Back To Rags / by craig levers

gooood but not quite the image wanted

El Nino winters are tough for Piha surfers, especially off the back of 4 very mild winters. The El Nino weather pattern cools down the Tasman, Antarctic storms are almost weekly and overpower the west coast sand banks with too much swell. This has a knock on effect, the banks are washed away, so even when the swell is surfable the sand just isn't there. Howling onshore winds and squalls of rain...not really beach days aye. 

Raglan sunrises

It just means we have to travel. El Nino is good for Raglan, Gisborne and The Far North. We're racking up RUC's. It's ok, the game has changed, adjust and go with it, embrace the sea change. 

Last Friday spent well

Jump Rock waits and pinier weapons

Alani Morse reckons she was just managing the waves on Friday

Raglan Surf Academy student Jahmin Thompson fin freeing 

Our 2023 National Open Champ Pia Rogers escaping the Coromandel's flatness 

The ol' partner in crime...Tom Bilington waiting for the sets that walled

Theo Morse loving Friday arvo/evening elective 

There were still some solid sets on Saturday, Waihi Beach's Zac Curle

Taylor Hutchinson pin point percision

Alani, no longer simply managing 

Tom Robinson finding the ledgey ones

Luke Cederman came in horrified at his performance, he did alright

Zac Curle, just going to get the Elephant out of the room here...what a surname for a surfer! Epic. 

Yeah Chrissy Malone! Just a bit after noon 

Piha resident Jay Piper Helion back in his old stomping grounds... ok wait, born and bred Whitianga, went to school at Raglan Academy and then Waikato Uni, now teaches in West Auckland...he's from everywhere

Saturday evening rolls on 

FROM THE BOOK SHOP

Yess back in its third print. The Big Little Beach Book is available again, it is slowly getting into books stores and surf shops over the next few weeks. You can buy The Big Little Beach Book through the PhotoCPL Website HEREnow, if you want it now.