day6 O’Neill CWC layday called

AFter waiting for most of the morning it was decided to call off competition for the day. So at midday a few of the O’Neill international team jumped in the car and were shown a few sheltered spots nearby. let the pics do the talking.

O'Neil international team rider and ambassador Jarred Howse locked in a drainer at a secret spot

Surfing Legend and former world tour surfer John Shimooka stoked on the New Zealand Coastline

Day5 O’Neill CWC

Well we are reaching the business end of competition. The venue today was back at Wainui beach’s Pines. After been on hold waiting on a building swell the comp kicked off with small 2 foot peaks rolling in. Many wondered why the comp was called on this day, but when the first surfers stroked into their first waves all reservations were answered.  They tore the living daylights out of the small yet punchy waves. It was the first real airshow of the competition with the new school strike force showing their repertoire. After the completion of the round event organisers called a halt to the day  satisfied that better conditions would prevail over the next few days. What an awesome day of surfing, truly another level.

This Brazilian blokes comp has finished but his fun is only starting.

Brent Dorrington was the first to liven the crowd

Stu Kennedy still keeping the dream alive

Tim McDonald makes his way in after going down to Joan Duru

THIAGO CAMARAO was the man amongst men today

Day4 O’Neill CWC

After yesterdays shift to “Pipe”  The new day dawned with another full day of competition held once again at pipe, morning conditions were stellar with our greatest surfer ever flying the flag, Maz dominated the first heat and moved through to the next round.  Matt Hewitt was the next kiwi up but fell victim to a change in conditions sitting off the peak for most of the heat. Tim Occonor then hit the water looking to emulate MAz and join him as the sole kiwi left but was narrowly pipped by some awesome surfing by the internationals.  WIth  waves breaking through the tide lefts and rights were taken apart in a high performance display.  In the round of 24 Maz the sole remaining Kiwi went neck and neck in his heat and with a minute left and requiring a 7 point ride took off on a hell left unfortunately slipping  on his second move unable to get a connection of his famous backhand verts going. Still a respectable result for the man that has been out of competition for sometime.

The man ' Maz' Stil got it!

Number 1 seed Adam Melling is in hot form

Nat Young

Kiwi Matt Hewitt completes his ride on the inside while his high flying competition boost outside

Tim Occonor close but no cigar.

O’Neill CWC day 3- A shift to Gizzy Pipe delivers

Competitors and onlookers could have been forgiven if they thought it was april fools today. After the contest director called the contest go at Wainui’s Pines break, every local and those that knew a bit about surfing in this region were bemused. Here was an international event with the best surfers in the world, surfing the worst waves on the coastline. By mid morning it finally became obvious and a move into the town beach of Midway and Gizzy Pipe was called. Finally some awesome waves were on offer for the best to show their skills. Unfortunately for us kiwis local boys and probably our best hopes Jay Quinn and Richard Christie went down in their first seeded round. So at this point we still have Maz Quinn, Billy Stairmand. Matt Hewitt and the Wildcard Tim Occonor who blazed the last heat of the day to progress in his first ever WQS. Onya son.

A competitor warming up after the shift to Pipe

O'Neill Team rider Nick White making the most of waves on offer

The internationals were frothing on Young Nicks head as the backdrop

Local lad Richard Christie got knocked but kept the crowd entertained

In the last heat of the day Tim Occonor kept the Kiwi chances alive

With Northerlies called for the morn Pipe could be the option but lets wait and see.

O’Neill CWC day 2 Gisborne

Day 2 dawned at around 2-3 foot but reports were to have the swell building throughout the day. WIth mixed up ocean conditions from a strong cold easterly at least it was perfect Cold Water Classic weather.

Today the big guns came out to play and once the seeded surfers hit the water the action was all go. There were some huge moves going down and Kiwi lads Maz Quinn and Billy Stairmand progressed with style into round 3. Jay Quinn and Richard Christie still have to surf later in the round which wasnt completed today. In earlier heats of round one that was completed early morn, Tane Wallis and Luke Hughes went down fighting with Tane coming narrowly close on his last wave.  Alex Dive dream run also came to an end later in the day in round 2.

By mid afternoon with a dropping tide and rising swell the lineup became all ripped up so a halt to the day was called.

The Maz Quinn power hack got him through on this last wave, have power, catch wave will progress, simple as that.

Wildcard Nick White was another Kiwi in action and put up a good fight, though unfortunately going down

Billy Stairmand flicked the action switch in his heat going crazy.

 

 

Next call at 7AM Friday morn. This evening teh swell was lining up better and the wind is forecast to go the northeast which may offer some other arenas.

 

O’Neill CWC WQS 6-Star Gisborne Day1

Well what a shame after weeks of pumping waves mother nature has turned the epic waves tap off and the wind and rain tap on. The good news is their was surf and while it was sometimes atrocious with southerly squall after squall punching through the lineup, you wouldnt have known as the best surfers in the world made the most of what was on offer and definately made it look better than it was. There is no doubt that these guys are the best in the world, with fast, powerful surfing you had to pinch your self and wonder how they get so much speed in the slop that they were given.

The Kiwi lads all put in good performances throughtout the day holding their own in some very competitive heats. Alex Dive, Maz Quinn and Matt Hewitt all moved through to round 2 where they will meet the top seeds possibly tomorrow.

