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Surf to summit surf and ski world first - Day 3

Thursday 16 September 2010, 11:26AM

By The pr shop

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Surf to summit at Cape Reinga
Surf to summit at Cape Reinga Credit: The pr shop
Surf to summit at Whakapapa
Surf to summit at Whakapapa Credit: The pr shop
Surf to summit at Meatworks
Surf to summit at Meatworks Credit: The pr shop

Surf to Summit is well underway as four NZ ski and surf personalities attempt the impossible, by travelling the length of the country in five days, skiing a different summit and surfing a different break every day.

They knew this would not be easy, as surf and mountain conditions could affect their chances of completing the challenge within the five day period – and after Day One, this challenge is already being faced.

Here’s what happened on Day One (Tuesday):

5.00am - Awoke at Cape Reinga, group went down to the lighthouse to start the mission.

6.30 - Left Cape Reinga for Ahipara (surf destination).

7.00 - Campervans drove down 90 mile beach in search of surf.

9.00 - Campers arrive at Shipwreck Bay. Surf session begins - small 2-3 ft surf.

11.30 - Crew return to Kataia. Head to airport for charter flight to The Chateau,
Ruapehu.

2.30pm - Crew arrives at Chateau and heads up the hill to Whakapapa.

3.30 - Surf to Summit team catch last run of the day to complete Day One!

4.00 - Time to celebrate with a summit at the base of Ruapehu.

5.00 - The impending bad weather for tomorrow in Taranaki forces the group to look at other plans as Mt Taranaki looks impassible due to a heavy rain warning.

Changes for Day Two

6.30pm - The crew made the call to bypass Taranaki on Day Two and instead headed straight to Wellington at the end of Day One to catch the 3am ferry. Day Two’s morning surf leg was Meatworks at Kaikoura and the mountain that afternoon was Mt Lyford – the surf began at 8.00am after driving from Picton on arrival at 6.20am. As Day Three became Day Two, the crew has added adding a brand new surf spot and mountain on Day Three (Hickory Bay on Banks Peninsula, and Mt Olympus – which is being specially opened for them) to ensure they complete the five days, five breaks, five mountains never-before-done mission.

Surf to Summit will be a grueling journey and an attempt at a world first - going the length of a country surfing and skiing every day – a feat that has never been done in any country in the world. The mission will take five action-packed days as they drive, chopper, ferry, fly, surf, snowboard, and ski the length of the country from Cape Reinga on Day One (September 14) to Bluff on Day Five (by midnight September 18).

Making the road trip in the Britz campervan will be a team of ten: four athletes, a producer/director, two cameramen, a safetyman, and two helpers, while local legends in surf and ski will meet them along the way to help them complete the record. The participating athletes include pro skier Tom Dunbar, pro snowboarder Maria Kuzma, skier and surfer Angus Kebbell, and ski personality and manufacturer Alex Herbert; with special guests Jossi Wells (free skiing world champ), Geoff Small (national big mountain champ, Ruapehu extreme champ), Sam Smoothy (national freeride champ), and Sam 

The challenge will celebrate its completion in Bluff at the southernmost point of the country in the evening on September 18, with festivities and no doubt a refreshing bottle of Speight’s Summit to reward the participants for their hard work!