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“TO PICK UP A BIG WAVE IS EASY, BUT TO SURVIVE A BIG WAVE IS ANOTHER STORY.” DAVID MESNARD<br />
BITTERLY COLD, SHARKY AS HELL, MONSTROUS WAVES... WHY GO ANYWHERE ELSE?<br />
SOUTHERN OCEAN ADVENTURE<br />
ROAD<br />
DOGGIN’<br />
ASH GRUNWALD<br />
TAKES SURFING,<br />
MUSIC, ART & FILM<br />
ON TOUR ...P22<br />
GOING SOLO, MON<br />
TO THE ISLANDS ...P54<br />
TAKING SHAPE<br />
BEHIND VIC SURFBOARDS ...P66<br />
THE MAGAZINE FOR THOSE WHO LOVE TO SURF<br />
ISSUE #6 JUL/AUG <strong>2011</strong>
AUSTRALIAN DESIGN - * Lithium Battery Pack Optional<br />
FFICIAL FIIK TM<br />
STOCKISTS<br />
QLD Stockists<br />
Epiicentre - Springwood 1300 344 575<br />
Beach Beat - Alexandra Heads 07 5443 2777<br />
Beach Beat - Caloundra 07 5491 4711<br />
Beach Beat - Dicky Beach 07 5491 8215<br />
Coolum Surf - Coolum 07 5351 1742<br />
Concept Hobbies - Oxenford 07 5609 7000<br />
Fusion Skate - Mooloolaba 1300 55 69 79<br />
Darkside Skateboards - Miami 07 5570 1526<br />
Goodtime Surf - Woolloongabba 07 3391 8588<br />
Hurley Burleigh - Southport 07 5531 0013<br />
Jetski Warehouse - Labrador 07 5529 2125<br />
Kirra Surf - Coolangatta 07 5536 3922<br />
KTM Action Motorcycles - Nerang 07 5596 6622<br />
KTM - Brisbane 07 3386 0977<br />
Local Knowledge - Noosa 07 5474 1222<br />
Local Knowledge - Nobby Beach 07 5526 6377<br />
Primitive Surf - Nundah 07 3266 1001<br />
Roar Industries - Currumbin 07 5525 7003<br />
Roar Watermans – Labrador 07 5527 1912<br />
Sunshine Coast Kite Surfing 07 5479 2131<br />
Surf Connect - Brisbane Nth 07 3137 0500<br />
NSW Stockists<br />
Aloha Manly - Style Manly 02 9977 3777<br />
Adrenalin Sk8 – Sydney 0419 692 688<br />
Bay Action - Byron Bay 02 6685 7819<br />
Coopers Surf - Coffs Harbour 02 6652 1782<br />
Coopers Surf - Jetty 02 6652 8146<br />
Coopers Surf - Park Beach 02 6652 5466<br />
Coopers Surf - Town 02 6652 6369<br />
Coopers Surf - Toormina 02 6658 8988<br />
Coopers Surf - Woolgoolga 02 6654 0033<br />
Core Surf Store - Nowra 02 4421 4108<br />
Dripping Wet - Manly 02 9907 2911<br />
D.S.C. Surfboards - Narooma 0424 867 962<br />
Kirra Surf - Coolangatta 07 5536 3922<br />
Line Up Surf - Dee Why 02 9971 8624<br />
Maddog – Byron Bay 02 6685 6466<br />
Natural Necessity – Gerringong 02 4234 1636<br />
OceanFire - Belmont 02 4945 8055<br />
Saltwater Wine - Port Macquarie 02 6584 1600<br />
Sanbah Surf Shop – The Junction 02 4962 2420<br />
Skater HQ - Moore Park 02 9976 3780<br />
Skipp Surfboards - Wollongong 02 4229 1202<br />
Slimes Boardstore – Erina 02 4365 5511<br />
S.E. Mountain Biking Co. - Thredbo 02 6457 6282<br />
Surfection - Manly 02 9977 6955<br />
Surfection - Mosman 02 9969 1011<br />
Tathra Beach and Bike - Tathra 02 6494 4257<br />
Wind Surf “N” Snow – Sydney 02 9971 0999<br />
Zink Surf – Kiama 02 4233 1189<br />
SA Stockists<br />
Fly boardriding – Seaford 08 8386 0100<br />
On Board - Glenelg 08 8294 3866<br />
On Board - Port Noarlunga 08 8382 6729<br />
Xtreme Kites & Paddle- Port Lincoln 0402 842 944<br />
VIC Stockist<br />
Extreme Skateboards - Sunbury 0419 354 330<br />
Mordy Surf - Mordialloc 03 9580 1716<br />
Zak Surfboards - Thornbury 03 9416 7384<br />
WA Stockist<br />
AvantiPlus Busselton Cycles 08 9752 2550<br />
Cowie Surf - Cowaramup 08 9755 9669<br />
Momentum Skate Shop<br />
Claremont 08 9384 2427<br />
ACT Stockist<br />
Trilogy - Tuggeranong Hyperdome 02 6293 9636<br />
Shifty’s - Canberra 02 6262 9162<br />
NZ Stockist<br />
Amazon Surf Skate :<br />
Albany Mall, Auckland 09 414 4249<br />
Parnell, Auckland 09 358 5574<br />
Backdoor Surf Snow Earth :<br />
Mt Maunganui 09 575 7831<br />
Hamilton 07 839 0368<br />
Takapuna 09 489 9755<br />
Ballistics - Takapuna, Auckland 09 489 4074<br />
150<br />
150<br />
Stockist Enquiries - 1300 344 575<br />
2 jul/aug <strong>2011</strong><br />
*LITHIUMPOWER ABSREGENERATIVE WIRELESSREMOTE
TOUR<br />
www.ashgrunwald.com<br />
PERISHER SNOWY THE GOVERNER<br />
MOUNTAINS OF MUSIC HINDMARSH<br />
Friday, June 10 Friday, <strong>July</strong> 29<br />
Perisher, NSW<br />
Adelaide, SA<br />
PERISHER SNOWY ECHUCA & MOAMA<br />
MOUNTAINS OF MUSIC WINTER BLUES<br />
Saturday, June 11 Saturday, <strong>July</strong> 30<br />
Perisher, NSW<br />
Moama, NSW<br />
THE SANDBAR<br />
Thursday, <strong>July</strong> 28<br />
Mildura, Vic<br />
TORQUAY HOTEL<br />
Wed, August 03<br />
Torquay, Vic<br />
PIER LIVE<br />
Thursday, August 04<br />
Frankston, Vic<br />
THE CORNER HOTEL<br />
Friday, August 05<br />
Melbourne, Vic<br />
WESTERNPORT HOTEL<br />
Saturday, August <strong>06</strong><br />
Hastings, Vic<br />
SNOWBIRD INN<br />
Monday, August 08<br />
Mount Hotham, Vic<br />
THE SMIGGINS HOTEL<br />
Wed, August 10<br />
Perisher, NSW<br />
ANU BAR<br />
Thursday, August 11<br />
Canberra, ACT<br />
OXFORD ARTS<br />
FACTORY<br />
Friday, August 12<br />
Sydney, NSW<br />
WAVES<br />
Saturday, August 13<br />
Wollongong, NSW<br />
CAMBRIDGE HOTEL<br />
Sunday, August 14<br />
Newcastle, NSW<br />
BEACHCOMBER HOTEL<br />
Wed, August 17<br />
Toukley, NSW<br />
SOUTH WEST ROCKS<br />
COUNTRY CLUB<br />
Thursday, August 18<br />
South West Rocks, NSW<br />
HOEY MOEY<br />
Friday, August 19<br />
Coffs Harbour, NSW<br />
PACIFIC HOTEL<br />
Saturday, August 20<br />
Yamba, NSW<br />
COOLUM CIVIC<br />
CENTRE<br />
Sunday, August 21<br />
Coolum, Qld<br />
BEACH HOTEL<br />
Thursday, August 25<br />
Byron Bay, NSW<br />
COOLANGATTA HOTEL<br />
Friday, August 26<br />
Coolangatta, Qld<br />
THE HIFI<br />
Saturday, August 27<br />
Brisbane, Qld<br />
GYMPIE MUSTER<br />
Sunday, August 28<br />
Gympie, Qld<br />
MAINSTREET<br />
NIGHTCLUB<br />
Thursday, Sept 01<br />
Mackay, Qld<br />
A.J HACKETTS<br />
Friday, Sept 02<br />
Cairns, Qld<br />
UNI CLUB<br />
Saturday, Sept 03<br />
Townsville, Qld<br />
FUNK N’ GROOVES<br />
FESTIVAL<br />
Saturday, Sept 10<br />
Pokolbin, NSW<br />
jul/aug <strong>2011</strong><br />
3
DETAILS<br />
& THINGS<br />
SMORGASBOARDER IS FOR ALL OF US THAT<br />
LOVE SURFING, WHETHER IT’S TO RELAX,<br />
UNWIND, GET IN A HEALTHY BIT OF EXERCISE OR<br />
TO CATCH UP WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY.<br />
WHERE TO PICK US UP<br />
Quality surf stores, shapers and cool cafes within 10kms of the<br />
coast through Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and<br />
South Australia. For a full list of distributors, visit the directory<br />
in the back of the mag or just get to your local surf shop and<br />
talk to some real people, in the flesh. If you see a local store<br />
advertising, they’re sure to have the lion’s share of mags in<br />
your area. smorgasboarder is published six times a year -<br />
September, November, January, March, May, <strong>July</strong>.<br />
CAN’T GET THERE? SUBSCRIBE<br />
If you can’t get to a store, have smorgasboarder delivered to<br />
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Australia Post need to get paid.<br />
$18 IN AUSTRALIA GETS YOU SIX EDITIONS.<br />
Sign up at www.smorgasboarder.com.au and wait by<br />
your mailbox. It’ll arrive every two months. Back issues are<br />
available for $5 per copy. We have limited copies of the<br />
previous editions left... When they’re gone, they’re gone.<br />
THANK YOU<br />
Thank you to all our creative contributing writers, fantastic<br />
photographers and excellent people who made this edition<br />
possible. Special thanks to Louise Gough, John Pickering<br />
and Gus Brown for the ever-helping hands as well as Helen<br />
Chapman and Katie Swan for endless patience. Thanks to<br />
Garry Palmer and Phil Pfeiffer for their sales help.<br />
THE TEAM<br />
SALES & EDITORIAL:<br />
Dave Swan dave@smorgasboarder.com.au<br />
0401 345 201<br />
EDITORIAL & PRODUCTION:<br />
Mark Chapman mark@smorgasboarder.com.au<br />
0400 875 884<br />
SOUTH AUSTRALIAN DISTRIBUTION & SALES<br />
James Ellis trade@ljdistribution.com.au<br />
0412 194 383<br />
CONTRIBUTORS<br />
WRITING TALENT & PHOTOGRAPHIC GENIUS<br />
Thanks to all the talented photographers and writers involved<br />
in this edition. Extra special thanks to Joel & Sherrie Coleman,<br />
Jenny Willams and Swilly, Dom McGeachie, Emma Webb and<br />
Roie Hughes. Feel free to get involved! Drop us a line...<br />
Ideas & submissions: editorial@smorgasboarder.com.au<br />
Distribution: mags@hugecmedia.com.au<br />
4 jul/aug <strong>2011</strong><br />
WWW.SMORGASBOARDER.COM.AU<br />
smorgasboarder is published by Huge C Media Pty Ltd<br />
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waste and maximising<br />
recycling. Nice work.
jul/aug <strong>2011</strong><br />
5
6 jul/aug <strong>2011</strong>
INSIDE THIS ISSUE<br />
22<br />
36<br />
66<br />
Big plans &<br />
a big tour<br />
ALL THE<br />
USUAL BITS<br />
THE LATEST<br />
Feedback P13<br />
And greatest P14<br />
Community P16<br />
News P20<br />
Shop Pitstops P30<br />
ONE TOUR TO<br />
CHANGE IT ALL<br />
Ash Grunwald’s Road<br />
Dog Diaries offer more<br />
than just music<br />
READERS’<br />
PHOTOGRAPHY<br />
You are a talented<br />
bunch - see pages of<br />
your surfing photos<br />
VICTORIAN<br />
SHAPERS UNITE<br />
Zak Koniaris brings<br />
together legendary<br />
talent and skills<br />
TRAVEL<br />
Somewhere in Victoria P40<br />
Going Solo, mon P54<br />
GEAR<br />
Latest surfboard designs P76<br />
History P82<br />
Test everything P84<br />
<br />
CLOSEOUT<br />
Fitness P90<br />
People out and about P98<br />
SHOOT YOUR OWN MOVIES<br />
WITH THE GOPRO HERO<br />
CAMERA RANGE<br />
Up to 56 minutes of video<br />
5 Megapixel camera<br />
After the last’s edition’s hearty feedback<br />
on the classic wipeout sequence of our<br />
history hero, Helmet, we opted to keep<br />
the comedy coming! This great sequence<br />
was taken at Point Cartwright. Is that<br />
you? Let us know! Got cool wipeout shots<br />
of you or your mates? Send them in!<br />
Photo: Chris Munro. See more of his<br />
work at www.redhotshotz.com.<br />
GoPro’s HD Surf HERO<br />
The world’s only 1080p HD<br />
on-board video & still photo camera.<br />
www.surfcomposites.com.au<br />
admin@surftechaustralia.com.au<br />
mar/apr <strong>2011</strong><br />
7<br />
02 4226 1322
NOW STOCKING:<br />
Black Apache<br />
Surfboards<br />
It’s all about<br />
the beach<br />
surf art • shells<br />
driftwood things<br />
chenille shorts<br />
wood surf boards<br />
beach stuff • retro<br />
sunnies • thongs<br />
stripy towels<br />
umbrellas<br />
6 Lorraine Ave<br />
Marcoola Beach<br />
07 5448 8560<br />
Mini-Simmons,<br />
Fish and more by<br />
Jesse Watson<br />
8 jul/aug <strong>2011</strong>
COME TOGETHER<br />
Enjoyment, relaxation, exercise, mateship,<br />
escapism… These are all reasons why<br />
we surf. Our motivations are all different.<br />
We all want to keep enjoying these good<br />
times and so it’s important not to forget<br />
those who provide us with the craft and<br />
the gear to realise our own sacred sense<br />
of fulfillment.<br />
Perhaps it’s the guy around the corner who<br />
shaped your first board when you were<br />
seven years old. Maybe it’s the local surf<br />
shop you walked into as a child and smelt<br />
resin for the first time, or that sweet smell<br />
of coconut scented surf wax.<br />
If we want them to remain there, we need<br />
to consider what steps we’re taking to<br />
ensure they survive. Sure, everyone is tight<br />
on money at present but even the smallest<br />
gesture of goodwill and support can make<br />
the biggest difference to a small business.<br />
To us the surfing community means<br />
everything and despite being newcomers<br />
to it all, we’re as passionate about the<br />
survival of our homegrown surfing industry<br />
as a 40-year veteran of the game. Not for<br />
one second of any day would we trade what<br />
we do now for our old, soulless corporate<br />
jobs. Because now we get to deal with real<br />
people. Good people. Down-to-earth people.<br />
Shapers, surf shop owners, manufacturers<br />
and you guys and girls – all surfers.<br />
Wherever you can, support the people who<br />
have enabled us to share good times with<br />
family and friends out in the water.<br />
IN THIS EDITION<br />
We take a look at those great surf<br />
businesses supporting other surf<br />
businesses - people like Zak Koniaris, who<br />
has established somewhat of a collective<br />
of Victoria’s best shapers.<br />
Also featured are a seemingly countless<br />
number of shapers proudly displaying their<br />
latest designs and the craftsmanship that<br />
comes with a lifetime dedicated to shaping<br />
surfboards.<br />
We chat with Ash Grunwald and find out<br />
how surfing has inspired his lifestyle and<br />
many of his songs.<br />
We venture to the Solomon Islands, a<br />
magical surf spot which is enough to<br />
inspire any surfer to get off the beaten<br />
track and discover something new.<br />
And finally, on the note of surfing, the<br />
spirit of adventure and getting off the<br />
beaten track, we travel down to Victoria’s<br />
Shipwreck Coast. Guarded in secrecy and<br />
staunchly protected by local surfers, we<br />
respectfully talk about what makes this<br />
wild rugged coastline so special.<br />
Dave & Mark<br />
The colder months in Burleigh Heads Photo: Michael Dawes flickr.com/photos/tk_five_0/<br />
july/aug <strong>2011</strong><br />
9
LADIES FIRST<br />
BOOKS, WORK &<br />
BOARDWALKING<br />
At only 19 years old, Currumbin’s Jess Roberts has<br />
enjoyed a fair few surfing achievements in the<br />
longboarding world including wins in local, state<br />
and national competitions. But while she’s excelling<br />
in surfing and racking up sponsors like Diverse Surf,<br />
Kulu Bikinis, Willi Footwear and Ask Huey sunscreen<br />
and sunglasses, she tells us her main focus is her Vet<br />
Science uni degree. Good work.<br />
STUDY<br />
“My most important goal in my life<br />
right now is to finish my degree at<br />
uni. I believe getting my education<br />
first is imperative. However, I<br />
also believe that maintaining my<br />
surfing and the people close to me<br />
is important, so I generally like to<br />
combine everything!”<br />
Jess is as passionate about her<br />
education as she is about her<br />
surfing.<br />
“Kids reading this, stay in school.<br />
You can surf at any point in your<br />
life, join the WQS, compete against<br />
Kelly and Mick, but what happens<br />
if you tear all the ligaments in your<br />
knee and can’t surf anymore? You<br />
have nothing to fall back on. You<br />
never know what will happen - you<br />
could become world champ, but if<br />
you’re 30 and can’t surf, didn’t finish<br />
school, do a trade or go to uni, then<br />
there aren’t many options. That’s<br />
what I’ve learnt from people in those<br />
shoes - they told me exactly that.<br />
“I am currently in my second year<br />
and love it! People consider Vet<br />
Science harder than Medicine,<br />
because we have to learn each<br />
different type of animal, learn each<br />
field of medicine - we have to be a<br />
surgeon, dentist, ophthalmologist etc. -<br />
and I think the biggest thing is that the<br />
patient can’t tell us what’s wrong. Its<br />
hard work and a lot of contact hours,<br />
but it’s interesting and fun. My parents<br />
are very supportive of me going to uni<br />
and help me out a lot. When I finish<br />
my degree I would love to go on to do<br />
my PhD in marine animals.”<br />
SHARKS<br />
Where does a young Vet student<br />
interested in marine animals<br />
stand on the issue of the men in<br />
grey suits?<br />
“I’m still a bit uncertain about<br />
these creatures. For starters, I have<br />
a heart attack if I see one when<br />
surfing, there is no mistaking that!<br />
I do understand that they are a<br />
predator, and it’s a tragedy for all<br />
the people that have lost their lives<br />
to sharks. I don’t think that sharks<br />
should be hunted though. I don’t<br />
think they purposely come and go<br />
‘Oh there’s Tommy, the human over<br />
there, lets go eat him.’ But, I do<br />
think measures need to be taken<br />
to keep sharks out of areas where<br />
people swim and surf.”<br />
SURFING<br />
It all started for Jess at the age<br />
of 8, with her mum refusing to<br />
let me be one of the girls sunbaking<br />
on the beach watching<br />
the boys have all the fun in the<br />
surf. She started Jess on surfing<br />
lessons and got her hooked.<br />
“The memory I still look back on and<br />
laugh about is when I started surfing<br />
and got one of my friends from<br />
school to join me. She believed that<br />
getting barrelled was when white<br />
wash went over your feet when you<br />
were standing on the board. No joke,<br />
she came in after our second lesson<br />
saying ‘OMG! I got barrelled like five<br />
times today!’ I still laugh about that<br />
to this day.<br />
Jess is doing well as a<br />
longboarder these days, and<br />
surprisingly the love of bigger<br />
boards started quite early on.<br />
“I did start out as a shortboarder<br />
when I was a grom, but when I was<br />
about 12 and down at Byron with<br />
my cuzzie bros (read kiwis). It was<br />
small and fat, and the short board<br />
just wouldn’t go, so I jumped onto<br />
an 8’6 mini mal and had the time<br />
of my life! My parents then had a<br />
chat to Wayne Deane and he made<br />
a great custom board to suit my<br />
physique, meaning I could carry it<br />
under my arm.<br />
“I’m currently riding a high<br />
performance Diverse board, and<br />
occasionally jump onto my pig/log<br />
and have a go on my boyfriend’s SUP.<br />
“I don’t generally ride shortboards<br />
now, just because of the whole<br />
mentality about them. You can just<br />
chill out on a longboard and look<br />
stylish or do the high performance<br />
thing, where with shortboards, if<br />
you’re not hacking the lip or busting<br />
airs, then you’re classified a kook.”<br />
Far from a kook, in her first year<br />
with the Burleigh Longboard<br />
Club, Jess made the President’s<br />
Cup final in the Open Men’s<br />
division - the first girl in<br />
Burleigh club history to make<br />
the final.<br />
“I was stoked about that, but I think<br />
I was more excited about beating<br />
all the boys.” (laughs)<br />
FAVOURITE WAVES<br />
“Locally would definitely have to<br />
be Currumbin Alley when the banks<br />
are good, and Snapper when the<br />
10 jul/aug <strong>2011</strong>
Photos by ‘Mummy Roberts’<br />
crowd isn’t agro. I like these spots<br />
mainly due to my mates surfing<br />
there too, so I have a good time<br />
as well as a good surf. The only<br />
places internationally I’ve been to<br />
are Bali, NZ and PNG. My favourite<br />
spot would easily be Medawii, a<br />
mellow left-hander point break<br />
about 3 hours from Kuta, Bali. I am<br />
however set to go to the Maldives<br />
in <strong>July</strong> so I think my favourite<br />
international spot may change!”<br />
If you’re in Currumbin and you<br />
spot Jess cruising along on her<br />
Diverse board, make sure to<br />
say g’day!<br />
For more action shots, check<br />
out the team section on<br />
www.diversesurf.com.au<br />
“KIDS READING<br />
THIS, STAY IN<br />
SCHOOL. YOU CAN<br />
SURF AT ANY POINT<br />
IN YOUR LIFE”<br />
Sage advice - Jess Roberts<br />
jul/aug <strong>2011</strong><br />
11
12 jul/aug <strong>2011</strong>
JOIN IN THE CONVERSATION:<br />
Email all your innermost thoughts, letters, stories, photos,<br />
praise, rants to letters@smorgasboarder.com.au or send<br />
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for stories to editor@smorgasboarder.com.au.<br />
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SAVED MESSAGES<br />
We get so many phone calls about the mag<br />
- even more so than emails - that we thought<br />
it was about time we published a reader’s<br />
comment from our message bank.<br />
Hi guys. My name is Steve. You don’t know<br />
me. I just picked up your mag and wanted<br />
to congratulate you on it. I think it is so<br />
good. No competition stuff and so down to<br />
earth. Plenty of stories on surf destinations.<br />
I couldn’t believe it was for free. It is just<br />
a really good mag. Keep up the good work<br />
guys. I just wanted to ring and tell you that.<br />
To be honest Steve, it is calls like yours<br />
that keep us going. We are wrecked from<br />
time to time, pulling it all together. Most<br />
weeks we’re working 70-80 hrs plus, so<br />
we appreciate such kind words of support.<br />
Emails, letters and phone calls like this also<br />
reinforce with those businesses who so<br />
kindly support us - and keep the mag FREE<br />
for all - that there are such loyal readers out<br />
there who love smorgasboarder. Thanks.<br />
LATEST: FEEDBACK<br />
MUCH ADO<br />
ABOUT NOTHING?<br />
I have a friend who works at the local desal plant. He<br />
wasn’t allowed to talk to me about the desal plant itself,<br />
but I asked him few questions about the enviromental<br />
impact of the plant.<br />
He explained a few things they have put in place to prevent<br />
wildlife being harmed, so I tend to think this is a big cry<br />
about nothing. The shark nets off New South Wales kill more<br />
wildlife than ten desal plants and coming from a country that<br />
has real problems and real drought, I think Aussies take for<br />
granted how lucky they are.<br />
The only negative I could see is that it’s cost a lot of money<br />
that probably could have been spent on hospitals and<br />
schools, but as far as the environment goes, these hippies<br />
need to stop smoking ciggies, driving cars or even surfing<br />
as they all impact on the planet.<br />
In 20 years time when there is no water and we have the<br />
luxury of flicking a switch and making water, everyone will<br />
be stoked with the plant.<br />
Anyway that’s my two cents, mate. Great mag and keep<br />
‘em coming.<br />
Charl, Phillip Island<br />
CHECK OUT OUR<br />
ONLINE STORE AT<br />
www.heritagesurfaustralia.com<br />
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Simon Jones, Takayama, Bear, Morning of<br />
the Earth, Bing, Brewer, Heritage, Michael<br />
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Australia’s Best Range of Books & DVDs<br />
Including The Surfers Journal,<br />
magazines & books.<br />
With a wide range of gifts, collectables,<br />
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STUFF UP FOR GRABS!<br />
THE C-SKINS WETSUIT GIVEAWAY<br />
Last edition C-SKINS WETSUITS asked to see your oldest<br />
wetsuits. Taking pity on the owner of the oldest, stinkiest or most<br />
absolutely rotten wetsuit, they offered to generously replace said<br />
suit with a brand new C-SKINS Wired S2 3x2, valued at $475!<br />
All we can say is... Damn, some of you should really clean out<br />
your wardrobe every ten years or so! Thanks for the entries and<br />
congrats to the winner, Karl. We reckon other beachgoers will be<br />
happy to not have to see his holey suit in the water ever again.<br />
BUT IT’S NOT OVER! C-SKINS are feeling generous and giving<br />
you all a second chance to win one in September! Send your<br />
worst photos to letters@smorgasboarder.com.au. The winner<br />
will be drawn in our September edition and their photo published<br />
alongside other finalists.<br />
NOTE! C-SKINS phone number was incorrect in latst edition’s<br />
advertisement. The correct number for C-Skins is 0412 081 546.<br />
WINNER<br />
Classic Clothing From Past & Present<br />
Patagonia, Rhythm, Hippy Tree, The<br />
Critical Slide Society, Reyn Spooner, Golden<br />
Breed, O’Neill, Okanui, Ocean & Earth,<br />
Toes on the Nose, Sanuk, Rainbow<br />
Sandals, Rake, Captain Goodvibes, Deus Ex<br />
Machina, Avanti Vintage Shirts<br />
& more.<br />
Accessories & Wetsuits<br />
Patagonia, Imperial, O’Neill, Captain Fin Co.,<br />
FCS, Ocean & Earth, True Ames Fins & more<br />
*Prize suit for illustration only. Terms and conditions, see the smorgasboarder website.<br />
FREE STUFF FOR LETTERS<br />
Send in your letters and thoughts to be in line for<br />
freebies! SOUTHERN SOUL wax up for grabs.<br />
Email us on letters@smorgasboarder.com.au<br />
*Letters may have been edited for length and clarity<br />
Above: Holey hell... Most<br />
definitely time for new suit!<br />
WIN!<br />
24 Darley Road Manly NSW 2095<br />
Phone : (02) 9977 7623<br />
heritagesurf@bigpond.com<br />
jul/aug <strong>2011</strong><br />
13
ONLINE<br />
T-SHIRTS<br />
SHAPING UP<br />
Tired of looking like a billboard<br />
wearing the big name brands?<br />
Want to show your support for<br />
local shapers? Check out a new<br />
website that sells the latest and<br />
greatest gear from Australia’s<br />
best shapers and surf shops.<br />
Better still, what you buy is<br />
shipped anywhere around the<br />
country completely free of charge.<br />
Go to www.ssstees.com.au<br />
Paradise by Glenn ‘Cat’ Collins.<br />
Wait for the movie...<br />
GREAT TIME<br />
TO GET FIT!<br />
It’s winter. Yes, it’s cold. But don’t let a little bit of chill stop you surfing! If you do forego<br />
the occasional paddle for a coffee or dodge a rather average day for a hot pie, don’t<br />
forget that summer is only a few months away and you’ll regret being a slacker when<br />
you’re missing waves. So now is the perfect time to get some extra training in and get<br />
fit, or even fitter.<br />
Total Surfing Fitness is a very specific exercise program aimed at getting surfers<br />
catching more waves in five steps, by: increasing your paddle fitness; improving your<br />
core stability, strength and power; increasing your upper body endurance, improving<br />
your mobility and flexibility; and finally, improving your balance and lower body strength.<br />
You can grab a free training session online, so check it out at<br />
www.totalsurfingfitness.com<br />
THE SURF PRAM?<br />
No, don’t be silly... This Phil & Ted Classic Buggy is<br />
just one of the baby essentials available from<br />
Yamba Nursery Hire. If you’re planning a family<br />
holiday around Yamba and Angourie, just forget<br />
packing in the baby gear... You can hire what you need<br />
at your destination and save the valuable travel space<br />
for other essentials, like an extra surfboard.<br />
For products, prices and more information, see<br />
www.yambanurseryhire.com or call 02 6646 3548.<br />
14 jul/aug <strong>2011</strong>
STICK IT<br />
Photo: Wipeout Scuzz, Supplied<br />
WHERE IT SHINES<br />
LATEST: & GREATEST<br />
OUCH. LET’S HOPE HIS INSURANCE COVERS THAT<br />
Fancy surfing over deadly sharp ‘n shallow coral reefs in the remotest Mentawais? If you do, in all seriousness, it’s just common sense to have some<br />
insurance cover. Problem is, some insurers won’t touch surfers with a 10ft SUP paddle. Fortunately one will, and this has literally saved surfers’ lives<br />
thanks to airlifts from G-Land. You’re even covered riding a motorbike in Indo and for extra peace of mind, surfboards are covered for damage or theft<br />
in transit. Planning a big one locally? They’ll even cover you for surf trips in OZ. Get immediate cover 24 hours a day at www.indosurf.com.au<br />
CRAZY<br />
LIKE A CAT<br />
We’ve had so many comments<br />
on Glenn ‘Cat’ Collins’ crazy-ass<br />
designs. Talking to industry insiders<br />
though, this guy is far from a fruit<br />
loop. This is what Craig Baird,<br />
curator of Torquay Surf World and<br />
someone who’s seen more boards<br />
than most of us had to say:<br />
“He could pretty much shape<br />
anything and ride it. He’s creative,<br />
free thinking and not restrained by<br />
design norms.<br />
“A lot of people may feel threatened<br />
by those who don’t conform but<br />
it’s people like Glen whose ideas<br />
filter down through the process into<br />
mainstream design.<br />
“Even if it is not adopted broadly, it<br />
gets people thinking about different<br />
avenues and possibilities.”<br />
MORE THAN A GOOD READ<br />
A few editions back we made mention of<br />
the not-for-profit publication, Kurungabaa.<br />
With the latest edition recently arriving<br />
in the mail, we realised it just had to get<br />
another mention.<br />
Celebrating it’s fourth year in print, the<br />
‘journal of literature, history and ideas<br />
from the sea’ has undergone a major<br />
overhaul, with a full design revamp, a<br />
new format and new paper stock. All in<br />
all, the updated package truly reflects the<br />
quality of the thoughts and work inside.<br />
Mostly black and white text, but with<br />
bursts of colour here and there, you can<br />
expect near 90 back-to-back pages of<br />
engaging and varied reading.<br />
Strictly an anti-business, the Kurungabaa<br />
collective really don’t want your money,<br />
but your support to keep this unique forum<br />
for art and free thinking would help.<br />
For only a few measly dollars, grab<br />
yourself a copy at kurungabaa.net and<br />
enjoy a very different surfing read.<br />
jul/aug <strong>2011</strong><br />
15
LATEST: COMMUNITY<br />
Your one stop for<br />
STAND UP PADDLE SURF<br />
Sales, Hire, Accessories<br />
& the best advice<br />
TRY BEFORE<br />
YOU BUY!<br />
THE BEST WAY TO GET YOURSELF ON<br />
THE RIGHT BOARD FOR YOU<br />
Talk to Scott and his expert staff.<br />
They’ll get you on the right board!<br />
Understand first-hand what you need<br />
and what you get for your money.<br />
JUST ONE LITTLE BUMP<br />
IT’S AMAZING HOW ONE SMALL EVENT CAN DRAMATICALLY CHANGE THE COURSE OF LIFE.<br />
LITTLE SUNSHINE COASTER, DAN BOUNTY KNOWS ONLY TOO WELL. WORDS & PHOTOS: PAUL BOUNTY<br />
“18 months ago Dan Bounty was a normal, happy<br />
little eight-year-old dude, just starting to get the<br />
hang of surfing. This all changed thanks to one<br />
Saturday afternoon in November 2009, body<br />
surfing with his Mum and sister, Chloe.<br />
“Dan caught a wave in the crowded, flagged<br />
section at Kings Beach, Caloundra and crashed<br />
head first into a large mans hip, hurting his neck.<br />
As a physiotherapist, I assessed him and felt<br />
he had just a minor neck strain. He seemed fine<br />
and ten minutes later he was racing around like<br />
nothing had happened. We didn’t think much of it.<br />
“The next morning, at about 7am, just as we were<br />
about to leave for nippers, Dan collapsed. The right<br />
side of his body was paralysed. We raced him to<br />
Caloundra Hospital who urgently transferred him<br />
to Royal Children’s Hospital Brisbane where he<br />
had an MRI, revealing that he had in fact damaged<br />
an artery in his neck. This had formed a blood<br />
clot that had dislodged and travelled to his brain,<br />
causing him to have a stroke.<br />
“Due to my line of work, I’m familiar with<br />
this condition, but usually in elderly folk. I’m<br />
unfortunately also acutely aware of the possible<br />
consequences and outcomes. So we all, very<br />
nervously, spent the next six weeks slowly<br />
watching Dan recover. He went from wheelchairbound,<br />
to learning to walk again to slowly<br />
regaining some of his sensation and function in<br />
his right arm.<br />
“Since the stroke, Dan’s been working hard on<br />
his rehab and although he still has a way to go, is<br />
doing well. He’s back to nippers and surfing and<br />
skateboarding.<br />
“With any brain injury you just don’t know how<br />
much recovery to expect, but fortunately for Dan<br />
there has been no cognitive loss and he’s still the<br />
same cheeky little bugger he always was. After the<br />
long road to recovery, it’s truly a reward to see Dan<br />
on his surfboard, back in the water with Chloe.”<br />
It’s always good to have stories with happy<br />
endings like this in the mag. We wish you a full<br />
recovery and many happy years of surfing with<br />
the family to come, Dan!<br />
2544 GOLD COAST HIGHWAY, MERMAID BEACH<br />
scott@greenlinepaddlesurf.com<br />
0412 398 585<br />
WWW.GREENLINEPADDLESURF.COM<br />
Top: Dan’s back on the boards - if not in the water, at the local skatepark. Above left: Supportive sister,<br />
Chloe regularly shares surfing time with Dan. Right: Happy and healthy - the way all kids should be.<br />
16 jul/aug <strong>2011</strong>
jul/aug <strong>2011</strong><br />
17
NO MODELS HERE<br />
Just hand-crafted boards,<br />
specially made for you.<br />
Damon with<br />
a Factory<br />
Single Fin<br />
Hey mate...<br />
have you<br />
paid for<br />
that?<br />
15 ALLEN ST, CALOUNDRA • 07 5492 5838 • THEFACTORYSURFBOARDS.COM.AU<br />
BOARDS TO PNG<br />
Paul Hickman of Retro Wombat in Thirroul<br />
knows the Three Rs intimately - Reducing,<br />
Re-using and Recycling is just how he rolls.<br />
Happy to spread the love of pre-loved, he<br />
recently got involved with a push to get some<br />
used surfboards over to the local kids in PNG.<br />
“I managed to get together ten small<br />
thrusters, a couple of leg ropes and some<br />
travel bags,” Paul tells us. Added to this, he<br />
found a few pairs of top-notch boardies while<br />
out at garage sales, to add to the package.<br />
“My part in this is only a small one, as there<br />
are many people involved in the process of<br />
making it happen. I just couldn’t say no to<br />
helping out with suitable boards for such a<br />
good cause.”<br />
“Sometimes, giving somebody something<br />
they can use is much better than money<br />
which just gets swallowed up by the<br />
capitalist world we live in.”<br />
Top: Paul of Retro Wombat<br />
Above: PNG kids get a surf lesson<br />
from some travelling Aussies<br />
A FEW GOOD MEN<br />
It is good to know in these tough times there are still some good guys and<br />
girls out there and you couldn’t meet anyone nicer than shaper Chris Garret.<br />
Upon hearing our plans to raise money to help those affected by the spate of<br />
natural disasters earlier this year, he was the first person on board.<br />
Not only did he custom make the board for the lucky bidder, he personally<br />
delivered it and shared the love. Keen on a Chris Garrett or Phantom board?<br />
Go to www.chrisgarrettshapes.com.au<br />
Chris Garrett (left) with happy owner of a new board, Wilba.<br />
18 jul/aug <strong>2011</strong>
LATEST: COMMUNITY<br />
SURF ART WITH A BIG HEART<br />
The SurfArt Expo held in Alexandra Headland has been hailed a huge<br />
success, with over 200 people turning up for the opening charity night where<br />
over $1000 was raised for Wishlist and Sunshine Coast Surfrider Foundation.<br />
Artist Owen Cavanagh put together a collection of his own work and that<br />
of diverse, yet like-minded artists including Parrish Watts of Vintage Pacific<br />
Surfcraft, master shapers Richard Harvey and Tom Wegener - who opened<br />
the expo at the Friday night charity event - Phil and Jackie Jarratt, miniature<br />
surfboard artist Nathan Barker and more.<br />
For any further info, contact Owen on 0459 477 728 or email solearte@libero.it<br />
IT’S ONLY<br />
NATURAL<br />
FOR RILEY<br />
Mark Riley of Riley Balsa has lent his support to the Australia Wide Wood<br />
Naturally Better Program - a program designed to promote and educate people<br />
on the benefits, qualities and uses of wood.<br />
More than just a great material for building surfboards, wood is a natural,<br />
renewable resource that provides wide-ranging benefits, including absorbing<br />
carbon dioxide from the atmosphere combatting the effects of climate change;<br />
uses less energy compared with some other building materials; and as a fuel,<br />
sustainably grown and harvested wood provides a renewable alternative to<br />
fossil fuels. All said and done, wood is pretty good.<br />
For more on the program, visit www.naturallybetter.com.au.<br />
Further reinforcing the commitment<br />
to the environment, Riley Classic<br />
Balsawood Surfboards have sponsored<br />
environmentalist Parrys Raines of<br />
www.climategirl.com.au.<br />
“This should be a great partnership<br />
between Parrys and Riley,” says Mark.<br />
“We have very similar views on the<br />
way life should be and how the future<br />
needs to be cared for by all of us”.<br />
To read more about Riley and check out<br />
Mark’s balsa boards, see the website:<br />
www.balsasurfboardsriley.com.au<br />
If you have any news and events that should be in these pages, please feel<br />
free to drop us a line at editorial@smorgasboarder.com.au.<br />
jul/aug <strong>2011</strong><br />
19
LATEST: NEWS<br />
GET A REAL JOB... SKILLS WANTED<br />
Riley Balsawood Surfboards is after the part-time services of<br />
experienced glassers, sanders and polishers around the Cronulla<br />
area. Intererested? Please contact Mark on mark@riley.com.au<br />
And if you’re an experienced surfboard spray artist, Gangsta Surf<br />
on the Gold Coast wants to hear from you. Get in touch with<br />
Monique if you reckon you have the skills and the style to suit.<br />
gangstasurf@live.com<br />
PUB WITH NO BEER. OR JUST NO PUB<br />
Right: The site in June and<br />
below: happier times<br />
One of our all-time favourite<br />
pitstops on our travels has been<br />
the Aireys Inlet Pub. After<br />
visiting surf stores all day, or after<br />
a sneaky surf, it was always the<br />
perfect place to finish the day,<br />
comfortable and warm, with a beer<br />
in front of the roaring fireplace.<br />
On our last trip however, we arrived to find the old place boarded up<br />
and covered in grafitti. What an absolute disappointment.<br />
As we then discovered, the pub - originally built in 1890 and rebuilt<br />
after the Ash Wednesday fires - called last drinks on March 20 after<br />
the landlords decided to not renew the publican’s licence.<br />
The site had been put up for tender, which closed in May, but<br />
according to Frank Nagle of Biggin Scott Commercial, it was ‘too early<br />
to say’ if the site would indeed be a new residential development.<br />
Sadly, as another icon of our coastline falls victim to the ongoing<br />
race to become the richest when you die, it’s a bleak reminder that<br />
we need to appreciate - and actively support - what we have, while<br />
we have it, be it friends, family, local businesses or invaluable pieces<br />
of our culture and history. Cheers Airey’s. It was good knowing you.<br />
20 jul/aug <strong>2011</strong><br />
SURFBOARD SUPPLIES<br />
Our buoyant, lightweight timber<br />
floats all around the world.<br />
• Tom Wegener preferred alaia blanks<br />
• Alaia & Kite Boards<br />
• Long Boards<br />
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• Chambered Boards<br />
Buy the BEST PAULOWNIA<br />
TIMBER Australia has to offer.<br />
Contact David Evans<br />
P: 03 9588 2533<br />
E: info.sales@paulowniasurfboardsupplies.com<br />
W: www.paulowniasurfboardsupplies.com<br />
Phil and Jono - fresh<br />
faces at Alternative Surf<br />
UNDER ALTERNATIVE MANAGEMENT<br />
PIE IN THE SKY?<br />
Well, at least in the shaping bay...<br />
Pieter ‘Pie Eater’ Stockert has set up<br />
a live web stream from his shaping<br />
bay. Piet’s been shaping boards for<br />
Bennetts for over 8 years. To see what<br />
goes into shaping a board, check it out<br />
on: www.pieter.com.au<br />
Alternative Surf in Alexandra Headland<br />
has had a facelift in more ways that<br />
one. With a new owner, new manager,<br />
new signage, new stock and exciting<br />
new lines its all, well... new! Owner<br />
Phil Giles is filling the store with unique<br />
brands, such as Seventhwave Wetsuits<br />
from NZ, Diamond Empire clothing and<br />
much more. Check it out.
