I’ve had people tell me for years that New Zealand is one of the most magical places they’ve ever been. Earlier this year, I was lucky enough to experience that firsthand when the Armstrong team and I ventured down to the southernmost part of the country for the Home of Armstrong Tour. Over the course of ten days, we used just about every piece of gear we brought and dabbled in nearly every genre of foiling imaginable.
The whole team met up in Queenstown before road-tripping to the coast. Our motley crew consisted of Armstrong riders Naumi Eychenne, Zany Guy, Emma Bridge, Guy Bridge, Cash Berzolla, James Jenkins, and myself. We spent the first day settling into a small coastal town, finding our bearings, and being welcomed by some of the friendliest locals imaginable: Kiwi legend Nick Smart and his incredible wife, Tomo. With Nick offering up his local surf knowledge and Tomo cheffing up incredible food for us at every meal, they made the entire trip logistically effortless and incredibly special.
Our first session set the tone for the entire trip. We paddled out for a sunset prone foil and spent the evening sharing waves with dolphins that seemed just as interested in us as we were in them. It was the perfect way to dial in wetsuit thickness, sort out gear choices, and get an introduction to this corner of New Zealand. I loved getting to watch everyone’s styles right off the bat and get a taste of the incredible riding I’d get to witness throughout the trip.
We spent the next few days hunting waves and exploring different stretches of coastline. Many of our surf foil sessions were at beach breaks, something I don’t get much exposure to at home. It was challenging in the best way and pushed me to develop a different skill set from the one I’m used to riding on Maui. Watching Guy maneuver through surf like that was incredibly satisfying. His strapless riding style is unmatched, and his approach to the breaks was unique and inspiring.
In addition to Guy’s riding style, I really loved watching Zany take a different approach. While Guy was mostly strapless, Zany was the opposite. It was incredible to see the tricks he was trying with straps and the impressive direction he was taking with his airtime.
While most of our days revolved around the ocean, some of the most memorable moments happened after the sun went down. I am an absolute nerd when it comes to the Northern Lights. I got to see them for the first time last year, and it was one of the most incredible things I’ve ever witnessed. Embarrassingly enough, I had no idea New Zealand had its own version until I found myself standing beneath them. We were lucky enough to see the Southern Lights, or Aurora Australis, multiple times during the trip.
One of the first nights we were there, the entire sky lit up, and everyone dropped what they were doing to run down to the beach for an unobstructed view. Watching ribbons of color dance across the southern sky after a full day on the water felt almost surreal. It was the kind of experience that would have been the highlight of most trips, yet somehow it felt like just one more layer of magic added to this one.
The first part of the trip was centered around prone foiling and more mellow conditions, but midway through the adventure, a larger swell arrived and shifted our focus toward towing and winging.
One day in particular stands out. We made our way to an incredibly secluded beach that could only be accessed by driving through some of the most breathtaking farmland I’ve ever seen. For miles, rolling green hills stretched in every direction, dotted with sheep and looking almost exactly like the landscapes you draw as a kid. It felt too perfect to be real.
“Over the course of ten days, we used just about every piece of gear we brought and dabbled in nearly every genre of foiling imaginable.”
The wave setup was equally impressive. On one side of the bay was a slabby left running into deep water, while the middle of the bay offered a perfectly shaped beach break. We spent the morning towing the slab before bouncing between prone foiling and tow sessions throughout the afternoon.
The day had everything: full-speed collisions with kelp, three-person party waves, and plenty of cheering from the channel. Everyone was ripping. It’s always impressive to watch talented riders online, but seeing that level of performance in person is something entirely different.
Naumi and Emma seriously dominated this session. I loved getting to watch Naumi ride frontside on the left and rip in waves with serious consequences. Emma, who was five months pregnant at the time of our trip, was so incredibly fun to watch too. She is fearless. Not only do those two excel in small waves, but this was also the first time I got to see them commit to some bigger surf, and it was so awesome. They did not hold back.
We wrapped up the day with a bonfire on the beach, exhausted, sandy, and grinning. If I had to pick a favorite day from the trip, that one would be near the top of the list.
“We paddled out for a sunset prone foil and spent the evening sharing waves with dolphins that seemed just as interested in us as we were in them.”
The wildlife encounters were another reminder of how unique this place is. Growing up on Maui, I’m used to sharing the water with all kinds of ocean creatures, but New Zealand introduced me to an entirely new cast of characters. My camera roll quickly filled with photos of dolphins, seals, sea lions, and penguins. Most of them were curious and surprisingly comfortable around people.
The sea lions, however, demanded a healthy amount of respect. At the tail end of what was probably my most humbling session of the trip, I spent what felt like forever getting worked in the shorebreak, I found myself sprinting up the beach carrying my wing gear while a particularly territorial sea lion gave chase. It was equal parts terrifying and hilarious, at least once I was safely out of range.
Toward the end of the trip, we found an opportunity for a downwind run. The start was challenging, with very little wind and only the occasional bump rolling through. Once everyone got on foil and we were able to cut out, though, the conditions became incredible.
Zany was wing foiling, Emma, Guy, and James were riding parawings, and Naumi, Cash, and I were SUP foiling on the new mid-length boards. One of my favorite ways to experience a new place is from the water, and this run gave us a completely different perspective on the coastline. We traded bumps for miles while passing beaches and beautiful stretches of coast.
The run itself was only around four miles long, but after scouting several other zones, it became obvious that the downwind possibilities were nearly endless. It’s the kind of place that leaves you making plans to return before you’ve even left.
Our final session of the trip was one of the most memorable and left all of us on a high note. We tow foiled a powerful right-hand point break at sunrise. James, Cash, and I started the session. As the three of us traded waves, I got to witness firsthand some pretty incredible high-performance riding.
I watched the two of them get towed into set after set, trading waves, working on airs over big sections, attempting barrels, having some serious yard-sale moments, and flying down the line at full speed. I can’t wait to see clips from that session because I think they’ll blow minds.
“His strapless riding style is unmatched, and his approach to the breaks was unique and inspiring.”
After a healthy amount of waves, we swapped out with Naumi, Guy, Emma, and Zany and got to cheer them on from the beach. Watching everyone put together wave after wave as the sun climbed higher felt like the perfect ending to ten unforgettable days.
The foiling was amazing, and that feeling of exploration with a group of friends is hard to beat. Every day seemed to reveal a new stretch of coastline, a new wave, or a new experience. For ten days, it felt like there was always something waiting around the next corner, and that’s a feeling that’s hard to forget.
