Search wins Make The Call Competition

Search AKA Werner Coetsee is new to New Zealand and had taken out the July Competition, Making the Call. The competition asked participants to Make a call, Tell us about it, and shoot a line up shot, action shot and a wipeout shot. All viewers were then asked to vote for the best of each. Search won all categories and thus wins and XL RidersAnonymous T- Shirt.

IF you have a story to tel or some photos to show, send them in to riki@snowcentre.co.nz.

Pico ..surf music master

For me the music I listen to is as important to my surfing as to what sort of waves I’m going to get. Music selection sets the tempo for my session, wrong tempo for the waves and I’m kooking it.
Its not often you can’t categorize a style of music now days but that’s my problem here, it’s defiantly not just ‘surf’ music the sugar sweet jack johnson has popped that label.
Pico defies my efforts so I’ll just say he’s a fully rounded human expressing all his emotions whether they be joy, anger, pleasure or contemplation of mankind.
He moves from Neil youngish influences to Tribal/Celtic rock transitioning to stomping all out rock without missing a beat.
If you’re familiar in anyway with Rip Curls search series of films chances are your familiar with his music.
I was first delighted by his style of music while watching Derek Hynd’s asp ‘pro file’ film Proland and a few years later I was blessed to discover the Pico/Tim Bonython film - atomic butterfly.
Here’s a few of Pico’s albums I’ve been enjoying…

Ghost flowers

Never released to the media and only released for the surfers. This album was still a great success and features 12 stomping songs, hard to pick out a few favourites but mine would be; hope, stomp, and the song I can most relate to selfish useless prick.
Rating: 9/10

Atomic butterfly

My most listened to CD in the last 18 months, I just love it. Apparently it’s a rough premixed version after the real version was lost during a computer meltdown. Sorry Pico but I feel this version is perfect. Only 300 copies were released which is sad as this CD is too good not to get more listeners.
Rating: 10/10 if you find it and don’t like it ill buy it off you for twice the price.

Look

Grass root’s style and recorded mobile around some of Australia’s most beautiful beach’s, this latest offering is slightly more acoustic than previous albums and contains a celebration of life feel but still retains so much feeling and meaning I’m truly touched by the possibilities of human expression.
Rating: 8.5/10

P.S look out for his new project... Crow feather

BURN DVD Review - by Mit Doow

BURN by Metalstorm

I havent seen too many DVD's lately, I should watch more DVD's like this! with a planned trip to samoa coming up with a few mates and of course The Boss, I borrowed this from a friend. I've barely taken it out of the player since.

Are you allowed to start a surf flick with a Kelly section? Isn't that a bit unfair for the others in it? I could just watch this part by itself.

The guys that really blew me away in this DVD, were Fred Patachia, Bobby Martinez and Bruce Irons, but everyone here rocks.

I remember Fred in Wave Warriors 4, hanging with Kalani and missing school. He killed it then and he kills it now. He does have a small resemblance to Jonny Boy Gomes tho??

On the WCT surf manager last year I know of 1 person, and there must be more, who choose Bobby as their rookie card. For a wet-back he sure gets wet a lot. Growing up in the hood with crazy Mexicans must have been crazy as a surfer, but it has worked, and I've realized my mistake for not liking the Oakley glasses ad campaign with him in it a few years ago. If I was a crazy goofy foot latino from Santa Barbara, I would hope I surfed like him.

B.I., if thats not the ultimate parent trap( I wonder if they have a brother called Carl) has always been part B to Andy, but its not for his lack of surfing. This guy will upset a few people, as he has already, on the tour, and I think he will give Irons "A" a good run for his money.

The soundtrack is awesome, mixing hip hop, guitars, and some dub reggae in with the great surfing. In fact some of these songs have become part of my pre surf playlist.

As a total package, I would give this probably 4.5/5, where does it lose points? I havent seen any DVD's lately, like I said, so I cant compare it, so there must be something better, right?

Watch when you’re missus kicks you out of the house and you need a pick me up!

Mit Doow

5 Weekends of Westie Waves

Thats right if you live out west and work during the week, you are probably feeling like you are getting surfed out. Your girlfriend is probably demanding some time this weekend, or your work wants to know how many flus you really have had.

I mean lets face it, how many years have you been surfing and had five weeks in a row of offshores and sizey surf. Raglans pumping, Shippies is on and its too big for most on the coast. Shit with only a handful of surfers at South Piha why not take a few on the head to score waves like these.

The above shots were taken on sunday afternoon the below shots were Saturday morning. I do have more but good things take time. The wave below is about a Solid 6 Foot, Double over head or 12 feet maybe even 3 metres.
This shot is just moody, Its a nice looking wave but not if you're the guy duck diving.

ASP World Tour - Current Rankings

ASP World Tour

Check out all the latest results and current tour rankings. Mick Fanning is having an unbelievable year and with scores like this is sure to take out his first World title. Its not over to ya mama sings though, Taj, Andy and Kelly are right there. We are heading into the back half of the year and so much can happen now. One injury and it all changes, one win and it all changes, one ring to .... what ever.

TAJ wins at J-Bay

JEFFREYS BAY, South Africa (Saturday, July 21, 2007) – Australian Taj Burrow beat eight-time Foster’s ASP World Champion Kelly Slater (USA) to win the Billabong Pro Jeffreys Bay today. The victory is Burrow’s second on the 2007 Foster’s ASP World Tour and has moved him to World No. 2 on the ASP ratings. "It feels amazi ... read more »

» Latest ASP New

When the waves go flat, nothing like a fire dance to apeaze the gods

Out west this winter has seen an abundance of offshores and great waves. Nice big sizey pits breaking from Raglan to Shippies. In a RidersAnonymous exclusive the reason may have been found by one of our roving reporters Jabes. Jabes caught these random locals shooting the ring.

The Snow has Fallen

Oh yeah another day on the hill, and smiles for all to see. My phone went nuts this morning with messages of the mountain being on and lets ride. I had lots to do and people to see but the temptation was too good to miss. I sent the text out that I will be up with the shooter and ready fire. We pulled together a crew, but I ended up shooting who I could when I could. These are some of the riders playing in the park






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High Noon Express

I got my chance to see the new High Speed Detachable chair lift in action at Turoa yesterday. I must admit it is an awesome advancement on the New Zealand ski and board industry not just Turoa Ski Resort. RAL have done a fantastic job with Turoa since their acquisition of the mountain.

The day was bluebird and with only half a carpark absolutely uncrowded. I skied six runs in 1 hour including swapping skis 4 times and having a latte break. This lift moves you so fast to some of the best riding in the country. If you are lving in the south chasing snow, give it up and come north, Turoa Rocks!

Turoa Ranking 8/10

Weeks of Offshores

Hey guys it looks like we are into a winter weather cycle at last. The water is cold and rain is falling, but the bright side to it all is the winds are easterly which means swell on the east and offshores on the west. the west coast is known for being blown out and onshore so to have a 4th weekend of offshore waves is outstanding.

The weather wasn't summer but the bars were groomed nicely. All up and down the coast their have been stories of epic surfs. I myself have managed to get in a good 8 hours of surfing over the weekend. The thing you notice when you shot photos in winter, is the quickness of how people get tired and stiff in the water.

Being in Auckland means we should never complain about the cold remember the south island crew surf through rain hail and snow and the videos I have seen from a guy called Jono (surfthesouth) shows how well the southerners surf in very cold conditions. I am stoked that with winter only the committed reap the rewards.

The Boss