Jack Tyro
Courtesy of nzsurfjournal/boxoflightnz
After a fun couple of days in pristine Christchurch conditions the groms are back on the road, heading north to Kaikoura for the fourth and final event of the Connect Group SISA Grom Series. Event three in New Brighton, Christchurch last weekend kicked off with pumping offshore conditions with locals stating it was one of the best swells to hit Christchurch in a long time. Arriving in Kaikoura this weekend the groms will again be hoping for light westerly winds and a small south east swell to continue the trend of pumping conditions for the Connect Group South Island Grom Series.
The fourth event in the Connect Group series will be based between Graveyards and Meat works, wherever the conditions are best. Meat works (near Maungamanu) in Kaikoura is an exposed beach and reef break that often provides some fun waves. Groms will have their fingers and toes crossed early with the long-range forecast pointing towards a steady 1.5m E/SE swell and light breezes for most of the weekend, perfect conditions for frothing groms.
Not so appealing for the groms is the cooling water. Currently sitting at 16 degrees this is a contrast to what most of the groms have experienced in the North Island. Water temperature in the Bay of plenty, Whangamata and Piha has been getting as high as 24 degrees some days. This weekend the North Island groms will be trading in the flexibility of surfing in boardshorts and springsuits to the warmth of their 3/2 steamers.
Groms staying warm in Kaikoura. Image courtesy of NZSurfJournal
The surfing action kicks off on Saturday at 7am and concludes on Sunday afternoon with the Under 14, Under 16 and Under 18 Boys and Girls divisions all taking to the water throughout the weekend.
The Kaikoura event is the last of the Connect Group Series however the groms are looking forward to the Emerson’s South Island champs at Easter followed by the Canterbury Men’s Champs on the 23rd of April.
Surfers from the top of the North Island to the bottom of the south and everywhere in between will take part this weekend in Under 14, Under 16 and Under 18 divisions. Action takes place from 8am – 5pm daily.
COVID 19 Protocols
The event will be held using strict COVID 19 protocols. All participants will be required to sign in with their My Vaccine Pass and scan QR codes. Masks are required on the event site. The divisions will be split into two separate days and run through to completion to limit the number of participants at the event site.
Further Information
Jack Hinton in Kaikoura
Courtesy of NZSurfing Magazine/Cory Scott
For further information on the Connect Group Event 3 Christchurch please contact Surfing New Zealand’s Ben Kennings on 021 2278732 or email benkennings@surfingnz.co.nz.
Imagery
High resolution action images of the surfing at all events will be available to media free of charge.
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