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BUMPER 164-PAGE BIRTHDAY EDITION! MASSIVE BOARDS SECTION!<br />
SHARK!<br />
FRIEND<br />
OR FOE?<br />
...P56<br />
Byrobn Bbaya<br />
AT HOME IN THE WAVES<br />
LIVING ...P42<br />
THE PEOPLE, THE PLACE<br />
DISCOVER YOUR BACKYARD ...P78<br />
SURF SHOTS<br />
THE BEST READER PICS ...P17<br />
THE MAGAZINE FOR THOSE WHO LOVE TO SURF<br />
ISSUE #7 SEP/OCT <strong>2011</strong>
02 6680 88<strong>07</strong> / www.mctavish.com.au
DETAILS<br />
& THINGS<br />
WHERE TO PICK SMORGASBOARDER UP<br />
Quality surf stores, shapers and cool cafes within 10kms of the coast<br />
through Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia. For<br />
a full list of distributors, visit the directory in the back of the mag or just<br />
get to your local surf shop and talk to some real people, in the flesh. If you<br />
see a local store advertising, they’re sure to have the lion’s share of mags<br />
in your area. smorgasboarder is published six times a year.<br />
CAN’T GET THERE? SUBSCRIBE<br />
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$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 left.<br />
THIS EDITION’S COVER SHOT<br />
A picture perfect moment of Byron Bay local Johnny Abegg<br />
with his friend Pinky the Sea Quad, snapped by our feature<br />
photographer, Alex Frings. For more on Alex, see Page 90.<br />
THANK YOU<br />
...to all the people who made this edition possible. Special<br />
thanks to Dean Slockee, Louise Gough, Gus Brown, Helen<br />
Chapman, Katie Swan and John Pickering.<br />
THE TEAM<br />
SALES & EDITORIAL:<br />
Dave Swan<br />
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 />
0410 175 552<br />
CONTRIBUTORS<br />
WRITING TALENT & PHOTOGRAPHIC GENIUS<br />
Thanks to all you readers that have sent in photos, stories,<br />
ideas and more... You keep us powering on. Thanks to Brett<br />
Bam, Aimee Sics, Ben Horvath, Joel Coleman and Madelaine<br />
Dickie for the great stories and Alex Frings, Joel Coleman<br />
again, Grant Molony, Trent Dooley, Jarrod Slatter, Roie<br />
Hughes and Casey Ripper for the great photos.<br />
Ideas & submissions: editorial@smorgasboarder.com.au<br />
Distribution: mags@hugecmedia.com.au<br />
6 jul/aug <strong>2011</strong><br />
WWW.SMORGASBOARDER.COM.AU<br />
smorgasboarder is published by Huge C Media Pty Ltd<br />
ABN 30944673055. All information is correct at time of going to<br />
press. The publishers cannot accept responsibility for errors in<br />
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recycling. Nice work.
Since 1971<br />
“is what surfing is all about”<br />
www.goodtime.com.au<br />
Surf photos by Jacob Lambert<br />
Goodtime Surf & Sail<br />
29 Ipswich Road, Woolloongabba, Brisbane<br />
<strong>07</strong> 3391 8588<br />
info@goodtime.com.au<br />
JOIN US ON FACEBOOK!<br />
Come and see Gail and the Goodtime team at jul/aug the <strong>2011</strong> Gabba7
Aug 10 <strong>2011</strong>, 4:19pm<br />
Aug 10 <strong>2011</strong>, 4:20pm<br />
Aug 10 <strong>2011</strong>, 4:20pm<br />
Hey Guys, I have been dreaming<br />
of surfing South Americas pristine<br />
coastline for a while now and have<br />
decided to make it happen. Is anybody<br />
keen to join me??<br />
I have some holidays<br />
due, I’m in!<br />
Aug 10 <strong>2011</strong>, 4:21pm<br />
I have always wanted to<br />
surf Chile, me too!<br />
PH: 1300 00WAVE<br />
8 jul/aug <strong>2011</strong>
INSIDE THIS ISSUE<br />
17<br />
HEAPS OF READER<br />
PHOTOGRAPHS!<br />
Pages of your cracking<br />
pic submissions from<br />
the past two months<br />
OUCH!<br />
42<br />
56<br />
78<br />
GRAND DESIGNS<br />
IN THE BUSH<br />
We spend some time<br />
at Jed “Bushrat”<br />
Done’s amazing home<br />
SHARKS: BAD, OR<br />
JUST BAD REP?<br />
We know they’re there,<br />
but what are they up<br />
to? We ask questions.<br />
BYRON BAY ROAD<br />
TRIP SPECIAL<br />
Fun days and big nights<br />
at one of our favourite<br />
surf towns, period.<br />
ALL THE<br />
USUAL BITS<br />
THE LATEST<br />
Feedback P15<br />
And greatest P26<br />
News P32<br />
Community P35<br />
Latest local faces P48<br />
TRAVEL<br />
Visit South America P70<br />
Discover your back yard P78<br />
GEAR<br />
Byron Bay’s shapers P104<br />
Talking about blanks P132<br />
Skate P137<br />
Test everything P148<br />
<br />
CLOSEOUT<br />
Fitness P155<br />
People out and about P159<br />
Less comedy and more ‘oh crap’...<br />
Central Coast big-wave charger, Justin<br />
‘Jughead’ Alport cops a nasty little bit<br />
of underwater time. For more about<br />
Jughead, check out the story on page 50.<br />
BILL<br />
TOLHURST<br />
5’10”, 6’0”, 6’2”, 6’6” & 6’10”<br />
Photo: Grant Molony. See more at<br />
grantmolonyphoto.blogspot.com<br />
SURFTECH AUSTRALIA<br />
www.surftechaustralia.com.au<br />
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YO ADRIAN...<br />
Who doesn’t love the original Rocky movie?<br />
The story of a small-time boxer who gets<br />
a once in a lifetime chance to fight the<br />
heavyweight champion in a bout where<br />
he strives to go the distance for his selfrespect.<br />
The storyline of Rocky is superb. When you<br />
strip it all back, the underlining message is<br />
about exceeding expectations. It’s a story<br />
about a simple guy who gets the chance to<br />
do something amazing, and he gives it all<br />
he has got.<br />
As we celebrate one year in the game, we<br />
do feel a little like Rocky. We love what we<br />
do and consider it an amazing priviledge. In<br />
each and every edition we give it all we’ve<br />
got, to the point of absolute exhaustion.<br />
But seeing the new mag back from the<br />
printers makes it all worth it.<br />
The good, down-to-earth feedback we<br />
receive from you guys and girls - our<br />
readers - is what spurs us on, motivates<br />
us and lifts our spirits. So, thanks to each<br />
and every one of you. You have made<br />
a difference and we appreciate it. But<br />
please, keep giving us feedback. We’re not<br />
arrogant or up ourselves and we want to<br />
keep making smorgasboarder better and<br />
better every time.<br />
And finally, a big thanks to our advertisers<br />
for getting behind us, supporting us and<br />
believing in us. Without them, we wouldn’t<br />
have a mag. So as surfers, let’s continue<br />
to ensure we keep supporting our many<br />
talented shapers and local surf shops.<br />
Yes, we made it. It’s one year on... our<br />
anniversary edition. The year has been a<br />
bit of a blur - an unbelievable journey but<br />
a hell of a lot of fun, so thanks for being<br />
along for the ride.<br />
WELCOME TASSIE<br />
Yep, the smorgasboarder family is breeding<br />
like rabbits, popping up here, there and<br />
everywhere. Welcome on board!<br />
You can now pick us up in five states and<br />
online too. Read all editions at<br />
www.smorgasboarder.com.au<br />
And if copies at your local surf store<br />
have run out before you get there,<br />
remember you can also subscribe to have<br />
smorgasboarder delivered to your door<br />
for only $18 for the year. Subscribe online<br />
at www.smorgasboarder.com.au<br />
Dave<br />
Make a wish....<br />
Cake baked by Katie Swan<br />
july/aug <strong>2011</strong><br />
11
LADIES FIRST<br />
LITTLE GIRL<br />
BIG SURF<br />
PHOTO: ROIE HUGHES<br />
THESE DAYS TEENAGER ZOE CLARKE HAS DREAMS OF<br />
COMPETITION TOUR STARDOM AND WINNING A WORLD TITLE,<br />
BUT IT ALL STARTED YEARS AGO, SURFING AT THE AGE OF<br />
FOUR, ON LITTLE WAVES AROUND TORQUAY ON DAD’S MAL.<br />
“I really always loved the beach<br />
because everyone in my family did it<br />
so I guess it just came naturally.”<br />
At age 6, Zoe started Nippers with<br />
her sisters Serena and Phoebe. The<br />
training three days a week which<br />
involved swimming in many different<br />
conditions taught her about endurance,<br />
and helped build her surfing confidence<br />
as she started testing herself in more<br />
challenging waves.<br />
“As I’ve got older and started surfing<br />
the reef breaks bigger and bigger<br />
I kinda just got more comfortable.<br />
When you’re younger you don’t really<br />
think about the consequences.<br />
“When you first get out there you<br />
don’t really know how big it is until<br />
you start getting thrashed around<br />
under the white water. In Victoria<br />
it’s pretty hard to avoid big waves...<br />
You are going to have to tackle them<br />
eventually!”<br />
In addition to the Nippers, Zoe also<br />
did squad training for swimming three<br />
times a week.<br />
“I really loved the water and just<br />
getting out there...Yeah, the only<br />
way to get better at something is to<br />
practice.”<br />
A young girl in big Victorian<br />
conditions… Surely there has to be<br />
an element of fear in there?<br />
“Fear is there to be conquered every<br />
time you surf. Every new place<br />
you surf has its perils. Surfing is a<br />
sport of personal challenges in an<br />
uncontrolled environment.”<br />
Leaving the colder climate behind, Zoe<br />
has recently moved to Queensland.<br />
“Yeah, I’ve just moved. You can spend<br />
so much more time in the water and<br />
all the surfers out there really push<br />
you because they’re some of the best<br />
surfers in the world. The waves in<br />
Queensland are smaller, but a lot<br />
faster than Victoria. The crowd also<br />
helps you to react faster and learn to<br />
get the best waves. “<br />
But it’s not just all about surfing for<br />
Zoe either...<br />
“One thing I would also love to do is<br />
help people in need. I would love to go<br />
to another country and help out people<br />
less fortunate than myself. It would be<br />
great to help them in a way that could<br />
change their life... Why not?“<br />
Exactly. Why not? Best of luck for<br />
those great future plans, Zoe.<br />
12 sep/oct <strong>2011</strong>
“IN VICTORIA IT’S<br />
PRETTY HARD TO<br />
AVOID BIG WAVES...<br />
YOU ARE GOING TO<br />
HAVE TO TACKLE THEM<br />
EVENTUALLY!”<br />
www.surfcomposites.com.au<br />
admin@surftechaustralia.com.au<br />
sep/oct 0<strong>2011</strong><br />
4226 1322 13
*On all orders over $50, excludes parcels over 6’10”.<br />
14 sep/oct <strong>2011</strong>
WINNER<br />
STUFF UP FOR GRABS!<br />
THE C-SKINS WETSUIT GIVEAWAY<br />
C-SKINS WETSUITS asked you to dig up your old wetsuits.<br />
Taking pity on the neediest owner, they offered to generously<br />
replace said suit with a brand new C-SKINS Wired S2 3x2,<br />
valued at $475!<br />
And this edition’s winner is keeping it in the family, replacing his<br />
much beloved old C-SKINS suit with a brand new one. With so<br />
many years of fun out of it, Joe’s a walking billboard for how well<br />
these suits last!<br />
“I have had my trusty C-Skins 5/3 steamer for 10 years. It’s surfed<br />
all around Europe with me and outlasted many boards.<br />
“When my family and I decided to move to Australia I thought it<br />
would be a fitting retirement for my old suit. I hadn’t counted on<br />
S.A. waters being this chilly.”<br />
Congrats to Joe from Sellicks Beach, South Australia!<br />
For more information on C-SKINS suits call 0412 081 546 or<br />
visit the website on www.c-skins.com<br />
XXX-ING MORE TO WIN!<br />
*Prize suit for illustration only.<br />
LATEST: FEEDBACK<br />
TELL US ABOUT YOUR XXX-ING SCARY SURFING MOMENT AND WIN A<br />
LONG-ARMED SPRING SUIT FROM TRIPLE X WETSUITS!<br />
THERE’S A 2MM L/S TITANIUM 3D, RRP $289 UP FOR GRABS!<br />
It may have been a big wave, an encounter with a Noah or when you have ended up<br />
accidentally surfing au naturale. If you have a Triple X moment and want to share it,<br />
or better still have photographic evidence, we want to to know about it. The winner<br />
will get a terrific Long-Arm Spring suit from Triple X Wetsuits. The hottest wetsuit<br />
you will ever wear. Send your stories in to letters@smorgasboarder.com.au<br />
JOIN IN THE CONVERSATION:<br />
Email all your innermost thoughts, letters, stories, photos, praise, rants to<br />
letters@smorgasboarder.com.au or send other contribution ideas, surf<br />
photography or fantastic ideas for stories to editor@smorgasboarder.com.au.<br />
Join us on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/<strong>Smorgasboarder</strong>-Surf-<br />
Magazine/133229320054947 (or easier, just search for smorgasboarder)<br />
LOVE THY SHAPER<br />
I think we are very lucky as surfers to be able to get boards<br />
made locally, by someone with a knowledge of the waves<br />
we surf, for a price that hasn’t changed a great deal in the<br />
last 20 years. We are even more fortunate that many of us<br />
can get a board custom shaped by an ex pro surfer, in my<br />
case Glyndon Ringrose, for next to no difference in price<br />
from a board off the rack.<br />
Surfing is very unique in this regard. Can you imagine the cost<br />
of custom made equipment by a top athlete in any other sport?<br />
Support your local shapers ‘cos we don’t wanna be ordering<br />
overseas boards from a catalogue saying `remember when’.<br />
Troy, Phillip Island<br />
Mate, you couldn’t be more on the money. The more people<br />
that can see the value in supporting their local guys, the<br />
better for surfing in the long run. Plus you actually get to<br />
meet some top people in the process.<br />
R.E.S.P.E.C.T.<br />
How cool is it to be able to surf in<br />
this day and age!?! VERY cool! A<br />
lot of surfers nowadays don’t waste<br />
their time or energy complaining<br />
about bodyboarders, kneeboarders,<br />
shortboarders, funboarders, longboarders<br />
or SUPs. In many cases today’s wave<br />
riders own and use two, three or four of<br />
these surfcraft and so appreciate fellow<br />
surfers’ choice of fun.<br />
The majority of folk realise that it’s the<br />
individual and not the vehicle that states<br />
what kind of person they are. I like to<br />
think nowadays no matter what we ride,<br />
we can appreciate and respect each<br />
other as sons and daughters of Mother<br />
Ocean. Which of course, makes us all<br />
brothers and sisters.<br />
John, Gerringong<br />
*Letters may have been edited for length and clarity<br />
sep/oct <strong>2011</strong><br />
15
Short to long, every<br />
Ron Wade Surfboard is built<br />
for peak performance<br />
Over 40 years of experience goes into every Ron Wade design.<br />
“After talking with Ron, I was<br />
confident with his 40-plus<br />
years of shaping and designing<br />
knowledge, that he could make<br />
me a board that could allow me to<br />
progress and do what I wanted.”<br />
Korey Fogden<br />
(mention<br />
smorgasboarder to<br />
get a free leggie<br />
worth $45 with<br />
a new Ron Wade<br />
board order)<br />
Korey Fogden is a rising star in the<br />
Mona Vale Boardriders Club and<br />
regularly places in the top 3 places<br />
in the under-15 yrs division.<br />
He proudly rides the 5’6” Airobatic<br />
model in smaller surf and a<br />
5’8” Blackfeather performance<br />
shortboard for bigger waves.<br />
Korey Fogden Photo: Alec Vandyke, Mona Vale<br />
SHIPWRECK MEMORIES<br />
Couldn’t believe my luck. Had two days off work<br />
during the week just before July school holidays.<br />
Got excited as the weather was favorable for surf.<br />
I hadn’t had one since before Easter. I was going<br />
to Warrnambool to visit my parents and to catch<br />
up with my brother. Been surfing with him since<br />
1970. Started surfing age 10, wearing speedos<br />
and a football jumper in winter at Lady Bay. Didn’t<br />
care what the surf was like. I would go out alone in<br />
howling onshore in freezing conditions after school.<br />
No legrope. Later, I made one from nylon cord and<br />
Mum’s stocking.<br />
Anyway, decided to go via Torquay. Brother said<br />
don’t bother, come straight here and we will go out<br />
at Port Fairy. I picked Chris up. I couldn’t believe<br />
what I saw. 3-5 ft rights, gentle offshore breeze, four<br />
guys out and sunshine. Two hours of indulgence. A<br />
guy I hadn’t surfed with for over 25 years was there.<br />
He still dropped in on me twice, but who cared. It<br />
was great surf and great company. To top it off we<br />
went out the next day and it was just as good.<br />
Then we get back and his copy of <strong>Smorgasboarder</strong><br />
arrives and there’s the article about our backyard.<br />
I began to reminisce about the early morning runs<br />
to find surf from Port Campbell through to Portland.<br />
Had a surf once in Bay of Islands. Very long paddle<br />
across the bay to a right that was peeling. I paddled<br />
so gently because I was sure a shark was going to<br />
bite me on the arse. Being so cold that you couldn’t<br />
undo your wetsuit. Climbing down cliffs carrying<br />
your board and if you fell, you would get injured.<br />
Jumping off cliffs to get into the surf and having<br />
to climb out through a blowhole to get out. Driving<br />
across farms and paddocks to get to THE SPOT.<br />
Bill, Greensborough<br />
POSTIVE OUTLOOK<br />
In the modern times of finanical hardship on<br />
the common surfer, it’s refreshing that we and<br />
foremost yourselves (smorgasboarder), lead by<br />
literary example and Australian Spirit of when<br />
times are tough you can still have a positive<br />
outlook on life.<br />
We all have hardships, but your positive stories<br />
have given this surfer a positive outlook that I<br />
now can show my kids how positive surfing is<br />
and what it means to be a surfer, through your<br />
magazine articles.<br />
Greg, Gold Coast<br />
That’s just awesome and makes all this so much<br />
more worthwhile. Thanks Greg.<br />
The Blackfeather<br />
“This board<br />
allows me to do<br />
360 degree<br />
snap turns”<br />
The Airobatic<br />
Korey’s first<br />
choice for<br />
doing the<br />
best aerials<br />
For more information and<br />
quotes, please contact us:<br />
sales@ronwadesurfboards.com.au<br />
Phone 02 9979 7<strong>07</strong>1<br />
Mobile 0410 443 776<br />
Fax 61 2 82128039<br />
Mail Mona Vale<br />
showroom,<br />
open 9-4pm Sat or<br />
call me.<br />
www.ronwadesurfboards.com.au<br />
16 sep/oct <strong>2011</strong><br />
STICK YOUR FREEBIES<br />
In a world that at times seems all too politically<br />
correct, we’re giving you a chance to win a Surf<br />
1770 ‘Stuff Work, Go Surfing!’ Surf for the Dole<br />
t-shirt by that crazy cat, Glen Cat Collins, and<br />
two blocks of Stick It wax. To win, all you have<br />
to do is email us your most memorable moment<br />
whilst being a dole-sponsored surfer or that time<br />
you told your boss to ‘Stick-it’ and went surfing<br />
instead. Email us on:<br />
letters@smorgasboarder.com.au<br />
WIN
READER PICS<br />
Petra Eronen, Sawtell<br />
DIFFERENT LINES<br />
The submissions we receive for the mag keep us inspired, motivated and just plain pumped to do<br />
the next edition. We get so many incredible photos and stories from readers, it’s near impossible<br />
to decide on which ones to print... This edition, we’ve added a few extra pages in the mix to show<br />
off as many of your shots as we can.<br />
And it’s certainly not often that we get a physical letter in the mail, let alone a handrwitten one,<br />
complete with original pencil drawings, so we had to run this one by Petra Eronen of Sawtell...<br />
Thanks for putting in the effort to send it in.<br />
Over the next few pages, sit back and enjoy the inspired work and passion of your peers and<br />
friends. And if you’re also a passionate surfer with a keen eye and you’d like to see your photos<br />
or artwork appear in smorgasboarder, what are you waiting for? Send it in.<br />
sep/oct <strong>2011</strong><br />
17
READER PICS<br />
Ben Considine puts his best foot forward<br />
Photo: Lee Considine beachcomber3.blogspot.com<br />
18 sep/oct <strong>2011</strong>
sep/oct <strong>2011</strong><br />
19
Ours? No, all yours... Brave big wave charger Evan Faulks Photo: Toby Manson<br />
READER PICS<br />
Greeny brown frothy goodness Photo: Pommielogger pommielogger.com<br />
20 sep/oct <strong>2011</strong>
Christian Retschlag, Currimundi cruising Photo: Brett Retschlag<br />
sep/oct <strong>2011</strong><br />
21
READER PICS<br />
An hour from Adelaide Photo: James Ellis<br />
SA shaper Ben Wallbridge goes fishing<br />
Wurtulla walls. Photo: Paul Collins<br />
Charging knights of Newcastle. Photo: Chris Lemar<br />
22 sep/oct <strong>2011</strong>
sep/oct <strong>2011</strong><br />
23
READER PICS<br />
Awesome old-school shot of Moffat Headland by<br />
Simon Kettle. Shot on ACTUAL FILM, not an iPhone filter!<br />
Blue sky and glassy,<br />
just outside of Sydney.<br />
Photo: Ian Elliott<br />
24 sep/oct <strong>2011</strong>
Sri Lanka<br />
Citrus Resort<br />
Coral Sands Hotel<br />
Coral Seas<br />
Hikkaduwa – West Coast<br />
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Stand up for Victoria Photo: Hayden O’Neill oneillimagery.tumblr.com<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 />
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Port Macquarie Photo: Rivier Seb<br />
There is only one original ...<br />
Surf Travel Company<br />
sep/oct <strong>2011</strong><br />
25<br />
Smorgasboard_1/4pages_D01.indd 3 13/06/11 6:03 PM
LATEST: & GREATEST<br />
ON YA<br />
BIKE!<br />
A cool fixie from The Misters.<br />
Original, Custom, fixed wheel<br />
cruisers, mountain bikes and BMX.<br />
Find out more about The Misters<br />
at www.themisters.com.au<br />
EVERYBODY NEEDS GOOD NEIGHBOURS<br />
Take a journey with Mark Riley, of Riley Surfboards,<br />
as he teaches his neighbour to surf. More than just an<br />
instructional DVD on how to paddle and stand up, Mark<br />
talks about useful tips like choosing the right beginners<br />
board, how to care for it, safety tips and surf etiquette.<br />
To order go to www.balsasurfboardsriley.com.au<br />
NICE RACK,<br />
GOOD WOOD<br />
Custom built, hand-crafted, freestanding<br />
board racks made from<br />
recycled timbers. Class.<br />
www.Byronbayboardracks.com<br />
26 sep/oct <strong>2011</strong>
sep/oct <strong>2011</strong><br />
27
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 • NEW:<br />
HAMMOCKS!<br />
6 Lorraine Ave<br />
Marcoola Beach<br />
<strong>07</strong> 5448 8560<br />
IN STOCK: Black Apache Surfboards<br />
Mini-Simmons, Fish and more by Jesse Watson<br />
28 sep/oct <strong>2011</strong>
PHOTOGRAPHIC PROOF<br />
Sunshine Surf Safari runs a surf photo service on the Sunshine Coast. For as little as $55 per<br />
hour you can capture your next session with family or friends on film.<br />
Visit www.sunshinesurfsafari.com for details.<br />
LATEST: & GREATEST<br />
Violate<br />
$39.99 or<br />
$49.99 polarised<br />
Desire<br />
$39.99 or<br />
$49.99 polarised<br />
TAKE HEED ALL YE SINNERS!<br />
There’s a new brand of eyewear launching this <strong>September</strong> created with the consumer in mind, blending<br />
fashion styles at an affordable price. Sin Eyewear - Check out your local store.<br />
TEETOTALER<br />
Abstain from anything but these<br />
superb spring season tees!<br />
LEFT: The motion of the ocean<br />
www.saltmotion.com<br />
FAR LEFT: The best Californian<br />
Shapers www.lastwave.com<br />
ABOVE: Australia’s best shapers &<br />
surf shops www.ssstees.com.au<br />
sep/oct <strong>2011</strong><br />
29
I LOVE<br />
LAPPIES<br />
Enter the Lap Rap... Cool covers to personalize and protect your laptop from<br />
general wear and tear. Customs too. Starts from $19.95 www.lap-rap.com<br />
FISHEYE OF THE TIGER<br />
Byron Bay’s Norval Watson is one of Australia’s original ‘surf artists’.<br />
Tigerfish Gallery in Torquay has released a limited run of high-quality,<br />
framed giclee prints of some of Norval’s masterpieces. The original oil<br />
paintings are also on show and available at Tigerfish for those who take<br />
their art a little more seriously. www.tigerfish.com.au<br />
WIN<br />
SEA OF<br />
SUPPORT<br />
And speaking of Sea<br />
Shepherd, Modom Surf<br />
have partnered with the<br />
conservation society to<br />
produce a line of clothing,<br />
bags and more, so you can<br />
wear your support loud and<br />
proud! For more, visit<br />
seashepherd.org and<br />
modomsurf.com<br />
BEDTIME<br />
READING<br />
Sunny and Coco’s A-Z<br />
of Surfing is a brand<br />
new book that surfs<br />
your kids through the<br />
alphabet. There’s even a<br />
page for Sea Shepherd,<br />
getting littlies involved in<br />
environmental matters.<br />
sunnyandcoco.com.au<br />
To win a copy signed by author, Kelly Smith, send us an email with your<br />
favourite surfing letter of the alphabet to letters@smorgasboarder.com.au<br />
30 sep/oct <strong>2011</strong>
sep/oct <strong>2011</strong><br />
31
LATEST: NEWS<br />
WHERE IS THIS?<br />
HOLDEN LOVES HAPPY HOWARDS<br />
Brenda and Graeme Howard’s Island<br />
Surf Shack surf shop on Phillip Island<br />
has made it into the latest Holden ad<br />
featuring Joel Parkinson. From the<br />
moment we met this down-to-earth<br />
couple we knew they were destined<br />
for greatness. Enjoy the second of fame!<br />
OLD JUNGLE SAYING<br />
The Phantom is heading off to Bali.<br />
That’s right, all round top bloke and<br />
extremely talented shaper, Chris<br />
Garrett is leaving Australia for a<br />
3 year stint at Deus Ex Machina<br />
Bali. The aptly named ‘Temple of<br />
Enthusiasm’ constructed in rice<br />
fields outside of Kuta is apparently<br />
something any travelling surfer has<br />
to see. He may not drink beer or<br />
coffee but we will miss him all the<br />
same. Best of luck Phantom.<br />
THOMAS IN DEMAND<br />
Speaking of the Deus Ex Machina<br />
Temple of Enthusiasm, Tomas Bexon<br />
and Jake Bowrey are also knocking out<br />
a few fine numbers at the Bali shaping<br />
bay at present. Thomas is also doing<br />
his bit for the grade 11 and 12 Graphic<br />
Design students at Burnside High in<br />
Nambour helping them with their finals<br />
on surfboard art design. Who better to<br />
learn from then the master?<br />
THE SOUND OF DRUMS<br />
That’s what it sounds like when<br />
Teahupo turns it on and this year’s<br />
Billabong Pro in Tahiti delivered 7m<br />
waves, as wide as they were high.<br />
It’s not usually our place to cover<br />
pro-surfing, but when the day’s<br />
competition was called off and the<br />
hellman were unleashed... Check out<br />
www.vimeo.com/28251123 to see big<br />
waves and wipeouts at their best.<br />
WEGENER WINS AGAIN<br />
The man voted by Surfer magazine<br />
as the Shaper of the Year in 2009,<br />
Noosa’s Tom Wegener, has won<br />
the Australian International Design<br />
Award for his Seaglass Project, an<br />
epoxy EPS version of the traditional<br />
Hawaiian alaia.<br />
The ‘Tuna’ is a perfect mix of flex,<br />
rail and bottom contours, combined<br />
with modern materials to increase<br />
flotation... And it goes like a rocket.<br />
Whilst it’s not new news - Tom was<br />
recognised at an award presentation<br />
ceremony in Melbourne back on<br />
July 22 - we love what he does<br />
and had to make mention of his<br />
achievements in this edition.<br />
32 sep/oct <strong>2011</strong>
Photo: Scamander Beach Surf Shop<br />
Oli Wilson, Manly beach<br />
Photo: Ian “Butts” Butler<br />
Stick It wax was formulated to stick to your board better than any other<br />
wax on the global market. Stick It doesn’t get bare patches and will<br />
often last over 3 times longer than your average wax giving you a longer<br />
more comfortable surfing session time after time!<br />
WWW.STICKITGROUP.COM<br />
...The latest place you can find smorgasboarder magazine, that’s where!<br />
The folks at Scamander Beach Surf Shop on the beautiful east coast of<br />
Tasmania not only get to enjoy this awesome view from their shop’s front door,<br />
they also now get to hand out smorgasboarder to all the surf locals, braving<br />
the cold for the reward of an uncrowded ride. Sounds good to us!<br />
THE EGG-BASKET, UP IN FLAMES<br />
I guess that’s what happens when<br />
you put all your... well, you know. The<br />
Surf Factory in Burleigh shows us the<br />
dangers of cheap overseas production<br />
with this sign on their closed store.<br />
Really nothing more we need to say...<br />
AND HIS HEART SKIPPED A BEAT<br />
Congrats to Steve Padmore of Skipp<br />
Surfboards in Wollongong, who has just<br />
become a dad for the first time. Steve<br />
and his partner Louise, are now proud<br />
parents of a healthy 7.7lb baby, Willow.<br />
ON THE RIGHT PATH?<br />
There’s some angst in the Lennox Head<br />
surf community with the construction<br />
of a coastal pathway on the foreshore<br />
of the Lennox Head Surfing Reserve.<br />
The main issues are the alleged<br />
lack of community consultation and<br />
innapropriate materials used. A three<br />
metre wide concrete path has now<br />
dissected the once pristine slice of<br />
coastal land and seascape. Perhaps<br />
something like a wooden walkway<br />
might have been a better option...<br />
CORE STORE FOR SALE<br />
Mick Morgan has decided to pursue<br />
his passion for Stand Up Surfing even<br />
further and put his Core Store surf shop<br />
in Nowra up for sale. The well laid out<br />
store stocking a great range of high<br />
quality clothing labels, skate and surf<br />
hardware is sure to be a dream buy for<br />
any surf keen business man or woman.<br />
HAPPY 60 TH OLD MAN OF THE SEA<br />
The man who described Mark and my<br />
surfboard shaping efforts/antics as The<br />
Itchy and Scratchy Show turns 60 on<br />
<strong>September</strong> 28. Happy birthday, Paul<br />
Carson of The Factory Surfboards!<br />
OLD WOMAN, NEW MAN<br />
Old Woman Surf Shop at Mudjimba<br />
on the Sunshine Coast has changed<br />
owners and names. Now known as<br />
Boardstore Surf, the old girl joins the<br />
family of Boardstore skate stores, so<br />
you’ll be sure to find cool new skate<br />
gear in there alongside the surf stuff.<br />
sep/oct <strong>2011</strong><br />
33
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34 sep/oct <strong>2011</strong>
The Surf World Torquay team<br />
LATEST: COMMUNITY<br />
the surfing solution...<br />
A Carver Surf Rack gets your<br />
surfboard to the beach in style!<br />
Mike from Sandy Feet gets into the spirit<br />
HISTORICAL RIDE FOR SURF HISTORY BUFFS<br />
Surf World Torquay recently rode into the <strong>2011</strong> Victoria Museum Awards and<br />
was nominated as a finalist in two prestigious categories. More than 700<br />
museums across the state took part. They made the final list in the Archival<br />
Survival Award for Smalls Museums and People’s Choice Award for Best<br />
Museum Experience. Well done to top bloke, Surf World Curator, Craig Baird<br />
and his team.<br />
In further news, the team is putting the finishing touches to their new BELLS<br />
GOLD exhibition. The exhibition features rarely seen photographs, surfboards<br />
and film from 1962 through to 2010 from the Bells Beach Surfing Contest and<br />
Rip Curl Pro. For further information visit www.surfworld.com.au<br />
ARTBOARD<br />
Surf World Gold Coast is once again hosting the Art of<br />
Surfing exhibition and competition in October, this year<br />
with a kids surfboard art section as well. If you fancy<br />
yourself with a Posca pen, spray gun or paint brush,<br />
get to it. Available space is limited to 50 boards so<br />
interested exhibitors are advised to enter early. Register<br />
your interest by email: info@surfworldgoldcoast.com.<br />
ART YOU WOOD LOVE<br />
Timber boards... They are something to behold. South Australian wooden<br />
board maker Peter Walker takes this craftsmanship to a whole new<br />
level. To say his boards are anything but unbelievable would be a gross<br />
understatement. His superbly crafted wooden surfboards ride the wave all<br />
the way from surfing into art and design and if you ‘d like to see what we<br />
mean, they’re on display in Brisbane right now. The exhibition runs until<br />
<strong>September</strong> 24 at the Gallery Artisan, 381 Brunswick St, Fortitude Valley. For<br />
further details visit www.artisan.org.au<br />
Fits Larger Boards<br />
Great for mopeds and scooters<br />
Tig Welded 6061 Alloy<br />
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Visit us at...<br />
16 Rene Street, Noosaville Qld 4566 Phone: <strong>07</strong> 5455 5249<br />
www.scooterstyle.com.au<br />
Offer valid until November <strong>2011</strong>. Image for illustration purposes only<br />
Only $149<br />
with this ad!<br />
(save $90!)<br />
Classic Surf T-shirts<br />
from Surfing Legends<br />
lastwaveoriginals@gmail.com • Call 0400 497 534 • www.lastwave.com<br />
BEST FOOT FORWARD<br />
Mike Porter from Sandy Feet, one of the East Coast’s best surf shops by far,<br />
held their surfboard swap meet on August 20 in Port Macquarie. Despite<br />
mixed weather, the rooftop of Sandy Feet Surf was scattered with around<br />
100 used boards ranging from 60’s classics right through to current models.<br />
A raffle and donations managed to raise $400 for the local branch of the<br />
Disabled Surfers Association, where volunteers help disabled people enjoy<br />
the thrill of surfing that we take for granted. Well done Mike.<br />
sep/oct <strong>2011</strong><br />
35
MAIN: Residents unhappy about what’s coming.<br />
BOTTOM: Residents with no idea what’s coming.<br />
K.I.<br />
KANGAROO ISLAND:<br />
THE GLOVES ARE OFF<br />
Surfing is something that binds us and unites communities. So<br />
what happens when surfing, instead, divides a community, as has<br />
happened with the scheduled ASP event at Vivonne Bay on Kangaroo<br />
Island in South Australia?<br />
It would appear that rather than engaging, there has been precious<br />
little consultation with the local surfing community by Surfing South<br />
Australia. In fact, news of the Kangaroo Island pro is alleged to have<br />
come as a complete surprise to locals including the island’s only proin-residence<br />
Teale Vanner. In response to this, a number of Kangaroo<br />
Island surfers opposed to the running of the contest at Vivonne Bay<br />
have set up a very detailed website, www.kangarooislandprosurf.com<br />
where they are voicing their concerns.<br />
Local surfer Rick Slager, and others who are vehemently opposed<br />
to the event, were gracious with their time and explained their<br />
grievances and concerns to us. Unfortunately despite attempts to<br />
contact Tim Doman at Surfing South Australia to hear his perspective,<br />
we unfortunately received no reponse. However, Surfing SA’s position<br />
has been detailed on their website at www.surfingaustralia.com and<br />
in a nutshell, what’s planned is as follows:<br />
• A six-star ASP event at Spot X, a left hander in Vivonne Bay<br />
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• It aims to showcase the world’s best surfers to surf mad South<br />
Australians, who rarely get such an opportunity, and in turn,<br />
showcase the natural beauty of Kangaroo Island to the world<br />
• A three-night music festival to be run in conjunction, with acts<br />
such as Eskimo Joe, Ash Grunwald and the Beautiful Girls<br />
It’s been reported a number of the island’s local businesses were<br />
upbeat because of the windfall an event of this magnitude would<br />
deliver and some members of the community brimmed with<br />
excitement at the prospect of the opportunity to watch top class<br />
surfers ripping in local SA conditions. However, there’s some fierce<br />
voices in opposition.<br />
36 sep/oct <strong>2011</strong>
Beach, not so much...<br />
LATEST: COMMUNITY<br />
THE CONCERNS RAISED<br />
The quality of the break in a competition situation appears to be questionable.<br />
Bowly and fun, Spot X seems to be a fair way short of world class. Plus the time<br />
of year the contest is scheduled is when conditions reportedly deliver onshore<br />
2ft closeouts or at best, fairly short cross-shore 4ft waves.<br />
Besides the quality and consistency of waves, other points of contention<br />
included the infrastructure, the access to the beach itself, hygiene facilities,<br />
waste management, the pure volume of visitors and the logistics of transporting<br />
the spectators to the island by ferry or plane.<br />
“4,500 thousand people live on Kangaroo Island,” said Rick Slager. “And we are<br />
talking about effectively doubling the population for ten days.”<br />
A major point of concern with regards to where the contest is being held is the<br />
disruption to flora and fauna by an anticipated crowd of between 3,000 to 5,000<br />
- in particular, the threat to critically endangered species such as the Hooded<br />
Plover who nest in the dunes.<br />
Apparently, because the beach is quite narrow and almost non-existent at high<br />
tide, the crowd will have no choice but to take to the dunes or water in flotilla<br />
unless they are somehow suspended over the dunes - disrupting the very<br />
habitat of these species.<br />
At the end of the day, a number of things don’t seem to add up. It seems odd<br />
that a surf contest that is intended to showcase what South Australia has<br />
to offer seems to have been scheduled when the surf is, according to local<br />
knowledge, not at its best. Secondly, the very pristine, natural environment<br />
everyone is so proud of, even to a layman, is being put at risk of potentially<br />
being destroyed or at best, irreversibly damaged.<br />
So as outsiders looking in - with no business interests in competitive surfing and<br />
not being South Australian ourselves - we simply can’t understand the smoke if<br />
there’s genuinely no fire. Read, get informed, make up your own mind.<br />
FOR MORE INFORMATION:<br />
Those in opposition: www.kangarooislandprosurf.com<br />
The offical contest website: www.kangarooislandpro.com<br />
For further views, visit blog2.surfsouthoz.com - a very interesting read indeed.<br />
LEADING SURF<br />
AND STREET WEAR,<br />
SURFBOARDS, WETSUITS<br />
AND ACCESSORIES...<br />
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THAT WE USE IN THE<br />
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SUNSHINE COAST SUPERSTORE<br />
2 Bulcock Street, Caloundra QLD 4551 Tel (<strong>07</strong>) 5491 3620<br />
Open Mon to Sat, 9am to 5pm and Sun 9am to 4pm. Closed Christmas Day<br />
sep/oct <strong>2011</strong><br />
37
LATEST: COMMUNITY<br />
RETURNING TO GIVE:<br />
Photo: Neil Lumsden<br />
38 sep/oct <strong>2011</strong>
REBUILDING PARADISE<br />
SURFERS AND SAMOAN SPORTING<br />
HEROES HELP REBUILD A TSUNAMI<br />
RAVAGED COMMUNITY.<br />
WORDS: BEN HORVATH<br />
In the final stages of Samoa’s extraordinary 32 – 23 victory over<br />
the Wallabies on July 17, <strong>2011</strong>, the Samoan players ran towards a<br />
rainbow that hovered above the southern stands at ANZ Stadium. The<br />
smiles on both the players and fans faces told the story, the rainbow<br />
symbolised hope, renewal and healing.<br />
Samoans haven’t been able to smile or celebrate in unison like that<br />
since the devastating tsunami of <strong>September</strong> 29, 2009 that claimed<br />
200 lives. It is often said sport brings out the best emotions in people,<br />
and on that cold, wet, Saturday night in Sydney you couldn’t help<br />
but share in the feelings of relief and joy that permeated through the<br />
whole Samoan population.<br />
Australians are more than aware that our Pacific neighbours with a<br />
population of 180,000 are renowned for punching above their weight<br />
in union, league and soccer.<br />
Japan also suffered the devastation of an earthquake and a massive<br />
tsunami earlier this year, a tragedy not dissimilar to the one the<br />
Samoan people experienced in <strong>September</strong> 2009.<br />
The Japanese women’s football team brought joy to their recovering<br />
population by winning the women’s world cup in Germany just days<br />
after Samoa’s rugby triumph. Sporting victories have a unique way of<br />
unifying countries, filling people with pride, hope and joy all at once.<br />
High profile sporting stars are heroes and role models the world over.<br />
A group of famous Australian based NRL players of Samoan heritage<br />
led by Nigel Vagana the NRL Education and Welfare program<br />
manager, have graciously kicked in and joined forces with a bunch of<br />
Sydney surfers under the banner of Groundswell to help raise money<br />
for victims of the 2009 Samoan tsunami.<br />
Surfers are very familiar with the pristine Pacific reef breaks that pick<br />
up the same swells as Hawaii’s north shore in our summer months.<br />
Australian travellers have been venturing NE for decades now to<br />
enjoy the warm hospitality and uncrowded power on offer in Samoa.<br />
Reg Barton, Assistant Director at TAFE NSW, enjoyed an epic boat<br />
trip with good mate Mark Hawkins in the Mentawais in late August<br />
2009. When the boys returned to Sydney in <strong>September</strong> and heard<br />
about the earthquake that hit Padang and the nearby Mentawais<br />
chain they immediately wanted to return to the place they fell in love<br />
with on their surfing holiday and help.<br />
“THE VACANT SLAB THAT FORMERLY<br />
SERVED AS A REMINDER OF THE<br />
DEVASTATING TSUNAMI WAS<br />
REPLACED BY A SYMBOL OF HOPE”<br />
Reg said, “The motivation to help the Samoans originates from<br />
our desire to assist in Indonesia actually. You see, there was an<br />
earthquake deep in the Pacific Ocean in the Tongan Trench that<br />
triggered geographic events both to the East and West in Padang and<br />
Samoa. Both are in the Pacific Rim of Fire. I knew with Mark that we<br />
could activate some carpentry apprentices at Randwick TAFE through<br />
my work, but when I heard Surfaid were already active in Padang,<br />
Hutch (Dave Hutchison) a buddy of mine that runs The Surf Travel Co<br />
suggested we help the Samoan community rebuild.”<br />
Reg continued, “I’ve known Hutch for years. He’s been booking<br />
surf trips for Australians at Sinalei for over a decade. Hutch heard<br />
sep/oct <strong>2011</strong><br />
39
LATEST: COMMUNITY<br />
ALL OVER<br />
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40 sep/oct <strong>2011</strong><br />
BRAND<br />
firsthand how ravaged the community up there was<br />
after the tsunami. With Hutch’s assistance through<br />
The Surf Travel Co and with Gary McNeil and Eden<br />
Scallan from Formula Energy Surfboards, I was able<br />
to get a bunch of my apprentices up to Samoa and<br />
on the ground.”<br />
That’s pretty much how Groundswell, the not-forprofit<br />
organisation evolved. It really is a group who<br />
believe that surfers should not only participate in<br />
supporting people that need help, but that we have a<br />
responsibility to put back in.<br />
Groundswell formed a strong alliance with Joe<br />
Annandale a Samoan Chief Matai and chief of<br />
Poutasi Village. Groundswell made a commitment<br />
to support Joe’s dream of developing a model<br />
village. The model village hopes to connect with<br />
families that have moved out of the village as a<br />
result of the tsunami and will also focus on assisting<br />
disaffected youth, not only from Samoa, but from<br />
other Polynesian communities. The village is<br />
aiming to adopt a whole of life approach that will<br />
re-engage young people with their culture, maintain<br />
cultural education for infants, provide examples<br />
of sustainable living in the local environment, and<br />
provide income for the village to ensure the model is<br />
independent from a reliance on external funding.<br />
In January 2010 half a dozen self-funded Groundswell<br />
members travelled to Samoa to work on the first stage<br />
of the re-construction program. Utilising materials<br />
re-cycled from the tsunami the team completed work<br />
at the Sinalei Resort. Hard work enabled the popular<br />
holiday resort to re-open and again employ over sixty<br />
families that for six months following the tsunami had<br />
little or no income.<br />
To support the second stage of the plan that involves<br />
building a Cultural Arts Centre in the village of<br />
Poutasi, Groundswell and Nigel Vagana, backed by<br />
the NRL combined forces to undertake the inaugural<br />
Sydney Harbour Paddle. On Saturday <strong>September</strong> 25,<br />
2010 the first anniversary of the Samoan tsunami,<br />
a Groundswell team of ten surfers paddled across<br />
Sydney Harbour heads from Camp Cove to Manly.<br />
The support efforts built a strong bond and mutual<br />
respect between the team and the Polynesian<br />
community. The event raised $12,000 via sponsors,<br />
providing funds for a return visit to Samoa earlier<br />
this year in April.<br />
David Hutchison said, “The aid work this year<br />
focused on helping the people of Poutasi village in<br />
their rebuilding efforts. Poutasi is near Sinalei which<br />
is where the surf resort and Coconuts - a very hollow<br />
right-hander - is located. People at Sinalei lost<br />
families. Joe Annandale lost his wife and mother-inlaw<br />
which was a tragedy.”<br />
The Groundswell crew focused on building the<br />
Fatu Feu’u Art and Education Centre. This building<br />
is to become the centre for Polynesian artists and<br />
craftsmen from all over the Pacific. The centre will<br />
provide ongoing education in Polynesian arts and<br />
crafts, guaranteeing traditional skills are not lost.
