Benny P

I had to crack up when one of the NZ team members commented on Benny Poulters love of bacon from the ISA smorgasbord that got dished up to them each day. “Benny would throw rasher after rasher onto his plate…”, I had to chuckle, I’m a huge fan of cooked ‘oink oink’ myself. Hell, I even cut the fatty rind off, eat everything else, then just shrug the shoulders and down the chewy bits as well. Damn you pork for tasting so good. Benny is not your average 15 year old. He walks like a man and smacks the lip like one too. Without pulling punches he lacks the air arsenal of some of the lighter footed peers among him, but dang can the kid decimate a lip with raw power. If he’s hitting lips like that at 15, look out Pancho when he hits adulthood.

Benny P squares off the bottom on a good size wave. Most 15 year olds are nursing it on these size waves(or not even out there in some cases...)

I must say I felt a touch of NZ pride when Ben left the water after getting through some of his later end heats. The NZ flag was flying and his team mates and supporters were at the waters edge to congratulate their victor. I havent felt that since sitting in an aussie pub and watching the All Blacks win a game verse the dirty dingoes. You get a little tingle of national pride, kinda cool. I’m admittedly not the bigggest sporting follower but hey, if a Kiwi stomps it somewhere I’m definitely chuffed.

Hawaiian Keanu Asing congratulates a succesful Ben.

The flipside of the NZ support was at times, a lack of it. Other teams were super solid at the water edge for their team members but the Kiwi team(maybe because it was home turf) seemed a little displaced an unorganised at times. Dual venues didnt help that cause but a little more team unity was needed.

Kiwi Pride and umm... dunno what the grom on the left is up to... Must be the Piha sandflies!

Anyway back to Benny. In his heat before the semi qualifier, he had a stacked-as heat and on advice from his coaches he opted to surf the Piha Bar by himself while his fellow regularfoot competitors opted for the right near Lion Rock. While the others tussled for what little was on offer Ben managed to smash two left peelers to peices then paddle across the bay and sit on mega-paid American wonderkid Kolohe Andino. Ben played the heat like a junior Russian chess titan and had 3rd place Kolohe paddling like mad to get away from 2nd place Ben. I think Ben pretened that the fast paddling Kolohe was a large rasher of yummy bacon and didnt let him out of his sights or grasp. The result….a very sulky American wonderkid that just got smoked by a 15 year old Kiwi that probably makes less in one year than Kolohe does in 6 hours. Yeah Benny that was farkin awesome to watch. Super proud!

Each morning I was down at the beach before it was even really light enough to shoot and each morning Ben was out in the water with his Dad on the rocks with his back-up board getting used to the ever changing Piha conditions. This is a slow shutter speed of Ben Poulter extending beyond the lip.

I left Piha before finals day but watched the poor bugger the day before hobble up the beach after trouncing Kolohe with his sore foot from standing on a nail or something similar in the team tent prior to his heat. To his credit even with his sore foot he hit the lip just as hard and didn’t hold back and saved his hurt till he hit the sand post heat. A true Kiwi battler… Nice one Benny. Must catch up for B and E some time soon! Don’t think you”ll win a bacon eating comp against me though. Cheers Digga…..mmmmmm….baaaaacoooon….mmmmm

Once again nothing small about the wave or the turn or the Kiwi pride that was eminating from the shore for him.

E.Bee

The ever growing Rangi Ormond fan club.

Nimai throws it at the end section

Frankie searching for the tube...

Kinda creepy this one. Nothing like a little board love...

Big Wood hits the closeout.

Check the froth in the bottom left corner.

Crabby Patties

HC Attacked and Swallowed by Giant JellyFish

Whilst having a refreshing post-building surf down South Whanga, Matt went for a finner, he was just about to ride out of it before a giant jellyfish grabbed him and swallowed him whole. “Fark I thought Diggas belly landed on me, but then i noticed it was a bit thin skinned and then thought our reptilian labourer Siman had shed his skin while surfing, but as soon as I got stung on the family jewels I knew it was my father-in-law Bruce’s pet radioactive vegeterian Jellyfish.” , ” I mean Geez Bruce, there are more subtle ways of hinting about vasectomies….”

All was going well until the last shot...

Jelly-meat...

