Out east we have had an endless supply of offshores.
Normally in the land of ever-changing wind this would be the dream but with only a few swells with which to enjoy them some might feel a little cheated.
Out west it has been the opposite.
They have had no shortage of swell all summer but it seems they cannot buy an offshore wind.
The magical Piha bar has barely had a chance to get going. So too the glorious Maori Bay peaks of summers past (so I have been told).
I bumped into a Raglan surfer in Mahia two weeks ago. He had driven through the night to surf overhead waves with a cross-shore wind (they were pretty fun, though, I’ll admit).
He could count on less than one hand the number of decent sessions on the points this summer.
I have heard of a few good sessions out in Taranaki, which might be the exception to the rule out west.
In Gisborne there have been moments of gold but not enough, as any surfer will tell you.
With a little more swell it would be a dream situation. Those offshores just do not stop pumping. Sadly, those very north-westerly winds have been keeping many potential small pulses of swell at bay.
The tropics have not been very active, and the same out east and even to the south.
Our friends in the Bay of Plenty have not fared well either.
Already two New Zealand surfing events have been postponed — the first contest of the Billabong Grom Series contest at Mount Maunganui last weekend and the Hurley Club Challenge this weekend in the Coromandel.
The next few days in Gisborne look nearly as flat as a pancake although there should be a little bump in swell from the south, and light winds on Sunday.
Looking into next week, there should be at least some waist-high waves to have a play on.
Fortunately Sunday’s swell looks set to arrive in time for the Makorori First Light Surfing Classic (see story below).
If you have not entered already there are still several spaces to enter the 22nd edition.
Another exciting event to mark on the calendar is the weekly after-school Rippers surf programme, starting on Wednesday, February 15.
Based on surf lifesaving’s Nippers programme, Rippers is about teaching youngsters (5-12 years old) water safety, developing water confidence, instilling the best surfing techniques from the earliest stages, and having fun with expert guidance.
Gisborne Boardriders Club is running the programme and the location will vary between the town beaches, Wainui Surf Life Saving Club and Northern Makorori.
For more information, contact surfing development manager Kelly Ryan on 021-164-1799.
Next weekend Ryan is taking a group of groms to Whangamata for the first of three Billabong Grom Series events.
There is still a little space in the van so those interested should go to the Gisborne Boardriders Club Facebook page for details or contact Ryan.
See you out the back (hopefully with a bit of swell).