Short boards, mini<br />
mals, mals, logs, fishes,<br />
alaias, whatever you<br />
have laying around in<br />
the shed or even your<br />
pride and joy sitting<br />
in the lounge room...<br />
We want it!<br />
SAVE $!!<br />
Trade in your old<br />
SURFBOARD<br />
against a brand new SUP,<br />
surfboard, kiteboard or<br />
other gear<br />
TOP LEFT: Rebuilding Sinalei ABOVE: Joe Annandale and Toby Claire LEFT: Building saw stools<br />
CENTRE: Coconuts view from Sinalei BELOW: The crew PHOTOS Courtesty of Surf Travel Co. , Randwick TAFE<br />
Poutasi village is home to an internationally renowned carver and artist, Fatu<br />
Feu’u after whom the centre is named.<br />
The crew was made up of six volunteers, two of whom had never travelled<br />
overseas before. The goal was to accomplish as much as physically possible in<br />
the two weeks they were there.<br />
Everyone worked incredibly hard, battling sickness and hot, humid conditions to<br />
bring the building to near completion in less than two weeks. Building materials<br />
and equipment were limited. There are no Bunning’s franchises to be seen.<br />
Everything was constructed by hand, right through to fabricating roof trusses.<br />
The team accomplished an extraordinary result under very tough conditions, and<br />
were able to leave a wonderful symbol of Groundswell generosity.<br />
The lads did get to have a few quick surfs, but there were many other special<br />
memories, including building saw stools with the young children and working<br />
side by side with the Poutasi village volunteers.<br />
The hospitality and gratitude shown to the team by the Poutasi community was<br />
overwhelming. The team were humbled by the experience and the extent of the<br />
cultural exchange.<br />
Groundswell is not just about replacing infrastructure. It is also about providing<br />
opportunities to both the Samoan people and to those involved in the project. All<br />
who participated said, “It was a rewarding, positive experience from a personal<br />
growth point of view. Everyone involved agreed the experience had changed<br />
their outlook on life”.<br />
After two weeks of hard work, the vacant slab that formerly served as a<br />
reminder of the devastating tsunami was replaced by a symbol of hope and an<br />
exciting future for the village of Poutasi.<br />
On <strong>September</strong> 24, <strong>2011</strong> the second Sydney harbour paddle event will be staged.<br />
Reg said, “The target this year is $100,000 in government grants, donations and<br />
sponsorship. Please check the website www.groundswellbuilds.org.au to see<br />
how you can support a very worthy cause.<br />
HOW IT WORKS...<br />
1. Get in touch! Either call or e-mail us<br />
2. Tell us about the board you want to trade and<br />
what new gear you’re after - SUP, surf, kite or wake!<br />
3. Send us a current picture of your<br />
board. We’ll evaluate the trade-in<br />
price and let you know how much it<br />
is worth against your purchase<br />
4. We agree on a price and organise the<br />
collection of your old surfboard and freight<br />
your new board or gear to your door!<br />
WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?<br />
CONTACT US TODAY and trade that<br />
old surfboard for some new gear!<br />
INTERSTATE?<br />
NO WORRIES!<br />
We’ll even arrange<br />
freight and collection!<br />
sep/oct <strong>2011</strong><br />
41
LATEST: INTEREST<br />
It’s not every day you drive up to a house to be confronted by a giant wooden wave.<br />
Impressive inside and out, this home is simply something else.<br />
42 sep/oct <strong>2011</strong>
GRAND<br />
DESIGNS<br />
Rising up from the bushland, Jed Done’s striking house<br />
on the Far South New South Wales coast brings home<br />
what he loves most - a giant wave. The 10m timber<br />
wave he calls home represents countless hours of love<br />
and hard labour and is a true statement about the life<br />
of the Bushrat Surfboards innovator.<br />
We talk to Jed about the inspiration behind his design<br />
and how he went about the construction process, a<br />
project he pretty much undertook solo for the better<br />
part of three years.<br />
WORDS & PHOTOS: DAVE SWAN<br />
sep/oct <strong>2011</strong><br />
43
LATEST: INTEREST<br />
Now to qualify, Jed simply didn’t pick up a<br />
hammer and go will nilly. Better known to<br />
smorgasboarder readers as Bushrat for his<br />
innovative flextail surfboard designs, Jed is<br />
also a licensed carpenter by trade and very<br />
handy on the tools. He is basically one of<br />
those extremely talented people who are<br />
pretty much good at everything and to inept<br />
home handyman like myself, really give you<br />
the sh#ts.<br />
“The concept behind the house was born<br />
when I was doing some work for a local<br />
architect. He was really good at designing<br />
aesthetically pleasing homes with big<br />
box-like configurations. His interiors also<br />
worked particularly well.<br />
“He drew a house that kind of looked like a<br />
big ski jump, knowing what I would do with<br />
it. I sat on it for a while and thought about<br />
the design. He emailed me the sketched<br />
plan that was drawn on a computer.<br />
“Whilst I don’t use a shaping machine for<br />
my surfboards, I draw outlines and curves<br />
on a computer so I am familiar with the<br />
CAD design software. I laid his drawing out,<br />
overlaid my favourite surfboard templates<br />
over the top and thought to myself, ‘Well<br />
that works and I tweaked it for about a year<br />
and here we are.’”<br />
Today the house stands 10 metres tall with magnificent views to the ocean, which is around 2 kilometres<br />
away - a 15 minute walk through national park to Jed’s home surf break, which we will not discuss for<br />
fear of never being invited back.<br />
The interior features two bedrooms, a large open plan dining room, kitchen and living room. Downstairs<br />
there is a guest bathroom and a future display room for Jed’s boards, which for now, acts as a music<br />
room for his partner Patricia who is a piano teacher. The home has an incredibly relaxed vibe to it and is<br />
extremely spacious featuring magnificent hardwood timbers throughout.<br />
“The architect who helped me design the house offered sound words of advice. He said, ‘you should<br />
build a house that you are inspired, and look forward to coming home to.’”<br />
The house has proven to be just that, acting as a further source of inspiration to Jed’s surfboard designs.<br />
“The thing I like is, you have one curve in the roof and you have got the sun beaming in, at a million<br />
different angles, all day, every day. From my office upstairs you can look down on the grass and see<br />
the shadow the curved roof casts and you can see a million different outlines and bottom curves for a<br />
surfboard. You see a certain shadow and go, ‘Ahh, there it is.’ The shadows the roof cast are an amazing<br />
inspiration.”<br />
Patricia laughs, “Yes, it’s an obsession of Jed’s. An obsession with the curve! We had a good solid<br />
couple of years talking about the ‘curve’ until I had enough of it.”<br />
Jed chimes in with, “Well, a square one would have been too easy to build.”<br />
Ahh yes, and there we go showing off again. But seriously, the same committed approach applies to his<br />
range of Bushrat surfboards. It would be far easier, and a lot more socially acceptable, for Jed to tread<br />
the usual path of surfboard design and construction. But his obsession with finding the perfect surfboard<br />
has led him to the discovery and subsequent evolution of his flextail designs. They are something Jed<br />
passionately believes in, and in my humble opinion, rightly so. I just hope the majority of surfers out there<br />
open their mind to his surfboard designs so they can experience just how much fun they are because,<br />
just like Jed’s house, being adventurous can prove to be very rewarding.<br />
44 sep/oct <strong>2011</strong>
“WELL, A SQUARE ONE WOULD HAVE BEEN<br />
TOO EASY TO BUILD.” JED DONE ON BUILDING HIS HOME<br />
LEFT: Jed Done - Bushrat builder. ABOVE LEFT: The view to the ocean. ABOVE RIGHT: The lawn,<br />
a source of inspiration for Bushrat Surfboards. INSET: The back of the Bushratmobile, full of toys.<br />
sep/oct <strong>2011</strong><br />
45
LATEST: INTEREST<br />
THE BUSHRAT WAVE-HOME TIMELINE<br />
• Jed’s grandfather originally owned the land and there was a makeshift<br />
shack on the property<br />
• During Australia’s recession in the early ‘90s Jed had limited<br />
carpentry work and took to fixing up the old shack, living there for the<br />
next seven years<br />
• In 1995, he purchased the land from his grandparents<br />
• With the announcement of the 2000 Sydney Olympics he moved to<br />
the big smoke in search of work to ‘cash-up’ for his future project<br />
• Whilst there he hooked up with a local Maroubra kneeboarder fixing<br />
dings and repairing boards, a move that was to prove his inspiration<br />
for his future flextail designs<br />
• Jed moved back home after five years. White ants had eaten the<br />
shed and the trees had moved in, so he set up camp in a caravan<br />
• He first devoted his energy into building his own unique ‘surfboard<br />
factory’ complete with shaping bay, sanding and glassing rooms, and<br />
a heap of storage. Kind of open, breezy and bloody cold in winter -<br />
which it was when I visited - but with a hell of a lot of character<br />
• He started work on the house in the Autumn of 2008, taking three<br />
years to build it from start to finish<br />
• It took 6 months to construct the hardwood timber frames<br />
• The concrete slab was laid and once the foundation set, a crane took<br />
only four hours to erect the entire framework of the house<br />
THIS PAGE: Different views of the Bushrat<br />
shaping shed and Jed Bushrat at work.<br />
BUSHRAT BY NAME,<br />
BUSHRAT BY NATURE?<br />
We had to ask Jed about the name<br />
Bushrat and where it came from?<br />
“When I was living in the shack I<br />
had a mate visit from Mallacoota.<br />
He used to call me ‘Bushrat.’<br />
“The other story is in relation to<br />
the many marsupial mice we have<br />
in these parts (Brown Antechinus<br />
Mice). The male only lives for<br />
one year and come mating time it<br />
gets more and more anxious. It’s<br />
testicles enlarge to the biggest<br />
body ratio size in the entire animal<br />
kingdom. They literally become the<br />
size of a bean-bag balls dangling<br />
down to their knees. They root<br />
for three days and then they die.<br />
They basically root themselves to<br />
death. They don’t drink, don’t eat,<br />
don’t sleep, just root with as many<br />
partners as possible until they keel<br />
over and die. 80% of the female<br />
mice die of heart attacks.”<br />
Okay then.<br />
46 sep/oct <strong>2011</strong>
sep/oct <strong>2011</strong><br />
47
MEET THE TALENT<br />
NAME: André Marsaus<br />
AKA: Ondi<br />
WHO: Co-owner of Underground<br />
Surf and mad surf collector<br />
PREVIOUSLY: World-travelling<br />
Chef (He even cooked for<br />
the Queen), Restauranteur,<br />
Superbike racer, Motorbike<br />
Racing Team Manager<br />
BORN: Melbourne, VIC<br />
LIVES: Gold Coast, QLD<br />
PROBLEM: A few too many<br />
surfboards... or not enough?<br />
Believe it or not, this is only a<br />
quarter of the collection!<br />
An Aragorn original... The 70’s brand has since<br />
been resurrected by Underground, with some new<br />
boards shaped by Steve ‘Zorro’ Goddard.<br />
48 sep/oct <strong>2011</strong>
SLIGHTLY<br />
OBSESSED<br />
(But in the best possible way)<br />
Meet Ondi and his friends<br />
If you’ve visited the southern end of the<br />
Gold Coast in the last few years, you might<br />
have come across the treasure trove that is<br />
Underground Surf in Coolangatta. Between<br />
all the fantastic retro and vintage boards in<br />
the store and the wealth of knowledge, history<br />
and surfing trivia, any avid collector could<br />
lose hours of the day swapping tales with the<br />
friendly owner and smorgasboarder history<br />
buff, André ‘Ondi’ Marsaus.<br />
While Ondi started his surfboard collecting<br />
obsession at the tender age of five, his passion<br />
for surfboards hasn’t died down one bit. These<br />
days he’ll happily chew your ear off about<br />
a single fin or talk for hours about the most<br />
minute development in surfboard design. And<br />
Underground Surf, which he runs with his<br />
partner Maree, is the perfect venue to do<br />
exactly that. You might even be lucky enough<br />
to run into a local surfing legend or two when<br />
you visit.<br />
To spread the love of board collecting, he also<br />
runs an annual vintage surfboard swap meet<br />
which not only feeds his own collection, but<br />
gets curious newbies hooked as well.<br />
Ondi gracefully took some time out to show<br />
us a small sample of his collection of over 300<br />
boards. Wow. What else can we say?<br />
FROM LEFT BOTTOM: Green Hohonsee<br />
single, Cowley single fin, Klemm Bell wasp<br />
stinger, Cooper bonzer, Mctavish Bluebird<br />
single, Mctavish bluebird kneeboard, Mctavish<br />
Bluebird single, Mctavish Bluebird single,<br />
McCoy single, McCoy twinfin, Greenough<br />
asymetrical singlefin, Hotstuff single, Dick<br />
Brewer tri-fin, Aragorn bonzer, Aragorn tri-fin,<br />
Hot Buttered single, Cowley single, Don Alcroft<br />
Sunbird single, Sky twin fin, Sky twin fin, Local<br />
Knowledge tri-fin, Local Knowledge tri-fin,<br />
Gordon & Smith quad, Gordon & Smith tri-fin,<br />
Simon Anderson Energy thruster<br />
MIDDLE: MP single, McCoy 82’ Lazor Zap,<br />
Hohonsee single multi<br />
THIRD ROW, FROM FRONT: Friar Tuck kneelo<br />
twin, Friar Tuck kneelo quad, Hot Buttered<br />
Knormal kneelo, Gordon & Smith kneelo, Local<br />
Knowledge twin, Local Knowledge single,<br />
Choobecrafted Cali twin, MP Goodtime single,<br />
Goodtime twin, MP Goodtime single, Furry<br />
Austin Goodtime single, Gordon & Smith tri-fin,<br />
CO2 quad fin, MR twin, MR twin, MR twin,<br />
Nat Young tri-fin, Hotstuff A.B. channel tri-fin,<br />
Gordon & Black tri-fin, Simon Anderson Energy<br />
thruster, Wayne Lynch single gun, Aragorn MP<br />
single<br />
BACK: Aragorn kneelo, Mcgrigor single, Erle<br />
Pedderson Kewara jet sandboard/scurfer,<br />
Gordon and Smith tri-fin, Steve Goddard tri-fin,<br />
Trigger Bros Kneelo.<br />
To talk and browse vintage boards, drop in to the store at<br />
3/31 McLean St, Coolangatta. www.undergroundsurf.com.au<br />
sep/oct <strong>2011</strong><br />
49
LATEST: LOCAL<br />
From the age of 8, Todd Mingramm grew up surfing with his dad who used to put him up the front of his malibu. His surfing quickly<br />
progressed. Before long he was competing in his local board riding club and by his teens interstate comps. Soon after he became a<br />
sponsored surfer with a couple of big name surf brands behind him and began competing internationally and doing exotic photo shoots.<br />
It was fun but as Todd describes it, “I was getting by on the back of my surfing, but only just.”<br />
TURNING POINT<br />
Todd injured his back fairly early on<br />
in his surfing career.<br />
“I fractured my L5 (lower vertebrae)<br />
jumping off a big jump rock called<br />
The Beast Rock down at Wattamolla<br />
south of Cronulla. When you are a<br />
teenager it was one of those things<br />
you had to jump off to be a man.<br />
"It is quite a jump and I basically<br />
fractured my back. It was pretty<br />
stupid. I could move but was in pain<br />
for months and didn’t find out I had a<br />
fracture until a couple of years later.<br />
“I had a couple of other problems. I<br />
was born with such as Scoliosis and<br />
Spina bifida and those back issues<br />
in combination with my injury... it<br />
was half the reason I stopped doing<br />
comps because I was always in pain<br />
and injured.”<br />
STARTING THE GRIND<br />
Todd gave up surfing competitively<br />
and went to work for his dad in<br />
the motor trade for four years. He<br />
started washing cars, progressed to<br />
an office bound job that obviously<br />
didn’t suit someone who loved<br />
being outdoors and finally became<br />
a wholesale rep for the company.<br />
It was a means to an end, helping<br />
him to save enough money to travel<br />
overseas.<br />
THE REVELATION<br />
“I landed a job in San Clemente,<br />
California at a surf school working<br />
for Jackie Baxter’s (famous 60’s<br />
Californian surf legend) son, Josh,<br />
who is a professional longboarder.<br />
I pretty much taught surfing over<br />
summer for two seasons. It brought<br />
me back to surfing.”<br />
“I just loved teaching and when I<br />
came back that was all I wanted to<br />
do. When I returned I worked for the<br />
Cronulla Surfing Academy owned by<br />
Blake Johnston, a really good surfer<br />
from Cronulla who was a pro surfer<br />
back in the day.”<br />
THE TRANSITION TO SUP<br />
“Dane Wilson got me into stand<br />
up. Dane’s a pro longboarder from<br />
Noosa who was originally from<br />
Cronulla... He got me into it and it<br />
assisted strengthening my back and<br />
I got addicted to it. It is so good for<br />
developing your core strength.”<br />
WHAT’S THE ADDICTIVE THING<br />
ABOUT SUP FOR YOU?<br />
“I don’t know what it is exactly but<br />
every time I jump on a stand up<br />
paddleboard it puts a smile on my<br />
face. I guess because I am still on a<br />
board in the water and I am not in<br />
pain. I just feel really good.”<br />
Regular stand up sessions combined<br />
with a healthy diet and Bikram Yoga<br />
has kept Todd in the water enjoying<br />
his surfing.<br />
“In my opinion if you don’t use it,<br />
you lose it. You have to try and keep<br />
your back strong. Stand up and yoga<br />
assists my core strength and the<br />
yoga furthers aids flexibility.”<br />
FUTURE PLANS<br />
Aside from his Cronulla Standup<br />
Paddleboard School Todd also owns<br />
the Cronulla Standup Paddleboard<br />
Shop. His days are spent running<br />
between lessons and his shop. His<br />
nights however are spent on his other<br />
love… hip-hop music.<br />
“My music is really my thing at the<br />
moment. I have been pretty hard<br />
at it, doing gigs and tours. It is a<br />
massive part of my life. I perform<br />
under the name Slippery MC. Stay<br />
tuned for an album in 6 months.”<br />
WWW.CRONULLASUP.COM.AU<br />
From surf to SUP to the stage, Todd's not been one to sit idle. Photos Supplied.<br />
50 sep/oct <strong>2011</strong>
sep/oct <strong>2011</strong><br />
51
LATEST: LOCAL<br />
Back in the very first edition of smorgasboarder, we had the<br />
good luck and privilege of printing some amazing surf shots from<br />
the Central Coast - of Kerry Down making the most of his brand<br />
new Black Apache Twin. And ever since those pics first flashed up<br />
on screen we wanted to have a chat to the man behind the lens.<br />
As good fortune would have it, there was a lot more to the<br />
snapper than just photography. It turns out he’s not only a firey<br />
and family man - he also has an unhealthy addiction to big waves.<br />
Fellow Central Coasters Aimee Sics and Grant Molony catch<br />
up with a man who is insane enough to ride Shipsterns Bluff in<br />
Tassie... holding onto a pole with a GoPro camera on it...<br />
WAVE<br />
JUNKIE<br />
WORDS: AIMEE SICS PHOTOS: GRANT MOLONY<br />
For some surfers, the day-to-day surfing routine at the local break can only meet<br />
their needs to a certain degree. It’s then that they go beyond the friendly waves<br />
to seek out the monsters of the deep.<br />
For Central Coast surfer, Justin Allport on his birth certificate, or Jughead, as he<br />
is more intimately known to the locals, jumping out of a plane may command a<br />
high. Working in his day-job as a fire fighter might most definitely present some<br />
heart-pounding situations. But nothing else gives him that adrenaline rush as<br />
hunting down the big ones.<br />
52 sep/oct <strong>2011</strong>
Happy days at Wyrrabalong National Park on a sunny<br />
Sunday with no one around. PHOTO: Grant Molony<br />
sep/oct <strong>2011</strong><br />
53
LATEST: LOCAL<br />
LEFT: Later that same Sunday. Grant Molony<br />
BELOW: Shipsterns, with polecam... Crazy? Maybe<br />
a little... http://vimeo.com/user1044232<br />
“MISADVENTURE IS THE NEW ADVENTURE...” JUGHEAD<br />
Your average Joe next door, Jughead is a committed<br />
family man, dedicated firey, keen surfer and<br />
photographer. But his life is far from average. One<br />
minute he could be at the scene of a car accident, the<br />
next he’s taking on a five-metre wave, sitting deep<br />
inside the barrel, causing onlookers to choke in terror.<br />
Chasing down the rush isn’t easy. Missed flights,<br />
excess baggage fees, shattered ribs, broken down<br />
cars a hundred kilometres away from the nearest tow,<br />
busted ear drums, countless snapped boards, lost<br />
luggage, stranded at foreign airports, sunken jet skis,<br />
angry locals with shotguns, enough stitches to sew<br />
a sweater and being forgotten fifty kilometres out to<br />
sea is all part of the adventure.<br />
“Misadventure is the new adventure,” say Jughead.<br />
“It’s all part of it!”<br />
When asked what has been the most frightening<br />
experience to date, a little chuckle and the confession<br />
slips that it was when his wife was in labour with<br />
their first child. Talk about guts.<br />
But the surf chasing all started by accident. After<br />
being taken out by a rip one day and encountering<br />
some huge surf, he was hooked. Now chasing the<br />
big waves - and venturing where few would dare - is<br />
what it’s all about.<br />
Born and bred on the NSW Central Coast, Jughead<br />
grew up with North Shelly beach as his backyard and<br />
he’s proud to say that it still is today. With a loving<br />
wife and three young kids, he’s one happy fella at<br />
home.<br />
So what’s his wife’s take on chasing giants?<br />
“She’s great. Very supportive of me when I want to<br />
take off to West Australia, for instance.”<br />
Together for 17 years and married for 12, it’s obviously<br />
a tribute to their strong relationship. Family holidays<br />
are always somewhere coastal for the beach loving<br />
family, and not always about big waves.<br />
“Coolangatta.” he says. “I love holidaying there. Great<br />
waves for the kids when it’s small, and theme parks<br />
are close by. Beautiful climate, it’s got it all.”<br />
Another favourite is Bali. A recent holiday there with<br />
a few other families meant a great mix of shopping,<br />
surf and kid-friendly activities - a healthy balance of<br />
family time and surfing.<br />
The thrill seeker gene has evidently been passed on<br />
to Charli, the eldest Allport at ten years old - currently<br />
winning the under 10s in the local Boardrider’s club at<br />
North Shelly and getting some practice in over in Bali.<br />
“She was the one who kept asking to go further and<br />
further out on bigger days!”<br />
With a competitive streak running through Charli,<br />
she’s a bit of an all-rounder at sports, excelling in<br />
netball, swimming and cross-country, too. Milli, a<br />
little younger competes in Boardrider’s also, “She<br />
just loves doing it because her older sister does. But<br />
she is good and loves riding all types of waves - fat,<br />
sucky, big and small.”<br />
At home, the surf-family-work equilibrium does take<br />
time to work out, but is ultimately, family comes first.<br />
“Weekends can get difficult as the kids want to hang<br />
out with their friends. So taking them surfing all<br />
together is a bonus, not to mention good fun!”<br />
Jughead’s shift work gives him the chance to surf<br />
when the kids are at school. And even if the waves<br />
aren’t gigantic, it’s not just an adrenalin thing.<br />
“It’s more of an escape,” he tells us. “Surfing two<br />
foot waves by myself can sometimes be all it takes<br />
to relax.”<br />
But the adrenaline won’t stop running. Jughead<br />
states he may “get more cautious”, but even then, “It<br />
might just mean a smaller wave will get the adrenalin<br />
pumping, which is good because it’s easier to find<br />
smaller waves!”<br />
So what else does this family man do for an adrenalin<br />
kick then, when it’s cold, miserable and the beach<br />
resembles a lake? Bungee jump?<br />
“I was going to once, but then I gave the money to<br />
a mate. I would do it, but it’s not something I think I<br />
would love to do in order to get that rush.”<br />
It ultimately comes back to the ocean though.<br />
Jughead and his camaraderie of other big wave<br />
chasers and photographers are always watching the<br />
charts, ready to shuffle every day life out of the way<br />
for a bit…<br />
There’s nothing like returning home to the family though.<br />
“I do love the adrenalin those trips give me, but I<br />
definitely miss the family more than I miss the waves.”<br />
And for the absolute wind-down, Jug says there’s<br />
nothing like a good coffee and some games. “I’m a bit<br />
of a Monopoly king!”<br />
Well coffee gets the heart rate going. Not to sure<br />
about Monopoly, but each to their own, hey!<br />
For killer video footage of Jughead surfing<br />
everywhere from Shipsterns to his backyard, check<br />
out his very cool video channel on Vimeo at<br />
vimeo.com/user1044232<br />
For more of Grant Molony’s great photography, see<br />
grantmolonyphoto.blogspot.com<br />
54 sep/oct <strong>2011</strong>
sep/oct <strong>2011</strong><br />
55
LATEST: DEBATE<br />
OUR RESIDENT SHARK-ADDICT, DAVE THE GIANT CHICKEN, ASKS<br />
SOME SCARY QUESTIONS AND GETS SOME BLOODY GOOD ANSWERS.<br />
WORDS: DAVE SWAN, with contributions from JOHN WEST, BRETT BAM, MARK ADDISON<br />
You’ve just caught a wave and are paddling back out. You have a strange feeling something else is there<br />
with you. An innate sense, some describe as our ‘sixth sense’ telling you: “You are not alone.”<br />
I’ve heard a lot of people say, “trust your instincts”. If you sense something in the water, you are<br />
probably right and it’s best you get out of there. But if that were true, for me, I would never get a surf<br />
in. I always feel like there is something there. If I trusted my so-called ‘instincts’, the minute I got wet,<br />
I would be back on the beach drying myself off. If this notion is indeed correct, I am a shark magnet<br />
because every time I surf there must be one right alongside of me. I am like the Dr Doolittle of the sea.<br />
Yes, as you guessed it, I have a shark phobia, a fear of sharks known as Selachophobia. Yes, I am soft.<br />
But I’m not alone. Many people, and indeed many surfers, suffer from such a fear of sharks. These<br />
beasts of the deep have the ability to play on our minds.<br />
Sure, more people may die each year from bee stings or lightning strikes or falling coconuts, as we are<br />
so often told, but quite frankly, the mere sight of a bee doesn’t send me into a state of panic. I don’t see<br />
a bee and go, “Oh crap!” The same goes for coconuts, quite the opposite in fact.<br />
And is this an accurate comparison anyhow? Let’s face it; despite the enormous rise in popularity of<br />
surfing, there are a hell of a lot more people walking around vulnerable to the attack of a bee then there<br />
are people in the ocean. Whilst a bee sting may unfortunately prove lethal to some of us, that very bee is<br />
not going to tear us apart, limb from limb, and eat us alive.<br />
And then there’s the dilemma that, if you are extremely unlucky enough to get attacked, how the hell do<br />
you bring yourself to get back into the water? Surely there is no worse way to go than being eaten by a<br />
shark. It’s this fear that possibly drives our morbid fascination with sharks and indeed shark attacks, no<br />
matter how unlikely they may be. Let’s hear from everyday surfers as well as the experts about sharks<br />
and their at times tenuous relationship with surfers.<br />
56 sep/oct <strong>2011</strong>
Photo: Hayden O’Neill<br />
sep/oct <strong>2011</strong><br />
57
LATEST: DEBATE<br />
Cases<br />
PERTH<br />
DARWIN<br />
Distribution of Australian shark attacks, 1791–2009.<br />
Each attack is represented by a black dot.<br />
Australian Shark Attack File - Taronga Zoo<br />
ADELAIDE<br />
Suprising results... The times that reported shark attacks have occured between 1990 and 2009.<br />
18<br />
16<br />
14<br />
12<br />
10<br />
8<br />
6<br />
4<br />
2<br />
0<br />
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24<br />
Time (Hours)<br />
Number of shark attacks for each state of Australia (1990-2009), including number of fatalities, injuries, or where<br />
the person was uninjured and the location of the last fatality since 1990. Australian Shark Attack File - Taronga Zoo<br />
STATE TOTAL CASES FATAL ATTACKS INJURED UNINJURED LAST FATALITY (SINCE 1990)<br />
NSW 73 2 45 26 2008, Ballina, Lighthouse Beach<br />
QLD 43 5 32 6 2006, North Stradbroke Island<br />
WA 35 6 23 6 2005, Houtman Abrolhos Islands<br />
SA 20 8 11 1 2005, Glenelg Beach<br />
VIC 12 0 5 7<br />
TAS 2 1 1 0 1993, Tenth Is, Georgetown<br />
NT 1 0 0 1<br />
TOTAL 186 22 117 47<br />
MELBOURNE<br />
HOBART<br />
SYDNEY<br />
Since 2009, there have been a further two fatalities in WA and one in SA, most recently a 21-year-old bodyboarder, in Bunker Bay, WA.<br />
BRISBANE<br />
We figured that we may as well start<br />
with an informed view, so we went<br />
straight to the experts.<br />
Resident shark expert at Taronga Zoo,<br />
John West is the Manager of Life<br />
Sciences Operations and Coordinator<br />
of the Australian Shark Attack File.<br />
“Shark attacks will persist as long as<br />
humans continue to enter the habitat<br />
of the shark,” he states. “However, it<br />
is important to keep shark attacks in<br />
perspective. There is an average of<br />
87 people that drown at Australian<br />
beaches per year (ref: Surf Life<br />
Saving Australia 2010) yet there is<br />
only an average of 12 unprovoked<br />
shark attack incidents, including 1.1<br />
fatalities, per year over the last two<br />
decades.<br />
“It is clear that the risk of being<br />
bitten or dying from an unprovoked<br />
shark attack in Australia remains<br />
extremely low.”<br />
Good to know... John recently<br />
published a paper on the changing<br />
patterns of shark attacks in Australian<br />
waters. We asked him a couple of<br />
questions in relation to all manner of<br />
things to do with sharks.<br />
Are shark numbers dwindling? Is<br />
this the case with large predatory<br />
sharks such as Great Whites,<br />
Tigers and Bull sharks?<br />
[JW] Sharks generally are under a<br />
lot of fishing pressure around the<br />
world and commercial fisheries have<br />
experienced downturns in catches to<br />
varying degrees. The practice of finning<br />
sharks and discarding the shark’s body<br />
has severely impacted on many shark<br />
species. However, of the three species<br />
you note, only the White shark is<br />
protected because of declines in their<br />
population. The Tiger and Bull sharks in<br />
Australia are not known to have been<br />
adversely impacted by commercial<br />
fishing at this time but have been in<br />
other parts of the world.<br />
If the numbers are dwindling,<br />
why does there appear to be an<br />
increased number of incidents<br />
involving Great Whites in Western<br />
Australia for example?<br />
[JW] In the recent paper I published<br />
I discussed the increase in shark<br />
attacks specifically over the last 20<br />
years and the correlation between<br />
the increasing population and water<br />
use (particularly surfers) in Australia.<br />
Surfers have had a 300% increase<br />
in attacks compared to the previous<br />
20 year period. But again it reflects<br />
58 sep/oct <strong>2011</strong>
the increase in people in the water and<br />
the wide spread use of wetsuits that<br />
allow more people to spend more time in<br />
cooler waters than ever before.<br />
Sharks have been on this earth for 400<br />
million years and humans for around<br />
200 thousand years. However, it is only<br />
in the last century that people have<br />
regularly entered the ocean on mass<br />
to swim. Sharks have not eaten people<br />
regularly, nor are humans in the water<br />
for long enough to allow sharks to eat<br />
humans consistently to include us in<br />
their natural diet. In some cases sharks<br />
have consumed humans but this is a rare<br />
event. If sharks did eat humans as part<br />
of their natural diet there would be tens<br />
of thousands of people attacked every<br />
year and this clearly does not occur.<br />
Is there an increased presence of<br />
Bull sharks in our canals, river and<br />
estuary systems?<br />
[JW] To my knowledge the Bull shark<br />
has not increased in numbers in their<br />
natural habitat. There is a lot more<br />
research happening these days due to<br />
a Bull shark attack on a Navy diver in<br />
Sydney Harbour in Feb 2009 and acoustic<br />
tracking has produced some great results<br />
on their movement up and down the<br />
east coast. Again, more people in the<br />
water does increase the risk and with<br />
the advent of man-made canals in QLD<br />
they are a great place for Bull sharks to<br />
grow up and feed and as they get bigger.<br />
They have been known to bite humans<br />
swimming in those canals.<br />
Taronga Zoo maintains records on<br />
shark related incidents in Australia.<br />
Is it conceivable that there are some<br />
cases that go unreported and that<br />
indeed more people fall victim to<br />
shark attacks than those recorded?<br />
[JW] I can only speak about the last<br />
30 years that I have been investigating<br />
shark attacks. It is inconceivable that<br />
a shark attack could go unnoticed in<br />
Australia as these days the media are<br />
usually informed by a mobile phone call<br />
almost immediately.<br />
Over the years there have been a few<br />
people - mostly shark hunters - that have<br />
a vested interest in promoting paranoia<br />
about sharks within the general public<br />
claiming that anyone who ever went to<br />
a beach and goes missing was killed<br />
by a shark and that is a preposterous<br />
suggestion. There needs to some<br />
accountability for what people say.<br />
These people clearly are not accountable<br />
and will say anything to promote<br />
themselves or their business.<br />
From John West’s paper on Changing patterns of<br />
shark attacks in Australian waters.<br />
• Records of shark attacks in Australia have been kept since<br />
the early days of settlement (first attack recorded in 1791).<br />
To standardise reporting, the Australian Shark Attack File<br />
(ASAF) was developed in 1984.<br />
• A ‘shark attack’ is defined as any human–shark interaction,<br />
where either a shark makes a determined attempt to<br />
attack a person who is alive and in the water, or the shark<br />
attacks equipment held by the victim or a small-water craft<br />
containing the victim.<br />
• Incidents classified as ‘provoked’ are not included in the<br />
present paper such as where the person was fishing for,<br />
spearing, handling a shark etc.<br />
• Since 1900 there have been 540 recorded unprovoked<br />
attacks, including 153 fatalities, 302 injuries and 85<br />
incidents where no injury occurred.<br />
• In the first half of the 20th century, there was an increase in<br />
the number of recorded shark attacks, culminating in a peak<br />
in the 1930s when there were 74 incidents. The number of<br />
attacks then dropped, to stabilize to 35 incidents per decade<br />
from the 1940s to the 1970s.<br />
• Between 1990–1999, there has been a 16% increase in<br />
reported attacks, with a 25% increase in the past 10 years.<br />
• Since 1990, 12 species of shark were identified as<br />
responsible for unprovoked attacks. The three species<br />
historically considered to represent the biggest threat to<br />
humans (the White, Tiger and Bull shark combined) represent<br />
48% of attacks. A further 20% of attacks was attributed to<br />
the whaler group and 20% for the Wobbegong shark.<br />
• Because of increased activities occurring in cooler waters all<br />
year round, 49% of all shark-attack victims were wearing a<br />
wetsuit. There is no suggestion that wetsuits are the cause of<br />
the attack, but rather their use has allowed people to extend<br />
their time in the water, increasing the risk of encountering a<br />
shark attack.<br />
• Of the 54 incidents where a physical diversionary action was<br />
taken by the victim, 32% reported no change to the attack<br />
behaviour.<br />
• The commonly held belief you were more susceptible to<br />
attack at dawn or dusk due to sharks’ nocturnal feeding<br />
behaviour is not necessarily true. Of the three main groups<br />
of sharks implicated in attacks, each are relatively evenly<br />
represented throughout the day suggesting sharks are often<br />
opportunistic and inquisitive regardless of the time of day.<br />
• The popularity of surfing in current-day Australia was<br />
highlighted in a 2005–2006 survey, which estimated that<br />
12% of the adult population of Australian cities participated<br />
in surfing, resulting in 1.68 million recreational surfers.<br />
(www.surfersvillage.com, 10 June 2009). Applying a 20%<br />
increase, similar to the percentage increase recorded for<br />
beach visitations, it’s conservatively estimated that there<br />
were 2.061 million recreational surfers in Australia in 2009.<br />
• There has been a 310% increase in shark attacks on surfers<br />
since 1999 that appear to be primarily due to the increased<br />
popularity of surfing.<br />
• Analysis of the distribution of shark attacks indicates that<br />
91% in the past two decades have occurred away from<br />
the major population centres, along the eastern coast<br />
where shark-control programs are not deployed. This may<br />
be interpreted as highlighting the efficiency of the various<br />
shark-meshing programs in reducing shark attacks.<br />
ONLY THREE SPECIES<br />
OF SHARK HAVE BEEN<br />
RESPONSIBLE FOR<br />
FATAL ATTACKS OVER<br />
THE PAST 20 YEARS.<br />
• WHITE SHARK, with an<br />
increase from 24 incidents<br />
during the previous two decades<br />
to 55 incidents, including 15<br />
fatalities, 23 injuries and 17<br />
uninjured incidents<br />
• BULL SHARK, with an increase<br />
from three incidents during<br />
the previous two decades to<br />
25 incidents, including four<br />
fatalities, 15 injuries and six<br />
uninjured incidents<br />
• TIGER SHARK, with a<br />
decrease from 14 incidents for<br />
the previous two decades down<br />
to 10 incidents, including three<br />
fatalities, two injuries and five<br />
uninjured incidents<br />
• Of the 15 fatalities attributed to<br />
White sharks, seven involved a<br />
single bite and seven resulted<br />
from multiple bites.<br />
• Over 80% of incidents involved<br />
White sharks and Tiger sharks<br />
larger than 3m. For Bull sharks,<br />
78% of incidents involved<br />
sharks larger than 2m.<br />
• The activities of victims<br />
(1990–2009) were recorded<br />
for 186 incidents, of which 78<br />
(42%) occurred while surfing on<br />
a board or body board.<br />
sep/oct <strong>2011</strong><br />
59
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Passionate conservationist BRETT BAM - owner/operator of Liquid<br />
Getaway, a whale watching and marine tourism business on the Sunshine<br />
Coast, feels very strongly about our role and responsibility on protecting<br />
these creatures.<br />
“Australia has 35 000 kms of beaches with 166 species of sharks living in the<br />
water off those beaches. Most of these are completely harmless and would<br />
never bite anything as large and dangerous as Homo sapiens.<br />
“Once you take into account all the facts, you begin to realise that sharks are<br />
specifically not hunters of men. If sharks really were man eaters, then men<br />
would not be able to surf or dive or even swim in the sea, because we would be<br />
constantly eaten by the oceans supreme predator.<br />
“In fact, the reverse is true. We prey on sharks, and kill them in their millions.<br />
Nobody knows what the exact figure is, but it is estimated to be in excess of<br />
100 million sharks killed by humans every year. We kill them in a wide variety of<br />
cruel ways, the cruelest of which is by far - shark-finning.<br />
“This is very dangerous behaviour for an environmentally enlightened<br />
society to undertake. We are causing a rather large dent in the worlds shark<br />
population. If we succeed in making the shark an endangered species (and<br />
they are literally racing towards extinction in this generation), we effectively<br />
remove the apex predator from the environment. This has far reaching<br />
consequences. The sharks stop hunting and populations they previously kept<br />
in check rage out of control and decimate other populations further down the<br />
food chain. This knock on effect will eventually have a dramatic influence on<br />
the oceans and could even lead to a complete collapse of the ecosystem. And<br />
we all know how dependent humans are on the oceans.<br />
“As always, it starts with us and our attitude. We have to accept the shark as<br />
our friend, rather than as the terrible killer it has always been portrayed as. It<br />
is easy to turn the shark into a villain because they are hardly cute and cuddly<br />
animals, but they are in desperate need of our protection.<br />
“I made contact with one of the world leaders in shark research, South African<br />
Mark Addison. He has spent decades swimming with sharks. His predominant<br />
attitude is one of awe and amazement, not fear. He talks about what you<br />
should do if approached by a large shark.”<br />
60 sep/oct <strong>2011</strong>
LATEST: DEBATE<br />
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“I will just start off by saying that<br />
clearly one approach may not fit<br />
each species and each encounter<br />
as there are so many variables but<br />
some of the insights I have gleaned<br />
may be of some value the next time<br />
a surfer comes into contact with a<br />
shark and wonders what to do to<br />
influence the outcome.<br />
“We know that the small Tiger<br />
sharks encountered inshore pose<br />
little or no risk to surfers. In terms<br />
of their life cycle, they are merely<br />
hiding from other sharks and taking<br />
advantage of soft foods such as<br />
rays and fish. Further to this, even<br />
the bigger Tigers are incredibly<br />
cautious and you would probably<br />
be on your next wave before it<br />
made any significant approach in<br />
your direction, even with a long lull<br />
between sets. The Tiger however<br />
is a shark that often investigates<br />
things before it makes an effort<br />
to swallow it and thus this needs<br />
attention in terms of how to avoid it<br />
taking the next step.<br />
“Blacktips on the other hand are<br />
much more nosey and would<br />
approach readily if in numbers. They<br />
need a big pack before they get<br />
brave and are feeding on small fish<br />
and rays so they really do not see a<br />
surfer as a possible meal. That said<br />
they are equally unable to resist<br />
the temptation of investigating a<br />
splash and this obviously brings<br />
them into consideration when you<br />
are scratching for a wave. I have<br />
not found this species to try to<br />
‘investigate’ objects. It is rather<br />
a ‘bite first, ask questions later’<br />
approach to feeding.<br />
“White sharks are very curious and<br />
will bite any object in the water to<br />
better understand what it is. This<br />
is obviously a risk to something<br />
as puny as a human and has<br />
subsequently earned them the tag<br />
of “man-eater” when in fact it is<br />
more accurate to refer to them as<br />
“man-spitter-outers”. They mouth<br />
and spit out, but that could be a<br />
bite through a femoral artery, or it<br />
could be at a remote beach with no<br />
potential medical assistance.<br />
“What I have noticed is that even<br />
Whites will make two or three<br />
investigatory circuits of the object of<br />
curiosity. These investigatory circles<br />
begin wide and then narrow down<br />
to the point of contact. If you either<br />
catch a wave or approach at this<br />
time, it is often enough to negate<br />
any further approach by the animal.<br />
“The problem in many of the cases,<br />
is that the surfer has no sighting of<br />
the animal before the last, and now<br />
deliberate contact. For me, attack<br />
is the best form of defense with<br />
sharks and I would approach - not<br />
flailing wildly however - and own<br />
the space.<br />
“The key for me, when in the water<br />
with the above mentioned sharks,<br />
and the Bull shark, is clearly to own<br />
the space. This is easy when you<br />
are snorkeling as you are sighted<br />
and thus you can make eye contact<br />
with the animal which is usually<br />
enough but in a slightly boisterous<br />
shark you need to escalate the<br />
encounter to move into its space<br />
and dominate. Much like the<br />
neighbours dog, which will terrorise<br />
you if it detects you are nervous<br />
or scared, but is putty if you are<br />
confident and dominant.<br />
“When surfing, you are unsighted<br />
and distracted. I am not sure you<br />
have the time to implement my<br />
suggestions and are probably in a<br />
struggle for life and limb. If you can<br />
see the animal then own the space,<br />
if you can not, then opt for the<br />
‘Beam me up, Scotty’ option and get<br />
the next wave to shore.”<br />
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sep/oct <strong>2011</strong><br />
61
LATEST: DEBATE<br />
62 sep/oct <strong>2011</strong>
IT’S HARD NOT TO BE GRIPPED<br />
BY A TALE OF AN ENCOUNTER.<br />
HERE ARE A FEW TALES AND<br />
THOUGHTS ON SHARKS THAT<br />
HAVE BEEN SHARED WITH US ON<br />
OUR TRAVELS ALONG THE COAST.<br />
Squizzy Taylor<br />
John Morgan, Maddog Surf Centre, Byron Bay<br />
As a father of three myself, it goes without saying<br />
that Father’s Day is full of surprises. John Morgan<br />
however got a little bit more of a surprise on Father’s<br />
Day in 2008. Trying out his new SUP at Clarkes<br />
Beach he had just caught a wave and was heading<br />
back when he came a cropper going over a break. He<br />
felt a swirl under his board, immediately sensed it<br />
was a shark and subsequently became the first man<br />
to ski with a SUP.<br />
John had inadvertently hooked his leg rope to a<br />
3 metre shark who towed him out to sea whilst<br />
he clambered to stay on the back of his SUP as<br />
he travelled backwards at the rate of knots. John<br />
recounts the story, “It took all my strength to hold<br />
on and stop from slipping off the board. There was<br />
whitewater coming off the back of the board. It was<br />
really hard to stay on which was sort of uncool you<br />
know.”<br />
Jed Done, Bushrat Surfboards<br />
Surfing alone is par for the course down Jed’s way on<br />
the Far South Coast of New South Wales. Do sharks<br />
play on his mind? Jed gives us his perspective.<br />
“I have seen quite a few but the surf is too good to let it<br />
phase you too much. You think about them but you kind<br />
of get used to it.”<br />
“The biggest White I have seen was at the Merimbula<br />
Bar. It was a good 4 to 5 meters and coming straight at<br />
us. There was about 30 to 40 people in the lineup. 80%<br />
turned around and went in. I stayed in with a couple of<br />
mates. It went past one way, came back, went under<br />
us… it’s fin would have been as thick as this longneck.”<br />
Yes we were drinking beer when Jed told this story. A<br />
good shark story cannot be told without one. Plus the<br />
longknecks helped to graphically represent the size of<br />
the shark.<br />
“I have had another smaller White swim a couple of<br />
feet beneath me, roll and have a good long look at me. I<br />
saw the big black eye.<br />
“But honestly, Whites don’t attack people, in my mind.<br />
They just have a curious inspection of what you are. Too<br />
many people get away. You hear on the news, ‘A surfer<br />
was attacked by a Great White... and he managed to get<br />
away.’ He didn’t get attacked by a 5-metre White. The<br />
shark was just curious and gave him a bit of a nudge.<br />
“It’s like saying ‘I just had a fight with this gigantic guy<br />
at the pub and got away with it.’ He was just politely<br />
telling you to get lost.”<br />
Brian ‘Squizzy’ Taylor, highly respected Yorke<br />
Peninsula, South Australian surfer<br />
“The reality of it is, I have surfed for nearly 35<br />
years and maybe twice I have had to get out of<br />
the water. Like anything, you just read the signs.<br />
If there are lots of fish about, lots of birds, seals<br />
shooting off in different directions and lots of<br />
things happening in the water, you go safety first.<br />
“One of those occasions was years ago down<br />
at Victor Harbor. There was 12 of us out in the<br />
water and we had to clear out. A big White<br />
Pointer came across the sand bank towards us<br />
and we managed to paddle about 60m to a rocky<br />
headland and scampered up the rocks.<br />
“We were lucky because it was the start of<br />
summer and the government was performing<br />
helicopter beach surveillance. The helicopter<br />
starting circling and got closer and then over the<br />
loud hailer said, ‘Get out of the water. There is<br />
a large shark nearby.’ Within them finishing that<br />
sentence, this shark appeared across the next set<br />
of waves. It was a good 4 to 5 meters.<br />
“That beach and the neighbouring beach used to<br />
have tonnes of salmon in their day through the<br />
‘70s and early ‘80s but those beaches have been<br />
fairly heavily fished out now.<br />
“I guess being a South Australian surfer you are<br />
always surfing rather remote areas and have to<br />
be careful. It’s a bit of a lottery isn’t it. You go out<br />
and surf all the time and sooner or later you are<br />
going to encounter something. Down here you<br />
often surf on your own and you really do increase<br />
your chances.”<br />
ABOVE: Jed Bushrat in an aerial shark-dodge<br />
Lewis Dowie, Kangaroo Island, South Australia,<br />
<strong>September</strong> 2005<br />
Lewis Dowie’s personal account of the attack on<br />
his mate, Josh Berris, shows you can’t always<br />
read the signs.<br />
“We always had the theory that if the seals got<br />
out of the water there was a shark around but in<br />
this instance they didn’t, so that theory kind of<br />
fell through.<br />
“There were six of us out; me, my brother<br />
Nathan, my dad Dave, a family friend Lee, Josh<br />
and his mate Shane. We were surfing a pretty<br />
remote break on Kangaroo Island. It’s a long walk<br />
in and the break is right in the middle of a seal<br />
colony. The take off zone is actually right where<br />
the seals are playing around.<br />
“We had been in the surf about an hour when it<br />
happened. Josh was probably the farthest out<br />
near my dad and Lee. Nathan, Shane and I were<br />
a fair way further in.<br />
“I think I remember Josh giving a bit of yell and<br />
the shark’s head coming out of the water and<br />
him trying to push it away. At that point, me, my<br />
brother and Shane bailed and caught the same<br />
wave in so we didn’t really see anything else. It<br />
was a reflex action to get out of there straight<br />
away without even thinking about it.<br />
“It was only about a 20 to 30m paddle straight<br />
in. But where the wave breaks it does drop off<br />
pretty quickly.<br />
“Talking to the other guys, the shark had<br />
apparently come up, had an initial go at Josh and<br />
he basically pushed it off. It then came back and<br />
knocked him off his board. It grabbed a hold of<br />
his board and started thrashing around with it.<br />
Josh was getting dragged along for a bit before<br />
he managed to get his legrope off. The older guy,<br />
Lee, then paddled over to Josh, got him onto his<br />
board and caught a wave into the rocks.<br />
“Josh was pretty lucky. He only received a couple<br />
of long gashes on the front of both his shins.<br />
My brother and I had meanwhile grabbed some<br />
towels and leggies and ran over to where they<br />
came in.<br />
“Dad and Lee managed to bandage him up<br />
with towels and shirts, while my brother and<br />
I ran back to the cars to call the ambos and<br />
helicopter.”<br />
sep/oct <strong>2011</strong><br />
63
64 sep/oct <strong>2011</strong>
PHOTO: Hermanus Backpackers<br />
We hear from John Hinks, a<br />
professional fisherman and surfer<br />
from Port Lincoln in South Australia,<br />
who, due to the nature of his work,<br />
sees these big ones more than most.<br />
With an average full-grown length<br />
of about 4-5m and weighing in at<br />
just over a ton, most experts contend<br />
a White’s maximum size is about<br />
6m (20 ft), with a maximum weight<br />
of about 1,900 kilograms - almost<br />
2 tons, while the Guinness Book of<br />
World Records lists the largest one<br />
caught in Australia at 11m (36 ft)<br />
captured near Port Fairy in the 1870s.<br />
Great Whites can detect your<br />
slightest movement through their<br />
Ampullae of Lorenzini, special<br />
sensing organs that detect the<br />
electromagnetic field emitted by the<br />
movement of living animals<br />
They can detect half a billionth of a<br />
volt, which is equivalent to detecting<br />
a flashlight battery from 1,600<br />
kilometres away, so you can run,<br />
(swim) but you can’t hide. They can<br />
detect your heart beat so if you have<br />
just seen one, your ticker is probably<br />
acting as a giant homing beacon.<br />
But these organs are used locate<br />
prey far away. They then use smell<br />
and hearing to further verify that the<br />
target is food. At close range, the<br />
shark utilises sight for the attack.<br />
Despite the common myth that Great<br />
Whites are non-thinking, instinctdriven,<br />
eating machines studies have<br />
indicated they possess powerful<br />
problem-solving skills.<br />
In 1987, near Smitswinkle Bay,<br />
South Africa, a group of up to<br />
seven Great White sharks worked<br />
together to relocate the partially<br />
beached body of a dead whale to<br />
deeper waters to feed.<br />
Despite being pretty much numero<br />
uno in the ocean, Whites can fall<br />
victim to one other bad boy of the sea,<br />
the Orca. Search for “Shark Orca” on<br />
YouTube to see some Killer Whales<br />
with a penchant for white meat.<br />
The only species of shark protected in<br />
Australia is the Great White and the<br />
Grey Nurse.<br />
“I am a pro tuna fisherman so I see a fair few Great Whites.<br />
The last time I had an encounter was in a small dinghy. I was<br />
drift fishing a couple of miles offshore. It was a nice glassy,<br />
calm afternoon. I saw the tip of a fin cut through the water<br />
about a 100 metres away. It came closer and closer until I<br />
could see the shape underneath it. I thought, ‘Oh yeah, that’s<br />
a Pointer.’ It came a bit closer and turned out to be 16 footer. It<br />
was roughly 3 feet longer than my 13 foot dinghy.<br />
“Anyhow, it just had this pattern it followed. They do it every<br />
time. He would swim 100ft in front of my boat, head straight<br />
towards me, fin out of the water, roll sideways and look me in<br />
the eye and go behind my boat. Head 100ft in front of the boat,<br />
straight towards me and swing back around the boat. I reckon<br />
they have good visibility. He knew what I was.<br />
“It was doing this for about 40 minutes and I was really<br />
enjoying the show. But I then realised these circles were<br />
getting tighter and tighter and tighter and then I hit the panic<br />
button. I thought, ‘Shit, I just might make a phone call here’<br />
and as soon as I grabbed my mobile, he was chewing on<br />
my outboard. It was just: Bang! Bang! Bang! Side to side. I<br />
dropped the phone. I was just hanging on, squatting in the<br />
dinghy thinking, ‘you idiot. You’ve left this too late.’<br />
“I’m watching my mobile slide from side to side on the<br />
bottom of the dinghy. It finishes with the outboard and then<br />
comes along the side of the boat and starts rocking it with its<br />
pectoral and side fin.<br />
“Then the whole circus started again. It went a 100ft in front of<br />
the dinghy but this time it came straight at the dinghy and was<br />
pushing a bow wave and I just thought, ‘Ohh, I have to get out<br />
of here.’ I started the outboard. It started first time thankfully. I<br />
went a couple of kilometers, pulled up and grabbed my phone<br />
to tell a mate what had just happened and bloody hell, it’s on<br />
the move and coming at me again. I put the phone down and<br />
got the hell out of there. Further on, I came across a mate of<br />
mine who is also a pro fisherman. I pull over and he says, ‘You<br />
look like you’ve seen a White Pointer.’”<br />
We often hear of sharks mistaking us for prey?<br />
“Does prey look like a 13 foot dinghy with an outboard? He<br />
knew I was pulling fish and there was plenty of vibration on<br />
my line. He was inquisitive and then he became frustrated. It<br />
didn’t want the King George Whiting. It wanted me. I am not<br />
a disbeliever they will occasionally mistake you for prey. But I<br />
also believe that like anything that lives, they get hungry. If you<br />
are in the wrong place at the wrong time, they will eat you.”<br />
Have you had an encounter surfing?<br />
“My favourite waves are up in The Great Australian Bight. Last<br />
autumn we got chased in. The boys and me are sitting on the<br />
bowl. There was 5 or 6 of us out there. I am sitting a bit wider<br />
than them. They have that look on their face. ‘Johno, we just<br />
seen one. 30 foot over there. It’s time to go in.’<br />
“I was on the back of the pack thinking, ‘Why am I always on<br />
the back of the pack?’ The same thing happened the autumn<br />
before. When you see a fin in The Bight you generally know<br />
it is a fin of consequence. You go in and don’t stuff around.<br />
But as usual, there’s never a wave in sight when these things<br />
happen.<br />
“I have the up most respect for Pointers. If I ever got knocked<br />
off by one, I would be irate if they hunted it down. We play<br />
in their domain. That is our choice. Sometimes you are in the<br />
wrong place at the wrong time. That’s all there is to it. Bang,<br />
you’re gone.’<br />
“Respect the ocean and respect what is in the ocean. Those<br />
big fish are in there for survival and it is their playground.”<br />
Any places you wouldn’t surf?<br />
“Ohhh well... you know... no, there probably isn’t. There is an<br />
island out from Port Lincoln. Great wave, sharkiest spot. There’s<br />
a few tuna farms only a mile away from the takeoff. The tuna<br />
guys will duck over after feeding the fish and tell us how many<br />
big ones are about just as we enter the water. We’re just like,<br />
‘Righto, keep your eyes on the barrel, keep surfing.’”<br />
Have shark dives heightened Great White curiosity?<br />
“Those blokes go past me each day in summer when I’m<br />
fishing. They run an incredibly successful operation and<br />
provide an incredible experience for the divers that go down<br />
in the cage. As a surfer, you would have to be a fearless to<br />
ever want to do that. Once you have seen one that close, it is<br />
a much harder picture to put out of your mind when surfing.<br />
Everyone is different but surely seeing a 15-foot shark in attack<br />
mode must leave a lasting impression. That is a living dinosaur<br />
right there.<br />
“Have these dives played a part in the sharks’ curiosity in<br />
humans? Definitely so.”<br />
sep/oct <strong>2011</strong><br />
65
Are White Pointers in decline, in<br />
your opinion?<br />
“There are certainly no less White<br />
Pointers around the West Coast and<br />
South Australia. They are more stories<br />
about them all the time. As a surfer I<br />
don’t want to see them. But surfing and<br />
fishing these parts, you see them.<br />
“They are such an incredible thing to<br />
see. They are like a whale with teeth.<br />
You are looking at this thing and it<br />
is just huge. It’s quite a euphoric<br />
experience... when you are not<br />
surfing.<br />
“When you see a whale you never tire<br />
of seeing that majestic creature in the<br />
water. Pointers are kind of like that.<br />
“Tuna fishing in Point Lincoln, there’s<br />
more and more of them each year<br />
and each year they will be around the<br />
harvest boats, all hungry.”<br />
The Shark Shield device?<br />
“Security blanket. Like wearing a<br />
bandaid in the water. Think of a<br />
creature that weighs over a tonne,<br />
coming at battle ramp speed that<br />
has decided it’s going to make a hit.<br />
Think of the momentum when it’s at<br />
full speed flying. Do you think it can<br />
stop and go in reverse whilst in attack<br />
mode? I believe these pods work at a<br />
6ft distance before the shark gets a<br />
bit of a sting off them.”<br />
Do you believe in rogue sharks?<br />
“I just think when a shark is ready and<br />
he wants to feed – just don’t be there.”<br />
Do you believe some shark<br />
attacks go unreported?<br />
“The ocean holds a lot of secrets.<br />
Anyone that is lost at sea in these<br />
parts, I don’t fancy their chances of<br />
not getting a visitor...“<br />
There may be 3-4 species of sharks<br />
responsible for accidental attacks on<br />
humans but there are over 166 species<br />
of sharks living off Australia’s 35,000 km<br />
of beaches. Most of these species are<br />
completely harmless.<br />
• Ironically it’s the human consumption<br />
of sharks that may determine the<br />
ultimate fate of the species.<br />
• It is estimated over 100 million<br />
sharks are removed from the oceans<br />
worldwide every year.<br />
• As a result, more than 100 shark<br />
species are listed as exploited.<br />
• Scores are either endangered or<br />
threatened.<br />
• It is reported in the Mediterranean<br />
Sea, sharks such as the Mako and<br />
Hammerhead have declined in<br />
number by more than 95% in the<br />
last 30 years.<br />
• In the Gulf of Mexico, home to a<br />
number of large sharks such as the<br />
Great White, there’s been a reported<br />
75% drop in the last 15 years.<br />
• Western fishermen often<br />
supplement their income with the<br />
accidental netting of sharks within<br />
their catch. Surely, most of us have<br />
had fish’n’chips at some time. Well,<br />
this is often ‘flake’, which is shark.<br />
• But most of the exploitation of<br />
sharks is due to the cruel practice of<br />
‘finning’, where the shark’s fins are<br />
sliced off and the shark then thrown<br />
back into the water to sink to the<br />
bottom. Unable to swim, the shark<br />
drowns.<br />
• This inhumane practice is to simply<br />
feed the need for shark fin soup<br />
in many Asian countries, namely<br />
China and Hong Kong. The soup is<br />
considered an aphrodisiac.<br />
• Those who doubt how cruel the<br />
practice of shark-finning is should<br />
watch this clip. www.sharks.org/<br />
sri-main-blog/241-recipe-for-sharkfin-soup.html<br />
• The shark, this amazing apex<br />
predator that has been in our oceans<br />
for some 400 million years, just may<br />
be struck down by humans in less<br />
than 100.<br />
When you consider these damning facts,<br />
what does this say about humans? Rightly<br />
or wrongly sharks may attack us, but the<br />
likelihood is extremely remote.<br />
Sharks, on the other fin, have more to<br />
fear about us, than we do from them.<br />
The most unfortunate outcome of human interactions with sharks is<br />
obviously the loss of human life. These are a few unhappy tales.<br />
66 sep/oct <strong>2011</strong>
If we haven’t entirely put you off surfing all together with the intriguing<br />
facts, figures, statistics and stories contained in this piece, that’s good.<br />
At least that makes one of us.<br />
On a serious note though, your chances of getting attacked by a shark<br />
are extremely rare. Just be sure to always have your wits about you and<br />
don’t take any unnecessary risks. By taking a common sense approach to<br />
your surfing, you can just about ensure you continue to enjoy the ocean<br />
for all the joy she brings.<br />
Other than that, try and always surf with a mate who is a slower<br />
swimmer than you. Remember, it is not a question of whether you can<br />
outswim the shark, just whether you can outswim your mate. Why the<br />
hell do you think I surf with Mark all the time?<br />
If you are fascinated by sharks, here are some websites you may find<br />
interesting for further reading.<br />
Shark facts and conservation<br />
www.taronga.org.au/animals-conservation/conservation-science/australianshark-attack-file/australian-shark-attack-file<br />
(The Australian Shark Attack File)<br />
www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/Sharks/ISAF/ISAF.htm (International Shark Attack File)<br />
www.sharks.org (Shark Research Institute)<br />
www.seashepherd.org<br />
www.whitesharktrust.org<br />
www.bluewilderness.co.za<br />
The chilling and macabre<br />
www.sharkattacksurvivors.com<br />
www.swimatyourownrisk.com<br />
www.fearbeneath.com<br />
www.jawshark.com<br />
www.sharkattacks.com<br />
www.sharkattackphotos.com<br />
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70 sep/oct <strong>2011</strong>
Maurice scores a throaty one<br />
and spreads his wings<br />
TRAVEL: PLANE TRIP<br />
SURF★CHILE<br />
A SOUTH AMERICAN ADVENTURE<br />
Joel Coleman of Saltmotion Gallery in Manly sure gets around. In a good way, that is. He’s<br />
chalked up more international travel time in a few short months than most people get to do in a<br />
lifetime. Fortunately for the less fortunate, he’s a master of the lens and handy with a pen.<br />
Well, laptop really - the figurative pen...<br />
If you enjoyed his laidback discoveries in the Solomon Islands last edition, hold onto your hat<br />
as he heads to South America to discover some unridden waves in the cold waters of the aptly<br />
named Republic of Chile. With 6,435 kilometres of Pacific coastline - running around half the<br />
length of the entire South American continent - there’s definitely plenty of choice to enjoy.<br />
WORDS & PHOTOS: JOEL COLEMAN<br />
sep/oct <strong>2011</strong><br />
71
I started going to a ‘Yoga for Surfers’ class in<br />
Sydney a few years ago. At first I thought the<br />
teacher was from Brazil, I was wrong.<br />
After attending Maurice’s classes regularly for<br />
some time and getting to know him a little, he<br />
let on that he was off for a few months to Chile,<br />
his homeland. He jokingly invited me to come<br />
over and surf with him for a few weeks. I let the<br />
invite slide.<br />
Twelve months later and Maurice mentioned<br />
again that he was heading on his annual<br />
pilgrimage to see his family and take a few<br />
weeks off to surf. He also let on about the quality<br />
of the waves and the obscene number of perfect<br />
left hand point breaks that were on offer. When I<br />
told my wife that I wanted to go on another surf<br />
trip this year she said “OK, but if you’re going to<br />
South America I’m coming”. My wife happens<br />
to be the best non-surfing partner imaginable,<br />
so I jumped at the chance to share a bit of an<br />
adventure with her. Maurice’s partner was also<br />
coming and without hesitating I said yes. We<br />
booked the tickets.<br />
A few weeks before we were due to go, Maurice<br />
had us up to his place for dinner to discuss the<br />
trip. Excitement boiled over when he pulled out<br />
his laptop to show a few home videos featuring<br />
some of the point breaks we would be visiting.<br />
This country has waves, perfect waves, and lots<br />
of them! Over dinner Maurice ran us through<br />
his plans for the trip and told us what we<br />
would need to bring. When I asked about water<br />
temperature he just smiled and said, get a new<br />
wetsuit, a good one, at least a 4/3 and combo it<br />
up with boots, gloves and a hood…don’t skimp<br />
on cheap stuff either!<br />
I hate being cold, no one likes it! So when I went<br />
up to the local surf shop I told the guys to kit me<br />
out in whatever was available to keep me warm!<br />
I opted for everything listed above as well as a<br />
thermal rashie (which was a golden piece of kit)<br />
and I also borrowed one of those new heated<br />
vests. The heated vest was amazing for the first<br />
few sessions before it packed in and stopped<br />
working! After that I was happy to surf without<br />
it and only got really cold a few times. I guess<br />
what I am saying is, if you invest in some quality<br />
equipment and bring the right gear, surfing here<br />
is a little chilly, but certainly worth the effort.<br />
When it came to which boards to take it was<br />
a little harder for me to make the decision. It<br />
had been suggested to bring suitable boards<br />
for big powerful waves. Expect nothing smaller<br />
than four foot and the possibility of a lot bigger.<br />
I opted for a 6’4 and a 6’10 gun. Unfortunately<br />
for me, the day before we left a decent swell<br />
hit Sydney and I broke my 6’4! I did a mad<br />
dash around the local surf shops and found a<br />
reasonable second hand 6’3 that would do the<br />
trick. If I didn’t have a load of camera gear to<br />
take over as well I probably would have opted to<br />
bring a third board; something in the middle like<br />
a semi-gun, because breaking boards in Chile is a<br />
very real possibility.<br />
The flight to Santiago from Sydney is a long one.<br />
Take some entertainment with you. When you<br />
arrive you get the added bonus of having your<br />
body clock turned inside out by being on the<br />
other side of the planet. When Maurice met us<br />
at the airport he had a perfect cure. He took us<br />
to his mum’s place for a home cooked meal while<br />
sitting around the fireplace.<br />
Before I get into the detail of the first days<br />
surfing I should tell you a little more about the<br />
crew I was travelling with. Firstly there was<br />
Sherrie - my wife - and I. We were using this<br />
trip as a bit of time out and a holiday for both of<br />
us, with the added bonus of mixing a little work<br />
(photographing) in as well. Maurice was the<br />
instigator of the trip and our ‘guide’. His partner,<br />
Julie, was along for the adventure and Maurice’s<br />
mate, Dylan, completed the crew.<br />
Now a normal surf trip that involves a bunch<br />
of blokes in a car for long stretches of tarmac<br />
can get a little tribal. Toilet stops are usually<br />
governed by the person with the strongest<br />
bladder and fuel for the stomach is often<br />
purchased at the same place you get fuel for the<br />
car. Most of us are fine with that and have been<br />
‘road tripping’ for waves that way since the first<br />
in our group of mates got his driver’s license.<br />
This trip was to be a little different… Maurice<br />
and Jules are both yoga instructors and into<br />
clean, organic peace, love-and-mung-beans-style<br />
living. Dylan had the world’s best alternative to<br />
‘fast food.’ That being, delicately cooked ‘slow<br />
food’ made from whatever fresh ingredients<br />
we could find along the way - frustrating at<br />
times, but always worth the wait! Sherrie and I<br />
happily falling somewhere in the middle - I have<br />
a chocolate problem. The adventure through<br />
Chile became as much about the meals cooked,<br />
the recipes conjured, and the delights slapped<br />
together on the road, as it was about the waves<br />
and the photographic opportunities. Sure there<br />
were a few Chilenitos and Berliners (local cakes)<br />
wolfed down along the way, but we all came<br />
home from this trip without that grease hangover<br />
that can so often accompany a ‘road trip.’<br />
Rubber up and<br />
get out there<br />
72 sep/oct <strong>2011</strong>
The line-up shot of<br />
our last session<br />
Curious locals in the line-up.<br />
“THIS TRIP WAS TO BE<br />
A LITTLE DIFFERENT...”<br />
Afternoon point<br />
perfection<br />
The locals build these cool surf<br />
shacks around the more popular points<br />
Anyone seen a sea lion?.<br />
TRAVEL: PLANE TRIP<br />
sep/oct <strong>2011</strong><br />
73
TRAVEL: PLANE TRIP<br />
“AFTER<br />
ATTACKING A FEW<br />
LEFT HAND WALLS<br />
THERE WAS NO<br />
ROOM TO THINK<br />
ABOUT BEING<br />
COLD ANY MORE”<br />
The first morning we were to hit the road and head<br />
south to Pichilemu – the capital of Chilean surfing.<br />
Taking the scenic road south we reached Pichilemu<br />
around lunchtime. The first stop was a famous<br />
point break – what a way to start the trip! We were<br />
blessed with some afternoon sunshine and glassy<br />
four foot waves peeling the length of the point.<br />
A little scared as to how cold the water would<br />
actually be, I was quite surprised when the first<br />
trickle started seeping into my wettie. It was fresh,<br />
but not too bad. I promise you after attacking a few<br />
left hand walls there was no room to think about<br />
being cold any more! Sure if you got caught inside<br />
and had to duck-dive a six wave set then you would<br />
eventually come up with a bit of a brain freeze, but<br />
on the whole it was pretty good.<br />
We stayed in Pichilemu and surfed Punta de Lobos<br />
for a few days, each day providing us with glassy<br />
waves, 4-5 foot and low on crowd numbers. But soon<br />
enough it was time to push further south. An early<br />
start to get a surf in before we hit the road and a<br />
gentle drive through some amazing countryside saw<br />
us cross into the southern states of Chile. Life here<br />
is a little more rural and a lot more relaxed than the<br />
big cities.<br />
I mentioned the organic ‘peace, love and dandelions’<br />
approach to food that this trip was following. On<br />
the drive south we crossed a beautiful section<br />
of countryside which was being used to harvest<br />
organic salt. Dylan spotted a roadside stall and,<br />
with enthusiasm usually reserved for cheering on<br />
a football team, we pulled over to buy a bag of salt<br />
and some local honey. A little further down the road<br />
we found a bakery with freshly baked bread. Honey<br />
sandwiches for lunch and it was damn good.<br />
When we reached our destination - a spot called<br />
Buchupureo - we again lucked into a perfect, blue<br />
sky afternoon. We unloaded our gear into a few very<br />
comfortable cabins and took a walk up the hill to<br />
check the point. It was pumping! The sun turning the<br />
water an impossible shade of ice green and again,<br />
perfect waves peeling down another point!<br />
Excitement levels went into overdrive and I decided<br />
to take advantage of the sunshine with a mellow<br />
looking point set-up and photograph in the water for<br />
the first time on this trip. Walking to the jump off<br />
spot with the camera I heard a local guy behind me<br />
say something. I couldn’t understand what his rapid<br />
fire Chilean Spanish was getting at, but I did catch<br />
a few words. “el gringo loco” - the crazy tourist!<br />
Not sure why I was being called crazy, I leapt in<br />
through a ridiculous shore-break and was pleasantly<br />
surprised the water temp was slightly up on where<br />
we had been the previous day. Or perhaps it was<br />
just the sunshine. Either way it was one of the most<br />
enjoyable sessions I have photographed from the<br />
water for a long time. The boys getting plenty of<br />
sun soaked waves and the pine forested headland<br />
providing a pretty spectacular backdrop. When I<br />
went back later that afternoon to catch a few waves<br />
myself I figured out why the guy called me ‘a crazy<br />
tourist.’ It seems there was a much better jump off<br />
spot, with no rocks, very little shorebreak and half<br />
the swim – live and learn…<br />
Falling into a routine, we spent a week at<br />
Buchupureo. Surfed every day, some days were<br />
better than others, some sunny, one we were totally<br />
fogged in. I would wake each morning at dawn to<br />
check conditions and try and get some early morning<br />
colour for the camera. Dylan would cook his pre-surf<br />
oats and Maurice would get his wetsuit on and make<br />
sure he was the first one in the water. Sherrie and<br />
Jules, let’s just say they preferred the warmth of a<br />
bed to the early Chile mornings…<br />
Through that week, only once did we surf a wobbly<br />
wave with cross-shore winds, and that was our<br />
own fault for procrastinating a little in the morning.<br />
74 sep/oct <strong>2011</strong>
Maurice on an<br />
“Ice Green“ Express<br />
SURF★CHILE<br />
Bali...<br />
T he best of<br />
both worlds<br />
What I am saying here, is that in the week we<br />
surfed, every day at some stage, there were<br />
perfect conditions - at least 4 foot of swell and<br />
plenty of waves to share amongst us!<br />
It all came together for a few days towards the<br />
end of the week. The swell jacked up into the<br />
6 foot plus range, the winds were virtually non<br />
existent and the sand banks at Buchupureo were<br />
perfect, providing 250m rides the length of the<br />
point until eventually you would kick out in a<br />
beach break, walk around the cliffs and paddle<br />
back out for another one. These are the sessions<br />
we came here to surf, the conditions we were<br />
hoping for and the swell size we dreamed about.<br />
It does get a lot bigger here, however, if the<br />
swell does hit the double extra large size, surfing<br />
options become limited - unless of course, you<br />
are a fearless hellman!<br />
Once the swell started to decline we began to<br />
do a little sightseeing. We visited seal colonies<br />
and traditional water-powered corn mills, walked<br />
around markets in towns to buy fresh food and<br />
trekked to several different beaches to explore<br />
the area a little. Evenings were spent cooking<br />
healthy, belly-filling meals and playing cards.<br />
Given all of us on this trip met through practicing<br />
yoga we squeezed in a few sessions to stretch<br />
and release some tension in our over-surfed<br />
shoulders. I woke up every day to photograph the<br />
amazing scenery, sometimes scoring blue skies<br />
and colour and sometimes getting a lens full of<br />
fog. Overall it was a pretty amazing week. We<br />
thought the best bit of the trip was probably over<br />
but Maurice had a few more surprises up his<br />
sleeve for us.<br />
The drive north was due to take a few days if we<br />
split it up and surfed along the way. We stopped<br />
for a few nights in Pichilemu to surf Punta de<br />
Lobos again, got blown out one morning when<br />
unfortunately, the swell was pretty decent. We<br />
then hit the road again the next day to head<br />
home. Maurice’s suggestion to do a little 4x4<br />
exploring on the way back was greeted with<br />
some excitement. We bounced our way around a<br />
headland and spotted another perfect left hand<br />
point! The excitement levels in the car went<br />
into ‘man-grommet’ overdrive as we realized we<br />
had lucked into a cracker of a last session. Chile<br />
turned it on again, three foot peeling lefts, just us<br />
in the water and a spectacular session to end the<br />
adventure. A few last laughs were provided by<br />
a crazy food-stealing cat that belonged to a surf<br />
shack on the beach. Eventually after the ginger<br />
Dukes<br />
at Bingin<br />
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MAKE USE OF EASY ACCESS TO<br />
FOUR FABULOUS BREAKS:<br />
Bingin, Impossibles, Dreamland<br />
and Balangan. (Surf guide available)<br />
Book now!<br />
info@baliretreats.com.au<br />
www.baliretreats.com.au<br />
or call <strong>07</strong> 5572 0477<br />
sep/oct <strong>2011</strong><br />
75
Surf Fitness Training<br />
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enhance your surfing<br />
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Surf better and have<br />
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To get started with your free surf-specific workout, visit...<br />
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More boards than<br />
you can poke a log at.<br />
TRAVEL: PLANE TRIP<br />
feline tried to eat a plastic bag I had no option, much to the<br />
cats disgust, but to tie him up using a surfboard leash. Let’s<br />
just say the cat took it well, figured out how to get out, then<br />
promptly helped himself to some avocado.<br />
The trip finally came to an end with a five hour delay at the<br />
airport, followed by a flight that I have already done my best to<br />
forget. Yet even now, as I think of Chile, I smile a deep inward<br />
smile. The cold, long drives and longer flights are weighed up<br />
in my mind against the countless ‘backhand-reo to cut-back’<br />
combinations, the six-wave sets with only three guys out, the<br />
power of the waves and the sheer excitement that is surfing<br />
Chile!<br />
We barely scratched the surface of this country and were only<br />
there long enough to sample a small portion of what must be<br />
on offer along the rest of the coastline. It seems at every turn<br />
off to the coast there is another wave worth surfing. Sure the<br />
cold might put a few people off, but I think that’s a good thing.<br />
If all you want from your surfing is a tropical paradise, with<br />
someone serving you drinks, there are plenty of great options.<br />
But if you’re keen to rubber up and be a little chilly for the<br />
privilege of surfing some of the most perfect waves you can<br />
imagine, you like the idea of spending your evenings cooking<br />
up a storm with your mates, you enjoy a room with a fireplace<br />
to play a few rounds of cards and are excited by the idea of<br />
an early start to hit up another perfect point break.... Then this<br />
place might just be for you.<br />
392 Harbour Drive, The Jetty Strip, Coffs Harbour NSW<br />
Phone: 02 6658 0223 www.thelogshack.com.au<br />
waspbags.com.au<br />
Some things just<br />
shouldn’t get wet.<br />
WASP Bags are completely water<br />
and sand proof. Noticed how if<br />
you get the tiniest bit of sand<br />
or water in your phone, iPod<br />
or camera they are never quite<br />
the same again? Thanks to their<br />
unique seal, WASP Bags ensure<br />
that the things that should stay<br />
dry, stay dry.<br />
Buy online or ask your friendly surf shop...<br />
76 sep/oct <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
sep/oct <strong>2011</strong><br />
77
Byrobn Bbaya<br />
vLocal bknowloedge<br />
Hands down, one of our personal favourite<br />
stops is the never-sleepy town of Byron Bay<br />
on the New South Wales North Coast. It has<br />
a weird, magnetic quality to it... Every time<br />
you go there it gets a little harder to leave.<br />
Not only is it a place of magical waves,<br />
eternal good times and sunshine, it’s steeped<br />
in surf history and home to some of surfing<br />
and surfboard manufacturing’s true legends.<br />
But a place like Byron Bay doesn’t need any<br />
introduction from the likes of us blow-ins.<br />
We’ll let it’s own people speak for it instead.<br />
Local knowledge, after all, is a powerful<br />
thing. Let’s go get some...<br />
78 sep/oct <strong>2011</strong>
Photo: Alex Frings<br />
www.alexfrings.com<br />
sep/oct <strong>2011</strong><br />
79
The Pass - perfect waves for everyone<br />
Photo: Trent Dooley puredrift.com<br />
The yq laycof<br />
vthe land<br />
INTRODUCTION BY ED SINNOTT,<br />
BYRON BAY SURFBOARD MANUFACTURER<br />
vLocal bknowloedge<br />
Welcome to the real world, Byron<br />
Bay, the Vortex...<br />
It’s early, with the ocean mist<br />
still on the streets. Last night’s<br />
hang-overs are wearing black<br />
shades, gargling strong coffee<br />
and wondering where the hell<br />
they’ve been. Weekend daytrippers<br />
from the Goldy are out<br />
hunting breakfast, knowing exactly<br />
what they don’t need, while Paris<br />
Hilton wannabes are still in bed<br />
getting their beauty sleep. Parkies<br />
stand waiting for a free feed at<br />
the community centre while mad<br />
surfers roll out of damp garages,<br />
Wicked vans, rented rooms and<br />
one night stand crash pads in<br />
Suffolk, Sunrise, Broken, the Byron<br />
Hills and anywhere else they<br />
happened to find a bed.<br />
Soon everyone is out on pushbikes,<br />
motorcycles, skateboards, in vans,<br />
and anything else they can get<br />
their hands on. They're heading<br />
for the water. Cars with boards<br />
stacked up high tear around the<br />
Cape in all directions. What’s firing<br />
today? The Pass, Lennox, Broken,<br />
Tallows or the Wreck? It's a full<br />
bore surf city here and it hardly<br />
ever stops. Ever. Today there's a six<br />
foot groundswell running straight<br />
from the east and it’s offshore.<br />
Byron Bay is a blazing melting<br />
pot containing extreme polarities<br />
from all walks of life that include<br />
new-age hippies, homeless<br />
environmentalists, yuppie artists,<br />
people in between writing books,<br />
day trippers, Lindsey Lohan<br />
mimics, Derek Hynd sometimes,<br />
the hair-permed-forward-stovepipe-no-belt<br />
brigade, blow-in<br />
locals, armies of backpacking<br />
hedonists, feral gypsy guitarists,<br />
surfers, whale watchers, festival<br />
lovers, the Top Shop squirrel set<br />
and locals who wish life would go<br />
back to the good old days. Well<br />
guess what? It never will.<br />
Byron Bay never actually had<br />
a gold rush but you might be<br />
forgiven for thinking that it did,<br />
with so many visitors arriving<br />
to this seething cauldron of the<br />
counterculture. But the gold was,<br />
in fact, a combination of classic<br />
surf, sunshine, new age modalities<br />
and an undeniable sense of<br />
freedom - alluringly real, yet at<br />
the same time a deceptive mirage.<br />
Byron is a place of transience, a<br />
fading chimera and yet a concrete<br />
reality for those that live within<br />
its frontiers. It’s the Wild West,<br />
Hawaii, Bali, a million myths and<br />
a golden sunset viewed through a<br />
cocktail called Happy Holidays. It’s<br />
whatever you want it to be and it’s<br />
everything to everybody.<br />
The selling of Byron Bay's seething<br />
underbelly to the world as a<br />
paradise of blue skies, endless<br />
waves and total personal freedom<br />
was helped by cultural signposts<br />
along the way such as Albert<br />
Falzon’s seminal surf film Morning<br />
of the Earth (1971) and The<br />
Aquarius Festival (1973) held in<br />
Nimbin about 25 kilometres from<br />
Byron Bay. Falzon’s film depicted<br />
images of Nat Young, Chris Brock<br />
and friends ripping Broken Head<br />
Photo: Trent Dooley puredrift.com<br />
Byron Bay Lighthouse<br />
80 sep/oct <strong>2011</strong>
ay<br />
"Byron Bay is a blazing melting<br />
pot containing extreme polarities<br />
from all walks of life"<br />
Ed Sinnott<br />
RIGHT: Ed Sinnott is the shaper behind<br />
ESP Surfboards. For more on Ed and other<br />
local surfboard manufacturing talent, see<br />
the shapers special starting on Page 104.<br />
apart while living the dream down<br />
on the farm, bathed in an idyllic<br />
golden light, saturated with an<br />
upbeat soundtrack. Morning of<br />
the Earth was the first surf movie<br />
to join the gossamers of the hippy<br />
counterculture, individualism and<br />
the short board revolution together.<br />
Surfing became a form of creative<br />
self-expression and a pursuit that<br />
captured the spirit of the hippy<br />
lifestyle. People really identified<br />
with these images and the sense<br />
of freedom they portrayed.<br />
Byron Bay was forever stamped<br />
within the counterculture as a<br />
place synonymous with personal<br />
freedom, the alternative lifestyle<br />
and the search for individuality. It’s<br />
just unfortunate that today it’s a<br />
damn hard place to survive.<br />
The Aquarius Festival did much<br />
the same thing. It was a bit like a<br />
North Coast Woodstock. Students<br />
and hippies flocked to the area for<br />
the festival in 1973 and many just<br />
never left. Two decades of new<br />
settlers and alternative lifestylers<br />
began to repopulate the area and<br />
another set of pioneers established<br />
themselves around Mullumbimby<br />
and Mainarm.<br />
The commune, legally known as a<br />
multiple occupancy or 'MO', was<br />
conceived. The idea that you could<br />
drop out of mainstream culture and<br />
live an alternative lifestyle was<br />
born. This challenged Australia’s<br />
rational and neo-conservative<br />
power structures who labelled<br />
hippies and surfers together as<br />
‘’dole bludgers’’ and ‘’druggies’’.<br />
The evolution of Byron is well<br />
documented, so these days the<br />
tourist dollar drives the economy.<br />
The propaganda and mythology<br />
that surround the town still attracts<br />
visitors here with disposable<br />
incomes and dollars to burn. But<br />
while the visiting crowds also bring<br />
their own share of issues to the<br />
local community, you can still find<br />
the old, unique Byron if you look<br />
hard enough. You can experience<br />
that peace and solitude of the early<br />
days if you truly explore the area.<br />
The locals love winter when the<br />
big Southerly swells pump and<br />
it's quieter. You can surf a lot of<br />
uncrowded breaks at this time of<br />
year, but when the points fire up it's<br />
still very hectic. There is amazing<br />
natural beauty in the shire and<br />
the type of freedom that you find<br />
depends on where you look.<br />
There are many hidden gems here,<br />
rough-hewn diamonds that await<br />
discovery. If it’s gold you’re after<br />
you won’t find it out at the Pass, in<br />
a pub or by rubbing the red out of<br />
your eyes after an all-night bender.<br />
You'll find it in the hidden natural<br />
world out on a deserted beach<br />
where the life-force of the ocean<br />
and the land powers our connection<br />
to everything.<br />
While the rest might be the same<br />
old circus with different clowns, if<br />
you survive the mirage you might<br />
find your own personal truth.<br />
Jonson Street<br />
Main Beach car park<br />
The Tallows local crew<br />
Photo: Trent Dooley puredrift.com<br />
sep/oct <strong>2011</strong><br />
81
Byron Bay is one of those<br />
places blessed with that all<br />
important ingredient for surf<br />
- choice. With beaches and<br />
point breaks at all different<br />
angles and aspects, you’re<br />
hard pressed not to find<br />
something surfable on any<br />
Byron Bay roadtrip.<br />
As always, we reckon local<br />
knowledge is the way to go,<br />
so we asked photographer<br />
Trent Dooley of puredrift.com<br />
to let us in on what Byron’s<br />
breaks have to offer...<br />
Belongil Beach<br />
A quiet alternative,<br />
suitable for all levels<br />
of surfers, is Belongil<br />
Beach, about a km north<br />
of the Wreck, which<br />
can produce some good<br />
beach breaks on most<br />
swells in S-SW wind.<br />
The Wreck<br />
Aptly named after the<br />
sunken shipwreck SS<br />
Wollongbar, The Wreck<br />
sits just to the left of<br />
Main Beach car park.<br />
It turns on some very<br />
hollow and punchy<br />
waves thanks to the<br />
constant build up of<br />
sand caught up around<br />
the wreck itself. Due<br />
to its consistency and<br />
its proximity to town,<br />
it’s generally busy and<br />
works best in a solid<br />
E/SE swell and S-SW<br />
winds.<br />
Main Beach<br />
Smack bang in the<br />
centre of town, Main<br />
Beach provides an<br />
eclectic mix of people<br />
from all over the world<br />
basking in Byron’s<br />
sunshine and idealic<br />
beaches. In other words<br />
it’s packed with tourists,<br />
swimming, sun-baking,<br />
bodysurfing, snorkelling,<br />
learning and the like.<br />
However, when there is<br />
enough swell wrapping<br />
into the Bay, Main<br />
Beach can also serve up<br />
some very hollow waves<br />
which will leave the<br />
inexperienced admiring<br />
from shore.<br />
Clarkes Beach<br />
When The Pass is firing,<br />
Clarkes Beach can offer<br />
a less critical alternative<br />
away from the crowds.<br />
It turns on some fun<br />
waves often with only a<br />
fraction of the surfers.<br />
Tucked right into the<br />
bay, it also offers the<br />
protection from all wind<br />
directions except the<br />
northerly. When small,<br />
Clarkes can provide<br />
gentle little peelers that<br />
are great for logs and<br />
learning.<br />
Byrobn<br />
Bbreaks<br />
Photographer Trent Dooley<br />
One part photos, one part<br />
accommodation and all Byron Bay,<br />
puredrift is run by couple Trent<br />
and Laura Dooley who moved to<br />
Byron Bay just over a year ago from<br />
Sydney’s Northern Beaches.<br />
“My wife Laura and I have always<br />
wanted to work together creatively,”<br />
Trent says. “And puredrift has given<br />
us the opportunity to share our love<br />
of Byron’s beautiful environment and<br />
contribute to its vibrant community.”<br />
On the website, you can book a stay,<br />
and also check out daily photos and<br />
local surf conditions.<br />
Make sure to sign up for the email<br />
list to have magical Byron Bay<br />
scenery appear in your inbox.<br />
Visit puredrift.com and join in on<br />
www.facebook.com/puredrift<br />
Wategos:<br />
"Ditch the short board<br />
here, get out the log and<br />
cruise down Australia’s<br />
most easterly point. "<br />
What a way to spend a summer’s day.<br />
Photo: Trent Dooley puredrift.com<br />
82 sep/oct <strong>2011</strong>
The Pass<br />
Byron’s premiere wave<br />
with crowds to match.<br />
A sand bottom point<br />
break that can dish up<br />
super-sucky mechanical<br />
barrels through to long<br />
logger lines that peel<br />
endlessly down the Bay,<br />
all depending on sand<br />
build up. When working,<br />
it’s an amazing sight<br />
with waves running<br />
well over 300m. Crowd<br />
levels can be dangerous<br />
here and it’s no place for<br />
the inexperienced. The<br />
viewing platform directly<br />
above the wave provides<br />
a great vantage point.<br />
Best in SE swell and<br />
south wind.<br />
Wategos<br />
This would have to<br />
be one of the most<br />
picturesque beaches<br />
in Australia, with realestate<br />
prices to match.<br />
Ditch the short board<br />
here, get out the log and<br />
cruise down Australia’s<br />
most easterly point.<br />
On a good day you can<br />
get rides in excess of<br />
a couple of hundred<br />
metres, which you will<br />
often have to share<br />
with a pod of dolphins.<br />
Offshore in a southerly is<br />
the way to go.<br />
Tallows<br />
If you love surfing<br />
punchy beach breaks<br />
in crystal clear warm<br />
water, Tallow Beach or<br />
‘Tallows’ is your summer<br />
break. Surfing just below<br />
the iconic Cape Byron<br />
lighthouse at ‘Cosy<br />
Corner’ will also provide<br />
you with protection from<br />
the dreaded summer<br />
northerlies. While this<br />
spot can get pretty busy<br />
during the peak holiday<br />
periods, you often only<br />
have to walk a couple<br />
hundred metres down the<br />
beach and you’re surfing<br />
peaks all to yourself.<br />
Suffolk Park<br />
Keep strolling down<br />
the beach for 5 clicks<br />
or so and you’ll be at<br />
the beachside town of<br />
Suffolk Park. This stretch<br />
of beach picks up swells<br />
from all angles and is<br />
rarely flat.<br />
It’s offshore from NW to<br />
SW and you can often<br />
score great waves all to<br />
yourself when conditions<br />
are right.<br />
Broken Head<br />
The furthest point south<br />
on this long stretch of<br />
coast is Broken Head,<br />
a right hand sand<br />
bottom point break that<br />
lines up beautifully<br />
when the sand is<br />
pushed up towards<br />
the headland. Rides in<br />
excess of a couple of<br />
hundred metres are not<br />
uncommon when it’s on.<br />
Best in a solid SE swell<br />
and offshore in a SW<br />
wind.<br />
vLocal bknowloedge<br />
sep/oct <strong>2011</strong><br />
83
“Get a seat in the sun out the front of<br />
Utopia...I love people watching.<br />
I'm a bit of an Esme Watson... I like<br />
to see what's goin' on...”<br />
Bert - Maddog Beach Surf Centre<br />
“Go to the lighthouse,<br />
take a couple of beers<br />
up and do a bit of<br />
whalewatching! You<br />
actually feel like you're<br />
in Byron Bay then.”<br />
Alana - Surfkini<br />
“Go to the lighthouse. In whale season you<br />
just get the full magic of the place, with<br />
whales and dolphins jumping around.<br />
You just don’t want to leave really…”<br />
Ofer - Cane Bar<br />
““Byron is about<br />
community. It’s eclectic.<br />
There’s so many different<br />
things going on. It’s<br />
just a sea of good stuff,<br />
good culture and good<br />
visitors as well... So many<br />
interesting people come<br />
to the area, but it always<br />
comes back to the local<br />
community.”<br />
"Targa or Top Shop<br />
for coffee. Beer? The<br />
Beachie, favourite haunt.”<br />
Lacho - Common Ground<br />
53 years here, born<br />
and bred. Everything<br />
appeals. The surf,<br />
the climate... you just<br />
don’t want to leave.<br />
Everywhere else you<br />
see when you travel<br />
you compare and<br />
realise you just can’t<br />
beat this place. It’s<br />
pretty special.”<br />
Sput-<br />
Surf Central<br />
“It’s an awesome town with a good live music<br />
scene – just go the Rails or the Northern at night.”<br />
Jono and Meagan - Legend pizza<br />
“It doesn't matter if you;re obsessed<br />
with the WCT, want to ride traditional<br />
old logs, whether you just want to go<br />
into town and get p*ssed, whether you<br />
want to sit in a teepee up on the hill...<br />
Every sort of freak around is in this<br />
town and they all seem to harmonise<br />
together.... And that's a brilliant thing."<br />
Adam - Doctor Ding<br />
Byrobn Bbaya<br />
vLocal b<br />
knowloedge
oMeetqthe<br />
Nativeso<br />
“Byron is a mix of everything….<br />
a mix of culture, skate, the surf,<br />
the people, music, the good<br />
vibrations, good feelings... It’s<br />
just magic.<br />
Favourite spot? Main Beach<br />
car park for sure. It's where<br />
all this mixes. You have the<br />
carpark for a skate, you have<br />
the rocks, every sunset there’s<br />
music with the drums. You have<br />
the ocean…You hear the ocean<br />
whenever you skate here. It’s<br />
the best spot. Not just in Byron."<br />
" The street is the best spot.<br />
I used to firedance and do<br />
fire-twirling with my friends,<br />
someone would come along<br />
with a guitar and another<br />
singing. The life here is not in<br />
a nightclub, like in every other<br />
place. Life here is in the street.<br />
