And to go in our new, more spacious shop we’ve got heaps of new winter stock. Loads of super warm hoodies, shirts, jumpers, winter dresses and ladies jeans.

We’re also stoked to be stocking Sitka’s range of Suzie Q (ladies) and 2nd Peak (mens) hoodies (below). These babies are perfect to chuck on after a winter surf. They’re made of 420 GSM cotton (super heavy weight) and they have a sweet little peak on the hood which is great when there’s a little rain plus they also a little stash pocket inside the hood…

(above) Sitka Hoodies are available at Lion Rock Surf Shop in a variety of colours for both men and women ($100)

Come in store to check out our range!

The DAKINE ISA World Junior Surfing Championship Presented by Billabong kicks off tomorrow in Panama. It’s the biggest surfing event in the world for under-18 surfers, with nearly 300 competitors from over 30 countries. The event gathers the best junior surfers from every continent to compete for their National Teams in an “Olympic-style” event where the surfers compete for medals and the honor of representing their respective countries.

Good luck to the New Zealand team (below) which includes two Piha locals; Elliot Paerata-Reid and Tane Wallis.

You can check out the live action here.

As many of you will be aware the TSB Bank New Zealand Surf Festival is currently on at Fitzroy Beach, Taranaki.  This years event made history by being the first ASP Women’s World Championship Tour event to feature three New Zealanders. ASP Women’s World Championship Tour campaigner Paige Hareb (NZL), 21, was joined in the event by countrywomen Sarah Mason (NZL), 17, and event wildcard Gaby Sansom (NZL), 15.

Ratso, direct from judging the Rangiroa Pro Junior in Tahiti, is in Taras judging the event which you can watch LIVE.

For additional ASP information log on to www.aspworldtour.com

Ratso is in Tahiti to judging the 5-Star rated Rangiroa Pro Junior which is on from the 30th March – 4th April 2012.  This is the second biggest surfing event in all of French Polynesia, and a true test of the surfer’s prowess as they get tested in the challenging and powerful waves Rangiroa has to offer.

This years event has an exciting field of local and international talent including the highest rated Tahitian surfer on the ASP Australasian Pro Junior Series at number 11, Enrique Aritu (PYF). The event will also feature New Zealand’s Alex Dive (NZL), Indonesia’s Oney Anwar (IND) and 1, 2, 3 and 4 on the ratings – Cooper Chapman (AUS), Wade Carmichael (AUS), Jordin Watson (AUS) and Thomas Woods (AUS).

Check out live streaming of the comp here or on the ASP Rangiroa Pro Junior Facebook Page

• Bikinis $35
• Mens & Women’s T’s $30
• Singlets $25
• Dresses $35
• Women’s shorts $30 MAX
• Mens Boardies $35 – $45
• Kids T’s $15
• $50 off selected surfboards
• 30% of summer wetties and rashies

AND SO MUCH MORE!!!

Other features include Piha local Anna Jolly who took out this years Hyundai National Surfing Champ longboard and women’s over 30 divisions.

Pop in store to grab a copy or check it out on the web.

MONSTER CATCH: Jorda Pike-Taylor with her monster blue marlin which weighs a whopping 149.9kg.

Congratulations to Piha local, Jorda, for her huge marlin caught up at Whangaroa.

Jorda Pike-Taylor managed to reel in a blue marlin that was heavier than an All Black prop in under an hour.

The 23-year-old preschool teacher’s whopping 149.9kg catch saw her scoop six trophies at the Whangaroa Sport Fishing Club’s Ladies Weekend competition earlier this month.

The Piha resident had just cracked open her first beer of the day when two marlin came up to her boat.

”We all started screaming. Neither of them hooked so that was a bit disappointing.”

But within three hours Pike-Taylor’s luck changed.

”The line went and we all started yelling and screaming. I was worried I was going to run out of nylon.

”I thought that meant losing the rod and I was attached to it thinking ‘no way I’m going over’ and I started to unclip myself.”

Pike-Taylor’s mother, Sue Taylor, convinced her daughter to hang on and her sister Kirin and friend Victoria Robinson harnessed her to the boat.

She then fought the fish for 50 minutes.

”The blisters came up really fast and putting on gloves made them hurt even more.

”The marlin did one big run then jumped in the air and went berserk. It went deep and did another run and after that I managed to haul it in.”

It took everyone on board to drag the mammoth fish aboard before the champagne was popped.

”We didn’t get to drink much of it though because I dropped the bottle. My hands were still shaking.”

The family spent $500 getting the fish smoked and its bill will be mounted as a memento of Pike-Taylor’s catch.

- © Fairfax NZ News