18 Year old Ella Williams surfing in Panama at the 2013 World Surfing Champs.

Ella Williams surfed through to the final of the World Surfing Games in Santa Catalina in Panama.
The 6 person New Zealand Team placed 12th in the world with Ella (18), from Whangamata, surfing through 4 heats on the final day to finish in 4th place. Dimity Stoyle (Australia) won the Gold Medal only faltering to a second place finish once during the entire event and that was in her 5th round heat that Ella won. The ISA World Surfing Games is the Olympics of surfing where surfers compete for medals and glory for their countries rather than money.

Kelly Slater (41) is leading the WCT ratings going in to the 3rd event.

The 3rd event in the World Championship race has begun in Brazil's Rio de Janeiro.
The WCT season is in full swing with the men contesting their 3rd event and the women their 5th event of 2013. Hawaii's Carissa Moore is leading the women's ratings from Tyler Wright of Australia. In the men's, Australia's Mick Fanning and Taj Burrow are sharing the second spot only 50 points behind 11 time world champion, Kelly Slater (USA). With contests in Tahiti and Bali coming up in June, the men will be looking to consolidate their positions at the top of the leader board before they reach the middle point of the tour.

With correct technique a Piha Surf School student makes a massive aerial.

High tides this weekend are at 10.20am on Saturday and 11am on Sunday.
The surf is looking great for the weekend with offshore (southeast) winds for both days and a 1.5m swell running. Beginners will enjoy fun waves from dawn to 2pm each day while intermediate and advanced surfers could find some excellent waves in the centre of Piha Beach on the incoming to high tide, and on the outside bar on the afternoon low tides.
Tip:Be patient and wait for the right wave that will give you the best ride.

Piha Surf School student wins Mount Under 20 contest. Photo ColSurf2surf

Tane Wallis has won his second Under 20 contest in a row and completes the NZ 2013 season as the number 1 Under 20 surfer.
In big tricky surf, 18 year old Tane, proved he had the stamina, technique and presence to win the final Under 20 event of the year. Fresh from winning the Under 20 event at the South Island Champs last month, Tane is showing that his years of being professionally coached is paying off. Good technique in any sport will inevitably lead to consistency in results.

Piha Surf School coaches all age groups and know how to find the perfect conditions for a person's ability.

School holiday surf class for 4 to 9 year olds.

High tide on Saturday 4th May is at 5.20pm and on Sunday 5th at 6.18pm.
Saturday looks to be the best of the two days with perfect offshore winds and a 1 - 1.5 metre swell. For beginners the best times will be from dawn until 10am in the centre of the beach and the same again from 1.30pm onwards. For advanced and intermediate surfers the outside bar will have good waves all day. Sunday has the wind turn to the south west which will mean beginner and intermediate surfers will find reform waves on the inside at the same times as Saturday. Advanced surfers will need to get out before the wind picks up.
Tip:The early worm avoids the birds.

For advanced surfers, all good turns start with the 'bottom turn'.

The high tides this weekend are at 5.30pm on Saturday and 6.00am and 6.30pm on Sunday.
With an unsettled forecast for the weekend, there will be some great reform waves for beginner surfers first thing and in the late afternoon on Saturday. Sunday has strong offshore winds which should create some world class tube rides along North Piha Beach. The swell will remain around 1.5 metres both days which will give surfers of all abilities the potential to get fun waves.
Tip:When the wind is strong offshore ride a slightly longer board to make the takeoffs easier.

With good technique you can still surf well into your 50's.

High tide this Saturday (13th April) will be at 11.20am and at 12 noon on Sunday.
We are due for an increase in swell this weekend which could provide some world class waves on the outer bar at the south end of Piha Beach. For beginners and intermediate surfers there will be some great reforms in front of the Surf Club especially from around 8am onwards both days. By 2pm the surf will be for advanced surfers and with the offshore wind on Sunday, there should be some barrels.
Tip:Ask your instructor to tell you how to read the sets so that you can get out to the waves easier.

Kids surfing in a Grom Contest at Piha Beach. Easter 2013

On Saturday 6th April, high tide will be at 6.45pm and on Sunday 7th at 7.15am.
With light south/southeast winds all weekend and a deminishing 2 metre swell, advanced surfers are going to get some fantastic waves on the outside bar at Piha Beach and at the north end of North Piha Beach. For intermediate and beginner surfers, the best place to surf will be on the south side of Lion Rock up until 10am and after 3pm both days. Remember daylight saving ends this weekend.
Tip:To enjoy the comraderie of surfing, join a local boardriders club. Contact lionrockbdrs@xtra.co.nz for more info.

Taitomo Island in this picture creates a fun and safe bay to learn to surf.

High tide on Friday 29th will be at 10.50am, on Saturday at 11.30am, Sunday at 12.20pm and on Monday 1st May at 1.10pm.
We have offshore winds for most of the weekend and 1 - 1.5 metre swell so conditions are looking optimum for surfing at Piha Beach. There will be good waves for advanced and intermediate surfers at various banks along North Piha Beach. For Beginners the surf will be great at Piha from 8am to 3pm each day
Tip:If you don't know the beach get a lesson so that you can understand where is the best spot to surf for your ability.

