I need some help.
I’m heading to NZ for 3 weeks and I’m planning on taking 3 boards. Planning on surfing whatever I find.
One board will be a 9’4" longboard.
The second will be a 6’7 thruster.
The other board will either be a:
6’2" Bonzer Egg
5’8" fish
Which would you take?
The Fish.
bonzer…removable fins makes travel soooooo much easier
Brandon- I have a hard surfcase. Not a problem.
ahhh…fancy shmancy…wish i had one of those at about 10’0"
The longboard ones are great. I wish I had one, too. Too bad there’s no getting around transporting logs with glassed on fins!
Either/or just enjoy. You know I’m jealous!
i would go with the fish
Go with fish if you really like smaller waves (under arms’s reach overhead), so your log and fish cover small waves.
Go Bonzer if you like 4-8’ surf mainly, especially for making the long point waves there.
I’d lose the log, bring Bonzer, 6’6" tri, and 7’6" tri.
Who cares about surfing chest high and smaller surf!
bonzer and fish and 6’7 thruster
ben
Unfortunately you get a lot of chest high and smaller in NZ - even in early winter. I’d take the fish for East coast and the bonzer if you are lucky enough to get Raglan or Shipwrecks on.
Sidestreet what part of the country are you planning on visiting ?
Based on the Feedback-
I think I’ll take both the fish and the bonzer, in addition to the longboard. I’ll save the thruster for another day.
where in nz are you going if your on the west coast of south you will need something a bit longer as it usually big and a bit messy. east coast, bonzer and a thruster… fish on the small days, the east coast gets pretty big sometimes .just make sure you got a 4/3 wettie if you want to surf south island east coast and booties… I probably wouldnt bother with a mal unless you really like em. there fun and good in rips . I have a 6’6" thruster and im gunna get a bigger board the waves often get double over head. I live in nelson and we dont catch much swell the waves are good when we get em. So im definately gunna make a fish at some stage Me and my mates are going up for a trip to Taranaki (never been before) I am told this is the most consistent place in NZ (mostly points and reef breaks) Theres a highway Called SURF HIGHWAY with over 30 uncrowded classic lineups.enjoy yourself and tell everyone after you get back how bad it was 
and they didnt miss anything (keeps the crowds down) cheers
or go to mount manganui with 17’ of wood between your legs… ask for R…oh heck , you know who !!
ben
don’t forget your imperial jackboot… hehe
Looks like I’ll be on the North Island. Flying into Auckland, meeting some friends in Coramandel, and then seeing what happens.
Silly-
Do you know what the water temps are on the North Island in late April. I went in early April back in 2000 and it was relatively warm 67-70 F.
LE MAT MONSOUIR
the personal debt
of traveling w/ surfboards is intimidating
the random act of kindness door can not only be opened
but also can deliver life shaking chances for prsonal change
the security of a familiar board is attractive,cheap transit fees is an imperative ,small board better
the smaller the better
but the mat will get you
deeper
harder
softer
invisible to all but a select few
yor might even show and yew canreport on how it rides
the tip is the thing power to you and enjoy
once chosen dont think about another board thats left behind
can the fees for transit equal the price of an aquired board on Atearoa?
…ambrose…hitchhiking with a mat,- hitchhiking with a 9’board
Ambrose-
I must admit: I have always enjoy your elegant prose. You are like the Confucious of Swaylocks! I saved a couple of your past entries because they were quite insightful.
The last time I was in NZ, I saw some Kiwi shapes that were pretty nice. However, I would prefer having a board that I know works for me. I brought one longboard last time, and it came in handy for those clean waist high waves.
Fortunately Air NZ doesn’t charge extra for surfboard cases (the last time I checked). I wish I had a surf mat, but to tell you the truth, I wouldn’t know how to ride one.
good-o air new zeland ,good choice nice to hear they are still carrying boards fer free…
just a little carte blanche mat evangelizm
carrying forth a little for the mirth in the future
as revealed by the prophet Stan Ross
the oldest guy in the north coast surf club 1963…
I think he’s the third from the left in the photo
as seen in the surfers journal article about dick keating
volume ten #4 fall 2001
not a picture of him going just stan-ding in a crowd
of fun lovers…
…ambrose…
not sure of temp , but a 3/2 steamer will suffice i wear one all year in nelson. north island should be a bit warmer. check out
for links to weather maps etc web cams . its not far to the other side of the island ehh.
id give air new zealand dimensions of the mal, cause im not sure about free baggage on something that big
cheers