ish on the Bar on her way to winning the U18 Girls Billabong Groms Piha. 

This post is for you Fletch. 

From The Galleries 
Selling out or buying in? I say buying in, the now classic Piha Bar Barrel shot is the official signature image of the 2020 Piha Pro... you are going to see it all over the show, and yes the copyright release was very fair :) 

Check out the image better HERE

Westside... the place to be

Westie perfection all week

Summer and Autumn are our time. It's the time the swell drops enough, long enough for the iron sand to groom itself into scollops and holes along the coast. The gutters fill in and unlike east coast beach breaks which generally are short and snappy, we get sand formations which create 200 metre long rides, more often than not there are a lot of cutbacks involved, nursing the wave, waiting for a decent section to rear up. Barrels are rare, but not out of the realm of possibility. It's been a very late start, January was inconsequential, frustrating in fact, February was slow to start, faith was being tested. But here we are, two weeks into a run of offshores and fun. In full disclaimer, I've been surfing lots and not really capturing the best sessions. 

EPR revelling in the warm summer sessions

Dune Kennings finding ramps

Local fremlin Leia Millar smashing it in grom corner

Gabi Paul inspiring the next wave of Piha grubs

10 year old Indi Corcoran up from the BOP this week to compete on the Billabong Grom Series Finale this coming weekend at South Piha

Aramis Goodwin...literally floating a boat last Saturday during the Annual Keyhole Single Fin Comp

Blades of old

Bean, Mischa and Dune heading out to do battle. Check out the comp round up and more images on the Keyhole Facebook page HERE

Last week's full moon made for some crazy tides, that combined with our coast's sand accretion meant Lion Rock was left high and dry

Didn't this used to be the take off point when Old's Man's Peak was a wave???

From Lion's feet to the Nun

The Aotearoa Surf Film Festival 2020

Yes indeed, EIGHT YEARS! It is an honour to be one of the founding judges of the ASSF. Over the 8 years of selection I have seen some shit, like actual crap, hours and hours of it, hoping, willing the short films to have a glimmer of stoke. And then there are the shinners; the films that amp you up, the stories well told and inspiring, the diamonds in the rough. The whole concept of the ASFF is to foster new talent and encourage NZ filmmakers. And then showcase that work to you in the national touring roadshow. It's a good night out. 

The ASFF is the brainchild of Nick Stevenson, he's the driving force; Nick "I say it every year but we really have had a step up in the amount of film submissions from kiwi surf filmmakers, and the quality gets better and better. Likewise I think our film program this year was super competitive, some hard decisions on which came through but I think there will be something for everyone in the mix. Also we have freshened up the format so we are returning to many places we haven't been able to the last few years, so Dunedin, New Plymouth and Nelson, pretty excited to be returning. Our new Tour Manager Louis Murphy Harris will be holding down the fort on hosting/MC duties, he'll be on the road putting on the screenings each night and chasing waves by day, with a rotating crew of the rest of us tapping in to help. That is the heart of the festival and why we set it up, to get to every nook and cranny and surf community we can each year, also to sample a few waves whilst we are doing it. Pumped to see everyone at the festival!" 

The dates and tickets are HERE just scroll down the ASFF website. 

From The Galleries  

Selling out or buying in? I say buying in, the now classic Piha Bar Barrel shot is the official signature image of the 2020 Piha Pro... you are going to see it all over the show, and yes the copyright release was very fair :)  

Check out the image better HERE

Mangawhai Bowl Jam 2020...Bigger, Faster, Better

Check out the MBJ Facebook page HERE for even more photos, but here are some of my favourites from last Saturday. Some of them aren't technically the best skating shots, I selected some that have a cool backstory or I just like for random reasons. The Mangawhai Bowl Jam is the baby of Jesse Peters and this was the 9th Annual one. I've missed the last two 'cos of social commitments, but this year I was back on the staff and back in the happy place coping-side. It's a heavy day of shooting, 2500 frames taken, 3 litres of water drunk, you're sweating from 8am to 5pm ...and I wouldn't want it any other way.

