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This work was undertaken and completed in the first week of June 2008 - a great effort from the new ASR dive team and the crew from the Port of Tauranga - and completes the works that can be done with the existing containers on the seabed. Surveys monitoring the reef have been continuing; there are a few small geo-containers available that may be placed to enhance the break further, such as filling the gap halfway along the left-hand arm that can been seen in the photo above. These works will be undertaken in the future to push the reef closer to the design spec's.
Reef designers ASR have also been using the Mount Reef Webcam to monitor conditions and surfersat the reef daily, and coming across from Raglan whenever possible to catch and document good swells. Dr Shaw Mead, a Director of ASR said "I've been over a couple of times myself; during the mid-September swell I was pretty stoked to see someone get barreled from the focus to the end of the right-hander as I was paddling out!".
Following the work on the reef, it's come to life during the right swell conditions that have come in (the northeast coast breaks mostly in the summer, swells from tropical cyclones, off the back of high pressure systems and due to local onshore winds) - during mid-low tide, clean heavy barrels have been enjoyed by those fortunate enough to have been out. Here's a few emails from guys who've surfed the Mount Reef since the construction last year...
Howard Lorney Sept' 08: "I know you guys get a lot of bad press but I took the following shot on the 16th Sept of a guy who is quite happy with at least one day surfing in a huge barrel a week ago."
Nic, Aug' 2008: "Howsit going, just wondering if the mountreef.co.nz site is going to be updated sometime soon with the recent construction that's been done on it, I'm a local surfer and keen as supporter of the Reef, since the recent construction there's been definite sand movement that my mates and me have fully picked up on, stoked, 3rd of August, a mate of mine got a hatrick of barrels, consecutive, then busted a fat air on his 4th, thats not usually heard of in the mount, is it ?? I think lots of people have given up on it, but nah, when its completed people will see the results in the shape of the waves the Reef produces, not only at the Reef but 2-3 blocks round it, and also the level of surfing in the mounts local talent of surfers step up a few more notches, specially from the younger up and comers. I haven't got any cash but is there anything my mates and me can do to help out with moving it along, its gonna be a ripper once its finished, no doubts!"
Radsurfi, Dec' 2008: "you know, this reef at mount Maunganui, has had a bit of work done on it and it works a lot more often now. Needs to be over 3' Hawaiian. Had some sick barrels on it. Should be great once its finished. And its like 2mins from my place"
KD, Jan 2009: "Just surfed small waves at the reef 3 days ago (30 Dec)" "I should have mentioned in my email that I surfed the reef during one of the first months it was in action, when I was back from Fiji for two weeks, surfed the left on a good head high wave, a few body boarders but only one other surfer with me, and we would takeoff next to the sand bag which was draining dry sometimes. It was fun, low tide, had a good section when taking off, then reformed a little bit and, after the bags ran out, could get almost into the inside, into the shore dump across that deep gutter. I know that the left was unfinished at that time. the right was ok, longer, not as steep, but still good. and must have evened out a lot since. A couple of times my fins hit the bag as I swung round for a wave or to move into position. Great drops, bit like Fiji, and I think the locals were put off by the way it jacked up, and didnt surf it that day, but just seemed like a normal good sucky wave to me, after Fiji reefs."
This video is one of several that people have posted on YouTube from a day of swell on September 5.
Cale Tolley, a local Mount surfer, braved the freezing offshores during winter 08 for a mini tow session on the reef. The swell this day was off one of the weather bomb storms that hit NZ, so not as clean and lined up as it could have been. Thanks to SURF2SURF for the photos...
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