A pioneer and legend of Auckland surfing in the late 60's and 70's, Nev Hines sadly passed away at his beloved Freeline Indonesian Surf Adventures Camp in South Sumatra on Friday 30th May 2011.

Nev was a friend and mate to all the surfers who set the foundations in the early days of the Auckland surfing community.

Starting out of a garage (as was usual in those days), he worked with Gary Birdsall in Glen Eden, then opened a factory in Archers Road, Takapuna and established himself as one of the original core of board builders in Auckland. Nev had plenty of time for everyone and liked nothing better than to take young grommets under his wing and see their surfing flourish and prosper (although he had a bunch of pretty crazy older 'grommets' as well).

A preference for big waves saw Nev making the trek out to Piha more frequently and it wasn't long before he was one of the first "Takapuna Ripple Riders" to become an accepted member of the "West Coast Crew".

Nev went to Australia in mid '78 and after a 'round trip settled in Forster, NSW, where he worked for Bob Brown Surfboards and eventually set up his own business when Freeline Surfboards was born. It wasn't long before Nev established himself as a respected member of the local surfing community there and started making regular trips to Bali. Nev fell in love with Indo after his very first trip there and the "secret spots" were soon marked on a map in his factory that were added to every time the Forster boys returned from their sojourns.

In 1992 Nev set up Freeline Indonesian Surf Adventures - FISA. In his own words:

"FISA started with a trip, via Bali, to West Java, then relatively unknown, with the first six surfers willing to take a gamble on me delivering the goods. Garry 'Bintang' Ralph, Geoff 'Lump' Roddick, Lachlan 'Locknuts' Gunn, Mal 'Malice' McNaughton, Cam 'Dognuts', and Col Hedley. Thanks for believing in me boys, you were major players in the development of FISA. All went to plan, we got great waves, had a wild old time and FISA was on it's way."

In 1994 Nev pioneered surfing in the South Sumatra area and began operating tours to the region. With the help of close friend Stu Horstman, "The Big Rock 5", and his wife Ani, Nev set up Batu Besar Losmen in West Java in 1999 and then in 2001 Ombak Indah losmen/surf camp was set up near Krui, in South Sumatra. Nev had fulfilled his dream.

Nev lived life to the fullest. A genuine "old school cruiser" he had time for everyone except "peckerheads" and bullshitting politicians.

He loved his surfing and will be fondly remembered for his notorious "Acey Deucey" card sessions back at Piha and Takapuna and the countless "Backgammon & Bourbon" marathons which he so enjoyed playing with all his friends and good mates.

RIP Nev – soul surfer extraordinaire - you left your mark on the history of surfing in three separate countries.

- Charlie S

For Nev's New Zealand mates there will be a wake and story telling session from 6:30 pm Saturday 18th June at the Empire Tavern - Garden Bar. Corner Victoria and Nelson Streets, Auckland. See image attached.