Smorgasboarder_02-november-2010

SURF IS FREE... LIKE MAGS SHOULD BE 

HOME: SOUTH COAST MAGIC P64 

DEBATE: 

SUP, UP AND AWAY P48 

WORDS: THE KANTENDER P26 

THE MAGAZINE FOR THOSE WHO LOVE TO SURF 

ISSUE #2 NOV/DEC 2010

Photo courtesy of Dick Hoole 

“is what surfing is all about” 

www.goodtime.com.au

Since 1971 

Come and see Gail and 

the Goodtime team at 

the Gabba 

Goodtime Surf & Sail 

29 Ipswich Road, Woolloongabba, Brisbane 

07 3391 8588 

WE SURF...

INSIDE 

26 

FROM SURF 

THUG TO CHAMP 

32 

CAPTURING THE 

PERFECT WAVES 

42 

THE IRON MAIDEN STAND 

OF SURF BUSINESS 

48 56 

UP AND 

BE COUNTED 

PASSED DOWN 

FROM DAD 

How Noosa’s Israel 

Kani turned negatives 

into positives 

Photographer Sean 

Scott gives an insight 

into his inspiration 

Gail Austin’s neversay-die 

attitude has 

kept the wins coming 

People with paddles... 

Where is this SUP 

thing heading? 

Four different fathers 

and sons talk about 

surfing and bonding 

ALL THE 

USUAL BITS 

THE LATEST 

Feedback P14 

News P18 

And Greatest P20 

TRAVEL 

Road trip: The Gong and Beyond P64 

Tropical itch P86 

Plane Trip: Muizenberg P88 

 

 

 

GEAR 

Shaper profile: Thomas Bexon P96 

Latest surfboard designs P103 

Skateboarding P113 

 

CLOSEOUT 

History P117 

Music, Film & Books P120 

First Aid & Fitness P122 

Get learning P124 

People out and about P130 

Toasty warm on the Bass Coast 

Photo: Jeff Tull 

6 nov/dec 2010

DETAILS 

& THINGS 

WHAT WE’RE ALL ABOUT 

Smorgasboarder is for all of us that love surfing, 

whether it’s to relax, unwind, get in a healthy bit of 

exercise or to catch up with friends and family. 

WHERE TO PICK US UP 

Quality surf stores, shapers and cool cafes within 10kms of 

the coast from Agnes Water to Warrnambool. We also supply 

select stores in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. For a full list 

of distributors, visit the directory in the back of the mag or at 

www.smorgasboarder.com.au - or get to your local surf 

shop and talk to some real people in the flesh. Smorgasboarder 

is published six times a year - September/October, November/ 

December, January/ February, March/April, May/June. 

CAN’T GET THERE? SUBSCRIBE 

If you want Smorgasboarder delivered to your door, you can 

become a home subscriber. The mag is still free, but Australia 

Post need to get paid. $18 gets you six editions. Just sign up 

at www.smorgasboarder.com.au and go and wait by your 

mailbox. It’ll arrive every two months. 

THANK YOU 

Thank you once again to all our creative contributing 

writers, fantastic photographers and excellent people 

who made this edition possible. We’d like to make special 

mention of Louise ‘Squirrel’ Gough and Gus Brown as well 

as Helen Chapman and Katie Swan for putting up with us. 

THE TEAM 

If you’re after any information on advertising, distribution, 

editorial, subscribing, contributing or just plain getting 

involved in some way, drop us a line... 

Mark Chapman 

Dave Swan 

mark@hugecmedia.com.au 

0400 875 884 

dave@hugecmedia.com.au 

0401 345 201 

CONTRIBUTORS 

WRITING TALENT: John Hart, Dr Pete Kirkham, Nigel Potts, 

Craig Baird, Kent Ladkin, Hoges and Will at Island Surfboards 

PHOTOGRAPHIC GENIUS: Sean Scott, Mark ‘Crumpet’ 

Taylor, Joel Coleman, Keith Hamlyn, Jules Phillips, Jeff Tull, 

Grant Molony, Steev S, Keith LBG, Richard Higgins, Lainey 

Brown, Simon Muirhead, Phil Burnham, Michael Dawes, Ray 

Collins, Ben Vos, Lucas Muro, Trevor Skinner, Tom Woods, 

Jin Han Teng, Lee Slabber, Craig Wilson, Timothy Van der 

Venter, Simon Allard, Jason Mercer, Terry ‘Spud’ Murphy and 

newcomer Lachy MacMackin. 

Tech specs: Mark - studio@hugecmedia.com.au 

Money matters: Dave - money@hugecmedia.com.au 

Ideas & submissions: editorial@smorgasboarder.com.au 

Distribution: mags@hugecmedia.com.au 

WWW.SMORGASBOARDER.COM.AU 

smorgasboarder is published by Huge C Media Pty Ltd 

ABN 30944673055. All information is correct at time of going to 

press. The publishers cannot accept responsibility for errors in 

articles or advertisements, or unsolicited manuscripts, photographs or 

illustrations. The opinions and words of the authors do not necessarily 

represent those of the publisher. All rights reserved. Reproduction in 

part or whole is strictly prohibited without prior permission. 

8 nov/dec 2010 

We print with Pep 

Central and Craft 

Inprint Group, an 

environmentally aware 

and committed printer 

whose business is 

founded upon the 

principles of minimising 

waste and maximising 

recycling. Nice work.

nov/dec 2010 

9

LATEST: EDITION 

BACK SO SOON 

Cole Richards/Narrabeen 

Photo: Crumpet Productions 

I was on my favourite beach this morning. It was raining, but the sun was 

shining. I told my little boy that when this happened, it was called a Monkey’s 

Wedding. He said that it was called a sunshower. At five years old, his name for 

it made more sense than mine. I’ve never really understood what a Monkey’s 

Wedding meant anyway. Or why monkeys would get married, for that matter. 

Kids are smart. 

But we were both right, according to wikipedia - the fountain of all knowledge. 

It seems that my description points to my South African youth, while my boy... 

well, he’s true blue. This little difference in terminology made me understand 

why often my friends have no idea what I’m on about. Smiling and nodding 

doesn’t fool me, people... That said, you obviously never completely forget 

where you came from and our international trip is exactly that: a visit back to 

South African shores, exploring the chilled surrounds of Muizenberg Beach in 

Cape Town on page 88. 

With an even bigger magazine that the first, we’ve crammed in more travel, 

more gear, more great surfing images and plenty of love for the ocean as we talk 

to men, women and even families that love and live for their surfing. 

It’s been a wild ride... 

Issue two has come around so much quicker than we had ever imagined. Still 

reeling from all the positivity and fantastic feedback from our launch edition, 

we are awestruck and incredibly grateful for the positive reaction from you, the 

reader, as well as for the fantastic involvement of all of the businesses along the 

east coast that have supported us by way of advertising to make this free mag 

possible for you. 

And we’re over the moon at the ridiculously talented and steadily growing army 

of contributors that have chosen to be involved with the mag. Smorgasboarder 

just couldn’t happen and wouldn’t be what it is without these skills and talents. 

And it’s all spreading... We’re already getting around further afield than we 

originally planned as we welcomed Reef2Beach surf shop up in Agnes Water / 

1770 as our northernmost shop to now stock smorgasboarder. 

The amount of online readers we’ve picked up along the way has just amazed 

us. In only a few short weeks, an absolute wave of people got to flicking through 

the online version of the magazine at www.smorgasboarder.com.au, with people 

from all across the globe dropping us emails to say g’day. 

As to our hopes for the magazine being a way for the surf community to air 

views, share thoughts and generally get involved? These hopes are already 

being realised thanks to the staggering amount of feedback, subscriptions and 

contributions we’ve received so far, not to mention the connections that we’ve 

been told about: Businesses jumping on board to support organisations featured 

in the first edition, stores discovering new shapers and manufacturers to stock, 

people generally meeting and greeting through the pages of the mag... It’s truly 

what it’s all about and makes us happy little campers. 

All we can say is a massive thank you, thank you, thank you. It makes the sleepless 

nights and long hours worthwhile. 

Keep reading, keep writing, keep clicking and keep in touch. 

Mark 



11

LADIES FIRST 

AT THE TENDER AGE OF 20, BUDDING FITNESS 

GURU AND SUPER-HOT SURFER ANGIE KOOPS 

LEFT THE LAND OF THE LONG WHITE CLOUD 

BEHIND, TO BE ‘BEACHED AS’ ON THE GOLD 

COAST. IN A FEW SHORT YEARS, SHE SEEMS 

TO HAVE SETTLED IN REALLY QUICKLY . 

PLAYING 

FOR 

KOOPS 

No slouch in competition surfing, Angie 

Koops has racked up enough trans-Tasman 

titles in a few short years to fill a very large 

chilly bin. 

Since her arrival in Australia, she’s collected 

herself a decent little flock of sponsors, with 

companies like Diverse Surf, Fox, Smith, 

On A Mission, Maxum watches, Tahitian 

Noni, and even hometown biggies like 

Mountain Dew NZ all keen to kit her out with 

product and put her face to their brands. 

Not bad for an import, eh bro? Okay, no more 

Kiwi jokes... Over to you Ange... 

“Hi I’m Ange. I was born in NZ and grew up in a 

little country town called Kaikoura - a unique place 

where the mountains reach the ocean. In winter 

you can snowboard and surf in the same day. You 

just have to make sure you build a bonfire before 

you hit the surf... You’ll need it to thaw out.” 

“I was 14 when I first started stand up surfing, my 

bro did it a lot when he was younger and I got my 

first board off him. I started bodyboarding when 

I was about six, just mucking around with the 

cousins skim-boarding and playing in the dumpers. 

“I’m studying at present, learning to become a 

fitness specialist and I also have my own remedial 

sport massage business.“ 

BIGGEST SURFING INFLUENCE? 

In Australia would have to be my boyfriend Dru... 

He’s fun to surf with. 

BEST SURF SPOTS? 

I live on the beach at Palmy and I love it. I also love 

a spot in Bali, but I’d have to kill you if I told you... 

WHAT BOARD WORKS BETTER IN NEW 

ZEALAND? A SUX-FOOTER, OR A FUSH? 

Haha! None of the above... Maybe a fiieeeeve 

nine rounded pun tail. 

WHAT’S MOST IMPORTANT IN YOUR LIFE? 

Family 


photo: Shane Newman 

Angie enjoying some time in the 

Land of the Long White Rooster Tail 

Photo: Simon Muirhead/Simsurf 

BEING A PERSONAL TRAINER, WHAT ARE YOUR TOP TIPS FOR 

GETTING AND STAYING SURF FIT? 

Fuel your body with ‘real foods’, try to stay away from the processed 

packaged foods and work both the anaerobic and aerobic energy systems as 

we use both in surfing. So for example, going for a distance run is good but 

you also have to do explosive work, such as sprints. 

WHAT’S SCARIER: TEAHUPOO OR A TRIPLE-DIAMOND BLACK 

SNOWBOARD RUN? 

Haven’t done either. I think a triple is considered suicidal? And Teahupoo, 

well, just watching those guys deep scares me. 

Thank you miss Koops. And never mind: just writing the question 

scared us. Next time you’re surfing the Goldie and a girl on a Diverse 

board rockets by? Make sure to say g’day to Angie. 


13

LATEST: FEEDBACK 

THE CAN 

IS NOW OPEN... 

JOIN IN THE CONVERSATION: 

Email all your innermost thoughts, letters, stories, photos, 

praise, rants to letters@smorgasboarder.com.au or send 

other contribution ideas, surf photography or fantastic ideas for 

stories to editor@smorgasboarder.com.au. 

Yes, it’s getting fiery... The Making Waves For 

Recognition Of Shaper’s Skills article in the first edition 

of smorgasboarder certainly hit a nerve and has people 

talking. Thanks for the feedback. Keep it coming! 

NOT HAPPY, JAN 

Now to start let’s get something straight set about me. I am all for shapers 

and do believe it’s a dying art that needs saving. 

Yes, board prices have only risen 20 dollars in the past 15 years. But today’s 

manufacturing processes have increased profit margins and boards are being 

made with less material not to mention being extremely fragile. Boards were 

made with thicker foam, more glass and had a gloss coat. Now days the 

standard is a thin 4 x 4 x 4 sanded, and that’s it. 

I believe shapers are killing their own industry, with little or no innovation in 

the construction process. 

The other problem that’s fuelling this whole debacle is pro surfers who get 

boards either for free on contract, or at a significantly reduced cost. These pros 

go through more boards per year than most mugs would go through in a lifetime. 

If more pros followed innovation, instead of following what the other sheep are 

doing we might see some MORE innovation and a total revision of the industry. 

I’m personally sick of being taken advantage of by shapers and pro surfers 

inability to innovate or try something new. 

James 

Palm Beach 

Not a happy customer there, James? There are plenty of shapers out there 

making high quality boards. We know they’re out there. 

And as to innovation, we’ve discovered some truly creative shapers 

on our travels up and down the east coast over the last year in 

particular - just check out the Gear section. As with any quest for 

quality and innovation, you just have to look that little bit harder to 

find the right person. 

WE WANT 

YOUR LETTERS 

This edition’s giveaways include copies 

of the excellent Isaac Paddon and the 

Tides CD “Where we once stood” and sets 

of Elofant Straps, which will keep your 

boards stored safely - see page 22 for 

more info on the straps. 

Send in your letters and thoughts to 

be in line for the freebies! Email us on 

letters@smorgasboarder.com.au 

TEACH ME, TEACH ME 

I’ve been trying to get a foothold into the shaping industry for ages but no 

one seems to be willing to help me gain the necessary skills of board making. 

Many shapers don’t have the funds to take on an apprentice, due to the lack of 

profit made on surfboards. It would be great if the government stepped in and 

gave support to established shapers to pass on their skills and knowledge. 

If you know anyone in Vicco that can teach me please let me know. 

Luko 

Recently I wanted to understand more about surfboard design and 

construction. I bought a heap of reading material and got some John Carper 

shaping and glassing DVD’s. After doing my homework I wanted to jump in 

with both feet and have a go at making my one. I looked for where I could 

have a lesson and found the only place that would give me one was in 

Newcastle at a University. I then found out they had stopped running the 

course last year. I continued to look but found nothing, wondering how other 

people like me learned. 

Based on Chris Garrett’s comments, and the fact that I have found it hard to 

find a place to shape and learn this very underrated skill I totally understand 

and support his quest to formally recognise and provide a career path for 

people who want to work in the surfboard manufacturing industry in Australia. 

I would think a good way to raise awareness of this part of the surf industry 

and gain further funds would be to also run courses for amateur builders like 

myself. I have been really amazed at how many people have been interested 

in what I am doing when I tell them. 

I have a lot to thank the surfing world for not least the constant rush I get out 

in the water every time I catch a wave. I look forward to the next edition of 

smorgasboarder and If anyone knows of courses for surfboard shaping or is 

willing to give me a lesson then let me know as you would easily part me from 

some of my hard earned cash and would bet others would follow. 

Ed 

Newcastle 

Gents, we feel your pain. Finding an official course is difficult as we 

found out many phonecalls later, but there ARE people out there. Up on 

the Gold Coast, Richard Harvey runs a short course, a few of the wood 

board guys run courses... But talk to your local shapers. If they brush 

you - and they shouldn’t - just remind them that they had to learn too. 

SATISFIED AND SMILING 

Hi guys, 

Thought I should give you some feedback about Smorgasboarder. I loved the 

issue, particularly the wooden board segments, and hope you continue to 

have a “maker focus “ in upcoming issues. Great stuff. I grabbed my copy from 

Byron Longboards, couldn’t believe such a quality piece was free. 

Russell 

Mudgeeraba 

No, no... thank you, Russ! Plenty more shapers on the way for you! 


Join us on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/ 

Smorgasboarder-Surf-Magazine/133229320054947 (or easier, just 

search for smorgasboarder) We promise not to poke you. 

photo: Shane Newman 

LETTER OF THE MONTH 

YOU’RE NEVER TOO OLD 

I have just returned home from an extended eight-month business trip to 

Victoria, surfing mainly around the Surf Coast area. The locals back home are 

sick of me telling them about how good it was (although very cold) and how 

average my home break now feels. That aside, some things were the same. 

Just like home, I was taken back by how accepting the locals were as long 

as you showed some respect, and how everyone had the time to chat about 

where I had come from, why I was there, board design and the like. 

I had taken with me my two 6’5”s Jye Byrnes Quad and Bonzer, and the 

pleasing thing to note was the amount of older surfers like me that had not 

opted for the easy way out and jumped onto a mal as soon as they hit 40. Most 

were still surfing short (-ish) boards that had been adapted accordingly - maybe 

a little bit longer or thicker, but still performance boards. And they were still 

surfing well. 

Now don’t get me wrong. I am not anti-mal; I say “ride em’ all”. Watching a 

highly-skilled longboarder surfing a well-trimmed log is a thing of beauty, but 

“straight-legging” it to the beach is just awful to watch, no matter how long 

the ride or how big the wave. 

The point is, as you get older, don’t get sucked into the everyday “you’re old 

so you should surf a mal because its cool” guff that we are fed from the some 

areas of the surf industry. If you surfed a 6’7” x 19” x 3” single-fin, twinny, or 

whatever, when you were 18, why not keep it up? 

If your shaper is worth his salt he should be able to craft something that will 

suit your needs and circumstances. Go do some laps in the pool. Don’t go the 

easy, and ultimately, dull option because someone tells you so. With surfing, 

quality is always better than quantity. 

Grant 

Nelson Bay 

Hear, hear... It’s about ‘ride whatever you want’ and whatever makes 

sense for the day and the conditions. But we reckon you’re just being 

nice to those tough Surf Coast boys so you don’t get your windows 

waxed again... Watch your mailbox Grant - a prize pack is on its way. 

NASTY LITTLE ENTRY 

Ali Stewart sent us this pic of a 

dodgy way in, all the way from Cape Town in South Africa.

LATEST: FEEDBACK 

INBOX OVERLOAD 

When we put the word out for photo submissions last edition 

we didn’t expect the volume of responses or such great quality 

images to arrive! 

That’s right - we got some great images from all across our 

coastline, so rather than just show off one good one, we 

figured we may as well show you a few more. 

We love ‘em, keep ‘em coming! Next edition again, the best 

reader submitted photograph will win a great prize pack as a 

thank you for sharing. The January edition prize is sponsored 

by the kind folks at On A Mission, who are putting up a 

special package including a board bag, deck grip and leggie! 

Yamba is most definitely a photographic favourite of 

ours with some incredible images arriving regularly, 

contributed by talented folk like Trevor Skinner (above) 

and Simon Allard (below). See more of Trevor’s stuff in 

the People of the lens section starting on page 36 

So get snapping and email your attempts at glory to us: 


Below: Jason Mercer got us this cracker 

from somewhere in the Illawarra. Don’t 

you just wish you were there? 

Victoria’s Jeff Tull (above) 

is quickly becoming a firm 

office favourite. Jeff has 

followed up on his great 

shots in our Phillip Island 

feature in September with 

some even more exciting 

ones from the Victorian 

coast. See more of Jeff’s 

photos in the People of the 

lens section starting on 

page 36, and also page 6! 


...AND THE WINNING SHOT 

We really couldn’t go past this ‘perfect day’ pic sent to us by Terry ‘Spud’ Murphy. Could 

you? To explain this Gold Coast beauty, he says: “Ask Where’s Wally... that gives it 

perspective.” Check your mailbox, Terry. There’s some prizes on the way! 

15-year-old Lachlan 

McMackin sent us 

these photos he had 

taken “with a cheap, 

waterproof camera” 

on the Sunshine Coast. 

Imagine what he could 

do with expensive 

gear! Above, Lachy’s 

mate, Ryan Forman is 

practicing for his future 

surf mag cover shot. 

How’s this shot? Sanctuary Cove Security Officer Steve Lazzaro 

out of the office and in the Green Room at Burleigh. 


17

LATEST: NEWS 

A reserved spot... Manly morning 

Photo: saltmotion 

BUILDING UP OUR RESERVES 

The new Manly-Freshwater National Surfing Reserve became the 11th official 

surfing reserve to be declared in Australia on September 25, 2010. Manly- 

Freshwater joins ten other iconic surf spots including Killalea State Park, 

Maroubra, Lennox and Crescent Head. The four kilometre area stretches from 

Harbord Point to Fairy Bower including Freshwater Beach, Queenscliff, North 

Steyne, Manly Beaches and Shelly Beach to Fairy Bower Point. 

Commonly known as the birthplace of Australian surfing, the area’s rich surfing 

history truly justifies the declaration. As the site of Australia’s first legal daylight 

bathing in 1902, Manly hosted the first known body surfing contest in 1908 and 

hosted the first World Surfboard-riding Championship in 1964 won by ‘Midget’ 

Farrelly and Phyllis O’Donnell. And most famous in surf folklore perhaps is the 

Freshwater Beach board surfing demonstration by Duke Kahanamoku in the 

summer of 1914-1915. 

All said, a reserve well deserved. 

DRAGONS FANCY FINE FISH 

Balsa board guru Mark Riley had some rugby league royalty drop in 

at his showroom in Miranda. First try scorer of this year’s NRL Grand 

Final, Mark Gasnier of the victorious St George Illawarra Dragons, 

came in checking out the range - with the fish taking his fancy. 

Mark’s here with Scott Campbell - the strength and conditioning 

coach for the Dragons. For more Riley, check out the first edition of 

smorgasboarder online, or see www.balsasurfboardsriley.com.au 


SURF AID FOR 

TSUNAMI RELIEF 

Firstly, we’d like to give a big thumbs 

up to Surf Aid International for their 

wonderful efforts in assisting the local 

villages affected by the recent Mentawai 

tsunami. It is amazing what lengths 

people will go to in assisting others. 

Secondly, on behalf of Surf Aid 

International we would like to request 

your support to help the decimated 

villages of South Pagai where over 300 

lives have been lost. To make a donation 

go to www.surfaidinternational.org 

It’s great to see local businesses like 

World Surfaris and Kirra Surf actively 

getting behind the relief effort to raise 

funds at a recent film night this October. 

INDUSTRY GROUP 

GETS UNDER WAY 

The Australian Surf Craft Industry 

Association (ASCIA) - the proposed 

national industry voice for manufacturers, 

suppliers, wholesalers and retailers 

of surf craft - will hold a meeting on 

Tuesday, November 9 from 6.30 - 8.30pm 

upstairs at the Cooly Hotel, Coolangatta. 

The intention of the meeting is to develop 

a set of objectives for the association and 

what parties it will represent, along with 

electing a steering committee to drive 

the charter. 

To register your intention to attend RSVP 

by email to info@darcysurfboards.com 

Stuart D’Arcy shares a laugh with Chris 

Garrett at a recent Shaper’s Forum 

QUICKIES 

STAR SHEPHERD 

Not even Darth 

Vader would be 

messing with any 

whales if he got a look at the 

latest Sea Shepherd vessel, the 

Ocean Adventurer. The 12-yearold, 

115-foot, stabilised monohull 

fills the role of fast interceptor 

for the Antarctic Whale Defense 

Campaign, replacing the Ady Gil 

which was rammed and destroyed 

in January. 

Not only does it look cool, it saves 

whales... 528 whales in fact, are 

alive and swimming thanks to Sea 

Shepherd’s work in this year alone. 

Find out more, support the cause 

and get involved. See the website: 

www.seashepherd.org 

CARA-BEEN AND GONE 

Mick Carabine has sold his business 

and is retiring to Shoalhaven Heads. 

Well done Mick and all the best 

for the future. A great result for a 

champion bloke. 

BINGIN IN BALI 

Speaking of businesses for 

sale, Warwick Martin of Dukes 

Longboards fame on the Gold Coast 

is selling up and heading for his 

Bingin Villa in Bali for good. If you 

love surfing and surfboards, why not 

buy a whole shop! You couldn’t go 

past a shop like Dukes. Established 

fourteen years, the lease for the 

store also comes with a couple of 

two bedroom units, a garage and a 

few car parks out the back. 

FANCY A BISCUIT? 

How about a wooden one? 

Rumour has it Cape Boatworks in 

Fairy Meadow, near Wollongong, 

will soon have the new Grain 

Homegrown Surfboard Kit for the 

Channel Islands Wood Biscuit. Grain 

have partnered with Al Merrick who 

originally developed the board with 

Rob Machado. The board looks set 

to be available in a 5’6”, 5’8” and 

6’2” Biscuit. 

HUEY YOU GONNA CALL? 

www.askhuey.com.au has 

changed the format of their online 

weather and swell forecasting 

website. Now you can find out 

what’s happening around 2 million 

locations globally. There are 7-day 

swell and wind forecasts and soon 

to be introduced global wind and 

swell maps. 

The new 

Symba 

presents: the summer solution... 

Carver 

Surf rack 

+ + 

www.scooterstyle.com.au 

175 Eumundi Road, Noosaville Qld 4566 Phone: 07 5455 5249 

Board 

= FUN 

10% off 

Carver Surf Racks 

with this ad 


19

LATEST: & GREATEST 

NOW HERE’S 

A REVELATION 

Word has it Takuya (Tappy) Yoshikawa of 

Revelation Surfboards in Japan, is making 

his way to Australia in early December 

to shape boards for two weeks alongside 

Southcoast Surfboards’ Ian Chisholm. Want 

to get your hands on one of these limited 

edition customs? To find out more, see 

www.southcoastlongboards.com.au 

Speaking of Southcoast, Ian is set to 

have Tyler Hatzikian’s new creation - The 

Magneato - in store soon. Tyler’s made 

some radical, radical advances in singlefin 

design. For more on Tyler Surfboards, see 

www.tylersurfboards.com 

Finally (he sure has been busy) Ian is now 

the agent for Axxe Wetsuits (shown left) 

from Japan. The latest suits are designed 

for the Spring/ Summer season for our 

brothers and sisters down south that don’t 

always get to enjoy donning boardies for 

the warmer months. For those unfamiliar 

with the brand, Axxe custom makes high 

performance wetsuits that are handmade 

specifically for your body. Choose your 

style, colours and materials... The quality 

has to be seen to be understood. 

A STEP BLACK IN TIME 

Jesse Watson of Black Apache Surfboards is set to launch 

his own range of extremely cool retro-influenced wetsuits - the 

perfect match to his boards. These custom suits - which would 

be just as at home on the pages of a 1970’s edition of Surfer 

Magazine - are made from a mix of neoprene and Japanese 

rubber, said to be super soft, stretchy, comfortable and of course, 

warm. With plenty of time to go before winter, start saving your 

pennies. See www.blackapachesurfboards.com.au 

MUST-LISTENS 

MUSIC THAT KEPT US SANE ON THE ROAD AND IN THE OFFICE 

LAST MINUTE BUDGET CUTBACKS 

Got a travel itch? www.gosea.com.au is a new surf travel website that is basically the wotif.com of water 

sports. Travel operators from the surf, dive and sailing field list their vacancies at the best rates available. If you 

are flexible enough to book your surf trip within 60 days of departure, you could save yourself some big bucks. 

There’s nothing better than getting a good deal at the last minute. 

JOHN BUTLER TRIO 

APRIL UPRISING 

JARRAH RECORDS 

A much rockier release than the 

Trio’s previous rootsy offerings. 

Take that, naysayers. Infectious 

tunes and truly meaningful lyrics 

when you can understand him. 

www.johnbutlertrio.com 

ALO 

MAN OF THE WORLD 

BRUSHFIRE RECORDS 

Start with a truly incredible group 

of musos with ridiculously catchy 

songs and tons of talent, add 

in Jack Johnson magic and you 

have the perfect soundtrack to 

everything. www.alomusic.com 

THE LONELY ISLAND 

INCREDIBAD 

UNIVERSAL REPUBLIC RECORDS 

Childish, crude and stupid, this is 

true medicine for staying awake 

two days straight. Jack Black’s 

Saxman will be a classic that has 

us in tears for the next ten years. 

www.thelonelyisland.com 


* 

MUST-READS 

GREAT PUBLICATIONS WE ENJOY 

GET A GRIP 

We do like the sound of a local company 

making some cool new custom and very special 

signature deck grips for some top companies. Around 

since the early ‘90’s, Crosslink Traction in Byron Bay 

are funking up your footrest with these homegrown 

tail pads using a unique process that lets them embed 

full colour logos and designs. But it’s not just for your 

shortboard... They also do grips for SUPs, kneeboards, 

mals, retros and more. Fancy your own personal 

touch? They can do you a custom. For more, 

see www.deckgrips.com 

*Score yourself a super-cool 

smorgasboarder deck grip from Crosslink 

Traction. See page 120 for more. 

KURUNGABAA 

Available for $15 at kurungabaa.net 

Most definitely not what you would 

expect from a surf-related publication, 

Kurungabaa is a not-for-profit volunteer 

publication, published bi-annually by a 

collective group of dedicated writers 

and artists. The journal is a collection of 

poetry, fiction and other ocean-inspired 

writing printed with a colour, card cover 

and mostly black and white internal 

pages. It’s a huge read, not to be 

attempted in one sitting. This is no surf 

mag, but rather a deep and reflective 

document that you’ll be able to read on 

and off for years to come. At $30 per 

year for something thought-provoking 

it’s definitely worth supporting. 

For more information and to subscribe 

visit www.kurungabaa.net 

INFLATABLE FUN BAGS FOR SURFERS 

Are you like us, wondering what the hell PaddleAir actually is? Well, 

technically speaking, PaddleAir is an adjustable inflation chamber that is 

integrated into a rashie. 

Why do that? If paddling your board hurts like hell, particularly on your 

sternum, PaddleAir elevates you off the board. It can also relieve paddle pain 

and assist you with stronger strokes. It even sounds like fun. The new model 

is out now and has a more concealed system than the original. Interested? 

Contact Sput Keevers at www.byronbaylongboards.com.au for more info. 

FOAM MAGAZINE 

Available for $3 in Vic surf shops 

WAXING LYRICAL 

We recently tried Stomp Surf Wax and we’re sold. 

Wanting to know more, we were very interested to find out 

the guy behind Stomp has a long history in the wax industry. 

He knows his wax... www.burleighwaxco.com.au 

If you prefer the all-natural experience, there’s an alternative 

for you in Treehugger Wax. Made from beeswax and natural 

resins, it’s an eco-friendly way to stick to your board. 

More at www.surfinggreen.com.au 

In 2009 and at only 17, James Jacobi 

left school to launch his own surf 

magazine, FOAM. The landscape format 

mag presents a different perspective 

on Victorian surfing and is produced 

in dramatic black and white, complete 

with moody photography by Ocean 

Grove snapper Ed Sloane and a talented 

handful of contributors. For more, see: 

www.foammag.com.au and to see more 

imagery by Ed - in colour even - visit his 

website at sloanephotos.blogspot.com 


21

The mosT amazing 

range of Longboards, 

reTro and 

shorTboard brands on 

The easT CoasT 

LATEST: & GREATEST 

STORE FOR LESS 

BUDGET BOARD STORAGE SOLUTIONS 

Surfboard’s aren’t cheap, but thankfully, keeping your precious craft stored neatly out of harms way 

needn’t break the bank. There are plenty of fantastic storage solutions - racks, straps, shelves, grips, 

clips - enough options out there to suit most needs and budgets. We’ve looked at two entry-level 

storage ideas to keep your boards off the floor and leave a few dollars in your pocket. 

ELOFANT STRAPS 

This simple system of velcro straps holds two boards, is easy to install and use, and is yours from 

under $30. Not really a system you’d use as a display in your lounge for that 70’s singlefin you bought 

for far too much at that vintage surfboard auction after a few too many beers, but most definitely a 

simple setup for the garage for easy access and safe storage. It can hold surfboards, snowboards, 

wakeboards, kiteboards... Anything up to around 15kg. See www.elofant.com for more info. 

including 

mandala, mackie, Van straalen, Takayama, neal 

Purchase jnr, bing, Zed, formular energy, gato 

heroi, mctavish, firewire, Chilli, Js, al merrick, Lost, 

dahlberg, stacey, Insight, fibre flex, Webber, 7s, 

Clear, Xanadu, aloha... 

40 Bronte Rd, Bondi Junction 

Phone: 02 9389 5477 

www.surfculture.com.au 

www.sixounceboardstore.com.au 

SURF N’ RAK 

If you prefer the idea of a steel rack, Surf N’ Rak has a range of wall mounted racks that start at $29 

for a single rack, up to $180 for a 6-tier setup. A good in-betweener is the 3-tier version, the SR3, 

which goes for $95. With a load capacity of 15kg per support, it’s safe, easy to use and provides quick 

access to your boards. And for those of you with bigger toys to store, there’s a new range of SUP racks 

to check out as well. For more info, and the rest of the range, see www.surfnrak.com.au 

22 

nov/dec 2010

The more things 

change, the more 

they stay the same 

36 years on, surfers still surf 

and Southern Man Surf still 

stands strong as Ulladulla’s 

original and best surf shop. 

Stocking the best range of surf, skate 

and bodyboards as well as leading 

surf brands such as Vern Jackson 

Surfboards, Rip Curl, Billabong, Roxy, 

Rusty and Quiksilver, you can expect 

the same great service and advice the 

surf community has enjoyed since 1974. 

Sponsored rider 

Scott ‘Whippy’ Denis 

(photo: Simon Punch) 

For personal service and a great range of surfboards 

and accessories, skateboards, bodyboards, clothing 

and much more, visit Southern Man Surf in Ulladulla on 

your next surf trip to the South Coast of NSW. 

138 Princes Highway, Ulladulla, NSW 2539 

www.southernman.com.au


NEW SINGLE AND NEW SHOWS FOR THE GIRLS 

With a new single in hand entitled My Mind Is An Echo Chamber, Sydney’s The 

Beautiful Girls hit the road this December and January for shows along the coast. 

The tour kicks off on Friday, December 10 at the Mona Vale Hotel in Sydney and 

continues in the new year with shows in Wollongong, Bateau Bay, Yamba, Byron Bay, 

Coolangatta, Brisbane, Caloundra, Ferntree Gully, Melbourne, Frankston and Barwon 

Heads. See www.thebeautifulgirls.com for dates in your area. 

POSITIVE 

PROGRAM 

Keen to get involved? 

Visit www.desert2surf.org to 

learn more about partnership and 

volunteer opportunities, and how 

you can support this empowering 

and inspiring initiative. 

Desert2Surf is a not-for-profit organisation, 

established in 2008 to build the capacity 

of indigenous youth living in remote and 

disadvantaged communities through outdoor 

activities like surfing. 

Using the power of surfing as a catalyst 

to engage, inspire and empower young 

indigenous people, a group of dedicated and 

passionate people help youth aged 12-15 to 

participate in challenging and fun outdoor 

activities like tackling the waves - something 

many of these kids have never laid eyes on, let 

alone experienced. 

Desert2Surf trips facilitate development 

of leadership and personal skills, provide 

cultural exchange opportunities, and directly 

assist indigenous youth through advocacy and 

community representation. 

See our next edition for Desert2Surf tales 

of stand up paddleboarding with freshwater 

crocs, and how you can get your hands on a 

uniquely designed indigenous surfboard direct 

from the Northern Territory. 

SURF CELEBRATION TIME AT KIRRA 

November is most definitely surf festival month, with the first cab off 

the rank Kirra Surfstock Festival - a non-profit community project that 

celebrates surf culture while raising awareness of coastal management. 

Now in its second year, the family friendly event will feature a number of 

beach lifestyle events ranging from surfing to bikini parades, from beach 

soccer to music - which will include amongst others Band of Frequencies 

and one of our favourites, Isaac Paddon and the Tides. 

The festival runs from November 12 -14 and activities include two days of 

markets, an attempt on the Guinness World Record for the most number 

of surfers riding one wave, various surfing competition events and much 

more. Best of all, and close to our hearts, of course... it’s free! There is 

no charge for the community to enjoy the live music, markets and all the 

other activities the Kirra Surfstock Festival has to offer. 

For more information, visit www.kirrasurfstock.com.au 

A MANLY LOOK BACK AT BELLS 

Kirra heiroglyphics 

Photo: Michael Dawes 

LATEST: COMMUNITY 

On the subject of surf festivals, the Manly Festival of Surfing 2010 kicks off 

on November 18. With a promised four days of surf, surf, surf the festival 

organisers are squeezing in shortboards, longboards, stand up paddleboards, 

kombis, music, art, film, and fashion. 

As part of the festival, saltmotion gallery and Byron Bay surf identity Rusty Miller 

have teamed up to exhibit previously unseen photographs from the 1970 Bells 

World Championship and the migration of surfers to the Byron Bay region. 

This will be an exhibition worth visiting. For more, see www.saltmotion.com 

When: 18-21 November. Opening Night Thursday, November 18, 6-9pm 

Where: saltmotion, Market Place, Manly (opposite Manly Library) 

What: Turning point: Trimming Lifestyles 

Contact: 02 9976 6518 or gallery@saltmotion.com 

Rebecca Dennis 

from Minyerri NT 

surfing with Sunny 

Oliver-Bennetts 

of Desert2Surf in 

background. 

Photo: Deb Oliver 

One of the photos on display: Wayne Parkes with a Morris 1100 and some racy 

S-decks at the 1970 World Surfing Contest, Bells Beach, Victoria 

If you have any news and events that should be in these pages, please feel 

free to drop us a line at editorial@smorgasboarder.com.au. 


25

LATEST: INTERVIEW 

THE 

KANTENDER 

NOOSA’S ISRAEL KANI... FROM THE BOARD TO THE BOXING RING 

An angry and explosive young local at Noosa’s points, 

Israel Kani’s early years saw his life heading down a 

destructive path of violence and partying, where getting 

into fistfights in the surf was just a normal part of any 

session. Fortunately, a small gem of advice from a fellow 

surfer helped him channel his aggression and turn his life 

around to excel as one of Australia’s top boxers. 

WORDS BY MARK CHAPMAN 

Photo: Supplied

“FIVE FOOT SHEET-GLASS SHORIES AT SUNSHINE, JUST CLEAN AND 

BARRELLING WITH ALL MY MATES OUT THERE. THE PAYOUTS ARE THICK AND 

FAST AND THE GIRLS ARE ON THE BEACH. THAT’S A PRETTY GOOD DAY.” 


27


“A CLIP OVER 

THE EAR... A 

PUNCH ON THE 

CHIN AND IN YOU 

GO, SON.” 

Photo: Supplied 

When you first meet Israel Kani, it’s not 

what you would expect from a hard-nut 

boxing champ with numerous belts to 

his name which include an Australian 

National Title. With a wide grin and 

plenty stories to tell, he’s anything but 

unfriendly or intimidating. And despite 

his record of KOs and the fact that I 

would pity anyone that finds themselves 

on the receiving end of a swift smack 

to the chops from him, these days you 

would have to be in the ring to get a 

belting from him, as the years of meeting 

out vigilante justice in the surf and 

parking lots of Noosa have long since 

been left behind. 

Now a doting Dad of two – Tikana- 

Lea and Sienna – Israel was born on 

the Central Coast of NSW and first 

discovered a love for the ocean on a 

foam surfboard in the waves of Terrigal 

main beach at 8 years old. 

“My parents would go to church and 

afterwards I’d go down and ride my 

foamy. I had a cousin that kneeboarded 

at the time, but me and a few mates 

really got into surfing. It was good.” 

He practiced his skills around magic 

spots like Shelly Beach, Avoca and 

Wamberal, but a trip to Queensland in 

his teens introduced him to what would 

become his future home. 

“When we first came here on holiday, 

the points at Noosa were pumping. I 

came over the hill to First Point, saw it 

and thought ‘No way...’ and fell in love 

with the place straight away. A couple of 

months later, we were living here and I 

was surfing the points on a regular basis.” 

But the new breaks also came with 

crowds and plenty of excuses for conflict. 

“The points used to break all the time. 

We got good waves all the time. I‘d finish 

school and would surf Tea Tree till dark. We 

were the ratbags out there, the full locals, 

telling people to go in … bad attitude. 

“We’d be out surfing Sunshine. Guys 

would be dropping in or hassling the 

young guys. I’d be the first one out there 

to send them in. A clip over the ear… a 

punch on the chin and in you go, son. I 

was pretty renowned for it.” 

As a competent surfer and a solid 

competitor in his 20’s, Israel - who was 

part of the Noosa Boardriders Club 

- even picked up some professional 

sponsors along the way including Water 

Pistols, Fox, Shaping Company, Balin 

and Mrs Palmers. Some of his favourite 

surfboards, he recalls, were from those 

early days, including his first serious 

surfboard from Shaping Company. 

“SC… Rounded square [tail]. Loved it. 

Snapped it three times, but I loved it so 

much, I kept getting it fixed. And it still 

went good. I loved that board, man… 

“My next board was a Shaping Company 

rounded square, six channels, deep… 

And I loved it. It was that good for the 

points, because you could get a bit of air 

under the channels and the tail would 

slide. It had heaps of drive. Single to 

double concave in the end, but always 

rounded squares.” 

Unfortunately, despite good 

performances in competitions, he 

explains that the surfing environment at 

the time wasn’t the most conducive to 

positive living. 

“We’d be in tents smoking cones. But 

boxing really saved me. In surfing I didn’t 

have to try too hard to compete, but in 

boxing there’s no smoking cones and 

getting into the ring. You’ll get yourself 

killed.” 


ON FEAR... 

“Just big waves man. My hat’s 

off to them. I would fight anyone, 

and I mean anyone, before taking 

off deep at Pipe. It’s a different 

sort of courage. In boxing, you 

get knocked out, you’re out cold, 

you don’t feel a thing. Getting 

pummelled in 15-foot Pipe is a 

different ballgame. That’s ballsy I 

reckon. Big waves are a different 

sort of fear I guess. You’ve got 

to have fear in boxing because it 

makes you sharp. Keeps you on 

edge. Fear in surfing is different. 

If you have that fear and you 

stuff up on take-off in 15-foot 

Pipe, you get smashed, big-time. 

Teahupoo… Man, my hat’s off to 

those guys. I wouldn’t be surfing 

that joint. That’s mental to me…I 

don’t mind the bigger stuff but 

that’s out of control.” 

Finally the big change came 

where the very reason for getting 

himself in trouble was what would 

set his life on course, thanks to 

a few words of advice after a 

particularly nasty day in the water. 

“One day at Tea Tree, I’d punched 

four guys and caught three waves. 

An old dude’s told me ‘Man, why 

don’t you take up boxing. You’re in 

the wrong sport’. “ 

And it all made sense. After 

getting in from the surf, Israel 

found a gym in Peregian Beach 

and started training under Victor 

Pinzuk, winning his first fight at 25 

– a late start for a boxer. Ignoring 

warnings that he was too old, he 

turned professional at 31. 

“Everyone’s going ‘You’re never 

going to make it as a pro’ and then 

I ended up winning the Australian 

Super Middleweight title.“ 

This achievement sits alongside a 

Pan-Pacific belt, two Queensland 

Professional titles and a host of 

others, but Israel is most proud of 

the Australian title - the pinnacle 

of Australian boxing. 

One belt that unfortunately did 

elude him was that of the reality 

television series, The Contender 

Australia, where he was up 

against 14 top Australian boxers, 

competing for $250,000 prize 

money and the opportunity to 

hop in the ring with The Man - 

Anthony Mundine. He exited the 

competition on a split decision 

that went in favour of former 

Australian Light Middle and 

Middleweight Champion Josh 

Clenshaw, and then ended up 

being unlucky once again in a 

wildcard return bout, bowing out 

to the series winner Garth Wood. 

“After 55 fights that was the first 

time I’ve ever been knocked out 

or stopped in a fight. But I was still 

pretty lucky to get to where I was 

anyway.” 

Since the series, Israel – who still 

maintains a surf connection in 

sponsors, being supported by My 

Brother’s Keeper - has very much 

turned his attention to training 

young up-and-coming boxers in 

his gym – the Noosa Box Office 

– located in Noosaville. And with 


29


his focus on his new career and business, 

surfing competitively has been off the 

cards for a long time now. 

“For me it’s all or nothing. I know what it 

takes to surf well. I used to be in the water 

four times a day, if I got out at all… And 

that’s what you have to do to become good. 

I have to do it all the way. I couldn’t halfbox 

and half-surf.” 

“I’D PUNCHED FOUR 

GUYS AND CAUGHT 

THREE WAVES. AN 

OLD DUDE’S TOLD ME 

‘MAN, WHY DON’T 

YOU TAKE UP BOXING. 

YOU’RE IN THE 

WRONG SPORT” 

So these days, with his fighting being 

positively focused into a career, it’s all 

about relaxation when it comes to picking 

up the surfboard. 

“It’s not even so much catching a wave. It’s 

just being out in the water on a good sunny 

day. Clean water clears you head. It’s a 

good de-stresser… 

“It’s a different lifestyle and it’s awesome. 

I love being surfed out and I love being 

trained out – so sore in the shoulders and 

arms that you can’t move. I love going to 

the beach all day, you get home and you’re 

decked, sun-decked… it’s a good feeling.” 

But despite being a Noosa local, Israel 

tends to avoid his old stomping grounds 

when possible. He says it’s not worth 

getting injured and putting your life and 

career on the line, and even on the busy 

days, when things can get heated, he 

prefers to take the high road. 

“I love Tea Tree when it’s on but the 

crowds are just ridiculous. I try to avoid 

surfing the points now. 

“I had one guy coming out, dropping in on 

everyone and I sorta gave him an earful. 

He offered to put me on the beach, but one 

of my mates said ‘no man, don’t, don’t… 

‘ so he just paddled off. If you’re reading, 

mate, you’re lucky... You’re lucky, son” 

(laughs) But no, I couldn’t be bothered. I’m 

just having too much fun.” 

“I’ve got a tip for most of the old guys out 

there but… Look after the young guys, 

because the old guys are just getting older 

and weaker and the young guys are getting 

older and stronger, so you gotta watch out 

for them. You’re better off making friends 

with them now, so you get a few more 

waves as you get older. Hassle ‘em now 

and you’re not going to get any waves off 

‘em, and you’ll probably get a hiding in the 

carpark.” 

It’s very easy to see why he’d rather brush 

the conflict, with so many positive aspects 

to focus on at the moment, including a 

return to the ring. 

“I got a few good fights left in me. I’d like to 

get a couple of different belts… a couple 

more belts for the mantle and then get my 

boys and girls winning belts.” 

“I like training people, bringing the best 

out in people. I get more nervous for them 

fighting than when I fight.” 

With the Noosa Box Office Gym going 

from strength to strength, a loving family 

at home and the ocean just around the 

corner, the future looks like a happy place. 

So, will he end up one of the silver surfers 

hassling in the surf? 

“Nah, you won’t catch me doing that. I’ll be 

out somewhere, where there’s no-one else 

out or a couple of mates down the beach. 

There’s plenty of beach out there…” 

ON FAMILY 

“Sienna was two weeks old when I 

was fighting for the Australian title. 

My fiancée, Kristy, her uncle and dad 

were taking turns, round by round, 

to watch her in the car while I was 

fighting, so she was pretty much 

there. And then I got a knockout in 

the fifth round, and out with the belt, 

wrapped around my little bub… So 

yeah, family is everything.” 

L-R: Israel with daughters Tikana-Lea, 

Sienna and fiancée Kristy 

Photo: Supplied

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31

LATEST: IMAGES 

20th of March 2010: 

Category 3 Tropical Cyclone 

Ului is bearing down on 

North Queensland. To add 

to the intensity of it, the 

cyclone is also cradled by a 

large high-pressure system 

moving over New Zealand 

and directing huge gale force 

swell towards the Southern 

Queensland Coast. 

“As I had anxiously been watching these developments over the past 

week and deliberating where to go, I decide to pack up the cameras, 

throw a mattress and board into the back of the car and head north to 

Noosa. I arrive early afternoon to light rain and a few large waves but 

nothing epic just yet. 

“After spending that night at the caravan park, I roll out of bed at 4 

am to get a decent car park in Noosa for the day ahead. The car park 

is already busy but I am lucky enough to snag a spot and I prepare 

my camera gear ready to shoot the sunrise. After squinting into the 

darkness, trying to get some idea of what is happening through the 

very overcast skies, light starts to win the battle over the darkness. 

“Large unruly waves start to appear roaring into the Noosa headland 

and soon enough the rain starts again. I soon came to my realisation 

that the epic eight foot sunny blue-sky scenario I had in my head 

was not going to happen. As I walk up and down the headland, like 

a surf junky desperately looking for something to shoot to salvage 

the situation, I realise that I am still in love with the ocean and the 

lifestyle that it brings, from those rare precious moments I live to 

capture, to the unexpected, and through to all the pure beauty it 

brings in between. 


THE WEATHER WATCHER 

“I have based my photography around 

these utopian ideas I have in my head. 

“My passion involves watching the 

weather maps and forecasts, searching for 

those areas where Mother Nature whips 

up a frenzy creating large ocean swell that 

then travel thousands of kilometers. 

“I then try to meet these swells where 

they hit land (hopefully with sunny skies 

and offshore winds) and capture my idea 

of a coastal landscape photograph. I also 

enjoy capturing images of surfers, who 

too, have been waiting for these swells to 

meet them, dancing with them to the end. 

More often then not it doesn’t work out as 

I had planned, but I have found that it only 

reinforces my love for photography, as it is 

these searches that open my eyes to the 

beauty of the very existence around us. 

“I have traveled all the way to Western 

Australia to come home with my best image 

being that of a surfboard fin. I have been 

down at The Wreck at Byron Bay waiting 

for the tide and to see if the same cyclone 

swells produce the goods here, only to leave 

with one of my most treasured images of 

a lone girl riding her bike along the beach. 

My Noosa trip is only another example of 

this - a sunset image of The Golden Girl, and 

an action shot of surfers jumping into the 

Boiling Pot were captured on my trip. 

“The ocean and the surf has become more 

than just a lifestyle - it is life. I have always 

loved to share my interests with others and 

I think photography for me has been the 

best way to achieve this. The underlying 

surf culture in Australia along with all 

the scenery, we as surfers are blessed to 

witness, has given me enough inspiration to 

keep on shooting for several lifetimes. 

“I have been very fortunate to be able to 

capture images exclusively for my own 

galleries and have tried to create my own 

path by printing the images onto canvas 

and displaying them as photographic art. 

I now love nothing more than to hit the 

road with my young family, camping and 

photographing up and down the east coast 

of Australia.” 


33


“Sasha Stocker at Burleigh Heads. This shot was a 

sequence that went on Coastalwatch and I had about 

five people claim it was them” 

“This was taken on one of my trips chasing the 

cyclone swells. The swell backed off a bit and the 

rain cleared for sunset and I was very happy with the 

golden girl image” 

“Taken at Byron Bay. I just got on one of the 

backpacker boats out to Julian Rocks and snorkelled 

around to get this image of a green turtle.” 


“Taken at Byron when I was heading down 

chasing a cyclone swell. The swell was 

a lot smaller than I had hoped and the 

tide was all wrong so I just went for a 

walk on the beach with my camera and 

I was stoked with the shot I got - a total 

random image that is timeless” 

Sean Scott is a passionate and talented 

photographer living on the Gold Coast. He has 

two galleries - in Burleigh Heads and Coolangatta 

- that display and sell his prints and he supplies 

his images to other quality surf art retailers 

further afield, such as the Water Surf Art Cafe in 

Coffs Harbour and the Sound Lounge in Yamba. 

“These are some of my favourite types of shots. 

I love to get into the water as it is almost as much 

fun as surfing. The reflections in the water are 

incredible to shoot” 

Easy-going and personable, Sean’s love for life 

is evident in the beautiful work he produces. 

Meeting him in person is as much of a pleasure 

as is looking through his huge collection of waterinspired 

photography. 

His eye for a well-formed wave and a beautiful 

surf scene, as well as his dedication to spending 

time in the water - even putting himself in harm’s 

way - just to capture that magic moment in time 

has firmly established him as a favourite amongst 

lovers of surf art and water photography. 

For more information and to see more of his 

work, visit www.seanscottphotography.com and 

if you’re on the Gold Coast, check out the work 

in person. 


35


“Don’t need to know where I’m going... 

Just need to know where I’ve been.” 

Photographer Jeff Tull captures a bit 

of Victorian spray art. 

Assorted waves, chilled 

rides and great big boards 

seen around Yamba, NSW. 

Photos by Trevor Skinner 


It’s fun to stay at the Y-A-M-B-A... Phil Blanch of Yamba goes disco on his morning walk. Photo by Trevor Skinner 


37


“Hey! You’re the guy that took my wallet...” 

Coffs Harbour waterboy Johnny Craig about to 

speed past Tom Woods of ST IMAGES 

www.stimages.com.au 


PEOPLE 

OF THE 

LENS 


39


Standing around in the sun on Sydney’s Northern beaches. Above: Jules/Oceaneye www.oceaneye.com.au 

Below: Joel/Saltmotion www.saltmotion.com 



41

NEVER OUT OF BUSINESS FOR A DAY: Not even 

the complete destruction of the Goodtime store 

fire could break the Gailforce. Photo: Supplied 

LATEST: PEOPLE 


IN IT FOR A GOOD TIME 

Some think she’s Wonder Woman and others think she’s an old battleaxe. Either way, Gail Austen is one woman 

who leaves an indelible mark on you. We talk with the enigma and surf business icon that is ‘Gailforce’. 

WORDS BY DAVE SWAN 

She has been awarded the Order of Australia for her 

services to youth, won the 1997 Telstra Australian 

Business Woman of the Year, been inducted into the 

Australian Businesswomen’s Network Hall of Fame, 

come close to winning a State surf title in her youth 

and even been crowned world marathon kayaking 

champion at the Masters Games. But it is possibly 

her role as the leading lady of Goodtime Surf, Skate, 

Sail and Kite megastore in Brisbane that has truly 

brought her to the attention of the surf community. 

BUT FIRST, LET’S CLEAR THE AIR. 

Is she as hard as people assume? I must confess, my 

initial perception was that she was. You see, in my 

teens, I had on several occasions tried to sell Gail a 

crappy secondhand surfboard for above market value. 

In true Gail style she promptly let me know I was 

dreaming, hence my earlier, yet unfair assessment. 

Truth be told, Gail is not mean-spirited in the least. 

She is determined beyond belief and has achieved so 

much despite adversity. She’s tough, determined and 

won’t put up with any bullshit. If that means she’s 

hard, then yes - she’s tough as nails. You don’t run a 

surf shop for close to forty years through all the trials 

and tribulations of the industry and survive if you’re 

a fool. And one thing is for certain, Gail Austen is 

nobody’s fool. 

THE START OF GOOD TIMES 

Having worked for Jackson Surfboards in Caringbah, 

near Cronulla, Brian Austen moved to Queensland 

to shape surfboards for Ray Woosley and later, Joe 

Larkin. Following stints with these famous shapers, 

Brian started his own surfboard factory in July 

1971 at 28 Bolton Street, Kirra, called Goodtime. 

His explanation for the business name was simple: 

“Goodtime, that’s what surfing is all about.” 

During this time Gail was working in the fashion 

industry in London and planning to travel to America 

to work in film production. But a trip home for 

Christmas changed her life forever. 

“I arrived back in Australia on Christmas Eve, 1972. 

My parents picked me up in Sydney and took me down 

the Gold Coast, where they were living at the time. 

They said, ‘We would like you to look at your brother’s 

factory, see what he is up to and what you think.‘ They 

recognised my brother needed a hand on the business 

side of things. 

“So I went around on Boxing Day and had a look at his 

factory. It was the most dangerous place I had been 

in my life. It was unhealthy. It was toxic. I thought it 

was dreadful! But I could see the pieces of art there. I 

recognised that. I had surfed as a youngster, so I knew 

what surfing was about. 

“The change from the big old boards to these short 

boards was amazing. We had the likes of Rabbit round 

there, Michael Peterson, Peter Townend. They were 

all working there. They were babies though, only kids. 

“They shaped the boards, would go for surf, have a 

wash, get all the stuff out of their ears, their lungs 

and their body and then get back to work. That’s 

what they did and that was fine. However, the factory 

needed tidying up and organising, which is what I did. 

“The shop my brother had opened in Coolangatta - 

which was just like a cigarette kiosk really - wasn’t 

making any money. The few surfboards he did sell 

were sold for far less than cost and when you looked 

at how many boards they actually made, it was only 

half to one surfboard a week… between all of them! 

“I said to him, ‘You’re not going to get very far doing 

that. But if you’re able to make more surfboards, you’ll 

be able to open a shop in Brisbane, where people 

have got money.’ 

“Down the Gold Coast in those days, nobody had 

anything. You can’t operate in a marketplace where 

nobody has any money. I convinced Brian to go to 

Brisbane and find a place to set up shop. I offered to work 

in it for a while to help out. That’s how I got involved.” 

Gail eventually found her brother a shop at Breakfast 

Creek - a former butcher’s shop complete with 

stainless steel fit-out and all the old remnants 

including the butcher’s block and anvil. 

“So here I was in this butchers shop with Brian’s 

boards. I put a big surfboard out the front to let people 

know we were there. Inside I made a nice display of 

his boards, sat there and had nothing to do. That was 

no good for someone like me. 

So I said: ‘You can’t live by surfboards alone. You’ve 

got to have something else.’ Nobody in the surfing 

industry at that point would have considered such a 

thing. Surfboards were surfboards. It was a religion. 

“The first thing I did was to introduce skateboards. I 

went over to the local rollerskating factory, Gayrad in 

Brisbane. I bought wheels and trucks. Then I got bits 

of timber and my brother made fibreglass decks. 

“At first he was outraged. He wanted nothing to do 

with this surf and skateboard thing and warned me 

to not dare bring the skateboards down to the Gold 

Coast. However, combining surf and skate proved to 

be very, very successful. 

“Then a friend of Brian’s who had worked with him at 

Woosley’s in Newmarket, made canoes. I went and 

saw him and said, ‘The river’s right there, I’m on the 

river, I want some canoes.’ When my brother came up 

from the coast and saw those he was so offended, he 

just walked out of the store. He just couldn’t bear to 

see this canoe next to his surfboards. I thought, ‘Oh 

well, I am not offended by it. It is all part of the fun of 

getting out on the water.’ 

Gail didn’t have the space to display the canoes so 

she hung them from the ceiling. “When people came 

in, they would ask where the canoe shop was. I would 

point up and say, ‘and the stock is out the back.’ 

“So that was the world I was in. I would be driving 

between Brisbane and the Gold Coast, sorting out the 

factory, sorting out the shop. It was a neverending, 

tremendous amount of work and I was still doing this 

all for free. 

“From there it was sailboards. In around 1974 

Delhunty’s came to see me and I had never seen 

a sailboard in my life. They had made their first 

sailboard and couldn’t sell it to anyone. They came to 

me and I thought, ‘What a good idea.’ 

“So I got a friend of mine Rosco (Ross Cook) to come 

over. We got out a canoe and the sailboard and off I 

went sailboarding down the river, while he paddled 

after me with the canoe. I got confronted with a ship, 

which was a problem, so we had to get the sailboard 

into the middle of the canoe and paddle like hell back 

to Breakfast Creek. Someone happened to be going 


43


past and took a photo of these mad people about to be run over by a ship and we 

ended up on the front page of the Daily Telegraph. That was the beginning of my 

sailboarding business and that was really how the Brisbane shop developed. 

“The Gold Coast of course kept that religious surfing theme for a long time. After 

a while Brian began to realise there was money to be made by having canoes 

and sailboards and skateboards and this idea of the surf shop I wanted to create, 

seemed to be a good idea.” 

CHALLENGES. THERE HAVE BEEN A FEW 

FROM STORE TO STORE 

Goodtime moved from Breakfast Creek to Windsor when ownership of the building 

changed hands and the new owners wanted to tear it down. Despite a twelvemonth 

lease, Gail was forced to find new premises. The building was never torn 

down much to Gail’s annoyance. 

“I found a place on Lutwyche Road. The building was in the midst of construction, 

being built of besser bricks, and I thought now there’s a place they can’t mow 

down with a grader.” Gail spoke with the owner and asked him if she could rent it. 

“He was very, very cautious because I had a tiny surf shop in Breakfast Creek in a 

former butcher’s shop and I didn’t look like I was going to be very successful. I was 

in the surf industry, I was a woman, aged thirty and I was yet to have children. 

There were numerous reasons why you wouldn’t rent to me, and he didn’t want 

to, but in the end I talked him into it. I thought it was great because I could bring 

all my surfboards, skateboards, canoes and sailboards in and by that stage, I was 

starting to introduce hang-gliders and clothing.” 

Four years into her six-year lease, in November 1980, Gail was served with a writ 

by the Brisbane City Council. “I just wasn’t asked to leave. The council withdrew 

my right to trade because I was using a warehouse as a retail outlet on a busy 

road and causing traffic congestion. I was deemed a nuisance.” 

Gail’s intention this time was to buy a building. “My aim was not to be controlled 

by landlords and the council. That way I could control what happened to me.” 

The building she found in November 1981 was the Goodtime store in 

Woolongabba, where she still is today. 

FIRE 

Unfortunately for Gail, it was not all good times ahead. One night in November 1984, 

Goodtime Woolongabba burnt to the ground. It would not be fully rebuilt until the 

end of the following year, but Gail never went out of business. Not for a single day. 

“The very next day I was in business. I sold two paddles out the back out of my 

Land Rover. The media asked me to look downcast. I thought to myself I have to 

be very clear here and give a positive message. I was asked by the Channel Nine 

reporter at the time how I felt and I said, ‘I feel great. I will be in business out the 

back. It’s a big day tomorrow – opening day!’ 

“When I saw the fire from across the road in my Land Rover I admit thinking for a 

minute, ‘Well, what do I do now.’ But then without any hesitation, I knew what I 

was going to do because this is what I do. I do business and any challenge is just 

another challenge. I knew it was going to be hard but then you just have to get on 

with it. I remembered someone then saying, ‘What are you going to do now?’ and 

I said, ‘Someone get me a broom and a shovel.’ “ 

Gail slept out the back. She dragged bits of molten steel from the fire, twisted it, 

painted it and made stands for the various surf craft that continued to arrive from 

her suppliers. 

“I had done a lot of work with the Stubbies company through Goodtime and 

various contests I organised. A truck of theirs arrived with $2000 worth of goods 

and no bill. The note read, ‘Here’s a hand. Just sell it and make some money.’ Rip 

Curl never let me down either. It was probably twelve months until I could pay my 

bills but they stood by me.” 

Dart Surf Skis also continued to supply Gail, full knowing that she would be 

in business. Their only question at the time was, ‘Where do you want them 

delivered?’ Free Flight Surfboards did the exact same thing. 

She got a permit to continue selling on what was then deemed a demolition site 

providing she wore a hard-hat and boots. In true Gail style, she went out straight 

STEPPING STONES: From the factory (top) to the Gold Coast and Brisbane stores 

(middle), through to supporting local surfing events (bottom) Gail immersed 

herself in every part of the Goodtime business and the local surfing world. 


away, got what she needed and got back to business with cranes, demountable 

sheds and tents making up the new look Goodtime. 

As for security, her means of protecting her wares from local villians was to pay 

them a visit with her trusty shotgun at the drinking establishments around the 

Gabba to inform them of their plight if they dared steal from her after what she had 

been through. 

No thefts and a few months later, the Goodtime store was back again, better 

than ever, but not long after Gail and Brian decided to split the business, with him 

retaining the Gold Coast store and factory, and her the Brisbane business. 

THE CHARACTERS 

Over the years, many notable surf industry identities have made it through the 

doors of Goodtime, among them a few future surf company founders. 

“When I first met Gordon Merchant at the Gold Coast shop he was working for a 

company called Kream. One day he came in selling this marijuana shirt they made. I 

suggested he should have a beach pant as well. I provided him with some patterns 

for the pant I had sourced from my former business in London. Next minute, Gordon 

started Billabong and we became their number one account. 

ICONIC GOLD COAST SURF BUSINESS FOR SALE 

“We were also the first to stock Quiksilver in Queensland. A little while later a 

young man came into my shop who also had a clothing label called Quiksilver. He 

came in with these incredible clothes and I said to him, ‘I love your clothes but you 

can’t use the name Quiksilver. Someone already owns that name in Melbourne.’ 

“I ended up phoning Allan Green (one of Quiksilver’s founders) whilst this guy 

was in the store. Allan agreed to pay him to re-register his name. That guy drove 

back to his home in Taree and on his return saw a tuna boat returning from the 

sea and thought ‘Hot Tuna… that’s what I will call my clothing line. 

“Another interesting person was Dare (Jennings) from Mambo. I used to go to 

Sydney a fair bit and I used to buy the Phantom t-shirts from Dare in Darlinghurst. 

One time I went in and he said, ‘Gail I have got these surf clothes I am designing.’ I 

saw them and said, ‘Mate this is a winner. Let’s have it.’ I ordered it straight away 

but Dare had a bit of trouble selling it to other stores in the beginning. It was at 

a time when that sort of clothing wasn’t really acceptable, not just in the fashion 

industry but in the surfing industry as well because it was taking to a different level. 

“So for me, the growth of the clothing side of the business, was due to the fact I 

had an eye for it. I wouldn’t have made any money otherwise. 

THE FUTURE 

Gail Austen is undeniably a powerhouse and one hell of an amazing woman. 

At the age of sixty-six she is still going strong. She is still in charge of what is 

reputed to be Australia’s longest running surf store. She has seen thirty-four 

competitors come and go, many of whom are still big in the surf industry today. 

So what does the future hold? This is best left said by Gail herself. 

“Until a year ago I worked seven days a week. I tried five days for around four 

months but after I had fixed everything around the home I was bored. I am back 

working six days a week now. The excitement of business, the fun I have and the 

challenges I face are stimulating and keep me young and on the ball. “ 

THE MODERN MARKETPLACE 

With these 40 years of experience in mind, we were keen to get some of Gail’s 

insight into business and the surf industry as it stands today. 

GAIL ON BUSINESS 

“I have been ridiculed countless times in the surf industry as the iron lady who 

runs the supermarket of surfing, I have heard it so many times, I no longer care. I 

always thought to myself, ‘We only have a population of this much in South East 

Queensland and you want me to restrict my market to just surfboards? Never 

gonna happen mate! From a business perspective it is just not possible.’ 

“Product is the most important thing you can have in any business. The product 

is what that customer buys, what he walks down the street with, what he uses. 

Everything that happens going forward relies on that product. It’s got to be good, 

it’s got to be serviceable, it’s got to be backed up and it has got to do what you 

say it’s going to do. 

More than a surf shop, Duke’s is a lifestyle! 

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“Once you have product then its service and price. Price is at the end of the road. 

The last thing you sell is price. 

“When you look at the development of every aspect of this business, from surfing 

to skateboarding and windsurfing and so on… everything I am involved in, I 

personally went out and did it. 

“We also focus on the beginners in each of the sports. More than any other shop 

we welcome beginners. In many Gold Coast stores, if you didn’t know the lingo, 

you weren’t made to feel very welcome.” 

GAIL ON IMPORTS 

“People have to be more welcoming of competition. China is just another 

competitor. I have been in business all my life and competition is something I 

thrive on, the more competition the better. 

“I recognised very early in the piece what was going to happen in relation to 

Chinese imports. I thought I have to support a local shaper, produce an Australian 

made surfboard but at a price affordable for entry-level surfers. We developed 

a surfboard line called Boost Surfboards. It’s not necessarily profitable but it 

introduces kids and beginners to surfing. 

“Blackrock is our intermediate level and as surfers advance they buy better 

equipment and our margins increase. All in all, we produce an Australian 

product, hand shaped in a modern style that you can go back to the store if 

something is wrong. There is a backup service. 

“The reality is, I do an enormous amount of business with people who choose to 

buy cheap and inferior products first. China has introduced people to surfing that 

never before thought about it. We have to accept there is a stepping process, 

that as people become informed and develop their surfing skills, they will be 

looking for a superior product. 

“We have to accept we are not going to win all the wars. We won’t win all price 

wars. People will inevitably learn from what they buy and it is part of the education 

process. The worst thing you can do is rubbish the competition. Strength, durability 

and performance do not come cheaply. People will inevitably wake up to this fact 

just as they have with bikes, canoes, cars, hardware tools…” 

HELPING OTHERS 

“When I do something, I always look to see if I can help someone else. You might 

as well make it worthwhile. I want to see more benefit than just the person 

sitting in front of me. That’s why in any event I run, I will make sure a charity 

benefits from it. I have learnt that in life from a very young age. 

“A person like me will be disliked more than loved because when I run things, 

I run them properly. For that fact, I am bound to rub people the wrong way. 

Therefore I have always made a point if I am going to do something, someone’s 

going to get the benefit from it. It allows me to get past the BS and feel better 

within myself. So when someone goes crook at me for the way I ran something, I 

can say, well I wasn’t doing it for you, I was doing it for them.” 

SHINING MOMENTS 

Finally, we asked Gail about what she considered to be her greatest achievements. 

“I was instrumental in setting up a number of Brisbane’s skate parks. I 

recognised no one was helping set up skate parks for the kids. I was selling 

plenty of skateboards so I decided to do something about it.” 

“I created the Australian Women’s Surfing Association and went all around the 

country getting women to join. Women’s surfing in Australia had gone backwards 

since Phyllis O’Donnell was world champion and I decided to do something about 

it. I said to Pam Burridge, who was was only twelve at the time but an upcoming 

superstar, ‘When Australia has a female world champion I will retire.’ Pam went 

on to become the world champion and I didn’t have to run it anymore. 

“I started the Brisbane Surf Riders Association to counter all that ‘Brissos go home’ 

nonsense. I recognised Brisbane surfers had to get better so they would be accepted 

when they ventured down to the Gold Coast. We ran our contests on Stradbroke 

Island, away from the crowds in those days, so we could get the standard up. 

“I also ran the biggest canoeing event in QLD for twenty-five years. 

“I did these things because I could see they were needed. That’s my nature. I am 

not trying to be a hero. It’s just that if I see a need for something, it’s automatic. I 

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47

DEBATE: STAND UP 



STAND UP 

FOR YOUR 

RIGHTS 

Get up, stand up! Stand up for your rights! 

Come’on people now! 

Oh, if only Bob Marley knew the hardships of the 

world today, particularly the plight of SUPs. But are 

these ‘street-sweepers-of-the-sea’, as they are so 

affectionately referred to by their shortboard brethren, 

genuine members of the surf fraternity or not? 

WORDS BY DAVE SWAN | PHOTOS BY MICHAEL DAWES 


49

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There definitely seems to be a 

growing acceptance of stand-up 

paddle surfing within mainstream 

surf culture. No longer is there as 

much of an ‘us and them’ mentality. 

Master watermen such as Tom 

Carroll, Gerry Lopez and Laird 

Hamilton have no doubt given the 

sport added credibility. 

We talk with a number of people 

within the industry about the rapid 

rise in popularity of SUPs along with 

the associated pros and cons. But 

first, why this harmonious acceptance 

of SUPs? Are they real surfers or just 

mopping a spill in aisle seven? 

PETER JAPP 

Eastcoast Stand Up Paddle, 

Barden Ridge 

“Well there has always been a bit of a 

difference between shortboarders and 

longboarders. Now we have the SUPs. 

“SUP at this stage are kinda down the food 

chain but that is rapidly changing with the 

focus on high performance. The boards have 

come down in size to near the 8ft mark. 

Now you basically have guys who were on 

shortboards doing stand-up.” 

By which Peter is no doubt referring to 

paddling and not comedy, but I guess that 

depends on the skill of the rider. 

JONATHAN STUBBS 

Bluewater Players, Noosa 

“Yeah, it’s totally changed. Aside from the 

devotees of stand-up there was perhaps 

a stigma initially attached to it. Certain 

people wouldn’t come into our store 

because we only did SUPs. But that’s 

changed for one because we don’t get 

swell up here on a regular basis. Plus you 

have guys getting a little older who aren’t 

getting as many waves as they used to. 

And once they have had a try and can see 

it is not that easy (doing what we do in 

the surf) they turn around and say, ‘I have 

respect for you guys now.’ 

Full-on, hardcore surfers such as Tommy 

and Nick Carroll have also broken 

down the barriers by taking up paddles 

themselves and giving it a go. 

“BETTER STILL, YOU CAN LEARN ON FLAT 

WATER. YOU COULD NEVER DO THAT ON 

A NORMAL SURFBOARD.” 

LUKE MEYERS 

SHQ, Sandringham 

“These guys are making it gain acceptance. 

When you see Tommy Carrol in a recent shot 

pulling into a really nice wave, leaning on his 

paddle and getting barreled, I think surfers 

can see the performance aspect of the sport. 

“It is pretty hardcore surfing with such a large 

heavy board, taking off on some of the waves 

they choose to. Doing what they are doing on 

a wave gives it a lot of credibility.” 

Fair point there boys. I have seen some pretty 

amazing SUP surfing shots myself and I have 

nothing but respect for what some people are 

doing on a wave. Check out Haley Fiske at 


Mavericks for those still unimpressed. 

So what else is fuelling the rapid rise 

in popularity? 

TULLY ST JOHN 

Noosa Surf Works, Noosa 

“I think everyone can now see the 

fitness benefits associated with 

stand-up, from kids through to the 

older crew. Plus it’s a new challenge 

for surfers who have been surfing a 

long time.” 

JONATHAN: “Paddling every day keeps 

you fit and helps your core strength, 

which in turn is great for your surfing.” 

PETER: “The fitness aspect of SUP 

is beneficial to your wellbeing plus 

it’s a sport that young kids, mothers, 

fathers and whole families can do 

together.” 

TULLY: “Those who haven’t surfed 

before, can feel the stoke of getting 

onto a wave in a pretty short amount 

of time. It’s opening up a new easy 

way to enjoy what we surfers have 

been enjoying for a long time.” 

PETER: “Better still you can learn on 

flat water. You could never do that on 

a normal surfboard. You would need a 

wave. With SUPs you can learn your 

basic skills on flat water or small chop.” 

I must admit a few of the guys who 

have taken up SUPs over the last 

few months have certainly dropped 

some kgs and have commented how 

much fitter they feel and stronger in 

the surf. 

So SUPing can make you ‘tooyight 

like a tin drum’ (apologies for my 

lame reference to the Austin Powers 

movie Goldmember) but what about 

the downside of such a rapid rise in 

popularity? 

SCOTT PENWARN 

Greenline, Mermaid Beach 

“It’s a matter of etiquette. I guess 

some people get out there, whether it 

be on a shortboard, longboard or SUP 

and try to take every wave. They’re 

not really considering other people. 

“If you do that on a SUP, you are going 

to cop it because you are so visible. 

“Regardless of what craft you are 

on, it’s the clown who doesn’t ‘give 

a rats’ and drops in or circles around 

everyone to snake them, who are the 

real problem.” 

LUKE: “I think we are starting to 

break down the barriers between 

SUPs and other surfers but that all 

comes back to respect. Where it’s 

working is where everyone is obeying 


51


“WHERE IT’S 

WORKING IS 

WHERE EVERYONE 

IS OBEYING THE 

RULES OF THE SURF 

REGARDLESS OF 

WHAT SURF CRAFT 

YOU ARE ON.” 



the rules of the surf regardless of what surf craft 

you are on. 

“And I do think it’s about sharing when you are out 

there. You may come across certain breaks where 

you know you could catch every wave on the SUP but 

you want to make friends out there and have a chat. 

“So it is important to let a few waves go, especially 

when you first get out the back to show the other 

guys in the water you are not going to hog every 

wave. You have to show etiquette. “ 

JONATHAN: “There are a lot of people out there 

who should spend a little bit more time on the flat 

water and learn some skills. When I was learning, a 

mate said I should do heaps of flat water paddling, 

so I did. I learnt my skills and didn’t downsize too 

quickly. I went from an 11 ft board down to a 10”2, 

to a 9 “8, to a 9”6 and now I am on an 8”6.” 

PETER: “Beginners have to find a place to learn and 

not just go straight out into the line-up and get in 

everyone’s way.” 

SCOTT: “SUPs in inexperienced hands in crowded 

line-ups are dangerous. A lot of beginners are on 11 

and 12 ft boards and they don’t know what they are 

doing. Some have never surfed in their life and go 

straight into the line-up. 

“Even on a small day it is dodgy. You go out on an 11 

ft board with a 10 ft leg rope and you have a pretty 

wide circumference where you can take people out. 

“It is our responsibility to educate people as they 

are walking out the door with these boards. What 

we don’t want to see is what has happened at a few 

Californian beaches were SUPs have designated 

‘no-go zones’. 

“They have basically been banned from certain 

breaks because people have not respected the rules 

of the surf.” 

With regard to educating riders, all gentlemen 

agree on this point and each of their respective 

businesses offer lessons, or are affiliated with 

coaches who teach the basic skills of stand-up 

paddling and surf etiquette. 

But how many hours should you clock up in still 

water before you tackle the surf? 

JONATHAN: “Everyone develops at a different rate 

but generally speaking, at least a month of going at 

least three days a week. 

LUKE: “People in particular need to learn how to 

do ‘kick turns’ in the water. Turning and paddle 

technique are important. You need to do all that 

before you think about venturing into the surf. You 

have to know your own ability.” 

Kick turns heh? So beware all you shortboarders out 

there, the SUPs are now learning Karate. 

LUKE: “From there it’s about finding suitable breaks 

away from crowds. Sometimes it means a lesser 

wave but you are not competing with heaps of other 

surfers and are giving yourself time to develop.” 

And as for the future? 

PETER: “Stand-up paddling is not just for the surf. 

You have flat water, rivers, lakes… there are guys 

even riding rapids overseas. With surf breaks getting 

so crowded more and more people are looking to get 

away from it all. I think In Australia we will see a lot 

more flat water and open ocean events.” 

TULLY: “The open ocean side of things is a whole 

other aspect to stand-up paddling. When you are 

a kilometre out to sea and beyond the shark nets, 

running the swells along the coast and using the 

energy of the ocean to generate some speed, there 

is nothing like it. You only have to see the Molokai 

challenge to get an appreciation for what I am 

talking about.” 

The 52 kilometre paddleboard crossing of the 

Molokai (Ka’iwi) Channel is considered the most 

brutal physical and mental challenge in the world 

for waterman. The race between Hawaii’s two major 

islands starts at Kaluakoi on the west end of Molokai 

island, across the Ka’iwi Channel to a finish line at 

Oahu’s Maunaloa Bay. The best do it in just under 

five hours. The Gold Coast’s Jamie Mitchell has won 

the race a staggering nine times straight. 

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53 

1-3 page shq.indd 1 17/10/10 10:34 PM



“YOU CAN PUT 

YOUR SIX- 

YEAR OLD KID 

ON THE FRONT 

OF YOUR 

BOARD... OR 

YOUR DOG” 

LUKE: “The flat water aspect of SUPs is really 

the growth area. 

“You look at a company like Naish and they 

are so heavily focused on the still water side. 

In Europe, they’re touring around the canals of 

Amsterdam and Venice. 

“The people like myself who are riding an 

8’6 SUP are pretty small in numbers within 

Australia. People are looking for boards they 

will predominantly paddle in flat water and 

occasionally take out into the surf. 

“In many ways it is a lot like windsurfing in the 

early eighties. One in every three households 

in Europe had a windsurfer and used it for 

predominantly still water. 

“Now SUPs have the potential to be bigger than 

windsurfing was. That will only happen if it is 

something the family can do, that you can put 

your six-year old kid on the front of your board... 

or your dog.” (laughs) 

How about future board design? 

JONATHAN: “The boards have evolved so 

much even in the last 12 months. Simon 

Anderson is doing his Fibre Flex board. Tully is 

one of the leaders in design and manufacturing 

and is producing some amazing boards. “ 

SCOTT: “Yeah, Simon Anderson’s Fibre Flex and 

Chris Garrett’s Step-Deck SUP are ones to note.” 

LUKE: “There were a lot of companies on the 

market experimenting with different designs. 

“What we have found, is it’s now coming back 

to what works. We tend to find that about 30 

inches wide is a magic number. In the sense it 

is a good width for stability but still good for 

surfing performance. Anything wider tends not 

to have the surfing performance and narrower is 

more suited to surfers in the 50 to 60 kg range. 

That is a rough indicator.” 


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Finally, at this point I must confess I have not yet ventured to the ‘dark side’. 

I am alone in the office for not having tried it. 

I have nothing against SUPs, even despite my name-calling throughout this article. 

I don’t really mean it, they are purely friendly terms of endearment, like referring to 

longboarders as long-planker-wankers or alaias as the ironing-boards of the ocean 

- and I ride both anyway. 

The fact is, I just haven’t had the opportunity yet. But I am as keen as. The 

various appeals of stand-up mentioned in this article, resonate with me. 

Smorgasboarder is about our love for all manner of surf craft. I love longboards, 

shortboards, fishes, alaias… you name it, I’m happy to ride it - different boards 

for different conditions. Stand up is just another good reason to get wet. 

Long live the janitors-of-the-sea. 


55


Mark Pridmore pushing son Cain onto waves Photo: Supplied 

PASS THE TORCH 

We’ve been led to believe by stereotype that parents are supposed to get old and 

out of touch with their kids, complaining how life was better back in their day, 

while teenagers in heavy eyeliner (or guyliner) sulk and disconnect themselves from 

anything to do with family life, staying locked up in their room, smoking cigarettes 

and listening to satanic heavy metal... 

There’s a funny thing about stereotypes though - they fortunately and most certainly 

don’t have to be true to life. While some family units may well follow this sitcomlike 

path, families with a close connection to the water often seem to do the exact 

opposite and form even deeper and more meaningful bonds in the surf. 

We talk to four very different fathers and sons about their relationships and find out 

how surfing together has influenced their lives. 


“I GET MORE STOKED 

WHEN I SEE CAIN GET A 

GOOD WAVE THEN I DO, 

THAT’S FOR SURE.” 

Photo: J.Bitton 

MARK & CAIN PRIDMORE 

Yamba-based surfboard manufacturer, Mark Pridmore 

seems to have passed on his love of surfcraft to the 

next generation, with his son Cain getting involved 

with the family business from an early age. 

Dad started it... 

I started shaping when I was about 15, (now 37) but 

it was an ‘on again, off again’ thing. I would reshape 

foam from old boards and any bits of old foam or 

shitty blanks I could get. I’d learn and have fun riding 

them. I was also spraying these and skateboard 

decks for myself and mates, which led to a job 

spraying boards at Wave-Zone Surfboards, who also 

sponsored me at the time. 

These days, I’m working on my own label - More 

Surfboards - and still doing some of the sprays. But 

my son Cain (12) is doing a lot of the artwork and 

colours on my shapes now. It started when I saw a 

few of his sketches about 2½ years ago and thought 

that he should put some of that onto one of my 

boards. It’s just grown from there. 

Art wins awards 

Cain recently won the school aged division of a 

surfboard art exhibition held by the Gold Coast Surf 

World - a really cool event brought together shapers 

and artists, a real celebration of creativity and 

surfboards. 

Are the kids avid surfers? 

Yeah, they love the beach and enjoy the waves. I 

think it has to be one of the best things: to be able 

to share the fun of surfing with your kids. I get more 

stoked when I see Cain get a good wave then I do, 

thats for sure. 

Future plans for Cain’s artwork 

Cain can do whatever he wants with his artwork, 

I am just supplying him with some opportunities 

and hopefully skills for the future. He has plenty of 

ability and the more he does, the more that ability 

can blossom. 

Is he keen to also get involved in shaping? 

Cain has shaped 3 or 4 boards with my help, but he 

is becoming more and more competent. He has a 

good knowledge of design. I doubt there’d be too 

many 12-year-olds who know as much. 

The reaction so far 

Some guys have been requesting Cain do their 

artwork, others are wary of a young kid being let 

loose with paints and posca pens on their new sled. 

And other customers genuinely don’t believe me 

when I say my son did that spray, until I show ‘em 

some pics. 

Kids are so capable and they learn so quickly - just 

gotta give ‘em the chance. They have a different 

perspective on things and haven’t been corrupted 

and polluted by marketing and image. It’s more 

innocent and just fun... which suits surfing and what 

I am all about. 

Above: Cain and sister Sirrah (7) with the start of the ‘Pool 

table fish’ that won Cain his art award. 

Below: Proud dad with Cain’s artwork on More Surfboards 


57


LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON: DYLAN & JOHN SHARING WAVES AND STYLE IN BALI 


Almost twins: Dylan (left) and John (right)

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JOHN & DYLAN REID 

Now at home on the Northern Beaches of Sydney, the South African-born Reid 

boys spend plenty of bonding time in the water along the NSW coastline and 

overseas. We got both sides of the story on surfing and spending time together. 

Who got you into surfing, and was there any family influence? 

John: My mates got me into surfing at Nahoon Reef in East London, South Africa 

but no family influence – only bought my first surfboard at 18 years of age. 

Dylan: My whole family were born and bred on the coast, so it was only natural 

for surfing to fall into the picture. My dad got me into surf lessons with a friend of 

ours we called “Lazy Leonard”. He taught me all the ins and outs of surfing. 

Do you remember the first time Dylan was on a surfboard? 

John: Yip. He was seven years old. I spent hours pushing him onto waves. As 

I’m sure many fathers find out, if they fall off at that stage it’s all your fault for 

pushing them onto the wrong wave. I’m still pushing him but now it’s out of bed. 

Dylan: I initially started out body-boarding at a really young age until dad decided 

to send me to surf lessons at seven, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I remember Dad 

pushing me onto waves at St Francis Bay for hours and hours. 

Do you two get to surf together much; who’s teaching who the tricks? 

John: Yes. Mainly weekends, and all holidays are spent at Crescent Head. Tricks? 

No one can teach a 17 year old anything, let alone tricks! 

Dylan: Dad and I surf together regularly on the weekend, but I am often driving 

up the coast with my mate Willis, looking for a good break. 

They say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks but you can teach a new dog old 

tricks, which is very true, because the old dog is still yet to learn how to duck 

dive. Dad is often seen turning turtle on his shortboard! 

Do you think that surfing together has strengthened your relationship? 

John: Yes, it’s something we are always planning or discussing. Early mornings 

are the best, although it is always a battle to get Dylan out of bed. 

Dylan: Surfing has somewhat strengthened our relationship, but more so, I think 

that it has created a new source of competition and rivalry. 

Do you see it as something you’ll continue doing? 

John: Yes, and I’m counting, I have 16 summers left until I turn 70 so if I do drop 

in on Dylan it’s because I’m running out of time and waves! 

Dylan: I think surfing is something I will continually be doing throughout my life 

until I become an old sun-bleached prune, but until then I will be enjoying every 

second of it. 

What is the most special thing about your time together surfing? 

John: When Dylan finally admits it was worth getting up early, and then 

breakfast and coffee after a good surf. 

Dylan: The most special time together surfing with my dad would probably have 

to be that moment when I know I’ve just made it under a clean out set and look 

back to see my dad turning turtle and copping the grunt of the wave on the head. 

Karma always seems to come back and bite me though. 

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Memorabilia, clothing, accessories and surfboards. 

Photo: Grant Molony 

Graeme & Brenda Howard 

148 Thompson Ave/PO Box 554, Cowes Phillip Island 3922 

Ph/Fax (03) 5995 1659 Mob 0411 701 428 

Email pip@waterfront.net.au 

For something a little different 

Southcoast Surfboards, Gato Heroi, Bing, Dick Van Straalen 

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RUSS & ZANE MOLONY 

One of four brothers, Russ Molony of North Entrance on the NSW Central Coast 

is a carpenter by trade and a part time WQS surfer. Having become addicted 

to surfing at five years of age, he never looked back. Now he’s enjoying the 

opportunity to pass it all on to his five-year-old boy, Zane. 

Early days... 

My older brothers surfed, so they got me out there on my blue foamy and 

pushed me into a few. There was a big crew of grommets that all learned on 

the same wave. The Cove at Bateau Bay was learner’s heaven. Equipment 

these days for learner’s is so much easier and faster. Great news for beginners. 

I went in my first competition when I was 14 in a schoolboys event. I recently 

returned home from the European leg of the WQS where I equalled my best pro 

result - 5 th place in the 5 Star Relentless Boardmasters in Newquay England. It 

still doesn’t compare to coming home and getting pumping waves though. The 

last couple of weeks have been all time! 

Zane’s introduction to surfing 

5/21 Clarence Street, Port Macquarie Ph/Fax (02) 6584 1995 or 0416 226 774 

More online... 

www.sandyfeetsurf.com.au 

Zane wanted to surf last summer so I got him out in front of our place. He 

actually got up first go and rode it for a few seconds. He surprised me in how 

good his balance was for a 4-year-old. He’s actually still learning to swim, so 

he wears a life jacket and we find a nice shallow bank. Even when it’s freezing 

cold he’s keen to hit the waves so I think he’s hooked. Zane has saltwater in his 

veins, so the future’s at his feet. 

Passing it on 

Spending quality time with Zane teaching him about life and the world is the 

most important part of a good father-son relationship. I cherish every second 

of our time together. Passing on surfing and the knowledge of the ocean is just 

a bonus. 

In Zane’s words 

I asked Zane if he wanted to add anything. His reply: “I surf heaps better then 

my Dad. Tell them that”. 

Russ says in parting: “I’d like to thank Rex Marechal at RMS Surfboards for 

shaping some sick shred sticks. Filtrate Eyewear for their cool shades and all 

the Molony tribe for ruling.” 



Russ doing some close inspection of the face 


“I SURF HEAPS BETTER THEN MY DAD. TELL THEM THAT” ZANE MOLONY, 5 



61

Photo: Supplied 


“HUMILITY AND 

RESPECT FOR OTHER 

PEOPLE. AND JUST 

TO ENJOY LIFE” 

Tully St. John on the most important 

lesson learned from dad, Mike. 


MIKE & TULLY ST. JOHN 

Noosa Surf Works is a well known and well respected business, just as the 

St. John name is well respected for the surfboards they produce. In a world 

where the average person stays in a job for only a few years, finding someone 

continuing on in a family business, and building on the family name and 

legacy is truly a rarity. 

It all started back in the early 50’s, when Mike’s interest in surfing was ignited 

by his father’s water time on a huge cedar board, which led to him becoming 

one of the local surf kids in Sydney’s eastern beaches. 

“We lived on the beach. It was just part of our lifestyle. It was different in 

those days. There wasn’t any surf school, boardriders club or competitions, 

nothing like that. Surfing was just something we did in between playing 

cricket, football and swimming.” 

“We were active kids and surfing was just something that a few people 

did. We all knew each other around the area. Us kids used to drag the 16 ft 

toothpicks from the surf clubs. When the guys were at work Monday to Friday, 

we used to wag school and go down the surf club.” 

Being in that environment, it was inevitable one of the mates had to try their 

hand at working on the boards. 

“For us kids to carry a balsa board around, from Tamarama to Bondi, was a 

long, long way, so as the boards started falling apart we would strip them 

down, cut them down and reglass them smaller…” 

From the early beginnings, Mike found himself following a career in the 

surfboard industry, working for various shapers and finally founding his own 

business. With the arrival of son, Tully, the stage was set for introducing the 

craft and the business to the next generation, despite any reservations Mike 

may have had. 

“I’ve been around it since I was born, basically.” Tully tells us. “Swept floors, 

mucked around in the factory, just waiting for dad to finish work when I was a 

little kid. I just watched how the boards got made from early on.” 

“When I was about 12 years old I first did some work on a surfboard. It wasn’t 

really something I was interested in. It was just what Dad had done.” 

But despite learning the ropes in board repair as a teenager, Tully decided 

to look outside of the family business, doing an apprenticeship as a chef 

from the age of 15. After completing the apprenticeship, Tully got back into 

surfboards. 

“But you can’t say I encouraged you. Quite the opposite in fact”, says Mike. “I 

didn’t want him to do that at all. I thought it’d be a good idea to do something 

else. Anything else.” 

But who listens to their parent at 18? “Being a young surfer, I always had a 

burning ambition to shape a board for myself one day.” 

His time as a chef, however, is not something he regrets doing. “That taught 

me what it would take to become a good craftsman. To take it step by step 

and not just try and jump to the conclusion before you’d learned the basics 

and gone back to traditional methods that had been used. It also taught me 

organisation and people skills which has helped me in business today.” 

“I reckon I did 10 years before I even considered myself to be anywhere near 

qualified to shape boards. I did everything from glassing, sanding, finning of 

boards, restorations on old boards to get my eye in, and then endless hours of 

just watching other shapers hand shaping boards to get a good basis.” 

And a good basis it is, with a huge variety of shapes and designs produced by 

Tully at the Noosa Surf Works business. 

These days, the apprentice has long since become the master and the 

handover has allowed Mike to take a back seat. “These days Tully runs it. He’s 

the boss, I just do whatever he wants me to do, from vacuuming up to helping 

out. I’m just here at the beck and call of the boss (laughs)” 


63

TRAVEL: ROAD TRIP 

Photo: RAYCOLLINSPHOTO.COM 


THE 

GONG 

AND BEYOND 

OFTEN MALIGNED AS NOTHING MORE THAN AN INDUSTRIAL CITY, 

SUCH MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT WOLLONGONG ARE QUICKLY 

DISPELLED WHEN EXPLORING THE STUNNING COASTLINE 

STRETCHING FROM STANWELL TOPS DOWN TO SEVEN MILE BEACH 

IN GERROA IN SEARCH OF SOME SOUTH COAST MAGIC. 



65

Shellharbour Photo: Steev S www.flickr.com/eonns 

North Beach Photo: Supplied 


North Kiosk at North Beach Photo: DS 

WELCOME 

TO THE ILLAWARRA 

Ohhh... The Gong. Gotta go The Gong. The place 

sounds so cool. In fact, it is cool. But we are talking 

about more than just Wollongong. Our exploration 

goes all the way beyond the city and to the outer 

limits of the Illawarra. 

The region’s beautiful beaches and stunning coastal 

scenery have so much to offer. In terms of waves, 

there are countless surf spots of varying descriptions 

to speak of, right the way along the coast. 

Surfing the north around Coal Cliff you will find 

yourself sandwiched between the Pacific Ocean 

and the cliffs of the Illawarra escarpment, which 

drop precipitously to the sea. It is one of the most 

dramatic backdrops any surfer could experience. 

Then you have the world-class break at Sandon 

Point. On its day, it can easily hold 8ft to 15ft plus 

and is not for the faint-hearted. It’s a beast of a wave 

complete with freefall takeoff and grinding barrels. 

If you’re a big-wave maniac, there’s more action 

further south at Windang Island in Shellharbour . 

For a somewhat cruisier, mellower wave there’s 

the famous Killalea State Forest, home to The Farm 

and Mystics. And further south in Gerroa, you have 

arguably the best learn-to-surf wave on the east 

coast at Seven Mile Beach. 

Ahh the variety. Ahh the serenity. The Illawarra has 

the goods to make any surfer salivate. 

The beauty of this job is that you get to see some 

absolutely amazing places. But THIS region is just 

nothing short of spectacular. I don’t want to sound 

like a broken record but it is just incredible. Whilst 

here, it’s taken every ounce of strength to get 

through my work because all I wanted to do was 

pull the car over and get in for a surf. It’s absolutely 

stunning. If there were ever a place I would pick 

up and move the family from the Sunshine Coast, 

this quite possibly would be it. That’s how highly 

I rate the place. You’re an hour from Sydney; the 

world’s most beautiful city, you have the ocean, the 

highlands for hiking, you’re a stones throw from 

Kangaroo Valley, further south is Jervis Bay… the 

appeal of the place goes on and on. 

But truth be told, I will be the first to admit I thought 

the place was nothing more than an industrial town. 

It’s what a friend had told me many years ago and 

as such, I had taken it as gospel. You can imagine 

my shock when I eventually ventured there myself. I 

didn’t know what he was on about. Maybe time had 

changed things? One thing is for sure, in my opinion, 

the area is a top east coast surf spot with an endless 

array of natural beauty and great surf breaks. 


THE 

GONG 

AND BEYOND 

South Beach Wollongong, looking towards Port Kembla Photo: Richard Higgins www.flickr.com/photos/24364979@N00/ 

Austinmer Pool Photo: Supplied 

Shellharbour morning Photo: Keith LBG 

“A TOP 

EAST COAST 

SURF SPOT 

WITH GREAT 

WAVES” 

Scarborough Hotel Photo: DS 


67


Kiama sunrise Photo: Kiama Tourism 

Looking over seven Mile Beach Photo: DS 

Werri Beach Sunrise Photo: Kent Ladkin 

Somewhere near Windang Photo: Lainey Brown laineybrown.carbonmade.com 

WHERE 

IS THE ILLAWARRA EXACTLY? 

The Illawarra is a coastal region situated 

immediately south of Sydney and north of the 

Shoalhaven, known as the NSW South Coast 

region. It encompasses the cities of Wollongong 

and Shellharbour and the town of Kiama. 

Geography is something that defines the region. 

To the north, the city of Wollongong is never 

more than six kilometers at its widest. The city 

is fringed by mountains, which are the eastern 

edge of the Southern Highlands plateau, that are 

not so much high as steep, and to the east lies 

the Pacific Ocean. 

Wollongong is only 80 kilometers from Sydney 

and around an hour and twenty minutes drive. 

Further south the region widens, and the coastal 

plain becomes increasingly hillier. 

The coastline extends some 100 kilometers from 

the southern hills of the Royal National Park in 

the north to the Shoalhaven River in the south. 

Points and beaches face all matter of directions 

and as such you can usually find a wave 

somewhere on the coastline whether the swell 

direction is coming from the south round to the 

north-east. 


PIT STOPS 

ALONG THE WAY 

FROM THE NORTH 

OTFORD PANTRY, THE APPLE PIE SHOP 

22 Lady Wakehurst Drive Otford 

Sat 9am-5pm, Sun 8am-5pm 

The furthest stop north, just pass Stanwell Tops. It’s only 

open weekends and public holidays so if you’re lucky 

enough to be there on any of these days, go there. A 

coffee and some fresh pie… oh yes. 

THE SCARBOROUGH HOTEL 

383 Lawrence Hargrave Drive, Scarborough 

It’s so good the town was named after it. The pub CAN 

actually lay claim to this fame. Wollongong’s oldest 

premises has been recently renovated and can possibly 

boast the best beer garden I have ever seen on the east 

coast. The views are amazing, the laid back vibe superb 

and it’s family friendly. 

THE HEADLANDS HOTEL 

Headland Ave, Austinmer 

If you like rustic old pubs, with shark teeth above the 

bar, positioned right on a point with views of the surf 

and a wood fire burning - well this one is a pearler. 

Although I highly recommend you have a surf before 

venturing into the pub. The size of the shark jaws is a 

little off-putting if seen prior to a surf. 

IN AND AROUND 

WOLLONGONG 

NORTH KIOSK 

1 Cliff Road North Beach, North Wollongong 

7am to 5pm daily 

The coffee is incredible, food service prompt and very 

affordable. A range of fresh juices and smoothies are 

also available. And you are RIGHT on the beach. The 

perfect early morning pit stop for surfers on the go. 

FIVE ISLANDS BREWING COMPANY 

The fact I have stopped here several times on recent 

trips to The Gong is testament to my love for this venue 

and my love for beer. Is there anything better than a 

local brew house with views over the ocean? A late arvo 

surf at South Beach next to the lightho use and a pint of 

Rust Amber Ale – that’s the best way to finish your day. 

GOING SOUTH 

OCEAN BEACH HOTEL 

2 Addison Street, Shellharbour 

A great spot to relax with a beer after a session at 

Cowries where you can retell your tales of taking off on 

hollow, barreling waves with next to no water below. 

The hotel’s seafood restaurant has also won countless 

South Coast and state best restaurant awards. 

SHORT BLACK 

88 Terralong St, Kiama 

As far as Kiama goes, I haven’t tried anything else bar 

Short Black for breakfast and coffee. When something is 

this good, you fear taking the chance on anything else. 

Over 45 years experience 

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24 Flinders St 

North Wollongong, NSW 2500 


Fax: 02 4229 7594 

AUSTRALIA 

CITY SURF CENTRE 

231 Crown Street, 

Wollongong City, NSW 2500 

Phone: 02 4229 1202 


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69

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So many great surfers and great 

shapers have called, and still call, The 

Gong and it surrounding regions home. 

The list of surfers through the years is 

like a roll call of Australia’s best, guys 

like Ken Middleton, Kevin Parkinson, 

Paul Brooks, Terry Richardson, Robbie 

Page, Brian Cregan and the Byrne 

Brothers - Phil, Dave and Chris - who 

really put Wollongong on the map. 

Then there were the ladies such as 

Sharon Jackson (nee Holland) and 

Sandy Drysden. Later on it was the 

likes of Sandon Point’s Chad Ryan and 

Jake Spooner who carried the flame. 

There’s Mick Lowe of Windang and 

big wave charger, Kate Skarratt - one 

of the first ladies to tackle Hawaii’s 

Pipeline. Today, it’s the new breed 

such as Gerringong’s Todd Prestage 

and Gerroa’s Dean Bowen and Sally 

Fitzgibbons. You also have talented 

free-surfers and big wave chargers 

such as Michael Hopkins and Dylan 

Longbottom. 

On the shaping side of things, John 

Skipp of Skipp Surfboards was pretty 

much the founder of Wollongong’s surf 

scene. First working for Cansdell and 

Jackson Surfboards, he set up Skipp 

Williams Surfboards when Jackson 

decided to focus purely on his Cronulla 

operation. 

As for John, he’s still going strong 

and through the years has employed 

many great shapers such as the late 

Kevin Parkinson and Frank Latta. Also 

working with Skipp were the likes of 

Paul Nichol, Terry Richardson, Phil 

and Dave Byrne, who together with 

brother Chris went on to establish the 

world renowned Byrne Surfboards. 

Byrne have attracted some of the 

most notable pro surfers through the 

years such as Shaun Thompson, Larry 

Bertleman and Tom Carroll along with 

up-and-coming sensation Owen Wright. 

So you can see, from just this very 

brief history, the Illawarra surf scene 

was, and still is, alive and kicking. 

LOCAL SURFBOARD BRANDS 

THROUGH THE YEARS 

• Cansdell and Jackson 

Surfboards founded 1958, 

North Wollongong 

• Skipp Surfboards founded 1963, 

Wollongong 

• South Coast Surfboards 

founded 1972, Sandon Point 

• Mike Davis Surfboards founded 

1975, Kiama 

• Byrne Surfboards founded 

1977, Wollongong 

• Carabine Surfboards founded 


• Terry Richardson Surfboards 


• Crooked River Surfboards 

founded 1978, Gerroa 

FAST FACTS 

Climate: Warm summers and 

mild winters mean that the area’s 

wide range of outdoor recreational 

activities can be enjoyed all 

year round. Maximum average 

temperatures range from 26C in 

summer to 17C in winter. 

Population: The Illawarra region 

has a population of just over 410,000. 

The city of Wollongong accounts 

for almost half of it and is in fact 

the tenth largest city in Australia, 

the third in New South Wales after 

Sydney and Newcastle. 

Nearest city: Wollongong is just 82 

kilometres south of Sydney 

www.caPeboatworks.com.au 

37-39 Chapman St, Fairy Meadow NSW 2519 Phone: 02 4283 1115 

Photo: Steev S 


Illawarra waves Photo: Kent Ladkin 

THE WAVES 

THE 

GONG 

AND BEYOND 

“Wollongong has a huge range of waves but I mainly 

surf the northern suburbs on a large north-west swell 

and in a northerly wind I go surf Windang Island, which 

is possibly one of the best quality waves we have 

here when it’s working on the low tide. It breaks really 

big on the southside. But it is hard to leave Sandon 

(Point) when I can just walk down the road. I have been 

surfing here for some forty something years. It’s a pretty 

challenging wave and works best in a big southerly 

swell. It’s probably best at double overhead and it 

breaks though on almost any type of swell. On a north 

swell, when it is big, it is nearly a full-on Hawaiian sort 

of wave - triple overhead, challenging and very hollow. 

Peggies also works in these kind of conditions, which 

is a fun Queensland-like wave. I can also surf the left 

hand side of Sandon on my funboard. It’s a fat wave.” 

Paul Nichol - Paul Nichol Shapes 

“Sandon (Point) is a reasonably good wave. It is 

probably the best point break in the area. Windang 

Island is good when the swell is on. Most of the 

good surf spots in this area are reef breaks. The Farm 

however is a good place for longboard riders and it’s a 

pretty spot.” 

Phil Byrne - Byrne Surf & Ski 

“Sandon Point and Woonona would be internationally 

known. Belambi Point is the most popular spot for mals. 

South Beach in Woolongong is crowded but can carry a 

good wave. The Farm is one of the most popular places 

with good reason. It’s a unique place, where in the 

water you can’t see human habitation.” 

John Skipp - Skipp Surfboards 

“Having surfed nearly every spot from Stanny (Stanwell 

Park) to Merimbula, there are so many good waves 

around, it would have to be one of the best stretches in 

Oz. There are still plenty of secret spots and ones that 

are still pretty untouched. 

“People in and out of water are unreal. In each area 

everyone kind of knows everyone and generally there 

is a good vibe. Maybe some people would argue, 

especially when I was in the water… hehe… but it’s 

all about respect. I’d never hassle the older experienced 

crew, therefore the younger crew shouldn’t either. I 

hope that attitude carries on.” 

Daz Longbottom - Zink Surf 

“We have one of the best beginner beaches around 

at Gerroa. The bombie off the point is pretty nuts but 

definitely not for the faint-hearted (we have also heard 

it is one of two major shark breeding grounds on the 

South Coast, so beware) 

“Then there’s Werri Beach with a point break at the 

southern end and the beachies further north are pretty 

good as well. In and around the place there are also a 

couple of good secret spots as well that people can find 

for themselves. I’m not telling you. 

“The area’s appealing because there are all different 

kinds of waves around and we also have a couple of big 

wave spots that hold 8 -10 ft plus.” 

Jade Robinson - DSN Shapes 

WIN 1 OF 2 

TANDEM 

SKYDIVES 

skydive the beach sydney 

are giving away to 2 lucky 

smorgasboader readers a 

mid-week tandem skydive to 

jump over the nsw south coast. 

email 

marketing@skydivethebeach.com 

and tell us your favourite 

south coast surf break. 

include your name, email 

and phone number for your 

chance to win! 

competition closes 3 december, 2010. 

winners will be announced in the january edition. 

prizes cannot be transferred, refunded, 

exchanged or revalidated. 


71


The view form north to south Photo: Jin Han Teng 

THE WAVES 

From Wollongong heading north towards Sydney the Royal National Park 

has over 20 kilometers of coastline. There is plenty to explore for the 

adventurous surfer. The most well known spot, Garie Beach, provides 

consistent waves all year round breaking on sand and rock and can hold 

up to 10ft of swell. Best on a NE-SE swell. NW-SW winds. All tides. 

7 

8 

11 

9 

10 

12 

13 

Take Note... Not all surf spots are mentioned 

here. Our intention is only to provide a basic 

guide to known surf breaks. After all, the best 

part of surf travel is to get off the beaten track 

and find those ‘secret spots’ for yourself. Always 

remember to be respectful of local surfers and 

leave with happy memories and new friends. 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 

STANWELL 

PARK 

Classic beachies 

and classic views of 

Stanwell Tops from 

the water. Not too 

affected by summer 

winds. Good on a 

southerly swell. NE 

swell. NW winds. 

All tides. 

COAL CLIFF 

Great beachies in 

small swells. The 

southern end has 

sandbanks that can 

deliver big, hollow 

barrels breaks left. 

NE-SE swell. SW 

winds. Mid-low tide. 

SCARBOROUGH 

BEACH & 

WOMBARRA 

Scarborough is 

north and Wombarra 

south. Both work 

best in summer. 

Wombarra can be on 

in winter if the banks 

are established. NE- 

SE swell. SW-NW 

winds. All tides. 

COLEDALE 

BEACH 

Average at 

the beach, but 

‘Thommo’s on the 

point at Shark Park 

can be a nasty wave 

that will hurt you, 

breaking left over 

a rocky bottom. 

Prepare to have a 

fun paddle. Best in 

head high+ swell. NE 

swell. NW winds. 

Best low tide. 

HEADLANDS 

Sharkies is up 

from the point 

off the beach and 

Headlands is a heavy 

right, breaking on a 

bloody shallow reef 

bottom. A hell of a 

barrel and fast. Don’t 

visit the pub before 

your surf. That’s 

how the spot got its 

name. Both breaks 

best in mid-tide. E 

swell. W wind. 

AUSTINMER 

BEACH 

Gets crowded in 

summer. Little Austie 

to the north is a 

nice but small right. 

Further down there 

are good beachies. 

NE swell. NW- SW 

wind. Mid-tide best. 

THIRROUL 

Peaky beachies. 

Good learners beach. 

Gets crowded in 

summer. Small right 

at southern end. 

NE-SE swell. NW 

wind. Mid to high 

tide best. 

Sandon Point Photo: Keith LBG 

South Gong Photo: Steev S 


THE 

GONG 

AND BEYOND 

SANDON POINT 

One of The Gong’s 

hotspots, but if you’re not 

experienced, then stay well 

clear. Not for beginners 

or even mediocre surfers. 

All you’ll do is piss off the 

locals. Can get as big as 

8-15 ft. A monster of a 

wave when it’s on so pack 

your brown boardies. SE 

swell. SW wind. Mid to 

low tide. Class. Only small 

easterly swells are okay for 

intermediate surfers. 

PEGGY’S & 

BANZAI 

The northern tip of Bulli 

Beach. A ledge extends 

out to sea. Right-hander 

is Peggy’s. Left-hander 

Banzai. Some say a lesser 

break and more forgiving 

the Sandon. Others 

reckon on its day it is for 

chargers only. NE Swell. 

NW-SW wind. Low tide. 

WOONONA 

Good consistent beachies 

for all surfing standards. 

NE swell. NW-SW wind. 

Mid-low tide. 

BELLAMBI POINT 

Good bommie of the 

point. Can be steep and 

hollow. Bit of a different 

suburb. Lock your car, 

hide your valuables and 

no banjo jokes. SE swell. 

SW wind. All tides. 

TOWRADGI 

Left and right beachies. 

Rarely crowded. Best at 

low tide. NE-SE swell. 

NW-SW wind. All tides. 

NORTH & 

SOUTH BEACH 

Gets crowded but a 

personal favourite. Since 

first visiting Wollongong 

I’ve regularly surfed South 

Beach. I like it despite 

the fact I had the worst 

bluebottle experience 

of my life – 15 of the 

bastards. Very funny, until 

my groin swelled up like a 

golf ball and I could hardly 

move my leg. NE swell. 

SW wind. Mid-low tide. 

WINDANG 

ISLAND 

Near the mouth of Lake 

Illawarra so there are 

plenty of men in grey 

suits around. When it is 

on, is an absolute classic 

big wave spot. Barreling 

long left-hander. NE-SE 

swell. W wind. Mid-low 

tide. 

THe Farm Photo: Steev S 

THe Farm Photo: Steev S 

Shellharbour spray Photo: Steev S www.flickr.com/ 

8 9 10 12 13 14 

11 


73


THE WAVES 

22 

23 

21 

Kiama Harbour looking South to Gerringong Photo: Kiama Tourism 

20 

20 

15 16 17 

19 

21 

23 

COWRIES & 

THE POOL 

Stay away unless you can 

surf like a pro. Handles 

loads of swell. You get 

to check out the bottom 

when you take off – nice! 

Cowries is on the NE tip 

of the harbour. Pool is off 

the… pool, at the southern 

end. NE-SE swell. SW-W 

wind. All tides. 

THE FARM 

Protected from NE winds. 

Peaky beachies. Right 

point at the southern end 

is great. Just a magic 

spot. Popular longboard 

wave. Unfortunately is 

becoming quite crowded 

and the vibe has suffered 

as a consequence. SW 

swell. NW winds. Midhigh 

tides. 

MYSTICS 

Further south round 

the bay from The Farm. 

Holds plenty of swell. 

Numerous secret spots. 

Find them for yourself. 

Not for beginners. SE 

swell. NW wind. Low tide. 

18 

BONEYARD 

Just sounds so inviting. 

Isolated but beautiful. 

Head down the cliffs to 

the rocks. By now you 

have surely worked out 

it is only for really good 

surfers. NE-SE swell. SW 

wind. Mid tide. 

BOMBO BEACH 

Just north of Kiama’s 

town centre. Picks up a 

range of swell. Consistent 

beachies. Good for all 

surfers but can pack a 

punch from time to time. 

SE swell. NW-SW wind. 

All tides. 

20 

THE POOL & 

THE WEDGE 

Rights and lefts either 

side of the famous 

blowhole. Best when it is 

overhead. Serious surfers 

only. E swell. SW wind. 

All tides. 

WERRI BEACH 

South end is Werri Point. 

Great long right-hander. 

Best overhead and above. 

Good surfers only. Decent 

beachies further north. All 

levels. NE swell. NW-SW 

winds. Mid tide. 

22 

BLACK POINT 

North of Seven Mile 

Beach. The bombie can 

go off but for experienced 

surfers only. Check out 

your surrounds. Nice and 

deep around you. Fish 

with teeth live there. 

SE swell. N-NW wind. 

Mid to high tide. 

SEVEN 

MILE BEACH 

Possibly the best learner 

beach in the country. 

Beautiful gentle rolling 

waves and a mecca 

for beginners and 

backpackers alike. SE 

swell. NW winds. Midlow 

tide. 


Photo: Lainey Brown 

Seven Mile Beach Photo: Kent Ladkin 

Bombo Beach Photo: Kiama Tourism 


75


AFTER SURF 

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When you have finished surfing, there is a load 

of other activities to enjoy whilst in the area. 

For starters, the Illawarra Escarpment that 

fringes Wollongong has so many hiking trails 

you could never do the same walk twice. And 

if walking is really your thing, further south 

near Kiama, you can undertake a magnificent 

two-hour hike through spectacular rainforest 

to Minnamurra Falls. Go early in the morning. 

It’s your best chance to beat the crowds and 

see various wildlife including lyre birds and 

wombats. It’s $11 entrance to the park. 

If a flat track is more your style, you can walk, 

run or cycle along Wollongong’s beaches. 

An extensive walk/ bike track extends 10 

kilometers north from the city centre to 

Thirroul, hugging scenic beaches all the way. 

The same track also extends 10 kilometers 

south to Lake Illawarra and Windang. 

To see more beautiful scenery, it’s best to 

explore the region by car. Grand Pacific Drive 

is sensational. The name says it all. The road 

itself stretches from the Royal National Park 

in the north to Shoalhaven in the south. It’s 

a roller-coaster ride through rainforests and 

past seaside villages and amazing coastline. A 

highlight is the Sea Cliff Bridge, an engineering 

marvel that swerves out from the cliffs over 

the ocean. 

Be sure to also make your way to the Bulli 

Pass Lookout (north of Wollongong and on the 

main road to Sydney). Barbecues, picnic tables 

and kiosks are available and the lookout is 

free. The lookout presents an incredible view 

over Wollongong and its beaches. 

More great views can be taken in from Mount 

Kiera Lookout and from Stanwell Tops, a noted 

top hang gliding ‘hangout’ (pardon the pun). 

If these intoxicating views aren’t enough and 

you want to ‘step it up a notch’, then take a 

geezer from 14,000 ft. There are only a handful 

of places you can sky dive over the beach in 

the country. That’s why, if you are up to it, Sky 

Dive the Beach Sydney are the people to talk 

to in Wollongong. You only live once and the 

chance to see such breathtaking natural beauty 

from ‘above it all’ is not to be missed. 

Having sky-dived before, I highly recommend

Photo: Steev S 

Left: A top way to see the scenery with Skydive the Beach. Top left: Kiama’s 

famous blowhole. Top Right: Minnamurra rainforest. Insert: Hangliding is 

another popular way to rise above it all. Above: The Sea Cliff Bridge - an 

amazingly picturesque drive. 

it. The guys at Sky Dive the Beach 

run an extremely professional outfit, 

so you can rest assured, you are in 

good hands. 

I was all set to take the jump when 

I was last down in The Gong and 

was so excited to have a second 

opportunity. Unfortunately the gods 

of weather weren’t smiling on the 

day. We experienced winds over 50 

knots and unless I was keen to take 

a cheap trip to New Zealand, we 

had to reschedule. The guys at Sky 

Dive the Beach were great though. 

They don’t take any second chances 

when it comes people’s personal 

safety and were happy to allow me to 

reschedule a jump some time in the 

next twelve months. 

If the surf is flat and you’re still keen 

to get out on the water, Canoe and 

Kayak Adventures have an extensive 

range of guided and unguided sea 

kayaking adventures. Popular paddles 

include the Royal National Park, 

Headlands at Austinmer (they’ll shout 

you a beer or soft drink at the pub 

afterwards), North and South Beach 

and the Five Islands Wollongong. 

There are also half-day tours of 

the Minnamurra River just south of 

Wollongong. Many group bookings 

receive a complimentary lunch and 

start from $55 per per person. 

Finally, a trip to the area is not 

complete until you visit Kiama’s famous 

Blowhole. In big seas it is at its most 

spectacular and can spray a spout of 

water up to 25 meters skywards. 

NEARBY 

If you’re in the area, take the 

opportunity to drive a bit further 

south to Kangaroo Valley and the 

Southern Highlands. 

You can visit the quaint towns of 

Bowral and Moss Vale and see some 

of the most picturesque natural 

scenery in the country. 


77

78 56 september nov/dec 2010 2010

TOP STAYS 

THE 

GONG 

AND BEYOND 

There is perhaps nothing more relaxing than staying at a beachside bungalow with the family or a group 

of friends. You have your own space, plenty of room to store the boards and can even relax on your own 

deck with a beverage. The beach is walking distance and at night you have your own kitchen facilities to 

cook up a feed. The minute you step foot inside the park grounds your blood pressure drops. 

As far as holiday parks and cabins go, Kiama Coast’s five holiday parks are possibly the best. Beautifully 

positioned and in one of the prettiest stretches of coast on the eastern seaboard. 

KENDALLS ON THE BEACH 

HOLIDAY PARK 

Bonaira St, KIAMA 

KIAMA HARBOUR 

CABINS 

Blowhole Point, KIAMA 

WERRI BEACH 

HOLIDAY PARK 

Pacific Avenue, GERRINGONG 

SURF BEACH 

HOLIDAY PARK 

Bourrool Street, KIAMA 

SEVEN MILE BEACH 

HOLIDAY PARK 

200 Crooked River Rd, GERROA 

If absolute beachfront is what 

you are looking for then this 

is the place for you. Offering 

a choice of luxurious one, two 

or three bedroom cabins plus 

some of the most sought after 

camp sites on the east coast, 

this holiday park provides 

the ultimate fun filled family 

holiday or romantic weekend 

escape. 

Proximity: Right on the 

beachfront and minutes away 

from Kiama’s CBD. 

Patrolled beach. 


E: kendalls@kiamacoast.com.au 

www.kiamacoast.com.au 

From $50-$320 per night 

This award winning holiday 

park offers luxurious one, two 

and three bedroom cabins and 

overlooks the Pacific Ocean and 

gorgeous Kiama Harbour, with 

a backdrop of the mountains. 

It is the ideal location and 

accommodation for those 

seeking an adventure filled 

holiday or a quiet rejuvenating 

getaway. 

Proximity: Opposite patrolled 

beach. Overlooks Kiama 

Harbour and the Pacific Ocean 

Telephone: 02 4232 2707 

E: blowhole@kiamacoast.com.au 


From $195-$340 per night 

Located on a scenic beach 

between two rocky headlands, 

with rock swimming pools 

and a natural lagoon, Werri 

is an ideal spot. Surfers and 

bodyboarders have some of 

the best waves on the South 

Coast, while others can 

enjoy the new resort style 

pool. The park caters for all 

types with beachfront cabin 

accommodation (some with 

spas) as well as powered and 

unpowered sites. 


beach and minutes from 

Gerringong CBD 


E: werri@kiamacoast.com.au 


From $115 to $260 per night 

On the headland overlooking 

Kiama’s main beach, the 

holiday park is ideally located 

for surfers and fishing fans. 

The whole family can enjoy the 

park’s resort style swimming 

pools, games room and the fully 

equipped camp kitchen. There 

are a variety of accommodation 

choices from powered tent 

and caravan sites through to 

22 luxury cabins, each with 

magnificent ocean views. 


beach, with restaurants and 

shops a short stroll away. 


E: surf@kiamacoast.com.au 


From $90 -$135 night 

Discover Gerroa’s only beachside 

holiday park - an award winning 

park with magnificent facilities 

and a range of luxury beachside 

accommodation. The park 

offers first class facilities for all 

budgets with cabins, surf shacks, 

safari tents, en-suite cabins or 

camping. Close to shops and 

clubs, the park is a water lover’s 

paradise offering canoeing, 

fishing and of course, surfing. 


beach. Right between the 

Ocean and Crooked River and 

adjacent to the Seven Mile 

Beach National Park. 


E: sevenmile@kiamacoast.com.au 


From $85 - $285 per night 

TV 

gym 

laundry 

kitchen 

parking wi-fi pool refrigerator family-friendly pet-friendly spa 

bbq 

Photo: Kiama Tourism 


79

IBIS WOLLONGONG 

Cnr of Church and Market Street 

MEDINA EXECUTIVE WOLLONGONG 

19 Market Street, WOLLONGONG 

QUEST WOLLONGONG 

59-61 Kembla Street, WOLLONGONG 

Quest Wollongong is the best located 

4.5 star accommodation in the Gong, 

available for nightly, weekly or monthly 

stays. Free secure onsite undercover car 

parking available. 

Proximity: 60m to Crown street, 

400m to the beach. 

Ibis Wollongong is a 3.5 star hotel 

located in the heart of Wollongong 

restaurant and business district, minutes 

from beautiful beaches. Winner of Best 

Standard Accommodation on the South 

Coast 2008, 2009 & 2010. 

The air conditioned rooms include tea 

and coffee facilities as well as mini bar 

fridges, complete with flatscreen TV and 

internet connectivity. Special Access 

rooms and facilities are also available. 

Proximity: 10 minute walk to the beach 

and WIN Entertainment Centre. On the 

doorstep of Crown St Mall 


E: H6377@accor.com 

www.accorhotels.com/6377 

From $119 per room per night 

WOLLONGONG SURF LEISURE RESORT 

201 Pioneer Road, FAIRY MEADOW 

With direct access to the patrolled 

beach, this three-and-a-half star 

Fairy Meadow beach resort offers 1,2 

bedroom + motel style fully selfcontained 

family units from $85 per 

night (4 persons) or large campsites 

from $25 per night (2 persons). Facilities 

include a large heated indoor pool, 

steam room, two spas, games room, 

tennis, mini golf and Austar. 

With 71 spacious rooms embracing the 

seaside setting within the contemporary 

and stylish Medina design. 

All apartments have balconies 

with many offering views over the 

Wollongong coastline and cityscape. 

Proximity: 450m to Wollongong beach 


Email: mewg@medina.com.au 

www.medina.com.au 

Rate per night (average) 

$180 for a studio apartment 

$215 for one bedroom apartment 

$265 for one bedroom and sofa bed 

apartment 


E: questwollongong@questapartments.com.au 

www.questwollongong.com.au 

From $140 per room per night. 

Proximity: On the beach and 5km north 

of the CBD 


Email: admin@wslr.com.au 

www.wslr.com.au 

Mention this listing for 10% off 

From $25 per night 

FLINDERS MOTEL 

19 Flinders St, WOLLONGONG 

KIAMA COVE MOTEL 

10 Bong Bong St, KIAMA 

SOUTHVIEW BULLI 

19 Southview StreetBULLI 

Southview is a newly renovated bed 

& breakfast and self contained holiday 

accommodation, nestled between 

Sandon Point Beach and Bulli Beach. 

Recently rated 4.5 stars by AAA tourism 

it is the perfect place to unwind and 

perfect for the surfer and their family. 

SHELLHARBOUR BEACHSIDE 

TOURIST PARK 

John Street, SHELLHARBOUR 

Wollongong’s newest accommodation 

complex, the Motel is centrally 

located and offers a wide variety of 

accommodation for all situations and 

occasions. Flinders Motel guarantees 

to make your stay in Wollongong a 

pleasurable one, whether you are here for 

a holiday, business or just passing through, 

we can cater for family getaways, sporting 

events and large groups. 

Kiama Cove Motel is located in the 

heart of Kiama, overlooks Surf Beach 

with most rooms having ocean views, 

air-conditioning, king sized beds and 

all with complimentary continental 

breakfasts. 

Proximity: Nestled Between Sandon 

Point and Bulli Beach 


Email: info@southviewbulli.com.au 

www.southviewbulli.com.au 

From $145 per couple per night 

The park is located on a headland near 

the charming Shellharbour Village 

with cafes, restaurants and shops. 

Only a short walk to some of the area’s 

fantastic surf breaks. Powered sites or 

fully self-contained beachside cottages 

are available. Pets are welcome on 

powered sites with prior arrangement. 

Proximity: 3 minutes drive to the beach 

and close to surf stores 


Email: info@flindersmotel.com 

www.flindersmotel.com 

Rates starting from $135 

Proximity: Right on Kiama Beach. Short 

walk to the main street of Kiama. 


E:kiamacove@bigpond.com 

www.kiamacove.com.au 

Proximity: On waterfront. Two minute 

walk to the heart of Shellharbour Village 


E: touristpark@shellharbour.nsw.gov.au 

www.shellharbourtouristpark.com.au 

From $99-$169 per room per night 

Rates starting from $29 per night 

TV 

gym 

laundry 

kitchen 

parking wi-fi pool refrigerator family-friendly pet-friendly spa 

bbq 


FIVE 

REASONS 

1. Fantastic views of Wollongong 

2. The best beers, from our own brewery and more 

3. Fabulous food. Really. 

4. Family friendly dining and entertainment 

5. Did we mention the beers? 

All the reasons you 

need to visit 

Wollongong’s premiere 

microbrewery & 

restaurant 

Five Islands Brewing Company 

Phone – 02 42202854 

WIN Entertainment Centre 

Cnr Crown & Harbour Streets, Wollongong NSW 2500 

www.fiveislandsbrewery.com 

MONDAY 

Happy Hour 5pm 

- 7pm (FIBC local 

beer) + $1 Pool All 

Night! 

TUESDAY 


- 7pm (FIBC local 

beer) + $1 Pool All 

Night! 

WEDNESDAY 


-7pm (FIBC local 

beer) + Trivia 

6.30pm. FREE to 

play, Great prizes, 

$10 Trivia kitchen 

special. 

THURSDAY 



beer) + $1 Pool Local 

Live Bands from 

8pm $10 Jugs FIBC 

local beer, $10 Pizzas 

& $9 Cocktails 

from 5pm. 

FRIDAY 



beer) + $1 Pool, 

All day dining from 

12pm until late + 

Cocktail Specials 

from 5pm. 

SATURDAY 

All day dining from 

12pm until late. 

Cocktail Bar open 

from 5pm. 


SUNDAY 

Brunch from 9am. 

Summer Sunday 

Sessions - Live 

acoustic sets from 

1pm. 

81

Stay in comfort, 

walk to the action 

Pool area Photo: Southview 

FEEL AT HOME ON SANDON POINT 

Cnr Market & Church Street 

Wollongong 

Tel: 02 4223 6000 


Ibis Wollongong is located in the heart 

of the city, near entertainment and 

shopping and only a five minute walk 

to North Beach and Harbour. 

From only 

$129.00 

per night* 

*See rates online 

www.accorhotels.com/6377 

When in The Gong, you have to check out its most famous wave - the legendary 

Sandon Point. And if travelling as a couple, there is no better place to stay than 

Southview Bed and Breakfast. 

When it comes to getting away, it helps to find that special yet affordable ‘home 

away from home’. Southview Bed and Breakfast is just that. More to the point, it 

is just 200m from either Sandon or Bulli Beach - around a two-minute walk with 

your board. 

Southview has been recently renovated and consists of two separate, private 

fully self-contained units. It has been rated four and half stars by AAA tourism. 

Your choice is between a seaview or garden unit. I chose the seaview room and 

wasn’t disappointed. 

After a long day I made my way up to my room, cracked a complimentary 

Southview Lager, made by the blokes from Five Islands Brewery Company, which 

was mighty fine, then had another and already started feeling better. I phoned 

for some home-delivered Thai from a local restaurant, which I found within the 

services folder in my room. I put on the tub (there is a massive spa bath in the very 

large bathroom) and then chilled out to the music playing on the home stereo. 

“200m FROM EITHER 

SANDON OR BULLI BEACH” 

The best located 4.5 star 

accommodation in the Gong 

Why settle for anything less? 

After dinner I watched some local surf DVDs (part of a large collection of DVDs 

provided by Southview) put together by Clarrie Bouma, which featured classic 

footage of Sandon Point through the seasons going several years back. It was 

the perfect way to relax. 

In the morning, my bed was so unbelievably comfortable I struggled to get up. 

Once I saw the view from my balcony though, I was up and about to check out 

the local surrounds. 

Unfortunately, as rare as it was, the point wasn’t working at all. I seem to have a 

knack of bringing flat spells with me when I travel down the east coast. Anyhow, 

I checked out the beach, the neighbouring sea pool and walking track that winds 

its way alongside the coast all the way to Wollongong’s heart. This really is a 

magic part of the world. I will be back for sure and next time I will surf Sandon. 

Mention this ad to 

receive 10% off the 

quoted rate! 

59-61 Kembla St 

Wollongong 


www.questapartments.com.au 

Your view Photo: Southview 


Top and above left: The Five Islands Brewery Company. 

Above right: The Fireworks Cafe. 

This picture: The Ocean Beach Hotel 

THE GO FOR FOOD 

LOCAL FAVOURITES 

Chris Kelly, Fin Box 

• Post surf breaky you can’t beat Fireworks cafe 

More Street, Austinmer. Its the quaintest little 

eatery around these parts. 

• For a tradie’s lunch hit up Flemings cake shop 

on the south side of Thirroul. Their Pie with 

pea’s and sweet treats are off the hook! 

• The Headlands Hotel is an old school pub on the 

headland above Little Austinmer Beach. Great 

beer, good pub food and a billion dollar view. 

• If you have the kids in tow, try Scarborough 

Hotel. It has a massive lawn area overlooking 

the ocean where the kids can run around 

while you enjoy a beverage or meal in one of 

the huge cabanas. 

Paul Nichol, Paul Nichol Shapes 

• Beaches Hotel at Thirroul is great for live 

music, a couple of beers and a good feed. 

John Skipp, Skipp Surfboards 

• Ruby’s in the caravan park at Bulli Beach is 

very popular with the surfers 

Phil Byrne, Byrne Surfboards 

• Saffron’s at Thirroul have good hamburgers. 

• For the young crew the North Wollongong 

Hotel is the best spot. There’s a surf culture 

feel to the place and it is full of uni students. 

Phil Pepper, Skipp Surfboards 

• A couple of scallops and a couple of 

schooners at the Beach Hotel after a surf at 

The Farm. That’s the best. It can’t be beaten. 

Daz Longbottom, Zink Surf on Kiama 

• There are still plenty of good bakeries around. 

I grew up going to bakeries after a surf - none 

of this latte and foccaccia stuff. 

OUR RECOMMENDATIONS 

Diggies beside the North Wollongong Surf 

Club has beautiful food, super fresh and superb 

coffee. A spot I have discovered that I will go 

back to again and again. Too many dishes to 

recommend but here’s two of the best – Poached 

pear & ravensthorpe rumble w/ low-fat yoghurt 

& honey or Pumpkin panackalty – smoked bacon 

& potato hash w/ roasted pumpkin, topped w/ 

poached egg, rocket and ciabatta toast. 

The North Wollongong pub is a great place for 

a super cheap feed and a few beers. Even on a 

Wednesday night it is packed to the rafters with 

loads of big screen TVs inside and even outside 

in the beer garden. 

iBistro in the Ibis Hotel Wollongong recently 

appointed a new executive chef by the name of 

Simon Everett, who was formerly a restaurant 

owner himself in Kiama. Well, I ate there and 

the food was absolutely unbelievable. Two to 

recommend – Garlic & chill prawns w/ baby 

spinach, spaghetti & chilli mayonnaise or 

Mustard crusted spatchcock w/ dirty rice & 

suicide sauce. 

Grand Hotel in Kiama. Great local feel and tasty 

homemade pizzas. 

The Perfect Wave Café in Gerringong. I am a 

little bit boring when I am out for breakfast - I 

love my bacon & eggs. Perfect Wave is a full-on 

vegetarian café – nothing with a face or heart. 

The food is sensational. The mushroom, poached 

egg and ciabatta toast I had was unbelievable, 

huge and filling. I didn’t need lunch later that 

day. The coffee’s organic but most importantly, 

is very good. There’s some great smoothies and 

juices too. 


Kent Ladkin, Natural Necessity on Gerroa 

• Seahaven Café has great food and coffee. 

Now to my favourite topic after surfing... 

BEER 

Five Islands Brewery Company’s main dish... Great beers. 

The Five Islands Brewing Company Bar and 

Restaurant is situated along the Wollongong city 

foreshore. The views of the ocean are spectacular. 

There is a huge lawn out front, so there is plenty 

of space for the kids to run around before settling 

down to a meal and a few drinks. 

The food ranges from burgers and light meals to 

homemade pizzas, chargrill steaks and seafood, 

then there’s the ‘favourites’ menu including lamb 

shanks and traditional fish’n’chips and even platters 

to share – namely seafood and Mexican. Oohhh. 

There is also a kid’s menu with all the classic fare. 

As far as wines go, FIBC has the most extensive 

wine list in the whole of Wollongong. You name it; 

they have more than likely got it. 

Then there’s the beer. Yes, liquid nectar is available 

in the tap and bottled variety. Choose from various 

Australian boutique beers, popular beers, premium 

and imported. BUT what you really are here to try, 

and MUST try, are FIBC’s very own brewed lagers 

and ales. My mouth salivates as I write this. Brewed 

locally it means these very, very special beers are 

super fresh, chilled and ready to drink. I have to list 

them all, for I have tasted them all, and I indeed 

love them all. I am Homer Simpson. 

Choose from Dapto Draught, Longboard Pale Ale, 

Barbeerian Wit, South Peach, Rust or Bulli Black. 

Or don’t choose and get a sampler tray of three 

different beers for $6.50. Or two to try the whole lot. 

But then you’ll probably want more. 


83


HOME TO 

Surf legends? Yes, they’re everywhere. 

One of the founding fathers of the 

Wollongong surf scene, John Skipp 

is always around for a chat if you 

can catch him at one of the Skipp 

Surfboards locations, and Phil Byrne 

of Byrne Surfboards can be found in 

Fairy Meadow. For getting a feel for the 

locals though, any good day at Sandon 

Point will see plenty respected names 

paddling out, like Paul Nichol of Nichol 

Shapes... And you never know who you’ll 

run into at the local pubs. Everyone here 

just seems to have surfing in their blood. 

There’s no shortage of places to go 

shopping, as the Gong through to Gerroa 

has an incredibly diverse range of surf 

shops - each one worth checking out 

while you are in area. In particular and 

especially for those more arty surfer 

types, make sure to visit the newly 

opened Fin Box in Thirroul. It’s one 

of the coolest surf shops around and 

owner Chris Kelly has done a superb job 

bringing together some of the finest and 

most exclusive range of threads, sleds 

and surf art. 

For sheer volume of choice, a visit 

to Natural Necessity Surf Shop in 

Gerringong is a must. It’s quite possibly 

the biggest surf store on the east coast. 

And while you’re there you can grab a 

coffee and a bite to eat at the Perfect 

Wave Cafe, which is a tourist attraction 

in itself. 

So many beautiful places to see, 

interesting people to meet and fantastic 

spots to surf for all kinds of surfers. 

Thinking of planning a surf trip soon? 

This should be it. 

“THERE ARE SO MANY GOOD 

WAVES AROUND, IT WOULD HAVE 

TO BE ONE OF THE BEST STRETCHES 

IN OZ.” DAZ LONGBOTTOM, ZINK SURF KIAMA 

Somewhere around Gerroa 

Photo: Lainey Brown laineybrown.carbonmade.com 


GETTING THERE 

THE 

GONG 

AND BEYOND 

The best way to get there is by car. There are no direct flights to Wollongong 

and unless you have an unlimited about of patience and time, put a line 

through rail and bus transport as well. It’s just too complex for my liking. 

If flying from Brisbane, Melbourne or a regional hub, fly to Sydney and then 

hire a car. The drive down to the heart of The Gong is about an hour and 

twenty minutes. If you take the drive through the Royal National Park and 

then on to Grand Pacific Drive, you will lose track of time anyhow (particularly 

if you take the time to take in some of our favourite pit-stops). 

DRIVE TIMES IN AND AROUND THE AREA 

Stanwell Tops to Wollongong city centre 32kms 20-25 mins 

Wollongong to Shellharbour 25kms 20-25 mins 

Shellharbour to Kiama 15kms 10-15 mins 

Kiama to Gerroa 12 kms 12 mins 

Stanwell Tops to Gerroa 82kms 1hr 

FROM BRISBANE 

Brisbane to Wollongong is just over 

1000 kilometers and around eleven and 

a half hours. It can be done in a day if 

you are a machine but is best broken up 

with a nights stay just north of Sydney. 

Follow the Pacific Highway down to 

Sydney and from there, after dodging 

the traffic, you will eventually get onto 

the Princes Highway that basically takes 

you all the way to Wollongong. 

On the way down, or back, make sure to 

stop off at the Bulli Pass Lookout. The 

alternative route also takes in Grand 

Pacific Drive which is a must. 

FROM MELBOURNE 

The drive from Melbourne is a relatively 

easy one. It takes around seven and 

half hours and covers just over 800 

kilometers. You could leave early 

morning and be there by the afternoon. 

Take the Hume Highway through Albury 

and then on through famous towns such 

as Gundagai, Yass and Goulburn. 

From there, simply head towards the 

southern highlands and then down 

towards the coast. 

If you add around an hour to your 

journey you can take in the towns of 

Bowral, Moss Vale and the magnificent 

Kangaroo Valley. It is definitely worth 

the extra effort and time. 


85

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TRAVEL: EXPERIENCE 

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Photo: World Surfaris

THE APPEAL OF PERFECT, UNCROWDED WAVES, BREAKING IN IRIDESCENT CLEAR WARM WATER IS UNDENIABLE, SHARING SUCH MAGIC 

MOMENTS WITH FRIENDS OR FAMILY - UNFORGETTABLE. WE EXAMINE THE OVERSEAS SURF TRAVEL PHENOMENA. 


Is it just me or am I the only bloody 

person on the planet not to have 

surfed a tropical island? Everyone 

nowadays seems to have just returned 

from surfing perfect waves in the 

Maldives or somewhere or another. 

So why have surfers gone troppo? 

SHAUN LEVINGS - World Surfaris 

“It’s the lure of overseas surf travel. 

People are getting increasingly frustrated 

at their local with crowds and fickle 

conditions. When they see exotic images 

of perfect Maldives and user-friendly 

waves in warm water, they go, ‘Get me 

the hell out of here.’ “ 

LOUIS HARRIS - Liquid Destinations 

“Today we are asked to perform the 

corporate monkey dance longer and 

harder. It’s worth every cent to a desk 

bound slave to be freed from their 

everyday job. For those who do surf, 

there isn’t a lot in life that can top sitting 

on a boat with a bunch of mates drinking 

beers after a days surfing.” 

Hallelujah! But have the number 

of surfers travelling OS picked up 

dramatically? 

IAN LYONS - Atoll Travel 

“What’s fuelling surf travel is the sheer 

number of surfers and places available 

from boat charters to resorts and surf 

camps. Prior to the late eighties a lot of 

these destinations didn’t exist.” 

“Surf trips started in the early to mid 

seventies. By the early eighties it really 

became popular following movies such 

as Morning of the Earth. In those days, 

to quote Bruce Raymond, people were 

‘time rich and money poor’. People 

would travel on a shoe string and spend 

months in little villages.” 

LOUIS: “We’ve come a long way 

from our early pioneers who trudged 

through mosquito and tiger infested 

jungles in search of their Nirvana. The 

biggest problems today are broken air 

conditioners and warm beer. What used 

to be a month or maybe a year long 

scour of the tropics in search paradise is 

a set ten-day itinerary.” 

SHAUN: “We get a pretty diverse group 

of people booking holidays these days. 

Sure the majority are males but surfing 

is growing rapidly in popularity with the 

ladies and this is reflected in the groups 

we have going on surf trips.” 

“It’s the same with families. This market 

has grown substantially now there are 

surf resorts in the Maldives and Samoa 

that cater for children and partners that 

don’t surf. 

“It’s great to go to a place where you 

can ride the most perfect barrels of your 

life, afterwards go snorkeling and sailing 

with the family and then kick back and 

relax for the remainder of the day. Plus 

there is so much culture to take in and 

enjoy.” 

LOUIS: “For some people they do it at 

ten years of age with their dad or for 

others they wait until they are fifty or 

sixty. It’s everyone’s dream to surf an 

exotic uncrowded destination in their 

lifetime.” 

IAN: “When we started sending people 

to the Maldives in the early nineties the 

average age was thirty-five to forty. Now 

the average age is forty-eight.” 

