Surfers have flocked to Mount Maunganui's Main Beach to make the most of large swells whipped up by Cyclone Hola today.
About 80 surfers braved the elements to catch waves estimated to be about 2m high.
A Bay of Plenty Times reporter at the scene said rain was bucketing down and the carpark was packed with surfers' cars.
Some of the surfers had said there had been some good sets rolling in and there would have been a minimum of 80 surfers out on the water chasing the cyclone surf, she said.