Dane Frank’n'Slater

Look out you newschool lightweights, there is a new kid on the block. Fulltime aborist Greg ‘Frankie’ Milne is used to being up high in the air, hell he has even ridden a pine tree as it fell from a cliff and lived to tell the tale. When Frankie has finished cracking the whip on Concrete Pete and Braedon( his assistant tree mulchers),  He waxes up his favourite Anderson surfboard and boosts for the heavens…

The Huskvana Stare

Throwing Pine Needles-- Frankie Style

"Air reverses are so last year Rangi, you should try a few of my new air moves....". " Dont even talk to me you tree murderer, trees have feelings bro..."

Ryan Hawker and Paco Divers Fined

 

Poor old Paco and Rip Curl team mate Ryan Hawker got a little too close to the contest area at the recent BBong event in Whangamata. While repeated efforts via the commentators didnt reach their ears due to the howling onshore winds, it was a very unimpressed Ryan and Paco that got scolded by the Surfing NZ Mafia and made to paid subsequent fines( Paco x 2 &Ryan actually got three). “I’m a very angry human right now”, was all Ryan had to say and Paco could only mumble “dont they know I’m actually bankrupt”. A SNZ employee had this to say, “rules are rules and we got to make it clear what they are…”, he then goose-stepped off  mumbling Seig Heil and doin chest salutes……. (just joking DiggaSurf in no way supports Hitlers regime and this is intended as humour only)

Ryan Hawker and a coro air.

Paco and his expensive reo... (seq- Digga©)

How to Spin the Deck with Scott Bell

Yo All ! Dig Deep for a Good Cause …

WE INVITE YOU TO  THE MATTY SCORRINGE LEUKEMIA FUND  NIGHT

Matty and friends before his world got rocked.

IF YOU HAVE THIS INVITATION THEN YOU EITHER KNOW OR HAVE HAD SOME FORM OF CONTACT WITH MATTY. HE COULD HAVE BEEN YOUR NEIGHBOUR AT SOME STAGE, YOUR SCHOOL MATE OR MAYBE YOU COULD HAVE JUST WATCHED HIM AS HE REPRESENTED NEW ZEALAND AND WHANGAMATA IN HIS EXTREMELY HIGH SPORTING ACHIEVEMENTS. TO US MATTY IS OUR BEST FRIEND WHO HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT AN HONEST, DOWN TO EARTH, LOYAL FRIEND WHO ANYONE CLOSE TO HIM WOULD DO ANYTHING FOR!

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAV’NT HEARD LAST THURSDAY MATTY WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A.M.L WHICH IS A FORM OF LEUKAEMIA. NOW IN 6 MONTHS TIME I HAVE NO DOUBT WHAT SO EVER THAT MATTY WILL BE FREE AND CLEAR OF THIS, BUT WHILE HE GOES THROUGH HIS TREATMENT HIS FAMILY ETC. HAVE TO GIVE UP ALOT OF TIME AND MONEY TO BE BY HIS SIDE, NONE MORE SO THAN MATTYS MUM AND DAD AND HIS AMAZING GIRLFRIEND OF 6 YEARS CASEY WHO HAS GIVEN UP HER FULL TIME JOB TO BE WITH MATTY 24/7 AND BE BY HIS SIDE THROUGH ALL OF THIS.

Jam deep for Matty

NOW I AM SENDING OUT THIS INVITE TO YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THIS AMAZING SON, BROTHER, UNCLE AND FRIEND TO COME THIS THURSDAY NIGHT AND SUPPORT HIM AND HIS FIGHT!

WE WILL BE AUCTIONING OFF LOCAL ARTWORK AND PHOTOS. WE HAVE MASSIVE CLOTHING AND FOOTWEAR PACKS UP FOR RAFFLE FROM BRANDS SUCH AS BILLABONG, ONEILL AND DVS, ALSO MEAT PACKS AND THE USUAL RAFFLE ITEMS. THERE WILL ALSO BE RAFFLES AND LAST BUT NT LEAST THE MORE MONEY WE RAISE THE MORE OF US (MATTYS FRIENDS) HAVE TO SHAVE OUR HEADS BALD WITH RAZORS!

                             SO PLEASE COME

FRIDAY 5TH FEB.

SOFTEYS BAR

WHANGAMATA

(Words Dan Scott on behalf of all of Matty’s friends and whanau)

World Juniors- UFO’s (underage flying objects)

Just got back to Whanga after three extensive long days of shooting at Piha. The World ISA Junior Comp scored! Amazing waves. Amazing surfing. Amazing weather. Although the contest started off in some pretty rank conditions, there would be few competitors whinging about the last 3 days. Anyways here are a few teaser shots from monday arvo, I got enough good photo gear to keep ya frothing for a long while yet….

Best known for his Supermans to air reverse comboes. Brazil's Gabriel Medina also knows how to lay rail...

Kolohe Andino- The 15 yr old son of Dino Andino is one of the more revered and highest paid kids in the surfing world right now!

One of the stars and Stripes Team members.

Tyler McHacensaw from somewhere north of NZ.

Ian Gentil- Maui Super Star

Nigel McCrackentwack goes the big alleyoop

Keep checking the blog over the next 8 months, there lots to tease your eyes with….. Blakes got some mad video footage and even crazier interviews. Then there are the prank calls executed by Alex Dive on the unsuspecting Suth Effrikan team… absolute Gold!

Anyways time to regather and get back to the real world

Bryant Home

I can’t remember the year off-hand but I am guessing it was 1989 or ‘90. The national scholastics were held at Raglan. I didnt make the final  in the regionals for the U16’s so as a back-up I entered the bodyboard division (win the regionals in that division and you still got to travel with the scholastic team, fellow surfer David McGifford who also dipped in the surf division entered the kneeboard division and also got a week away from school staying in Raglan). Hey as a grom ya had to do what ya had to do…

Anyway, all the teams stayed at the hostel called Bryant Home perched above Raglan Beach and looking over the Point. The day before leaving for Raglan I had been held down by Chewy and some brute (he used to stick needles from sewing room in his arm for fun),

For the Ladies….

Shorts– $3 from Op-Shop

Surfboard– Pete Andy F1 Design

For all the female Rangi Fans…Free courtesy of Digga!

Facial and Bob The Builder Crack….Um… Priceless

Levitating Grom and His Dad Surfing

Jeremy and son Daniel share some beach time.  The shots of Jeremy surfing are from the sunday arvo bar session.

Never let your kids near helium...

 

Jeremy sneaks out from Daddy Daycare duties for a quick splash on the Bar.

Ok Daniel... time to burp that helium out and come back down to planet earth SuperBoy

Kite Flying Kids is all the rage in Europe this summer...

Cory Harwood Stars in Miami Viced- War on Whanga

Well, well, well!! What a week. We FINALLY got some swell on da East Coast(which was renamed the Least Coast)! I managed to dust the cobwebs off my new surfboard and the camera gear and enjoy some fun sessions and capture some cool images. As always my best shots get held back till Cory makes his pick, but here are a few random teasers to get a glimpse of the first decent summer swell. I even managed to boost over to Rags on Tuesday( and broke down on the way). As for the ‘The Bar’ it was complete KAOS! Verbal fistycuffs aplenty, threats, injuries, snapped boards and lots of ding repairs…well just another day on the Bar really…

Lukey Hughes finally got a chance to leave the West to sample some Least Coast..

Meanwhile amongst the mayhem the newly installed housing for floating ‘Gin Palaces’(Whangamata Marina) unleashed the aquatic meglomaniac rich boys buzzing out the entrance in their pen15 extensions way over the legal 5 knots. The result…..boat wake farking the sets. To get all hippyarse on it “We can all live in harmony and share and enjoy the ocean if we all abide by the rules…” 5 knots is walking pace –as told to Luke, Scott and myself over the coastguard loudspeaker whilst doin 7 knots on the jetski inside the harbour a couple of years back. Apparently if your boat is worth more than $250,000 the speed limit doesnt apply. White collar crime i tell ya!

I know what your thinking! Nice boat and nice turn and....

Poor 'ol Dan Scott got arrested at the Big Day Out for doing nothing. The friendly arresting officers thought Dan was involved in a fight outside the mens toilets. In fact he had just walked out of the dunny and into two guys fighting, unfortunately the police had just arrived and thought he was involved. Big Day out ruined and a $400 fine. Got to be hooting on that! Here he takes out his aggression on a boat wake...

Secret Lefthand Point(on west coast)….

Probably the smallest air ever caputered of high-flying Luke Cederman

Not allowed to mention his name or send his shots anywhere because he didnt have his main logo on his board. Lets just call him For Getful- Swedens best surfer…

Nat Hughes hits it.

