July 22nd 2014: Sunday sessions

We're in the middle of winter. The water temperature has plummeted to below 10°C. The air temperature keeps falling to 2°C and seldom tops 10°C. So it seems odd that this past Sunday session at Aramoana was one of the busiest I have ever experienced. Sure, new wetsuit technology is making our lives more comfortable and allowing us to stay out for longer sessions, but we're talking a lineup stretching across every peak on the beach at capacity.

Perhaps it has something to do with one of the best swells we've seen up there since last week's big cavernous sessions. And maybe the sun coming out on cue as the tide dropped added to its playful appeal. I hit the water about 12:30pm on Sunday with the intention of swimming for a couple of hours. That was a pipe dream for me – the waves just got better and better. It was impossible to swim in no matter how much my legs protested. Everywhere I looked surfers were riding deep in barrels, taking off on crazy ramping peaks and racing glassy emerald walls. Hoots, wide grins and excited banter echoed off the cliffs. There is no doubt that this Sunday session, at the picturesque beaches of Aramoana, will be remembered by many for a very long time.

By the time I washed up on the beach it was after 5pm. The sun was setting. My legs and back ached. Now that's what I call a great day out.

While I love the endless surf on our southern coastline I am managing to escape for a week to surf Samoa in August with a bunch of friends. If you're dedicated to surfing in these parts then a regular tropical escape is the perfect way to reconnect with boardshorts, reef grazes and the laidback nature of the Pacific Islands. Our friends at Island Holidays can help make it all happen for you ... or you're welcome to live vicariously through Box of Light as we file our reports directly from Salani Surf Resort during that trip.

See you at the beach ... Derek

PS This is the 150th edition of Box of Light. Wow. Thanks to you for reading our reports and to all our amazing advertisers and partners for making Box of Light possible.