Piha Surf School student, Lloyd, 13 years, competing at North Piha.

High tide on Saturday 19th May will be at 8.40am and on Sunday 20th May at 9.20m
With the 2m swell running and SW (onshore winds) the surf is going to be best for advanced surfers first thing each morning. For beginners and intermediate surfers the best times will be from 7am through until 10.30am. The best place for absolute beginners will be between the Piha Surf Club and Lion Rock.
Tip for the weekend: Keep an eye on markers on the beach so that you know where you are to avoid getting swept too far down to the south (left) end of the beach.

Jon Jon Florence feeling at home in a Rio de Janeiro barrel.

19 Year old Hawaiian surfer, Jon Jon Florence wins his first WCT event and confirms he is a world title contender of the future.
In a one sided final at the Billabong Pro in Rio de Jenairo, Jon Jon Florence beat Australia's Joel Parkinson for the win. Jon Jon continued his fantastic form combining a big backhand aerial 360 on one wave and a tube ride on the next to totally out class Joel Parkinson in just a few short minutes. Joel could do nothing more than look on and watch the talent of Jon Jon, but will take solace in his rise to top the world rankings after the first 3 events of the 2012 season.

One of the Editors for Australian Tracks Surfing magazine and couple of top cameramen from Aquabumps came to NZ to explore our surf culture. They caught up with NZ surfing icon Maz Quinn and travelled to the Coromandel before staying a couple of days at Piha and filming Piha Surf School instructor Zen Wallis. The Aussie boys obviously were impressed with our small country. We were similarly impressed by their photography skills.
Sometimes it takes some visitors to remind us just how lucky we are.

Florence (10 years) showing the benefits of being trained by Piha Surf School.

Piha Surf School has lessons for children of all ages and can show parents ways to help their children improve faster.
Surfing is one of the fastest growing and most exciting sports. Beach life is special and for children to base their sport at the beach is great for parents who want to relax away from the hussle of city life. Children are now starting surfing at 4 and 5 years of age. There are many excellent ways to ensure children are safe while they surf. Piha Surf School trainings assist parents to understnad the sport of surfing better so they can be directly involved in helping their children progress. Piha Surf School runs lessons after school and during weekends through winter.

Piha Surf School student Yazmin (14) showing perfect technique in her bottom turn.

High tide on Saturday 12th April will be at 3.20pm and on Sunday 13th April at 4.20pm
The wind over the weekend will be slightly onshore and there will be a 1 to 2 metre swell running. The best time for beginner surfers will be from 11am to 4pm each day between the Piha Surf Life Saving Club and Lion Rock. There will be the potential for good waves out on the 'Bar' over the low tide for advanced surfers in the mornings and late each evening.

Australia's Owen Wright boosting high to place 2nd last year.

The 2012 Rio Pro, hosted by Billabong, starts today in Brazil. This is the 3rd event on the World Championship Tour.
With only 10 events to be held this year to decide the World Champ, the Billabong Pro in Rio de Janeiro will be super important for the surfers wanting to set themselves up for the end of year title race. 11 times World Champ, Kelly Slater, who is currently leading the world ratings, has pulled out of the event because of a foot injury. This has opened the door for the likes of Taj Burrow and Joel Parkinson who are looking to win their first World Title. In their way is local favourite, Adriano de Souza who is currently sitting in 2nd place and keen to be Brazil's first World Champ.

Piha Surf School students, Will, George, Jai, Keelan and Ben.

Lion Rock Boardriders Club held it's 2012 annual club champs on Anzac Day in perfect 1m waves at North Piha Beach.
Surfing contests help kids of all levels to improve. It is when the parents must stand back and let the children do their thing with just a little pressure to perform. The children love the comraderie and celebrate each others participation regardless of the results. The younger children begin to compete the less pressure they will feel in all forms of life when they are teenagers or adults. Piha Surf School have wetsuits and surfboards available to assist any parents looking to get their child or chldren into surfing safely.

Piha Cafe owner, Peter Dillon, enjoying the best of all worlds.