Recycling Suburban Australia<br />
We Buy Sell And Restore<br />
SMOOTH VIDEO CAMEO<br />
On my most recent roadtrip I had a number of people come up and ask about<br />
the latest skateboard from SmoothStar. Yes, I gave it a rave review in our<br />
last edition and yes it IS actually that good. When you have a ute chock-ablock<br />
with magazines to distribute down the entire coast, there’s little room<br />
for much else. BUT I made sure to squeeze in my SmoothStar and gave a<br />
few people a test run as I passed through their way.<br />
vintage, old-school surf<br />
& skateboards, Antique,<br />
Vintage, retro furniture,<br />
Push bikes, junk and<br />
anything old pre-1980’s<br />
228 Lawrence<br />
Hargrave Dve<br />
Thirroul<br />
02 42671322<br />
Dom gets comfy flicking through smorgasboarder<br />
before hitting the ramps and streets of Newcastle<br />
But just when I thought I couldn’t love SmoothStar anymore, the new promo<br />
video hit the internet... And it is a cracker! Not only does it feature team rider<br />
Dom McGeachie making magic on his 32” Flying Fish, it also features a little<br />
cameo appearance by none other than your favourite free surf magazine!<br />
Check it out at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQsH2TNp_wY and<br />
for a walkthrough for one of the tricks on the video, see page 83.<br />
GREAT RESULT FOR GREAT OCEAN ROAD<br />
Victoria’s picturesque Great Ocean Road has been placed on the national<br />
heritage list with the announcement being made recently by Federal<br />
Environment Minister, Tony Burke. Thank goodness we have recognised,<br />
and will now preserve, one of the most magnificent coastal stretches in the<br />
country and indeed the world. Any future development in the region will have<br />
to be approved by the Federal Government. The region includes famous breaks<br />
such as Bell’s Beach, Winki and Cathedral.<br />
Classic Surf T-shirts<br />
from Surfing Legends<br />
lastwaveoriginals@gmail.com • Call 0400 497 534 • www.lastwave.com<br />
presents: the summer solution...<br />
LUNATIC<br />
We say this not to cause offense but<br />
rather offer this word as a badge of<br />
honour awarded to none other than<br />
the fearless big wave charger Sandy<br />
Ryan of Island Surfboards. What he<br />
does for fun is just suicidal for mere<br />
mortals. In case you missed it, check<br />
out Sandy surfing Shipstern’s Bluff in<br />
Tasmania this May. www.youtube.<br />
com/watch?v=UH43LO5MCl0<br />
MORE TO SWAP<br />
If you’re on the Sunshine Coast and<br />
have surfboards to sell, swap or show<br />
off, get along to the <strong>July</strong> 3 Swap<br />
Meet at the Da Bomb Surf Centre in<br />
Maroochydore from 11am - 2pm.<br />
Entry is free. There will be all types<br />
of boards on display from retro to<br />
modern and even a sausage sizzle on<br />
the go. For more details go to<br />
www.moresurfboards.com<br />
The new<br />
Symba<br />
Carver<br />
Surf rack<br />
+ +<br />
www.scooterstyle.com.au<br />
175 Eumundi Road, Noosaville Qld 4566 Phone: 07 5455 5249<br />
Board<br />
= FUN<br />
10% off<br />
Carver Surf Racks<br />
with this ad<br />
jul/aug <strong>2011</strong><br />
21
LATEST: INTERVIEW<br />
22 jul/aug <strong>2011</strong>
CLEAR<br />
BLUE<br />
DAYS,<br />
DEEP<br />
BLUES<br />
NIGHTS<br />
Thank goodness ASH GRUNWALD is a patient guy.<br />
It’s Wednesday. I have my interview time set.<br />
As a long-time fan I’m ready, prepared and just so<br />
excited to get the chat on the go, but my phone has<br />
other plans for our morning. Four phonecalls later,<br />
terrible reception and one crackling, dodgy phone line<br />
after another - not to mention an hour late - I finally<br />
get to talk to the easy-going bluesman about surfing,<br />
music and the new ROAD DOG DIARIES tour. And<br />
as it turns out, there’s a whole lot to talk about.<br />
WORDS: MARK CHAPMAN<br />
Photo: Emmanuel Narokobi Masalai Communications<br />
“It’s something I’ve always wanted to document - just<br />
life on the road and the fun we get up to. We’re going<br />
to go out and do exactly that, just amplify it a little...”<br />
Road Dog Diaries is an exciting new travelling music<br />
roadshow, kicking off in Mildura, Victoria this <strong>July</strong><br />
and working all the way up to North Queensland in<br />
early September. Far from just another band-on-theroad<br />
affair, this particular tour is any surf fan’s dream<br />
come true. By day, the crew will be searching out<br />
waves, snowboarding or skating and then hitting the<br />
planks at night for a musical fest, punctuated with<br />
exhibitions of surf photography and surf films between<br />
sets. And all of this, captured on film for an upcoming<br />
documentary.<br />
“Hopefully we get a fair bit of footage by the time<br />
we’re finished… of really good surfing and good<br />
locations from Torquay to Noosa,” Ash says of the<br />
very ambitious and incredibly cool project. “Also a lot<br />
of snowboarding and skating - we always get into a<br />
bit of downhill - and try and document the sort of stuff<br />
that happens.”<br />
Personally, having the distorted slide guitar wail<br />
over the beat of a stomping foot or some infectiously<br />
dancey hip-hop loops, finished off perfectly with<br />
blues-tinged, soulful storytelling is plenty reason to<br />
get me to an Ash Grunwald gig. But the concept of the<br />
complete package that the music is delivered with on<br />
this particular tour is sheer genius.<br />
In a very interesting twist, well-known surfers such as<br />
Beau and Nat Young, Neal Purchase Jr, Steph Gilmore<br />
and Matt Hoy will be making guest appearances on<br />
the tour.<br />
“We’ve got Beau Young for a lot of it, if not most of<br />
it. The really good thing is that he’s going to come<br />
down south with us as well. That’s always a hard sell,<br />
because it’s cold. (laughs) So we appreciate that.”<br />
Dave Rastovich will also be joining in for time in the<br />
water and on stage.<br />
“That’s going to be really fun, because those two are<br />
good buddies. I go back a long way with Rasta and I<br />
surf with Beau a lot here in New Brighton. “<br />
And of course it’s not just a surf fest – There are<br />
big-name musos on the bill as well, such as Kram of<br />
Spiderbait fame and – fingers crossed - roots master<br />
Xavier Rudd, who Ash used to play supports for in the<br />
early days of their careers.<br />
“I’m hoping to get Xavier when we’re down in<br />
Torquay,” Ash says. “He’s a good buddy and I’ve<br />
known him for over a decade now. That’ll be really<br />
good for the doco. It will document a part of me, and I<br />
can talk about the beginnings of it all.”<br />
jul/aug <strong>2011</strong><br />
23
Another major point of difference with the Road<br />
Dog Diaries tour is the standing invitation for<br />
local talent to get involved. The tour gives local<br />
surf photographers a chance to exhibit and sell<br />
their work and local filmmakers a chance to have<br />
their creations shown on screen during the show.<br />
In turn, it gives the audience an opportunity to<br />
discover some of their own homegrown talent…<br />
Possibly even catch a glimpse of themselves<br />
featured in a photo or local surf film.<br />
“I lived five years in Torquay,” Ash explains.<br />
“There was one guy who used to shoot film when<br />
Winki was cranking and then, lo and behold, a<br />
year later someone would say ‘Hey! You’re on this<br />
video!’ You’ve got some good footage of you on a<br />
good day surfing your favourite local break!<br />
“The same with the photographer down there -<br />
she’d have a few snaps of you, or line-ups of your<br />
local when it’s cranking at it’s best.<br />
“I loved that when I was down there and thought<br />
that’s exactly what I want to have at these gigs.<br />
“So, in theory, someone can turn up and see<br />
themselves, or their local on its day of days… and<br />
just get really excited.” (laughs)<br />
“It’s more about the local, underground guys just<br />
going for a wave. High-performance surfers, we<br />
all get excited about, but this... I’m thinking about<br />
the guy like me in the crowd.”<br />
Normal, everyday surfers he means, not touring<br />
bluesmen... Yes, he’s a multi-award-winning<br />
musician with a stellar history of releases and<br />
collaborations, but as a late starter in the water,<br />
Ash is really humble when it comes to his surfing.<br />
“I’m by no means a ripper which is probably why<br />
I’ve still got my froth so in gear. I grew up in<br />
Melbourne, so access to waves was only ever an<br />
occasional thing when I was a kid. As an adult -<br />
and really once I started gigging - I could arrange<br />
things so that I could surf more.”<br />
“I always loved it. To go to the beach was to go<br />
surfing. But being inland, I just didn’t have the<br />
opportunities to get into it as a kid. When you’re<br />
from Melbourne it’s when you get your license<br />
that you really start.”<br />
However with a promising musical career in the<br />
making, surfing wasn’t always easy in the early<br />
days. Ash initially followed advice to tour inland,<br />
playing more obscure venues, off the beaten<br />
track, to spread his name outside of the fierce<br />
competition of the mainstream. But it wasn’t long<br />
before the ocean dragged him back.<br />
“I’d go to one-horse towns playing to one<br />
toothless drunk. It was quite soul destroying, but<br />
I thought ‘Hey, I’m making a living from it - who<br />
cares?’<br />
“I just decided after a while, ‘Nah, you know<br />
what, I’m just going to head for the coast. And<br />
it’s funny, it worked better for me anyway, even<br />
career-wise. But it was primarily just something I<br />
wanted to do with my life. So, surfing’s been this<br />
crazy adventure… “<br />
And it’s not just surfing. A true smorgasboarder in<br />
his own right, Ash hits a skateboard or snowboard<br />
with just as much enthusiasm as his stomp box at<br />
a live show. Touring has seen him clock up eight<br />
snow seasons, always overlapping shows with<br />
the opportunity to do some snowboarding.<br />
“I’m so lucky. Everything in my life has been<br />
facilitated by music.”<br />
It’s not a one-sided arrangement. It seems that<br />
while music has a huge influence on his lifestyle,<br />
life also comes back around to influence the<br />
music. One song in particular, from the 2009 Fish<br />
Out Of Water album has stuck with me since the<br />
first listen. It’s the incredibly well-told tale of<br />
near-death in huge surf at Port Campbell. With a<br />
mental picture so well painted, surely that has to<br />
be a first-hand experience?<br />
“No that’s not autobiographical,” Ash laughs.<br />
“I’ve copped a lot of hold-downs and I have a<br />
lot of respect - and fear - for the South Coast of<br />
Victoria, but I’ve never paddled out at Two-Mile<br />
or any of these crazy hell-man places. I’ve surfed<br />
solid Bells, and I’ve surfed some solid waves<br />
down south, but none of the actual ‘big waves.’<br />
So, just how did the Port Campbell story and song<br />
come about then?<br />
“Well, this is what happens to me with story<br />
songs,” Ash explains. “I get a moment that really<br />
moves me. Then I think about that moment and<br />
work backwards from there and I think, ‘What is<br />
that story?’ And then I tell that story.<br />
“I was actually at Red Bluff in WA. A mate of<br />
mine who’s a really good storyteller had this<br />
great tale of where he paddled for one, missed it<br />
and then turned around to see the whole horizon<br />
lifting towards the heavens, about to land right<br />
fair-square on his head. And just that terror...<br />
“We were just around the campfire, but I was<br />
with him and felt what he must have felt. I was<br />
very moved by that story. I know the terror of<br />
when you’re in really solid waves and there’s<br />
a consequence to being caught in the wrong<br />
position. That’s what it was all about.<br />
“Once I got into that moment of terror, I thought<br />
the dude needs a back-story, you know? I sort<br />
of live it when I tell it, so I really think about it.<br />
I laugh sometimes though when he pops up and<br />
cops another six on the head – I always find that<br />
funny for some sick reason. (laughs)”<br />
Victorian surf destinations have certainly made<br />
their mark on Ash’s lyrics. Cat Bay on Phillip<br />
Island set the stage for the event that inspired<br />
the very entertaining Dolphin Song, from the 2002<br />
Introducing Ash Grunwald album. It tells the tale<br />
of him being rescued from a shark by a pod of<br />
helpful dolphins. And Ash reckons it happened<br />
exactly as the song says…<br />
“In the middle of the bay, on low tide with the<br />
right amount of swell, there’s a little bommie you<br />
can paddle out to. The guy I was with swore he<br />
saw a shark under me. In the post mortem I was<br />
saying ‘Well, all you did was mistake a dolphin for<br />
a shark and we didn’t actually get rescued,’ but he<br />
said ‘No way, no way... It was definitely a shark<br />
and we definitely got rescued...”<br />
Not many of us get the opportunity to throw<br />
everything we love most in life into one big event<br />
and then watch it come to life. For Ash, this<br />
artistic collaboration that is Road Dog Diaries is<br />
exactly that.<br />
Photo: Swilly Swilly.com.au<br />
With huge thanks to Jenny Williams!<br />
24 jul/aug <strong>2011</strong>
LATEST: INTERVIEW<br />
“IT’S A GOOD<br />
THING ISN’T IT,<br />
SURFING... IT’S<br />
THIS AMAZING<br />
CURE-ALL<br />
THAT DOES<br />
EVERYTHING.<br />
“IT KEEPS YOU<br />
FIT, HEALTHY,<br />
HAPPY... AND<br />
IT’S DIFFICULT TO<br />
GET GOOD AT.”<br />
jul/aug <strong>2011</strong><br />
25
FIJI<br />
Tavarua Island Resort<br />
Namotu Island Resort<br />
Plantation Island Resort<br />
Walu Beach Resort<br />
Mamanuca Island Group –<br />
West Coast Fiji<br />
Sonaisali Island Resort<br />
Intercontinental Fiji Golf & Spa<br />
Viti Levu – South West Coast<br />
Mainland<br />
Hideaway Resort<br />
Waidroka Bay Resort<br />
Matanivusi Surf Resort<br />
Viti Levu – Coral Coast<br />
Mainland<br />
Yanuca Island<br />
East Coast Fiji<br />
Naninya Island Resort<br />
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Talk to the experts.<br />
surftravel.com.au<br />
enquiries@surftravel.com.au<br />
02 9222 8870<br />
Surf Travel Company<br />
“WE REALLY<br />
WANT TO MAKE<br />
EACH GIG<br />
INDIVIDUAL, IN<br />
THAT WE WANT<br />
TO GET LOCAL<br />
PHOTOGRAPHERS<br />
TO DISPLAY THEIR<br />
WORK.”<br />
“It’s an intersection. It’s about a<br />
particular culture. I’ve got friends all<br />
around Australia that I love to surf with.<br />
Some are pro surfers and some are just<br />
Old Mate, who likes to go for a wave.<br />
They’re from all different professions<br />
and situations, from hardcore builders<br />
eating their pie and sauce, to full-on,<br />
tripped-out hippy dudes, or whatever...<br />
You have so much in common when you<br />
surf and there are just happy-go-lucky<br />
people who just want to get some<br />
waves and have some fun, then go<br />
to the gig, have a few beers and just<br />
hoot… Just positive people. That’s<br />
what I just love to be involved in.”<br />
Getting involved yourself is easy. Just<br />
get to one of the shows, be positive<br />
and have a whole lot of fun.<br />
Photo: Emmanuel<br />
Narokobi Masalai<br />
Communications<br />
There is only one original ...<br />
Surf Travel Company<br />
If you’re a budding surf photographer<br />
or surf filmmaker and reckon your work<br />
belongs on the bill, drop the organisers<br />
a line at info@ashgrunwald.com.<br />
For full tour dates, check online<br />
at www.ashgrunwald.com, on<br />
Facebook at www.facebook.com/<br />
AshGrunwald or you can also follow<br />
the happenings on twitter at<br />
twitter.com/#!/ashgrunwald to stay<br />
in the loop with all of the up to date<br />
announcements.<br />
Photo: Swilly Swilly.com.au<br />
26 jul/aug <strong>2011</strong>
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jul/aug <strong>2011</strong><br />
27
MEET THE TALENT<br />
“The only multi-finned<br />
board in the line-up!”<br />
Helmet and friends. Photo: Mark Chapman<br />
COLLECTOR<br />
QUIRKS<br />
HISTORY BUFF, REGULAR SMORGASBOARDER<br />
CONTRIBUTOR AND LAST EDITION’S PAGE 7 MODEL... MEET<br />
PAT QUIRK AND HIS EXTENDED FAMILY OF SINGLE FINS.<br />
AKA “The Helmet”, Pat Quirk was born and<br />
raised in Manly on the Northern Beaches of<br />
Sydney, NSW.<br />
Now settled with his lovely family on the<br />
northern side of the Sunshine Coast, he spends<br />
many a day sharing waves at his favourite<br />
breaks around Noosa or Alexandra Headland, as<br />
well as tracking down pieces of surfing history to<br />
add to the growing collection.<br />
From left to right, we’ll let Pat introduce the<br />
ladies, most of which he uses regularly.<br />
1 - OCEANIC 9’2” A very narrow, but thick<br />
longboard from 1963. No wall-hanger, this is my<br />
board of choice to ride. It goes amazingly in long<br />
walled point breaks like Noosa.<br />
2 - DON BURFORD 7”4” TRACKER with a<br />
rolled bottom, made around 1968 when Don was<br />
still in South Australia. A challenging board to<br />
ride, but it’s amazing when you get it just right in<br />
the pocket of a nice wave.<br />
3 - BARRY BENNETT 8’ MINI GUN with<br />
a dense foam stringer. Difficult to turn but<br />
definitely the fastest board I have ever ridden.<br />
28 jul/aug <strong>2011</strong><br />
4 - BARRY TAYLOR CUSTOM 7’8” from<br />
Nowra on the South Coast of NSW. A project<br />
board, crying out for restoration as the whole<br />
board needs to be reglassed... One day.<br />
5 - TUBECRUISER around 6’8” by Paul Shanks,<br />
a kiwi shaper. Only surfed it a few times and I<br />
still need to get it out on a clean day.<br />
6 - McTAVISH BLUE BIRD 7’ signed by Bob<br />
after being saved from landfill. An awesome find<br />
and my absolute fave board in the collection.<br />
7 - KENN CUSTOM SURFBOARDS from<br />
the Gold Coast, around 6’2”. This is the board<br />
that started the collecting bug after my wife<br />
suggested a vintage, red board would look great<br />
hanging on the wall. (What a nice lady - ED)<br />
8 - SUNBIRD SURF DESIGNS GUN 7” by<br />
Don Allcroft, a Victorian shaper who also shaped<br />
for Rip Curl. It looks to be around late 70’s.<br />
9 - McCOY 6’8” This has had a full restoration,<br />
so it’s a little heavy but great to ride as it’s really<br />
thick so catches waves very easily.<br />
10 - SHANE STANDARD 6” Around mid-70’s<br />
by the looks of the shape. Amazing shapers like<br />
Simon Anderson cut their teeth making these<br />
boards under the eye of Shane Stedman.<br />
11 - KENN CUSTOM BOARD 6’ Late 70’s<br />
single with a classic spray on the deck.<br />
12 - McTAVISH 9’1” The only multi-finned<br />
board here, shaped by Bob himself. This is an<br />
amazing board to ride - only 2” 5 / 8 thick and lots<br />
of kick in the tail which helps with late take offs<br />
(sometimes).<br />
Got some cool boards to show us? We’d love to<br />
see them and show them off for you! Drop us a<br />
line on editorial@smorgasboarder.com.au<br />
Pat cruising at Noosa. Photo: Popeye
THE ONE<br />
WE ALL HAVE A FAVOURITE FAVOURITE. EMMA WEBB OF<br />
TORQUAY SHARES A LITTLE ABOUT HER SPECIAL BOARD WITH US<br />
It’s the board I’ve wanted for the last<br />
ten years and now we’ve finally found<br />
each other! It was an instant connection<br />
straight after that first ride the 6’2 Spunk<br />
Bubble shaped by Greg Brown had found<br />
its new home, my shed.<br />
Now to the really important stuff about<br />
the board.<br />
It’s not white it’s an actual colour -<br />
nothing like adding a bit of colour to the<br />
line up! There’s enough black and white<br />
out there already and even if I’m black<br />
and white too, it’s not going to make me<br />
rip any more like Kelly or Fanning... Just a<br />
little bit of self-expression.<br />
Another amazing thing is it floats me<br />
easily. I’m not flapping around like a fish<br />
out of water struggling to move forward,<br />
let alone ride a wave.<br />
It catches waves like I’m riding a Mini-mal<br />
- bonus for me out there! So that’s three<br />
big ticks for my new favourite board.<br />
Oh, and some might find these next facts<br />
more important but it all depends on<br />
the angle your coming from: it turns on<br />
a wing nut and gets heaps of speed... I<br />
sometimes get the speed wobbles I’m<br />
going so quick.<br />
A match made in heaven. Until I find my<br />
next favourite board anyway...<br />
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Photo: Roie Hughes<br />
1300 483 634<br />
WWW.TRIPLE-X.COM.AU<br />
jul/aug <strong>2011</strong><br />
29
LATEST: PITSTOP<br />
Retro Wombat’s Paul Hickman is a born and bred<br />
Wollongong boy who grew up surfing Oilies down<br />
near the coal loader and South Beach.<br />
30 jul/aug <strong>2011</strong>
A BREAK<br />
FROM THE<br />
ORDINARY<br />
On a recent trip to The Gong I called into two stores in Thirroul<br />
- one I knew and the other I had heard a lot about. Basically,<br />
these stores are absolute Aladdin’s caves for the collector or soul<br />
surfer after something outside the mainstream. Both are well<br />
worth a visit - and an introduction - so we had a chat to the men<br />
behind the counter. WORDS & PHOTOS: DAVE SWAN<br />
PAUL HICKMAN RETRO WOMBAT<br />
WHAT IS SURFING TO YOU?<br />
Trying to find a wave where there is only two or three in the water. I can’t deal<br />
with crowds or all that agro and stuff.<br />
FAVOURITE BOARD?<br />
My favourite single fin is a 6’1” Col Smith channel bottom. It suits my body type<br />
perfectly. That and a modern day Skipp thruster for when the swell is on.<br />
WHAT’S THE STORE ALL ABOUT?<br />
I guess the store is called Retro Wombat, Retro as in ‘backward’ and ‘wombat’<br />
as in the ‘hard to find Australian.’ We’re more like the Hairy Nosed Wombat,<br />
the rare and endangered one, not the common wombat.<br />
Our motto, so to speak, is recycling suburban Australia. We’re about stopping<br />
stuff from going to the tip - the whole gamut of recycling from picking out the<br />
good things we can resell down to recycling nuts, bolts, copper, brass and steel.<br />
We offer people a complete recycling service and a large percentage of the<br />
stuff goes to local op shops and charity stores and some we sell in store. We<br />
have really tried to develop a charitable side to the business.<br />
WHAT CAN PEOPLE EXPECT TO FIND IN RETRO WOMBAT?<br />
I used to be more into the antique side of things but we’ve slowly moved more<br />
and more into the junk side of things. The junk is the fun stuff. It’s what people<br />
want and it is affordable.<br />
HOW LONG HAS THE STORE BEEN WHERE IT IS?<br />
Six years. When we set up here there was no roof on the building and no floor.<br />
All in all though, I have been doing this sort of thing for twenty years. I have had<br />
four stores through that time.<br />
FAVOURITE THING IN STORE?<br />
Probably the 10 ft pintail mal. It is a big heavy brute of a board.<br />
WWW.RETROWOMBAT.COM<br />
CHRIS KELLY FINBOX BOARDSTORE<br />
FAVOURITE BREAK?<br />
Chips. The reef break off the point at Geroa. I grew up surfing it.<br />
FAVOURITE BOARD?<br />
The one I am riding most at the moment is a 5’8” shortboard called ‘The<br />
Guild’ by shaper Lee Stacey.<br />
WHAT’S THE FINBOX ALL ABOUT<br />
I suppose the whole concept for the store was to bring that uniqueness<br />
back to surfing and make it a little bit more interesting. I wanted to<br />
create a store that felt like the ones I walked into as a kid in the 80s.<br />
Those stores were about surfing, surfboards and cool stuff. Nowadays<br />
mainstream surf stores have lost that soul.<br />
WHAT’S TRULY UNIQUE ABOUT YOUR STORE?<br />
I think it comes from just selecting a good range of products that reflect<br />
a different side of surfing culture. Being a surfer myself, I ride all types<br />
of boards, so I wanted a surf shop that had enough hardware with a<br />
range of surfboards that reflected surfer’s different styles and interests. I<br />
wanted to create a real surf shop.<br />
On the clothing side, we’re a little bit more of a boutique as we hunt<br />
down those brands that have a clear point of difference.<br />
With regards to the store itself, we wanted to create an inviting space<br />
where people can walk in and feel comfortable. With a good atmosphere,<br />
people want to hang here and have a chat and not just duck in and out.<br />
FAVOURITE THING IN STORE?<br />
That’s a tricky one. We got the new Vouch boards in and I would have to<br />
say the 8’7” rolled vee bottom is amazing. I don’t know how long it will<br />
stay on the racks before I wax that thing up myself.<br />
THEFINBOX.BLOGSPOT.COM<br />
jul/aug <strong>2011</strong><br />
31
LATEST: IMAGES<br />
GODLEY<br />
VIEWS<br />
WHEN HE’S NOT BALANCING LEDGERS, HE’S SNAPPING SLABS. WE CHAT TO UP-AND-COMING<br />
SOUTH COAST PHOTOGRAPHER, JORDAN GODLEY, AND CHECK OUT SOME OF HIS WORK.<br />
32 jul/aug <strong>2011</strong>
Q&A<br />
What came first: surfing<br />
or photography?<br />
Definitely surfing, I think it has only<br />
been the past six months or so that I<br />
shot more than I surfed.<br />
You’re studying<br />
Accounting – an<br />
unusual career to<br />
align with surf<br />
photography… How do<br />
you juggle the two?<br />
(Laughs) Yeah I get that a lot. I’ve<br />
actually just finished all my accounting<br />
studies, around 9 years all up. It’s been<br />
pretty tough in the past, working long<br />
hours, studying for my CPA and chasing<br />
swells. I guess long days, a flexible<br />
boss and a tonne of coffee makes all<br />
the difference.<br />
I pretty much froth 24/7 on surfing,<br />
so getting up at 4am to go surfing or<br />
working back late to make up for a<br />
few hours off work here and there has<br />
never been an issue for me.<br />
Does where you live<br />
lend itself to a lot of<br />
good photographic<br />
opportunities?<br />
Yeah, it sure does, especially surf-wise.<br />
There are so many different locations to<br />
choose from down here - from perfect<br />
beaches to slabbing reefs, all within an<br />
hour’s drive of each other.<br />
When not snapping,<br />
what are you riding?<br />
Lately whenever there has been waves<br />
I’ve been shooting, so I’ve only been<br />
surfing in the small stuff... So my<br />
weapon of choice would have to be<br />
the ezi-rider long board - so much fun.<br />
Other than that, my roommate and I<br />
have a nice collection of old boards<br />
we take out from time to time. I pretty<br />
much ride anything, depending on the<br />
conditions.<br />
The perfect surf photo...<br />
I think the perfect surf shot is different<br />
for everyone. For me, it’s one that has<br />
a story or journey behind it and takes<br />
me back to epic times. Also, it needs to<br />
have amazing light and composition.<br />
With a good camera being so cheap<br />
these days, there are so many of the<br />
same style of shots floating around,<br />
so I guess a shot that is unique really<br />
stands out for me.<br />
jul/aug <strong>2011</strong><br />
33
Bali...<br />
T he best of<br />
both worlds<br />
Dukes<br />
at Bingin<br />
ENJOY A BEACH LOCATION WITH<br />
CITY COMFORT. CHOOSE FROM:<br />
• 3 Bedroom private villa, sleeps 6,<br />
with 10m pool<br />
• 2 bedroom villa, sleeps 4, 8m pool<br />
MAKE USE OF EASY ACCESS TO<br />
FOUR FABULOUS BREAKS:<br />
Bingin, Impossibles, Dreamland<br />
and Balangan. (Surf guide available)<br />
How can people get hold of<br />
your work?<br />
www.jordangodleyphotography.com has just been<br />
set up, and I run a blog, jordangodleyphotography.<br />
tumblr.com, which I update every few days.<br />
If anyone’s keen to have me shoot them surfing,<br />
they can always give me a buzz on 0422 529 801 or<br />
shoot me an email on jordangodley@hotmail.com<br />
“empties... i’m kinda<br />
digging those shots at<br />
the moment...love blowing<br />
them up on canvas and<br />
staring at them... ”<br />
What does the future hold?<br />
Hopefully pursue photography a little more. I’ve<br />
just finished all my studies in accounting and I<br />
now have something to fall back on, so I can focus<br />
on photography and enjoy it rather than chase it to<br />
make some coin.<br />
I’m in the process of putting together a coffee<br />
table book which I hope to finish by the end of<br />
the year. Next year, hopefully I will do a bit of<br />
travelling, chasing swells at a drop of a hat and<br />
shooting a few weddings here and there.<br />
I would love to eventually move to Indonesia,<br />
or spend six months of the year there shooting<br />
and travelling. That would be the ultimate dream<br />
scenario.<br />
Book now!<br />
info@baliretreats.com.au<br />
www.baliretreats.com.au<br />
or call 07 5572 0477<br />
34 jul/aug <strong>2011</strong>
Name: Jordan Godley<br />
Age: 28<br />
Born: Penrith<br />
(Yes I’m a Westie haha)<br />
Live:<br />
Love:<br />
Berrara, NSW<br />
Being in<br />
the ocean,<br />
Photography,<br />
Surfing and<br />
Soccer.<br />
What’s your<br />
camera setup?<br />
Canon 50d, AquaTech water<br />
housing and a few lenses.<br />
Take some time to view more of<br />
Jordan’s work online. And if you<br />
find an image you love, make sure<br />
to part with a few dollars for print.<br />
jordangodleyphotography.com<br />
jul/aug <strong>2011</strong><br />
35
Sri Lanka<br />
Citrus Resort<br />
Coral Sands Hotel<br />
Coral Seas<br />
Hikkaduwa – West Coast<br />
Sri Lanka<br />
Ocean Dream Hotel<br />
Ahangama<br />
Unawatuna Beach Resort<br />
Galle<br />
Tri Star Hotel<br />
Stardust Beach Hotel<br />
Arugam Bay - East Coast<br />
Sri Lanka<br />
Talk to the experts.<br />
surftravel.com.au<br />
enquiries@surftravel.com.au<br />
02 9222 8870<br />
Surf Travel Company<br />
There is only one original ...<br />
Surf Travel Company<br />
READERS PHOTOS<br />
This edition, we were absolutely flooded with fantastic photos, all taken by<br />
none other than you! This giant, meaty chunk of saltwater at Cape Solander,<br />
AKA - ‘Ours’ was sent in by Doug Ford and is most definitely our pick of the<br />
bunch. Absolute cracking shot, Doug. Free stuff on the way to you! Send in your<br />
snaps of glory, comedy or consequence to letters@smorgasboarder.com.au<br />
36 jul/aug <strong>2011</strong><br />
Smorgasboard_1/4pages_D01.indd 3 13/<strong>06</strong>/11 6:03 PM
LATEST: PHOTOS<br />
jul/aug <strong>2011</strong><br />
37
READERS PHOTOS<br />
A selection of our favourites...<br />
THE SUNSHINE COAST<br />
SUPERSTORE<br />
All the top SUP brands<br />
New & Used Surfboards<br />
The best Kite and Wake gear<br />
& MORE!<br />
we send it<br />
everywhere<br />
FREIGHT<br />
SPECIALISTS!<br />
AUSTRALIA-WIDE<br />
for kite • wake<br />
• sup • surf<br />
Caloundra Cruising<br />
Phil ‘Pup’ Bender<br />
For the right board at the right<br />
time, get the best advice from our<br />
experienced staff,<br />
Big Dee Why Point<br />
Michael Knipe<br />
Chris Taylor,<br />
Point Impossible<br />
Sara Taylor<br />
“Dad sure can surf!”<br />
Bendalong Beach<br />
Sheree Budden<br />
38 jul/aug <strong>2011</strong>
LATEST: PHOTOS<br />
Chris Friend in-flight<br />
entertainment, Twin Waters<br />
Dylan Pukall<br />
South Coast, NSW<br />
Hannah Pellegrino<br />
Tristan Mace,<br />
Boulders Beach<br />
Greg Mace<br />
Currumbin, heavy<br />
Jesse Watson<br />
Greg Gregoriou,<br />
Point Impossible<br />
Peter Weller<br />
jul/aug <strong>2011</strong><br />
39
In terms of an Australian surfing destination, it’s possibly a mountaineer’s Everest.<br />
One break - which will remain nameless - is the equivalent of better-known Australian big wave<br />
magnets such as Shipsterns in Tasmania or the Cow Bombie in Western Australia, definitely rating<br />
in the five biggest and heaviest waves in the entire country.<br />
Extending some 150km from Cape Otway to Port Fairy – basically the southern tip of mainland<br />
Australia to just short of the South Australian border - this stretch of coast is not for the faint-hearted<br />
or the ignorant. Mother Nature, and quite possibly the locals, will deliver it to you in spades if you<br />
forget to show the place due respect.<br />
While the Southern Ocean always packs a punch no matter what the wave size and the water<br />
temperature alone is enough to take your breath away, from a pure tourist perspective, this is possibly<br />
one of the most spectacular, picturesque, idyllic and stunningly beautiful destinations on Earth.<br />
The<br />
Shipwreck<br />
Coast<br />
COLD, DARK, SHARKY WITH MONSTROUS WAVES, HUGE RIPS AND HEAVY LOCALS... IT SOUNDS OH SO INVITING,<br />
BUT IF YOU ARE GAME, THIS PLACE JUST HAS TO BE SEEN AND EXPERIENCED. WORDS DAVE SWAN<br />
40 jul/aug <strong>2011</strong>
TRAVEL: ROAD TRIP<br />
jul/aug <strong>2011</strong><br />
41
PNG<br />
Lissenung Island Resort<br />
Kavieng - New Ireland<br />
Saturday to Saturday<br />
Clem’s Place<br />
Lavongai - New Hanover<br />
Talk to the experts.<br />
surftravel.com.au<br />
enquiries@surftravel.com.au<br />
02 9222 8870<br />
Surf Travel Company<br />
Facts<br />
Fast<br />
CAPE OTWAY is the second southernmost tip of mainland<br />
Australia (Aptly-named South Point on Wilsons Promontory in<br />
Victoria is incidentally our southernmost.)<br />
PORT FAIRY is just under 3 hours drive from the South<br />
Australian border.<br />
Water temp in the region in winter can get down to 12<br />
degrees. In summer it gets up to 17 degrees.<br />
Offshore winds push colder deep water nearer to the coast<br />
and replace surface water warmed by the sun. This coupled<br />
