Surfers farewell a mate

KENT BLECHYNDEN/Dominion Post

RESPECT: Surfers and friends pay tribute on Saturday to Tony Costa who died in a surfing accident in Wellington's Lyall Bay last week.

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Surfers paddled out, joined arms and chanted "Tony" nine times in a circle of love and remembrance for their fallen mate.

The surfers' farewell at Lyall Bay on Saturday was in calm water, contrasting with the rough conditions five days earlier when musician and surfer Tony Costa died after a collision in the water.

Mr Costa, 33, is survived by his wife of nine years, Sam, and their daughters Jah'min, 9, and Unity, 6.

More than 100 people watched from the shore as surfers paddled into the formation.

Mr Costa's casket was driven to Lyall Bay after his funeral service at Celebration Fellowship Church in Thorndon Quay. A surfboard was signed with tributes to Mr Costa and messages of support for his family.

"It was the perfect sendoff for the bro," friend Fiso "Flowz" Siloata said.

"There were so many people. The side of the beach was packed. A DJ played Tony's music out live while we went out into the ocean."

Mr Siloata's son, Star, who was taught to surf and skateboard by Mr Costa, paddled into the middle of the circle to lay a wreath in the water.

Earlier in the week, family members told The Dominion Post about Mr Costa's love for his daughters he called them his queens his devotion to his music and his passion for living life on the edge. He had travelled to Wellington from his home in Palmerston North to work on an Illyspillaz album with music friends.

Mr Siloata, from hip-hop group Foot Souljahs, shared Mr Costa's love of music rather than surfing, but entered the circle to pay tribute to his friend of 15 years.

"I just went out there because the bro was trying to get us into the water for so long. We all held hands and chanted Tony's name. Then all the surfers went out and caught a wave." It was what "Tony would have wanted".

- © Fairfax NZ News