Words from our Teamrider Mike Burling and current NZ Longboard circuit CHAMP on the tour and whats next, 'Well the year has gone by very quickly and another Hyundai Pro Longboard tour is approaching. But for me, after a roller coaster tour at the start of the year, it’s time to think about where to from here. Since the tour finished in March life has been busy. To begin with I took a week off work straight after the tour (which I had already planned to do regardless of the tour outcome) and went up north with my girlfriend Sarah. We took the new Santa Fe right up to Cape Reinga making several stops on the way: We visited my board shaper Roger Hall in Ruakaka to sort out some new boards, went scallop diving with a friend in Whangarei, and we had a surf at Sandy Bay. On our way back down we tested out the car’s 4WD features on 90mile beach and on the rocks at Ahipara (cheers Hyundai!), then surfed and camped at Waipu Cove on the East coast. I have to say that the Santa Fe is one of the smoothest and easiest vehicles I have ever driven. I think I may buy one or keep trying to win one after my year’s lease is up on this one!!!! On the way back to Gisborne, I caught up with Al Ashworth from Slide Magazine to do a photo shoot at Maori Bay. Maori Bay is a special place for me. I surfed there the majority of time while studying in Auckland. I got to know a lot of the locals and had some really good surfs in the bay. We did a photo shoot with Jackson Close and Phil Morris which was awesome (and features in the current edition of Slide Magazine). I had given my notice of resignation to Gisborne hospital 2 months before the tour had finished, so I had a month back in Gisborne prior to moving on. I finished medical school at the end of 2006 and moved to Gisborne to work at the main hospital there. I have to say one of the best moves I have done in my life. It was purely for work experience and life style. I didn't have much to complain about. I lived on the beach and woke up most mornings and checked the surf before going to work and could surf before or after work most times. I was pretty sad to leave such an awesome place but it was time in both my career and life to move on… Moving on firstly involved going on a 3-month holiday with Sarah to Europe. This trip was an important time for me. I took time out from medicine and surfing and went somewhere outside my comfort zone. Medicine is my passion in life and surfing is what I do to get away from everything and vent off my competitive side. So it was good to just give it all up and experience different aspect of life. We travelled through the UK and Ireland, France, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany and the Czech Republic. It was an experience of a lifetime. So much history and culture it became very difficult to take it all in but in some ways I just couldn't get enough of it. I managed to surf a bit in Portugal which was awesome. I stayed with a local longboarder there who ran a surf camp in a little place called Figueira da Foz and we surfed some fun waves. It was good to get some surfing in and to get my arms and legs going again. We’ve been back in New Zealand now for about 3 weeks. I’m currently working in Wanganui hospital and I’ll be here for the next 3 months. Yes, I know what you’re all thinking: "There’s no surf in Wanganui" but you are wrong. There are actually some pretty good waves around the place. I am waiting on some new boards from Roger then I’ll be out there as often as possible! I moved to Wanganui more for work but it’s shaping up to be a great adventure. I’m planning some trips over to Taranaki too once I get my new boards. I don’t know where I’ll be after these 3 months are up, either somewhere else in NZ or Australia – I’m waiting to hear about jobs for next year. Wherever I end up I hope the surf is good! I will have to end there and run back to work. If I leave you with one bit of advice it’s to keep having fun whatever you are doing and keep on surfing!', Mike Burling.
Wednesday, 16 September 2009
after the tour
Words from our Teamrider Mike Burling and current NZ Longboard circuit CHAMP on the tour and whats next, 'Well the year has gone by very quickly and another Hyundai Pro Longboard tour is approaching. But for me, after a roller coaster tour at the start of the year, it’s time to think about where to from here. Since the tour finished in March life has been busy. To begin with I took a week off work straight after the tour (which I had already planned to do regardless of the tour outcome) and went up north with my girlfriend Sarah. We took the new Santa Fe right up to Cape Reinga making several stops on the way: We visited my board shaper Roger Hall in Ruakaka to sort out some new boards, went scallop diving with a friend in Whangarei, and we had a surf at Sandy Bay. On our way back down we tested out the car’s 4WD features on 90mile beach and on the rocks at Ahipara (cheers Hyundai!), then surfed and camped at Waipu Cove on the East coast. I have to say that the Santa Fe is one of the smoothest and easiest vehicles I have ever driven. I think I may buy one or keep trying to win one after my year’s lease is up on this one!!!! On the way back to Gisborne, I caught up with Al Ashworth from Slide Magazine to do a photo shoot at Maori Bay. Maori Bay is a special place for me. I surfed there the majority of time while studying in Auckland. I got to know a lot of the locals and had some really good surfs in the bay. We did a photo shoot with Jackson Close and Phil Morris which was awesome (and features in the current edition of Slide Magazine). I had given my notice of resignation to Gisborne hospital 2 months before the tour had finished, so I had a month back in Gisborne prior to moving on. I finished medical school at the end of 2006 and moved to Gisborne to work at the main hospital there. I have to say one of the best moves I have done in my life. It was purely for work experience and life style. I didn't have much to complain about. I lived on the beach and woke up most mornings and checked the surf before going to work and could surf before or after work most times. I was pretty sad to leave such an awesome place but it was time in both my career and life to move on… Moving on firstly involved going on a 3-month holiday with Sarah to Europe. This trip was an important time for me. I took time out from medicine and surfing and went somewhere outside my comfort zone. Medicine is my passion in life and surfing is what I do to get away from everything and vent off my competitive side. So it was good to just give it all up and experience different aspect of life. We travelled through the UK and Ireland, France, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany and the Czech Republic. It was an experience of a lifetime. So much history and culture it became very difficult to take it all in but in some ways I just couldn't get enough of it. I managed to surf a bit in Portugal which was awesome. I stayed with a local longboarder there who ran a surf camp in a little place called Figueira da Foz and we surfed some fun waves. It was good to get some surfing in and to get my arms and legs going again. We’ve been back in New Zealand now for about 3 weeks. I’m currently working in Wanganui hospital and I’ll be here for the next 3 months. Yes, I know what you’re all thinking: "There’s no surf in Wanganui" but you are wrong. There are actually some pretty good waves around the place. I am waiting on some new boards from Roger then I’ll be out there as often as possible! I moved to Wanganui more for work but it’s shaping up to be a great adventure. I’m planning some trips over to Taranaki too once I get my new boards. I don’t know where I’ll be after these 3 months are up, either somewhere else in NZ or Australia – I’m waiting to hear about jobs for next year. Wherever I end up I hope the surf is good! I will have to end there and run back to work. If I leave you with one bit of advice it’s to keep having fun whatever you are doing and keep on surfing!', Mike Burling.
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