Box of Light is made possible thanks to these visionaries:
It was hard to stray far from the beaches this past week ... consistent playful swell and summer conditions helped to remind us all that we do live in the lucky corner of the country. Okay, so Cyclone Lusi didn't really deliver as Jim Hickey promised (unless you managed to scoot across to the east coast of Australia – it pumped), but our "normal" ocean state is a pretty impressive one.
More than one surf commentator has noted the distinct lack of grommets in the water around Dunedin. Well, there are a handful and they surf really well, but there's not the masses like there are in other second and third generation surf towns. That may all be about to change as kids with parents who don't surf start to realise the playground right here on the city's doorstep.
Take James Murphy for example. He's 14 years old, lives in Green Island and is an all-round great sportsman. He's taken to surfing and routinely begs his mum, Angela, to drive him to Blackhead for a few hours' surfing each day. What an awesome mum. It's paying off – during one session we saw James hunting for barrels and ramps with more vigour than anyone else in the lineup. When you're scratching five-feet tall it's standing room in most tubes. He's got that sense, too, that ability to read a wave and harness the magic. Watch this space.
We hope you're not surfed out ... this coming week looks equally as loaded.
See you at the beach ...
Derek
PS Our friend Louise Southerden is a multi award-winning travel writer and photographer based in her, well, tent mostly (check her blog here). She has collected 20 of her best adventure travel stories and presented them in a beautiful e-book with photo galleries and video. The adventure dial is turned right up here as she explores parts of the world we all dream of: everything from the Arctic to Antarctica. Warning: if you get itchy feet, then you'll definitely be booking a trip after reading this one (we didn't even get through Chapter 1 before checking the flights to Madagascar). Grab your copy here: Adventures on Earth.
Box of Light is made possible thanks to these visionaries: