who says new zealand doesn't get big surf?

Saturday 12 July, 2003 at 1:38PM (Nereus) :: permalink :: comments (3)

This shot and following story from srosurf. Goes to show just how big NZ waves can get if you know where to look. To see some of my personal NZ surfing shots, go check out the photo section of this site.

Big Papatowai

Some unbelievable footage is about to hit television stations around the country and the world. In the quest in this years Oakley/ASL big wave awards surfers have tackled New Zealand's South Island in monstrous surf. Waves of up to forty foot high were surfed with Australian Ross Clarke-Jones, a man who has more broken bones in his body than one of Mike Tysons opponents, took it on like there was no tomorrow. West Australian surf videographer Ric Riffici was on hand to capture the mayhem.

"It was unbelievable, some of the biggest waves I've shot. It was so crazy trying to get out to the lineup with the shore break near the river mouth pushing eight foot closeouts though. In the end the jet skis had to be dropped into the water by helicopter, because you couldn't get out to the lineup because of the shore break" said Riffici.
Papatowai breaks near a river mouth and combined with the cold water from the river and the cold water from the New Zealands South Island the only thing that was missing from the line up were a few Polar Bears, there were plenty of Penguins though.

I woke up earlier today and got cramp in my left calf muscle just as I was getting out of bed - fark it hurt. I think I may have pulled the muscle as a result, it's damn sore to walk on. Must go scarf down some bananas (high potassium level which helps stop cramping. At least that's what I've believed for years and always seems to have worked for me to stop cramping up while out surfing).

comments (3)

PuttyGirl
July 14, 2003 4:44 PM [link]

WOW. Um, I'm a'scared. Sorry... I like the waves that are closer to shore and get about as high my floatation device (arm floaties)... OK so I exaggerate. You get my point tho'. Just out of curiousity... does New Zealand have a problem with sharks? I know certain parts of Australia have problems with Great Whites. If so, did you ever have any run-ins with them (sharks of any kind)?

Nereus
July 14, 2003 6:48 PM [link]

Yes in some areas, and yes I've had several encounters.

There are plenty of sharks around, but because the NZ waters are so plentiful in sea life, they seldom attack humans in NZ because basically there's enough food around to keep them happy, and maybe humans don't taste all that good too or there would be more attacks. Usually humans are attacked by sharks because they mistake us for seals. Same with orca (killer whales) which we also get in NZ and I've encountered.

There's a warm current that runs from Australia across the Tasman Sea and offshore around the bottom of the South Island of NZ. A lot of great whites come over in that current and then move closer to shore looking for food. Not surprisingly, most of the attacks and most of the great whites in NZ waters are seen in this region, although there are plenty of other sharks besides great whites all around NZ.

Actually I might write an entry on this tomorrow.. some of my surfing encounters.. there's been more than a few with various sea creatures over the years.

jesse
May 7, 2005 4:53 AM [link]

sick pic mate petty ya dont have more of them iwent and saw it on a big da there and it was massive to big for me lol