Bayharbour Surfing column August 2010

Surfing August 2010

It’s been a fantastic winter of surf so far this year. We’ve had some great east swells more similar to a March, April weather pattern than the middle of winter. For about three weekends in a row we had a solid east or nor’east swells and offshore winds, then good powerful south swells through the week and light westerlies. Everywhere has had it day with good sand banks at Sumner and Taylors and great waves up the coast during the south swells.

The water had been cold. I measured it at 10 C in the weekend which is relatively mild for this time of year but it has been colder at times. We’ve only about six week of frigid water left and then thing will slowly begin to warmup.

The Sumner Longboarders held their mid winter contest a few weeks ago, and scored one of those big east swells. Luke O’Neil snatched victory from Grant Cochrane in the dying minutes. Grant was going well all the way through but Luke managed to find a great wave in the final minute to win.

The South Island Surf Association held their end of season Prizegiving and Tag team event at the end of June. The tag team event was a controversial win by North Side Boardriders just ahead of Tubular Belles.
Local surfers performed well once again on the SI circuit, which is a series of contests held throughout the South Island. Hayden Brain (New Brighton) retained the Open Mens Title. Hayden was also second in the Senior Mens. Kristi Zarfeh (Sumner) won both Open and Junior Womens with Alethea Lock (Sumner)second in both. Nicola Warren (New Brighton) was third in the Open Womens. Neil Robb (Sumner) won the Grand Masters title and was second in the Masters division. Sumner Longboarder, Eve Welsh won the Womens Longboarding title with Nicola Warren second.

The next event on the calendar is the Paparoa Surf Fest, 25/26 September, along the coast road north of Greymouth. Until then enjoy those winter waves and uncrowded conditions because summer is just around the corner.