Pretty fun Manu Bay all weekend for the Rip Curl Pro
Back into it again last weekend shooting for Surfing New Zealand at the Rip Curl Raglan Pro. You can view all the action shots over on SNZ's Facebook page, in the galleries HERE
I've made a point of going true school on the last few comps. I intentionally went for full frame and concentrated on the action, rather than a surfer in a landscape. Both have their place, but I feel for competition photography it's all about the turn. That said, I've also been on a bit of a mission to make good portraits. It's easy to post up behind the tripod and get lost in the cut and thrust of the heats, no one has a better vantage point to the subtleties of heat play than the guy with a 500mm lens. But to break away from that a try to show some of the dynamic behind the scenes stuff is a real challenge.
Indi Lee-Rudell watches Ella Williamson prior to her own heat
...and the grom class of 2023 for sure; Alani Morse, Lola Groube and Indi
The champs! A lot of National silverware held by this trio of surfers; L to R Leia Millar, Ava Henderson and Pia Rogers
Ava, pre dawn warm up
Lola, post dawn warm up
The full frame-ness mentioned; Callum Chuter and perfect lip positioning
I fanboyed out, 3x World Champion and the surfer that every Pre-Momentum surfer modelled their style on Mr Tom Curren
Tom, bloody full frame eh
Tom was accompanied by his son Pat Curren
..who absolutely shreds too
Dan Kereopa was cruising around all weekend with his tamariki
Dan and Steve Ria- both true legends of our surf culture
speaking of... Lazza Fisher and Deane Hishon, Raglan Surf Academy's helmsmen
Laz walking the talk
Keeping in the Raglan Surf Academy theme, here's the ex students-slash - last weekend's finalists; L to R Cassidy Mann, Jay Piper-Healion, Liv Hysom, Caleb Cutmore and Ava Henderson
Dan Westerkamp and Jermal Paerata prioritising
Taylor Hutchinson and Tao Mouldey waiting for the final scores to drop in their clincher 1/4, Tao inched out Taylor
Elin Tawharu and Kiri Binnerserly
Liv Hysom, successfully transitioning from junior surfing to being in the open finals conversation consistently
And watch out Open surfers, Junior Kalani Louis has been in that Open conversation all season too
Yeah Emmit, good to see ya. Former NZ Surf star Emerson Tucker keeping an eye on proceedings with his new bundle of joy in that foreground...ummm...bundle
Someone has to win, and I have to say Tim O'Connor's grace in victory was of note. He was quick to praise everyone else and defer to how exciting it was to watch the women's division. Nice work Timmy.
Fanyboying...Curren and some other guys
And yep that's Curren... oh and Ava Henderson and Timmy O’Connor ..sorta ruining my Curren shot if I'm honest
Alright, so for many at the Rip Curl Pro over the weekend, the fun was certainly tainted by the terrible news that Gizzy surfing stalwart Don Pearson passed on Saturday while surfing at his beloved Maka Point. Don has always been a huge supporter of Gisborne Boardriders. A devout surfer and christian, Don was also pretty handy behind a camera. I've known Don for 25 years, more probably, he'd post up next to me while one of his three daughters were in a Junior heat back in the day. In recent years I could bet Don would be the first to like and comment [probably a terrible Don dad pun] on a post. He'd be the first to reply to these very mailers. We'd talk about camera gear, camera nerd out, even if he was a Nikon guy. So this one's for you Don.
Don Pearson 25/11/1961 - 18/03/2023 [image stolen from Don's Insty @origins_of_light ]
From The Galleries
Shot at dawn on 30 December 2023 and later claimed as one of the best swell and bank combinations in a decade. So chuffed to have been there to have made this image of Whanga Bar you like it? You could totally have it on your wall! The link to it is HERE for media and sizing options... go on you know you need it.
