Ricardo and the canons

Richard Christie hails from Mahia, which is near Gisborne, on the east coast of New Zealand’s North Island. He’s the first to arrive at the Forster beach house and he’s got his work cut out. After missing the Hawaiian league of BKII due to a rolled ankle he’s behind in the clip count. Tragically for the former Kiwi Open champ, he only manages two surfs before a niggling back injury sends him back to the couch. “I think limping around with my rolled ankle for weeks has put my back out bro,” he says with a good-natured grin. Ricardo’s back stays buckled for the whole trip, but he remains in good spirits. The 20 year old has his heart set on taking over the mantle from the Quinn brothers as New Zealand’s best surfer. And after his effort in Samoa (which included a Waves cover) you get the feeling he’ll get there sooner rather than later. I get an alternate explanation for his easy going demeanour when I drop round to the pad and notice two teenage nymphs sunbaking topless on the lawn next door. “Did they have their canons out? Did you see canons?” Woody demands when he arrives on the verandah three seconds too late.