Natalia Lopez - Skater<br />
"Byron Bay local" is a relatively loose<br />
term. While there are plenty long term<br />
born-and-bred residents, a large portion<br />
of Byron's population is essentially<br />
transient. With backpackers from every<br />
corner of the globe doing odd-jobs to<br />
extend their stay, beach-changers from<br />
the north and south looking to escape the<br />
hustle and bustle of big cities and artists<br />
of every discipline clambering to make<br />
Byron a place to permanently rest their<br />
heads, it's an eclectic mix that makes up<br />
the people that call this place home.<br />
Long-term resident or not, there's never<br />
anyone better as a tour guide than a<br />
local. We asked some of them to share<br />
a few inside tips and fill us in on what<br />
makes Byron Bay so special for them.<br />
"It’s always<br />
changing. It’s<br />
always the same.<br />
If you have never<br />
been to Byron you<br />
need to check out<br />
the Lighthouse,<br />
have a beer at the<br />
top pub (Beach<br />
Hotel), a dive at<br />
Julian Rocks and<br />
of course, a surf.<br />
Other than that it is<br />
a good place to do<br />
nothing."<br />
Josh - Ho’ Okupu<br />
“Come and have a beer. (laughs)<br />
Go to the beach during the day,<br />
visit the unique little shops, have<br />
a coffee, take life easy and that’s<br />
what Byron;s all about. Get out of<br />
the city and into the small town.”<br />
Loren - Woody’s Surf Shack<br />
“The various elements<br />
here combine to conjure<br />
up the old soul of surf<br />
culture. There's a good<br />
mix of surfing and live<br />
music. I play guitar and<br />
jam with a few guys<br />
and that coincides with<br />
the atmosphere around<br />
here. Surf wise you can<br />
ride a whole host of<br />
boards from longboards<br />
to shortboards, retro<br />
twins, dad's (Mark<br />
Rabbidge) finless stuff."<br />
Mick Rabbidge - Surfer
Celebrating<br />
4<br />
years<br />
Still proudly<br />
made by people,<br />
not machines<br />
86 sep/oct <strong>2011</strong><br />
02 6685 7485<br />
10 Acacia St,<br />
Byron Bay NSW<br />
www.tcsurf.com.au
Photo: Alex Frings www.alexfrings.com<br />
vLocal bpeople<br />
“Yeah ’95… That’s when<br />
I moved up from Tassie.<br />
What’s that now? 16<br />
years? I think that’s local<br />
status. I think that takes<br />
ten. I was always copping<br />
it until then...“<br />
Known for his surfing, but now even<br />
more so for his filmmaking, Johnny<br />
Abegg epitomises the spirit of Byron<br />
Bay. If you don't see him in the surf,<br />
he'll be keeping himself busy in the<br />
community, covering events and<br />
photographing people and places for<br />
the website and email newsletter<br />
Common Ground.<br />
With a huge project - his introspective<br />
surf-unrelated movie Two Weeks -<br />
just behind him, we caught up with<br />
him to find out more about his life<br />
and his connection to the New South<br />
Wales north coast.<br />
A mad keen young surfer with big<br />
dreams of the pro circuit, Johnny<br />
arrived in Byron Bay in his teens,<br />
thanks to extremely supportive<br />
parents packing up the family home<br />
in Dodges Ferry - a little town East<br />
of Hobart on the way to Port Arthur<br />
- to relocate to warmer climes and<br />
friendlier waves.<br />
After a brief stop in Yamba, the<br />
family settled in Byron Bay.<br />
“It just resonated. It was such a<br />
happening little place. Even back<br />
then, it was just so different to any<br />
other places.”<br />
“Things have changed, but it still has<br />
the same appeal. I just love it for all<br />
the same reasons.”<br />
Firmly on the path of being a pro surfer,<br />
Johnny one day picked up a camera and<br />
it changed his life for good.<br />
“It opened up a lot of my creative<br />
spirit. From 2006 or so I still had<br />
the bug to compete... maybe it was<br />
more about me letting go. I was still<br />
competing but gradually I just got<br />
more into film. That was the new<br />
path and I was surfing for different<br />
reasons then.”<br />
He went on to document a different<br />
side of the circuit in his film On<br />
Credit, dealing with the costs of<br />
being a competitor on the pro tour.<br />
“It’s obscene. Just booking a ticket<br />
say to Europe to go travelling, you<br />
can pretty much double that. There’s<br />
membership fees and entry fees. It’s<br />
just ridiculous. I’m still paying for<br />
those original years now. I’ve got it<br />
down pretty good (laughs) but I just<br />
want to get back to zero.”<br />
“I have toyed with the idea [of a<br />
follow-up] but it’s not really hitting<br />
me at the moment.. I’m thinking it<br />
might be a short film. I don’t think it<br />
has the legs for a full one. Like a 10<br />
minute ‘this is what happened’.”<br />
But, work even closer to Johnny's<br />
heart is his most recent film, Two<br />
Weeks - a very personal journey of<br />
self-discovery in the wilderness of<br />
Tasmania.<br />
“It’s a pretty bold attempt for me I<br />
suppose. It wasn't surf based. It’s<br />
quite dark and from a dark place in<br />
my life. I was asking myself some<br />
heavy questions. Just questioning<br />
life and everything around me. I<br />
thought it would make interesting<br />
subject matter to start documenting.<br />
"It was such a hard slog<br />
in hindsight. A really<br />
difficult couple of years<br />
but also really rewarding.<br />
I’m glad I exposed that<br />
part of myself."<br />
"A lot of people have told me that<br />
they’ve been able to see themselves<br />
through it - which has been the<br />
number one bit of feedback. I was<br />
just a vehicle for them to see things<br />
about themselves in it. It was a<br />
really rewarding process, but I’m<br />
quite glad that it's over and I’ve<br />
moved into a new phase. “<br />
That new phase most definitely<br />
includes film work in some shape<br />
or form.<br />
“It’s just in me. I just see life in that<br />
way. I’m quite intrigued by short<br />
form and digital media… The way<br />
you can create a story and see it go<br />
out through the cyber cosmos and<br />
reach a lot of people.”<br />
qexpressionoq<br />
oVehicles of<br />
It’s not a heavily commercial approach,<br />
doing film for the net?<br />
“No, but it's funny... Neither is the<br />
old way. It’s so dead. DVD sales have<br />
fallen 90%.<br />
So, where is it all going?<br />
“I’m just starting to look at that<br />
landscape as more of a creative<br />
outlet. Going down the independent<br />
film route, I was destined to make a<br />
few dollars off it, but that tainted the<br />
process and turned it into something<br />
that could be a little bit ugly at<br />
times. Initially I just had something<br />
to share."<br />
For more on Johnny's work, visit his<br />
blog at Johnnyabegg.com<br />
Inside info...<br />
As to Byron Bay, we asked some<br />
personal recommendations of how to<br />
truly experience the place.<br />
“Markets is one. It’s such a good<br />
little way to get in on what’s<br />
happening in the community. People<br />
pop out of the hills and set up their<br />
market stalls. It's great.<br />
“Surf-wise, there’s always a wave.<br />
That’s the great thing about that<br />
headland, you can always go to the<br />
other side and get a wave depending<br />
on the wind and the swell."<br />
sep/oct <strong>2011</strong><br />
87
What better way to celebrate the surfing culture of Byron than with a surf festival? Well, hold onto your boardies...<br />
This October, the town hosts the first ever Byron Bay Surf Festival, focused not on competition, but rather on creativity.<br />
"It's a manifestation of the passion for surfing in different creative ways," says organiser Vanessa Thompson.<br />
With live music, filmmaking, original art, photography, shaping workshops and demonstrations as well as the opportunity to<br />
ride and experience surfboards of all descriptions, there really are plenty of creative ways to enjoy the fantastic get-together.<br />
In fact, with so many great events planned you'll be hard pressed to get any rest over the weekend of October 21-23.<br />
It all kicks off with resident surf legend Bob McTavish opening the festivities with a talk and live surfboard shaping<br />
demonstration - the perfect intro into the surfing celebration. Here's a few of the events to follow...<br />
FROM TOP: Live music at Woodys<br />
Surf Shack; Surf swap meet; Muso Dan<br />
Hannaford; and art by James McMillan<br />
Surf Swap Meet<br />
Collectors and fans of older boards will<br />
be in heaven with a Surf Swap meet at<br />
Wategos Beach on the Sunday morning,<br />
hosted by Byron Bay Malibu Club.<br />
You'll be able to browse, buy, swap... even<br />
take the boards out for spin at Wategos.<br />
Short of a $5 per board fee, you could<br />
essentially swap your way into a whole<br />
new quiver for no money at all.<br />
Whether you're after boards or not, the<br />
swap meet is a great opportunity for<br />
surfers, shapers and collectors to meet,<br />
have a chat and exchange ideas. There's a<br />
few big shaping names expected to make<br />
an appearance at the event as well, so<br />
make sure you get along.<br />
Freestyle & Stoke<br />
While the Swap Meet's in full swing,<br />
you have a second opportunity to hit the<br />
waves at Wategos, with four half-hour<br />
expression sessions - Log, Fish, Finless,<br />
and Vintage.<br />
"Whoever's quick enough to put their hand<br />
up gets to go out and have some fun,"<br />
says James McMillan, another one of the<br />
good people behind the festival. With only<br />
ten spots per category and the opportunity<br />
to surf alongside local legends like Danny<br />
Wills, you best be quick, or you can just<br />
sit back and enjoy a great display of<br />
surfboard riding for no scores whatsoever.<br />
vCelebrate<br />
scurfing,<br />
Byrono-stylec<br />
v...at the first<br />
Byrono Bay Surf Festival.<br />
Visual treats<br />
James is also involved in the arts side<br />
of the festival as an exhibiting artist in<br />
the Surf Culture Now exhibition, opening<br />
the Friday evening at the Retrospect<br />
Gallery in Jonson Street. Work on<br />
display will include his own and that of<br />
Mark Sutherland, Hanai Yusuke, Luke<br />
Taafe, Mick Waters, Alby Falzon, Andrew<br />
Kidman, Vanessa Janss and more.<br />
He's also in charge of the stART me up<br />
art exhibition and mentoring program<br />
for kids. This is a great opportunity for<br />
emerging young artists - as young as four<br />
- to see their work hanging on the wall of<br />
a real gallery. There's prizes in each age<br />
category from 4-16 years with the winner<br />
of the 13-16yrs group scoring a 6-month<br />
artist mentorship program to develop their<br />
talent.<br />
Sounds good to us<br />
What's a surf weekend without a<br />
soundtrack? There's no shortage of live<br />
music on offer at this festival. On Saturday<br />
morning you can enjoy an exhibition of<br />
surf photography by local legend George<br />
Greenough, Matty Yates, James McMillan<br />
with live music by Josh Hamilton at the<br />
Top Shop on the corner of Carlyle and<br />
Massinger Streets.<br />
The Byron Bay Community Centre Theatre<br />
will be the place to be Saturday evening,<br />
for the musical/visual collaboration by<br />
Andrew Kidman and one of our favourite<br />
filmmakers, Mick Waters. Andrew Kidman<br />
and the Windy Hills will perform material<br />
from the latest release Songs From The<br />
Ether set to a backdrop of new visual<br />
material by Andrew and Mick.<br />
For a perfect end to the Saturday night,<br />
make sure to head off to one of our<br />
personal favourite night spots, Woodys<br />
Surf Shack in the Plaza, Jonson Street to<br />
enjoy the psychadelic roots of homegrown<br />
band, The Grains. The perfect intimate<br />
venue for a show, the Saturday night<br />
should be a winner.<br />
Currumbin roots muso Dan Hannaford<br />
rounds off the weekend during the Sunday<br />
closing ceremony at the Pass Cafe.<br />
Wood workshop<br />
4pm, Saturday at the Byron Community<br />
Centre sees Lennox Head wooden board<br />
maker Andrew Wells of Grown Surfboards<br />
sharing his knowledge and skills. He'll be<br />
discussing the philosophy behind timber<br />
boards, talking about various aspects of<br />
wooden board construction and will be<br />
answering what you'd like to know in a<br />
Q&A session. As personal fans of Andrew's<br />
work, we highly recommend this to anyone<br />
who has an interest in timber surfcraft.<br />
Need more?<br />
Seriously? If that's not enough for you,<br />
there are surf markets, surf-related clinics<br />
and displays, a surf history talk and if the<br />
weather gods of Byron are as generous as<br />
usual, a whole lot of sunshine and fun.<br />
For the cherry on top, most of the events<br />
are free, just like surfing is (and a little<br />
magazine we know.) Visit the website for<br />
the full program and updates.<br />
www.byronbaysurffestival.com<br />
We'll leave the last word to the good folks<br />
that have pulled it all together:<br />
‘The simple motivation behind The Byron<br />
Bay Surf Festival is to have a killer<br />
weekend in Byron Bay immersed in surf<br />
culture as we know it right now.’"<br />
Bring it on. We can't wait!<br />
Laura Dooley at Wategos, the place to be for<br />
the Surf Swap Meet and expression sessions.<br />
Photo: Trent Dooley puredrift.com<br />
88 sep/oct <strong>2011</strong>
Geoff at The Pass<br />
6’ 0”All Round Nugget Single fin<br />
(Photo by Michelle Strain)<br />
Design Through Development<br />
All McCoy surfboards are produced through Australia’s No.1 glassing factory PSM where only the finest quality is<br />
produced. We use Graham King foam (the best) exclusively. McCoy is now only available direct from the PSM factory/<br />
showroom where we have over 50 stock boards on display for immediate sale. For custom orders, contact Geoff directly.<br />
Alistair McDiarmid at Lennox<br />
6’ 5” Semi Gun Single fin<br />
(Photo by Michelle Strain)<br />
Now custom building a Geoff McCoy designed retro range in wood and<br />
fibreglass construction. “These are very special, as they represent my older<br />
concepts that, when combined with wood, are strikingly impressive.”<br />
For more information, contact Geoff directly.<br />
www.mccoysurfboards.com<br />
Showroom at 10 Acacia Street Byron Bay NSW 2481 Australia<br />
Personally contact Geoff on 02 6685 3227 or mccoy@nor.com.au<br />
sep/oct <strong>2011</strong><br />
89
GUY HASTINGS ✯ SURFARI MAPS<br />
Based in Byron Bay<br />
since 1982<br />
Byrobn Bbaya<br />
Pictorial map making,<br />
painting and illustration.<br />
✯ 0422 175 706<br />
www.surfarimaps.com<br />
DOCTOR<br />
D ING<br />
BYRON BAY<br />
dr. ding surfboard repairs<br />
24 hr turnaround & pickup services available<br />
2/68 Centennial Circuit, Byron Bay Arts & Industry Estate<br />
www.drdingsurfboardrepairs.com 0431 740 940<br />
vLife b<br />
changes<br />
A great photo is the end product of a combination<br />
of different ingredients. Technical expertise,<br />
artistic vision, a good eye, good gear, great light,<br />
amazing subject matter...<br />
In whatever proportions these ingedients are<br />
mixed, one thing’s for sure... Byron Bay delivers<br />
the amazing subject matter in spades - beautfiul<br />
scenery, beautiful people and every colour of the<br />
rainbow, from sunup to sundown and beyond.<br />
The town is most certainly a photographer’s dream<br />
destination, so it’s no wonder German traveller<br />
Alex Frings has come to feel such a connection<br />
to this place that feeds his passion with a daily<br />
serve of so many amazing moments, just waiting<br />
to be captured.<br />
We got to have a chat with him over a coffee about<br />
Byron Bay, photos and surfing.<br />
WORDS: MARK CHAPMAN PHOTOS: ALEX FRINGS<br />
Hailey-Marie McFadden duck diving a<br />
glass cylinder near Byron Bay.<br />
90 sep/oct <strong>2011</strong> happy birthday to us
vLocal btalent<br />
sep/oct <strong>2011</strong><br />
91
Byrobn Bbaya<br />
TOP: Sunset ABOVE: Hailey-Marie McFadden waiting for a wave. RIGHT:<br />
Hailstorm, 2008 that caused major damage at Suffolk Park and Lennox Head.<br />
92 sep/oct <strong>2011</strong> happy birthday to us
From Aachen in Germany, near the Dutch and Belgian<br />
border, photographer Alex Frings first visited, and fell<br />
in love with Byron Bay in 2006.<br />
Web developer by trade, Alex’s passion however, lies<br />
firmly with photography.<br />
“Since I first travelled to Australia, I got more serious<br />
about it and started taking a lot more photos than<br />
I used to back in Germany. I obviously got into surf<br />
photography, but being in Byron, you can’t really avoid<br />
that.” (laughs)<br />
“I’d love to take some more time from programming<br />
websites and spend a bit more on photography,”<br />
he says. “It’s a lot more fun being out there in the<br />
elements.”<br />
Being techy does wonders for his online presence<br />
though - a very cool mix of personal and portfolio on<br />
his website.<br />
“I tried to do something a little different. It’s not about<br />
sales or anything. It’s more of a lifestream where<br />
everything runs together... my posts and photos and so<br />
on. Everything appears chronologically.”<br />
Gear-wise, Alex is pretty clear about his preferences.<br />
“I’m a Canon guy. I like Canon and I’ll stick to it. At<br />
the moment I’m shooting with a Canon 1d Mk3, one<br />
of my favourite lenses is the 70-200mm 2.8. In the<br />
water I usually shoot the 16-35.”<br />
We’re always fascinated by the levels of fitness<br />
required in doing water photography, but Alex is<br />
pretty chilled about his regime...<br />
“Well, I like to eat chocolate, and a lot of it. (laughs)<br />
No, I’m not that fit, but I’m always super-keen. I go<br />
in the water whenever I can, no matter how big it is.<br />
MICHAEL CUNDITH<br />
SURF DESIGNS<br />
NEW MODEL<br />
“The MC/Greenough<br />
Stubbie is a Concave<br />
Triplane Hull with many<br />
different fin options.<br />
This board thrives in all<br />
conditions.” MC<br />
The MC<br />
Quiver<br />
Danny Wills Rippa 5’10” x 19 ¼” x 2 ¼”<br />
MC/Greenough<br />
Stubbie 6’0” x 22” x 3”<br />
Dart Fish 6’2” x 21 ¾” x 3 ¾”<br />
Sometimes I get smashed and I don’t even make it out<br />
and other times it works out and I get the shot.<br />
“A couple of years back, it was always a struggle<br />
between surfing and taking photos on days when it<br />
was good, but these days I’ll first shoot in the water<br />
and will go for a wave afterwards.”<br />
Time in Byron Bay hasn’t only been good for his<br />
photography, but has kicked his surfing along nicely<br />
too. Having surfed in France and the Netherlands, he<br />
only started seriously hitting the waves in the last five<br />
years since his first visit to Byron Bay.<br />
The rivermouth near Broken Head, and during the<br />
summer at Tallows. I’m a goofy footer so I like my lefts.”<br />
I only ride Town & Country’s and get my boards<br />
shaped by the Buzz. I really like those boards. I have<br />
a 6’1” Flying Fish and the other is a 6’4” for when it<br />
gets a bit bigger.”<br />
As to the future Alex tells us that he’d like to be<br />
offering prints of his images by the end of the year.<br />
“There’s also a Byron Bay documentary coming out<br />
on DVD,” he says. “One of my images will be on the<br />
cover, which will be cool.”<br />
Check out more of Alex’s awesome and inspiring<br />
work throughout this edition’s Byron Bay feature<br />
and on his website at www.alexfrings.com.<br />
CUSTOM ORDERS<br />
ON ANY MODEL<br />
Telephone: 02 66858778<br />
Fax: 02 66808932<br />
Factory Showroom:<br />
3 Banksia Drive<br />
Byron Bay Industrial Estate<br />
BYRON BAY NSW 2481<br />
email: info@mcsurf.com.au<br />
www.mcsurf.com.au<br />
Whale Fish 8’0” x 25 ½” x 3 ½”<br />
The Man Gun 9’1” x 22 ¼” x 3 ¼”<br />
High Performance Mal 9’1” x 22 ¾” x 2 ¾”<br />
Balsa Mal 9’6” x 24” x 3 ¼”<br />
FREIGHT<br />
IT NOW!<br />
We’ll send<br />
boards<br />
anywhere in<br />
Australia for<br />
reasonable rates<br />
sep/oct <strong>2011</strong><br />
93
vWinding<br />
down &<br />
Firing upc<br />
legend<br />
PIZZA<br />
BYRON BAY<br />
66 855 700<br />
byo-delivery-take away<br />
Jonson Street, Shop 1<br />
Woolworths Plaza<br />
next to the bottle shop<br />
www.legendpizza.com.au<br />
During the day<br />
Byron’s major drawcard is its stunning<br />
natural beauty. Its what lures intrepid<br />
travellers from all over the globe from<br />
backpackers to the well-heeled. So when<br />
you’re not surfing Byron’s many breaks,<br />
indulging in the fine food or relaxing with a<br />
drink, there’s always more to explore.<br />
Julian Rocks is one of Australia’s top dive<br />
spots and has been an underwater marine<br />
reserve since 1982 and is absolutely<br />
teeming with sea life. Above the surface,<br />
Byron’s various kayak operators provide<br />
you an alternative means to take in the<br />
beauty of the area’s coastal beauty.<br />
The best place to check out the surf, in<br />
particular swell size and direction is at<br />
Australia’s most easterly point, Cape<br />
Byron. Whilst there, a visit to the famous<br />
lighthouse on top of the headland is in<br />
order. You can hike a 3.7km walking trail<br />
that loops around to Wategos Beach and<br />
back, peer over the 100m sheer drop on the<br />
eastern most side of the Cape and take in<br />
some of the region's most majestic views.<br />
For a different perspective on Byron’s<br />
beauty, take an early morning hot air<br />
balloon ride and see the sun rise first<br />
over our most easterly point. Byron Bay<br />
Ballooning runs daily flights complete with<br />
complimentary champagne breakfast.<br />
Aside from all this we suggest you get<br />
out of town! That’s right, and head to<br />
Bangalow, a quaint, Federation-style<br />
village only fifteen minutes from the heart<br />
of Byron. Bangalow is famous for its arts,<br />
craft, sausages, fresh food and produce<br />
and is a favourite of many Byron locals.<br />
ABOVE: The lighthouse... recommended by<br />
locals and visitors alike and an essential box<br />
to check on your trip to Byron.<br />
BELOW: The other side... Byron's nightlife.<br />
Letting loose at Woodys Surf Shack. Supplied<br />
STARTING OUT: What<br />
a great place to learn...<br />
Black Dog Surf School<br />
is one of the operators that<br />
run surf lessons in Byron<br />
94 sep/oct <strong>2011</strong>
The Bangalow Farmer’s Market runs every Saturday<br />
from 8am to 11am. On the fourth Sunday of each<br />
month are the Bangalow markets incorporating all<br />
the region is famous for.<br />
When the sun goes down...<br />
There are not too many better places to hit the town<br />
in our opinion than Byron. But where to start? There<br />
are so many places to let it all hang out.<br />
We will start with the Beach Hotel. It's a superb<br />
venue. Right across the road from the beach,<br />
there's always something going on, day or night.<br />
There’s a regular schedule of live music along with<br />
pool tables and big screen TVs.<br />
Literally a couple of metres down the road is The<br />
Balcony. A great place for a cosy bite to eat in front<br />
of the open fire in winter or out on the balcony in<br />
summer, it also doubles as the perfect spot for an<br />
afternoon drink in the shade with a cool sea breeze.<br />
Keep walking and there’s the Great Northern, a real<br />
deal Aussie pub that always boasts a fine line-up<br />
of live music such as our mate Isaac Paddon in<br />
their famous ‘Backroom’.<br />
You can't miss out on the Railway Hotel, with it's<br />
chilled, laid-back feel. Most of the pub is outdoors<br />
and is one of those few places where you can<br />
simply catch up with friends and have a good chat<br />
over a drink. After you've chewed each other’s ears<br />
off, you can kick back with some live music, which<br />
is on every night of the week.<br />
A funky venue on the scene worth checking out is<br />
The Owl & Pussycat. Good vibe, interesting tapas<br />
menu and a definite sense of style and class.<br />
Also worth checking out, just a few minutes<br />
walk from the main part of town, is the Byron<br />
Bay Brewery and Buddha Bar/ Restaurant.<br />
Amazingly, in all our visits to Byron we had<br />
never heard of it, or ventured here, and after<br />
several of their premium ales and lagers we<br />
were wondering why the hell not.<br />
On the subject of Byron brews, Stone &<br />
Wood also brew a bloody good beer. Pacific<br />
Ale is set to become a firm favourite.<br />
For a good drop and a party atmosphere at<br />
a recently refurbished venue with a great<br />
surfing theme, you can't go past Woody’s<br />
Surf Shack. If the good vibes and music aren't<br />
enough, there's a Morning of the Earth retro<br />
surfboard up for grabs every Wednesday<br />
night, so it's well worth the visit. And as<br />
a fellow supporter of the Byron Bay Surf<br />
Festival, you have to make sure you stop in<br />
for at least a quick beer. The only problem<br />
with Woody's is that once you're in, it's just<br />
too hard to leave, so you just might find<br />
yourself there until lights-on-go-home time.<br />
Finally, if you're planning on really cutting<br />
loose, you may want to check out Cheeky<br />
Monkeys. The name says it all. It’s a<br />
backpackers haven and gets a little wild.<br />
While we're not backpackers (or in any way<br />
young or good-looking) we do admit to having<br />
ventured here... on several occasions.<br />
So, all up, you're more than spoilt for choice,<br />
with no shortage of options for a big night out.<br />
HANDCRAFTED,<br />
FREE-STANDING,<br />
RECYCLED<br />
TIMBER BOARD<br />
RACKS...<br />
CALL 0413 061 727<br />
WWW.BYRONBAYBOARDRACKS.COM<br />
RIGHT: More of Byron's natural beaurty behind the bar at<br />
Woody's Surf Shack. TOP: More happy Woody's patrons. Supplied<br />
sep/oct <strong>2011</strong><br />
95
Photo: Trent Dooley puredrift.com<br />
Byrobn Bbaya<br />
Finding fuel<br />
v...so many choices<br />
for a bite to eat in Byrono<br />
So many establishments serve top-notch food and drinks. The best<br />
recommendation we can make is to sample as many as you can<br />
when here. Seriously. Here’s a quick guide:<br />
Three important Bs for the day...<br />
Breakfast at the Beach Cafe, Beer<br />
at the Brewery, and Bowls of<br />
healthy food from Cane bar.<br />
OPPOSITE PAGE, FROM TOP:<br />
Breakfast at Dip Cafe - it doens't<br />
get much better!<br />
Surfy decor at Legend Pizza<br />
The view from The Balcony,<br />
Earth & Sea's idea of an ideal day<br />
Enjoying a cup of local coffee.<br />
Breakfast.<br />
Like many surfers, my favourite meal of the day.<br />
Best food... Dip Café. Possibly the best breakfast I have had on the entire<br />
east coast, and I have sampled a few.<br />
Best view... and great food (the lines are testament to this) is the Byron Beach<br />
Café. Possibly the best view of any café on the east coast.<br />
Best Breaky on the run... Cane Bar. Meticulous approach to making coffee.<br />
Great smoothies and juices and you have to try the BomBom - a South<br />
American inspired espresso, cane juice concoction. Sounds weird but is<br />
gooood.<br />
Fond Favourites... Utopia (formerly Fresh). Good food, good coffee and fun<br />
place to people watch.<br />
Good all day... The Balcony. It’s serene, above the hustle and bustle of<br />
the street and the food and coffee is just great. For great tapas and a very<br />
civilised, relaxed environment, this is the go.<br />
Lunch<br />
Orgasmic. Give your taste buds one. Delicious, casual, quick and affordable.<br />
Mediterranean/ Middle Eastern inspired cuisine and plenty of vegetarian<br />
dishes.<br />
For quick, super-tasty lunch, Wahoos Fish Tacos are a bit of a Byron Bay icon as<br />
are Pot Belly Pies - while pricey as far as pies go - they're big enough to justify<br />
the price tag.<br />
If Japanese is your thing, O-Sushi is a fantastic, healthy and highly<br />
recommended way to refuel for the afternoon. While we only got to stop in<br />
for lunch, we're keen to get back for dinner - the mains look incredible.<br />
96 sep/oct <strong>2011</strong>
qDininga&<br />
Takeaways<br />
O-SUSHI<br />
Woolworths Plaza, Jonson St<br />
Award-winning, authentic Japanese<br />
cuisine. Mains, tapas and sushi.<br />
P: 02 6685 7103<br />
www.osushi.com.au<br />
WAHOOS FISH TACO<br />
Shop 8, 4 Jonson St, BYRON BAY<br />
Fish, Chicken and Steak Tacos...<br />
Burgers, burritos, salads & more<br />
P: 02 6680 8001<br />
www.wahoosaustralia.com<br />
THE OWL & PUSSYCAT<br />
85 Jonson Street, BYRON BAY<br />
Tapas Bar & Restaurant with<br />
live jazz, blues and piano bar<br />
P: 02 6685 7320<br />
www.opcbyron.com.au<br />
LEGEND PIZZA<br />
Shop 1 The Plaza, Jonson St<br />
20 years of the freshest and<br />
tastiest pizzas in Byron Bay<br />
P: 02 6685 5700<br />
www.legendpizza.com.au<br />
Dinner<br />
Fine dining... my pick is probably<br />
St Elmos. Great wine list and<br />
interesting seasonal menu.<br />
Quick bite... Fish Mongers.<br />
No visit to Byron is complete<br />
without a visit here. Salt &<br />
pepper calamari on fragrant rice,<br />
again, possibly the best on the<br />
east coast.<br />
Pub grub... The Railway Hotel<br />
- definitely the pick of the pubs<br />
for a bite.<br />
Pizza... Who can go past pizza<br />
for dinner? A long time favourite<br />
is THE original and world<br />
acclaimed Earth’n’Sea Pizza.<br />
Great atmosphere, friendly staff<br />
and of course great pizza on<br />
wholemeal pizza bases.<br />
Legends has been around for 20-<br />
odd years, and when you taste<br />
their pizzas, you'll know why. The<br />
locals talk it up too, and some<br />
cool surf memorabilia adorns<br />
the walls, so there are plenty<br />
reasons to grab a bite there.<br />
And for pizza on the run, give Slice<br />
a try, next to Cane Bar.<br />
EARTH ‘N’ SEA Est.1976<br />
Cnr Fletcher & Byron St, BYRON BAY<br />
Amazing pizzas and pastas. Great<br />
for families, relaxed atmosphere.<br />
P: 02 6685 6029<br />
www.earthnsea.com.au<br />
DIP CAFÉ<br />
1/ 21 Fletcher St, BYRON BAY<br />
First class licensed café and<br />
restaurant. Great coffee,<br />
excellent food and best service<br />
P: 02 6685 5141<br />
CANE BAR<br />
Cavanbah Arcade, 4 Jonson St<br />
Rejuvenating cane based juices, power<br />
smoothies, organic coffee, for uberenergy<br />
to surf all day and play all night.<br />
P: 02 6685 7978<br />
www.canebar.com.au<br />
TARGA<br />
Cnr Marvell and Middelton Sts<br />
Food you know, inherently. Coffee<br />
you wake up wanting, perfectly.<br />
Wines you enjoy, convivially.<br />
P: 02 6680 9960<br />
www.targarestaurant.com<br />
Honestly, it's hard to find a bad<br />
feed, so be adventurous!<br />
THE BALCONY<br />
Cnr Lawson & Jonson, BYRON BAY<br />
Every day breakfast, lunch &<br />
dinner. Tapas till late every night.<br />
P: 02 6680 9666<br />
www.balcony.com.au<br />
sep/oct <strong>2011</strong><br />
97
Byron’s Largest<br />
Accommodation<br />
Service<br />
qWhere<br />
to stayu<br />
Over 200 options from budget to luxury.<br />
www.byronbayaccom.net<br />
Call (02) 66 808 666<br />
Open every day for Breakfast, lunch<br />
and Dinner Tapas till late every night.<br />
Fresh local produce.<br />
Mediterranean/Spanish influence with<br />
a great cocktail bar and wine list.<br />
Cnr Lawson & Jonson, Byron Bay<br />
02 6680 9666 www.balcony.com.au<br />
No matter what kind of digs you have in mind, Byron has you covered.<br />
From hotels, apartments, resorts, guesthouses, stunning beach houses<br />
and countless budget accommodation options including cabins, cottages,<br />
backpackers and motels.<br />
With so much choice, here’s a couple of smorgasboarder recommendations.<br />
Backpackers<br />
It’s hard to resist the Backpackers Inn.<br />
Right on the beach near the Wreck. Good<br />
common area complete with kitchen, pool<br />
table, outdoor bbq and sitting/ dining area.<br />
Laid back crew who run the joint.<br />
Budget<br />
When you are a mad keen surfer with a young<br />
family it is hard to beat Holiday Parks. They<br />
always have the best beachfront positions<br />
and they don’t get much better than those at<br />
Clarkes Beach or Suffolk Park.<br />
Clarkes Beach Holiday Park is situated<br />
metres from the sand right next to the world<br />
famous surf break The Pass and alongside the<br />
Byron Beach Cafe. There are powered and<br />
unpowered sites for caravans and tents and a<br />
range of holiday cabins to choose from all set<br />
amongst a tranquil bush setting.<br />
Suffolk Beachfront Holiday Park is also<br />
right on Tallows Beach, home to a slightly<br />
more secluded surf break but no lesser a<br />
wave and adds a whole new dimension to<br />
the holiday park experience with its unique<br />
Safari Tents. It’s like camping but a great deal<br />
more comfortable. So if your wife is like mine<br />
and won’t entertain camping but the kids are<br />
nagging you to ‘sleep in a tent’, this is the<br />
perfect solution.<br />
Beachfront<br />
Apartments<br />
If a beachfront apartment is more your style,<br />
there are a couple of great options only a<br />
couple of hundred metres walk from the heart<br />
of town right on the beach near The Wreck.<br />
The Byron Beachcomber Resort has<br />
studio, one and two bedroom fully equipped<br />
apartments whilst Outrigger Bay Resort has<br />
both two and three bedroom apartments for<br />
those larger families or surfing possess.<br />
Unique<br />
Then there’s a place I actually photographed<br />
as inspiration for designing my own home.<br />
It is the Atlantic Guesthouses. There is a<br />
real touch of class about them. The design,<br />
the décor and the general ambience are<br />
something spectacular, as is the service.<br />
Accommodation ranges from premium or<br />
standard ensuites to spacious doubles or<br />
shared rooms.<br />
Luxurious<br />
For something altogether again there is<br />
Shambhala@Byron right at the end of<br />
Belongil Beach. Only around 1km from town<br />
it feels like you are miles away. Luxurious<br />
treehouses set beneath a rainforest canopy<br />
with magic beach views… think serenity, a<br />
moonlight Bali bath, relaxing in a hammock<br />
and you get the picture.<br />
$10 off<br />
YOUR FIRST<br />
GROUP LESSON!<br />
MENTION THIS AD<br />
Jonson St, BYRON BAY • 02 6680 9828<br />
www.blackdogsurfing.com<br />
98 sep/oct <strong>2011</strong>
BYRON BEACHFRONT<br />
MAIN: Relax on the beach at Clarke's Beach Holiday Park<br />
FROM TOP: 1. Top-shelf stay - Shambhala@Byron;<br />
2. Inside the Safari tents at Suffolk Beach Holiday Park; 3.<br />
Atlantic Guesthouses offer unique accommodation options,<br />
4. Clarke's Beach Holiday Park. PHOTOS Supplied<br />
Byrobn Bbaya<br />
Discover the<br />
Byron beachfront<br />
holiday the locals<br />
recommend<br />
• OUR LEGENDARY LOCALLY<br />
DESIGNED SAFARI TENTS<br />
Hassle-free camping in style.<br />
• ABSOLUTE UNCROWDED<br />
BEACHFRONT<br />
Yes, Tallow Beach is right here - one of<br />
Byron’s best surf breaks.<br />
• LOCAL SHOPS, EATERIES<br />
AND FAMILY PUB<br />
Short walk down the road.<br />
• CHILLED OUT<br />
NATURAL SETTING<br />
Modern facilities, cabins, camping<br />
and van sites.<br />
Discover a holiday park that takes you back to when you were a kid.<br />
ONLY 5KM SOUTH OF BYRON BAY<br />
sep/oct <strong>2011</strong><br />
99
Byron Bay... Where to stay<br />
BEACHCOMBER RESORT<br />
23-25 Shirley St, BYRON BAY<br />
WOLLONGBAR MOTEL<br />
19-21 Shirley St, BYRON BAY<br />
SHAMBHALA @ BYRON<br />
14 Childe St, BELONGIL<br />
CLARKES BEACH HOLIDAY PARK<br />
Off Lighthouse Rd, BYRON BAY<br />
BACKPACKERS INN<br />
ON THE BEACH<br />
29 Shirley Street, BYRON BAY<br />
Beachcomber Resort is the<br />
perfect Byron escape for<br />
surfers, their families and<br />
friends, with quality resort style<br />
accommodation which is in<br />
the heart of Byron Bay and its<br />
stunning beaches.<br />
With a variety of accommodation<br />
to suit every style and budget<br />
- from studios to 1-bedroom<br />
apartments and even dual key<br />
access, these beautiful and<br />
modern apartments are located<br />
close to shops, restaurants and<br />
cafes of Byron Bay.<br />
Proximity: 100 Metres to the<br />
beach (if that)<br />
P: 02 6639 6900<br />
E: info@beachcomberbyron.com.au<br />
www.beachcomberbyron.com.au<br />
Surfers take note: With a private<br />
path leading straight to The<br />
Wreck and a 2 minute walk to the<br />
heart of town, Wollongbar Motel<br />
is the perfect venue to experience<br />
Byron Bay. Wollongbar Motel is<br />
clean friendly and quiet. Features<br />
include; spacious, air-conditioned<br />
rooms, a saltwater swimming<br />
pool, large barbecue area and<br />
free parking.<br />
OFFER: Mention this ad for a<br />
complimentary breakfast!<br />
Proximity: Private path to the<br />
beach and 2 minute walk to<br />
centre of town.<br />
P: 02 6685 8200<br />
E: reservations@wollongbar.com<br />
www.wollongbar.com<br />
Majestic, hidden beachfront<br />
just minutes to the heart of<br />
town. Relax after a day in<br />
the surf in our ambient and<br />
tranquil environment. Beautiful<br />
rainforest setting with private<br />
spas, steam room, sauna.<br />
Perfect for couples or families.<br />
5-star, self-contained tree house<br />
retreats.<br />
Proximity: Absolute<br />
beachfront, on surf friendly<br />
Belongil beach. 15 minute<br />
walk to centre of town<br />
P: 1-800-SHAMBHALA<br />
E: enquiries@shambhala.org.au<br />
www.shambhala.org.au<br />
From $279 per night<br />
Located right on the beach at<br />
Byron Bay and the winner of the<br />
highest environmental award in<br />
the industry, the Gold Gumnut,<br />
this holiday park provides the<br />
perfect holiday setting for all<br />
ages. Guests have a choice of<br />
on-site cabin accommodation<br />
as well as powered and<br />
unpowered sites for caravans,<br />
motorhomes and tents. Enjoy<br />
direct access to the beach,<br />
superb accommodation and<br />
affordable rates.<br />
Proximity: Direct access to<br />
Clarkes Beach and walk to the<br />
Cape Byron Lighthouse.<br />
P: 02 6685 6496<br />
E: clarkesbeach@nchp.com.au<br />
www.northcoastholidayparks.com.au<br />
A true BEACH hostel focused<br />
entirely on budget backpacker<br />
accommodation. The only<br />
backpackers in Byron with direct<br />
beach access. Comfortable<br />
spacious dorms, double, twin,<br />
triple or single accommodation,<br />
this is the perfect location for<br />
surfers wanting to be right on<br />
the beach!<br />
Proximity: 45 seconds to the<br />
beach and 400 metres to the<br />
centre of Byron.<br />
FREE CALL: 1 800 817 696<br />
P: 02 6685 8231<br />
info@backpackersinnbyronbay.com.au<br />
backpackersinnbyronbay.com.au<br />
Rates from $25 per person<br />
From $95 per night for a<br />
studio room<br />
So many<br />
choices for<br />
all budgets<br />
Other than all of these great<br />
choices, you can go to<br />
www.byronbayaccom.net<br />
or www.puredrift.com<br />
to browse several hundred<br />
other options.<br />
9 Shirley Street, BYRON BAY<br />
Outrigger Bay is the perfect<br />
Byron getaway for the ultimate<br />
relaxing holiday. With direct<br />
access to the beach, these<br />
fabulous 2 or 3 bedroom<br />
apartments are not only in<br />
a stunning location but are<br />
also so close to Byron’s great<br />
restaurants and bars. This is<br />
an ideal location for a surfing<br />
holiday with the family or a<br />
group of friends.<br />
Proximity: DIRECT ACCESS to<br />
beach - only 50 metres walk and<br />
2 minute walk to town centre<br />
shops.<br />
P: 02 6685 8646<br />
E: info@outriggerbay.com<br />
www.outriggerbay.com<br />
From $195 per night<br />
ATLANTIC GUESTHOUSES<br />
13 Marvel St, BYRON BAY<br />
Located in the centre of Byron<br />
Bay, Atlantic Guesthouses is<br />
a unique way for you to enjoy<br />
your Byron Bay holiday.<br />
With a variety of budgets<br />
catered to, choose from the<br />
premium or standard ensuites,<br />
spacious doubles, shared rooms<br />
or select the very original<br />
American Airstream to truly<br />
experience a unique, boutique<br />
holiday.<br />
Proximity: Located in the<br />
centre of Byron Bay with a short<br />
walk to Main Beach.<br />
P: 02 6685 5118<br />
info@atlanticbyronbay.com.au<br />
www.atlanticbyronbay.com.au<br />
APARTMENTS INN BYRON<br />
20-22 Fletcher St, BYRON BAY<br />
If you and the family are looking<br />
for brand new and stylish<br />
accommodation in the centre<br />
of Byron Bay, you cannot go<br />
past Apartments Inn Byron.<br />
Beautiful accommodation,<br />
located only one block from<br />
the beach and surrounded by<br />
restaurants and shops this is<br />
ideal for a family holiday or a<br />
perfect romantic getaway.<br />
Proximity: 2 mins walk to main<br />
beach, in the heart of Byron Bay.<br />
P: 02 6620 9600<br />
innfo@apartmentsinnbyron.com.au<br />
www.apartmentsinnbyron.com.au<br />
See specials online<br />
SUFFOLK BEACHFRONT<br />
HOLIDAY PARK<br />
Alcorn Street, Suffolk Park<br />
(5km south of Byron Bay)<br />
You won’t find better Byron Bay<br />
surf accommodation than this!<br />
Absolute beachfront at one of<br />
Byron Bay’s best surf spots -<br />
beautiful Tallow Beach.<br />
Sites, cabins and Safari tents<br />
at affordable prices with clean,<br />
modern facilities and a relaxed<br />
coastal vibe. Many of our<br />
regulars return several times a<br />
year as they follow the breaks<br />
up and down the coast.<br />
Close to the action of Byron,<br />
yet far enough away so you<br />
can avoid the crowds and focus<br />
on catching that perfect wave.<br />
Proximity: Right on Tallow Beach<br />
Phone: 02 6685 3353<br />
info@suffolkbeachfront.com.au<br />
www.suffolkbeachfront.com.au<br />
Rates from $34 for two people<br />
TV<br />
gym<br />
laundry<br />
kitchen<br />
parking wi-fi pool airconditioning family-friendly pet-friendly spa<br />
bbq<br />
100 sep/oct <strong>2011</strong>
Thumbs<br />
Up!<br />
A place qapart(ment)<br />
While pulling this feature on Byron Bay together, we had the<br />
pleasure of spending two nights at the Apartments Inn at 22<br />
Fletcher Street, and what a pleasure it was...<br />
THE FIRST TEST.<br />
When you walk into a hotel or<br />
holiday apartments you want<br />
to be welcomed. The staff at<br />
Apartments Inn are exceptional.<br />
Courteous, polite and prompt but<br />
not too uptight, as can be the<br />
case with some establishments.<br />
We were made to feel welcome<br />
straight away by manager Alan<br />
Junor and his team and were off<br />
to our room in less than 2 minutes.<br />
SECOND TEST.<br />
We stayed in a two-bedroom<br />
apartment and it was incredibly<br />
spacious with a large kitchen<br />
area, dining table, lounge, outdoor<br />
setting, a full size bathroom and<br />
two good-sized bedrooms, one<br />
with an ensuite. Each of the rooms<br />
were beautifully furnished, well<br />
appointed and had a touch of class.<br />
THIRD TEST.<br />
And most important, our apartment<br />
was spotless. It was very clean,<br />
which always helps you to relax<br />
and unwind from the outset.<br />
The Apartments Inn opened in<br />
July 2009 and they still have that<br />
distinctly ‘new’ feel to them.<br />
We thoroughly enjoyed our stay<br />
and its central location was<br />
another plus. No need to worry<br />
about finding a park, which when<br />
Byron is busy can be a nightmare,<br />
not to mention the congestion<br />
centring around the Jonson and<br />
Lawson Street roundabout.<br />
The Apartments Inn is only 150m<br />
to Main Beach and you can<br />
walk to the many nearby shops,<br />
restaurants and cafes including<br />
the best breakfast in Byron right<br />
across the road at Dip Café.<br />
Don't take our word for it.<br />
Check out www.tripadvisor.com to<br />
see we're not alone in our praise.<br />
Regular comments from guests all<br />
praise the staff’s friendliness and<br />
the clean, spacious and wellappointed<br />
rooms.<br />
Apartments Inn won the North<br />
Coast Tourism Awards and was a<br />
finalist in the NSW Tourism Awards<br />
in 2010 and it’s not surprising.<br />
For more, check out the website<br />
www.apartmentsinnbyron.com.au.<br />
Inspired by boutique<br />
Carribean guesthouses with<br />
all you love about the relaxed<br />
Byron Bay lifestyle.<br />
A range of options from<br />
premium ensuite rooms to<br />
spacious double rooms with<br />
shared bathrooms.<br />
www.atlanticbyronbay.com.au<br />
Phone: (02) 6685 5118<br />
Fax: (02) 6680 9430<br />
Email: info@atlanticbyronbay.com.au<br />
13 Marvel St, Byron Bay NSW, 2481<br />
Certificate of Excellence <strong>2011</strong><br />
sep/oct <strong>2011</strong><br />
101
Byron Bay...<br />
uGet there!b<br />
Formerly Byron Bay<br />
Longboards...<br />
The first priority of a surfing holiday is to get there and get wet as quick as<br />
you can. With that in mind, Byron is super-accessible by plane. Jetstar and<br />
Virgin fly into the Gold Coast every day of the week from Hobart, Adelaide,<br />
Melbourne and Sydney. Alternatively you can fly Virgin from Melbourne.<br />
Hobart and Sydney to Ballina Airport. All flights are more or less under<br />
$200 one way if you book in advance, even under $100 from Sydney.<br />
From there it’s as easy as a quick call to Xcede Aiport Transfers. Gold<br />
Coast Airport to Byron is under $40. Ballina Airport To Byron only $15.<br />
Better still, if you book and pay online, you can save yourself a further<br />
20% and the guys at Xcede don’t charge extra for surfboards (within<br />
reason). Just make sure you let them know what you are packing in<br />
advance.<br />
If you are heading to Byron by car, again, it's pretty easy. From the<br />
Pacific Highway turnoff to the town itself is only a straight 10 min drive.<br />
Ph: 02 668 55244<br />
Shop 1/89 Jonson Street, Byron Bay, NSW 2481<br />
new name - new stock - same great service<br />
SHUTTLE BUS FOR<br />
YOU AND YOUR BOARD!<br />
Book online at www.xcede.com.au<br />
From Brisbane<br />
It’s only 1 hour and 40 minutes straight<br />
down the Pacific Highway.<br />
From Sydney<br />
770 kms and 8 ½ hours straight down<br />
the Pacific Highway.<br />
From Melbourne<br />
16 ½ hours drive and 1,640 kms. It’s<br />
simple, Hume Highway to Gundagai,<br />
Yass and Goulburn, pass the western<br />
outskirts of Sydney and then get onto<br />
the Pacific Highway near Pymble and<br />
follow it to Byron.<br />
From Adelaide<br />
2,100 kms and just over 22 hours drive.<br />
Take the Sturt Highway to Renmark<br />
onto Mildura, through Narrandera<br />
to Wagga Wagga and then onto the<br />
Hume Highway to Gundagai, Yass and<br />
Goulburn. You will pass the western<br />
outskirts of Sydney and then get onto<br />
the Pacific Highway near Pymble and<br />
follow it to Byron.<br />
Saying this, just fly. It's a massive<br />
drive. Save your energy for the waves<br />
and not for sitting down behind the<br />
wheel.<br />
So...<br />
Drive, fly, walk, run, fly... However you<br />
get there, Byron Bay will reward you<br />
in waves, views and unforgettable<br />
experiences. Put Byron on your mustvisit<br />
list and you, like so many others<br />
will be hooked for life. Enjoy.<br />
102 sep/oct <strong>2011</strong>
Tweed Valley<br />
Northern<br />
Rivers Region<br />
New England<br />
Region<br />
BRISBANE 104km<br />
Upper Clarence<br />
Region<br />
Coolangatta<br />
olang<br />
atta<br />
Tweed Heads<br />
Hastings Point<br />
BRUNSWICK HEADS<br />
BYRON BAY<br />
LENNOX HEAD<br />
Lismore<br />
BALLINA<br />
Grafton<br />
RED ROCK<br />
CORINDI<br />
MOONEE<br />
Coffs Harbour<br />
MYLESTOM<br />
URUNGA<br />
HUNGRY HEAD<br />
NAMBUCCA HEADS<br />
Macleay Valley<br />
SCOTTS HEAD<br />
EVANS HEAD<br />
Kempsey<br />
Port Macquarie<br />
BONNY NY HILLS<br />
LS<br />
NORTH HAVEN<br />
SYDNEY 370km<br />
Iluka<br />
Yamba<br />
18 beautiful<br />
coastal locations!<br />
MANY PARKS SITUATED DIRECTLY<br />
ON THE BEACH AND SOME WITH<br />
DIRECT BEACH ACCESS<br />
Pack up your boards & wetties<br />
and set off for an affordable<br />
stay at one of our 18<br />
holiday parks! They won’t<br />
cost you the world, yet<br />
offer you everything you<br />
need for your perfect surfari.<br />
POWERED<br />
SITES<br />
from ONLY $18<br />
per night*<br />
* Rate based on Nambucca Headland Holiday Park.<br />
www.northcoastholidayparks.com.au<br />
FOLLOW US ON<br />
sep/oct <strong>2011</strong><br />
103
uByron Bay ..v.<br />
THE VIBRANT<br />
The qPrecinctb<br />
INDUSTRIAL<br />
ESTATE HOME TO<br />
BYRON BAY’S<br />
SURF ROYALTY<br />
104 sep/oct <strong>2011</strong>
Within Australia you would be hard pressed<br />
to find more shaping experience, skill and<br />
knowledge concentrated in one small area. Byron<br />
Bay's industrial precinct, known as the Byron<br />
Bay Arts and Industry Park is the epicentre of<br />
surfboard design and construction in the region,<br />
arguably the country. Perhaps only Mona Vale in<br />
Sydney, or Torquay could be considered a rival<br />
for sheer volume of choice. So many talented<br />
surfboard makers have set up shop here.<br />
Yes, there are options... and lots of them. All<br />
manner of makes, models and surfboard designs<br />
by craftsmen widely regarded as not only the<br />
best in Australia, but the world, are on display<br />
here. Beyond the shapers, you can have fins<br />