Every year the Bowl Jam has grown. This year Jesse expanded the scaffolding terraces and still spectators were queuing up for up to 2 hours to get seating.

The view from the judge's tower and a sample of the beyond capacity crowd.

The man himself; Jesse Peters hyping the crowd and sharing the spono's love.

Two literal legends, Andrew 'Morri' Morrison and Dave Crab on bowl duty.

Morri's daughter Billie, one wheeler out of the deep end...just fricken gnarly. 

Krysta Ashwell, casual as, set up frontside grind. Missing a couple of Jams was enlightening, the level of spectators, the amount of competitors across all divisions and the heightened skills. The 9 years of the Mangawhai Bowl Jam is a graphic example of how competition raises the bar in every aspect.

The Blue Bullet! 12 year old Liam Haze, always a crowd favourite.

Timmy Thompson... barefoot, no pads... heavy.

Ramon Thackwell [Prez of Skateboarding NZ] and Dave Crab look on as Morri slides to victory in the over forty division. 

Wanaka's Chris Curran, Skateboarding NZ Secretary Smithing deep. 

Wellington's Chris Wood.

Mozza, 50 years old, and what the actual hell bro, half way through run of the day.

Dave Crab's signature Plant, always a crowd pleaser.

Me ol' mate Shaun Boucher made it back from the Goldie to compete again this year, but he didn't come away with a repeat victory. 

Bowman Hansen freaked everyone out with his speed and height again this year... but he didn't repeat his wins either.

It was Aussie dominated this round, Jakob Robinson won the Open and best trick.

Fellow Aussie invader Taniah Meyers dominated the Womens division ... and gave the Open a good knock for that matter.

But this Grom... Z-boy, Zedyn Boyd, stoked out the crowd heavily, he won the Juniors but his ohhh so close 540's had the crowd frothing.

So, so close to riding out! 

Here's the highlight reel of the day from Manual. 

Yeah Steve Nickolls! Sums up the warm vibes and rad times. Missed it this year? Get there 2021. 

Follow the Mangawhai Bowl Jam FB page HERE

From The Galleries 

Selling out or buying in? I say buying in, the now classic Piha Bar Barrel shot is the official signature image of the 2020 Piha Pro... you are going to see it all over the show, and yes the copyright release was very fair :) 

Check out the image better HERE

Make A Date

There's a lot going on... 

But before we get into that, here is some highly recommended viewing from Luke and Billy, the next episode of One and a Half Men after they spent the week at Piha filming the episode featured in last week's BLOG. Check out the new episode HERE

I fricken LOVE the Mangawhai Bowl Jams. The vibe is incredible, the skating is absolutely insane, do yourself a favour- just go it's so much fun. Check out the MBJ Facebook page HERE

And then in March out at the beach there's the 7th Annual Logger Heads. I've been the shooter for a lot of these now...maybe 5? Dunno... It's a bloody good day at the beach and it is grass roots surfing, have a go, every year there are new entrants just giving it a crack for kicks. The way Kiwi surf comps should be. Again there is a FB page for the event, check it out HERE

And then completely relatedly is the annual Fish Fry hosted and curated by none other than the legend Mike Cunningham the very next day over the hill at Waipu.... make a weekend of it. Check out some wild and weird surf craft, have some fun taking a board for a hoon, catch up with old and new mates. Check out the details on The Cove Fish Fry's FB page HERE

In the immediate future; if you are out West this weekend then this one's always good for a bit of vindictive fun. Like the time one of the cubbies ended up with a rollick puncturing clean through his forearm... ok maybe not the most savoury example. But with a good 6ft swell predicted for this Saturday there is bound to be a few good Over The Falls and wild broaches from the Budgie Smuggling Brigade.

