WIN sticky johnson & surfers skin nada - ziltch - nothing - nowt + FREE DOWNLOAD @ www.zepher.co.nz
magazine
FREE
#23
the amphibious love issue
WORD FROM B-Rad Big Willie Beggs UNcle HiNge Elliot Paerata-Reid Jae Mills
Cover shot: Elliot
+Best ISA
Worlds Piha poster eva!
Intro...
One man and his dog stand oblivious to the mini chopes unfolding down the beach - pic Greeny
Finally, after a winter that stretched, for me, from late June until February, I’m back into the middle of an 09 summer in full swing! By all accounts it came late. Huey deciding finally to turn the tap on for the Worlds at Piha, showing the juniors and the planet that, yes, the 09 does have decent waves! Having spent almost two months buried in the worst European winter since 1967, I would have to rate the moment that I crossed the Manukau Heads in that plane as one of the happiest in my life. The surf was obviously pumping, it was a beautiful sunny day, and to see the familiar deep-green of the Waitakeres contrasting against the blue Tasman Sea sent me into a froth overload. It’s good to be back, not only just in the country, but back in the 09 we love so much, and back on the 09 program bringing you another issue packed with cerebral stimulation. Sure it can be frustrating being a surfer in New Zealand, especially us up the top end, but after seeing how the other half do it, we don’t know how lucky we are! Get out there, enjoy it. Drink beer, eat snapper and get barrelled! Greeny, out.
Art & design: Luke Darby luke@zepher.co.nz Editor: Paul Greenland greeny09zine@hotmail.com Stalin Styled Director: Craig Levers photocpl@xtra.co.nz 09 Magazine Proudly Printed in the 09 by Icon Print.
09 Magazine is published by: PhotoCplMedia www.photocpl.co.nz photocpl@xtra.co.nz. CMB 33, Piha, Waitakere 0646 Copyright PhotoCplMedia All rights are reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording and otherwise, without prior written permission of the publisher. Neither facts, views and opinions expressed in advertising or text are necessarily agreed to by the editor or publisher of 09 and while all reasonable steps have been taken to ensure accuracy, no responsibility will be taken by the editor or publisher of 09 magazine for inaccurate information. Thanks - love you long time?
E3+ Now wITh 30% MorE STrETCh
• 100% E3 neoprene • E3+ superstretch tape • Fireskin lining •4 way back stretch U LT I M AT E FLEXIBILITY
L I g h T E r ,
w A r M E r
OWEN WRIGHT see more at ripcurl.com
M o r E
F L E X I B L E
So how old are you Elliot? I’m fourteen. How long have you been surfing for? I could stand up when I was five, but I started surfing properly when I was nine. So how did you get into it? My dad, Jemarl got me into it, he surfs too so he got me started. Where’s your favourite place in the world to surf? Nias and Lakey’s, my favourite wave is Periscopes probably. I just spent nine months in Indo with my parents it was super fun! What about New Zealand? Umm, Okiwi, Piha, Whanga bar and Raglan. Oh, and Matakana. Who do you usually surf with when you’re at home? Ware, and Zac mostly, and who ever’s out there, usually heaps of kooks! (laughs) Do you guys push each other? Nah not really, we just have fun! So who’s your favourite surfer Elliot? Dane Reynolds. He’s just so sick and does the sickest airs. I hope I can surf like him one day. You were recently part of the New Zealand junior team for the ISA worlds at Piha. How was that and do you think you learned much from being in the squad? Yeah, well I learnt that you don’t really want to play it too safe in comps like that. The standard of surfing is so high you’re not going to get scores for a couple of turns and a close-out reo. You have to go all out and try stick something big. Oh, and don’t get stuck in the rip and paddle for your whole heat so you miss all the waves! It was real cool being a part of a team instead of just surf-
ing for yourself. Everyone is real supportive and encouraging so I really enjoyed the team spirit and being a part of that! Cool bro, good on ya! So where do you want to be with your surfing in five years? Hopefully on the junior series, but mostly just having fun and hopefully surfing good. Cool, thanks heaps bro, any shout-outs? Yeah thanks to Rip Curl, FCS, Gorrilla Grip, Ware, Dune, Greeny, the Hawker family and my mum and dad for always supporting me and paying for everything! So there we have it, some wise words from one of 09’s most promising up and coming young surfers, Elliot Paerata-Reid. [We’re stoking on his cover shot for this issue too!] This super stoked, happygo-lucky little gremlin is really starting to hit his straps and the boys at 09 Mag are expecting big things from this little guy in the future. Already a national champ and grom-series winner by the age of 13, he’s got the competitive knack and a good head on his shoulders, two vital ingredients necessary to win contests at any level. Watch this space...Just as the title says- sure to rise and rise he will!!
Available at all Amazon stores nationwide
Deep in the northern deserts. Pic Greeny
Environmental perspective. By Banksy
Drought in the 09... Northlanders are stuck in the middle of the worst drought in recent history. And I’m not talking about a wave drought either. El Nino has run amuck this summer reducing Northland’s Rivers to trickles and the drought has put most of the Far North on a water curfew. Met Service have stated that there had been less than a third of the usual rainfall for this period of the year and just last month the Government declared Northland an Official drought zone. To make things even worse, people caught using the scarce water can be fined up to $20,000 under a new fine set in place by the Far North District Council. From watering your mullies to cleaning the car, Council have been out on the streets of the Hokianga and Far North policing the restrictions. Hopefully no one has had to foot the fine yet. Luckily the east coast has been cooking in the wave department so plenty to keep the locals minds off the dry mouth and dirty car. It looks like some little Bogans decided to spark up a bush fire in the Dome Valley recently and really put a dampener on the usual pleasant drive people experience on a Sunday afternoon
drive back to the big smoke. State High Way One was closed for 5 hours as every fireman in the area got the blaze under control. Most of Northland’s Forests are an Extreme Fire Risk, so be careful and don’t flick ya dirty ciggie butts out the car window. Te Arai lives to see another day ...for now! A mixed bag of news for the anti Te Arai development collective. Developers are currently negotiating titles as per the Rodney District Plans “Enhancement Planting” which would allow up to 48 houses to be built in return for plantings and covenants. With the scale of the proposed housing being less that 1% of the total land area it wouldn’t be a massive eye sore for beach users, but in principal it is still a win for the developers and loss for locals and action groups. It is up to the ARC to step up to the plate and stop the next step of coastal development in an area that is already over flowing with speccy homes and brand new locals. On a more positive note, the original proposed plan change has been squashed in the Environment Court, so maybe Te Arai will live to see another day...for now!
Oooops...
All pics Rob Hansen
Indo’s been done, the Mentawais are a circus, and Fiji is just a cliche. How about a luxury launch charter to the world famous Whangamata bar? Our brand-new, custom made $400,000 boat will take you from your favourite Viaduct drinking hole, straight to the best bar on the Coro. For no extra charge, we’ll drop you off right where you want to be when your’re 10 beers deep, stranded in the impact zone by a four metre swell. With a new boat for every trip, we assure only the very best in comfort, style, a fully stocked fridge and the best skipper money can buy! Hurry, boats are limited, Phone 0900 STRANDED for info and bookings. (Disclaimer: You’ll probably have to hitch-hike home, but everythings fun when you’re drunk right?)
‘Bout time the boys turned up, its cranking!’