“In the early days the older guys were in 

their early thirties. Nowadays you have 

people in the sixties going on surf trips 

– they’re the same people some thirty 

years on. 

“There’s no real age for giving up 

surfing. It’s not just a sport for the young 

kids. Surfing is now for six to sixties. 

Surfing is also very mainstream in its 

acceptance, whereas in the seventies it 

was a counterculture.” 

So there are no hell-men left? 

SHAUN: “We also run a Stealth Travel 

Club. Scardi (David Scard) from our Kirra 

Office is an astute follower of swell 

conditions worldwide. He prides himself 

on being able to call when Speedies 

Reef (in Grajagan Bay, East Java, known 

as G-Land) will be 6 foot and pumping. 

He can get it pretty much bang on.” 

“A lot of guys from the surf industry 

call upon Scardi to make forecasts to 

determine whether to send surfers 

such as Mick Fanning or Stef Gilmore 

up to the Caroline Islands for a bit of a 

mission. So we formalised these ‘spurof–the-moment’ 

missions. The whole 

idea is to form a membership of hardcore 

surfers. When the time is right for a 

given destination, we send out a stealth 

alert. Members get a message on their 

mobile that goes, ‘Cloudbreak is going to 

be 10 foot next Monday, we have 4 spots 

available, do you want to jump on?’ “ 

So how many of these hardcore 

surfers are there out there, aside 

from those who surf overhead 

Moffat Beach… don’t laugh. 

SHAUN: “A couple of hundred. Team 

managers love it because if they have 

high profile team riders in between 

contests, they can get them up to Fiji or 

wherever and shoot them in the latest 

pair of boardies in 8 foot barrels.” 

“We also get guys who are fortunate 

enough to have pretty flexible work 

arrangements or who run their own 

business and are in the position to drop 

everything and go, ‘Yep, let’s do it.’” 

Families are going, groups of mates 

are having the time of their lives 

and now there’s even blokes going 

every couple of months at the drop 

of a hat. 

But isn’t anyone concerned about 

the shark factor? You know, the men 

in grey suits? The Noahs? Aren’t 

they in abundance in these far flung 

destinations? 

SHAUN: “We have never had an 

incident in thirteen years of sending 

some 3000 surfers every year to far-flung 

destinations. They’re too well fed.” 

How about if you want to go 

somewhere a little different to 

everybody else, say Norway? I have 

seen those guys in the American 

surf mags. That looks cool – real 

cooool in fact. 

SHAUN: “At this stage there’s no real 

interest in the extreme cold water stuff. 

We were promoting trips to South Africa 

a few years ago and had a tour from 

J-Bay to Cape Town surfing the Garden 

Route. To be honest, there just wasn’t 

the demand for it.” 

“There are intrepid dudes out there doing 

that stuff. You often see the Molloy 

brothers surfing Iceland or Vancouver 

Island but the ordinary Joe Blow doesn’t 

want to don 6mm of rubber and a hood. 

Not at this stage anyhow. Our real 

market is the tropics – warm water with 

beautiful mechanical reef breaks.” 

Soft. Sure all these OS surfers are 

hell-men when it comes to tackling 

15ft Cloudbreak but ask them to put 

on a bit of rubber and they go soft 

like a marshmallow. Time to drink a 

mugaccino of you know what. 

Right, so if cold water is off the 

menu, where’s the next frontier? 

IAN: “The Maldives are perfect for us. 

Around three quarters of our customers 

have been booking the same tour, in the 

same slot, year in, year out for fourteen 

years straight.” 

LOUIS: “We have a few new frontiers 

planned. Stay tuned.” 

SHAUN: “The Caroline Islands are 

still, I guess, what you would call a 

new frontier. It has really only become 

known for the last seven years. P-Pass is 

regarded by Kelly Slater and Andy Irons, 

as the best right-hander they have ever 

surfed. On its day it is just a phenomenal 

barrel. It’s ‘the glamour’ wave for surf 

photographers.” 

“Papua New Guinea is also relatively 

new. In our summer months it has 

become a really popular destination for 

Aussies as it is so close to home. We 

opened the Tupira Surf Club in Madang 

last year. It’s a classic spot that suits 

surfers on a budget who want to get off 

the beaten track. There’s a great, userfriendly 

right-hander directly out front of 

the resort. 

“PNG doesn’t have as many heavy 

hollow extreme waves as say Indo. It’s 

just got user-friendly waves and that is 

what we are finding a lot of guys and 

girls are looking for. They don’t want to 

be charging death pits, just user-friendly, 

uncrowded waves.” 

LOUIS: “One thing is for certain. The 

natural progression in a dedicated 

surfer’s life is, at some stage, to go on an 

overseas surf mission.” 


87

TRAVEL: PLANE TRIP 


A QUIET SURF 

WITH A FEW GOOD MATES 

WORDS BY MARK CHAPMAN 

Is this a line-up you’d be keen to paddle into? You would, if you were part of the 

annual world record attempt for most surfers on a single wave, staged during the 

Earthwave festival held at Muizenberg Beach in Cape Town, on the southernmost tip of 

Africa. But never fear... there are plenty more waves to be had the rest of the year. 

Photo: Lee Slabber 

www.leeslabber.com 


89

Photos right: Craig Wilson 


“TOURIST KILLED 

BY ‘DINOSAUR 

SIZED’ SHARK...” 

This is not a headline you want to see, about the 

place you’re heading to, barely two weeks before 

boarding the plane. Fish Hoek, literally one beach 

away from Muizenberg in Cape Town, South Africa 

was the site of the first fatal shark attack in those 

waters in the last five years. An unfortunate ocean 

swimmer was taken by a white pointer so huge the 

word ‘dinosaur’ shot straight to Twitter, seconds 

after the event and was picked up immediately by 

news organisations around the world. But despite 

the macabre fascination people have for shark 

stories, it isn’t quite as exciting when you know 

that in a few days time you’ll be suited up to look 

like a skinny seal, hopping in for a paddle in that 

very same water yourself. 

With all the beaches closed, shark-spotters on high 

alert and the recent blood in the water, surfing in 

Cape Town didn’t seem like such a top idea there 

and then. But then again, you only live once. And no 

big fish - hungry or not - was keeping me out of the 

water in one of South Africa’s most fun beaches. 

I arrive to thankfully open beaches. We slip the 

wetsuits on and head out right away. Our first surf - 

about an hour and a half of gliding fun on mini mals 

- is strangely uncrowded. We find out later, talking 

to one of the locals, we were out under a white 

flag, the Shark Spotters signal for a big, hungrylooking 

fish swimming around your area right now. 

White? Probably because that’s the colour you turn 

if you actually come face to face with one. 

Day two. It’s either red flags or black flags – high 

shark alert or poor visibility, so who knows... But 

we go out anyway and are rewarded with a great 

day in the sun, and a few extra-long rides. 

By day three, any worries of sharks are long gone, 

washed away by the relaxing roll of the Muizenberg 

lines and we’re just having pure, unadulterated fun. 

It doesn’t get much better than this. 

Photo: Timothy van der Venter 

flickr.com/photos/anothertimothy 


Photo: Craig Wilson 

Nestled on the eastern side of the Cape Peninsula, 

Muizenberg is commonly referred to as the birthplace 

of surfing in South Africa, and due to its learner-friendly 

conditions, it’s most definitely been the birthplace of 

many a surfer’s love for the water. 

Named after one of the region’s postmasters in the 

1700’s – Sergeant Muys – the name roughly translates 

to Mouse’s Mountain. These days, the pristine stretch 

of beach, surrounded by these majestic mountains 

Cape Town is so famous for, still proudly maintains its 

reputation in the surfing history books. 

With a slow rolling wave and relaxed vibe in the water, 

the chilled ride is a mirror to what happens on the shore 

around the laidback cafes on the beach. But if you’re 

after big-wave-riding, heart-pounding, adrenalinpumping 

surf, this is most definitely not the beach you 

would be visiting – this is for kicking back and taking it 

easy. The Indian Ocean waves here are far gentler here 

than some other Cape Town breaks and the water is 

a good few degrees warmer than on the Atlantic side 

of the Peninsula - Muizenberg gets to around 18-20 

in summer while the Atlantic folk enjoy ice-cream 

headaches and aching feet pretty much most of the year. 

For these reasons and more, all kinds of people 

gravitate to its shore - a melting pot of colours, cultures, 

languages and backgrounds, locals and visitors, all 

brought together by surfing. 

Well known as an iconic longboarder’s paradise – the 

haunt of woody wagons and giant mals in its day - 

Muizenberg has also become popular with the Stand Up 

folk in recent times. Does this mean it’s too busy now? 

Not at all. The beauty of this sand-bottom beach break 

is that it would be incredibly hard to crowd it. With a 

rideable wave that extends more than a kilometre up 

the beach, party waves are the norm. There doesn’t 

really have to be any dropping in – you could easily have 

ten people up and riding on the same wave without the 

least bit of worry about fighting words or ding repairs in 

the near future. 

In fact, the area of the wave is so wide, Muizenberg 

has been host to a number of Guinness Book record 

attempts and during the 2009 Earthwave festival, set the 

record at 110 surfers on the same wave (a little like Tea 

Tree at Noosa on a big swell without some yelling ‘Oi!’) 

all riding for at least five seconds. 2010 saw a valiant 

attempt of 93 people, but the record remains untouched. 

More important than the record itself though is the way 

the event brings like-minded surfers together in the area. 

As Paul Botha of organisers Kahuna Promotions says… 

“a fantastic effort by Cape Town’s surfing community” 

as every man, woman, child and family pet make 

their way to the beach every year for a mix of surfing, 

entertainment and charitable pursuits. 

“MUIZENBERG IS COMMONLY 

REFERRED TO AS THE 

BIRTHPLACE OF SURFING IN 

SOUTH AFRICA” 

Local surfers line up, ready for the Earthwave Gunness Book record attempt. 

Photo: Lee Slabber leeslabber.com, supplid by Kahuna Promotions 

91



flickr.com/photos/creative666/ 

CONDITIONS 

Bottom: sand 

Break: slow, rolling wave 

Level: beginner to intermediate 

Best conditions: NW wind, incoming tide 

Best when: Anytime - on at least half the year 

Board: Longer and fatter boards are first choice 

Water temps: 20 in summer, 15 in winter. 

Crowd factor: Crowded at Surfer’s Corner, but 

plenty room down the beach 

Hazards: Rips and sharks 

Of the surfable area along the front, the most popular 

spot is tucked up in the corner of the bay. This is 

Surfer’s Corner. Although it’s still friendly and easygoing, 

this is definitely the busiest section, so for more 

space to yourself and less hassle, just paddle down a 

little further down where there are still plenty of waves 

to be had. It’s not exclusively a longboarders break. You 

see a bit of everything here and despite the fact that it’s 

not a powerful wave, you still see plenty of shortboards 

around enjoying it just as much. 

When it comes to boards and trying a few different 

options, Gary’s Surf School is right out front for board 

hire, as is the Surf Shack – a surf school and store 

with jovial and excited staff full of tales and keen to 

talk about boards, designs and what works for the 

conditions at their home break, which happens to be 

offshore in northeast to northwest winds. When the 

southeaster kicks in, there’s sometimes a wave that 

forms out further to sea, but there would be a huge 

paddle through plenty of whitewater to get to it. And 

ladies, make sure to check out Roxy’s – a surf school 

dedicated to getting girls started in surfing with some 

good gear to browse through. 

The bohemian village vibe of this historic seaside 

suburb comes complete with antique stores, 

secondhand bookshops, a hemp shop and Cape Town’s 

oldest surf store – The Corner Surf Shop in Main Road 

– where you can ogle over a huge range of surfboards 

from local shapers as well as see some historical 

surfing gear from the region. 

Some other worthwhile stops are the Lifestyle Surf 

Shop up front and the Stubbs Surfboards factory, a few 

blocks back, where you can chat to longtime Photo: locals Steve and Owen 

admire some great surfboard craftsmanship. 




Photo: Shark Spotters 


Locals enjoying the surf despite the big fish. Photo: MC 

Photo left: Shark Spotters, photo right: Craig Wilson 

“...A MELTING POT OF COLOURS, 

CULTURES, LANGUAGES AND 

BACKGROUNDS, LOCALS AND VISITORS, 

ALL BROUGHT TOGETHER BY SURFING” 

SHARK SPOTTERS 

Now let me preface this by saying, I 

don’t think about sharks much. I’m not 

usually checking underneath me or 

watching the horizon for any movement, 

but Cape Town boast the big beasties 

so it’s fantastic to know there’s a group 

of individuals high up on the mountain 

watching over the bay with polarized 

binoculars, keeping a constant lookout 

for the men in grey suits, or Great White 

suits as it turns out. 

In 2004, Greg Bertish kicked off the 

program with a few people and a few 

mobile phones, keeping a lookout 

for sharks in the area. With some 

fundraising in the surf community 

and sponsorship from local business, 

the program was formalized and now 

employs a group on a full-time basis, 

operating in shifts. Using a system of 

coloured flags, the crew on the beach 

let swimmers and surfers know what 

the spotters on the mountainside are 

seeing - with green being the one you 

want to see flying as you head in. 

But according to the folks at Shark 

Spotters, shark bites are rare. Since 

the 60’s, there have been less than 30 

attacks and only a handful of them fatal. 

That being said, Muizenberg does rank 

as the highest number of sightings – 

371 in the last six years - with Fishoek 

coming in second at 145. 

But Shark Spotters are far from fearmongering 

shark-haters and are extremely 

active in conservation of the creatures, 

stating that these apex predators are a 

naturally occurring species in Cape waters 

where they play vital roles in the health of 

the marine ecosystems. 

Great Whites are a protected species 

in South African waters and can’t be 

hunted or killed, fished or harmed. Trying 

any of that could land you behind bars, 

out of pocket around $10,000 or both. 

For more information, see the website 

www.sharkspotters.org.za 

Photo: Mila Zinkova 


93

Since ‘69 

THE HIGHEST 

QUALITY, HANDMADE 

CUSTOM SURFBOARDS 


Evo 7’0 by Greg Hogan 

Turbo Fish 6’7 by Glyndyn Ringrose 

Photo top: Timothy van der Venter 

Right: Buskers at Kalkies. 

Above: breakfast at Knead 

Photos: MC 

With it’s narrow streets, European buildings and terraced houses, 

Muizenberg is a perfect holiday base to check out what else Cape Town 

has to offer – and it’s plenty. As a tourist destination, the region is rich 

with experiences, from visiting wineries, to catching a cable car up Table 

Mountain, watching baboons, bushwalking, checking out art, haggling 

with street vendor artists over knocking a few cents off the price of a wire 

sculpture, eating the most incredible fish and chips, fresh off the boat at 

Kalkies in Kalk Bay (do it – it’s awesome) and having drinks at any number of 

fantastic bars and clubs (Cape to Cuba is highly recommended). 

“GREAT COFFEE AND FANTASTIC FOOD” 

Sandy Ryan 

Photo: Jules 

147 Thompson Ave, Cowes VIC (03) 5952 2578 

cowes@islandsurfboards.com.au 

225 Smiths Beach Rd, Smiths Beach VIC (03) 5952 3443 

smithsbeach@islandsurfboards.com.au 

ISLANDSURFBOARDS.COM.AU 

But you don’t have to wander far from the Muizenberg beachfront to get fed. 

Knead bakery along the front of Beach Road at Surfer’s Corner is a favourite 

after-surf stop. With great coffee and fantastic food, it’s a no brainer when 

it comes to breakfast time. The Café De May makes some mean crepes, 

with a library of surf magazines to flick through while you kick back with a 

quality coffee, and The Big Blue Café is certainly also worth a visit, if only to 

check out the classic collection of old surfboards from the 70’s and 80’s lining 

the ceiling and walls. If you look closely enough, you’ll see a few newer 

ones too, as some of the local locals use it as a place to leave their boards 

between surfs. 

That in itself epitomises the vibe here - relaxed surfing, great food and 

friendly people. Yes, it feels like holidays here, with the locals as colourful as 

the rows of brightly painted beach huts that run along the foreshore. 

When it comes time to head home, it’s a difficult goodbye, but I’m leaving 

with some great memories and enough days of fun in the surf to keep me 

smiling for weeks to come. I’ll be back. 


KNOW YOUR BOARD 

Floatation! Kind of important if you 

intend on surfing. If you’re sinking 

down to Davy Jones locker, perhaps 

you need to turn up the volume. 

So what the hell is volume exactly? A 

complex question but here are some 

hot tips on determining the ideal 

volume you may require. 

SIZE DOES MATTER 

Whether you’re a 120kg 50-year-old, or a 50kg 15-year-old, 

you are going to need width and length in a surfboard to 

help you learn to surf. The width gives buoyancy, planing 

area and stability. One of the major mistakes developing 

surfers make is to decrease that width to extremes too 

soon. The blame for this can be levelled at professional 

surfers (because they surf so well on little boards), the surf 

industry (for making it cool to surf on little boards), and 

the developing surfers themselves (for believing the hype 

around small boards). 

The biggest misconception is that you can’t turn wide 

boards. One only needs to take a look at guys like Joel 

Tudor and Dave Rastovich to see that myth completely 

busted. The fact is, for a developing surfer it’s not the 

width of a board that will help them improve their 

turns, but their technique. And how do you improve that 

technique? By catching plenty of waves. And to catch more 

waves you are going to need something to float you. Enter 

width, length and thickness into the equation. Plus, surfing 

is first and foremost about fun. You can’t have any fun - let 

alone develop your surfing - if you’re scratching around on 

a 6’2’’x18’’ and missing all the waves. 

The last 20 years or so saw the shortboard revolution, 

and the pros riding smaller boards in bigger waves - even 

Kelly Slater. But remember, you aren’t Kelly Slater! And 

this is where surfing differs to most other sports. If you 

buy yourself the latest and best tennis racquet, golf clubs 

WITH GUEST SHAPER, 

GREG HOGAN OF ISLAND SURFBOARDS 

or fishing reel used by the pros, it might help you improve 

towards that high standard, but not with surfing. You need 

the equipment to suit your body size, ability and experience. 

Remember, we don’t all wear the same size jeans! 

The last few decades made surfing small boards cool and 

it has left its legacy on a lot of surfers today. Every time I 

surf I see at least one guy (usually more) that needs a way 

bigger board than what he’s riding. 

Remember, the reason that guy at your local break rips 

so much on a small board is not because of the board, 

but because he has great technique. As you get better, 

you too can refine your boards. It doesn’t matter how cool 

your board looks in the car park, it’s how it performs in the 

water that matters! 

The most important thing is to be completely honest with 

your shaper about your ability. They are the ones who should 

know what is best for someone of your size and experience 

- if they don’t, it’s time to get a new shaper. It just takes you 

to swallow the ego and admit where you’re at. 

Your surfing will thank you for it! 

Greg Hogan has over 35 years shaping experience and 

involvement with the team at Island Surfboards. He is also a 

judge and coach with Surfing Australia. 

For more info visit www.islandsurfboards.com.au 

INSIDE... 

WHAT IS VOLUME? 

Not easily calculated without a 

comprehensive understanding of 

surfboard design but relates to the 

length, width and thickness... but also 

takes into consideration surface area 

and displacement volume. We’ll stop 

there before it becomes too confusing. 

In short, it is the key ingredient that 

floats you and your board. 

WHY LITRES ON BOARD SPECS? 

It’s used to measure the volume of the 

board. Many shapers now use this 

measurement along with the length, 

width and thickness of the board. 

Please note: EPS/ epoxy boards can 

have up to 30% more floatation but the 

same volume as a normal PU style board. 

CONSIDERATIONS 

SURFERS ABILITY LEVEL 

If you’re developing as a surfer, the 

wider and thicker your board, the 

easier it will be to surf 

SIZE & WEIGHT OF SURFER 

A bigger, heavier surfer needs a board 

with more buoyancy 

TYPE OF WAVES 

On a gutless small wave, most surfers 

can control a board with more volume. 

The bigger the wave gets, the surfer 

still needs enough volume to get onto 

the wave, but not too much that it 

sends the rider skidding across the 

surface of the wave without being 

able to dig in a rail to turn. 

SURFING STYLE 

‘Power surfers’ who are less light on 

their feet need more volume for when 

they shift their weight on the board 

TOO LITTLE OR TOO MUCH? 

TOO MUCH VOLUME 

Your board will go fast but lack control 

TOO LITTLE VOLUME 

The rider will be able to sink a rail 

but lack speed coming out of the turn, 

almost stalling on the wave. Plus the 

board will be bloody hard to paddle, 

making it a pain-in-the-arse to get out 

and hard to get on waves. 

NEW OLD SCHOOL P94 

DOCCO GOES DOWNHILL P116 

BRAND NEW BOARDS P102 

If it floats, it’s here... All the latest designs in shortboards, fish, eggs, longboards, 

SUPs and everything else from shapers along the East Coast. 

WHERE TO TURN UP THE VOLUME 

Going thicker by 1/8 will deliver up 

to 4 times more volume than going 

up an inch in length and be almost 

equivalent to making the board a ½ 

inch wider. Buying a board and getting 

one just right for you is tricky. That’s 

why it’s important to talk with your 

local surf store board expert or your 

local shaper. 

Remember, no one surfboard design 

will work in all kinds of waves for all 

types of surfers. That’s why you need 

a quiver, so get building it! For some 

inspiration see our board profiles 

starting on page 103. 

95

GEAR: SHAPER 

He may be only 27 

years of age but 

he’s got a knack for 

creating beautiful 

retro boards that 

work. Proof to this 

claim: He recently 

won the National 

Log Roll at the 

Australian Old 

Mal titles on his 

own craft. He’s 

winning contests 

and winning over 

surfers who love 

that traditional style 

of surfing. 


Against the odds, Thomas 

Bexon is a young guy who’s 

gone old school and is 

coming up trumps. 

GET YOUR 

BEX 

ONWORDS BY DAVE SWAN 

There’s next to no competitive surfers out there competing on their own 

boards nowadays. But that’s Thomas, he likes to do his own thing and is not 

too concerned with what everybody else is doing. This individualism carries 

through to his surfboard design. 

Thomas Surfboards are handmade with no compromise on quality. His boards 

are made to order with dimensions changed to suit the individual. Thomas has 

honed his board making skills within the competitive arena and regular surf 

trips... ahh... product test field trips. 

His boards look unbelievable, are incredibly fun to ride and personally make 

me toey just looking at them. But enough about my problem... We ask Thomas 

how he first got into shaping and his love for traditional logs and noseriders. 

“I guess I started shaping because no one else was making what I wanted 

at the time. I made my first board in Mum’s garage and she hated it. I was 

around fourteen at the time. 

“I bought a blank, started shaping and it ended up horrible. One side was an 

inch wider then the other and it had no rocker and didn’t work at all. I am so 

stoked I still have it though. 

“I did a few more in Mum’s garage and then got the chance to shape at school. 

Maroochy High had surfing as a subject. At the time, only Maroochy High and 

Miami High on the Goldie (Gold Coast) taught surfing as a subject. Brian Weirs’ 

brother, Peter, was my teacher. We learnt how to shape surfboards, foil fins 

and fix dings along with some basic woodwork. We got to go surfing heaps as 

well. I got to learn the basics. We did four classes a week on everything that 

was surf related including how to judge surf contests and film reviews.” 

Thomas developed a love for old boards during this time. 

“A mate and I stumbled across a few old surf movies that had a bit of logging 

in it and we thought it was epic. We became mates with Brodie Weir through 

Brian (Weirs Surf Shop in Maroochydore, who have a range of vintage boards 

on display and for sale) and he would let us ride the old mals from the shop. 


97

GEAR: SHAPER 

“I guess the appeal of the logs was because they were something 

different. You didn’t see anyone else riding them. That’s what made 

them interesting. Plus, when we started riding longboards, we didn’t 

want to ride oversized short boards (by this Thomas is referring to 

performance longboards). The other reason is logs suit the suit the 

waves here. 

“I grew up surfing the waves of Maroochy to Alex (Alexandra Headland) 

- so much board-building history in that part of the Coast. Rooster, 

McTavish, Pascoe, Les Purcell and Bob Cooper... Heaps of cats made 

boards and Noosa was their testing ground. That’s how I’m looking at 

it. No better way to test a log than on perfect waves. Now I surf more 

Noosa and Coolum, but still get a dose of Bluff now and again.” 

Whilst Thomas enjoyed riding these traditional style surfboards, it 

appeared no one at the time was actively shaping them. 

“I first started shaping logs ten to twelve years ago because no one 

was doing them. You couldn’t get a heavy single fin with a rolled bottom 

and round rails anywhere. Longboards were really only starting to come 

back and the focus was on performance longboards. 

“After high school I did three years of Uni studying a bachelorette of 

social work. I did a fair bit during that time with disadvantaged kids and 

just continued my shaping as more of a hobby.” 

When boardmaking turned from hobby to making a living. 

“I was shaping boards for myself. Then I started doing a few for some 

friends and that’s how I got started. I was initially glassing the boards, 

but they were a bit rough so I ended up getting them glassed by Paul 

Carson who owns The Factory in Moffat Beach. Next minute Paul 

offered me a job.” 

For Thomas it was the perfect opportunity to learn how to glass and 

shape from one of the most respected surfboard craftsman on the 

Sunshine Coast. 

“Paul was, and is, a perfectionist. In a way, that was good. When I first 

learned to do some polishes and stuff like that, I would say, ‘Yes, look 

how good this is’ and he would come in and say, ‘Fix that, fix this.’ It 

would shatter you. I think I was being paid $20 - $30 per polish, but they 

took me hours. I did get quicker at it. 

“I learnt so much from Paul. I had shaped before but had never had 

anyone telling me if I was doing it right or wrong. It was just trial and 

error. He gave me tips on numerous things like channels and so forth.” 

After four years at The Factory, Thomas took up a shaping bay at 

Hayden Surfcraft at Kunda Park. Steeped in history, the Hayden factory 

was just the place to further his development. 

“To be in a place where George Greenough and Bob McTavish did their 

thing is pretty cool. All the old templates are still upstairs. They have 

the same band saw they used in 1962. I was cutting out fins the other 

day and thinking, ‘Greenough used this same band saw to cut out fins.’ 

It is pretty amazing. 

“Because they (Hayden) are doing everything from surfboards through 

to the clubbie stuff you have access to all different types of material. 

You can use the coolite foam, epoxy and carbon fibre. “ 

As to his detractors, who dismiss Thomas because he is so young, he 

has already won so many of them over. 

“I’ve had a few old guys that have said ‘You can’t make longboards. You 

weren’t riding them when they were originally made.’ Of course I wasn’t. 

I wasn’t born then. But everyone has to start somewhere and I am just 

trying to do my thing. And now I’m winning a lot of the old guys over. I am 

shaping boards for them and their friends and their friends and so on... so 

I must be doing something right.” 

Thomas is incredibly humble. But then again, he can afford to be. His 

boards speak for themselves. They are all class. 

Photo: Keith Hamlyn fotosinnoosa.com 


SURFERS 

GARDEN 

Thomas’s surfboards are not only a little out of the ordinary, so is the 

way he lives his life. He lives in a surfers’ commune of sorts right 

near the beach, not far from Coolum. 

Together with a group of mates – Doc (Thomas Bexon), Little-man 

(Mark Sharp - Thomas’ key test pilot), surfersgarden (Thom O’Brien) 

and Jacob Stuth - live a life reminiscent of movies such as Morning 

of the Earth. The group document their every day on their blog site 

surfersgarden. Thomas explains their ‘Country Soul’ style of living. 

“I slid into it with a friend who already lived there. I was just lucky 

enough to move in with him. 

“It’s just a bunch of houses, all real close, without a fence in 

between. The set up is a group of good surfers living in the same 

area and on the same wavelength. 

“Out back of one of the houses we have this garden where we grow 

all our fresh fruit and veges. We go surfing and talk about the garden 

or cooking and stuff like that. Whatever we do, we tend to document 

it on our blog.” 

We discussed the advantages of living so close to the beach. 

“From the back of the house, we can see the water. We just open 

the door and there’s the surf. The house is cool but old. When it rains 

it leaks. When there’s a strong wind, you can feel the house moving. 

That’s ok though because it is such a good spot.“ 

As a blog, surfersgarden has a great deal more appeal than the norm. 

It’s littered with heaps of cool surfing pics, loads of Thomas’s boards 

and various other surf craft, along with some great recipes. It takes 

you away from the mundane of everyday life, perhaps even providing 

you with a chance to step back in time. 

Check it out at surfersgarden.blogspot.com 

DESIGN 

FOCUS In traditional logs 

and noseriders, for Thomas it comes down to rolled 

bottoms and rails. 

“What I am doing is a little bit different to the 

traditional longboards. My boards, in particular, 

have quite rolled bottoms. I found they work better. 

They’re just better for logging, stall-turns, sideslips, 

trim and good old-fashioned noseriding. 

“I have kept refining what I am doing. I am really 

happy with how my longboards perform now. I think 

after surfing them for so long and doing so many, I 

have worked out what really works when it comes 

to a traditional longboard. 

“A lot of my ideas are stolen off what they were 

doing in the late 60s in California and here in 

Australia. There was a pretty crazy progression 

in surfing history. A lot of the boards they were 

shaping had many great characteristics, but some 

aspects of their design don’t necessarily work in our 

waves here. They had noseriding wired, but some of 

the shapes just don’t cut it in hollower waves.” 

But why the love for rolled bottoms? 

“They are probably a bit harder at the start to ride. 

The board is a bit ‘tippier’. It’s not as stable but 

because of the roll, you get so much more control 

on the nose. You can stand on the nose and with 

your back foot shift your weight and fully change the 

direction of the board without having to walk back 

off the nose. They are a lot more manouverable. 

“With the rolled bottom and round rail, I have the deck 

flatter. This means the board sits flatter in the water. I 

am purposely slowing the board down so it is easier to 

noseride. I don’t want them to go fast. I mean you do, 

but just not too fast when you’re perched. 

“In addition, concaving the decks at the tail gets rid 

of volume and makes the boards a bit easier to turn. 

I also do not foil the fins in the traditional way. I am 

leaving them quite flat so you go slower. You want 

the board to hold when you are noseriding. 

“These design elements allow you to noseride in the 

critical part of the wave as opposed to out on the 

shoulder as you do with a performance longboard. 

You can noseride right in the pocket and stay there 

longer. It gives you a better feeling. 

STEPDECKS 

“I have been playing around with stepdecks a lot 

lately. They get rid of volume at the front of the board. 

This way you have a bit more rocker in the board. 

“When you are noseriding, because of the step 

and the fact the nose is thinner, the board flattens 

down quickly and you obtain trim quicker. Hence, 

the board takes off when you are noseriding. It just 

flexes more and gives you more control and is more 

fun. You can feel the bounce in the board. 

“You can run up the nose of the board and push 

it down and feel the board flex, flatten and speed 

up. That is the idea behind it. I think it works. One 

I recently shaped is the best board I have ridden in 

little waves.” 


99

GEAR: SHAPER 

The length of boards you are shaping? 

“In terms of logs, I am mostly shaping boards 

9’4 to 10ft. Even guys who are lighter, say 

around 75 kilograms, are requesting boards 

9’6 to 9’8 but just a little thinner. Just because 

they are logs they don’t necessarily need to 

be super fat and chunky. Some are only 2 3/8 

thick. In many ways it is not the size of the 

board that makes them work but the shape, 

particularly with regards to the rolled bottoms 

featured in my boards.” 

FINS “I am mostly making my 

own fins. I am looking at what delivers the 

most hold when noseriding. The real straight 

hatchet fins are good but they are a bit jerky 

through turns, they don’t flow. 

“The fins I am creating are…well, big. 

They still have rake and curve but with a 

real wide base. A real big tip as well. By 

having the curve instead of the straighter 

traditional hatchet fin, they are just that little 

bit smoother through turns. Instead of just 

being good for pivot turns you can flow your 

turns more. My fins also make you go slower 

- I do this purposely for noseriding. There’s 

more drag, making the board more stable for 

getting out on the nose. 

“Glassed-in fins are definately the go for my 

boards. I can do boxed fins, but because I 

shape the tail of the boards really thin for the 

last 6 or so inches, you can’t get the box far 

enough back without it popping through the 

deck. When I glass the fins, my rule is the tip of 

the fin sits in line with the tail of the board so 

the base of your fin only ends up about 4 inches 

from the back of the board. I find it just works.” 

What else are you doing? 

“I am shaping quite a fair number of twinnies, 

simmons and performance quads, hulls and 

eggs, as well as a few alaias, of late. 

“Everyone knows that Tom Wegener started 

the alaia thing. I was lucky to see a lot of what 

Tom was doing whilst working at The Factory. 

“When Tom started shaping the alaias, a lot 

of people just didn’t want to hear about it. 

But because Tom was so stoked and so into 

it, and persevered with it, I guess more and 

more people were willing to give it a go. I was 

one of them. Since then I have started playing 

around shaping various styles of alaias. 

“Alaias take you back. If you have been 

surfing for a few years, you know what you 

can do on a surfboard. But when you jump 

on an alaia, you start all over again. They 

develop your surfing by pushing everything 

you know out the window. 

“At the moment I am getting some one piece 

Paulownia blanks from a local guy in Maleny 

(Most blanks are made of several strips of 

wood. A one piece blank is very rare). That’s 

pretty exciting. I can’t wait to shape a few 

and test them out.” 

HAND 

PLANES “They give 

me something to do in summer when we cop the 

northerly winds up here. I used to use the scraps 

of wood left over from the alaias I shaped. At first 

they were just for me and my mates to muck around 

with but it’s surprising the amount of interest I have 

had with them. They have really taken off. I’m now 

having to order wood especially for them.” 

“Using Paulownia means you can get a lot of 

concave and shape to the hand planes. I have 

made varying lengths and even a few with pintails. 

It is amazing the difference you can feel with the 

various shapes. When the surf is crap, people can 

still go out and get stoked on them. 

“Take a pair of flippers and boardies and then drop 

in on your mates and just have fun. Four of you can 

catch one wave, ride on each other’s backs… just 

be stupid. It takes you back to being a kid again 

and you are all smiles.” 


THE BOARDS 

TRADITIONAL LOGS 

& NOSERIDERS 

Just like yesteryear but with 

a twist. Designed specifically 

for our conditions and to 

allow you to camp out on the 

nose all day. These boards 

deliver real speed when you 

are noseriding in the pocket 

and not just on the shoulder 

of the wave. 

PERFORMANCE 

LONGBOARDS 

Sort of self-explanatory. 

Performance longboards 

are suited to the surfer that 

wants to be able to combine 

tail surfing with noseriding. 

Usually glassed light to offer 

performance and maximum 

freedom from the tail. 

MIDLENGTHS & HULLS 

Suited to larger, more hollow 

waves midlengths feature a 

rounded pintail and a ‘two plus 

one’ fin setup with a big centre 

fin and small side ‘biters’. 

Hulls, with a super-flexi finger 

fin, slight rolled bottom and 

flat rocker haul arse down the 

line. Usually in the 7-8ft range 

allowing freedom to move up 

and down the board, these 

suckers are trim and glide 

machines that will take lines 

nothing else will. 

TWIN FIN FISHES 

The retro style of the fish 

is as popular as the cruiser. 

With plenty of area and trim 

capabilities, Twinnies are ideal 

for points or small to medium 

beach breaks. Loose, fun boards 

to ride. The more performance 

twins love a hollow wave, and 

then there’s the Simmons which 

will trim to your heart’s content. 

QUAD FIN FISHES 

Quads are more performance 

orientated than the twin 

fins, with extra drive and 

maneuverability. Quads are best 

described as a blend between 

a Twinnie and a Thruster, 

borrowing elements from both. 

Shape design depends on what 

type of waves the individual 

intends surfing. 

Retro, vintage, old-school... Call it what you like, but the design principles, styles and ideas of the past are as relevant today as they were 60 years ago, and modernised or 

reworked through the eyes and hands of master craftsmen such as Thomas Bexon guarantee they’ll remain that way for many, many years to come. 

“SHAPING IS LIKE SURFING... I’M SO STOKED ON BOTH” 


101

GEAR: FORUM 

“SURFBOARDS 

HAVE RISEN 

LITTLE 

MORE THAN 

AROUND $70 

IN SEVENTEEN 

YEARS” 

AUSTRALIAN MADE OR NOT, OR KIND OF... 

Our objective at smorgasboarder is to 

always encourage our readers to think for 

themselves by presenting a fully rounded 

perspective on issues that affect us as 

surfers. 

At present, there is no issue more topical, 

or indeed controversial, affecting the 

Australian surf industry than imported 

surfboards. 

The further we delve into the topic, 

the more we uncover a whole range of 

issues, all of which are intertwined. 

These are namely: 

ÌÌ 

ÌÌ 

ÌÌ 

ÌÌ 

ÌÌ 

ÌÌ 

ÌÌ 

ÌÌ 

ÌÌ 

ÌÌ 

Wholly Australian made boards 

vs. Australian shaped boards made 

overseas 

Traditional PU/ Polyester boards 

vs. EPS Foam/ Epoxy Resin boards 

Performance 

Their suitability to the beginners 

market 

The commercial viability of local 

Australian production 

Workplace health and safety issues 

Custom shaped boards vs. stock 

boards, albeit based on proven 

templates 

Free world trade vs. protecting 

Australian industry 

The hypocrisy of demanding cheap 

products but insisting they are 

Australian made. Is this a reality? 

Whether the same rules that apply 

to surfboards also apply to clothing? 

In investigating these issues we have 

determined it is not possible to cover 

such a complex subject in one small 

page. The issue raises so many questions 

for both the consumer and the surf 

industry itself. 

As a result we would like to open 

this discussion to you, our readers - 

Australian surfers - and invite comment 

from people from within the surf industry. 

We plan to publish these comments in an 

expanded editorial piece in our January 

edition of smorgasboarder. 

Firstly, what of the surfboards made 

wholly and solely here in Australia? 

A vast majority of talented Australian 

shapers, manufacturing surfboards in our 

country today, are struggling to survive in 

a less-than-perfect work environment. To 

be frank, many find it hard to make ends 

meet, working incredible hours just to 

scrape together some sort of a living. 

Most Aussie shapers do what they do for 

love not money and would be amongst 

some of the lowest, if not the lowest, 

paid workers in the country. 

A basic shortboard retails for between 

$650 to $700. The margin per board is 

about $200. If those boards are sold 

through retail outlets, the margin is close 

to $100 or less. 

Considering an average shortboard takes 

some ten hours to shape, that works out 

to be between $10 to $20 per hour the 

shaper is being paid for his or her time. 

At this point, it is important to bear in 

mind a shaper takes at least some ten 

years to develop their skill. 

Out of that $100 to $200 then comes tax, 

staff wages (if the shaper has any staff), 

and various other business running costs 

such as rent, plant and machinery etc. 

Despite this, we as consumers in the 

majority, want our boards cheaper. We 

want leg-ropes thrown in, deck grips, 

cheap board bags… oh, and wax too. 

That leaves next to no margin and the 

fact surfboards have risen little more than 

around $70 in seventeen years highlights 

the plight of many in the industry within 

Australia. That’s a price increase of less 

than 1% per year. Compare that to the 

increase in the cost of living and various 

products and services, particularly in 

relation to skilled trade services e.g. think 

of a plumber for instance. 

Then there are various types of imported 

boards, adding further pressure to an 

already price sensitive market. 

Australian designed surfboards 

manufactured overseas 

Overseas production has proved lucrative 

to some Australian shapers and delivered 

fitting reward for their years of service to 

the industry and product development. 

Are they not entitled to reap some return 

for all their hard work and innovation? 

Shapers such as Bob McTavish, Wayne 

Lynch, Mark Richards, Bill Tolhurst, Greg 

Webber and Phil Byrne and are now 

involved in the successful export of Tuflite 

surfboards to the Northern Hemisphere 

bringing in valuable export revenue into 

the Australian economy. Nev Hyman of 

Firewire Surfboards is also doing the 

same with new technology employed in 

the construction of his surfboards. 

One of the apparent reasons for the 

pursuit of offshore production is the 

transition from traditional Polyester 

Resin/ PU surfboards to EPS Foam/ Epoxy 

Resin construction. People in favour of 

offshore production would maintain it 

is not economically viable to produce 

surfboards utlising this new technology 

here in Australia. Proponents of this 

new technology would also argue Tuflite 

surfboards are far superior in their 

performance. That in itself is another 

point of contention. 

As with everything, there are always two 

sides to any story. We’re keen to hear 

yours. But please always remember, the 

beauty of surfing is that everyone has 

differing points of view; whether it be the 

type of board you ride, what it is made of 

or where it comes from. 

Send your thoughts and comments to 


102 nov/dec 2010

GEAR: BOARDS 

The King 

by Zak Surfboards 

Shaper: Zak Koniaras 

Dimensions: 

7’6” x 22” x 3 ¼” 

Ideal conditions: Summer 

slop to point breaks 

Ability level: Novice to 

intermediate 

Suits: 90kg+ 

Description: This big 

boys’ hybrid has plenty 

of volume over the chest, 

flat into vee bottom and 

double flyers to give 

you tanks a surfboard 

with plenty of float 

without compromising 

manoeurability. 

Construction: PU foam, 

polyster resin, 6oz bottom, 

10oz deck 

Fins: 5-fin setup 

Shaper comment: We 

are always playing with 

templates for the big boys 

and this shape has been 

a good seller over the last 

few years. It’s always hard 

to offer plenty of volume in 

a board and still keep the 

freedom of a shortboard 

without going to EPS. 

The Pea 

by Chaos 

Shaper: Jon McLeay 

Dimensions: Examples: 

5’6” x 19 ¼ x 2 3 /8 

5’10” x 20 1 /8 x 2 5 /8 

Ideal conditions: 1 - 5ft. 

Extremely versatile 

Ability level: Fun for all 

Description: Deep 

concaves under the chest 

keep it responsive and 

free under the front foot. 

Drivey as a quad and so 

smooth as a rounded pin. 

Great as a thruster in 

the bigger stuff if you’re 

willing. To be ridden about 

5 - 6 inches smaller than 

your shortboard and about 

1 /16 thicker , ¾ wider 

Construction: Stick with 

whats best works for you, 

and your pocket - PU 

Fins: Quad with the 

choice as a thruster 

Shaper comment: 

We’re experimenting and 

playing with our foam 

more than ever, creating 

you exciting new sticks. 

Support and believe in the 

art of hand shaping before 

it’s lost! Enjoy a pea today. 

King George Fish 

by Island 

Shaper: Greg Hogan 

Dimensions: 

6’5”x 20 ¾”x 2 ¼” 

(from 5’10’’ to 7’6’’) 

Ideal conditions: Small 

to medium, flatter and 

less than ideal waves 

Ability level: All levels 

outside of rank beginner, 

great progression board for 

beginner, must-have for the 

competent surfer to make 

the most of a surf when 

the waves are lacking. 

Description: A fish 

in a shortboard’s body. 

Pulled in swallow tail and 

relatively narrower nose 

than other fish allows high 

performance in better 

waves, but width around 

chest area gives paddle 

and planing ability. 

Construction: PU, glassed 

in combination 6oz and 4oz 

Fins: Tri or quad fin setup, 

Futures or FCS 

Shaper comment: Wave 

range, wave range, wave 

range. To perform when 

the waves aren’t, but if it 

gets a little testing, you 

can rely on this to get you 

in the spot you want to be. 

Blues Buster 

by COD 

Shaper: Paul Uscinski 

Dimensions: 

6’2” x 19 13 /16 ” x 2 9 /16 ” 

or customized to suit 

Ideal conditions: 1 - 6ft 

Ability level: Beg to adv 

Description: Heaps 

of drive and stability. 

Very maneuverable due 

to slightly more tail lift 

and responsive using a 

combination of a smooth 

rocker entry with single 

concave, flowing to double 

concave to vee in the tail. 

Extra drive and release of 

double flyers and swallow 

tail. Balanced thickness 

and accurate foil for a high 

performance feel. 

Construction: Hand shaped 

PU foam and polyester 

resins, 6 or 4 oz glass. 

Fins: 5-fin FCS system for 

quad, thruster or 5 fin setup 


Well balanced board for 

confidence in a wide 

range of surf conditions. 

Get up and plane quickly 

so you can catch heaps of 

waves. Supa fun!! 100% 

satisfaction guaranteed. 

Shortboard 

by Lee Cheyne 

Shaper: Lee Cheyne 

Dimensions: 

6’2” x 19 ¼” x 2 7 /16” 


Ability level: 

Novice to advanced 

Suits: 80+kg 

Description: This is a 

step down board with a 

deep concave under the 

front foot, into vee double 

concave through the tail, 

full curve outline with 

wide point 4” further back. 

The perfect board for 

those smaller days. 

Construction: Burford 

foam, Surf 9 4oz glass and 

Silmar resin. 

Fins: FCS 5-fin setup for 

the best of both worlds 


This style of board has 

awesome speed and 

it feels really light and 

responsive off the back 

foot. Available in most tail 

shapes! 

ZAK SURFBOARDS 

307 Victoria Road 

Thornbury VIC 3071 

Ph: 03 9416 7384 

Mobile: 0438 416 738 

zak@zaksurfboards.com 

zaksurfboards.com 

CHAOS SURFBOARDS 

1/236 Harbord Road 

Brookvale NSW 

Ph: 02 9907 2769 

M: 0410 707 079 

E: jon@chaossurfboards.com 

chaossurfboards.com 

ISLAND SURFBOARDS 

147 Thompson Ave, 

Cowes, Phillip Island VIC 

Ph: 03 5952 2578 

E: cowes@ 

islandsurfboards.com.au 


COD SURFBOARDS 

25 Kestrel Court 

Victoria Point, QLD 4165 

Ph: 0415 722 891 

paul@codsurfing.com.au 

www.codsurfing.com.au 

LEE CHEYNE DESIGNS 

19/48 Machinery Dr, 

Tweed Heads South 

NSW 2486 

Ph: 07 5523 3237 

lcdboards@gmail.com 

myspace.com/454626994 

tradewindsurf.com.au 


103

GEAR: BOARDS 

Flextail 

by Bushrat 

Shaper: Jed Done 

Ideal conditions: An allrounder 

to work from 1’ to 6’. 

Ability: Int to adv 

Suits: Custom-built for a 

good surfer about 6’3” and 

85kg, but can be built for 

any age, weight and size 

Description: A transition 

board for a conventional 

surfer making the 

progression to flextails. 

Construction: Single 

stringer PU blank, glassed 

in polyester resin with 7” 

flex tail glassed in carbon 

fibre and vinylester resin 

Fins: 4-Way Fin System for 

fine tuning the surfboard 

for rider after it’s built, with 

Z-fins for the extra flow 

and release off the top 

Shaper comment: These 

flextails have a negative 

tail rocker, which increases 

down-the-line speed and 

drive. Once tail is loaded 

in a turn it flexes to suit 

the arc in which you’re 

travelling, then springs back 

to a negative position at the 

apex of the turn giving the 

board continuous stored 

energy, which equals top 

end speed. 

BUSHRAT SURFBOARDS 

Merimbula NSW 

Ph: 0409 813 431 

E: jed@bushrat.com 

www.bushrat.com 

Blunt 

by Primitive Surf 

Shaper: Craig Rees 

Dimensions: (Above) 

6” x 19 ½” x 2 3 /16” 


Intermediate and up 

Suits: Different sizes 

Description: The Blunt 

was born when a long 

term customer came to 

me asking for me to make 

him a board similar to 

what Dane Reynolds had 

been riding. When it was 

finished it looked and felt 

insane. I realised that it 

was similar in the back to 

our Punt model... the Nose 

was wider and the rocker 

slightly different, but 

basically it was a tweaked 

Punt, hence: The Blunt. 

Construction: PU foam 

with polyester resin, 

vacuum bagged with 

carbon fibre rails. 

Fins: Thruster or quad 

Shaper comment: This 

board should be about 

2-3 inches shorter than 

your standard shortboard, 

the same thickness and 

an inch wider. 

PRIMITIVE SURF 

601 Nudgee Rd, 

Nundah, Qld 4012 

Ph: 07 3266 1001 

E: info@primitivesurf.com 

www.primitivesurf.com 

Flying Fish 

by Skipp Surfboards 

Shaper: Chad Ryan 

Dimensions: 

6’0”x 19 1 /8”x 2 5 /16” 

Ideal conditions: 1 - 5ft. 

Incredibly versatile 


Intermediate to advanced 

Description: Concave 

under the chest makes it 

responsive on the front 

foot, to double through 

the fins for extra squirt. 

Super-fast and loose, 

yet responsive in the 

small stuff. Extra width 

throughout board for good 

float. To be ridden 2-4 

inches smaller than your 

shortboard. 

Construction: Polyester 

construction, Standard or 

team glassing. 

Fins: Thruster, quad, or 

have it plugged for both. 


Experimentation is the 

go with my shapes at 

the moment - to create 

the most radical, yet 

functional surfboards. 

SKIPP SURFBOARDS 

FACTORY SHOWROOM 

24 Flinders St 

North Wollongong, NSW 


CITY SURF CENTRE 

231 Crown Street 

Wollongong City, NSW 

Ph: 02 4229 1202 

E: factory@skippsurfboards.com.au 

skippsurfboards.com.au 

The Munter 

by Zak Surfboards 

Shaper: Zak Koniaras 

Dimensions: 

6’4” x 20 ¼” x 2 5 /8” 


Ability level: Intermediate 

Description: An old 

80’s template revamped, 

this board flys! Single 

into double concave, low 

entry rocker, low to mid 

rails, single flyer swallow, 

everything to make this 

board handle sucky 

beachies to long point 

breaks. Plenty of volume 

over the chest makes 

paddling super easy. 

Construction: PU glassed 

with 6oz bottom, 10oz deck 

Fins: FCS or Futures - 

whatever you prefer 

Shaper comment: Super 

easy and super fast board 

to ride with plenty of float. 

Loves tight arc turns and 

and gives you plenty of 

release. 


307 Victoria Road 

Thornbury VIC 3071 

Ph: 03 9416 7384 

Mobile: 0438 416 738 

zak@zaksurfboards.com 

zaksurfboards.com 

Cuttlefish 

by Shotgun 

Shaper: Tully St.John 

Dimensions: 

5’7” x 19 ¾” x 2 ½” 

Ideal conditions: 2 - 5 ft 


Novice to pro 

Suits: All weights 

Description: This is 

the ultimate small wave 

weapon. Surfs really well 

on both beach breaks and 

points. We can customise 

to the person’s height 

weight and surfing ability. 

Construction: 

Stringerless or stringered, 

PU or epoxy 

Fin set-up: Thruster or quad 


board has a deep single 

concave and super loose 

plan shape. It also comes 

in a swallow tail or square. 

NOOSA SURFWORKS 

11 Bartlett St, 

Noosaville QLD 

Ph: 07 5474 4567 

E: info@noosasurfworks.com.au 

noosasurfworks.com.au 


GEAR: BOARDS 

Dynocore TM WD 

by Diverse 

Shaper: Dave Verrall 

Dimensions: Custom only! 

Ideal conditions: Smaller 

to average size days 

Suits: A performance 

surfer who wants a 

strong, user-friendly board 

Description: Made with 

DYNOCORE technology, 

incorporating a high tech 

fusion of fibres and foam. 

Construction: A fusion 

of four specialty fabrics 

combined in the right 

place to launch you out 

of turns and off lips, 

while remaining steady 

underfoot. The core is a 

tight beaded EPS foam 

without a stringer, opening 

the door to flex tuning 

with shape and fabric. 

Glassed with some of the 

most technicaly correct 

surfboard epoxy resin. 

Fins: Fin Solutions 3-in-1 

plug for strength and drive 

Shaper comment: A 

lightweight, durable 

custom surfboard with 

engineered flex return - 

creating it to feel just like 

a specially made pro’s 

board, but lasting like a 

surfboard should. 

Sweet, sweet music 

“I seemed to be able to generate speed and drive 

on this board without even trying. The board felt 

like it had what I would describe as good bounce 

or spring... a real lively feel. I could drive through a 

drawn out top turn or hook without losing momentum 

and without getting stuck in the lip. It had great 

release and it had more flex than other boards I’ve 

ridden, but in a good way. All in all, the board was 

extremely enjoyable to ride and I couldn’t fault it.” 

Isaac Paddon 

DIVERSE SURFBOARDS 

476 Gold Coast Hwy, 

Tugun, QLD 4224 

Ph: 07 5598 4848 

dave@diversesurf.com.au 

diversesurf.com.au 

Diverse Team rider and muso, Isaac’s seen here putting the Dynocore TM through its paces. If you’re lucky enough 

to be at the Kirra SurfStock Festival this year, you’ll also catch him headlining the entertainment bill on Saturday. 

Check out his music at www.isaacpaddon.com and for more on the festival, see www.kirrasurfstock.com.au 


105

GEAR: BOARDS 

The Slapper 2 

Frizzle 

by Islantis 

The Native 

Shaper: Grem 

Dimensions: 

6’2” x 21’’ x 2 ¾’’ 


beaches/reefs/pointbreaks. 

Ability: Novice to pro. 

Suits: All -available in 

custom from 5 - 7ft. 

Description: A blend of 

what works in a shortboard 

and in a fish to cater for 

the world class beach 

and reef breaks on Phillip 

Island. A performance fish 

style board with volume, 

and a little more flip in the 

rocker than Slapper 1. 

Construction: Ocean 

Foam hardcore blanks, FGI 

resins and Airilite cloth 

Fins: 3 or 5 fin, with 5 fin 

FCS/Futures most popular. 

Change your setup to surf as 

a Twinny/Thruster or Quad. 


Developed by demand! 

The original slapper was 

so popular that guys have 

been hassling us to create 

a quiver based on the 

original.Custom orders 

about 2-weeks. Demos 

available from shop. 

by Primitive Surf 

Shaper: Craig Rees 

Dimensions: (Above) 

5’10” x 19 ¼” x 2 3 /16” 


Intermediate and up 

Suits: Different sizes 

Description: Inspired by 

a need for our ding guy 

Frizzle to get a better 

performance fish type 

board that would go good 

in a variety of waves. 

It has a fish planshape 

with a wide round tail, 

best when kept thin with 

boxy rails. 

Construction: PU foam 

with polyester resin, 

vacuum bagged with 

carbon fibre rails. 


Shaper comment: Our 

Shop Manager Dale just 

came back from 2 weeks 

at Ulus and was raving 

about how it went in 4ft 

sucky waves. This board 

is now his go-to board for 

1 - 4ft waves. 

by Riley 

Shaper: Mark Riley 

Dimensions: 5’2’’- 6’8’’ x 

18 ½’’- 20’’ x 2 ½ - 3’’ 

Ideal conditions: ½ - 6 ft 

Ability level: Beginners 

to mature 

Description: A balsa 

skinned EPS foam core 

shortboard. The recycled 

EPS foam and the absence 

of a stringer create a 

significant reduction in 

weight bringing The Native 

to merely 3kg (excluding 

fins). The result is a high 

performance surfboard with 

far greater strength and 

durability than your regular 

polyurethane board. 

Construction: Balsa with 

EPS foam core 


Shaper comment: For 

summer and its small 

waves, The Native is a 

thruster thrasher for the 

larger or older generation 

who don’t want to go to a 

longboard or a fish – this is 

in between these. 

Fat Bat 

by More Surfboards 

Shaper: Mark Pridmore 

Dimensions: 

6’2” x 20 ½” x 2 ½” 

Ideal conditions: Typical 

Aussie beachies and points 

(tiny to a bit overhead) 

Suits: Everyone from 

older guys wanting a good 

paddler to less skilled 

surfers wanting stability, 

to rippers wanting a high 

performance semi-fish 

for small waves. Custom 

shaped to suit individual 

needs. 

Description: A semi-fish 

that can be surfed hard 

like a shorty but with all 

the speed and glide of a 

fish. The Fat-Bat comes 

from years of feedback 

and development - a very 

FUNctional and easy to 

ride board that makes 

surfing average waves 

extremely fun. 

Construction: PU - PE 

Fins: Quad FCS 

Shaper comment: Try 

one. You’ll see... 

Retro Fun Board 

by Paul Nichol 

Shaper: Paul Nichol 

Dimensions: 

Above - 7’ x 21”x 2 5 /8 

All sizes available 

Ideal conditions: 1-5ft 


Novice to experienced 

Description: A retro of a 

board I had as a teenager, 

just when shortboards 

were starting to happen. 

Stringerless semi-mal 

shape, flexible and 

more float, with a single 

concave which is quite 

deep. I always remember 

how great the original 

board was. 

Construction: PU foam, 

4oz glass, stringerless 

Fins: Thruster shown, but 

available in any setup 


fun board on waves you 

would not usually surf on 

a short board. 

ISLANTIS SURFBOARDS 

10-12 Phillip Island Tourist 

Rd, Phillip Island, Vic 3925 

Ph: 03 5956 7553 

info@islantis.com.au 



601 Nudgee Rd, 

Nundah, Qld 4012 

Ph: 07 3266 1001 

E: info@primitivesurf.com 


RILEY SURFBOARDS 

Ph: 0412 376 464 

E: mark@riley.com.au 

balsasurfboardsriley. 

com.au 

MORE SURFBOARDS 

Angourie Rd 

Yamba NSW 2464 

Ph: 0405 475 026 

moresurfboards.com 

PAUL NICHOL 

Sandon Point 

Bulli NSW 

Mobile: 0414 814 332 

acesolar@y7mail.com 


GEAR: BOARDS 

LB Fish 

by Grown 

Shaper: Andrew Wells 

Dimensions: 

5’10 x 21 ½ x 2 3 /8 

Ideal conditions: Small 

to medium waves. Great 

for summer days. 

Ability level: Int to adv. 

Suits: People who love to 

surf with style. 

Description: Plenty of 

width under the chest 

gives paddle power, and 

once up and running, it 

flies. With plenty of float, 

it easily skips over fat 

sections, maintaining 

speed and drive. Extra 

weight gives smooth flow 

in the water, letting you 

carve with pure style. 

Construction: Hollow 

timber construction from 

Paulownia and Cedar. 

Fins: Twins, keels or quads 

Shaper comment: A 

great small wave board, 

and one of my personal 

favourites. Individually 

hand crafted, these boards 

not only look great, they 

surf great and will give 

you years of enjoyment. 

Semi-hull 

by Thomas 

Shaper: Thomas Bexon 

Dimensions: 

7’2 x 21 ¾ “ x 2 ¾” 

Ideal conditions: Waist to 

a bit overhead 

Ability level: Anyone 

with an idea about trim. 

Suits: Competent surfers 

after alternative feel or 

just looking to cruise. 

Description: A semi-hull 

combining elements of 

displacement hulls, eggs 

and performance bottoms. 

Construction: Foam and 

fibreglass. Resin colours. 

Fins: Little side biters 

and flexi Greenoughinspired 

number in the 

middle. 


Combines trim and glide 

of displacement hulls but 

performance-inspired 

bottom shape in the back 

gives drive. Super fun 

in most waves. A little 

more friendly to those not 

up for the full hull deal 

Stroke in easy, move up 

and down the board and 

pull out smiling. 

Mini Simmons 

by Black Apache Surfboards 

Shaper: Jesse Watson 

Dimensions: 5’4’’ x 21 

¼”x 2 5 /8” 


beachies and points 

Ability level: Int to pro. 

It takes an understanding 

of flow to ride these 

boards well 

Description: A hull style 

entry that rolls into a flat 

through the middle with 

a deepish slot concave 

from the midpoint through 

to the tail. Long turns and 

super fast lines off the 

top are the norm. These 

boards epitomise speed 

Construction: This one 

is PU and polyester resin 

tint - brown pigment with 

a caramel nose dip. Also 

available in epoxy and 

carbon fibre. 

Fins: Custom, hand made 

simmons keels 

Shaper comment: This is 

THE board for the summer, 

everyone in the know is 

riding one. I guarantee 

your surfing will never be 

the same again. Seriously 

addictive. 

Aragorn #3 

by Underground 

Shaper: 

Steve ‘Zorro’ Goddard 

formerly of Aragorn 

Surfboards 1974-77 

Dimensions: 

6’3” x 20” x 2 ½” 

Ideal conditions: 2ft 

beachies to 5ft points 


Intermediate to semi-pro 

Suits: 30-80kg 

Description: A 

handcrafted modern 

version of the 80’s twin-fin 

that’s fast and loose. A 

good all-rounder, great 

for small to mid-range 

waves. Mid rails, V 

bottom with trailer. 

Available in 5”6 to 6”10. 

Construction: PU foam. 

Fins: FCS 


This board is designed 

to be surfed on the rail, 

responsive for those fast 

directional changes. 

The Tug Boat 

by Chris Garrett 

Shaper: Chris Garrett 

Dimensions: 

5’8’’ x 19 ¼”x 2 3 /8“ 


beachies and points 

Suits: Everyone... I’ll 

customise to suit you 

Description: Shorter, 

wider-assed and fullernosed. 

Slightly flatter 

rockered with a deepish 

single to double concave, 

exhausting with a hefty 

vee. Fuller tail gives plenty 

planing area between your 

feet, with the reactive rails 

make this work a treat. 

Plenty of spark off the mark 

and heaps of giggles. 


resin and fibreglass. 4oz 

bottom and 4x4 deck. PU 

Burford blanks. 

Fins: Best as a thruster. 

Choice of set or system 


fast and loose with plenty 

of rotation in the turns. 

Surprisingly versatile 

with a wide sweet spot 

makes this board your 

new favourite... and 

you’ve gotta love that!! 

GROWN SURFBOARDS 

Lennox Head 

PO Box 801, Ballina NSW 2478 

Ph: 0407889049 

sales@grownsurfboards.com.au 

grownsurfboards.com.au 

THOMAS SURFBOARDS 

PO Box 234 

Maroochydore Qld 4558 


Mob: 0412 131 491 

thomas_bexon@hotmail.com 

thomassurfboards.com 

black apache surfboards 

BLACK APACHE 

SURFBOARDS 

Ph: 0410 419 791 

E: blackapachesurfboards@ 

live.com.au 

blackapachesurfboards.com 

UNDERGROUND SURF 

3/31 McLean St, 

Coolangatta QLD 4225 

Ph: 07 5599 1040 

kirra@undergroundsurf.com.au 

undergroundsurf.com.au 

CHRIS GARRETT/ 

PHANTOM SURFBOARDS 

Ph: 0424 450 690 

E: blabla@ 

chrisgarrettshapes.com.au 

chrisgarrettshapes.com.au 


107

GEAR: BOARDS 

““Noseriding to roundhouses and 

rock ‘n roll floaters... it loves 

to do them all and more.” 

Paul Woodbry enjoying the fruit of his 

labour in Currimundi cream. Photo: DS 

THE WOODY’S MEGAFISH... HOW DOES IT GO? 

WORDS DAVE SWAN 

It’s easy to paddle. Can nose ride. Is as 

loose as a goose ... I mean really, really 

loose and goes like the absolute clappers. 

Few boards are so loose and so fast. I 

lined up a few sections and thought to 

myself, “I will never make it.” And before 

that thought had left my head, I was 

across the face and out on the shoulder. It 

is unbelievably, bloody quick! Especially 

for a board of its dimensions. Really, really 

quick and so easy to turn. 

The Megafish as it is now known, was 

initially called the ‘What the’ and the 

‘Bitzer’ and fittingly so. It’s only 6’6, has 

an extra, extra wide nose and a tail so 

narrow, it is less than 12 inches where 

you place your back foot. It resembles a 

massive tear drop. Now sure, there may be 

boards with a similar plan shape but not to 

this extreme. It’s like your widest noserider 

combined with a gun. It works like a 

shortboard but has longboard capabilities. 

Monkey magic. Photo: MC 

Confused? Well it works. 

For average surfers, such as myself, it’s so 

exciting when a board makes you feel so 

much better than you really are. I actually 

felt like I could surf on this thing. It’s a 

hell of a lot of fun and is superb for surf 

slop, the kind of conditions that plague 

the Sunshine Coast at this time of year. It 

generates such a lot of speed in ordinary 

conditions. 

By comparison, I took out another board in 

similar conditions, a 5’10 fish, and couldn’t 

get it going. I dropped off the back of the 

waves. On a 9’4 longboard the conditions 

were too choppy. The Megafish was the 

deal. And whilst it loves slop, it also 

handled a dumping 5ft beach break later 

that week. 

After testing it in a variety of conditions 

over the last month it is probably time to 

give it back. Fat chance! 

Megafish 

by Woody’s Surf 

Shaper: Paul Woodbry 

Dimensions: 

6’6”x 22 5 /8” x 2 5 /8“ 

Ideal conditions: ½ - 6 ft 

Suits: Beginner to Pro 

Description: If you have 

a longboard but would 

like to ride something 

shorter with the same 

ability to flow, or you’re a 

shortboarder who wants a 

“never miss a surf” board. 

Single concave running to 

flat near tail, mid rails with 

a 2 + 1 fin set up. 


resin and good old PU blank 

Fins: Finbox + FCS 


was created to fill the void 

when the surf was too 

small for a shortboard, 

but if the waves picked up 

you didn’t need to change 

boards to accommodate. It 

fits in the car so you don’t 

have a storage problem if 

surfing another board. Just 

a whole lot of fun wrapped 

in fibreglass. 

WOODY’S SURF 

6 Arilla Street 

Wurtulla QLD 

Ph: 0408 763 541 

Email: woodyssurfdesigns 

@hotmail.com 


GEAR: BOARDS 

Stealth 

by Laguna Bay 

Shaper: Tully St.John 

Dimensions: 7ft to11ft. 



Beginner to pro 

Suits: All shapes and sizes 

Description: This 

is a great all round 

paddleboard, deck 

concave gives it a great 

amount of stability and 

entry concave and nose 

area makes it easy to 

paddle out through the 

break. 

This board is the all in 

one, turns out of the tail 

well and is great for nose 

riding, it’s an easy board 

to surf. 

Construction: Epoxy 

construction, comes in full 

carbon or all over pigment. 

Fin set-up: 2t1 or 4t1 


Procrastination is the 

thief of time get one on 

order today, you won’t be 

disappointed! 

Stepdeck 

by Thomas 

Shaper: Thomas Bexon 

Dimensions: 

9’8” x 23 ¼”x 3” 

Ideal conditions: Logging 

waves, anything under 

head high, ideally peeling 

points or clean beachies 



logger. Anyone after fun. 

Suits: Around 75 - 85kg. 

All boards made to measure 

Description: Stepdeck 

noserider, with step to 

reduce volume, increase flex. 

Construction: Layer of 

6oz and a layer of 7 ½ oz 

both sides, this is built to 

last. All colours done in 

resin. Glassed on fin. 

Fins: One big red one 

fixed right on the back 

Shaper comment: a full 

blown trim and noseride 

machine, these are tried 

and tested in some of 

the best logging waves 

around. An experiment in 

design where they left off 

when Bob and co started 

sawing noses off and not 

standing on them. 

Super Tuna 

by Wegener 

Shaper: Tom Wegener 

Dimensions: 

8’ x 20” x 2.5” 

Ideal conditions: Small to 

medium waves 



Suits: Adventurous spirits 

after a different glide 

Description: The 

Super Tuna is a limited 

edition board of 10 only, 

beautifully handcrafted by 

Tom Wegener. The boards 

are $2000, and there are 

only a few left. 

Construction: Hollow, 

Paulownia wood with 

red cedar rails and 2mm 

plywood overlay on deck. 

Shaper comment: The 

ultimate introduction to 

finless surfing for the 

mature surfer. Fun and 

easy to ride in small to 

medium surf. 

Performance Mal 

by Island 

Shaper: Glyndyn Ringrose 

Dimensions: 

9’1”x 23 ¼”x 2 7 /8” 

(From 7’6” up) 

Ideal conditions: 

All round conditions 


Intermediate to advanced, 

can be tweaked to suit 

beginners. 

Description: Extra 

tail flip, lower rails and 

heavy single into double 

concave gives run into 

the flats, but allows high 

response in the turn 

when back on the tail. 

Construction: PU, 

glassed combination of 

6oz and 4oz to customer’s 

preference. 

Fins: Glass centre box 

fin, optional stabilisers 

(FCS or Futures) 


The model ridden by 

Sandy Ryan in his three 

consecutive Victorian 

Mal Championships and 

also when he’s tackling 

some of Victoria’s 

heaviest reef breaks. 

High Performance Log 

by High Tide 

Shaper: Jordie Brown 

Dimensions: 

9’2 x 22 ¼” x 17 ¾” x 14” x 2 ¾” 

Ideal conditions: Waist 

high to well overhead. 

Suits: The logger 

wanting something a 

little more progressive 

without compromising on 

momentum and glide. 

Description: Based 

around a subtle threephase 

rocker, combined 

with a single concave in 

the nose running thru to 

a rolled vee bottom, this 

board noserides, trims and 

performs off the tail. 

Construction: Slightly 

weightier 6-oz glass 

job than your average 

performance longboard. 

Available with a full polish 

or a wet rub finish. 

Fins: Works great as a 

single fin or with a 2+1 

Shaper comment: The 

perfect stick for the surfer 

chasing a longboard to 

make the most of a variety 

of different waves and 

conditions without losing 

the style and flow of a 

traditional board. 

NOOSA SURFWORKS 

11 Bartlett St, 

Noosaville QLD 

Ph: 07 5474 4567 

E: info@noosasurfworks.com.au 

noosasurfworks.com.au 

THOMAS SURFBOARDS 

PO Box 234 

Maroochydore Qld 4558 


Mob: 0412 131 491 

thomas_bexon@hotmail.com 

thomassurfboards.com 

TOM WEGENER 

SURFBOARDS 

108 Cooroy, QLD 4563 

Ph: 0401 257 479 

info@tomwegenersurfboards.com 

tomwegenersurfboards.com 

ISLAND SURFBOARDS 

147 Thompson Ave, 

Cowes, Phillip Island VIC 

Ph: 03 5952 2578 

E: cowes@ 



HIGH TIDE 

SURFBOARDS 

Skenes Creek, Vic 3233 

Ph: 0401 437 392 

hightidesurfboards@hotmail.com 

hightidesurfboards.com 


109

MARK PRIDMORE 

JORDIE BROWN 

CHRIS GARRETT 

STUART CAMPBELL 

CRAIG HEATH 

TONY DEMPSEY 

DAVE VERALL 

JON MCLEAY 

CRAIG REES 

PHIL BYRNE 

MARK RILEY 

JESSE WATSON 

DAVID EVANS 

PAUL NICHOL 

JOHN “ROBBO” ROBERTSON 

THESE HANDS HAVE SHAPED 

TULLY ST. JOHN 

CHAD RYAN 

JED DONE 

THOMAS BEXON 

ADAM “SPARROW” FLETCHER 

NOW THE FUTURE RESTS IN YOURS. 


