New homepage pics!

We have some fresh pics on our homepage banner: check them out! Thanks to Amee Donohoe, Maru Pou, Al T, Jimi Crooks, Sam Wells and Ryan Isherwood for the sic pics.

Moretti Brothers dominate event one of the 2010 Northland Scholastic Surfing Series

The first event of the Northland Scholastics Surfing Series kicked off in fun 1.0m waves at Mukerau Beach in Ahipara on Sunday 18th April. Perfect offshore conditions and clean waves breaking around the point offered the perfect setting for the 30 strong field of competitors and there was some great surfing action through out the day.

The Under 18 Boys division was another eye opener for the crew watching on. As the finalists hit the water the tide had backed off and the points seemed to pulse. Louie Smith (Rodney College), fresh from a year at the Raglan Surfing Academy, started strong in the final linking a couple of the bigger waves in the heat all the way to the beach. But it was Seventhwave rider Joe Moretti (Mimiwhangata) who nailed a couple of massive turns and stylish cut backs to take out the final.



2010 Northland Scholastic Surfing Series
Event One - Ahipara - Sunday 18th April 2010
Event Two - Sandy Bay - Sunday 23rd May 2010
Event Three - Mangawhai Heads - Sunday 20th June 2010

Shot of the Day!

Spotted on Surf.co.nz's Shot of the Day: Wade charging Kahutara!

Shot of the day: a blue whale!

Sightseers onboard a Black Cat cruise got their money's worth yesterday when a blue whale surfaced next to the boat. Black Cat Cruises Managing Director Paul Bingham said the increase of whale sightings off the Canterbury Coast was “certainly proving to be a bonus”.
“Black Cat has been operating for twenty five years and over the last twelve months we have seen more varieties of whales than ever before off Banks Peninsula.”
Sightings have also included a Fin Whale, Orca, Curviars Beaked, Humpback, Pilot and Southern Right Whales, as well as Hector dolphins. Larger than 25 elephants, the blue whale is the largest animal ever to live on earth but numbers have been severely depleted due to commercial whaling. Today the number of blue whales in the southern hemisphere is estimated at less than 500, compared to 250,000 prior to commercial whaling.

Seventhwave in Cape Town, South Africa!

"To say that I am happy about my suit is an understatement, ecstatic would be more appropriate" writes Christophe from Cape Town. "I have found the solution to a 15 years dilemma. The perfect suit actually exists! I thought it was only a distant dream.

I put my MAX to task in the freezing Cape Town conditions over the weekend. For the first time EVER I had to leave the water because of tiredness instead of cold. I have always surfed in a 4/3 and on colder days supplemented this with a jersey, booties, hood and gloves. This was probably the 10th session in my Custom MAX, so far it has almost been too warm to wear.

Guys, you have changed my surfing life: I could never thank you enough."

Read the entire feedback here!

Shot of the Day

Another sick shot from Luke Brodie! Not sure who is in the worst spot....

Upsets at Taranaki Dream Tour Comp!

In a major upset yesterday, kiwi wildcard Sarah Mason has knocked out reigning world champion Stephanie Gilmore and is through to the quarter-finals of the ASP World Women's Tour event in New Zealand.

Sarah has continued her  dream run at the TSB Bank Women’s Surf Festival this morning when she knocked out compatriot Paige Hareb in the quarter-finals.

Now through to the semi final and up against Hawaiian Carissa Moore, head to nzsurffestival.co.nz to watch the competition live, here's hoping a kiwi wildcard can take out the first ASP competition in New Zealand!

Shot of the day

Sick shot! Luke Brodie sent us in this pic of Dennison dodging sea kelp somewhere in Timaru (South Island, New Zealand). Click on the pic to enlarge. Cheers Luke.

Free Willy! Great results at the Bodyboard Nationals

The SNZ Bodyboarding Nationals were run over Easter weekend on the 3rd April at Pines beach in Wainui, Gisborne. The first day of competition didn’t disappoint with clean, 2-3ft hollow peaks greeting competitors. This Nationals broke the mould with a solid turnout and the arrival of some great bodyboarders from the past….

The early rounds saw some great surfing. Standouts were Christchurch’s Aaron lock showing he still has it with fast reverses and big flowing rolls off heavy closeouts. Young Willy Nepia-Murray from Port Waikato, all of 14 years old was surfing well above his age with smooth carving reverses, quick loopy rolls off the bowl and ARS attempts (both use Seventhwave wetsuits: great stuff guys!).

Read the rest of the article here. You can follow Willy's progress on Facebook.

Video highlights: ASP tour in Taranaki

Check out this great video of yesterday's action at the ASP Dream Tour event in Taranaki. You can even spy Amee Donohoe sporting our very own MAX steamer in all red: watch out for her at 1.23 minutes into the video. Ripping!

Taranaki Surf Festival LIVE now!

 Taranaki Surf Festival is on live NOW! The worlds best women's surfers are in town and ready to roll. Sarah Mason has won the NZ Women's open and scored herself a wildcard into the ASP World Tour dream event due to start this afternoon.

Live streaming from the event can be found at http://www.nzsurffestival.co.nz/

World's best women surfers in Taranaki this weekend!

From surf.co.nz: Hot off the heels of the second stop of the year at Bells Beach, the ASP Top 17 have traversed the Tasman Sea to the bountiful beaches of Taranaki for the TSB Bank Women's Surf Festival.

 Event No. 3 on the 2010 ASP Women's World Tour, the TSB Bank Women's Surf Festival plays a crucial role in the requalification campaigns of the world's best female surfers as well as the all important hunt for the prestigious ASP Women's World Title.

Paige Hareb (NZL), 19, current ASP Women's World 9, is into her second year on the ASP Dream Tour, the young goofy-footer will be looking turn around an uncharacteristic slow start to the season.

"I haven't had the best start to my year," Hareb said. "At this time last year, I had a third and a fifth. This year, I have two ninths so it's definitely a different position to be in. I'm really looking for a result in New Zealand."

A result could certainly be in the cards for Hareb. As the first female Kiwi to ever qualify for the prestigious ASP Women's World Tour, Hareb also has the distinct honor of partaking in the first ASP Dream Tour event in New Zealand.

"It's amazing that the tour is coming to New Zealand," Hareb said. "We have so many great waves and I think the girls are really going to enjoy themselves. I'm proud to be a part of it."
Hareb will face Melanie Bartels (HAW), 27, and Lee Ann Curren (FRA), 20, in the opening round of competition.

Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), 22, reigning three-time ASP World Champion, has won the opening two events of the season and will be the form surfer to watch in New Zealand. Gilmore will battle heavily-touted ASP Women's World Tour rookie Carissa Moore (HAW), 17, in Round 1 of competition.

The TSB Bank Women's Surf Festival will be web LIVE via www.nzsurffestival.co.nz

Congrats! 2010 New Zealand National Surfing Champs

 20-year-old Billy Stairmand of Raglan is the new National Champion after defeating his more experienced opponents in the final of the Hyundai National Surfing Championships completed at Gisborne today (Sunday 4th April). Stairmand was joined by another first time national champion Laura Rishworth of Mount Maunganui who won the Open Women’s Division. Read more here: