It is hard to believe that was the shortest week of the year as far as sunshine hours go. The dead of winter supposedly, but it felt anything but. The water temperature at St Clair is around 12.4°C, which is way above the average of 9.1°C for this time of year and above the normal range from 8.0°C to 10.8°C.
From a surfer's perspective that certainly makes those winter surfs a little more bearable, but you have to be concerned about such a rapid change. I hate to think what it might mean for the local wildlife and the balance of our South Pacific Ocean.
On Saturday the warm air temperature and lack of wind, combined with the small, clean swell, creating near perfect summer-like conditions at St Clair. Playful, kid-friendly and sublime. Overnight the south swell filled in to create a punchy arena for everyone on Sunday – even pushing through the midday high tide. It wasn't perfectly lined up, but at times it was near enough. Certainly enough to get the lactic burning in the paddle muscles.
Despite the new swell it didn't bring a wedge of southern ocean water with it. Hopefully these next few southerly flicks will restore the kind of winter we've come to know and respect. But that last swell was certainly a hummer.
See you at the beach ... Derek
PS Last week we got to help TVNZ's Ross Wilson and John McKenzie film a news' piece on ultra endurance runner Glenn Sutton. To highlight his incredible journey to Death Valley to compete in the Badwater 135, the team filmed Glenn in his heatbox, getting his special brew, Into The Valley, unboxed at Emerson's and on a wee training run up near Lee Stream. The result was a nice little insight into what Glenn's getting himself into. You can watch Glenn Sutton's news story right here.
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