Box of Light is made possible thanks to these visionaries:
Yesterday evening felt a lot like summer should: warm water, warm winds and people everywhere in boardshorts and bikinis. I even spotted a topless bather with my eagle eye. Seriously, this could have been the south of France. It even had the sea-breeze winds to ruffle the waves.
There were also reports of a great white shark heading north from St Kilda. Two weeks ago a spearo spotted a 4-5m great white at Cape Saunders so they're defintiely visiting this time of year. They often come around seal pupping time and when there is increased activity with the mating season in full swing for seals and sea lions. Take extra precaution out in the water and maybe don't surf alone at any of the very remote beaches that are located next to a seal colony. The chances of an encounter are extremely low, but be smart out there.
This past weekend we headed to the warm waves of New Brighton for the South Island Primary School Champs. It is one of only a handful of events that have been able to run this year. The waves were challenging – small and onshore, but ultimately contestable for the groms. And if you asked the super grom Lexi Owen ... well, he made them look like pumping waves. He's been out of action for such a long time with injury, but now he's back he's even stronger than before. Lexi is surfing better than he was when he won the Under 14 National Championship in 2020.
Another breakthrough performer to emerge in the challenging conditions was Smaills surfer Pipiata Ritchie. She looked dominant all through the event, winning the Year 6 and Under and then finishing second in the Year 7/8 category (to Christchurch phenom Poppy Entwisle). Pipi even managed to win the brand new JS Monsta Box surfboard and Ocean and Earth wetsuit thanks to our friends at Exit Surf. You can read more here.
The next comp on the radar is the first round of the SISA Grom Series which will be held in Dunedin, December 11-12. Make sure to come down to check it out, but bring your mask ...
See you at the beach ... Derek
PS Some of the coolest cats in Dunedin have rubbed the same magic lantern and now we have an epic music festival coming to town. The Fortune Festival will feature acts including Salmonella Dub, Tiki Taane, TEEKS, Gin Wigmore, Nadia Reid and Her Band and heaps more. The venue is the University Oval.
“We are absolutely stoked to be bringing an amazing lineup of iconic kiwi musicians to Dunedin,” says Jason Schroeder, festival organiser. “We know the city and the wider region have been aching for a new large-scale event and we’re ready to make it happen.”
So good ... public tickets go on sale 10am December 2 (that's Thursday).
Box of Light is made possible thanks to these visionaries: