June 4th 2024: Coldwater Classic

Kaikōura has turned it on again for the 2024 O'Neill Kaikōura Classic. It's an easy decision to drive the 600km to one of the most beautiful towns in New Zealand. Especially with a promising swell forecast and a camper load of grommets excited to compete with mates, light campfires and surf till their arms fall off.

The Coldwater Classic also signals the end of the surf season in the south so the final series winners are crowned. The whole town gets involved and O'Neill supports the contest as well – so the winners come away with heaps of cash, great prizes and a really good vibe.

Keo won the Under 16s at the Coldwater Classic and that meant he tied for the win in the series with his good mate Jack Higgins. Rewa ended up pipping her good mate, Tessa Gabbott, by 10 points to win the Under 18s. There are some pretty stoked groms right there.

In the Open Men's we were treated to a real showdown with two of the country's best surfers, Westport's Jai Earnshaw and Kaikōura's Levi O'Connor going hammer and tongs with the emerging talent of Dunedin's Nixon Reardon and Christchurch's longboarding WSL athlete Jack Tyro (who also shreds on a shortboard), putting on a thrilling final. Levi O'Connor got the win over Jai Earnshaw with Jack third and Nixon in fourth. Nixon was unable to stick a couple of air reverses that would have changed his fortune.

The comp is also renowned for its free surfing – the waves around Kaikōura are so much fun and all set beneath that stunning snowy mountain backdrop. A huge thanks to the people and businesses of Kaikōura who get behind the contest and surfing, and to Kaikōura Boardriders for all their hard work and good energy.

See you at the beach ... Derek

PS After many weeks of travel we are back in the gallery so pop down and say hello. We'd love to help you fill that wall space with some beautiful artwork from our archive. Here's a good place to start your search ...