Box of Light is made possible thanks to these visionaries:
My title for this Box of Light edition is not really a very accurate description of the photos in this photo report. The thing is all the images in this story came from before the day of days was even a thing. They were the build up. The moments of goodness before the actual main event.
Since I started Box of Light, almost 11 years ago now, I've always vowed to put the camera down on the very best days and go surfing. Back when I decided that my kids were not even surfing yet. My eldest was five then. So I never could have imagined the scenario that unfolded on Saturday. My kids and I paddling out into a lineup that looked more like it belonged in a tropical Indonesian setting. Peaks as tall as houses, peeling left and right in glassy synchrony. Barely a drop of water out of place. It felt like nature was rewarding us for good deeds.
The day of days coincided with stunning air temperatures, and with warm, crystal clear water to cap it all off. Tales started to drift in from Taieri Mouth to the top of Otago Peninsula of surf sessions that were among our very best. Everywhere surfers had tales of stoke and contentment. I hope you managed to find a peak to yourself like we did. Just sublime.
See you at the beach ... Derek
PS During my Friday morning dawny I ran into Crusaders coach Scott Robertson down at St Clair. It turns out he's not only a star breakdancer, but a pretty handy surfer himself. His bung knee means a SUP is about as close as he gets to a vert reo these days, but Razor can surf. As he showed us during a few hours at St Clair Point that morning. His team was up against Moana Pasifika, whose debut it was in DHL Super Rugby Pacific. The match was sensational and an incredible introduction for the Moana Pasifika athletes. The Crusaders won, but Moana Pasifika and the Crusaders team and coaching staff linked arms afterward, thanked each other and sang together. The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end. With all the world's madness, rugby had shown its humanitarian side. The coaches, the players ... just a moment we all needed. Thank you.
Box of Light is made possible thanks to these visionaries: