Air NZ goes surfing in latest safety vid

Air NZ goes surfing in latest safety vid
By Hannah Edensor


The legends of safety videos are back, and this time they’re taking the sky to the seas.

Air New Zealand have hit the beach to film the latest safety vid is a Surfing Safari, and scores a little help from surfing legends from around the world.

The five minute-strong clip features three time world champion Australian Mick Fanning, 2014 world champion Brazilian Gabriel Medina, American big wave legend Laird Hamilton, popular American surfers Alana Blanchard and Anastasia Ashley plus some of the greatest surfing talent from Asia and New Zealand.

Shot on the Gold Coast, Malibu in the US, and at Raglan and Piha across the ditch in NZ, these iconic surf destinations have plane seats on the sand, seatbelts in open-roof jeeps, and life-jackets out on the waves.

Air New Zealand’s head of global brand development Jodi Williams says the all-star global surfing cast for the latest video will put the airline and the three destinations featured fresh in the minds of travellers, as well as getting all key safety messages across.

“Previous safety videos have done a fantastic job in selling seats and driving tourism flows whether it be to New Zealand off the back of the two Hobbit inspired videos and Bear Grylls experiencing one of New Zealand’s Great Walks or the collaboration with Sports Illustrated that boosted tourism to the Cook Islands,” Williams said.

Australian surfing legend Mick Fanning the airline’s pursuit of creative engagement and the ability to share his local surf breaks in his homeland attracted him to be part of the Surfing Safari.

“A few of my mates will probably wind me up for working with a Kiwi airline but through the Air New Zealand safety video I got the opportunity to share some of my favourite local surf spots with everyone,” Fanning said.

“On its day the Gold Coast has some of the best surfing anywhere in the world. It’s been fantastic to be show off this iconic location.”

Even reigning men’s surfing champ Gabriel Medina praised the airline for chooseing surfing as its latest safety theme.

“Surfing is bigger than ever globally and I am keen to do all I can to interest more people in the sport,” he said.

“Air New Zealand operates to some of the most amazing surf destinations around the world.  It has been terrific to showcase a handful of these with some of the greatest surfers of all time.”

Alana Blanchard, one of the most influential women surfers on social media, says it was great to see some incredible female surfers showcase their skills in Surfing Safari.

“Wherever I travel around the world it’s clear that the quality of women’s surfing is going through the roof and it was terrific to get the opportunity via Air New Zealand for the likes of Kiwi great Paige Hareb and myself to mix it up with the boys,” Blanchard said.

To celebrate the launch of Surfing Safari, Air NZ is giving online viewers of the video the chance to win a trip for two to Los Angeles, California including a two hour surf lesson on Malibu beach with legendary big wave surfer and star of Surfing Safari Laird Hamilton.

Check out The Flying Social Network here for more info.

And in the meantime, have a squiz at the epic new safety vid, complete with all the gnarly waves and hot surfers you can imagine.

Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au

air new zealand alana blanchard laird hamilton mick fanning sports illustrated surfing safari

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