Kiwi Surf Magazine

Gav comp roundup Sandy Bay

This event is not about the competition points and who's got the best boards, most sponsors or hottest chick.
Its a true, grass roots event that is about hanging with mates, family and just enjoying surfing fun waves!
Sandys always seems to deliver swell for the comp, even if its been flat for a month or more, she seems to turn it on for the comp.
The first time I came here for the event many years ago, I was going to compete but as I rolled down the hill and watched pumping 4ft rights roll thru I decided to just surf all weekend.
I surfed for 8hrs one day and 9hrs the next, the waves were so fun, the crew were all-time and the party that weekend was a night I will always remember..

Back to this year tho..
A big thank-you has to be given to Viv James and her family for giving me the keys to their amazing house in Matapouri, that place is a piece of paradise tucked away in the sun!
The green water and blue skies greeted me as I coasted into Sandy Bay thurs nite and a fun, shifty 2-4ft swell provided me with a much-needed surf for the next 3hrs til the sky darkened.
Fri morn and Day 1 of the comp saw more junky, peaky 2-4ft surf but as the day wore on it cleaned up. The way Hyundai and the IC Motor Group set up and lay on this event is nothing short of epic!
There were massive tents erected to provide shade from the sun and provide a space to enjoy complimentary breakfasts, bbq lunches and even a seated dinner and drinks one nite!
Its great at this event to see so many familiar faces too, its an event that brings some surfers out of the woodwork for the only event they do each year. Many travel the length of the country to par-take and there is always a number of overseas surfers who travel annually to make this event such is its great atmosphere, fun waves and amazing location.

Standouts for me personally on Day 1 in the open were varied. Issac "Keg" Johnston surfed well, nailing an 8 point ride in one of his heats.
Brendan Young proved to many that haven't seen him surf in awhile that he is still a master of plank riding, the older fella rips!
International surfers, Yank Tank Pro Taylor Jensen and his Ozzie mate Josh Constable put on a showcase of longboarding at its best too. These boys proved why they deserve to get paid to ride logs.
Later in the day, Round 3 hit the water and the surfing blew me away. Jackson Winter, the young Oz surfer, was ripping, scoring a heat total of 14.5.

Kiwi, Sam Guthrie, was surfing smooth and stylish and in contrast deep south local, Shane Baxter impressed with his power turns, one in particular in his heat was HUGE!
Heat 5 saw the upset of the day as far as the comp goes with current National Champ Daniel Proctor being knocked out. Trent Dickey surfed true to form with grace, flow and spent plenty of time on the nose.
Darkhorse award tho would have to go to Ant McColl form the Mount! Ant has always surfed well but the big results have eluded him thus far but today he was surfing better than ever and it was cool to watch.

The next day dawned and with a soft 2-3ft of swell we kicked the contest back into gear. The Juniors surfed ok, the Ladies seemed to struggle but it was the Over 40's who fired up and surfed really well in the shifty waves. The middle peak had a fun righthander that the older guys tore to pieces. Lynden Kennings with his round-house cutbacks was awesome to see.
The Open Quarters and Semi's didn't dissapoint either with the likes of Dylan Barnfield ripping and Shane Baxter again blowing up with some upside down, critical backhand turns! Burlo scored a few smokers to lock in two excellent scoring rides, Jackson Winter got a couple of goodies but it was Taylor and Josh who wowed the beach in that last semi heat of the day, some amazing longboarding!
The SUP (stand-up paddleboard) boys had some good scoring waves and a few heavy wipeouts to keep the crowd entertained as well.

Day3 of the comp I arose with a slightly weary head, the party last nite had taken its toll a tad. What an epic nite tho! Don't think I've danced like that for a very long time, lots of crew got into full party mode and had a classic nite! Thank you to Hyundai yet again for laying on the good times..
I hit the beach and paddled out more to wake up and wipe away the hazy head but the surf this morning was my best of the weekend and I came back to the beach stoked with the fun lil session.
Super fun, glassy 2ft rights peeled into the bay and it was even offshore for about a 1/2hr. Then as the comp started it went sideshore,ha.
The semis done and dusted it was finals time. The Over 40's was owned by Brendon Young, his backhand attack on the left was sweet, and his nose-riding skills sealed the deal!
The Jnrs was pretty much a one-way street for Jackson Winter too, he locked down two 6-7point rides and never looked back.
The Womens final was a fight to the end by the kiwi ladies with Daisy just taking it out over Mischa by 0.60 of a point and leaving the two Ozzie girls to be lost at sea.
The SUP was a tussel thru-out and in the last minute of the heat Shane Baxter stole the show with his back up score enough to edge out Lynden.
The Open Mens final was ON from the moment the hooter went. Burling, Barnfield and Jensen all locked in good scoring rides but as the time wore on the international boys showed their mantle and went to the next level with Josh scoring a perfect 10 point wave and then a back-up 8.0 but Taylor took the event by scoring a 9.55 and 9.80! Insane longboarding at its best!

The whole weekend was an epic time, a massive thanks to Hyundai and the IC Motor Group again for sponsoring the comp and laying on the hospitality for all!
It was cool to see everyone again and surf and laugh with you all!
Thanks, sea you soon.. IINAMI.