with air temperature and wind-chill need to be factored in<br />
when determining by how much you will freeze your bits off.<br />
There is only one original ...<br />
Surf Travel Company<br />
42 jul/aug <strong>2011</strong><br />
Smorgasboard_1/4pages_D01.indd 1 13/<strong>06</strong>/11 6:00 PM
The<br />
Shipwreck<br />
Coast<br />
TRAVEL: ROAD TRIP<br />
On penning this story I had<br />
originally envisaged calling<br />
it The Iceman Cometh: The<br />
<strong>Smorgasboarder</strong> crew tackle<br />
the arctic conditions and<br />
wild mountainous surf of the<br />
Shipwreck Coast.<br />
As it turned out, the crew,<br />
of which there are two, was<br />
reduced to one after Mark<br />
shafted me the day the trip<br />
started, so an expedition of<br />
Dave headed down south.<br />
My first day on the Shipwreck<br />
Coast was magnificent. The sun<br />
was out, there wasn’t a cloud<br />
in the sky and the first signs of<br />
surf revealed gentle, peeling,<br />
A-frame beachies more suited<br />
to a cruisy mal. It was hardly<br />
hellman territory.<br />
But, it wasn’t my first trip to<br />
these parts and as they often<br />
say, “if you don’t like the<br />
weather, hang around a while.”<br />
It’s possible to get all four<br />
seasons in one day. It can be<br />
sunny one minute, blowing a<br />
gale the next.<br />
The week before, I had received<br />
a text from a local surfer with<br />
words to the effect of, “25ft<br />
ground swells with a 12 second<br />
fetch. Should be 12ft plus.” Thank<br />
goodness I was running late.<br />
And the predictions proved<br />
correct. Mammoth swell<br />
pounded the coast on that<br />
week, sweeping one of his<br />
surfing mates into a cave and<br />
treating him to a nasty, neardeath<br />
experience. Just think,<br />
that could have been me...<br />
The day I arrived however,<br />
only rolling waves slid past<br />
the Twelve Apostles and were<br />
something to behold. There<br />
possibly can’t be a more mindblowing<br />
experience then surfing<br />
amongst these natural pillars<br />
of wonder.<br />
The next day, and thereafter,<br />
was more of what I expected<br />
at this time of year: Bleak and<br />
cold, which is exactly what<br />
I was after. The surf wasn’t<br />
huge but had some grunt and<br />
that Southern Ocean still took<br />
my breath away in more ways<br />
than one.<br />
In my opinion, this is the perfect<br />
time to visit the Shipwreck<br />
Coast. If you’re after balmy<br />
conditions, head to Fiji. Down<br />
here’s supposed to be wild,<br />
woolly and cold. That’s part of<br />
its appeal. To witness the sea<br />
battering the rugged limestone<br />
coastline is not only amazing,<br />
but one of the sights that make<br />
the region so unique.<br />
It’s at its most dramatic and<br />
awe-inspiring best when<br />
Mother Nature struts her stuff.<br />
At the end of each day, having<br />
taken in the sights, watched<br />
some phenomenal surfing or<br />
made your own little bit of<br />
surfing folklore (in your own<br />
mind at least) you can retire to a<br />
cosy B&B cottage, comfy retreat<br />
or country pub. I don’t know<br />
why but there is something so<br />
appealing about freezing your<br />
knackers off, tackling waves<br />
with such raw power and then<br />
unwinding afterwards with a<br />
bit of amber nectar next to a<br />
roaring fire.<br />
The local food and produce is<br />
also superb and the perfect<br />
way to refuel your numb, aching<br />
body. Indeed, the area also<br />
boasts a number of superb<br />
restaurants and eateries.<br />
Ahh... the delights of a<br />
surfing roadtrip in a wintery<br />
wonderland. The colder, the<br />
better I say. I absolutely love<br />
this part of the world.<br />
But enough from me, we<br />
talk with local big-wave<br />
legend Russell ‘The Hellman’<br />
McConachy, about his love for<br />
surfing these parts.<br />
jul/aug <strong>2011</strong><br />
43
Russell<br />
McConachy<br />
Born in Chelsea, in what was then a rough bayside suburb of<br />
Melbourne, Russell McConachy grew up surfing the Victorian east<br />
coast and places like Phillip Island. As he explains it, he didn’t<br />
surf anywhere in particular, he simply went to where the waves<br />
were… chasing quality and size.<br />
“I always studied the weather maps and got to know the systems,<br />
tides and winds for each break and headed to where I thought it<br />
would be best. I discovered a few spots down on the Shipwreck<br />
Coast in 1973 and thought it was awesome. It pretty much became<br />
my Hawaii.<br />
“I would drive down there every weekend from Frankston and stay<br />
for two or three days or a week depending on how good it was. I<br />
would drop everything, head down and sleep in my car.<br />
“There were only ever a few guys like Dave Smurthwaite, Rock<br />
Stone and PK surfing big waves down that way. My favourite spots<br />
were relatively empty. I would regularly surf alone. Still do, but<br />
only occasionally.”<br />
With that said, Russell has been able to share his love for big<br />
waves with a select few.<br />
“I have been fortunate that I have always had a good hardcore<br />
crew around me that want to surf big waves from when I was<br />
twenty until now. But if you don’t want to surf big waves, well<br />
then, you are not going to fit in on a surf trip. It’s just a wonderful<br />
and exciting thing to share. The anticipation of the night before...<br />
When you can hear the waves breaking outside, it’s just something<br />
else.<br />
“All my mates who surf these spots nowadays are generally ten,<br />
twenty, thirty years younger than me. I have also shared some<br />
waves down here through the years with some great surfers, the<br />
likes of Jeff Sweeney, Greg Brown, Glen Casey, Tony Ray and the<br />
Rowley brothers.<br />
“Gerard Healy (ex-Melbourne Demons and Sydney Swans AFL<br />
footballing great) is also one of my great mates and a surf addict<br />
like myself. We team up most weeks. Over the past decade he has<br />
been coming down the coast and tackling what we like to chase.<br />
Big waves just become a focus of your life.”<br />
“I have been surfing my chosen break for some thirty-three<br />
years now. It is an intense experience. It is perhaps like surfing<br />
Waimea.”<br />
“At 61, I know my days are numbered with regards to surfing the<br />
bigger days. I don’t have any desire to live up to any image and I<br />
pick my waves more carefully now.<br />
“There is a great new crew emerging, led by guys like Brendan<br />
Ryan, Pat O’Shea and Mick Deppeler. I get as much joy watching<br />
my mates catch great waves as I do catching my own.”<br />
I asked Russell whether he had ever tackled any other of the big<br />
name surf spots around the globe.<br />
“I started building my house down here in 1987, a rustic bluestone<br />
house with recycled timbers throughout and this, along with my<br />
chosen break, became my focus. I wasn’t interested in too much<br />
else. The lure of other surf breaks didn’t really appeal when I<br />
had great waves in my own backyard. Between time, money and<br />
running my business, I didn’t really pursue any others. However,<br />
I did go to Hawaii in 1978, as I wanted to experience and gain<br />
an understanding of what big surf was like. This would set my<br />
attitude towards big surf for the rest of my surfing life. I believe it’s<br />
important to have a true perspective of the waves you surf.”<br />
As for the biggest wave Russell has tackledat home?<br />
“The biggest I have paddled into is around 15 to 20 ft. I have a<br />
Shipwreck<br />
The<br />
Coast<br />
44 jul/aug <strong>2011</strong>
TRAVEL: ROAD TRIP<br />
“It has always been my philosophy when you are in the ocean as in life,<br />
you have to ‘‘accept what you can’t change and change what you can...’<br />
when you surf you have to accept that is part of the deal.”’<br />
Russell McConachy<br />
jul/aug <strong>2011</strong><br />
45
photo of me paddling over a 25ft wave.<br />
It was a 15 to 18ft day and we literally<br />
saw a line on the horizon. It blacked<br />
it out. It was the biggest wave I have<br />
dealt with in the water. I screamed<br />
at the guys, ‘Paddle like...’ I do some<br />
towing occasionally, but not here.”<br />
LOCALISM<br />
When it comes to localism, which is<br />
widely reputed in these parts, Russell<br />
is quite philosophical in his approach.<br />
“There’s a right way and a wrong way<br />
to go about it. You have to appreciate<br />
that spots will become known at some<br />
stage and inevitably, you have to be<br />
prepared to share.<br />
“I will happily share waves with people<br />
from outside the area just as I would<br />
with my friends. If you’ve been waiting,<br />
it’s your turn. I don’t think because it is<br />
my break you have to wait forever and<br />
that sort of stuff. Some people have<br />
that attitude or just want to take every<br />
wave, but that can happen anywhere.<br />
I am a little more easy-going. ‘Live and<br />
let live’, I say. Perhaps that’s part of<br />
getting older and having a bit more of<br />
a sharing attitude. I was probably a bit<br />
greedy when I was younger without<br />
even realising it.”<br />
As for the fanatics that staunchly guard<br />
these parts, Russell has this to say.<br />
“People really believe what they are<br />
saying. They genuinely believe in their<br />
cause, just as I believe in what they<br />
are doing can be unfair in some ways.<br />
There is talk of a ‘surf sanctuary’ and<br />
yes, it is a very delicate environment<br />
around here in terms of the landscape<br />
and seascape. You wouldn’t want a<br />
contest here. The area just couldn’t<br />
cope. But as for the ‘no exposure’<br />
mentality to try and keep the crowds<br />
down... the Great Ocean Road is on<br />
the map, our tourist board is promoting<br />
it, everyone knows it’s there and any<br />
surfer worth his salt tends to travel<br />
beyond his home breaks anyway.<br />
“Sure we don’t want a horde of<br />
surfers and jetskis turning up, making<br />
the place like another Mavericks or<br />
Jaws. It’s so hard to predict that it’s<br />
a tough call to travel here, especially<br />
if you have to travel from afar. There’s<br />
usually a very small window for it all<br />
to come together, so it is easy to be<br />
disappointed!<br />
“Localism, in my opinion, can be quite<br />
selective. Some photographers and<br />
surfers from outside the area have had<br />
a hard time, but local photographers<br />
seem to have less drama.<br />
“People know my opinion and hopefully<br />
they can respect my philosophy as I do<br />
theirs. We will agree to disagree.”<br />
THE SHARK FACTOR?<br />
“I don’t think it is a huge issue with all<br />
that is going on in the ocean. However<br />
it would be naive to suggest they<br />
are not nearby when you are surfing.<br />
It’s more a matter of so far so good!<br />
Further south, around Port Fairy and<br />
Portland, there is reason for more<br />
concern, but you just have to forget<br />
about it and keep surfing, ideally!”<br />
But I pester Russell for a more direct<br />
answer. Surely there must have been<br />
some bumps or close calls through the<br />
years surfing these parts all alone?<br />
“Oh yeah, I have had a fair few. It<br />
does stay with you for a few months<br />
afterwards. I have mates with great<br />
shark stories.<br />
“Paddling across deep-water channels<br />
in some parts, it does cross your mind,<br />
but you just have to deal with it. It’s<br />
out of your control. It’s always been my<br />
philosophy when you are in the ocean<br />
you have to ‘accept what you can’t<br />
change and change what you can.’ I<br />
have that quote on my desk and in my<br />
diary. I think it is so true of life. I think<br />
when you surf you have to accept that<br />
is part of the deal.<br />
“I would be shattered if something<br />
happened though, after all this time. To<br />
think I have gone this far.”<br />
WORDS OF ADVICE FOR THOSE<br />
VENTURING DOWN THE COAST<br />
“I think a surfer has to have the right<br />
equipment and the right headspace to<br />
deal with whatever they confront. You<br />
can pull up at some breaks, think it’s 6ft<br />
and paddle out to realise it’s 12ft. I’ve<br />
rescued quite a few guys over the years.<br />
“For example, you can’t just use a<br />
standard leg rope. I use a 15ft tied leg<br />
rope, two plugs, extra Velcro - a lot<br />
of things that eliminate any chance<br />
of having to swim. That’s where the<br />
problems start. When it’s big, many of<br />
the bays turn into massive rips going<br />
out to sea. It is serious. You can’t<br />
paddle against it.<br />
“I think in any break, you respect the<br />
place and the people in the water,<br />
which I think goes without saying,<br />
whether you are a local or not. Don’t try<br />
to be ‘the man’ out there. Attitude is<br />
the key. It’s pretty basic.<br />
“Other than that, you need a 4/3<br />
wetsuit from now on, until November.<br />
THE EQUIPMENT REQUIRED<br />
“I have several 9-10ft guns. I have a<br />
new 9’9” that I am riding now. Custom<br />
made of course - 3 ¼“ x 19 ¾ “ x 9’9”.<br />
“I’ve had boards from Maurice Cole and<br />
Murray Bourton. Mike Anthony made<br />
my last one. It’s good to have someone<br />
in town to have that old-fashioned<br />
relationship with your shaper.”<br />
TRAINING<br />
So what of holding your breath and the<br />
training to tackle monstrous waves?<br />
Russell shed some light on his approach.<br />
“I don’t carry rocks along the ocean<br />
shore (he laughs). I think if you are<br />
physically fit and mentally strong, you<br />
When you look at a weather map<br />
and you see the massive systems<br />
hitting our coast non-stop, compared<br />
to what you get on the east<br />
coast, it is just staggering.”<br />
Russell McConachy<br />
Shipwreck<br />
The<br />
Coast<br />
46 jul/aug <strong>2011</strong>
deal with it. Mucking around<br />
in the pool the other day, my<br />
partner’s daughter held her breath<br />
underwater longer than me. I<br />
don’t have any interest in doing<br />
that. I think you just do what<br />
you have to. I am a very strong<br />
swimmer and am fit so I know<br />
what I can handle.”<br />
Russell did Taekwondo for twenty<br />
years and fought full-contact<br />
tournaments for eight years.<br />
“I wasn’t the best martial artist,<br />
but I trained my arse off and<br />
was as fit as you could be. I did<br />
ok because I was very fit. You<br />
get the best out of your body.<br />
Likewise with surfing, being fit<br />
will put you in a good position to<br />
catch a few good waves.”<br />
BEST CONDITIONS<br />
North-east depending on the<br />
break. A south-west swell is<br />
normal.<br />
On surfing iconic landmarks such<br />
as the Twelve Apostles:<br />
“I have surfed there up to 10ft,<br />
but waves there can often be<br />
closeouts. The region just gets<br />
so much swell and consequently,<br />
the sand banks are constantly<br />
changing. You can have months<br />
where it’s so big and disorganised<br />
that it is unrideable. “<br />
LOCAL FOOD AND DRINK<br />
“There are some good spots<br />
in the region. In Port Fairy,<br />
Rebecca’s is really good. Time<br />
and Tide is also a very nice<br />
restaurant. The Merrijig Inn<br />
is great.<br />
“In Port Campbell, Room six is<br />
great for breaky, lunch or dinner.<br />
The pub is good for dinner and<br />
to socialise. 12 Rocks is ok as<br />
well.”<br />
And as for a good spot to grab<br />
a beer, Russell’s reply was the<br />
same as Mark Richards in our last<br />
edition.<br />
“I don’t drink beer. I have never<br />
been a beer drinker. I will have a<br />
stubbie in summer if it’s warm but<br />
more often than not I will drink a<br />
lemon squash.<br />
I guess that’s why Russell rides<br />
18ft waves and I don’t. At least<br />
I now know what’s been holding<br />
me back.<br />
Incidentally, from my personal<br />
research, the Caledonian Inn<br />
in Port Fairy is also a cracker.<br />
Roaring fire, good beer and one<br />
of the best steaks I have had.<br />
Spoons Café also makes great<br />
coffee and muffins.<br />
jul/aug <strong>2011</strong><br />
47
A surfing destination like<br />
no other... Visit Port Fairy<br />
Surf Spots<br />
WHEN SURFING SOME OF THE LESS<br />
FREQUENTED BREAKS THERE A FEW<br />
IMPORTANT RULES TO ABIDE BY...<br />
PORT FAIRY & REGION<br />
VISITOR INFORMATION CENTRE<br />
Railway Place, Bank Street, Port Fairy<br />
03 5568 2682<br />
vic@moyne.vic.gov.au<br />
WWW.VISITPORTFAIRY-MOYNESHIRE.COM.AU<br />
Shipwreck<br />
The<br />
Coast<br />
48 jul/aug <strong>2011</strong>
STUDY THE BREAK. Most<br />
spots on the Shipwreck Coast<br />
are further out then they initially<br />
seem, hence the waves are<br />
bigger than they appear and the<br />
paddle out draining. Then there<br />
are the rips, the sea floor, the<br />
rocky cliff faces... you get the<br />
drift. Know what you are getting<br />
yourself into first.<br />
SURF WITH A MATE. This<br />
wasn’t possible as Mark shafted<br />
me, but in most cases it’s great<br />
to surf unfamiliar waters with a<br />
friend, in the event you get into<br />
any trouble.<br />
SHARKS. It’s all in the mind,<br />
they say.<br />
BE RESPECTFUL OF LOCALS.<br />
They’re particularly sensitive to<br />
outsiders taking over their breaks.<br />
If you’re low-key and go about it<br />
the right way, you shouldn’t have<br />
any hassles. If you’re a knob,<br />
expect some problems as these<br />
guys will defend their patch.<br />
As part of our respect for the<br />
local surfing community, we have<br />
not named specific surf spots<br />
on the Shipwreck Coast. After<br />
all, the spirit of adventure on a<br />
surfing road trip is to discover.<br />
All up, when surfing these parts<br />
make sure you are up to it. If you<br />
are, remember, no guts, no glory.<br />
Go hard or go home.<br />
So what did I do exactly? I surfed<br />
alone. Again, Mark you bastard.<br />
Jokes aside, I was mindful of<br />
showing due respect to the local<br />
crew and sat a little way away<br />
from the lineup, still getting my<br />
fair share of waves.<br />
Of course I didn’t want to sit too<br />
far away, just dangling my legs<br />
like chicken wings in the dark<br />
abyss below. I made sure I kept<br />
within reasonable distance of<br />
the pack so as not to get a close<br />
and personal experience with the<br />
fauna that frequent these parts.<br />
As they say, it doesn’t matter if<br />
you can’t outswim the shark as<br />
long as you can outswim the guy<br />
beside you.<br />
As for donning some serious<br />
rubber, surfing down these parts<br />
just heightens my respect for<br />
cold-water surfers the world<br />
over. Stick a 4ml piece of rubber,<br />
booties and hood on me and I feel<br />
as coordinated as a performing<br />
walrus at the Zoo, and believe<br />
me, I am just as entertaining.<br />
The gear required, which is just<br />
a necessity in these parts, adds<br />
another dimension to surfing. To<br />
see what some guys do with all<br />
that neoprene on is incredible.<br />
It feels like surfing in slow motion<br />
and the hood has the effect of<br />
someone turning the sound down.<br />
Everything is silent. You see the<br />
size of the waves, paddle through<br />
the kelp and think about what lurks<br />
in the depths below and it is like<br />
watching a horror movie with the<br />
sound switched off. In a way, it’s<br />
frightening whilst being somewhat<br />
serene at the same time.<br />
There is only one original ...<br />
Surf Travel Company<br />
jul/aug <strong>2011</strong><br />
49
TRAVEL: ROAD TRIP<br />
What to<br />
See and Do<br />
The Twelve Apostles.<br />
A true natural wonder of the world.<br />
I have heard the Great Ocean Road<br />
likened to Route 66 in the United<br />
States. Just like the great road, it<br />
cannot be rushed. You could drive<br />
the Shipwreck Coast in around 2.5<br />
hours but you would be crazy if you<br />
did. There are so many majestic<br />
viewpoints along the way and so many<br />
great surf spots, it is better to explore<br />
the region over the course of four days<br />
or more, particularly if the swell is on.<br />
CAPE OTWAY<br />
If venturing from the north, the<br />
start of your journey is Cape Otway<br />
where the Southern Ocean meets<br />
Bass Strait. It forms part of the Great<br />
Otway National Park and is lush and<br />
mountainous - tall wet forests, ancient<br />
rainforests, diverse heathlands and<br />
woodlands all fringed by a rugged<br />
coastline with pockets of sandy<br />
beaches and striking waterfalls.<br />
CAPE OTWAY LIGHTSTATION<br />
The Cape Otway Lightstation is<br />
the oldest lightstation on mainland<br />
Australia. It began operating in<br />
1848. You can climb to the top of the<br />
lighthouse and take in the spectacular<br />
views, you may even spot some seals<br />
and penguins and whilst there you<br />
can tour the surrounding historical<br />
buildings that include lightkeepers’<br />
residences, a telegraph station and a<br />
radar room.<br />
OTWAY FLY TREE TOP WALK<br />
600m long and 25m high, this is a<br />
treetop walk that will not be forgotten.<br />
A 47m high lookout will add to your<br />
exasperation. The walk takes you<br />
through a magnificent stand of cool<br />
temperate rainforest. You can even<br />
zipline or abseil from the Fly for an<br />
adrenalin rush.<br />
After Cape Otway the scenery<br />
becomes even more spectacular<br />
- 200ft sea cliffs, wave-sculpted<br />
islands, blowholes, cathedral-like<br />
arches and heaving ocean swells.<br />
THE TWELVE APOSTLES<br />
Next stop is the huge offshore<br />
limestone pillars called The Twelve<br />
Apostles, well there are actually only<br />
seven now but they are stunning<br />
nonetheless. At sunrise or sunset they<br />
are particularly breathtaking but are<br />
magical at any time of the day. They<br />
are as famous a landmark in Australia<br />
as Ayres Rock, the Great Barrier Reef<br />
or the Sydney Harbour Bridge. They<br />
must be seen.<br />
PORT CAMPBELL<br />
A nice little fishing village nestled<br />
amongst Norfolk pines set on a natural<br />
gorge around Port Campbell Bay at the<br />
mouth of Campbells Creek.<br />
The Arch, London Bridge, The Grotto,<br />
Bay of Martyrs and the Bay of Islands...<br />
The amazing coastline continues and<br />
there are numerous walking trails and<br />
lookouts to appreciate the beauty of<br />
this rugged coastal stretch. Go on to<br />
the Victorian tourism website for all<br />
details www.visitvictoria.com<br />
CHEESE WORLD<br />
10 minutes east of Warrnambool is<br />
the Allansford Cheese World, home<br />
to the award winning Warrnambool<br />
Cheddar Cheese. Free cheese tastings<br />
are conducted hourly on the half hour<br />
between 9.30am and 4.30pm. A large<br />
selection of local products including<br />
wine, jam, honey, chocolates and<br />
sauces can also be purchased.<br />
FLYING HORSE BREWERY & BAR<br />
Be sure to stop in for a drop. I must<br />
confess I could not resist. I had a<br />
couple on tap and had to grab a mixed<br />
50 jul/aug <strong>2011</strong>
Caledonian Inn, Port Fairy<br />
Flagstaff Hill, Warrnambool<br />
Cape Otway<br />
Lightstation<br />
Local breweries are king<br />
six-pack to sample later. Superb<br />
beer from their Dirty Angel dark ale<br />
through to their thirst-quenching<br />
Whale Ale and Whoolaston Wheaty, a<br />
traditional Bavarian style hefeweizen.<br />
Wooohooo, my mouth waters.<br />
Surf and SUP lessons are available<br />
through Go Surf in Port Fairy<br />
WARRNAMBOOL<br />
The coastline levels off at the<br />
windswept port of Warrnambool. The<br />
first thing that hit me about this town<br />
is its amazing Foreshore Promenade.<br />
It stretches from the Breakwall along<br />
to the Southern Right Whale Nursery<br />
at Logan’s Beach - that’s right, whales<br />
swim within a couple of hundred<br />
meters of the beach with their calves<br />
and can be viewed from a speciallyconstructed<br />
viewing platform in the<br />
dunes. You can walk, skate or bike ride<br />
the 5.7km path along the promenade.<br />
Along the stretch there is Lady Bay,<br />
great for a playful wave with the<br />
kids. You can explore the rockpools<br />
at nearby Stingray Bay. And then,<br />
there is Lake Pertobe Adventure<br />
Playground. This ‘parkland’ is massive,<br />
20 hectares in fact, and is a haven for<br />
young families. I have possibly never<br />
seen so many kids’ playgrounds in one<br />
spot. The kids could literally spend<br />
hours going from one playground to<br />
the other and there’s also giant slides,<br />
flying foxes, a maze, paddleboats and<br />
plenty of sheltered BBQ facilities.<br />
Nearby there is a skateboard park,<br />
lawn tennis courts, mini golf and an<br />
athletics track. You can even hire<br />
bikes at the Warrnambool Foreshore<br />
Pavilion.<br />
Flagstaff Hill is another attraction<br />
in the city of Warrnambool itself. It<br />
is a maritime village that is set on<br />
10 acres and reflects the pioneering<br />
atmosphere of an 1870’s coastal port.<br />
You can even relive the survival tale<br />
of two passengers aboard the ship<br />
Loch Ard, which sank off the coast,<br />
in a dramatic sound and laser show.<br />
Screenings nightly from dusk.<br />
TOWER HILL<br />
14km west of Warrnambool is the<br />
Tower Hill Nature Reserve. An<br />
Aboriginal-run nature preserve inside<br />
an extinct volcano, it’s packed with<br />
koalas, echidnas, and emus.<br />
PORT FAIRY<br />
I can’t begin to describe how pretty<br />
this quaint seaside fishing village set<br />
on the historic Moyne River is other<br />
than to stay it is possibly the most<br />
magical town I have seen on the<br />
entire coast from Noosa to the South<br />
Australian border. In some parts its<br />
like a tiny town in Canada or Maine<br />
in the US. Around the golf links and<br />
its southern shoreline - aptly named<br />
The<br />
Shipwreck<br />
Coast<br />
Pea Soup - it reminds me of Scotland.<br />
It’s so very different to the rest of<br />
Australia in terms of its look and feel.<br />
A walk around the tree-lined streets<br />
will reveal a wealth of beautiful<br />
bluestone cottages, historic buildings,<br />
stunning beachside and waterfront<br />
houses, churches, restaurants, cafes<br />
and classic pubs that still offer true<br />
country hospitality. Much of Port<br />
Fairy’s history has been preserved<br />
from when it was once Australia’s<br />
second largest port in the 1840s.<br />
(The region was frequented by Bass<br />
Strait sealers on seasonal hunting<br />
expeditions from Tasmania and<br />
derived its name after a cutter sailing<br />
vessel ‘Fairy’ took shelter in the River<br />
Moyne from a dreadful storm in the<br />
early 1800s. The bay was named ‘Port<br />
Fairy’ by the boat’s captain, in honour<br />
of this tiny ship.)<br />
jul/aug <strong>2011</strong><br />
51
TRAVEL: ROAD TRIP<br />
Port Fairy stages a number events throughout the<br />
year such as their famous folk festival in March<br />
providing even more reasons to visit. For details<br />
go to www.visitportfairy-moyneshire.com.au<br />
A FEW PORT FAIRY WINTER WARMERS:<br />
Love Port Fairy. A time for indulgence and<br />
romance. 2-3 <strong>July</strong>.<br />
Taste the Flavours of Port Fairy. 6-7 August.<br />
A celebration of local food and wine along with<br />
cooking demonstrations.<br />
Ex Libris Book Fair runs from 9-11 Sept. Meet<br />
top authors, illustrators and booksellers.<br />
And as with the entire Shipwreck Coast, Southern<br />
Right Whales play off these shores from June<br />
through to October<br />
Port Fairy is<br />
arguably the<br />
most picturesque<br />
coastal town in<br />
Australia”<br />
Getting<br />
there<br />
To make the journey along<br />
the Shipwreck Coast you<br />
need a car. I wouldn’t fancy<br />
undertaking a hike with a<br />
surfboard under your arm,<br />
despite how scenic it is.<br />
How you get there, is up<br />
to you. You could fly into<br />
Melbourne’s Tullamarine<br />
airport or Avalon airport<br />
which is even closer to<br />
where you need to go.<br />
From Tullamarine it is a<br />
little over an hours drive<br />
to Geelong depending on<br />
traffic (Flying into Avalon<br />
will cut your journey down<br />
to Geelong by ¾).<br />
Once in Geelong, you might<br />
as well travel 30 minutes<br />
onto Torquay and take the<br />
scenic route along the<br />
Great Ocean Road to Cape<br />
Otway, the start of the<br />
Shipwreck Coast.<br />
Torquay to Cape Otway will<br />
take you a good 2.5 to 3<br />
hours drive without stops.<br />
Adelaide to Port Fairy is<br />
around 7 hours drive and<br />
covers about 590 kms.<br />
Shipwreck<br />
The<br />
Coast<br />
Boats moored on the beautiful<br />
Moyne River, Port Fairy<br />
52 jul/aug <strong>2011</strong>
Where<br />
to stay<br />
From cosy B&Bs and charming<br />
country inns, to holiday parks,<br />
stunning guest beachhouses<br />
and luxury beachfront hotels<br />
complete with day spa, the<br />
Shipwreck Coast has a variety of<br />
accommodation options to suit<br />
any taste and budget.<br />
GREAT OCEAN ROAD TOURIST PARK<br />
Great Ocean Road, PETERBOROUGH<br />
A great place to use as your base! The<br />
Park features Riverfront, Spa, Deluxe<br />
and Ensuite cabins, as well as powered<br />
and unpowered sites in a tranquil<br />
setting, on the banks of the Curdies<br />
River Inlet. The park is near fantastic<br />
surf breaks and the sandy beach and<br />
inlet are good for swimmers of all ages,<br />
or fishing, sailboarding and boating.<br />
A member of the Top Tourist Parks of<br />
Australia chain. Discounts to members.<br />
Proximity: Between Bay of Islands Coastal<br />
Park and Port Campbell National Park,<br />
near some of the best surf breaks around.<br />
Estuary and cray fishing on your doorstep.<br />
Phone: 1800 200 478<br />
E: stay@gortp.com.au<br />
www.gortp.com.au<br />
From $95 per night for cabins<br />
and from $32 per night for sites<br />
THE SEBEL DEEP BLUE<br />
WARRNAMBOOL<br />
16 Pertobe Road, WARRNAMBOOL<br />
On a peninsula between Stingray Bay<br />
and Lady Bay with 80 well-appointed<br />
guestrooms including deluxe suites,<br />
premium studios with spa baths and<br />
fully self-contained penthouses. All<br />
have individual balconies and many<br />
offer views of the Bays. An underground<br />
aquifer provides naturally heated<br />
geothermal water for the hotel’s<br />
Deepwater Baths, whilst Mii Spa offers<br />
therapeutic relaxation. Water Table<br />
Restaurant & Bar perfect for casual,<br />
relaxed dining is also on site.<br />
Proximity: 100m to beach, opposite<br />
Lake Pertobe Adventure Playground<br />
Near Warrnambool Promenade<br />
Phone: 03 5559 2000<br />
www.sebelwarrnambool.com<br />
PORT FAIRY<br />
ACCOMMODATION CENTRE<br />
2/54 Sackville Street, PORT FAIRY<br />
Port Fairy Accommodation Centre is the<br />
holiday rental management specialists<br />
in Port Fairy. We manage some of the<br />
most desirable properties in town.<br />
Whether it is a house overlooking the<br />
ocean, an apartment on the Moyne<br />
River or a central cottage, WE HAVE a<br />
property to suit your budget and needs.<br />
Our ‘easy to use’ online booking system<br />
allows you to search all our properties<br />
by location preference.<br />
Call Emily, Alysha or Karen for more.<br />
Phone: 03 5568 3150<br />
Email: accommodation@hearns.com.au<br />
www.portfairyaccom.com.au<br />
tomwegenersurfboards.com +61(7) 5442 6924<br />
More boards than<br />
you can poke a log at.<br />
Tom Wegener<br />
Custom Alaias<br />
$650 plus freight, Australia wide<br />
Surf Fitness Training<br />
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To get started with your free surf-specific workout, visit...<br />
www.TOTALSURFINGFITNESS.COM/freeworkout<br />
Mermaids by Aki Yaguchi<br />
Properties from $200 per night<br />
family-friendly pet-friendly spa bbq airconditioning<br />
TV gym laundry kitchen parking wi-fi pool<br />
392 Harbour Drive, The Jetty Strip, Coffs Harbour NSW<br />
Phone: 02 6658 0223 www.thelogshack.com.au<br />
jul/aug <strong>2011</strong><br />
53
GOING SOLO, MON<br />
PHOTOGRAPHER JOEL COLEMAN, OF MANLY-BASED PHOTO<br />
GALLERY SALTMOTION, SHARES HIS IDYLLIC EXPERIENCE OF<br />
STUNNING SCENERY, UNCROWDED WAVES AND FRIENDLY<br />
FOLK IN THE SOLOMON ISLANDS.<br />
“Film set or surf trip? Sometimes it was hard to tell the difference<br />
when travelling through the Solomon Islands. This paradise location<br />
seems too perfect to possibly belong to the same world we flew out<br />
of - a world of packed line-ups and parking officers at the beach.<br />
“There’s a statistic I heard that goes something like this: people<br />
that live a subsistence lifestyle work fewer hours a week than those<br />
who work a nine-to-five job in a major city. Welcome to the Solomon<br />
Islands - a place where subsistence is the way of life, shells still form<br />
part of the currency, and waves - good waves - are going unridden as<br />
you read this.” WORDS & PHOTOS: JOEL COLEMAN/SALTMOTION.COM<br />
It takes us two days of travel to get here. Two flights, a truck, a ferry, a 4x4 vehicle and<br />
a small boat. Led to believe we would be staying in a village with the local population,<br />
we’re expecting nothing more than a palm thatched hut with a mat to sleep on and a<br />
mosquito net to ward off the malaria-carrying mozzies. When we arrive on dark at the<br />
village, we’re gobsmacked. An entire island, roughly 150 square meters, has been built<br />
by hand, inside a lagoon, from coral rubble collected from the nearby reefs. Traditional<br />
houses with simple floors allow you to see through to the water lapping beneath.<br />
