We had such a good response to last week's Raglan edition so this week here are some of the images that didn't make the cut for one reason or another. They're kind of like the B-sides, but maybe just didn't fit in because something else leapt into the limited space we have for these images. I have a series of hard drives filled with these. Most won't ever get the chance to see the light of day, but these ones have made it!
I'm glad to be able to include some from the water on one of the bigger sessions I've ever swum at Outsides. The sets were thick on this day and ranged from 4-6 feet, which was okay, but add in the energy boost they got from the long-period swell and even the smaller ones weren't so straightforward. They packed a lot of punch for their size. That came to bite me hard about midway through the session when I swam to get in position for some of the smaller ones. I didn't see a set wander in that would have been at least 8 foot. By the time I saw it the pack was scrambling and I was clawing for the horizon shortly after. The first wave cleaned up the guys sitting furthest out on the boil and then buckled at the second take-off spot and landed right in front of me. I swam as deep as I could but that wall of water collapsed with so much force I got scooped up and flicked backwards for another round. By the time I resurfaced I was out of oxygen. And the second wave was upon me. Same scenario. Bursting through the whitewater to find myself in a Grade 5 rapid. A glance behind me and I could see surfers who had been 50m up the point from me now 50m down the point from me and their red faces and wide eyes hinting at the adventure they had just experienced. One more wave and I make it to safety. But it still takes me five minutes to fill my lungs and quieten my mind. This stretch of coastline is one of my favourites in the world and I always feel comfortable out here, but after this session I have a little extra respect for when the period stretches out towards the 20-second mark.
See you at the beach ... Derek
PS We mentioned last week that our image of New Zealand sea lion, Vega, surfing at St Kilda Beach late last year was selected as a finalist in the 2018 New Zealand Geographic Photographer of the Year awards. We asked you all to vote for our image in the People's Choice category, but have since learnt that you have to select a total of five favourites for your vote to count (you'll know you have done it properly if you get prompted to add your email address in). Here's the link again. Be sure to include Vega in your top five ...
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