GREG HOGAN 

LEE CHEYNE 

PAUL USCINSKI 

RODNEY DAHLBERG 

ANDREW WELLS 

PHIL PEPPER 

MICK CARRABINE 

STUART D’ARCY 

GLYNDYN RINGROSE 

WAYNE LOWEN 

JOHN SKIPP 

MARCUS GRAY 

SAM PARSONS 

MICHAEL DI SCIASCIO 

JADE ROBINSON 

OUR SURFBOARD INDUSTRY. 

PAUL CARSON 

YASU NAGAMI RALPH RIDDELL PAUL WOODBRY 

MAURICIO GILL 

SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL SHAPER 

These images represent only a handful of the dedicated craftsmen working as 

shapers in the local surfboard industry, and they represent years of experience 

and knowledge. Before you buy your next board, make sure you talk to your local 

surf shop or shaper about what is right for you. 

PROUDLY SUPPORTING THE PEOPLE KEEPING US IN THE WATER 


111

GEAR: PROJECT 

FINLESS FRONTIER 

Although the idea of finless boards is far from a new 

concept, the acceptance and willingness to give these 

ideas a go, using modern surfboard manufacturing 

technology, has really grown in recent times. With 

one of the most prominent proponents of finless craft, 

Tom Wegener, just launching his Seaglass - a foam 

version of the traditional Alaia - interest in finless 

boards has never been more intense. 

When we dropped in for a visit at Richard Harvey’s 

gallery and surf shop in Miami on the Gold Coast, 

we were keen to hear about his experiments in the 

same arena. 

“PEOPLE HAVE BEEN RIDING 

MY BOARDS FOR TWENTY 

YEARS AND HAVEN’T 

NOTICED, BECAUSE IT ALWAYS 

LOOKS RIGHT WHICHEVER 

WAY IT’S AROUND” 

ENTER THE DOUBLE ENDER... 

Inspired by weight-distribution concepts Richard 

learnt in snowboarding, he began experimenting 

with the idea of a finless board that would be a little 

easier to paddle than a traditional Alaia, and would 

also be easy to ride in either direction, off either foot. 

At only 5’5”, the Double Ender features a nose and 

tail rocker, and a centre concave. 

“The idea is that when you’re riding it backwards, 

it has a bit of rocker in the tail, so it’s not going to 

push… If boards are square across the back, they 

push water. You can spin them around, but you can’t 

ride them backwards. “ 

But with the Double Ender’s symmetrical design, 

you may as well forget about which way’s front and 

which way’s back. 

“It matches my logo...” says Richard. (If you haven’t 

picked it up, the Harvey logo reads the same, any way 

you look at at it... Sneaky.) “People have been riding my 

boards for twenty years and haven’t noticed, because it 

always looks right whichever way it’s around.” 

Another interesting aspect of the board is it doesn’t 

need waxing, thanks to a process of creating grip 

borrowed from the 70’s. 

“It’s like an hexagonal fabric. We lay it in, and then 

peel it off. Then when you foot gets wet, your skin 

goes soft and it grips. It’s really solid” 

So, the all important $700-or-so question... Does it 

work? Check out our we-test-as-many-things-as-wecan 

edition, due out in January, when we take it for 

a little ride. 

For more on Richard and his work, see his website - 

www.harveysurf.com - or visit the gallery in person at 

3/10 Pacific Avenue, Miami. 

The Harvey Double Ender 

5’5 x 20 ½ x 2 ¼ centre, 2 ¾ rails 

Centre concave is 7 /8” deep 

Bio-kentic non-wax deck 


Why 

STRAIGHTBOARD... 

...when you can 

carve like a surfer?! 

THE PENNY DROPS 

Well, well... for those of you who haven’t spotted 

them back on the shelves yet, this little plastic 

moulded beauty is a blast from the past, for sure! 

The Penny is an extremely cool re-issue of the 

original 1970’s style plastic boards, and in all the 

bright colours you may remember. 

Personally, I had a lumo-lime green one, back in the 

day when having a colour TV at home made you the 

coolest friend to hang out with and only one of your 

parents had to work. I still have no idea how I never 

ended up in hospital doing downhill runs on this 

glorified rollerskate... 

Anyway, for nostalgia sake, or for a compact board, 

or just to look retro and arty-cool, check out the 

Penny. It’s like Barbie Girl fantastic. 

See your local shop or for pics and info see 

www.absolute-distributors.com/penny/ 

Designed for 

surfing, the 

SmoothStar 

Thruster system 

allows the front truck 

to move horizontally 

and vertically, 

transforming the 

way a skateboard 

handles... 

Improve your 

surfing and stay stoked 

between surfs! 

SMOOTHSTAR IN ACTION 

Smoothstar have just released a brand new video on 

their YouTube channel, featuring young team riders and 

junior surf champs Laura Enever and Jordan Lawler. 

The video is worth watching to get a good idea of how 

the boards work and how these two feel it improves 

their surfing - which most of us would like to do! 

Check out this clip as well as a good few others on: 

www.youtube.com/user/SmoothStarSurf 

TURN EASIER 

You can control your 

speed by carving 

from side to side. 

SKATE SAFETY FIRST 

Early Skateboards have just released a new safety 

pack they’re calling the Gnarkit. Now before you 

poo-poo the idea of pads and gloves, remember that 

Early make skateboards specifically for ridiculously 

fast downhill racing, so when you’re sliding around 

corners at speeds of 80km/h, every bit of padding 

helps if you and the board part ways. 

We’re super-excited to be road-testing the Arift in our 

next edition, so get the band-aids and Dettol ready. 

Early Skateboards are known on a pro-level for high 

quality and performance but are also very good 

for beginners who want to try the sport out at an 

affordable price. More information? See the website: 

www.earlyskateboards.com 

TURN TIGHTER 

than any normal 

skateboard and 

work speed into 

the board without 

pushing. 

SmoothStar is 

available in 3 sizes, 

for a different ride 

and for different 

sized riders. 

The Gnarkit (above) retails for just over 

$150 and the Arift board (right) goes 

for less the $300 as a complete board. 

SKATEBOARDS DESIGNED FOR SURFERS 

For more information, call 0407 405 390 

or visit www.smoothstar.com.au 


113

TM 

TEAM RIDERS 

Owen Wright 

Tyler Wright 

Bede Durbidge 

AUSTRALIAN DESIGNED & TESTED 

ELECTRICDIVISION 

FIIKSKATEBOARDS.COM

FUTUREISINKNOWLEDGE 

LITHIUMPOWER • ABSREGENERATIVE • WIRELESSREMOTE 

REMOTE 

$ 799 

$ 1450 

DIVISION 

600w 

LEAD ACID LITHIUM 

POWER N N N N N N N N 

TURNING N N N N N N N N 

ACCELERATION N N N N N N N N 

SPEED 

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RAGER 

400w 

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$ 699 

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Stockist Enquiries - 1300 344 575 

QLD Stockists 

Beach Beat - Alexandra Heads 07 5443 2777 

Beach Beat - Caloundra 07 5491 4711 

Beach Beat - Dicky Beach 07 5491 8215 

Darkside Skateboards - Miami 07 5570 1526 

Goodtime Surf - Woolloongabba 07 3391 8588 

Hurley Burleigh - Southport 07 5531 0013 

KTM Action Motorcycles - Nerang 07 5596 6622 

KTM - Brisbane 07 3386 0977 

Local Knowledge - Noosa 07 5474 1222 

Local Knowledge - Nobby Beach 07 5526 6377 

Primitive Surf - Nundah 07 3266 1001 

Roar Industries - Currumbin 07 5525 7003 

Surf Connect - Brisbane Nth 07 3137 0500 

NSW Stockists 

Aloha Manly - Style Manly 02 9977 3777 

Bay Action - Byron Bay 02 6685 7819 

Coopers Surf - Coffs Harbour 02 6652 1782 

Coopers Surf - Jetty 02 6652 8146 

Core Surf Store - Nowra 02 4421 4108 

Coopers Surf - Park Beach 02 6652 5466 

TM 

Coopers Surf - Town 02 6652 6369 

Coopers Surf - Toormina 02 6658 8988 

Coopers Surf - Woolgoolga 02 6654 0033 

Dripping Wet - Bondi 02 9300 0056 

Dripping Wet - Manley 02 9907 2911 

D.S.C. Surfboards - Narooma 0424 867 962 

Kirra Surf - Coolangatta 07 5536 3922 

Kuta Lines Red - Head Beach 02 4946 0555 

Line Up Surf - Dee Why 02 9971 8624 

OceanFire - Belmont 02 4945 8055 

Port Surf Skate - Shoal Bay 02 4981 5755 

S-cape - Byron Bay 02 6680 8299 

Salt Water Wine - Forster 02 6554 7979 

Salt Water Wine - Port Maquarie Gordon Street 02 6584 4877 

Salt Water Wine - Port Maquarie Port Central 02 6584 1600 

Salt Water Wine - Port Maquarie Settlement City 02 6583 6960 

Salt Water Wine - Tamworth 02 6766 7799 

Salt Water Wine - Taree 02 6552 3778 

Skater HQ - Moore Park 02 9976 3780 

Skipp Surfboards - Wollongong 02 4229 1202 

South East Mountain Biking Co. - Thredbo 02 6457 6282 

Surfection - Bondi 02 9369 5990 

$ 799 

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Surfection - Manly 02 9977 6955 

Surfection - Mosman 02 9969 1011 

Tathra Beach and Bike - Tathra 02 6494 4257 

SA Stockists 

On Board - Glenelg 08 8294 3866 

On Board - Port Noarlunga 08 8382 6729 

Momentum Skate Shop - Claremont 08 9384 2427 

VIC Stockist 

Mordy Surf - Mordialloc 03 9580 1716 

Katani St - Kilda 1300 52 8264 

Zak Surfboards - Thornbury 03 9416 7384 

WA Stockist 

Momentum Skate Shop - Claremont 0412 522 499 

Momentum Skate Shop - Fremantle 0412 522 499 

ACT Stockist 

Trilogy - Tuggeranong Hyperdome 02 6293 9636 

Shifty’s - Canberra 02 6262 9162

SKATE: MOVIE 

IT’S ALL DOWNHILL FROM HERE 

Passion, pain and pads - for your knees and elbows that is. Skate Australia is a locally produced documentary DVD 

on the Australian longboard skating scene - a less publicised but extremely exciting offshoot of the wheeled board 

family. But the making of this film exacted a high price. WORDS MARK CHAPMAN 

The 35 minute “Longboard Road Trip of Discovery” 

produced by Dampling Productions in Byron Bay 

started as an exciting project amongst friends 

in Brisbane that was to chronicle a trip through 

Australia, showcasing longboard skating and 

covering all aspects of the emerging sport, 

including slalom, sliding, dancing and of course the 

big event - downhill. 

Unfortunately, tragedy struck the production when 

in August 2009 Anthony Fricker, the originater of 

the idea and director of Skate Australia, died due 

to a head injury he received in a skateboarding 

accident during the filming of this documentary. 

At only 22, the unexpected death of the enthusiastic 

young filmmaker sent shockwaves through the 

skating community and stunned family and friends. 

News of the event spread quickly across the internet 

as tributes appeared on skating websites such as 

the Australian Skateboard Racing Association. 

Swedish twin brothers Jonatan and Sebastian 

Lundmark had been working with Anthony on 

the project and committed to completing the 

documentary with the footage they had available. 

A year of production time later, the tribute to their 

late friend is complete and gives a fascinating 

insight into the culture, people and environment of 

extreme skating in Australia. 

We asked Sebastian about the production... 

“A MAD-DOG ADVENTURE TO SKATE 

THE CLIFFS, HILLS, TOWNS AND BIG 

CITIES OF AUSTRALIA'S EAST COAST” 

How do you feel, with the project completed? 

“It is a big relief since it has been such a personal and 

emotional production. Really excited to get it out to 

the public, spread the good times and stoke that was 

captured on film during the six month road trip.” 

Has Anthony’s accident affected how you see 

skating as a sport and/or hobby? 

“There are always dangers involved with action 

sports, you get out there to do something you love 

in the safest possible way. Longboard skating 

is a fairly safe sport, it has a lot less accidents 

then normal short board skating. Anthony is one 

of a handful of people that have passed away 

while downhill skateboarding, the first person 

in Australia. I still get as much joy and fun from 

skating as I used too. 

Anthony’s death was a real eye opener for me. Life 

is precious - too short not to live it to the fullest 

and make the most out of it.” 

Are there more movies planned for the future? 

“Travelling, action sport and filmmaking are the 

biggest passions in my life, so combining them all 

is a pretty good recipe. Byron Bay will be my base 

for the coming years where I have just started my 

new production company Rest Your Eyes. 

“We have two new documentaries in the pipeline 

that are in pre-production right now. We will also 

continue doing music videos and commercials. 

Where is the movie available from? 

“Skate Australia is for sale at our website www. 

skateaustralia.com.au and there will be several 

screenings down the east coast of NSW. On 

November 26 there is a screening at the Newtons 

Nation festival in Bathurst, where there will also 

be a downhill skateboard competition on the Mt 

Panorama racetrack with riders hitting over 100km 

down the track! It will be an awesome weekend!” 

SKATE AUSTRALIA DVD 

Travelling from the beach to the bush 

down the Australian east coast, the 

film is packed with amazing footage of 

leather-clad and helmeted skaters reaching speeds 

of up to 100km an hour, but it also goes further 

into the friendships formed and the fun of being on 

the road with good mates. 

Set to a great soundtrack, there are fun scenes of 

parking lot runs, coverage of the Beat The Beast 

charity event in North Queensland... And what 

skate movie would be complete without being told 

off by the police at least once? 

Focused not on loss, but rather on the enjoyment 

and fun of skating, the movie has been finished in 

the spirit it was started - with a whole lot of love 

and excitement for boards on wheels. 

A seven-minute tribute to Anthony - Steep Descent 

- is also included as a special feature. 

As an introduction to a style of skating you may 

not be familiar with, or just as a feelgood skate 

movie, this just needs to be seen. 

For more info, see the website: 

www.skateaustralia.com.au 


History... 

A little bit of 

CLOSEOUT: HISTORY 

CHINA GILBERT R.I.P. 

SOUTHERN SURF LEGEND PASSES AWAY 

Victorian surfing recently lost one of its greatest characters 

with the passing of Rex “China” Gilbert at age 86 on 

September 28, 2010. 

China was Victorian board champion from 1948 to 1951, 

with he and Vic Tantau dominating the board competitions 

in the decade following the second World War. 

First joining in 1947, China was the longest serving 

member of the Torquay Surf Life Saving Club, his 

enthusiasm and creativity coming to the fore with off beat 

activities such as the “Galah Awards”. He also acted as 

caretaker for 20 years from 1980-2000. 

China was part of the notorious “Boot Hill” mob and the 

“D’s” who’s parties and shenanigans have become part of 

Torquay folklore. Over the years China’s life has become 

woven into the complex surfing tale of Torquay, and his 

character integrated into the cultural fabric of the town. 

A public memorial for China was held at the Torquay Surf Life 

Saving Club on Saturday the 6th of November at 2.00pm. 

Craig Baird, Torquay Surf World 

Terry Fitzgerald,1970 World Surfing Titles 

EXPERIENCE 

THE REVOLUTION 

Simon Buttonshaw 

If you happen to be in Torquay, make some time to check out Revolution, 

which opened in September. Running through until March, the exhibition 

showcases the surfers and the stories from the 1970 World Surfing 

Championships held at Bells Beach and features spectacular images, 

vintage surfboards and rare and previously unseen footage of 70’s surfing 

at Bells Beach and Johanna Beach. 

Well worth a look around for this, and the many other permanent exhibits. 

Open daily from 9am-5pm at the Surf World Museum, Beach Road, 

Torquay. For more about the museum, visit www.surfworld.org.au 

Above: The smiling China Gilbert as 

he’ll be remembered by his mates. 

Right: Long boards at attention on 

Torquay Beach, 1947. From left: 

Unknown, John Allan, Barry Patten, 

Ken Harris, BiU Bennett, Peter 

Bennett, Reg Gray, Dick Garrard, 

Keith Putt, Frank Inness, unknown, 

unknown, “China” Gilbert and 

Eric Knight. 

60’S LEGEND BOBBY BROWN 

HONOURED ON GOLD COAST 

Surf World Gold Coast in Tomewin Street, Currumbin opens a special 

exhibition dedicated to surfing legend Bobby Brown on November 11, 2010. 

Timed to coincide with the Kirra Surfstock Festival, the 

exhibition will celebrate the life of a surfing enigma and his 

significant contribution to the classic sixties era of surfing. 

Ranked alongside Midget Farrelly, Nat Young and 

Peter Drouyn as one of the best surfers of the 

1960’s, Brown was only 17 when he qualified for 

the final of the first World Surfing titles in 1964 

won by Midget Farrelly. 

His short but impressive surfing life featured in 

movies like Bob Evans’ 1963 “Young Wave Hunters” 

and Paul Witzig’s 1967 groundbreaking movie “Hot 

Generation”, both of which will feature in the exhibition 

alongside timeless surfing photos of Brown and others 

from the 1960s, archival movie footage, surfboards, 

clothing, surf magazines and newspaper clippings. 

The exhibition will also feature the impressive Perpetual 

Trophy, modeled on Jack Eden’s classic photo of Brown’s 

famous “soul arch” bottom turn at Sandon Point. 

The official opening night of the exhibition on November 

11 from 6.30pm is open to the public. Tickets are $15 and 

available at the door, or by phone (07) 5525 6380. 

See www.surfworldgoldcoast.com for more. 

117

GEAR:FASHION 

Seafolly Cyber Surfer seperates 

Photo: Supplied - Seafolly 

www.seafolly.com.au 


Baku Guam Photo: Supplied - Baku www.baku.com.au 

PERFECT FIT 

How do you go about choosing the perfect swimsuit 

that will be practical and sensible in the surf, but not 

make you feel like you’ve raided your nanna’s drawers. 

We asked Kent Ladkin of Natural Necessity Surf Shop 

in Geringong to give us his expert input. 

The dreaded time of year to buy your 

new cossies has arrived again. If you 

been blessed with the perfect body, 

then this will be relatively easy, but if, 

like most of us, when you look in the 

mirror, the voice doesn’t say,” You are 

the fairest of them all’, then this article 

may help. 

If the effects of gravity have not yet 

struck, and you are the same size 

top and bottom, then you may fit a 

regular bikini in your size. Otherwise, 

you will need to be fitted with a 

separate cossie. 

The beauty of separates is that there is 

that you can mix and match to create 

the perfect cossie for every woman’s 

needs. You have the opportunity to get 

exactly the right size in both bottom 

and top and in a shape which is 

tailored to your unique contours. 

If you are self conscious about your 

hips and thighs, then a boy-leg short or 

flattering, feminine swim skirt will do 

the trick. A smaller bust will be greatly 

enhanced by a moulded booster triangle 

top. If your tummy is not as flat as you 

would like, try a singlet with a floaty, 

flared body with power mesh under 

to hold you in. There are swimwear 

solutions to remedy every concern. 

Every woman is self-conscious about 

something, but in your quest to find the 

perfect cossie, you will need to accept 

and embrace the individual features 

that make your body special. 

For example: you have a DD bust. If 

you can accept that it might be more 

at home in a banded halter top with 

hidden underwire support, rather than 

a sliding string triangle, you are more 

likely to achieve success. 

That is not to say that your practical 

choice has to look any less sexy. On the 

contrary, when paired with a cute frilly 

pant or tie-side hipster, you will find 

yourself looking and feeling better than 

ever. You’ll be confident in the knowledge 

that your ample bust will be unable to 

escape when the first wave hits. 

Swimsuits designers have recognised 

the the growing popularity of surfing 

amongst women. Many designs today 

are both functional and fashionable 

featuring t-back, cross-back or action 

backs tops designed to provide support 

and stay in place whilst you surf. 

There are now so many styles to 

choose from. It’s just a case of talking 

to a trained professional who can 

identify what style is best suited to 

your body shape. 

Natural Necessity Surf Shop stocks 90 

ladies swimwear labels and up to 4,000 

separates, 4,000 bikini sets and 600 one 

pieces through the summer season and 

has swimwear staff trained to assist you 

find the perfect swimsuit. 

Baku Chinchilla 

Photo: Supplied - Baku 

www.baku.com.au 

Ginja Isla Coco Photo: Supplied - Ginja www.ginja.com.au 


119

We just can’t help giving stuff away, so... 

GET YOURSELF A FREE 

dEcK GRIP! 

If you can’t get to a surf shop that stocks smorgasboarder, you’re 

worried that all the copies may be gone before you get there, or 

you’d just rather stay on the couch and wait for the mag to arrive in 

the mail, you can subscribe for the measly cost of just $18 for six 

editions. The mag is still free, but Australia Post like to get paid. 

To subscribe, simply go to www.smorgasboarder.com.au, click the 

button and go and wait by your mailbox. 

The firsT 10 people To subscribe 

each get a free smorgasboarder deck grip supplied by 

the friendly folks at Crosslink Traction in Byron Bay! 

www.SmORGASbOARdER.cOm.AU 


VALUEd AT 

$40 

For more information on 

Crosslink Traction and to 

check out their cool range 

of tailpads, visit 

www.deckgrips.com 

FILM 

SIPPING JETSTREAMS 

VAS ENTERTAINMENT (2009) 

 

Not a new movie, but we finally 

picked it up on our last trip and 

figured if we hadn’t seen it, there 

were plenty more who hadn’t either. 

Surf filmaker Taylor Steele’s latest 

offering opens up with the quote 

that encapsulates the movie within 

a few words: “The world is a book. 

Those who don’t travel read only 

one page.” 

With exotic scenes of snakecharmers 

and desert landscapes, 

the movie kicks off with a session 

of beautiful barrels in Morocco 

set to Massive Attack’s Angel and 

continues on to explore other less 

surf-exposed corners of the globe 

including Hong Kong, Italy Egypt, 

Barbados and more. 

Although there’s no shortage of 

incredible surfing, an all-star cast 

of surfers and amazing waves on 

display, this is far more than just a 

surf movie. Sipping Jetstreams is 

a beautifully produced travel diary, 

full of rich and colourful snapshots 

of the people and places the movie 

is set in. Context. We love context. 

Rather than just seeing beaches and 

boards, you really get a great feel for 

the countries visited and the great 

contrasts between life in the vast 

open spaces and cities on show. 

It’s always great to see some 

smorgasboarding in there with some 

fun skate scenes in Cuba... 

And even the SUPs get a quick look 

in, with the worlds most famous, 

original European stand up paddlers 

- the gondoliers of Venice - showing 

up in the Italian segment. 

Standout scenes? Chapter Four’s 

aerial shots give a different and very 

interesting perspective while dreads, 

palm trees, awesome waves with 

Kelly Slater and island tunes make 

the Barbados segment hard to top. 

Bonus features include a photo 

gallery of some of the incredible 

photography of the trip and a short 

film on the Bantul Kindergarten 

Project set in Jakarta after the 

Indonesian earthquake of 2006. 

There’s just enough of a taste of the 

world in here to have you reaching 

for you passport. 

“I’m just trying to read the whole 

book.” 

A limited version was 

released with a 300 page 

book full of great pics 

and handwritten journals. 

Worth checking out. 

MUSIC 

PROMISES 

Hopeless Sons 

PEE RECORDS 

 

Five tracks of raw and angry 

Queensland hardcore, featuring 

ex-members of Gold Coast 

metalcore boys Vices for Virtues 

and the drumming talents of 

Nic Lalot of southsiders Driven 

Fear. The combo guarantees 

you a heartfelt 15 minutes or so 

of detuned guitars, rock solid 

drumming, great gang vocals 

and frontman Zacca’s trademark 

throat-tearing. 

Regardless is a standout track, 

kicking off with Sick Of It All-like 

bassline and a great New York 

style two-step midsection. 

If you like your music heavy, this 

is perfect for a pre-surf hype-up 

in the car. Give it a spin. All gold. 

www.peerecords.com 

THE JEZABELS 

Dark Storm 

PHANTOM DOMESTIC 

 

Dramatic indie pop rock from 

Melbourne, the Jezabels mix a 

wide range of influences into 

this little EP which just hit #1 

on the local iTunes charts. The 

moody and beautiful vocals are 

reminiscent of Kate Bush and 

Tori Amos, layed over textured 

guitar and piano backing set to 

pretty enthusiastic drumming. 

Arty background tunes to class 

up your collection. Catch them 

on tour this November on their 

return from the USA. 

www.thejezabels.com

MUSIC 

BOOKS 

CLOSEOUT: RELAX 

JOHN BUTLER TRIO 

THESE ARE THE DAYS: THE MAKING OF APRIL UPRISING 

JARRAH RECORDS 

 

A year in the making, this DVD is an open and unique look at the life 

of the boys in the John Butler Trio, as well as an intimate, behindthe-scenes 

insight into the making of the 2010 April Uprising album, 

which achieved platinum status this September. 

A mix of music, interviews, horsing around and serious moments of 

reflection, the hour-long production takes you on a trip through John 

Butler’s Fremantle: the markets where it all began for him as a busker, 

through to his studio where the April Uprising was recorded. 

But it’s not called a trio for nothing. Drummer Nicky Bomba and 

bass player Byron Luiters also get their time on film, which between 

all the interviews and candid material truly conveys a sense of how 

the close-knit unit create such incredible and unforgettable tunes. 

A little bit of skateboarding footage brings some board cred to the 

disc and also shows that Mr Butler has talent in his feet as well as 

his vocal chords and fingers. 

If you’re a JBT fan, this movie would have to be part of your 

collection. If you’re not a fan yet, watching this DVD might very well 

sway you into becoming one. 

The only complaint... what’s with the cheap-arse packaging? But 

never mind - you don’t watch the box. And I guess it might be 

forgiven considering how cool the April Uprising CD’s package is. 

Good stuff. Get it. Watch it. Love it. 

PLANET SURF 

RYAN A. SMITH 

CAMERON HOUSE 

 

Travel. We love it. And this 176-page paperback book is all about it. Planet Surf is 

essentially a primer for pretty much most surf spots around the world. It touches 

lightly on each destination, giving select tips and highlights. Add in a few great 

photographs of barrels in destinations far beyond and it’s just enough to get your 

blood pumping and your passport itching to go. However, because the book - as the 

name suggests - covers the entire planet, deciding on where exactly to go on your 

next international surf trip will be the hardest choice. 

The section on Australia covers all the usual suspects and big-name breaks, as you 

would expect given the massive volume of surf spots to cover, but it’s also nice to see 

that lesser known - or at least less popular - international surfing destinations get a 

run too. Africa, Europe, America, Asia and beyond… it’s all in there. 

The travel sections are broken up nicely with extra segments of info on everything 

from surf history to surf-mobiles to boardshorts to big-wave riding, which keeps the 

book fresh and interesting throughout. 

Planet surf is neatly done with plenty of bitsy information for pick-up-put-down 

reading, and enough visual material to keep you flicking through for images alone. 

A good coffee table book for the aspiring surf traveller, or couch surfer. 

TRUNK JUNK #1 

TRUNK JUNK QUARTERLY PUBLISHING 

 

The first edition of new publication 

Trunk Junk Quarterly is a 100 page 

snapshot of some great quality art and 

photography, some surf, skate and 

music – with one of our favourite’s 

Isaac Paddon and The Tides album 

even making an appearance. The well 

designed, well printed mishmash of 

board culture in general with free 

stickers and a pull-out poster is 

delivered in a box – an overall package 

totally justifying the $15 price tag. (Hey, 

if you’re going to pay for a mag, you 

may as well get your money’s worth!) 

This will definitely appeal to fans of 

mags like Juxtapoz and people with an 

interest in art and design, but will also 

have a few gems for skaters and 

surfers. Good job. 

Oh and if you order it online, 

you get a free 46 page zine 

and what looks like some cool 

coasters. Stiffed. I didn’t get 

those… 

We’re looking forward to seeing the 

next quarter roll around already! 

trunkjunkquarterly.com 


121

25 years later... 

still flying high 

Cooper Griffin 

CLOSEOUT: FIRST AID 

IA 

SECRET SPOTS 

THAT YOU WANT TO AVOID 

Let’s not make this too scary. Surely a lifetime of the most 

sublime of pastimes is worth a few scars. But I’ll share a 

few tips to keep the scars small and the surfer surfing. 

We’ve been around long enough to know that the 

best boards mean the best performance, from beginner to advanced, 

from softboards to SUPs. That’s why we only stock the best. 

STOCKING ALL MAJOR LABELS 

Fullcircle, JS, Firewire, Chilli, Rusty, Hayden, Emery, DHD, Santa Cruz, 

Webber, Simon Anderson, McTavish, Superbrand, Stacey, Tokoro, 

Hot Buttered, GSI, Fibreflex & much more 

www.fullcirclesurf.com.au 

4-5 Vista Place 

Cape Woolamai VIC 3925 

03 5956 7453 

www.liquidgetaway.com.au 

115 Marine Parade 

San Remo VIC 3925 

03 5678 5873 

Surf SafariS Snorkelling tourS 

whale watChing SCeniC adventureS 

Pre Bookings essential 07 5326 1700 

Parkyn Parade, Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast, qld, australia 

WORDS BY DR. PETE KIRKHAM 

I have a regular clientele of seasoned 

surfers in my skin cancer clinic here on 

the Sunshine Coast. One thing that’s 

always interested me is that during a 

skin check, both my patient and I often 

focus on the same spots. I’ve had a fair 

bit of training and experience so it’s 

somewhat disconcerting that someone 

with no experience can manage this. 

It’s probably similar when a group are 

picking the best surfing spot for the 

day, sometimes you just sort of know. 

Whatever your level of expertise. 

It’s all about the one that catches the 

eye. Gut feeling. That doesn’t take any 

special training, just a good eye and that 

sixth sense. 

A melanoma doesn’t always look like 

what you’d expect a melanoma to look 

like but it does often look ‘dodgy’. Much 

more common skin cancers like basal 

and squamous cell cancers also often 

look and feel different. 

Everyone’s well versed in the change in 

shape, size and bleeding etc. as potential 

warning signs too. 

Areas I tend to check carefully in surfers 

are the lower legs, shoulders and the 

face, as these seem to be particularly 

vulnerable areas for basal and squamous 

cell skin cancers. 

Melanomas are often found in relatively 

non sun exposed areas. The number and 

type of moles and ‘big hits’ of sun early 

in life are both probably important risk 

factors for melanoma. 

Early diagnosis keeps everybody happy. 

A dedicated annual skin check does 

really help. In the meantime slip, slap, 

slop and get out there. 

Detecting melanoma. 

From top to bottom: 

melanomas showing 1. 

asymmetry, 2. a border 

that is uneven, ragged, 

or notched, 3. displaying 

coloring of different 

shades of brown, black, 

or tan and 4. diameter 

that had changed in size 

Photo: National Cancer 

Institute/Skin Cancer Foundation 

Dr. Pete Kirkham is a general 

practitioner at Nambour 

Medical Centre. 

www.skinclearclinic.com.au 


TENDON TO 

BE A PAIN 

YES, IT’S SURFER’S ELBOW 

WORDS BY JOHN HART 

CLOSEOUT: FITNESS 

John Hart is a qualified 

fitness instructor and 

personal trainer with a 

Masters in education who 

also writes books, trains and 

rehabiliates people, takes 

photos, directs movies and 

is always happy to share 

what he’s learned. 

It seems all sports like to claim Lateral 

Epicondylitis as their own specific sport 

injury, better known in the world of surfing 

as “Surfer’s Elbow.” However, you may also 

have heard this more commonly referred to 

as “Tennis Elbow.” 

So what is Lateral Epicondylitis (Surfer’s 

Elbow) and how can we prevent, cure or 

just plain fix it? 

Surfer’s Elbow is an overuse injury 

involving the extensor muscles that 

originate on the Lateral Epicondylar region 

of the Distal Humerus (Funny bone). It is 

more properly termed a tendinosis that 

specifically involves the origin of the 

Extensor Carpi Radialis Brevis muscle. 

Basically speaking, it is an overuse or 

inflammation injury. 

Whilst this injury plagues many sports 

people, about 40-50% of the surfing 

fraternity will suffer this type of aliment 

during their surfing years. It predominately 

inflicts overzealous, mad surfers who stay 

in the water for literally hours at a time. 

This ailment also affects tennis players 

and golf players. It is in fact a common 

problem. The injury involves inflammation 

of the Radial Humeral Bursa, Synovium, 

Periosteum and the ligament (connective 

tissue). There may also be some tearing 

of tissue. However, this would be rare in 

relation to those involved in surfing. 

If you have this injury you would present 

with lateral elbow and forearm pain 

exacerbated by paddling. The pain will also 

extend down the forearm and often occurs 

in recreational surfers between the ages 

of 30-50 years young. Other symptoms 

may include pain about 1-2cm down from 

the bony area at the outside of the elbow. 

Symptoms may include reduced strength 

in the wrist, (when trying to open the twist 

top of a beer after that long surf in the 

sun!) pains on the elbow itself and your 

fingers feeling stiff when you try and open 

your hand. 

To confirm whether you have Surfer’s Elbow, 

try the chair raise test. Stand behind a chair 

and attempt to raise it by putting your hands 

on the top of the chair back and then lifting 

it. If pain results over the lateral elbow, 

chances are that you have Surfers Elbow. 

About 95% of patients with the condition 

will respond to conservative treatments 

and will not require any surgical 

procedures. Surfers whose condition is 

unresponsive after 6 months of therapy 

(including steroid injections) may need to 

seek a surgeon’s opinion. 

MANAGEMENT 

& TREATMENT 

When the injury occurs, apply ice or coldtherapy 

to the pain region (the elbow) for 15 

minutes at a time. Repeat this 7 to 8 times 

a day. This will help to reduce the pain and 

any inflammation that may be present. 

Rest is also extremely important in the 

healing process. Rest is not something 

surfers like to do, however no rest will 

increase the problem and it will be present 

for a much longer period of time. 

You can also wear a support-brace to protect 

the tendon whilst healing and strengthening 

it, particularly when you return to surfing. 

These can be purchased from your local 

chemist shop or Sports Physiotherapist, 

whom can also advise on the best treatment 

for you. The brace should not be put on the 

painful area but placed approximately 10cm 

down the forearm. 

As with all soft-tissue injuries a 

comprehensive rehabilitation program 

should be carried out by your favourite 

Exercise Scientist or Physio. 


123

Jervis Bay Stand Up Paddle 

Lessons, Tours, Board Hire 

www.jervisbaystanduppaddle.com.au 

0403 354 716 

CLOSEOUT: LEARNERS 

FUN, NOT FIGHTS 

AVOID THE RAGE. 

IT’S REALLY NOT WORTH IT 

As Noosa’s Israel Kani - our feature interview on Page 26 will 

tell you from experience, it’s much more enjoyable to be in the 

surf without the hassle. So if you’re new to it all, here are some 

survival tips from Nigel Potts, Director of the Academy of Surfing 

Instructors to help keep you out of trouble. 

As surfing becomes more popular, the 

number of beginners continues to rise. 

More bodies and more surfboards means 

waves are more crowded and these 

conditions create the ideal breeding 

ground for “surf rage”. 

Inexperienced surfers often take waves 

without being aware of the “dropping in” 

rule. This rule governs who has priority 

on the wave. The surfer closest to the 

curl of the wave has the priority. 

Experienced surfers can catch a wave 

just as it starts to break and be up on 

their feet and riding quick as a flash. 

