Smorgasboarder_04-March-2011

OUR SURFING FAMILY HAS GROWN... WELCOME ON BOARD, SOUTH AUSTRALIA
MUCH MORE
THAN CRICKET
AND CURRY..
SURFING
SRI
LANKA
DISCOVERING INDIAN OCEAN MAGIC P74
BIRTH OF
A BOARD
LABOUR, PAIN & JOY
...P82
NORTH STRADBROKE
FERRY GOOD INDEED
...P58
YOUR SURF SHOTS AND MORE
THE MAGAZINE FOR THOSE WHO LOVE TO SURF
ISSUE #4 MAR/APR 2011

TM
TEAM RIDERS
Owen Wright
Tyler Wright
Bede Durbidge
AUSTRALIAN DESIGNED & TESTED
ELECTRICDIVISION
FIIKSKATEBOARDS.COM

FUTUREISINKNOWLEDGE
LITHIUMPOWER • ABSREGENERATIVE • WIRELESSREMOTE
$ 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 N N N N N N N
RAGER
400w
POWER
TURNING
ACCELERATION
SPEED
$ 699
LEAD ACID
N N N
N N N N N
N N N N
N N
GROMMET
150w
POWER
TURNING
ACCELERATION
SPEED
$ 400
LEAD ACID
N
N N N N N
N N
N
$ 920
$ 1650
STREET SURFER
800w
LEAD ACID LITHIUM
POWER N N N N N N N N
TURNING N N N N N N
ACCELERATION N N N N N N N N
SPEED N N N N N N N N N
$ 650
$ 1200
PIPE MASTER
250w
LEAD ACID LITHIUM
POWER N N N N N
TURNING N N N N N N N N N N
ACCELERATION N N N N N
SPEED N N N N N
MAGIC CARPET
150w
POWER
TURNING
ACCELERATION
SPEED
$ 400
LEAD ACID
N
N N N N N
N N
N
$ 950
$ 1680
BIG DADDY
800w
LEAD ACID LITHIUM
POWER N N N N N N N N
TURNING N N N N
ACCELERATION N N N N N N N N N
SPEED N N N N N N N N N
$ 799
$ 1450
SHORTY
600w
LEAD ACID LITHIUM
POWER N N N N N N N N
TURNING N N N N N N N N N
ACCELERATION N N N N N N N N
SPEED N N N N N N N
Stockist Enquiries - 0421 551 189
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
Kirra Surf - Coolangatta 07 5536 3922
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
TM
Coopers Surf - Coffs Harbour 02 6652 1782
Coopers Surf - Jetty 02 6652 8146
Coopers Surf - Park Beach 02 6652 5466
Coopers Surf - Town 02 6652 6369
Coopers Surf - Toormina 02 6658 8988
Coopers Surf - Woolgoolga 02 6654 0033
Core Surf Store - Nowra 02 4421 4108
Dripping Wet - Manly 02 9907 2911
D.S.C. Surfboards - Narooma 0424 867 962
Kirra Surf - Coolangatta 07 5536 3922
Line Up Surf - Dee Why 02 9971 8624
OceanFire - Belmont 02 4945 8055
S-cape - Byron Bay 02 6680 8299
Skater HQ - Moore Park 02 9976 3780
Skipp Surfboards - Wollongong 02 4229 1202
South East Mountain Biking Co. - Thredbo 02 6457 6282
Surfection - Manly 02 9977 6955
Surfection - Mosman 02 9969 1011
Tathra Beach and Bike - Tathra 02 6494 4257
$ 799
$ 1450
STINGER
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 N N N N N N N
SA Stockists
On Board - Glenelg 08 8294 3866
On Board - Port Noarlunga 08 8382 6729
VIC Stockist
Mordy Surf - Mordialloc 03 9580 1716
Zak Surfboards - Thornbury 03 9416 7384
WA Stockist
Cowie Surf - Cowaramup 08 9755 9669
Momentum Skate Shop - Claremont 08 9384 2427
ACT Stockist
Trilogy - Tuggeranong Hyperdome 02 6293 9636
Shifty’s - Canberra 02 6262 9162
ELECTRICDIVISION
FIIKSKATEBOARDS.COM

INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Gold Coaster Shaun Gossman at Duranbah
Photo: Jack DeKort
ALL THE
USUAL BITS
THE LATEST
Feedback P15
News P20
And greatest P22
Community P24
TRAVEL
North Straddie perfection P58
Making waves in Sri Lanka P74
GEAR
Latest surfboard designs P91
New life for old boards P96
A future for young shapers P100
CLOSEOUT
Surf bikinis P106
Music & books P109
People out and about P114
30
SURFING UP
A STORM
34
COFFS HARBOUR
IN ALL ITS COLOUR
48
MARCH IN NOOSA... SURFBOARDS...
IT’S FESTIVAL TIME
82 100
FROM STAND UP PADDLE
START TO FINISH ON DRY LAND
From NRL star to
author, Scott Hill talks
to us about his surfing
Tom Woods shares
his work and passion
for the ocean
An iconic event in
an iconic surf spot
celebrates 20 years
We learn the hard
way what goes into
crafting a surfboard
Grab a skateboard, a
big stick and take a
trip along the coast
6 mar/apr 2011

mar/apr 2011
7

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 through Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and
South Australia. For a full list of distributors, visit the directory
in the back of the mag or just get to your local surf shop and
talk to some real people, in the flesh. If you see a local store
advertising, they’re sure to have the lion’s share of mags in
your area. smorgasboarder is published six times a year -
September, November, January, March, May, July.
CAN’T GET THERE? SUBSCRIBE
If you can’t get to a store, have smorgasboarder delivered
to your door by becoming a home subscriber. The mag is free,
but Australia Post need to get paid. $18 in Australia gets
you six editions. Sign up at www.smorgasboarder.com.
au and wait by your mailbox. It’ll arrive every two months.
Backissues are available for $5 per copy. We only have a few
copies of our first three left... Be quick.
THANK YOU
Thank you to all our creative contributing writers, fantastic
photographers and excellent people who made this edition
possible. A special mention of thanks to Gus Brown and
Megan Slade for their extra miles, James Ellis who now
joins us as South Australian distributor, and Phil Pfeifer and
Garry Palmer for getting on the road.
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...
SALES, EDITORIAL & PRODUCTION:
Dave Swan dave@smorgasboarder.com.au
0401 345 201
Mark Chapman mark@smorgasboarder.com.au
0400 875 884
FEATURE SALES
Garry Palmer
Phil Pfeifer
garry@smorgasboarder.com.au
0418 745 227
phil@smorgasboarder.com.au
0450 391 517
SOUTH AUSTRALIAN DISTRIBUTION & SALES
James Ellis trade@ljdistribution.com.au
0412 194 383
CONTRIBUTORS
WRITING TALENT THIS EDITION: Pat Quirk, Dr Pete
Kirkham, Craig Baird, Gus Brown, Megan Slade, Emma Webb,
Tommy Leitch, Tom Wegener, Jack Finlay and Cory McBride.
PHOTOGRAPHIC GENIUS: Yes they are - make sure you
check out the photo credits on each pic and tell them how
much they rock.
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
8 jan/feb 2011
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.

Since 1971
“is what surfing is all about”
www.goodtime.com.au
Surf photos by Jacob Lambert
Goodtime Surf & Sail
29 Ipswich Road, Woolloongabba, Brisbane
07 3391 8588
info@goodtime.com.au
JOIN US ON FACEBOOK!
Come and see Gail and the Goodtime team at the Gabba
jan/feb 2011
9

LATEST: EDITION
FOREVER FORWARD
Mother nature is certainly a tempestuous lady.
We derive so much pleasure from her. We swim
in her waters and ride the waves she creates. Yet
every now and then, she shows her destructive side,
unleashing astonishing power and force, turning
heaven into hell.
For the last two months so many have copped a
battering from floods, cyclones and even raging
bushfires. You look at what people have been through
and can only marvel at their resilience. Personally,
I question if I could go on after what many have
endured, particularly the loss of loved ones. Their
strength to move forward is something to behold.
One thing is for certain - it makes you appreciate
what you have. It makes you appreciate the time
we have with family and friends. And at the risk of
sounding like a broken record - as we said in our
last edition - make the most of your life. Find time
to do what you love doing. Take your kids for a surf.
Share a wave with your mates. Hoot, holler and
laugh until you are hoarse. You only get one life.
When times were tough, my grandad had a
saying...“Forever forward. There is only one way
to go - forever forward.” He was a wise man. He
had been through tough times - the ’74 floods
in Brisbane, the Second World War... He’d been
awarded the Military Cross and a swath of medals
for bravery. What did he do? He marched forever
forward to rescue his mates who were pinned down
in no-man’s land.
Tears still well in my eyes when I speak of him,
some fifteen years after his passing. When I think
of him and how much I still miss him, I think of
the pain so many are enduring now. It must be
unbearable. I feel for those who have lost so much.
But for our families and friends and those who
depend on us and look up to us, we must move
forever forward. It’s the only way.
HOW CAN WE HELP THOSE IN NEED?
With some love, compassion and anything we can
spare to assist those in need. And fortunately, many
of the businesses who support smorgasboarder
have felt the same way, making generous donations
to help with our fundraising efforts for the Disaster
Relief Appeal. We are so incredibly appreciative of
the support from all involved in raising a few dollars
to help where we can. Read more on Page 28.
THIS EDITION
We too are marching forever forward, it seems.
With this edition we welcome our surfing brothers
and sisters in South Australia. That’s right -
smorgasboarder is now delivered from Agnes
Water in Queensland through New South Wales
and Victoria, all the way across to South Oz.
More and more talented editorial contributors and
photographers from around the country have jumped
on board to help publish ‘their’ magazine. And this
month we also go live with the humble beginnings of
our new website at www.smorgasboarder.com.au
Finally, we hope this edition is another step forward
in helping surfers to enjoy... well, surfing... and the
sheer happiness it brings. It’s another step forward
in recognising what we have and how fortunate we
are in our lives.
Dave
Somewhere in South Australia. Just one more place for us to make new friends and have good times. Welcome on board SA. Photo: James Ellis
10 mar/apr 2011

mar/apr 2011
11

LADIES FIRST
girls
THE NEW SCHOOL
LIFE IS ALL SUNSHINE, ICE-CREAMS AND CUTBACKS ON SCHOOL TIME FOR THESE LUCKY LADIES ENROLLED IN THE SURFING
EXCELLENCE PROGRAM AT COOLUM HIGH. WE CHAT TO FOUR STUDENTS AND ORGANISER, BRAD LEE, TO FIND OUT MORE.
PHOTOS AND WORDS: MEGAN SLADE
What the girls say...
Alannah: We get two
double lessons on Fridays
and Tuesdays to surf. Then
we have our theory lesson
where we pretty much work
on improving our surfing
technique. We learn how to
judge and we actually made
our own surf magazine
once for an assignment
which was fun.
Kayla: They rotate the
coaches at school every
couple of weeks and
every coach teaches
you something different.
It’s good to get different
perspectives.
Carlene: And after HPE
(health and physical
education) everyone is so
hot and sweaty. We get to
go surfing afterwards and
we all rub it in. (All laugh)
Belle: It’s my favourite
subject by far. I do it
because I thought it would
be fun, and I thought it
would be better than doing
Japanese (laughs). No
seriously, Dad got me into
surfing when I was in grade
six so I was stoked when
they offered it at school in
year eight.
Alannah: It’s the best
subject. Especially if you
are having a hard time at
home or school. Just being
able to get out in the water
and take your stress out on
the wave clears your head
if you are angry or upset. It
just flushes all of the anger
out of you and makes you
feel happy again. If you get
a good wave it just makes
your whole day so much
better.
Carlene: My friend from
Brisbane is really jealous.
She thinks we are really
lucky to even be living on
the Coast and can’t believe
we do surfing as a subject
at school.
12 mar/apr 2011

aUStralia-WiDe
Freight SpecialiStS!
for kite • wake • stand up • surf
March-april Special
THE BEST CLASS EVER: Brad Lee and his surfing students.
No need to wag school to surf...
Brad Lee has been running surfing subjects at Coolum High for
eighteen years as part of the sport and recreation program. Due to the
subject’s popularity, the Surfing Excellence Program became a separate
curriculum seven years ago.
“We look at things like surfboard technology, how they are shaped,
different designs,” says Brad. “We try and get kids to be aware of the
equipment they are using. We do surf safety and surf awareness. We
look at major manoeuvres and techniques involved. We look at surfing
small and big waves and winning thoughts in competitions. We look
at sustainability within the industry and the environment as well as
reading the weather. It’s a fairly broad curriculum.”
Surfing as a subject has also had a positive impact on the girls’ selfesteem
and general confidence levels.
“I think these four are good examples of girls with a lot of confidence.
Not only are they comfortable talking to adults and people their own
age, but also the guys,” Brad tells us. “They feel confident within that
peer group and know that the guys aren’t to be feared. They’re actually
good friends, and that’s proven by the way the guys encourage them in
the water.”
Kayla agrees: “They always support us, they always make sure we
get a couple of waves. When we’re paddling for a massive wave, they
encourage us to go for it. The best thing is when you get a good one
and they are like ‘Yeah that was a sick wave!’ It’s good they say that...
and they aren’t saying it to be mean.”
Brad believes encouragement and those friendships are a really
special part of this program.
“A lot of women find it completely different out there in the water. If
you are not confident, you will be trodden on. There aren’t as many
waves as there used to be.”
The progress and dedication shown by the girls is very encouraging
and proof in itself of the success of the program.
“They all start off very enthusiastic and I think surfing is a pretty
frustrating sport so the learning curve is steep. These girls really have
stuck with it.”
“The only bad thing about the program is that it finishes in year ten,”
says Kayla.
“We’re still working on that,” promises Brad.
Free
gO-prO!
while stocks last
aVailaBle ON:
Naish hokua
8’0, 9’0 and 9’6
Naish Mana 9’0
Fanatic Fly
9’0 & 9’6
Buy a new Naish hokua/Mana
or Fanatic Fly to get a Free
go-pro Surf hero camera!
Visit our Sunshine coast
Mega-StOre!
We have a great range
of NEW and USED boards and gear available!
mar/apr 2011
13

LATEST: FEEDBACK
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.
Join us on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/
Smorgasboarder-Surf-Magazine/133229320054947 (or easier,
just search for smorgasboarder)
From
planes to pigs
to everything
inbetween
0412 131 491
thomassurfboards.com
MINING ON STRADBROKE ISLAND
With the focus of our travel feature being North
Stradbroke Island, mining company, Sibelco wanted to use
smorgasboarder to communicate to the east coast surfing
community about their involvement and operations on the
island. What better and more transparent way to do that
than to print the communication we received from them.
“Sand mining has been an integral part of the North Stradbroke
Island community since the late 1940s. As mining progressed,
many services and infrastructure were brought to the island for
mine operations. As a result, roads, telecommunications and power
became available to local residents and visitors.
“Mining on Straddie supplies silica sands and heavy minerals used
in the production of many items we all rely on. These minerals are
used to produce glass, medical and sporting equipment, sunscreen,
tiles and ceramics, televisions and computers, paints, cosmetics and
foods.
“Today Sibelco Australia is the sole operator and employer with over
640 people directly and indirectly employed because of the mining
operations. Our company and our employees form an integral part
of the island community and are committed to ensuring it remains
an idyllic place to work, live and holiday. The Straddie lifestyle has
always been, and will hopefully remain something unique to South
East Queensland.
“The lifestyle we have all come to know and love is something the
company works with the local community to maintain. We’ve helped
the local school and pre-school through significant refurbishments;
ensured local football and sporting clubs have equipment and
uniforms; provided strong support to the local Surf Life Saving and
Straddie Board Riders Club; and made getting to and from the island
easier with our continued partnership with the ferry companies
operating from Cleveland.
“In June 2010, the State Government announced that mining
will end early on Straddie by 2027. This announcement created
considerable uncertainty for our operations, our workers, and all
of the residents, small businesses and community groups who call
North Stradbroke Island home.
“Sibelco has continued to negotiate with the Government to develop
a realistic plan for the gradual ceasing of sand mining on the island.
Our aim is for a gradual transition from sand mining, which will
allow our company to retain the bulk of our workforce and ensure
the economic stability of the community. There are real concerns
that ceasing mining in the short-term will impact services on the
island and negatively impact local businesses and residents.
“Our vision supports the Straddie lifestyle we have
all come to know and love.
“If sand mining was to cease in the near future,
Straddie shuts down, and without Straddie,
Queenslanders lose one of their most treasured
island destinations.
“For further information on Sibelco Australia’s
Vision for a Sustainable Stradbroke, please visit
www.sustainablestradbroke.com.au.”
*Letters may have been edited for length and clarity
LOCAL CONVERT
I’ve been on the “pop-out” wagon
in the last 8 years. Your article
got me thinking about the surf
industry and the local guys that
scrape a living out of it.
It’s definitely a lifestyle thing,
because when you break a
handcrafted board down to $$/
hour there’s not much in it,
compared to the bucks earned
in other industries. But hey, it’s
HAND built, made for YOU, a
one off.
The [import] boards serve
a purpose and dont get me
wrong, they take a hiding and
last well, but surfing was, and
is, an individual pastime and a
hand-made custom is now this
individual’s choice of surfcraft.
Jim
I LAUGH AT
YOUR FOAM
I’m perplexed there are people
who persist on riding boards,
made from inferior and less
durable material that offers LESS
PERFORMANCE.
A construction method which is
60 years old and is more toxic!
Why!
I laugh at anybody who rides a
PU, Fanning and all the top pros
included.
James, Palmy
Like Yoda and Vader, there
seems to balance in the
force, with representation of
support from both camps.
GIVEAWAY
We have a very cool Tools
Deck Grip to hand over.
Send in your letters and
thoughts to be in line for the
freebies! Email us on
letters@smorgasboarder.com.au
14 mar/apr 2011

There is only one original ...
Surf Travel Company
From Sri Lanka to Tahiti
and anywhere in between.
PhoTo: Winer
Talk to the experts.
surftravel.com.au
enquiries@surftravel.com.au
02 9222 8870
Surf Travel Company
STC-SMORG-FPC-2011.indd 1 1/02/11 1:04 PM
mar/apr 2011
15

www.boardbog.com
An Instant temporary repair, don’t get caught with out it!
Temporary Board Repair.
Formulated to never fully
harden for easy removal
Curl Curl Beach
James Booth
“An innovation in
board repair”
www.boardbog.com Phone. 07 5536 5990
KNEAD IT FOR... CRACKED RAIL SNAPPED NOSE TAIL DING
MAKING A SURFBOARD?
RESTORATION OR REPAIR?
LEARNING ABOUT THE INDUSTRY?
MAKING BLANKS MAKING FINS?
416 pages of the most valuable
information you might ever read,
the SURFER’S TEXTBOOK
is a must have for any aspiring
surfboard maker.
Years of board manufacturing
research, development
and understanding in one
comprehensive volume,
with over 1000 photographs,
illustrations, diagrams and
surfboard templates.
THIS IS yOUR
UlTIMATE GUIDE
BUy ONlINE TODAy and start your journey!
Order before June 2011 for a FREE copy of the
Bare Bones -Making and Repairing a Surfboard CD.
WWW.SURFERSTEXTBOOK.COM.AU
16 mar/apr 2011
Perfect at Broken Head
Jarod Slatter
READERS PHOTOS
We received so many fantastic submissions
again for this edition, that it was even
harder to pick the shots to print on this
page... We just wish we had more space
as there we some pearlers we sadly had to
leave out. Next time... And speaking of next
time - for our May edition, we have sets of
WASP BAGS up for grabs! So, send in all
your greatest photos, get them published
and win! letters@smorgasboarder.com.au
For more on WASP bags,
see www.waspbags.com.au
Jake Colreavy
at Mudjimba
Dylan Pukall

LATEST: PHOTOS
Snapper closeout
Alex Eddie
Up, up, up in Narrabeen
Tom Bennett
THE WINNING SHOT
Congrats to Paul Greene for finding this
green wall of hidden treasure in Victoria.
Your prize pack will be on the way!
Vicco magic
Paul Greene
Cool little spray at Wurtulla
Phil ‘Pup’ Bender

LATEST: PHOTOS
All photos on this page: Polek Rybczynski
WHAT THE?
Keen surfer, photographer and writer Polek
Rybczynski, sent in some awesome shots
that he had taken around Wollongong. As
much as we love the Gong and the surf
around there, what caught our eye in this
case was the cool little hand-plane-orsomething
he was using to get around on.
So, we asked him about it...
“Yes, it is an invention I picked up whilst hitchhiking along the North
Shore of Oahu from a guy by the name of Mark Richardson. He makes
them out of snapped surfboards.
“They have a stringer and are glassed. The one I bought from him was
shaped like a fish with two little wooden fins and a deep, deep concave
right through the hull.
“He fibreglassed two handles onto the deck so they can be ridden with
greater ease, or one handed - one hand in the middle of the board and
one in the air in that classic bodysurf style.
“Mark calls them kickboards. They go really fast for what they are. I saw
him get some nice tubes on these things at Velzy - where he lives - and
just up the point from Velzy, which was impressive. The amount of fun
I have had on this board is quite wild. Makes for a great contribution to
the quiver.”
Very cool. And so, yet another board goes on our Xmas wishlist.
18 mar/apr 2011

WORLD#1
IN SURF & SPORT
STORAGE SYSTEMS
Thanks to Trevor, his SOLID team and his infectious passion to design
Simple, SOLID, Solutions for any sized surfboard storage, I now know
my babies are safe, secure and ready for use anytime I choose.
Tom Car roll
SOLID Racks new SOLID INFINITY
SYSTEM is made from waterproof
polymer & will hold your surfboard, SUP,
kayak, wave ski, wetsuit, fishing rod, scuba
tank, pushbike lawnmower, and more…
altogether on 1 single SOLID wall!
As your equipment changes and grows,
the SOLID INFINITY SYSTEM allows
complete customisation that is SOLID,
instantaneous and effortless.
Infinity system
Ceiling mounted
SOLID Racks also cater for a far more
varied market than surfing alone. Ceiling
mounted and other patented systems are
available to store all your boards and craft –
from snow to skate and beyond.
SOLID Racks provide custom storage
solutions for retailers Nationwide. The
better your product is displayed the better
it sells. We’re happy to design or discuss
what will work for your store.
Wall mounted racks
SOLID RACKS is proud to be an Australian
owned and operated company who are
creating jobs for Australian families.
SEE WHAT ALL THE FUSS IS ABOUT...
VISIT US ONLINE OR CALL (02) 9905 9228
www.solidracks.com
mar/apr 2011
19

LATEST: NEWS
MORE ON THE WAY
Mark Pridmore of More Surfboards has had a fair bit on the go in
the last few months, including relocating family and business to the
Sunshine Coast.
He’s also inked a deal with Da Bomb surf shops at Maroochydore and
Bokarina to be their main board man.
“They have two great shops so if you are in the area, call in and have
a look at what they have.” says Mark. “I’m shaping some boards for
their team riders now and stock boards will be in their shops in the
near future.”
Very exciting is the launch of Mark’s new Traveller - a travelling board
project that kicked off on Australia Day at Maroochydore Beach (see
Page 114 for pics from the day). The board - which has the most stylish
of deck grips, courtesy of Crosslink Traction - will get passed around
down the east coast and beyond, with its journey documented online
at www.smorgasboarder.com.au. Get online, get involved.
RETURN OF
THE THRUSTER
The Granddaddy of all modern surfboards
is back on display at SurfWorld Torquay.
As the earliest incarnation of the famous
three-fin setup, it represents a turning
point in the history of surfing worldwide.
Kindly loaned by Simon Anderson, this
6’6” from Bells in 1981 is one of the most
treasured and referenced surfboards they
have on display.
Check it out in Torquay or visit the
website: www.surfworld.org.au
RIGHT: The Thruster, next to a 1982 MR world
championship winning board, which he and surfed
at Bells in the same year. He can be seen snapping
the board in the movie Wizards of the Water.
Photo: SurfWorld Torquay
Mark at The Factory Surfboards in
Caloundra, picking up the Traveller,
ready to launch...
Tim can’t wait for the paddle stands to arrive so he can sit down again.
ZAK TAKES A
STAND (UP)
Sure he may be a good friend and loyal
supporter of smorgasboarder but this is not
radio infomercial time. Zak Koniaris’ surf store
in Thornbury, Melbourne is, in all honesty, one
of our favourite surf shops in the country. Once
you have gone there you will understand why
we think it’s so good. Zak has a huge range of
surfboards (he sells around a 1000 surfboards
a year) including his own boards and unique
sleds from some of Victoria’s most respected
shapers. Then there’s loads of skateboards,
surfing hardware, gear and clothing. And now,
Zak Surfboards are stocking a range of SUPs
for those aspiring watermen and women. See
the website: www.zaksurfboards.com
WHAT ELSE IS SUP?
In what is apparently a first for the SUP
fraternity, the Academy of Surfing Instructors
(ASI) is now running accreditation courses
for SUP instructors and SUP schools. Courses
can be undertaken for flat water and surf
disciplines. For more information, see:
www.academyofsurfing.com
DON’T BE FOILED
Contrary to popular belief, Phil Way, formerly
of Fluid Foils fame is still crafting his own
range of exceptional hand-made fins after
some thirty odd years on the tools. He is still
in Ballina, but now working under his new
business name of Phil’s Foils.
A WAVE OF RELIEF
Not-for-profit charity Groundswell, formed
in partnership with The Perfect Wave travel
company and Randwick TAFE , NSW are
sending a second team of volunteers this
March to help with rebuilding in areas of
Samoa affected by the 2009 tsunami. The
TAFE students are putting the skills they are
learning to good use, for a good cause. See:
www.groundswellbuilds.org.au
QUICKIES
CALL FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS!!
Do you have a surfing photo taken
somewhere around Australia’s coastline?
100 surfing photos taken anytime over
the past 100 years are needed for
inclusion in the historic surfing exhibition
Celebrating the Centenary of Australian
Surfing Photography 1911–2011.
The photos, which will be published as
a commemorative book, will become a
permanent part of the collection that
will feature at the centenary exhibition
in Yamba - the birthplace of Australian
surfing photography - and be displayed at
the Port of Yamba Historical Society and
the Australian National Sporting Museum
in Melbourne. Sounds great!
For info: Debrah Novak on 0419 272 621
or surfphotoexhibition@gmail.com
INDO SURF & LINGO EBOOK
The new eBook version of Indo Surf &
Lingo is available, featuring all 180 pages
of the latest edition for 2011, complete
with $500 worth of discount vouchers.
It’s compatible with all Windows-based
computers, laptops and mobile devices.
It can be saved onto a USB memory stick
too. You can print any pages you need, and
it’s fine to share the first 28 preview pages
with all your friends. Check it out online:
www.indosurf.com.au/PREVIEW/
index.html
BIG BALSA BACK IN STOCK
Mark at Riley Classic Balsawood
Surfboards just received another
container of balsa from Ecuador.
“Getting it had all the dramas of a soap
opera,” Mark tells us. “But look at the
section sizes and the lengths of 10
footers... It’s worth the 6 month wait!”
For info, please visit the website,
www.balsasurfboardsriley.com.au.
Alternately contact Mark on
0412 376 464 or mark@riley.com.au.
NSW SNAPPER TAKES AWARD
Photographer Jeremy Wilmotte walked
away with Photo of the Year at the
Australian Surfing Awards on the Gold
Coast on February 6. For more of his
work, see www.frothers.com.au
Amongst other winners, Noosa’s Phil
Jarratt took the Surf Culture Award for
his book, Suits & Salts. Congrats all.
Photo: Steve Triance/Surfing Australia
20 mar/apr 2011

mar/apr 2011
21

LATEST: & GREATEST
LOCK IT IN EDDIE
Keys, cash, licence, credit cards can all be locked away in
this combination lock steel vault that slides straight into
hitch type tow bars. The HitchSafe fits all 50mm hitch type
tow bars and usually retail for $129.00 but are on special
for the month of March for $99.00, while stocks last.
www.ksq.com.au
A SPOONFUL OF
GOOD LOVIN’
When Peter White’s wife, Janet, was literally
hit by a bus some years back he thought of
ways he could encourage her back out into the
water and enjoy one of things she most loved
doing most, surfing. So he built Janet a spoon.
The interest the board generated and
subsequent demand has resulted in Classic
Malibu agreeing to shape a limited number
of custom orders.
The craftsmanship entailed in shaping a spoon
is incredible and damn near impossible from
our perspective, a labour of love no doubt.
If you’re interested in spooning give
Classic Malibu a call on 07 5474 3122 or
see www.classicmalibu.com
COME TO THE DRY SIDE
Ever needed to make a hasty getaway after staying in the water
a bit longer than you should have (sorry honey!)? Well, this is
one of the reasons why the Tools Poncho comes in handy.
A towel and outfit in one means you can be warm and dry and
make that quick transition from the water to the car in seconds.
There are a range of patterns to chose from. And at home, you
can pretend to be Obi Wan Kenobi. RRP $69.90
See www.toolssurfaustralia.com.au for stockists.
KOMBI UP
TRUMPS
Nothing says classic surf imagery like an
old Kombi van. This old restored classic
lets you get around in style without having
to do the hard work yourself.
Available for hire and chauffer driven, it
seats eight and is complete with massive
sunroof. Perfect for that specially themed
wedding, beach party or luau.
Operating on the Sunshine Coast, you can
catch Deluxe Kombi Service on
07 5491 5432 or 0402 615 126
22 mar/apr 2011