The Rip Curl Pro at Bells Beach is the 2nd event of 10 on the World Championship Tour.
11 times World Champ, Kelly Slater (USA), is leading the ratings after one event, just ahead of 2012 World Champ, Joel Parkinson, and two times World Champ, Mick Fanning. Both surfers are from the Gold Coast of Australia. All three surfers won their first round heats and are straight through to the third round. This event is historic to surfing being the 52nd year it has been held.

Lion Rock creates a safe learning area at Piha Beach for 6 hours every day. Photo taken 21st March 2013

It will be high tide on Saturday at 6.45am and 7pm. On Sunday at 7.30am and 7.50pm.
With super early tides the best time for beginners will be up until 10am each morning and then from 3.30pm onwards. We are lucky to have perfect southeast offshore winds again and a 1 - 1.5m swell. For advanced and intermediate surfers the outside bar and cove should be very good during the centre of the day at low tide.
Tip: Take two markers on land, one behind the other so that you can tell where you are in the water and where to paddle back to after a good wave.

Piha Surf School student, Jen, surfing last weekend in the Billabong Grom Contest at Piha Beach.

High tide on Saturday is at 12.50pm and on Sunday at 1.30pm.
Perfect surf is forecast for both days this weekend with a 1 metre swell and offshore winds. The best time for beginners will be from 9am both mornings right through until 3pm. Piha Beach will be very protected and safe for surfing while North Piha will offer some quality waves for advanced and intermediate surfers.
Tip: If you are unsure about a break or part of the beach, ask someone who knows the beach for advice.

Kelly Slater riding the barrel at Kirra Beach on Australia's Gold Coast.

Kelly Slater defeated 2012 World Champ, Joel Parkinson, in a high scoring final in perfect surf at Kirra Beach.
The action packed final saw both surfers attain 2 scoring waves each of 8.67 or more. The lead see-sawed back and forwards during the 30 minute final until Kelly scored a near perfect 9.83 by riding a super long tube and finishing with a clean turn off the lip of the wave. From there it became a game of cat and mouse with Kelly trying to keep Joel Parkinson off the best waves. Joel Parkinson did get a fantastic wave but the judges saw it only worth 8.80 out of 10, which in effect gave Kelly the win by 18.56 points to Joel's 17.47 points.

2012 World Champ, Joel Parkinson, will meet Tahiti's Michel Bourez while Mick Fanning (Aust) will meet Kelly Slater (USA) in the semi finals.

Piha Beach is the safest beach on the coast due to the shelter given by Taitomo Island.(see top left)

This weekend the high tide will be at 8.45am on Saturday and 9.40am on Sunday.
We are blessed again this weekend with 1 to 1.5m waves and light offshore winds. The best time for beginner surfers will be from dawn until 11am both mornings and from 6pm each evening. For advanced and intermediate surfers there will be great waves at North Piha and on the beaches up and down either side of Piha. Please be aware that the outside Piha Bar will be used for the Billabong Grom contest from 8am until 4pm both days. For more info please email info@pihasurfschool.com Beginner surfers will not interfere with the contest area.

These are the types of waves that bring the world's best surfers to the Gold Coast each year.

The first contests to decide the Men's and Women's World Champions have begun on Australia's Gold Coast.
The Quiksilver and Roxy Pro contests are the first events on the Men's and Women's calendar of each year and are held in the perfect right point breaks of the lower Gold Coast. 2012 Women's Champ, Stephanie Gilmour has surfed through to the semi finals by posting an impressive 9.8 out of 10 for one wave in her quarter final while 2012 Men's champ, Joel Parkinson, placed second in his first heat and will compete in the 2nd round against fellow Gold Coast resident Brent Dorrington over the weekend. To watch go to www.aspworldtour.com

Piha Surf School surfer, Tane, in a double page spread in the last Kiwi Surf Magazine.

High tides this weekend are 1.40pm on Saturday and at 2.30pm on Sunday.
The swell for the weekend will be 1 - 1.5m getting slightly bigger on Sunday afternoon. The wind will be light onshore so won't affect quality of the waves at Piha Beach either side of the high tide. For beginner and intermediate surfers, the best time will be from 10am until 3.30pm on both days. For advanaced surfers there is the chance of good waves on the bar and in the cove on both mornings.
Tip:When you can, surf with a friend or ensure there are other surfers in the water with you. The buddy system means you have someone to talk about your waves with but also someone who can assist if you have any difficulties.

Piha Surf School instructors know the best and safest part of the beach.