send ur pipi’s to photocpl@xtra.co.nz
It's just not cricket. Freeride has a new hardware web site….check it out. Join their mailing list through the tab on the home page before April 10 and win a Rip Curl 3/2 F-Bomb valued at $749.00. Draw made on April 15. Go to www.freeridesurfskate.co.nz Muffin proposes a new mix. Jo is a brave woman and quite simply Muffin aka 2008 09 champ- Scotty Bell is the luckiest man alive. Scotty and Jo are now engaged and we wish them the very best for the future. Your shout Muffin. In the meantime his boss at Oneill, Jason ‘Taddy’ Falconridge is Mentawaii bound [again!!!!] along with former 09er Si Avery. They are cruising the wave drenched isles with the top Ono dingoes from OZ…hate those work perks. The 09’s very own Sticky Johnson wax is venturing deck grips with high density EVA square diamond traction pattern for increased friction points allowing for incredible grip. SJ riders have been blown away with the extreme traction states inventor Steve Morpeth. 09 Mag has 2 to give away to the readers with the fastest digits, simply email photocpll@ xtra.co.nz with Sticky Johnson in the subject field- 1st in 1st served. Sticky Johnson tail pads are available at all leading 09 surfshops RRP $57.40 Power Balance Bands- Well it could be a hoax, but our
publisher and flatmates reckon they are the business. Gizzy surfer Bhodi Whittaker is peddling the PB wristys. The concept is that everything has a frequency inherent to it. Some frequencies react positively with your body and others negatively. When the holograms on the wrist band comes in contact with your body’s energy field, it allows your body to interact with the natural, beneficial frequency stored within the holograms. This results in improved energy flow throughout your body. Or something like that, whatever it does everyone who has got one of the wristbands raves about them and Andy Irons wears one. Check out www.powerbalance.com or facebook Bhodi Whittaker…he’s the man
NEW Only $19.90 Available from all good surf shops in the 09 or www.thesurfshop.co.nz
Send your answer to photocpl@xtra.co.nz
Jae Mills interview by Linden Simmons
Live Like Common People. Your label Commoners_Alike has just recently leaked into stores nationwide I believe. What is Commoners_Alike and where does it come from? Commoners_Alike was somehow born out of the large empty cavity inside my skull. It is a collection of unique on-trend basics at an affordable price point. I launched the label after noticing a distinct lack of this kind of product being designed and available in New Zealand. The idea is to offer a range of key wardrobe staples that are simple yet with a point of difference. The ambiguous nature means each piece is open for interpretation and can be worn by both men and women. The name of the label is based on ideology surrounding a separate, like-minded group of society; free spirited individuals who walk to their own beat - commoners who are alike. You’ve contributed designs to well known labels Huffer and Workshop over the last few years… How long have you been designing for and when did you get into it? I completed a diploma of fashion technology at AUT and then went on to complete a diploma of computer graphic Design at Media design School. In 2003 while still studying, I approached Huffer about a work experience placement and Dan and Steve kindly took me in. Soon after that they offered me an apprenticeship type position as a design assistant so I left Uni. Over the course of three and a half years I worked my way up to a senior design position. After almost 4 years with Huffer I decided to make a change and take on a new challenge with Workshop Denim. I completed 3 collections with Workshop Denim before taking a 7 month sabbatical to travel through America and Europe with my girlfriend. You did a huge mission to some of the most beautiful spots in Europe… How did that affect your practice as a designer? I had lost a lot of confidence with my own ideas prior to the trip having worked for two other labels. So I think the greatest affect the trip had on me was to refill my head with inspiration and ideas and to give me the confidence to express my vision. What would be the main aesthetic influences that inform your designs for Commoners_Alike? I really
like simplicity and ambiguity - direction without a strong reference point. I try to think about the aesthetic as being quite straight forward but hopefully a little off, like the balance of opposites. Kind of like what a Samurai would wear to travel unseen through the night. You and your partner Jaimee are quite a heavy hitting design team, her being a freelance graphic designer. Does it sometimes get competitive at home? Nah not at all but when it comes to Commoners_Alike I guess it sometimes can. She’s more analytical and I’m probably more whimsical and holistic so we’ve had the odd “disagreement” over things like brand consistency for example. Her experience has been really valuable. Together we see things in black, white and grey. Being a committed surfer coming from Wainui in Gisborne is quite contrasting to the fashion design world. Do you miss the waves and the quite pace of Wainui? It is very much a contrast but coming from a small place like Wainui Beach has really helped me as a person to be openminded and down to earth. For some reason there are a lot of egos in the fashion world, which is unfortunate. I do miss the luxury of having the beach on my doorstep and the quality of waves. I really enjoy getting back there for the holidays. Lastly; Soy lattes? Or trim quarter strength decafs? Ha ha, soy-decafe-half-strengthtall-latte. Nah, double flatty with a half sugar boi!