made, get custom accessories, find expert ding<br />
repairs, artists and so much more. Is there<br />
anything you can't find within these few streets?<br />
But this is no surfer's mall. While you can drool<br />
over the final product in showrooms, more<br />
importantly, you can get a true sense of how<br />
the blood, sweat and tears get mixed in copious<br />
amounts with resin and foam dust. Here you get<br />
to look behind the scenes, because the residents<br />
live and breathe surfboards..<br />
We take a look at a truly unique area and<br />
introduce you to those friendly and inspiring<br />
people that spoke with us about sharing the love<br />
of surfing through their craft.<br />
1<br />
2<br />
3<br />
4<br />
5<br />
6<br />
7<br />
8<br />
9<br />
10<br />
11<br />
McTavish Surfboards<br />
91 Centennial Circuit • 02 6685 6736<br />
www.mctavish.com.au<br />
McCoy Surfboards/<br />
Town & Country<br />
10 Acacia Street • 02 6685 7485<br />
www.mccoysurfboards.com<br />
www.tcsurf.com.au<br />
Munro Surfboards<br />
29 Acacia Street • 02 6685 6211<br />
www.munrosurfboards.com.au<br />
Parkes Surfing<br />
4/83 Centennial Circuit • 02 6685 6627<br />
www.parkesaustralia.com<br />
Maddog Surf Centre<br />
Ewingsdale Road • 02 6685 6022<br />
www.maddog.com.au<br />
ESP Surfboards<br />
2/81 Centennial Circuit • 0404 059 321<br />
www.espsurfshop.com.au<br />
Michael Cundith<br />
3 Banksia Drive • 02 6685 8778<br />
www.mcsurf.com.au<br />
Crosslink Traction<br />
7/84 Centennial Circuit • 02 6685 7350<br />
www.deckgrips.com<br />
Doctor Ding<br />
2/68 Centennial Circuit • 0431 740 940<br />
www.drdingsurfboardrepairs.com<br />
Emery Surfboards<br />
5/19 Tasman Way • 02 6685 5500<br />
www.emerysurfboards.com<br />
Surfari Maps<br />
4/67 Centennial Circuit • 02 6685 7250<br />
www.surfarimaps.com<br />
9<br />
6<br />
4<br />
11<br />
10<br />
8<br />
1<br />
3<br />
2<br />
7<br />
5<br />
sep/oct <strong>2011</strong><br />
105
Bob McTavish still remains<br />
hands-on in the shaping bay.<br />
Photo: Samuel Lindsay<br />
"My personal pursuit of the endless progression of surfboard design will hopefully continue to revolutionise surfing." Bob McTavish<br />
The McTavish showroom and<br />
workshop in Centennial Circuit<br />
106 sep/oct <strong>2011</strong>
McaTavisbh<br />
Surfboards<br />
The name McTavish is synonymous with<br />
Byron Bay. Bob has been a part of the surf<br />
scene here since it began in the early sixties.<br />
His rationale for settling here was a happy<br />
medium between his love for Byron Bay and<br />
Lennox Head just down the road. His thought<br />
process is best explained in his autobiography<br />
Stoked!, “Where to settle? Which little<br />
coastal town offered all I needed? ...I could<br />
surf Lennox in the mornings while the wind<br />
was offshore, then move around to the shelter<br />
of The Pass and Wategos in the afternoon<br />
sea breezes: what an amazing combo.” And<br />
as such, Bob now lives at Suffolk Park at the<br />
southern end of Byron, smack bang between<br />
The Pass and Lennox.<br />
Inside the laminating room.<br />
Photo: Samuel Lindsay<br />
As for the board building side of things, his<br />
business continues to flourish. McTavish is truly<br />
an international company nowadays. The factory<br />
and retail operation, which form the hub of the<br />
McTavish operation, are still based in the Byron<br />
Bay Arts and Industry Park, but McTavish also<br />
distributes some 20 different models to over 30<br />
countries worldwide.<br />
With that said, the going hasn’t always been<br />
easy and it has been a long tough road to where<br />
the company is today. Over the course of the last<br />
45 years, the McTavish name and associated<br />
companies have existed in many forms. The first<br />
major distribution of custom McTavish Surfboards<br />
commenced with the ‘Bluebird’ model back in<br />
1972. It’s reputed to be the world’s first production<br />
shortboard and had a strong reputation for<br />
cutting edge design and performance. That same<br />
commitment to design excellence and performance<br />
continues today.<br />
“I have remained in Byron all this time working<br />
as a shaper, carving out boards by hand, keeping<br />
up with the movements and innovations of the<br />
younger crew, and still innovating where I can.<br />
It hasn’t been the most financially rewarding job<br />
choice, but it is immensely satisfying, creating<br />
vehicles that move and work in and around those<br />
spinning vortices known as waves, and customfitting<br />
them to thousands of surfers over the years.”<br />
The strength of resolve to forge ahead even<br />
through the tough times has ensured the McTavish<br />
brand remains true to its roots, making quality<br />
surfboards for surfers from all walks of life.<br />
1<br />
Today you can buy, or indeed order a custom<br />
made McTavish in a variety of shapes and sizes<br />
and even construction materials, from traditional<br />
fibreglass to SLX epoxy or Surftech Tuflite epoxy<br />
construction. In total, there are 2 models to choose<br />
from, ranging from shortboards through to stand-up<br />
paddleboards.<br />
Bob McTavish has always been well known for<br />
his longboards with the resurgence of the big<br />
M in the mid-nineties and the rise in popularity<br />
of modern longboarding, but it's his range of<br />
shortboards where a lot of work at present is<br />
being concentrated. And why not, he is widely<br />
recognised as one of the founding fathers of the<br />
shortboard revolution, so his input and innovation<br />
is as valid today as ever. Two new notable entries<br />
to the McTavish quiver are the Bobsled - a<br />
shortboard quad with speed to burn and as loose<br />
as a goose - and the Sumo - a high volume midlength<br />
with a pulled in pin tail. Easy to paddle and<br />
a whole lot of fun.<br />
With such a multitude of boards to choose from,<br />
it's very comforting to know you can in fact hire<br />
one out to take it for a burn. Pleasingly, the entire<br />
range of McTavish Surfboards are available for<br />
hire at their Byron Bay Factory Outlet. So if you're<br />
planning on visiting Byron for a bit of a holiday<br />
or just travelling through, you can test out which<br />
McTavish model is best for you. Board hire costs<br />
$40 a day or $200 per week. Better still, if you<br />
decide to purchase a board after hiring one out, you<br />
will get your hire board money back off the price of<br />
your new board up to a value of $120.<br />
ABOVE: Bob McTavish, 1969.<br />
Photo: Billy Dawson<br />
BELOW: Bob gets barrelled at<br />
Lennox. Photo: John Milek<br />
91 Centennial Circuit • 02 6685 6736 • www.mctavish.com.au • sales mctavish.com.au<br />
Byron Bay ... The precinct<br />
sep/oct <strong>2011</strong><br />
1<strong>07</strong>
Byron Bay ... The precinct<br />
RIGHT: The man and his creations.<br />
ABOVE: Geoff McCoy takes some time out for a chat.<br />
McaCoy<br />
Surfboards<br />
"High<br />
performance<br />
is a myth,<br />
something created<br />
by clothing<br />
companies and<br />
pure ignorance. "<br />
Geoff McCoy<br />
Growing up, my parents<br />
instilled in me the importance<br />
of speaking your mind. “Silence<br />
is golden but sometimes it's<br />
yellow. Show tact son, but<br />
never kiss arse and don’t be a<br />
coward in expressing your point<br />
of view,” was what they always<br />
said to me.<br />
It is the best advice I have ever<br />
been given. And it is probably<br />
why I think the world of this<br />
bloke... A legendary shaper.<br />
From the moment I met him, I<br />
liked him. No bullshit. What you<br />
see is what you get.<br />
If there is one person who<br />
epitomises the smorgasboarder<br />
spirit, it's Geoff McCoy. He<br />
doesn’t care about what is cool.<br />
He simply designs boards that<br />
deliver the most enjoyment.<br />
The more I see of his designs<br />
and hear the explanations behind<br />
what he does, the closer I become<br />
to a McCoy devotee. And believe<br />
me, there are a lot out there. A<br />
good mate of mine picked up<br />
a McCoy a few years back and<br />
hasn’t stop raving about it since.<br />
Once hooked, McCoy surfers<br />
seem to become members of the<br />
"McCoy Boys" club.<br />
As for his design philosophies,<br />
it’s best I leave Geoff to explain<br />
them himself in his own<br />
uncompromising way.<br />
“High performance does not<br />
exist in my world at all.<br />
“High performance is a myth,<br />
something created by clothing<br />
companies and pure ignorance.<br />
It’s just bullshit and has nothing<br />
to do with actual surfing<br />
performance and true design<br />
for the majority of surfers. The<br />
illusions created are totally<br />
unattainable for all but the very<br />
best.<br />
“Performance surfing can be<br />
achieved on all levels from<br />
beginner to elite. It is just that<br />
each level requires a different<br />
performance to have the desired<br />
outcome. There is no point<br />
having a high performance<br />
surfboard when you are only<br />
average, as it does not work.”<br />
The McCoy Energy Theory<br />
“I have a passion as a surfboard<br />
designer to pursue the truth<br />
and source what objects are<br />
best suited for people to ride on<br />
waves with pure function and<br />
ease of control for the surfer.<br />
I now understand the common<br />
denominator is ‘pure energy’,<br />
pure energy moving through a<br />
mass of water which forms a<br />
wave.<br />
“Unless a designer can<br />
understand the principals of<br />
pure energy and how to harness<br />
it in a functional sense, it's<br />
almost impossible to build an<br />
object to ride on that is easy<br />
to control. Through years of<br />
surfing and testing boards, I've<br />
developed a deep understanding<br />
of riding a wave, including how<br />
the wave functions, the reaction<br />
water has to objects and the<br />
technique required to control<br />
and ride a wave.<br />
“Heightened awareness has<br />
helped me to discover the<br />
importance of neutralising an<br />
object’s reaction to a wave. To<br />
give the surfer a more stable<br />
platform to surf off and a much<br />
more practical and user-friendly<br />
way to go surfing. In achieving<br />
this within surfboard design, the<br />
surfer dictates the moves and<br />
is not prone to an over-reactive,<br />
highly sensitive, hard-to-control<br />
surfboard that many surfers<br />
battle with every time they take<br />
off on a wave.<br />
“The boards I design perform<br />
functions on a wave with ease.<br />
They provide the surfer with<br />
the freedom to catch and ride<br />
waves without the struggle,<br />
which in turn allows surfers<br />
of all abilities to improve their<br />
performance overall, because<br />
they're catching more waves<br />
and because of the ease of<br />
performance of their board.<br />
“I have said it many times<br />
before and will continue to<br />
say it until the message gets<br />
through. There is no connection<br />
between high performance<br />
professional equipment and the<br />
part-time, recreational surfer.<br />
It’s a simple as that. Do not get<br />
sucked in by some ignorant fool<br />
that calls themself a surfboard<br />
designer with a large brown<br />
stain around their neck dribbling<br />
uncoordinated unrealistic...<br />
about how their best team riders<br />
are ripping on the latest disaster<br />
they manifested.<br />
“If nothing else, so-called high<br />
performance equipment has<br />
proven how dysfunctional it<br />
is in the hands of the average<br />
surfer and should be avoided<br />
completely.”<br />
Geoff McCoy’s philosophy is<br />
best summed by what Google<br />
brings up for his name... McCoy<br />
Surfboards, high performance<br />
Australian made surfboards for<br />
surfers of all ability levels.<br />
www.mccoysurfboards.com<br />
108 sep/oct <strong>2011</strong>
Town &<br />
bCountury<br />
2<br />
Surfboardsv<br />
Town & Country and McCoy<br />
Surfboards sit comfortably side by<br />
side in the same building at 10 Acacia<br />
Street in the Industrial Estate at Byron<br />
Bay. One stop. Awesome boards. Easy.<br />
It's often been said,<br />
“People, not machines,<br />
make surfboards.” No truer<br />
words could be spoken when<br />
referring to Town & Country<br />
Surfboards in Byron Bay.<br />
In the PSM (Professional<br />
Surfboard Manufacturing)<br />
factory, where Town &<br />
Country surfboards are made,<br />
the combined experience<br />
handcrafting surfboards adds<br />
up to over 220 years. It goes<br />
without saying, these guys<br />
know a thing or two about<br />
surfboard design. Imagine<br />
the boards shaped during this<br />
time. Let’s face it, experience<br />
does count.<br />
Now it may not look like<br />
much from the outside and<br />
there's no sexy sales people<br />
inside (except Michelle of<br />
course) but hell, it's one hell<br />
of a factory showroom. It's<br />
cavernous, with just loads of<br />
surfboards. There are rows<br />
upon rows of shortboards,<br />
hybrids, longboards, second<br />
hand boards as well as the<br />
complete McCoy range.<br />
DOUG UNGER, the head<br />
honcho and proprietor of PSM,<br />
a born and bred Byron Bay<br />
local who started his career<br />
as a sander back in the 70’s<br />
explains their commitment to<br />
quality: “We all work together<br />
to get the best quality boards<br />
for surfers, from beginners to<br />
pros. Our team put there hands<br />
to top notch labels such as<br />
our own, Town & Country<br />
since 1983, and also McCoy,<br />
Maddog, Mark Richards<br />
and San Juan since 1966.<br />
Quality is the key in today’s<br />
marketplace and to get quality,<br />
it takes all the people in<br />
one place working together<br />
towards a common goal.”<br />
Let’s meet the people behind<br />
the scenes.<br />
LEFT: The Buzz at work<br />
ABOVE: The T&C showroom<br />
BRUNO ‘THE BUZZ’<br />
BUZZOLAN<br />
Grew up on the NSW South<br />
Coast and began shaping<br />
boards for himself and his<br />
mates in 1972 before moving<br />
to Byron in 1978. He started<br />
at Sky Surfboards working<br />
alongside the likes of Bob<br />
McTavish, George Greenough,<br />
Chris Brock, Michael Cundith,<br />
Rod Dahlberg and Nev Hyman,<br />
Tony Cerff, Gunther Rohn and<br />
Geoff McCoy.<br />
“I’ve always liked boards to be<br />
fast, responsive and forgiving.<br />
The average Joe has only<br />
one board, so it must handle<br />
1-6 foot conditions and even<br />
up to 8 foot occasionally.<br />
So, I concentrate on design<br />
aspects to produce the perfect<br />
all-rounder. Boards that work<br />
in 2 foot slop to lumpy 6 foot<br />
chunks and still go off in 2-6<br />
foot clean pits. The individual’s<br />
personal preference, ability<br />
and location they surf, as<br />
well as the best features of<br />
comp models, are the main<br />
influences in my designs.”<br />
‘GYPO’ ROBERT FENECH<br />
Born in Maroubra, he started<br />
his own backyard surfboard<br />
business when he was just 15<br />
years of age. He’s been hand<br />
shaping surfboards since.<br />
When Gypo moved to Byron<br />
Bay he too began working for<br />
Sky Surfboards.<br />
"Shaping since 1975, through<br />
the major years of evolution in<br />
performance shortboards, has<br />
given me a solid understanding<br />
of design facets - rockers,<br />
outlines, rails, bottom shapes<br />
and fins.<br />
"Using this knowledge and<br />
experience is crucial to the<br />
progression of future surfboard<br />
design. My Hybrid series is<br />
the start in a new direction of<br />
performance surfboard design.<br />
Not so focused on contest or<br />
aerial surfing, but performance<br />
in a way that would suit the<br />
majority of surfers at any level."<br />
GARY BURMESTER, with<br />
over 30 years experience,<br />
and MICHAEL MCLENNAN<br />
are champion laminators.<br />
Their skill coupled with<br />
our temperature controlled<br />
glassing room results in<br />
boards with superior strength<br />
to weight ratios.<br />
ROY MEISEL is the expert<br />
showroom fountain-ofknowledge<br />
for all things surf<br />
related. Roy’s been a part of<br />
the industry his whole life and<br />
knows his stuff. Indeed, Roy was<br />
the original owner of the iconic<br />
surfboard label Bare Nature.<br />
PAUL GOFFETT<br />
With over 30 years experience,<br />
he is one of the best sanders<br />
in the world. (After shaping<br />
our own boards we know only<br />
too well how much of a skill<br />
sanding really is. It's where<br />
most boards come unstuck.<br />
Great design + crap sander =<br />
crap board.)<br />
ALONZO PUNKER'S dream<br />
was to one day work for T&C.<br />
His clothes and car reflect his<br />
attitude:“Surfing Is My Life”<br />
and “One Day I’ll Get A Real<br />
Job” and he did! Alonzos’<br />
enthusiasm pumped us all up.<br />
His sprays and shapes speak<br />
for themselves. Spray art and<br />
airbrushing are his specialities.<br />
PAUL CARDEN<br />
Gloss coater/ polisher. 18<br />
years experience puts finishes<br />
to boards that are pure<br />
perfection. Together with<br />
PETER GROVER, the boys<br />
polish boards that outshine the<br />
competition. No dull patches.<br />
DARREN BIRCH<br />
The fin man. Multi-skilled and<br />
over 25 years experience.<br />
MICHELLE MORRISON<br />
The office manager who<br />
together with Doug, keep<br />
things ticking along smoothly.<br />
Next time you're in Byron Bay,<br />
drop in and meet the team in<br />
person yourself.<br />
02 6685 7485 • www.tcsurf.com.au<br />
sep/oct <strong>2011</strong><br />
109
I first came across Brett<br />
Munro’s handiwork when my<br />
brother returned from a trip to<br />
Byron some years ago. He had<br />
commented how at ease he<br />
was talking with Brett about<br />
getting a board custom made.<br />
“He’s not up himself and there’s<br />
no attitude. He just listens to<br />
what you want, answers your<br />
questions, asks a few of his<br />
own and steers you in the right<br />
direction.You’re not made to<br />
feel like a dickhead if you don't<br />
understand the intricacies of<br />
surfboard design.”<br />
Brett is as down-to-earth as<br />
they come and I have sincerely<br />
enjoyed catching up with him<br />
each and every time I have<br />
passed through Byron. Truth<br />
be told, I would attribute a lot<br />
of things I have learnt about<br />
surfboards to date from my chats<br />
with Brett. He certainly doesn’t<br />
try to over complicate discussions<br />
with high-tech bullshit.<br />
Most importantly, his boards are<br />
the goods and for peace of mind,<br />
an SBT microchip anti-theft<br />
protection system is available.<br />
Performance orientated in their<br />
design, he shapes a multitude of<br />
boards from twin-keel fishes and<br />
Brett's a Kiwi, so sound interested in rugby and attest<br />
to the fact the All Blacks are sure to win the next World<br />
Cup, full knowing they will choke at the last hurdle, just<br />
so he looks after you with an extra special board.<br />
Mounrno<br />
Handcrafted vSurfboards<br />
quads to shortboard thrusters,<br />
single fins and longboards.<br />
Many a professional title has<br />
been claimed on his boards,<br />
including Beau Young’s two<br />
world titles.<br />
As for my brother’s 7’4” sky blue<br />
thruster with Speeed Fins and<br />
carbon fibre rods near the rails,<br />
it goes like the clappers. He<br />
rates it as one of his favourite<br />
boards. Eight years on, it<br />
still looks brand new, which<br />
speaks volumes of the quality<br />
craftsmanship and the top end<br />
materials they use at Munro.<br />
BRETT MUNRO<br />
Hand shaping surfboards for<br />
close to 40 years, Brett started<br />
out as an understudy to Kingsley<br />
‘Knackers’ Kernoski in Whangamatta,<br />
NZ in 1974.<br />
After six years as a partner in<br />
Saltwater Surfboards, in 1981<br />
he moved to Coffs Harbour and<br />
established Prana Surfboards<br />
until 1993, when he moved<br />
to Byron Bay starting up<br />
Heart’n’Soul and Munro.<br />
29 Acacia St • 02 6685 6211<br />
www.munrosurfboards.com.au<br />
3<br />
4<br />
DAVE PARKES<br />
first starting shaping<br />
kneeboards back in the<br />
Friar Tuck factory at<br />
Brookvale in 1978 before<br />
the company moved to<br />
Byron Bay in 1981, Dave<br />
took over the business<br />
in 1983.<br />
NEIL LUKE has been<br />
shaping kneeboards since<br />
1970, surfing the heavy<br />
reef breaks of Phillip<br />
Island and working with<br />
Island Surfboards until<br />
he moved to Byron Bay a<br />
couple of years back to<br />
work with Dave<br />
4/83 Centennial Circuit<br />
02 6685 6627<br />
www.parkesaustralia.com<br />
bParkes<br />
Surfing<br />
As a surfer and a shaper Dave Parkes has<br />
walked the walk. He is a six-time Australian<br />
Kneeboard Champion and has shaped<br />
countless kneeboards as well as a variety of<br />
surfboards for over 30 years, learning from<br />
legendary surfers and shapers. And to further<br />
add to the credibility, legendary kneeboarder<br />
and shaper, Neil Luke also works out of the<br />
Parkes Factory.<br />
Now I must admit I have never given<br />
kneeboarding a go. But with that said, I will<br />
certainly take up the boys offer and give it a<br />
crack next time I am passing through Byron.<br />
Like everything surf related, I am always keen<br />
to personally explore new frontiers. Let’s face<br />
it, it’s not as if kneeboarding is a ‘new’ frontier.<br />
It was incredibly popular in the 70’s following<br />
movies such as George Greenough’s Innermost<br />
Limits of Pure Fun in 1968 and seems to be<br />
enjoying somewhat of a resurgence nowadays.<br />
Personally, I think kneeboarding is unreal. Our<br />
mag has always celebrated the unbridled joy<br />
of surfing, no matter what board you choose<br />
to ride. Pleasingly, most open-minded surfers<br />
these days don’t care much for how they look<br />
are what is ‘in’. They are simply out there to<br />
have fun and enjoy surfing on all manner of<br />
craft and thank bloody goodness for that.<br />
Anyhow, back to my kneelo friends. Guys<br />
like Dave Parkes and Neil Luke seem to have<br />
always been at the forefront of surfboard<br />
design. They’re totally uninhibited in relation<br />
to surfboard design and are more than<br />
comfortable pushing the boundaries. They<br />
aren’t too concerned about conforming to what<br />
is the ‘in’ shape. They simply hand craft boards<br />
to suit the rider and the ‘feel’ they are after.<br />
This dedication to innovation and an openly<br />
collaborative approach to shaping means the<br />
Parkes Factory breaks the mould producing<br />
boards that feature a combination of proven<br />
designs, new approaches to design and<br />
construction, and rigorous testing.<br />
Here they craft kneeboards by Dave Parkes and<br />
Neil Luke and the Friar Tuck label<br />
The factory not only shapes kneeboards but<br />
also a variety of other surfcraft, such as Midget<br />
Farrelly Longboards which are made under<br />
licence. Previously mini mals and malibus were<br />
made for Scott Dillon, as well as performance<br />
shortboards for Garrett Parkes and his mates.<br />
110 sep/oct <strong>2011</strong>
uMaddogv<br />
bSurf Centre<br />
A massive range of gear is<br />
available in store at Maddog<br />
Vintage board<br />
fans have<br />
plenty to see<br />
as well<br />
The big red building on the corner of Ewingsdale and<br />
Banksia is home to Maddog and San Juan Surfboards.<br />
Well priced and well made is the best way I can describe<br />
these boards. Not only that, Maddog headquarters at<br />
Byron Bay has a bloody good range. Every time I visit I<br />
come out salivating. Yes, I must admit to a massive soft<br />
spot for San Juan Surfboards.<br />
I have surfed for most of my life but lost touch with the<br />
waves during my mid teens. When I rediscovered surfing,<br />
it was thanks to a liquid flame red Juan. I surfed her for<br />
some 14-odd years before she came to an untimely end<br />
in a sizeable swell at Currumbin. My red Juan now sits<br />
pride of place above the bar, albeit in two pieces.<br />
Anyhow I digress, if you want variety of colours, shapes,<br />
different lengths... Maddog’s headquarters at Byron Bay<br />
has the lot.<br />
John has been going about his business since the 1970’s.<br />
Maddog Surf Centre is not only a wealth of history thanks<br />
to all the vintage boards on display on the floor and<br />
across the rafters, but is an absolute warehouse of brand<br />
new surfboards of every size, style shape, colour and<br />
description including brands like JS, DHD and Al Merrick.<br />
If you're a fan of Mark Richards' boards, you might be<br />
interested to know that Maddog have been glassing<br />
them since the 70s. They also stock a wide range of his<br />
boards, from retro twinnies to MR's current performance<br />
boards. There's also a massive selection of secondhand<br />
boards for the bargain shoppers, newbies, backpackers<br />
and hopeful collectors.<br />
Sure they have clothes, wetsuits, accessories and the<br />
like but they are much more than your stereotypical<br />
surf fashion retail store. Maddog is a surf hardware<br />
shop first and foremost... A surfers' surf shop. If surfing<br />
is less about following a fashion trend and more<br />
about following your heart, you'll feel right at home at<br />
Maddog’s headquarters.<br />
John and Mark, along with younger gun Beau, provide<br />
good, old-fashioned service and actually know something<br />
about surfboards. Now who would have thought?<br />
After all, they've been around the surfboard shaping<br />
environment for donkey’s years and can advise you on<br />
the right board for your ability level.<br />
And for those interested in the art of it all, you can<br />
actually see boards being shaped in the shaping bay. It's<br />
not some token shaping bay with a glass window looking<br />
through to an empty room for atmospheric effect but a<br />
shaping bay used five days a week by in-house shapers,<br />
Mark Plater and Matt Crisp.<br />
Ewingsdale Road<br />
02 6685 6022<br />
www.maddog.com.au<br />
5<br />
sep/oct <strong>2011</strong><br />
Byron Bay ... The precinct<br />
111
Jeremy 'X' Williams<br />
bESP<br />
Surfboardus<br />
Luke Cooper Photo Balistyle<br />
“Any shaper<br />
worth their salt<br />
should be vfamiliar<br />
with all aspects<br />
of design.”o<br />
Ed Sinnott cb<br />
6<br />
2/81 Centennial Circuit<br />
0404 059 321<br />
www.espsurfshop.com.au<br />
Ed Sinnott has pretty much seen<br />
it all. His career has spanned the<br />
single-fin, twin-fin, thruster and<br />
the modern longboard.<br />
“When I started surfing in<br />
the late sixties many of the<br />
surf companies and board<br />
manufacturers of today didn’t<br />
exist. We didn’t wear leg ropes,<br />
wetsuits were basically non<br />
existent and no one would have<br />
ever conceived you could get a<br />
surfboard made in China or that<br />
plastic boards made in Thailand<br />
would ever be acceptable.”<br />
"The angle that got me into<br />
surfboard design in the first<br />
place was a creative one. In the<br />
seventies as a teenager I was at<br />
art school doing the bohemian<br />
thing, surfing everyday, painting,<br />
drawing, doing leatherwork and<br />
repairing dings for cash.<br />
“I started working at John<br />
Skipp’s factory, painting<br />
surfboards, doing pin lines,<br />
polishing, sanding, glassing,<br />
sweeping the floor, doing dings<br />
and gradually shaping more and<br />
more. I just had this incredible<br />
drive and passion to create<br />
really good surfboards. It was all<br />
about the creation and the joy of<br />
riding those pieces of functional<br />
sculpture out in the ocean."<br />
Ed first picked up a planer back<br />
in 1976 and has not turned it<br />
off since. Originating from The<br />
Gong, today he lives in Byron<br />
taking every opportunity to surf<br />
classic line ups such as Broken<br />
Head, The Pass, Tallows and<br />
Lennox. He still does what he<br />
started doing over thirty years<br />
ago, surfing and shaping every<br />
day, playing music, writing songs<br />
and staying fit. By his thinking,<br />
he is living the dream.<br />
“Over the last 30 years I have<br />
shaped over 18,000 surfboards<br />
for a huge variety of people from<br />
all over the world and gained<br />
invaluable experience by shaping<br />
for surfers on the ASP World Tour<br />
as well as several World, State<br />
and Australian title holders.<br />
“I shape the whole spectrum<br />
of surfboard design, everything<br />
including hi-performance<br />
shortboards, fishes, mini mals,<br />
retro designs and longboards.<br />
In my opinion, any shaper worth<br />
their salt should be familiar<br />
with all aspects of design.<br />
My shaping focus is intergenerational.”<br />
Since 1976, Ed has combined<br />
his knowledge of surfing with a<br />
passion for hard work, originality<br />
and innovation within the field of<br />
surfboard manufacturing.<br />
In a world where mass<br />
production and pop-outs from<br />
Asian countries abound it’s<br />
refreshing to see someone still<br />
following tradition and living the<br />
dream as a surfer/shaper.<br />
“I personally chose to<br />
manufacture my boards<br />
using Australian workers and<br />
materials. Mass production,<br />
plastic surfboards and the<br />
hard sell are not my scene and<br />
never ever will be. Producing<br />
professionally made surfboards<br />
of A1 quality is. Here at ESP we<br />
are proud of what we do and<br />
as a group of Australian surfers<br />
we have never embraced the<br />
propaganda pushed in the surf<br />
media by companies owned<br />
by overseas dollars promoting<br />
Asian surfboards.<br />
“The fantastic shapers and<br />
craftsmen I learned from and<br />
worked with were all at one<br />
time master surfer/shapers<br />
including Terry Richardson,<br />
Frank Latta, Michael and Tom<br />
Peterson, Kevin Parkinson, Carl<br />
Schaefer, John Skipp, Ben Shaw,<br />
Tom Storey and Ralph Riddell."<br />
Ed plans to continue carrying<br />
the flame of creating quality<br />
Australian, hand made<br />
surfboards. Amen to that.<br />
112 sep/oct <strong>2011</strong>
Michael Cundith<br />
Surf Designs<br />
Shortboards, longboards, all types of fish<br />
boards; dart fish, speed fish, big boys fish,<br />
Danny Wills signature models, Bob Cooper<br />
Blue Machine longboards, fun boards,<br />
lip hit shortboards, mini mals, Hawaiian<br />
guns, retro surfboards, kneeboards, balsa<br />
longboards and even Sail Skee sailboats...<br />
Michael Cundith shapes pretty much any<br />
type of watercraft.<br />
He's a master craftsman and an innovative<br />
watercraft designer who, after all these<br />
years, is still constantly refining and<br />
improving his designs. Yes, he shapes<br />
everything and anything and he excels at it.<br />
With over 50 years of shaping experience,<br />
Michael along with his good friend George<br />
Greenough, can certainly lay claim to<br />
being one of the pioneers of modern<br />
shortboards.<br />
In store, MC also stocks<br />
an extensive range of<br />
softboards and surf<br />
accessories including<br />
Carver Surfboard Racks<br />
and his wife Toshie’s very<br />
own range of surf hats<br />
called Protecsun - surf<br />
hats that stay on with a<br />
brim design that enables<br />
surfers to duck-dive with<br />
ease.<br />
For the friendly service<br />
and Michael's wealth<br />
of knowledge alone it's<br />
worth a visit, but it'll be<br />
hard to leave without a<br />
board under your arm.<br />
Byron Bay ... The precinct<br />
ABOVE: Wilderness Surfboards in the '60s<br />
His story dates back to when at only 12,<br />
riding an inflatable air mat he discovered<br />
a love for riding waves. At age 13 he had<br />
acquired a longboard and had started to<br />
cut the rails off, peeling back the glass to<br />
reshape his board so it was easier for him<br />
to carry. By the time he was 16 he was<br />
totally involved with surfboard design and<br />
has been shaping full time since.<br />
For the history buffs out there, he was<br />
the founder of the famous Wilderness<br />
Surfboards in Santa Barbara and made<br />
George Greenough Stubbies. In the 60's he<br />
was part of the second wave of surfers to<br />
be part of the Santa Barbara County Surf<br />
Club - surf custodians of the legendary<br />
Hollister Ranch. Later on he moved to<br />
Australia shaping boards with Bob Cooper<br />
in Coffs Harbour and worked for San<br />
Juan with Nat Young. Following that, he<br />
shaped boards with Kevin Platt in Noosa<br />
before returning to Byron to shape for Sky<br />
Surfboards in the very same factory he's<br />
in today, only nowadays the business is<br />
his own.<br />
Michael, with his wife Toshie and their two<br />
boys ….. together run Byron Bay Surfboards.<br />
It's a family business and it shows. They're<br />
lovely people who all live and breathe surfing,<br />
and will help you to no end in finding the right<br />
board. They stand behind their product because<br />
the quality of their craftsmanship is beyond<br />
question.<br />
Rest assured in the board you order from<br />
Michael Cundith. He thinks, dreams and lives<br />
surfboards. And he's also an innovative designer<br />
of surfboards fins.<br />
7<br />
3 Banksia Drive<br />
02 6685 8778<br />
www.mcsurf.com.au<br />
ABOVE: MC cutback<br />
on the original<br />
Stubbie and BELOW<br />
& RIGHT: Gene<br />
Cundith and the<br />
Stubbie of today<br />
sep/oct <strong>2011</strong><br />
113
More<br />
talenot<br />
Byron Bay ... The precinct<br />
There are loads of other talented people<br />
working in the Byron Bay Arts & Industry<br />
Park, some doing their own thing and<br />
others working in the established<br />
factories whilst developing their craft<br />
behind the scene.<br />
Skerry Surfboards<br />
Travelling down the entire east coast<br />
of Australia we call in to some 400 odd<br />
surf shops distributing smorgasboarder.<br />
As you can imagine, we see a hell of a<br />
lot of boards. Lots and lots of boards…<br />
beautiful boards, amazing craftsmanship<br />
and a fair bit of crap as well.<br />
So it is a mighty big statement when we<br />
say this, Simon Skerry’s resin artwork is<br />
the best we have seen. His boards are<br />
works of art.<br />
They are so stunning, I don’t know<br />
whether to ride them or hang them on<br />
my wall. But in my deliberation, I find<br />
myself just staring at the board, the<br />
intricate details, the amount of skill it<br />
must take and the painstaking hours<br />
he must dedicate to create such truly<br />
unique surfboards. They just blow my<br />
mind. Nothing more needs to be said.<br />
Seeing is believing.<br />
www.skerrysurfboards.com<br />
North Coast Surfboards<br />
Exceptional boards, including various<br />
stock models by world renowned shaper<br />
Donald Takayama and Bear.<br />
The shapers, glassers and guys in the<br />
trenches that produce these boards are<br />
highly skilled and extremely talented,<br />
and by all reports, good blokes.<br />
Emery Surfboards<br />
With high-tech, modern boards, Al Emery<br />
is focused very much on clean sharp<br />
lines and neat white high-performance<br />
boards, but adds a bit of humour to the<br />
quiver with his retros: "Short Shorts?<br />
Moustache? These are the boards for<br />
you!" says the website.<br />
The label's very supportive of young<br />
local surfers, and has a team roster to<br />
prove it. www.emerysurfboards.com<br />
Guys Hastings<br />
He’s the map man. Freelance decorative<br />
painter, illustrator and pictorial map<br />
maker, Guy Hastings makes incredible<br />
surf maps of all descriptions. Combining<br />
science, aesthetics, and technique,<br />
his cartographic surf maps detail your<br />
favourite breaks.<br />
You can check out more of his work<br />
online at www.surfarimaps.com<br />
Doctor Ding<br />
The guys here excel in fixing all<br />
types of surfboard - from lightweight<br />
performance shortboards all the way<br />
to heavyweight tinted logs. Their work<br />
covers minor dings to major surgery,<br />
small fractures to full creases and snaps,<br />
in standard PU fibreglass and Epoxy.<br />
If you need your board quickly, they also<br />
offer 24-hour turnaround and pick up/<br />
delivery services to make things easy.<br />
Seven days a week they are there to<br />
get you back in the water as soon as<br />
humanly possible. They are truly good<br />
blokes as well with grand plans for their<br />
little business. Just keep an eye on what<br />
they have planned.<br />
www.drdingsurfboardrepairs.com or<br />
drop in at 2/68 Centennial Circuit.<br />
9<br />
11<br />
10<br />
Crosslink Traction<br />
ABOVE: Simon Skerry's<br />
finishing touches make great<br />
boards unbelievable.<br />
LEFT: Doctor Ding checks up on<br />
one of his patients<br />
BELOW LEFT: Any kind of<br />
traction, Crosslink can make it.<br />
BELOW: Map-king, Guy Hastings<br />
If you need to get a grip, these are the go-to people. Makers<br />
of traction pads, stand up paddleboard grips, malibu grips,<br />
longboard grips, retro tail pads, surf lifesaving pads and<br />
kneeboard grips all customised to suit, even with your<br />
personalised colour logos for your boardriders club or surf<br />
business. Crosslink will keep you firmly stuck to your board<br />
- and you'll have a hard time getting out of the workshop<br />
without a chat.<br />
It's all Australian made too, so you can feel good about<br />
supporting a local manufacturer. See more on their grips<br />
online at their freshly revamped website: www.deckgrips.com.<br />
With this much surfboard manufacturing talent all<br />
crammed into just a few blocks, make sure to take<br />
that left turn as you're heading into Byron, and pay<br />
these good people a visit. You might find yourself<br />
leaving with a few new toys.<br />
114 sep/oct <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 />
sep/oct <strong>2011</strong><br />
115
BOBSLED<br />
Length: 6’0” – 7’10”<br />
Width: 20 ½” – 22 ½”<br />
Thickness: 2 ½” – 3”<br />
Nose: 15” +/-<br />
Tail: 15” +/-<br />
Description: The Bobsled<br />
is rigged out with the<br />
most comfortable quad<br />
set-up available, fast and<br />
loose, with no slip! It has<br />
speed to burn and more<br />
thrust than a thruster.<br />
Features full boxy rails,<br />
concave through-out with<br />
softening bevels and<br />
substantial width.<br />
Construction: Custom PU<br />
foam and fibreglass or SLX<br />
EPS/Epoxy construction.<br />
Fins: FCS M3/M5 or M5/<br />
M7 Quads<br />
Shaper comment:<br />
The Bobsled allows<br />
comfortable turns on any<br />
part of the wave, snappy<br />
face pivots, pumps,<br />
weaves, and deep gouges.<br />
Paddles like a real bigguys-short-board,<br />
high<br />
and level.<br />
CARVER MICRO<br />
Length: 7’0” – 8’6”<br />
Width: 20” – 22 ¼”<br />
Thickness: 2 ½” – 3”<br />
Nose: 15” -/+<br />
Tall: 14 ½” -/+<br />
Description: The Carver<br />
is a McTavish staple that<br />
has been in production<br />
for many years. The latest<br />
update to the model sees<br />
the nose thinned out<br />
slightly, but the rest of the<br />
features remain the same<br />
coz if it ain’t broke....<br />
The Carver has a single<br />
concave nose to reduce<br />
weight, and a deep double<br />
concave tail for maximum<br />
drive and manouverability.<br />
Construction: Custom PU<br />
foam and fibreglass or SLX<br />
EPS/Epoxy construction.<br />
Fins: FCS PC-7 dualdensity<br />
foam-core<br />
thruster set<br />
Shaper comment:<br />
The board is loose and<br />
lively off the tail, and will<br />
handle waves from 2-10<br />
ft +. A must for any midlength<br />
fan!<br />
THE EGG<br />
Length: 6’0” – 6’6”<br />
Width: 20 ½” – 22”<br />
Thickness: 2 1/2” – 3”<br />
Nose: 16” -/+<br />
Tail: 17” -/+<br />
Description: The Egg<br />
has tons of volume, a flat<br />
tail rocker, and a 2+1 fin<br />
set-up that gives drive<br />
and manoeuvrability<br />
on any day under about<br />
6 ft. The full rails are<br />
comfortable, and won’t<br />
catch as you weave your<br />
way through a thick<br />
summer crowd!<br />
Construction: Custom PU<br />
foam and fibreglass.<br />
Fins: Centre finbox<br />
with 6” Australian-made<br />
fibreglass McTavish<br />
fin and FCS GX-Q dualdensity<br />
foam-core side<br />
fins.<br />
Shaper comment:<br />
The classic double-ender<br />
fun machine! The Egg is a<br />
flat, stubbie little number,<br />
capable of bringing<br />
a smile to your face<br />
even when its 2 ft and<br />
onshore. One to add to<br />
the small-day quiver.<br />
TWINFISH<br />
Length: 5’10” – 6’6”<br />
Width: 21” – 22”<br />
Thickness: 2 5 /8” – 3”<br />
Nose: 17” -/+<br />
Tall: 16 ½” -/+<br />
Description: Revised<br />
for <strong>2011</strong> the Twinfish is<br />
now even more authentic<br />
to its roots. The updated<br />
board features a flatter<br />
entry rocker, fuller nose<br />
template and lower rails.<br />
The flat entry rocker<br />
makes this board easy to<br />
paddle in, and fast down<br />
the line, especially on the<br />
smaller days.<br />
Construction: Custom PU<br />
foam and fibreglass.<br />
Fins: Australian made<br />
Glass-on keel fins or FCS<br />
removable keels<br />
Shaper comment:<br />
A great small-wave<br />
cruiser, with an old-skool<br />
feel.<br />
SCOOTER<br />
Length: 5’10” – 6’6”<br />
Width: 20” – 22”<br />
Thickness: 2 ½” – 3 1 /8”<br />
Nose: - 17” -/+<br />
Tail: - 16 ½” -/+<br />
Description: From the<br />
depths of the masters<br />
mind comes the Scooter.<br />
The Scooter is highvolume,<br />
has low sharp<br />
rails, and a wide tail<br />
template to create drive<br />
from nothing.<br />
Construction: Custom PU<br />
foam and fibreglass.<br />
Fins: Centre finbox with<br />
9” Australian-made<br />
fibreglass McTavish fin or<br />
FCS MR-TX Quad Set in<br />
Glassflex.<br />
Shaper comment:<br />
A flat little pocket-rocket<br />
that’ll turn even the<br />
junkiest conditions into a<br />
whole lotta fun. The battail<br />
and quad fin set-up<br />
top off one of the most fun<br />
surfboards in our range.<br />
Perfect for the on-shore<br />
east-coast summer days!<br />
Founded by surf industry pioneer Bob McTavish, McTavish Surfboards have been in production non-stop since 1962.<br />
116 sep/oct <strong>2011</strong>
GEAR: BOARDS<br />
SUMO<br />
Length: 6’2” – 7’6”<br />
Width: 21” – 23”<br />
Thickness: 2 ½” – 3 1 /8”<br />
Nose: 18” -/+<br />
Tail: 14 ½” -/+<br />
Description: The all-new<br />
Sumo model is a highvolume<br />
mid-length with<br />
speed to burn. The wide<br />
point is way forward, and<br />
the tail is pulled into a<br />
tight pin, around the 14”<br />
mark.<br />
Construction: Custom PU<br />
foam and fibreglass.<br />
Fins: Centre finbox with<br />
6” Australian-made<br />
fibreglass McTavish<br />
fin and FCS GX-Q dualdensity<br />
foam-core side<br />
fins. Can also be ridden as<br />
a single fin if preferred.<br />
Shaper comment:<br />
With all the volume under<br />
your chest the board is<br />
easy to paddle, and once<br />
you’re up and riding that<br />
narrow tail really comes<br />
into play.<br />
THE NEO<br />
Length: 9’4” – 10’1”<br />
Width: 22 ½” – 23 ¼”<br />
Thickness: 2 ¾” – 3 ¼”<br />
Nose: 17 ½” -/+<br />
Tail: 14 ½” -/+<br />
Description: The bottomshape<br />
is simple, with<br />
a subtle nose concave,<br />
and very slightly rolled<br />
tail. The hatchet creates<br />
the drag needed for long<br />
noserides, but once you’re<br />
on the tail it comes around<br />
nice and smooth.<br />
Construction: Custom PU<br />
foam and fibreglass.<br />
Fins: Centre finbox with<br />
10.5” Australian-made<br />
fibreglass McTavish<br />
hatchet fin<br />
Shaper comment:<br />
Ideal for waves up to<br />
3-4ft, for nose-riding, The<br />
NEO is an all-new Cali<br />
inspired log. This board<br />
is the pinnacle of quality<br />
laminating, with resin art,<br />
tinted fabric stripes and<br />
patches, and beautiful<br />
pinline work. pivoting<br />
off the tail and speedtrimming<br />
down the line.<br />
THE UFO<br />
Length: 9’0” – 9’2”<br />
Width: 22” – 22 ¾”<br />
Thickness: 2 ¾” – 2 7 /8”<br />
Nose: 17” -/+<br />
Tall: 14 “ -/+<br />
Description: The best<br />
of our F4 progressive<br />
longboard fused with<br />
the rocker profile of our<br />
famous Original model.<br />
The F4’s elegant lines<br />
deliver the speed, the<br />
Original’s rocker supplies<br />
the vertical component.<br />
This is a 6” nose rocker,<br />
and a 4” tail rocker,<br />
dropped in late (being<br />
fairly abrupt). That leaves<br />
the rocker still quite stiff<br />
in the engine room under<br />
your feet, resulting in<br />
plenty of thrust despite<br />
the tail rocker. The tailkick<br />
simply allows you to<br />
jam vertical, with no loss<br />
of speed overall.<br />
Construction: Custom PU<br />
foam and fibreglass or SLX<br />
EPS/Epoxy construction.<br />
Fins: Centre finbox<br />
with 6” Australian-made<br />
fibreglass McTavish<br />
fin and FCS GX-Q dualdensity<br />
foam-core side<br />
fins<br />
Shaper comment:<br />
The perfect combo!<br />
THE UF8<br />
Length: 7’6” – 8’6”<br />
Width: 21 ½” – 22 ¾”<br />
Thickness: 2 ¾” – 3 1 /8”<br />
Nose: 18” -/+<br />
Tail: 14 ½” -/+<br />
Description: The UF8<br />
has a pulled in pointed<br />
nose, and a progressive<br />
rocker profile with a<br />
flipped nose and tail. The<br />
bottom-shape features<br />
a slight concave in the<br />
nose, running into a<br />
double in the tail for a<br />
lively feel.<br />
Construction: Custom PU<br />
foam and fibreglass.<br />
Fins: Centre finbox<br />
with 6” Australian-made<br />
fibreglass McTavish<br />
fin and FCS GX-Q dualdensity<br />
foam-core side<br />
fins.<br />
Shaper comment:<br />
The UF8 is an 8 foot<br />
version of our super<br />
popular UFO model. The<br />
template shrinks down<br />
perfectly to give a very<br />
high performance midlength<br />
board, which really<br />
excels in punchy beach<br />
and reef break conditions,<br />
from 3 ft up.<br />
CARVER FISH<br />
Length: 6’8” – 7’8”<br />
Width: 19” – 22”<br />
Thickness: 2 5 /8” – 3”<br />
Nose: 14 ½” -/+<br />
Tall: 15 ½” -/+<br />
Description: Updated<br />
for <strong>2011</strong> the Carver Fish is<br />
now a more focused ‘bigguys-shortboard’<br />
and has<br />
a pulled in nose template,<br />
a quad fin set-up, and<br />
more lift in the nose.<br />
Construction: Custom PU<br />
foam and fibreglass.<br />
Fins: FCS M3/M5 or M5/<br />
M7 Quads or standard<br />
PC-7 thruster also<br />
available upon request.<br />
Shaper comment:<br />
The Carver Fish is an<br />
awesome performer. Best<br />
suited to big, clean days,<br />
when you have an open<br />
face to carve. A great<br />
travel board for that trip<br />
to Indo, or bigger days on<br />
your local outside bank.<br />
Custom order online or visit the showroom at 91 Centennial Circuit, Byron Bay NSW. Phone: 02 6685 6736 Email: sales@mctavish.com.au www.mctavish.com.au<br />
sep/oct <strong>2011</strong><br />
117
“Geoff McCoy Surfboards are<br />
like no other on the planet.<br />
Right across our range we<br />
create boards to surf above the<br />
water flow therefore offering<br />
a feel and a surfing experience<br />
like no other board you can buy.<br />
“Our designs are based on<br />
the idea of harmonising with<br />
the water flow of the wave by<br />
utilising area in plan shape,<br />
which combined with rocker<br />
modifications give continual<br />
flow through short or long arc<br />
surfing on the wave face for all<br />
surfing abilities.<br />
“Throughout our range you will<br />
find these characteristics hold<br />
true, so select a design suitable<br />
to your needs.<br />
Other McCoy designs<br />
available<br />
Big Pot Belly, Nose Rider,<br />
Stumpy, Pot Belly, Splinter and<br />
Big Guy Nugget<br />
Retro boards include the Twin<br />
Fin, Double Ender, Dream Time<br />
and Old F.D.<br />
There’s also a range of guns<br />
including Mini Gun, Semi Gun,<br />
Serious Guns and Tow boards.<br />
Most designs can be varied using<br />
different fin configurations<br />
including single, twin and three<br />
fins, but no quads. All multi-fin<br />
designs only have glassed on<br />
fibreglass fins, NO plastic at all.<br />
Now custom building a<br />
Geoff McCoy designed retro<br />
range in wood and fibreglass<br />
construction. “These are very<br />
special, as they represent my<br />
older concepts that, when<br />
combined with wood, are<br />
strikingly impressive.”<br />
For info, contact Geoff direct.<br />
McCOY SURFBOARDS<br />
10 Acacia Street Byron<br />
Bay, NSW 2481<br />
Ph: 02 6685 3227<br />
mccoysurfboards.com<br />
ASTRON ZOT<br />
Dimensions: From<br />
5’0”-7’1” x 21”-22” x 2¾”-3¼”<br />
Pictured board:<br />
5’6”x 21½”x 18”x 15½”x 3”<br />
Suits: surfers up to 100kg<br />
Description: Completely<br />
unique in all aspects.<br />
The plan shape is a<br />
beautifully balanced<br />
ellipse, which blends<br />
with the thickness<br />
balance, combining with<br />
perfect rocker curves,<br />
flowing into a loaded<br />
dome located under the<br />
back foot for maximum<br />
control.<br />
Softened bottom rail,<br />
with a 60-40 balance<br />
which runs right through<br />
the board into the tail<br />
area for greater holding<br />
qualities on hollow<br />
waves, eliminating the<br />
need to add extra fins.<br />
Fins: McCoy Gull Wing<br />
110% Original<br />
Shaper comment:<br />
This is the smallest we<br />
make in the AZot range,<br />
extremely lively little<br />
performer, very reactive<br />
in a very wide range<br />
of wave conditions.As<br />
all nugget designs, it<br />
excels in hollow powerful<br />
waves.<br />
LAZOR ZAP<br />
Dimensions: From 5’-6’6”<br />
Pictured board:<br />
5’11” x 20 ¼” x 16 ½” x 3”<br />
Wide range available<br />
Suits: surfers up to 95kg<br />
Description: Pulled<br />
nose of the original<br />
design allowed the<br />
board to elevate very<br />
quickly, due to reduced<br />
length of rail used when<br />
turning. This allowed for<br />
more manouvers to be<br />
performed while standing<br />
in a fixed position on the<br />
wide, thick supportive<br />
tail, which generates<br />
greater pressure and<br />
easier reaction. It was<br />
easier to paddle, had<br />
quicker reaction from<br />
the extra volume, less<br />
resistance in turns, and<br />
gave the ability to surf<br />
at a higherspeed. Best<br />
suited for quick, short arc,<br />
up-tempo surfing.<br />
Fins: Original Single Fin<br />
or with 3 fin setup.<br />
Shaper comment:<br />
If you are looking for a<br />
great performing board<br />
that also represents the<br />
pinnacle of design in the<br />
Golden Era, have a look at<br />
the <strong>2011</strong> Lazor Zap. You<br />
could say that they are<br />
everything the modern<br />
shortboard should be.<br />
PHOTO: Neil Cameron at Mentawai. 6’ 1” All Round Nugget 3-fin<br />
ALL ROUND<br />
NUGGET<br />
Dimensions: From 6’0”-7’0”<br />
Pictured board:<br />
6’2” x 20” x 2 7 /8”x 17” tail<br />
Wide range available<br />
Suits: surfers up to 100kg<br />
Description: The design<br />
is a subtle blending of<br />
curves, incorporating the<br />
Loaded Dome bottom<br />
contours - a blend of<br />
curves throughout the<br />
bottom of the board. The<br />
contours assist the board<br />
to perform manoeuvres<br />
by taking the emphasis<br />
off the surfer having to<br />
control and guide the<br />
board, giving more time<br />
for the actual manoeuvre.<br />
Fins: The more you use<br />
the more stable and<br />
slower reacting the board<br />
becomes. I offer a range<br />
of fin styles with 1, 2 or 3<br />
fin combinations.<br />
Shaper comment:<br />
Wider, thicker and shorter.<br />
With more volume and<br />
bouyancy than you’ve had<br />
before, it’s easy to paddle<br />
easy to control - with<br />
more speed than you’ve<br />
had in years. And when it<br />
starts to barrel... You’ll be<br />
laughing!<br />
THE MALIBU<br />
ALL ROUNDER<br />
Dimensions: From 9’0”-9’6”<br />
Pictured board:<br />
9’3” x 22½” x 15” x 18”<br />
x 3¼”<br />
Wide range available<br />
Suits: surfers up to 120kg<br />
Description: A classic<br />
design, not as full in the<br />
nose area as the Nose<br />
Rider. This allows the<br />
board to turn easier,<br />
producing better flow<br />
and glide.<br />
Fins: I use my Gull Wing<br />
designs as all my Malibu’s<br />
come in only single fin<br />
with a 10” box for fin<br />
movement and removal.<br />
Shaper comment:<br />
For longboarders who<br />
like to surf loose and<br />
fast. Good turning and<br />
manoeuverability, easy<br />
paddling and stability.<br />
The great all round family<br />
board.<br />
118 sep/oct <strong>2011</strong>
GEAR: BOARDS<br />
FLY’N FISH<br />
Shaper:<br />
Bruno “The Buzz” Buzzolan<br />
Length: 5’0” to 8’0”<br />
Width: 18” to 22”<br />
Thickness: 2” to 3”<br />
Ideal conditions: ½ - 4ft.<br />
Suits: A fast, loose wave<br />
hog in all conditions and<br />
for all surfers.<br />
Description: Single to<br />
double concave with vee<br />
out the tail makes this<br />
very fast and responsive.<br />
Swallow tail.<br />
Construction:<br />
Polyster Resin and Burford<br />
PU Blank<br />
Fins: FCS Tris, Quad or 5<br />
fin setup<br />
Shaper comment:<br />
Our most popular model.<br />
A hybrid to complement<br />
your standard short board.<br />
Still proudly<br />
made by people,<br />
not machines<br />
DUMPLING<br />
Shaper:<br />
Bruno “The Buzz” Buzzolan<br />
Length: 5’4” to 6’0”<br />
Width: 19” to 20”<br />
Thickness: 2’¼” to 2 ¾”<br />
Ideal conditions: ½ - 4ft.<br />
Ability level:<br />
Beginner to Pro<br />
Description: 3-4 inches<br />
shorter and ¾ inch wider<br />
than the norm. Round or<br />
round square tail. Deep<br />
single to double concave<br />
with exit tail vee<br />
Construction:<br />
Polyster Resin and Burford<br />
PU Blank<br />
Fins: FCS Tris, Quad or 5<br />
plug setup<br />
Shaper comment:<br />
This model shines in<br />
substandard surf.<br />
HYBRID<br />
Shaper:<br />
Robert “Gypo” Fenech<br />
Dimensions:<br />
6’2” x 20 ¾” x 2 5 /8”<br />
Description: A midrange<br />
combination<br />
of resistance and<br />
release, combined<br />
with displacement and<br />
hydrodynamics to provide<br />
you with a futuristic<br />
surfboard. Fuller outline<br />
and increased volume<br />
with a balanced domed<br />
hull shape.<br />
Construction: Burford<br />
blanks, 4oz bottom, 6oz<br />
top plus 4oz tail patch on<br />
deck, pro sand finish<br />
Fins: FCS or set fins<br />
Shaper comment:<br />
The modern high<br />
performance pro<br />
surfboard has been<br />
designed around a rail<br />
to rail pump action, to<br />
assist pro surfers to<br />
rip low energy surf,<br />
impress judges and their<br />
sponsors. It’s mini-gun<br />
outline and low volume<br />
work well in big surf, ride<br />
tight in the power and<br />
easy to duck dive. Hybrid<br />
is a performance option<br />
and is worth a try – you<br />
will be impressed.<br />
HYBRID<br />
Shaper:<br />
Robert “Gypo” Fenech<br />
Dimensions:<br />
7’ x 22” x 3”<br />
Description: All rounder<br />
up to 6 ft big guy board.<br />
Superior performance<br />
to mini-mal or big fish.<br />
Volume and area for<br />
support, soft curves and<br />
hydrodynamics to harness<br />
the wave’s energy<br />
Construction: Burford<br />
blanks, PSM high quality<br />
glassing and finish<br />
Fins: FCS or set fins<br />
Shaper comment:<br />
A downsized version<br />
of the McCoy energy<br />
theory, the brain-child<br />
and life’s work of Geoff<br />
McCoy. I am currently<br />
learning the finer details<br />
from Geoff and have put<br />
together a Hybrid series<br />
from what I understand.<br />
If you have trouble with<br />
the bulk and mass of a<br />
real McCoy, Hybrid will<br />
help you understand that<br />
a wider, thicker board<br />
with a balanced dome<br />
hull performs and feels<br />
fantastic.<br />
sep/oct <strong>2011</strong><br />
ELECTRIFYING<br />
HOT TUNA FISH<br />
Shaper:<br />
Bruno “The Buzz” Buzzolan<br />
Artwork: Alonzo Punker<br />
Dimensions:<br />
5’9” X 19 ½” X 2 3 /8”<br />
Ability level:<br />
Beginner to Pro<br />
Description: With<br />
a rounded square or<br />
swallow tail, this board<br />
features a deep single<br />
into double concave with<br />
exit vee.<br />
Construction:<br />
Polyster Resin and Burford<br />
PU Blank<br />
Fins: FCS. Available<br />
with 5 sets of fins plugs<br />
to further enhance the<br />
board’s versatility.<br />
Shaper comment:<br />
Snappy high speed<br />
performance in this small<br />
wave specialist.<br />
Celebrating<br />
4<br />
years<br />
TOWN & COUNTRY SURFBOARDS<br />
10 Acacia Street, Byron Bay NSW Phone: 02 6685 7485 Email: prosurfdesigns@tcsurf.com.au www.tcsurf.com.au<br />
119
(mention<br />
smorgasboarder<br />
to get a free<br />
leggie worth<br />
$45 with a<br />
new Ron Wade<br />
board order)<br />
THE BULL<br />
THE ROSIE<br />
D’ORSO HIGHLINER<br />
MOD LOG<br />
PERFORMER<br />
V-FLEX<br />
Shaper: Ron Wade<br />
Specs: 9’1” x 22 ½” x 2 7 /8”<br />
Ideal conditions: Classic<br />
noserider which performs<br />
well between 1-6ft.<br />
Description: Lower rocker<br />
to enable less push, a trim<br />
section to enable maximum<br />
speed through to a slight tail<br />
lift incorporating a subtle<br />
“V” for manoeuvrability.<br />
Construction: The<br />
board illustrated is made<br />
of PU foam, includes a<br />
single plywood stringer, 2<br />
layers of 6oz fibreglass<br />
on the deck and 1 on the<br />
bottom. Hand shaped 9”<br />
fibreglass fin + fin box<br />
with side fins, polished<br />
finish with colour.<br />
Fins: Fibreglass Centre<br />
fin with side fins included<br />
Shaper comment:<br />
If you’re thinking of<br />
updating to a new<br />
longboard it would be<br />
my pleasure to be able<br />
to answer your questions<br />
and guide you to make<br />
the correct decision.<br />
Shaper: Thomas Bexon<br />
Dimensions:<br />
9’4” x 22 3 /8” x 2 ½”<br />
Ideal conditions:<br />
Waist high plus<br />
Ability level:<br />
Intermediate to advanced,<br />
with a sense of trim.<br />
Description: a down the<br />
line trim machine, built<br />
for going fast, smooth<br />
carving surfing on a<br />
drawn out rail line.<br />
Construction: ¼ inch<br />
cedar stringer, 8 ounce<br />
bottom double 8 ounce<br />
deck, gloss and polish.<br />
Fins: Single, Greenoughstyle<br />
flex fin<br />
Shaper comment:<br />
Call me.<br />
Shaper: Jesse Watson<br />
Dimensions:<br />
9’6” x 23” x 3”<br />
Ideal conditions: Up to<br />
head high sliders<br />
Suits: Hepcats to kooks,<br />
kicks, flicks and hanging heels.<br />
Description: A modern<br />
pig/involvement style<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: 6/4oz deck<br />
+ 6/4oz bottom gloss and<br />
polish, full wrap paint<br />
panels and an old skool<br />
glass leash loop - a nice<br />
mix of the old and new.<br />
Fins: Matching custom<br />
glass on Stage IV The<br />
Hook template 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. Long rides<br />
on the grill and crazy fast<br />
cutbacks. My number 1 log.<br />
Shaper: Mark Plater or<br />
Matt Crisp<br />
Dimensions:<br />
9’1” x 22 ½” x 2 ¾”<br />
Ideal: For the plank<br />
sessions.<br />
Suits: Fun peelers ‘n<br />
reelers down the local.<br />
Description: The San<br />
Juan turqouise mal<br />
Performer really performs.<br />
Get up on the nose or just<br />
chill and enjoy!<br />
Construction: PU foam,<br />
strong glass job and primo<br />
paint ‘n polish.<br />
Fins: Fin box and FCS<br />
set up.<br />
Shaper comment:<br />
Horny yet?<br />
Shaper: Peter White<br />
Typical: 9’5” 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: Features<br />
mid-60s elements: a softer,<br />
pinched rail, single fin with<br />
rolled bottom and gentle<br />
vee through tail. Atypical<br />
stringer configuration - 2”<br />
apart in tail, tapering to<br />
their apex 2’ short of nose.<br />
This creates added<br />
stiffness in tail to give<br />
solid pivot and lift in the<br />
tip for smooth trim, but<br />
with forward weight shift,<br />
nose flexes down for more<br />
planing area and speed,<br />
and straightens rail for<br />
enhanced hold.<br />
Construction: PU Foam,<br />
6mm vee stringer. 7.5oz and<br />
8oz on deck with an 8oz<br />
deck patch, 8oz bottom.<br />
Fins: Fixed 10” hatchet /<br />
pivot fin.<br />
Shaper comment: The<br />
V-Flex spins the traditional<br />
on its head.<br />
RON WADE SURF<br />
DESIGNS AUSTRALIA<br />
Mona Vale showroom,<br />
open 9-4pm Sat or call me.<br />
Ph: 02 9979 7<strong>07</strong>1<br />
Mob: 0410 443 776<br />
sales@ronwadesurfboards.com.au<br />
ronwadesurfboards.com.au<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 />
MADDOG SURF CENTRE<br />
Ph: 02 6685 6022<br />
Ewingsdale Road<br />
Byron Bay 2481<br />
www.maddog.com.au<br />
CLASSIC MALIBU<br />
Cnr Gibson & Eumundi Rd<br />
Noosaville, QLD 4566<br />
Ph: <strong>07</strong> 5474 3122<br />
info@classicmalibu.com<br />
www.classicmalibu.com<br />
120 sep/oct <strong>2011</strong>
GEAR: BOARDS<br />
SHAPER’S PROMOTION<br />
PROLOGUE X<br />
PERFORMER<br />
MICK CARABINE<br />
SIGNATURE MODEL<br />
TRADITIONAL<br />
LONGBOARD<br />
GODZILLA<br />
Shaper: Scott Newman<br />
Specs: 9’1’’x 22 ¼’’ x 2 ½’’<br />
Waves: Thrives on steep<br />
shoulder high waves.<br />
Suits: The more<br />
experienced longboarder.<br />
Description: Super high<br />
performance longboard,<br />
single concave under nose<br />
into rolled V through tail.<br />
Flatter deck and nose rocker<br />
but still kick in tail rocker.<br />
Narrow nose, rounded pin<br />
tail with low rails.<br />
Construction: South<br />
Coast Mega Lite blank<br />
with 6ply stringer, 6+4oz<br />
deck, 4oz bottom,carbon<br />
strips,carbon tail patches.<br />
Fins: 5 way, quad with box<br />
Shaper comment: A<br />
rocket ship - our most high<br />
performance longboard.<br />
With its lightweight<br />
foam/glassing and the<br />
carbon strip placement<br />
creates strength through<br />
the middle but gives flex in<br />
the tail for whippier, faster<br />
turns and more flex in the<br />
nose for noseriding.<br />
Shaper: Mark Riley<br />
Length:9’0’’ - 9’4’’<br />
Width: 22 1/4’’ - 23’<br />
Thickness: 2 1/2’’ - 3’’’<br />
Ideal conditions: ½ - 5 ft<br />
Ability: Intermediate<br />
Description: Recycled<br />
EPS foam core and<br />
2-3mm balsawood skin,<br />
weighing only 7-8 kg.<br />
Features triple stringer,<br />
30mm apart, a Vee<br />
bottom with a rounded<br />
square tail. The rails are<br />
70/30 on the nose, 80/20<br />
in the centre and 90/10 in<br />
the tail.<br />
Construction: Balsa with<br />
EPS foam core<br />
Fins: Single box fin and<br />
two smaller stabiliser fins.<br />
Shaper comment: The<br />
Performer combines<br />
the best of both worlds,<br />
designed and shaped for<br />
today’s high performance<br />
longboarding.<br />
Riley surfboards are<br />
made in Australia, have<br />
a 12-month warranty<br />
and are Micro-tagged<br />
to prevent theft. Custom<br />
orders are welcome.<br />
Shaper: Terry Bishop<br />
(Snake)<br />
Dimensions:<br />
9’6’ x 22 ½” x 3”<br />
Ideal conditions:<br />
Up to head-high, long,<br />
rolling point breaks.<br />
Suits: Traditional surfer or<br />
collector<br />
Description: Traditional<br />
longboard shape,<br />
profiled off an original<br />
60’s template. Features<br />
50/50 rail and not a lot<br />
of rocker. The board has<br />
Mick Carabine’s signature<br />
under the glass. Mick’s<br />
semi-retired now, so<br />
there won’t be too many<br />
more of these made.<br />
Construction: PU foam<br />
and polyester resin, Volan<br />
glass, done by Mick<br />
Carabine himself. Option of<br />
single or triple stringer.<br />
Fins: Glass-in or fin box,<br />
Hatchet or D fins are best.<br />
Shaper comment:<br />
Snake doesn’t say much.<br />
Shaper: Peter Sheely<br />
Specs: 9’8” x 23 ½” x 3 ¼ ”<br />
Ideal: Point breaks<br />
Suits: Everyone who<br />
wants to get into a<br />
traditional longboard<br />
Description: Traditional<br />
longboard with the<br />
features of the 60’s, with<br />
roll bottom, 50/50 rails,<br />
hippy tail, and excellent<br />
nose riding qualities.<br />
Construction: Choice<br />
of stringers, one, two<br />
or three, foam inserts,<br />
colours, tints, pigment,<br />
or sprays. Volane 8 or 10<br />
ozs or 6ozs normal glass -<br />
you choose!<br />
Fins: 10 ½” to 12” single<br />
fin, set in or fin box. Also<br />
a D-Fin set in the board or<br />
in the fin box.<br />
Shaper comment:<br />
Traditional 60’s style<br />
board developed with<br />
today’s technology.<br />
Shaper: Ron Wade<br />
Specs: 9’1” x 22 ½” x 2 7 /8”<br />
Ideal conditions: High<br />
performance longboard<br />
designed for 3 -10 ft.<br />
Description: Originally<br />
designed for team member<br />
Tim Hutton,who wanted a<br />
fast longboard which turned<br />
smoothly and that he could<br />
slash in all conditions.<br />
Similar rocker to “The Bull”<br />
except for a dual concave<br />
for more power.<br />
Comment: Call and<br />
discuss a board design to<br />
suit your surfing.<br />
Tim Hutton<br />
scores a perfect<br />
10 barrel!<br />
SLS SURFBOARDS<br />
2/57 George St,<br />
Moffat Beach, QLD 4551<br />
Ph: Scott 0424 314 183<br />
Luke 0401 350 992<br />
slssurfboards.com.au<br />
RILEY SURFBOARDS<br />
Ph: 0412 376 464<br />
E: mark@riley.com.au<br />
balsasurfboardsriley.com.au<br />
CARABINE SURFBOARDS<br />
36 Finders Street<br />
Wollongong, NSW<br />
Ph/Fax: 02 4229 9462<br />
carabinesurfboards.com.au<br />
PETER SHEELY<br />
SURFBOARDS<br />
Ph: 02 4957 3161<br />
Mob: 0417 264 739<br />
peter@sheelysurfboards.com<br />
sheelysurfboards.com<br />
RON WADE SURF<br />
DESIGNS AUSTRALIA<br />
Mona Vale showroom,<br />
open 9-4pm Sat or call me.<br />
Ph: 02 9979 7<strong>07</strong>1<br />
Mob: 0410 443 776<br />
sales@ronwadesurfboards.com.au<br />
ronwadesurfboards.com.au<br />
sep/oct <strong>2011</strong><br />
121
THE BIG BOY<br />
Shaper: Tony Dempsey:<br />
one of the last handshapers!<br />
Dimensions:<br />
6’10” x 21” x 2 ¾”<br />
Ideal: 1-5ft points<br />
and small beachies<br />
Suits: Big guys who don’t<br />
want to hop on a mini mal<br />
and lose the performance<br />
of a short board.<br />
Ability: Beginner to<br />
advanced. Being custommade,<br />
Tony will tailor<br />
volume to suit ability.<br />
Description: First<br />
designed in the early 90’s<br />
when big guys only had<br />
mini mals to surf on.Tony<br />
introduced this design to<br />
free up and let bigger boys<br />
enjoy their surfing without<br />
those restrictions.<br />
Construction: PU foam<br />
Fins: Quads plus 1<br />
Shaper comment: They<br />
said it couldn’t be done - a<br />
big guy’s board to give<br />
shortboard performance.<br />
Bullsh*t! On one of these<br />
you will be smilin’ while<br />
you’re stylin’.<br />
NEW AGE SINGLE FIN<br />
Shaper: Brett Munro<br />
Specs: 7’0” x 21” x 2 ½”<br />
Ideal: Small to overhead,<br />
clean beach or reef/point<br />
breaks.<br />
Description:<br />
Single concave theory, a<br />
new age single fin.<br />
Construction: Burford<br />
foam, quality lamination<br />
and finishing with carbon<br />
fibre rods.<br />
Fins: Handmade retro box<br />
glass fin with tip flex<br />
Shaper comment:<br />
Classic single fin soul<br />
with long point waves<br />
in mind. Explore the<br />
potential.<br />
RETRO REVIVAL<br />
Shaper: Ben Hearn<br />
Dimensions:<br />
6’0”x 20 ½” x 2 5 /8”<br />
Ideal conditions: 1 - 4ft.<br />
Ability level: for all to ride<br />
Description: Nice, flat<br />
rocker and full nose<br />
for easy paddling, flat<br />
bottom to slight v for<br />
increased speed through<br />
flat sections. Double flyer<br />
through to round tail, as<br />
a twin fin for a great mix<br />
of looseness, response<br />
and drive. Great fun with<br />
suprising performance in<br />
all conditions.<br />
Construction: Hand shaped,<br />
Polyester construction<br />
standard glassing, Protec<br />
or full gloss and buff.<br />
Fins: Handmade glass<br />
twin fins. Single fin box or<br />
quad FCS.<br />
Shaper comment:<br />
A must for any surfer’s<br />
quiver. Ultimate motivation<br />
for those not so good days.<br />
Old school inspiration with<br />
a new school twist.<br />
.<br />
SINGLE FIN<br />
Shaper: Paul Carson<br />
Dimensions:<br />
6’9” x 20 ½” x 2 ¾”<br />
Ideal for: Anything.<br />
Really at home on points.<br />
Suits: Anyone<br />
Description: Single flyer<br />
swallowtail with a full<br />
length concave to double<br />
concave to vee in tail.<br />
Construction: Burford<br />
blank with resin colours<br />
top and bottom<br />
Fins: Handmade set<br />
single and semi-keel side<br />
fins in plugs.<br />
Shaper comment:<br />
A great single fin with the<br />
advantage of a thruster<br />
feel when the side fins<br />
are in. Flyer allows extra<br />
width at side fins.<br />
Give me one<br />
good resin...<br />
WINKI WALL BREAKER<br />
Shaper: Duncan Eadie<br />
Dimensions:<br />
6’ 7” x 19 ½” x 2 ½ “<br />
Ideal: Very versatile and<br />
can be used in smaller<br />
surf but best suited to long<br />
point break up to 6’ plus.<br />
Description: Single fin<br />
with bonzer side fins,<br />
single into double concave<br />
through tail. Hybrid design<br />
which gives you the drive<br />
and speed of a single fin<br />
but still maneuverable.<br />
Construction: Glassed<br />
like surfboards used to be<br />
and finished in gloss resin.<br />
It will probably outlast you.<br />
Fins: Either timber fins for<br />
more spring out of turns or<br />
fiberglass.<br />
Shaper comment: This is<br />
a fantastic all round board<br />
which works well in just<br />
about everything. Paddles<br />
like the wind. Drives like<br />
a Porsche. Loves long<br />
wall sections. Designed<br />
for Winki Pop but I have<br />
surfed it everywhere and<br />
it’s a pleasure to have it<br />
as my quiver killer.<br />
UNDERGROUND SURF<br />
3/31 McLean St,<br />
Coolangatta, QLD 4225<br />
Ph: <strong>07</strong> 5599 1040<br />
kirra@undergroundsurf.com.au<br />
undergroundsurf.com.au<br />
MUNRO HANDCRAFTED<br />
SURFBOARDS<br />
2/29 Acacia Street<br />
Byron Bay NSW 2481<br />
Ph: 02 6685 6211<br />
info@munrosurfboards.com.au<br />
munrosurfboards.com.au<br />
SKIPP SURFBOARDS<br />
FACTORY SHOWROOM<br />
24 Flinders St<br />
North Wollongong, NSW<br />
Ph: 02 4228 8878<br />
CITY SURF CENTRE<br />
231 Crown Street<br />
Wollongong City, NSW<br />
Ph: 02 4229 1202<br />
E: factory@skippsurfboards.com.au<br />
skippsurfboards.com.au<br />
THE FACTORY<br />
SURFBOARDS<br />
CALOUNDRA<br />
17 Allen Street<br />
Caloundra QLD 4551<br />
Ph: <strong>07</strong> 5492 5838<br />
paul@thefactorysurfboards.com.au<br />
thefactorysurfboards.com.au<br />
SOUTHERN SOUL<br />
SURFBOARDS<br />
Ph: 0417 340 357<br />
southernsoul@netspace.net.au<br />
southernsoulsurfboards.com.au<br />
122 sep/oct <strong>2011</strong>
GEAR: BOARDS<br />
SHAPER’S PROMOTION<br />
THE BAD BOY<br />
BIG BOYS SHORTBOARD<br />
DRAFT<br />
8’ LONGBOARD<br />
ALLROUNDER<br />
Shaper: Doug Rogers<br />
Dimensions:<br />
8’1” x 21 ½” x 3”<br />
Ideal: Solid waves, 4-6ft<br />
Ability level:<br />
Novice to Intermediate<br />
Description: This board<br />
is a big guy’s dream. It has<br />
a heap of float and paddle<br />
power. It features a single<br />
into double concave for<br />
geting in early on those<br />
nice, big, solid days.<br />
Construction: PU core<br />
6oz bottom, 10oz deck.<br />
Fins: Thruster<br />
Shaper comment: Doug<br />
Rogers loves shaping<br />
these performance<br />
chargers. Handshaped<br />
with love and perfection,<br />
the clean lines refined<br />
edges are a must for the<br />
love of surfing real waves.<br />
Shaper: Brett Munro<br />
Specs: 7’4” x 21 ½” x 2 ½”<br />
Ideal: Small to overhead,<br />
clean beach or reef/point<br />
breaks.<br />
Description:<br />
Single to double concave.<br />
Construction: Burford<br />
foam, quality lamination<br />
and finishing with carbon<br />
fibre rods.<br />
Fins: Tri-fin ceramic<br />
Speeedfins<br />
Shaper comment:<br />
Delivers speed and<br />
security for the senior<br />
warrior who will not pull<br />
back on the bigger days.<br />
The groms will hate you.<br />
Shaper: Leighton Clark<br />
Specs: 7’6”x 21 ¾”x 2 ¾”<br />
Ideal conditions: Great<br />
board to get out at your<br />
local...and rips on small<br />
average surf<br />
Suits: All family<br />
members... girl friend...<br />
summer fun... beginners...<br />
lazy bastards...<br />
Construction: Made<br />
from premium materials.<br />
Burford PU foam, Silmar<br />
resins, Aerialite glass, ....<br />
also available in XPS, EPS,<br />
and epoxy laminates. Our<br />
glassing guy, Mick, is one<br />
of the most experienced<br />
in the industry [clocking<br />
over 25,000 boards over 40<br />
years. We can do custom<br />
artwork or digital graphics.<br />
Fins: Shapers fins and<br />
plugs.<br />
Sprays: No problemo<br />
customs, Pics, flowers,<br />
digital graphics, anything..<br />
Shaper comment:<br />
WE LISTEN, WE TALK<br />
and WE CREATE a<br />
board to suit your<br />
requirements. Customs<br />
are our speciality. Love<br />
to hear about what you<br />
are riding, and what you<br />
want to ride.<br />
Shaper: Mark Rabbidge<br />
Dimensions:<br />
8’ x 21” x 2 ¾”<br />
Suits: Custom tailored to<br />
suit the individual<br />
Description: Double<br />
ender well balanced<br />
board. Trim concave<br />
through middle, roll vee<br />
through the tail.<br />
Construction: Dion foam<br />
blanks. I’ve been dealing<br />
with them for 45 years<br />
and for good reason.<br />
Fins: 3 fin set up.<br />
Shaper comment: I<br />
have been making this<br />
board since the 80’s. It’s<br />
like a shortboard you can<br />
noseride.<br />
Shaper: Geoff Barden<br />
Dimensions: 10’<br />
Ideal conditions: Any size<br />
Ability level: Beginner to<br />
advanced<br />
Suits: Anyone who wants<br />
to have fun<br />
Description: An easy,<br />
stable board to stand on.<br />
Surf or flat water, this<br />
board does it. A perfect<br />
all-round board for<br />
someone who’s getting<br />
into the sport and also,<br />
with its performance<br />
characteristics, it will<br />
noseride ‘til the cows<br />
come home or step back<br />
and milk that puppy all<br />
the way to the beach<br />
with all the moves you<br />
can do.<br />
Construction: Hand<br />
shaped and glassed in<br />
epoxy resin with tint.<br />
Leash plug, vent and box<br />
handle for easy carrying.<br />
Fins: 10” centre box with<br />
side plugs<br />
Shaper comment:<br />
I ride this board 90% of<br />
the time in all conditions, it<br />
just works.<br />
ZAK SURFBOARDS<br />
3<strong>07</strong> Victoria Road<br />
Thornbury VIC 3<strong>07</strong>1<br />
Ph: 03 9416 7384<br />
Mobile: 0438 416 738<br />
zak@zaksurfboards.com<br />
zaksurfboards.com<br />
MUNRO HANDCRAFTED<br />
SURFBOARDS<br />
2/29 Acacia Street<br />
Byron Bay NSW 2481<br />
Ph: 02 6685 6211<br />
info@munrosurfboards.com.au<br />
munrosurfboards.com.au<br />
CLARK SURFBOARDS<br />
20 Cottage Road,<br />
Hackham SA<br />
E: leightonclark01@yahoo.com.au<br />
M: 0422 443 789<br />
Available at<br />
www.onboardsurf.com.au<br />
RABBIDGE SURF DESIGN<br />
Ph: 02 4456 4038<br />
Mobile: 0427 767 176<br />
Bendalong, NSW 2539<br />
www.markrabbidge.com<br />
PADDLE TRIBE<br />
Geoff: 0408 701 467<br />
Steve: 0421 994 649<br />
E: info@paddletribe.com.au<br />
www.paddletribe.com.au<br />
sep/oct <strong>2011</strong><br />
123
Catch the<br />
Grown wood<br />
workshop at<br />
the Byron Bay<br />
Surf Festival in<br />
October!<br />
STOMPA<br />
THE FLYER<br />
HIGH PERFORMANCE FISH<br />
SPEED DIALLER<br />
THE MONSTER<br />
Shaper: Mark Rabbidge<br />
Dimensions:<br />
6’ x 20” x 2 ½”<br />
(ride this board at<br />
2” shorter than your<br />
shortboard)<br />
Suits: Custom tailored to<br />
suit the individual<br />
Description: Single to<br />
double to double concave.<br />
Construction: Dion foam<br />
blanks. I’ve been dealing<br />
with them for 45 years<br />
and for good reason.<br />
Fins: Thruster set up.<br />
Shaper comment:<br />
More performance than a<br />
funboard, but still catches<br />
waves great and skates<br />
the fat sections easily.<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 />
Shaper: Woody<br />
Dimensions:<br />
5’9”x 19 ¼” x 2 5 /8”<br />
Ideal conditions: 1-5 foot<br />
Suits: Intermediate to<br />
advanced surfers<br />
Description: Slight<br />
rolled vee to deeper vee<br />
between the fins, with a<br />
clean sleek outline and<br />
shallow swallowtail.<br />
Construction: Burford<br />
polyurethane blank, Silmar<br />
resin, Surf 9 fiberglass. 4oz<br />
bottom, 4 oz x 4 oz deck<br />
Fins: FCS PC5<br />
Shaper comment: This<br />
is my favourite fish to ride<br />
at my local beachie or out<br />
on the point breaks. Surfs<br />
tight in the pocket and<br />
super fast down the line.<br />
Shaper: Andrew Wells<br />
Specs: 6’2” x 20 ¼” x 2 3 /8”<br />
Ideal: Anything up to 6ft.<br />
Description: A round<br />
tail quad with a slightly<br />
wider outline, big single<br />
to double concave and<br />
spiral vee out through<br />
the tail. Plenty of drive<br />
and is fast and loose.<br />
Being hollow timber, the<br />
board has plenty of float<br />
and easily skips over<br />
any fat sections, while<br />
still maintaining speed<br />
and drive. The additional<br />
weight in a timber board<br />
gives them a nice smooth<br />
flow in the water. This<br />
board goes great in waves<br />
with a bit of juice.<br />
Construction: Hollow<br />
timber. Plantation-grown<br />
Paulownia, recycled cedar.<br />
Fins: Quad<br />
Shaper comment: A<br />
must-have in the quiver.<br />
Every Grown board is<br />
individually hand crafted<br />
from recycled and<br />
plantation grown timber,<br />
takes over 30 hrs to hand<br />
craft and is completely<br />
unique. They look great,<br />
surf great and will give<br />
you years of enjoyment.<br />
Shaper: Paul Woodbry<br />
Specs: 6’ x 20 ¼” x 2 3 /8”<br />
Ideal conditions: ½’ to 3’<br />
onshore slop to good waves<br />
Suits: All levels<br />
Description: Extra area<br />
in the nose for good<br />
paddling, a single concave,<br />
squash tail with really<br />
hard edges for drive and<br />
awesome decal from<br />
surfboardgraphics.com.<br />
Construction: PU foam<br />
with polyester resin, 4oz<br />
bottom, 4oz deck with<br />
patch for strength. The full<br />
deck decal adds about 2oz<br />
of strength without any<br />
weight gain. A graphic like<br />
this one may even stop<br />
that grommie dropping in<br />
for a while as well.<br />
Fins: Thruster setup using<br />
FCS or Shapers fin systems.<br />
Shaper comment: Took<br />
a few boards to get this<br />
how I wanted it. Paddles<br />
amazing and is loose<br />
enough to control reverses<br />
on, but still can be power<br />
surfed. Makes surfing slop<br />
waves so much fun, it’s<br />
just ridiculous.<br />
Woody Surf Design<br />
boards exclusively<br />
available from:<br />
RABBIDGE SURF DESIGN<br />
Ph: 02 4456 4038<br />
Mobile: 0427 767 176<br />
Bendalong, NSW 2539<br />
www.markrabbidge.com<br />
STEVE BARBER/FULL FORCE<br />
18/48 Machinery Drive<br />
Tweed Heads South<br />
Ph: <strong>07</strong> 5524 2933<br />
fullforcesurf@hotmail.com<br />
Join us on Facebook<br />
WOODY JACK<br />
SURFBOARDS AUSTRALIA<br />
Unit 7, 25 Leonard Parade,<br />
Currumbin QLD<br />
Ph: 0415 789 706<br />
E: wjboards@gmail.com<br />
www.woodyjack.com<br />
GROWN SURFBOARDS<br />
Lennox Head<br />
PO Box 801, Ballina NSW 2478<br />
Ph: 04<strong>07</strong>889049<br />
sales@grownsurfboards.com.au<br />
grownsurfboards.com.au<br />
SURFWARE AUSTRALIA<br />
2 Bulcock Street,<br />
Caloundra QLD 4551<br />
Ph: <strong>07</strong> 5491 3620<br />
surfwareaustralia.com<br />
124 sep/oct <strong>2011</strong>
GEAR: BOARDS<br />
SHAPER’S PROMOTION<br />
CLOWNFISH<br />
Dimensions:<br />
6’2” x 20” x 3”<br />
Ideal: Manouverability,<br />
handling and speed in big<br />
or small surf.<br />
Ability level: From<br />
lightweight grommie to<br />
a ‘skeg head’ from the<br />
70’s who’s 6-pack is now<br />
‘hidden in the carton.’<br />
Description: Like a<br />
vision from the 70’s this<br />
classic Fish has all the<br />
great shape & style<br />
of it’s ancestors but all<br />
the advantages of the<br />
modern, construction,<br />
design technology.<br />
Construction: Light weight<br />
core, strong, resilient<br />
bottom & deck and vacuum<br />
bag epoxy laminating<br />
technology. Certain aspects<br />
of this board are unique<br />
only to Illusions Noosa.<br />
Fins: Quad<br />
Shaper comment: You’ll<br />
be taken back in time then<br />
projected into the pocket<br />
of every wave you catch!!<br />
Prepare to be stoked!<br />
ILLUSIONS NOOSA<br />
2/2 Venture Dve,<br />
Noosaville, QLD<br />
28 Sunshine Beach Rd,<br />
Noosa Junction, QLD<br />
Mobile: 0488 686 206<br />
0458 801 973<br />
illusionsnoosa.com.au<br />
MOJO PIN<br />
Shaper: Simon Skerry<br />
Dimensions:<br />
5’6 - 6’4<br />
Suits: Steamer, Vest,<br />
Boardies.<br />
Description:<br />
Plush. So shiiinny<br />
Construction:<br />
Made for Ages!<br />
Fins: 2 x 8” dBL D fins.<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 />
DOUBLE FLYER FISH<br />
Shaper: Rory Oke<br />
Dimensions:<br />
6’7” x 21 ½” x 2 ¾“<br />
Suits: The bigger/older<br />
guy who’s looking for<br />
performance<br />
Description: Full through<br />
the nose, narrowing to<br />
double flyers in the tail.<br />
This board has the width<br />
to support the bigger or<br />
older guy who still wants<br />
the looser performance of<br />
a shorter board.<br />
Construction: Ocean<br />
Foam blank, 4oz & 6oz<br />
glass.<br />
Fins: Speeedfins<br />
Fibreglass s115s - FCS<br />
compatible.<br />
Shaper comment: :)<br />
OKE SURFBOARDS<br />
1/1-7 Canterbury Rd,<br />
Braeside, VIC, 3195<br />
Ph: 03 9587 3553<br />
okesurfboards.com<br />
FLYING FISH<br />
Shaper: Mark Riley<br />
Length: 5’5’’ - 6’2’’<br />
Width: 19 ½’’ - 21 ½’’<br />
Thickness: 2 ½” - 3’’<br />
Ideal conditions: ½ - 5 ft<br />
Ability level: Advanced<br />
to experienced<br />
Description: An EPS<br />
foam core performance<br />
fish which features<br />
stringerless flex and<br />
memory return. Can<br />
turn on a dime and drive<br />
when required. The 2 ½’’<br />
thickness of the board<br />
under the chest area<br />
makes this board a great<br />
wave catcher. It’s flat<br />
from nose to centre with<br />
a double scoop concave<br />
at the swallow tail.<br />
Construction: Balsa with<br />
EPS foam core<br />
Fins: Your choice of twin,<br />
keels or quad<br />
Customer’s comment:<br />
“Love this. It has become<br />
my favourite board” Tom,<br />
Southern NSW<br />
Riley surfboards are<br />
made in Australia, have<br />
a 12-month warranty<br />
and are Micro-tagged<br />
to prevent theft. Custom<br />
orders are welcome.<br />
RILEY SURFBOARDS<br />
Ph: 0412 376 464<br />
E: mark@riley.com.au<br />
balsasurfboardsriley.com.au<br />
RETRO QUAD<br />
Shaper: Brett Munro<br />
Specs: 5’10” x 20” x 2 ¼”<br />
Ideal: Small to overhead,<br />
clean beach or reef/point<br />
breaks.<br />
Description:<br />
Single concave into vee<br />
then double concave.<br />
Construction: Burford<br />
foam, quality lamination<br />
and finishing with carbon<br />
fibre rods.<br />
Fins: Futures quads.<br />
Shaper comment:<br />
Full tucked edge with<br />
front foot pressure for big<br />
carving turns. Speed to<br />
burn, ride them short.<br />
MUNRO HANDCRAFTED<br />
SURFBOARDS<br />
2/29 Acacia Street<br />
Byron Bay NSW 2481<br />
Ph: 02 6685 6211<br />
info@munrosurfboards.com.au<br />
munrosurfboards.com.au<br />
sep/oct <strong>2011</strong><br />
125
SHAPER’S PROMOTION<br />
GEAR: BOARDS<br />
THE HOT DOG<br />
THE FREAK<br />
POPSTER PRO<br />
PERFORMANCE SHORTY<br />
THE BIG EASY<br />
Shaper: Dean “Dino” Tziolis<br />
Dimensions: 5’4” - 6’<br />
Suits: Anyone - Custom<br />
Description: Fun<br />
shortboard. Super quick,<br />
easy to get up and<br />
planing, yet responds<br />
positively to rider input.<br />
Wider planshape for<br />
small surf. Enough rocker<br />
for medium surf. Ride<br />
about 4” shorter than<br />
a standard shortboard.<br />
Original print Goodtime<br />
logos - it’s a piece of<br />
Australian surfing history.<br />
Construction: South<br />
Coast Foam. 2 x 4oz glass.<br />
Rails are lapped on the<br />
bottom edge in carbon<br />
Fins: AFC<br />
Shaper comment:<br />
Goodtime prides itself<br />
on making quality<br />
surfboards and has done<br />
so since 1971. Whether<br />
it’s a classic shape, a<br />
performance thruster<br />
or a simple fish tail, no<br />
matter how many fins...<br />
its been here or its in<br />
here. Goodtime is what<br />
surfing is all about. Over<br />
thirty years later, we’re<br />
still having a good time<br />
surfing!<br />
GOODTIME SURFBOARDS<br />
29 Ipswich Rd,<br />
Woolloongabba QLD 4102<br />
Ph: <strong>07</strong> 3391 8588<br />
info@goodtime.com.au<br />
www.goodtime.com.au<br />
Shaper: Zak Koniaris<br />
Dimensions:<br />
6’4” x 21” x 2 ¾”<br />
Ideal: Small to medium<br />
sized waves, 2-5ft.<br />
Ability level:<br />
Beginners to Intermediate<br />
Description: Designed for<br />
paddle and performance.<br />
The single into double<br />
concave and a chine<br />
rail gives the board a<br />
super-fast, responsive feel<br />
for any person who has<br />
wave-count in mind. The<br />
spoon deck offers more<br />
foam, making the board<br />
more forgiving. Super<br />
easy, super fun, super fast<br />
- a must for the quiver.<br />
Construction: PU core<br />
4oz bottom, 10oz deck.<br />
Fins: 5 plug setup for<br />
ultimate choice<br />
Shaper comment:<br />
This board has been our<br />
biggest seller by far. It<br />
offers intermediate surfers<br />
a fish with a lot more drive<br />
and versatility.<br />
ZAK SURFBOARDS<br />
3<strong>07</strong> Victoria Road<br />
Thornbury VIC 3<strong>07</strong>1<br />
Ph: 03 9416 7384<br />
Mobile: 0438 416 738<br />
zak@zaksurfboards.com<br />
zaksurfboards.com<br />
Shaper: Ed Sinnott<br />
Specs: From 5’4 - 6’4”<br />
Get in touch for customs<br />
Ideal conditions:<br />
Anything up the 6’<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 />
Fins: Quad or thruster<br />
Shaper comment:<br />
A unique and amazing<br />
hybrid board that goes<br />
ballistic in anything.<br />
Developed by Josh Sleep,<br />
Jono Salfeild and the<br />
Afends boys in Byron Bay.<br />
They see it as a majestic<br />
alternative for all round<br />
surfing. Tried and tested,<br />
it’s proved them right.<br />
ESP SURFBOARDS<br />
2/81 Centennial Circuit<br />
Byron Bay, NSW<br />
Ph: 0404 059 321<br />
www.espsurfshop.com.au<br />
www.edsinnott.com.au<br />
Shaper: Chad Ryan<br />
Dimensions:<br />
6’1” x 18 3 /8” x 2 ¼”<br />
Ideal conditions: 2 - 6ft.<br />
Ability level:<br />
Intermediate to advanced<br />
Description: The<br />
ultimate performance<br />
shorty. Single to double<br />
concave for a super fast<br />
and responsive stick for<br />
all conditions. Rounded<br />
pin for good hold, but<br />
you pick the tail for your<br />
performance. For all round<br />
ripping!!<br />
Construction: Hand<br />
shaped polyester<br />
construction, standard or<br />
team glassing<br />
Fins: Thruster, 3 fixed<br />
or FCS<br />
Shaper comment:<br />
Hand shaping allows me<br />
to work closely with my<br />
clients, to shape them<br />
the perfect board to their<br />
preference.<br />
SKIPP SURFBOARDS<br />
FACTORY SHOWROOM<br />
24 Flinders St<br />
North Wollongong, NSW<br />
Ph: 02 4228 8878<br />
CITY SURF CENTRE<br />
231 Crown Street<br />
Wollongong City, NSW<br />
Ph: 02 4229 1202<br />
E: factory@skippsurfboards.com.au<br />
skippsurfboards.com.au<br />
Shaper: Simon Jones<br />
Dimensions: 6’2” - 7’<br />
Suits: Anyone - Custom<br />
Description: Semi<br />
roundhouse wing round<br />
tail with a vee through<br />
centre toward tail.<br />
Construction: Burford<br />
blank, fully handshaped.<br />
6/6/6oz Bay Mills glass<br />
Silmar polyester resins.<br />
Fins: Thruster FCS set up<br />
Shaper comment:<br />
Goodtime prides itself<br />
on making quality<br />
surfboards and has done<br />
so since 1971. Whether<br />
it’s a classic shape, a<br />
performance thruster or a<br />
simple fish tail, no matter<br />
how many fins... its been<br />
here or its in here. Over<br />
thirty years later, we’re<br />
still having a good time<br />
surfing!<br />
Rider comment: “After<br />
catching a couple of<br />
waves went to the back<br />
and found it was really<br />
maneuverable, very fun<br />
and you could walk up and<br />
down it as well”<br />
Tyler Wright<br />
GOODTIME SURFBOARDS<br />
29 Ipswich Rd,<br />
Woolloongabba QLD 4102<br />
Ph: <strong>07</strong> 3391 8588<br />
info@goodtime.com.au<br />
www.goodtime.com.au<br />
126 sep/oct <strong>2011</strong>
BLANKS<br />
OLD EIGHTY ONE<br />
CARBON EPOXY PR0<br />
THE WILD ONE<br />
WHIPLASH<br />
MEGA LITE<br />
Shaper: Ed Sinnott<br />
Specs: From 5’4 - 6’4”<br />
Get in touch for customs<br />
Ideal conditions:<br />
Anything up the 6’<br />
Description: Similar to<br />
the Popster and Whiplash,<br />
but has the deepest<br />
concave and widest nose<br />
of the three. I combined<br />
my single fin and old<br />
twin fin templates to<br />
get the 13’’ nose looking<br />
good and put the wide<br />
point 2’’ forward. Loose<br />
off the front foot and is<br />
multidirectional. Deep<br />
concave drives through<br />
dead sections.<br />
Construction: Burford/<br />
South Coast PU blanks,<br />
Silmar polyester resin,<br />
Colan and Surf Nine glass.<br />
Fins: Quad or thruster<br />
Shaper comment:<br />
Developed along with<br />
Jake Spooner, a former<br />
top ten professional surfer<br />
who I first started making<br />
boards for in the early 80s.<br />
Extremely fast and stable<br />
in bigger sections, it can be<br />
surfed vertically as well.<br />
Shaper: Mark Plater or<br />
Matt Crisp<br />
Dimensions:<br />
6’2” x 18 ¾” x 2 ¼”<br />
Ideal: For the guy that<br />
wants to take his surfing<br />
Hi-Fi<br />
Suits: You :)<br />
Description: This carbon<br />
strip shorty is drivey,<br />
fast responsive turning,<br />
lightweight. Great for<br />
boosting!<br />
Construction: Eps/Epoxy<br />
with carbon stringer<br />
Fins: Thruster or Quad FCS.<br />
Shaper comment: We<br />
don’t blow our own horn.<br />
The boards do the talking!<br />
Shaper: Lee Cheyne<br />
Dimensions:<br />
5’11” x 19 ¼” x 2 3 /8”<br />
Ideal conditions: Most<br />
Ability level:<br />
Beginner to advanced<br />
Suits: Anyone<br />
Description: Custom<br />
made in Australia by me<br />
personally, for you and<br />
whoever wants one.<br />
Construction: Burford<br />
foam, Surf 9 4oz glass and<br />
Silmar resin.<br />
Fins: FCS, Futures or Gas<br />
Shaper comment:<br />
Support your local shapers<br />
and manufacturers!<br />
They have families and<br />
mortgages, and they pay<br />
taxes too.<br />
Shaper: Ed Sinnott<br />
Specs: From 5’4 - 6’4”<br />
Get in touch for customs<br />
Ideal conditions:<br />
Anything up to 6’<br />
Description: Developed<br />
by Josh Lewan from Byron<br />
Bay. To get it to feel like a<br />
skateboard on the waves<br />
with no catch points, we<br />
increased the outline and<br />
decreased the size of the<br />
surfboard. Similar to the<br />
Popster but has a lower<br />
rocker and wider tail with<br />
deeper double barrels.<br />
It should be ridden 2-4”<br />
smaller than a traditional<br />
short board but 1’’ wider<br />
and thicker.<br />
Construction: Burford/<br />
South Coast PU blanks,<br />
Silmar polyester resin,<br />
Colan and Surf Nine glass.<br />
Fins: Quad or thruster<br />
Shaper comment: Josh<br />
says it is the fastest thing<br />
he has ever ridden and it<br />
goes anywhere you want<br />
to go on the wave.<br />
Dimensions:<br />
6’4” x 21 7 /16” x 2 7 /8”<br />
Nose: 14 ¾”<br />
Tail: 16 ¾”<br />
Rocker: 5 ½” nose, 2 ½” tail<br />
Also in 3 1 /8” thick version<br />
Description: Hard Cell<br />
Technology foam blank<br />
with a standard T3<br />
stringer. This one is a<br />
Shortboard 6’4”(A) Thin -<br />
for boards that need more<br />
width in the nose and tail.<br />
Comment: Ideal for fish,<br />
dumpster diver, biscuit<br />
style of shapes. Our<br />
latest development in PU<br />
foam technology - super<br />
white formula which has<br />
become standard within<br />
our range. Delivers the<br />
best surfing performance<br />
of a light weight<br />
surfboard. Shapers here<br />
and abroad are using<br />
this new technology for<br />
their top surfers currently<br />
competing on the world<br />
tour with great results.<br />
Strong, light-weight<br />
performance available<br />
now for all shapers.<br />
ESP SURFBOARDS<br />
2/81 Centennial Circuit<br />
Byron Bay, NSW<br />
Ph: 0404 059 321<br />
www.espsurfshop.com.au<br />
www.edsinnott.com.au<br />
MADDOG SURF CENTRE<br />
Ph: 02 6685 6022<br />
Ewingsdale Road<br />
Byron Bay 2481<br />
www.maddog.com.au<br />
LEE CHEYNE DESIGNS<br />
19/48 Machinery Dr,<br />
Tweed Heads South<br />
NSW 2486<br />
Ph: <strong>07</strong> 5523 3237<br />
lcdboards@gmail.com<br />
myspace.com/454626994<br />
tradewindsurf.com.au<br />
ESP SURFBOARDS<br />
2/81 Centennial Circuit<br />
Byron Bay, NSW<br />
Ph: 0404 059 321<br />
www.espsurfshop.com.au<br />
www.edsinnott.com.au<br />
SOUTH COAST FOAM<br />
& FIBREGLASS<br />
Ph: <strong>07</strong> 5522 1600<br />
15 Greg Chappel Dve,<br />
Burleigh Gardens Estate,<br />
Andrews, QLD 4220<br />
sales@southcoastfoam.com.au<br />
southcoastfoam.com.au<br />
sep/oct <strong>2011</strong><br />
127
THE COOLUM<br />
Designer: Albie Curtis<br />
Dimensions:<br />
7’2” x 19 ¾”x 2 ¾”<br />
Ideal: It’s made for<br />
the local conditions,<br />
specifically Coolum<br />
where I grew up. 4-5ft<br />
barrely waves<br />
Ability: Intermediate<br />
surfers after a larger high<br />
performance shortboard.<br />
Description: Albie Curtis<br />
Signature Model.<br />
Construction: Vacuum<br />
bagged with a EPS core,<br />
bamboo stringer, 4oz deck<br />
and 4oz fibreglass bottom.<br />
Vent plug. Certain aspects<br />
of this board are unique<br />
only to Illusions Noosa.<br />
Fins: Three fin setup<br />
Shaper comment:<br />
Paddles well, good<br />
flotation. Good rail<br />
to rail transition and<br />
turning power. Fantastic<br />
manouverability, handling<br />
& speed in small to<br />
medium sized surf.<br />
ILLUSIONS NOOSA<br />
2/2 Venture Dve,<br />
Noosaville, QLD<br />
28 Sunshine Beach Rd,<br />
Noosa Junction, QLD<br />
Mobile: 0488 686 206<br />
0458 801 973<br />
illusionsnoosa.com.au<br />
RETRO BAMBOO FISH<br />
Dimensions:<br />
6’10” x 22 ½” x 3 1 /8”<br />
Ideal conditions:<br />
Big and small surf.<br />
Ability level: Light<br />
weight grommie or ‘skeg<br />
head’ from the 70’s who’s<br />
6-pack is now ‘hidden in<br />
the carton.’<br />
Description: Like a<br />
vision from the 70’s. All<br />
the style of it’s ancestors<br />
but all the advantages of<br />
the modern construction<br />
and design technology.<br />
Aspects of this board are<br />
unique to Illusions Noosa.<br />
Construction: Vacuum<br />
bagged and constructed<br />
of a D-XP3 core - a 100%<br />
recycled bamboo fibre blank<br />
with bamboo veneer and 4oz<br />
fibreglass top and bottom.<br />
Fins: Twin fins and Quad<br />
Shaper comment:<br />
Designed in Australia, this<br />
is a great board for those<br />
who are after a retro fish<br />
shape for under $600.<br />
ILLUSIONS NOOSA<br />
2/2 Venture Dve,<br />
Noosaville, QLD<br />
28 Sunshine Beach Rd,<br />
Noosa Junction, QLD<br />
Mobile: 0488 686 206<br />
0458 801 973<br />
illusionsnoosa.com.au<br />
THE TRADITIONAL<br />
Shaper: Dave O’Reilly<br />
Specs: 6’4” x 17 ¼” x 1”<br />
Ideal: Small, clean waves<br />
for fun, bigger if you’re keen.<br />
Suits: Anyone who wants<br />
to be a better water man<br />
(or woman!) Open your<br />
mind to the possibilities.<br />
Ability: Beginner to<br />
advanced. The learning<br />
curve can require patience.<br />
Description: Thicker than<br />
standard ¾”, allowing for<br />
two deep concaves in the<br />
bottom for a board that<br />
holds and slides. Softer<br />
rail edges top and bottom<br />
for slip sliding and fast<br />
trimming.<br />
Construction: 100%<br />
Australian grown and<br />
milled Paulownia, sealed<br />
with raw linseed oil and<br />
gum turpentine.<br />
Fins: Fin-free and ready<br />
to slide.<br />
Shaper comment: Alaias<br />
are about speed and<br />
re-learning to surf. Catch a<br />
wave on one and you won’t<br />
wipe the smile off your<br />
face. Have fun trimming<br />
fast and join the finless<br />
revolution! A great board to<br />
have in your quiver.<br />
SURFING GREEN<br />
Coolum Beach, QLD<br />
Mobile: 0412 042 811<br />
surfinggreen.com.au<br />
STUB-E<br />
Shaper: Paul Armstrong<br />
Dimensions: Custom<br />
order to your requirements<br />
Ideal: Small to medium.<br />
Wave catching machine.<br />
Ability: Beginners to<br />
advanced<br />
Description: The classic<br />
stubbie hull look, with the<br />
performance of a modern<br />
short board. Domed nose<br />
into single concave to<br />
double barrel spiral V.<br />
S-deck rocker and a low to<br />
medium rail line, all giving<br />
this board nicer curves<br />
than Beyonce Knowles’<br />
arse! Hand shaped and<br />
Handcrafted.<br />
Construction: From<br />
smelly, sticky, dusty shit.<br />
Fins: Available in 2+1, tri,<br />
quad or 5-fin combo.<br />
Shaper comment:<br />
By giving the Stub-E a<br />
planning hull platform, it<br />
makes the board a much<br />
more user friendly and<br />
versatile all rounder.<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 />
THE STICK<br />
Shaper: Mark Riley<br />
Length: 5’2’’ - 6’8’’<br />
Width: 18 1/2’’-20’’<br />
Thickness: 2 1/2’’ -3’’<br />
Ideal conditions: ½ - 9 ft<br />
Ability level: Advanced<br />
to experienced<br />
Description: A balsa<br />
skinned EPS foam core<br />
shortboard. No stringer<br />
and recycled EPS foam<br />
reduces weight, bringing<br />
the Stick to around 3kg.<br />
Features a Vee scoop in<br />
the tail to concave centre<br />
and concave nose, 80/20<br />
rails and a swallow tail.<br />
Construction: Balsa with<br />
EPS foam core<br />
Fins: Thruster or quad<br />
Shaper comment:<br />
For summer’s small to<br />
medium waves, the Riley<br />
Stick is also available as<br />
a quad - way faster than<br />
your standard thruster or<br />
even twin fin and much<br />
more responsive.<br />
Riley surfboards are<br />
environmentally friendly<br />
and three times stronger<br />
than a regular PU board.<br />
RILEY SURFBOARDS<br />
Ph: 0412 376 464<br />
E: mark@riley.com.au<br />
balsasurfboardsriley.com.au<br />
128 sep/oct <strong>2011</strong>
B Y R O N B A Y . A U S T R A L I A<br />
GEAR: BOARDS<br />
SHAPER’S PROMOTION<br />
MICRO MAL<br />
THE dim-SIM<br />
MINI SIMMONS DELUXE<br />
4-FIN FISH<br />
FRESH FISH<br />
Shaper: Mark Plater or<br />
Matt Crisp<br />
Dimensions:<br />
5’10” x 20 ½ x 2 ½”<br />
Ideal: For those small fun<br />
