Surf on the South Island

(opening of a lake, the surf creation)

(driving right up the break)

(waiting)

(powerful!)

For the first couple of nights on my South Island conference experience I went to an indigenous mapping workshop at a Marae about an hour south of Christchurch. A Marae is a Maori meeting house, where all the guests sleep together in the same room, eat together and sit on the floor for long winded discussions on land use rights.

During our days the Marae we experienced top notch weather. So I spent much of my days outside on walks to the beach, or to near by paddocks.

I really couldn't believe people were out on the water, but there they were in the MIDDLE OF WINTER. The surf was huge, the biggest they've had all year. The spit from the lake creates a huge surge and from the sand bar. The opening is man made because the lake needs to drain, and WOW it was stunning. Many families were out together enjoying the misty morning by the fire, watching the surf, going in and out as the pleased.