Well, that's been a miserable summer down south. Maybe we've just been lucky these past few years – we actually had real summers brimming with barbecues, warm sunny evenings, swells that lasted for weeks and water clarity so clear you'd sometimes struggle to see the transition of a wave.But this 19-20 summer has been woeful.
So it was no surprise to see every single beach-loving person in Dunedin swoop onto our beaches on Sunday. A balmy 20°C high doesn't sound like much to the rest of the country, but in Otepoti that's cause for celebration. Dunedin people have an emergency bag ready to go all year round for just such occasions. Its contents are simple: beach towel, togs, sunblock, wetsuit, surfboard and six pack of your favourite Emerson's brew, maybe a few cheese rolls ...
The local club the South Coast Boardriders held a Sunday Funday that took full advantage of the conditions with so many grommets and families giving surfing ago. The session was followed by ice creams all round, served by a few of the old salty sea dogs of the club – legends in their own right and not too bad on the ice cream scooper handle as well.
The Esplanade Surf School was in full flight as well – at one stage the water was thick with more surfers than I've ever seen all making the most of the small clean waves on the inside.
It was one day that actually did feel like the summer we should have had. One day, but we'll take it. Counting today, we officially have five days left of summer. Don't waste a drop.
See you at the beach ... Derek
PS If you wanted a re-run of the 2020 NZ Nationals final between Elliot Paerata-Reid and Billy Stairmand then that's exactly what went down at the Mothernest Great Lakes Pro over in NSW at the weekend with the two Kiwi surfers meeting in the semi-finals. Here's how that unfolded ...
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