days when you still want<br />
to get waves and leave<br />
the shorty at home.<br />
Suits: The crew looking<br />
for a great time in the<br />
tiny stuff.<br />
Description: The San<br />
Juan yellow micro mal<br />
is set up as a single fin<br />
to get your soul on, or<br />
thruster to burn down the<br />
walls!<br />
Construction: PU foam,<br />
strong glass job and a<br />
epic spray.<br />
Fins: Fin box and FCS<br />
set up.<br />
Shaper comment:<br />
Horns?<br />
Shaper: Mark PridMORE<br />
Dimensions:<br />
Measure it yourself<br />
Ideal: Yep, it is.<br />
Suits: Dont like ‘em.<br />
They’re not comfortable and<br />
ya look like a penguin.<br />
Description: A super fun<br />
slab that’ll surprise the<br />
sh*t outta you...<br />
Construction: PU/PE -<br />
Doin’ some stringerless,<br />
puttin’ flex and<br />
even MORE life in ‘em...<br />
Fins: Most of the time<br />
(twin keel or quad)<br />
Shapers Comment:<br />
I could make myself any<br />
shape at all and this is<br />
what I ride 90% of the<br />
time, so I know these<br />
boards inside out.<br />
Shaper: Jesse Watson<br />
Dimensions:<br />
5’4” x 21 ½” x 2 ¾”<br />
Ideal conditions: Up to<br />
head high sliders<br />
Ideal conditions:<br />
Whatever you wanna try.<br />
I ride mine from the goldy<br />
to indo.<br />
Suits: Ricky-Bobby<br />
(Talledega Nights) “I just<br />
wanna go fast!”<br />
Description: Fast... so<br />
fast it’ll peel your eyes<br />
outta their sockets. Super<br />
wide and stable, this<br />
board has been dubbed<br />
the “section connection.”<br />
You’ll get the fastest,<br />
longest rides of your life<br />
on the Simmons.<br />
Construction: 6/4oz<br />
deck + 6oz bottom, full<br />
resin art stripes gloss and<br />
polish, glass on leash loop<br />
- proper old skool.<br />
Fins: Matching,<br />
custom tint glass-ons.<br />
Shaper comment: Are<br />
you feeling uninspired with<br />
your surfing, a little bored or<br />
dull? The Simmons will put<br />
the fun back into your life.<br />
Just in time for summer.<br />
Shaper: Dave Parkes<br />
Specs: 6’2 x 22 ½” x 2 5 /8”<br />
Ideal: 4-8ft good quality<br />
waves with hollow<br />
sections and walls.<br />
Description: This board<br />
evolved out of my smaller<br />
4-fin fish tail all rounder.<br />
Longer and narrower with<br />
a thinner, narrower tail.<br />
Fins are placed further<br />
back. Concave is lessened<br />
and vee comes into play.<br />
Construction: PU<br />
Surfblank with laminated<br />
stringer. 6oz glass. Gloss<br />
polish or pro-sand.<br />
Fins: definitely a 4-finner.<br />
Fin systems or glassed on.<br />
I‘m using Surfinz boxes and<br />
Powerbase fins on mine.<br />
Shaper comment: If I<br />
had to take only one board<br />
with me on an around<br />
the world trip this would<br />
be it. My shapes are not<br />
set in stone so custom<br />
variation is the way to<br />
go to suit different riders<br />
requirements. Just ask.<br />
Shaper: Neil Luke<br />
Specs: 5’10” x 24”x 2 3 /8”<br />
Ideal: Anything under 8ft<br />
Ability: Average to excellent<br />
Description: Quad with<br />
complex bottom contour.<br />
Bevels blend into deep nose<br />
concave into double concave<br />
under knees,flowing through<br />
to vee out the tail. Flowing,<br />
fast board that can grovel in<br />
junk, draw long lines or go<br />
straight up and down. Loves<br />
the barrell.<br />
Construction: Burford NLR<br />
KB blank. 4, 5 or 6oz glass.<br />
Gloss polish or pro-sand.<br />
Cosmic colour combos with<br />
pigments or tints, double<br />
pinlines or Skerry Art sprays.<br />
Fins: Future boxes with<br />
Rasta keels and Scimitar<br />
Pivot with a twist.<br />
Shaper comment: Shaping<br />
kneeboards since 1970, this<br />
represents a variety of many<br />
of my experiences. It’s my<br />
favourite which I ride 90% of<br />
the time. Great paddler, lots<br />
of fun and inspiring to surf.<br />
MADDOG SURF CENTRE<br />
Ph: 02 6685 6022<br />
Ewingsdale Road<br />
Byron Bay 2481<br />
www.maddog.com.au<br />
MORE SURFBOARDS<br />
Ph: 0405 475 026<br />
www.moresurfboards.com<br />
Also available through<br />
Da Bomb Surf Centres in<br />
Maroochydore and Bokarina.<br />
www.dabombsurf.com.au<br />
black apache surfboards<br />
BLACK APACHE<br />
SURFBOARDS<br />
Ph: 0410 419 791<br />
blackapachesurfboards@live.com.au<br />
blackapachesurfboards.com.au<br />
C U S T O M K N E E B O A R D S<br />
PARKES AUSTRALIA<br />
4/83 Centennial Circuit<br />
Byron Bay, NSW<br />
Ph: 02 6685 6627<br />
E: d-par@bigpond.com<br />
parkesaustralia.com<br />
AT PARKES AUSTRALIA<br />
4/83 Centennial Circuit<br />
Byron Bay, NSW<br />
Ph: 02 6685 6627<br />
E: d-par@bigpond.com<br />
parkesaustralia.com<br />
sep/oct <strong>2011</strong><br />
129
THE HULL<br />
FLEXTAIL<br />
THE SAWN OFF<br />
MINI MAL<br />
Shaper: COLLINS/<br />
PEDERSEN concepts...<br />
GCat and the Erle of<br />
Pederson.<br />
Description:<br />
This boat hull is a<br />
“scaled version” of an 80ft<br />
super cruzer.<br />
This little beauty has a<br />
similar design/ shape to<br />
the LAZOR ZAP which =<br />
massive planing area in<br />
the arse end.<br />
ERLE’S jet concept allows<br />
tension free speed &<br />
allows a cushion effect<br />
via a concave entry JET &<br />
then travels thru in to the<br />
detailed true JET combo &<br />
onto the arse end for the<br />
ultimate planing concept...<br />
(as do our functional art<br />
surfboards)<br />
Shaper: Jed Done<br />
Specs: 6’1”x 20 ¼” x 2 5 /8”<br />
Ideal: Shoulder high to<br />
double over head.<br />
Description: All round<br />
flextail quad, born from 11<br />
years of riding and refining<br />
flextails.Wedge stringer,<br />
wide point forward, deep<br />
concave underfoot, foil<br />
shape and negative rocker<br />
in flextail all lead towards<br />
speed and drive.<br />
The ‘v’ in the flextail<br />
gives the rail rocker a<br />
hip that lines up with<br />
the leading edge of the<br />
quad fins. Fins have a<br />
slight twist in the tip<br />
for a wider sweet spot,<br />
allowing the board<br />
to go from rail to rail<br />
easily. This all means a<br />
fast board that turns well.<br />
Construction: Dion PU<br />
foam. Single wedged<br />
stringer. Tinted glass<br />
bottom with resin pinline.<br />
Carbon fiber flextail .<br />
Fins: 4WFS for flexibility<br />
Shaper comment:<br />
Works from 5’5” to<br />
7’. It goes best 2-3”<br />
shorter, ½” wider and ¼”<br />
thicker than your regular<br />
shortboard.<br />
Don’t be afraid of the<br />
dark, these things go like<br />
a cut snake!!<br />
Specs: 5’10” x 19” x 2¼”<br />
Ideal conditions: 0 - 4ft<br />
Description: A small wave<br />
board ridden a few inches<br />
smaller than your standard<br />
shortboard. Enough area<br />
through the nose for easy<br />
paddling and hold, width<br />
through the tail for loose<br />
top turns and a single to<br />
double concave in the tail.<br />
The best board for Sunshine<br />
Coast conditions.<br />
Construction: The finest<br />
materials, from A1 Every<br />
time blanks to world class<br />
high sheen UV finishes.<br />
Comment: Shotgun have a<br />
reputation for producing only<br />
the highest quality surf craft.<br />
OCEAN ADDICTS are<br />
now proud stockists of<br />
Shotgun Surfboards and<br />
Laguna Bay Longboards.<br />
We freight to anywhere<br />
in Australia, so have<br />
your new board<br />
delivered to your door!<br />
Trade in your old board<br />
for the best price.<br />
Shaper: Paul Carson<br />
Dimensions:<br />
6’8” x 21 ¾” x 2 ¾”<br />
Nose: 16 ½”<br />
Tail: 14 ¾”<br />
Ideal for: Anything.<br />
Suits: Tamara<br />
Description: Fun mini<br />
mal, round tail, but can be<br />
any shape tail.<br />
Construction: Burford<br />
blank, colour spray<br />
Fins: Thruster, quad or<br />
single + 2.<br />
Shaper comment:<br />
Did this one for Tamara,<br />
coming off 8’ mal. It has<br />
similar width and stability<br />
but performs more like a<br />
shortboard.<br />
Surfboards and surfing<br />
props for movies and ads<br />
SURF1770NOOSA.COM<br />
surf1770@bigpond.com<br />
surf1770noosa.com<br />
BUSHRAT SURFBOARDS<br />
Merimbula NSW<br />
Ph: 0409 813 431<br />
E: jed@bushrat.com<br />
www.bushrat.com<br />
OCEAN ADDICTS<br />
103-105 Aerodrome Rd<br />
Maroochydore<br />
Ph: <strong>07</strong> 5309 6624<br />
E: info@oceanaddicts.com.au<br />
oceanaddicts.com.au<br />
THE FACTORY<br />
SURFBOARDS<br />
CALOUNDRA<br />
17 Allen Street<br />
Caloundra QLD 4551<br />
Ph: <strong>07</strong> 5492 5838<br />
paul@thefactorysurfboards.com.au<br />
thefactorysurfboards.com.au<br />
130 sep/oct <strong>2011</strong>
GEAR: BOARDS<br />
SHAPER’S PROMOTION<br />
MINI BULLET<br />
Shaper: Wayne McKewen<br />
Specs: 5’7” x 18 ¾” x 2 ¼ ”<br />
From 5’7” to 6’0” with<br />
more volume. Short for<br />
maximum benefit.<br />
Ideal: Anywhere from<br />
small beachies to medium<br />
point or reef waves.<br />
Description: Launched in<br />
2009, we’ve made some<br />
exciting variations with the<br />
Mini Bullet this <strong>September</strong>.<br />
Stringerless to maximise<br />
flex - this has reduced<br />
weight and increased flex<br />
in length and width. Flatter<br />
rocker and most are vee<br />
bottoms. Round square,<br />
round or swallow tails with<br />
a single, double or no flyers.<br />
Construction: PU Burford<br />
blank, 4 x 4oz decks and<br />
4oz bottom. Can do 6 x 4oz<br />
decks for heavier guys and<br />
parabolic carbon-kevlar rails.<br />
Fins: FCS, 5 Fin to use as<br />
thruster or quad.<br />
Shaper comment:<br />
Added flex translates<br />
to a whippy feel and<br />
acceleration through<br />
turns. It’s the result of<br />
two years of research and<br />
development and is an<br />
exciting variation on our<br />
original Bullet concept.<br />
MINI BULLET<br />
Shaper: Wayne McKewen<br />
Specs: 5’9” x 19 x 2 3 /8”<br />
From 5’7” to 6’0” with<br />
more volume. Short for<br />
maximum benefit.<br />
Ideal: Anywhere from<br />
small beachies to medium<br />
point or reef waves.<br />
Description: Launched in<br />
2009, we’ve made some<br />
exciting variations with the<br />
Mini Bullet this <strong>September</strong>.<br />
Stringerless to maximise<br />
flex - this has reduced<br />
weight and increased flex<br />
in length and width. Flatter<br />
rocker and most are vee<br />
bottoms. Round square,<br />
round or swallow tails with<br />
a single, double or no flyers.<br />
Construction: PU Burford<br />
blank, 4 x 4oz decks and<br />
4oz bottom. Can do 6 x 4oz<br />
decks for heavier guys and<br />
parabolic carbon-kevlar rails.<br />
Fins: FCS, 5 Fin to use as<br />
thruster or quad.<br />
Shaper comment:<br />
Added flex translates<br />
to a whippy feel and<br />
acceleration through<br />
turns. It’s the result of<br />
two years of research and<br />
development and is an<br />
exciting variation on our<br />
original Bullet concept.<br />
THE STRINGERLESS MINI BULLET:<br />
A NEW RELEASE FOR SEPTEMBER<br />
“The Bullet was launched in 2009. These were<br />
designed to be a bit shorter and a bit wider, semiconvential<br />
and mainly for smaller summer waves but<br />
still a good all rounder. Over the last two years we<br />
have done a lot of R&D by getting feedback from our<br />
team riders, factory and shop staff and customers.<br />
This resulted in some exciting variations oin the<br />
original concept.”<br />
The Mt Woodgee Team<br />
MT WOODGEE<br />
SURFBOARDS<br />
Stores at Coolangatta,<br />
Currumbin, Burleigh Heads<br />
Ph: <strong>07</strong> 5535 0288<br />
www.mtwoodgee.com.au<br />
MT WOODGEE<br />
SURFBOARDS<br />
Stores at Coolangatta,<br />
Currumbin, Burleigh Heads<br />
Ph: <strong>07</strong> 5535 0288<br />
www.mtwoodgee.com.au<br />
sep/oct <strong>2011</strong><br />
131
GEAR: BLANKS<br />
drawing<br />
lank<br />
WORDS: BEN HORVATH<br />
Artists paint on a blank canvas,<br />
surfers dance across empty waves,<br />
shapers handcraft surfboards from<br />
humble pieces of foam.<br />
Surfers would not be able to carve<br />
unique individual tracks on waves<br />
without a board under foot. Similarly,<br />
craftsmen cannot create contemporary<br />
surfboards without a blank at hand.<br />
Each individual surfer’s journey quite<br />
literally begins in foam, and our whole<br />
trip starts with a blank.<br />
Surfboard blanks are basically pieces of foam that are designed, cut and<br />
handcrafted into specific shapes to suit individual wave riding needs.<br />
These pieces of shaped foam then become the centre or foam core of<br />
our “sticks”, after going through the final lamination stages of the board<br />
building process.<br />
Shapers look at a foam surfboard blank as the vital cog in the board<br />
crafting process.<br />
Legendary Gold Coast craftsmen Dick Van Straalen said, “It is imperative<br />
that a shaper chooses the right blank. Ideally, shapers are advised to<br />
source blanks similar in size and shape to the desired custom order. Too<br />
much cutting and sawing foam off a blank can severely weaken the foam<br />
and result in a stick with poor flex.”<br />
When I asked Dick what influences his decision when sourcing blanks, he<br />
rated consistency in foam and “The Plug” being the mould or shape of the<br />
blank as the most important factors. Dick said, “If you get the right plug it<br />
also minimises waste. I’ve been getting my blanks off Burford pretty much<br />
since day dot.”<br />
These days there is a smorgasboard (pun intended) of surfboard blanks<br />
to choose from, which in itself is a reflection of the healthy diversity in<br />
the marketplace. Blank lengths in <strong>2011</strong> range anywhere from 5’4" right<br />
through to 12’1". Widths are also available from 18"to 31".<br />
Another critical feature when shapers choose their surfboard blank is<br />
the density of the foam. A surfboard being shaped for a novice or Joe<br />
the Butcher would be created using a different foam density to a high<br />
performance contest board designed for Mick Fanning or a tow board for<br />
Mark Mathews to tackle Solander for that matter.<br />
The type of board or outline you desire also has a major effect on the<br />
required density of foam in the chosen blank as well. For example a long<br />
board requires a different foam density to a fish.<br />
Well-known shaper Darren Handley said, “Everything starts with<br />
the foam, the quality of foam is often overlooked in the surfboard<br />
manufacturing business. It really is critical. The foam sets the buoyancy,<br />
and also dictates the strength of your equipment. Strength, foam density,<br />
132 sep/oct <strong>2011</strong><br />
performance and shape-ability are the main contributing factors I<br />
weigh up when I go about selecting the best performance blank.”<br />
“I have tried and sourced foam from pretty much all corners of the<br />
globe, for a while we even had a go at blowing our own foam at<br />
BASE," Darren says. "Although our attempts weren’t as successful as<br />
we had hoped, I learnt a lot and it sure did increase my understanding<br />
of blanks and their performance.”<br />
During our conversation I suggested that the general extent of the<br />
average surfer’s interest in blanks is pretty much limited to requesting<br />
that their shaper use the lightest and strongest blank available.<br />
Darren agreed with my sentiments, immediately citing Mick Fanning's<br />
insistence on South Coast Foam blanks for that very reason. Darren<br />
said, "At the moment I work closely with Core and South Coast Foam<br />
with my DHD shapes. I have been working with these two suppliers<br />
for quite a few years now, developing the highest quality foam with<br />
the greatest durability without sacrificing performance.<br />
While strength is paramount, not all shapers agree on weight as a<br />
primary decider of which blanks to use. Geoff McCoy, a pioneer of the<br />
surfboard manufacturing industry, in fact ranks weight as of much lower<br />
importance than a host of other factors.<br />
"Graham King Foam is the best," he insists. "The reason for that is the<br />
density of it, the way it shapes, the hardness... everything you want in<br />
a foam is there. There is so much more to it than just producing light<br />
blanks. You need strength, durability and ease of shaping. Experience<br />
counts and it shows."<br />
Bruno ‘The Buzz’ Buzzolan of Town & Country Surfboards, on the other<br />
hand, believes the Devil's in the details.<br />
"We have tried heaps of different blanks, but we have stuck with<br />
Burford’s because their quality is the most consistent. Not just the<br />
foam quality but simple things like the stringer being in the centre of<br />
the blank and using seasoned timber for the stringer."<br />
Graham King, a stalwart of the blank manufacturing industry and the<br />
man behind Graham King Foam, rates consistency and experience
as the key ingredients in blowing<br />
a blank. As Graham explains it,<br />
"Everyone wants to say their<br />
foam is the best, but on any given<br />
day someone is making a decent<br />
quality blank. The key however is<br />
consistency... Consistency that comes<br />
with experience. Experience counts.<br />
It's trial and error through the years.<br />
It really is an ongoing chemistry<br />
experiment. You have to stand there<br />
with your head in a bucket for years<br />
to understand how the foam is going<br />
to perform. No one can teach you<br />
this stuff. You get the experience by<br />
spending years in it."<br />
Different<br />
Blanks For<br />
Different<br />
Tanks.<br />
There are two main types of foam for<br />
blanks at present. They are -<br />
1. Polyurethane<br />
2. Polystyrene.<br />
Polyurethane<br />
Blanks (PU)<br />
Way back when surfboards began<br />
featuring foam centres, after the<br />
much-publicised short board revolution<br />
in the 60’s, polyurethane foam has<br />
been, and still is, where it’s at. In <strong>2011</strong><br />
PU blanks are still very much regarded<br />
as the traditional number one choice.<br />
All the manufacturers I consulted<br />
including the iconic Barry Bennett and<br />
Graham King, concur that PU blanks<br />
account for between 70 - 80% of<br />
Australian demand in the marketplace.<br />
Barry’s son Greg told us, “We have<br />
been manufacturing PU blanks at<br />
our Brookvale factory since the 60’s.<br />
Balsa, bamboo, moulded boards,<br />
hollow aluminium boards, and epoxy<br />
materials to name just a few variants,<br />
have come and gone, but we are still<br />
flourishing here today, and more than<br />
8 out of 10 shapers or board riders still<br />
request PU blanks.”<br />
Polyurethane foam blanks are used in<br />
conjunction with polyester resins to<br />
produce what is known in the industry<br />
as a polyester, or PU surfboard.<br />
On December 5, 2005 the massive<br />
Clark Foam factory in the US shut<br />
down suddenly. Clark was the major<br />
manufacturer of PU surfboard blanks<br />
in the US and for many other parts<br />
of the world. Many speculated that<br />
Clark, who maintained a monopoly<br />
on the industry in the US, bailed<br />
out because he was sick of The<br />
Environmental Protection Agency<br />
constantly questioning the safety and<br />
health of the production processes.<br />
Initially, there was a shortage of<br />
polyurethane surfboard foam blanks<br />
in the US, triggering short term panic.<br />
Some Australian blank manufacturers<br />
like Graham King were even flown<br />
over to set up factories across the<br />
Mexican border in Tijuana. However,<br />
within a few months new foam<br />
manufacturers scrambled to set<br />
up factories ensuring Californian<br />
production didn’t really miss a beat.<br />
The more things changed the more<br />
they stayed the same. Though the<br />
debate about potential alternative<br />
materials was reinvigorated<br />
internationally post Clark closure.<br />
Some sectors of the American<br />
surf media polarised opinion by<br />
acknowledging the contributions of<br />
Graham King pours foam<br />
into the blank mould.<br />
Photo: Veage<br />
sep/oct <strong>2011</strong><br />
133
Cut blanks, ready for glue-up with<br />
stringer at South Coast Foam<br />
GEAR: BLANKS<br />
Surftech and their offshore production technique – a hightech<br />
adaptation of the sailboard industry’s epoxy-polystyrene<br />
composite construction, manufactured in Asia.<br />
There were ripple on effects in Australia, but not in the blank<br />
production stakes. It was business as usual in Aus in terms of<br />
the numbers game. Local PU blank manufacturing production<br />
wasn’t effected at all by the Clark closure.<br />
However, post Clark, new players offered innovative imported<br />
alternatives in the Australian marketplace, including Global<br />
Surf Industries and their high profile shaper’s models.<br />
Using the current carbon tax or ETS debate in Australia as an<br />
analogy. The fear of change is inevitable in some, however,<br />
ultimately change and the establishment of a market mechanism<br />
results in healthy competition and innovation. Investment in<br />
enviro friendly sustainable renewables will flourish. The market<br />
will dictate the price.<br />
In the context of the surfboard materials debate, Styrofoam<br />
or indeed other alternatives may or may not prove to be a<br />
sustainable eco- friendly and/or performance enhancing option.<br />
In the end the market place will ultimately decide as per the ETS.<br />
Nev Hyman is a shaper that has always been at the forefront of<br />
scientific innovation. Nev believes there are not too many major<br />
exponential performance benefits to be gained from changes<br />
in shape. Nev said, “The basic design dynamics of today’s<br />
high performance surfboard have been refined to such a high<br />
standard that only incremental improvements can be made.”<br />
There are countless others in the industry who also believe<br />
further forward advancements in performance have to come<br />
from new materials and methods of construction, which in<br />
turn will allow for further changes in shape, and thereby push<br />
performance boundaries forward.<br />
Firewire team rider Taj Burrows enjoys controlled flex that<br />
supposedly does not fatigue over time, and he gets to go free<br />
surfing and tune up for competition on the same boards. But the<br />
fact is most WCT surfers still ride PU boards that are so light,<br />
they have a small amount of flex anyway. Nev points out that<br />
flex comes at the price of durability. Many lightweight PU Pro<br />
boards have to be saved for heats and<br />
that flows down to average Joe’s. I know<br />
I save my favourite light PU boards for<br />
the best days, and I’m closer to average<br />
Joe than being Joe Pro.<br />
Nev doesn’t claim Firewires are<br />
indestructible, but he points out that in<br />
the PU versus FW technology debate,<br />
the enhanced performance of controlled,<br />
sustainable flex, with the correct rate<br />
of rebound, built into a lightweight<br />
and durable FW surfboard cannot be<br />
overestimated.<br />
At the other end of the spectrum custom<br />
craftsman Dick Van Straalen shares<br />
some of Nev’s sentiments in a sense,<br />
but for entirely different reasons, mainly<br />
environmental. Dick said, “The only way<br />
we can change surfing from what it is<br />
today, is to change the materials. We are<br />
dictated to by the materials we use. The<br />
resins many still use in Australia today<br />
are nearly outlawed in many countries<br />
of the world. Epoxy is the friendliest resin<br />
out there. Urethane is gas. Urethane<br />
foam is basically a bunch of gas bubbles<br />
stuck together, as soon as you cut into the<br />
urethane you are releasing cyanide gas.”<br />
Conversely, Steve Barber from Full<br />
Force Surfboards, disagrees with claims<br />
that EPS foam is a safer option when<br />
compared to PU blanks. Steve said,<br />
“A lot of comments are made about<br />
the polyester resins shapers use with<br />
PU blanks and how their high styrene<br />
content is really poisonous. Yet what<br />
these people fail to mention is EPS foam<br />
is actually extruded poly-STYRENE!<br />
The main ingredient is styrene, the<br />
same stuff in polyester resins. When<br />
polyurethane foam is correctly mixed,<br />
the gas in the bubbles is carbon dioxide.<br />
There are no isocyanates in PU blanks if<br />
mixed correctly. As for epoxy resins, yes<br />
the resins used are relatively non-toxic<br />
but they won’t go off without Part B, the<br />
hardener, which is extremely toxic.<br />
Polystyrene Blanks<br />
There are two types of polystyrene<br />
blanks, those made of expanded<br />
polystyrene foam and those made of<br />
extruded polystyrene foam.<br />
EXPANDED POLYSTYRENE<br />
SURFBOARD BLANKS<br />
Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) foam is also<br />
known as beaded foam and features an<br />
open cell core. Surfboard foam blanks<br />
made of expanded polystyrene foam very<br />
briefly, became the major replacement<br />
surfboard blanks over polyurethane<br />
immediately after the closure of Clark<br />
Foam in the US, but within month’s<br />
new PU manufacturers popped up<br />
everywhere.<br />
EPS foam blanks are one of the two<br />
types of surfboard foams that are used<br />
as the core for epoxy surfboards.<br />
A very important difference between a<br />
polyurethane and polystyrene blank is<br />
that traditional polyester resins cannot<br />
be used with a polystyrene blank during<br />
the shaping process. This would cause<br />
134 sep/oct <strong>2011</strong>
EPS Foam Pellets. Photo: Stephen Woolverton<br />
the polystyrene foam to dissolve.<br />
A disadvantage of shaping a<br />
surfboard with EPS foam blank is<br />
that this type of foam can absorb<br />
water very quickly, and is not<br />
totally resistant to compression<br />
and other damage.<br />
However, generally that isn’t<br />
that much of an issue, as the<br />
epoxy resin used to cover that<br />
type of surfboard foam offers a<br />
great deal of protection due to its<br />
hardness.<br />
EPS foam blanks when they<br />
first hit the marketplace were a<br />
slightly cheaper alternative, but<br />
these days PU manufacturers<br />
like King or South Coast Foam<br />
produce a standard “6 3” for<br />
between $65 to $70. Most large<br />
PU blank manufacturers like<br />
King, South Coast Foam, Core<br />
and Bennett etc also offer refined<br />
machine shaped blanks for<br />
around $100.<br />
Carl McCarthy at South Coast<br />
Foam said, “I wouldn’t deny EPS<br />
blanks offer some potential new<br />
developments, but it is kind of a<br />
fashion thing.”<br />
EXTRUDED POLYSTYRENE<br />
SURFBOARD BLANKS<br />
Extruded polystyrene foam is the<br />
other type of polystyrene foam<br />
epoxy blanks are made of.<br />
The major advantage of this type<br />
of polystyrene surfboard blank is<br />
that it has a closed cell structure.<br />
This makes is totally water<br />
repellent. So if you do damage<br />
that extra hard epoxy surfboard<br />
covering there is absolutely no<br />
need to leave the water.<br />
In addition to that impressive<br />
fact, extruded polystyrene foam<br />
is exceptionally strong, and isn’t<br />
damaged as easily as EPS foam<br />
by compressions.<br />
Because extruded foam blanks<br />
are water resistant, surfboards<br />
shaped from these will maintain<br />
their nice white colour, and will<br />
not discolour over the years.<br />
Extruded foam surfboard blanks<br />
therefore generally result in a<br />
faster and higher performance<br />
epoxy surfboard.<br />
Where To Now?<br />
The final word fittingly or<br />
otherwise is reserved for a<br />
veteran of the industry. Greg<br />
Bennett believes none of the<br />
EPS or similar imports contribute<br />
anything to the longevity of the<br />
surfboard industry or the skill set<br />
of its workers in Aus.<br />
When quizzed on the<br />
environmental impact Greg said,<br />
“The reality is in <strong>2011</strong> we can’t<br />
be all innocent, naive and free<br />
like the famous scene featuring<br />
Baddy Treloar sanding a board<br />
outdoors in board shorts in<br />
Morning of the Earth any more.<br />
As per in any industry, you have to<br />
take the necessary precautions,<br />
and have strict industry standards<br />
in place. Yes it can be difficult to<br />
police, but the truth is there is<br />
no way to create a hazard free<br />
surfboard. The enviro benefits<br />
with epoxy are arguably quite<br />
minimal. My dad Barry is nearly<br />
80 years old and he has been in<br />
the game all his life, and he is still<br />
fighting fit.”<br />
Performance then price and<br />
sustainability I suspect will<br />
always be key when it comes to<br />
the future of surfboards, though<br />
that debate like most things in<br />
surfing is extremely subjective.<br />
Beauty they say is in the eye of<br />
the beholder.<br />
sep/oct <strong>2011</strong><br />
135
136 sep/oct <strong>2011</strong>
The original 1994 Powell ad for the<br />
Sidewalk Surfer, featuring Steve Caballero<br />
WHAT’S<br />
IN YOUR<br />
SHED?<br />
It’s amazing what little<br />
treasures lie undiscovered<br />
in the old garden shed<br />
or garage. On a recent<br />
visit to the home of<br />
smorgasboarder writer<br />
Gus Brown, he pulled out<br />
this absolute gem - an<br />
early 90’s Powell Sidewalk<br />
Surfer, complete with oldschool<br />
stickers and stories.<br />
A little rough on the roll<br />
thesedays, this board saw<br />
its share of downhill action<br />
in the streets of Noosa<br />
in its day and has all the<br />
damage to show for it.<br />
“We’d find a good spot<br />
and just go for it,” says<br />
Gus. “ I replaced the back<br />
wheels with smaller ones<br />
to try and make sliding<br />
easier... It didn’t really<br />
work, so we’d just wait for<br />
the uphill to slow down<br />
and breathe out again.”<br />
So, collector-wise, what’s<br />
it worth? Who cares...<br />
The awesomeness of<br />
not-quite-vintage gear is<br />
greater than money.<br />
WHAT’S IN YOUR SHED?<br />
Share the love, laughs and<br />
enjoy 15 minutes of fame. Send<br />
a photo and your own bit of<br />
personal history to:<br />
letters@smorgasboarder.com.au<br />
Main: Arbor rider Katarina Lyerly on the Cross Step 46”<br />
old-school cruiser Photo: Jeff Budro<br />
Right: The cork-deck Rally cruiser... Ecologically sound<br />
and pretty damn cool anyway.<br />
OLD’S COOL<br />
Sticking with the theme of old<br />
guys ripping it up, the friendly<br />
folks at the Boardstore on the<br />
Sunshine Coast reckon that<br />
parents are spending so much<br />
time at the skate park anyway,<br />
that they might as well<br />
re-kindle their former passion<br />
of skating.<br />
For a dad who surfs and<br />
skates, what better new toy<br />
than a cool retro-inspired<br />
skateboard by a classic surf<br />
label like Gordon & Smith?<br />
Check out the exciting new<br />
range of G&S boards that are<br />
sure to get dad off the couch<br />
and out there rolling with the<br />
best of them.<br />
ARBSOLUTE<br />
CORKER<br />
Arbor Skateboard’s <strong>September</strong><br />
collection for Australia has some<br />
crackers in the range. Brand<br />
new models making their debut<br />
include the Rally (bottom) - a<br />
little cruiser featuring a very cool<br />
cork deck, Whiskey - the new<br />
street board, the swallowtail<br />
Mission and the insane<br />
looking downhill machine,<br />
the Vugenhausen. For more<br />
info check out the website at<br />
arborcollective.com/skate<br />
sep/oct <strong>2011</strong><br />
137
138 sep/oct <strong>2011</strong>
SKATE: IMAGES<br />
RIDER: KATE DANIEL<br />
PLACE: Byron Bay Carpark<br />
CRAFT: Early Bamboo Riser<br />
Photo by Flavio Biehl<br />
sep/oct <strong>2011</strong><br />
139
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 04<strong>07</strong> 405 390 or visit<br />
www.smoothstar.com.au<br />
140 sep/oct <strong>2011</strong><br />
Check out video online!
MEET THE TALENT<br />
WORDS: MARK CHAPMAN<br />
MULTI-TASKING MEANS NEVER BEING BORED<br />
We’re all about covering photographic talent. Regular readers will know we give a huge chunk of space in the magazine to showcase surf photographers at all levels of<br />
their career, to put their work and passion on display and more importantly, put a face to the often forgotten names of those people behind the lens. And every week, if<br />
not every day, we also get amazing contributions of photography by readers and hobbyists as well. A few editions back, 18-year old Jarrod Slatter sent us some of his<br />
surfing pics to check out. We loved his stuff, so when we found out a bit more - that he shoots downhill skating, and skates as well - we figured he deserved a proper<br />
intruduction. So here’s Jarrod - the Cairns-born, Buderim-based student, surfer, skater and snapper....<br />
YOU SKATE, SURF AND TAKE PICS...<br />
WHAT’S THE BIGGER RUSH?<br />
That’s a hard one, taking on a hair pin<br />
or steep hill equals the rush of paddling<br />
into a big wave or making a deep barrel.<br />
Both give you that adrenaline rush that<br />
is hard to match with anything else<br />
that I’ve tried. But if I had to choose<br />
one, skating definitely gets my blood<br />
pumping a lot more... There’s nothing like<br />
chucking your board sideways at high<br />
speeds.<br />
WHAT’S YOUR GEAR SETUP?<br />
At the moment I use two cameras, both<br />
with different purposes, but my Pentax<br />
K10D with a 170-500mm Sigma lens<br />
and a 35-80mm Pentax lens is my main<br />
weapon. I also use a Fujifilm HS10 - it’s<br />
used mainly for its HD video.<br />
WHAT GOT YOU INTO<br />
PHOTOGRAPHY AND WHAT ARE<br />
YOUR INSPIRATIONS?<br />
I’ve always been in love with the ocean.<br />
When you see Mooloolaba on a big day<br />
you’ll usually find me out there body<br />
surfing it, I had a love for getting inside<br />
the barrel and just watching it.<br />
So in 2009 I bought myself a little<br />
waterproof camera and tried taking some<br />
photos in there, I ended up breaking six<br />
Olympus µTough camera’s in 2009, so I<br />
decided to upgrade to a DSLR, and from<br />
then on my love for it has been growing.<br />
Clark Little has inspired me ever since I<br />
started, but lately local guys like Matt<br />
O’Brien and Jack Dekort have been my<br />
inspiration.<br />
No slouch on the skatey<br />
either... Jarrod Slider.<br />
Photo: Casey Ripper<br />
sep/oct <strong>2011</strong><br />
141
MEET THE TALENT<br />
WHAT’S YOUR GEAR SETUP<br />
BOARDWISE? FAVOURITE BOARD?<br />
At the moment I’m riding a custom deck<br />
from Skatement Speedboards, which<br />
has gotta be the best board I’ve ever<br />
ridden. It’s got Bear 852 trucks, 81A<br />
Retro Freeride wheels and Bones Swiss<br />
bearings.<br />
HOW DID YOU GET INTO SKATING?<br />
Mates really. We started out on little<br />
Z-Flex-type boards just cruising around,<br />
until I was bombing a hill, got the<br />
wobbles, came off and lost a fair bit of<br />
skin off my back. After that I bought an<br />
old longboard off a mate and yeah, I just<br />
started getting into it more from there.<br />
GIVE US A RUNDOWN ON A<br />
TYPICAL SKATE SESSION<br />
Nothing much to it really. You rock<br />
up with some mates, walk up the hill<br />
brushing any large debris off the road,<br />
put on your gear and skate. There’s<br />
always someone that hurts themselves,<br />
usually me (laughs)... So always have a<br />
first aid kit handy.<br />
WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE PHOTO<br />
YOU’VE TAKEN?<br />
Way too many. But there’s a surf one I<br />
took last year at Broken Head when it<br />
was firing and that’s been published in<br />
a few magazines and websites, that’s<br />
probably my most favourite photo.<br />
Actually you can find it in the 4th issue<br />
of <strong>Smorgasboarder</strong>. (The best place to<br />
see it, of course. Ed)<br />
YOU PLAY GUITAR TOO? SOME<br />
RECOMMENDED TUNES?<br />
Yeah, been playing for a fair while now.<br />
But definitely Jack Johnson, Donavon<br />
Frankenreiter, Angus & Julia Stone, Andy<br />
McKee, John Butler Trio, just to name a<br />
few. I could be here all day talking about<br />
music to you (laughs).<br />
FUTURE PLANS? WHERE CAN<br />
PEOPLE CHECK OUT YOUR STUFF?<br />
Well I’m a second year Structural<br />
Engineering student at the Sunshine<br />
Coast Uni so I plan on going through<br />
with that. As for my surfing, skating,<br />
photography and music, it’s all just<br />
for fun. Keeps me happy, it’s all the<br />
motivation I need to keep on doing it.<br />
You can find my shots at<br />
www.facebook.com/JSphotog, and also<br />
on my blog, JSphotog.tumblr.com.<br />
142 sep/oct <strong>2011</strong>
sep/oct <strong>2011</strong><br />
143
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 <strong>07</strong> 5443 2777<br />
Beach Beat - Caloundra <strong>07</strong> 5491 4711<br />
Beach Beat - Dicky Beach <strong>07</strong> 5491 8215<br />
Coolum Surf - Coolum <strong>07</strong> 5351 1742<br />
Concept Hobbies - Oxenford <strong>07</strong> 5609 7000<br />
Fusion Skate - Mooloolaba 1300 55 69 79<br />
Darkside Skateboards - Miami <strong>07</strong> 5570 1526<br />
Goodtime Surf - Woolloongabba <strong>07</strong> 3391 8588<br />
Hurley Burleigh - Southport <strong>07</strong> 5531 0013<br />
Jetski Warehouse - Labrador <strong>07</strong> 5529 2125<br />
Kirra Surf - Coolangatta <strong>07</strong> 5536 3922<br />
KTM Action Motorcycles - Nerang <strong>07</strong> 5596 6622<br />
KTM - Brisbane <strong>07</strong> 3386 0977<br />
Local Knowledge - Noosa <strong>07</strong> 5474 1222<br />
Local Knowledge - Nobby Beach <strong>07</strong> 5526 6377<br />
Primitive Surf - Nundah <strong>07</strong> 3266 1001<br />
Roar Industries - Currumbin <strong>07</strong> 5525 7003<br />
Roar Watermans – Labrador <strong>07</strong> 5527 1912<br />
Sunshine Coast Kite Surfing <strong>07</strong> 5479 2131<br />
Surf Connect - Brisbane Nth <strong>07</strong> 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 99<strong>07</strong> 2911<br />
D.S.C. Surfboards - Narooma 0424 867 962<br />
Kirra Surf - Coolangatta <strong>07</strong> 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 <strong>07</strong> 839 0368<br />
Takapuna 09 489 9755<br />
Ballistics - Takapuna, Auckland 09 489 4<strong>07</strong>4<br />
Another quality FiiK TM product.<br />
Stockist Enquiries - 1300 344 575<br />
144 sep/oct <strong>2011</strong>
*LITHIUMPOWER ABSREGENERATIVE WIRELESSREMOTE<br />
150 150<br />
sep/oct <strong>2011</strong><br />
145
GEAR: SKATEBOARDS<br />
Check out<br />
youtube.com/earlyskate<br />
for a clip of Early’s<br />
Kate Daniel on the<br />
Bamboo Riser<br />
“THE HUKILAU”<br />
BY KAHUNA<br />
“LOCKED IN MINI“<br />
BY EARLY<br />
“BAMBOO RISER”<br />
BY EARLY<br />
“TB PRO”<br />
BY EARLY<br />
Suits: Barefoot riding,<br />
smooth carving<br />
Specs: 57” x 10” x ¾”<br />
Deck: Hardwood...<br />
Vertically laminated<br />
maple and mahogany.<br />
Trucks: Veloz 180<br />
Bearings: Abec-7<br />
Wheels: Kahuna 70mm<br />
longboard wheels<br />
Description: The “Rolls<br />
Royce” of longboards,<br />
designed by Steve McBride.<br />
Handcrafted ¾” thick solid<br />
stringers, polished with<br />
marine grade polyurethane<br />
to enhance beauty and give<br />
a grip similar to a surfboard.<br />
No grip tape! Logo burned<br />
with branding iron custom<br />
forged at an Ohio cattle<br />
ranch.<br />
Comment: Hands down,<br />
my favorite longboard. A<br />
lot of love goes into each<br />
of these boards. We<br />
do almost all the work<br />
by hand and make sure<br />
each of these boards<br />
are flawless. We are<br />
extremely proud of these<br />
boards and are confident<br />
they won’t disappoint you.<br />
RRP: $199.00<br />
Suits: Surfers and<br />
snowboarders<br />
Dimensions: 26” x 8”<br />
Wheel Base: 14”<br />
Deck: Maple<br />
Wheels: 65mm 78a, prescrubbed<br />
“Gnarlys”<br />
Trucks: 110 old school<br />
“Funster Trucks”<br />
Bearings: Abec-7<br />
Description: The long<br />
awaited Locked In Mini<br />
has been designed and<br />
tested by the Early Team<br />
as a slalom old-school<br />
style board for an<br />
easy, kick around town<br />
alternative.<br />
Comment: This board<br />
has been tested in parks,<br />
drains and driveways with<br />
the front truck riding hard<br />
to the nose for super hard<br />
turns and a unique tail<br />
length for enough ‘pop’<br />
when ollies are needed.<br />
RRP: $239.00<br />
Suits: Surfers and<br />
snowboarders<br />
Dimensions: 40.5” x 9.3”<br />
Wheel Base: 28.5”<br />
Deck: Maple and Bamboo<br />
Wheels: 75mm 78a, prescrubbed<br />
- “Cruisys”<br />
Trucks: 180 Early Trucks<br />
Bearings: Abec-7<br />
Description: The<br />
Bamboo Riser has been<br />
designed and tested<br />
by the Early team as a<br />
super-cruisy style board<br />
with a mix of bamboo and<br />
maple to give unique flex<br />
response.<br />
Comment: This board is<br />
your perfect kick around<br />
town, mixed with a dance<br />
style beach cruise that<br />
will push you with a very<br />
smooth flex.<br />
RRP: $299.00<br />
Suits: Snowboarders,<br />
Speedboarders and surfers<br />
Dimensions: 36.7” x 10.4”<br />
Wheel Base: 29.6”<br />
Deck: Maple<br />
Wheels: 69mm 83a, prescrubbed<br />
- “Blueys”<br />
Trucks: 180 Early Trucks<br />
Bearings: Abec-7<br />
Description: The TB<br />
Pro Model has been<br />
designed by team rider<br />
Torborn Sunde as a short<br />
wheelbase top mount<br />
with ultra concaves and<br />
heavy foot lock for high<br />
speed racing and free ride<br />
sliding.<br />
Comment: Built for high<br />
speed performance, this<br />
Early Pro Model has been<br />
to the bone yard on both<br />
free-ride and racing styles.<br />
KAHUNA STREET SUP<br />
Ph: 0466 264 232<br />
kahuna@streetsup.com.au<br />
www.streetsup.com.au<br />
Check us out on Facebook<br />
EARLY SKATEBOARDS<br />
AUSTRALIA<br />
Buy online now, or RATTLE<br />
DOWN your local Surf or<br />
Skate shop.<br />
Ph: <strong>07</strong> 5522 1898<br />
www.earlyskateboards.com<br />
EARLY SKATEBOARDS<br />
AUSTRALIA<br />
Buy online now, or RATTLE<br />
DOWN your local Surf or<br />
Skate shop.<br />
Ph: <strong>07</strong> 5522 1898<br />
www.earlyskateboards.com<br />
EARLY SKATEBOARDS<br />
AUSTRALIA<br />
Buy online now, or RATTLE<br />
DOWN your local Surf or<br />
Skate shop.<br />
Ph: <strong>07</strong> 5522 1898<br />
www.earlyskateboards.com<br />
146 sep/oct <strong>2011</strong>
With cork deck!<br />
“RALLY”<br />
BY ARBOR<br />
“MISSION GT”<br />
BY ARBOR<br />
“FLYING FISH”<br />
BY SMOOTHSTAR<br />
“BIG DADDY”<br />
BY FiiK ELECTRIC<br />
Suits: Barefoot Rippers<br />
Dimensions: 33.25” x 8.50”<br />
Deck: 7 Ply Maple with a<br />
Cork top sheet<br />
Wheels: 65mm (78a) Arbor<br />
Bio-Urethane Street Series<br />
Trucks: 9’’ Gullwing<br />
Charger<br />
Bearings: Abec-5<br />
Description: BRAND<br />
NEW STREET SKATE! The<br />
cork surface is ideal for<br />
barefoot skating, but can<br />
weather any skate shoe<br />
abuse. Ideal for around<br />
town surf-inspired skating.<br />
Comment: A standout<br />
feature of this board is<br />
the CORK DECK. Cork is<br />
the original renewable<br />
material. It has been used<br />
as a valuable resource for<br />
thousands of years. Cork<br />
is a bark that is harvested<br />
every nine years off cork<br />
oak trees without harming<br />
the tree. Cork is an<br />
excellent natural insulator.<br />
It dampens road vibration,<br />
while providing grip for<br />
barefoot skating.<br />
Suits: Street Cruising<br />
Dimensions: 37.50” x 8.60”<br />
Deck: 7 Ply Maple with<br />
grip tape<br />
Wheels: 65mm (78a) Arbor<br />
Bio-Urethane Street Series<br />
Trucks: 9’’ Gullwing<br />
Charger<br />
Bearings: Abec-5<br />
Description: Arbor’s new<br />
swallowtail - the Mission<br />
GT - with its extended,<br />
concave shape, kicked<br />
tail, and longer wheelbase<br />
is ideal for flat ground<br />
cruising, carving banks,<br />
mellow downhill runs, or<br />
any urban mission.<br />
Comment: The Mission<br />
GT is constructed with<br />
WOOD BY-PRODUCT. All<br />
wood by-product created<br />
during the production<br />
of our skateboards is<br />
reclaimed for use in other<br />
Arbor products or by<br />
outside companies. This<br />
allows Arbor to stretch<br />
an important resource,<br />
while helping to reduce<br />
the strain on landfills and<br />
forests.<br />
Suits: Surfers after<br />
dry-land training and fun.<br />
The Flying Fish is great for<br />
ramps and pools too.<br />
Dimensions:<br />
32” x 10 ¼”<br />
Deck: 9 Ply Deck<br />
Wheels: 35mm rubber<br />
Trucks: 9” Aluminium<br />
back with the unique<br />
FRONT SWIVEL truck<br />
allows for carving.<br />
Bearings: Abec-5<br />
Description: Short<br />
and loose, the Flying<br />
Fish really simulates the<br />
feelign of surfing with it’s<br />
perpetual motion carving,<br />
thanks to the unique truck<br />
system.<br />
Comment: Built for<br />
performance, this is very<br />
responsive, easy turning.<br />
Practise quick bottom<br />
turns and tail slides.<br />
Suits: Hell-men<br />
Dimensions: HUGE<br />
Deck: Canadian Maple<br />
Wheels: Mag Wheels<br />
with pneumatic tyres<br />
Trucks: Huge ones<br />
Power: Sealed lead<br />
acid battery pack with<br />
Wireless remote control.<br />
Description: With its<br />
super powerful 800 watt,<br />
36V motor, this setup<br />
will take you across dirt,<br />
gravel, grass and sand<br />
with ease. Also great<br />
on road. With its large<br />
wheels this will give you<br />
upwards of 12km travel<br />
and up to 40 minutes of<br />
hard skating and up to 50+<br />
minutes of easy cruising.<br />
Comment: Great looking<br />
green skateboard at home<br />
in the bush or on the<br />
blacktop<br />
ARBOR SKATEBOARDS<br />
For local dealer information<br />
please contact us by email:<br />
info@futuresport.com.au,<br />
call 02 4365 1838 or visit<br />
arborcollective.com/skate<br />
ARBOR SKATEBOARDS<br />
For local dealer information<br />
please contact us by email:<br />
info@futuresport.com.au,<br />
call 02 4365 1838 or visit<br />
arborcollective.com/skate<br />
SMOOTHSTAR<br />
SKATEBOARDS<br />
Ph: 04<strong>07</strong> 405 390<br />
www.smoothstar.com.au<br />
FIIK SKATEBOARDS<br />
2/3366 Pacific Highway,<br />
Springwood QLD<br />
Ph: <strong>07</strong> 3208 3208<br />
E: sales@fiikskateboards.com<br />
fiikskateboards.com<br />
sep/oct <strong>2011</strong><br />
147
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 />
TEST<br />
EVERYTHING<br />
THERE’S ALWAYS NEW GEAR TO TRY OUT AND NEW THINGS TO TRY<br />
WITH GEAR WE ALREADY KNOW. WE TEST BOARDS ON THE BEACH<br />
AND IN THE WATER AND CHECK OUT A MAGIC FORCEFIELD...<br />
WORDS: MARK CHAPMAN<br />
BIG DADDY GOES TO THE BEACH<br />
What do you do with an 800w<br />
electric skateboard with giant offroad<br />
tyres? Well, take it off-road<br />
of course! So down to the sand<br />
it was with two FiiK Big Daddy<br />
boards and the singularly bright<br />
idea of burning up the beach on<br />
these bad boys.<br />
We picked low-ish tide to make<br />
the most of the more compact<br />
sand, because, while the boards<br />
look like 4x4s, they’re driven<br />
forward by a single wheel<br />
connected to the motor, so they’re<br />
not going to get you over the<br />
soft sand. This would have been<br />
helpful considering they weigh in<br />
at 33kgs and we got our workout<br />
Guest test-pilot Marcus<br />
spraying some sand<br />
for the day lugging them over the<br />
dunes. But we’re tough. Really.<br />
We realised pretty quick that<br />
digging trenches and spraying<br />
sand was as much fun as cruising<br />
along the waterline... so we did it.<br />
When the novelty of building<br />
sandcastles with a skateboard<br />
wore off, we gave the boards a<br />
run along the water. Highlights<br />
included being really loose and<br />
able to slide the board out like a<br />
sidewinder. Scary bits included<br />
almost getting swamped by an<br />
incoming wave. The board stayed<br />
dry, fortunately.<br />
With a park just behind the dunes,<br />
it wasn’t too long before we<br />
dragged the boards back over and<br />
hit the lawn for some off-road<br />
action that didn’t involve draining<br />
saltwater from the battery pack.<br />
Chewing up and spitting out lawn,<br />
roads and concrete pathways,<br />
the Big Daddy shows it can<br />
pretty much handle most terrain<br />
with ease. Bumps? Gutters? No<br />
problems. The board is as much<br />
fun for tearing about as it is<br />
functional for nipping to the shops<br />
for some bread or the latest edition<br />
of smorgasboarder. Six stars out<br />
of five any day.<br />
Test-pilot Pete getting grass<br />
burns off the Big Daddy.<br />
Bogan beach burnouts... Yeehaw<br />
There is only one original ...<br />
Surf Travel Company<br />
148 sep/oct <strong>2011</strong><br />
Smorgasboard_1/4pages_D01.indd 1 13/06/11 6:00 PM
THE YELLOW<br />
SUP-MARINE<br />
WORDS: DAVE SWAN<br />
must admit to being a bit of sceptic when I first saw<br />
the SUP 10. I mean, was a stand up paddleboard that<br />
resembled a kayak really going to take off?<br />
From the minute I brought it home for my weekend<br />
test run, I knew my initial perceptions were way off<br />
the mark.<br />
My three young kids were immediately clambering<br />
over each other to be the first to test it out. My<br />
youngest Sam won the coin toss and as such, off<br />
we went down to Currimundi Lake to take it for<br />
a paddle. Now Sam has been a little unsure and<br />
