Pro surfer Kalani Chapman details his near death wipeout at Chopes in "Raw The Movie".

Heavy wipeout compilation featured in Taylor Steele's "Campaign 1".

Kelly Slater demonstrates skill under pressure to avoid a towrope disaster.

An incredible Summer vibrations compilation from surf film "The Essence of Surfing".

An awesome compilation of wipeouts from "Raw the Movie".

An interesting insight into recycling surboards in surf film "Picaresque".

The waves were big and so were the boulders as lifeguards ordered surfers away from St Clair Beach's access steps at the national surfing championships.

A gadget only a little more high-tech than your average waterproof watch will play a key role in a study assessing New Zealand's best surf breaks.

Surfer's pursuit of a fourth world title ends in heartbreaking fashion, just a day after his brother dies.

Older brother Peter died just hours before surf champion competed in Hawaii.

Heavy surf wipeout compilation.

Thick barrels and solid power surfing with Brett Burcher, from surf movie 'INNERSECTION BLACK.

Mikey DeTemple shows us longboarding in a new light, from the longboard movie "PICARESQUE".

Big wave surfer Mark Matthews taking his Groms to Shipsterns for the first time.

Darren Rogers' living room is full of surfboards, but it is all he can do to get back in the water.

French resort of Biarritz is prescribing surfing lessons to ward off a range of ailments from depression to heart disease.

Incredible slow motion vision of famous big wave surfer Mark Mathews.

A video has gained popularity on Facebook of a surfer riding the waves of a 75-foot launcher near Waiheke Island over the Labour Weekend. Supplied/Jesse James Cassrels

Beachgoers are being urged to stay safe this summer, with lifeguards already gearing up this long weekend. A special pre-season rescue exercise was held yesterday at Muriwai Beach to show the work lifeguards do while on duty. Volunteers used inflatable boats, jet skis and other life-saving equipment in the choppy waters to demonstrate a rescue.

A special pre-season rescue exercise was held yesterday at Muriwai Beach to show the work lifeguards do while on duty.

US surfing legend Kelly Slater wows the crowd but misses his mark with the judges

Guinness World Record holder broke neck in four places when he hit a rock during surfing contest.

Sometimes work is just work ... even on a beach, with beautiful people, and never-ending surf, writes Elisabeth Easther.

Australian surfer Mick Fanning's decision to abandon a yellow surfboard in favour of one with more black and blue colouring has raised the question of how sharks perceive colour.