Piha is an incredible township with two main beaches, Piha Beach and North Piha Beach. The Piha Cafe which is open during winter Thursday - Monday, (closed Tues/Wed.), is between the beaches and is a great place to warm up and enjoy yummy food and beverages.
Piha has it all. Beaches, great surf, walking tracks, a spectacular waterfall and world class sunsets. Piha has a store, a cafe, a takeaway bar and in the evenings from Thursday - Saturday you can buy dinner at the RSA or the Piha Bowling Club. There is no petrol station at Piha or bank so it pays to fuel up before you leave the outskirts of Auckland. Piha is 30km's from the nearest Petrol Station.

Sam Copely, 10 years old competing at the 2012 Billabong Grom Contest at Piha..

Piha Surf School instructors have over 10 years experience training competitive surfers to improve their results.
In New Zealand there are a number of series created by Surfing New Zealand for competitive surfers. The premiere series is the Open Men's, Women's, and Under 20 Men's divisions. This series involves 5 contests around the North Island including the NZ National Champs. For Longboarders from Under 18's to Over 50 divisions, there is the internationally recgnised, Hyundai Longboard Tour. This series also goes to a number of North Island locations. Finally there is the NZ Grom Series which is for Under 16, 14 and 12 year old surfers. This series is the greatest way for young surfers who want to try competing to begin their comeetitive careers. There are also more informal contests run by boardrider clubs. For more information, contact Piha Surf School or email you local club on lionrockbdrs@xtra.co.nz

Piha Beach is the safest beach on Auckland's west coast due to it's sheltered northerly aspect and the protection it gets from Taitomo Island (Camel Rock), and Lion Rock that flank both the south and northern ends of the beach.

New Zealand surfer, Ella Williams finished in 9th place at the 2012 World Junior Surfing Champs in Panama.

The New Zealand Junior Surf Team finished in 10th position from the 31 countries competing at the 2012 World Junior Surfing Champs.
Ella Williams, (Whangamata), was the last surfer standing for the 12 member NZ under 18 surf team. After suffering back to back defeats, Ella finished her campaign in 9th position. Piha Surf School student, Tane Wallis finished with a disappointing 41st from the 113 surfers in the Under 18 division, while ex-Piha Surf School pupil and captain of the NZ Team, Ben Poulter, finished the event in 33rd position. The World Junior Surfing Champs is the pinnacle event for Under 18 surfers. The NZ team finished in 10th position, the same result achieved in Peru in 2011.

Piha Surf School student, Tane, surfing in Panama before the 2012 World Under 18 Surfing Champs starts this weekend.

High tide on Saturday 14th April will be at 4.15pm and on Sunday 15th April at 5.30pm
The wind over the weekend will be variable and there will be a 1 to 2 metre swell running. At dawn, both mornings, advanced and intermediate surfers should be able to utilize the back of the high tides. For beginner surfers, the best time will be from 1pm each day between the Piha Surf Life Saving Club and Lion Rock. There will be the potential for good waves out on the 'Bar' over the low tide although of late the mid tide has been best. With a large high pressure system heading our way, next week could bring epic conditions.

Piha Surf School has smaller classes and supplies good quality surfboards and wetsuits for your lesson.

At Piha Surf School you will get the most experienced instructors who use the best techniques so that you learn to surf faster and safer.
The challenges in learning to surf is knowing the right tide and place on the beach that will best suit your ability. Piha Surf School instructors know Piha well and through coaching NZ representative competitive surfers, have training techniques that will help you learn to surf with better results faster. For intermediate and advanced surfers we can use video analysis to correct technique and improve overall performance
Piha Beach has consistent waves and is the safest beach on Auckland's west coast.

Kelly Slater scoring a 10 point ride with this massive air in the final.

Australia's Mick Fanning, beat 11 times world champ, Kelly Slater in a high scoring final at the Rip Curl Pro at Bells Beach in Australia. Mick Fanning who has won two world titles, beat Kelly Slater by being patient and only selecting the best waves. He scored two 9 point rides and an 8. Kelly was a long way behind Mick at the half way point but then scored a 10 point ride by making a massive air 360 turn. Kelly's 2nd place has elevated him to first place on the world ratings after the 2nd event. Meanwhile 16 year old Kiwi sensation, Sarah Mason has surfed her way to the quarter finals in the Women's division and will come up against 2011 No. 3, Tyler Wright (Aust.) on Saturday.

Learning to surf at Piha Beach is safe because of the shelter given by Camel Rock, (Taitomo Island).