Our first meal is a feast of crayfish and local vegetables. Solar cell powered electric lights<br />
and there were beds comfortable enough to ease any aching surfer’s shoulders.<br />
This is by no means a tourist setup though. The island is a living, working village. The<br />
house where visiting surfers stay has been built in partnership, by Australian ex-pat and<br />
Surf Solomons man in charge, Tony Jansen and the traditional land owners of the village.<br />
It caters for those after a chance to surf perfect tropical waves with not another surfer in<br />
sight except the friends you came with. On our first evening someone asks what time we<br />
should head out in the morning. The response will stay with me for a very long time...<br />
“It’s up to you, the tide is right all morning and you don’t need to worry about beating the<br />
crowds... There are no other surfers here.”<br />
54 jul/aug <strong>2011</strong>
A man made<br />
island paradise<br />
TRAVEL: PLANE TRIP<br />
jul/aug <strong>2011</strong><br />
55
“THE TIDE IS RIGHT ALL MORNING AND<br />
YOU DON’T NEED TO WORRY ABOUT<br />
BEATING THE CROWDS... THERE ARE NO<br />
OTHER SURFERS HERE.”<br />
56 jul/aug <strong>2011</strong>
The Solomon Islands culture looks down on swearing - a problem for your average<br />
Australian on a surf trip. It‘s decided on our first night to do our best to respect our<br />
hosts by not swearing. The penalty? Ten push-ups, to be paid instantly.<br />
One of our crew lasts about five seconds on hearing the rule. “Shit! I’m a tradie, it’s<br />
impossible not to swear!” Down he goes for the first ten of the trip. After the first<br />
day we’ve all put in a load of push-ups and decided that there’s an amnesty when<br />
out surfing (no locals out there to hear how rough we were). After a few more days<br />
the tone of our conversations has amazingly mellowed a little and other long-lost<br />
adjectives have found their way into our ramblings.<br />
I have had the opportunity to visit some pretty amazing surfing destinations over<br />
the years, met some fantastic people and stayed with those who call themselves<br />
locals. However, there is something different about this trip. The tribal system of<br />
land ownership in the Solomon Islands means you can’t just motor your charter<br />
boat up to these reefs, throw anchor and surf. You need permission from the local<br />
village, meaning it is unlikely the big operators are going to make tracks into this<br />
part of the world in a hurry. The local culture doesn’t really value money the way<br />
we do and their “one talk” system, of distributing wealth earned among the whole<br />
family, discourages capitalist thinking.<br />
At the same time this place is hard to get to by land. Accommodation doesn’t exist<br />
for tourists and it would be hard to get a local fisherman to drive you out to the reef<br />
and wait while you surfed for a few hours. So, if you want to come surf here you<br />
either need to be an intrepid traveller with plenty of time, patience and good luck<br />
or you need a local guide. In this part of the Solomon Islands there is only one local<br />
guide. I would love to think it will stay that way and crowds will never become a<br />
problem here, but given the magic of this place, that’s unlikely.<br />
TRAVEL: PLANE TRIP<br />
James Hozack stalling<br />
for a glassy cover-up<br />
THE BEST WAY TO DESCRIBE THE WAVES HERE IS... UNCROWDED.<br />
Picture a setup with hundreds of potential breaks, and no one surfing. As<br />
we load boards into the boat each morning to head out to the reefs we<br />
keep an eye on each spot we pass by and regularly ask our guide what<br />
that break is like. Often the response is that he has seen waves there, but<br />
not surfed it yet. The possibilities are almost endless.<br />
One day the wind comes up. We take a hike up into the hills of the main island to<br />
get a good vantage point to see the reefs and the outer edge of the lagoon snaking,<br />
twisting and turning in so many directions, showing so many possibilities to pick up<br />
swell from different directions.<br />
The waves themselves are all reef breaks where booties are essential and a bad<br />
wipe-out could see you lose a little skin to the coral. Having said that, there is no one<br />
else to compete with for waves! If you are not a hero barrel-hunter and you prefer to<br />
sit a little wide on the shoulder then go for it, you will get your fill of waves.<br />
Most of the spots we surf offer short, punchy rides. (We didn’t see any major<br />
swells during our visit but the vision of what these reefs can offer has me very<br />
tempted to return again as soon as I can squeeze it in.)<br />
Surfing in water that is around 30 degrees Celsius and air temps that go from<br />
hot, to hot and wet, can make you pretty thirsty. Water flows in abundance from<br />
freshwater springs throughout the islands, but far better is the post-surf coconut<br />
that the boat driver cracks open for each us on our return to the boat. The sweet<br />
water from inside is something to look forward to, and munching on the flesh of the<br />
young coconuts during the boat ride back to the surf camp is a great way to keep<br />
growling stomachs at bay until the next meal arrives... I have never had anything as<br />
good as a fresh coconut followed by a meal of fish that was caught while we were<br />
surfing. I’m not kidding either! While we surf, local villagers in dug-out canoes<br />
paddle over to the boat and trade fish they have just caught, which becomes our<br />
lunch only hours later.<br />
Fresh vegetables and greens are collected from the gardens on the main island<br />
- gardens that looked like jungle, but are actually very cleverly cultivated food<br />
producing machines. Basically, everything we eat on the trip was either breathing,<br />
or in the ground growing, only hours before it hits our plates.<br />
We have a break from surfing one afternoon and our guide Tony asks if we would<br />
like to visit a village located a short boat ride up the river. Motoring up the river can<br />
only be described by visualising a happy version of the scene from “Apocalypse<br />
Now” when they reach Kurt’s camp. Dug-out canoes being paddled up the river by<br />
jul/aug <strong>2011</strong><br />
57
TRAVEL: PLANE TRIP<br />
smiling people and an army of laughing children<br />
waiting for us on the shore. Walking through<br />
the village is like walking back in time - a time<br />
forgotten, embraced by the jungle and centred<br />
around a natural spring where fresh water<br />
gushes constantly from the earth and breathes<br />
life into the culture.<br />
We hit a flat spell around day three, or was it day<br />
four, of our trip? Even after such a short stay on<br />
this tiny island it appears that time had started<br />
to become insignificant. On a surf trip, a flat spell<br />
can normally spell disaster, with a bunch of high<br />
energy man-grommets doing their best to get on<br />
each others’ nerves until the swell returns.<br />
In the Solomon Islands it is exactly the opposite.<br />
Tony calls us together and asks if we would<br />
rather skip on the small waves in favour of hiking<br />
up into the bush on the main island. The promise<br />
of waterfalls, majestic views of paradise and<br />
some good exercise is enough to convince us.<br />
“Oh yeah, it might be a bit muddy. Probably best<br />
to wear your reef booties.”<br />
This turned out to be the understatement of<br />
the year. The tracks up the mountain are mostly<br />
ankle deep in warm mud, steep and pretty<br />
difficult. The locals charge up with little thought<br />
to us with our delicate feet and lack of skill on<br />
these tracks. But the slipping and sliding around<br />
only makes the adventure come to life and we’re<br />
treated to some amazing views.<br />
We stop at a handful of waterfalls to cool off<br />
and rinse away the mud throughout the day.<br />
About two thirds of the way through the trek we<br />
come across a small bush village where a young<br />
guy climbs a palm tree and cuts a coconut for<br />
each of us to drink from. Refreshed, we begin<br />
the walk back down to the coast. The variety<br />
of terrain we pass through in a half day trek<br />
is amazing. From coastal mangrove to tropical<br />
rainforest, to cultivated subsistence gardens and<br />
areas designated by the village for logging to<br />
build their communal buildings.<br />
I can honestly say that the entire group is<br />
amazed at how great a day we have had. The<br />
fact that there were no waves was almost a<br />
blessing. Had there been surf, we probably<br />
would not have taken the time to open our eyes<br />
to the offerings of the island of Malaita.<br />
The surf industry in the Solomon Islands is still<br />
very new. The reason for the slow development<br />
is that Tony is aiming to ensure that the local<br />
population benefit from the development of the<br />
industry and are not left behind by the menace<br />
that can be the surf tourism machine. That said,<br />
the service they offer is amazing. His knowledge<br />
of the villages, the reefs and the people can only<br />
come from someone who has lived and breathed<br />
the Solomon Islands like he has. Being married to a<br />
local girl, he has been completely accepted into the<br />
culture and is able to share that with his guests.<br />
The system of land and reef ownership through<br />
the tribal system should ensure that big business<br />
is kept away from this remarkable place, I<br />
say, for the better. As the younger people in<br />
the villages take to surfing through boards<br />
left by guests, they will begin to understand<br />
the resource they are sitting on - one that is<br />
positive, promotes an active and healthy lifestyle<br />
and can provide a good income for their village in<br />
a country, where making a living can be difficult.<br />
I think it is only a matter of time before we see<br />
several small surf camps along the lagoons.<br />
Based on Tony’s model of partnering with a<br />
village and employing the locals, it will give<br />
more surfers the chance to surf the waves<br />
of the area. Crowds will never become a<br />
“THE WAVES ARE ALL REEF BREAKS WHERE BOOTIES<br />
ARE ESSENTIAL AND A BAD WIPE-OUT COULD SEE<br />
YOU LOSE A LITTLE SKIN TO THE CORAL.”<br />
Garry Thomson,<br />
loving life on the first<br />
day in the Solomons.<br />
58 jul/aug <strong>2011</strong>
Curious locals in the line-up.<br />
Empty peaks like you don’t get at home<br />
jul/aug <strong>2011</strong><br />
59
“THE ‘ONE TALK’ SYSTEM<br />
OF DISTRIBUTING<br />
WEALTH EARNED AMONG<br />
THE WHOLE FAMILY<br />
DISCOURAGES<br />
CAPITALIST THINKING.”<br />
TRAVEL: PLANE TRIP<br />
Joseph, one of the few local surfers, showing his style<br />
60 jul/aug <strong>2011</strong>
jul/aug <strong>2011</strong><br />
61
TRAVEL: PLANE TRIP<br />
Solomon’s fisherman.They’ve<br />
been into SUP for centuries already.<br />
Jungle boy, for real<br />
problem as each island village can only sustain so many people.<br />
The accommodation will never be five star, if you want that go<br />
somewhere else. But the waves, the culture and the experience<br />
are beyond five star.<br />
Mark Studdert dropping into an inside bowl.<br />
62 jul/aug <strong>2011</strong><br />
In a world where so many people are in it for themselves it’s<br />
refreshing to meet someone who has a genuine interest in<br />
making a difference for other people. Tony Jansen has created<br />
the first surf camp in the area and had done it all by integrating<br />
a successful business model into a local subsistence culture.<br />
Essentially villages are allowed to create their own camps and, as<br />
such, a source of income which would otherwise not be there.<br />
The model also protects against those who wish to come in for<br />
no other reason than for profit. You can’t buy land here to build a<br />
resort so this should to keep the crowds away. Secondly, charter<br />
boats would need to secure access to the breaks through the<br />
local chiefs - another reason that crowd numbers in this area will<br />
probably remain low.<br />
After surfing most of the week based at the camp, Tony begins to<br />
murmur about a right hand reef that starts to barrel from two foot.<br />
The boys get excited and we decide to head to another island for<br />
our last few nights of the trip. We again arrive to paradise and are<br />
greeted by the entire village community.<br />
And the wave... It’s true! From two foot it started to throw a lip,<br />
a three foot set is a pretty good barrel and, bigger - you want to<br />
know what you are doing as the reef is shin deep in places and<br />
pretty unforgiving.
STUNNING<br />
SOLOMONS<br />
Experience a truly untouched paradise<br />
Experience a region that only a few surfers have ever seen and surf<br />
waves never surfed before. With the happiest people in the world as<br />
your hosts you will be transported back in time to a world that is still<br />
so pure and raw that you will return a changed and better person for<br />
the experience.<br />
· Guaranteed un-crowded waves<br />
with a max of 6 spaces per trip<br />
· This trip will change you<br />
forever! For the best.<br />
<strong>2011</strong> / 2012 season schedule out now –<br />
limited space available! So don’t miss out!<br />
Call 1300 00WAVE or visit our website for live availability.<br />
www.theperfectwave.com.au<br />
jul/aug <strong>2011</strong><br />
63
MAKING A SURFBOARD?<br />
RESTORATION OR REPAIR?<br />
LEARNING ABOUT THE INDUSTRY?<br />
MAKING BLANKS MAKING FINS?<br />
416 pages of the most valuable<br />
information you might ever read,<br />
the SURFER’S TEXTBOOK<br />
is a must have for any aspiring<br />
surfboard maker.<br />
Years of board manufacturing<br />
research, development<br />
and understanding in one<br />
comprehensive volume,<br />
with over 1000 photographs,<br />
illustrations, diagrams and<br />
surfboard templates.<br />
THIS IS YOUR<br />
ULTIMATE GUIDE<br />
BUY ONLINE TODAY AND START YOUR JOURNEY!<br />
Other products also available: The Bare Bones -Making and<br />
Repairing a Surfboard CD, T-shirts, Caps and Surf bags<br />
WWW.SURFERSTEXTBOOK.COM.AU<br />
TRAVEL: PLANE TRIP<br />
The island itself has no electricity or running water, which<br />
heightens the sense of adventure.<br />
As only the second group of surfers to stay there, it’s a pretty<br />
big deal to all the locals and - as one of our group described -<br />
it’s like being ‘Peter Pan’ in Neverland. Everywhere you walked<br />
local children are there to guide you around, swim, laugh and<br />
echo your every word. The beaches are white sand and the<br />
water the deepest shade of blue. Life in the village is simple.<br />
There are children everywhere and happiness and laughter<br />
seem to follow you wherever you go. Tony describes the<br />
children as “Free Range Piccaninnies” (the local word for child)<br />
meaning they have the run of the island. Everywhere you walk<br />
you instantly have an entourage hanging around, lapping up the<br />
novelty of their visitors.<br />
As a photographer, the Solomon Islands offered me an<br />
opportunity at every point. The tropical downpours that could<br />
ruin a setting one minute, would clear to the most amazing<br />
sun-soaked scenes the next. As long as you had somewhere to<br />
stash your camera when things got wet or muddy, there were<br />
endless opportunities.<br />
The reefs of the islands form part of the coral triangle and<br />
the place is teeming with all sorts of fish life. If you were the<br />
first one back to the boat post surf, you could keep yourself<br />
entertained by grabbing a mask and snorkel and checking out<br />
the marine life until even the most surf stoked man-grommet<br />
decided to call it a day.<br />
Natural, unspoilt beauty is the Solomon Islands. And the longer<br />
it remains so, the better.<br />
Thanks to www.surfsolomons.com and Perfect Wave<br />
Travel for malking this trip possible.<br />
64 jul/aug <strong>2011</strong><br />
SALTMOTION<br />
TRAVEL<br />
If you have the travel bug and are after an experience off the<br />
beaten track, contact Joel and Sherrie at Saltmotion in Manly<br />
to find out more about their travel booking service.<br />
There are some unique opportunities available to travel to some<br />
of the lesser known surf destinations around the globe, so if<br />
you fancy yourself as an adventurer, get in touch.<br />
And of course, if you end up on a trip with Joel, you know you’ll<br />
have the opportunity to get some stunnng photos to show off to<br />
the friends and family.<br />
You can find out more about the Saltmotion Travel offers online<br />
at www.saltmotion.com, where you can also view amazing<br />
galleries of some of the trips so far. Images are available to<br />
purchase as prints in a variety high-quality formats.<br />
In fact, when you’re there, make sure to sign up for the<br />
Saltmotion email newsletter to get a dose of perfect waves<br />
and incredible photography delivered to your inbox daily.<br />
www.saltmotion.com
FLEX<br />
No, not gym-junkies who stare for<br />
hours in the mirror instead of riding<br />
waves... rather, a very important<br />
aspect of surfboard design.<br />
‘Flex’ is the ability of your board to<br />
store energy and release it later. It<br />
basically works like this<br />
A Skerry blossom<br />
MORE THAN A FEELING<br />
MARK RABBIDGE OF RABBIDGE SURF DESIGN AUSTRALIA &<br />
RETRO LONGBOARDS WORDS DAVE SWAN<br />
On leaving Mark Rabbidge’s shaping bay on the NSW<br />
south coast I found myself playing air guitar in the car<br />
and singing the Boston tune from the 70s ‘More than a<br />
feeling’. Ok, maybe I had been on the road a little too long<br />
but here’s why.<br />
“Let’s not kid ourselves, “ Mark says. “If the surfboard<br />
alone was the key, all you would need is Kelly Slater’s<br />
board and you would be world champ. Sure, you have to<br />
have the right fundamentals in the surfboard underneath<br />
you but it is so much more than that. You are really riding<br />
the waves, not the board.<br />
“My family and I are all water people. We ride long, short<br />
and everything in between. I look at the conditions and say<br />
to myself, ‘Now what board am I going to have the most fun<br />
on out there today?’ and that’s what I pull out of the quiver.<br />
“I have been riding waves for some fifty-two odd years. I<br />
have spent about two years riding surfboards and the rest<br />
of the time riding waves.<br />
“People get sick of riding boards that are 6ft x 18 ½” x 2<br />
¼” with 3 fins in it. Surfing is about feelings. It’s about<br />
the first wave you rode when you went, ‘F*#@ that felt<br />
unreal.’ That real rush. That is what surfing is all about.<br />
“In terms of surfboard design today, people are already<br />
experimenting with mini-simmons and finless boards.<br />
Some of the things I make are really weird things, but<br />
INSIDE...<br />
VICTORIAN COLLECTIVE P66<br />
they are not weird to me. I just want to see what they<br />
will do. And little aspects of those designs will make<br />
their way back into the more mainstream stuff. It is about<br />
experimentation and pushing the boundaries to evolve<br />
surfboard design.<br />
“Now surfers are mainly riding these different boards<br />
because of the feel. They want to feel something different.<br />
That feeling of something new and the challenge and<br />
excitement it brings.<br />
“I shape for surfers, real surfers. And surfers don’t buy<br />
stickers. They buy the ‘feel’. They buy that ‘flow through<br />
the water’.<br />
Many surfers who come into me say, ‘I want to feel a<br />
certain glide or I want to feel a rush.’ They want to feel<br />
something. And it doesn’t matter who they are and what<br />
they want to ride, when the lip is coming at them, they<br />
automatically turn into Kelly Slater. I know I do. It doesn’t<br />
matter what I am on, whether it is a finless creation or a<br />
9’8”. It is that feeling I get that is so exhilarating. And that<br />
feeling is what we crave and what we desire.”<br />
Mark Rabbidge has been a leader in surf craft design since<br />
the 1970s; he shaped his first board in 1966 when his own<br />
shaper questioned the rails he wanted on his new board. “He<br />
wouldn’t do it so I did. The thing is, it worked and ideas about<br />
surfboard design grew from then on.”<br />
HARDCORE TESTERS P84<br />
BRAND NEW BOARDS P76<br />
All the latest designs and ideas from shapers along the coast.<br />
Research the perfect board to catch the rest of the winter swell right here...<br />
SURFBOARDS FLEX AND RELEASE<br />
• As you carve a big bottom turn,<br />
the board will bend ie ‘flex’<br />
• As the board flexes, the rocker<br />
increases and stores more<br />
energy (‘Rocker’ is the bend<br />
in the board from nose to tail.<br />
The straighter the rocker, the<br />
faster the board goes. The<br />
more rocker in the board, the<br />
more responsive it is turning.)<br />
• As you exit the turn, the<br />
board returns to its original<br />
shape, releasing that energy,<br />
propelling you out of the turn<br />
• This can deliver a great deal of<br />
acceleration if flex is correctly<br />
harnessed within the design of<br />
your surfboard<br />
But more flex is not necessarily<br />
better. If your board flexes too much<br />
it can bog down, making the board<br />
feel spongy and slow.<br />
Introducing flex into surfboard design<br />
also walks a fine line between<br />
strength and the boards liveliness and<br />
its ability to retain flex (In time, boards<br />
are said to lose their flex, making<br />
them feel ‘dead’ in the water.)<br />
Through the years shapers have<br />
tackled flex in different ways.<br />
CENTRE STRINGERS will generally<br />
be stronger and less flexible. Such<br />
boards limit flex in terms of rocker<br />
but can suffer from torsion flex,<br />
where the board twists from rail to<br />
rail, slowing it down.<br />
PARABOLIC STRINGERS limit torsion<br />
flex but enhance flex in the centre of<br />
the board, where you want it.<br />
FLEXTAILS are believed to propel the<br />
surfer with ease, as the tail acts like<br />
a spring, loading up in a turn and<br />
releasing as you come out.<br />
In many ways the theory of a flex<br />
tail is akin to a dolphins flukes.<br />
Dolphins transform the profile of<br />
their tail to drive them forward<br />
and those guys appear to be pretty<br />
awesome surfers compared to us<br />
mere mortals.<br />
The quest for springier surfboards,<br />
accelerating better out of turns<br />
is certainly a worthy endevour in<br />
surfboard design.<br />
jul/aug <strong>2011</strong><br />
65
GEAR: SHAPERS UNITE<br />
66 jul/aug <strong>2011</strong>
Zak Koniaris and friends<br />
Before advertising was king and everything was overproduced for the<br />
mass market, things happened reasonably slowly. In the context of history,<br />
surfing and surfboards are a fairly recent development. Blokes who are<br />
still breathing today were there at the very beginning - when the modern<br />
surfboard was hatched from a concoction of petrochemicals and love by a<br />
backyarder, somewhere, a little while ago... We take a look at an initiative<br />
to promote Victorian shapers and find out more about them on the way.<br />
jul/aug <strong>2011</strong><br />
67
GEAR: SHAPERS UNITE<br />
ZAK KONIARIS OF ZAK SURBOARDS GIVES US HIS THOUGHTS ON THE STATE OF PLAY IN THE<br />
SURFBOARD INDUSTRY AND TELLS US WHAT HE’S DOING TO SUPPORT LOCAL PRODUCTION.<br />
Zak Koniaris - owner of<br />
Zak Surfboards in Thornbury<br />
“Local product<br />
suits local<br />
waves. That<br />
has been our<br />
experience.”<br />
“Business, by nature, is hardly a level playing field,<br />
and the surf industry exemplifies that more than<br />
just about any other. From the most local cottage<br />
crew sculpting specialised craft in their backyard,<br />
to multinational corporations manufacturing and<br />
sourcing materials overseas, surf production is as<br />
diverse as the boards that are shaped. Supply and<br />
pricing arrangements have seen big company profits<br />
soar, yet the average punter is still paying roughly<br />
the same for a locally produced product as he is for<br />
a product produced for much less offshore.<br />
“Whether this has occurred by accident or careful<br />
planning, there is no disputing the explosion in<br />
the popularity of surfing and its general consumer<br />
appeal. Proximity to the ocean for a very large<br />
proportion of the population and higher disposable<br />
income have enabled some once-small companies<br />
to become huge business concerns. But have<br />
these giants, in all their expansionist ideals, lost<br />
touch with the grassroots locals and just become<br />
prescribers of fashion?<br />
“In the broader context, is ‘brand loyalty’ simply<br />
a corporate advertising construct? Is there some<br />
greater sense of where a product comes from, and<br />
who made it?<br />
“It’s difficult to draw any real sense of localism<br />
from advertorials full of careful brand placement<br />
and ‘exciting linked lifestyle choices.’ Yeah, they<br />
have slick magazine ads, featuring the best surfers<br />
in the world, but at the end of the day, just how<br />
much does big business have to offer? Prescribing<br />
that this year’s model of surfboard will suit Joe<br />
Public wherever he chooses to surf? How real is<br />
that idea?<br />
“As to surf product, the new school of thinking<br />
is one that has seen the rise of the little guy<br />
in a collective way. Where the past was about<br />
just having a shop at the front of the factory and<br />
selling your own boards, now there are more<br />
marketing opportunities available to smaller<br />
manufacturers, with independent shops stocking a<br />
diverse range of local surfboards and clothing. This<br />
has been an oddly organic process. And if there<br />
was a battle raging between big and small, the<br />
small are winning. Not because of intellectual or<br />
moral superiority, but because they provide a more<br />
individual and locally relevant product.<br />
They are stoic, resilient individuals who are<br />
exacting - to the point of being obsessive- about<br />
their craft and less so about the market and their<br />
place in it.<br />
“You’d be hard-pressed to find a manufacturing<br />
business in Australia today that is as labourintensive<br />
as making a surfboard, as capitalintensive,<br />
with as tight a margin, that is still able<br />
to compete with mass, foreign-produced product.<br />
Small manufacturers who source local materials<br />
(as much as possible), employ local staff and sell<br />
within a reasonably small locality. They are defined<br />
as much by who they are as what they produce.<br />
They are integrally involved in every aspect of the<br />
business. And the good thing is that these local<br />
guys who have been making surfboards, evolving<br />
and enhancing their craft for years, are still doing<br />
exactly that, without the bright lights, the bikini clad<br />
babes and the accountants.<br />
“Zak Surfboards made a decision to back local<br />
manufacturers – initially to produce Zak branded<br />
product. Eventually as the business grew there<br />
was sufficient demand to diversify the range, and<br />
the result is a program that primarily attempts to<br />
push local product with a periphery of imports. So<br />
far, the local product has been far out-selling the<br />
imports. We’re not trying to be a surf boutique. At<br />
the end of the day we sell what we think will sell.<br />
Local product suits local waves. That has been our<br />
experience.<br />
“And the shapers? It’s only by knowing your local<br />
shaper can you begin to support him. Who and<br />
where he is and what he does. Patronage is much<br />
more than handing over the cash. Visiting the<br />
place where the board is made and talking to the<br />
man who makes it will give a valuable insight into<br />
the process and the true value of their craft.<br />
“But as that’s not always possible, we decided to<br />
profile some of our shapers - because they’re local<br />
and because we value what they do.<br />
“They’re all unique determined characters who<br />
may not get shitloads of press - or even want it -<br />
so we asked them a few questions so you could<br />
better know and support your local shaper.“<br />
68 jul/aug <strong>2011</strong>
KR SURFBOARDS<br />
“39 Years of not havin’ a real job!”<br />
“If I’m shaping a new board for myself my train of<br />
thought is to experiment, to test my theories and<br />
hunt for new feelings that create a special board.”<br />
At age 13 Ken Reimers shaped and glassed his first<br />
board. At 18, he turned his hobby to professional<br />
shaping which would be his career for the next 30<br />
years. In this time he has made over 15,000 boards. His<br />
career has included ghost shaping for others like Rod<br />
Dahlberg and Nev Hyman, signing his name to other<br />
labels like Trigger Bros, Pipedream and Kirra Surf, and<br />
making his own brand of KR Surfboards.<br />
Local break Not being a believer in localism, I<br />
surf anywhere I can catch a wave while trying<br />
not to upset the locals.<br />
Golden rule Accuracy. Strive for good<br />
workmanship because this will give you<br />
longevity.<br />
Last holiday Maldives, 10 years ago. Love it.<br />
Need to get back.<br />
Favourite food? My wife’s cooking. Seriously,<br />
she’s a freak in the kitchen.<br />
Favourite movie Bones Brigade “Search for<br />
Animal Chin” (Classic 1987 skateboarding film,<br />
starring Tony Hawk and th Bones Brigade)<br />
Favourite colour The ocean.<br />
Favourite brew OP Rum, “the spirit of the sea.”<br />
Your best board A 5’10” chisel-tail 5-finner<br />
which I made in 1982 at Trigger Bros. It had<br />
a clear deck and a blue pigment bottom with<br />
“Statesman Team” written in white. It was<br />
just one of those boards that went where you<br />
wanted to go. I would love to get it back, if<br />
anyone knows of it, please contact me.<br />
Offshore production Of course I hate it.<br />
What small manufacturer wouldn’t? They<br />
managed to flood the market so quick that a lot<br />
of long term small business board builders got<br />
squeezed out. I’ve seen some of Australia’s best<br />
board makers leave the industry and that’s a<br />
bitch. Support Australian made!<br />
Pro tour? Good on ’em if that’s what they’re<br />
into. Not my idea of fun. Too much stress, I<br />
reckon. Each to their own.<br />
Bedtime When my eyes start giving me grief<br />
from surfing the net.<br />
Maurice Cole. Photo: Supplied<br />
Ken Reimers.<br />
Photo: Supplied<br />
The word ‘pioneer’ is loosely bandied about in many spheres,<br />
particularly in the surfing arena, but not all live up to their<br />
reputations. There’s bloody good reason why this guy has<br />
shaped for some of the best in the business though. Maurice<br />
Cole is an innovator. It’s why he is so revered and respected by<br />
his peers and surfing’s elite – he’s shaped for none other than<br />
Tom Curren, 3-time world champ, and at present is pushing<br />
the boundaries in tow-in surfing, charging and crafting speed<br />
machines with Ross Clark-Jones. 40-odd years of surfing,<br />
shaping, testing and exploring new materials and technologies<br />
has put Maurice at the pinnacle of surfboard design.<br />
Local break: Bells/Winki<br />
Boards made: Between 27 and 15,127... Memory used to<br />
be better...<br />
Golden rule Shape it, surf it and better it.<br />
Describe your signature model at the moment<br />
Metro, deep concave, fastest board on the planet. Easy<br />
paddling, high speed turns that make ya tremble!<br />
Inspirations Tow surfing, testing designs and materials at<br />
twice the speed... My Formula 1...<br />
Considered other careers? Yes and I realise there’s not much<br />
else I can do but surf and design.<br />
Last holiday ...Don’t have ‘em.<br />
Offshore production Inevitable, and has shaken up our industry,<br />
but killed off the next generation of surfboard workers.<br />
In 10 years time Surfing, designing, shaping... With the odd<br />
visit to the surgeon to keep the bodily parts functioning.<br />
Pro tour? Its all a bit retro and boring. No new surfboard<br />
designs in 10 years, no time to test.. But some great surfing still<br />
going on.<br />
Bedtime Midnight.<br />
Wake-up 6.00am.<br />
jul/aug <strong>2011</strong><br />
69
GEAR: SHAPERS UNITE<br />
4D SURFBOARDS<br />
Jordan Noble. Photo:<br />
www.notesurfboards.com<br />
Honing his craft under legendary Mornington Peninsula<br />
shaper Paul Trigger and underground ghost-shaper Kenny<br />
Reimers, ‘Fordy’ - as he is known - moved to the other side<br />
of the bay, to Ocean Grove where he has been shaping<br />
4D Surfboards for the past decade. A staunch advocate of<br />
high-tech computer-controlled shaping machines, he’s also<br />
known to produce some super-light epoxy shooters that fly.<br />
“14 years shaping!”<br />
“Never had a job!”<br />
NOTE<br />
SURFBOARDS<br />
As Jordan describes it: he’s used to the cold, grew up in Nelson,<br />
New Zealand, now lives in Jan Juc, his mother was a hippy and<br />
his father was a pirate. He has spent his whole life staring at the<br />
ocean and studying boats, boat hulls and old surfboards. Yep,<br />
he’s different and doesn’t much care for what people think. He’s<br />
on his own wave. He shapes, glasses, sands, makes his own fins<br />
and creates amazing boards - or updated old boards that really<br />
work, as he describes them, many with the most startling resin<br />
tints. In the process, he has made a real name for himself and<br />
has developed what could be regarded as a strong cult following.<br />
Simon Forward Photo: Supplied<br />
Local break: McClouds Watering Hole.<br />
Boards made In what time?<br />
Golden rule I don’t have rules.<br />
Considered doing other things? Yeah, actually the other day<br />
when I was shaping I thought “I woundn’t mind a cup of tea now”<br />
so I went and boiled myself a pot of tea. I think it’s important to<br />
do something else, at times.<br />
Favourite colour I don’t discriminate, mongrels are good.<br />
Favourite brew I can never recall which one it was.<br />
Best board I still have the best board I ever made, it got chopped<br />
in half with an axe though.<br />
Offshore production Pff! Completely irrelevant. I like Asians.<br />
In 10 years time I’m saving for a set of walkie talkies. So,<br />
hopefully in ten years...<br />
Local break 13th beach.<br />
Boards made About 6,000.<br />
Golden rule Keep it pretty simple. There’s no need to overcomplicate<br />
a surfboard.<br />
Inspirations To be able to ride them myself and hopefully for<br />
them to perform the way I designed them to go. To shape boards<br />
for customers and friends that help them enjoy their surfing more.<br />
Considered doing other things? Plenty of times, however<br />
then I wouldn’t be doing this which I enjoy.<br />
Favourite TV show Anything to do with football.<br />
Favourite brew Coffee in the morning.<br />
Offshore production I don’t worry about it too much. Surfers are<br />
always going to want reliable local service and to be able to talk<br />
directly to their local shaper about their board.<br />
In 10 years time Hopefully still working and surfing around<br />
here in Ocean Grove with my family, if I can get my two<br />
daughters surfing by then.<br />
Pro tour? Its great to watch as they surf so good nowdays. I<br />
especially like watching surfing live on FUEL in the comfort of<br />
my loungeroom.<br />
Bedtime I have young kids.<br />
Wake-up I have young kids.<br />
70 jul/aug <strong>2011</strong>
“Shaped first board 44 years<br />
ago, shaped full time for 25<br />
years, now part time.!”<br />
Doug is part of small group of elite<br />
shapers who has crafted boards<br />
for Rip Curl. His innovative designs<br />
in the ‘80s were what every hot<br />
young surfer was after. Today he is<br />
handshaping a select range of single<br />
fins, fish and big guy performance<br />
hybrids for Zak Surfboards.<br />
“I’m enjoying<br />
the<br />
downsizing<br />
theory”<br />
Andrew Stump Photo: Supplied<br />
Local break The reefs at Bells and Winkipop.<br />
Shaping & designing - the main idea Water flowing along the<br />
bottom, around the rails, gripping when it should, releasing at the<br />
right time and making sure they all connect without losing speed.<br />
Golden rule Balanced outline with profile. Nothing extreme.<br />
Allowing all elements of the design to blend together and achieve<br />
the design’s outcome... speed and manoeuvrability.<br />
Last holiday Every day I go surfing.<br />
Favourite colour Perfect offshore surf blue, rainbows and<br />
twilight sky colours. Polished red surfboards.<br />
Favourite brew Pot of freshly brewed tea, thanks.<br />
Offshore production Which part of the industry? The surf industry<br />
has to be as fluid as the ocean we play in. Major players support so<br />
much more than the people who directly work for them, the owners<br />
and shareholders. They advertise in magazines, pay for surf videos,<br />
sponsor grommets, pay for the whole pro circuit. That takes money to<br />
run. That means they must be profitable as well. That also means that<br />
there is little gaps created that can be filled by smaller operators.<br />
There will always be involved surfers who want to order a custom<br />
handshaped surfboard, just as there will be others who want to buy on<br />
price, or buy a particular designer’s boards, no matter where it is made.<br />
Apparel and wetsuits have been sourced offshore for decades.<br />
Chemicals for surfboards are imported. Don’t worry about that. Forget<br />
it and go to the beach. The waves really don’t care were the equipment<br />
comes from... Have fun.<br />
Pro tour? When the waves are great, the spectacle of pro surfers<br />
ripping is a phenomenon. They are such great athletes, both men<br />
and women. The guys on tour now are great watermen. They will all<br />
take on Bells , J-Bay, Pipeline, Wiamea and rip. When the waves<br />
are junk it is questionable whether it is even worth looking at. Yawn.<br />
He left home at 16 in pursuit of the surfer’s lifestyle and started<br />
working in the industry in 1978 with Ocean Foil. Consumed with<br />
passion for all things surf related, Stumpy is obsessed with<br />
quality craftsmanship. With more than 30 years experience<br />
under his belt, he is an artisan who tailors boards for the<br />
beginner through to the high performance competitive surfer.<br />
His goal, as always, has been to extract maximum board<br />
performance for greater pleasure, fun, and enjoyment.<br />
Local break: Secret spot on the Mornington Peninsula<br />
Golden rule Accuracy. You’re only as good as your<br />
last board<br />
Describe your signature model at the moment<br />
I’m enjoying the downsizing theory. A 5’5”- 6’0” that<br />
outperforms the standard 5’10” - 6’0”<br />
Inspirations Well, its not money...<br />
Last holiday Don’t have them. I live in a tourist destination.<br />
Favourite brew Not into it.<br />
Most memorable manoeuvre Cutting out of a backhand<br />
wave and sticking it to carve back into it - a great feeling.<br />
In 10 years time Alive and surfing of course.<br />
Pro tour? Not much into it, but I take my hat off to that<br />
Slater bloke. Wish he was giving me feedback on my boards.<br />
Wake-up You mean out of bed? Before the birds - 5.00am.<br />
jul/aug <strong>2011</strong><br />
71
GEAR: SHAPERS UNITE<br />
Greg Brown Photo: Supplied<br />
GASH<br />
SURFBOARDS<br />
“Up at sparrow’s fart!”<br />
Pioneer big wave rider, Quiksilver shaper, founder of<br />
Roar and Gash Surfboards and current Men’s Over-<br />
45 Australian longboard champion, Greg Brown is<br />
already somewhat of a living legend. He first learnt<br />
to shape under Kym Thompson and Maurice Cole at<br />
Watercooled. Today, he is widely respected as a man<br />
who has mastered both the art of surfing and shaping.<br />
Local break Brewer Shirks<br />
(Not too sizey)<br />
Shaping & designing - the<br />
main idea Tweak it here, rub it<br />
there and it’ll be a beauty.<br />
Golden rule Measure once,<br />
cut twice.<br />
Last holiday I had a 20 minute<br />
holiday yesterday afternoon.<br />
Favourite food Peanut butter<br />
and honey sandwich.<br />
Favourite TV show ABC Weather<br />
at 7.24pm with Paul Higgins.<br />
Favourite brew Blend 43 -<br />
instant actually.<br />
Best board I’d surfed an 8’8”<br />
red gun for years in Vicco and<br />
Hawaii, but unfortunately I<br />
creased it in some big beachies.<br />
Troy Brooks liked the look of it and<br />
promptly ran off with it, mumbling<br />
something about taking some<br />
huge drops on it. I saw Troy with<br />
Big Red, cross the Great Ocean<br />
Road and run up to the top of a<br />
steep hill on a sheep farm. Being<br />
a maniac and mischief-maker<br />
he took the drop on the old girl,<br />
probably 150m down the worn<br />
and rutted paddock. The gun<br />
flexed and flapped and flopped<br />
and cracked, finally bucking Troy<br />
off into a barbed wire farm fence<br />
at the bottom of the hill. He was<br />
grazed and bruised but big red<br />
was $%&-ed.<br />
Offshore production Some of<br />
the largest surfboard labels are<br />
like most huge companies. They’re<br />
primarily profit-driven. Number<br />
and volume equals turnover equals<br />
dollars and cents in the ledger at<br />
the end of each financial quarter,<br />
which keeps a wry smile on an<br />
accountant’s dial. I know the Asian<br />
manufacturing system works well<br />
for ping pong ball brands, just<br />
the same as surfboard brands,<br />
so it seems everyone’s happy. If<br />
the button gets pushed and the<br />
machine is fed, stuff gets pushed<br />
out of an office and we can rest<br />
easy and satisfied with that simple<br />
aura of wellbeing.<br />
In 10 years time Nowhere<br />
special. I quite like where I am.<br />
Pro tour? I’m not on the tour.<br />
“Above all else - flow”<br />
IMPERIAL<br />
SURFBOARDS<br />
A shaper spoken of highly in many surfing circles<br />
is Dave Boyd. Imperial Surfboards are designed<br />
to reflect our soulful past - simpler times before<br />
our surf industry was governed by the commercial<br />
madness of today. His relentless exploration of<br />
innovative design in the pursuit of performance<br />
has earned him many accolades.<br />
Local break 13th Beach<br />
Shaping & designing - the main<br />
idea For me, above all else - flow.<br />
Considered doing other things? No<br />
Last holiday March, on the east coast<br />
of Malaysia<br />
Favourite food Food<br />
Favourite TV show Deadwood<br />
Favourite colour Purple or lime green<br />
Favourite brew Carlton Draught<br />
Offshore production Different strokes<br />
for different folks<br />
In 10 years time Anywhere but a coffin<br />
Pro tour? Take it or leave it<br />
David Boyd Photo: Supplied<br />
72 jul/aug <strong>2011</strong>
“Shape what you want to surf”<br />
If you’re after that timeless feeling of<br />
riding a wood creation on your wave of<br />
choice, then Dave Dewitt is your man.<br />
His range of hollow wooden surfboards<br />
complete with internal wood frame<br />
construction look sweet and ride<br />
unreal. Everyone needs at least two<br />
wooden surfboards in their quiver, one<br />
as a wall-hanger and the other to feel<br />
the ride because wood is so good.<br />
Local break: Bells Beach<br />
Years on the job: I’ve been making wooden surfboards<br />
for a year or so, mostly for fun, as a job I’ve been a car<br />
designer for over 15 years.<br />
Golden rule Shape what you want to surf. It’s a<br />
personal thing and there are really no rules. The only<br />
limitations are the ones you place upon yourself.<br />
Considered something else? I think about how I can live<br />
my life in a way that will allow me to surf a lot.<br />
Last holiday I went to Crescent Head, camping with<br />
my son, Samuel. We surfed every day and toasted<br />
marshmallows at night, I think it was one of the best<br />
holidays I’ve ever had.<br />
Favourite brew A good chai.<br />
Offshore production In some ways it’s sad, but I<br />
understand the reasons. I think that in lots of ways mass<br />
production has opened up a space for more people to<br />
try surfing. I still believe that the true seeker will find a<br />
shaper that resonates with the way they surf and get<br />
a custom board regardless and those who want their<br />
own space will create that too. So I don’t think mass<br />
production will ever kill off the small guy, maybe it’s an<br />
opportunity for shapers to experiment more with design.<br />
Pro tour? I think its awesome to see the pros surf.<br />
Rousa epitomises everything we love about the surf<br />
industry. He lives and breathes surfboards. He’s the<br />
personification of old-school surf craftsmanship who does<br />
what he does - not because he has to - but because ‘it<br />
is the only way.’ He shapes boards because they are his<br />
passion. His boards are works of art and ride just as well.<br />
“Shaping for 41 years”<br />
ROUSA<br />
SURFBOARDS<br />
Local break: 13th beach<br />
Golden rule Make it sexy<br />
Describe your signature model at the moment<br />
Chine rails, single to double concave to vee.<br />
Inspirations Making grumpy guys a little happier<br />
Last holiday Three years ago, Tassie in the winter<br />
Favourite food Hot pie at the footy<br />
Favourite brew Carlton Draught<br />
Best board The Freak - 4’9” concave deck, concave<br />
bottom double ender, swallow tail, swallow nose. I<br />
still take it out occasionally.<br />
Offshore production Saw it coming for decades. 100%<br />
true custom boards will survive<br />
In 10 years time Sitting on the verandah, playing guitar<br />
Pro tour? The level of skill by the latest young crop of<br />
surfers is mindblowingly inspiring.<br />
jul/aug <strong>2011</strong><br />
73
GEAR: SHAPERS UNITE<br />
Glassers, sanders, polishers, spray artists, shaping bay sweepers and more... There<br />
are so many other important people behind the scenes that are an integral part of the<br />
board-making process. Here are just two of the unsung heroes...<br />
Glasser at NOTE<br />
Local break: Torquay point (closest to home)<br />
Golden rule: Neat trim jobs and evenness.<br />
Signature glass job: Probably the jelly bean tail dip<br />
and wet rub/polish combinations.<br />
Favourite brew VB from the Leopold Sportsmans<br />
Club - smooth and creamy, straight from the tap.<br />
Offshore production It doesn’t worry me, because it<br />
gets people into surfing for they’re a cheaper option...<br />
But the thing that I HATE is when people get boards<br />
made overseas and tell people that they’re locally<br />
made in Torquay.<br />
Sander - 32 years<br />
Local break Bird Rock or Sparrows<br />
Sanding - the main idea Fixing all<br />
the f*ckups from the shaper to make<br />
them look good.<br />
Inspirations I enjoy making boards for<br />
young kids. They’re not full of shit like<br />
you older guys.<br />
Best board Shaped by Greg Brown,<br />
glassed by me. It’s in my shed and still<br />
gets surfed about 10 times a year.<br />
Pro tour? It’s good to watch at Easter<br />
time to see some real surfing.<br />
74 jul/aug <strong>2011</strong>
Dispense with any preconceived ideas about Zak<br />
Surfboards. If you doubted whether a surfboard shop<br />
in the outer suburbs of Melbourne would have much to<br />
offer, doubt no more...<br />
Zak’s is an absolute cracker. In fact, it’s possibly one<br />
of the best surf shops in the country, and one of<br />
our favourite stops on the road. They have heaps of<br />
boards (they sell close to 1000 boards a year) a large<br />
skate section, plenty of hardware, a select line of surf<br />
clothing - not the usual stuff - and then there’s a range<br />
of fins and the latest surf DVDs and books.<br />
Best of all, the entire crew - Zak, Tim, Scott and Steve are<br />
down-to-earth blokes, super-helpful and know their stuff.<br />
With so much Victorian board-building talent behind<br />
these doors, there’s now even more reason to pop in<br />
for a visit. Make sure you do.<br />
The man himself... Zak Koniaris<br />
Tim up to no good outside<br />
307 Victoria Rd<br />
Thornbury Victoria 3071<br />
Phone: 03 9416 7384<br />
zak@zaksurfboards.com<br />
www.zaksurfboards.com<br />
Board guru Steve<br />
Repair guy Scott<br />
jul/aug <strong>2011</strong><br />
75
Forken model<br />
by Bushrat<br />
Shaper: Jed Done<br />
Dimensions:<br />
9’2” x 22 ½” x 3”<br />
Ideal conditions:<br />
Knee high to just over headhigh,<br />
easy peelers<br />
Suits: Any surfer who<br />
wishes to walk the board<br />
and hang out on the nose .<br />
Description: A classic<br />
edge mal. Concave nose to<br />
stand on, double concave<br />
flat in the mid entry area<br />
for neutral control in trim,<br />
double concave v under<br />
feet which lines up with<br />
outline hip to turn off, and<br />
a slight concave behind<br />
the back fin to stop the tail<br />
bogging in turns.<br />
Construction: Dion PU<br />
foam, single red cedar<br />
stringer, polyester resin.<br />
Fins: Fin box and 4WFS<br />
side boxes for flexibility<br />
Shaper comment:<br />
Built as a nose rider, all<br />
rounder mal for all levels<br />
of surfing ability.<br />
Plankton Noserider<br />
by Wegener<br />
Shaper: Tom Wegener<br />
Dimensions:<br />
9’4” x 23” x 2 ¾” - 10 kilos.<br />
Ideal: Small, clean waves<br />
Suits: Anyone who wants<br />
traditional longboard style.<br />
Construction: Hollow<br />
construction paulownia<br />
sealed with linseed oil,<br />
gum turpentine, and<br />
vinegar.My kids named<br />
the boards after the<br />
character Plankton on<br />
SpongeBob Squarepants<br />
because in 2003 I thought<br />
these boards were going<br />
to take over the world.<br />
Fins: Box single fin.<br />
Shaper comment:<br />
After 6 years of making<br />
alaias and planktons, I<br />
know that the oiled wood<br />
surface is substantially<br />
faster through the water<br />
than boards finished in<br />
fibreglass. I recently had a<br />
lightbulb moment, finding<br />
a way to make better glue<br />
joins on the rails. There<br />
are over 46m of watertight<br />
glue joins so this was an<br />
important innovation!<br />
Wood rides better than<br />
foam and now noseriders<br />
are faster. Available for<br />
$1,990 + GST and freight.<br />
Stepdeck<br />
by Thomas The Hillbilly<br />
Shaper: Thomas Bexon<br />
Dimensions:<br />
9’6” x 23” x 3”<br />
Ability: For beginner to<br />
advanced interested in<br />
long extended noserides<br />
Suits: From 75kg to 95kg<br />
Description: The step<br />
reduces volume and<br />
increases flex through<br />
nose to help stay in trim<br />
while perched. Big fin<br />
provides locked-in hold<br />
and stability required to<br />
make noseriding an easy<br />
enjoyment.<br />
Construction: ½ inch<br />
cedar stringer, 8oz Volan<br />
bottom and tail patch,<br />
double 8oz Volan deck<br />
with resin foam stain<br />
details, top and bottom,<br />
under a blue tint - all<br />
executed with the utmost<br />
attention to detail. This<br />
really is a quality product.<br />
Fins: Big glassed-on,<br />
smooth pivot fin.<br />
Shaper comment:<br />
Designed to make getting<br />
on the nose - and staying<br />
there - as easy as possible.<br />
by Black Apache Surfboards<br />
Shaper: Jesse Watson<br />
Dimensions:<br />
10” x 23 1 /8” x 3 1 /8”<br />
Ideal conditions: Up to<br />
head high sliders<br />
Suits: Hepcats to kooks,<br />
kicks, flicks and hanging heels.<br />
Description: Traditional<br />
noserider-inspired modern<br />
sled, but with modernised<br />
rockers and foils for the<br />
logger who wants to<br />
noseglide and whipturn<br />
like it aint no thang.<br />
Construction: Triple<br />
stringers, 6/4oz deck<br />
+ 6/4oz bottom, gloss<br />
and polish, vintage<br />
fabric inlay with gold<br />
resin pinlines. Glass-on<br />
matched fabric leash loop<br />
- proper old skool<br />
Fins: Matching<br />
fabric Stage IV hook fin<br />
Shaper comment:<br />
A modern sled for the<br />
discerning kook. Traditional<br />
in looks - but a real hotrod<br />
under your feet. You’ll never<br />
spend more time on the<br />
nose than on this board. Its<br />
a ‘55 chevy with race car<br />
steering. Hang tens are the<br />
norm here.<br />
Old Skool<br />
by Classic Malibu<br />
Shaper: Peter White<br />
Typical dimensions:<br />
9’4” x 22 ¾” x 3”<br />
Conditions: Head high or<br />
below. Ideally point breaks<br />
but surprisingly versatile on<br />
a more mellow beachies.<br />
Suits: The soul-kats<br />
among you - those wishing<br />
to emulate Russell Hughes,<br />
Bobby Brown, Midget and<br />
Kev-The-Head.<br />
Description: Harks back<br />
to the days of pre-legrope<br />
and fixed fins. Hips in the<br />
rear third, it tapers into<br />
the nose, giving superb<br />
manoeuvrability for such<br />
a traditional, flat-rockered<br />
board. Rolled bottom<br />
and refined rails gives<br />
exceptional trim-speed.<br />
Construction: PU Foam,<br />
9mm stringer. Glassing:<br />
6oz and 7.5oz on deck,<br />
7.5oz bottom<br />
Fins: Fixed or fin-box, a<br />
more upright, hatchet or<br />
pivot fin at 9-10”<br />
Shaper comment: A<br />
beautiful board to ride with<br />
grace and style, rolling turns<br />
and pure, Old Skool flair.<br />
BUSHRAT SURFBOARDS<br />
Merimbula NSW<br />
Ph: 0409 813 431<br />
E: jed@bushrat.com<br />
www.bushrat.com<br />
TOM WEGENER<br />
SURFBOARDS<br />
108 Cooroy, QLD 4563<br />
Ph: 0401 257 479<br />
info@tomwegenersurfboards.com<br />
tomwegenersurfboards.com<br />
THOMAS SURFBOARDS<br />
PO Box 234<br />
Maroochydore Qld 4558<br />
Ph: 0412 131 491<br />
thomas_bexon@hotmail.com<br />
thomassurfboards.com<br />
black apache surfboards<br />
BLACK APACHE<br />
SURFBOARDS<br />
Ph: 0410 419 791<br />
blackapachesurfboards@live.com.au<br />
blackapachesurfboards.com.au<br />
CLASSIC MALIBU<br />
Cnr Gibson & Eumundi Rd<br />
Noosaville, QLD 4566<br />
Ph: 07 5474 3122<br />
info@classicmalibu.com<br />
www.classicmalibu.com<br />
76 jul/aug <strong>2011</strong>
Rod Menzies riding<br />
the Jackson ZX2<br />
Photo: Ian McDonald<br />
GEAR: BOARDS<br />
Skeg Sled<br />
by SLS Surfboards<br />
Shaper: Scott Newman<br />
Dimensions:<br />
9’6’’x 23 ¼’’x 2 7 /8’’<br />
Ideal conditions:<br />
Anything worth logging,<br />
up to shoulder height<br />
Suits: Loggers and anyone<br />
that wants a new board<br />
with that old school feel.<br />
Description:<br />
Traditional style log. Flat<br />
deck, flat nose rocker,<br />
rolled bottom to a rolled<br />
V through the tail. With<br />
all that tail rocker and<br />
pinched 50/50 rails.<br />
Construction: Single<br />
9-ply stringer with double<br />
6oz deck, plus deck patch<br />
and double 6oz bottom,<br />
plus fin patch. Full custom<br />
resin pigment and tint<br />
with a full gloss polish.<br />
Fins: Hand-foiled box<br />
or stick on 10” hatchet<br />
single fin.<br />
Shaper comment:<br />
Get stoked on the old<br />
school feel and then drink<br />
some beers<br />
The ZX2<br />
by Jackson Surfboards<br />
Shaper: Jim Parkinson<br />
(Shaping at Jackson’s<br />
since 1974)<br />
Dimensions:<br />
9’ x 22 5 /8” x 3”<br />
Conditions: Small to<br />
medium sized waves<br />
Suits: Intermediate to<br />
Advanced<br />
Description: Our most<br />
popular all-rounder mal<br />
shape, featuring nose<br />
rail concaves through to<br />
double concave vee in<br />
the tail. Foiled thickness<br />
through nose and tail.<br />
Construction: PU foam<br />
with polyester resin, in any<br />
glass configuration.<br />
Fins: 2 plus 1, or quad<br />
Shaper comment:<br />
This is a very forgiving<br />
mal to ride. The nose rail<br />
concave generates a lot<br />
of lift up front, while the<br />
double concave in the tail<br />
delivers heaps of drive<br />
through turns.<br />
Scott Newman<br />
of SLS Surfboards<br />
in Caloundra<br />
Longboard styles,<br />
from the pioneers to<br />
the new school...<br />
Boards by Jackson (above) and SLS (below)<br />
SLS SURFBOARDS<br />
Caloundra QLD<br />
Ph: Scott 0424 314 183<br />
Luke 0401 350 992<br />
slssurfboards.com.au<br />
JACKSON SURFBOARDS<br />
57 Captain Cook Drive,<br />
Caringbah, NSW<br />
Open 7 days<br />
Ph: 02 9524 2700<br />
Mobile: 0407 909 137<br />
www.jacksonsurfboards.com.au<br />
Check us out on facebook<br />
Miles Livingstone cruising on an SLS creation.<br />
jul/aug <strong>2011</strong><br />
77
SF2<br />
by Lowen88<br />
Shaper: Wayne Lowen<br />
Dimensions:<br />
5’10” x 19 ½ x 2 ¼”<br />
Ideal: All conditions,<br />
beach/point breaks, 2-5ft<br />
Suits: Intermediate to pro<br />
Description: All round<br />
semi-fish. Fast, with good<br />
drive and release.<br />
This one is a swallow tail<br />
but also comes in rounded<br />
square or round tail.<br />
Construction: Comes<br />
in standard PU/polyester<br />
or Eps/epoxy. This one is<br />
PU/polyester resin with<br />
double rail stringers.<br />
Fins: Futures - thruster<br />
or quad<br />
Shaper comment: Feel<br />
free to contact me for<br />
anymore info about this<br />
design and construction.<br />
The Flyer<br />
by Full Force<br />
Shaper: Steve Barber<br />
Dimensions:<br />
6’4” x 19 ¾” x 2 3 /8“<br />
Ideal conditions:<br />
Excellent everyday board<br />
Suits: Anyone<br />
Description: Flattish entry<br />
for easy paddling, single<br />
into double concave with<br />
tail vee on larger versions.<br />
Double flyers in planshape<br />
give greater tail width<br />
for drive thru turns in any<br />
conditions with better hold<br />
in larger waves as a bonus.<br />
Construction: Polyurethane<br />
Fins: Thruster or Quad.<br />
(Quad is best as 4 channel)<br />
Shaper comment:<br />
This is a rare all round<br />
board design. Great in<br />
ordinary surf through<br />
to pumping South<br />
Straddie or Snapper.<br />
Fast, manoeuverable,<br />
easy to surf, yet highperformance<br />
as well and<br />
forgiving when you’re<br />
having a bad day!<br />
The Bullet<br />
by Chris Garrett<br />
Shaper: Chris Garrett<br />
Dimensions:<br />
5’7 “x 19” x 2 5 /16“<br />
Ideal conditions: Anything<br />
up to the 6ft mark<br />
Ability level: Anyone...<br />
customised to suit<br />
Description: Shorter ,<br />
wider, thicker and with<br />
a whopping concave<br />
between the fins. Down<br />
rails and a flat deck. Kinda<br />
normal, but not..<br />
Construction: PU,<br />
polyester resin and<br />
fibreglass.<br />
Fins: Chris Garret A’s...<br />
set... and forget.<br />
Shaper comment:<br />
The new favourite. Just<br />
returned from indo and<br />
this handled anything<br />
that I wanted to surf it<br />
in. Super-fast out of the<br />
bottom turn with the<br />
concave working like<br />
channels, but with the<br />
freedom of a flat bottom.<br />
I like it!<br />
Chris Garrett...<br />
getting barrelled<br />
on the Bullet<br />
Photos: Kaylan Dahl<br />
LOWEN88<br />
Ph: 07 5526 5161<br />
Mobile: 0433 141 177<br />
Factory Showroom:<br />
2A/2172 Gold Coast Hwy,<br />
Miami, Gold Coast 4220<br />
E: lowen88@hotmail.com<br />
www.lowen88.com<br />
STEVE BARBER/FULL FORCE<br />
18/48 Machinery Drive<br />
Tweed Heads South<br />
Ph: 07 5524 2933<br />
fullforcesurf@hotmail.com<br />
Join us on Facebook<br />
CHRIS GARRETT/<br />
PHANTOM SURFBOARDS<br />
Ph: 0424 450 690<br />
info@chrisgarrettshapes.com.au<br />
chrisgarrettshapes.com.au<br />
78 jul/aug <strong>2011</strong>
GEAR: BOARDS<br />
Keel fin<br />
by Skerry Surf<br />
Shaper: Simon Skerry<br />
Dimensions:<br />
6” x 19 ¾” x 2 3 /8”<br />
(or shaped to order)<br />
Ideal: 1-10ft... Loves it all.<br />
Ability level: Beginner<br />
to well-experienced<br />
Description:<br />
Classic twin fin feel,<br />
smooth continual speed<br />
and paddle power.<br />
Features Cherry Blossom<br />
resin artwork.<br />
Construction: Full 6oz<br />
lamination with ¾ deck<br />
and fin patches.<br />
Fins: Glassed on, double<br />
foiled 8” keel fins<br />
Shaper comment:<br />
A classic board that<br />
won’t let you down with<br />
non-traditional resin<br />
artwork.<br />
Original Peanut<br />
by Wegener The Grinder<br />
Shaper: Tom Wegener<br />
Dimensions:<br />
5’7” x 16 ½” x ¾”<br />
Ideal conditions: Medium<br />
sized clean waves<br />
Ability: Groms to advanced<br />
Suits: Advanced Alaia surf<br />
Description: Tom<br />
Wegener designed<br />
paulownia Alaia blank<br />
sealed with linseed<br />
oil, vinegar & gum<br />
turpentine.<br />
Fins: Two fins on each side<br />
stretching from nose to<br />
tail... the rails are the fins ;)<br />
Shaper comment: The<br />
original Peanut is the nose<br />
of the 12 footer that was<br />
in the movies “Musica<br />
Surfica” and “Seaworthy.”<br />
In 2008, I cut the 12-footer<br />
down because it didn’t<br />
work well and I needed to<br />
try more shapes. Master<br />
Jacob Stuth rode this board<br />
for Jack McCoy in his new<br />
movie “A Deeper Shade of<br />
Blue” and then the board<br />
went to Rob Machado who<br />
surfed it in “The Present”. I<br />
have reserved this template<br />
for super-advanced alaia<br />
riders because you have to<br />
bottom turn totally off the<br />
front rail to get it to hold in.<br />
by Ed Sinnott/ESP<br />
Shaper: Ed Sinnott<br />
Dimensions:<br />
5’9 x 19 ¼ x 2 3 /8”<br />
Ideal conditions:<br />
Anything up to 6’<br />
Suits: Anybody<br />
Description: This is a<br />
combination of all my<br />
old single fin and twinfin<br />
templates combined with<br />
new school bottom curves<br />
and rails. The result is a<br />
sensational hybrid that<br />
flys. Flat entry, deep vortex<br />
concave, razor edges and<br />
wet and dry finish.<br />
Construction: Burford/<br />
South Coast PU blanks,<br />
Silmar polyester resin,<br />
Colan and Surf Nine glass.<br />
This combination has<br />
stood the test of time.<br />
I love the flex.<br />
Fins: Thruster<br />
Shaper comment:<br />
Surfboard design has<br />
gone the full circle now.<br />
We’ve got boards that<br />
make so-called normal<br />
6’1’’ boards look like guns.<br />
Go smaller, thicker and<br />
wider. Yew!<br />
Slippery Gypsy<br />
by Underground<br />
Shaper: Peko<br />
Dimensions:<br />
5’8” x 2 ½” x 22”<br />
Ideal: Up to 3ft points<br />
and small beachies<br />
Suits: Everyone<br />
Description: Fast, fun<br />
twin keel or quad. Single<br />
concave running from<br />
midway through tail.<br />
glassed-in, handmade<br />
fins or FCS quads. These<br />
little things fly and are<br />
available in sizes 4’10”<br />
upwards.<br />
Construction: PU foam<br />
and polyester resin with<br />
tints, pigments, sprays<br />
and handmade keels.<br />
Fins: FCS fibreglass keels<br />
Shaper comment:<br />
Handmade to your<br />
requirements using the<br />
best materials, as are<br />
all Underground boards.<br />
These little things are so<br />
much fun.<br />
JGUN<br />
by Jye Byrnes<br />
Shaper: Jye Byrnes<br />
Dimensions:<br />
Custom shaped, 6’6-10’<br />
Ideal: 6ft and above<br />
Ability level: Int to adv,<br />
travelling to the islands or<br />
wanting to charge.<br />
Description: What you<br />
need when the waves<br />
start to get serious and<br />
your step up shortboard<br />
won’t quite cut it. A little<br />
different to some other<br />
guns on the market -<br />
maintains the gun outline<br />
with a little more width in<br />
the nose and tail. Thicker<br />
volume in the center<br />
for versatility in various<br />
conditions. Great traveller,<br />
or just to chase rhinos at<br />
your local.<br />
Construction: PU foam<br />
with heavier glass job<br />
recommended. Option of<br />
hybrid carbon strips on<br />
deck/bottom as shown.<br />
Fins: Thruster FCS or<br />
Futures. Optional 2+1 fin<br />
box or bonza fin set up<br />
Shaper comment:<br />
Tried and tested at my<br />
local and the islands.<br />
A great traveller.<br />
SKERRY SURF<br />
PO Box 354<br />
Lennox Head NSW 2478<br />
Ph: 0403 240 452<br />
theskerrysimon@hotmail.com<br />
skerrysurfboards.com<br />
TOM WEGENER<br />
SURFBOARDS<br />
108 Cooroy, QLD 4563<br />
Ph: 0401 257 479<br />
info@tomwegenersurfboards.com<br />
tomwegenersurfboards.com<br />
ESP SURFBOARDS<br />
2/81 Centennial Circuit<br />
Byron Bay, NSW<br />
Ph: 0404 059 321<br />
espsurfboards.com<br />
www.edsinnott.com.au<br />
UNDERGROUND SURF<br />
3/31 McLean St,<br />
Coolangatta, QLD 4225<br />
Ph: 07 5599 1040<br />
kirra@undergroundsurf.com.au<br />
undergroundsurf.com.au<br />
THE SURF FACTORY<br />
16 Maitland Rd Islington<br />
Newcastle N.S.W 2296<br />
Ph: 02 4969 5889<br />
Mob: 0409 227 407<br />
info@thesurffactory.com.au<br />
thesurffactory.com.au<br />
jul/aug <strong>2011</strong><br />
79
The Machine<br />
by Diverse<br />
Shaper: Dave Verrall<br />
Ideal conditions: Trusty<br />
thruster for all conditions<br />
Suits: Performance surfer<br />
after a user-friendly board.<br />
Description: All the<br />
volume of your daily<br />
driver, it’s 2” shorter than<br />
your traditional shortboard<br />
and 1/4” - 3/8” wider.<br />
Extra thickness in centre<br />
with a rolled deck and<br />
medium low rails. Light<br />
width increase in the nose<br />
and tail keep it speedy<br />
and reliable with light<br />
single to double concaves<br />
for control at speed.<br />
Construction: Dynocore<br />
technology - a high tech<br />
fusion of fibres and foam.<br />
Dynocore gives you the<br />
confidence to pull in to<br />
anything big and barrelling<br />
yet carry with one arm over<br />
long walks to secret points.<br />
Fins: Thruster<br />
Shaper comment:<br />
Developed by Dave<br />
Verrall and Dale Richards.<br />
Inspired by Dale “The<br />
Machine”, shaped and<br />
designed on a “machine”<br />
and a shape feature<br />
that’s specifically cut on<br />
my aps3000 machine...<br />
Footwells on the deck.<br />
Frazfish<br />
by Oke Surfboards<br />
Shaper: Rory Oke<br />
Dimensions:<br />
5’8” x 20” x 2 3 /8”<br />
Ideal conditions: 1-4ft<br />
Suits: Everyone<br />
Description: Wide<br />
outline, flat rocker with a<br />
tiny nose kick and a single<br />
concave to deep double<br />
scoop in the tail.<br />
Construction: Ocean<br />
Foam blank, 4oz glass<br />
with sanded finish.<br />
Fins: Speeedfins<br />
Fibreglass s143 sides<br />
with an optional small<br />
trailer fin<br />
Shaper comment:<br />
With the imput of team<br />
rider Fraser Ross, this<br />
is the fastest, best<br />
performing fish we have<br />
ever created.<br />
L7 Curve Step Up<br />
by Express Surfboards<br />
Shaper: Paul Armstrong<br />
Dimensions:<br />
6’5” x 18 5 /8” x 2 3 /8”<br />
Ideal: Anywhere juicy!<br />
Ability: Intermediate to<br />
advanced surfers<br />
Description: Single<br />
concave into double V<br />
bottom. Concaves are<br />
kept subtle to allow<br />
quick decisive trim on the<br />
face to set up tube time.<br />
Central apex rocker for<br />
larger wave face and a<br />
smooth even, outline for<br />
hard drives off the bottom<br />
to gain maximum speed.<br />
Construction:<br />
From the best materials<br />
known to mankind! No<br />
compromises, NEVER.<br />
Fins: Powerbase - more<br />
speed, drive and love.<br />
Shaper comment: For<br />
serious surfers after<br />
maximum performance in<br />
larger waves. Surfs like a<br />
high performance shorty<br />
in bigger waves. Designed<br />
with the help of intrepid<br />
surf traveller and team<br />
rider Dan Hayler, a great<br />
board for that next Indo<br />
trip or bigger point/reef<br />
break day.<br />
The dim-SIM<br />
by More Surfboards<br />
Shaper: Mark Pridmore<br />
Dimensions:<br />
Short x Wide x Thick<br />
(Above: 5’2” x 21” x 2 11 /16’’)<br />
Ideal: All rounder for small<br />
running points to head-high<br />
barrelling beachies and<br />
everything inbetween<br />
Suits:Suitable for surfers<br />
who really wanna be stoked<br />
on a sweet and easy ride<br />
Description: My version<br />
of Bob Simmons’ 50s<br />
design. Full credit and<br />
respect to him, hence<br />
the “SIM” in dim-SIM.<br />
Designed for performance,<br />
these are fast, great<br />
paddlers and just easy<br />
and fun to ride, I ride mine<br />
90% of the time.<br />
Construction: Made in<br />
Australia with good old<br />
PU foam and PE resin,<br />
feels good, goes great and<br />
is affordable.<br />
Fins: Twin keels or Quads<br />
Shapers Comment:<br />
These super fun slabs of<br />
foam are too good not to<br />
try. Custom orders available<br />
thru Da Bomb Surf<br />
Centres or direct at<br />
www.moresurfboards.com<br />
.<br />
Performance Mini Mal<br />
by The Factory<br />
Shaper: Paul Carson<br />
Dimensions:<br />
6’8” x 21 ¾” x 3”<br />
Ideal conditions: 2 - 6ft<br />
Suits: Anyone<br />
Description: Roundtail,<br />
four tail channels, Single<br />
to double concave.<br />
Construction: Burford<br />
blank<br />
Fins: Shapers SMF-L<br />
fins, great as a thruster<br />
or quad.<br />
Shaper comment:<br />
Performance mini mal<br />
great for beachies<br />
DIVERSE<br />
SURFBOARDS<br />
476 Gold Coast Hwy,<br />
Tugun, QLD 4224<br />
Ph: 07 5598 4848<br />
dave@diversesurf.com.au<br />
diversesurf.com.au<br />
OKE SURFBOARDS<br />
1/1-7 Canterbury Rd,<br />
Braeside, VIC, 3195<br />
Ph: 03 9587 3553<br />
okesurfboards.com<br />
EXPRESS SURFBOARDS<br />
5/136 Taren Point Rd<br />
Taren Point NSW<br />
Mob: 0403 827 478<br />
expresssurfboards@gmail.com<br />
expresssurfboards.com.au<br />
Available from Da Bomb<br />
3/25 Plaza pde, Maroochydore<br />
07 5451 <strong>06</strong>20 and<br />
7/12 Thunderbird dr. Bokarina<br />
07 5437 9201<br />
MORE SURFBOARDS<br />
Ph: 0405 475 026<br />
www.moresurfboards.com<br />
THE FACTORY<br />
SURFBOARDS<br />
CALOUNDRA<br />
17 Allen Street<br />
Caloundra QLD 4551<br />
Ph: 07 5492 5838<br />
paul@thefactorysurfboards.com.au<br />
thefactorysurfboards.com.au<br />
80 jul/aug <strong>2011</strong>
GEAR: BOARDS<br />
SUP 10<br />
Paddleboard or kayak<br />
Dimensions:<br />
9’6” x 29” x 5”<br />
Ideal conditions:<br />
Flatwater SUP<br />
Suits: For those new to<br />
the SUP world.<br />
Description: Designed<br />
to be very stable and very<br />
easy to paddle, the board<br />
is outfitted much like a<br />
recreational kayak, with<br />
end grab handles so it can<br />
be carried by two people<br />
from the ends, a center<br />
handle to carry it. Storage<br />
area for your gear. Use it<br />
as a Sup or kayak!<br />
Construction: 100% rotamolded<br />
plastic, offering<br />
great strength and<br />
relatively low weight for<br />
transportation.Uniquely<br />
designed to be very<br />
durable and robust.<br />
Comment: Very stable<br />
and easy for paddlers.<br />
Best for beginners and<br />
family. Package deals<br />
include paddle and extra<br />
blade for kayaking.<br />
ILLUSIONS NOOSA<br />
2/2 Venture Dve,<br />
Noosaville, QLD<br />
3A/11 Sunshine Beach Rd,<br />
Noosa Junction, QLD<br />
Phone: 0488 686 2<strong>06</strong><br />
fax: 07 3319 7269<br />
illusionsnoosa.com.au<br />
Torpedo<br />
SUP IN12.6<br />
SUP<br />
paddles<br />
too!<br />
Dimensions:<br />
12’6” x 29” x 6”<br />
Ideal: Long distance<br />
paddling either in the<br />
river or in the ocean<br />
Ability level: For both<br />
the competitor and for<br />
the recreational paddler<br />
Description: Streamlined<br />
shape parts the water<br />
with ease. Round nose<br />
on top, deep vee under<br />
nose and double concave<br />
on the bottom under<br />
your feet for straight<br />
line paddling. Recessed<br />
standing area for stability<br />
and just enough tail lift to<br />
catch swells.<br />
Construction: Hand<br />
shaped and glassed in<br />
epoxy resin for extra<br />
strength and durability.<br />
Two leash plugs and one<br />
vent at tail, plastic grip box<br />
and deck grip Eva pads.<br />
Fins: Deep keel-like fin<br />
for direction.<br />
Shaper comment: These<br />
boards are streamlined,<br />
very fast and a lot of fun.<br />
ILLUSIONS NOOSA<br />
2/2 Venture Dve,<br />
Noosaville, QLD<br />
3A/11 Sunshine Beach Rd,<br />
Noosa Junction, QLD<br />
Phone: 0488 686 2<strong>06</strong><br />
fax: 07 3319 7269<br />
illusionsnoosa.com.au<br />
Cutlass<br />
Pro Surf SUP<br />
Dimensions:<br />
9’6” x 29” x 5”<br />
Ideal conditions:<br />
Can handle any size swell<br />
Suits: Competent to pro.<br />
For shortboarders who<br />
want to take the next step.<br />
Description: Designed<br />
for fast, responsive, ‘cut &<br />
slash’ manoeuvres. Bulk in<br />
the main deck area assists<br />
with paddling speed and<br />
gilde. Hard, tight, rail allows<br />
the rider to execute snappy<br />
manoeuvres with speed<br />
and accuracy.<br />
Construction: Vacuum<br />
bagged with a D-XP3 core,<br />
which is a 100% recycled<br />
bamboo fibre blank with<br />
bamboo veneer and 4oz<br />
fibreglass top and bottom.<br />
Two leash plugs and one<br />
vent at tail, plastic grip box<br />
and 1/3 deck grip Eva pads<br />
Fins: 2 x FCS side fins and<br />
a fiberglass 10” center fin<br />
Shaper comment: Ideal<br />
board for those looking for<br />
a fast, performance SUP<br />
that is highly responsive.<br />
ILLUSIONS NOOSA<br />
2/2 Venture Dve,<br />
Noosaville, QLD<br />
3A/11 Sunshine Beach Rd,<br />
Noosa Junction, QLD<br />
Phone: 0488 686 2<strong>06</strong><br />
fax: 07 3319 7269<br />
illusionsnoosa.com.au<br />
Goberlygook<br />
by Glenn Cat<br />
Shaper: Gcat & the<br />
Erle of Pedersen<br />
Dimensions:<br />
6’14”x 17” 3/20th x 85 +<br />
39 - 75.8 = sq2 + 4/4th &<br />
10/16ths = FA<br />
Description: Double flyer,<br />
Erle’s flame jet, single side<br />
concave, cross channel,<br />
t’spoon, double swallow,<br />
try fin...<br />
Surfboards and surfing<br />
props for movies and ads<br />
SURF1770NOOSA.COM<br />
surf1770@bigpond.com<br />
surf1770noosa.com<br />
jul/aug <strong>2011</strong><br />
81
GEAR: BEYOND<br />
WHAT<br />
LIES<br />
BENEATH<br />
CHAPTER IV:<br />
INTRODUCING<br />
SYSTEMS<br />
“Active foils<br />
allow the<br />
back of the<br />
fin to move”<br />
There’s a variety of options fo removable fin<br />
systems on your surfboard. From the standard to<br />
the weird and wacky, each system has its own<br />
concept and benefits, and for the most part - all<br />
have their merits.<br />
One particularly robust option is the Speeedfins<br />
system, and the science behind it is fascinating.<br />
Speeedfins are described as an ‘active’ fin. That<br />
is, the back half of a Speedfins fin is free from<br />
the board and moves in response to the water<br />
pressure. The trailing edge of the fin moves as<br />
you turn reportedly resulting in more speed,<br />
more drive and acceleration off your turns. The<br />
principle behind it is to keep as much smooth<br />
water in contact with both sides of each foil. A<br />
process called ‘Attached Laminar Flow’. By keeping<br />
the water attached it reduces cavitation (water<br />
turbulence) trailing off the fin, reducing drag.<br />
Once you have the boxes installed in your board,<br />
you have a wide variety of choice as far as the<br />
actual fins go - from reinforced nylon, ceramic or<br />
fibreglass to carbon, depending on your needs,<br />
ability and budget.<br />
For more info, see www.speedfins.com.au or<br />
call (03) 9587 3747.<br />
History...<br />
A little bit of<br />
FIRE THE LAZORS!<br />
WORDS AND PICS: ANDRÉ MARSAUS<br />
Brought to you by<br />
Underground Surf<br />
With a wide area, thick tail and pointed low-resistance nose area, in<br />
1978 the Lazor Zap concept revolutionised surfboard design.<br />
The design was so unusual to what people were familiar with that it<br />
challenged the ideas and beliefs of the industry. In turn, the industry<br />
seemed to react with fear and rejected the design. Might the powers<br />
that be lose the growing control over the direction in which surfing<br />
was heading?<br />
Cheyne Horan rode the Lazor Zap to four second places in the World<br />
Surfing Titles, proving the design concept was exceptional.(Those<br />
second places are controversial still today.) Then, and now, some<br />
believe that it was the establishment’s way of discrediting Geoff<br />
Mccoy and his design, to retain control of surfing and sales.<br />
The concept of the Lazor Zap is based on Geoff’s energy theory -<br />
how that energy turns into wave formation and how objects react<br />
with those formations.<br />
The original Lazor Zap was designed with short arc, with reactive,<br />
high-powered surfing in mind. The surfer was able to stand in one<br />
position, not having to move their feet to perform manouvers. The<br />
pulled nose allowed the board to elevate very quickly as it reduced<br />
the length of rail being used when the board is turning. In turn, this<br />
allowed for more manouveres to be performed while the surfer<br />
was standing in a fixed position on the wide supportive tail, which<br />
generates greater pressure and easier reaction.<br />
The advantages were many - easier to paddle, standing in one<br />
position to ride the wave, quicker reaction due to the extra volume,<br />
easier turning from less resistance; and the ability to surf at a faster<br />
speed. In effect, the Lazor Zap’s design delivered at all levels of<br />
performance.<br />
Unfortunately these futuristic boards were discredited, not embraced,<br />
but what was evident from his team of high standard surfers was that<br />
they truly did work... and well.<br />
The Lazor Zap design is now over 30 years old and is still made<br />
today with some tweaks for better performance, making it more user<br />
friendly in waves up to six feet. The original 80’s Lazor Zaps are<br />
highly sort after by collectors and are extremely rare, but you can<br />
order a custom, handmade by the man himself, Geoff McCoy.<br />
Thanks to Geoff McCoy for details.<br />
New surf shop, old-school feel<br />
RETRO LONGBOARDS & SHORTBOARDS<br />
NEW & CUSTOM BOARDS • BOARD HIRE • REPAIRS<br />
SKATEBOARDS • CLOTHING • AND MUCH MORE...<br />
82 jul/aug <strong>2011</strong><br />
3/31 McLean St, Coolangatta, QLD Ph: 07 5599 1040<br />
WWW.UNDERGROUNDSURF.COM.AU
Photos: Charlie Hardy Photography, supplied<br />
MASTERING SMOOTH STYLE<br />
Yes, we’ve loved SmoothStar boards ever since our first<br />
test run in our very first edition. The latest model - which<br />
we test drove in last edition - totally reinforced exactly how<br />
much fun these boards are. But just when we were feeling<br />
cocky and comfy, carving it up on the pathways around the<br />
Sunny Coast, we saw the brand spanking new Smoothstar<br />
promo video featuring team rider Dom McGeachie... Sadly,<br />
we realised that we have a long way to go - and a whole lot<br />
more to learn about getting the most out of these boards.<br />
To see how good this looks in action, check out the new<br />
promo video online - it’ll make you want one too:<br />
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQsH2TNp_wY<br />
So, here’s a little lesson on doing a cool reverse slide. Dom<br />
talks us through the move, step by step. Over to you...<br />
1.<br />
2.<br />
3.<br />
4<br />
5.<br />
6.<br />
7.<br />
1. Bend knees when approaching the wall just like doing a bottom turn, with a bit more emphasis<br />
on the back leg to keep balance. 2. Start turning up the wall but begin to turn your shoulders the<br />
opposite way to which you are going to reverse slide. This well help with bringing your back foot<br />
around. 3. Really start to turn sharply up the face. 4. Bring your back foot around whilst turning<br />
your body to face back down the ramp, which will drag you up the face whilst sliding across at the<br />
same time. 5. Begin to slide your front foot around whilst holding your back foot where it is so as<br />
to complete the 270° motion. To add a little bit extra to the matter you can hold yourself in this<br />
position, so as to slide almost sideways down the ramp. 6. Instead of sliding down sideways, just<br />
bring the front foot all the way around to roll out of the slide cleanly. 7. Roll out like a boss. Ahah.<br />
Thanks Dom. And there you have it. Now go and practice.<br />
For more: www.smoothstar.com.au<br />
jul/aug <strong>2011</strong><br />
83
TEST<br />
WORDS: DAVE SWAN<br />
EVERYTHING<br />
FROM THE HOT NEW SKATE RELEASE OF THE ADJUSTABLE BIG STICK TO THE FREEZING<br />
COLD WETSUIT AND BOARD TESTS IN THE WINTER WATERS OF VICTORIA...<br />
The new Big Stick blade gives<br />
more grip through strokes<br />
“... the latest thing I’ve<br />
become addicted to...<br />
KAHUNA CREATIONS Adjustable Big Stick<br />
I must admit, between the two of us at<br />
smorgasboarder, Mark has always been more<br />
of a skateboarder and I the surfer.<br />
With surfboards I have a hoarding and collecting<br />
problem - quite a few problems in fact. But I<br />
had never really owned a skateboard. Since<br />
we started smorgasboarder however, I have<br />
become hooked on the land-boards too and now<br />
have four... and the temptations keep coming.<br />
The latest thing I’ve become addicted to is the<br />
Big Stick for Street SUP - or in other words<br />
Stand Up Paddle on a skateboard. And I seem to<br />
have passed on my addiction to my kids.<br />
In all honesty though, it‘s such a good thing.<br />
Better they’re outside in the sun, getting some<br />
exercise and enjoying themselves than inside<br />
playing games on the laptop. Plus, it’s an easy<br />
activity we can share in and enjoy together -<br />
something really special for a parent in today’s<br />
ridiculously fast-paced world.<br />
The Big Stick is basically, well, a big stick. It’s<br />
very similar to a SUP paddle, but obviously<br />
without the actual blade. This latest version of<br />
the Big Stick features an adjustable shaft - the<br />
height can be tailored to suit my 6-year-old son<br />
or 8 and 10 year old daughters, and occasionally<br />
me, if they ever get off and give me a bloody<br />
chance to use it.<br />
The stick basically enables you to use your<br />
skateboard like a SUP and it’s good dry-land<br />
practice as a matter of fact. You can use it to<br />
really pull into your turns and get yourself up<br />
inclines or increase your downhill speed. For the<br />
kids, it also enables them to balance and build<br />
their self-confidence on the skateboard. In fact,<br />
after a couple of runs with the Big Stick, they<br />
have turned from tentative wimps into charging<br />
hell-hobbits.<br />
With a soft-grip ergonomic handle, the Big Stick<br />
is comfortable to hold while the new vulcanized<br />
rubber road grip gives you a choice of angles to<br />
dig at the road with. The idea behind the shape<br />
is that you get more contact with the surface,<br />
meaning a more forceful push, while the holes<br />
help cushion the impact of the strokes.<br />
That’s right, the ladies love it too. Above:<br />
Carina Slavic of Street SUP shows how it’s<br />
done, and Left: Phoebe Swan (8) rockets from<br />
‘no’ to pro in just a few goes.<br />
Below: Team rider Cory McBride sticking it to<br />
Melbourne during his trip across Australia.<br />
The Adjustable Big Stick by Kahuna<br />
Creations retails for $179.00 and you can<br />
choose from 2 designs - Moko & Pohaku. Ask<br />
about it at your local surf and skate store or log<br />
onto www.streetsup.com.au for stockists.<br />
84 jul/aug <strong>2011</strong>
Skateboards...<br />
TEAM RIDER DOM McGEACHIE - PHOTOS BY CHARLIE HARDY PHOTOGRAPHY<br />
...for<br />
surfers!<br />
32” FLYING FISH TAIL SKATEBOARD<br />
The ultimate in self-propelling skateboards<br />
designed for surfers. For more info, call 0407 405 390 or visit<br />
www.smoothstar.com.au<br />
Check out video online!<br />
jul/aug <strong>2011</strong><br />
85
ABOVE: Taking the FFF for a spin.<br />
RIGHT: The optional sidebiter<br />
PHOTOS: Lucas Muro<br />
What is a flextail?<br />
Imagine the flex<br />
employed in the shaft<br />
of a golf club...<br />
When a golfer draws<br />
the club back behind<br />
their head, the shaft<br />
flexes. When it is brought<br />
down towards the ball<br />
it whips back and<br />
wallops the ball.<br />
A flextail stores that<br />
initial energy in the<br />
bottom turn and then<br />
whips the tail, propelling<br />
the board forward at<br />
the rate of knots.<br />
Jed’s<br />
personal<br />
board - well<br />
loved for a<br />
reason<br />
Frankenstein Fish Finger<br />
BY MARK PRIDMORE/MORE SURFBOARDS<br />
5’9” finless freak (or two training wheel miniature side-biter fins)<br />
Features Kung-Fu Panda inspired artwork by Sirrah and Cain Pridmore<br />
I’ll once again admit I’m absolutely addicted to the finless thing. I can’t<br />
get enough of it. When you are an ordinary surfer and you can start<br />
pulling 360’s, it’s a hell of a lot of fun.<br />
I still get thrown more times than a rodeo clown, but it’s the challenge<br />
that feeds the addiction. You don’t want the bloody thing to beat you.<br />
When you whip it around and then go on riding the wave, it’s like<br />
riding your first ever wave all over again, every single time.<br />
Now enough about my ramblings on finless boards... The Frankenstein<br />
Fish Finger: she looks weird, but is super easy to paddle. Despite<br />
being quite narrow through the guts and the nose there is a fair bit<br />
of volume in the board with a big fat-arse tail. Overall this means the<br />
board is more performance orientated than earlier models and rides<br />
more like a shortboard but the wide tails give you some stability for<br />
nice arcing tail slides. The board’s volume enables you to ride the<br />
board in 1ft slop or bigger. Small surf days are no longer a bore.<br />
There is a really interesting bottom curve going on with quite a<br />
square rail that enables you to grip the wave face. The miniature fins<br />
themselves just give you that additional bit of hold when you are first<br />
learning on the board or if the conditions are super sucky. Trying to dig<br />
a rail without any fin on a steep wave face isn’t easy. No fins or small<br />
fins, it certainly is addictive. I can’t get off it.<br />
Bushrat Flextail<br />
BY JED DONE<br />
6’4” x 18 ½ “ x 2 7 / 16“<br />
Features a 7 ½ “ long flextail and the 4-Way Fin System<br />
enabling you to adjust splay & toe<br />
I love trying different types of boards and was always really keen to try out a<br />
flextail. Thanks to Jed I finally got my chance and had a few test runs around<br />
Mallacoota and down the Shipwreck Coast. The board did feel a little different<br />
but being in unfamiliar swell - while fun - it didn’t provide me with a genuine<br />
opportunity to get a true feel for the board.<br />
Thankfully a decent swell arrived back home at Moffat Beach on June 3 and 4,<br />
giving me a chance to see what the Bushrat Flextail could really do.<br />
On my first wave, which pitched just overhead, I zipped down the face, turned,<br />
turned again and it just stalled. ‘Oh crap...’ As I started paddling back out I was<br />
thinking to myself, ‘What the hell am I going to say? Jed is such a nice guy but at<br />
the end of the day I have to honest with our readers...’<br />
My next wave... what the?! I was obviously standing in the wrong place initially,<br />
because what I experienced on my second wave I just had to experience again. I<br />
did a bottom turn and it felt like I was shot out of a cannon. Fair dinkum. It was like<br />
I had a rocket strapped to my feet. The speed was incredible. It was too much for<br />
me to handle at first, to be honest. By my third wave I started to understand why<br />
speed is so important to performance surfing. Not that I am kidding myself but I<br />
had never sprayed a rooster tail like that off the lip before.<br />
I did miss a bit of the volume under my chest though, which made paddling a little<br />
harder, but this is Jed’s personal board, not made for me. Mine would have a bit<br />
more foam to start off with. Could the narrow nose contribute too? It might a bit,<br />
but I guess that is all part of the design to achieve warp speed. Anyway, a little bit<br />
of pain for all that gain is worth it. And as Maverick once said to Goose, ‘I have the<br />
need, the need for speed.’<br />
ABOVE: Crazy through to the tail<br />
RIGHT: Tai Lung, waxed to go<br />
The whipping<br />
machine<br />
86 jul/aug <strong>2011</strong>
BELOW LEFT: The Triple X 4/3 and RIGHT, the Zee Wetsuits 3/2<br />
LEFT: Armed with the Flextail and<br />
shielded with warm wetties... Can’t<br />
hear a bloody thing, but can take<br />
on the Victorian cold.<br />
Triple X Wetsuits<br />
4/3 TX2 steamer<br />
The major selling point about this suit apart from the price is warmth. I have never worn this<br />
much rubber so I was somewhat excited to see how I would fair in the waters off Port Fairy and<br />
Warrnambool. I wore a hood, booties and just the wetsuit with no rashie. I was as warm as toast.<br />
As for water entry? no problems. The back zip suit was not only easy to get on, it lived up to its<br />
promise. There was no water entry whatsoever. Each time I stepped out of the suit following a surf,<br />
I was not only warm but dry.<br />
The tab at the base of the zip was also a blessing. When getting the suit on I didn’t have to<br />
undertake my usual ritual of jiggling and dancing to guide the zip up the back of my wetsuit whilst<br />
pinching the neoprene together. Why on earth someone has not introduced this to wetsuit design<br />
earlier is beyond me.<br />
But how about the fit? The wetsuit was posted down to me. I hadn’t tried this model on before, or<br />
any Triple X Wetsuit for that matter. All I had provided was my height and weight. There was not<br />
a drama. The fit was snug without being too firm thanks to the latest stretch neoprene. Despite<br />
all that rubber, I did not feel like the Michelin Man. The suit kept me warm but didn’t restrict my<br />
movement.<br />
The wetsuit was also super comfy to wear. The interior jersey lining was soft, warm and silky to<br />
pull on. The suit glided over your skin and didn’t stick to you like I often find with most wetsuits.<br />
Warm... The water hovered<br />
around a chilly 14 degrees.<br />
Zee Wetsuits<br />
3/2 GBS steamer<br />
The first thing you notice about this wetsuit<br />
is how comfortable it is. Comfort, comfort,<br />
comfort. Without doubt the fit and, in<br />
particular the stretch (now that I know what<br />
that means) is unlike anything I have ever<br />
worn before. It had me thinking what on earth<br />
my old wetsuits were made of. Bernie had<br />
mentioned the neoprene Zee source is second<br />
to none and he sure as hell wasn’t lying.<br />
Sure I know neoprene had advanced<br />
somewhat and become lighter and stretchier<br />
but this just didn’t feel like a wetsuit as<br />
I knew it. There was no restriction of my<br />
movement. Paddling was super easy, getting<br />
to your feet, turning… it was like a second<br />
skin. Plus the neoprene is super soft.<br />
One of my mates who lives in Sydney<br />
checked out the suit when I was on my road<br />
trip and wouldn’t believe me when I told him<br />
it was a 3/2. In his opinion it was a plain 2 ml<br />
because no 3/2 could be that light. It wasn’t<br />
until I showed him its tag, which I still had in<br />
my glovebox, that he believed me.<br />
In terms of warmth, being a 3/2, I must admit<br />
it was borderline in the waters off Port Fairy<br />
at the start of winter, because I’m soft. But<br />
with liquid seams, water entry wasn’t and<br />
issue. It was just a matter of the neoprene<br />
thickness in those extreme conditions.<br />
Indeed, the wetsuit I had in possession was<br />
perfect for Queensland and northern NSW<br />
winter sessions. You would struggle to find a<br />
better suit and the big brands certainly couldn’t<br />
match a suit of this quality for the price.<br />
GEAR: REVIEW<br />
SPECIFICATIONS:<br />
• 4-way mega-stretch titanium neoprene<br />
• Titanium insulation shield to minimise windchill<br />
and increase thermal warmth<br />
• Smooth chest/back, limiting wind chill<br />
• Waterless S-lock back zip entry with zipper<br />
tab stabiliser<br />
• Glued & blind stitch sealed seams<br />
• 6-12 month replacement warranty + lifetime<br />
repair warranty<br />
• 100% Australian owned<br />
• Price $369<br />
SPECIFICATIONS:<br />
• Advanced stretch and memory retention<br />
• Smooth chest/back, limiting wind chill<br />
• Back zip entry<br />
• Plush inner touch lining<br />
• Sealed liquid seams inside<br />
• Raw edge, super seal<br />
• 12-month material warranty<br />
• 100% Australian owned<br />
• Price $349 juniors/$399 adults<br />
jul/aug <strong>2011</strong><br />
87
GEAR: SUP SHOPPING<br />
BABY STEPS...<br />
CHOOSING THE RIGHT SUP!<br />
Below: Scott.<br />
Above: Scott’s little<br />
one choosing the first<br />
of many water toys.<br />
Just a bloody big surfboard with a paddle? Finding the right<br />
one sounds easy, but once you start looking around at the<br />
multitude of different sizes, shapes, constructions, and prices<br />
of these things, you start to realise it’s not as easy as you’d<br />
think to find a SUP that suits your needs.<br />
The process can be made a lot easier by<br />
asking yourself one important question...<br />
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO?<br />
“There is definitely a reason that Stand<br />
Up Paddling is the fastest growing<br />
sport in the world. Along with the<br />
addictive fun factor, SUP has multiple<br />
uses from surfing, ocean paddling<br />
and cruising, downwinding, river and<br />
lake flat-water paddling, shooting the<br />
rapids down rivers and creeks, and for<br />
the competitive types - racing and surf<br />
comps. For all these multiple uses there<br />
are also multiple boards.<br />
“If you are after a SUP to surf, do you<br />
only want it for the “small days” where<br />
your usual board of choice doesn’t work<br />
so well? A lot of surfers are moving<br />
to SUP due to injuries. Neck and back<br />
issues can make it hard to paddle and<br />
pop up from prone position to standing<br />
on a normal surfboard, so using a SUP<br />
for all conditions makes sense.<br />
“SUPs have gotten smaller, and can<br />
be shorter and more maneuverable<br />
than some longboards. With boards<br />
now down around the 8’ mark, for<br />
experienced SUP surfers the only<br />
limitation to size of board is their ability<br />
to stand on it and be able to paddle onto<br />
waves. Be warned though, too small a<br />
board in choppy surf can take the fun<br />
factor right out of it real bloody quick.<br />
“For stability, board displacement<br />
(volume) is important, but the plan shape<br />
including width, thickness, rail design,<br />
and also how the volume is distributed,<br />
can make a board that looks good on<br />
paper a bobbing cork in the ocean!<br />
Boards for ocean paddling come in many<br />
different sizes and shapes too. Cruisers<br />
that are designed for getting out to<br />
bommies or just paddling up and down<br />
the coast grabbing the occasional wave,<br />
are different to full blown downwinders<br />
(some with rudder systems) that are<br />
used to surf the ocean’s runner waves<br />
with the wind and swell direction.<br />
“Whatever board you finally choose will<br />
also be controlled by your budget.<br />
“With the massive influx of cheap<br />
SUPs on eBay and other online sites,<br />
it would be easy to think that a good<br />
board doesn’t cost very much. Not that<br />
all lower priced boards are rubbish, but<br />
when you see a no-name (or “leading<br />
brand” that you have never heard of)<br />
board with a dodgy-looking shape,<br />
selling for less than a secondhand wellknown<br />
brand, you have to wonder at<br />
the process that went into shaping and<br />
manufacturing it. Imagine how it will<br />
perform, and how long it will last. With<br />
SUPs you really do get what you pay for.<br />
“The best thing is that all good SUP<br />
retailers will have an extensive fleet of<br />
demo boards available, that you can ‘try<br />
before you buy’ to get an idea of what<br />
feels right for you. If they’re worth their<br />
salt, they should be riding them all every<br />
day themselves anyway, and will be able<br />
to give you the correct information from<br />
an experienced perspective.”<br />
SCOTT PENWARN<br />
GREENLINE PADDLESURF, MERMAID BEACH<br />
www.greenlinepaddlesurf.com<br />
“It’s all about catching waves and<br />
having fun, not about having the<br />
shortest board or being the most<br />
aggressive rider, so don’t be afraid<br />
to choose a board with enough size<br />
to enjoy the waves. You can always<br />
progress to a smaller board later.“<br />
HAYDN FLEMING<br />
OCEAN ADDICTS, MAROOCHYDORE<br />
www.oceanaddicts.com.au<br />
“Determine your needs, wants,<br />
weight and skill level and seek<br />
advice from a qualified SUP coach<br />
or your local SUP store. “<br />
TODD MINGRAMM<br />
CRONULLA STANDUP PADDLEBOARD<br />
www.cronullasup.com.au<br />
88 jul/aug <strong>2011</strong>
No big brands. No marketing hype.<br />
Just cool merchandise from the salt of the Australian surf community<br />
One website - heaps of<br />
shapers and surf shops shirts...<br />
jul/aug <strong>2011</strong><br />
89
Nose & Paddle Guards,<br />
Rail Tape & Leash Plugs<br />
CARDIO TRAINING<br />
BUILD YOUR ENERGY LEVELS FOR SURFING USING THE “NEW SCIENCE” OF<br />
CARDIOVASCULAR TRAINING WORDS: CLAYTON BEATTY<br />
Pro Teck Fins<br />
Travel Safe Repair Kts<br />
Gone are the days of doing long, steady state<br />
aerobic workouts to build your cardiovascular<br />
fitness for surfing. I mean who wants to spend<br />
hours every week jogging on a treadmill or<br />
sitting on an exercise bike when you can get<br />
twice the results in half the time using the<br />
new science of cardio training.<br />
What is the new science you ask? The latest<br />
exercise science proves that interval training<br />
is the fastest way to build your endurance.<br />
When you surf, you are using 2 main energy<br />
systems, your aerobic energy system and your<br />
anaerobic energy system.<br />
You aerobic energy system uses oxygen as<br />
its main fuel and is the dominating energy<br />
system for bouts of exercise lasting several<br />
minutes or more, for example when you are<br />
paddling out to the break. Your anaerobic<br />
energy system on the other hand is used for<br />
shorter bouts of more intense exercise such as<br />
paddling for a wave.<br />
If you want to have lots of energy so you can<br />
surf longer without getting fatigued, then you<br />
need to train both of these energy systems.<br />
That is where interval training comes into<br />
play. Interval training is where you do shorter<br />
bouts of higher intensity activity dispersed<br />
with periods of lower intensity activity or rest.<br />
Following are several different interval<br />
training workouts you can use to build your<br />
cardiovascular surfing fitness. Include 2-3<br />
cardio workouts into your weekly training<br />
schedule and get ready to feel your energy<br />
levels skyrocket when you are out in the surf.<br />
BEACH RUNNING WORKOUT<br />
A workout you can do on the beach or at a local park.<br />
• Warmup – 5 min low/moderate intensity<br />
• Intervals – 20 sec high intensity: 40 sec low<br />
• Repeat intervals for 10-15 min<br />
• Cooldown – 5 min low intensity (then stretch<br />
major muscle groups)<br />
SWIMMING WORKOUT<br />
The idea for this workout came from the High<br />
Performance Fitness coaching at Surfing Australia.<br />
They have similar swimming workouts for their surfers.<br />
You can do this workout at a local swimming pool.<br />
In addition to boosting your fitness, it will also help<br />
improve your ability to hold your breath. It simulates<br />
paddling out to the lineup while having to duckdive<br />
the incoming waves.<br />
Swim 100m freestyle and whilst duckdiving, touch<br />
the bottom with your hands every 10m. Rest for 30<br />
sec after 100m. Repeat until you have done 1000m.<br />
Once you’ve mastered this, you can increase the<br />
intensity by not taking in a full breath before you<br />
duckdive to the bottom.<br />
RUN SWIM RUN<br />
This will give you the benefits of both of the<br />
previous workouts in one. Do this at the beach.<br />
• Warmup – 5 min low/moderate intensity run<br />
• Swim 50-100m straight out into the ocean<br />
duckdiving under the waves, then turn around<br />
and swim back in.<br />
• As soon as you get back to shore, run down<br />
the beach for 60 sec as hard as you can.<br />
• Rest for 60 sec, then repeat the swim/run<br />
intervals for up to 5 rounds.<br />
• Cooldown – 5 min low intensity jog (then<br />
stretch major muscle groups)<br />
Clayton Beatty is a qualified Exercise Scientist with a BSc Human Movement Degree from the<br />
University of WA and is a member of Exercise and Sports Science Australia (ESSA). He runs Total<br />
Surfing Fitness, created to help surfers improve their skills and reduce the risk of injury.<br />
SURFTECH AUSTRALIA<br />
www.surftechaustralia.com.au<br />
90 jul/aug <strong>2011</strong><br />
02 4226 1322<br />
We’re all keen to improve our surfing, so check out his site for surf-specific<br />
functional training exercises. Go to TotalSurfingFitness.com, and there’s<br />
even a free sample workout to get you started.
DEEP BREATH<br />
A hold down can be frightening. When seconds feel like hours,<br />
it’s only too easy to think the worst and work yourself up into a<br />
panic. Most, if not all of us, would feel a lot more comfortable<br />
being armed with extra knowledge and skills to cope better<br />
under water. And knowing you could hold you breath a bit<br />
longer would be helpful too. WORDS: MARK CHAPMAN<br />
David Mesnard is a the tall and bronzed french-born freediver and owner<br />
of luxury Maldivian charter boat, the Ocean Dancer. He recently spent<br />
a short time In Australia to conduct some freediving training clinics with<br />
professional surfers. As gracious a host on Australian soil as ex-guests<br />
say he is on the boat, David took some time out of his busy schedule to<br />
chat to us about the training program for his guests on board.<br />
“I teach them how to freedive - basically, how to hold their breath under<br />
water,” David explains. “We train them for when they get trapped under<br />
the waves. We have a special therapy for that.”<br />
Since 20<strong>06</strong> the Ocean Dancer has been providing an upmarket<br />
alternative for a surf trip to the Maldives. The guests live in board<br />
in luxury for seven nights, spoiled by - amongst others - the onboard<br />
chef and massage therapist. Between surfs, David conducts a<br />
freediving course.<br />
“It’s all about relaxation. Everything is mental. Everything you achieve<br />
in life is all about control and how you can mentally take control of your<br />
body,” he tells us.<br />
“When people are surfing and they get trapped under big waves, they<br />
freak out because they get held down too long, so we try to explain to<br />
them the process of relaxation - what to think about and how to plan<br />
their timing.<br />
“To pick up a big wave is easy but to survive a big wave is another story.”<br />
Everyone who participates in the course experiences an improvement in<br />
their ability to hold their breath but it’s more to it than that, David says.<br />
“The goal is not so much about how long you will hold your breath<br />
- that will come automatically. The goal is to be able to think about<br />
something that is enjoyable, not something unpleasant. By the time<br />
you think about that, your body reacts and your mind takes control. So<br />
instead of thinking negatively and freaking out, you can cope with the<br />
situation and be in control.”<br />
A healthy dose of self discovery comes as an added bonus for most.<br />
“People can tell you whatever they want, how great they are and how<br />
well they do things, but underwater there’s no bullshit,” David smiles.<br />
“They can’t cheat you under water. Once you put someone’s head under<br />
water… once he needs to breathe, he needs to breathe.”<br />
“Doing this freediving clinic is a real therapy for everyday life. We teach<br />
people how to be in control in everyday situations. We train people not<br />
to be victim to their emotion.”<br />
For more information on the Ocean Dancer, see the website<br />
www.oceandancer-maldives.com and for bookings, get in touch with the<br />
folks at World Surfaris: www.worldsurfaris.com or call 1800 611 163<br />
“TO PICK UP A BIG WAVE IS<br />
EASY BUT TO SURVIVE A BIG<br />
WAVE IS ANOTHER STORY.”<br />
jul/aug <strong>2011</strong><br />
CLOSEOUT: FITNESS<br />
91
CLOSEOUT: BOOKS<br />
92 jul/aug <strong>2011</strong>
SURF!<br />
IN THE WATER WITH<br />
WAVE HUNTERS<br />
WHITE STAR PUBLISHERS/<br />
SCRIBO GROUP<br />
<br />
French journo Guillaume Dufau<br />
brings together extreme sport<br />
photography from across<br />
the globe in this 200+ page<br />
hardcover book.<br />
In true smorgasboarding<br />
style, this book covers all<br />
aspects and disciplines of<br />
waveriding from surfing<br />
to windsurfing and kite,<br />
bodysurfing and bodyboarding<br />
to SUP and plenty more - even<br />
skimboarding.<br />
Recording ‘the astonishing<br />
feats of the world’s master<br />
surfers’ it’s all about the power<br />
and beauty of the ocean as<br />
seen through a collection of<br />
stunning images from locations<br />
all around the world.<br />
Tow In is definitely the<br />
standout section is the book.<br />
The amazing big wave shots<br />
from Jaws and Dungeons are<br />
enough to inject a healthy<br />
dose of fear into the most sane<br />
surfers out there.<br />
Surf! In the water with wave<br />
hunters is a great addition<br />
to the coffee table collection<br />
of any avid water fan, and<br />
retailing at $59.99, it’s a pretty<br />
good gift option too.<br />
Mark Chapman<br />
Wipeouts with consequences...<br />
Plenty of dramatic images like<br />
this one fill the pages of Surf! In<br />
the water with wave hunters<br />
Photo:Tim McKenna,<br />
courtesy of Scribo Group<br />
jul/aug <strong>2011</strong><br />
93
MUSIC<br />
THE WAIFS<br />
TEMPTATION<br />
JARRAH RECORDS/MGM<br />
<br />
The Waifs sixth studio album,<br />
“Temptation” reverts back to<br />
the foundations of country and<br />
folk. The band has developed a<br />
solid reputation and extensive<br />
fan base over 20 years and this<br />
release is sure to more than<br />
satisfy loyal fans. The album<br />
is beautifully packaged and is<br />
representative of the stripped<br />
back and ambient sounds.<br />
While some of the songs<br />
lack the hook of some their<br />
past hits, highlights include<br />
Beautiful Night and Drifting<br />
Dreaming. This is definitely<br />
a laid back album for a laid<br />
back day.<br />
For more, see the website<br />
www.thewaifs.com.<br />
Gus Brown<br />
RELENTLESS<br />
SET IN STONE<br />
DOGFIGHT RECORDS<br />
<br />
Okay, I’m a sucker for NY-style<br />
hardcore. And for a bunch of<br />
Sydney surfers, these boys<br />
absolutely nail it. From the<br />
opening bounce of Against to<br />
faster numbers like Faced with<br />
the End, this is all hardcore<br />
gold. Relentless is as good<br />
on the album as they are live.<br />
Fans of Madball, AF and the<br />
like will love this. Guaranteed.<br />
www.myspace.com/relentlesshc<br />
Mark Chapman<br />
ONE VITAL WORD<br />
EARLY DAYS<br />
PEE RECORDS<br />
<br />
One Vital Word is a punk<br />
hardcore band from Newcastle<br />
playing fun, energetic and<br />
fast-paced music. “Early Days”,<br />
on the great SA punk label, Pee<br />
Records is a five-track burst of<br />
energy. Mostly shouty stuff,<br />
but featuring some high-quality<br />
H20-ish singalong melodies<br />
in the title track. More of that<br />
please, gents. Not the average<br />
Joe’s cup of tea, but well worth<br />
a listen for the punkers out<br />
there. www.peerecords.com.<br />
Mark Chapman<br />
THE OCEANICS<br />
GET FRIENDLY, MISTRESS, MAYBE EP<br />
INDEPENDENT RELEASE<br />
<br />
Although the Oceanics have<br />
been around on the live music<br />
scene for a while including<br />
an appearance at the Big Day<br />
Out, this is their first official EP<br />
release. After listening on high<br />
rotation this indie-pop outfit<br />
had me moving around singing<br />
along as if I knew the lyrics.<br />
The music is tight, upbeat<br />
and should be accessible to a<br />
wide audience. Although all<br />
the songs rock, $12 Specs and<br />
Funs Over are the choice picks.<br />
This is a solid introduction to a<br />
currently unsigned band that’s<br />
going places. Check out dates<br />
and venues for shows at www.<br />
myspace.com/oceanics_band.<br />
Gus Brown<br />
THE WINDY HILLS<br />
FRIEND FROM<br />
ANOTHER STAR<br />
SPUNK! RECORDS<br />
<br />
Andrew Kidman is a clever<br />
man. Prolific and talented,<br />
his name inevitably pops up<br />
in any conversation on surf<br />
art and culture. Having more<br />
than dabbled in all artistic<br />
disciplines from writing to<br />
painting, photography to<br />
of course filmmaking, The<br />
Windy Hills is a return to an<br />
exploration of music.<br />
Laidback, slow and melancholy,<br />
this is most certainly not<br />
a party album, but rather<br />
reflective mood music.<br />
The recording is honest and<br />
raw in its production and I’m<br />
a sucker for the guitar tones<br />
- from smooth and clean to<br />
gloriously dirty and overdriven.<br />
Atlantic City Ashes is an easy<br />
favourite with a super-catchy<br />
chorus. Another standout is<br />
the trippy Bingo Love. The<br />
very chilled Road Block sees a<br />
guest appearance from Neal<br />
Purchase Jr. on guitar and is<br />
also a definite winner.<br />
10 relaxed tracks and a<br />
neat digipack make this a<br />
worthwhile buy for yourself or<br />
a great gift for any Kidman fan.<br />
www.andrewkidman.com<br />
Mark Chapman<br />
94 jul/aug <strong>2011</strong>
Pick up the next edition of smorgasboarder at any of these fine businesses - out in September.<br />
Businesses that advertise in smorgasboarder allow us to bring you the magazine for FREE. So, be sure to support them!<br />
SURF DIRECTORY<br />
QLD CENTRAL COAST<br />
REEF 2 BEACH SURF SHOP 07 4974 9072<br />
Shop 1, 10 Round Hill Road Agnes<br />
Water/1770 www.reef2beachsurf.com<br />
SUNSHINE COAST<br />
NOOSA SURF WORKS 07 5474 4567<br />
1/11 Bartlett St, Noosaville www.<br />
shotgunsurf.com www.lagunabaysurf.com<br />
WATERLINE 07 5474 1010 - 2/15 Venture Dr,<br />
Noosaville, www.zeewetsuits.com<br />
ILLUSIONS NOOSA 0488 686 2<strong>06</strong><br />
2/2 Venture Dve, Noosaville & Shop 3A/11<br />
Sunshine Beach Rd, Noosa Junction<br />
www.illusionsnoosa.com.au<br />
CLASSIC MALIBU AUSTRALIA 07 5474 3122<br />
Cnr Gibson and Eumundi Rds, Noosaville,<br />
www.classicmalibu.com<br />
LOCAL KNOWLEDGE 07 5474 1222<br />
3 Gibson Rd, Noosaville<br />
GOLDEN BREED 07 5455 3722 - 15 Noosa Dr,<br />
Noosa Heads, www.goldenbreed.com.au<br />
NOOSA LONGBOARDS 07 5447 2828<br />
2/55 Hastings St, Noosa Heads<br />
www.noosalongboards.com<br />
SOLACE 07 5455 4826 - 20 Duke Street,<br />
Sunshine Beach, solacestore.blogspot.com<br />
SURF SHOP 07 5471 3489 - 224 David Low<br />
Way, Peregian Beach, www.surf-shop.org<br />
COOLUM SURF 07 5351 1742 - Birtwill St<br />
Coolum Beach www.alexsurfshop.com.au<br />
BLUE LINES 07 5351 1986 - 1776 The<br />
Esplanade, Coolum Beach<br />
WALLY’S WATER GALLERY 07 5448 8560<br />
6 Lorraine Beach, Marcoola Beach<br />
OLD WOMAN SURF SHOP 07 5448 7025<br />
15 Mudjimba Esp, Mudjimba<br />
WEIR’S INSIDE EDGE 07 5443 4143<br />
14 Memorial Ave, Maroochydore<br />
DA BOMB 07 5451 <strong>06</strong>20 - 3/25 Plaza Pde,<br />
Maroochydore & 07 5437 9201 - 7/12<br />
Thunderbird Dr, Bokarina<br />
www.dabombsurf.com.au<br />
OCEAN ADDICTS 07 5309 6624 -<br />
103-105 Aerodrome Rd, Maroochydore<br />
www.oceanaddicts.com.au<br />
ALTERNATIVE SURF 07 5475 4811<br />
11/140 Alexandra Pde, Alexandra Headland<br />
BEACH BEAT 07 5443 2777 - 164 Alexandra<br />
Pde, Alexandra Headlands; 07 5491 8215 -<br />
4-6 Beerburrum St, Dicky Beach<br />
07 5491 4711 - 119 Bulcock St, Caloundra<br />
www.beachbeat.com.au<br />
ALEX SURF 07 5452 6276<br />
188 Alexandra Pde, Alexandra Headland<br />
www.alexsurf.com.au<br />
WORLD SURFARIS 1800 611 163<br />
2/174 Brisbane Rd, Mooloolaba<br />
www.worldsurfaris.com<br />
SURF PLANET 07 5476 6200 Shop 5,<br />
Buderim Marketplace Buderim<br />
www.surfplanet.com.au<br />
THE FACTORY 07 5492 5838 - 15 Allen St,<br />
Caloundra thefactorysurf.com.au<br />
SURFWARE AUSTRALIA 07 5491 3620<br />
2 Bulcock St, Caloundra<br />
BRISBANE<br />
PRIMITIVE SURF 07 3266 1001 - 601<br />
Nudgee Rd, Nundah primitivesurf.com<br />
GOODTIME SURF & SAIL 07 3391 8588<br />
29 Ipswich Rd, Wooloongabba<br />
www.goodtime.com.au<br />
FIIK Unit 2/3366 Pacific Hwy, Springwood<br />
www.fiikskateboards.com<br />
COD 07 3207 0116 - 51 Ziegenfusz Rd,<br />
Thornlands www.codsurfing.com.au<br />
N TH STRADBROKE ISLAND<br />
MINTY SURFBOARDS 07 3409 8334 - Point<br />
Lookout www.bobmintysurfboards.com<br />
GOLD COAST<br />
SURF FX 07 5531 3199 - 127 Ferry Road,<br />
Southport www.surf-fx.com<br />
SIDEWAYS 07 5592 3849 - 3012 Surfers Blvd,<br />
Surfers Paradise sidewaysboardsports.com.au<br />
DUKE’S LONGBOARDS 07 5572 0477<br />
2578 Gold Coast Hwy Mermaid Beach<br />
www.dukeslongboards.com<br />
STUART SURF DESIGN 07 5572 0098<br />
2576 Gold Coast Hwy, Mermaid Beach<br />
www.stuartsurf.com.au<br />
GANGSTA SURF 07 5526 6969 - Shop 1/<br />
2558 Gold Coast Hwy, Mermaid Beach<br />
www.gangstasurf.com<br />
GREENLINE PADDLESURF 0412 398 585<br />
2544 Gold Coast Hwy Mermaid Beach<br />
www.greenlinepaddlesurf.com<br />
BOARD CULTURE 07 5572 9866<br />
2438 Gold Coast Hwy, Mermaid Beach<br />
www.boardculture.com.au<br />
LOCAL KNOWLEDGE 07 5526 6377<br />
2251 Gold Coast Hwy, Nobby Beach<br />
THE BOARDROOM 07 5527 7877<br />
2084 Gold Coast Hwy, Miami<br />
LOWEN 88 07 5526 5161 - 2a/2172 Gold<br />
Coast Hwy, Miami www.lowen88.com<br />
HARVEY SURF GALLERY 0414 557 624<br />
3/10 Pacific Ave, Miami www.harveysurf.com<br />
MT WOODGEE 07 5535 0288<br />
1730 Gold Coast Hwy, Burleigh Heads<br />
07 5598 2188 - 2 Stewart Rd, Currumbin<br />
07 5536 5937 - 122 Griffith St, Coolangatta<br />
www.mtwoodgee.com.au<br />
PATAGONIA BURLEIGH James Street,<br />
Burleigh Heads www.patagonia.com.au<br />
WORLD SURFERS 07 5535 4037<br />
63 Lower West Burleigh Rd, Burleigh<br />
SEAN SCOTT PHOTOGRAPHY 07 5520 2774<br />
Old Burleigh Theatre Arcade, Shop 10,<br />
Goodwin Tce, Burleigh Heads<br />
07 5599 1150 - Shop 3, 110 Marine Pde,<br />
Coolangatta seanscottphotography.com.au<br />
DALE CHAPMAN SURF DESIGNS 07 5593 8411<br />
Unit 3/48 Junction Road, Burleigh Heads<br />
www.chapmansurfboards.com<br />
SOUTHCOAST FOAM 07 5522 1600 - 15<br />
Greg Chappell Dr, Burleigh Gdns Estate,<br />
Andrews www.southcoastfoam.com.au<br />
GOLD COAST SURF WORLD 07 5525 6380<br />
Tomewin Street, Currumbin<br />
www.surfworldgoldcoast.com<br />
FIREWIRE SURFBOARDS 07 5587 7700<br />
1/49 Currumbin Creek Rd Currumbin<br />
www.firewiresurfboards.com<br />
DMS 07 5559 5949 3/56 Currumbin Creek<br />
Rd Currumbin www.dmshapes.com<br />
D’ARCY HANDSHAPES 07 5559 5866<br />
1/8 Hawker St, Currumbin<br />
www.darcysurfboards.com<br />
SHAPERS 07 5534 4228 - 9/7 Traders Way,<br />
Currumbin www.shapers.com.au<br />
BURFORD REINFORCED PLASTICS<br />
07 5534 3777 5 Stewart Rd, Currumbin<br />
DIVERSE SURF 07 5598 4848 - 476 Gold<br />
Coast Hwy Tugun www.diversesurf.com.au<br />
DORRINGTON SURFBOARDS 07 5599 4030<br />
16 Musgrave Street, Kirra<br />
www.dorringtonsurfboards.com<br />
KIRRA SURF/WORLD SURFARIS 07 5536 3922<br />
8 Creek St, Bilinga www.kirrasurf.com.au<br />
UNDERGROUND SURF 07 5599 1040<br />
Shop 3/31 McLean St, Coolangatta<br />
www.undergroundsurf.com.au<br />
COOLANGATTA BOARD STORE 07 5536 7850<br />
152 Griffith St, Coolangatta<br />
www.cbsboardstore.com<br />
COOLY SURF 07 5536 1470 - Cnr Dutton St<br />
& Marine Pde, Coolangatta<br />
NSW NORTH COAST<br />
SIDEWAYS 07 5524 6699 - 13-21 Greenway Dr,<br />
Tweed Heads sidewaysboardsports.com.au<br />
FULL FORCE SURFBOARDS 07 5524 2933<br />
18/48 Machinery Dve,Tweed Heads<br />
SURF XCESS 02 6674 5350<br />
88 Marine Parade, Kingscliff<br />
CABARITA SURF SHOP 02 6676 3151<br />
1/38 Tweed Coast Rd, Cabarita Beach<br />
BRUNSWICK SURF 02 6685 1283<br />
1/12 The Terrace, Brunswick Heads<br />
www.brunswicksurf.com.au<br />
McTAVISH 02 6680 8807 - 91 Centenial<br />
Circuit, Byron Bay www.mctavish.com.au<br />
MADDOG SURF CENTRE 02 6685 6395<br />
91 Jonson St, Byron Bay; 02 6685 6466<br />
4 Jonson St, Byron Bay www.maddog.com.au<br />
MC SURF DESIGNS 02 6685 8778 - 3 Banksia<br />
Drive, Byron Bay www.mcsurf.com.au<br />
NORTH COAST SURFBOARDS 02 6685 6896<br />
29 Acacia St, Byron Bay bearsurfboards.com.au<br />
MUNRO SURFBOARDS 02 6685 6211 - 29 Acacia<br />
St, Byron Bay munrosurfboards.com.au<br />
T&C SURF DESIGN / McCOY 02 6685 7485<br />
10 Acacia Street, Byron Bay<br />
BYRON BAY LONGBOARDS 02 6685 5244<br />
Shop 1 - 89 Jonson St, Byron Bay<br />
HO’OKUPU 02 6685 8861 - 2/9 Lawson St,<br />
Byron Bay hookupusurf.com<br />
UNPLUGGED 02 6685 7441 - Shop 1/ 2 Lawson<br />
St, Byron Bay www.unpluggedbyronbay.com<br />
ALL ABOVE BOARD 02 6687 7522<br />
68 Ballina St, Lennox Head<br />
MADDOG SURF CENTRE 02 6685 6094<br />
45 River St, Ballina www.maddog.com.au<br />
TRIPLE X WETSUITS 02 6686 3939 - 10 Piper<br />
Drive, Ballina www.triple-x.com.au<br />
GUNTHER ROHN 02 6681 5879 - 3/10 Piper<br />
Drive, Ballina www.guntherrohn.com<br />
THE PLANK SHOP 02 6645 8362 Top of the<br />
Hill, Yamba<br />
NSW MID NORTH COAST<br />
XS SURF 02 6654 1049 - 76 Beach Street,<br />
Woolgoolga www.xssurf.com<br />
COOPERS SURF CENTRES 02 6654 0033<br />
56D Beach St, Woolgoolga; 02 6652 8146<br />
28 Orlando St, Coffs Harbour<br />
FLANAGAN SURFBOARDS 0432 361 694<br />
Unit 26, 22 Lawson Cres, Coffs Harbour<br />
www.flanagansurfboards.com<br />
WATER SURF+ART+CAFE<br />
Distinctively relaxed<br />
atmosphere, exceptional<br />
food, coffee and tea, great<br />
service, photographic<br />
art from Australia’s best<br />
photographers, exquisite<br />
gifts and select surfwear and<br />
boards.<br />
(02) 6651 4500<br />
370 Harbour Drive, Coffs<br />
Harbour Jetty<br />
www.watersurfartcafe.com<br />
THE LOG SHACK 02 6658 0223 - 392 Harbour<br />
Dve, The Jetty Strip, Coffs Harbour<br />
www.thelogshack.com.au<br />
OUTER ISLAND SURFBOARDS 02 6655 7007<br />
7 Bayldon Dr, Raleigh<br />
www.outerislandsurfboards.com<br />
VALLA SURFBOARDS 02 6568 8909<br />
8 Monro St, Nambucca Heads<br />
www.vallasurfboards.com.au<br />
COASTAL CURVES 02 6568 6902 - Ridge St,<br />
Nambucca Heads www.coastalcurves.com<br />
SONIC SURF 02 6568 4666<br />
1 Cooper Street, Macksville, Scotts Head<br />
CRESCENT HEAD SURF CO. 02 6562 83<strong>06</strong><br />
33 Smith St, Kempsey<br />
CRESCENT HEAD SURF SHOP 02 6566 0550<br />
Crescent Head Tavern, Crescent Head<br />
CRESO EXPRESSO 4 Shore Holiday Park,<br />
Crescent Heads<br />
INNER VISION SURF ‘N’ SKATE 02 6583 7790<br />
80 William St, Port Macquarie<br />
SALTWATER WINE 02 6584 4877<br />
1/125 Gordon St, Port Macquarie<br />
www.saltwaterwine.com.au<br />
SANDY FEET 02 6584 1995<br />
5/21 Clarence St, Port Macquarie<br />
www.sandyfeetsurf.com.au<br />
JUNGLE SURF 02 6555 8556 - 86 Manning<br />
Street, Tuncurry www.junglesurf.com.au<br />
SALTWATER WINE 02 6554 7979 5 Wharf St,<br />
Forster www.saltwaterwine.com.au<br />
BOOMERANG BEACH SURF 02 6554 0351<br />
Shop 4, Boomerang Dve, Pacific Palms<br />
GRAFFITI SURF DESIGNS 02 4981 3409<br />
43 Donald St, Nelson Bay, Newcastle<br />
NEWCASTLE<br />
NEWCASTLE SURF DESIGNS 02 4968 9989<br />
4 Maitland Rd, Mayfield<br />
SAM EGAN SURFBOARDS 02 4969 7299<br />
28 Maitland Rd, Islington<br />
www.samegan.com.au<br />
SURF FACTORY 16 Maitland Rd, Islington<br />
www.thesurffactory.com.au<br />
MARK RICHARDS SURFSHOP 02 4961 3088<br />
755 Hunter St, Newcastle<br />
www.markrichardssurfboards.com<br />
SURFHOUSE PHOTOGRAPHY 61 Hunter St,<br />
Newcastle surfhousephotography.com<br />
BREAKAWAY SURF 02 4929 1144 - Shop 6<br />
Hunter Street Mall, Newcastle<br />
PACIFIC DREAMS 02 4926 3355 - 7 Darby St,<br />
Newcastle www.pacificdreams.com.au<br />
SANBAH SURF 02 4962 2420 - Shop 27, The<br />
Junction Fair, Union St, Newcastle<br />
www.sanbah.com.au<br />
BREAKAWAY SURF CO. 02 4943 2699<br />
181 Pacific Hwy Charlestown<br />
EGAN’S 02 4945 8055<br />
575 Pacific Hwy, Belmont<br />
THE SURF SHACK 02 4945 8965<br />
703 Pacific Hwy, Belmont South<br />
SWANSEA SURF SHOP 02 4971 4422<br />
164 Pacific Hwy, Swansea swanseasurf.com.au<br />
CENTRAL COAST<br />
BEACHIN’ SURF 02 43 96 5159<br />
262 Main Rd, Toukley<br />
BOARD CITY 02 4397 1092 - 150 Main Rd,<br />
Toukley www.boardcity.com.au<br />
ADRIFT SURF 02 4332 8355 - 133 The Entrance<br />
Rd, The Entrance www.adriftsurf.com.au<br />
BOARDERLINE SURF SKATE 02 4332 7175<br />
421 The Entrance Rd, Long Jetty<br />
www.boarderlinesurfskate.com<br />
SURFERS CHOICE 02 4334 6532<br />
473 The Entrance Rd, Long Jetty<br />
www.surferschoice.com.au<br />
BATEAU BAY SURF N SPORT 02 4332 1157<br />
101a Bateau Bay Road, Bateau Bay<br />
ONE EIGHTY SURF COMPANY 02 4385 8440<br />
Shop 2, 82a Ocean View Dve, Wamberal<br />
www.180surfco.com.au<br />
SLIMES 02 4365 5511<br />
1/203 The Entrance Rd, Erina<br />
THREE POINTS SURF 02 4382 1541<br />
170 Avoca Dve, Avoca Beach<br />
NORTHERN BEACHES<br />
BEACH WITHOUT SAND 02 9918 2763<br />
1a Nth Avalon Rd, Avalon<br />
RAISED BY WOLVES 02 9918 8861 - 40 Old<br />
Barrenjoey Rd, Avalon; 02 9997 4838<br />
9b Waratah St, Mona Vale<br />
www.raisedbywolves.com.au<br />
LITTLE DRAGON 0403 974 967<br />
1 Bramley Lane, Newport Beach<br />
RON WADE SURF DESIGN 02 9979 7071<br />
23 Bassett Street, Mona Vale<br />
ronwadesurfboards.com.au<br />
CHANNEL ISLAND SURFBOARDS 02 9997 8266<br />
4/76 Darly St, Mona Vale cisurfboards.com<br />
QUIKSILVER MONA VALE 02 9999 3727<br />
1729 Pitt Water Rd, Mona Vale<br />
SUPER SWELL 02 9144 3229<br />
166 Mona Vale Rd, St Ives<br />
STAND UP PADDLE GEAR AUSTRALIA<br />
02 9986 3420 6/53 Myora Rd, Terrey Hills<br />
www.supgearaustralia.com<br />
SUGARMILL SURF EMPORIUM 02 9913 3332<br />
2/1329 Pittwater Rd, Narrabeen<br />
www.sugarmillsurf.com<br />
BALMORAL BOARDS 02 9970 8600<br />
1228 Pittwater Rd, Narrabeen<br />
www.balmoralboards.com.au<br />
WICKS SURF CENTRE 02 9971 0760<br />
1103 Pittwater Road, Collaroy Beach<br />
LONG REEF SURF 02 9982 4829<br />
1012 Pittwater Rd, Collaroy<br />
www.longreefsurf.com.au<br />
WIND SURF ’N’ SNOW 02 9971 0999<br />
17 Anzac Ave, Collaroy<br />
www.windsurfnsnow.com.au<br />
THE PERFECT WAVE 02 9939 0890<br />
Suite 38, 42-46 Wattle Rd Brookvale<br />
www.theperfectwave.com.au<br />
BENNETT SURFBOARDS 02 9905 5157<br />
180 Harbord Rd, Brookvale<br />
DRIPPING WET SURF CO. 02 9977 3549<br />
398 Pittwater Rd, Mona Vale;<br />
02 9977 3549 - 93 North Steyne, Manly<br />
www.dripwetsurf.com<br />
SUNSHINE SURFING 02 9977 4399 - 89 Pittwater<br />
Rd, Manly www.sunshinesurfing.com.au<br />
SIX OUNCE 0408 259 783 - 48-50 Pittwater<br />
Rd, Manly www.sixounceboardstore.com<br />
ALOHA MANLY STYLE 02 9977 3777<br />
44 Pittwater Rd, Manly<br />
www.alohasurfmanly.com.au<br />
BASE SURFBOARDS 02 9976 0591 - 46 North<br />
Steyne Rd, Manly www.basesurfboards.com<br />
SALTMOTION 02 9976 6518 Market Place,<br />
Manly www.saltmotion.com<br />
MANLY LONGBOARD CO. 02 9977 0093<br />
39 Belgrave St, Manly manlylongboard.com<br />
HERITAGE SURF 02 9977 7623 - 24 Darley<br />
Rd, Manly www.heritagesurfaustralia.com<br />
SURFECTION 02 9969 1011 - 522 Military<br />
Rd, Mosman www.surfectionmosman.com<br />
SYDNEY SOUTH<br />
BONDI UNDERGROUND 02 9365 0870<br />
2/72 Campbell Pde, Bondi Beach<br />
DRIPPING WET SURF CO. 02 9300 0055 180-<br />
186 Campbell Parade Bondi Beach<br />
SURF CULTURE 02 9389 5477 - 40 Bronte Rd,<br />
Bondi Junction www.surfculture.com.au<br />
CRONULLA SUTHERLAND<br />
JACKSON SURFBOARDS 02 9524 2700<br />
57 Captain Cook Drive, Caringbah<br />
www.jacksonsurfboards.com.au<br />
TRIPLE BULL 02 9524 4822 - 41 Captain Cook<br />
Dr, Caringbah; 02 9544 0354 - 23 Kingsway,<br />
Cronulla www.triplebullsurf.com<br />
CRONULLA SURF DESIGN 02 9544 0433<br />
8 Cronulla St, Cronulla<br />
www.cronullasurfdesign.com.au<br />
CRONULLA STANDUP PADDLEBOARD<br />
Everything to do with S.U.P<br />
Lessons, Hire, Sales of<br />
New and Used equipment,<br />
Accesories, Apparel & more<br />
02 9544 2293<br />
0400 085 823<br />
Shop 3,13-15 The Kingsway<br />
Cronulla, NSW 2230<br />
www.cronullasup.com<br />
jul/aug <strong>2011</strong><br />
95
SURF DIRECTORY<br />
Pick<br />
EASTCOAST STAND UP PADDLE<br />
Dedicated to SUP - Sydney’s<br />
original Stand Up Paddle<br />
outlet. Performance,<br />
flatwater, race, and distance<br />
boards – we have a board to<br />
suit all skill levels.<br />
0413 456009<br />
0418 294854<br />
27 Throsby Close<br />
Barden Ridge<br />
eastcoaststanduppaddle.com.au<br />
KING SURFBOARDS 02 9521 3645<br />
577 Princes Hwy, Kirrawee<br />
WOLLONGONG<br />
RETRO WOMBAT 02 4267 1322<br />
228 Lawrence Hargrave Dve, Thirroul<br />
www.retrowombat.com<br />
FINBOX BOARDSTORE 02 4268 2050<br />
1/269 Lawrence Hargrave Dve, Thirroul<br />
thefinbox.blogspot.com<br />
BYRNE SURF AND SKI 02 4268 3455<br />
303 Lawrence Hargrave Dve, Thirroul<br />
02 4226 1122 -115 Princes Highway, Fairy<br />
Meadow byrnesurfboardsaustralia.com<br />
SURF PIT 02 4283 7196 - 2/100 Railway St,<br />
Corrimal www.surfpit.com.au<br />
SKIPP SURFBOARDS 02 4229 1202<br />
231 Crown Street, Wollongong<br />
(factory showroom); 02 4228 8878<br />
24 Flinders St, Wollongong<br />
www.skippsurfboards.com.au<br />
CARABINE SURF DESIGNS 02 4229 9462<br />
36 Flinders St, Wollongong<br />
NSW SOUTH COAST<br />
ZINK SURF 02 4233 1189 - 136 Terralong St,<br />
Kiama www.zinksurf.com.au<br />
NATURAL NECESSITY SURF SHOP 02 4234 1636<br />
115 Fern St, Gerringong www.nnss.com.au<br />
AQUATIQUE 02 4421 8159 - 125-127 Junction<br />
St, Nowra; 02 4441 5530 - 55 Owen St,<br />
Huskisson www.aquatique.com.au<br />
BUSTED SURF CO. 02 4447 3485<br />
10 Fairlands St, Culburra Beach<br />
OCEAN & EARTH 02 4441 2482 12 Springs<br />
Road, Sussex Inlet www.oceanearth.com<br />
SUN & SURF SHOP 02 4441 1938<br />
Shop 1, 168 Jacobs Dve, Sussex Inlet<br />
AKWA SURF 02 4454 5222 - Shop 1,<br />
Mellick’s Corner, Princess Hwy, Milton<br />
www.akwasurf.com.au<br />
SOUTHERN MAN SURF SHOP<br />
02 4454 0343 -138 Princes Hwy, Ulladulla<br />
www.southernman.com.au<br />
SALTWATER DREAM 02 4472 3811<br />
2 Bay Central, Batemans Bay<br />
OFFSHORE SURF SHOP 02 4474 4350<br />
66 Vulcan St, Moruya offshoresurf.com.au<br />
NAROOMA SURF & SKATE 02 4476 1422<br />
30 Princes Hwy, Narooma<br />
DSC SURFBOARDS 0424 867 962<br />
Princes Highway, Narooma<br />
BERMAGUI SURF SHOP 02 6493 4849<br />
4/28 Lamont St, Bermagui<br />
RAW SURFBOARDS 02 6494 4466<br />
1291 Tathra Road, Kalaru<br />
www.rawsurfboards.com.au<br />
MERIMBULA SURF SHOP 02 6495 1515<br />
Merimbula Drive, Merimbula<br />
SALTWATER DREAM 02 6495 1600<br />
39 Market St, Merimbula<br />
CORE SURF SKATE AND KITE 02 6494 3374<br />
49 Toalla St, Pambula Village<br />
www.pambulasurfshop.com.au<br />
COUNTRY VIC<br />
SURF SHACK 03 5155 4933<br />
507 Esplanade, Lakes Entrance<br />
96 jul/aug <strong>2011</strong><br />
ATOLL TRAVEL 1800 622 310 - 4 Bridge<br />
Street, Foster www.atolltravel.com<br />
SERIOUS SURF STUFF 03 5674 2540<br />
1 Williams St , Inverloch<br />
VORTEX SURF & SKATE 03 5672 4112<br />
54 McBride Ave, Wonthaggi<br />
PHILLIP ISLAND<br />
OUTEREEF 03 5678 5677 - 73 Phillip Island<br />
Rd, San Remo www.outereef.com.au<br />
FULLCIRCLE SURF 03 5678 5873<br />
115 Marine Pde, San Remo; 03 5956 7453<br />
4-5 Vista Pl, Cape Woolamai<br />
www.fullcirclesurf.com.au<br />
ISLANTIS 03 5956 7553 - 10-12 Phillip<br />
Island Rd, Newhaven www.islantis.com.au<br />
ISLAND SURF CENTRE 03 5952 2578<br />
147 Thompson Ave, Cowes; 03 5952 3443<br />
65 Smiths Beach Rd, Smiths Beach<br />
www.islandsurfboards.com.au<br />
ISLAND SURF SHACK 03 5952 1659<br />
148 Thompson Ave, Cowes<br />
MELBOURNE<br />
ZAK SURFBOARDS 03 9416 7384<br />
319 Victoria Rd, Thornbury<br />
www.zaksurfboards.com<br />
TRIGGER BROS SURF & SAIL 03 9537 3222<br />
Shop 2, 1 St Kilda Rd, St Kilda<br />
www.triggerbros.com.au<br />
RPS (THE BOARD STORE) 03 9525 6475<br />
87 Ormond Rd, Elwood<br />
www.rpstheboardstore.com<br />
BRIGHTON SURF CO. 03 9593 2211<br />
43 Church St, Brighton<br />
SHQ BOARDSPORTS 03 9598 2867<br />
81 Beach Rd, Sandringham www.shq.com.au<br />
MORDY SURF CENTRE 03 9580 1716<br />
628 Main St, Mordialloc mordysurf.com.au<br />
PAULOWNIA SURFBOARD SUPPLIES<br />
03 9588 2533 - 45 Governor Road,<br />
Mordialloc paulowniaparadise.com.au<br />
OKE SURFBOARDS 03 9587 3553<br />
Factory 1 1-7 Canterbury Rd, Braeside<br />
www.okesurfboards.com<br />
TRIGGER BROS SURF & SAIL 03 9770 2223<br />
7 Rossmith St, Frankston; 03 5989 8402<br />
Point Leo Rd, Point Leo; 03 5984 5670<br />
46 Ocean Beach Rd, Sorrento<br />
www.triggerbros.com.au<br />
PENINSULA SURF CENTRE 03 9783 3811<br />
40 Wells St, Frankston; 03 5975 1800<br />
835 Nepean Hwy, Mornington;<br />
03 5985 4637 - 2137 Pt Nepean Hwy, Rye<br />
www.peninsulasurf.com.au<br />
BALIN 03 5986 6<strong>06</strong>9 - 12 Newington Ave,<br />
Rosebud www.balin.com.au<br />
BEAN SURFING 03 5984 5199<br />
4 Ocean Beach Rd, Sorrento<br />
VIC SURF COAST<br />
MURFS LONGBOARDS 03 5255 5525<br />
82 The Terrace, Ocean Grove<br />
www.murfslongboards.com.au<br />
STRAPPER SURF 03 5255 2666<br />
67b The Terrace, Ocean Grove<br />
www.strapper.com.au<br />
GREEN ROOM SURF SHOP 03 5256 2996<br />
64 The Terrace, Ocean Grove<br />
www.greenroom.com.au<br />
RASTA’S 03 5254 3255 51 Hitchcock Ave,<br />
Barwon Heads rastasurfboards.com.au<br />
STONKER TORQUAY 03 5261 6077 - 1a Baines<br />
Cr, Torquay www.stonker.com.au<br />
HYDROPHILIC 0421 504 621 - 1C Baines Cr,<br />
Torquay www.southcoastlongboards.com.au<br />
SURF WORLD 03 5261 46<strong>06</strong> Surf City Plaza,<br />
Torquay www.surfworld.org.au<br />
PATAGONIA 03 5261 4420 - 116 Surfcoast<br />
Hwy, Torquay www.patagonia.com.au<br />
BASE 03 5261 5666 - 3/108 Surfcoast Hwy,<br />
Torquay www.basesurfboards.com<br />
STRAPPER 03 5261 3508 - 96 Surfcoast Hwy,<br />
Torquay; 03 5261 2312 - 1<strong>06</strong> Surfcoast Hwy,<br />
Torquay www.strapper.com.au<br />
WATERMARKS PHOTO GALLERY 03 5264 7232<br />
38-40 Bell Street, Torquay<br />
www.watermarksphotogallery.com.au<br />
TORQUAY SURFING ACADEMY 03 5261 2022<br />
34A Bell St, Torquay torquaysurf.com.au<br />
TIGERFISH 03 5264 7271 - 12/15 Bell St,<br />
Torquay www.tigerfish.com.au<br />
up the next edition of smorgasboarder at any<br />
of these fine businesses - out in September.<br />
LONG-EAZ<br />
LONGARM BOARD HOLDER<br />
Arms too short? Too far to<br />
walk? Get a grip!<br />
0408 092 122<br />
www.long-eaz.com<br />
ANGLESEA SURF CENTRE 03 5263 1530<br />
111 Great Ocean Rd, Anglesea www.<br />
secondhandsurfboards.com.au<br />
LORNE SURF SHOP 03 5289 1673<br />
130 Mountjoy Pde, Lorne<br />
SHARKY’S 03 5289 2421<br />
Mountjoy Pde, Lorne<br />
HODGY’S SURF CENTRE 03 5237 7883<br />
143 Great Ocean Rd, Apollo Bay hodgys.com<br />
SHIPWRECK COAST<br />
PORT CAMPBELL TRADING CO. 03 5598 6444<br />
27 Lord Street, Port Campbell<br />
TAYLORS SURFODESY 03 5562 5681<br />
132 Liebig Street, Warrnambool<br />
WARRNAMBOOL SURF CENTRE 03 5562 1981<br />
136 Koroit Street, Warrnambool<br />
DAKTARI SURF/DIVE 03 5568 2800<br />
33 Bank Street, Port Fairy<br />
www.daktarisport.com.au<br />
SOUTH AUSTRALIA<br />
CUTLOOSE SURF 08 8326 0939 - 4 Piping<br />
Lane, Lonsdale www.cutloosesurf.com.au<br />
MID COAST SURF 08 83845522 - 8/200 Dyson<br />
Road, Lonsdale www.midcoastsurf.com.au<br />
PREECE’S SOUTH PORT SURF 08 8386 0404<br />
159 Esplanade, Port Noarlunga South<br />
www.preece-sthport-surf.com.au<br />
BARREL SURF 08 8555 5422 - 10c Cadell St,<br />
Goolwa www.barrellsurf.com.au<br />
BIG SURF AUSTRALIA 08 8554 2399<br />
24 Goolwa Rd, Middleton<br />
SOUTHERN SURF 08 8554 2375<br />
36 North Tce, Port Elliot<br />
THE SURF SHOP 08 8552 5466 -15 Albert<br />
Place, Victor Harbor thesurfshop.net.au<br />
THE DING KING / CLARK SURFBOARDS<br />
0422 443 789 - 20 Cottage Road, Hackham<br />
leightonclark01@yahoo.com.au<br />
SURF ESTEEM 08 8557 7201 - Aldinga Central<br />
Shopping Centre www.surfesteem.com<br />
ONBOARD SURF WIND SNOW 08 8294 3866<br />
21 Saltfleet St, Port Noarlunga; 1-3 Lights<br />
Landing, Holdfast Shores, Glenelg<br />
www.onboardsurf.com.au<br />
JRS SURF & SKI 08 838 47466 - Centro<br />
Colonnades; 08 8377 0322 - Westfield<br />
Marion; 08 8223 5505 -121 Grenfell St,<br />
Adelaide CBD; 08 8231 9577 - Myer<br />
Centre, Adelaide CBD; 08 8396 4822 Tea<br />
Tree Plus www.jrssurfandski.com.au<br />
FLY BOARDRIDING 08 8386 0100<br />
Shop 41 Seaford Shopping Centre<br />
www.flyboardriding.com.au<br />
ISLAND SURF 08 8296 9776<br />
363 Brighton Road Hove<br />
EXTREME BOARDRIDERS 08 8295 1219<br />
1/118 Jetty Rd, Glenelg<br />
WALLBRIDGE SURFBOARDS 08 8376 4914<br />
27 Oaklands Rd, Somerton Park<br />
www.wallbridge.com.au<br />
SANCTUARY SURFERS 0403 134 478<br />
201 Waymouth St, Adelaide<br />
www.sanctuary.net.au<br />
DING REPAIRS<br />
AGNES WATER/1770<br />
REEF 2 BEACH<br />
(Mon – Sat, 9-5pm, Sun,10-4pm)<br />
07 4974 9072<br />
SUNSHINE COAST<br />
DA BOMB<br />
(Mon – Sat, 9-5pm, Sun,10-4pm)<br />
07 5451 <strong>06</strong>20 - Maroochydore<br />
07 5437 9201 - Bokarina<br />
BRISBANE<br />
PRIMITIVE SURF<br />
(Mon-Fri, 8:30-5:30pm, Thurs<br />
8:30am-8pm, Sat, 8:30-4pm,<br />
Sun, 10-4pm)<br />
07 3266 1001<br />
SOUTHPORT<br />
KOMA<br />
(M-F 9-5pm, Sat 9-12pm)<br />
0402 863 763<br />
MIAMI<br />
DINO’S DING REPAIRS<br />
(M-F 9-5pm, Sat 9-12pm)<br />
0409 727 735<br />
TUGUN<br />
DIVERSE<br />
(M-F,8:30-5:30pm, Sat and<br />
SNOW & SURF CO. 08 8223 5277<br />
Sun, 9-4pm)<br />
187 Rundle St, Adelaide<br />
07 5598 4848<br />
COOLANGATTA<br />
UNDERGROUND SURF<br />
(7 days, 9-5pm)<br />
07 5599 1040<br />
FULL FORCE<br />
(M-F, 9-5pm)<br />
07 5524 2933<br />
BYRON BAY<br />
BYRON BAY DING REPAIRS<br />
(Mon-Fri, 8:30-4:30pm)<br />
02 6685 6770<br />
0409 849 442<br />
YAMBA<br />
THE PLANK SHOP<br />
02 6645 8362<br />
TOMBSTONE SURFBOARDS<br />
(Tues-Fri, 9-4pm, Sat, 9-12pm)<br />
0432 330 826<br />
COFFS HARBOUR<br />
THE LOG SHACK<br />
(M-F, 10-5pm, Sat & Sun<br />
10-2:30pm)<br />
02 6658 0223<br />
www.snowsurf.com.au<br />
NORAH HEAD<br />
BUCKO’S SURFBOARD REPAIRS<br />
& RESTORATIONS<br />
(M-F, 10-5.30pm, weekends by<br />
appointment<br />
0422 304 078<br />
LONG JETTY<br />
S & D SURF DESIGNS<br />
(M-F, 9-4pm, Sat 9-12pm)<br />
0437 032 614<br />
SYDNEY NORTH<br />
BROOKVALE SURFBOARD<br />
REPAIRS<br />
(M-F,8:30-5:30pm, Sat and<br />
Sun, 9-4pm)<br />
0403 971 072<br />
CHAOS SURFBOARDS<br />
(M-F,9-6pm,<br />
Sat & Sun 8:30-6pm)<br />
02 9907 2769<br />
WOOLONGONG<br />
SKIPP SURFBOARDS<br />
M-F,9-5:30, Thurs 9-7:30pm,<br />
Sat 9-4, Sun 10-4)<br />
02 4228 8878<br />
JERVIS BAY<br />
INNER FEELING SURFBOARDS<br />
(7 days, 9-5pm)<br />
02 4441 6756<br />
NAROOMA<br />
DSC SURFBOARDS<br />
(7 days, 9-5pm)<br />
0424 867 962<br />
THORNBURY<br />
ZAK SURFBOARDS<br />
(Mon-Fri,10-6pm; Sat 10-5pm)<br />
03 9416 7384<br />
TORQUAY<br />
STONKER TORQUAY<br />
(Mon – Fri, 9-5pm)<br />
03 5261 6077<br />
PHILLIP ISLAND<br />
ISLANTIS<br />
(7 days , 9-5pm)<br />
03 5956 7553<br />
ISLAND SURF SHOP - COWES<br />
(7 days, 9-5pm)<br />
03 5952 2578<br />
FULLCIRCLE SURF<br />
(7 days, 9-5pm)<br />
03 5956 7453<br />
ADELAIDE<br />
WALLBRIDGE SURFBOARDS<br />
(M-F, 9-5.30pm, Sat 9-4pm)<br />
08 8376 4914<br />
SOUTH ADELAIDE<br />
THE DING KING<br />
(M-F, 9-5pm)<br />
0422 443 789<br />
FIX BROKEN BOARDS?<br />
Promote your repair business for $15<br />
an edition. Call 0401 345 201
Planning a surfing holiday or weekend away? These fine accommodation options offer<br />
great proximity to surf beaches in some of the country’s best surf spots. Get out there.<br />
QUEENSLAND<br />
SURF TRIP ACCOMMODATION<br />
NEW SOUTH WALES<br />
VICTORIA<br />
PORTOBELLO BY THE SEA<br />
<br />
6 Beerburrum St, Dicky Beach<br />
Caloundra<br />
Fantastic surf spots right on<br />
your doorstep. Moffat, Neill<br />
Street, Dicky Beach all within<br />
a 5 minute walk. Luxury<br />
accommodation within 50 m of<br />
some of the best restaurants<br />
Caloundra has to offer.<br />
Proximity: Across from<br />
patrolled Dicky Beach, on-site<br />
dining and shopping.<br />
Phone: 07 5491 9038<br />
E: info@portobellobythesea.com.au<br />
www.portobellobythesea.com.au<br />
From $325 for two nights.<br />
PANDANUS PALMS<br />
HOLIDAY RESORT<br />
21 Cumming Pde, Point Lookout,<br />
North Stradbroke Island<br />
High on a hill overlooking Home<br />
Beach, looking north towards<br />
Moreton Island, offering plenty<br />
of open space for children to<br />
play, full size tennis court and<br />
swimming pool.<br />
The two or three bedroom villas<br />
are fully self-contained with<br />
large living area and private<br />
balcony, own BBQ and linen<br />
is supplied. We can arrange<br />
return vehicle ferry crossings at<br />
a discounted rate.<br />
Proximity: 500m walk to Home<br />
Beach and Stradbroke Island<br />
Beach Hotel. 2km to cafes,<br />
shops and Gorge Walk.<br />
P: 07 3409 81<strong>06</strong><br />
E: bookings@pandanuspalmsresort.com<br />
www.pandanuspalmsresort.com<br />
THE ISLANDER HOLIDAY RESORT<br />
41 East Coast Rd, Point Lookout<br />
North Stradbroke Island<br />
Ideally located, whether it’s<br />
adventure or relaxation you’re<br />
after, there’s something for<br />
everyone - pool, tennis court, bbq<br />
area, kids playground, scooter &<br />
car hire. Studio, 1 & 2 bedroom<br />
apartments available, all fully<br />
self-contained with foxtel, dvd<br />
player, wireless internet access,<br />
balconies and parking.<br />
Proximity: 2 min walk to<br />
hotel, pub, bowls club, shops<br />
& restaurants. Opposite Home/<br />
Cylinder beaches.<br />
P: 07 3409 8388<br />
E: islander@stradbrokeresorts.com.au<br />
islander.stradbrokeresorts.com.au<br />
From $225 for 2 nights<br />
IBIS WOLLONGONG<br />
Cnr Church and Market Street<br />
Wollongong<br />
3.5 star hotel in the heart of<br />
Wollongong restaurant and<br />
business district, minutes from<br />
beautiful beaches. Winner Best<br />
Standard Accommodation on the<br />
South Coast 2008, 2009 & 2010.<br />
Air conditioned rooms include<br />
tea and coffee facilities, mini<br />
bar fridges, flatscreen TV and<br />
internet connectivity. Special<br />
Access rooms and facilities are<br />
also available.<br />
Proximity: 10 minute<br />
walk to the beach and WIN<br />
Entertainment Centre. On the<br />
doorstep of Crown St Mall<br />
Phone: 02 4223 6000<br />
E: H6377@accor.com<br />
www.accorhotels.com/6377<br />
PHILLIP ISLAND VISITOR<br />
INFORMATION CENTRE<br />
895 Phillip Island Road,<br />
Newhaven, Phillip Island<br />
Planning a surf trip to Phillip<br />
Island? The island offers<br />
over 2000 beds and over 100<br />
accommodation businesses to<br />
choose from.<br />
Contact Phillip Island<br />
Visitor Information Centre’s<br />
accommodation specialists for<br />
all your accommodation needs.<br />
Let our friendly staff assist you<br />
in finding the perfect place for<br />
you to stay.<br />
P: 1300 366 422<br />
E: piinfo@basscoast.vic.gov.au<br />
www.visitbasscoast.com<br />
From $330.00 for two nights<br />
From $119 per room per night<br />
CALOUNDRA<br />
HOLIDAY CENTRE<br />
1/78 Bulcock St, Caloundra<br />
Caloundra Holiday Centre has<br />
been assisting holidaymakers<br />
find their perfect Sunshine Coast<br />
getaway for over 25 years. We<br />
offer one of the largest portfolios<br />
of holiday accommodation in<br />
Caloundra, consisting of a great<br />
choice of budget to luxury self<br />
contained units and houses at<br />
all beaches. With family friendly<br />
prices and seniors’ discounts<br />
available, we’re sure to have a<br />
property to suit your needs at a<br />
competitive price.<br />
Our friendly and experienced<br />
staff can assist you with<br />
finding your perfect beach<br />
break! Request our free colour<br />
brochure and price list today!<br />
P: 07 5491 5444<br />
E: info@caloundraholidaycentre.com.au<br />
caloundraholidaycentre.com.au<br />
From $340 p/w, low season<br />
WHALE WATCH OCEAN<br />
BEACH RESORT<br />
Samarinda Dve, Point Lookout,<br />
North Stradbroke Island<br />
Located at North Stradbroke<br />
Island’s Point Lookout, Whale<br />
Watch Ocean Beach Resort<br />
provides endless views along<br />
the main surfing beach (which<br />
is one of the east’s coasts<br />
renowned surf spots) and over<br />
the Pacific Ocean, to the Gold<br />
Coast and beyond.<br />
Proximity: Short walk to Point<br />
Lookout Surf Club and all the<br />
major Point Lookout attractions.<br />
P: 07 3409 8555<br />
E: reservations@<br />
whalewatchresort.com.au<br />
www.whalewatchresort.com.au<br />
STRADBROKE ISLAND<br />
HOLIDAYS<br />
Shop 2 Raby Bay Harbour<br />
152 Shore Street West<br />
Cleveland<br />
North Stradbroke Island is the<br />
ideal holiday destination for<br />
families, couples or maybe<br />
just a day trip. Located one<br />
hour from Brisbane, Straddie is<br />
easily accessible by Stradbroke<br />
Ferries’ fast reliable vehicle<br />
ferries or water taxi which<br />
depart from Cleveland.<br />
Stradbroke Island Holidays<br />
offer an efficient booking<br />
service to arrange all of your<br />
accommodation and luxury<br />
Stradbroke Ferry transfers to<br />
and from North Stradbroke<br />
Island.<br />
P: 07 3821 0266<br />
www.stradbrokeholidays.com.au<br />
KIAMA COVE MOTEL<br />
10 Bong Bong St, Kiama<br />
Kiama Cove Motel is located in<br />
the heart of Kiama, overlooking<br />
Surf Beach with most rooms<br />
having ocean views, airconditioning<br />
and king sized<br />
beds. All with complimentary<br />
continental breakfasts.<br />
Proximity: Right on Kiama<br />
Beach. Short walk to the main<br />
street of Kiama.<br />
Phone: 02 4232 3000<br />
E: kiamacove@bigpond.com<br />
www.kiamacove.com.au<br />
From $99-$169 per room<br />
per night<br />
SILVERWATER RESORT<br />
17 Potters Hill Rd, San Remo<br />
Spacious one, two and<br />
three-bedroom self-contained<br />
apartments all with spectacular<br />
bay views and modern<br />
conveniences. Complementing<br />
the 4.5 star accommodation<br />
is an excellent range of resort<br />
facilities including indoor<br />
and outdoor pool, billiards<br />
and games room, tennis and<br />
basketball courts, restaurant<br />
and bar.<br />
Proximity: Five mins to surf<br />
beach, two mins to town<br />
Phone: 1800 033 403<br />
res@silverwaterresort.com.au<br />
www.silverwaterresort.com.au<br />
From $175 per night<br />
TV<br />
gym<br />
laundry<br />
kitchen<br />
parking wi-fi pool airconditioning family-friendly pet-friendly spa<br />
bbq<br />
jul/aug <strong>2011</strong><br />
97
CLOSEOUT: RELAX<br />
ROCKIN’ THE<br />
SANBAH<br />
Merewether’s trendy surf and fashion<br />
store, Sanbah, celebrated the opening of<br />
their new joint at Junction Fair in style.<br />
1.<br />
2.<br />
PHOTOS:<br />
1. Jesse Adam and Cable from Vampirate<br />
Surfboards<br />
2. The groms - sponsored Sanbah team riders<br />
(L-R) Louie Stackhouse, Jack Taylor, Jackson<br />
Baker and Luke Hamilton<br />
3. Mark Gnech, Hayden Cox and Ozzie Wright<br />
4. Stephanie Smith and Sophie Damen<br />
5. The hosts Rhys and Sophie Smith - owners<br />
of Sanbah - with interior stylist for Sanbah<br />
Tim Neve<br />
6. Happy couple Lauren and Ryan Smith<br />
7. At the skatewall - Lewis Brent, Tom Antcliff,<br />
Joel O’Brien and Jake Sylvester<br />
8. Lauren Miller and James Simpson<br />
3.<br />
6.<br />
4.<br />
5.<br />
7. 8.<br />
If you’re in Newcastle, make sure to pop in to<br />
Sanbah, check out their variety of wares and<br />
say of course, g’day to Rhys and Sophie.<br />
www.sanbahsurf.com.au<br />
A DECENT<br />
FEED OF FUN<br />
The annual longboard competition staged by<br />
the Merimbula Sailboard Club recently took<br />
place and by all accounts, a lot of fun was<br />
had by all. The event has been running for<br />
25 years now and has taken on many names<br />
such as The Maligator, The Maltrix and the<br />
In-4-Mal. This year it was Malnutrition. For<br />
many of the competitors it’s the only time<br />
throughout the year they ride a mal.<br />
1.<br />
4.<br />
2. 3.<br />
5.<br />
Photos by Stan Squire, artist for - amongst<br />
others - Bushrat Surfboards. To check out his<br />
artwork, see stansquire.com<br />
PHOTOS:<br />
1. Dave Pimm of Sydney<br />
2. Jay Mulherin of Cooma and Gary Corbett of<br />
Merimbula (paddling)<br />
3. Dave Prowse of Pambula<br />
4. Henry Jones, Mark Hagan, James Hagan<br />
5. Jacob Holme<br />
6. Jed Done<br />
7. Lachie McNeil<br />
6.<br />
7.<br />
TELL US ABOUT YOUR EVENT<br />
If you have something on the go, let us know.<br />
Email us on: editorial@smorgasboarder.com.au<br />
98 jul/aug <strong>2011</strong>
ZE’ RIGHT TIME<br />
FOR A NEW WETSUIT!<br />
ZEE WETSUITS!<br />
Sacre bleu! Wis years of local experience and ze ‘ighest quality materials, a ZEE wetsuit<br />
is ze warmest and most comfortable wetsuit you can own. Most importantly, every ZEE<br />
WETSUIT is built to last. Made locally and 100% Australian owned.<br />
SHOWROOM SHE IS<br />
OPEN ZEE 7 DAYS!<br />
Call: 07 5474 1010<br />
Fax: 07 5474 2111<br />
Unit 2, 15 Venture Drive,<br />
Noosaville, QLD<br />
sales@zeewetsuits.com<br />
www.zeewetsuits.com<br />
jul/aug <strong>2011</strong><br />
99