THE BUZZ ON BAGS
A smart solution to keeping the sand and water out of you beach kit
is now available through the clever WASP bag range. These bright
and practical designs are made from a hard waring PVC and are
manufactured using thermo welded seams.
The bag, including straps and buckles are made to last being sun
and salt resistant.
We gave these a go. Once you get your head around how to close
them up (turn it down three times and the clip over the top) we
were really impressed. So we filled up the King Wasp with gear
and threw it in the pool. First bonus - it floats. So we jammed it
underwater. Once we got it out and opened up, everything inside
was bone dry. Comfy, clever and cool - we’re sold.
RRP: King Wasp $35, Baby Wasp $25.
Check out the range at www.waspbags.com.au
WIELD A
BIG STICK
And it doesn’t even have to be a
strain with the brand new Carbon
Fibre Big Stick from Kahuna
Creations available through Street
SUP in Australia.
By far the lightest Big Stick in the
range, the carbon fibre performance
shaft delivers power, speed and
enjoyment for the sweetest ride.
Ultra light with a beautifully-crafted
wooden handle makes it comfy for
those long rides.
Available in 5’6” and 6ft
lengths. RRP $389. See:
www.kahunacreations.com.au
COOL FOOTWEAR
BECAUSE WEARING SHOES IS THE POLITE
THING TO DO
MICROWOBBLEBOARD?
‘Biomechanically engineered to re-energize your body
via your feet with its Microwobbleboard midsole’, the
FF SUPERTONE from Fit-Flop is said to help diminish
backaches, joint strain and plantar foot pain, as well as
absorbing up to 22% more shock when you walk. And
fortunately, they look really cool too, so you don’t have to
feel like your Nanna wearing comfy shoes.
See www.fitflop.com.au
NEW WAVE
They’re not shoes, they’re... wait, these actually are shoes!
Sanük’s new Shunami Series promise ‘incredible comfort
and unparalleled styling’ with a handmade, all-suede upper
and their “Shock-N-Ahhh” insole - a dual density PU insole
for maximum impact protection. Coming soon to Oz. See
www.sanuk.com.au
PRETTY VAGRANT
Be the coolest looking bum you know in the new Appleyard
Vagrant shoes from Globe. Raw design, distressed details
in a durable combination of suede and canvas all stitched
together with ballistic grade thread. The shoe’s PU footbed
and gel heelpad cushion will have you wandering the streets
in comfort for years to come. www.globe.tv/aus/
WASH AND WEAR
Being made of hemp, some stoners might try smoke them.
Don’t. The Vans Rata Vulc Hemp Shoe fixes the funk – that
is, how much your shoes stink when you put your bare
wet feet into them. Machine-washable with a bamboo
charcoal-lined midsole to prevent dampness and smells,
these are perfect for surfers - super flexible and comfy.
See: www.vans.net.au
mar/apr 2011
23

SHAPER PART OF
ART EXHIBITION
SURFING IN
ST. KILDA
WORDS:
WILL SHEA
Photo: QAG
Photo: Robbie Warden
Shortboard,
Longboard, SUP,
Kneeboard, Paddle
and Ski
Your logo or
design in FULL
COLOUR
on the highest
quality traction
material
CUStOm deCK gRiPS
Small and large run deck grips
Locally manufactured in Byron Bay!
Wholesale and retail enquiries welcome.
7/84 Centennial Circuit, Byron Bay 02 6685 7350
info@deckgrips.com www.deckgrips.com
BEST DEALS ON
LONGBOARDS
on the entire east coast of Australia!
It’s not the first time that
surfing and art have collided for
Chris Garrett. Amongst other
exhibitions, Chris has artwork
displayed in the Queensland
Premiers office and showed off
his work as part of the lead up
to the Sydney Olympic Games.
Currently his work is part of an
exhibition called Scott Redford:
introducing Reinhardt Dammn,
based around a rebellious young
surfer, rock muso and artist who
explores the beauty and energy
of contemporary pop culture,
especially amongst surfers.
See qag.qld.gov.au for more.
During February’s renowned St
Kilda Festival, Melbourne recently
got a taste of surfing in the form of
art. And it’s being represented by
the SURF bike POP Exhibition,
on display at the Surface Exhibition
and Pop Up Gallery on Carlisle
Street, St Kilda.
It showcases a range of artwork by
local artists throughout the surfing
community, with all sorts of visual
ecstasy on display, including pieces
by the legendary Reg Mombassa
(Mambo, Mental As Anything).
Check out www.surfacepop.com
or find out more at 11-13 Carlisle
Street, St Kilda, Melbourne
SURF CULTURE CLASH
By the time this mag hits the streets, you’ll only have a week or so left
to catch the Institute of Modern Art touring exhibition, cantchant at the
University of the Sunshine Coast Gallery.
The exhibition by contemporary Aboriginal artist Vernon Ah Kee - which
opened in February - is on until Saturday, March 19 before moving on to
the Gold Coast Art Gallery for the months of May and June.This exhibition
is not just painted surfboards, but rather takes a critical look at Australian
beach culture in a multimedia setting with film, photos and painted boards
all forming part of the experience.
“It pushes aside the commonsense of the beach as a destination for leisure,
relaxation and fun, and presents it as a cultural battleground,” said Dawn
Oelrich, the USC Gallery Curator. “The exhibition includes surfboards
painted with north Queensland rainforest shield designs, wall text and a
three-screen video installation.”
Vernon Ah Kee is a well-travelled and well-respected artist with work
represented in the collections of Queensland Art Gallery, the National
Gallery of Australia, and the Museum of Contemporary Art. For a fresh
perspective on surfing and surf culture, make sure you visit this exhibition,
if not on the Sunshine Coast, then on the Gold Coast or further south as the
exhibition moves down the coast.
What: Vernon Ah Kee - cantchant
Where: University of the Sunshine Coast Gallery
Showing: Open until March 19, 2011
Opening hours: 10am to 4pm Mon to Sat. Closed Sun, public holidays
Cost: FREE to the public
392 Harbour Drive, The Jetty Strip, Coffs Harbour NSW
Phone: 02 6658 0223 www.thelogshack.com.au
24 jan/feb 2011

Photo: William Hammond, Supplied
LATEST: COMMUNITY
For something a little different
Southcoast Surfboards, Gato Heroi, Bing, Dick Van Straalen
and a unique range of surfing memorabilia
FIGHTING THE
DREAD DISEASE
Surfers in Coolum know Leanne Gilkes, although they probably know her
better as Bluey, manager of Coolum Surf. And they’re even more likely
to know her by her trademark dreadlocks. But this is all about to change.
Bluey’s decided to give up her hair to show how much she cares in the
annual Cancer Council’s Clip for Cancer.
For most people diagnosed with cancer, losing their hair is part of the cancer
journey. So on Saturday, April 9, Bluey will experience losing hers - all 37 of
those dreadlocks at the Coolum Surf store. Expect a day of events including
a suasage sizzle, hair-product giveaways, competitions and more.
So, she needs your help to raise the much needed funds for vital
cancer research and patient support services, including Cancer Council
Queensland’s Wig and Turban loan service. You can support her by donations
of goods or cash, so do what you can!
To donate or follow Bluey’s progress, visit her webpage on the Clip for
Cancer website: www.everydayhero.com.au/leanne_gilkes
BURLEIGH ENJOYS 20 TH BIRTHDAY
At this year’s annual Anzac Day event - the Dawn Surface - the Burleigh
Longboard Club will celebrate its 20th anniversary. With Anzac Day falling on the
Easter weekend this year, the event will, for the first time, be run over two days.
The organisers promise to keep all and sundry entertained with a Sunday
night party, competitor board draws, giveaways, raffles, and more boards.
There’s also Easter celebrations for the grommets on Easter Sunday, and free
breakfasts served daily for competitors. For more information and to download
an entry form, visit the website: www.burleighlongboardclub.com
5/21 Clarence Street, Port Macquarie Ph/Fax (02) 6584 1995 or 0416 226 774
More online...
www.sandyfeetsurf.com.au
Surf with your kids!
from 3 years of age.
Share the stoke
Only
$39.95
Available in all good surf shops or online at
www.learn2surfstrap.com
www.surfbabysurf.com
Some things just
shouldn’t get wet.
WASP Bags are completely water
and sand proof. Noticed how if
you get the tiniest bit of sand
or water in your phone, iPod
or camera they are never quite
the same again? Thanks to their
unique seal, WASP Bags ensure
that the things that should stay
dry, stay dry.
Members of the Burleigh Longboard Club have extra reason to celebrate this year with
their 20 th Anniversary celebrations running over two whole days. Photo: Supplied
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.
Buy online or ask your friendly surf shop...
waspbags.com.au
jan/feb 2011
25

LATEST: COMMUNITY
SUP IN THE SUN
A DAY OF FAMILY FUN AND RIVER RACING
ON THE WORONORA RIVER
The great thing about Stand Up Paddle is that you can do it just
about anywhere. You just need water, be it the ocean, a river, a
lake, a creek… Just hop on the board, grab your paddle and off
you go. The versatility of the craft has spawned a host of new
events and possibilities - one of these being the Coreban River
Race, to be held at Prince Edward Park Reserve, Woronora, NSW.
Organised by the Cronulla Sutherland SUP Club, there will be
plenty of racing happening on the Woronora River, with divisions
across all age groups and board lengths, a handicap division and -
what is sure to be very popular - the SUP LeMANS. What is that?
It’s a battle. With paddles.
President of the Cronulla Sutherland SUP Club Peter Japp, who also
runs East Coast Stand Up Paddle, says that he wanted the event to
attract people from the broader Australian SUP-ing communities.
“IT’S THE TYPE OF EVENT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE EACH
CLUB UP AND DOWN THE COAST AND INTERSTATE
BEING ABLE TO TRAVEL TO AND TAKE PART IN, IN
THE SAME WAY THAT SURFING CLUBS DO.”
SUP manufacturer Coreban, who were only too happy to jump
on board as main sponsor of the event, having recently shifted
their headquarters from Maui Hawaii to Noosa right here in
Australia, will also be presenting a clinic on the day, hosted by
Jodie and Woogie Marsh.
But it’s not all about competing! The day is really about family
fun, building the SUP community in the local area and beyond,
and just getting out there and having a go. Expect bbqs, raffles
and other fun events wrapping up with a function at the Woronora
River RSL.
For more information, visit: the website:
www.cronullasutherlandsupclub.com.au
The Cronulla Sutherland Stand Up Paddle Club was established
in 2010 and is the first SUP club in the Sutherland Shire and the
surrounding southern Sydney suburbs.
Coreban specialises in designing quality Stand Up Paddle gear, with
testing done in some of the world’s most extreme conditions - from
outer reefs in Hawaii to point breaks in South Africa and Australia.
26 mar/apr 2011

Photo courtesy of Coreban
mar/apr 2011
27

Consistent
innovation
...from Alaia
...to Tuna
...to Tom Thumb
Mini Simmons
tomwegenersurfboards.com
Ask about the new range exclusively available through Noosa Longboards
presents: the surfing solution...
The new
Symba
Carver
Surf rack
+ +
Board
= FUN
We’ve moved!
16 Rene Street, Noosaville Qld 4566 Phone: 07 5455 5249
www.scooterstyle.com.au
10% off
Carver Surf Racks
with this ad
no modelS
here.
Just hand-crafted
boards, specially
made for you.
Col picks up his
new 6’6 quad.
Chocolate milkshakes at Boiling Pot in Noosa, January 2011.
Photo: Jack DeKort
15 Allen St, CAloundrA • 07 5492 5838 • thefACtorySurfboArdS.Com.Au
28 mar/apr 2011

LATEST: COMMUNITY
FLOODING IN
A LITTLE BIT OF BROWN WATER IN THE SURF WAS ABOUT AS MUCH NATURAL DISASTER AS THE
SUNSHINE COAST HAD TO DEAL WITH SO FAR THIS YEAR. ELSEWHERE, NATURE WAS FAR MORE UNKIND.
Floods, cyclones, bushfires... It’s been a bad start
to the year. For many it’s meant losing everything
they own, starting from scratch and in the worst
and most unthinkable of all situations, even losing
someone they held dear.
Sitting at home on the Sunshine Coast, we - like so
many others - sat untouched, watching helplessly
from afar as mother nature tore our country apart.
Seeing all the destruction and heartache as it
unfolded on national television, we - again, like so
many others - made it our personal problem, and our
business, to help where we could.
Fortunately for us, it turns out that so many people
and businesses that we’ve dealt with through
smorgasboarder felt exactly the same way
and were only too happy to dedicate their time
and donate their product to help in some extra
fundraising. So we wanted to share with you the
good things that people have done to get involved,
and to take this opportunity to publicly and openly
thank them for the generosity and time.
Thanks to understanding and support of the following
businesses, we were able to set aside $4000 as a
donation to the QLD Premier’s Disaster Relief Appeal:
ASI (Academy of Surfing Instructors), Aquatique,
Atoll Travel, Black Apache Surfboards, Bushrat,
Byron Bay Longboards, Chris Garrett Shapes,
Diverse, Fiik Skateboards, Foilz Fins,
G Boards, Go Sea, Greenline Paddle Surf,
Grown Surfboards, Hightide Surfboards, The
Island Accommodation and Islantis, Island
Surf Shack, Island Surfboards, Island Tribe
Sun Protection, Liquid Destination, ProtecSun,
Repeat Board Store, Riley Balsa Surfboards,
Sandy Feet, Sean Scott Photography, Skipp
Surfboards, SmoothStar Skateboards, Southern
Man Surf Shop, Surf Lock, Surfish, The Log
Shack, The Plank Shop, Underground Surf,
Water Café, Wavegrinder, World Surfaris and
last but certainly in no way least, Zak Surfboards.
Further generosity was shown in the form of
donations of time, gear and accommodation, which
we have been auctioning off on eBay. Donations
included custom surfboards by Lee Cheyne Designs,
Chris Garrett Shapes and Koma Surfboards,
fins from 4WFS and Foilz, a canoe from Goodtime
Surf and Sail in Brisbane, accommodation from
Caloundra Backpackers, The Westernport Hotel
in San Remo and ASI Bali, as well as gear from
Elofant Straps, More Surfboards and John Hart.
All we can really say is that we are truly humbled,
if not completely dumbstruck, by the spirit of
support shown by these businesses and the surfing
community of the east coast.
Thank you also to all those who have put in bids
on the online auctions - there may still be some
auctions yet to end by the time your read this. See:
shop.ebay.com.au/smorgasboarder/m.html
Good on everyone that’s got off their couch to
do something to help in these hard months. It’s
comforting to know we live in such an incredible
country - where lending a hand to a mate in need is
far from second nature... it’s first.
mar/apr 2011
29

Scott makes the most of any
opportunity to get wet.
Photo: Dave Swan
FOOTY WAS GREAT, BUT
UNTIL NOW, MY KIDS
HADN’T SEEN ME ON
WEEKENDS FOR MOST
OF THEIR LIVES. NOW I’M
RETIRED FROM FOOTY,
WE CAN SHARE SOME
WAVES TOGETHER.
SCOTT HILL ON FAMILY
STORM RIDER
FORMER MELBOURNE STORM RUGBY LEAGUE STAR SCOTT HILL TALKS ABOUT HIS LOVE
FOR SURFING, FAMILY AND LIFE AFTER FOOTBALL. WORDS: DAVE SWAN
30 mar/apr 2011

LATEST: INTERVIEW
“We grew up surfing in Forster. Footy in winter,
surfing in summer. My two older brothers and me
surfed every imaginable break outside where we lived
at Seven Mile Beach. Greg was six years my senior
and Matt four.
“As soon as Greg was old enough to get his licence,
the three of us used to venture down to Pacific Palms
and surfed Bluey’s Beach, Boomerang Beach and Seal
Rocks. I have so many memories of surfing growing
up back home.“
Described by many in Rugby League circles as a true
entertainer, Scott Hill was renowned for his speed,
sleight of hand and ability to read the play ahead
of the rest. He played State of Origin for NSW and
represented Australia. He was one of the first players
recruited by the Melbourne Storm in their inaugural
year in 1998 and went on to play for the Storm for a
further nine years before finishing his career in the
English Super League in 2008.
Personally, I considered him a freak. With me being
a born and bred Queensland cane toad and staunch
Broncos supporter, his playmaking always scared the
absolute pants off me. He was one of those guys who
could turn a game on its head.
One minute you would be dancing and singing sea
shanties and the next minute bloody Scott Hill would
have torn the game apart and have you crying in your
beer. I hated that bastard. He could sure play football
but I was keen to know how well he surfed.
“As you can imagine, having two older brothers, I was
always going to be pushed in the surf, the bigger the
better as far as they were concerned.
“Our family was good friends with the Emertons.
Beau and I were particularly close and you’ve seen
how he charges big waves. (Recently retired Beau
Emerton, also from Forster, was formerly one of
Australia’s top professional surfers. He is one of only
a few professional surfers to score a perfect 10 at
Teahupoo in monstrous four metre waves.) Surfing big
waves was just part of growing up.
“One of my scariest surf moments was when I was
at school, believe it or not. Surfing was part of the
school curriculum and one time we were out at
Hayden’s Rock.”
Hayden’s Rock is a large rocky outcrop situated
between Pebbly Beach and Forster’s Main Beach,
approximately 150m off the headland and popular
with an array of marine life – of which we don’t need
to know about.
“Hayden’s can get pretty heavy and it is deep. Mat
Hoy used to visit Beau and say that was on of the
best right-handers he has ever surfed.
“This particular day it was breaking eight to ten feet
and all I can remember is duck diving and duck diving
and just getting absolutely hammered, set after set. It
was pretty insane. I can’t believe they let us go out in
those kind of conditions.”
In Forster, they seemingly breed ‘em mad, and from a
young age.
“Yeah, I must admit a few of the boys back home are
a little crazy. When I was playing footy overseas I
caught up on one of their latest exploits that just had
me shaking my head. They were getting these big
fishing rods and heading down to Seven Mile, closer
to Booti Booti, hooking up these big slabs of tuna and
paddling them out past the breakers on a longboard.
From there the plan was to hook a great white. And
they did, time and time again, all catch and release.”
Through his footballing years, Scott still managed to
get in a surf whenever he could or catch up with old
surfing mates from back home.
“Robbie Kearns (the former captain of the Melbourne
Storm) and me used to head down to Bells, Winki
and Bird Rock at Torquay whenever we could.
Occasionally we would head even further south down
around Warrnambool. The waves down there are
something else, so much power and so consistent.
They pack a punch. The only thing is the water is so
bloody cold. You have a steamer on through most of
summer.”
Big waves and white pointers are ok but the first sign
of cold water and you’re complaining?
“Beau and I always try to catch up when we can.
When we played the World Club Championship over
in England, Beau was surfing in Spain. He rang me
up and headed over to watch the game. We caught
up afterwards for a few beers. Whenever we get
together though, it is pretty dangerous.”
It was not always World Club Championship victories
and after game beers for Scott Hill though. He
experienced a long, hard road to eventually savour a
taste of sporting success.
mar/apr 2011
31

LATEST: INTERVIEW
Scott spending quality time with the little Hills: (L-R) Molly, Mimi, Indie and Wyle
“1999 in particular wasn’t a good year for me.
I had to have a shoulder reconstruction in June
halfway through the season. At that stage, I
didn’t know I was going to miss a Grand Final
and the inaugural premiership win for the
Melbourne Storm in only our second year in the
NRL. But things got worse.
“I headed home after surgery on the shoulder to
catch up with my brothers and my folks. Whilst
at home, one of the boys I played footy with in
local first grade before I went to Sydney had a
head wetting to celebrate the birth of his child.
We went to a local nightclub and later in the
night ran into a little trouble.
“Admittedly my brothers and I never took a
backward step. In this instance I came to the aid
of my brother when some trouble unfolded. A
woman who was with the other party picked up
a metal star-picket and cracked me on the back
of the head. It knocked me clean out. With the
full force of my body weight I then hit the side
of the gutter with my head. I was out cold with
blood coming out of my ears.
“My folks lived in a unit just across from the
centre of town. So my best mate ran across to
their unit. You can imagine how my old man was
at 3am in the morning. ‘Ray, you gotta come
down.’ My dad arrived and saw me lying there.
Apparently, I didn’t come to until an hour later
when we were half way to the hospital in Taree.
I had fractured my skull and had bruising on my
brain. It was pretty heavy.
“I apparently didn’t acknowledge anyone until
my wife Brooke - then fiancée - flew in from
Melbourne and arrived there late the next day. I
basically lost four weeks of my life.
“Shoulder rehab and head rehab (laughs). I
had CT scans every couple of weeks to check
Quiver shot (or family shot if we can’t
get hi-res. Then quiver shot will be the
main one...)
the bruising on my brain had come down. But I
eventually came good, thankfully.”
And what of missing the 1999 Grand Final win?
“Well people say I was part of it and all I can
say is that’s bullshit. The biggest crowd in rugby
league history and I missed experiencing playing
in front of them. It was a tough year for me
emotionally but it gave me a lot of motivation.
The following year I made the NSW State of
Origin team for the first time and then went on
to play for Australia.
“I went from a year where nothing could have
gone any worse: I had a shoulder reconstruction,
I nearly died, I missed a Grand Final, but the next
year, we won the World Club Championship and
I played representative footy.
Bloody Scott Hill getting another sneaky one away to set up a Steve Turner try.
© Newspix / Phil Hillyard
“After that we enjoyed continued success at the
Storm. Unfortunately, I retired in 2006, the year
we lost the grand final to the Broncos. I never
tasted the victory of an NRL premiership, which
has always gutted me.”
And what of the storm fiasco? (The Melbourne
Storm was stripped of two premiership titles in
2007 and 2009 and fined $1.6 million after being
found guilty of long-term salary cap breaches.)
“I am just disappointed in the way it was all
handled. The players really copped it.
“When you are playing football you are
concentrating on playing football. You trust your
managers and the executives at the club have
got it all right. That’s what they are employed to
do. You’re employed to play football.”
Life after football means more time for family
and for a little surfing.
“Footy was great but until now my kids hadn’t
seen me on weekends for most of their lives.
Now I am retired from footy, we can share
some waves together. I am teaching them all
to surf. I am really keen to get them going, so
as soon as they are ready, we can all go surfing
together. That’s what I remember as a kid, those
times surfing with my brothers. I want them to
experience it.”
Scott and his wife Brooke have four kids - Molly
who is ten, Wyle eight, Mimi five and Indie one.
“Molly and Wyle are already surfing. They both
surfed in the Caloundra Surfabout (a surf festival
for schoolkids, held on the Sunshine Coast)”
“Our family are also big fans of Fiji. We have
been there six times with the kids to Plantation
Island, and you know how good the breaks are
32 mar/apr 2011

security • convenience • peace of mind
around there. Yet all that time over there, I have never surfed. For me, my
holiday time was the only true quality time I got with the kids so it wasn’t
fair to go off surfing. But I can’t wait until they are ready. That’ll be good.”
In a professional sense, Scott has embarked on a new venture.
“I got approached a few times to coach footy but after missing so many weekends,
I couldn’t do it to my family. Coaching is more time consuming than playing.”
“So I started up the business with Dave (Dr David Becker – former youth
athlete and physiotherapist for fifteen years in elite team management).
Brooke was a great support. She was the one who really supported me. She
encouraged me to do something I loved doing.
Scott and David are the co-authors of a new book entitled Sports Wisdom
Revealed: The Coaches. It’s the first in a planned seven books series. The
intended audience is primarily sports parents and coaches.
“I had the benefit of serving under some of Australia’s greatest coaches. The
book is about imparting some of their wisdom on the athletes of tomorrow.”
The book features interviews with twelve of Australia’s finest sports coaches
including Wayne Bennett, Ron Barassi, Norma Plummer, Lindsay Gaze and
surf coach to Mick Fanning, Phil McNamara.
“It was great to have Phil McNamara involved with the book. The success
he has enjoyed with Mick and the obvious respect between the two is
testament to Phil’s ability.
“What was fascinating in particular was, unlike other coaches, Phil has to
contend with Mother Nature when training his athletes. As he explained,
there are some times you go out there and the conditions dictate what you
do. It may be that all you can do is focus on bottom turns, so you do them
over and over again to make sure there is a real precision about them. You
practice what you can depending on what the surf is doing.”
“It was interesting that Phil also borrowed many ideas from other coaches he
had studied from outside the surfing realm such as Tony Roche and Wayne
Bennett. In essence, I guess that’s what the book is about, that crossfertilisation
of ideas across various sports.”
At the end of each chapter, there is a helpful summary of the philosophies
and approach of each coach interviewed for the reader to review.
“Basically the book is a fantastic resource rather than just something you
read. It is something that is easy to refer back to again and again. The reader
can decide who they will read about, in what order they choose and can get
their highlighter out and underline what each coach says that resonates with
them.
“Learn from the legends. The coaches we have in the book are very, very
good at handling athletes and getting the best out of them. The advice we’ve
got in the book is straight from the horse’s mouth, so it’s something that
parents and aspiring coaches can put straight into action.”
As for anything else new and exciting in his life, Scott replies with a smile.
“A Bourton Fat Bullet. Perfect for when the waves are a little hard to get on.
That extra bit of meat in the board makes the difference without forgoing any
performance.”
Scott Hill played 200 games for the Melbourne Storm, six tests for Australia
2000-04, Tri-Nations Tour 2004, World Cup 2000, five State of Origin matches
for New South Wales 2000-02, played in the Storm’s inaugural match (Round 1,
1998 v Illawarra) and scored Melbourne’s first premiership try.
For more on Scott’s book - Sportswisdom: The Coaches, see the
website, www.sportswisdomrevealed.com.au
Check this out!!
Surf Lock ® is a durable, secure place
to store your car key or immobiliser
Key Security Combination Padlock
Available at selected surf stores – also online!
Boards that can
last a lifetime...
Handmade with care, a hollow wooden
surfboard is fully functional and surfs as
well, if not better, than a foam board.
Each board is a one-off artwork with the
distinct character that only comes from
timber. Talk to Robert Ivers of Hollow
Wooden Surfboards about the board
that will best suit you.
Finished Boards – Blanks - Kits
www.hwsb.com.au
Or phone Robert on 0409 211751
Co-ordinator of the Victorian Tree To Sea workshops.
Inquire now about our next Wooden Surfboard Workshop.
www.surflock.com.au
The All-Rounder 9’ x 22” x 3”
mar/apr 2011
33

