Box of Light is made possible thanks to these visionaries:
We were like spoilt brats. Alongside me, my mate Josh Jenkins and the happiest dog on earth, Flo, watched as sets rolled in at Blackhead Beach. Feathered by the light offshore they looked solid and powerful. They were coming from a long way away and we could tell by their shape that they were packing the kind of punch that might just see you snag the wave of your life. We watched a few sets – about 10 minutes apart. On a Mount Maunganui scale this was a 10 out of 10, but it wasn't cutting it for us. Maybe, just maybe there might be somewhere a little better, a little more refined and a touch bigger.
With the confirmation of the offshore winds on the North Coast we jumped in the car and drove away banishing near perfection to just a reflection in a rear-view mirror. We had a sniff of something better. You can be picky like that when you live in this part of the world.
The trek north was worth it, but not immediately. We surfed in typical schizophrenic Aramoana for an hour before the tide dropped and the banks came to life. And from there it just got better and better. Josh snapped his board and I swapped mine for the camera as the small crew occupied a peak each and harvested the perfect peeling walls.
Sometimes being picky pays off.
Lots more swell in the forecast and another window on the north coast. Check here to plan your sick days.
See you at the beach ... Derek
PS The Dunedin grommies who often grace our Box of Light reports (Elliot Brown, Jacob Stevenson, James Murphy, Jack McLeod and Ruben Peyroux) are fundraising to get Kings' High School team to the NZ Schools Surf Champs in Raglan, August 25-26. These guys are on the rise nationally so get behind them right here.
Box of Light is made possible thanks to these visionaries: