John Ballinger
Surf Logs
Waihi Beach Boardriders surf comp #3
Another fantastic day at WBB. About 2-4º overnight – so the air temps were very chilly. Water was still 17º and the conditions were pretty good at 1.4m and nice sets rolling through.
I joined the final and come in 5th place to the best surfers at WB, but managed to catch a couple. But struggled to link a turn or two in the softer waves. But I will get there one day!
Chuffed with my wave count and managed to work pretty hard to get around, that's one of the harder things I find in comp is going hard for 20mins
It magically just glassed up
It was so magic once it glassed up. Lots of waves for all the locals out. Was so much fun with several big lefts
Lots of big fat waves
Black diamond was so good on all waves, easy to get into and great down the line, super happy with it.
strong offshore
Strong offshore, but waves were sitting up nicely for some neat rides.
Easy to get out and duck dive, lots of peaks. so much fun.
Anderson and DHD
Some big waves rolling through, mucked one up when my front foot just slipped off the board completely. darn.
Still some size out there, needed to take the rip a few times. How a go of the electric feel, but it was hard to keep it smooth and I was a bit too twitch on it. Need to practice drawing out my turns.
pretty inconsistent
Still hoping for better waves, offshore picked up again, best surf was before 9. Lots of rain later on.
lumpy waves with lots of groms
Was fun at the start, then all the groms came out. Still caught a few waves here and there. Very lumpy
Monday mashup with Duncan
Some beautiful waves on monday, peeling and easy to get into. some decent rides, with waves that walled up really nice for some sweet rides.
was fun surfing with @Shredlord
big and calm
wind dropped off and the waves were just so clean. lots of people out for an hour then dropped off for a bit. caught a great wave through the pack, speeding past the lineup dodging surfers, with thumbs up from friends. always feels wicked to get complimented from friends.
had so much fun, surfed until dusk.
neck and shoulders pretty sore from a few big waves.
surf comp 4th
boardriders surf comp in the morning. came 4th.
surfed all morning. lots of waves with a strong off shore wind. picked up quite a few massive epic waves. started doing more cut backs. focused. on getting a higher line.
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/