“This pic was taken on the morning of a fresh southerly swell. It had been flat for days, I woke up to a south west wind rattling the windows, it was raining, but there was just enough room for the sun to light up the horizon, 10 minutes after this
shot was taken it went a dull grey for the rest of the day and I surfed that A-frame for the next two hours with a just a few mates. It was lucky that little grommie was walking over with a 70’s single fin, especially the way he was holding it.”
COLOURS
OF COFFS
CAPTURING THE BEAUTY AND
ENERGY OF THE NEW SOUTH
WALES MID-NORTH COAST IS
AN ENVIABLE PURSUIT, AND
IT’S ONE THAT COFFS HARBOUR
PHOTOGRAPHER TOM WOODS HAS
MADE HIS LIVELIHOOD. WE CHAT
TO TOM ABOUT HIS WORK, HIS
FAMILY AND HIS CHARMED LIFE.
WORDS MARK CHAPMAN, PHOTOS TOM WOODS
In 1998-99, a Toyota Hi-Ace campervan was the
only home Tom and partner Sherrin knew for 14
months as they travelled around Australia.
“We lived off very little money, we didn’t need
much. Our entertainment was the ocean and each
other, so I think we lasted over a year on just
$14,000 and that included all our petrol, food, park
fees and a little 2 week trip to Indo,” Tom recalls
of the experience that set the tone for their current
lifestyle and the one he aspires to. Simple.
34 mar/apr 2011

LATEST: IMAGES
mar/apr 2011
35

LATEST: IMAGES
“John Craig pre-dawn with a blank
canvas to perform his flawless art.”
“I’M JUST HAPPY TO BE IN THE OCEAN, WHEREVER IT IS.”
TOM WOODS, PHOTOGRAPHER
“Just like most people I love a sunrise, I get up
every morning hoping for something like this.”
36 mar/apr 2011

Once that money finally did run out, the couple returned
to Adelaide, packed up everything they owned into that
same little campervan and headed to the mid-north
coast to start a new life. Coffs Harbour was where
they landed and started working towards their dream
of their own photography business, which became a
reality in 2003.
“We have run that business as our sole source of
income since 2005,” says Tom. “Early last year we
established ST Surf Images - a website totally
dedicated to our surf and ocean photography, which
has been the most rewarding and satisfying part of our
photography careers so far.”
While one plus is having his work appear in many
Australian surfing magazines over the last seven
years, a reward in itself is running the business from a
beautiful location such as Coffs Harbour. Tom believes
there’s a lot to love about the place.
“I like that the best waves on the coast can change on
a daily basis... It’s a real challenge to get the best of
it. If you are on top of it you can nearly always score
uncrowded gems.
“I really like the surfers that live here. There is no
pretense, not many show ponies. There are small
pockets of “locals only” mentality, which is just plain
ugly, but most of the crew in Coffs are cruisy, happy
people. It’s just one of the many little paradises right
along the north coast of New South Wales.”
Having his soulmate on-side in work as well as at
home, is a very fortunate situation, with Sherrin an
active part of the ST business, even shooting from the
beach while Tom’s in the drink with the water housing.
“It’s really cool to get the two angles from the same
session. It’s also good to know someone is backing me
up if I get caught out of position on the wave of the
day. We’ve only just started the double angle thing and
I’m really excited about the possibilities for the future.”
“When the kids were younger Sherrin didn’t get a
chance to do very much photography. She still had a
lot of input into how we ran the business and helped
a lot with creative ideas and styling of certain shoots,
as well as doing the bookwork - for which I am super
thankful. But now the kids are a little older, she’s
amped to get back into her photography, especially the
surfing side of it.”
But having a family does mean life is a little different
these days for Tom and Sherrin.... but in a good way.
“Becoming a parent really changes the ball game,”
says Tom. “You start to see life from a totally different
perspective. I think it has been my greatest influence
as far as photography goes, especially when people
are the subject, once you have kids you see and feel
emotion a whole lot more, nothing will teach you more
about life than having kids. “
“As far as surfing goes, I feel stoked to be able to pass
on our love for the ocean. My seven-year-old is already
addicted to the saltwater. She rolls around in the shore
breakers all day long. I often walk back over the creek
Jirra Laws
“Cameron Lindsay. He is in the water before
sunrise every morning. Champion bloke who
heads off to work as a policeman after his
morning ‘saltwater sanity’ as he calls it.”
“This is taken at a beach just 10 minute drive
from a place that holds a population of 60,000.
people yet on this perfect late autumn day
there is no one on the beach enjoying it... why
do so many people want to live on the coast
but never go to the beach?”
“...stoked with the way the spray is
painting the vivid blue sky.”
mar/apr 2011
37

at Moonee, our local beach, and think how lucky my kids are to grow
up in such an amazing spot and also be exposed to such a lifestyle. I
look at many parents surfing with their teenage kids around these parts
and think what a special thing it is to share, so I’m looking forward to
that - if they choose to surf, of course.”
In true form for a good surf photographer, Tom is an early riser, straight
out of bed to check the windsock in his backyard and surveying the
pre-dawn clouds to see if an epic sunrise is on the cards.
“I can’t stand to think I would be missing a morning offshore or some
killer morning light,” he says. Tom’s adamant not to miss an opportunity
to snap that one great photo - one that could even inspire someone to
change the direction of their life just as his was at age 14 after reading
his first surfing magazine.
“I know that single images have motivated people to travel halfway
around the world to help with foreign aid projects... How cool would it
be to have taken an image that has inspired that?”
“My favorite kind of photo to take is swimming in the ocean with my
water housing. The actual picture taking experience is by far the most
enjoyable. I am right there in the moment, getting my saltwater fix, my
heart is beating strong and it is also the most rewarding when you nail
a killer shot.”
That saltwater fix is such an important part of Tom’s life that the idea of
not surfing isn’t an option he’d even entertain.
“Geez, I can’t imagine not surfing! Surfing is such an all-consuming thing.
My life’s decisions and where I am at now were all governed by surfing.
“So hard to see where I’d be if I didn’t surf... That sounds really onedimensional,
doesn’t it? I suppose I would be in a boring 9-5 job and
play some B-grade ball sport on the weekends, like most Aussie males.
My bank account would probably look better, but man, that question
just makes me shudder... Move on to the next one, mate.”
“I CAN’T STAND TO
THINK I WOULD BE
MISSING A MORNING
OFFSHORE OR
SOME KILLER
MORNING LIGHT,”
Coffs Harbour photographer,
Tom Woods
To see more, the best place to check out Tom and Sherrin’s work is the
website www.stsurfimages.com , where the content grows daily. The
work is also on display at the Water Café – a great coffee shop and
gallery at the jetty strip in Coffs Harbour. The couple also have some
work exhibited at the Nautilus Resort.
If you need some regular inspiration, join up to the mailing list on the ST
website before the May 6 this year and be in the running to win a brand
new, custom-shaped board from Flanagan Surfboards.
And when you’re done clicking around on the internet, just grab your
board and get out there. If that happens to be around Coffs, you might
just find Tom in his favourite spot - anywhere, at dusk, with a few
hooting mates.
“I’m just happy to be in the ocean, wherever it is.”
38 mar/apr 2011

MEET THE TALENT
A MAN AND HIS MUSES
Hailing from Victoria, Mark Howlett is a talented photographer and designer
that - like us - just loves surfing and surfboards. Now that we’ve introduced
the man, we’ll let him introduce his five friends from left to right.
“The first board is an old 7’0” gun, sawn down to a 5’6” nugget. I cut the swallow tail out around
the middle fin to make it a twinny and re-glassed it. It’s a real rough job, but it’s alot of fun to surf.
“The next is an old single fin shaped by Michael Peterson. One of my mates (who doesn’t surf) was
about to make a trip to the tip. I told him I’d be happy to take care of it!
“To my left is a 6’0” quad bat-tail fish shaped by mate Rory Oke from Oke surfboards in Braeside,
Melbourne. It’s one of the first boards he shaped, and it’s sick!
“The next is also another one from Rory. It’s a 6’1” and a bit newer. It’s the board I ride most days.
“...and finally, the last one is a mini mal shaped by Rory’s old man, Chok. It’s real similar to the
board I first learnt to surf on. I’m spewing I sold my first board, but this thing’s just as much fun.
Good for tiny days and to teach friends in summer. “
See Mark’s photography on Page 47 and his blog: http://markjosephhowlett.blogspot.com/
40 mar/apr 2011

mar/apr jan/feb 2011
41

42 mar/apr 2011

Two absolute crackers from Sydney snapper
extraordinaire, Mark ‘Crumpet’ Taylor.
Above: Toby Martin finds shade at Dee Why Point
and below: Barrelling waves in Sydney Harbour
mar/apr 2011
43

LEROY GRANNIS: R.I.P. 1917-2011
44 mar/apr 2011
LEFT: Leroy Grannis - Surf Photography of the 1960s and 1970s, Taschen Books - RRP: $39.99
ABOVE: San Onofre, 1963. With its wide beaches, grass shacks, and long, rolling waves, San Onofre is called “California’s Waikiki.”

ON THE THIRD OF FEBUARY THIS YEAR THE SURFING WORLD SADLY LOST ONE OF ITS GREAT PHOTOGRAPHERS,
LEROY GRANNIS, WHO PASSED AWAY AT THE AGE OF 93 IN TORRANCE, CALIFORNIA.
WORDS: PAT QUIRK PHOTOS: COURTESY OF TASCHEN/SCRIBO GROUP
Leroy Grannis was born in 1917 and grew up in Hermosa Beach,
California, where he quickly discovered a love for the ocean. In his early
years he crafted a belly board which he taught himself to ride and at the
age of 14, his father gifted him a pine board which he fashioned into a
kneeboard using some rudimentary woodworking tools.
As a member of the Palos Verdes Surf Club and riding the huge 11ft
redwood boards of the era (which weighed around 40kg) Grannis’
passion for surfing was set for life.
Fast forward to 1959 and Leroy had become a family man, surfing only
when time permitted. He worked at many different careers, including
a stint in the Army Air Corps flying supplies to front line troops during
WWII. He remained on active reserve for many years after the war
had ended.
When a stress-related ulcer led him to seek more balance in his
life, Grannis converted his garage to a darkroom and purchased an
East German 35mm camera with a 400mm lens - a move that would
change his life forever. As his son, John, had recently started surfing,
Leroy used this opportunity to take photos of him and the surfing
environment, giving us some of the most iconic images of surfing
during the sixties and early seventies.
In the early sixties his work was appearing in major surf magazines
and he showed his ingenuity - with the help of his friend Doc Ball - in
creating a rubber lined box that enabled him to change films in the
surf while other photographers had to head back to shore. It also
allowed him to use long lenses in the water while sitting safely in the
channel at places like Sunset and Waimea Bay. His images of this
period showed everything from empty beach breaks, casual rides to
amazing large waves in Hawaii and the beautiful California coast.
As the seventies arrived, boards were getting shorter and Grannis was
travelling more, taking photos of high profile surfers of the day. Grannis
became photo editor at Surfing Illustrated magazine, was inducted into
the International Surfing Hall of Fame as number one lensman and -
constantly busy - co-founded International Surfing magazine.
As the decade rolled on, Grannis found himself moving away from the
surf scene to take photos of hang gliding and windsurfing, but never
stopped surfing for his own enjoyment. He spent the last years of his
life in Carlsbad, California still close to the ocean, loving every day.
While he will be missed by those close to him, his memory will live
on through the images he has left behind.
I came across Leroy Grannis’ work a few years back in a book store
when I saw the book “Surf Photography of the 1960s and 1970s.”
My wife brought me a copy the following Christmas and it remains
one of my most beloved books.
If you love surfing history and classic photography, do yourself a
favour and check out Leroy Grannis’ work. Even better, get yourself
his book, or drop a hint to your partner to buy it for you!
ABOVE: Sunset Beach, Hawaii, 1967. Sunset Point on the North Shore is a powerful magnet for waves as well as surfers.
RIGHT: Makaha, 1966. The infamous Makaha shore break launches another victim. This classic shot has been used in many advertisements.
mar/apr 2011
45

The Largest
Range of Surf
Charters Anywhere!
MALDIVES
North & South Male Atolls
The original surf area of the
Maldives & still the best!
Central & Southern Atolls
Get away from it all and enjoy
an isolated break to yourself.
PACIFIC OCEAN
Papua New Guinea
Discovering new breaks by
the day in this new frontier
New Caledonia
Close to home, cultured
& uncrowded waves
guaranteed.
Fiji
Access world famous
breaks like Cloudbreak,
Restaurants & Namotu
for the first time.
INDONESIA
Mentawai & North Sumatra
The Mecca of all surf
destinations for charter
boats
West Java &
Panaitan Island
For the serious surfer who
wants a real surf trip and
perfect isolated waves
Bali & Nusa Lembongan
Do a day trip or a week long
charter, either way you will
love this region.
Lombok & Sumbawa
World famous breaks like
Desert point, Scar reef &
Yoyo’s it speaks for itself
Sumba, Timor & Roti
Still a new area of discovery,
get away from the world and
enjoy perfect waves.
With the
strong Aussie
dollar there
has never been
a cheaper time
to do that surf
charter you have
dreamed of.
Don’t miss out as
spots are limited!
Don’t risk your surf trip by booking the wrong boat! The perfect
wave team travel to all the destinations we represent & we don’t
represent a boat/operator that isn’t the best at what they do. We
have done the work so you can rest assure your next surf charter
will be the trip of a lifetime.
www.theperfectwave.com.au
PH: 1300 00WAVE
46 mar/apr 2011

Fantastic shot of Currumbin Alley as only seagulls get to see it. Photo: Lincoln Williams
Vic surfers 'Boothy' and ‘Lacho' live it up. Photo: Mark Howlett
mar/apr 2011
47

It’s all about the beach
surf art • shells • driftwood
things • chenille shorts
wood surf boards • beach
stuff • retro sunnies • thongs
stripy towels • umbrellas
6 Lorraine Ave
Marcoola Beach
07 5448 8560
48 mar/apr 2011

LATEST: LOCALS
Any surfer who’s ever visited Torquay has been here or has heard of it.
And while some make a beeline for the big brand factory surf outlets
located there for some cheap retail therapy, it’s the fin man, the glasser
and the shaper that are the most visited by the local surfing population.
If you don’t know what you’re looking for, you may even miss the
unassuming roller doors that lead to the industrious world of surfboard
production that is Baines Crescent.
WORDS: EMMA WEBB
The residents may keep very odd hours.
At times it may seem that they don’t want your business at all, with that
damn ‘gone surfing’ sign not leaving the front door for days on end.
But when they’re in, you could walk in one door and out another, ready
to hit the surf with a custom board, fins and all the advice under the sun
- everything from surfing to growing the biggest cucumbers.
These guys never seem hurried and are always up for a chat. Unless the
surf is pumping, that is.
The personalities that co-exist in this one location are a strange mix, but
it seems to work.
And although they’ve been at it for the better part of their lives, they still
seem to be able to inspire the younger generation to lift their game.
Understated, but influential.
Old school tradies keeping the buzz going and doing what they love and
live for. Not for the image and not for the glory.
So, next time you’re in Torquay, look beyond what you see and what you
may think you know. You might just discover a little magic hidden away
in streets just like this one.
The characters mentioned may be the fin man, John
Ayton, the glasser and fix-it man Paul Cousins and the
pink surfboard making Greg Brown. You decide.
mar/apr 2011
49

NOOSA FESTIVAL
Noosa...
Bringing me good vibrations
March is the month. That means it’s time for
the Noosa Festival of Surfing once again.
WORDS: DAVE SWAN, MARK CHAPMAN,
TOM WEGENER & GUS BROWN
50 mar/apr 2011

So what? Why should you want to be there?
First - the surf
If you’re competing, you get to surf one of the best right-hand
point breaks in the country with a handful of other guys or girls.
How many times does that happen?
If you’re not competing, but rather spectating, you get to watch
some of the best surfers in the world and see all the things they
do, that you can’t.
If you’re not doing either, you can scoot around to National
Park, a little further around from Main Beach where the contest
is held, and surf one of the best right-hand point breaks, minus
all the good surfers who are competing or watching.
You can see I have thought this one through quite a fair bit. As
Baldrick from Blackadder often said, “Sire, I have a cunning
plan.” I love watching all the events at the festival but do
confess to occasionally sneaking off to enjoy some Noosa
magic without the crowds.
But what’s so good about surfing Noosa anyway? Noosa is a
surfing mecca and the reason is simple – it has some of the
most perfectly formed point breaks you will ever surf and when
it is firing, it is not unusual to have some of the longest rides
you have ever had in your life. Last year the surf was on and the
forecast this year looks just as good if not better.
Second – the destination
Noosa has built it’s reputation on the beauty of its natural
surrounds. The beaches are stunning and the water is pristine
and warm. Walk through Noosa National Park and you will
understand why people travel the globe to visit this place.
Noosa is truly one of the most beautiful spots in Australia, if
not the world. Riding a pearler from National Park through to
Main Beach is just another thing to add to the appeal. And as
I said, the ride is long, so there’s time to check out the scenery
along the way.
The famousTea Tree Bay
Photo: Nigel Arnison/On Surfari
Third – the atmosphere
I have frequented the festival for many years with my mates
and we always have a ball. We catch up, we chat, we laugh,
watch some events, share a few waves and check out the local
surf stores. We have many hours (not hour) long breakfast
sittings - the kind you never make time for. We knock back a
couple of beers each night, enjoy the entertainment, take in
the occasional fashion parade (this year’s event put on by Hive
Swimwear will be an absolute stunner) and of course, we
attend the vintage surfboard and memorabilia auction to blow
the family’s life savings... Again. What’s not to love about that
kind of week?
The Noosa Festival of Surfing is just one almighty celebration
of everything great about surfing and the good times it brings.
Long live fun.
mar/apr 2011
51

What’s
happening?
So much... Surfing, music, surfing, movies, surfing, markets,
surfing, charity auction, surfing and more surfing...
With yet another day added (how soon before this festival
runs for just the whole year?) there are nine full days of surfing
events and all forms of entertainment at the Noosa Festival of
Surfing this year.
The water events range from competitions for the young ones
right through to the over-65s and some great specialty events,
such as the inclusion of a finless division, which should be
incredible to watch. Further embracing the paddling people, the
Stand Up Paddle divisions are expanding to include surf and
races for all ages.
A feelgood favourite, the Family Challenge is on again and the
hotly contested Noserider division is always a treat to watch.
For those of you who trekked back and forth through the mud
last year to get to as many events as possible, there’s good
news: Less trekking will be needed to get amongst it, as a
new Beach Expo will be held on the sand at First Point for the
duration of the festival, and - if all goes to plan - the Sails Sand
Bar will open for the sunset hours where you will be able to
kick back and enjoy a few cold ones.
“So much more than a surfing
competition, there truly is something on for
everyone, day and night.”
The off-beach entertainment will be held in the natural
amphitheatre of the Noosa Woods with the Festival Village
open to the public on Thursday 17th March.
Planned entertainment the Surf Market Day, the Hive Fashion
Parade and our personal weakness, the Surf Memorabilia
Auction.
The two major ticketed events are firstly, the surf culture, music
and movie night, Logger Rhythm, which takes place on Friday
evening, March 18, from 4pm until 10.30pm.
A seriously eclectic mix of music has newbie garage punkers
The Bleeding Knees Club sharing the stage with the Dolphin
Band and the mellow, acoustic sounds of Mike McCarthy. Mike
will perform songs from the soundtrack ahead of the Australian
premiere of Stoked & Broke, the new Cyrus Sutton movie.
The next night, get ready for the major music event of the
festival, the Zinc Night in the Woods, which also runs from
4pm until 10.30pm. This six-hour concert in Noosa Woods
Park has a great line-up of acts with headliner Dallas Frasca
performing alongside Band of Frequencies, ‘Get-up-’n-do-yourthang‘
Marshall and the Fro, as well as Brisbane’s slide-guitar
twanger Asa Broomhall and surfy songstress Kym Campbell.
What a list... So much more than a surfing competition, there
truly is something on for everyone, day and night.
But, there’s only so much we can tell you here, so make sure to
check out the festival website for more information and to buy
your tickets: www.noosafestivalofsurfing.com
Events
Toes on the nose at Noosa
Photo: Katherine Dodd
Left: Asa Broomhall - one of the
entertainers at the Zinc Night in the
Woods on Saturday night
Right: Keep an eye out for the Hive
girls (like you could miss them) as they
hand out competitor rashies and put on
a fashion show for Thursday, March 7.
52 mar/apr 2011

NOOSA FESTIVAL
mar/apr 2011
53

WHEN JACOB STUTH RODE AN ALAIA ON THE AFTERNOON OF MARCH 5, 2005 IN NOOSA,
TRAVERSING ACROSS AN OPEN SHOULDER FASTER THAN ANYONE COULD HAVE IMAGINED ON AN
ANCIENT HAWAIIAN ALAIA REPLICA, THE RESURGENCE OF FINLESS SURFING TRULY BEGAN.
Finless
finds its feet
WORDS: TOM WEGENER
Did you know?
The downside of the traditional Hawaiian
style wood alaia is that it is really
difficult to paddle and get it into the
wave. Competing for waves with other
surfers is often deflating. Many shapers
are currently working hard to capture the
feel of the wood alaia with much more
paddle friendly foam boards.
The Event:
Sunday, March 13
9.40am Seaglass Project Finless Pro
7 heats of 20 mins each
54 mar/apr 2011

Since 2005 the alaia has gathered a cult following around the world. The buzz you
get from just riding across an open wave is exhilarating and many very seasoned
surfers say that it brings back the ‘grommet stoke’ of surfing all over again.
NOOSA FESTIVAL
After two years of alaia and finless expression sessions, the organizers of the Noosa
Festival believe it is time to bring the alaia into the fold of competition. For some, the jump
from a purist surfing pursuit to foam and competition is too much of a leap. However, the
inclusion of finless craft should provide a fresh challenge for the competitive surfer and
renewed spectator enjoyment, particularly in smaller waves.
The sport of modern surfing based around the tri-fin set has evolved to a point where perfect
exotic waves are expected. Conversely, finless boards are small wave friendly. They’re
extremely manoeuvrable, fast in small surf, exciting and new.
In thinking that we need to begin a new dialog around this genre of finless surfing, I have
set out a very basic criteria or guidelines for surfers and judges to consider, which are
based around finless surfing’s unique advantages. Here are the basic manoeuvres.
The take-off
There are a variety of ways
to take off. You can drop
in straight, slide sideways,
backwards, into a 360
drift or even set the edge
and go backwards toward
the pocket. They can be
tricks as well as being very
functional to get into a
position in the wave to gain
speed or set up for the next
manoeuvre. The take-off is
a manoeuvre to be explored
and mastered.
The Cut Back
Probably the most
phenomenal manoeuvre is
the cutback at speed, way
out on the shoulder. The
finless board can maintain
speed on a soft shoulder
giving extra currency to
solid rail cutbacks that
displace an amazing
amount of water.
The Rebound
After the cut back, the
finless board will head
back to the whitewash
with speed and
acceleration. There are
many possibilities for
terrific manoeuvres when
you rebound off the lip or
whitewash including 360s,
aerials, sliding into and
then coming out of the
tube. This area needs to be
explored and names given
to moves.
The 360° Spin
At first glance it looks like
a trick for points but there
can be a real function
to the 360° spin. This
manoeuvre can act like a
coil to spring you out of an
un-makeable spot. The
sliding tail causes the board
to flex into the wave. This
stored energy throws out
a bit of extra speed at the
end. A wave’s energy goes
in circular motions and it
seems the 360° spin is a
natural extension of this.
The Tuberide
The possibilities for tube
riding are exciting. Alaia
converts are constantly
pushing the boundaries
for tube time. The finless
board has incredible down
the line speed. It can
accelerate out of a deep
tube as well as stall and
sideslip in the tube. Rasta’s
huge tube ride, during the
expression session at last
year’s Noosa Festival, was
possible because he was
keeping control by side
slipping down the face
while in the tube. One nice
manoeuvre is to pull into a
little close down tube and
then side slip out in the
whitewash.
Lala or Side Slip
“Lala” is the ancient
Hawaiian word for alaia
surfing. It is defined as
the controlled slide in
the pocket. The root of
alaia surfing is grabbing
the wave with the edge,
releasing into a drift, and
then gaining control again
with the edge. Although
this manoeuvre may
be hard to see for the
spectator, it displays the
surfer’s control and finesse.
Sharing Waves
Two surfers can share a
wave in harmony. The
boards are so versatile in
the pocket that sharing
a wave is easy and
can showcase a new
complexity. In the earliest
surfing photos, surfers
were often sharing waves
and looked like they were
having fun.
Scott Walker
Photo: GSI
Perhaps finless surfing could become known as “Alaia style”. Alaia surfing is ancient and
we are just discovering it again. Although we are moving away from pure Hawaiian roots,
using the name will forever give the Hawaiians the respect and credit due, for this very
advanced style of surfing. Another ancient culture, the Basque, have a unique language that
has survived for thousands of years. They have a word for happy – “alaia”. Coincidence?
mar/apr 2011
55

Bali...
Festival Old Mal action on an old Jackson
Photo: NFOS/GSI - supplied
T he best of
both worlds
Dukes
at Bingin
ENJOY A BEACH LOCATION WITH
CITY COMFORT. CHOOSE FROM:
• 3 Bedroom private villa, sleeps 6,
with 10m pool
• 2 bedroom villa, sleeps 4, 8m pool
MAKE USE OF EASY ACCESS TO
FOUR FABULOUS BREAKS:
Bingin, Impossibles, Dreamland
and Balangan. (Surf guide available)
We’re on board
This year, smorgasboarder magazine has got on board as a sponsor of the ‘Old Mal’
event at the Noosa Festival of Surfing. The Old Mal has been chosen becaue it fits in
just perfectly with what the mag is all about - which is all about getting into the water
and having fun.
The rules are pretty basic too - essentially, boards need to have been made before
1967 and be 9 foot or longer.
Jordie Brown of Hightide Surfboards makes the trip up to Noosa from his home in
Victoria every year, and you’ll most definitely see him in the line up for the Old Mals.
“The reason I love the Old Mal in Noosa is because it’s the pefect stage for some of
the best traditional surfers from around the world to get together and surf beautiful
old boards the way they were meant to be ridden.”
Thomas Bexon of Thomas surfboards also loves to compete in the Old Mal division.
“It’s the least competitive event and it’s not taken so seriously,” he says. “Most
people are entering this event because they love riding heavy, single fin, longboards
and it’s the only area of the contest that suits that. It’s fun, and everyone who is doing
it has an interest in old mals.”
Thomas reckons that while modern longboarding is more focused on highperformance
moves, the Old Mal division is more about nose-riding and style.
“It is great fun and it’s a hoot just being part of it.“
Book now!
info@baliretreats.com.au
www.baliretreats.com.au
or call 07 5572 0477
The Event:
Tuesday-Wednesday, March 15-16
From 7am Old Mal
Check the location and final details on the day.
56 mar/apr 2011

NOOSA FESTIVAL
Old mals
“It’s the pefect stage for some of the best
traditional surfers from around the world to
get together and surf beautiful old boards the
way they were meant to be ridden.”
- Jordie Brown
mar/apr 2011
57

58 mar/apr 2011
Straddie is only a ferry-ride away from the bustling city of Brisbane, but
may as well be a million miles away with its crystal clear waves and
pristine beaches. Megan Slade gives us an almost-local’s insight into this
still untamed, yet unbelievably friendly island paradise.

Brent Dorrington at Main Beach, Point Lookout
PHOTO: Adam Weathered
TRAVEL: ROAD TRIP
mar/apr 2011
59

TRAVEL: ROAD TRIP
Ahhh... That Straddie feeling.
It starts to take hold as soon
as your car wheels hit the
metal floor of the ferry and
the weathered old barge boys
guide you in. It deepens as
a shimmering Moreton Bay
opens up and Coochiemudlo
Island glides by to the south.
Once you hit the East Coast
road the feeling of freedom
ensues. Worries are left on
the mainland and a morning
session filled with 3-4 foot
translucent Main Beach
barrels beckons.
North Stradbroke Island is a magical,
subtropical surf destination on Brisbane’s
doorstep. It boasts consistent swell all
year round and though wave quality is
sand dependant, there are often great
banks to be had along the expansive
beaches.
MAIN BEACH is the surfing focus of
Point Lookout. Being an island means it
is exposed to big swells and Main offers
some 32km of possibilities if you take
a 4WD. Closer to the point near south
rock, left and right barrels peel off in
impossibly clear waters. Out the back a
long bank can form, pitching a lovely left
hander dubbed ‘Back Break’ by locals.
Around the headland to the north
both FRENCHMAN’S BEACH and
DEADMAN’S BEACH offer some
protection from a southerly wind.
‘Widows’ is a favourite spot for locals
despite the warning in its name and
it’s proximity to Shark Alley. It’s a
powerful right hander and not for the
faint hearted. The island does have a
reputation for being sharky and chances
are you may spot a few whilst there.
The locals maintain they are well fed
and recommend staying out of the water
when the bait fish are around.
CYLINDER is a popular family beach
offering the most protection. In the
right conditions a beautiful right hander
can peel around the point. The current
is strong, so you paddle out north of
Widows and get whipped around the
point into a long right that finishes by
plonking you straight in front of the pub
at Home Beach.
60 mar/apr 2011

Nick Vitko. Primitive Surf
rider and Straddie local
“It’s the serenity. You catch
up with all your mates and the
village news in the water, it’s a
great atmosphere.
“The quality of the waves, the
beauty. You can have main
beach to yourself when it’s
slightly onshore.
“You compare a place like
Straddie to Fiji or Bali and you
have to go through all the crap
at the airports.
“It’s the lifestyle. It’s just great.”
Russell Specht,
Straddie local and gun surfer
mar/apr 2011
61

TRAVEL: ROAD TRIP
The days of Straddie being a well kept
secret are long gone but the magic of the
place remains. On the weekends and school
holidays the surf can be pretty crowded
but during the week it’s still possible to
score perfect waves with only a handful of
surfers. The locals are guns and like any
small community they are protective of their
beautiful home. But generally the vibe in the
water is very relaxed as long as you show
some respect.
You can have all sorts of different holidays at
Straddie. There are a handful of beach front,
easily accessed camping grounds at Point
Lookout, Cylinder and Amity Point. For a bit
of quiet time you can take the 4WD up both
Main and Flinders Beaches, set up camp and
find your own beach break. Or else you can
stay in resorts and holiday rental houses in
the villages. As well as surfing there is great
scuba diving, snorkelling, bush walking and
fresh water lakes to visit.
Once completely surfed out, and the sun is
setting over Moreton island, chances are
you will be grinning like a fool in utter self
appreciation over your decision to come to
the island. Your mobile phone will have
been abandoned in a pile of sand under the
passenger seat and the Straddie feeling will
have taken hold.
That’s what Straddie is about. It’s being away
from the mainland. It’s those magic filled
days. It’s the waves and that impossibly clear
water. It’s the abundance of sea creatures
and wildlife. It’s the low key atmosphere
and the burgers at the Roadhouse. It’s Bob’s
shop. It’s the view from the Straddie pub. It’s
lying under the she-oaks at Cylinder beach
camping ground, completely surfed out and
watching a storm roll in.
‘I see people and they fall in love with the place the first time they
come. It’s the ones that leave their brains on the barge that are
a pain in the ass. If you show a bit of respect for the place and
the people that live here, then there are no problems.’
Murray Taylor, Straddie local and surf school operator.
“Growing up in Redland Bay in the 1980s, we used to walk down to
catch the North Straddie barge and then hitch hike all over the
island. It was the best of times, surfing pristine, perfect waves.”
Paul Uscinski, COD Surfboards
62 mar/apr 2011

The other
Straddie has an abundance of sea creatures and wildlife.
A couple of winters ago, three pods of dolphins put on an
incredible festival of surfing at Frenchman’s beach before a
dumbfounded crowd who packed the headland. Two legged
surfers joined in on the spontaneous game, carving up the
glassy south-easterly swell whilst about sixty dolphins
torpedoed beneath them and soared amongst them. An
unforgettable experience for this humble surfer, but for the
locals it was just another day in Paradise. They surf daily
with dolphins, turtles, dugongs, massive rays and whales
and the water is so damn clear it blows your mind.
A real
surf shop...
in a true surf
paradise
A chance encounter
with Terrence
Words: DAVE
SUCH A PRISTINE ENVIRONMENT MEANS NORTH
STRADDIE HAS ABUNDANCE OF MARINE LIFE.
SOME FIVE MINUTES OUT IN THE SURF AND I HAD A
CHANCE ENCOUNTER WITH TERRENCE.
Having a surf out at Point Lookout, a friendly booger sitting
beside me in the lineup shrieked, “Shark!”
“What shark”, I said. “How big?”
“It’s a bull (shark) or a tiger. Maybe two or three foot,” he
replied.
Admittedly a shark that size is big enough to perhaps take
a chunk out of you but is a guppy by South Australian
standards.
Looking around I couldn’t yet see what he was on about
and with that, Terrence the Tiger Shark (calling them names
likes Terrence seems to make them less frightening to me
– sorry if I have offended any Terrences out there) passed
between us.
He seemed to move more in the direction of my booger
friend, causing him to very quickly paddle towards the
beach. It appears sharks have a sense of humour too.
Jokes aside, there is a lot of marine life, and a few of the
men in grey suits, but they are so well fed they are not an
issue. Indeed, it is great they are there, because it means
human intervention has not yet stuffed up another majestic
location on our idyllic Australian coastline.
“Yes, there’s a few
of us around, but
with waves this good,
we’re the last thing
on your mind”
Custom surfboards, hardware,
accessories, clothing & more!
rory symes
Photo: Swilly
Point lookout,
North stradbroke island
(07) 3409 8334
bob@bobmintysurfboards.com
mar/apr 2011
63

64 mar/apr 2011
Sustainable
Stradbroke

learn to surF
www.norThSTrAdBrokeISlAndSurfSChool.Com.Au
A little Straddie
A Stradbroke Island home, ca. 1885
At approximately 38km long and 11 km wide, North
Stradbroke is the second largest sand island in the world.
Scientific review of middens at Point Lookout show evidence
of human activity some 25,000 years ago. Named Minjerribah
by the original inhabitants, the island’s rich ocean, abundance
of native animals and access to fresh water supported a long
history of indigenous occupation.
Captain Cook sailed past in 1770 and mapped the
easternmost points of the area, identifying and naming
Point Lookout in the process. Matthew Flinders was the first
european to set foot on the island in 1803. He was supported
in his quest to find water by the local peoples who proved to
be very hospitable.
Renamed in 1827 after the
Earl of Stradbroke, the island
became the home for the first
pilot station in Morten Bay and
was identified as a suitable
location for a penal colony.
This permanent habitation
of the island ended the
idealic life of the indigenous
inhabitants, with regular conflict occurring with the convicts.
The island was opened to free settlers in the 1950s with
fishing, including the hunting of dugongs, becoming a primary
industry.
In more recent history, the island has become synonymous
with sand mining which commenced in the 1960s. In 2010 the
state government announced plans to phase out sand mining
on South Stradbroke by 2027 and establishing national park
which would cover up to 80% of the island.
The big split!
Originally one landmass, North and South Stradbroke were
apparently separated in 1894 when the “Cambus Wallace”
laden with explosives was shipwrecked on a narrow passage
off the island and had to be detonated.
• All equipment supplied
• Great fitness activity
• Increase your ocean awareness
• Build on your current SurfInG SkIllS
• Certificate courses available, level 1 - level 5
• Group lessons available
• Team building for corporate groups
• Private lessons available!
For more inFormation or to make a booking
For your straddie surFing experience,
please contact any oF our coaching staFF!
Murray 0407 642 616
Tim 0428 539 684
Chris 0400 791 839
Stacey 0403 960 789
Clasje 0439 079 490
Dale 0438 763 957
Lincoln 0438 267 700
mar/apr 2011
65

SURFBOARDS By PAUl UScinSki
HAnD-SHAPeD, PeRSOnAliSeD cUStOm
BOARDS FOR PASSiOnAte SURFeRS
10 minutes from the
North Straddie Ferry!
eSt. 28
yeARS
ALSO:
Professional
ding repairs
0415 722 891 www.cODSURFing.cOm.AU
Aside from the idyllic, pristine surroundings, what also
typifies North Straddie is its mix of interesting people.
66 mar/apr 2011

TRAVEL: ROAD TRIP
Bob Minty
NORTH STRADDIE’S LOCAL SURF SHOP
OWNER AND SHAPER OF, YOU GUESSED IT,
BOB MINTY SURFBOARDS.
Visiting the island we were told to pop in and
say g’day to Bob. Thinking it best to call ahead,
we were told by nearly everyone we spoke
to not to worry about it. Bob would be there.
He would either be shaping a board, out front
having a chat and a coffee, or out on the grass
stripping the wax off a surfboard.
We got there. He wasn’t. Is that bad karma? See
Page 63 for our chance meeting with Terrence.
Understanding Bob is a pretty humble kind of
guy, we asked Marie Kendall who has worked
with him for the better part of four years about
the man.
“Bob is a very generous, kind-hearted man with
a lot of time for the local community. He is
involved in so many aspects of the community
and island life.
“He is always up for a chat and a coffee or a
cup of tea. He is of English origin, so he loves
his cups of tea. If it’s the afternoon, it’s beer
time. He will most definitely greet his guests
with a beer.
“He’s always here, seven days a week. His
business is his life. He lives on site. Bob eats,
sleeps and breathes his business, so in that
respect, he combines his social life with his
working life and that is probably why so many
people who come across from the mainland find
the store so welcoming.”
The Taylors
GROWING UP WITH A SURF-MAD DAD THAT
RUNS THE LOCAL SURF SCHOOL, LINCOLN
WAS DESTINED TO BE IN THE WATER. POINT
LOOKOUT BORN AND BRED, HE’S ANOTHER
MEMBER OF THE LOCAL BOARDRIDERS’ CLUB
WHO HAS MADE HIS WAY INTO THE TOP 100
ON THE ASP.
Lincoln commenced surfing when he was five
in the mellow waves at Cylinder Beach under
the watchful eye of his dad. Now twenty-two,
has been on the circuit three years and last year
placed 95th in the ASP World Rankings. But it
has been a lot of hard work to get to where he
has to date. Murray, Lincoln’s father, explains the
challenges of being so remote and what it takes.
“Not having much of a media presence on
Straddie, it is quite difficult getting exposure
unless you are out there pushing your own
barrow or have someone pushing it for you.
Bede showed guys like Lincoln what was
possible but admittedly he had to move to the
Gold Coast to really crack it.
“Kids over on the island tend to be really power
based surfers - just look at Bede, Lincoln and
Tim McDonald, another local boy making a
name for himself. They surf that way because
of the waves we enjoy over here. With that
said, I think they possibly miss the hungriness
you develop competing for waves at places like
Snapper Rocks and so forth. Breaks where you
are anonymous really and where people don’t
necessarily show respect to the older guys like
they do over on the island. It certainly is more
of a ‘dog eat dog’ attitude. You have to fight for
your waves. Your performance level at places
like the Gold Coast is also much higher. You are
not always the best surfer out in the water.
“What is most pleasing though is whilst the
boys have moved away from the island they
come back when they can and take an active
role in the local surf comps. Bede and Lincoln
are usually down judging the groms. They
recognise what the club and the older crew
have done for them and have tried to keep that
going. It’s about having respect for those who
have helped you out and giving something back.”
Talking with Murray, he is obviously proud of his
son and confident he can continue to improve
as a surfer.
“The dedication and the preparation Lincoln
puts in is pretty strong. He definitely gives it
100%. He just loves competing. He has always
loved competing. He would compete in a game
of cards. He would compete throwing rocks.
That’s just him.”
Lincoln is presently sponsored by Lizzard, with
boards and fins supplied by Mt Woodgee and
FCS. Mt Woodgee shaper Wayne McKewen has
had a long association with the island.
Bede Durbidge
NORTH STRADDIE’S HOMETOWN HERO ON
THE PRO CIRCUIT
Those who know our mag would be aware we
don’t make it our business to cover the world
of professional surfing. The ASP gets ample
coverage already. But there are stories behind
these gifted surfers, particularly in reference
to who they are as everyday people. And when
on Stradbroke, there’s just no way to avoid
competitive surfing. The place lives for it.
However talking with Bede’s sister Clara, who
works in a local café on the island, it was
fantastic to get another side of this surf superstar
that many people may not know about.
“If I had to sum up Bede, the best way I could
describe him is respectful. He’s a humble,
warm, family orientated man. That comes from
growing up in a very small close-knit community.
“Because the island can be so isolated, you
learn respect. As kids, sometimes you would
be at school and we would have to come home
because there was a cyclone warning. All the
island kids would be rounded up and piled onto
a barge to the mainland and it would be as
rough as guts.
“That develops a humbling respect towards
the elements. You don’t go out there and think
you are invincible. It definitely shapes people’s
character and develops a deep-seated respect
for Mother Nature and the environment. Being
a part of such a small community you also learn
to respect people within the community - your
elders, your family and your friends. That’s what
Bede’s done and that’s why people respect him.”
Lincoln Taylor carves up his home break
Photo: Andrew Shields
mar/apr 2011
67

café bar
& Point Lookout Pizza
breakfast – lunch – dinner
al a carte – dine in and takeaway pizza
fully licensed bar – functions – weddings
overlooking frenchman’s beach
Not only is North Stradbroke Island picturesque, it has a rich cultural heritage dating
back many tens of thousands of years to the original inhabitants who still have an
active and ongoing relationship with the island. The strong cultural connection to
the land and sea is maintained today. Attractions on the island are largely those of
historical significance or its unique flora and fauna.
07 3415 3390
www.lookcafebar.com
Pick up a Caring for Straddie pocket guide on the barge over for
helpful tips to minimise your impact on the local environment
and ensure you preserve it for generations to come.
Enjoy breathtaking views along the main
surfing beach, over to the Pacific Ocean
Samarinda Drive, Point Lookout North Stradbroke
www.whalewatchresort.com.au
Freecall number: 1800 450 004
Learn to surf
If you’re planning on teaching your
partner or kids to surf it does get
much better than the warm, crystal
clear waters of North Straddie.
Murray Taylor’s Surf School has
been running since 1987 and there
is a reason why so many current
and budding surf stars come from
the island.
Watersports & fishing
Aside from surfing, Stradbroke is
an awesome spot for fishing, scuba
diving, snorkeling, sailing and sea
kayaking. Manta Scuba is one
of the top operators in the area
running daily dives to Straddie’s
reefs which are absolutely teeming
with marine life. The waters around
North Stradbroke Island form part
of the Moreton Bay Marine Park.
The whales
From June to November you
can see lots and lots of whales.
Apparently North Stradbroke
Island has the tightest funneling of
whales on the entire east coast of
Australia.
North Gorge
On the North Gorge walk at Point
Lookout you are bound to see
more than just whales. Bring your
camera as you’re bound to see
dolphins, turtles, manta rays and
more.
More nature & lakes
Inland there are endangered
heathlands, rainforests, old growth
forests, woodlands and freshwater
lakes. You just have to see them.
Brown Lake is so named because of
the distinct colour of the water. The
tannin from surrounding Paperbarks
and Ti-trees stain the water a rich
brown colour not dissimilar to that
of tea. Brown Lake can be accessed
by car.
Blue Lake on the other hand can
only be accessed by foot but has
to be seen. The lake is not only
stunning but extremely deep with
a maximum depth of 9.4 metres.
As a kid growing up my family
regularly ventured there. I still
recall swimming out towards the
middle of the lake and ducking
underwater following the rays of
sun filtering down until they faded
into its dark depths. I thought the
lake bottomless and possibly home
to our very own Loch Ness Monster.
68 mar/apr 2011

Tread lightly when visiting this ecologically
sensitive and culturally significant island
paradise. Where possible minimise your
impact on the local environment and ensure
you preserve it for generations to come. Pick
up a Caring for Straddie pocket guide on the
barge over for helpful tips.
Buy local where you can. You will not only
be supporting the island’s economy, you’re
guaranteed some of the freshest seafood and
produce you have ever tasted.
4WD Adventures
Get your 4WD beach access permit and explore
this majestic island. 4WD permits are $34
for one year, and can be purchased from the
Stradbroke Ferries terminal and vessels, or
the Redlands on Moreton Bay Visitor centre in
Cleveland. For a treat for the kids or the young
at heart, make your way to the island’s massive
sand dunes and go sandboarding. You will never
laugh so much. It will be one of those moments
you never forget.
History lesson
The island’s Heritage Trail is a self-guided
tour that explores the region’s rich historical
past. Trail guides and further information can
be obtained from the North Stradbroke Island
Historical Museum, Visitor Information Centres
and Council Customer Service Centres.
For more information visit the websites
www.redland.qld.gov.au or
www.more2redlands.com.au/explore
North Straddie has a very broad range of
accommodation options from beach holiday
homes - be it architecturally innovative
designer beach abodes or retro weatherboard
cottages, to resorts, self contained
apartments, great B&Bs and a backpacker
guesthouse complete with scuba diving
available on site.
And if you can’t stand being more than
several meters between where you sleep
and the waves, Straddie Holiday Parks has
a number of park and foreshore camping
grounds on several of the island’s most
popular surf and fishing beaches. Each
ground has unique features and various
accommodation options. All campsites,
including foreshore camping, must be booked
and paid prior to arrival. Foreshore campsites
are accessible by 4WD vehicles only and a
permit is necessary, but are a true way to get
away from it all.
Stradbroke Ferries – Straddie Assault
Teams Surfing Competition Point Lookout
Saturday 15th & Sunday 16th October
Contact: 0438 763 957
The Stradbroke Ferries – Straddie Assault is
in its 28th consecutive year and is Australia’s
longest running teams surfing competition.
The event is invitation only and epitomises
club spirit involving all members of the club in
the competition.
Surfers who have competed as juniors and
gone onto bigger things include – Bede
Durbidge, Mick Fanning, Joel Parkinson and
Danny Wills, Lincoln Taylor, Chris Friend, Chris
Bennetts, Mitch Colbourn and Julian Wilson.
Oakley Pro Junior
Point Lookout
February 2012
Contact: 07 5520 1165
Each year the world’s most talented young
surfers descend on Straddie to battle it out.
In 2010 world renowned
travel guide, Lonely Planet
named North Stradbroke
Island one of the top ten
beaches in the world to
swing a hammock.
The aboriginal name for the
island, ‘Minjerribah’ means
place of mosquitoes.
We didn’t see any...
Deadman’s Beach was so
named after a skeleton
and a leather boot were
found in the sand in 1956.
The remains were thought
to be those of the cook or
mate from the Prosperity
who were lost at sea when
the ship sank in1902 off
Point Lookout.
Dunwich on North
Stradbroke Island was
formerly a convict
settlement, quarantine
station and later a
benevolent asylum for
paupers, inebriates, the
badly disabled, lepers and
returned soldiers from
WW1. It was also home to
an aboriginal mission.
Since the 1940s tourism
and sandmining have been
the main industries on the
island.
At the end of this year,
more than half of the
island’s 27,753 hectares
will be national park. The
state government plans to
increase this to more than
80% by 2027 under their
strategy to develop ecotourism
on the island.
mar/apr 2011
69

70 mar/apr 2011

mar/apr 2011
71

THE ISLANDER HOLIDAY RESORT
41 East Coast Rd, POINT LOOKOUT
POINT LOOKOUT BEACH RESORT
4-10 Kennedy Drive, POINT LOOKOUT
CYLINDER COVE
118 Mooloomba Road, POINT LOOKOUT
Ideally located, whether it’s adventure
or relaxation you’re after, there’s
something for everyone. The resort
has a pool, tennis court, bbq area, kids
playground, scooter & car hire. Studio,
1 & 2 bedroom apartments available,
all fully self-contained with foxtel,
dvd player, wireless internet access,
balconies and parking.
Proximity: Opposite Home/Cylinder
beaches, 2 minute walk to the hotel,
pub, bowls club, shops & restaurants.
Phone: 07 3409 8388
E: islander@stradbrokeresorts.com.au
www.islander.stradbrokeresorts.com.au
From $225 for 2 nights
MANTA LODGE AND SCUBA CENTRE
1 East Coast Road, POINT LOOKOUT
Manta Lodge YHA on beautiful North
Stradbroke Island is the perfect place
to relax and escape to a tropical island
paradise. We are a 3½ star Lodge
located right on the beach at Point
Lookout, with private double and twin
rooms, as well as clean, comfortable
and secure dorm share rooms.
Nestled into the hillside of the Point
Lookout headland, the resort offers
a selection of self-contained 2 & 3
bedroom units, with ocean views, pool
areas and private aspects. The resort is
only 80 metres from the Point Lookout
Surf Club and the entrance to beautiful
Main Beach.
Proximity: 3 minute walk to the surf
Phone: 07 3409 8213
Email: StradbrokeIsland@rhq.com.au
From $320 per unit for 2 night stay.
Located on north facing Cylinder Beach
with its legendary surf break. Fully self
contained units with ocean and beach
views from almost every room. Straddie
Hotel only minutes walk away.
Proximity: 1 minute walk to beach and
5 minutes walk to hotel and shops.
Phone: 07 3409 8255
Email: straddie.qld@raywhite.com
www.visitstradbroke.com.au
From $1320 per week low season
DISCOVER STRADBROKE
1 Mintee Street, POINT LOOKOUT
Discover Stradbroke Surfing Retreats
- STAY for 3 Nights, PAY for only 2!
Contact Discover for everything you
need for your surfing getaway!
Contact our Stradbroke Island
Accommodation Specialists on
+617 3415 3949 or Visit
DiscoverStradbroke.com.au
Phone: 07 3415 3949
E: bookings@DiscoverStradbroke.com.au
StradbrokeIslandReservations.com.au
PANDANUS PALMS
HOLIDAY RESORT
21 Cumming Parade, POINT LOOKOUT
High on a hill overlooking Home Beach,
looking north towards Moreton Island,
offering plenty of open space for
children to play, full size tennis court
and swimming pool.
The two or three bedroom villas are fully
self-contained with large living area and
private balcony, own BBQ and linen is
supplied. We can arrange return vehicle
ferry crossings at a discounted rate.
Proximity: 500m walk to Home Beach
and Stradbroke Island Beach Hotel.
2km to cafes, shops and Gorge Walk.
Phone: 07 3409 8106
Email: pandpalm@bigpond.net.au
www.pandanuspalmsresort.com
From $330.00 for two nights
Proximity: Located right on the beach
at Point Lookout.
Phone: 07 3409 8888
E: info@mantalodge.com.au
www.mantalodge.com.au
Dorm Share from $30 per person per night
and Private Rooms from $78 per night.
Mention this listing for 10% off.
WHALE WATCH OCEAN
BEACH RESORT
Samarinda Drive, POINT LOOKOUT
Located at North Stradbroke Island’s
Point Lookout, Whale Watch Ocean
Beach Resort provides endless views
along the main surfing beach (which is
one of the east’s coasts renowned surf
spots) and over the Pacific Ocean, to the
Gold Coast and beyond.
Proximity: Short walking distance
to Point Lookout Surf Club and all the
major Point Lookout attractions are
within walking distance.
Phone: 07 3409 8555
E: reservations@whalewatchresort.com.au
www.whalewatchresort.com.au
ALL SEASONS STRADBROKE ISLAND
43-57 East Coast Rd, POINT LOOKOUT
The premier resort on the island, nestled
in the foothills of Point Lookout, offering
modern architecturally designed 1, 2, 3
and 4 bedroom, self-contained Beach
Shacks and Villas. Modern facilities that
ensure you have everything you need for
your time on Straddie including cafe and
general store, heated pool, gymnasium,
children’s playground and tour desk.
Proximity: 2 minute walk away from
Home Beach..
Telephone: 07 3415 000
E: reservations@
allseasonsstradbrokeisland.com.au
http://www.all-seasons-hotels.com/
gb/hotel-7945-all-seasons-stradbrokeisland/index.shtml
Prices from $151 per night (low peak,
based on minimum of two nights)
TV
gym
laundry
kitchen
parking wi-fi pool airconditioning family-friendly pet-friendly spa
bbq
72 mar/apr 2011

On the island you are going to want a car – it’s a bloody big
island remember, the second biggest sand island in the world.
There is plenty to see and do and a 4WD is the best option.
Plus if you want to explore a few different breaks whilst there,
each are a couple of minutes drive apart.
You have the option of flying into Brisbane and hiring a car or
driving your own from wherever you come from.
If you’re coming up from the south on the M1 (Pacific Highway),
the simplest route is to turn onto the Gateway Motorway
and take the Old Cleveland Road exit following the signs to
Cleveland. Once there, the ferry terminal is well signed.
If coming from the north, the directions are essentially the
same - down the Pacific Highway turn left onto the Gateway
Motorway and then left again onto Old Cleveland Road.
The drive from Brisbane’s CBD to Cleveland is around 28 kms
and depending on traffic can take between 20 to 40 minutes.
The drive from Brisbane Airport is around the same.
Once at Cleveland you have the option of four kinds of
watercraft to take you to the island, two are water taxis and
two are car and passenger ferries. Since you are going to want
a car the choices are:
Stradbroke Ferries or the Big Red Cat. Both take around the
same time.
Stradbroke Ferries (the blue ones) are more frequent and run
7 days a week, 365 days a year.
The trip across to the island is between 40 to 50 minutes.
There are same day travel deals for as little as $50 but
generally speaking the ferry is around $65 to $70 each way.
Once there the drive from Dunwich to the north-eastern tip
of the island (where the popular surf spots are) is just under
20kms and around 15-20 minutes.
Lincoln Taylor
TRAVEL: ROAD TRIP
Photo: Andrew Shields
Going to STRADDIE?
Go Blue!
www.
Phone (07) 3488 5300 or 1300 STRADBROKE
Straddie
Specials
Anchorage Beachfront Resort
• Stay 3 nights & receive a FREE return
Stradbroke Ferries vehicle ferry transfer
• Studio Unit
• Beachfront resort
• Restaurant, pool & BBQ area
per person
$185* twin share
Whalewatch Ocean Beach Resort
• Stay 3 nights & receive a FREE return
Stradbroke Ferries vehicle ferry transfer
• 2 Bedroom Ocean View Unit
• Ocean views
• Pool, BBQ area & games room
per person
$157* based on 4 people
.com.au
* Valid 09/02/11 – 11/04/11 & 27/04/11 – 31/05/11 excluding public holidays. Conditions apply. Subject to availability.
Call 1300 303 766
or (07) 3821 0266
SIH17130.indd 1
mar/apr 2011
73
11/02/11 6:42 AM

TRAVEL: PLANE TRIP
TALES OF THE
TukTuk
Sri Lanka is a beautiful surf destination and has always
inspired a different kind of surfer. With the civil war finished
in May 2009 and a recent WQS event held in Arugam Bay,
it is truly back on the surfer’s map and why wouldn’t it be?
Julia Brockhausen and friends discover great waves, warm
water, good food and friendly locals.
traveller
WORDS: JULIA BROCKHAUSEN
PHOTOS: CHRIS ‘EDDIE’ WARD & JULIA BROCKHAUSEN
SURFING PHOTOS: DANIEL MEALLEM
74 mar/apr 2011

Photo: Cyrus ‘Elvis’ Kaye
mar/apr 2011
75

TRAVEL: PLANE TRIP
It’s one o’clock at night and we are finally
standing in front of the small hostel in Sri Lanka’s
capital, Colombo, that I had booked a couple
of days earlier. Lights are out and everything is
closed. After what feels like forever, our repeated
door banging summons forth an apparition that
could be straight out of the Ali Baba tales. An old
man with white hair, dressed in a long, flowing
white gown opens the door and leads us to our
musty smelling room – the joys of travel.
Three days later I am sitting in the line-up at the
fabled point-break of Arugam Bay on Sri Lanka’s
east coast. The wave is a fast right-hander,
breaking over a stone reef partially covered with
sand. Today, it is 3 to 4 foot and fun. Even getting
out into the line-up was easy, although I had
to walk onto the reef - thanks booties - find the
keyhole and do a couple of duck dives. I opt to sit
on the shoulder of the wave to see how it breaks
to get a feeling for the pecking order. There are
two locals who seem to sit deepest and pick their
waves. A couple of Israeli and Australian guys are
rather aggressive and frequently drop in. Finally,
there are some Euro surfers and me - the only girl.
All in all, there are maybe 10 to 15 surfers.
Then, one of the set waves swings wide and I am
sitting in the perfect spot. A couple of strokes and
I’m on my feet, taking the drop, gliding fast down
the line – time for a turn, another turn – bliss!
After Colombo’s shenanigans, dusty roads and a
bumpy tuk tuk ride (thanks to a broken tire) I’m
back where I belong – in the water.
Early mornings are the go with offshore wind
and the break becoming crowded quickly as
the morning progresses. Later, the wind goes
all wonky and it is not as clean. Evening leaves
another window of fun surf if you are lucky.
Accommodation ranges from very basic and
extremely cheap to luxury, yet still affordable,
with everything in between. Over the next couple
of days, we are exploring Arugam Bay and
surrounds.
There is incredibly good food: hot curries,
fresh fruit juices, even home-made ice cream.
Arugam proves to be the perfect base. The
point break is fast and fun, doesn’t get too big
but always breaks. The inside wave in the bay
is more mellow, and perfect for beginners and
longboarders. There are plenty of cafes, roadside
stalls and other travellers around, but Arugam
still retains the charm of a small fishing village.
A short tuk tuk ride north or south takes us to
some more point and beach breaks that are less
crowded. The landscape is stunning and well
worth exploring. We enjoy sun and wave-filled
days, lazing around in hammocks and getting to
know the locals. The only drawback – it is really
hot during the day. Just a short stroll down the
road makes you break into a massive sweat.
When we finally decide to hire some motorbikes
and make our way into the nearby Yala National
Park, we find elephants, water buffaloes,
tortoises and more friendly locals.
The frequent military roadblocks take getting
some used to. However, the soldiers you will
encounter are possibly the friendliest smiling
people with machine guns you’re likely to meet.
Ravaged by a centuries old civil war, it is only
Tea to sea... Sri
Lanka is a place of
great contrasts, great
beauty and pretty
damn good surf
76 mar/apr 2011

TALES OF THE
TukTuk
traveller
recently that it has become relatively safe
to travel here again. The scars that the war
and the 2004 Tsunami have left in Sri Lanka’s
land and its people are still visible. To hear
first-hand experiences about when the 2004
tsunami hit is shocking, yet enthralling at the
same time. One local tells me how he and his
family ran for their lives - a scary thought. You
can see it in the buildings too. While most of
the shacks and houses along the waterfront
have been rebuilt, there is still the occasional
patch of rubble and dirt that used to be a
family home. Due to international money
from charity organisations flooding in after
the tsunami, Arugam Bay today boasts more
fishing boats than there are fisherman to use
them. Money well meant, but not necessarily
well spent.
After two weeks of fun waves, sore
shoulders and sunburn, we decide to head
inland to cooler climes. Our decision to
make our way into the mountains by tuk
tuk is unconventional and leaves us a little
saddlesore, but we have plenty of roadside
stops on the way to taste watermelon, buy
sandals from little roadside shops and drink
some tea with ancient yogis. Finally we reach
our destination, all in one piece with the
boards still strapped to the roof of the tuk tuk.
We do some hiking in the tea plantations
around picturesque Ella and learn the
difference between Matale, Dimbula and
Ruhunu tea. We visit temples and have a
picnic at the feet of a 10-metre tall Buddha
statue carved out of a mountain. On our way
back to Colombo we stop in Kandy, the capital
of Sri Lanka’s ancient kings and today one
of the island’s premier tourist destinations.
It is a good place to see a traditional dance
performance, get an ayurvedic massage and
pray for good waves at the Temple of the
Tooth (which houses a relic of one of Buddha’s
teeth).
A visit to the Pinnawela elephant orphanage
in Kegalla, half way between Kandy and
Colombo, is our last stop. Watching the herd
of more than 60 elephants making its way to
the river and splashing in the water is a sight
to behold. Pinnawela is the biggest elepant
orphanage in the world.
As the wheels of our plane leave the
tarmac at Colombo airport, we have already
made plans to come back during the south
coast wave season to check out spots like
Hikkaduwa, the Rock and Plantation point
and see the south’s famous pole fisherman at
work.
fast facts
The teardrop-shaped tropical island
of Sri Lanka is located about 30
kilometres of the southern coast of
India. Known as “Serendip” to Arab
geographers, the island fell under
Portuguese and Dutch influence. It
finally came under British rule, and
was renamed Ceylon.
Today, Sri Lanka’s main exports
include clothing and textiles, tea,
gems, rubber and coconuts with the
tourism industry growing strongly.
The island has been scarred by
a long and bitter civil war due to
ethnic tensions between the majority
Buddhist Sinhalese community and
the minority, mainly Hindu, Tamil
community in Sri Lanka’s north and
east. The Liberation Tigers of Tamil
Eelam (LTTE), a separatist militant
organisation, fought the mostly
Sinhalese government to create an
independent Tamil state.
After over 25 years of violence, the
conflict appears to have ended with
the president of Sri Lanka officially
announcing the defeat of the LTTE
on 19 May 2009. Both the Sri Lankan
government and LTTE have been
accused of human rights violations.
The region around Arugam Bay was
also badly hit by the 2004 tsunami
which destroyed many of the village’s
buildings. The region, especially
nearby Pottuville town, is home to
some of the island’s Muslim minority.
Sources: BBC, Amnesty International
mar/apr 2011
77

TRAVEL: PLANE TRIP
Conditions
WHEN TO GO: There are two very distinct surf
seasons in Sri Lanka. We were there in late
August/September during the east coast surf
season which runs from May to October and
is the dry season in the east. You can expect
offshore winds in the morning up to midday. The
east coast receives the same Antarctic winter
swells that hit Indonesia’s southern shores in
the middle of the year. The main surf spot in that
region is Arugam Bay.
The south and southwest coast surf season runs from
November to April when it is the dry season there. The
most famous surf spot in that region is Hikkaduwa.
The seasons are quite distinct and outside of
these times heavy rain, small surf and bad winds
can spoil the fun. However, locals say you can still
find a good wave without the crowds outside the
official seasons as long as you are flexible and
listen to local advice.
WHERE TO SURF: The east coast includes the
surfing spots of Arugam Bay, Peanut Farm, Pottuville
Point, Crocodile Point and Okanda Point. It’s also
well worth exploring other parts of the coastline.
The south and southwest coast includes
Hikkaduwa, the rock in the bay of Unawatuna,
Plantation Point in Weligama, Mirissa and
Polhena. Make friends with the locals and maybe
they’ll take you to some secret spots.
78 mar/apr 2011

TALES OF THE
TukTuk
traveller
mar/apr 2011
79

TRAVEL: PLANE TRIP
Travel Tips
HOW TO GET AROUND
Hiring a car with driver for longer distances is a good and secure
but slightly more expensive way to travel around. There are also
local buses and you should use the train at least once for the
experience. These local modes of transport are very cheap. For
shorter distances tuk tuks are readily available everywhere and
their drivers are prepared to take you anywhere you want to go.
Make sure you agree a price before you go. You can also rent a
motorbike which is a good idea if you are not scared and want to
go exploring the countryside without luggage.
WHAT ELSE TO DO
There is plenty more to do than surfing in Sri Lanka. Some nonsurfing
destinations include the tea plantations and hills around
Ella, the ancient town of Kandy, Yala National Park and the
Pinnawela elephant orphanage.
WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR
Sri Lanka is a developing country and most of its population is
poor. Tourism, especially since the end of the civil war, is an
important source of income and everybody wants to profit. So the
usual rules of travelling in developing countries apply: Make sure
you agree on a price before you use any services, keep an eye on
your belongings, be careful about what you eat and standards of
cleanliness. If an offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Most important, please show respect to the locals when surfing
and you’ll find that the Sri Lankans are some of the friendliest
locals around.
80 mar/apr 2011

ONE OF A KIND
WITH PETER WHITE
OF CLASSIC MALIBU
Peter White of Classic Malibu shapes everything:
traditional logs, so-called retros, high performance mals
and still a steady stream of shortboards.
“So many people come to me asking to make a board that
does everything,” he says today, “noseride, trim, paddle
easily, but still fast and manoevreable.
“It can’t be done,” White sighs. “Every surfer is an
individual, hence, a custom board is tailor-made to suit
them and the waves they prefer to ride.
“As a longboard manufacturer, we make boards that
essentially fall into two categories: traditional and modern.
“Traditional boards offer unbelievable paddling power,
assisted by a flatter rocker, giving less resistance, and a
wider back end, which helps pick up waves more easily.
Added width gives greater stability and the flatter rocker
allows them to trim through the dead sections of a wave.
“Extra weight, created by heavier glassing, maintains
speed and softer rails enhance water flow, again creating
greater hold for extended tip time.
“With regards to manoeuvrability, they can take a bit of
getting used to. There’s so much skill in making it look easy.”
“Modern boards are all about dispersing water quickly
to give drive and speed,” says White. “They also offer
flex, unlike logs. You can feel the board unleash power
through turns like an uncoiling spring. This allows for some
amazing high-performance surfing, such as can be seen in
some younger local surfers like Mitch Surman, Nic Jones
and Jackson Winter.
“Unfortunately,” White commiserates, “there is a down
side. As these boards are light, snapping becomes a factor.
Lighter foam, thinner stringers, 4oz fibreglass and bigger
manoeuvres all add up to decreased longevity. We offer an
all-round performance board glassed with one layer of 4oz
glass on the bottom and one 4oz and one 6oz on the deck.
It’s a nice strength-to-weight ratio.”
If your needs are specific, it is almost essential to get a
custom order. Talking to the shaper honestly, about your
abilities and style will allow him to craft a board that will
match as many criteria as possible.
In closing, White says, “next time you buy a board
talk with a shaper and tell him what you want. He will
offer you advice on what you need. And remember, buy
Australian-made and support the industry regarded as the
best in the world.”
Written by Tommy Leitch www.lucidaeditorial.com
Peter White began shaping over 45 years ago in Port Phillip
Bay, Victoria and has run Classic Malibu for almost a
quarter-decade. Classic Malibu has been a proud sponsor of
the Noosa Festival of Surfing since its inception.
INSIDE...
KNOW YOUR RAILS
The rail is the edge of the surfboard
where the deck wraps around to
meet the bottom. The function of a
rail is to firstly hold the board on the
wall of a wave and then to release
the board so manoeuvres can be
performed.
Shaping a board for the first time
(See story overleaf) gives you a new
found appreciation for rail profiles
and how critical they are to the
performance of your board.
Surfboard shaping is so complex,
you can effectively bugger up your
rail profile through every single
process of design from plan shaping
right through to when you sand the
board. Worst still, shaping the rail
is possibly the hardest aspect to get
right when crafting a surfboard.
Talk to your local shaper about
rail profiles. It will assist your
understanding of their importance
and where cheap boards get it
wrong. Forewarned is forarmed.
Howard Jennar explains how rails
perform in his book The Surfer’s
Textbook. “Very generally speaking
the harder and lower the rail shape,
the better the rail will cut into the
wave face and the better it will
hold itself in and the faster it will
travel. A fuller and softer rail is more
‘forgiving’, releases quicker, however
it has more drag, and is consequently
slower.” (have a look at a modern
shortboard compared to an old mal)
A modern shortboard uses a
combination of both, rounded rails for
drive with hard-edged rails towards
the tail for explosive acceleration and
a tighter turning capacity.
RAIL TYPES
SOFT RAILS
Gentle curve with no sharp edges
Usually described as ‘rounded’
basically forming a semi-circle or
egg shaped
HARD RAILS
Sharp bottom edge
The apex of the rail shape is nearer
to or at the bottom of the board
50/50 RAILS
Apex is located at the
centre of the rail, hence 50/50
A 60/40 rail simply means the apex
of the rail is closer to the bottom
LEARNING THE ART P82
WHEN OLD IS NEW P96
BRAND NEW BOARDS P91
All the latest designs and ideas from shapers along the coast. Check out some
great new shapes and designs from our talented local surfboard makers.
OTHER TYPES OF RAILS INCLUDE:
• ‘boxed’ rails, where the rail has a
squarish feel
• ‘tucked under’ rails, where the
bottom edge of the rail is pulled
under the plan shape (general
outline) of the board
• ‘pinched’ rails, where instead of
being ‘full’ and retaining as much
foam as possible from the original
blank, as mush foam as possible is
removed whilst still endeavouring
to maintain functionality
81

GEAR: WE LEARN...
BOARDING
SCHOOL
HOW TO TURN A PIECE OF FOAM INTO A PIECE OF ART
...OR IN OUR CASE, HOW TO TURN A PIECE OF FOAM INTO A PIECE OF FOAM WITH FIBREGLASS AND RESIN ON IT THAT CAN PASS FOR A
SURFBOARD AND POSSIBLY EVEN FLOAT... WE GIVE IT A GO AND LEARN THAT IT’S MUCH HARDER THAN IT LOOKS. WORDS: MARK CHAPMAN
82 mar/apr 2011

STEP 1.
THE BLANK
Okay... We knew a fair bit about what was involved in making a
board before. But, despite our background knowledge gleaned
from years of interest and months of working on this magazine,
nothing could have prepared us for actually getting our hands
dirty and crafting a board from start to finish. What a lot of
work! And I mean a hell of a lot of work.
As part of the education, it’s important for us to
see where the soon-to-be-abused foam comes
from, so off we go to SouthCoast Foam on the
Gold Coast...
THE BASIC PROCESS FOR THE CREATION
FOR THE BLANK IS AS FOLLOWS:
We had undertaken this project to gain a better insight in
what it takes to create a surfboard, but in hindsight we now
understand that we had no idea what we truly were in for.
Believe us, this is no weekend craft project...
AND SO IT ALL
BEGINS...
4:30 am, Tuesday morning. The alarm goes off and I’m up and getting
ready for a trip from home on the Sunshine Coast to Richard Harvey’s place
in Miami on the Gold Coast. Today I go from being a surfboard rider, fan and
admirer, to being someone far more in-tune with the intricacies of surfboard
design; someone who truly understands the way water runs around a board,
someone who can create magic with a block of foam and a planer... I will
become... a surfboard shaper!
Well, in my head at least. What I will actually be doing, alongside my
partner in crime Dave Mini-Swannoms, is learning what blood sweat and
tears go into the boards we ride and trying my hand at creating one myself.
Despite the scene in my head - which seems to be narrated by James Earl
Jones - in reality, I know I’ll basically be hacking the hell out of some poor
unfortunate blank, hoping against hope that I end up with something even
half decent in looks and usefulness, that might draw an approving smile
rather than raucous laughter.
The foam mixture is poured into a mould where it’s
heated appropriately to produce the basic shape of
the blank, complete with rocker.
This is then cut in half and glued back together
with the wooden stringer in place.
Richard Harvey explains the dos and don’ts of the tools
8:30am. Miami,
here we are. We get
stuck straight into an
orientation session with
Richard and discuss
the magical watercraft
we have envisioned for
our project. I’m aiming
for something between
an Egg and a Biscuit,
which is at this point
loosely titled “The
Biscotti” while Dave is
going Bob Simmons on
us with his very own
Mini Swannoms which
he will be calling “The
Stumpy Duck.”
11.00am. And we’re off
to pick up the blanks at
Southcoast Foam...
Fortunately, as far as this part goes, we’re merely
spectators letting the experts get on with it. With
our blanks chosen and strapped on to the roof of
the car, we’re heading back to the shaping bay.
The blank...
It looks good now,
but give me a planer
and see how I can
change all that with
a few strokes.
mar/apr 2011
83

STEP 2.
PLANNING TO ROUGH SHAPING
Marking out the plan shape using templates
12.00pm. The first cab off the rank is the Duck, so Dave gets
into drawing it up. With Richard’s expert guidance, he is walked
through the process of measuring the board and drawing the plan
shape using a mix of templates. A few careful measurements and
adjustments later and the outline is ready to be cut out. Using a
handsaw, the blank is cut away to reveal the start of the minisimmons
hiding inside the Southcoast 6’5” kneeboard blank.
Although a little shaky at first, Dave comes through the cutting and
gets to neatening up with the surform. Tweak, adjust, neaten...
12.48 pm. It’s earmuffs, goggles and hat on and onto the electric
planer. Under Richard’s watchful eye, the board is starting to show
its form. Dave is shown the tricks and techniques of wielding the
almighty planer and sets about shaping the bottom of the board,
while I watch nervously knowing that he’ll be done and relaxing
when I get started on mine.
With only one heartstopper when a bit of stringer gets nicked by
the planer, but quickly fixed, The Stumpy Duck has taken shape and
lunch is calling.
Taking to the foam with a saw, and then the planer
3:30pm. It’s my turn. Under Richard’s watchful eye, we get stuck
into the Biscotti ( I really need to change the name...) After some
indecision about the nose, we end up drawing a few extra curves
and decide to stick with the original wide option. A little tip?
Indecision is a very bad idea… Like a tattoo, know what you want
before you go in!
Through the sawing and planing I’m learning very quickly that this
surfboard shaping course is about far more than the tools, or the
final board for that matter. The energy-master, Richard, is checking
my every move, correcting my posture, directing my breathing and
all the time relating the process to surfing and daily life. While
we’re uncovering the curves of this board, it’s all about focusing on
“IT’S ALL ABOUT FOCUSING ON WHERE THE WATER IS GOING TO TRAVEL ALONG THE
LINES OF THE BOARD AND WHAT ENERGY WE’RE PUTTING INTO THE SHAPING PROCESS”
where the water is going to travel along the lines of the board and
what energy we’re putting into the shaping process. Basically, a
relaxed and calm working method is more likely going to translate
into a cruisy board. Let’s hope...
The two rough-shaped blanks at the end of big day
While the planer is loud and daunting and the safety gear a little
claustrophobic, the process becomes very therapeutic as you
start finding yourself in the zone and becoming immersed in the
experience.
7.00pm. What was a clean blank, now - in my weary eyes -
resembles a thong that got stuck in an elevator door, but Richard
reckons I’m on the right track. Dave’s fared better with a slick
looking little Mini-Simmons-in-the-making resting in the corner.
With the previous respect we had for shapers now quadrupled, we
hit the beach to wash off this insane dust.
8.00pm. Beers, dinner, bedtime.
84 mar/apr 2011

STEP 3.
HAND SHAPING
8.00am. I’m not waiting today, so I selfishly jump the
queue to pick up where I left off last night. All these
nasty planer marks need to go, so Richard hands
over the surform - which is a hand-tool, about 30cm
long, that is pretty much a cheesegrater for foam. I
work my way across the board carefully - probably
too carefully... Watching me work must be as
thrilling as watching paint dry, but Richard seems to
have boundless patience and keeps a watch on my
progress and on the angle of my surform.
Due to the fact that the design has a single concave
running into a double concave with a vee in the tail
(who’s bright idea was that?!) it’s a little tricky to get
the bottom right, but again, with careful guidance, it
all comes together
10.00m. Without too much additional damage, the
shape is slowly refined. Richard has me checking the
curves, refining the rails and checking again. After a
while I seem to be getting it, finding the bumps and
dips I was oblivious to before. Progress at last.
“EVERY STEP OF THE WAY, EVERY LITTLE THING
YOU DO... YOU’RE ALWAYS SHAPING.”
STEP 4.
SANDING
Top: The surform is used to take out the
planer marks and smooth out the shape.
Left: A sanding block neatens up the
surform marks and a stringer plane is
used to shave down the wooden stringer.
Above: A light touch with some gauze
finishes the rails
Below: Pencilling in the credit
2:00pm. I’m done, we’ve refueled with some lunch
and The Stumpy Duck is on the operating table.
4.30pm. After a few hours of fine shaping with
the surform and making many of the same newby
mistakes that I made - like holding the tools poorly,
slipping, scratching the surface and most of all
forgetting to just relax... Dave is ready to sand.
An important point to note is sanding is far from as
harmless as it may sound. You could literally screw
up the shape of the board by doing it wrong. No
pressure at all.
Using a sanding block, Dave carefully goes about
getting rid of the surform marks and further refining
the shape of the Duck. Every step brings the final
shape closer to completion and it’s pretty exciting
seeing it so close to looking like an actual board.
Amazingly, even just rubbing a little bit of
sandpaper over the foam takes a fair bit off the
top, and what that means is that the stringer, being
harder than the foam, becomes raised and needs
to be shaved down with a stringer plane. Yet one
more scary step...
6.30pm. To bring two huge days to a close, the
rails are sanded with a bit of gauze and the allimportant
pencil comes out to document and mark
the special occasion with the date and dimensions
of the Duck written along the stringer.
7.00pm. Back to the beach, wash off the dust... We
have a celebratory beer at the Nobby’s Beach Surf
Club and head home.
mar/apr 2011
85

STEP 5:
GLASSING 1&2
Having delivered our now very fragile
shaped blanks to The Factory in Caloundra
for safekeeping (after Dave’s deliberate
attempt to sabotage the still-called-Biscotti
by ‘accidentally’ dropping his car keys on it)
we’re ready to get stuck into the next step
with the expert guidance of Paul Carson - a
master board builder with a rich history in the
local surfing community and more experience
and knowledge than he could use in a
lifetime. Maybe not the wisest man though,
allowing us damage-magnets into his place
of work for an extended period of time.
So, being absolute gluttons for punishment,
we’ve decided to go the whole hog to finish
these babies up - colourful resin tints all the
way to full gloss polish. It’s a lot more work,
but hey, we’re only doing this once and want
to experience the lot.
The resin tint turns out to be a lot more work
than a standard glassing job, firstly because
getting the colours right is tricky and secondly
because to do it right, the glassing can’t all
be done in one day. The board needs to be
taped up to do the bottom, and then once dry,
taped up again to do the deck. Essentially, it
almost doubles the production time.
The Duck’s going green and the other one
red. We spend a lot of time watching Paul
expertly cut the fabric for the boards and
measure out resin and other assorted
chemicals like a mad scientist, but finally we
get to muck in with the squeegee. It’s not as
easy as the pros make it look, but fortunately
Paul’s there to correct our stuff-ups as they
happen. I dread to think how these would
turn out if left to our own devices.
At the end of second day, we’re looking at
two colourful boards with a 4oz bottom and
4oz and 6oz top. What the ‘ounces’ refer to is
the actual size of the fibreglass fabric weave,
which translates into the thickness, weight
and strength of the final board. It’s all a trade
off - the thicker it is, the stronger it is, but the
heavier it is. This is why you will see endless
options and combinations, all relative to how
you surf and how you would like your board
to perform. Being average on the wave and
murder on a board, I go thick and strong... a
little like my mate, Dave.
Left: The Stumpy Duck is
taped up and then covered
in thick green resin, turning
it into a Mini Granny
Smithons
Right: The red resin goes
onto the deck with Paul
showing us how it’s done.
“IT’S NOT AS
EASY AS THE
PROS MAKE
IT LOOK...”
Oh yes, the banter and insults fly thick and
fast in the workshop, but it makes for plenty
of laughs and healthy competition. My
sledges are the best, of course.
86 mar/apr 2011

STEP 6:
FINS? WHAT THE?!
The Duck is getting Mini Simmons
disc fins, and they have to be made
from scratch. Over to Dave....
“It’s a bit like Sarah Lee’s Danish
Pastry, ‘Layer, upon layer, upon layer’...
STEP 7:
DECALS... UM, OKAY...
GEAR: WE LEARN...
“I didn’t have any idea how to make
a fin. Just like the rest of the board,
it turns out it takes a hell of a lot of
time. Go figure. It’s a job in itself.
“Start off with 28 to 30 layers of 6oz
fibreglass, which gives you the right
thickness for a hand-made fin to slot
straight into a standard removable
fin system. We went 30. Paul cut the
first sheet and then handed over to
me for the next 29. Piece of cake?
No. Like everything else, doing it for
the first time was of course far more
difficult that it seemed - the bloody
fibreglass cloth kept moving as I cut
across the roll. But finally, I had 29
‘kind of’ rectangular pieces.
We’d thought about the plan shape of the boards,
we’d thought about the fins, we’d thought about
the colours.... Decals?! What, how, where, who?
At the last minute, realising that it’s the day we
need to put them on the boards, with no time to do
any research, we take to rice paper with permanent
markers to do up a few logos and designs.
Paul shakes his head politely as we give our
attempt a test run. Turns out those markers just
aren’t as permanent as you would hope. We watch
our early morning’s creativity bleed out into a greyblack
blob of nothing. Fantastic.
“Next... Lay out four layers of
fibreglass, resin, work it in with a
squeegee and roll out the air bubbles.
Add another four and repeat. I think
the whole process in itself took me
well over an hour. Once the panel was
dry and set the next day, I traced the
fin template onto it, put it in the vice
and cut out my fin shapes. Thankfully
this seemed to be one thing I could
actually do with confidence.
Onto Plan B. I rocket off to the stationery shop and
buy some Posca waterproof pens. We try, we test,
it works! We’re good to go. To attach, we cut up
some more fibreglass cloth, and stick the whole lot
on with a healthy dose of resin.
And the Biscotti officially gets renamed to
something less lame... The Herring!
Top to bottom:
Cutting the fibreglass
cloth; creating the fin
panel with coloured
resin; the final panel
ready to cut; fins take
shape and Paul checks
on the final foiling.
“Foiling the fin, which Paul thankfully
jumped in for, is done at first by
electric sander and then by hand. To
attach the fin to the board then takes
bundles of fibreglass strips called
rovings, wrapped around the base of
the fin and fixed on with resin, more
sheets of fibreglass and more resin
again. Leave it to set.... What a job.
“To get the colour, tints are mixed
into the resin. So, spare a thought the
next time you see a 1970s board with
multiple colours in the fin. Take note
that different coloured resins were
applied to each of the 3 to 4 layers
of fibreglass. I can’t begin
to imagine how long these
kinds of fins took to make. No
wonder some of our earlier
board building brothers smoked
a bit of the wacky tobaccy...”
Attempt #1 fails dismally, but
the final product with Posca
pens turns out far better.
mar/apr 2011
87

BOARDING
SCHOOL
STEP 8:
FINS GO ON, PLUGS GO IN...
As we’d looked at the fin-making process and made a set from scratch for The Stumpy
Duck, we decide to go with a removable fin system on The Herring, to see what it takes
to get that into a board. In short, we have to drill some holes into the board and set fin
plugs into the board using resin.
After toying with a few options, we decided to give the new Shapers S-Plug system a
crack. Using these little fat-base babies means that we don’t have to drill all the way
through to the deck. So, it looks a little prettier, and according to the Shapers folk, it’s
super-strong too.
Gazumped by a day at being the first board to get these at The Factory, I was content to
settle for second place and watch Paul go at my board with hi-speed powertools. Holes
drilled, Paul expertly lines up the plugs, we squeeze in the resin and let it set.
With the Duck’s fins glassed in, we leave it for the night. Tomorrow is finish coating day.
STEP 9:
FINISH COATING
We’re back. After cleaning up the resin
around the plugs on The Herring, both
boards are ready to be sanded. Starting with
the powertools, we work our way down to
fine sanding by hand.
Once again it hits home how we’re finely
reshaping in a way, refining and refinding
the original shape we had envisaged.
With a final coat of finishing resin, the
boards are as glassy as a crack addict’s
eyeballs after a weekend binge. Nice.
Top left: A scary moment: watching holes getting drilled into your pride and joy; The
plugs are left to set in resin.
Top: Rovings, cloth and resin all work together to glass The Stumpy Duck’s fins in.
Left: Sanding is one of the most underrated skills in the process. Get it wrong and you
can find yourself doing major repairs or even starting from scratch!
Above: The Stumpy Duck, shiny and left to dry after the finish coat.
88 mar/apr 2011