Dear Uncle Hingey. I am a 27 year old surfer from Torbay on the North Shore. I have been single for a long time and finding it hard to meet people, I recently decided to join an internet dating service. I got chatting with a nice looking young lady from Ranui and before I knew it we were up all night on MSN talking and exchanging pictures. She seemed really cool and I felt like I was falling in love. Finally we decided we had got to the stage where it was time to meet. I was very nervous waiting at the restaurant and got a text saying she would be late. After half an hour of anxious waiting, a lady came and sat down at my table and introduced herself. I was slightly confused as the woman sitting opposite me was around 50 and a good 110 kilos. The pics she had sent me had obviously been taken in 1978 and her arse had definitely seen better days. It was a bit awkward at first but once we got chatting I knew it was the same lady I had been falling for. I’m not sure what to do, I think I’m in love with her, but she’s older than my mother and not the best looking flower in the bunch. I’m afraid of what my friends and family will think. Should I just let it go and upgrade to a sportier model, or should I follow my heart and roll in the Bedford bus? Dear caller You have gained a very valuable life lesson here- Expect the best, plan for the worst, and prepare to be surprised! What I applaud you for is your action taking. At 27 sitting at home on lonely Saturday nights telling yourself positive affirmations is like pissing into a mid winter South-westerly at Maori Bay. Without the required follow through, life truly is an asparagus scented existence. Knowledge which is fuelled by emotion, equals action, and action is the ingredient that ensures results! Only action can cause reaction. Further, only positive action can cause positive reaction. Basically your knowledge of a
lonely life has sparked your emotion into action which has led you to a result, maybe not the result you will brag to the boys about! But it’s a result none the less. Action…. The whole world loves to watch those people who make things happen, and it rewards them for causing a wave of productive enterprises. The question is do you choose to put those waves in a box and create more actionless affirmations, or do you ride the waves to a stepping stone result which you can then build on? I stress this because today I see many people who are really sold on affirmations. And yet there is a famous saying that “Faith without action serves no useful purpose.” I have nothing against affirmations as a tool to create action. Affirmations repeated to reinforce a well thought out and disciplined plan can help create amazing results. But there is also a very thin line between faith and folly! You see - affirmations without action can be the beginnings of self-delusion. And for your well-being ,there is nothing worse than self-delusion. Don’t be the man who dreams of wealth and yet walks daily toward certain financial disaster and the woman who wishes for happiness and yet thinks thoughts and commits acts that lead her toward certain despair. They are both victims of the false hope which affirmations without action will manufacture. Why? Because words soothe and, like a narcotic, they lull us into a state of complacency. Remember this: TO MAKE PROGRESS YOU MUST ACTUALLY GET STARTED! So that leads me onto your deserved results of your action taking. My question to you is- Can you get the Bedford Bus started? Bedford’s may look a little ugly and tend to fade to burnt orange as most British manufactured rides seem to do, but they have gained a massive following for reliability and low maintenance over the years. The detail that separates Bedford’s is what do they feel like? It’s really the sense of quirk and personality that sets them apart from their flasher and more sterile German or Asian competition, and unless you’ve driven or ridden on a Bedford you just don’t know do you! It might just be beginners luck but you have possibly just have found an original low mileage comfortable home bus that’s about to take you on an amazing joy ride to who knows where or just what’s hidden under the next fold? First you need to see if this girl is running the collectable up-
Ever active Napes has never had internet issues. Pic Coff
graded Cleveland motor option. If there’s a big straight sex pack that’s not blowing smoke, I can guarantee the body hasn’t been thrashed. Check that the aftermarket flared guards don’t conceal many years of being thrashed around by the boys on weekend trips away in the 70’s. Another vital test is to check the THC levels in her oil. Take your dip stick and rub it around the most visible an accessible grease nipple, if “THE HORNY COUGAR” or “THC” levels are below 49% with the oil skin texture having a lightly brown mottled coat you should be fine to crank her over. Please note she may require a little warming up before high RPMs are reached. If “THC” levels are above 55%, with oil texture really ruff, quite dark and with visible shavings on the surface you have been caught in a “THC” pussy trap my friend! It’s time to get the hell out…..and NOW!
