Digga starting the special day the way he'd continue
Last week's post started with Daniel 'Digga' Davie, and it looks like this one is too. It was Daniel's birthday on Tuesday, a significant one the big 50. As most anyone who's passed this milestone with attest, it's a bitter sweet one. Yesssss I made it... holy shit nooooo I'm officially an old c@nt. Just being a cynical bastard [or aptly; an Old C@unt] , I don't buy into that 40 is the new 30, then 50 is the new 40 crap. You'll notice it's always quoted by someone that just turned the larger figure, or someone consoling the birthday girl/boy. No 20 year old ever said 20 is the new 10.
Not a shabby start to the day, check the right runner
It was an exciting day, a clean swell building all day with nice offshores grooming it. I suspect the whole eastern seaboard of the Coromandel lit up at some point, but Digga and I resisted the grass is greener texts and opted for his hometown breaks. We met predawn, Dan was already in his wetsuit.
Not bad for a 1/2 centurion
After surf one Digga opted to stay in his wetsuit, citing it was way too much energy to navigate twisting out of and then renegotiating entry into a cold, wet steamer, the wise words of an old bastard. In fact this became the theme of the day, at probably this point Digga decided that he'd spend the ENTIRE day rubbered up. Four surfs, 6.30 am to 4.40 pm in his full suit... and yes it goes without saying all the jokes were made about him marinating in his own juices, how'd the steamer would have to be disposed of in a biohazard bag... and all the others you can think of.
Surf 2, Arron ‘Fronty’ Webb on a dreamy canvas
Digga Surf 3
Soooooo, my plan was to stoke the bro out for his birthday, follow him around as his own personal photographer. It didn't work out that way. While we did co-ordinate every surf, I missed every single bomb Digga got. But the Bar did turn on for the arvo sessions, in fact I don't think I've shot it better.
Braedon Williams prior to the pulse, and putting in 6 hours water time
Karne Pitcher, a rarity- out on the face, you'll see what I mean later
Karne's younger brother Brad framed classically
Ben Kennings patiently waited for the ones that drew off the peak just right
Karne in one of his many, many, many makes of the session
Braedon hand jiving stez
The legend Taff Kennings proving that 70 is the new 50??? Yes, yes I did
I stayed in my wetsuit for a comparative pathetic 150 minutes treading the bar and playing in the sweep, Digga rang as I hobbled back to my wagon. 'I'm going back out for surf 4!' Me; 'ohhh ok ummm I might just put the drone up.' - photog code for 'I'm knackered, I don't want to play anymore, I need a sit down.' But I'm glad I did, 'cos this happened \/ \/ \/
Now this is a bit where I try to mansplain that the locals that have seen this one reckon it's one the all time ones, and by that qualification I claim it too. Do the hard sell, point out the clean lines wrapping into the bay, the hollowness of the first section... sort of like that few sentences. I fricken love it, I've put it into the Waves Print Gallery on PhotoCPL.co.nz
Digga's special day, I reckon he had a goodie, his poor wettie- not so much. To have 4 surfs, then a roast chicken dinner and cheesecake... well he very literally had his cake and ate it too. 50ths aint so bad.