STEP 10:
THE FINAL POLISH
STEP 11:
WE REFLECT...
Despite being long hours and hard graft, it was an
unforgettable experience and truly enjoyable.
A major realisation we came to was that you are
most definitely shaping your board every single
step of the way. There is no part the process that
doesn’t impact on the end product. Even when
you’re down to the final stages, such as sanding
your board, you are indeed still shaping it. You
can’t lose focus for a second.
It’s been a few days now since we did the finish coat
and we have one last thing to do to get these new
additions home once and for all. We head to The
Factory for the last day of hard labour.
Step one is to get back into the sanding room and
smooth off any uneven bits on the finish coat. Sanding
is in fact a twelve-step process - three grades of paper,
first by machine, then by hand, dry then wet.
Step two is to get outside and start polishing, in pretty
much the same way as you would a car. Sounds easy?
Compare an expert’s work to ours and you’ll see a
notable difference
All that’s left to do is pop the fins in The Herring -
Shaper’s Mach-50s. And they match my decals.
It is done. We stand back to survey our handiwork. We
are changed men.
This project also reconfirmed in our minds that
surfboard shapers are indeed incredible craftsmen.
Even walking through the surfboard making
process with help, step-by-step, is mind-boggling.
You realise that the innate skills shapers pick
up through years of developing their craft is
impossible for a novice to replicate.
While I loved shaping my own board, for the
amount of time it took to shape, if someone asked
me to make them one for $100 in my pocket, I
would tell them where to jam it. So much respect
goes out to those who do this for a living.
WHAT IT TAKES
Compare the skill level required to a trade such as
that of an electrician, carpenter or plumber... Could
you get them to come out to your house, work for
10 hours and pay them $100? Not a chance. That
may cover the call-out fee. And by no means are
we being disrespectful to other trades. We’re just
comparing apples with apples for a skilled trade.
And without a doubt, this is a multi-skilled trade.
To get through the basic steps you need, as a rough
guide, the following people:
The shaper, to get from blank to board
The glasser, to get the board well.. glassed
The artist. Artwork and sprays needs to be done
The fin-maker. Custom fins? You need an expert
The sander. A far underrated piece of the puzzle
The finisher/polisher, to make it shine...
Top: Paul stays in charge of
the dangerous tools that use
electricity while Dave is allowed
to play with the sandpaper.
Middle: No, he’s not about to
slice some cutlets, he’s polishing
his Duck.
Bottom: The final step as the
fins go in.
Bottom: The boards in all their
glory... To the left, The Stumpy
Duck, and to the right, The Herring.
THE STUMPY DUCK: 5’6” x 21 ½” x 2 5 /8”
Mini-Simmons with glassed-on, hand-foiled disc fins.
THE HERRING: 6’4” x 21” x 2 7 /8”
Mini-eggish, Single into double concave into vee.
A strong team? Well, often these jobs are often
done by just ONE person, start to finish. Now that
takes some skill...
So next time you sit down with your shaper, really,
don’t try and bargain him down. Whatever the cost
of your board, double it. And then trust us, you’re
still being undercharged.
And how did they go? See overleaf...
mar/apr 2011
89

FINAL
EXAMS
THANKS
Experiencing this project would
not have been possible without
the help, expertise and time of
the following fantastic people:
DAVE SAYS:
Walking down onto the beach with our
new sticks was admittedly pretty exciting.
My mind was racing. So many questions
were running through my head. I mean,
could I have stumbled on a breakthrough in
surf design? I knew there was no chance
of Mark saying the same. Let’s be frank, he
could have coloured his yellow and called
it the Lemon.
Was this my chance to finally be rid of the
pain-in-the-butt South African I seemingly
work beside 24 hours a day, 7 days a
week, 365 dollars a year? Could I finally
go out on my own? Worse still, would the
shutter speed of our camera be able to
capture a flying duck or would it forever
remain a thing of legend never to be
caught on film?
To test the board and provide us with an
independent view on how much better
The Stumpy Duck was than the red
Herring we called on expert gear tester
“Two-Guns” Gus Brown. Here’s what he
had to say:
“The Duck was outstanding. Hands down
a far better board than the red floaty thing.
It paddled like a longboard and absolutely
flew. Duck hunters around the world would
be hard pushed to nail this baby.
“Mark’s board was a real dog. It was so
slow, I put the camera on self-timer and
snapped off three photos of it making its
way across the wave like a barge. More
importantly, Dave’s is 100% hand-crafted,
right down to the fins. He didn’t cheat
like Mark and use stick-on fins. The extra
attention to detail showed. Sad for Mark,
his hard-boiled egg paled in comparison
to The Duck.”
MARK SAYS:
Strangely enough, my notes from the day
are a little different. The Duck is aptly
named in that with it being so bad, no-one
can stay up on it for more than a second or
two, falling off and shooting it like a snotcoloured
missile at another surfer’s head.
The Herring, on the other hand, is all
class. A true example of craftsmanship
and talent. The kids are already arguing
over who gets this priceless family
heirloom. And the little one can’t
even talk yet.
Gus Brown also loved it to bits:
“The Herring is my kind of board. I’m
not sure what that Swan character
was sniffing, but that boogie-board of
his is just lame. What’s he trying to
prove with the flouro anyway? Even
the 80s revival has come and gone,
buddy. Move on...
“At least, being so garish, we can
see it coming every time he wipes
out trying to pretend to get a run.
“As to the Herring, if I were an
investor, I would create a surfboard
company purely to allow this talented
man to create more of these gems,
as he is so obviously gifted to do.
And I would buy this particular board
from him for at least $10,000.”
SERIOUSLY:
We just had so much fun. Building
and then riding your own board is
absolutely magical and something
I would truly recommend to anyone
interested. These boards may not
be award winners, but they’ll most
definitely take pride of place in our
quiver for ever and a day.
Note: Gus Brown may have been
somewhat, or rather entirely
misquoted in the piece above.
Richard Harvey of Harvey Surf
Gallery in Miami on the Gold Coast.
His shaping workshops are not only
an education in boards, but in life
itself. If you’re considering giving
shaping your own board a go,
working with Richard’s guidance is
sure to make for a very rewarding
experiencing. Definitely attend his
surfboard shaper’s course.
www.harveysurf.com
Paul Carson at The Factory
Surfboards in Caloundra is a
shaper, master glasser and a true
gentleman. With over 30 years
experience in the industry, we
highly recommend a visit and a
chat when you’re in the market
for a new board. If you’d like to
learn some surfboard making skills,
express your interest to Paul.
thefactorysurfboards.com.au
Carl McCarthy and the boys at
SouthCoast on the Gold Coast were
very generous with their time and
product. For interest sake - over
and above the blanks, they also
stock a full range of other product
for surfboard manufacture.
www.southcoastfoam.com.au
Above: The Herring gets a go from Mark (left) and Gus (right) as the Duck flies along carrying a Swan (below).
And... although this was not
officially part of our project, we
both constantly referred to The
Surfer’s Textbook by Howard
Jennar, and for that it deserves a
most honourable mention. What
we’ve done in these few pages
doesn’t even begin to scratch the
surface of what it takes to build
boards, and Howard’s in-depth
and detailed coverage of it is an
invaluable resource.
www.surferstextbook.com.au
90 mar/apr 2011

GEAR: BOARDS
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
Ability level:
Intermediate to advanced
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.
Pirate Pig
by Diverse
Shaper: Dave Verrall
Dimensions:
9’1”x 22 ¾”x 2 7 /8”
Ideal conditions: All-round
choice for longboarding
Suits: Performance surfer
after a user-friendly board.
Description: A wave hog,
designed from old style logs
in the front to cruise on the
nose, backed up by high
performance tail to carve
tight turns in the pocket!
Construction: Dynocore
technology - a high tech
fusion of fibres and foam.
Dynocore gives you the
confidence to pull in to
anything big and barrelling
yet carry with one arm over
long walks to secret points.
Fins: Fusion by FCS and a
Fin Solutions 10” box.
Shaper comment: I’ve
never been more excited
about the future of
surfboards, Dynocore
has given me so much
reward for the years of
passion I’ve put in to
making a better board!
Seeing it all come
together, so strong but
light and alive. Watching
and hearing customers
stoked ride reports is so
satisfying.
Free Flow
by Laguna Bay
Shaper: Mike St.John
Dimensions:
9’1”x 22 3 /8”x 2 5 /8”
Ideal conditions: 1 - 6 ft
Ability level:
Beginner to pro
Suits:
Volume tailored to suit
Description: The Free
Flow is a great all-round
performance longboard.
Trims well and turns out
of the tail. Surfs well in
beachies and point breaks.
Entry concave at the front
that splits into a double
concave at the tail section.
Construction: PU.
Usually 4 oz bottom, 6oz +
4oz deck
Fin set-up: 2 + 1
Shaper comment: A very
easy board to surf for all
ability levels. It will go
where you want it to go
and is very responsive.
Da Bling
by Skerry Surf
Shaper: Simon Skerry
Dimensions:
9’1”x 21 ¼”x 2 5 /8”
(or shaped to order)
Ideal conditions: All size
waves from point breaks
to beach breaks.
Ability level:
Beginner to pro.
Description: Medium
rocker yet refined in
thickness and rails, fit
and slender so not a lazy
board, for a person of
action that still has the
capability to daydream.
Construction: Double
6oz glass for momentum
and strength with a crude
amount of 80’s jetboat
glitter to turn it up!
Fins: Single with
stabilizers and Skerry art
Shaper comment: High
performance ‘Golden
Surfboard’! Can be
made to order in wide
range of colours and
colour combos.
The Lightweight
by Classic Malibu
Shaper: Peter White
Dimensions:
9’2” x 22 ¾” x 2 ¾”
Ideal conditions:
Dribblers to head-high
Ability: Almost anyone can
jump on and have a ball.
Description: A very
user-friendly board.
This is a log for the
lighter-weight surfer,
not lightweight itself.
Pinched fins and a pulled
in tail give heightened
manoeuvrability in a
traditional board, but
maintaining trim, paddle
and excellent noseriding.
Able to handle slightly
more challenging surf, it
revels in slightly hollow
point waves.
Construction: PU with
one layer 6oz glass bottom
and two 6oz deck
Fins: Single box fin.
9-10” and either a hatchet
or dolphin template,
depending on needs.
Shaper comment:
Performance log with
traditional leanings.
THOMAS SURFBOARDS
PO Box 234
Maroochydore Qld 4558
Ph: 02 6584 1995
Mob: 0412 131 491
thomas_bexon@hotmail.com
thomassurfboards.com
DIVERSE SURFBOARDS
476 Gold Coast Hwy,
Tugun, QLD 4224
Ph: 07 5598 4848
dave@diversesurf.com.au
diversesurf.com.au
NOOSA SURFWORKS
11 Bartlett St,
Noosaville QLD
Ph: 07 5474 4567
E: info@noosasurfworks.com.au
noosasurfworks.com.au
SKERRY SURF
PO Box 354
Lennox Head NSW 2478
Ph: 0403 240 452
theskerrysimon@hotmail.com
skerrysurfboards.com
CLASSIC MALIBU
Cnr Gibson & Eumundi Rd
Noosaville, QLD 4566
Ph: 07 5474 3122
info@classicmalibu.com
www.classicmalibu.com
mar/apr 2011
91

Blackbird
by Primitive Surf D-Hull #2
Shaper: Craig Rees
Dimensions: 5’7’’ - 6’4’’
Above 5’7” x 18 ¾” x 2 1 /8”
Ability level:
Intermediate and up
Suits: Different sizes
Description: Primitive
Surf Team rider Nick
Vitko sat me down
and we nutted this
new model out. It’s a
high performance fish
and works best when
combined with the MR
twin fins from FCS. They
have great down the line
speed and turn on a dime.
Construction: PU foam
with polyester resin,
Vacuum bagged with
Carbon/Kevlar.
Fins: Twin. MR twin fins
from FCS recommended.
Shaper comment: Go
down 6 inches from your
normal short board length
and hang on. I took a 6’2
to PNG and it was the
most popular board on the
boat. They seem to do all
the work on a wave and
just needed to be pointed
in the right direction.
PRIMITIVE SURF
601 Nudgee Rd,
Nundah, Qld 4012
Ph: 07 3266 1001
E: info@primitivesurf.com
www.primitivesurf.com
by Zak Surfboards
Shaper: Ken Reimers
Dimensions:
6’6” x 22” x 3”
Displacement Hull
Conditions: Anything
that moves shoreward, up
to fear factor.
Suits: Anybody not surfing
in a modern shortboard
competition.
Description: Combination
of late sixties surfboard
designs and knowledge
of modern surfboard
performance. Radically
domed bottom shape,
balanced foil, S-Deck and
50-50 rails.
Construction: “Glassed
to last” 6oz bottom, 2
x 6oz decks, weight is
momentum which helps
with forward projection.
Fins: Single flex fin with
FCS side biters. (Hint: for
another sensation, take
out the single and put in a
set of MR Twins)
Shaper comment: Having
these in my quiver has
increased my memory of
fun surfs and I thank the
experimental shapers
before me for their legacy.
ZAK SURFBOARDS
307 Victoria Road
Thornbury VIC 3071
Ph: 03 9416 7384
Mobile: 0438 416 738
zak@zaksurfboards.com
zaksurfboards.com
Vortex
by Ed Sinnott/ESP
Shaper: Ed Sinnott
Dimensions:
5’9 x 19 ¼ x 2 3 /8”
Ideal conditions:
Anything up the 6’
Suits: Anybody
Description: This is a
combination of all my
old single fin and twinfin
templates combined with
new school bottom curves
and rails. The result is a
sensational hybrid that
flys. Flat entry, deep vortex
concave, razor edges and
wet and dry finish.
Construction: Burford/
South Coast PU blanks,
Silmar polyester resin,
Colan and Surf Nine glass.
This combination has
stood the test of time.
I love the flex.
Fins: Thruster
Shaper comment:
Surfboard design has
gone the full circle now.
We’ve got boards that
make so called normal
6’1’’ boards look like guns.
Go smaller, thicker and
wider. Yew!
ESP SURFBOARDS
2/81 Centennial Circuit
Byron Bay, NSW
Ph: 0404 059 321
espsurfboards.com
www.edsinnott.com.au
Performance Flextail
by Bushrat Small Wave Board
Shaper: Jed Done
Dimensions:
5’10” x 19” x 2 ½”
Ideal conditions:
All rounder from 2ft to
6ft. It will thrive on down
the line waves.
Suits: Intermediate to
advanced surfers with a
clean flowing style.
Description:
Performance Flextail with
a pulled in tail so it can
fit tight into the pocket.
A very fast and carvy
surfboard. Designed to be
ridden shorter, but in larger
waves, than your regular
shortboard.
Construction: Dion
PU foam, single wedge
shape western red cedar
stringer, polyester resin,
yellow tint bottom,
carbon fibre flextail.
Fins: Quad 4WFS setup.
Shaper comment:
I’ve been building flextails
for the last 11 years. This
board is the result of 8
years of refinement on my
own personal shortboard
shape. It’s a speed
machine.
BUSHRAT SURFBOARDS
Merimbula NSW
Ph: 0409 813 431
E: jed@bushrat.com
www.bushrat.com
by Minty Surfboards
Shaper: Bob Minty
Dimensions:
5’9” x 19 1 /8” x 2 1 /8”
Ideal conditions:
Small waves
Designed for:
Average and above
Description:
This is a stringerless,
small wave board with
flex-control glassing.
Construction:
EPS and epoxy.
Shaper comment:
A high performance small
wave board.
MINTY SURFBOARDS
Point Lookout,
North Stradbroke
QLD, 4183
Ph: (07) 3409 8334
Mob: 0438 783 191
bob@bobmintysurfboards.com
bobmintysurfboards.com
92 jan/feb 2011

MAKE YOUR OWN!
Buy a pre-made
board, or attend one
of the Tree To Sea
workshops and build
one of your own.
GEAR: BOARDS
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
Shaper comment:
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.
The Twinny
by HWS
Shaper: Robert Ivers
Dimensions:
6’4” x 22” x 2 5 /8”
Ideal conditions:
3-5ft beach or point breaks
Suits: Medium skill level
Description: This Retro
Twin Fin is full of punch
with enough volume to
get you into waves early
and rails to help you hold
onto to any wall. An easy
paddler, this will put the
fun back into your surfing.
Construction: Hollow
timber, Paulownia and
Western Red Cedar,
glassed in either poly or
epoxy, your choice. With
proper care these boards
will last a lifetime. Due to
the nature of natural timber,
each board is unique.
Fins: Twin Fins, made
Wiz Finz from Bryon Bay.
Shaper comment: Not
all surfboards are the
same. Enjoy the smooth
ride and extra momentum
of a timber board.
Alternatively: Make
your own timber board by
attending one of our Tree
to Sea workshops.
Shiraz
by Flanagan Surfboards
Shaper: Jason Flanagan
Dimensions:
5’8” x 18 7 /8” x 2 5 /16”
Ideal conditions: 1-5ft
Ability: Novice to Pro
Description: Wide
point forward, for fuller
outline up front while
straightening tail curve
for speed and drive. Low
entry rocker into higher
than normal tail exit.
Single to deep double
concave through the tail
blending into a Vee. Rails
- med/box. Available in
most tail shapes.
Construction: Cured
Liquid Laminations
Fins: Thruster or Quad.
Future’s,Glass on or FCS.
Shaper comment:
The ultimate all-round
performer in 1-5ft waves.
Super fast and responsive,
to be ordered 4-5 inches
shorter than your normal
board. Tested by pros to
average Joes all around
the world and getting
exceptional feedback.
“A great all-round
board. Really fun
when its small and
supprisingly holds a
rail when you want
to push it in the
bigger stuff.
Like a fine “shiraz”
you’ll be left
wanting more.”
- Elliot Curnow,
Coffs Harbour local
COD SURFBOARDS
25 Kestrel Court
Victoria Point, QLD 4165
Ph: 0415 722 891
paul@codsurfing.com.au
www.codsurfing.com.au
HOLLOW WOODEN
SURFBOARDS
Ph: 0409 211751
E: hwsurfboards@gmail.com
www.hwsb.com.au
FLANAGAN SURFBOARDS
26/22 Lawson Crescent,
Coffs Harbour, NSW 2450
Ph: 0432 361 694
flanagansurfboards.com
mar/apr 2011
93

Twin Quad Fish
by Classic Malibu
Shaper: Peter White
Dimensions:
5’10” x 20 ½” x 2 ¾”
Ideal conditions: Waist to
overhead
Ability: intermediate to
advanced but accessible
to a wide range.
Description: ‘Retro’ is a
misnomer. This is every
bit about performance.
Fast and fun, it is the
ultimate alternative for
longboarders going short
but need paddle-power
with manoeuvrability.
Quite slidey through turns,
it needs an experienced
surfer to make the most of
it, but once you’re dialed
in, the fun will never stop.
Construction: PU with
one layer 6oz glass bottom
and one 6oz, one 4oz deck
Fins: FCS SF4 quad fins
or FCS FK-1 keels
Shaper comment: The
twin fin setup can be
trickier on the backhand,
making the quad option a
more friendly setup.
Dean Brady model
by Lee Cheyne
Shaper: Lee Cheyne
Dimensions:
6’4” x 19 ¼” x 2 ½”
Ideal conditions: 2-6ft
Ability level:
Average to advanced
Suits: This is one of
Dean’s standard shortys.
He weighs in 92- 95kgs
Description: Nice nose
lift into deep single to
deep double concave, to
flat behind rear fin. Quite a
bit of rocker between feet
but combo of concaves,
and straightened outline
gives lively feel and drive.
Construction: Burford
blank, Silmar resin, Surf
9 4oz and 6oz glass with
carbon tail patches. I
shape, glass and sand all
my boards myself with the
best materials to ensure
they’re the best quality.
Fins: FCS, Future or set
Shaper comment: My
personal favorite. I have
worked hard on this model
for the rocker, outline,
concaves and fins to all
work together and create a
board you can’t stop riding.
Mini Simmons Deluxe
by Black Apache Surfboards
Shaper: Jesse Watson
Dimensions:
4’10 - 5’8
Ideal conditions: The
ultimate alrounder. A
board you can ride 300+
days of the year.
Suits: Everyone, except
those who can’t see past
their 5’11 thruster.
Description: The fastest
board on the planet. Speak
to anyone who’s ridden
one, converts include Dan
Malloy, Andrew Kidman,
Dane Reynolds, the list is
endless.
Construction: Resin
tints/full gloss and
polish. Any combination
you can dream up. Your
imagination is the only
limit here, guys.
Fins: Glassed on custom
Simmons template.
Shaper comment: I’m
getting orders for them
faster than I can shape
them. The proofs in
the ride. Everyone who
rides one says they are
converted to the fun factor.
High lines, speed runs and
the longest cutbacks you
ever did are the norm.
80s style quad fin
by High Tide Twin Fin
by The Factory
Shaper: Jordie Brown
Dimensions:
5’10’’ x 19 ¾’’ x 13’’ x 14 ½’’ x 2 7 /8”
Ideal conditions: From 2 ft
grovelers to overhead slabs
Suits: The surfer looking
for one board to surf in a
variety of conditions
Description: Modernized
80s style thruster, this
design has a high single
flyer with a swallow tail,
low boxy rails and has
plenty of meat in the guts
of the board where it’s
needed.
Construction: Light
6oz/4oz trimmed lap
glass-job.
Fins: Dual FCS quad fin
set ups.
Shaper comment: This
fun little design got me
through a summer of tiny
swells and onshore sea
breezes. Its flat, fast and
a handy addition to any
quiver.
Shaper: Paul Carson
Dimensions:
6’3” x 20” x 2 ½”
Ideal conditions: 2 - 6ft
Suits: Anyone
Description: Single flyer
swallow tail twin fin.
Light concave running into
double concave into vee.
Construction: Burford
blank Hexcel glass and
Silmar resin
Fins: Shapers Stealth
Mach 50
Shaper comment: This
is the best of both worlds
- a great semi-retro
twinny but built for today,
with a more modern
bottom curve. Like all
boards produced here at
The Factory, it’s all about
getting the right board for
you, not a standard model
off the shelf.
CLASSIC MALIBU
Cnr Gibson & Eumundi Rd
Noosaville, QLD 4566
Ph: 07 5474 3122
info@classicmalibu.com
www.classicmalibu.com
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
black apache surfboards
BLACK APACHE
SURFBOARDS
Ph: 0410 419 791
E: blackapachesurfboards@
live.com.au
blackapachesurfboards.com.au
HIGH TIDE
SURFBOARDS
Skenes Creek, Vic 3233
Ph: 0401 437 392
hightidesurfboards@hotmail.com
hightidesurfboards.com
THE FACTORY
SURFBOARDS
CALOUNDRA
17 Allen Street
Caloundra QLD 4551
Ph: 07 5492 5838
paul@thefactorysurfboards.com.au
thefactorysurfboards.com.au
94 jan/feb 2011

GEAR: BOARDS
Grom Custom
by More Surfboards
Shaper: Mark Pridmore
Dimensions:
5’7” x 18 ¼” x 2 7 /16”
Ideal conditions: Tiny to
4ft coz that’s what size the
grom surfs
Suits: Beginner that’s
quickly improving to ripping
Description: Complete
custom to create an ideal
board for a 12-year-old
grom. He needed a board
to allow his surfing to
progress. It’s made a
considerable difference to
his surfing with some big
improvements in the last
2 weeks since riding his
new board...
Construction: PU foam,
Polyester resin. MORE
Surfboards are all made
here in Oz.
Fins: Hand-foiled
fibreglass designed to
compliment the board and
surfer, FCS for options
Extras: the artwork was
also totally customised,
FUNction is obviously a
priority. Getting creative
with colours is fun and can
make a board look sweet...
The Jelly Bean
by Grown
Shaper: Andrew Wells
Dimensions:
5’8” x 19” x 2 ½“
Ideal conditions: Small
to medium waves. Great
for summer days.
Ability: Intermediate to
advanced.
Suits: All levels
Description: This board
is a mini-egg, small day
fun board. Being hollow
timber the board has
plenty of float and you
can ride it a few inches
shorter than a normal
foam board.
Construction: Hollow
timber - Paulownia and
cedar with resin tint.
Fins: Single
Shaper comment:
Mmmmm Jelly Beans!!
Available in your favourite
flavor! Every Grownboard
is individually hand
crafted from recycled and
plantation grown timber,
takes over 30 hrs to hand
craft and is completely
unique. They look great,
surf great and will give
you years of enjoyment.
Tom Thumb
by Tom Wegener
Shaper: Tom Wegener
Dimensions:
5’3 to 5’10 x 20” x 2 ¼”
Conditions: Very versatile
but handles hollow surf
best, with keel fins.
Ability level: Groms to
advanced surfers.
Description: Anyone
curious about finless, but
wanting an easier entry.
Construction: Surfboard
foam and polyester resin
Fins: Tom Wegener
currently makes custom
asymmetric keel fins for
$100 a set or recommends
experimenting with what
you have.
Shaper comment: I have
been working on the arc
from alaia to finless foam
and then back to twin fins. I
want to keep the speed and
some drift, while adding
stability. This board is the
most versatile board I have
made yet. It rides great
finless, with my custom
keel fins and with normal
fish fins. It is actually three
boards in one.
Available exclusively
through Noosa Longboards
D-Hull #3
by Zak Surfboards
Shaper: Ken Reimers
Dimensions:
6’0” x 21” x 2 7 /8”
Displacement Hull
Conditions: Anything
that moves shoreward, up
to fear factor.
Suits: Anybody not surfing
in a modern shortboard
competition.
Description: Combination
of late sixties surfboard
designs and knowledge
of modern surfboard
performance. Radically
domed bottom shape,
balanced foil, S-Deck and
50-50 rails.
Construction: “Glassed
to last” 6oz bottom, 2
x 6oz decks, weight is
momentum which helps
with forward projection.
Fins: Single flex fin with
FCS side biters. (Hint: for
another sensation, take
out the single and put in a
set of MR Twins)
Shaper comment: Having
these in my quiver has
increased my memory of
fun surfs and I thank the
experimental shapers
before me for their legacy.
Single Fin
by The Factory
Shaper: Paul Carson
Dimensions:
6’2” x 20” x 2 5 /8”
Ideal conditions: 2 - 6ft
Suits: Anyone
Description: Single fin
double flyer round pin.
Light concave running to
vee with four channels.
Blue pigment bottom with
white and blue pigment
deck.
Construction: Burford
blank Hexcel glass and
Silmar resin
Fins: Set single fin,
handmade and handfoiled
here at The Factory.
Shaper comment: This
board was made specially
for this year’s Ma and
Pa Bendall contest at
Moffat Beach. Like all
boards produced here at
The Factory, it’s all about
getting the right board for
you, not a standard model
off the shelf.
MORE SURFBOARDS
Ph: 0405 475 026
moresurfboards.com
Now based on the Sunshine
Coast but delivery to just about
anywhere is not a problem.
GROWN SURFBOARDS
Lennox Head
PO Box 801, Ballina NSW 2478
Ph: 0407889049
sales@grownsurfboards.com.au
grownsurfboards.com.au
NOOSA LONGBOARDS
Shop 2, 55 Hastings St,
Noosa Heads, QLD 4567
Ph: 07 5447 2828
E: pete@noosalongboards.com
noosalongboards.com.au
ZAK SURFBOARDS
307 Victoria Road
Thornbury VIC 3071
Ph: 03 9416 7384
Mobile: 0438 416 738
zak@zaksurfboards.com
zaksurfboards.com
THE FACTORY
SURFBOARDS
CALOUNDRA
17 Allen Street
Caloundra QLD 4551
Ph: 07 5492 5838
paul@thefactorysurfboards.com.au
thefactorysurfboards.com.au
mar/apr 2011
95

