A Winter Wiggle; The West End Wiggle 2022
In its third year, The West End Wiggle came in hot for a winter wiggle. Despite the chilly waters, booties were donned, and some of New Zealand’s finest loggers rocked up to take on whatever would roll in from the Pacific Ocean on the chosen day. And roll in it did!
My mate Chris in the first heat of the day. 15 minute heats left the competitors feeling pretty exhausted on the low tide with a wild amount of whitewash and current.
Each year, Ohope's West End draws more people to its shores for the invitational event known as the West End Wiggle. Participants come to surf, party, and soak up the good vibes. As a surf and ocean photographer, I captured the action during last year's event, even though I was five months pregnant at the time. The ocean conditions were challenging, with lots of debris in the water and my own pregnancy leg cramps to contend with as I dodged waves and surfers.
Surf & ocean photography: to swim or not to swim?
I had no doubt in my mind that I would be coming in hot this year, stronger, zero baby in tummy, abs back in the game, and baby watching Mama doing her thing. Getting out there and getting in the zone for the shots.
I was wrong.
The conditions on the day were not quite in my favour for swimming. Hmm I’d say they also were not quite in anyone’s favour for surfing. The competitors made it look easy, but even a couple of them told me it was the hardest surf of their life. So, I shot from land and held some hope for a swim attempt on the higher tide.
Which happened. The high tide rolled in and I thought it looked doable (or at least try-able) but she was still wild. Floating out in the rip was the way (was not as easy as that sounds), then swimming to position in line with the surfers. I thought I’d cracked it until the water just pounded me back into shore. Small period swell, whitewash everywhere to be seen, sore salty eyes and a constant battle with the current while I had the worst flu of my life. I gave it a go, but I got the f outta there as quick as possible to ensure I could capture the action in the finals from land.
The best shot I captured in the water. I made the decision to jump out and stick to shooting from land for the day where I could ensure optimum quality of image.
‘The Wigglers’ at this year’s surf comp
I learned very quickly that I would need to shoot on continuous burst mode on competition day. Some of those nose rides were split seconds long, meaning that if I didn’t shoot in burst mode, I would absolutely have missed some of the best wiggling. There were a few cruisey rides on the right waves but there were a lot more bump-offs and over-the-nose falls than I’m used to seeing at the Wiggle. That’s really saying something to every single wiggler who got out there and competed - even just paddling looked like such a mission. But look how easy they still made it look?! I love the attitude on the day, which was pretty much along the lines of OUT THERE. No matter what.
Absolute inspiration to someone like me who is pretty picky about what I want to surf in.
Thanks to the Wiggle team!
I was so stoked to be asked back for the third year running of the Wiggle, to capture the action and have a wee mingle around. Despite unfavourable conditions for getting some close up action in the water, I love the collection of shots I captured over the day. People watching on the land, catching up with friends and gazing at some serious skills in the water just kept my stoke levels fully raised on a winters day.
L x