NZ

I arrived in NZ a few at the beginning of April. I flew direct from Vancouver to Auckland, all pretty easy save for my tooth ache. I had a wisdom tooth removed the day before departure, which did cause a bit of discomfort, however the pain pills for the tooth ache knocked me out for most of the 14 hour flight. The more I travel the easy each trip gets, and the more I learn what are good things to do to prepare for easy travel and what not to do. I learned it's probably a good idea to go to the dentist more than every 9 years and not to leave tooth removal for the day before grueling international flights.
When I arrived at the airport in Auckland all the kneeboard surfing mania had already begun. I ran into a few of the Kneeboard Surfing team USA, a couple of characters I have met at previous contests in the states. I was a bit tired, but they were totally fired up about a few days exploring NZ and chasing waves before the big worlds event. Their enthusiasm and smiles in the early morning Auckland light helped combat my post 14 hour flight fatigue and I left the airport totally stoked and ready for adventure and surf.
I wondered around Auckland and stumbled on the YMCA swimming pool downtown. A great place, free showers and big, lucious, clean white towels for hire for only 2 kiwi dollars. Life certainly is grand.
After wandering around boring Auckland for a few hours, unable to get a hold of the family in Opunake with whom I was to stay and tired of waiting for the bus I opted to hire a car. Freedom. The day was glorious , 23 degrees, sunny and just me and the open road. Tunes playing and wind in my hair.

Mt Taranaki, Opunake NZ

I arrived in Opunake aroun 9pm, to the open arms of the Weir family. Not only have they become close friends of mine over the past few years, but they are also the brains, and spirit behind the 2009 Kneeboard Surfing World titles. An event which they have been planning for a few years now.
Over the course of the next few weeks the Weir Household woud have its doors open from the early hours of the morning 'til the wee hours of the night. All the rooms and beds were full. There were so many travellers and kneeboard surfers staying, they set up a circuis tent in the front yard to accomodate everyone. A few mornings the lounge chairs and couches were taken up by sleeping bodies, teeangers and other wounded souldiers. It was a full house. The kiwi hospitality really is amazing, no matter how many people stopped by there was always enough food, drink and places to rest our weary bodies.

Extra accomodation at the Weir's place during the contest, there are two large rooms in the tent, mine was the one in back.

The week before the contest was fairly relaxed, a few friends arrived form Aussie, and as the week went on more kneeboarders started honing in on little Opunake. The weather was sunny and then rainy, there was swell, but it the wind was howling onshore for most of the week. The weather had cleared by good friday, and the surf looked like it would pick up for the following weeks events.

View from lookout in Opunake