Ideal conditions and a positive attitude enabled the first Surf's Up event of the summer at Ahipara on Saturday to become a major success.
Surf's Up spokesman Pete Furze jokingly referred to the benign conditions present on the day as "karma" for all involved. To paint a picture, the day was held under clear skies and in light winds with a small but clean swell rolling in. The Beach Boys' Greatest Hits provided a fitting soundtrack as plates of rock melon were passed around while the barbecue warmed up in one of several large marquees erected on the camping ground above a very high tide.
Eventually 12 disabled athletes showed up to try their hand at the difficult sport of surfing, along with an estimated two dozen children from the accompanying entourage of participants and helpers.
Furze particularly wanted to compliment the large number of volunteers who gathered at Te Kohanga (aka Shipwreck Bay) which reflected positively on the wider Far North community. Also acknowledged were two local organisations - Far North REAP and Nga Mahi Mo te Tangata Trust - for embracing and developing the concept.
He also proudly noted around 70 people were hosted by the Sumner Longboarders at the Surf's Up day in Christchurch on Saturday, an event inspired by - and held in conjunction with - the Far North initiative.
