Mount Maunganui surfers try hard but luck out on Cyclone Hola action

A surfer can be seen checking the conditions next to Moturiki (Leisure) Island at Mount Maunganui at dawn today. Photo/Kiri Gillespie

The remnants of Cyclone Hola left little action for die-hard surfers up at dawn at Mount Maunganui today , but they did not seem to mind.

About 20 surfers bobbed in the sea at Mount Main Beach today, waiting eagerly for a decent set of waves to arrive as Cyclone Hola left the Bay of Plenty.

Jake Hoffart, 18, and Dylan McNeely, 19, were hoping for bigger surf at Mount Maunganui after Cyclone Hola but didn't let their disappointment stop them from enjoy a dawn surf. Photo/Kiri Gillespie

Surfers Dylan McNeely, 19, and Jake Hoffart, 18, were keen for a surf despite disappointment the conditions they had anticipated.

"The surf's good for riding on but it's not big at all," McNeely said.

"Yesterday was when we should have been out there."

At least 80 surfers were out at the beach last night, making the most of heavy waves and grunty sets.

As Cylone Hola moved east, out towards sea overnight, there was an expectation it would offer even better surf today.

Hoffart, who missed out yesterday, said he was "utterly disappointed" this morning.

"It was meant to be real big today, that's so frustrating. We are still going in though. It's not too bad.

"The waves are better when they are more powerful, but it's not too bad."

Both McNeely and Hoffart were getting a surf in before study for the day.

The worst of Cyclone Hola was felt in Tauranga last night. Heavy rain bucketed down about 6pm but the carparks nearest the surf beach beside Mouturiki (Leisure Island) were full.

Surfers Bayden Ah Sam-Thomson, of Poike, Shane Bograil (also known as Shane Kraus), of Piha, and Reuben Mottart, of Gisborne, all 18-year-old marine biology students in Tauranga, were among the surfers taking advantage of the weather event.

They said they spent about an hour-and-a-half surfing Hola and counted 72 other boardriders in the waves.

They could not see everyone and estimated there were at least 80 surfers out.

Bogail said: "It was alright, pretty mellow actually I thought it would be a bit heavier. I don't think the grunt of it has really hit us yet. There was some good-sized sets but nothing too much."

Metservice has forecast fine spells for Tauranga today, with strong south-westerlies easing in the morning.