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TRAVEL<br />
SURF TRIP<br />
We might have got to taste the<br />
delights of the region whilst attending<br />
Marchfest, but the next day’s seedy<br />
heads prevented any form of overly<br />
lively activity, aside from the careful<br />
art of breathing. So to find out what<br />
we missed surfwise, we chatted with<br />
Mark Nichol’s, the President of the local<br />
Nelson Boardriders Surf Club.<br />
NELSON LOCALS:<br />
MARK NICHOLS<br />
NELSON BOARDRIDERS<br />
“Nelson, has possibly some of the closest<br />
proximity high quality waves in New Zealand<br />
boasting seven different breaks all within<br />
7km of each other. Unfortunately though, it<br />
can be a long wait between swells with flat<br />
spells often lingering into the 3-5 week range.<br />
When the swell is on however, you wouldn’t<br />
want to live anywhere else!!”<br />
People have indeed been surfing Nelson since<br />
the mid to late 60’s. The local boardriders<br />
club has formed, dissolved and reformed<br />
several times over through the years. In 2005<br />
it was once again reborn under the direction<br />
of current President, Mark Nichols, along with<br />
Daryl Way and a website that shared local<br />
photos, stories and humorous banter to keep<br />
everyone amused during flat spells. For a bit<br />
of a laugh, visit nelsonboardriders.blogspot.<br />
com<br />
Now solely run by Mark, the club boasts<br />
around forty members. He describes the club’s<br />
set up as only Mark can.<br />
“Disorganised and with no direction<br />
whatsoever the club rolls along with the<br />
vision that even though we don’t really<br />
do anything other than have bbq’s and tell<br />
stories, there is a formal body here incase we<br />
ever have to rise to an occasion, for example,<br />
direct threats to our breaks and coastlines.<br />
“The surfing community in Nelson is like none<br />
you will ever come across. Friendly, happy<br />
and inviting and this probably stems from the<br />
fact they don’t get waves everyday, and when<br />
there is a swell running the entire crew are<br />
happier than pigs in sh*t !”<br />
TOP: Nelson surf we missed - something<br />
to look forward to on the next trip<br />
ABOVE: Freebord man Frosty and one<br />
very cool board.<br />
NELSON LOCALS:<br />
FROSTY<br />
A TRUE SMORGASBOARDER<br />
Michael “Frosty” Frost is the NZ and<br />
Australian agent for Freebord - the radical<br />
snowboard/skateboard thrill machine with<br />
six wheels and bindings. (See our story on<br />
the freebord in our <strong>2012</strong> Jan/ Feb edition<br />
at www.smorgasboarder.com.au to find out<br />
what it is all about.)<br />
We met up with this pillar of healthy living<br />
the morning after the beer festival. We<br />
pretended to feel better than we did as<br />
Frosty filled us in a little about his home.<br />
“We are just blessed with an amazing<br />
climate and geography that attracts the right<br />
type of people. We enjoy more sunshine<br />
here than anywhere else in the country.<br />
“Everything is right on our doorstep. We<br />
have quality breaks nearby when it is<br />
on, just consistency can be a bit of an<br />
issue. We’re only 1 ½ hours drive to the<br />
mountains. You can be in a completely<br />
different world and climate snowboarding<br />
back-country. I have snowboarded around<br />
the world and this is my favourite backcountry.<br />
“Lakes, mountains, rivers… whatever turns<br />
you on are all nearby… whitewater rafting,<br />
fishing, kiteboarding…”<br />
And he does it all. Next trip we’re taking<br />
him up on the offer of some secret-spot<br />
snowboarding for sure.<br />
may/jun <strong>2012</strong><br />
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