Not today! This image is available as a print **HERE**

....aaand the ocean goes flat. Here we are, a mere 10 days out from the biggest surfing comp on our fair shores and the hallowed Raglan Points are flat.

Today and the Manu Bay Scaff town in progress. Thanks to Luke Hughes for the pix! … as in **The Raglan Surf Co.** Cheers Lukey!

Flat in May, WTF, that never EVER happens. Somewhat foreboding, the mid range forecast looks pretty decent. A new Tasman swell on Sunday for the world's best surfers to get their reps in. Then kind've average to small for a lot of the waiting period. I think that long range will change though. Not based on any solid meteorological intellect, a hope the ledge will crack.

It's been fascinating to observe behaviour around the WSL coming to Raglan. Most everyone I've talked to are positive. Surfers and surfing families are frothed on the idea of witnessing first hand what the WSL surfers can do in our backyard. There's a vocal minority of haters. One of the funniest ones I've seen is people complaining about Carona sponsoring the event. Completely missing the point that it's the Carona Cero WSL.... as in a ZERO alcohol beer. There's haters having a whinge about there being vendors selling stuff at Manu Bay. I find that incredibly short sighted, comps until very recently always had food trucks. It's kind of ridiculous to expect people to go back to town for a coffee.

Did you know that Surf Comps used to be sponsored by Lion Red and Rothmans? Those were the days.

A good mate from the USA asked me the other day about the vibe for the comp coming to Raglan. I answered; ' mostly positive. But it's really of note the whingers' generally focus on how the 10 days [of which only 5-6 are the surfing days] is putting them out. Their whines are very much about how 'I' can't access the Points. How 'I'll' be inconvenienced. Never a holistic overview.'

Please, please a little of this for the rest of May. And yep this is a commercial break… this print is available too… **HERE**

I think the logistics competition days are going to be bumpy. There will be lessons learnt for sure. I'm frothing on getting amongst it.

9 days Out

Go Luke!