Safety is paramount and Piha Beach is safer than all other Auckland 'west coast' beaches.
Piha Beach is on the south side of Lion Rock and is sheltered and therefore safe for surf lessons. Piha Surf School instructors only take beginner surfers into areas that are free of rips and where the students do not go past chest deep. We also choose a part of the beach where the sand bottom is even and free of holes so that the waves don't dump. We time our lessons around the tide to ensure all students enjoy greater success. Book now for students after school lessons at $40 per person.(surfboard and wetsuit included)

David Rastovich is a world renown surfer who now travels the world helping bring attention to enviromental issues. On December 1st 2012, he paddled into Piha Beach after making a 350km arduous solo trip paddling his board from Taranaki to Piha. Afterwards, Piha Surf School instructor, Zen, caught up with Dave to have a chat about the issues and the threat to the whole coastal ecosystem as well as our favourite surf breaks. Of high priority are concerns for the highly endangered Maui Dolpins which habitat directly off our coast. There are only 55 adults left and dredging sand off our beaches would put their entire existence at threat. Go to www.kasm.org.nz for more info.

Instructor Zen surfing to another Hyundai Longboard final last weekend in New Plymouth.

The high tide at Piha this Saturday, 23rd February, will be at 9.15am and on Sunday 24th at 10am.
Offshore winds will bring perfect surf to Piha this weekend. We have a deminishing 1.5m swell that will be only a metre on Sunday. This means perfect waves for beginners from dawn to lunchtime both days and again from 6pm each evening. For advanced and intermediate surfers there will be great waves either side of high tide on all west coast beaches.
Tip:Check you legrope for nicks or swivel wear. A loose board can injure other surfers or swimmers.

2012 World Surfing Champ, Joel Parkinson competing in his first contest of the 2013.

21st February 2013.
Today Joel Parkinson surfed his way into the 3rd round of the Burton Toyota Pro.
With the beginning of the World Championship Tour starting in just over a week, the 2012 World Champ has made it through two heats of the first 6 Star event of the year. A good result will go towards Joel's World Ratings for the year and will be a great way to prepare himself for the Quiksilver Pro at Snapper Rocks on the Gold Coast in two weekends. In 2013 there will be 10 events to decide the World Champion. Four are held on perfect right hand breaks, three in perfect left hand breaks, and three in fantastic beach breaks in France, Brazil and Portugal.

Last Sunday morning's class about to go in the water.

High tide today is at 2.40pm while tomorrow, Sunday 17th will be at 3.30pm.
We have light onshore winds again this weekend with a 1.5 to 2m swell running. This will give advanced surfers some fun waves out on the bar in the south corner early morning and night on both days while beginner and intermediate surfers will have great learning waves at the northern end of Piha Beach, (by Lion Rock).
Tip:Choose a part of the beach that suits your ability. Beginner surfers need to avoid dumping waves.

The two surfers featured in this video are 2012 NZ Under 18 Champ, Tane and his brother Zen who, in the Open Men's division, finished 2012 in 2nd overall for the NZ Hyundai Longboard Series and 8th in the NZ Pro Shortboard Series. Both surfers have surfed in Piha waters all their lives and love the consistency of surf here and the joy of summer offshore winds. From time to time they travel around NZ and beyond to surf in contests and test their boards. Their happiest times are when noone else is around and they can slip away from coaching and enjoy perfect surf without any pressure.

Two time world champ, Mick Fanning, surfing at Burleigh Breaka Pro today.

High tide on Saturday 9th February will be at 10am and on Sunday 10th February at 10.45am.
The surf for this weekend should be between 1m and 1.5m with light onshore winds. This means beginner surfers will get the best results from 7am until noon both days. Advanced and intermediate surfers will again find a variety of waves on all beaches either side of Piha. On the low tide there should be some fun waves out on the bar.
Tip:Onshore winds means you have to look to take off on waves with a definite shoulder to them.

20 year old Hawaiian, John John Florence, winning again!

After placing 4th as a 19 year old on his first year on the World Championship Tour, comparisons are now being made between John John Florence and Kelly Slater.
Kelly Slater won the first of his 12 World Titles as a 20 year old in 1992 and has gone on to prove his surfing supremacy over the last two decades. John John Florence has just won the Volcom Pipe Pro for the third year in a row and is now leading the World rankings ahead of the 2013 World Championship Tour which starts in Australia in 3 weeks.

The first big contest of the year, the Volcom Pipe Pro, is on in Hawaii.

High tide on Saturday 2nd February is at 2.50pm while on Sunday (3rd), will be at 3.45pm.
We will be blessed with offshore winds again this weekend and optimum conditions. The swell will rise a fraction to 1.5m on Saturday with possible 2m sets on Sunday. This means the surf will be best for beginners at Piha Beach, (by Lion Rock) from 12noon to 4.30pm both days while advanced and intermediate surfers could find some great waves on the north side of Lion Rock.
Tip:In offshore conditions, board control is super important for other surfers and your safety.

Lion Rock (centre left) creates a sheltered bay at Piha.

On Saturday 26th January, high tide will be at 10.30am. On Sunday (27th) it will be at 11.00am.
The surf forecast for this weekend is for perfect waves around 1 metre high with light offshore winds. For beginners the best time will be from 7am through until 1pm while intermediate and advanced surfers will find great waves throughout the day up and down North Piha Beach.
Tips:When the surf is perfect you may have to share with a number of other surfers. Communicate well and smile remembering what a blessing it is for all who surf.