Unfortunately Buck Woods, Johhny Hicks, Zen Wallis and Morehu Roberts were eliminated but put in very good performances taking the more experienced opponents to the wire.

ALex Dive of Mt Maunganui

Oneill NZ team manager Scott Bell was a late ring in for Braedon Williams and led teh heat for the first ten minutes before being narrowly taken, nice work boss

Matt Hewitt is following the WQS this year full time.

Buck Woods needed a big score in the last few seconds and instead ran over the camerman.

THe Swell looks like it will build for day 2 with winds from the east

O’NEILL CWC welcomed to Aotearoa

In what has been a long time coming, the Oneill Cold Water Classic has rolled into Gisborne and was welcomed in with a traditional Powhiri (welcoming) held at the Manutuke Marae. Competitors and officials were  stunned after experiencing a deep cultural tradition and then feasted with the local tribe and fellow competitors. The contest will kick off tomorrow morning and while it doesnt look like great surf on the way, at least there is some ( most wqs events are held in 1-2 foot)

 

Top pro surfers Jack Freestone, Roy Powers and mates await to be welcomed in.

The challenge of the Haka laid down

Ian Proctor representing the surfers

Roy Powers exchanges Hongi with Local

NZ SURF MAG march/april 2011

NZ SURFING MAGAZINE 138

Blair Stewart on his second cover in a year. Gotta say teh guy knows the business of riding tubes. Here he is slotted down Dunedin.

The 64th Primo Roady- Blessed by a Karakia we break the exodus north and head south, driving non-stop with Richard christie and Ryan Hawker for some southern hospitality Kaikoura style.

The Primo Roady goes massive with a drive from North Cape to Dunedin and back.

Where? Here and Gone- The Cyclone Wilma Story: The thought of a cyclone to a surfer brings dream like memories of perfect barrels, but more often than not they don’t deliver! NZ Surfing was on hand to capture the best of Wilma’s wares, short lived, yet epic and also feature other cyclones that delivered amazing surf.

Scott Bell slotted inside Wilmas womb

Southern Wanderings- When Surfing NZ announced the National Champs would take place in Dunedin, it ensured a gathering of the best surfers available. Not because of the contest, but as they knew, that at some stage during the week, somewhere around this wave rich coast they would score. And score they did.

Local lad Leroy Rust scored the waves of the day schooling the country's best at his local

The 49th New Zealand National Surfing Champs- The champs head south to Dunedin, drawing the best talent the country can offer, to all go head to head in search of the title of Champ.

All the action from the National Champs.

And much much more!

Quiksilver Eddie Aikau Big Wave NO GO !

After much hype all week of a pending swell hitting Hawaii that was forecast to be one of the largest ever, the Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational was called a “NO GO” this morning.

Waimea Bay, Oahu, HAWAII — January 20, 2011 — The Quiksilver In Memory of Eddie Aikau, Fueled by Monster Energy,  was a “NO GO” for competition at Waimea Bay today, based upon the inconsistency of the swell. While there were definitely 20-foot-plus waves sporadically throughout the morning, the consistency of those large waves was deemed to be insufficient to run the two rounds of competition. The event still has until February 28 to run.

It was big but not big enough!

The people were ready as was the contest.

“What we see in conditions like this is just one or two true ‘Eddie’ size waves in the period of a heat,” said Downing. “With seven surfers in the water per heat, that is not the kind of playing field we need for quality, fair competition.
“It’s very easy to get caught up in the excitement when those huge waves come through and after all of the efforts of the crew and the spectators to be ready for this day. But what keeps this event the greatest big wave event in the world is never relaxing those standards. Eddie never did.
“We will continue to wait. The holding period runs through February 28 and we know that there is definite potential in the coming weeks for more extra large surf to arise. If that day comes, we will be ready to go again.”
The 15,000-strong crowd that had gathered under moonlight since the very early hours of the morning understood the call and settled in for the day, regardless. With the world’s best big wave riders making the most of the opportunity to put some time in at Waimea, they will be treated to spectacular rides throughout the day, without question.

Drop in over the ledge and hold on.

2002 Eddie winner and 10X world champion Kelly Slater was in firm agreement with the decision: “It’s a good call,” said Slater. “There are big waves out there, but there’s not that many of them. It’s not what we need.”

Jay Quinn is the National Champ

In a tightly fought battle Jay Quinn narrowly beat out his suitcase surfer team mate Richard Christie to take the 2011 Hyundai National Surfing Champs. In deteriorating conditions at St Clair beach in Dunedin, Jay managed to fit in a few more maneuvers on his waves to score higher yet Richard Christie didn’t give up letting loose with some huge radical moves that had the crowd gasping. In the end Jay walked away with his second National Title, while his brother Maz couldnt find the waves and couldnt add to his 4th title. Morehu Roberts was on fire but unfortunately a lapse in judgement saw Morehu pick up a interference in the first minute of the heat so he was never in the hunt. Speaking of Jay walking away with things, shortly after the prize giving he was seen trying to sneak off to become the first surfer since 1965 to not fill the cup and skull, citing feeling sick a few of the lads hauled him back and the deed was done.

All Hail the champ

Jay banging it vert, check Maz in background about to see nothing but fins.

Ben Poulter took the U18 title in the dying seconds with a clinical display of patient surfing.

Airini Mason played catch up the entire final but in the end her moves were to powerful for the other finalists to match. Picking up her second national open womens title.

You can run but ya cant hide! The deed is done.