 Some Other Product

It is always rad to see where your work ends up. Yesterday Stephen James posted this of the NZ Wave Print Set. It's right up there as one of the best instals I reckon. Love the use of different frames. Wanna do your own inspirational wall cost effectively??? Well...
Check it out HERE 

Surfed Out!

Summer is here! The ocean on both coasts has warmed up and there have been waves, in fact I bet right now you're squirming a way to get wet on the eastside. 

But last week was all about the Westside; Billy Stairmand and Luke Cederman came out for a stay at Piha and shot an episode of One & A Half Men. 

The glorious days were filled with semi dawnies... huge caffeine fixes and between the laughing some serious time behind the cameras. A perfect week!

Bill Byers, third generation stakeholder of the Bar

Bill, between sets

Aramis Goodwin dominating on his single fin foamy

Billy Stairmand finding right ramps

The 2020 National Champ, our very own Eliott Paerata- Reid inspiring the grubs

Bill Byers with a one/two combo... and pretty cool to see the old Primal thorn logo making a comeback

EPR's dad Jermal Paerata powering up

Shane Grimes, as always, smashing it

Things only got better as the week progressed

Billy Stairmand ... shot of the week???

The big man, Luke Cederman destroying the Bar

Bill Byers... not on the Bar..looks like it a bit, but it's the middle of the beach

Three worlds colliding

It was a busy week, it would be easy to assume when you look at The Raglan Surf Report and the spin off One & Half Men, that everything is pretty haphazard. Luke Cederman is ultra active, he's always looking for the next shot, a quirky, different angle or take on something. The effort put in is purposely downplayed. For this episode I had the absolute pleasure of getting the water footage. Check it out here >>>>

Luke and I also did a short podcast. It's casual, it is super uninformative and fun. 

You can listen to it HERE

The lads left on Friday, job done, memory cards filled and a ton of editing to be completed. But the waves kept on coming. On Saturday Keyhole Boardriders had our first comp of the year; The Twin Fin Classic.

The 2020 Keyhole crew with EPR holding The National Champ trophy

Dune Kennings, presiding Keyhole 2019 Champion death floating his original twin... the board his Dad, Lynden made him when he was 4

Despite the Dune death floats, it was the National Champ dominating Saturday's comp. EPR winning the event by a country mile

You can check out more CPL pix of the Keyhole Comp HERE 

Ok... who is going East today? 

From The Gallery

Ahh yes, scary to think this image is already 10 years old! The Bar firing, It was such a fun arvo, probably for those surfing too, but I got my photo-head on, in the zone, timing sets; watching cloud and sun dapples, waiting for the perfect second. The image has featured in books, T-shirts and of course walls. 

Check it out HERE 

Back In The Saddle

A Belated Happy New Yeahs To You! 

Me, what have I been doing? Two fifths of f@ck all to be honest. I'd like to say and show epic images of the east coast swell that just kept on giving, from before Christmas right through the New Years. I can't 'cos I wasn't there. I was [mostly] happily locked into hosting Christmas for the Whanau. The idea of battling holiday traffic after that just didn't seem fun, so I hung back and decompressed. 

Of course the photos you're looking at clearly show the converse of that statement. The gorgeous Ange and I have just come back from 4 glorious days on the Coromandel. There was still some swell around and I caught up with me old mate Digga for a fun session. 

Diggs in front of his new home in a summer Kiwi paradise

Terrible place to live… not happy at all

Catting up to the bow

Lip flare

The sort of Chrissy light show we all wanted... and probably had!

Digg's shove-it without the pop... bloody style bandit

Thigh high perfection

The Nationals are in full flight at the moment, and from the look of it Dunedin has been turning it on for the competitors. Check out Surfing New Zealand's Facebook Page and Website for daily updates.

NZ Surf The Collection Volume II is distributed nationwide through all good Bookstores and Surf shops.

