, February 2011 Surf Review

February 2011 Surf Review

Tuesday, March 15, 2011 Comments

Posted by

Wainui Beach - February goodness. Photo: BLAIR / SURF2SURF.com

February - you don't need us to tell you that it pretty much pumped from start to finish. This was a result of the continuing La Nina weather pattern that brought offshores to the West and swell to the east - unlike some previous La Nina patterns though, we weren't hammered by continual onshores for the East Coast. There were enough windless days to produce some real quality, with most regions enjoying at least a few epic days.

The Tropical Cyclones made the difference for Northland, Coro, BOP and Gissy, with TC Atu in particular hanging in there for days on end and pushing swell into most spots on the east coast of NZ. As always, one region receives an unfair share of the spoils and this month Gissy takes the crown. There were reasonable waves for 15 of the 28 days in February, with an average rating of 4.4. Many other spots were not far behind however, with the BOP close to taking out the #1 spot with an average of 4.3. The east coast was not alone in the quality stakes, with Taranaki taking third position with a rating of 4.2:

In terms of epic days, it was Coro/BOP dominating with 5 epic days each. Third equal was shared by Northland and Auckland's West Coast with 4 epic days each:

Almost every spot enjoyed far greater consistency than the previous few months, with some massive jumps in the number of reasonable surf days experienced. Only one region out of the 10 that we actively monitor received less than 9 days of reasonable waves, with the majority in the 9-12 range:

Overall, the average rating for the country was 3.7 - our highest since we started recording the monthly data over 12 months ago. March is typically a much better surf month for many NZ surf regions, so let's hope Gissy continues it's good form and pumps for the O'Neill Cold Water Classic that kicks off on March 23rd!

comments so far...

12 archived comments...

Mar 16,
2011

05:31 am

cheaa boi east coast repping ahahah

- Posted by james w

Mar 16,
2011

09:08 am

ohh yea piha is where i surf and it has been very fun! I love you auckland west! keep it reul!

- Posted by tim thompson

Mar 16,
2011

09:32 am

Yeah Timmy Boi Piha is da Bomb! i am a scarfie now though and Dunners pumps hard if you know where to look! Peace out though to all my hommies surfing the bar!

- Posted by Sam Love

Mar 16,
2011

10:06 am

Chaaaaaa!! Everyone's getting waves!!!!!!!!!

- Posted by Hemi

Mar 16,
2011

04:41 pm

U know the country has been getting good waves when the BoP rates!

- Posted by Smith

Mar 16,
2011

06:20 pm

I have had the meanest summer tearing up piha bar. no lies i have had like 50 pits at that place its so good, easily the best wave i have ever surfed and i have been to aus! and dont you go raving about it sam you scarfie we arent hommies any more! WEST IS BEST!

- Posted by Jordan \"danger\" lloyd

Mar 17,
2011

11:46 am

Piha is such a good place with quality waves for getting some mean airs and grappling some sweet turns and you can even do the odd barrel if you position yourself in the right position. I am a big fan of the people and the place of piha.Piha.

- Posted by Brian Fantana

Mar 18,
2011

02:18 pm

mount reef has been pumping. great work by the council

- Posted by khan

Mar 18,
2011

02:25 pm

mount reef has been all time

- Posted by khan

10.

Mar 21,
2011

12:58 pm

Khan was on another planet obviously... the mt reef is a fuck up of immence proportions I want some of the drugs he is on.

- Posted by Aus

11.

Mar 21,
2011

04:29 pm

the mount reef been pumping? its better off the reef than on it!

- Posted by dman

12.

Apr 1,
2011

08:28 am

I think the concept of irony elludes many who read and post comments on this site. Khan, you're absolutely right - the mount reef is EPIC.

- Posted by phil