You could be forgiven for thinking you had rocked up to a round of the World Qualifying Series in the Catlins this past weekend. The howling souwester had turned the place into paradise ... bays filled with spitting barrels and long, lurching peaks wrapping off the southern ocean's full brunt. Scattered through the lineup were New Zealand's best surfers with Billy Stairmand, Maz Quinn, Zen Wallis, Matt Hewitt and JC Susan leading the charge. Joining them were the familiar faces of the coast's most talented barrel hunters.
Kicking back with the Catlins lads in their corporate box we watched 30-plus pack scramble around a peak that usually only had a handful of takers.
"It's crowded for sure, but it's great to see how the country's best surfers ride our wave," one of them comments before hooting and cheering as Matt Hewitt pulls into one long barrel, then emerges and heads straight back into another. Maz follows suit, then Billy draws out a bottom turn before destroying the lip. Further up the beach Tom Bracegirdle and Jimi Crooks trade pits that are 50-50 sand and water. The bay is alive with energy and despite the crowded peaks everyone has a smile on their faces. That's how it should be.
The New Zealand Surfing Championships are on at St Clair this week – here's the surf forecast. Check out New Zealand's best surfers going head-to-head from the comfort of The Esplanade every day this week. Some amazing talented surfing on display.
See you at the beach ... Derek
PS Throughout January the Box of Light Gallery at 1 Dowling Street will be by appointment only. Just call 021 139 8188 to make a time ... we have the office upstairs so can usually be there within a few minutes ... unless we're out shooting or on an adventure somewere. We'll be back to usual hours in February.
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