Karitane Surf Festival 2008

Woke up the Sunday morning of the Karitane Surf Festival, and it just didn't look too promising outside, but we made a family decision that the three of us were going anyway, and would all enter no matter what the surf/weather was doing. (provided the comp would still run).

Well, it was pretty abysmal when we got there at 8.30am, pretty much flat, and a strong onshore wind.
The first heats to go out were the U14 & U16 boys. Conditions weren't too bad at that stage, although flat at the lower tide, the wind effect wasn't too marked. (pics below)

6 entries in the under 16 women, made for two heats of three.



The wind was really gusting at this stage, and poor Mackenzie had to leave her heat early after she got a board in the face, after leading her heat (two pics above). Judges tent, pic below:

Sorry I didn't get some shots of the body boarders.. it was a family day for me, and standing on the beach for hours in the wind, rain and sand blasting wasn't a priority. I also missed photographing the mens longboard straight final because as I was the only woman to enter, I surfed the heat with them.. ha got last. So a bit of a Jump to the pics of the mens open which ran as a straight 5 man final.



below, the surf just after the last heat ran:

Below, Liane working hard in the results tent, right: lined up for the prize giving.


Above, Geordi took my camera for a blat and got some sweet shots
Haven't got the results to hand yet, will put them up sometime soon I hope.

Oh and the best part of the day was surfing in the same heat as my other half, and us both getting a place and prize, thanks for taking the pic Jeff