unsteady on his feet on all other SUPs we have<br />
tried to date but he took to the SUP 10 like a duck to<br />
water, pardon the pun (my son’s name is Sam Swan).<br />
You see the way the board is designed makes it<br />
super stable for the novice. It’s wide, has good<br />
flotation and a fixed keel so it doesn’t move around<br />
too much. It is perfectly suited to those looking to<br />
try stand up who are content to paddle around in the<br />
still waters of a nearby river, lake or dam whilst they<br />
build their confidence.<br />
As for any water mad family like mine, it is an<br />
essential addition to the quiver. It’s always special to<br />
spend fun times like this with your wife and kids and<br />
share your love of all things surf related.<br />
The SUP 10 has<br />
storage area for gear<br />
and carry handles for<br />
easy lugging.<br />
Rota-molded plastic<br />
makes the SUP-10<br />
extremely strong,<br />
durable and relatively<br />
lightweight.<br />
EASY LIKE SUNDAY MORNING<br />
Having only met Paul Carson late last year, I have<br />
quickly become a big fan of his commitment<br />
to quality craftsmanship. He’s a one-man<br />
band but when you see him work, he takes no<br />
shortcuts. Every aspect of crafting a surfboard is<br />
meticulously completed step by step.<br />
So when Paul handed me a new design of his to<br />
take for a test run, I was out the door and had put<br />
it in my car before he got a chance to talk about<br />
its design.<br />
Apart from being one of the sexiest boards I<br />
have seen (I love resin tints) it just had a really<br />
nice plan shape. A somewhat retro design with<br />
modern day refinements, it featured a single<br />
to double concave with a diamond tail and<br />
signature Paul Carson channel. The ride? Mellow.<br />
Perfect for the many beachies in my area and<br />
Moffat Beach point breaks, it was a relaxing ride.<br />
Its volume enabled you to get on waves easy and<br />
then she accelerated well. The rounded rails,<br />
allowed you to perform nice big arcing turns.<br />
I took her for a wave down at Currumbin before<br />
the wood board expo and had just as much fun.<br />
Each time I rode it, I found myself singing, “Easy<br />
like Sunday morning”, coincidentally on a Sunday<br />
morning. It’s a great shortboard cruiser providing<br />
the rider with a great way to spend a Sunday.<br />
sep/oct <strong>2011</strong><br />
149
CHASING<br />
THE TAIL<br />
BY DAVE SWAN<br />
On a recent visit down the<br />
Far South Coast of NSW I<br />
managed to convince Jed Done<br />
to lend me a couple of his<br />
finless boards.<br />
His factory houses countless<br />
surfboards, all testament to<br />
his continual experimentation<br />
with surfboard design. I<br />
applaud shapers like Jed and<br />
their willingness to push the<br />
boundaries of design. Their<br />
dedication to exploration is<br />
often the catalyst in unearthing<br />
startling surfboard innovations.<br />
Rumbling through Jed’s shed<br />
I found a 5’8” finless flextail<br />
(5’4” if you exclude the flextail)<br />
that spiked my interest.<br />
Since that day, I’ve struggled<br />
to surf any other board during<br />
my two-month loan of it. It<br />
just had a real nice feel to it.<br />
It surfed like a fish but with<br />
this nice little tail slide as you<br />
eased down the face.<br />
Once you righted the board<br />
you could set her up for a<br />
360° near the lip and keep<br />
surfing. It suited fuller waves<br />
with a bit of power to carry<br />
you out of each turn. When<br />
you planted your foot near the<br />
flextail it allowed the board to<br />
accelerate and hold.<br />
Definitely one of my favourite<br />
boards I’ve tested this year.<br />
Flipside view<br />
of the flex<br />
tail<br />
THE<br />
SHARK-ZAPPER<br />
BY DAVE SWAN<br />
I decided to test my Shark Shield in<br />
the perfect conditions – an overcast,<br />
rainy day, late afternoon, murky<br />
water and a million miles from South<br />
Australia. Hey, I am happy to test it<br />
on a couple of small fry Queensland<br />
bull sharks, not those bloody ‘whale<br />
with teeth’ South Australian numbers<br />
described by John Hinks in our ‘Fear<br />
Beneath’ shark story.<br />
SO HOW DID I FEEL?<br />
Well this question is probably best<br />
answered in three parts.<br />
Did I feel like a bit of a tool carrying<br />
my board down to the water with a<br />
shark shield device fitted? Yes.<br />
If I was all by myself surfing a remote<br />
break in WA I would feel cool.<br />
Heading out in Caloundra on a rainy<br />
afternoon? I found myself covering the<br />
device as I walked down the beach.<br />
It kind of goes against the grain of the<br />
macho surfer image, not that I have<br />
long blonde hair, a muscley tanned<br />
physique and a pro-styled board. I am<br />
bald and in my forties for goodness<br />
sake. None-the-less I was covering it<br />
up to shield my manhood.<br />
Did it make me feel confident enough<br />
to go for a midnight paddle? No.<br />
It may transmit an electronic field that<br />
messes with the shark’s electromagnetic<br />
sensors but it doesn’t stop<br />
the theme song of Jaws from playing<br />
in my head.<br />
But yes, it did make me feel more<br />
confident surfing in horrible conditions,<br />
late in the day…. in Queensland.<br />
WHAT ELSE? HOW ABOUT THE<br />
WEIGHT OF THE DEVICE?<br />
Negligible. I noticed it a little carrying<br />
my board down the beach, but once in<br />
the water, not at all. Sure, if I was a<br />
competitive surfer, I might notice the<br />
1/1000 million of a kg but I didn’t. It<br />
actually weighs under 355g and 69g in<br />
the water.<br />
DID IT GET IN THE WAY?<br />
I don’t usually surf with a tail pad and<br />
as such, I found it helped to position<br />
my feet. The actual device sits behind<br />
the tail pad. I didn’t find it got in the<br />
way at all.<br />
DID I FEEL IT IN THE WATER?<br />
The device actually creates tiny, little<br />
bubbles when it is in the water. That’s<br />
apparently the electronic field in<br />
action. When it’s on, there is a solid<br />
green light on the device. When the<br />
battery is low, it flashes red.<br />
I found myself constantly looking<br />
at the device to see whether it was<br />
active. It caused my mind to drift and<br />
consider how great it would be if the<br />
unit actually detected the presence<br />
of sharks.<br />
I thought to myself, “Imagine if it<br />
flashed orange the second a shark was<br />
a couple of metres away.” Then again, I<br />
thought, “If that were the case I would<br />
never get a chance to enjoy my surf.<br />
If it was going off every few seconds<br />
you would be thinking you were in the<br />
middle of a feeding frenzy. You could<br />
never enjoy your surf. What if the<br />
bubbles actually attracted the sharks<br />
before the electronic pulse scared<br />
them away?” All this was going<br />
through my head.<br />
The end result is that various scientific<br />
tests have proven the Shark Shield is<br />
effective. And I believe it is. I wouldn’t<br />
test it on a 15 ft charging Great White,<br />
but I don’t think anything would stop<br />
that anyway.<br />
150 sep/oct <strong>2011</strong>
Photo: Terry Goss<br />
HOW DO YOU<br />
TIE A QUICK TOURNIQUET?<br />
CLOSEOUT: FIRST AID<br />
I think we all crave a bit of danger. Perhaps our lives<br />
have become too safe and comfy; our senses dulled.<br />
We secretly yearn for risk and excitement.... Like a<br />
swim in a dark night in the open ocean.<br />
WORDS BY DR. PETE KIRKHAM<br />
TEST CASES<br />
It was disturbing and sad to<br />
hear, Peter Clarkson, the man<br />
who testified to the device’s<br />
effectiveness in warding off large<br />
predatory sharks, after a close<br />
encounter with a Great White in<br />
WA, was in fact attacked by two<br />
Great Whites in tandem at Coffin<br />
Bay in South Australia. He was<br />
wearing a Shark Shield. Whether or<br />
not the device was turned on was<br />
never determined.<br />
The question as to why in hell it<br />
wouldn’t be turned on puzzles me.<br />
In fairness, there are numerous other<br />
South Australian abalone divers on<br />
the shark shield website<br />
www.sharkshield.com all testifying<br />
to its effectiveness.<br />
Interestingly, the director of Shark<br />
Shield, Rob Hartley, states on<br />
their website, “Company policy is<br />
to recommend the use of Shark<br />
Shield against sharks only in their<br />
investigative mode if possible.”<br />
SO IS IT EFFECTIVE IN<br />
WARDING OFF PREDATORY<br />
SHARKS?<br />
The store from which I bought the<br />
device spoke of customers swearing<br />
as to its effectiveness. Many divers<br />
who work in the Maroochydore<br />
area assisting with the installation<br />
of pontoons and jetties had tired<br />
of constantly being bumped by bull<br />
sharks in the canals. The device<br />
stopped them doing so. Some<br />
trawler workers had also strapped<br />
several shark shields to their nets<br />
to stop sharks attacking their catch<br />
with much success.<br />
As for surfing, it is said the device<br />
is most effective when the board is<br />
stationary with the device dangling<br />
down beneath the board protecting<br />
the surfer from a surprise attack,<br />
which is fair enough. It is not as<br />
effective when the device is trailing<br />
behind because the 3-5m perimeter<br />
would near exclude the surfer who<br />
is paddling their board.<br />
From my recollection, this is when<br />
the majority of surfers are attacked,<br />
when they are paddling out the<br />
back, after a wave.<br />
CARE INSTRUCTIONS<br />
They say to always test your battery<br />
life. Check.<br />
Whilst stating the obvious, it’s a good<br />
point. Don’t waste your money and<br />
effort if you are not going to ensure<br />
the device is on.<br />
Don’t kink the line. You don’t<br />
want to damage it any shape or<br />
form because you don’t want it<br />
malfunctioning when you need it<br />
most. Fair point.<br />
Always wash the unit in fresh water.<br />
VERDICT<br />
It probably works but to be honest I<br />
didn’t really test it man vs. shark.<br />
I can say it is relatively lightweight,<br />
doesn’t get in the way and certainly<br />
makes me feel more confident in<br />
sketchy conditions. But would I put<br />
my body and board in the path of a<br />
big Great White? Not a chance on<br />
this earth.<br />
The thrill tinged with a quiet menace of the unknown in the blackness below.<br />
Nothing awakens our primeval soul more than facing nature’s edge. But<br />
while we relish the excitement in our brush with nature, we like to keep the<br />
danger measured. We’d personally prefer not to get bitten by a shark, even<br />
though we know it might happen the very next time we go out.<br />
Part of the genius behind the film Jaws was the ominous score by John<br />
Williams. The main “shark” theme is a simple alternating pattern of two<br />
notes E and F played on a tuba, yet it’s masterful. Williams described the<br />
theme as having the effect of grinding away at you, instinctual, relentless,<br />
unstoppable. And we’ve all done a rendition of it. Including in the sea and<br />
at night! And what are our chances of getting bitten? Well, higher than the<br />
raw statistics might suggest.<br />
The data would have it that our chance is lower that getting struck by<br />
lightning. But that is an average for everyone, including someone who’s<br />
never left Alice Springs. For a regular surfer the chances are proportionately<br />
much higher that getting struck by lightning. And what would it really be<br />
like, to experience a shark attack? Well apparently it is a uniquely horrific<br />
experience.<br />
When researching this article I found a fascinating but unnerving website<br />
called sharkattacksurvivors.com. Real shark attack survivors write about their<br />
experience in their own words and graphic photos are included.<br />
If you end up becoming a contributor to this website, well at least you’ve<br />
survived. Can I offer any useful tips to help you be able to tell your tale? Not<br />
especially but do try and get back to the beach fast and stem the bleeding by<br />
whatever means you can. People usually die by bleeding to death, so this is<br />
one situation where applying a tourniquet is justified.<br />
1. Get a towel and roll it lengthways (making it long and thin). Tie it once<br />
4cm above the wound.<br />
2. Then make the tourniquet as tight as possible by placing a stick on top of<br />
the first knot (lengthways to the limb) and tie another knot on top of the stick.<br />
3. Finally twist the stick round and the touniquet will get much tighter; the<br />
stick acts as a tourque.<br />
It’s much easier to do on your buddy’s bitten limb rather than your own! Just<br />
a quick trip to the hospital for a drip/blood transfusion, stitches, pain relief<br />
and antibiotics and then you can savour the euphoria of survival!<br />
Dr. Pete Kirkham is a general<br />
practitioner at Nambour<br />
Medical Centre.<br />
www.skinclearclinic.com.au<br />
sep/oct <strong>2011</strong><br />
151
Nose & Paddle Guards,<br />
Rail Tape & Leash Plugs<br />
History...<br />
A little bit of<br />
There are just some boards that get people excited at the very mention on<br />
their name. The Stinger seems to be one of them. Thousands of kilometres<br />
apart, André Marsaus of Underground Surf and Craig Baird of Surf World<br />
Torquay both sing the praises of the cheeky 1970’s design.<br />
Pro Teck Fins<br />
I’VE BEEN STUNG<br />
WORDS: ANDRÉ MARSAUS<br />
Travel Safe Repair Kts<br />
A high gloss red, stepped-bottom ‘75 Stinger has<br />
been on display in the shop for a couple of months<br />
now and has created a heap of interest since it<br />
came through the door.<br />
It was time I took this baby out for a burl.<br />
I paddled out in some solid surf at Kirra point, took<br />
the drop and made my first bottom turn... it took<br />
off! It’s highly maneuverable as far as single fins go<br />
and totally addictive. I’ve had one in the collection<br />
at home for years and I’m pulling it out, it’s time it<br />
got wet!<br />
Made famous by Ben Aipa during the 70’s, The<br />
Sting is said to be responsible for the hotdogging<br />
generation in Hawaii. Surfed by revolutionary<br />
shortboard surfers like Buttons Kaluhiokalani, Larry<br />
Bertleman, Mark Liddel, Dane Kealoha and Michael<br />
Ho, it was far ahead of its time.<br />
Ben shaped the ‘Stinger’, as it’s referred to by most<br />
people outside of Hawaii these days, with a short<br />
swallow tail, step bottom and stings (wings) a third<br />
of the way from the tail.<br />
While most other surfers were riding pintail guns<br />
Aipa was shaping boards and being inspired by a<br />
young Larry Bertleman surfing Diamond Head. Ben<br />
watched Larry with his long roundhouse cutbacks<br />
and low hand-dragging turns with his hand in the<br />
water and trying to hit whitewater.<br />
Aipa watched Larry’s turns and sensed something<br />
was missing. He went back to the shaping bay and<br />
drew up an outline of a swallow tail board. When<br />
he looked closer, he realised Larry needed more<br />
draw, so he straightened out the tail by placing a<br />
break in the rail line one inch in depth and a third of<br />
the way up from the swallow tail. So basically your<br />
feet go halfway between either side of this point.<br />
Aipa then thought about hydrofoil boats and after<br />
looking at 15 or so he came away with the cutaway<br />
concept. The combination resulted in a board Aipa<br />
christened the ‘Sting’ when he described Bertleman<br />
‘stinging’ the wave.<br />
The first the rest of the world saw of the new Stings<br />
was in ’72 at the world contest in San Diego. Michael<br />
Ho and Larry Bertleman started ripping on their little<br />
swallow tail Stings and winning all their heats. The next<br />
thing you know guys started rolling up with boards with<br />
swallows cut into them. Ho and Bertleman made the<br />
final and everyone was stoked with the new ‘Stings’.<br />
After this the new crew of Buttons, Liddel<br />
and Kealoha started surfing Aipa’s boards and<br />
dominating. Then the young Mark Richards met<br />
Aipa, they quickly hit it off, and MR started riding<br />
the Stings that helped him launch his era of<br />
competitive world dominance. Aipa’s Stings also<br />
influenced MR with his world renowned twin fins<br />
that he proceeded to win four world titles on.<br />
Ben Aipa has passed on his design wisdom to many<br />
shapers of note. Today he is one of the most stoked<br />
surfers in the world and has coached, shaped and<br />
influenced some of the greatest surfers on the<br />
planet. His tireless devotion to surfing has set new<br />
standards in competitive surfing and shaping and<br />
he has dominated the Masters division in Hawaii.<br />
After four decades of shaping and surfing Aipa is<br />
one of the true legends.<br />
So if you get the opportunity to ride a Stinger<br />
one day, take it out in some solid swell, picture<br />
Bertleman or Buttons in one of those old-school<br />
movies and let it take you for an epic ride.<br />
SURFTECH AUSTRALIA<br />
www.surftechaustralia.com.au<br />
152 jul/aug <strong>2011</strong><br />
02 4226 1322<br />
New surf shop, old-school feel<br />
3/31 McLean St, Coolangatta, QLD Ph: <strong>07</strong> 5599 1040
MR wailing on the King Kong<br />
Stinger at the ‘77 Stubbies final<br />
Image © courtesy of Murray Purtell<br />
- SurfWorld Museum Collection<br />
THE FIRST<br />
DREAM BOARD<br />
WORDS: CRAIG BAIRD<br />
CLOSEOUT: HISTORY<br />
The ‘75 stinger that<br />
inspired the piece<br />
In 1977 I was 17 years old and frothing at the<br />
thought of getting my hands on my very own<br />
Sting. I had seen the little Aipa rocket ships that<br />
Bertlemann, Mark Liddell, Buttons and Mark<br />
Richards were riding in the magazines and I was<br />
desperate to get one.<br />
A neighbor of mine, Tony Macleod, built boards<br />
in a shed in his back yard pumping out advanced<br />
bits of gear like sub-6’ stinger fishes, so Tony’s<br />
boards just fed the fire. I ordered a Rod Brooks<br />
6’4” swallow tailed Sting with a step in the<br />
bottom and a spray job I designed myself. All I<br />
had to do then was wait. Tony shaped the board<br />
at Fred Pyke’s factory in Torquay. I dropped in<br />
there during the school holidays to check on<br />
progress only to discover that the board had<br />
somehow slipped off the stands and snapped<br />
off the tip of one swallow, so the wait went on<br />
while repairs were made.<br />
In my mind this board was going to be epic,<br />
and while waiting I began to do some sketches<br />
of how I thought the board would perform,<br />
visualizing the performance increases I was<br />
imagining. Of course when I finally got to ride<br />
the board I was primed. In truth it was my first<br />
dream board, a huge advance in performance<br />
over what I had ridden previously.<br />
The stepped bottom seemed to accelerate the<br />
board through turns with the sting providing a<br />
pivot point and that weird sensation of a board<br />
with a split personality. Up front it was soft and<br />
full and floaty, step back and the thing had bite,<br />
I loved it!<br />
It was such a great step forward although<br />
as the surf got overhead the Sting started to<br />
skate a bit through turns, a weird sensation but<br />
predictable and fun. I ran the board with the fin<br />
jammed all the way forward in the finbox which<br />
meant that if you pushed it really hard you could<br />
overpower it and it would spin out, but it was<br />
just so much fun to ride.<br />
The broken swallow of course kept snapping<br />
off and there were so many surfs where I left<br />
the water with my feet bleeding from being<br />
whacked on the swallows as I got to my feet, I<br />
still have a lattice work of fine scars on my feet<br />
from being bitten by the sting.<br />
I had a number of other Stingers, a Mike Davis<br />
board with multi phase bottom that had chine<br />
rails a huge concave under the front foot and a<br />
step running into vee at the tail, a Wave Crest<br />
Hawaii board and a pink pigment Aipa Sting<br />
that had chine rails and flat vee running the full<br />
length of the board. The Aipa was unbelievably<br />
loose and the Mike Davis was a thing of beauty,<br />
but nothing matched that neat little 6’4”.<br />
Tony encouraged me to shape my own Sting<br />
which was a disaster. I set up a tent in the back<br />
yard and attacked the foam with just about<br />
any tools I could find, none of them suitable for<br />
shaping surfboards. The board ended up with<br />
groovy hand drawn logos, ripped off from some<br />
Roger Dean artwork, but the stings were too far<br />
up from the tail (shaping rule No 1: Once you<br />
take the foam away you can’t put it back) and<br />
we jammed a 15 inch fin box in it.<br />
Tony glassed it in his shed using dark blue pigment<br />
to cover up the butchered blank and I ended up<br />
spraying a fading lightning bolt pattern around<br />
the rails on the bottom. It was not a handsome<br />
surfboard, but the good news was that it went<br />
better than it looked but I had already learnt a big<br />
lesson, I was no shaper. I was just left wishing that<br />
I had hung on to my first little dream board that<br />
6’4” Rod Brooks Sting.<br />
Brought to you by<br />
Underground Surf<br />
“...THAT WEIRD SENSATION OF A<br />
BOARD WITH A SPLIT PERSONALITY.”<br />
TOP: Blue lighting bolts forgive mistakes.<br />
LEFT: Craig shows off his handiwork.<br />
FAR LEFT: Inspirred planning<br />
RETRO LONGBOARDS & SHORTBOARDS • NEW & CUSTOM BOARDS • BOARD<br />
HIRE • REPAIRS• SKATEBOARDS • CLOTHING • AND MUCH MORE...<br />
WWW.UNDERGROUNDSURF.COM.AU<br />
jul/aug <strong>2011</strong><br />
153
CLOSEOUT: PEOPLE<br />
THE QUEEN BEE OF BIKINIS<br />
Last summer, we featured some of the cracking swimwear and surf-specific bikinis produced by Noosa label<br />
Hive Swimwear. With the warmer months here and people getting ready to shed the jumpers and hit the<br />
beach again, we decided to have a chat to the lady behind the label, Kat Hogg.<br />
Kat has an intricate knowledge of swimwear designed to stay on in the surf. While working as a surf<br />
instructor, it became obvious to her that women need swimwear that survives duck diving, being dumped<br />
and generally being active in the water. So in 2005, Kat founded Hive Swimwear...“Swimwear that Sticks”.<br />
MAIN: Kat Hogg is no slouch in the<br />
water herself and ABOVE: The face<br />
behind Hive Swimwear, Kat Hogg.<br />
WHAT MAKES HIVE SPECIAL?<br />
Well, it’s focused on function. Whilst<br />
we have many styles, we do have<br />
strap configurations which allow for a<br />
customised and secure fit for all sizes,<br />
so they stay on. We use the best lycra<br />
available to ensure optimal performance.<br />
Plus, Hive Swimwear is ultra comfy.<br />
Girls love it. We use the best<br />
manufacturing processes available,<br />
there are many components - good<br />
quality lycra, attention to cut, fully lined<br />
garments and a variety of styles.<br />
TELL US ABOUT THE PRINTS<br />
All of our prints are unique and<br />
exclusive. My inspiration follows<br />
the latest fashion trends in Europe<br />
and Brazil. We also meet the market<br />
demands and continue some basic<br />
black, blue and pink colour palettes<br />
which are always popular.<br />
SO, WHAT’S NEW THIS SEASON?<br />
The <strong>2011</strong>/12 collection has an ultra<br />
chlorine resistant range of swimwear<br />
which is available in ladies and girls<br />
sizes. Ultra chlorine resistant lycra<br />
is made up of 47% PBT and 53%<br />
polyester and is very durable. The fabric<br />
technology allows for better printing<br />
options. We love bright colours!<br />
In our surfing range, Hive has a new<br />
1.0mm neoprene performance short<br />
and 1.5mm rash shirt called the<br />
Ectotherm. Very exciting. This will<br />
extend the swimwear season. We<br />
also have a range including basic<br />
beachwear.<br />
YOU HAD A VIRAL YOUTUBE VID?<br />
We produce all our own videos and<br />
images. It’s lots of fun. The <strong>2011</strong><br />
Fashion TV shoot was filmed with a<br />
remote control copter and it seems that<br />
people loved it online. It showcased<br />
some of our beautiful Hive team riders<br />
and demonstrated the versatility of the<br />
collection.<br />
SO, WHERE’S THE BEST PLACE TO<br />
GET YOUR HANDS ON HIVE?<br />
We supply over 70 stores nationally<br />
with a mix of surf stores and swimwear<br />
specialists. The word of mouth is<br />
spreading quickly though.<br />
Stockist details are all online at<br />
www.hiveswimwearnew.com,<br />
where you can also watch the videos.<br />
154 sep/oct <strong>2011</strong>
YOU ARE TOIGHT LIKE A TOIGER?<br />
HOW TO USE FOAM ROLLING TO KEEP YOUR MUSCLES LOOSE AND INJURY FREE WORDS: CLAYTON BEATTY<br />
CLOSEOUT: FITNESS<br />
Tight, overactive muscles... We all have them<br />
somewhere in our body... Tight hamstrings, stiff<br />
shoulders, tight calf muscles, a stiff back.<br />
For me the issue has always been tight hip flexors.<br />
Playing too much sport always lead to my hip muscles<br />
getting stiff and sore and sometimes this has put me<br />
out of action with injury. Over the years I tried various<br />
physiotherapists and chiropractors with varying<br />
degrees of success, but who would have thought<br />
I could have saved all those consultations with a<br />
simple chunk of round foam?<br />
Enter the “Foam Roller.” When I first got shown one<br />
of these a few years ago I was sceptical to say the<br />
least. But after trying it out several times on my tight<br />
muscles I was hooked! Now anytime I feel my hips<br />
start to tighten up, I simply grab my foam roller and a<br />
few minutes later they are pain free and loose again!<br />
The technical term for foam rolling is Self-Myofascial<br />
Release (SMR). The idea is that you use the foam<br />
roller to massage your tight muscles by rolling on<br />
top of it. It’s basically like giving yourself a sports<br />
massage (but for a fraction of the cost). By rolling<br />
on the tight, overactive areas of your muscle, you<br />
decrease the density of the muscle, which helps it to<br />
loosen up.<br />
This is important for any surfer because tight muscles<br />
can restrict your surfing performance and even lead<br />
to extra time out of the water due to injury. We all<br />
know the benefit of having flexible muscles and<br />
mobile joints, however many of us don’t do enough to<br />
improve in this area.<br />
So if you want to fast-track the process and free up<br />
your stiff muscles in record time, grab yourself a foam<br />
roller (order online or purchase from your local fitness<br />
store) and have a go at some of the exercises.<br />
GUIDELINES FOR FOAM ROLLING<br />
• Foam rolling can be done before or<br />
after exercise/surfing<br />
• Foam rolling works great before<br />
stretching<br />
• Let your bodyweight push down on<br />
the roller and roll up and down the<br />
muscle<br />
• Focus on any trigger points (knots in<br />
the muscle)<br />
• Roll on each area for 30-60 seconds<br />
(or longer if you need)<br />
• Don’t roll over bones or joints<br />
• Don’t roll on recently injured areas<br />
3. CALVES<br />
3. GLUTES<br />
1. QUADS<br />
2. UPPER BACK<br />
3. IT BAND<br />
3. LATS<br />
TRAINING<br />
TIP<br />
TRY THESE ROLLS WHENEVER YOU FEEL MUSCLE STIFFNESS<br />
COMING ON. THE RESULTS MIGHT SURPRISE YOU<br />
Clayton Beatty is a qualified Exercise Scientist with a BSc Human Movement Degree from the University of WA and is a member of Exercise and Sports Science<br />
Australia (ESSA). He runs Total Surfing Fitness, created to help surfers improve their skills and reduce the risk of injury.<br />
We’re all keen to improve our surfing, so check out his website for surf-specific functional training exercises. Go to<br />
TotalSurfingFitness.com, and there’s even a free sample workout to get you started.<br />
sep/oct <strong>2011</strong><br />
155
SURF DIRECTORY<br />
Pick up the next edition of smorgasboarder at any of these fine businesses - out in November.<br />
Businesses that advertise in smorgasboarder allow us to bring you the magazine for FREE. So, be sure to support them!<br />
QLD CENTRAL COAST<br />
REEF 2 BEACH SURF SHOP <strong>07</strong> 4974 9<strong>07</strong>2<br />
Shop 1, 10 Round Hill Road Agnes<br />
Water/1770 www.reef2beachsurf.com<br />
SUNSHINE COAST<br />
NOOSA SURF WORKS <strong>07</strong> 5474 4567<br />
1/11 Bartlett St, Noosaville www.<br />
shotgunsurf.com www.lagunabaysurf.com<br />
WATERLINE <strong>07</strong> 5474 1010 - 2/15 Venture Dr,<br />
Noosaville, www.zeewetsuits.com<br />
ILLUSIONS NOOSA 0488 686 206<br />
2/2 Venture Dve, Noosaville & Shop 28<br />
Sunshine Beach Rd, Noosa Junction<br />
www.illusionsnoosa.com.au<br />
CLASSIC MALIBU AUSTRALIA <strong>07</strong> 5474 3122<br />
Cnr Gibson and Eumundi Rds, Noosaville,<br />
www.classicmalibu.com<br />
ADVENTURE SPORTS NOOSA <strong>07</strong> 5455 6677<br />
Shop 6A, 203 Gympie Terrace, Noosaville<br />
www.kitesurfaustralia.com.au<br />
LOCAL KNOWLEDGE <strong>07</strong> 5474 1222<br />
3 Gibson Rd, Noosaville<br />
GOLDEN BREED <strong>07</strong> 5455 3722 - 15 Noosa Dr,<br />
Noosa Heads, www.goldenbreed.com.au<br />
NOOSA LONGBOARDS <strong>07</strong> 5447 2828<br />
2/55 Hastings St, Noosa Heads<br />
www.noosalongboards.com<br />
SURF SHOP <strong>07</strong> 5471 3489 - 224 David Low<br />
Way, Peregian Beach, www.surf-shop.org<br />
COOLUM SURF <strong>07</strong> 5351 1742 - Birtwill St<br />
Coolum Beach www.alexsurfshop.com.au<br />
BLUE LINES <strong>07</strong> 5351 1986 - 1776 The<br />
Esplanade, Coolum Beach<br />
WALLY’S WATER GALLERY <strong>07</strong> 5448 8560<br />
6 Lorraine Beach, Marcoola Beach<br />
OLD WOMAN SURF SHOP <strong>07</strong> 5448 7025<br />
15 Mudjimba Esp, Mudjimba<br />
WEIR’S INSIDE EDGE <strong>07</strong> 5443 4143<br />
14 Memorial Ave, Maroochydore<br />
DA BOMB <strong>07</strong> 5451 0620 - 3/25 Plaza Pde,<br />
Maroochydore & <strong>07</strong> 5437 9201 - 7/12<br />
Thunderbird Dr, Bokarina<br />
www.dabombsurf.com.au<br />
OCEAN ADDICTS <strong>07</strong> 5309 6624 -<br />
103-105 Aerodrome Rd, Maroochydore<br />
www.oceanaddicts.com.au<br />
ALTERNATIVE SURF <strong>07</strong> 5475 4811<br />
11/140 Alexandra Pde, Alexandra Headland<br />
BEACH BEAT <strong>07</strong> 5443 2777 - 164 Alexandra<br />
Pde, Alexandra Headlands; <strong>07</strong> 5491 8215 -<br />
4-6 Beerburrum St, Dicky Beach<br />
<strong>07</strong> 5491 4711 - 119 Bulcock St, Caloundra<br />
www.beachbeat.com.au<br />
ALEX SURF <strong>07</strong> 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 <strong>07</strong> 5476 6200 Shop 5,<br />
Buderim Marketplace Buderim<br />
www.surfplanet.com.au<br />
THE FACTORY <strong>07</strong> 5492 5838 - 15 Allen St,<br />
Caloundra thefactorysurf.com.au<br />
SLS SURFBOARDS 0424 314 183<br />
2/57 George St, Moffat Beach www.<br />
slssurfboards.com.au<br />
SURFWARE AUSTRALIA <strong>07</strong> 5491 3620<br />
2 Bulcock St, Caloundra<br />
BRISBANE<br />
PRIMITIVE SURF <strong>07</strong> 3266 1001 - 601<br />
Nudgee Rd, Nundah primitivesurf.com<br />
GOODTIME SURF & SAIL <strong>07</strong> 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 <strong>07</strong> 32<strong>07</strong> 0116 - 51 Ziegenfusz Rd,<br />
Thornlands www.codsurfing.com.au<br />
N TH STRADBROKE ISLAND<br />
MINTY SURFBOARDS <strong>07</strong> 3409 8334 - Point<br />
Lookout www.bobmintysurfboards.com<br />
GOLD COAST<br />
SURF THE EARTH <strong>07</strong> 5527 9855 - 33 Dominions Rd<br />
Ashmore www.surftheearth.com.au<br />
SURF FX <strong>07</strong> 5531 3199 - 127 Ferry Road,<br />
Southport www.surf-fx.com<br />
SIDEWAYS <strong>07</strong> 5592 3849 - 3012 Surfers Blvd,<br />
Surfers Paradise sidewaysboardsports.com.au<br />
STUART SURF DESIGN <strong>07</strong> 5572 0098<br />
2576 Gold Coast Hwy, Mermaid Beach<br />
www.stuartsurf.com.au<br />
GANGSTA SURF <strong>07</strong> 5526 6969 - Shop 1/<br />
2558 Gold Coast Hwy, Mermaid Beach<br />
www.gangstasurf.com<br />
BOARD CULTURE <strong>07</strong> 5572 9866<br />
2438 Gold Coast Hwy, Mermaid Beach<br />
www.boardculture.com.au<br />
LOCAL KNOWLEDGE <strong>07</strong> 5526 6377<br />
2251 Gold Coast Hwy, Nobby Beach<br />
THE BOARDROOM <strong>07</strong> 5527 7877<br />
2084 Gold Coast Hwy, Miami<br />
LOWEN 88 <strong>07</strong> 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 <strong>07</strong> 5535 0288<br />
1730 Gold Coast Hwy, Burleigh Heads<br />
<strong>07</strong> 5598 2188 - 2 Stewart Rd, Currumbin<br />
<strong>07</strong> 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 <strong>07</strong> 5535 4037<br />
63 Lower West Burleigh Rd, Burleigh<br />
SEAN SCOTT PHOTOGRAPHY <strong>07</strong> 5520 2774<br />
Old Burleigh Theatre Arcade, Shop 10,<br />
Goodwin Tce, Burleigh Heads<br />
<strong>07</strong> 5599 1150 - Shop 3, 120 Marine Pde,<br />
Coolangatta seanscottphotography.com.au<br />
DALE CHAPMAN SURF DESIGNS <strong>07</strong> 5593 8411<br />
Unit 3/48 Junction Road, Burleigh Heads<br />
www.chapmansurfboards.com<br />
SOUTHCOAST FOAM <strong>07</strong> 5522 1600 - 15<br />
Greg Chappell Dr, Burleigh Gdns Estate,<br />
Andrews www.southcoastfoam.com.au<br />
GOLD COAST SURF WORLD <strong>07</strong> 5525 6380<br />
Tomewin Street, Currumbin<br />
www.surfworldgoldcoast.com<br />
FIREWIRE SURFBOARDS <strong>07</strong> 5587 7700<br />
1/49 Currumbin Creek Rd Currumbin<br />
www.firewiresurfboards.com<br />
DMS <strong>07</strong> 5559 5949 3/56 Currumbin Creek<br />
Rd Currumbin www.dmshapes.com<br />
D’ARCY HANDSHAPES <strong>07</strong> 5559 5866<br />
1/8 Hawker St, Currumbin<br />
www.darcysurfboards.com<br />
SHAPERS <strong>07</strong> 5534 4228 - 9/7 Traders Way,<br />
Currumbin www.shapers.com.au<br />
BURFORD REINFORCED PLASTICS<br />
<strong>07</strong> 5534 3777 - 5 Stewart Rd, Currumbin<br />
WOODY JACK SURFBOARDS<br />
0415 789 706 - 7/25 Leonard Pde, Currumbin<br />
DIVERSE SURF <strong>07</strong> 5598 4848 - 476 Gold<br />
Coast Hwy Tugun www.diversesurf.com.au<br />
DORRINGTON SURFBOARDS <strong>07</strong> 5599 4030<br />
16 Musgrave Street, Kirra<br />
www.dorringtonsurfboards.com<br />
KIRRA SURF/WORLD SURFARIS <strong>07</strong> 5536 3922<br />
8 Creek St, Bilinga www.kirrasurf.com.au<br />
UNDERGROUND SURF <strong>07</strong> 5599 1040<br />
Shop 3/31 McLean St, Coolangatta<br />
www.undergroundsurf.com.au<br />
COOLANGATTA BOARD STORE <strong>07</strong> 5536 7850<br />
152 Griffith St, Coolangatta<br />
www.cbsboardstore.com<br />
COOLY SURF <strong>07</strong> 5536 1470 - Cnr Dutton St<br />
& Marine Pde, Coolangatta<br />
NSW NORTH COAST<br />
PADDLE TRIBE 0408 701 467 - 12/55 Ourimbah<br />
Rd, Tweed Heads paddletribe.com.au<br />
SIDEWAYS <strong>07</strong> 5524 6699 - 13-21 Greenway Dr,<br />
Tweed Heads sidewaysboardsports.com.au<br />
FULL FORCE SURFBOARDS <strong>07</strong> 5524 2933<br />
18/48 Machinery Dve,Tweed Heads<br />
SURF XCESS 02 6674 5350<br />
88 Marine Parade, Kingscliff<br />
KINGY SURF 02 6674 8806<br />
20 Marine Parade, Kingscliffe<br />
CABARITA SURF SHOP 02 6676 3151<br />
1/38 Tweed Coast Rd, Cabarita Beach<br />
ELUSIV SURFBOARDS<br />
3/16 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 88<strong>07</strong> - 91 Centenial<br />
Circuit, Byron Bay www.mctavish.com.au<br />
ESP SURFBOARDS 0404 059 321 - 2/81 Centennial<br />
Circuit, Byron Bay www.espsurfshop.com.au<br />
PARKES AUSTRALIA 02 6685 6627<br />
4/83 Centennial Court, Byron Bay<br />
www.parkesaustralia.com<br />
MADDOG SURF CENTRE 02 6685 6022<br />
Ewingsdale Rd, Byron Bay maddog.com.au<br />
MC SURF DESIGNS 02 6685 8778 - 3 Banksia<br />
Drive, Byron Bay www.mcsurf.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 />
MADDOG BEACH SURF CENTRE 02 6685 6466<br />
4 Jonson St, Byron Bay www.maddog.com.au<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 />
COOPERS SURF CENTRES 02 6654 0033<br />
56D Beach St, Woolgoolga; 02 6652 8146<br />
28 Orlando St, Coffs Harbour<br />
GANGSTA SURF<br />
1/15 Orlando Street, 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 70<strong>07</strong><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 />
CRESCENT HEAD SURF CO. 02 6562 8306<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 Head<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 />
ALPINE BEACH 02 4367 4944<br />
177 The Entrance Road, Erina<br />
www.alpinebeach.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 7<strong>07</strong>1<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 <strong>07</strong>60<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 />
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 />
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 />
LESSONS TOURS AND SALES<br />
Call Peter Japp on<br />
0488 887 SUP<br />
or<br />
0488 88 77 87<br />
sutherlandshiresupschool.com.au<br />
156 sep/oct <strong>2011</strong> happy birthday to us
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 />
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 />
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 />
MARK RABBIDGE SURF DESIGN 0427 767 176<br />
441A Bendalong Rd, Bendalong<br />
www.markrabbidge.com<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 />
BUSHRAT SURFBOARDS - 02 6495 9900<br />
Widgeram Rd, Merimbula www.bushrat.com<br />
MERIMBULA SURF SHOP 02 6495 1515<br />
Merimbula Drive, Merimbula<br />
SALTWATER DREAM 02 6495 1600<br />
39 Market St, Merimbula<br />
COUNTRY VIC<br />
SURF SHACK 03 5155 4933<br />
5<strong>07</strong> Esplanade, Lakes Entrance<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 6069 - 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 6<strong>07</strong>7 - 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 4606 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 - 106 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 />
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 />
TASMANIA<br />
LONG POINT SURF 03 6375 1717<br />
60 Burgess Street, Bicheno<br />
BAY SURF SHOP 03 6376 1755<br />
2 Pendrigh Place, St Helens TAS<br />
SCAMANDER BEACH SURFSHOP 03 6372 5529<br />
6 Lagoon Esplanade, Scamander<br />
www.scamandersurf.com<br />
RED HERRING www.redherringsurf.com.au<br />
03 6231 9001 - 75 Liverpool Street, Hobart<br />
03 6431 2455 - 12 Mount Street, Burnie<br />
03 6331 0984 - 127 Charles Street, Launceston<br />
03 6272 7552 - Shop 41, Northgate<br />
SOUTH AUSTRALIA<br />
BARREL SURF 08 8555 5422 - 10c Cadell St,<br />
Goolwa www.barrellsurf.com.au<br />
FLY BOARDRIDING (08) 8555 5331<br />
Shop 18, Goolwa Shopping Centre, Goolwa<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 />
SURF ESTEEM 08 8557 7201 - Aldinga Central<br />
Shopping Centre www.surfesteem.com<br />
THE DING KING / CLARK SURFBOARDS<br />
0422 443 789 - 20 Cottage Road, Hackham<br />
leightonclark01@yahoo.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 />
FLY BOARDRIDING 08 8386 0100<br />
Shop 41 Seaford Shopping Centre<br />
www.flyboardriding.com.au<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 />
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 />
ISLAND SURF 08 8296 9776<br />
363 Brighton Road Hove<br />
EXTREME BOARDRIDERS 08 8295 1219<br />
1/118 Jetty Rd, Glenelg<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<br />
Tea Tree Plus www.jrssurfandski.com.au<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 />
SNOW & SURF CO. 08 8223 5277<br />
187 Rundle St, Adelaide; 08 8332 0900<br />
177 The Parade, Norwood<br />
www.snowsurf.com.au<br />
DING REPAIRS<br />
AGNES WATER/1770<br />
REEF 2 BEACH<br />
(Mon – Sat, 9-5pm, Sun,10-4pm)<br />
<strong>07</strong> 4974 9<strong>07</strong>2<br />
SUNSHINE COAST<br />
DA BOMB<br />
(Mon – Sat, 9-5pm, Sun,10-4pm)<br />
<strong>07</strong> 5451 0620 - Maroochydore<br />
<strong>07</strong> 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 />
<strong>07</strong> 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 />
Sun, 9-4pm)<br />
<strong>07</strong> 5598 4848<br />
KIRRA<br />
PADDLE TRIBE REPAIRS &<br />
RESTORATIONS (Mon-Sat 10-5)<br />
0408701467 or 0421994649<br />
COOLANGATTA<br />
UNDERGROUND SURF<br />
(7 days, 9-5pm)<br />
<strong>07</strong> 5599 1040<br />
FULL FORCE<br />
(M-F, 9-5pm)<br />
<strong>07</strong> 5524 2933<br />
BYRON BAY<br />
DR DING SURFBOARD REPAIRS<br />
(Mon-Fri, 8-5pm, Sat 10-4pm,<br />
Sun 10-2pm)<br />
0431 740 940<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 />
NORAH HEAD<br />
BUCKO’S SURFBOARD REPAIRS<br />
& RESTORATIONS<br />
(M-F, 10-5.30pm, weekends by<br />
appointment<br />
0422 304 <strong>07</strong>8<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 <strong>07</strong>2<br />
CHAOS SURFBOARDS<br />
(M-F,9-6pm,<br />
Sat & Sun 8:30-6pm)<br />
02 99<strong>07</strong> 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 6<strong>07</strong>7<br />
PHILLIP ISLAND<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<br />
sep/oct <strong>2011</strong><br />
157
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: <strong>07</strong> 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: <strong>07</strong> 3409 8106<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: <strong>07</strong> 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: <strong>07</strong> 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: <strong>07</strong> 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: <strong>07</strong> 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 />
158 sep/oct <strong>2011</strong>
2.<br />
1.<br />
3.<br />
STAND<br />
UP FOR<br />
SUTHERLAND<br />
The Cronulla Sutherland Stand Up<br />
Paddle Club has been extremely<br />
active in flying the flag for the SUP<br />
family and has hosted a number of<br />
great events over the past months.<br />
Here’s a few shots from the July<br />
club get together and surf race.<br />
4.<br />
5.<br />
PHOTOS:<br />
1. The contenders line up...<br />
2. Red - Peter Japp, Purple - Daniel<br />
Hampson, Pink - Mick Slattery,<br />
Yellow - Paul Dreghorn<br />
3. Peter Japp<br />
4. Surf Race action<br />
5. Daniel hampson, 12’6” race<br />
To find out more, or to get involved,<br />
check out the website:<br />
cronullasutherlandsupclub.com.au<br />
2.<br />
1.<br />
3.<br />
SWAPPING<br />
IN THE<br />
SUNSHINE<br />
Adelaide’s only all-girls and<br />
women’s surf club, SurferGirls<br />
were kind enough to send us some<br />
photos from one of their recent club<br />
get togethers.<br />
Girls of all ages and surfing abilities<br />
are welcome to join the club, with<br />
their main aim to get girls and<br />
women out there surfing, having<br />
fun and learning new skills.<br />
So if you’re in Adelaide and love to<br />
surf, drop SurferGirls a line to meet<br />
up with some likeminded people.<br />
7.<br />
4.<br />
PHOTOS:<br />
1. The junior development squad<br />
2. Emma<br />
3. Yasmin<br />
4. Ladies of all ages on the beach<br />
www.surfergirls.com.au<br />
There is only one original ...<br />
Surf Travel Company<br />
sep/oct <strong>2011</strong><br />
159
“JUST FOR CRUISING”<br />
The Maldives is without question the<br />
ultimate playground for the<br />
intermediate level surfer. Head high<br />
waves are an every day occurence in<br />
this part of the world and the all day<br />
offshores are just the icing on the<br />
cake. Liquid’s knowledge of the region<br />
is the key to the success in finding<br />
everybodies dream trip unfold of<br />
perfect waves with no one around. If<br />
you want to do a trip with a bunch of<br />
mates or your wife and kids these are<br />
the trips to go on as they focus on<br />
getting waves for all levels of surfers.<br />
MALDIVES SURF TOURS<br />
“GIVE ME THE GOODS”<br />
There is no question that the<br />
Maldives can’t deliver pumping waves<br />
that will test the best of us. The<br />
region is often overlooked and falls<br />
well behind the shadow of the famous<br />
“Indo”. The reality is the same ocean<br />
delivers the same swells and the<br />
Maldives has got an abundance of<br />
epic set ups that offer long walls for<br />
cutbacks or long barrel sections that<br />
will test anybody. If you can mix it up<br />
in decent size waves then step on<br />
board for the search of perfect surf.<br />
“I WANT IT PUMPING”<br />
This is the area that Liquid<br />
Destination truly comes into their<br />
own. There is one claim these guys<br />
make and it is they are the first and<br />
only boat operators who constantly<br />
chase the big stuff. No one in the<br />
Maldives has the same agenda as<br />
these guys. If you think the Maldives<br />
can’t deliver big scary stuff think again<br />
because these guys have seen it,<br />
surfed it and got flogged by it. And<br />
the best thing is they love it! These<br />
trips are only for the top level<br />
surfers.<br />
Contact 04<strong>07</strong> 157 <strong>07</strong>7<br />
info@liquiddestination.com<br />
www.liquiddestiantion.com<br />
160 sep/oct <strong>2011</strong>
RETRO<br />
RIDERS<br />
WORDS: MADELAINE DICKIE<br />
PHOTOS: JAVIER LEON<br />
SPRING<br />
IS IN<br />
ZE’ AIR!<br />
Sacre bleu! Wis years of local<br />
experience and ze ‘ighest quality<br />
materials, a ZEE wetsuit is ze<br />
warmest and most comfortable<br />
wetsuit you can own. Most importantly,<br />
every ZEE WETSUIT<br />
is built to last. Made locally and<br />
100% Australian owned.<br />
There were no headstands,<br />
coffin rides or Egyptian floaters<br />
at the <strong>2011</strong> Puckeys Pipe Retro<br />
Comp in Wollongong. But<br />
there were plenty of pre-heat<br />
vomits, no-shows and a<br />
healthy dose of fear... The surf<br />
was massive - a roaring 6-8ft<br />
winter groundswell with the<br />
meaty barrels and frequent<br />
shutdowns. You’d think twice<br />
about paddling out on a<br />
thruster - but on a single fin?<br />
With the only rule being that<br />
you have to ride an old single<br />
or twin fin board, this wordof-mouth<br />
event is usually held<br />
once a year at Wollongong’s<br />
notoriously heavy beach,<br />
Puckeys. But Puckeys was<br />
unrideable, so it was moved to<br />
the south side of Towradgi.<br />
This year the honours went to<br />
Tom Nagle, who braved the<br />
biggest sets, took the biggest<br />
beat-downs and scored the<br />
biggest barrel.<br />
BOTH STORES, SHE<br />
IS OPEN ZEE 6 DAYS!<br />
OPEN HOURS: Mon-Fri: 9 - 5<br />
Sat: 9 - 12<br />
NOOSA: <strong>07</strong> 5474 1010<br />
MOOLOOLABA: <strong>07</strong> 5444 70<strong>07</strong><br />
Unit 2, 15 Venture Drive,<br />
Noosaville, QLD<br />
NEW<br />
STORE!<br />
122 Brisbane Road,<br />
Mooloolaba, QLD<br />
TELL US ABOUT YOUR EVENT<br />
If you have something on the go, let us know. Email us on: editorial@smorgasboarder.com.au<br />
sales@zeewetsuits.com<br />
www.zeewetsuits.com<br />
sep/oct <strong>2011</strong><br />
161
CLOSEOUT: RELAX<br />
NEW KIDS<br />
ON THE BLOCK<br />
X literally does mark the spot as Scott<br />
Newman and Luke Hutchinson hoist up<br />
the SLS Surfboards logo onto their new<br />
digs in Moffat Beach. Good blokes that<br />
they are, they laid out a BBQ and beers to<br />
celebrate the opening. The eyes enjoyed<br />
some great boards on display, alongside<br />
local surf photography and artwork, the<br />
ears got a DJ spinning vinyl and the<br />
nostrils got the eternally excellent smell of<br />
sausages on the go. And don’t forget the<br />
beers, of course. Good on you, gentlemen<br />
and best of luck for the future!<br />
1.<br />
3. 4.<br />
2.<br />
5.<br />
PHOTOS:<br />
1. Reiko Wilkinson, the prawn man and<br />
local artist Thom Stuart<br />
2. Shamus, Josh Thompson, Dean Chelin<br />
3. The men of the hour: Short board shaper<br />
Luke Hutchinson sharing a celebratory beer<br />
with Scott Newman, SLS’ longboard man.<br />
4. Miles Livingston and Bill Lyons<br />
5. Dave Bundellu<br />
6. Ali Wills, DJ Amtops, Frec, Haley, Mr Boinkin<br />
7. Esther Bundellu, Jacqui Walker, Mr Pascoe<br />
6. 7.<br />
www.slssurfboards.com.au<br />
SWAPPING<br />
IN THE SUNSHINE<br />
WORDS AND PHOTOS: PAT QUIRK<br />
The weather gods were kind as Da Bomb<br />
Surf Shop and More Surfboards hosted the<br />
inaugural Sunshine Coast Vintage Surf Swap<br />
Meet in Maroochydore. Interest in vintage<br />
boards was clear by the large number of<br />
people in attendance.<br />
There were boards from all over Australia<br />
including Nirvana, Bill Wallace, Kenn<br />
Customs, San Juan, Fluid Foils, Bennett, Bob<br />
McTavish, Ron, Don Burford as well as some<br />
great 60’s longboards and even a Joe Larkin<br />
shaped by Michael Petersen.<br />
The standout board for me of the day was<br />
the Wilderness Surfboard which numerous<br />
people suggested was shaped by David<br />
“Baddy” Treloar. This was the Morning of the<br />
Earth surf movie era and many surf icons such<br />
as McTavish, Greenough, Baddy and Chris<br />
Brock worked with Wilderness Surfboards in<br />
Angourie, NSW.<br />
Thanks to Mark Pridmore of More Surfboards<br />
and Sharon and Nigel Jackson of Da Bomb for<br />
a great swap meet. Can’t wait until next time!<br />
1.<br />
4.<br />
6.<br />
2. 3.<br />
7.<br />
5.<br />
PHOTOS:<br />
1. Mark Pridmore setting up<br />
2-5. Stars of the day - boards, boards, boards<br />
6. Fanatical collectors, Darryl Homan and Pat<br />
7. All ages enjoyed the boards on display<br />
162 sep/oct <strong>2011</strong>
sep/oct <strong>2011</strong><br />
163
It’s what we can’t tell you that matters