Elliot Paerata-Reid //Nias - video
"I thought I was dreaming," said 18-year old Elliot Paerata-Reid. "I stayed at Nias for 18 days, surfing three times a day mostly. For the first two weeks it was fun, 3 - 4 foot with the odd 6 foot day. But then came the last week, the best week of my life."
"There were two swells in the one week. The first swell was massive and kind of raw. There were some bombs coming through and I got a couple of the best waves of my life. Well, they were the best waves of my life until the next swell two days later. That was the real swell I will remember. It was a little bit more south which made it twice as hollow, twice as thick, and twice as perfect. You seriously couldn't have painted a picture more perfect than the waves coming through. It was a solid 8 foot with light winds. I made my Dad film and from that one session he recorded ten minutes of stand up barrels of just me an a couple of other guys. Everyone was hooting each other into perfect waves. Everyone was hungry, thirsty and about to collapse from exhaustion but no one was even thinking about going in. It was the best day of my life."
And for those who don't know: Elliot is a New Zealand Maori, a three time national champ, and he'll soon have a tilt at the Qualifying Series. Countrymen Ricardo Christie and Billy Stairmand are curently sitting at 13th and 18th on the QS, just one good result away from qualifying. It's been a while since New Zealand made an impression at the top level - Paige Hareb notwithstanding - but with Paerata-Reid aboard the Kiwis are starting to build the numbers.
Comments
Hes a pretty humble young fulla too, a good quality to have which is fairly rare in this day and age of young spono ego driven sticker heads. Good to see a big smile on his dial while surfing. Nice clip.
At that size it's a damn critical take off, no room for wobbly errors setting up that bottom turn after the drop :-)
Yeah exactly. I think the water angle always makes it look that much bit easier.
But when you see it from land, it's a real ledging below sea level critical take-off. If you don't get that rail in you'll be axed!!
My dad would laugh at me if I asked him to miss that session and film.
Nice work Elliot
how about at least a 2 second shot showing your board sponsors decal...Woody Jack is very good to you
Even on those smaller days Lagundri will drill you badly,rag doll and pin you to the bottom and not want to let you up.
from the smile on his dial on that first wave you know it's gunna be a good watch.
What size can the bay handle? Epic video seems the wave has got better
Thats a bit of an unknown I think , J.OB. flick was the biggest footage ive seen of it
J.O.B. in Nias utube vid: last 2 waves around 7 min - absolute bombs.
At 6.20 min ......ouch !
That bomb Skeeta Derham went down on was the biggest I've seen
Im far from a charger but i always think of Nias as one of the safest hollow type waves in Indo and will surf it bigger than other hollow waves like HT,s, sure it has bite and the take off is not easy when solid but i always feel confident out there as it has virtually no reef factor breaking in fairly deep water and quite a distance from the reef and even if you get flogged you just get washed in a bit and can paddle easily to the last section.
Indicators (the opening wave) though that thing is crazy, last time i was there it was so so perfect but so gnarly, you look at it thinking yeah maybe, then think about what if i fall, then think nah, a few of the locals surf it amazingly though especially one guy on his backhand.
A fella I know thought Indicators was worth a shot...1st wave was a perfect bomb, 2nd wave looked like a perfect bomb, shut him down and ripped half his face off.
What's that old saying? "The first scratch hurts, the rest add character"...well, the dude certainly has plenty of character now.
I agree with you, I love the place a man knows his limitations and I have sometime stepped over that and!!! Won! Once you get used to the take offs at indicators it is like pulling on your jeans then making sure you fit into them then a easy exit :)
Yeah for sure Kerry
But the jeans you wear are so tight, exiting them leaves your girl in disarray.
@Kerry1 So did you ever fall or get to deep?
I take my hat off to you, I've seen it so so perfect, the point crowded and no one even looks at it, only guys I've seen surf it is a local.
I was 32 at the time before the quake 60 now yes I have hit the reef up there.
Ah shit, yes I can believe that is true, it looks so so perfect sometimes but that reef is so nasty looking and not far away and the last section goes bare rock.
@ Kerry1, so when did you surf indicators....... ?
youre 61 now right ?
Full of shit Kerry .
I still surf at the age of 60 and weigh 78kg at the height of 180cm and surf better than some 20-30 year olds dear. Been riding Outer Island boards for over 26 years. If you don't know these boards, well everyone in Indo knows them. I was 32 when my body had contact with the reef at 6ft(well before the quake) only but as I said Best times are May-Oct at HIGH TIDE mind you I would turn up in always in August.......Yours Truly Full of shit Kerry.
Okay so maybe before the quake and reef rise?
Its a lot more gnarly now.
Exactly. before thw quake years ago. some dud said I was full of shit hahahahhaaaa! don't know how old he is but his comment is from a 15 year old I would surmise.
Gnarly yes I would not ride it now unless it were high tide and not too big. I'd have to have a good look at it. It has been 28 years
I don't expect you would surf it now, well not if your sane, its now a wave only those with a death wish would surf, its still perfect but if you fall or get too deep your going to hit the reef every time, dry chunky, surging coral head reef.
You can only surf it a dead high now and it actually needs to be solid for it to break away from the reef and even then you have to really pick the right wave, then the last section goes completely dry very quickly.
thanks Indo I believe I would not surf it now. Still surfing well but you are only human
Nias is one of those waves I always dreamed of surfing inspired by none other than an old Coca Cola ad.
Certainly looked a lot more mellow then prior to the big earthquake.
Props if you can name all the surfers.
Stuart Bedford -Brown, Luke Egan, Kye Fitzgerald, Jodie Cooper????
And the winner is...... FITZY!
Nice one mate:)
Hahahaha, took a couple of pauses to get them!! :)
Elliot is up training at Lennox Head and I spoke to his Mum last night. Pretty hard coming from NZ and having a crack at pro surfing. He's going to get prepared and have a crack at the QS over the next few years, which is a costly exercise as he gets some gear from Rip Curl and boards from Woody but no cash so its pretty much parent funded.
and Udo she also did the final cut and thats why there's no pissing around with scenic shots at the beginning or logos etc she just wanted surfing and stoke. also with the music some of these bands don't let you use their songs if you are 'selling out' to the major brands etc.
Watching the Haliewa Pro and what the competitors go through to get ratings and points looks like a tough gig for the aspiring pro, but good luck to him. He definitely has the talent though and charges big waves too.