SurfDoctor Joe kiwi adventure!

Our very own SurfDoctor jet set Joe Adams has just returned from six months in New Zealand, a trip he will never forget, from wobbly arms to touring the country, Joe made a working trip full of fun and memories, in this blog I ask Joe what was it like working for Armstrong in its country of origin! Joe made the most of everyday he had in New Zealand and absorbed all the diverse and unspoiled landscapes, ranging from rugged mountains and pristine beaches to lush forests and geothermal wonders. Joe enjoyed the country's untouched environment and breathtaking scenery. SurfDoctor Joe Armstrong kiwi adventure!

By Emma Maguire.

SurfDoctor Joe Adams with Armstrong kit in New Zealand

What was your favourite thing you did in New Zealand?

Joe said: "Bit left field and not related to foiling, but it was downhill moutain biking. I have never done it before and it was insane, in Queenstown, you catch the gondolla up, you can either buy one ride or six rides and when I went there I went oh, can you do more than six rides, the guy said you don't want to do more than six rides and trust me you don't. By the sixth ride my arms were just wobbling, but it was great fun and I am still alive."

Joe downhill mountain biking in New Zealand

From a watersports perspective what are the differences between NZ and UK and what kind of watersports did you experience?

Joe said: "It is hard to tell, there are a lot of emerging things like the parawing has been a real new thing and as soon as I went over there people were adopting it straight away. I don't know how it would be in the UK and if there was lots of people trying it over the winter. There was a massive buzz and hype about it and around parawinging. Everyone was chatting about what is the best parawing and which one is coming out next. Everyone was just so stoked to get out on the water, there was a good community feel."

Joe in the van he purchased while in New Zealand to see the country.

What was Joe's work life out there in NZ?

Joe said: "The work was similar to here, I was working in a shop selling Armstrong, assisting with lessons, there was a great deal of newcomers to the sport over there, I was based in Auckland, but it was really far north, 30 minutes from the city, and there was a huge influx over the summer of new people getting into the sport, they were really keen on Armstrong obviously as a brand it has heritage over there, and well known world wide so the kiwis are buzzing that they have such a good brand over there."

A photo Joe took of the breathtaking scenery in New Zealand

What are some of your best memories that you are going to take away from your time over there?

Joe said: "Work related we did a NZ tour and went off in a camper van and we toured the whole of NZ, went and met loads of customers who Nick who runs the shop had never met before, people that he would speak to over the phone or email, it was nice to go and see them and experience their local conditions, and the amount of froth and everything and when you go down to see them and they say oh my gosh no one has ever come down to see us ever and show us all this kit, there's not so many shops in NZ and it is a bigger place than the UK. Some of these guys are without a shop for more than five hours driving. For them to have access to all the kit and to be able to try it everyone was really grateful.

"On a personal level that trip was a highlight for me, every place we went to we made sure we would have a session that was nice to get out with the local guys and after I finished working I had seven weeks off to play, I had my own van over there and just went surfing and foiling all at these different spots, it is amazing the coast line where I was located we were an hour away from either coast, so you could get all these different conditions, on the west coast you are waiting for the waves to die off a little bit because it is just crazy up there and the east coast it is just glamour."

Come and speak to Joe all about Armstrong here at SurfDoctor!

Here at SurfDoctor we are your Armstrong Superstore, located at 1 Building, Navigator Park, Puma, Mereside, Portland DT5 1FU, come and browse the whole range of Armstrong and try before you buy at The Official Test Centre, come and chat to Joe Adams about Armstrong and find the best set up for you.