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!