A
thrilling surf documentary aired the end of
May starring several NZ surf beaches and
specially chosen world class watermen. And to
make it sweeter, victory in the competition went
to Kiwi Daniel Kereopa from Raglan.
An uninvited guest star was Pam, Cyclone
Pam, whose distant havoc elsewhere delivered
major surf conditions perfectly timed for
the competition at – of all places – Otama
Beach. Meanwhile they kept eye on a cyclone
developing to the south.
This new event, tltled
The Ultimate Waterman,
is planned to be an annual competition. It
THE COROMANDEL PENINSULA
S
URF SUPREME!!
COROMANDEL’S
OTAMA BEACH
CHOSEN
IN
‘THE ULTIMATE WATERMAN’
SERIES
...WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM CYCLONE PAM
Aussie Mark Visser
posted the Otama Beach shortboard
event’s only perfect 10 ride.
SURF FILM PROVES IT: NZ IS ULTIMATE SURF LOCATION!
THE ULTIMATE WATERMEN
“Driven by Subaru”
An invitational international competition
featuring 5 disciplines and 8 competitors.
New Zealander Daniel Kereopa champion.
1. Daniel Kereopa (NZL), 4836
2. Kai Lenny (HAW), 4650
3. Connor Baxter (HAW), 4625
4. Danny Ching (USA), 4499
5. Manoa Drollet (TAH), 4249
6. Mark Visser (AUS), 4061
7. Georges Cronsteadt (TAH), 3981
8. Kala Alexander (HAW), 3576
THE DISCIPLINES AND LOCATIONS
Waka Ama Endurance, Takapuna Beach
Shortboard, Otama Beach
Standup Paddleboard, Purakanui Beach
Longboard, Raglan, Manu Bay
Standup Paddleboard, 15km, Mission Bay
location. The Coromandel’s own Otama Beach!!
(We found later the organisers were sensitive
about exposing these “secret” surf spots.)
We headed over, via Facebook, to the Luke’s
Kitchen page. Avid Kuaotunu surfer Luke Reilly
must be ecstatic at this surge of surfer action
streaming through town for some of his famous
pizza (see next page).
But Luke posted that Pam dealt his pizza place
a bit of a ‘wipeout’ and they had to close. “Surf
pumped and the Coromandel turned into the
north shore of Hawaii for a day”, he later
updated. “Kitchen is back to normal now.”
And what of 2016? Event creator Surf New
Zealand plans for more! More locations, more
action, additional events...and promising even
greater thrills to come.
Photo: Cory Scott
WATCH THE SHOW HERE!
www.redbull.tv/videos/AP-1HQ2TJBXW1W11/the-ultimate-waterman
View other photos and videos on YouTube,
Facebook (The Ultimate Waterman)
and at
www.theultimatewaterman.com.certainly honours these top athletes, but
the stunning footage showcases NZ, its
spectacular scenery (often viewed from the air),
its surf locations, and world class ‘watermen’.
Appropriately, the video was created by the
energy drink producer Redbull Media, with ‘no
expense spared’ filming and production by
NZ’s Making Movies. Every one of the film’s 48
minutes sizzles with action as it follows the 8
competitors – reality show style – as they are
whisked away to surf locations, then battle it
out on the ocean in 5 different water events.
TUW Event Creator and Director Greg
Townsend says, “The documentary will be
on offer to a potential global audience of
4.2 million on Red Bull TV, an entertainment
website with a huge international following”.
The producers are aiming for distribution of the
programme on TV, but the film is online now.
MIGHTY CURLS AT OTAMA BEACH!
The beach announced for the February 16
Shortboard competition was “very isolated”
and had not seen waves of this power since
1997! Facebook photos showed giant surf
and perfect barrels. Where WERE these great
waves!!? It took some headknocking to get the
UW’s Facebook writers to let loose with the
Raglan’s Daniel Kereopa wins the longboard
competition at his home beach...
...and he went on
to win it ALL!
Photo: Cory Scott
Photo: Ian Trafford