John Ballinger
Surf Logs
wind dying off
better wind, so many waves in the arvo. Caught my epic 3x over head ride with a few super sweet waves off the point.
So many waves
epic surfing, just spend so much time in the water, waves really started working in the arvo.
pretty good
Surfing with bongo.
long boarding
great long boarding waves everywhere.
Māori Bay - double down
Took the double down out for its first run. went pretty really well for a first stuff. the 6’6” DHD might have gone better but i didn’t struggle to catch waves with ol Furgo.
helped rescues a surfer a little bit who got stuck near the rocks.
anawhata session
big walk. very cool experience but if you get it wrong it’s quite a hike.
close out shoulders
fat sat sesh
big fat waves with Troy and Duncan. drove down for the day and back again.
got a new ph dhd sweet spot.
surf comp #4
another 4th but caught a huge left that i was real happy with.
then a free surf afterwards. but nearly got taken out by Duncan and then fished a wave with the board somewhere near the face but hit hand. time to call it a day!
Favorite Boards
Quiver
Reviews
DHD Surfboards Black Diamond EPS
Riding this as a thruster, board rides great, super fast, catches waves without effort, I do find I need to keep on the nose to keep the speed. I've moved down from a 7', twin pin and my surfing ability has massively improved on this board.
Firewire surfboards Seaside
I'm riding this with the Rob Machado's quad fin set with smaller rear fins. Can't say I love this board, I find there is just too much volume up the nose. I struggle to get it settled, and locked in. Plenty of drive when I have got the board going. It would be cool to drop down a few litres to see what a lower volume board would ride like?
Anderson Surfboards ELECTRIC FEEL
This is the first board I went to after my 9'6" Keyo longboard. I still love this board, I ride it as a twin fin (I prefer larger more upright fins vs longer keel fins). So forgiving on the popup and foot placement. Has AMAZING straight-line speed and pumps so well. At 7' you don't get shortboard turns, but this board is amazing is 1-2' small Waihi Beach waves, to 2m massive swells. I'm 100kg and can duck dive it well enough in bigger swells. For bigger days, I'm riding a 44l DHD black Diamond. That board goes really well. Great progression for me.
Pyzel Surfboards The White Tiger
Surfed this once for a short session, just loved it. It was the board of the local surf instructor (we're both big boys). Super easy to catch waves, good drive and just got up and went. I just clicked with this shape and thruster. I bought a DHD Black Diamond 6'6 – 44L after riding this. I felt this board was a little too floaty, but you could ride this size and catch lots of waves!
Keyo International J Ride
LOVE LOVE LOVE this board. It's the first real surfboard I bought, and I dropped about $2.7k all up for fins and bag. But since then I've leant to surf on it, paddle out in massive waves when everyone else was on short boards and caught some monster waves. Rode it just a few days ago in little knee high waves and it was just so much fun. Lots of hang 5s and fun waves. Loaned it to a friend and they both loved it. I owned another longboard but I just didn't gel with it, compared to the Keyo. Jack Tyro rides Keyo - https://www.instagram.com/jack.tyro/
Firewire surfboards Sweet Potato
had several test waves on this board and it is a great groveller with lots of drive. got up and going from the very first wave. great board.