High tide on Saturday 7th April will be at 10.20am, at 10.50am on Sunday and on Easter Monday at 11.40am.
The swell will again stay between 1.5m and 2m with easterly winds on Saturday morning changing to SSW in the afternoon. The best time for beginners will be over the three hours of high tide close to Lion Rock. The beach has a big channel at the southern end of the beach causing a strong cross current. Between mid to low tide, the best place is out in front of the Pakiti rock at the south end of the Beach. Advanced and intermediate surfers will enjoy the surf out on the bar although with a swell increase predicted for Sunday afternoon, it will pay to check the consistency of the sets.

Piha Surf School run lessons for all levels and can run training camps at top NZ surf breaks.

The 2nd event on the World Championship Tour begins at Bells Beach, Australia on Tuesday.

Piha Surf School instructor, Zen, winning a trip last weekend to represent NZ at the Volcom Pro Final at Newpart Beach in California next month

Due to clocks being wound backwards early Sunday morning with the end of daylight saving, high tide will be at 4.45pm both Saturday and Sunday.
The swell is expected to stay between 1.5m and 2m with East to South East winds for the next week. At present the best time for beginners is over the 4 hours of low tide (8am-12 noon) in the hole that is in the centre of the beach. The outside bank shelters beginners from the full power of the swell and the hole creating a fun wave pool that has consistent white waters without rips. For advanced surfers the mid tide on the bar will have world class moments.

Michael Peterson passed away today as a result of a heart attack at the age of 59.

High tide on Saturday 24th March is at 11.35am and on Sunday 25th at 12.05pm

Piha is the safest beach on Auckland's west coast. Your Piha Surf School instructor is more experienced and will know the best part of the beach that will bring you the best results from your lesson.

Piha Surf School specialises in lessons for school or corporate groups.

Instructor Zen Wallis winning at a pro contest in Raglan.

High Tides on Saturday will be at 6.00am and 6.30pn. Sunday at 7am and 7.30pm.
The west coast off Auckland is about to enjoy a second week of offshore winds. The swell will be around the 1.5 m range dropping down on Monday. This means optimum conditions for all levels of surfers. The Piha Bar has good shape at low tide while there will be good peaks for advanced and intermediate surfers up and down Nth Piha Beach on both days. Beginners are best at Piha Beach (south of Lion Rock) either early morning or from 3pm onwards.

When the surf is small, North Piha can be one of the most picturesque spots in the world. Photo - Silas Hansen

High Tide on Saturday will be at 12.10pm and on Sunday at 12.50pm.
The swell is expected to be small, (just under 1 metre), but the light offshore winds will mean there will be waves in many secret spots if you search them out. For beginners, surfing at Piha Beach (south of Lion Rock) will be safest and give an opportunity at high tide to paddle out the back without fear of rips or big waves. For intermediate surfers, there will be fun waves up and down the beach at North Piha Beach and at beaches to the north and south of Piha if you are prepared to explore.

Zen Wallis surfing his short board, Feb. 2012. Photo - Silas Hansen.

Piha Surf School instructor, Zen Wallis, won the final event of the NZ 2012 Hyundai Longboard series in big surf at Port Waikato. Zen finished the Hyundai Longboard series with a great result finishing in 2nd place on the NZ 2012 ratings. The Hyundai Series is highly competitive with top New Zealand and Australian longboarders all contesting the five differing events in Raglan, Piha, Sandy Bay, Mount Maunganui and finally Port Waikato. Zen prefers to ride a short board but has been able to transfer his wave knowledge and excellent technique to longboard contests with exceptioal success in 2012.

Afternoon surfing at Piha on the hightide is safe and fun for beginner surfers..

High Tide on Saturday 3rd March will be around 7.30am. On Sunday the high tide will be at 8am.
The surf for the weekend will be 2 metres on Saturday and rising overnight. The wind will be onshore on Saturday and from the Southly quarter on Sunday. Saturday evening and Sunday morning there could be some good waves for advanced surfers out on the Bar. Beginner and intermediate surfers are best off surfing the high tide either early in the morning or in the evening.Tip for the weekend Count the number of waves you catch to focus your mind on what you are trying to improve at.

Tomorrow the first contest of the 2012 World Tour starts on the Gold Coast of Australia at Snapper Rocks.