The inexperienced surfer, further along 

the wave, will then be in the way. Not 

only does this ruin the ride for the surfer 

riding on the wave, but it can also cause 

a collision to happen. 

The result could be serious injury and/ 

or board damage. This is definitely the 

biggest cause of a surf rage incident. 

But “dropping in” is not the only 

potential source of surf rage. 

Inexperienced surfers usually have little 

“ocean sense”. Rips and currents can 

easily drag a surfer out into the larger 

waves and in the way of experienced 

surfers. 

Beginners may also not understand 

the paddling etiquette rule and paddle 

straight into an experienced surfer’s path. 

Understanding more about surfing and 

the ocean is definitely required before 

getting out on a surfboard. Most sports 

need some level of theory before delving 

into the sport. Scuba diving, for example, 

requires people to understand something 

about their equipment and safety issues 

before going into the water. The same is 

true for surfing. 

Unfortunately, many people think they 

can just jump on a surfboard and do it. 

Because they have not bothered to learn 

more about their equipment, the ocean, 

surfing etiquette and safety, they become 

a potential danger in the water. 

Surfing is a great sport and surf rage can 

be avoided if everyone is a little more 

“surf educated”. 

We have three copies of the ASI Learn to Surf for 

Beginners manual and DVD to give away thanks to 

ASI. Tell us about your learning experience, or send 

us a photo at letters@smorgasboarder.com.au 

Academy of Surfing Instructors (ASI) is the world’s leading education and accreditation 

organisation in the surf industry, specialising in surfing, stand up paddle and bodyboarding. 

Instructional manuals and DVDs available for purchase. www.academyofsurfing.com 


BOOK REVIEW 

Dropping in, snaking, just being inconsiderate in general... it makes people cranky. Photo: Phil Burnham/Exposed Monkey www.exposedmonkey.com.au 

SPORTS WISDOM REVEALED: 

THE COACHES 

DAVID BECKER & SCOTT HILL (2010) 

 

To cut to the chase, there are a lot of books out 

there, particularly in relation to the field of sport, so 

why buy this one? It has differing points of view. 

Instead of some author’s all-knowing view on sports 

psychology, the book is a compilation of personal 

stories and success philosophies from twelve of 

Australia’s finest coaches. 

Phil McNamara, coach of two-time ASP world 

champion Mick Fanning, is one of the contributors. 

Readers will find his insights extremely interesting. 

It is essential reading for anyone involved in the 

development of junior surfing from coaches to 

parents of budding surf stars. 

Phil shares his views on a range of topics from 

his coaching philosophy, the attributes and 

pathways to success, incorporating technology in 

training, preparation, handling setbacks and sports 

parenting. 

Aside from Phil, there are many interesting 

perspectives from coaches in other fields of sport. 

Many speak of the importance of not “living life 

in a vacuum” and how important it is to take key 

learnings from various sports and apply them 

accordingly. 

Phil cites Tony Roche and Wayne Bennett as two 

influential coaches he has observed who have made 

an impact upon how he coaches his athletes. 

Some of the other coaches featured in the book 

include Ron Barassi, Laurie Lawrence, Norma 

Plummer, Lindsay Gaze and Johnny Lewis. 

Sports Wisdom Revealed: The Coaches is easy 

to digest and incredibly well structured, making 

regular reference a cinch - perfect for a book of 

this nature. The book is available as a printed 

paperback, or an e-book. For more information, see 

the website www.sportswisdomrevealed.com.au 

The authors of Sports Wisdom Revealed: The 

Coaches are highly respected physiotherapist 

David Becker, who for fifteen years worked 

alongside many of the world’s top coaches and 

athletes, and Scott Hill, former rugby league star for 

the Melbourne Storm and Kangaroo International. 


125

SURF DIRECTORY Pick 

QLD CENTRAL COAST 

REEF 2 BEACH SURF SHOP 

07 4974 9072 

Shop 1, 10 Round Hill Road 

Agnes Water/1770 

www.reef2beachsurf.com 

SUNSHINE COAST 

NOOSA SURF WORKS 

07 5474 4567 

1/11 Bartlett St 

Noosaville 

www.shotgunsurf.com 

www.lagunabaysurf.com 

WATERLINE 

07 5474 1010 

2/15 Venture Dr 

Noosaville 

www.zeewetsuits.com 

CLASSIC MALIBU AUSTRALIA 

07 5474 3122 

Cnr Gibson and Eumundi Rds. 

Noosaville 

www.classicmalibu.com 

LOCAL KNOWLEDGE 

07 5474 1222 

3 Gibson Rd, Noosaville 

ON SURFARI 

07 5474 2162 

197 Gympie Terrace 

Noosaville 

www.onsurfari.com.au 

GOLDEN BREED 

07 5455 3722 

15 Noosa Drive 

Noosa Heads 

www.goldenbreed.com.au 

IMPACT SURF 

07 5474 9198 

75 Noosa Drive & 1-7 Sunshine 

Beach Rd 

Noosa Heads 

BLUEWATER PLAYERS 

07 5473 5079 

Shop 3A 11 Sunshine Beach Rd 

Noosa Heads 

www.bluewaterplayers.com.au 

BACK BEACH 

07 5473 5676 

Cnr Lanyana Way/Arcadia Walk 

Noosa Junction 

www.backbeach.net.au 

SOLACE 

07 5455 4826 

20 Duke Street 

Sunshine Beach 

solacestore.blogspot.com 

WIPEOUT SURF & SKATE 

07 5448 0899 

3/28 Duke St 

Sunshine Beach 

SURF AND STREET SHOP 

07 5471 3489 

224 David Low Way 

Peregian Beach 

www.surf-shop.org 

COOLUM SURF 

07 5351 1742 

Shop 14, 8-26 Birtwill St 

Coolum Beach 

www.alexsurfshop.com.au 

BLUE LINES 

07 5351 1986 

Shops 17 & 18 - 

1776 The Esplanade 

Coolum Beach 

WIPEOUT SURF & SKATE 

07 5450 7272 

1/938 David Low Way 

Marcoola Beach 

OLD WOMAN SURF SHOP 

07 5448 7025 

Santorini Shop 6, 

15 Mudjimba Esp 

Mudjimba 

DA BOMB 

07 5451 0620 

3/25 Plaza Pde 

Maroochydore 

www.dabombsurf.com.au 

OCEAN ADDICTS 

07 5309 6624 

103-105 Aerodrome Rd 

Maroochydore 

www.oceanaddicts.com.au 

ALTERNATIVE SURF 

07 5475 4811 

Shop 11 Aquarius Resort 140 

Alexandra Pde 

Alexandra Headland 

BEACH BEAT 

07 5443 2777 

164 Alexandra Pde 

Alexandra Headlands 

www.beachbeat.com.au 

ALEX SURF 

07 5452 6276 

188 Alexandra Pde 

Alexandra Headlands 

www.alexsurf.com.au 

WORLD SURFARIS 

1800 611 163 

2/174 Brisbane Rd 

Mooloolaba 

www.worldsurfaris.com 

SURF PLANET 

07 5476 6200 

Shop 5, Buderim Marketplace 

Buderim 

www.surfplanet.com.au 

SUBURBAN SURF 

07 5493 7411 

224 Nicklin Way, Warana 

www.suburbansurf.com.au 

up the next edition of smorgasboarder at any of these fine businesses - out in January 

DA BOMB 

(07) 5437 9201 

7/12 Thunderbird Dr 

Bokarina 

www.dabombsurf.com.au 

BEACH BEAT 

07 5491 8215 

Shop 2&3 4-6 Beerburrum St 

Dicky Beach 


THE FACTORY 

07 5492 5838 

15 Allen St 

Caloundra QLD 4551 

SURFWARE AUSTRALIA 

07 5491 3620 

2 Bulcock St 

Caloundra 

BEACH BEAT 

07 5491 4711 

119 Bulcock Rd 

Caloundra 


BRISBANE 


07 3266 1001 

601 Nudgee Rd 

Nundah 


GOODTIME 

07 3391 8588 

29 Ipswich Rd 

Wooloongabba 

www.goodtime.com.au 

GOLD COAST 

SURF FX 

07 5531 3199 

127 Ferry Road 

Southport 

www.surf-fx.com 

SURF FX 

07 5538 0008 

3191 Surfers Paradise Bvld 

Surfers Paradise 

www.surf-fx.com 

SIDEWAYS 

07 5592 3849 

3012 Surfers Blvd 

Surfers Paradise 

sidewaysboardsports.com.au 

DUKE’S LONGBOARDS 

07 5572 0477 

2578 Gold Coast Hwy 

Mermaid Beach 

www.dukeslongboards.com 

STUART SURF DESIGN 

07 5572 0098 


Mermaid Beach 

www.stuartsurf.com.au 

GANGSTA SURF 

07 5526 6969 

Shop 1/ 2558 Gold Coast Hwy 

Mermaid Beach 

www.gangstasurf.com 

GREENLINE 

0412 398 585 


Mermaid Beach 

www.greenlinepaddlesurf.com 

BOARD CULTURE 

07 5572 9866 


Mermaid Beach 

www.boardculture.com.au 

LOCAL KNOWLEDGE 

07 5526 6377 


Nobby Beach 

THE BOARDROOM 

07 5527 7877 


Miami 

LOWEN 88 

07 5526 5161 

2a/2172 Gold Coast Highway 

Miami 

www.lowen88.com 

HARVEY SURF GALLERY 

0414 557 62 

Unit 3, 10 Pacific Ave 

Miami 

www.harveysurf.com 

MT WOODGEE 

07 5535 0288 


Burleigh Heads 

www.mtwoodgee.com.au 

SEAN SCOTT PHOTOGRAPHY 

07 5520 2774 

Old Burleigh Theatre Arcade, 

Shop 10, Goodwin Tce 


seanscottphotography.com.au 

DALE CHAPMAN 

07 5593 8411 

Unit 3/48 Junction Road 


www.chapmansurfboards.com 

MY PHOTO EXPERT 

07 5535 2763 

3/71 Township Drive 


www.myphotoexpert.com.au 

GOLD COAST SURF WORLD 

07 5525 6380 

Tomewin Street, Currumbin 

www.surfworldgoldcoast.com 

FIREWIRE SURFBOARDS 

07 5587 7700 

1/49 Currumbin Creek Rd 

Currumbin 

www.firewiresurfboards.com 

DMS 

07 5559 5949 

3/56 Currumbin Creek Rd 

Currumbin 

www.dmshapes.com 

D’ARCY HANDSHAPES 

07 5559 5866 

1/8 Hawker St 

Currumbin 

www.darcysurfboards.com 

SHAPERS 

07 5534 4228 

9/7 Traders Way, Currumbin 

www.shapers.com.au 

MT WOODGEE 

07 5598 2188 

2 Stewart Rd 

Currumbin 


DIVERSE 

07 5598 4848 

476 Gold Coast Highway 

Tugun 

www.diversesurf.com.au 

DORRINGTON SURFBOARDS 

07 5599 4030 

16 Musgrave Street 

Kirra 

www.dorringtonsurfboards.com 

BOARD CULTURE 

07 5536 5866 

Gold Coast Hwy(outside airport) 

Coolangatta 

www.boardculture.com.au 

KIRRA SURF/WORLD SURFARIS 

07 5536 3922 

Shop 6, 8 Creek St 

Bilinga 

www.kirrasurf.com.au 


07 5599 1040 

Shop 3/31 McLean St. 

Coolangatta 

www.undergroundsurf.com.au 

MT WOODGEE 

07 5536 5937 

122 Griffith St 

Coolangatta 


COOLANGATTA BOARD STORE 

07 5536 7850 

152 Griffith St, Coolangatta 

www.cbsboardstore.com 

SEAN SCOTT PHOTOGRAPHY 

07 5599 1150 

Shop 3, 110 Marine Pde, 

Coolangatta 

seanscottphotography.com.au 

BASE SURFBOARDS 

07 5536 1470 

Cnr Dutton St & Marine Pde 

Coolangatta 

www.basesurfboards.com 


NSW NORTH COAST 

SIDEWAYS 

07 5524 6699 

2/13-21 Greenway Dr 

Tweed Heads 

sidewaysboardsports.com.au 

FULL FORCE 

07 5524 2933 

Factory 18 / 48 Machinery Drive 

Tweed Heads 

SURF XCESS 


88 Marine Parade 

Kingscliff 

CABARITA SURF SHOP 


1/38 Tweed Coast Rd 

Cabarita Beach 

BRUNSWICK SURF 


1/12 The Terrace 

Brunswick Heads 

www.brunswicksurf.com.au 

MCTAVISH 


91 Centenial Circuit 

Byron Bay 

www.mctavish.com.au 

MADDOG SURF CENTRES 


91 Jonson St 

Byron Bay 

www.maddog.com.au 

MC SURF DESIGNS 


3 Banksia Drive 

Byron Bay 

www.mcsurf.com.au 

NORTH COAST SURFBOARDS 


1/29 Acacia St 

Byron Bay 

www.bearsurfboards.com.au 

MUNROE 


29 Acacia St 

Byron Bay 

www.munroesurfboards.com.au 

T&C SURF DESIGN / MCCOY 


10 Acacia Street 

Byron Bay 

BYRON BAY LONGBOARDS 


Shop 1 - 89 Jonson St 

Byron Bay 

HO’OKUPU 


2/9 Lawson St 

Byron Bay 

hookupusurf.com 

UNPLUGGED 


Shop 1/ 2 Lawson Street 

Byron Bay 

www.unpluggedbyronbay.com 

ALL ABOVE BOARD 


68 Ballina St 

Lennox Head 

MADDOG SURF CENTRES 


45 River St, Ballina 

www.maddog.com.au 

TRIPLE X WETSUITS 


10 Piper Drive, Ballina 

www.triple-x.com.au 

THE PLANK SHOP 


Top of the Hill, Yamba 

SOUND LOUNGE 


16 Yamba St, Yamba 

MORE SURFBOARDS 

0405 475 026 

Angourie Rd, Yamba 

www.moresurfboards.com 

NSW MID NORTH COAST 

XS SURF 


76 Beach Street, Woolgoolga 

www.xssurf.com 

COOPERS SURF CENTRES 


56D Beach St, Woolgoolga 


28 Orlando St 

Coffs Harbour 

www.cooperssurf.com.au 

WATER SURF+ART+CAFE 

Distinctively relaxed 

atmosphere, exceptional 

food, coffee and tea, great 

service, photographic 

art from Australia’s best 

photographers, exquisite 

gifts and select surfwear and 

boards. 

(02) 6651 4500 

370 Harbour Drive, Coffs 

Harbour Jetty 

www.watersurfartcafe.com 

THE LOG SHACK 

02 66580223 

392 Harbour Drive, 

The Jetty Strip 

Coffs Harbour 

www.thelogshack.com.au 

SUNPATCH SURF SHOP 


49 First Ave 

Sawtell 

www.sunpatchsurf.com.au 

VALLA SURFBOARDS 


8 Monro St, Nambucca Heads 

www.vallasurfboards.com.au 

COASTAL CURVES 

02 6568 6902 

Ridge St, Nambucca Heads 

www.coastalcurves.com 

SCOTTS HEAD SURF SHOP 


Scotts Head NSW 2447 

scottsheadsurfschool.blogspot.com 

WAVE WEAR 


1/15 Livingstone St 

South West Rocks 

CRESCENT HEAD SURF CO. 


33 Smith St 

Kempsey 

CRESCENT HEAD SURF SHOP 


1 Crescent Head Tavern 

Crescent Head 

INNER VISION SURF ‘N’ SKATE 


80 William St 

Port Macquarie 

SALTWATER WINE 


1/125 Gordon St 


www.saltwaterwine.com.au 

SANDY FEET 


5/21 Clarence Street 


www.sandyfeetsurf.com.au 

JUNGLE SURF 


4/25 Manning Street 

Tuncurry 

www.junglesurf.com.au 

SALTWATER WINE 


5 Wharf St , Forster 

www.saltwaterwine.com.au 

BOOMERANG BEACH SURF 


Shop 4, Boomerang Drive 

Pacific Palms 

NEWCASTLE 

SURF FACTORY 

16 Maitland Rd 

Islington 

www.thesurffactory.com.au 

MARK RICHARDS SURFSHOP 


755 Hunter St 

Newcastle 

markrichardssurfboards.com 

SURFHOUSE PHOTOGRAPHY 

61 Hunter Street 

Newcastle 

surfhousephotography.com 

PACIFIC DREAMS SURFSHOPS 


7 Darby St 

Newcastle 

www.pacificdreams.com.au 

SANBAH 


Shop 27, The Junction Fair 

Union Street 

Newcastle 

www.sanbah.com.au 

BREAKAWAY SURF CO 


181 Pacific Hwy 

Charlestown 

EGANS 



Belmont 

THE SURF SHACK 



Belmont South 

SWANSEA SURF SHOP 



Swansea 

www.swanseasurf.com.au 

CENTRAL COAST 

BEACHIN SURF 

02 43 96 5159 

262 Main Rd 

Toukley 

www.surfinfo.com.au/nsw/ 

beachinsurf 

ADRIFT SURF 


133 The Entrance Road 

The Entrance 

www.adriftsurf.com.au 

BOARDERLINE SURF SKATE 


421 The Entrance Rd 

Long Jetty 

www.boarderlinesurfskate.com 

SURFERS CHOICE 



Long Jetty 

www.surferschoice.com.au 

BATEAU BAY SURF N SPORT 


101a Bateau Bay Road 

Bateau Bay 

ONE EIGHTY SURF COMPANY 

Shop 2, 82a Ocean View Drive 

Wamberal 

www.180surfco.com.au 

SLIMES 


1/203 The Entrance Rd 

Erina 

ESS BOARDSTORE 


Erina 

www.essboardstore.com.au 

THREE POINTS SURF 


170 Avoca Drive 

Avoca Beach 

www.avocasurfscholl.com.au 

STS THE BOARD CENTRE 


326 West St 

Umina 

NORTHERN BEACHES 

BEACH WITHOUT SAND 


1a Nth Avalon Rd 

Avalon 

RAISED BY WOLVES 


U 2/40 Old Barrenjoey Rd 

Avalon 

www.raisedbywolves.com.au 

LITTLE DRAGON 

0403 974 967 

1 Bramley Lane 

Newport Beach 

DIVISION SURF 


Cnr Bungan and Waratah Sts 

Mona Vale 

www.divisionsurf.com.au 

RAISED BY WOLVES 


9b Waratah St 

Mona Vale 

www.raisedbywolves.com.au 

SUGARMILL SURF EMPORIUM 


2/1329 Pittwater Rd 

Narrabeen 

www.sugarmillsurf.com 


127

SURF DIRECTORY CONTINUED 

POWERLINEZ 


16a Waterloo St 

Narrabeen 

www.powerlinez.com.au 

WICKS SURF CENTRE 


1103 Pittwater Road 

Collaroy Beach 

LONG REEF SURF 


1012 Pittwater Rd 

Collaroy 

www.longreefsurf.com.au 

WIND SURF ’N’ SNOW 


17 Anzac Ave 

Collaroy 

www.windsurfnsnow.com.au 

LINE UP SURF AUSTRALIA 


12b The Strand 

Dee Why 

www.lineup.com.au 

THE PERFECT WAVE 


Suite 38, 42-46 Wattle Rd 

Brookvale 

www.theperfectwave.com.au 



Unit 1/236 Harbord Road 

Brookvale 

www.chaossurfboards.com 

BENNETT SURFBOARDS 


180 Harbord Rd 

Brookvale 

DRIPPING WET SURF CO 



Mona Vale 

www.dripwetsurf.com 

SUNSHINE SURFING 



Manly 

www.sunshinesurfing.com.au 



93 North Steyne 

Manly 

www.dripwetsurf.com 



46 North Steyne Rd 

Manly 


MANLY LONGBOARD CO. 


39 Belgrave Street 

Manly 

www.manlylongboard.com 

128 september 2010 

SURFECTION 


110 The Corso 

Manly 

www.surfectionmosman.com 

HERITAGE SURF AUSTRALIA 


24 Darley Rd, Manly 

www.heritagesurfaustralia.com 

SURFECTION 


522 Military Rd 

Mosman 

www.surfectionmosman.com 

SUPER SWELL 


166 Mona Vale Rd 

St Ives 

SYDNEY SOUTH 

SURFECTION 


308 Oxford St 

Bondi Junction 

BONDI UNDERGROUND 


2/72 Campbell Pde 

Bondi Beach 



180-186 Campbell Parade 

Bondi Beach 

www.drippingwetsurf.com 

SURF CULTURE / SIX OUNCE 

02 93895477 

40 Bronte Road 

Bondi Junction 

www.surfculture.com.au 

www.sixounceboardstore.com 

CRONULLA 

JACKSON SURFBOARDS 


57 Captain Cook Drive 

Caringbah 

www.jacksonsurfboards.com.au 

TRIPLE BULL 


41 Captain Cook Dr 

Caringbah 


23 Kingsway 

Cronulla 

www.triplebullsurf.com 

CRONULLA SURF DESIGN 


8 Cronulla St 

Cronulla 

cronullasurfdesign.com.au 

Pick up the next edition of smorgasboarder at any of these fine businesses - out in January 

EASTCOAST STAND UP PADDLE 

Dedicated to SUP - Sydney’s 

original Stand Up Paddle 

outlet. Performance, 

flatwater, race, and distance 

boards – we have a board to 

suit all skill levels. 

0413 456009 

0418 294854 

27 Throsby Close 

Barden Ridge 

eastcoaststanduppaddle.com.au 

WOOLONGONG 

FINBOX BOARDSTORE 


1/ 269 Lawrence Hargrave Drive 

Thirroul 

thefinbox.blogspot.com 

SURF PIT 


2/100 Railway St, Corrimal 

www.surfpit.com.au 

BYRNE SURF AND SKI 


115 Princes Highway 

Fairy Meadow 

byrnesurfboardsaustralia.com 



24 Flinders St, Wollongong 

www.skippsurfboards.com.au 

CARABINE SURF DESIGNS 


36 Flinders St, Wollongong 

EXTREME SNOW, SKATE & SURF 


80 Market St 

Wollongong 

SKIPP SURF 

02 4229 1202 

231 Crown Street 

Wollongong 

www.skippsurfboards.com.au 

BOARDOM 


206 Keira Street, 

Wollongong 


1/16b Addison St 

Shellharbour Village 

ZINK SURF 


136 Terralong St. 

Kiama 

www.zinksurf.com.au 

NATURAL NECESSITY SURF SHOP 


115 Fern St 

Gerringong 

www.nnss.com.au 

AQUATIQUE 


123a Queen Street 

Berry 


AQUATIQUE 


125-127 Junction St 

Nowra 


CORE SURF STORE 


148 Junction Street 

Nowra 

www.corestore.com.au 

AQUATIQUE 


55 Owen St, Huskisson 


SUN & SURF SHOP 


Shop 1, 168 Jacobs Drive 

Sussex Inlet 

AKWA SURF 


Shop 1, Mellick’s Corner, 

Princess Highway, Milton 

www.akwasurf.com.au 

SOUTHERN MAN SURF SHOP 


138 Princes Hwy 

Ulladulla 

www.southernman.com.au 

SALTWATER DREAM 


2 Bay Central 

Batemans Bay 

OFFSHORE SURF SHOP 


66 Vulcan St, Moruya 

www.offshoresurf.com.au 

NAROOMA SURF & SKATE 


30 Princes Hwy 

Narooma 

DSC SURFBOARDS 

0424 867 962 

Midtown Arcade 

Narooma 

BERMAGUI SURF SHOP 


4/28 Lamont St 

Bermagui 

RAW SURFBOARDS 


Lot 1291 Tathra Road 

Kalaru 

www.rawsurfboards.com.au 

MERIMBULA SURF SHOP 


Merimbula Drive 

Merimbula 

SALTWATER DREAM 


39 Market St 

Merimbula 

CORE SURF SKATE AND KITE 


49 Toalla St 

Pambula Village 

www.pambulasurfshop.com.au 

COUNTRY VIC 

SURF SHACK 

03 5155 4933 

507 Esplanade 

Lakes Entrance 

ATOLL TRAVEL 

1800 622 310 

4 Bridge Street 

Foster 

www.atolltravel.com 

SERIOUS SURF STUFF 

03 5674 2540 

1 Williams Street 

Inverloch 

www.strapper.com.au 

VORTEX SURF & SKATE 

03 5672 4112 

54 McBride Ave 

Wonthaggi 


PHILLIP ISLAND 

OUTEREEF 

03 5678 5677 

73 Phillip Island Rd, San Remo 

www.outereef.com.au 

FULLCIRCLE SURF 

03 5678 5873 

115 Marine Pde, San Remo 


ISLANTIS 

03 5956 7553 

10-12 Phillip Island Rd 

Newhaven 



03 5956 7453 

4-5 Vista Pl, Cape Woolamai 


ISLAND SURF CENTRE 

03 5952 2578 

147 Thompson Ave 

Cowes 

www.islandsurfboards.com.au 

ISLAND SURF SHACK 

03 5952 1659 

148 Thompson Ave 

Cowes

DING REPAIRS 

ISLAND SURF CENTRE 

03 5952 3443 

65 Smiths Beach Rd 

Smiths Beach 

www.islandsurfboards.com.au 

MELBOURNE 


03 9416 7384 

319 Victoria Rd 

Thornbury 

www.zaksurfboards.com 

TRIGGER BROS SURF & SAIL 

03 9537 3222 

Shop 2, 1 St Kilda Rd 

St Kilda 

www.triggerbros.com.au 

REPEAT PERFORMANCE SURF 

(THE BOARD STORE) 

03 9525 6475 

87 Ormond Rd 

Elwood 

www.rpstheboardstore.com 

BRIGHTON SURF CO. 

03 9593 2211 

43 Church St 

Brighton 

SHQ BOARDSPORTS 

03 9598 2867 

81 Beach Road 

Sandringham 

www.shq.com.au 

MORDY SURF CENTRE 

03 9580 1716 

628 Main St 

Mordialloc 

www.mordysurf.com.au 

PAULOWNIA SURFBOARD 

SUPPLIES 

03 9588 2533 

45 Governor Road 

Mordialloc 

paulowniaparadise.com.au 

OKE SURFBOARDS 

03 9587 3553. 

Factory 1 1-7 Canterbury Rd, 

Braeside 

www.okesurfboards.com 


03 9770 2223 

7 Rossmith St 

Frankston 


PENINSULA SURF CENTRE 

03 9783 3811 

40 Wells St 

Frankston 

www.peninsulasurf.com.au 


03 5975 9608 

78 Main St 

Mornington 



03 5975 1800 

835 Nepean Hwy 

Mornington 



03 5989 8402 

Point Leo Rd, Point Leo 



03 5985 4637 

2137 Pt Nepean Hwy 

Rye 



03 5984 5670 

46 Ocean Beach Rd 

Sorrento 


BEAN SURFING 

03 5984 5199 


Sorrento 

OZMOSIS 

03 5984 0360 


Sorrento 

www.ozmosis.com.au 

VIC SURF COAST 

MURFS LONGBOARDS 

03 5255 5525 

82 The Terrace 

Ocean Grove 

www.murfslongboards.com.au 

STRAPPER SURF 

03 5255 2666 

67b The Terrace 

Ocean Grove 


GREEN ROOM SURF SHOP 

03 5256 2996 

64 The Terrace, Ocean Grove 

www.greenroom.com.au 

RASTA’S EARTH & SURF SHOP 

03 5254 3255 

51 Hitchcock Ave 

Barwon Heads 

www.rastasurfboards.com.au 

TONIK SURF CENTRE 

03 5254 1470 

60/62 Hitchcock Ave 

Barwon Heads 

www.tonik.com.au 

STONKER TORQUAY 

03 5261 6077 

1a Baines Court, Torquay 

www.stonker.com.au 

SOUTH COAST SURFBOARDS 

03 5261 2670 

1C Baines Court 

Torquay 

www.southcoastlongboards.com.au 

BLUNT 

03 5261 7590 

Shop 2, Surf City Plaza 

Torquay 


TORQUAY SURF WORLD 

03 5261 4606 

Surf City Plaza 

Torquay 

www.surfworld.org.au 


03 5261 5666 

3/108 Surfcoast Hwy, Torquay 


STRAPPER 

03 5261 3508 

96 Surfcoast Hwy, Torquay 

03 5261 2312 

106 Surfcoast Hwy, Torquay 


TORQUAY SURFING ACADEMY 

03 5261 2022 

34A Bell St 

Torquay 

www.torquaysurf.com.au 

TIGERFISH 

03 5264 7271 

12/15 Bell St, Torquay 

www.tigerfish.com.au 

ANGLESEA SURF CENTRE 

03 5263 1530 

111 Great Ocean Rd 

Anglesea 

www.secondhandsurfboards.com.au 

LORNE SURF SHOP 

03 5289 1673 

130 Mountjoy Pde 

Lorne 

SHARKY’S 

03 5289 2421 

Mountjoy Pde 

Lorne 

HODGY’S SURF CENTRE 

03 5237 7883 

143 Great Ocean Road 

Apollo Bay 

www.hodgys.com 

SHIPWRECK COAST 

PORT CAMPBELL TRADING CO 

03 5598 6444 

27 Lord Street 

Port Campbell 

TAYLORS SURFODESY 

03 5562 5681 

132 Liebig Street, Warrnambool 

SOUTHERN GUNS 

03 5562 0928 

176 Liebig Street 

Warrnambool 

AGNES WATER/1770 

REEF 2 BEACH 

(Mon – Sat, 9-5pm, Sun,10-4pm) 

07 4974 9072 

SUNSHINE COAST 

DA BOMB 

(Mon – Sat, 9-5pm, Sun,10-4pm) 

07 5451 0620 - Maroochydore 

07 5437 9201 - Bokarina 

BRISBANE 


(Mon-Fri, 8:30-5:30pm, Thurs 

8:30am-8pm, Sat, 8:30-4pm, 

Sun, 10-4pm) 

07 3266 1001 

TUGUN 

DIVERSE 

(M-F,8:30-5:30pm, Sat and 

Sun, 9-4pm) 

07 5598 4848 

COOLANGATTA 


(7 days, 9-5pm) 

07 5599 1040 

YAMBA 

THE PLANK SHOP 


TOMBSTONE SURFBOARDS 

(Tues-Fri, 9-4pm, Sat, 9-12pm) 

0432 330 826 

COFFS HARBOUR 

THE LOG SHACK 

(M-F, 10-5pm, Sat & Sun 

10-2:30pm) 

02 6658 0223 

SYDNEY NORTH 


(M-F,9-6pm, Sat & Sun 

8:30-6pm) 


BONDI JUNCTION 

SIX OUNCE – 

INSIDE SURF CULTURE 

(7 days , 9:30-6:30pm) 


WOOLONGONG 


M-F,9-5:30, Thurs 9-7:30pm, 

Sat 9-4, Sun 10-4) 


JERVIS BAY 

INNER FEELING SURFBOARDS 

(7 days, 9-5pm) 


NAROOMA 

DSC SURFBOARDS 

(7 days, 9-5pm) 

0424 867 962 

THORNBURY 


(Mon-Fri,10-6pm; Sat 10-5pm) 

03 9416 7384 

TORQUAY 

STONKER TORQUAY 

(Mon – Fri, 9-5pm) 

03 5261 6077 

PHILLIP ISLAND 

ISLANTIS 

(7 days , 9-5pm) 

03 5956 7553 

ISLAND SURF SHOP - COWES 

(7 days, 9-5pm) 

03 5952 2578 


(7 days, 9-5pm) 

03 5956 7453 

FIX BROKEN BOARDS? 

Promote your ding repair 

business for $15 an edition. 

Call 0401 345 201 

CLASSIFIEDS 

BUSINESS FOR SALE: LIFESTYLE PACKAGE 

Work from home selling/trading surfboards, 

kayaks and surf skis. Large variety of stock 

from vintage to near new short/long boards 

+ accessories and memorabilia. 

Full range of boards/accessories to be sold 

in one transaction. 

POA for serious enquiries, picture is only 

small part of collection. 

Sunshine Coast. Contact 0403 465 083 

september 2010 

129

3. 

CLOSEOUT: RELAX 

ALL ON 

BOARD 

1. 

A little wet weather didn’t 

dampen the spirits or affect the 

turnout for the opening bash of 

Ocean Addicts, a brand new 

board store in Maroochydore on 

the Sunshine Coast. 

Cold drinks and a sausage sizzle 

kept the attendees fed and watered 

as they browsed through the SUP, 

kite, wake and surf gear on offer, 

while the littlies enjoyed a round of 

face painting. 

4. 

2. 

PHOTOS: 

1. Jayne and Andrew checking out 

some huge boards 

2. Deb Mitchell enjoying the day 

3. Co-owners Hayden and Ruth 

4. Lorraine loves smorgasboarder 

5. The red carpet was rolled out for 

young and old 

6. Liz and Murray cook up some 

mean snags 

7. Glen, Steve, Glenn 

8. Scandanavian students Didde, 

Marthe and Randi experienced 

some Sunshine Coast hospitality 

9. Ocean addict and co-owner Luke 

snapped here with Greg and Bec 

For more on the store, see: 

www.oceanaddicts.com.au 

6. 

8. 

5. 

7. 

9. 

Photos: Mark Chapman 

LET US KNOW ABOUT 

YOUR EVENT 

If you have something on the go, 

let us know. Email us on: 

editorial@smorgasboarder.com.au 

ART OF 

SURFING 

The Gold Coast competition 

attracted hoards of spectators 

and after a tense afternoon 

judging session, the winners 

were allotted their dues at a 

great opening party, complete 

with band and BBQ. 

The competition attracted over 

60 original works from local 

and interstate designers and 

artists. Surf World Gold Coast 

Chairman Mal Sutherland said 

that surfboards had long been 

an outlet for artistic expression 

and the competition highlights 

the tremendous creativity in 

surfboard art. 

Winners from left: Dick Van Straalen, Simon Skerry, Rodney Hopper, Ralph Riddell, Christian Chapman and 

(front) Cain Pridmore. Photo and words, Deb Perry 


WE TEST 

EVERYTHING 

In our January edition, along 

with the usual travel, people 

and gear, we’re also testing 

as many things as we can 

in one edition. From wax to 

boards of any description to 

any random gear we can find 

- we’ll check it out and give 

it a run. 

NEXT EDITION 

WHERE TO 

GET THE MAG 

SMORGASBOARDER 

IS FREE... 

...so pick up your copy at your 

local surf shop along the east 

coast from Agnes Water to 

Warrnambool. If they don’t stock 

it, ask them why not. 

Shower time Photo: Richard Higgins flickr.com/photos/24364979@N00/sets/ 

SUBSCRIBE & GET IT DELIVERED 

If you’re not fortunate enough 

to have a local surf shop with 

copies of smorgasboarder, you 

can subscribe to have it delivered 

to your door. The mag is still free, 

but Australia Post likes to get paid 

for delivering it. For only $18, you 

get six editions - hot off the press 

- delivered to your door. Send a 

cheque or money order to 

PO Box 501, Moffat Beach, 

QLD 4551, Paypal to money@ 

hugecmedia.com.au, or ring 

0401 345 201 to pay by credit card. 

Cheques/Money orders to be made 

out to Huge C Media PTY LTD. 

READ THE MAGAZINE ONLINE 

Save money, save trees... The 

entire mag is there for your 

reading pleasure at: 

WWW.SMORGASBOARDER.COM.AU

Smorgasboarder_02-november-2010

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