March 26th 2024: Autumn gifts

You've got to love the autumn swells that just keep on producing for us here in the south and right around New Zealand this past week. Gisborne actually got the best of this last east swell, but we certainly got treated here in Otago as well.

I'm on a mission to surf as much as possible ahead of my next Indonesian adventure in May. So, I'm not shooting every session – but indulging in them myself instead. It's so nice to be in the water and I seem to be able to pick times when the crowds are a bit less intense. A quick trip to Taranaki and Auckland, for my upcoming pie book, bookended a couple of epic surf sessions for me. I'm still buzzing from each of them.

We are so lucky to live in this part of the world. Yes, it may be dark earlier and the sun doesn't get up as early in the mornings, but the swell just keeps on delivering. I'm picking we are going to see a decent big-wave season also. Fingers crossed ...

See you at the beach ... Derek

PS The 2024 Te Kāika South Island Surfing Championships will be held at St Clair/Blackhead this Easter (March 29-31). This is a big Surfing New Zealand 3000-rated event so will attract all the big names and it looks likely to coincide with yet another promising swell. See ya down there ...