Surfing with the All Blacks

THE PLAYERS THAT form New Zealand’s dominant national rugby union team are some of the world’s most physically gifted athletes. The endearing adage ‘built like a brick shithouse’ might not suffice in accurately describing the outsized proportions of these men. To do what they do, the All Blacks need to absorb the crushing impact of tackles that generate g-force and survive the maul of scrums with combined weights pushing two tonnes, all while remaining agile enough to contest towering drop kicks and quick enough to evade defenders in open space.

It goes without saying, but those of us here at Esquire are eternally thankful we didn’t meet the All Blacks on the rugby field. Instead, we journeyed to Sydney Olympic Park, where the high-tech Urbnsurf wave pool sits. Opening its doors in May, Urbnsurf is like Canggu transported to Sydney’s West, with palm trees, cabanas, upscale restaurants and even a trendy wellness centre lining the facility’s shoreline.

Shortly after arrival we’re treated to a breathwork session with two-time surfing world champion Tom Carroll – who will later put us all to shame when he shows us how it’s done on the waves. The All Blacks take to the session with enthusiasm. Presumably, this is the kind of conditioning they go through on a daily basis, but we’re able to pick up on a few nervous glances towards the pool. The logo of Swiss watchmaker Tudor, which is the official timekeeping partner of URBNSURF Sydney, adorns the walls, along with the brand’s iconic ‘Born to Dare’ slogan. It seems that a few of the All Blacks are pondering this catchphrase as they prepare to take on a largely unfamiliar challenge.

We head to the shoreline for a closer look at the swell and immediately, a set of perfect waves peel over the horizon, seemingly appearing out of thin air. The URBNSURF pool uses innovative Wavegarden technology to produce its waves from nothing – well not nothing, but from a stagnant body of water that’s so large that if the All Blacks pack fell into it on one end, there would hardly be ripples on the other. A flap at the back of the pool moves from side to side to create waves, which then gradually break due to contoured lines at the bottom of the pool. It’s capable of producing left- and right-hand breaks of varying sizes, with settings ranging from beginner to expert.

After a quick how-to-surf lesson, we’re in the water with the eager All Blacks. Were any of them natural surfers? Could they even stand up? How badly did Tom Carroll embarrass us? See for yourself below.

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