The well cared for Bedford Cougar is really something to hang onto, its smart sensibility and surprising agility for its size can be a real surprise. I can guarantee once your friends and family see you riding in such comfort they too will crave to come along on your comfortable camping trips. Be assured my friend, the Bedford can easily tow something sportier behind which will no doubt be used for flash trips into town. With the Bedford’s factory installed warm showers believe me every sunset will be golden! I recommend when the time is right with your friends and family, pick your moment and just get all the shit off your chest. But for now, lay on your back, beer in hand and just let that big Cleveland motor keep steaming along!
Dustman. Brad Buckle
Brad Buckles off the bottom on a big blue boomer.
Brad Buckle is a 32 year old surfer/shaper currently based in Piha on the west coast of the 09 and crafts boards under his own Exile label. 09 mag catches up with him and we get the low-down on what makes this young man tick… I began working at Primal and Hotworks (Supersession Surfboards) back in ‘95. I learnt all aspects of surfboard manufacture from all my heroes of the time... who all became my great friends, Graham Allen, Glen Carkeek, Ross Martin, Mark Robinson, Indian, H.C, Vaughan Baucke and Benji Malpas. Suddenly little grommet me, was mixing with pretty rad crew who knew their shit in and out of the water, next thing I knew I was flatting with Glen Carkeek, (in a pad looking straight out onto North Piha) I had access to all the pro crew at the time, and even gettin to go on team trips etc like boat trips to Fiji with photogs! It was sick for me, I was still only 19 or 20. I was the factory artist- airbrush spraying, we built Primals, Supersession, Q-stix ‘s, Lobster, Savaii and more all from that factory. At that time the factory was very tight-knit, and as well as spraying many thousands of boards over the next 6-7 years, I also was taught the finer points of sanding, laminating, ding repair, even fin panel lay-up and foiling. We worked a lot with carbon, vac bagging and timber veneers too for Supersession as well as the standard P.U blank/ P.E resin, so I got to see it all. Pretty much I was set up with all the skills to produce boards from one end to the other, so of course I was dabbling with shaping during that time too. When you intimately handle thousands of boards per year, you become very familiar with curves and flows, in fact I could recognise who had shaped a board in our factory just by blind feel before I even looked at the stringer, so then I knew how my shapes needed to look, and over the last 10-12 years it has just been a journey to get them to actually look like I wanted!! haha, refining accuracy and technique and speed... Eventually, I left the factory (kinda looking out for my health) and qualified as a builder, but I kept getting the odd order for my shapes, so kept a lil mini-factory going out of Rayner rd, then eventually after Primal built their new “mega-factory” in Kumeu a year or two ago, I got the opportunity to go back in and shape from there. which is EPIC! I share a bay with Felix Dickson (Feestix), often Craig Hughes(raglan) is in the bay next door shaping, those guys are legends! And from time to time Jason Rodd (J.R. surfboards Australia) in shaping next to me too.. doing boards for guys like Shaun Cansdell, Keiren Perrow and Josh
Kerr. Being able to watch and chat with guys of this calibre is like nothing I ever dreamed of. Producing my boards alongside those crew with the same quality materials and glassing/ sanding is wicked! So that’s where EXILE boards are now.... Crew are pushing material exploration pretty hard, everyone looking for stronger, lighter, more response but the underlying philosophy is to make them all still perform like a standard P.U board –flex wise- go figure- what’s wrong with just riding a P.U board then eh!!?? Look, I know Taj is on Firewire (supposedly) and Kelly rides the odd epoxy... but on the whole, what are the top 44 (soon to be top 32!) riding? ..... standard eh...Primal, I reckon, have cracked the next best thing with their ‘Futurelite’ eps system... in one word, unbelievable! Check em. Also fin systems and fins themselves got some breakthrough’s coming... (yo Cam, what’s up?!) Currently personally I’m into my little duck/fishcuit/dumpster diver boards- 5’4 to 5’7, contrary to popular belief these tiny things can light up in solid surf too I ride my 5’4 in almost everything except northswell, North P... (you would agree eh Greeny??) I reckon I gonna do u a shape one day bro!!!!! I have been blessed to have had some very talented guys on my gear from time to time, I have had my shapes ridden by guys like Christian Fletcher, Dean Morrison, and even the mighty Maz...haha.. so I feel some of the shapes have been pretty thoroughly critiqued and given a real test. Plenty of crew been ordering my “Hitler’ model which is a standard shortie, 6’1 or so but with less entry rocker, flatter for cruising over the boggy flat spots that P-land Bar loves to throw at u, in between 6 foot, vert, chunderous, heaving sections of doom; our west coast demands a pretty unique board, capable of dealing with 2 foot mush and the above mentioned 6ft vert, not just in the same session, but often on the same wave! I reckon u need flat up the front end for the pump, and a functional tail that’ll hold and drive for the hack, hey, that’s a pretty simplistic view at it tho, it would obviously take all day to discuss the finer points of hydrodynamic physics, and every guy’s order is different... that’s just the board for us out here... east is another deal altogether...as is indo, or the pacific... EXILE will slowly expand and infiltrate all aspects of the surf world, then creep into politics and eventually religion, until everyone in the developed world will wear a capital “E” on their forehead, but fear not, because your new leader will also abolish all forms of stand-up-paddle-boards, all lids, goat boats and mals (or any craft that exceed a pre-specified “rider size to board dimension ratio”) so the ocean will be a happy place once again... quack quack.
Kohole Andino
Ben Poulter
Gabriel Medina Jake Scott
Gabriel Medina
Matt Banting
Gabriel Medina
Kohole Andino
Kohole Andino Jayda Fitzharris Beyrick de Vires
Tamaroa McComb
Evan Gieslman Alex Dive
Johny Hicks
Tamaroa McComb
Grommet action from the Quiksilver ISA Worlds at Piha 2010 All pics CPL
magazine
09 Designer Launches zepher.co.nz So Mr. Darby how did it come about? As a grommet I watched endless surf vids by guys like Jack McCoy, Sonny Miller and Taylor Steele. I decided to try and make my own so bought a camera and started shooting local surfers out Piha. I got some great footage but had no way of showing it. DVD duplication at the time was expensive so I lost interest and started shooting weddings to pay for the camera. That was until recently when I discovered how easy it was to share video on the internet. I wanted to show friends a few sessions I’d shot over summer, so I set about building my own site - a big ask I’ve discovered for somebody code illiterate. What is a Zepher? I came up with the name one night after watching the doco ‘Dogtown and the Z boys’. It’s spelt ZYPHR in the movie but
I had to change the spelling slightly to get the website domain name. Future plans? Initially Zepher.co.nz was to be my personal site but it’s now for anyone inspired through surfing to showcase their creativity - videographer, photographer, artist, writer, musician - I’m keen to hear from you. It’s definitely a labour of love and still in its infant phase but I’m passionate about its development. When you visit be sure submit your ideas/feedback etc and subscribe for updates. Enjoy! We’re using Luke’s site www.zepher.co.nz to host 09 Magazine’s page flip…please check it out and tell your mates
Northland ranga Paco Divers not launching a website. Pic CPL
w
Shotbo' Shotbo' Shotbo' Best Shot Bo’ wins a FREE 1 day surf school with Best wins aTours. FREE 1Includes day surfreturn school with NZShot SurfBo’ ‘n’ Snow transport, NZ2Surf ‘n’ Snow Tours. Includes return transport, x 2hr surf lessons, surfboards, wetsuits, water 2 xsafety 2hr surf andlessons, surfing surfboards, rules (valuedwetsuits, at $120).water Duck safety and surfi ng rules (valued at $120). Duck dive into www.newzealandsurftours.com dive into www.newzealandsurftours.com
Febraury fever in the 09
Send ya shotbo’s to:to09magazine@xtra.co.nz send shot bo’s photocpl@xtra.co.nz Send yaya shotbo’s to: 09magazine@xtra.co.nz
Foreign Affairs Ahh..summer in the 09. Barbys, beers and backyard barrels- there’s nothing better. So why would I leave all this to go to the frozen wastes of Europe locked in the grip of the worst winter in decades? Well, I’m still trying to figure that one out myself really! Until then, 100% of my surf trips had been to the tropics or Australia, so when my parents invited me to go up to the UK with them for Christmas, I couldn’t really turn it down now could I? My Grandfather and both my sisters were up there so it was time for some quality family time, lots of whiskey, and hopefully a couple of cheeky frozen barrels on the side... It started snowing the day before we got there and didn’t let up for three whole weeks. The infrastructure in England couldn’t cope with such a huge amount of snow and the country virtually ground to a halt. Being a virgin to driving on snow and ice, I spent the first few days buried in my hotel with a bottle of Jack and the internet to keep me company. Finally emerging from my cave only when the roads were deemed safe enough for me to risk without writing off the hire car on the first bend. Family and food are good, but whiskey is better, so I snuck up to Scotland for Hogmanay and gorged myself on the de-
lights of the Scottish Single Malt. The Green, whiskey and icey ground don’t mix particularly well, so I spent a lot of my time falling flat on my ass, developing some nasty bruises all over my hips and bum, much to the delight of my more wary Scottish mates. All in all it was excellent and would recommend Edinburgh for New Years to anyone. After all that carry-on, it was time for France and a visit to my sister, who lives in Nice on the French Riviera. Being on the Mediterranean, I didn’t take my board, but much to my surprise there was a glassy 3ft swell running most of the time. there wasn’t too many surfable options though, as the beaches are super steep shingle and it is mostly just a big, gravel-sucking shore dump. I was in France, however, so I seized the opportunity to blend in and went for a naked body-surf. My God it was like jumping into a freezer! Nice to be in the ocean again, but I came out packing a baby carrot and two frozen peas; not a good look when there’s beautiful French ladies strolling the boardwalk above! Ah well...back to London and still no waves. I take my hat off to the people who live in that concrete zoo. Sure if you’re into that
kind of scene then all good, but it definitely ain’t for me! Trying to take my surfboard on the Tube was a good time too. At one station the ticket guy asked me how long my board was, and I answered, ‘Six-three’ , ‘Oh sorry guv, you can’t take anything over six foot on the Underground.’ After the ensuing argument, I walked out fuming, and down to the next station. A more friendly looking guy asked me again how long my board was. This time I wisely retorted with ‘Its five-eleven mate.’ ‘No worries, the maximum length allowed is six-six.’ I felt like going back up the road and sticking my board through that grumpy old fuck’s left eyeball, but I had a plane to catch. The Basque country waited. I had high hopes of scoring Mundaka in all its sand dredging glory as a big swell was due, but it was too west to get in properly and it was only 3-4ft. Still dialling though, and better than most days at Whanga bar, but there were 30 kooks out and we had bigger fish to fry. Just up the coast, out in front of my mate’s place in fact, is a spot called Menakoz-Basque’s answer to Mavericks. A perfect peak rears up in front of a cliff and an epic right rifles off into a deep little bay. The left is good too but is a sure fire way to get caught out by the big sneaker sets that come in so quick you just can’t escape, and the unwary get washed into the jagged rocks lining the shore. I got it pretty good, I thought, a solid 8-10ft with a few bigger ones and perfect offshore for 3 days straight. My borrowed
7’2” was the biggest gun I had ever ridden, but still felt like a toothpick in the heavy, ten degree water and fast jacking peaks. Luckily my mean as Quiksilver heated vest kept me toasty long enough for me to get some of the biggest waves of my life. I was super stoked, it was like surfing a really big, cold version of Te Waha. The mate I was staying with, Zumo, is THE man out there, he grew up less than 100m from the bay. He was getting big pits where I would have been speed trimming for the flats. He reckons he first tried surfing it when he was eight on a boogie board with dive fins and it was 8-10ft! It holds 20ft plus and you can paddle out that size with dry hair. Showing me some pics of him paddling it huge, I was glad it never got like that when I was there- just thick, giant peaks. He is fervently opposed to tow-surfing and will go it on his 10 foot gun, no matter how big it gets. Zumo was also invited as an alternate to the Eddie this year, a tesament to his charging efforts! My European two months was drawing to a close and I was pretty over it to be honest. The surf was pumping back home, I was cold, and I wanted summer! After the marathon travel mission back, I’ve never been so happy to be home. Straight from the airport to Piha, and less than two hours in the country I was in some fun 3ft north Piha bowls with my mates...oh summer how I had missed you!
Early morning Menakoz. Pic Greeny
Q????
FTB’s Willie inta-viewed by Tomas Battersby.
Who is Mr Willie Beggs and where are you from? I was born and raised on the Shore spending my time surfing Taka Stormys and slashing up the footpaths around Devo and Bayswater. At the end of my teens I found snowboarding which complemented my surfing and I’ve been in a love with them both since! Where have you spent the last 5 years and doing what? I’ve been living and snowboarding in Ohakune at Turoa, working on FTB and doing a lot of MC’ing at comps and events around the country. It feels amazing-amping up a crowd! I spend my summers between Auckland and the Goldcoast trying to surf as much as I can and work when I have to. So what does FTB mean and how did it get its name? Well FTB is probably not the most practical name for a snowboard camp company, but the letters do have strong meaning to me and my bros that have helped us get through some tough times. I tell people basically whatever you can create
with the letters is what it can mean.. fun times boarding, fried tomatoes and bacon, fondle the b+!^*…. you get the idea! So FTB snowboard camps ay, who are these for and what do you get up to? Our camps are for any one who enjoys snowboarding and wants to shred with NZs best pro snowboarders Nick Brown, Rob Mitchell, RMB and yourself, just to name a few. Progressing there skills whilst living inhouse with the FTB crew. We have camps from 1-10 weeks long anywhere in NZ and even in Canada! School holiday camps for the groms are an awesome way to make the transition from Snow-planet to the real mountains. FTB can also tailor Custom camps for any age and skill level including heli-boarding or riding the legendary Canterbury club fields. All the info is at www.ftb.co.nz or you can drop me a line willie@ftb.co.nz, I’d be stoked to hear from you! Describe your perfect day, anythings possible? Far out.... OK Big blue-bird POW day at Turoa. Hook up with
PIHA SURF stock a wide range of new and 2nd hand surfboards. Or order a Custom shape from esteemed shaper Mike Jolly. Check out the cool as Piha Surf T’s, and other funky nic-nacs from the upstairs-craft shop .We offer a professional ding repair service at Piha Beach, West Auckland (incl. quality repairs on all epoxy boards.) and accommodation.
www.pihasurf.co.nz
122 Seaview Rd, Piha Beach | (09) 812 8723 | E: pihasurf@xtra.co.nz
Begg- Willie- blazing. Pic CPL
all the crew, hitting all the favourite spots, oh man- I’m getting hot just thinking bout it!!! Out east, out west, lay down some turns slash a few wind lips, throw some methods, drop clays, make a lot of noise, a few hoots to the crew, spray a skier, hike to the summit, drop into the glacier, shoot the sp#$d track, then back down to FTB lodge, have a quick moto ride. Eat a big roast for dinner then watch the sunset from the hot tub chilling with good people and still hooting !! Ok so you are a frother; how do you keep amped? Oh Man... Perfect waves, perfect wind lips, groms on my camp seeing them stoked, watching anyone get a sick wave, snowboarding as fast as I can, groms busting big tricks in comps, troppy swell, powder snow, a certain left hand bar break on
the Coromandel, seeing people make it doing what they love, sunny days, good music, woman. Perfect waves, no one out, OR Powder day with all your friends? Yo I’m so lucky to be able to have them both but it is summer right now and I seem to be dreaming about surfing perfect lefts a lot lately !! Shout outs to: Everyone who is chasing their dream making it happen, all my bros and family who have put faith in me and FTB, all the FTB groms keep shredding and our sponsors RPM, SPY, GRENADE. -one love