...And we just reached the first big milestone, we're back in the black!!! Just before Christmas the book sales reached that point where Wazza and I can breathe a sigh of relief; THANK EVERYONE that's bought the book so far!
 The 192 page+ Hardcover edition is ready to ship. Secure a copy of the limited edition run...once the 1600 are gone; and they will go, that's that. 

Check it out...and order >>> HERE

Piha On Lock down

Last night on the coast

Whether we like it or not the 2020 Piha Pro is coming. In March, our small coastal village will be overrun with all the fixings that are needed for an international surfing event. So much so, that there is little room for the actual residents. Now, of course that's an extremely inflammatory and negatively slanted way to start a post. 
Last night under leaden skies and howling onshores there was the first Piha Pro Community Meeting held at Barnet Hall, North Piha. Some might say a harbinger for what's about to descend on us.

These are the pre contest meetings where the event organisers meet and greet the natives for the first time. Where they put their best foot forward and present the event in the best possible light to cajole the locals into submission. 

Barnet Hall wasn't packed; I would say there would have been about 50 attendees.  Everyone was surprisingly well behaved, Piha has a reputation as being a bolshy bunch. In fact there was a round of applause for the organisers at the end of the 2 hour meeting. 

Chris Simpson, former Tall Black and Event Director holding court

Here's my takeaways from the meeting; All of South Piha will be on shut down from March 6 to March 26. You will not be able to get a vehicle in unless you are a property owner in that area. Parking for South Piha will be at the Domain or spilled over into the Mill Camp [which is a kilometre away up Glenesk Valley Road]. To attend the event you will need to pre-purchase online a parking pass that will be $10.00 per day. If you are a resident you will need to get a Resident Pass to be able to go home. You can also obtain guest passes if you have visitors.  If you have deliveries coming out you will have to organise passes. How you get the passes to the visitors/deliverers prior is anyone's guess. You need these regardless of whether you or your visitors are attending the event. The Piha Road will have a check point at the Nihotupu Dam to enforce the pass restrictions- no pass, no entry. 

Welcome to 1984, knocking, knocking at your front door. 
  
The Piha groms are excited, they'll get to meet their surfing stars. Generally, I'd say Piha locals are enthusiastic the event. Maybe, just maybe it'll just be a month of minor inconveniences. 

NZ Surf The Collection Volume II is now distributed nationwide through all good Bookstores and Surf shops.

But if your local doesn't have it you can buy the book online. The 192 page+ Hardcover edition is ready to ship. Secure a copy of the limited edition run...once the 1600 are gone; and they will go, that's that. 

Check it out...and order >>> HERE

Big Year

It Most Certainly Has been a Year of Big Things

Maybe the biggest installation of 2019; Piha Layers in Auckland Hospital, 6 metres long

And the original, actually cropped quite a bit from the bottom and left, showing how high resolution the 1 gig file can handle. Check it out HERE

Ok, in full disclosure, this post is written in complete distraction, there is usually, well mostly, a plan for the content... but the Pipeline Masters is on and it is PUMPING... I'm multi screening hard.

As 2019 winds down there's been a realisation that there has been some big stuff go down. Usually I get one or two big format commissions a year. In the last 6 months there have been heaps!

Paunui Walkway installed in the new offices of Network Edge in Fanshaw St, Auckland's CBD

The image was also used as the opening spread for Puanui in The Big Little Beach Book.... which sold out this week.

Then there’s old Capt Capsicum in front of his install of the Piha Bar Room in their Hong Kong offices

Check out the original image HERE

This whooper triptych at 3 metres x 2.4 metres just went into its new home in Papamoa.

The Mount at Dawn, first featured in the book Beached As Then and Now - check it out HERE

...this earlier this week Paul Moretti installed into the front window of Backdoor Westgate, right next to JJF!

The shot also features in the new book NZ Surf The Collection Volume II

Gotta big boring wall? Well maybe I can sort you out.

NZ Surf The Collection Volume II is now distributed nationwide through all good Bookstores and Surf shops.

But if your local doesn't have it you can buy the book online. The 192 page+ Hardcover edition is ready to ship. Secure a copy of the limited edition run...once the 1600 are gone; and they will go, that's that.

Check it out...and order >>> HERE

Drought Broken

James Mcalpine, Shane Kraus, Toby Dobson-Smith and Liam Joyce ready for a tough first heat

This is not a board-riders contest report

But the only surfing photos I took over the last week of good waves were for our Keyhole November contest. And I'm not sorry one bit. Like every second mate I chatted with over the last week in the water, it has been a surf less few months. I did what every good surf photographer shouldn't do, I went surfing, got through the remedial surfs, got to wear my springsuit! Got rashes. Got stoked and got surfed out. 

Toby flying past Liam

Liam

Shane

Finalist Dave Wood

Tom Emmerson powering it

Let the Dune show begin

Dune Kennings put on a masterclass of high octane surfing through the contest to eventually win... but he sure didn't have it his own way. Shane Kraus got the highest single wave score in the final, and on another ride got tangled in the wash coming out of a searing carve, the result largely came down to an incomplete turn.

Dune...scarey good surfing in a board riders comp.

Anyway! Hope you're all feeling the burn from sore paddling muscles and you filled your boots.

NZ Surf The Collection Volume II is now distributed nationwide through all good Bookstores and Surf shops.
But if your local doesn't have it you can buy the book online. The 192 page+ Hardcover edition is ready to ship. Secure a copy of the limited edition run...once the 1600 are gone; and they will go, that's that.

Check it out...and order >>> HERE

In The Press

This morning...actually not too bad! Aussie bush fire haze in full effect.

It would be easy to complain about the lack of surf at the moment, every second conversation is about how terrible Spring has been for waves. Spring is always bad around these parts, but this Spring has been particularly horrid. Seems like the Spring equinox is breaking though, Highs are filling the Tasman again and there was a nice swell over the weekend on the Eastside.

It's the busy time for books though, it's the time to be on Publisher/Distributor mode while Warren Hawke has been in promotion mode and man he has been doing well! Over the last week NZ Surf The Collection Volume II has featured heavily in Canterbury's press.

Cover tease and a double page spread in The Star today!

Cover and Page 8 in last week's Bay Harbour News

Cover tease and double page spread in the Pegasus Post this week. Otago, Marlborough and Westcoast a coming!

Seems like everyone is picking up favourably on the vibe of NZ Surf The Collection Volume II... good on ya Wazza, you've made another great NZ surfing book!

NZ Surf The Collection Volume II is now distributed nationwide through all good Bookstores and Surf shops.
But if your local doesn't have it you can buy the book online. The 192 page+ Hardcover edition is ready to ship. Secure a copy of the limited edition run...once the 1600 are gone; and they will go, that's that.

Check it out...and order >>> HERE

Kerikeri Vert Jam

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.
But if your local doesn't have it you can buy the book online. The 192 page+ Hardcover edition is ready to ship. Secure a copy of the limited edition run...once the 1600 are gone; and they will go, that's that.

Check it out...and order >>> HERE

The Dilemma

It has been phasing me for a week now. Of course the issue wouldn't exist if I simply hadn't pressed the shutter button. But I did. Call it instinct, muscle memory or a complete brain fart. Either which way it is done. Possibly the best 'surfing' photo I got at Mangamaunu, Kaikoura and it's of a bloody sea sweeper. Warren Hawke and I were in Kaiks for the final launch night of NZ Surf: The Collection Volume II. And there were fun waves, very shootable, what are two senior surf photogs s'posed to do- shoot of course. Wazza consoled me; 'Well you can spin it like this; It is, after all, Al Temoananui and he rips on any board he's on. He's the president of the Kaikoura Boardriders Club and he did contribute hugely to the Mangamaunu chapter in the book. You know you could alway photoshop the paddle out.' On top of all that he's a bloody top bloke, he's going absolutely 12'o'clock .... but he's on a SUP. Why did you do it LT, why didn't you paddle out on your proper board? What do you do? Bury it in a hard drive never to see the light of day? Or celebrate fine wave riding, no matter what the craft? Clearly I've gone the latter, but it wasn't a thoughtless process I tell ya.

