A Kiwi story about a board and a surfer

WILD MAN OF THE WAVES: NZ surf legend Peter Way (second from the right) is the subject of a documentary called The Way that began with the discovery of an old wooden surfboard washed up on a South Island beach. Picture supplied

WAY Back When tells the story of legendary New Zealand surf pioneer Peter Way, the country’s first surfing champion, and the influence he has had on some of today’s professional surfers.

Gisborne’s Maz Quinn will feature in the documentary, along with other top New Zealand surfers Paige Hareb, Billy Stairmand and Daniel Kereopa.

Way grew up in Piha, where he honed his surfing ability and became known for his prowess in big surf.

He won the first New Zealand Surf Riding Championships, held in Mt Maunganui in 1963, and competed in the 1968 World Surfing Championships.

The “epitome of the wild-man surfer”, according to the Encyclopedia of Surfing, Mr Way greatly influenced the New Zealand surf scene for much of the 1960s and 1970s, mapping out many now-familiar surf breaks. He visited Gisborne many times on surfing trips.

From 1964 to 1972 he owned and operated Peter Way Surfboards, and later set up Jackman-Way Surfboards with Australian big-wave rider Dave Jackman.

The documentary came about after South Island surfer Ben Winmill happened on a 50-year-old wooden Peter Way surfboard.

The board had washed up on a beach in the South Island and had been refurbished by Geoff Simmons.

Mr Winmill contacted long-time filmmaker friend Luke Cameron, who brought on board executive producer Daniel Hailstone, and the three investigated the story further.

They tracked down Mr Way, now living on the Sunshine Coast in Australia, to reunite him with his surfboard.

Along the journey they found connections to some of New Zealand’s top current surfers, whose parents had been influenced by Mr Way, and uncovered a rich history of surfing in the country.

The documentary has been in development since 2015 and the crew have recently finished filming at Mr Way’s home on the Sunshine Coast.

“It is an inspirational story of the adversity and challenge surfers go through while trying to make it to the world stage,” says Daniel Hailstone.

“Each of these professional surfers has faced similar struggles to what Peter Way faced and each has had mentors helping them along the way, much the same as what Peter did for young surfers in the 1960s.

“This cross-over of new and old will weave together the paths of these individuals and their similarities to tell a gripping story of overcoming odds and making dreams come true.”

The documentary takes viewers to many of the surf spots Mr Way pioneered, giving viewers the chance to see some of New Zealand’s most popular breaks in the 1960s and 1970s. Through stories from Mr Way’s old surf friends, local surf enthusiasts, surf museum owners and several predominant surf board shapers, it gives a first hand account of how to “live like a rebel and become a professional surfer in the 1960s”.

After discovering Mr Way’s health was not great, the crew self-funded their way over to Australia to interview him.

They are now seeking funding for the remaining part of the film.

“We plan to complete the film later this year, shooting the rest in New Zealand and plan to release the film in 2017 as part of the New Zealand International Film Festival.”