Shag Rock to Shag Pile

Just to let you all know we are alive and all ok here in Christchurch. Thank you for your texts and emails of support and encouragement. The team at Seventhwave have all been lucky to escape without injury or any major damage or problems. Power and water is still to come on here and in many other suburbs. The damage from the earthquake has been extensive not just in the central business districts but also out here in the eastern suburbs. Roading and bridges, sewer, water and electricity, extensive damage totally disrupting everything and any movement. Most drastic is that the iconic Shag Rock has turned to shag pile. Most of the cliffs around Mt Pleasant to Sumner have been drastically changed, many houses sustaining damage and so many with their backs totally broken. Check the RSA and Sumner Community Centre below. For an aerial view of Christchurch earthquake check this footage. And if that's not enough we've got 'aftershocks', a daily occurrence, you can see them all on the Christchurch Quake Map.

Want to help the Christchurch Earthquake Appeal. Donations to the New Zealand Red Cross.

We're back into gear from Monday and look forward to catching up with you all soon.

The Team@seventhwave

2011 Pipeline Bodyboard Grand Slam: LIVE NOW!

The 2011 IBA World Tour kicks off today with the 2011 IBA Pipeline Pro in Hawaii. This year the contest will feature a Men’s, Women’s and DK Grand Slam all under the one umbrella, as well as an exhibition Masters event. As if that wasn't exciting enough, a multi-angle, replay-packed webcast, hosted by Manny Vargas, will be streamed LIVE. So stay tuned!

Seventhwave team rider and Dunedin local Ben Mackinnon will be competing and flying the New Zealand flag at the Pipeline comp. You can check out his progress on his own blog here.

shot of the day

Lucy Hone sent in this great pic of her kids at Gore bay River jumping up at the waterfall.
Great stuff keep the pics coming in!

One 'Like' makes for one happy Facebook winner!

Facebook winner Sharne Quickenden came in today to pick up her prize  — the new X-Over Short John. She went for a mixture of her own custom colours, choosing fluro pink and a number of other hot highlights.

If you want to be the next Facebook winner, simply visit our Facebook page and click 'Like'. We will be drawing another winner in March.

Feedback from Oleron Island, France

Bertrand Galtie sent in this pic of him charging Oléron Island, off the coast of France, and a few words about his Seventhwave wetsuit:

My MAX G&S ZB Steamer is very comfortable and very warm; we've had a couple of good swells here lately, but in the midst of winter, a good wetsuit is a "must -have" to fully appreciate them. That's what I've got now."

Thanks Bertrand! Keep the pics coming in, we love seeing you guys in action.

Seventhwave and Sumner ripper Luke O'Neill cleans up at Sandy Bay!

The hotly contested Junior Division of the Sandy Bay leg of the Hyundai Longboard Tour saw Seventhwave ambassador Luke O'Neill (Sumner, Chch) and Nic Jones (Australia) put on a stellar performance for the crowd. O'Neill, who is the current Under 18 Boys National Champion, surfed with style well beyond his years and his nose riding ability was world class.

O'Neill's main opponent, Jones (AUS) is one of Australia's top juniors and both surfers executed some of the best hang ten's seen at the event. However, it was O'Neill who won the battle winning the final. Hone Douglas (Whakatane), who was stand out in the early rounds didn't quite get scores required placed third with fellow Whakatane surfer Joseph Stewart coming fourth.

Congrats Luke from the team at Seventhwave! For more on the Sandy Bay event check out the full report here.

Dancing through a canyon.. feedback from the edge!

 I spent the 2010 summer canyoning in Europe, both guiding and recreationally. The European canyoners grunted through the canyons in 7mm one piece or 5mm two piece suits. I danced through the canyons in my Seventhwave Viper 3/3 — what a dream it was, with many envious onlookers! For the glacier-fed canyons I was toasty warm with a Hot Top and neoprene shorts underneath and comfortable from start to finish. Cheers Seventhwave!

Annette Phillips
Deep Canyon Guide

Cold Water Classic comes to New Zealand in 2011

The O'Neill CWC Series will bring a 6 Star ASP World Tour event to Gisborne, on the North Island of New Zealand for the first time ever.

The O'Neill Cold Water Classic Series 2011 continues with its promise to push boundaries to find new remote waves around the world in which to host a world-class surfing competition series.

"We launched the Series in 2009 with the aim of discovering and exploring new locations around the world," said O'Neill Global Sportsmarketing Director, Bernhard Ritzer. "We are continually looking for new and exciting surf spots where we can bring this innovative series. In Gisborne we found all that the CWC Series represents; world-class remote waves, in the cold water of course. We also feel privileged to be able to highlight the strong Maori culture to bring further meaning to the event."

Gisborne is one place in the world that is all too familiar with "firsts". It is the first city in the world to greet the sun every morning. And it was the first area of New Zealand sighted by the crew of Captain James Cook's ship, the Endeavour.

And now, between March 23 and March 29, 2011, it will be the first stop on the O'Neill Cold Water Classic Series 2011.

For more info check out surf.co.nz.