Levi O'Conner adding a huge amount of ease to the problem

Feeling a lot better, thanks Levi

My counsel, Mr Warren Hawke, photog and author... an actual legend for his on going contributions to the NZ Surfing community

Tasty fun Mangamaunu... the scene of the crime. And sadly still under threat of a cycleway, despite it being recognised by the government as a protected surf break

Josh O'Rouke, our graphic designer for the NZ Surf book trilogy, snagged his fair share on the Kaiks leg of the tour

Tour done and back in the mighty Christchurch... and Taylors Mistake turned it up a notch with both swell and offshore gusts

Sorry mate, didn't get your name, but that's a fine drive off the base

Taylors Mistake has some of NZ's best baches tucked into the cliffs and hills

Another regular feature in Warren's books, Ben Reeso hacking through the offshores

Love me a good crib... and yep that actually is the direction to the famous Taylors rip

Try saying Rod Somogyvari's surname five times fast... it'll get ya

That's gotta suck

Better approach to the slamming end section on the next ride

Twin keel lip carve

Rod again in a cavern, Rod's also in NZ Surf The Collection Volume 2 ...AND he's got a camper van!

My week in the Mainland was sick, we had awesome turnouts for the four book nights. Thank you everyone that came along, regardless of whether you bought a book, it was just good to see you. AND we got waves!

Pre Orders for NZ Surf: The Collection Vol 2 are all sent out! THANK YOU all for taking up the offer!


The 192 page+ Hardcover edition is now here and ready to ship. Secure a copy of the limited edition run...once the 1600 are gone; and they will go, that's that.

Check it out...and order >>> HERE

Come Hang Out

You are invited to attend one of the following surf book launches

Sumner: Monday 4 November from 8.00pm Clink Restaurant and Bar.
New Brighton: Wednesday 6 November Level One Cafe and Bar from 7.00 pm.
Waikuku: Thursday 7 November Office Cafe from 7.00 pm.
Kaikoura: Friday 8 November Groper Garage from 7.00 pm.

I love these weeks. A, B and C I'm in the Mainland. And I get to hang out with Warren. Of course we do have a pretty close working relationship throughout the year of producing a book, and it's super fun, no doubt the hour long conversations we have are only 30% work. The evenings are rad catch ups with the Mainland crew. So if you're about come on along. Check out the book and have a yarn.

It has been the season for big installations. Here's this weeks. 5 metres x 2.8 metres gone into Network Edge's offices. It is the opening spread image of Pauanui in the Big Little Beach Book... which is nearly sold out again. There are only 50 of the reprint left. I'm guessing they'll go in the next round of shop orders. Should there be another re-print?

And this one nearly did me in. Because the client wanted a big 1200mm wide canvas the decision was made to get another drum scan done oversized so it prints super well, effectively 1200mm wide was a 50% reduction of the new drum scan. The downside; somebody had to spend 10 hours, re cleaning and ridding the 2 gigabyte image of pesky dust marks. On the upside, there's now a perfect file that will handle going billboard, and the 1200mm canvas printed amazing... like actually, even had the cynical, critical photographer's eye stoking out on the sharpness and depth of detail. Thanks to Heath at Phreon for the mega scan and Ange at Factory Frames for printing the beast so well.

Pre Orders for NZ Surf: The Collection Vol 2 are all sent out! THANK YOU all for taking up the offer!
The 192 page+ Hardcover edition is now here and ready to ship. Secure a copy of the limited edition run...once the 1600 are gone; and they will go, that's that.

Check it out...and order, only if you want to of course >>> HERE