There was no post last week, and there was the best excuse. The only acceptable excuse; waves. A flurry of messages and calls, organising, packing the camera gear, packing the boards, packing the Troopy and slightly packing about what I was getting myself into. Last week's long period west coast swell had everyone frothing at the gills. Where would be handling, where would be big. As it turned out the coasts from South Taranaki up pumped for days. I opted for 24 hours in the Waikato.
Luke Cederman last Thursday, just as the swell started to show
Luke in Raglan Surf Report advertising mode
That was fun, but I didn't drive to the Waikato to shoot lefts this time. The pre-planning was all about chasing down some big rights. The tides were good, the wind was right.
Leon Santorik drawing first blood on the right
Sam Mathers under the hood on one of the larger ones of the session
Luke Hughes wagging the shaping bay for the morning
Leon on the foam ball
When close is too close; Taylor Hutchinson well past full frame
On the next wave Stu buckled that black beauty
Sam Mathers perfectly poised, Sam doesn't love this shot, frustrated that the wave wasn't big enough
Our Champ Billy Stairmand and my favourite image from the session
Close second fav, Leon
...and that was that, the tide moved in and the bank stopped churning. But the day was far from over, within hours, just enough time to decompress and get some lunch, the next bank would start to fire up.
Straight into the sun and the glare, miles away, everything photography 101 tells you not to do, Alex Dive driving through the glitter
Tom Billington couldn't make the morning sess' , he made up for it with vengeance in the arvo
Chris Malone hooking
All style and rail... Billy Stairmand
Not to be out done on the rail game, Divey
Billy
Leon out on the face for a change
Waikato winters and options
Taylor not so full frame this round
It's wintery green, it's cold, its rippy, its hard work, but wouldn't you just love to be presented with that section. Billy blazing
24 hours of crazy good waves. As it turned out the west coast would pump for another 96. I'd like to be writing a claim that I'd surfed it out myself; truth be told I was happily broken from the big swim. Hoping you got your fill.
THE ASFF Winter Sessions
Did you miss the Aotearoa Surf Film Festival 2019 this summer? Well aren't you a tinny little bugger, it's back for the winter sessions! Watch the trailer HERE
Details for the Auckland showings are on the ASFF website... Auckland showing at the legendary Crystal Palace!
From The Galleries
And for something not too dissimilar; and east coast bomb from earlier in July. Check it out HERE