The week that was....

© Robbie Irlam

Yeeeuuuw! The waves cranked on Sunday. Out west was firing on all cylinders, and when the wind finally abated somewhat (just went down a notch to howling as opposed to full-out gale) there were some solid solid lines pulling into the bay.

Some solid solid thigh muscles were still required to deal with the chop, but if you didn't mind the odd bounce-a-thon you were good. Some loooong rides being had from the top of Millers down to Hobie.

Coupla guys were taking on outside Clubhouse just before dark. Pretty hefty peaks out there. Bell Bouy was breaking, but no takers.

If you were in the know, the sheltered spots down the road offered early morning waves protected from the pomping wind. But if you were stuck in PE you had to wait patiently for the arvo wind swing.

© Flaviana Kupczyk

© Gavin Rother

Must be a lot of truth to the saying "It's a dog's life" - cos Supertubes shutterbug Robbie Irlam's mutt seems to be fully in the loop with some swell checking.

© Robbie Irlam

© Robbie Irlam

Wind can be both our friend and foe. It generates the swells we ride, but it also shreds 'em to bits at times. Was a frustrating morning for Bay surfers to see awesome lines get chop sueyed. There were a few UFO's spotted flying about....

© Kody McGregor

Down the coast also felt the brunt of the big south swell and spring tide combo. Classic shot of the BI getting smashed. Lekker if you living on the 10th floor and pop out and leave the window open - and come home to find a few elf flapping about on the floor.

​Turns out this is actually a shot from a coupla years back - but too good not to share.

© Vinthi Vinni Nueufeld

The super spring low tides meant that at some spots it looked like someone had pulled the plug outta the ocean. Got peeps a bit nervy about tsunami's after NZ had a big quake on Sunday. Anytime you see the ocean drain out you gotto be on your toes.

© Stan Blumberg

Big tide's cos of the big super moon - gonna be the biggest and brightest moon in 68 years. If anyone you know goes a bit bedonderd, just take a glance upwards. Ain't called lunatics for nothing!

© Nick Cadle (Jan 2014)

Loggers - make sure you diarise the date - end of November is the Longboard EP Closed (aka NMBS Closed). Roving venue to make sure the best waves on the day get ridden. Everyone welcome to enter.

Plenty of sealife around in the early parts of the week. Huge pods of dolphins cruising the backline, and doing lotsa leaps and twists and generally having a jol. Entertaining to watch the German tourists running excitedly up and down the beach gesticulating wildly.

Wonder what the German equivalent of "Ky-daar!" would be? (assumption made that they were German cos of the socks-n-sandals combo that seems iconic to that country.

© Luc Hosten

More locals than locals

Not all the dolphins were full of the joys of spring unfortunately. Some became part of the food chain - like this poor chap who washed up on Nahoon beach midweek.

© Dean Knox

Onshores were pretty gnarly midweek. Stanley Badger went down to check for some easterly bowls, stuck his head out the window, and ended up with one of these blue buggers plastered to his sunnies. Ok, so he probably went and stuck it there himself, but full marks for being a funny ou.

© Stanley Badger

Plenty of discussion this week around the US elections, even the skies in JBay decided to get their votes in.

© Daniel Jeggels

The website has got a revamp, so go take a look around. Some kiff shots in the Photo Gallery of all the local spots firing.

Might be a few glitches here and there - so please choon me if you spot any. Specially if you see one of the header images as being a burger and chips! Long story short - the default placeholder looks a bit like a Spur ad.

Feel free to drop in some feedback on the new site, suggestions, criticisms, whatever.
​[email protected]

​Hope you dig it :-)