The day ‘The King’ came to town

 

BY TONY BAKER

For most of the year Mangawhai is a sleepy little seaside township and although many might say the recent growth in the area has changed the face of the town, as a long term local it still feels much the same. 

Mangawhai has also become the weekend get away for A-C list celebrities, TV and sports stars.

Many will know of Tara iti, the world class golf course built on the stretch of coast between Mangawhai and Te Arai Point. Most recently ex US President Barack Obama played a round on the course along with former NZ Prime Minister John Key. All Blacks and golf pros frequent the club, along with its many distinguished members, so it was no surprise that the rumour mill in Mangawhai started firing up a year or so ago that 11-time world champion surfer Kelly Slater was interested in this little slice of paradise. 

From all accounts Slater is a very handy golfer, with his physique and mental strength a perfect match for the game, so it's no surprise he ended up here this past week playing at Tara Iti as a guest and friend of course owner Ric Kayne.

It's not every day surfing royalty pops in to your local surf shop, or comes to a junior surf club prize giving, but that's exactly what happened on Sunday March 17. Slater had finished his golfing and was almost due back in Australia for World Surf League (WSL) commitments, but as it happens he was organised to come and meet a few of the town's surfers and beachies via the team at Tara Iti and Dave Glover from Bammas Surf Shop. 

Dave is the silent hero in all of this, racing up to Ruakaka on Saturday to collect the Surfline boards that Kelly signed, and basically coordinated the entire experience for everyone. What a treat he created for all involved.

Tara Iti caddy master Steven MacDonald's wife Inez runs the junior surf programme at Mangawhai Heads surf club. After his visit to Bammas Slater arrived at Mangawhai Heads surf club and was greeted by a swarm of nippers, lifeguards, club members and local beachgoing families.

Tara Iti and Kelly Slater donated a signed locally crafted Surfline Custom Surfboard to the Surf Club as a very kind gesture. Then it was Q&A time as the Junior Surf Kids (and parents) started firing off questions to the 11 X World Champion. He talked about his biggest waves surfed, his favourite places he's travelled too and victories that he cherishes the most. He told the kids about his training for big waves, and how they should stay calm when they get into tricky situations in the ocean. He talked about his most recent, and almost career ending foot injury he sustained whilst surfing at Jeffreys Bay a few years ago. He chatted about his Wave Pool technology, how many surfboards he has scattered across the world and his thoughts about Kiwi's Ricardo Christie and Paige Hareb being on the WSL tour this year .He was jovial, and warm in his approach towards the kids questions and there was almost a permanent smile across his face. 

Once the formalities were over it was time for photos on the lawn overlooking the beach and an opportunity for fans to get up close with the world champ. Then as all surf champions do, he waxed his board up and paddled out at Mangawhai Heads surf beach. Someone said the beach looked like people had spotted a pod of dolphins, as all the kids raced out with their boards and people stood at the water's edge trying to catch  a glimpse. The surf gods weren't being very generous on this day, but Slater showed why he is still one of the world's best, completely blitzing the 0.5m-1.0m waves on offer. On one wave Slater paddled in to a clean right hander, and raced with lightning speed across the bottom section then unloaded a signature front side hack / carve with buckets of spray coming off the back.He chilled in the water, chatting to the local surfers, he even pushed a few kids into some waves. 

Then after it was all said and done, he was back in the carpark at the surf club, toweling off and hanging out talking surfing, board quivers, heavy experiences and his love for travelling the world and surfing. He signed a few more te-shirts and did a few more selfies, and then as quick as it started he was gone.

It's hard to explain the significance or enormity of the occasion. The buzz he created in our little small surf town, his openness and kind gesture, and his willingness to share how surfing has taken him all around the world and. All this especially when considering the tragedy and disbelief of the Christchurch shootings. Slater took to social media on Sunday and posted:

kellyslater
I was fortunate enough to be invited to NZ this week for a member/guest tourney at #taraitigolfclub. What a beautiful part of the world and even more reason to find myself, like everyone, in shock the past two days over the tragedy in #Christchurch. My heart goes out to everyone affected by this horrible, despicable act. With all the beauty on this planet, how do people get so brainwashed and disheartened into thinking that is the answer for them? These people senselessly murdered posed no threat to this man. I hope the community bonds together to comfort each other through this awful event.

Thanks Kelly Slater for bringing a ray of sunshine to our little beach town at a time in NZ where we are all feeling the hurt, pain and disbelief of what has happened in Christchurch.  And massive thanks to the team at Tara Iti and Dave from BAMMAS for making it all possible. 

Big Respect KS. Come back sometime!  The day the king came to town.....

Tony Baker // 021907066
Ella Buckle
The BAMMAS shots were supplied by Natasha Mackie Ujdur - Surf Club shot by me and others supplied.