GEAR: PROJECT
JORDIE BROWN OF HIGH TIDE SURFBOARDS
LOVES OLD BOARDS. HE LOVES THE EXTRA
WEIGHT. HE LOVES THE OLD RESIN. HE LOVES
THE OLD SHAPES, STYLES AND IDEAS. BUT
MOST OF ALL, HE LOVES THE PURE HONESTY
AND PERSONALITY THAT IS PART AND PARCEL
OF A BELOVED OLD BOARD, WHERE EACH DING,
SCRATCH AND CRACK IS A LITTLE REMINDER OF
A MAGIC MEMORY.
FORTUNATELY FOR AN OLD WAYNE LYNCH
THRUSTER, HE PUT SOME OF THAT PASSION
INTO BRINGING THE BOARD BACK TO LIFE AND
BACK TO THE WATER.
JORDIE TALKS US THROUGH THE HEALING...
Earlier this year a mate dropped in to the
workshop with one of the most challenging
restorations I’ve ever worked on.
His father had bought him the 6'8'' Wayne Lynch
shaped raw for him, to learn to surf on, for $100
when he was 14. Over the years he never stopped
surfing the early thruster design and had simply
loved it to death.
At first glance I wondered if it was possible to get
the totally trashed board back into the water but
after seeing the spark of excitement in his eyes
when he talked about surfing it, I decided it was
well worth putting the time into.
THE JOB
The biggest problem that I first had to overcome
was that on the board’s final surf the water had
caught the edge of an old repair and stripped
three quarters of the glass off the bottom, almost
taking out two of the fins with it. To get the board
going again, the entire bottom had to be totally
re-glassed.
The board had suffered from some pretty serious
water damage. Water damage in surfboards is
like rust in a car - if not fixed properly the damage
will spread. The only way to really fix an area that
has taken in water and is delaminated, is to cut it
out and rebuild it. That’s why its always important
to fix any dings as soon as possible before they
take in water.
Before I could re-glass the bottom, I had to
rebuild the mutilated bottom to get its former
shape back. Using a couple of mixes of resin and
q-cel (a powdered bog commonly used in the boat
building industry) I filled in all the imperfections
and rebuilt the nose, then sanded the whole
bottom flat again.
The one disappointing thing about this restoration
was that the decal on the bottom couldn’t be
96 mar/apr 2011

THIS PAGE: It floats, it flies...
ACROSS
Far left: Surveying the damage
Top: Rebuilding the board’s bottom
Middle: Finishing the deck
Bottom: Ready to ride
Photos: Scott Wintle
BRING
BACK
THE
DEAD...
saved. I always like to keep a restoration as
original as possible and preserve any logos,
signatures or numbers that could indicate
anything about the board’s history. Luckily, the
deck was relatively unscathed.
Once the bottom was reshaped, I glassed the
bottom in a layer of 6oz cloth to restore the
board's strength. I used a pigment and trimmed
lap glass job - a very common style of glassing in
that era. Pigments always work great on ‘restos’
to keep the board looking original and cover any
severely water-damaged areas. I then re-foiled all
the lumps and bumps out of the original fins and
glassed them back in their former position - a lot
further back on the tail than modern thrusters.
After a filler coat, sand and final wet-rub the
restoration was ready to hit the water.
One aspect that made this restoration job easier
compared to a lot of others I’ve worked on is the
original board was finished in pro tech - a spray
on finish used on most wet-rubbed shortboards
today, but a new product finish in the 80s. It
meant that I didn't have to gloss coat and polish
the board - an extra process that can be quite
tricky with glass-on fins.
After all the time spent working on the old
shortboard, I couldn't help but wonder how the
early thruster design preformed. The biggest perk
of restoring ‘mates’ old boards, is that more often
than not, they let me take the finished product for
a spin...
THE RESULT
The morning after the final wet rub I lucked into
some fun, 3ft beachies and took the board for a
test run. It took a few waves to get the hang of
the extra weight, but it wasn't long before I found
the sweet spot and was having the time of my
life. The 80s design paddled great with its flat
rocker and all the thickness in the shape. It felt
awesome surfing down the line and held great in
a handful of wedgy little barrels.
Sometimes the hardest part about riding mates’
boards is giving them back at the end of the session.
THE conclusion
Although in the time spent restoring this classic
80s design I could have made a new shortboard
from scratch, I used minimal materials and saved
a piece of surfing history from the local tip.
In the throwaway society we live in today, there
is something beautiful and satisfying about giving
used surfboards a second lease of life.
FOR MORE OF JORDIE’S HANDIWORK, CHECK
OUT WWW.HIGHTIDESURFBOARDS.COM
mar/apr 2011
97

GEAR: BEYOND
WHAT
LIES
BENEATH
Duncan Eadie finds
direction with timber.
CHAPTER II:
TIMBERRRRRR
GLASS, TIMBER, BAMBOO AND JUST EVERY CONCEIVABLE INCARNATION OF COMPOSITE MATERIALS CAN BE FOUND UNDER OUR BOARDS THESE DAYS.
BEAUTIFUL, SUSTAINABLE AND PRACTICAL, TIMBER HAS BEEN A MATERIAL OF CHOICE IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SURFBOARDS FOREVER AND A DAY,
SO WE LOOK AT WOOD AS ONE WAY TO GO FOR YOUR DOWNUNDER DRIVERS. WORDS: JACK FINLAY
Peter Walker’s Bonzer: Short
and low fins set up on the edges
of a Surian Cedar double concave.
Wooden you just love to
give this board a go?
When iconic surf innovator Tom Blake experimented
with a fin on his board in 1935, his material of choice,
almost by necessity, was the same as the board itself,
namely timber.
Eighty years, and millions of mutations later, surfboards
have become complex pieces of chemistry and evolved
design. But whilst polymers and plastics have altered
lots of things, the role of fins in providing a board with
directional and drift control hasn’t changed one little bit.
Surprisingly, despite relentless surfboard evolution,
timber still has an enhanced role to play in fin
construction. Part of it has to do with performance,
some of it is aesthetics, and the rest is quite possibly
just good old soul.
But do the natural properties of wood make it the
ultimate material for fin manufacture? There’s a steadily
growing group of people that believe so.
98 mar/apr 2011

A range of Southern Soul
Surfboards and fins on display
THERE’s
SOUL in
there...
WE HEAR ABOUT SOME OF THE
THINKING BEHIND TIMBER FINS FROM
A VICTORIAN BOARDMAKER.
Timber fins are not easy to make and
they’re not cheap. But some believe they
do have an advantage in what might be
called ‘natural flex.’
One person who has put in the hard yards
on timber fins since the 1980s is Jan Juc
board maker Duncan Eadie of Southern
Soul Surfboards. His boards are primarily
stylish, retro-influenced, single fins that
feature his signature timber-core fins.
“When I was shaping thrusters I started
making timber-core fins, initially covered
with white pigmented fibreglass,” Duncan
remembers. “A little later, I realised that by
leaving out the pigment you could produce
a nice set of timber fins in glass. They felt
good to surf on, they looked something
special, and not too many other board
makers were using them.”
With a trade background in carpentry and
building, Duncan put his knowledge of
timber type and properties to use.
“I quickly began to use different timbers
to give a different feel,” he says. “For
instance, on a small wave I would use a
soft and flexible core timber like pine or
cedar to deliver a spring out of turns, and
for bigger wave fins I would use jarrah for
stiffness and drive.”
Ten years ago, heavily influenced by Terry
Fitzgerald’s 1970s Hot Buttered speed
machines, Duncan switched his shaping
emphasis to single fin boards, and used the
timber fins on them, with startling results.
“On one of my early single fins I glassed
on a fin made from Tasmanian Myrtle,”
he says. “I surfed Winkipop at 4-5 ft, and
was amazed at the speed and drive out of
turns that the board and its fin developed.
A lot of things I’d heard people say, or read
about over the years, pretty much fell into
place at that point. I guess it was a case of
back to the future for me.”
“Since then I’ve learned how to harness
this speed and drive, and married them to
the different fin timbers and shapes to give
the required flex, whether with fin boxes
or glassed on. So, the design elements
for both the board and its fin work hand in
glove for a range of varying conditions.”
The time involved in making timber fins
has cost consequences. But in terms
of performance and aesthetics Duncan
believes they certainly establish a point of
difference for Southern Soul Surfboards.
“My timber fins are really a labour of love,”
he says. “From start to finish they take
around 20 hours to produce. I machine
down the desired timber to the appropriate
thickness and cut out the shape required,
foil the timber, fibreglass both sides, then
foil the final shape. This is finished with
gloss resin, polished to a high gloss, and if
required fitted to a fin box.
“It sounds easy enough but there’s a lot in
it. I sometimes say to myself “Why do I do
it?” but after using them, it’s very hard to
go back to anything else.”
Tom Blake might have said the same thing
seventy five years ago.
Duncan creates boards, fins and great wax:
www.southernsoulsurfboards.com.au
TIMBER FANS
Duncan Eadie is far from a lone voice in
the support of timber. Here’s just a few
of his fellow woodworkers.
TOM WEGENER
Although his love-affair
with timber in general is
well publicised, those
who only know him for
his finless craft might
be surprised to know
that the man makes a
mean timber fin.
tomwegenersurfboards.com
ROBERT McIVER
Fully committed to getting trees into the sea, Rob
not only does Hollow Wooden Surfboards but
also runs workshops on timber board building.
www.hwsb.com.au
PETER WALKER
Truly turning boards
into artwork, South
Australia’s wooden
board guru adds
his artistic touch to
timber fins on his
creations. walkersurfboards.com
ANDREW WELLS
Grown Surfboards is
all about the wood, and
Andrew knows how to
use it just beautifully.
grownsurfboards.com.au
GRANT NEWBY
A talented boardmaking hobbyist, Grant
deserves big backpats for his support of the
timber board world through his community
event, the Wooden Boards Day in Currumbin:
woodensurfboards.blogspot.com
MARK RILEY
The Balsa Master produces incredible fins for
his own boards as well as individual sale.
balsasurfboardsriley.com.au

GEAR: FORUM
A FUTURE
FOR ASPIRING YOUNG
AUSTRALIAN SHAPERS
WORDS: DAVE SWAN
The Australian Surf Craft Industry Association has a mandate. On top
of their agenda is protecting the future of the Australina surfboard
manufacturing industry through an apprenticeship scheme for aspiring
young Australian shapers.
Stuart D’Arcy of D’Arcy Surfboards explains, “We have such a fun
industry and such a lifestyle industry, that everyone else is jealous of
us. Everyone says to me, ‘You have the best job in the world. You shape
boards.’ Well, yes I do and I get to make boards for people. To love what
you do and not just be in a job is amazing. ‘
“But we need to be encouraging the young guys to get into our industry, to
make it appealing. If we had an apprenticeship scheme we could achieve
this. This is something we are striving to set up through the ASCIA.
“In terms of learning the trade – how to make quality boards - when
you teach someone from the very beginning and you don’t show him any
shortcuts and he doesn’t know any other way, the only way he can do it
is good. But there is no money when you are learning because there are
no apprenticeships. It takes a special person to simply be happy with
the gratification of doing a job well and it being appreciated.”
Dan MacDonald from DMS shapes concurs, “This association would
give surf companies and individuals from shapers and their colleagues
more structure to follow, in order to build set industry standards across
the board thus keeping up with customer expectations and keeping the
face of Australian surfing on top where it belongs.
“A great example of industry standards to be implemented would be the
creation of training programs to offer a more structured work place. At
the moment it’s hard to find high-end quality workers and at times it can
be time consuming to chase down workers willing to create boards to
these standards. Bringing in training programs would give the chance
to bring in newcomers and give them the opportunity to learn skills that
can benefit both the current shapers, and also provide people new to
the industry with a secure and solid future.”
“TO LOVE WHAT YOU DO AND NOT
JUST BE IN JOB IS AMAZING.”
Chris Garrett of Chris Garrett Shapes adds to statements made be his
fellow ASCIA members by expressing his concerns for the current status
quo, “I have been making boards for 30 years. Apart from my trade
certificate as a carpenter, I have nothing. But guess what skills I have? I
can spray paint. I can polish. I can finish. I can manufacture surfboards
and know so much shit about hydrodynamics it is ridiculous. I export to
four countries and I have done all this without any government grants or
training. I know how to deal with imports and exports. I am multi-skilled
but guess what – no recognition. I am a labourer, an unskilled worker. If
my job stops tomorrow because of China and I go out to get another job
and am asked the question, ‘Oh, what have you done?’ I am a surfboard
maker….. ‘Oh right, well here’s the broom.’”
Following our experiences of building our own surfboards, one thing
is for certain: if there are no shapers, with no one to teach people the
skill of making surfboards, a vital part of our surfing culture will be lost
forever. We will have an entire generation of Australians that can’t
create, but only consume. That’s cause for concern in itself.
Any enquiries with regards to the ASCIA can be directed to Michelle
Blauw on 07 5559 5866. Updates will be posted on
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Australian-Surf-Craft-Industry-
Association/126311527423630
100 mar/apr 2011

1. 2. 3.
THE SMOOTHEST RIDE UNDERFOOT
LET’S FACE IT, SKATING WITH BARE FEET ISN’T REALLY THAT MUCH FUN. SURE, IF YOU HAVE CAVEMAN FEET
FROM NEVER WEARING SHOES IT DOESN’T MATTER MUCH, BUT FOR THE MAJORITY OF US WHO WEAR
SHOES IN A DAY JOB, THOSE TOOTSIES ARE NOT TOUGH ENOUGH TO ENJOY THE SANDPAPER OF A DECK
GRIP. THE BOYS AT TRINITY DISTRIBUTION RECKON THEY CAN FIX IT. ROB SHOWS US HOW...
STEP 1:
Tear the existing grip off of your current skateboard
- in this case a Risen pintail longboard. Just get a
corner of the grip up and use some elbow grease.
Put your foot on the deck and give it a good, hard
yank to peel it off.
STEP 2:
Grab a piece of Trinity Neoprene deck grip from your
local skate shop and measure it up to the size of
the deck.
STEP 3:
The Neoprene deck grip is like one giant sticker.
Simply stick it on and carefully trim the edges using
a blade or utility knife.
STEP 4:
Get your thongs off and roll down to your local break
in total comfort, without exfoliating your soles. So
comfy, you’ll want to roll around all day...
BOARD GIVEAWAY
Other than a few footprints from the test run, this Risen
longboard with the Neoprene grip is as good as new and here for
you. Send us an email telling us why you need it, and we’ll have a
laugh and see who gets it. letters@smorgasboarder.com.au
mar/apr 2011
101

HAVE STICK,
WILL TRAVEL
WORDS: CORY McBRIDE PHOTOS: KAHUNA CREATIONS AUSTRALIA
Having grown up in California’s Bay Area and Salt Lake City, Utah, Kahuna
Creations Rider Cory McBride was stoked to spend this summer in
Australia. While his biggest passion is skiing and snowboarding, he says he
didn’t have much of a problem leaving the snow for a season to spend four
months in one of the most incredible countries in the world.
His mission down under? To spread the word about the Kahuna Big Stick –
an invention that lets you paddle on longboard skateboards- hence the term
Street Stand Up Paddling. With a rubber contact on the bottom, the Big Stick
lets you propel yourself with your upper body, giving you a solid SUP-style
workout on dry land. Over to Cory...
102 mar/apr 2011

GEAR: SKATE
mar/apr 2011
103

HAVE STICK,
WILL TRAVEL
I lived in Melbourne but spent
much of my time on the road getting a taste
of what this outstanding country has to offer.
My first trip was an extraordinary 1,400
mile road trip along the east coast, ending in
Noosa. The drive was long but amazing and
I met some really cool people and had some
great competitions along the way.
Merimbula
The first stop was Merimbula - a small surf town
half way between Sydney and Melbourne. We were
a sponsor of the 30 th Merimbula Classic, a weeklong
competition of Street SUP, windsurfing, paddle
boarding, and kitesurfing. For the crowning event,
80 professional and amateur athletes competed in
a Street SUP / SUP relay race. This was the most
intense competition of its type I have ever been
involved in, and I was thrilled my team came in second
of twenty.
Surfers Paradise
When the Merimbula Classic came to an end, I headed
north to the Gold Coast in a van full of professional
kitesurfers. The drive took the good part of a week, since
it was interspersed by paddleboarding and kitesurfing
stops. When we got to Surfers Paradise we set up for
the PKRA Pro Kite World Tour, which unfortunately had
constant rain that killed the wind. During down time the
kiteboarders did some longboarding with the Kahuna
Big Stick, which showed up in the official PKRA World
Tour video.
Since we needed the van for the kitesurfing tour and
I had stores to visit, I ended up longboarding with
the Big Stick from shop to shop. I rode about 70
kilometers in three days to make all my visits, which
would have been totally fine if it wasn’t pouring down
rain the whole time. I definitely saw a lot of Surfers
Paradise during this time, but it wasn’t exactly the
beach utopia I was expecting!
Cruising along Brisbane River
Brisbane
I spent a couple days in Brisbane, escaping the rain
and enjoying the Queensland weather. I did some
downtown skating and paid visits to a couple of
sweet shops. I very much enjoyed my stay in Brisbane.
Unfortunately floods devastated the city a couple of
weeks later, and the skate scene didn’t escape its
wrath. Upon my return to Melbourne I found out how
bad it really was: shops had been underwater, closed,
and dealing with the massive city cleanup.
My thoughts go out to everyone in Queensland as they
deal with the flood’s aftermath.
Noosa
The last stop on my first Australian road trip
was Noosa. We ran a clinic where we gave
demonstrations to ride with the Kahuna Big Stick at
Adventure Sports Kitesurf Australia before kitesurfing
at the local sweet spot. We showed up in the local
news twice from being there just over a day. It was
sad to leave Noosa as the people there were so cool
and friendly.
Sydney
After getting back from Noosa, I spent two weeks
in Melbourne over Christmas before driving back to
Sydney for New Year’s celebrations.
I fell in love with Sydney during my time there. There
aren’t many places in the world I liked better than
Manly Beach. I am thoroughly impressed by the
beauty, surf, and people found in Sydney and hope
to return in the very near future. The riding was
unbelievable, and the people were particularly excited
about longboarding with the Kahuna Big Stick.
Melbourne
No matter where I end up living, I will always think
of Melbourne as my home away from home. I made
such good friends here, and the riding was fantastic. I
had serious thrills longboarding down the Dandenong
mountain roads, and it was always refreshing riding
along the St Kilda Foreshore. The music scene here
is unlike anywhere I’ve ever been, and I love the
atmosphere of downtown Melbourne.
While in Melbourne, I was able to do and see
some of the coolest things of my life! I got to
paddleboard around Phillip Island before a Street SUP
demonstration with Islantis Surfboards in Newhaven.
Kite Republic took me kitesurfing in St. Kilda, and I
saw absolutely incredible ocean sights such as the
Twelve Apostles off the Great Ocean Road. A definite
highlight was watching the Australian Tennis Open
and paddleboarding down the Yarra River.
Australia is one of the most beautiful countries on the
planet, and I was ecstatic about the feedback here for
the Kahuna Big Stick. People are stoked when they
learn how to ride Street SUP, especially those who
have never been on a board. With Australia already the
most popular country for Street SUP outside America,
you can tell the sport is about to explode in popularity,
which will give me an excuse to come back!
Yarra River SUP fun
Noosa - Easy to
love, hard to leave
The Merimbula Classic - On land...
...and in the water!
For more on the Big Stick
and Street SUP, see:
www.streetsup.com.au
104 mar/apr 2011

The Fiik Division
TEST
WORDS: GUS BROWN
EVERYTHING
ANOTHER EDITION AND ANOTHER PILE OF GEAR TO TEST! AND THIS
IS JUST THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG... BOARDS, WAX, A HAND-PLANE...
GEAR: REVIEW
Testpilot Mick
gets all styley
with the Stinger
The Fiik Stinger
A VERY HANDY
LITTLE DEVICE
Bodysurfing is where it all began,
they say, and any surfer worth their
salt understands this skill and joy
of riding waves in its most basic
form. The next evolutionary step is
to get some fins on your feet and
pull out a handsurfer - in this case
a wooden hand-plane made by the
multi-talented Thomas Bexon.
SEE WHAT STICKS
Everyone has their personal preference when it comes
to what wax works. Thing is, if you don’t try what’s out
there, how would you know what works for you? So,
we thought we would wax on a little more...
Two GREAT reasons
Charge up these electric boards, do a few runs and within
minutes every kid in the neighbourhood, big or small will
be pestering you for a go. Which is totally okay, because
the Fiik Division and Fiik Stinger have so much get-upand-go
that you can be well down the road by the time
the would-be-riders get near. They’re left wondering what
the hell you were riding. Harsh? Trust me, you really won’t
want to share once you’re on and going.
As we’ve said in the past, these are definitely not kids’
toys! Fiik boards have plenty power and can generate
good speed quickly, even with a full grown adult on board.
These two are very stable, yet extremely easy to turn.
They are completely capable of handling rougher road
surfaces, however, with smaller wheels than the Street
Surfer or Big Daddy, the Division and Stinger prefer a
long, smooth road or even better - a concrete bike-path.
Pull the trigger, cut a few lines... you are in for one
exhilarating experience.
Like their big brothers, both boards get to around the
35-40 km/h top speed and are equipped with the same
braking system, safety always being a high priority.
These two are the all-rounders of the Fiik skateboards
range, with the Stinger a bit more responsive of the two
while the Division is slightly more stable. Both boards
we tested utilised the lead acid battery, however you can
soup-up performance by choosing the lithium version for
improved power, speed, and acceleration.
These are still ultimate boys’ (or girls’) toys - have a go and
you’ll be hooked on electric skateboards for good.
For more, see www.fiikskateboards.com
The doc59 handsurfer has a great,
natural feel with all the complexities
of a surfboard shape. A miniature
version of a wide swallow-tailed
fish with a super concave channel,
it’s wooden, yet light in construction,
and feels good in the hand. As it’s
not strapped on like some plastic
models, it provides more freedom
when waiting for the sets. You can
even shove it into your boardies
when heading out so that your
hands are both free for swimming.
The handsurfer extends to about
your elbow. On the right wave you
can really get your body out of the
water and improve your speed to get
the most out of each ride. Just make
sure you hold onto it tight in the
dumpers so you save yourself some
time retrieving it!
Beautifully crafted and just as
beautifully stored in a hand-sewn
pouch, this is truly a quality
product worthy of its place in any
waterman/womans’ toolkit. But
most importantly, it’s just a hell of a
lot of fun out in the water.
www.thomassurfboards.com
TREE-HUGGER
Not just grip, the wax has
stick. Pull your foot from
the board and you can
actually hear the suction.
Suited to hippies or those
just keen on green as this
wax is all natural, made
from bees wax and mineral
clays. Goes on easy and the
super-sticky texture is very
different to standard wax. It
could probably also be used
to put your favourite surf
poster on the wall.
RRP: $4
Packaging:
Recycled paper
Ease to Open: Rip it.
Size: 75g
Fragrance: A slightly
sweet honey earthy odour.
treehuggerwax.com
ONE COOL
WAX-OFF TOOL
If the only time de-waxing your
board pops to mind is when the
surf’s pumping, mainly because
its just a pain to do when you get
home from a great session, then
the Tool is the answer. Unlike
some wafer-thin wax removers
the Tool gives you good leverage
and helps you to move even the
crustiest wax quickly and easily.
And if you are soft like me, it
doesn’t hurt your hand as much as
a traditional wax comb.
toolssurfaustralia.com.au
STICKY FEET
We have heard the talk on
the street that this WA wax
rates highly amongst those
in the know... And now we
see what all the fuss is
about. This wax has great
traction and feels really
firm underfoot. A fairly
high-density wax, so you get
plenty of go for your dough.
RRP: $4
Packaging: Cool,
overgrown matchbox.
Ease to open:
Simple and multi-use pack
keeps wax clean and ready
Size: 100g
Fragrance: Raspberry
cordial. The kids will love
it but we hope it doesn’t
make them as hyper.
margaretriverwax.com.au

Snake charmer collection - pollen top and buzz pant.
Silverbuzz collection buzz bikini
Fashion &
Function
NOOSA HEADS BASED SWIMWEAR
LABEL, HIVE SWIMWEAR HAS
RELEASED THE NEXT SERIES OF
THEIR BEAUTIFULLY DESIGNED
FUNCTIONAL WATER GEAR.
Carnival collection beehive frill bikini
The new 2011 collection, which also includes ultra chlorine resistant
styles, is tested under duress for durability and function over a number
of sports including surfing, surf lifesaving, swimming and kiteboarding.
The shoulder straps are adjustable to provide a comfortable and
secure fit. Made using the highest grade lycras, the designs reduce
neck strain by avoiding tieing up around the neck. Because everyone
is built differently, all styles are sold as separates so you can get the
best fit top and bottom. Styles shown here retail for $89.95 per set.
You can find Hive Swimwear in many fine surf stores around Australia.
You can find stockists and view more at www.hiveswimwear.com
You can also check out Hive’s gear in person at the Noosa Festival of
Surfing fashion show on Thursday, March 17.
106 mar/apr 2011

Selected styles form the Hive 2011 range. There’s definitely something for everyone and
every occasion, from chilling at the pool to getting out in the surf.
GEAR: FASHION
Hive Swimwear team rider
Natalie McCarthy is a model,
surfer and Sunshine Coast
local.Here she is in the hippy
chick collection beehive top
and bee sweet pant.
mar/apr 2011
107

CLOSEOUT: RELAX
GETTING
THE CHOP
LE FIN. IT MEANS THE END IN FRENCH. WHICH IS
PERTINENT GIVEN ITS EXCELLENT SLICING CAPABILITY.
WORDS BY DR. PETE KIRKHAM
The battle wounds I’ve seen in my clinic are mostly long-healed ivorywhite
scars each with their own story. But they all have a common
thread. The fearful rush of an oncoming board. The anticipation of
certain collision. The chaos of impact and just as suddenly the moment
has gone.
The relief of survival is tempered by the raw pain which runs in a line up
your side. Your fingers find the tender groove where the fin has been. A
red plume of blood emerges around you. Back to shore with haste and
anxiety. A towel to stem the bleeding and then straight for the nearest
clinic or hospital (hopefully with a mate to help).
Generally, soft tissue wounds like this simply need firm pressure and
then stitches. But occasionally an artery might be snagged. This is the
stuff of movies, but it does happen. The femoral artery sits in the groin
and is perhaps the most common artery to be hit. Arterial blood is bright
red and spurts in pulses. Immediate very firm pressure is required and
pressing really hard with two fingers would do.
I have never seen a fin injury to the head from surfing, but I have
from a windsurfing board. Years ago, on a windsurfing trip to Greece,
an adjacent German contingent seemed intent on breaking world water
speed records. With control out of the window a jibing speed-merchant
struck a swimmer in the shallows by the beach. Funny what you
remember, but I recall his bald head ducking to avoid the board, the
awful jolt of the windsurfer as it hit, and the scarlet line from ear to
vertex as the poor victim surfaced. And my horrible realisation... oh no,
the fin! Thankfully he was able to walk up the beach, towel clutched to
head, and sit in the shade until an ambulance arrived.
Surfers wear their ‘fin scars’ with pride.
A mark of honour. Email your damage
pics to letters@smorgasboarder.com.au.
A free copy of smorgasboarder for the
most impressive. Or something else...
Dr. Pete Kirkham is a general
practitioner at Nambour
Medical Centre.
www.skinclearclinic.com.au
When friends run friends over. Thanks Luke.
History...
A little bit of
WORDS BY GUS BROWN
BELLS BEACH RINGS
IN HALF A CENTURY
AUSTRALIA AND THE WORLD’S LONGEST CONTINUOUSLY RUNNING
SURFING EVENT AT BELLS BEACH IN EASTER, IS TURNING 50 YEARS OLD.
Ahh, Bells... So much history, such an icon of our surfing culture.
First held in the early 60s this competition turned professional
in 1973, with bell ringers including Australian surf legends such
as Michael Peterson, Mark Richards, Mark Occhilupo, Layne
Beachley, Stephanie Gilmore and many others. Bells is renowned
for being one of the world’s best right-handers, breaking on a
gently sloping limestone reef. It can handle surf up to and in
excess of 6 metres.
Traditionally known as the Bells Beach Classic this event is an
icon of the Australian surf culture and equivalent in the sporting
calendar to the Melbourne Cup, the Boxing Day Test or the Sydney
to Hobart Yacht Race.
The place to experience surf history in Victoria is the SurfWorld
Surfing Museum in Torquay. They are mounting an exhibition
called “Bells Gold - a 50 Year Surfing Celebration” that will be
launched at SurfWorld during this year’s Rip Curl Pro.
The exhibition will feature never before seen images, including
photos from the first ever contest organised by Peter Troy and
Vic Tantau in 1962. It will also have a collection of memorabilia,
surfboards and trophies from the event, and images and stories
from people who have been a part of it over the past half-century.
The people, the place, the event... It’s all such an integral part of
our surfing history, and fantastic that it’s being commemorated and
celebrated as it should. Do yourself a huge favour and drop in to
SurfWorld if you’re making it down for the contest or just doing a
general surf pilgrimage to Torquay.
For more see www.surfworld.org.au
Photo: Peter Ginane, SurfWorld Museum Collection.
108 mar/apr 2011

