review

8.8

Review: Vallkree Mechanism 24 Beach Cruiser

Derek MorrisonMarch 12, 2025March 12, 2025

by Derek MorrisonMarch 12, 2025March 12, 20250

Vallkree’s beach-styled electric bikes are taking root in New Zealand and bringing their goal for sustainable and simple travel, and endless charm, to surfers everywhere. They let us loose with the dual-motor Mechanism 24, complete with seating for two, a surfboard rack and absolutely no rules. We like that …......

9.3

Review: O’Neill Hyperfreak Fire 4:3 Chest Zip Steamer

Derek MorrisonJune 14, 2024

by Derek MorrisonJune 14, 20242

O’Neill seems to have stumbled across a magic formula with its Hyperfreak series. Its latest Hyperfreak Fire, or Hyper Fire as it’s now called, takes that performance up another notch. We thrashed one to death, with close to 500 surf sessions, to see how it performed. It hasn’t all been......

8.3

Review: Ocean & Earth Wheelie Triple Shortboard Travel Bag

Derek MorrisonAugust 22, 2023

by Derek MorrisonAugust 22, 20230

FCS Freedom Leash Review: The FCS Freedom Leash promised to be lighter, stronger, with less drag, less tangle – sign me up! Looks like I wasn’t the only one, a lot of online stores sold out quickly....

4.5

Review: FCS Freedom Helix Leash

Derek MorrisonAugust 18, 2023August 18, 2023

by Derek MorrisonAugust 18, 2023August 18, 20230

9.6

Film Review: The Yin & Yang Of Gerry Lopez

Isaac ChadwickNovember 15, 2022November 15, 2022

by Isaac ChadwickNovember 15, 2022November 15, 20220

Combining the talents of filmmaker Stacy Peralta, with the inimitable Gerry Lopez is a recipe for success. The Yin & Yang of Gerry Lopez explores the life of one of the most influential surfers and surfboard shapers of all time. Gerry is presented as an entrepreneur, a family man, a......

8.8

Review: Billabong Custom 4:3 Synergy

Derek MorrisonOctober 13, 2021October 13, 2021

by Derek MorrisonOctober 13, 2021October 13, 20210

We test out Billabong’s custom design your own wetsuit concept using two of its women’s Synergy 4:3 steamers. Yep, you can choose your own panels and colour ways – be the designer of your own suit. Seems so good it surely can’t be true … The idea of choosing the......

9.0

Review: Billabong Furnace Comp 4:3 Chest Zip Steamer

Derek MorrisonAugust 3, 2021July 25, 2024

by Derek MorrisonAugust 3, 2021July 25, 20240

We’ve come to expect a lot from a top of the line winter wetsuit, but we didn’t expect Billabong’s Furnace Comp 4:3 chest zip steamer to catapult itself this far into the very top echelon of technology leaders. Billabong has changed. The brand used to be so cool that it......

9.5

Review: C-Skins ReWired 3:2 Chest Zip Steamer

Lyndon FairbairnMay 3, 2021July 25, 2024

by Lyndon FairbairnMay 3, 2021July 25, 20240

C-Skins is relatively new in the New Zealand market, but if the brand’s ReWired 3:2 chest zip steamer is anything to go by then we expect its going to play a bigger role in years to come. We put the new steamer to the test from February right into the......

9.3

Review: O’Neill Women’s Hyperfreak 4:3+ Chest Zip Steamer (Tested To Death)

Derek MorrisonApril 28, 2021April 28, 2021

by Derek MorrisonApril 28, 2021April 28, 20210

When it comes to wetsuits, women and children usually draw the short straw: below-tier taping, average linings and warmth, comfort … seemingly not so important. O’Neill’s women’s Hyperfreak 4:3+ Chest Zip turns that on its head. The 2019 O’Neill Hyperfreak designed for women really changes the game. It takes O’Neill’s......

9.0

Board Review: Hughes Surfboards SB19 Custom

Brett WoodNovember 4, 2020July 25, 2024

by Brett WoodNovember 4, 2020July 25, 20240

Lockdown forces Raglan surfer Brett Wood to rethink his quiver of international brands. He returns to New Zealand-made boards with the Hughes Surfboards SB19 Custom and opens up a whole new world. His journey may sound familiar to many of us. It’s 1989. Pottz is the champ and every surf......