Bombs away

Grant Dyson - Mount Maunganui

Wairoa river run - Thurs 10 Dec

We got a lift up to just below the Ruahihi power station and got on the river about 6.30pm. Really nice still night made for perfect cruising conditions. Dave saw a few trout as soon as we started paddling. Lots if activity on the river - rowers, swimmers, xmas parties with literally hundreds of kids at Waimario canoe centre just having a blast. Had a slight tail wind when we came out under the railway bridge onto the estuary and into the fast moving tidal channels which took us back to Ferguson Park where our cars were waiting. Trip ended up being 14km - and took us 2 hours of very relaxed paddling. Will definately go again - maybe even do a night run on a full moon with the mtb lights...

Thanks Mount Surfshop

Msg from Scott and Reg at The Mount Surfshop:
"Just a quick note to your paddlers if they would like to demo any of the boards that we have they are welcome to come and grab them free of charge on the night and drop them back the next morning, we currently have a number of different demo boards, including the 11'6 Naish, 11'4 Naish, 9'6 Naish and a 11' greyseal. An exciting addition is the 14' ft Naish racing SUP that will be arriving to demo in the coming week. If any one is keen best to call our down town store in advance to book. "
Thanks guys - no excuses not to bring a friend or partner along now. Im going to put my hand up for the 14ft as soon as its available to demo.

SUP article

Link to SUP story from "the best of Tauranga" website: http://www.bestoftauranga.com/spotlight.php?area=spotlight&news_id=968

Matua-mount downwind

Caught up on all the work by midday, looked out the window and just had to go for a paddle. Jumped in at the end of Levers road and had downwind run all the way to Pilot Bay where my patient wife picked me up. I think in future it would pay to take the legrope when I'm on my own, it wasn't super windy but the water got really rough and confused around the mid harbour/entrance. I started to think about what happens when the board gets blown away and you can't catch it... long swim, bye bye board... Good fun though, got the sore shoulders and sunburn to prove it.

This weeks cool pics

just a very cool photo

This one belongs to surftech, challenge for the summer is to see how many boards you can get up behind the boat - i can see lots of dings as a result of this!

Small guy, big fish, small board, big smile. Trick here is not to look like those kayakers who have so much gear they look like commercial fishermen with gps, trolling motors... you get the picture

The family that plays together...

Great morning to take the kids and animals for a float around the estuary. Kept an eye on the surf during the day but not much happening. Saw Gmuzz over at the mount in the afternoon but it was kiting weather by then with a light cross/onshore wind, didn't see any paddleboarders although I hear Grant Dyson was floating around somewhere trying to knock himself out. I did see someone's setup a sup hire on pilot bay with some starboard board's - hopefully they'll do really well over summer. Going to do the Wairoa river run this week, rain hail or shine (no more xmas party excuses!). We're moving the bus over to the mount beach motorcamp this weekend for a few weeks - if you see the blue bus call in for a paddle and say hellow...

Chris gets famous in the NZ Herald

Was amazed to see the great full page photo in the Herald this week with Chris paddling around in Pilot Bay. If anyones got a digital copy of the pic send me an email - I'd love to post it.

The life aquatic

Been going out early in the morning as the tides been high before work and theres been no wind. I've been hopping in at the end of the Matua peninsula, a couple of days ago i followed a big stingray around in about a foot of water with a nice big kingfish on it's tail eating the stuff it was throwing up. The next morning i went back and was blown away to find a stingray in the same spot but twice the size with four kingfish following it. The water was like glass - you could see the little bowwave moving around so it's easy to find them.

This morning i took a mate who's never been on a paddleboard back to the same spot to show him my "petting zoo". No kingfish but stingrays by the dozens, a lot of them literally 2feet from the shore.

U just have to love living on the edge of the harbour!

What to wear

It's always tough working out what to wear when you head out for a paddle. As this photo demonstrates, a comfortable bikini is completely suitable, but only on girls.

Wooden SUPS

Came across this amzing site the other day: http://www.grainsurfboards.com/ it's a really cool company that build customs, as well as sell DIY kits and run classes to teach you how to build a wooden board - using sustainable timber. There's a guy at the Mount (Sean) who makes wooden surfboards under the brand "Big Woody" - Ive spoken to him in the past about making a wood paddle board and he's really keen to have a go. Ill add it to the wish list... hope santa's reading my blog

Just a cool photo

Sea dogs spotted on the harbour

Really nice night for a paddle, left from the Sebel and headed down past town to Memorial Park, then cut across to Maungatapu, then back along Matapihi's coast and home. Saw a few stingrays, shags and general fishy stuff. Fluffy the dog (sorry Charlie can't remember his name!) hung ten most of the way and only had one swim, did well for a puppy - we'll make a sea dog of him yet - if the sharks don't get him first!

SUP in upcoming ADVENTURE magazine

Spoke to the publishers of Adventure Magazine (also curl and the snow ski mag) - they're just putting the finishing touches on the new edition. It's their watersports issue with a big focus on SUP - Jeremy from SUPNZ is on the cover, they've also got some contribution from Earl at Naish NZ, will be a good read so make sure you grab a copy and support them. They also have a cool site - http://www.adventuremagazine.co.nz/

This weeks paddle - thursday 19th

Looking at the forecast it's looking like a westerly or sw, with high tide at 10pm. Plan for this week is to launch beside the sebel hotel and head up past town toward's Maungatapu, or if the winds not westerly we can head round past the yacht club and up under the Chapel St Bridge - either way we should be able to get a sheltered run in. Don't forget to bring a beer for the post-paddle storytelling (don't think they'll let us into the sebel dripping wet)

Some cool pics from the web

From the Penetrator Australia website - they make some pretty cool flatwater speed machines

As seen in the NZ Herald

How sick is this wave!

Pilot Bay 12th November

Had 6 turn up for a so called flatwater paddle - didn't see much flat water though ... Headed out to the entrance and quickly realised we wouldnt get across so we downwinded to the port, and then headed back along the wharf edge. Was pretty intense in places, think we'll try and find some more sheltered water next week or nobodys gonna want to join us. Great fun for those who have done a lot of paddling, but too tough on the less experienced. Toughguy award goes to Chris who joined in after already going for two paddles during the day and went in his boardshorts.

Looked like a bit of a Robbie Naish benefit with all but one on Naish boards.

Proof you can ride a half foot wave on a SUP...

This is why I think SUP's are great - you can get out in anything and have fun. Orewa - Jimmy lewis 11. Even when it was that small you could catch the oceanswell at the south-end of the beach outside the mouth and ride it right up the river... cool

Test for pics... see if it works

26km from Cambridge to Hamilton - ferkin legends... (ok, so it was downriver but we keep that to ourselves!)

Purpose of the blog

Thought it might be a good idea to keep in touch with what we're doing each week - would be good to start from different places around the harbour depending on what the wind and tides up to - there's always some sheltered water somewhere if its shitty. Will take some pics tonight and post them tomorrow - once i work out how to do it...

First flatwater paddle

So Ive had this idea of getting SUP paddlers together each week for a flatwater paddle. Going to be interesting to see who turns up. I've made up a quick brochure and dropped it to a few surfshops who seem pretty positive, plus emailed a few guys I know who are all keen.

What I think is going to happen is that it's going to catch on real quickly. We've got the perfect location - both sheltered harbour and surf, plus a few islands to use as targets. Would be good to get the spouses and kids involved too - they can hang around by the beach and prepare snacks while the big kids go for a longer paddle.

Looking forward to tonights paddle - weather is mint!