Doug Runga

Bede Durbidges coach and shaper and expat Kiwi- Wayne McKewen

One of the many talented Rags groms

Parent of the year 2009…Jamal and his wife took son Elliot all across indo for multiple months on end in ‘09

Bet the SUP out the back cant do this move….

Travelling Pom Grom flaring on a borrowed board.

Ben Poulter. The lad is a solid stocky unit for a young bugger. Sprinkles cement on his weetbix apparently.

The Mayor of Raglan gets an upsidedown view of the crowded pack out the back.

Elliot Perata-Reid jams it.

Raglan resident Elliot takes his Placebo snub nose thingy for a whirl.

Probably the smallest air ever caputered of high-flying Luke Cederman

Laughing at Opo’s

Small waves… and some humourous out-takes from todays session at Opo’s.

The Nad Buster

The Kicker

Jump dont slide...

The One Footer

Nick Macrea and fan club

Oh no....

The Pufferfish Cutback

The Sooo Shacked

Dive

The first time I met Alex was just after he had won the King of The Groms at the Nats. He was staying at a mates in Whanga and I took the oportunity to interview him for rising grom in NZSM. I actually got his fellow RPM team mates to help throw some questions for the recorded interview and he handled it well. Alex was obviously new to the limelight and knew he had to answer all questions with care and although there were some curly ones he nailed it pretty well(even with Hambo putting in his 5 cents worth!). Since then he has mentally risen out of the others shadows(at the time he was in awe of other junior surfers). I’ve shot Divey a few times over the last 12 months and he hasnt failed to impress. When a kid can lay rail like an adult then also throw down big rotations, you know they are completing the package. Hopefully come World Junior time in a couple of weeks Divey has a strong head and strong competitive game plan, surfing skill takes you only so far in competition, self belief and aggression and the abiltity to play your heat like a chess game puts you on the podium. Alex can do it. Just believe in yourself son… and “smash em bro”.

  

Super Rangi

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? Does it leap lentil burgers in a single bound? No it is just Super Rangi. Using the power of tie-dyed teeshirts and his spirulina xray vision, Rangi launches above the lip, does a little post-Insight party foot shuffle and lands in the trough at Major Toms. He wasn’t even that chuffed at the sequence, “Bro, it was so small and weak”. Ok so most of us would just be stoked to land an air, let alone a foot kick out mini superman….But hey, ya don’t argue with anyone wearing multi-coloured tie dyed undies over their wetsuit…

JC Susan

Introducing JC Sussan

‘09 was a good year for JC, he relocated from South Africa to NZ, caught the eyes of the NZ selection team and thus nailed himself a spot on the World Junior team. He also arrived in NZ sponsored by Oneill SA and it didnt take long for Jason and Scotty from Oneill NZ to swoop him up into the team. In a few weeks he gets to take on his ex-country men(well boys). No doubt he’ll be copping some defecter jibes from the Bru’s.

Freeing the tail on a Coro lip.

JC surfs fast and has the ability to link together some good comboes. While his air arsenal may not be as strong as some other juniors he makes up for it with some powerful jams that some others lack. 2010 will be an interesting one for him as he tries to cement his name on NZ shores.

Check his trail, rail and tail. All the ingredients to a solid jam.

JC's backhand didnt seem to have too many flaws.

"Check out my reo Bru"

Post surf Coro walk back.

TwentyTen

Happy New Years all! May 2010 bring accomplished dreams and the best wave of the set to all who read this!

A few  Things to Do in 2010…

Ride a 70’s single fin in good waves just to appreciate design advancements.

Squirt baby oil on the deck of a greedy SUP’er

Offer useful advice to a learner surfer.

Ride switch into a large closeout

Be nice to beneficiaries…. 52 week holidays can’t be easy.

Do something great for someone, and don’t tell a soul you did it.

Ride more…Shoot less. (this applies to hunters too)

Upskill with new skills where ever possible.

Ride three new waves you’ve personally never surfed before.

Spend less time on computer but still keep blog updated.

Cheers to all, Digga

Faces – Part 1

Sup Gee

Sup Gee

Fraser

Fraser Chatham is this months rising grom in NZ surfing mag. Here are a few more images of the ripper.