Coffee Table
We look at books that - as a surfing fan - you
just have to own and leave lying around for your
visiting mates to drool over.
EXTREME SURF
Collection
BENJAMIN MARCUS (2008)
What length would you go for the ultimate surfing
experience?
Extreme Surf talks to the nuts who take on places
like Dungeons, Jaws, Cyclops, Shipstern’s Bluff
and the Cortes Bank. It reviews what surfers will
endure for that moment in the green room – from
monster waves to arctic temperatures, toxic
beaches, evading civil wars, running the risk of
shark attack and being grated across razor-sharp
coral reef.
To use a quote from the book by big-wave surfer
from the sixties Buzzy Trent, “Big waves are not
measured in feet and inches, but in increments of
fear.” I felt a little intimidated just reading this quip.
Extreme Surf will get your adrenalin pumping as
you marvel at the men and women who seemingly
surf without fear. Either that, or have a few less
brain cells than the rest of us. After reading it you
will find you will be telling yourself to harden up
the next time a decent storm swell comes around.
160 pages, easy to read, intriguing. You should be
able to pick this up online for around $30 or so.
Dave Swan
MUSIC
THE MARSDEN LEES
VICES EP
INDEPENDENT RELEASE
The CD cover with the band in their skinnies
(stovepipes in ‘ye olde English’) sets the scene
for this indie-pop-rock fest from Sunshine Coast
musos and surfers, The Marsden Lees.
Unearthed by Triple J in 2010, the three piece
have released their debut EP Vices to showcase
their potential, recorded onto analogue reel to
create that raw feel and sound that indie folk
love so much.
The Marsden Lees have managed to create
a distinctive and attractive three piece rock
EP which sounds strangely familiar and most
definitely distinctly Australian. All five songs
are individual enough to hold your attention,
with a particular standout for me being the
bluesy In the Water. Lyrically and vocally strong,
The Marsden Lees music may truly have some
broader, mainstream appeal if they get the
airplay they’d need.
Currently honing their live skills, it’s going to be
interesting to follow their development. Good
luck to ‘em.
Vices is definitely worth a listen or better still
check out The Marsden Lees at a live show.
See www.themarsdenlees.com for more and
to give the tunes a listen online.
Gus Brown
BOOKS
THE HISTORY OF SURFING
MATT WARSHAW (2010)
Surf history books. I love them. But an often
unavoided evil is the should-have-been-there,
in-crowd angle taken on the telling. And there
tends to be an unavoidable duplication of
imagery. Sure, some shots are iconic, but they
can be done to death. So, it can be a seen one,
seen them all scenario for the old surf history
book.
This is most certainly not true of former SURFER
magazine editor Matt Warshaw’s The History
of Surfing - an almost 500-page doorstop of a
publication. More of an encyclopedia than a
coffee table book, this book is jam-packed with
reading, reading and more reading. Interesting
reading. Yes, there are plenty fantastic photos
too, but unexpected and era-establishing ones
such as a shot of a San Diego surfer holding a
new Bob Simmons Slot board in the early 1950’s,
or the ruins of the Clarks Foam moulds when the
company pulled the pin in 2005 help to set the
tone for this book.
The story hops from island to continent and
back, following the development of our favourite
water activity from its earliest documented
incarnations through to around 2009, just prior to
the book’s publication in 2010.
Truly covering world surfing as a culture, art,
sport, industry and way of life, The History of
Surfing is a perfect buy as everything from an
insightful reference volume to a thoughtful
birthday gift for a surf fan – one that could easily
keep you reading until your next birthday. I know
I will be.
For more on Matt Warshaw’s very cool range
of books and long history of innovative and
interesting writing, check out
www.mattwarshaw.com
Mark Chapman
Book? doorstop?
Excellent either way...
mar/apr 2011
109

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
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
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
110 mar/apr 2011
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
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
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
www.beachbeat.com.au
THE FACTORY
07 5492 5838
15 Allen St
Caloundra
thefactrorysurf.com.au
SURFWARE AUSTRALIA
07 5491 3620
2 Bulcock St, Caloundra
BEACH BEAT
07 5491 4711
119 Bulcock Rd, Caloundra
www.beachbeat.com.au
BRISBANE
PRIMITIVE SURF
07 3266 1001
601 Nudgee Rd, Nundah
www.primitivesurf.com
up the next edition of smorgasboarder at any of these fine businesses - out in May.
Businesses that advertise in smorgasboarder allow us to bring you the magazine for FREE. So, be sure to support them!
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
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
2576 Gold Coast Hwy
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
2544 Gold Coast Hwy
Mermaid Beach
www.greenlinepaddlesurf.com
BOARD CULTURE
07 5572 9866
2438 Gold Coast Hwy
Mermaid Beach
www.boardculture.com.au
LOCAL KNOWLEDGE
07 5526 6377
2251 Gold Coast Hwy
Nobby Beach
THE BOARDROOM
07 5527 7877
2084 Gold Coast Hwy
Miami
LOWEN 88
07 5526 5161
2a/2172 Gold Coast Highway
Miami
www.lowen88.com
HARVEY SURF GALLERY
0414 557 624
Unit 3, 10 Pacific Ave
Miami
www.harveysurf.com
MT WOODGEE
07 5535 0288
1730 Gold Coast Hwy
Burleigh Heads
www.mtwoodgee.com.au
PATAGONIA BURLEIGH
116 Surfcoast Highway
Burleigh Heads
www.patagonia.com.au
WORLD SURFERS
07 5535 4037
63 Lower West Burleigh Road
Burleigh
SEAN SCOTT PHOTOGRAPHY
07 5520 2774
Old Burleigh Theatre Arcade, Shop
10, Goodwin Tce
Burleigh Heads
seanscottphotography.com.au
DALE CHAPMAN SURF DESIGNS
07 5593 8411
Unit 3/48 Junction Road
Burleigh Heads
www.chapmansurfboards.com
MY PHOTO EXPERT
07 5535 2763
3/71 Township Drive
Burleigh Heads
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
www.mtwoodgee.com.au
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
UNDERGROUND SURF
07 5599 1040
Shop 3/31 McLean St.
Coolangatta
www.undergroundsurf.com.au
MT WOODGEE
07 5536 5937
122 Griffith St, Coolangatta
www.mtwoodgee.com.au
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
COOLY SURF
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 SURFBOARDS
07 5524 2933
Factory 18 / 48 Machinery Drive
Tweed Heads
SURF XCESS
02 6674 5350
88 Marine Parade
Kingscliff
CABARITA SURF SHOP
02 6676 3151
1/38 Tweed Coast Rd
Cabarita Beach
BRUNSWICK SURF
02 6685 1283
1/12 The Terrace
Brunswick Heads
www.brunswicksurf.com.au
MCTAVISH
02 6680 8807
91 Centenial Circuit
Byron Bay
www.mctavish.com.au
MADDOG SURF CENTRE
02 6685 6395
91 Jonson St, Byron Bay
www.maddog.com.au
MC SURF DESIGNS
02 6685 8778
3 Banksia Drive
Byron Bay
www.mcsurf.com.au

NORTH COAST SURFBOARDS
02 6685 6896
1/29 Acacia St
Byron Bay
www.bearsurfboards.com.au
SANDY FEET
02 6584 1995
5/21 Clarence Street
Port Macquarie
www.sandyfeetsurf.com.au
BOARD CITY
02 4397 1092
150 Main Road
Toukley
www.boardcity.com.au
DIVISION SURF
02 9979 5334
Cnr Bungan and Waratah Sts
Mona Vale
www.divisionsurf.com.au
MUNRO SURFBOARDS
02 6685 6211
29 Acacia St
Byron Bay
www.munroesurfboards.com.au
T&C SURF DESIGN / MCCOY
02 6685 7485
10 Acacia Street
Byron Bay
BYRON BAY LONGBOARDS
02 6685 5244
Shop 1 - 89 Jonson St
Byron Bay
MADDOG BEACH SURF CENTRE
02 6685 6466
4 Jonson St
Byron Bay
www.maddogbeach.com.au
HO’OKUPU
02 6685 8861
2/9 Lawson St
Byron Bay
hookupusurf.com
UNPLUGGED
02 6685 7441
Shop 1/ 2 Lawson Street
Byron Bay
www.unpluggedbyronbay.com
ALL ABOVE BOARD
02 6687 7522
68 Ballina St
Lennox Head
MADDOG SURF CENTRES
02 6685 6094
45 River St, Ballina
www.maddog.com.au
TRIPLE X WETSUITS
02 6686 3939
10 Piper Drive, Ballina
www.triple-x.com.au
THE PLANK SHOP
02 6645 8362
Top of the Hill, Yamba
SOUND LOUNGE
02 6646 3909
16 Yamba St, Yamba
NSW MID NORTH COAST
XS SURF
02 6654 1049
76 Beach Street, Woolgoolga
www.xssurf.com
COOPERS SURF CENTRES
02 6654 0033
56D Beach St, Woolgoolga
02 6652 8146
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 6658 0223
392 Harbour Drive,
The Jetty Strip
Coffs Harbour
www.thelogshack.com.au
SUNPATCH SURF SHOP
02 6653 1965
49 First Ave, Sawtell
www.sunpatchsurf.com.au
VALLA SURFBOARDS
02 6568 8909
8 Monro St, Nambucca Heads
www.vallasurfboards.com.au
COASTAL CURVES
02 6568 6902
Ridge St, Nambucca Heads
www.coastalcurves.com
SONIC SURF
02 6568 4666
1 Cooper Street
Macksville
SCOTTS HEAD SURF SHOP
02 6569 8344
Scotts Head NSW 2447
scottsheadsurfschool.blogspot.com
WAVE WEAR
02 6566 5177
1/15 Livingstone St
South West Rocks
CRESCENT HEAD SURF CO.
02 6562 8306
33 Smith St, Kempsey
CRESCENT HEAD SURF SHOP
02 6566 0550
1 Crescent Head Tavern
Crescent Head
INNER VISION SURF ‘N’ SKATE
02 6583 7790
80 William St
Port Macquarie
SALTWATER WINE
02 6584 4877
1/125 Gordon St
Port Macquarie
www.saltwaterwine.com.au
JUNGLE SURF
02 6555 8556
4/25 Manning Street
Tuncurry
www.junglesurf.com.au
SALTWATER WINE
02 6554 7979
5 Wharf St , Forster
www.saltwaterwine.com.au
BOOMERANG BEACH SURF
02 6554 0351
Shop 4, Boomerang Drive
Pacific Palms
NEWCASTLE
SURF FACTORY
16 Maitland Rd
Islington
www.thesurffactory.com.au
MARK RICHARDS SURFSHOP
02 4961 3088
755 Hunter St, Newcastle
markrichardssurfboards.com
SURFHOUSE PHOTOGRAPHY
61 Hunter Street
Newcastle
surfhousephotography.com
PACIFIC DREAMS SURFSHOPS
02 4926 3355
7 Darby St, Newcastle
www.pacificdreams.com.au
SANBAH
02 4962 2420
Shop 27, The Junction Fair
Union Street
Newcastle
www.sanbah.com.au
BREAKAWAY SURF CO
02 4943 2699
181 Pacific Hwy
Charlestown
EGANS
02 4945 8055
575 Pacific Hwy
Belmont
THE SURF SHACK
02 4945 8965
703 Pacific Hwy
Belmont South
SWANSEA SURF SHOP
02 4971 4422
164 Pacific Hwy
Swansea
www.swanseasurf.com.au
CENTRAL COAST
BEACHIN SURF
02 43 96 5159
262 Main Rd, Toukley
ADRIFT SURF
02 4332 8355
133 The Entrance Road
The Entrance
www.adriftsurf.com.au
BOARDERLINE SURF SKATE
02 4332 7175
421 The Entrance Rd
Long Jetty
www.boarderlinesurfskate.com
SURFERS CHOICE
02 4334 6532
473 The Entrance Rd
Long Jetty
www.surferschoice.com.au
BATEAU BAY SURF N SPORT
02 4332 1157
101a Bateau Bay Road
Bateau Bay
ONE EIGHTY SURF COMPANY
02 4385 8440
Shop 2, 82a Ocean View Drive
Wamberal
www.180surfco.com.au
SLIMES
02 4365 5511
1/203 The Entrance Rd
Erina
ESS BOARDSTORE
251 The Entrance Rd
Erina
www.essboardstore.com.au
THREE POINTS SURF
02 4382 1541
170 Avoca Drive
Avoca Beach
www.avocasurfscholl.com.au
STS THE BOARD CENTRE
02 4342 2555
326 West St
Umina
NORTHERN BEACHES
BEACH WITHOUT SAND
02 9918 2763
1a Nth Avalon Rd
Avalon
RAISED BY WOLVES
02 9918 8861
U 2/40 Old Barrenjoey Rd
Avalon
www.raisedbywolves.com.au
LITTLE DRAGON
0403 974 967
1 Bramley Lane
Newport Beach
RON WADE SURF DESIGN
02 9979 7071
0410 443 776
23 Bassett Street
Mona Vale
ronwadesurfboards.com.au
RAISED BY WOLVES
02 9997 4838
9b Waratah St
Mona Vale
www.raisedbywolves.com.au
SUGARMILL SURF EMPORIUM
02 9913 3332
2/1329 Pittwater Rd
Narrabeen
www.sugarmillsurf.com
POWERLINEZ
02 9913 2128
16a Waterloo St
Narrabeen
www.powerlinez.com.au
WICKS SURF CENTRE
02 9971 0760
1103 Pittwater Road
Collaroy Beach
LONG REEF SURF
02 9982 4829
1012 Pittwater Rd
Collaroy
www.longreefsurf.com.au
WIND SURF ’N’ SNOW
02 9971 0999
17 Anzac Ave
Collaroy
www.windsurfnsnow.com.au
THE PERFECT WAVE
02 9939 0890
Suite 38, 42-46 Wattle Rd
Brookvale
www.theperfectwave.com.au
CHAOS SURFBOARDS
02 9907 2769
Unit 1/236 Harbord Road
Brookvale
www.chaossurfboards.com
BENNETT SURFBOARDS
02 9905 5157
180 Harbord Rd
Brookvale
DRIPPING WET SURF CO
02 9977 3549
398 Pittwater Rd
Mona Vale
www.dripwetsurf.com
SUNSHINE SURFING
02 9977 4399
89 Pittwater Rd
Manly
www.sunshinesurfing.com.au
SIX OUNCE
0408 259 783
48-50 Pittwater Rd
Manly
www.sixounceboardstore.com
ALOHA MANLY STYLE
02 9977 3777
44 Pittwater Rd
Manly
www.alohasurfmanly.com.au
mar/apr 2011
111

SURF DIRECTORY CONTINUED
DRIPPING WET SURF CO
02 9977 3549
93 North Steyne
Manly
www.dripwetsurf.com
BASE SURFBOARDS
02 9976 0591
46 North Steyne Rd
Manly
www.basesurfboards.com
MANLY LONGBOARD CO.
02 9977 0093
39 Belgrave Street
Manly
www.manlylongboard.com
SURFECTION
02 9977 6955
110 The Corso
Manly
www.surfectionmosman.com
HERITAGE SURF AUSTRALIA
02 9977 7623
24 Darley Rd, Manly
www.heritagesurfaustralia.com
SURFECTION
02 9969 1011
522 Military Rd
Mosman
www.surfectionmosman.com
SUPER SWELL
02 9144 3229
166 Mona Vale Rd
St Ives
SYDNEY SOUTH
BONDI UNDERGROUND
02 9365 0870
2/72 Campbell Pde
Bondi Beach
DRIPPING WET SURF CO
02 9300 0055
180-186 Campbell Parade
Bondi Beach
www.drippingwetsurf.com
SURF CULTURE
02 93895477
40 Bronte Road
Bondi Junction
www.surfculture.com.au
CRONULLA
JACKSON SURFBOARDS
02 9524 2700
57 Captain Cook Drive
Caringbah
www.jacksonsurfboards.com.au
TRIPLE BULL
02 9524 4822
41 Captain Cook Dr
Caringbah
02 9544 0354
23 Kingsway
Cronulla
www.triplebullsurf.com
CRONULLA SURF DESIGN
02 9544 0433
8 Cronulla St
Cronulla
cronullasurfdesign.com.au
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
02 4268 2050
1/ 269 Lawrence Hargrave Drive
Thirroul
thefinbox.blogspot.com
SURF PIT
02 4283 7196
2/100 Railway St,
Corrimal
www.surfpit.com.au
BYRNE SURF AND SKI
02 4226 1122
115 Princes Highway
Fairy Meadow
byrnesurfboardsaustralia.com
SKIPP SURFBOARDS
02 4229 1202
231 Crown Street
Wollongong
(factory showroom)
02 4228 8878
24 Flinders St,
Wollongong
www.skippsurfboards.com.au
CARABINE SURF DESIGNS
02 4229 9462
36 Flinders St,
Wollongong
EXTREME SNOW, SKATE & SURF
02 4226 3145
80 Market St
Wollongong
BOARDOM
02 4227 2777
206 Keira Street,
Wollongong
02 4295 3373
1/16b Addison St
Shellharbour Village
Pick up the next edition of smorgasboarder at any of these fine businesses - out in May.
Businesses that advertise in smorgasboarder allow us to bring you the magazine for FREE. So, be sure to support them!
NSW SOUTH COAST
ZINK SURF
02 4233 1189
136 Terralong St.
Kiama
www.zinksurf.com.au
NATURAL NECESSITY SURF
SHOP
02 4234 1636
115 Fern St
Gerringong
www.nnss.com.au
AQUATIQUE
02 4464 1881
123a Queen Street, Berry
www.aquatique.com.au
02 4421 8159
125-127 Junction St
Nowra
www.aquatique.com.au
02 4441 5530
55 Owen St, Huskisson
www.aquatique.com.au
OCEAN & EARTH SURF STORE
02 4441 2482
12 Springs Road
Sussex Inlet
www.oceanearth.com
SUN & SURF SHOP
02 4441 1938
Shop 1, 168 Jacobs Drive
Sussex Inlet
AKWA SURF
02 4454 5222
Shop 1, Mellick’s Corner, Princess
Highway, Milton
www.akwasurf.com.au
SOUTHERN MAN SURF SHOP
02 4454 0343
138 Princes Hwy
Ulladulla
www.southernman.com.au
SALTWATER DREAM
02 4472 3811
2 Bay Central
Batemans Bay
OFFSHORE SURF SHOP
02 4474 4350
66 Vulcan St, Moruya
www.offshoresurf.com.au
NAROOMA SURF & SKATE
02 4476 1422
30 Princes Hwy
Narooma
DSC SURFBOARDS
0424 867 962
Princes Highway
Narooma
BERMAGUI SURF SHOP
02 6493 4849
4/28 Lamont St
Bermagui
Raw Surfboards
02 6494 4466
Lot 1291 Tathra Road
Kalaru
www.rawsurfboards.com.au
MERIMBULA SURF SHOP
02 6495 1515
Merimbula Drive ,
Merimbula
SALTWATER DREAM
02 6495 1600
39 Market St,
Merimbula
CORE SURF SKATE AND KITE
02 6494 3374
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
www.strapper.com.au
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
www.fullcirclesurf.com.au
ISLANTIS
03 5956 7553
10-12 Phillip Island Rd
Newhaven
www.islantis.com.au
FULLCIRCLE SURF
03 5956 7453
4-5 Vista Pl,
Cape Woolamai
www.fullcirclesurf.com.au
ISLAND SURF CENTRE
03 5952 2578
147 Thompson Ave
Cowes
www.islandsurfboards.com.au
ISLAND SURF SHACK
03 5952 1659
148 Thompson Ave
Cowes
ISLAND SURF CENTRE
03 5952 3443
65 Smiths Beach Rd
Smiths Beach
www.islandsurfboards.com.au
MELBOURNE
ZAK SURFBOARDS
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
TRIGGER BROS SURF & SAIL
03 9770 2223
7 Rossmith St, Frankston
www.triggerbros.com.au
03 5989 8402
Point Leo Rd, Point Leo
www.triggerbros.com.au
03 5984 5670
46 Ocean Beach Rd, Sorrento
www.triggerbros.com.au
PENINSULA SURF CENTRE
03 9783 3811
40 Wells St, Frankston
www.peninsulasurf.com.au
03 5975 1800
835 Nepean Hwy
Mornington
www.peninsulasurf.com.au
03 5985 4637
2137 Pt Nepean Hwy, Rye
www.peninsulasurf.com.au
112 mar/apr 2011

DING REPAIRS
BEAN SURFING
03 5984 5199
4 Ocean Beach Rd
Sorrento
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
www.strapper.com.au
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
PATAGONIA
03 5261 4420
116 Surfcoast Hwy, Torquay
www.patagonia.com.au
BASE SURFBOARDS
03 5261 5666
3/108 Surfcoast Hwy, Torquay
www.basesurfboards.com
STRAPPER
03 5261 3508
96 Surfcoast Hwy, Torquay
03 5261 2312
106 Surfcoast Hwy, Torquay
www.strapper.com.au
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
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
CUTLOOSE SURF
4 Piping Lane
Lonsdale
83260939
www.cutloosesurf.com.au
MID COAST SURF
8/200 Dyson Road
Lonsdale
83845522
www.midcoastsurf.com.au
PREECE’S SOUTH PORT SURF
159 Esplanade,
Port Noarlunga South
83860404
www.preece-sthport-surf.com.au
BARREL SURF
10c Cadell Street
Goolwa
08 85555422
www.barrellsurf.com.au
BIG SURF AUSTRALIA
24 Goolwa Rd.
Middleton
08 85542399
SOUTHERN SURF
36 North Tce
Port Elliot
0885542375
THE SURF SHOP
15 Albert Place
Victor Harbor
08 85525466
www.thesurfshop.net.au
THE DING KING /
CLARK SURFBOARDS
20 Cottage Road, Hackham
0422443789
leightonclark01@yahoo.com.au
SURF ESTEEM
Aldinga Central Shopping Centre
08 85577201
www.surfesteem.com
ONBOARD SURF WIND SNOW
21 Saltfleet St
Port Noarlunga SA
8294 3866
www.onboardsurf.com.au
JRS SURF & SKI
CENTRO COLONNADES
83847466
www.jrssurfandski.com.au
FLY BOARDRIDING
Shop 41
Seaford Shopping Centre
83860100
www.flyboardriding.com.au
ISLAND SURF
363 Brighton Road
Hove
82969776
ONBOARD SURF WIND SNOW
1-3 Lights Landing
Holdfast Shores, Glenelg
8294 3866
www.onboardsurf.com.au
JRS SURF & SKI
Westfield Marion
83770322
www.jrssurfandski.com.au
BENJAMIN WALLBRIDGE
SURFBOARDS AUSTRALIA
27 Oaklands Rd
Somerton Park
83764914
www.wallbridge.com.au
JRS SURF & SKI
Tea Tree Plus
83964822
www.jrssurfandski.com.au
SANCTUARY SURFERS
201 Waymouth Street
Adelaide City
0403134478
www.sanctuary.net.au
SNOW & SURF CO.
187 Rundle Street
Adelaide 5000
8223 5277
www.snowsurf.com.au
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
PRIMITIVE SURF
(Mon-Fri, 8:30-5:30pm, Thurs
8:30am-8pm, Sat, 8:30-4pm,
Sun, 10-4pm)
07 3266 1001
MIAMI
DINO’S DING REPAIRS
(M-F 9-5pm, Sat 9-12pm)
0409 727 735
TUGUN
DIVERSE
(M-F,8:30-5:30pm, Sat and
Sun, 9-4pm)
07 5598 4848
COOLANGATTA
UNDERGROUND SURF
(7 days, 9-5pm)
07 5599 1040
BYRON BAY
BYRON BAY DING REPAIRS
(Mon-Fri, 8:30-4:30pm)
02 6685 6770
0409 849 442
YAMBA
THE PLANK SHOP
02 6645 8362
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
LONG JETTY
S & D SURF DESIGNS
(M-F, 9-4pm, Sat 9-12pm)
0437 032 614
SYDNEY NORTH
BROOKVALE SURFBOARD
REPAIRS
(M-F,8:30-5:30pm, Sat and
Sun, 9-4pm)
0403 971 072
CHAOS SURFBOARDS
(M-F,9-6pm, Sat & Sun
8:30-6pm)
02 9907 2769
BONDI JUNCTION
SIX OUNCE
(7 days , 9:30-6:30pm)
0408 259 783
WOOLONGONG
SKIPP SURFBOARDS
M-F,9-5:30, Thurs 9-7:30pm,
Sat 9-4, Sun 10-4)
02 4228 8878
JERVIS BAY
INNER FEELING SURFBOARDS
(7 days, 9-5pm)
02 4441 6756
NAROOMA
DSC SURFBOARDS
(7 days, 9-5pm)
0424 867 962
THORNBURY
ZAK SURFBOARDS
(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
FULLCIRCLE SURF
(7 days, 9-5pm)
03 5956 7453
SOUTH ADELAIDE
THE DING KING
(M-F, 9-5pm)
0422 443 789
FIX BROKEN BOARDS?
Promote your repair business for $15 an
edition. Call 0401 345 201
mar/apr 2011
113

CLOSEOUT: RELAX
4.
AUSTRALIA
DAY & MORE
BOARDS
The beach, BBQs, beers and boards...
What a great way to spend Australia Day.
Mark Pridmore brought a quiver More
Surfboards to Maroochydore Beach for
all to try out and enjoy.
Along with the new Traveller - which
was launched on the day - there was
also a great range of interesting finless
creations and More boards of all
descriptions to ride and experience.
Having a few fun rides and chatting
to some friendly folks made for a very
enjoyable morning. Community events like
this one are truly special, so make sure
you support ones like it in your area. And
bring on the Currumbin Fish Fry.
Make sure you follow the Traveller’s
journey around Australia online at www.
smorgasboarder.com.au
6. 2.
4.
5.
3.
6.
PHOTOS:
1. The More line-up
2. Trent and the Frankenstein Fish-Finger
3. In the More tent with Rocket, Cain,
Mark, Timo and Ray
4. Father and son Marty and Quinn Bruce
5. Mark gives the Traveller a go
6. Steve , Matt and Ryan
7. Sam and Ned Archer
8. Interested onlookers check out
the More tent
Is that the
coolest deckgrip
ever? It
just may be...
7. 8.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR EVENT
If you have something on the go, let us know.
Email us on: editorial@smorgasboarder.com.au
114 mar/apr 2011

mar/apr 2011
115

116 nov/dec 2010