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TOM GRIMSON PHOTO
Fitzharris, Korbin Hutchings and Whakatane surfer Madison Hi again beach residents and local surfers welcome Atkins made the two-day journey down to the fridge for a very to Wave Rave #2. I can’t believe how much surfing news has been successful surf trip and competition. generated between the spring issue of BeachLife and now. I would World traveller Gabe Marriott who has been surfing in Hawaii like to thank all the people who have kept me informed and up to and Australia but had never before set foot in the South Island date with the gossip on the beach. Spring sprung early, and then took off for a few weeks when a cold snap had us burning the last of our firewood and in some cases furniture. Summer has now well and truly arrived with hot days and nights and an ever-so-slowly increasing water temperature. So far, fingers crossed, surf conditions have been pretty good with consistent small swells from all directions. There have been nice sandbars, especially along Wainui’s northern end with the absence of the dreaded gutter. Plenty of offshore winds have kept everyone happy. For the first time ever I had no regrets when I called for a water delivery truck as even the driest decade won’t see me spend $30,000 on water cartage. LET’S GO SURFING: The Boardroom’s Summer Slam was a huge success with nearly 300 new and Michael Fitzharris took a van load prospective young surfers turning up for a day of competition, coaching and general fun. of Wainui resident grommets south of now understands the quote, “don’t leave home till you’ve seen the the capital in October for a bit of a road trip and a competition in country”. She was in awe of the scenery and waves commenting Dunedin. Reno and Gabe Marriott, Hannah and Jacob Kohn, that it really wasn’t as cold as she expected? She is now planning on Adam Grimson, Johnny Hicks, Chloe Shutt, Jayda Martinapplying to study at the University of Dunedin. Good on her. Local ripper and owner of Gisborne Surf School Sam Johnson has been accepted into Police College in Wellington and has since left to begin the intensive six month training schedule that will see him return to Gisborne with an exciting new career ahead of him. Once trained, Sam would have to be regarded as one of the best surfing cops in the country. My money will be on Sam doing the double – longboard and shortboard titles at the Police Surfing Champs next year. Although Nigel Henstock and Scott Pitkethley, may have something to say about that. If you were down at Northern Makorori on Sunday the 23rd of November you would be forgiven for thinking the Gisborne A&P Show had returned. For the second year running The Boardroom in association with Sequence Surf Shop and Primo ran the Summer Slam grommet competition which brought over 400 people to Makorori Beach. KIDS ON TOUR: Local surf grommets had a ball thanks to Mike Fitzharris on a recent surf Divisions included a girls, primary, intermediate and trip to take part in a competition in Dunedin.
MIKE FITZHARRIS PHOTO
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