Full name // Sidney West // Born 28.06.93 in Auckland and raised on Great Barrier Island.
I was born in Auckland and within a week i was on Great Barrier Island which is situated 90km NE of Auckland and 19km off the northern tip of the Coromandel peninsular. It is New Zealand’s 4th largest island with a decreasing population of approximately 650 permanent residents. My parents raised me there until the age of 12, then shipped me off to boarding school at Auckland Grammar. I did 4 years in the Tibbs house hostel, playing rugby and trying to surf when ever i could, but the hostel masters restricted me from surfing. If i was lucky i would get 1 surf a week, it drove me mad looking at reports that were good in raglan or at home. This really made me appreciate Great Barrier and how beautiful it is.
Which led me to the decision to move to Raglan and continue my schooling as part of the surf academy. On paper it seemed like the best place for a young keen surfer, but when i got there it just kept getting better! The only time i had done that much surfing was during the summer holidays, i was in the water everyday and the waves were good too. The academy was a big boost for my surfing and being able to train 3-4 times a week helped improve my fitness levels as well it was awesome. I loved it! Raglan was a great move to finish off my schooling, i highly recommend it for any young keen surfer.
From there i had a choice to make, move to Auckland study up there and surf big old Piha, or come to Mount Maunganui and hope that it doesn’t go flat! I have to say The Mount has produced the goods, in the last 5-6 months i have been able to surf at least twice a week if not every day, plus get some memorable sessions ‘across the entrance’. I am currently doing Marine Studies at BOP Polytechnic its a great course with awesome people. Im enjoying this move. Mount Maunganui and the locals are treating me well. Cheers every one yeowee!! Lineups and landscape photos // Guy Mac // Portrait and surfing photos // Jereme
