Smorgasboarder_16_March-2013

LOVING SURFING
AMAZING PEOPLE
CRAFT & CRAFTSMANSHIP
SMORGASBOARDER
F R E E S U R F M A G A Z I N E • A U S / N Z
MAN MANY
OF
BOARDS
EDDIE ‘CAPTAIN FROTHALOT’ WEARNE
BODYSURFING THE MALDIVES • IMMERSED IN FILM • SPRAY GUNS • DREAM SURF PADS • TRAVEL TALES

Surfer: Marcus Aboody
GETTING THE HOTTEST
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DETAILS & STUFF
WHERE TO PICK SMORGASBOARDER UP
Grab it FREE at quality surf stores, shapers and cool cafés on the coast of
Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and
New Zealand, as well as a few select spots in Western Australia.
CAN’T GET THERE?
SUBSCRIBE!
If you can’t get to a store, have smorgasboarder delivered to
your door. Sign up at www.smorgasboarder.com.au. It’ll
arrive every two months. Back issues are available for $5.
$21 IN AUSTRALIA OR NZ GETS YOU SIX EDITIONS.
THE COVER SHOT
NZ photographer Paul Kennedy snaps Rye’s Eddie Wearne
on one board of many. Read more on Page 74
C
THE SMORGASBOARDERS
STUFF, THINGS & ADVERTISING
Dave Swan dave@smorgasboarder.com.au 0401 345 201
NEW ZEALAND THINGS
‘Jiff’ Morris jeff@smorgasboarder.co.nz +64 (0)220 943 913
STUFF & DESIGN
Mark Chapman mark@smorgasboarder.com.au 0400 875 884
SOUTH AUSTRALIAN THINGS
James Ellis james@smorgasboarder.com.au 0410 175 552
STUFF, ACCOUNTS & EVERYTHING ELSE
Louise Gough louise@smorgasboarder.com.au
GEAR TESTS, MUSIC REVIEWS & OTHER THINGS
Angus Brown gus@smorgasboarder.com.au
M
Y
CM
MY
CY
CMY
K
CONTRIBUTIONS
This is YOUR mag. It’s here for you to tell your stories, show
your pictures and share your thoughts - and score some free
stuff on the way too, to boot.
Ideas & submissions: editorial@smorgasboarder.com.au.
There’s only a few of us, so if you don’t hear back right
away, we’re not ignoring you, we’re just running madly or
“testing equipment.” Don’t be so sensitive. Sheesh.
Yes, we do pay for some content, but just like us, you’ll
hardly retire off it. That said, we’re always keen to meet
nice new people to share the journey with, so drop us a line.
WWW.SMORGASBOARDER.COM.AU
smorgasboarder is published by Huge C Media Pty Ltd
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PUMPED AND READY TO GO!
Reader Tracey Weston sent in this shot of real surf dedication in Gunnamatta, VIC.
“Ten minutes after this was taken, there was lightning, crazy wind... “ she says. “Every normal person was
heading for the hills and this guy was whooping it up. I don’t know who he was, he wandered in front of the
camera, mentioned it being a great day and disappeared into the water!”
For more cracker reader photos, go to page 12.
NOTE
#16:
A CHANGE OF SEASON
“The only constant is change, continuing
change, inevitable change, that is the
dominant factor in society today. No sensible
decision can be made any longer without
taking into account not only the world as it is,
but the world as it will be.”
These are the words of sci-fi author and
science professor, Isaac Asimov (1920-1992).
Wow, would he ever be giving the “I
told you so” grin if he were alive today.
The acceleration in the rate of change
since his passing in the early ‘90s has
been phenomenal, with concepts like
supercomputers and household robotics
becoming realities in everyday life. Not so long
ago, a company called Pukas Surf in Spain
even launched a surfboard with a built-in
computer. That’s right, not even our little
pursuit of watery happiness has been left
untouched and unaffected.
Whether change is for better or worse
however, the upshot is that change is
constant. And while it’s not dramatic change,
you’ll notice a few tweaks to this edition of
Smorgasboarder. With a new-look cover and a
few little design tidy-ups throughout the mag,
we’ve done a bit to freshen the look, but made
no change in the volume of reading material!
In amongst all of that reading is the awardwinning
work of Tim Bonython, who has
captured the changing face of surfi ng in a fi lm
career spanning decades - page 50.
Read about a change from the regular surf trip,
with two boardless buddies, making the most
of the Maldives - page 66.
As always, there’s the ever-changing parade
of brand new and brilliant board designs from
the best and brightest of the Australian and NZ
board-building community - page 130.
Also, that other all-important change is the
few extra dollars we keep in your pocket by
keeping Smorgasboarder free... Make sure you
save it up and spend it with one or more of
the great business that support us, to ensure
there’s many more editions to come.
And fi nally, enjoy the change of season with
the cooler weather it brings! All the best, and
fi ngers crossed for good waves this Autumn!
Cheers!
the Smorgasboarders
Power Base Fins & Boxes - Completely Integrated
MORE POWER
MORE CONTROL
OWEN WRIGHT
Chooses DXL CERAMIC C4 with Power Base Boxes
www.powerbasefins.com.au
02 4323 4818

50
IMMERSED IN FILM
The changing face of surf fi lmaking...
A talk with Tim Bonython
66
NO BOARD REQUIRED
You get real close and personal with the
water when you’re surfi ng without a board
116
TRUE SPRAY GUNS
Kings of the airbrush share a bit
of their knowledge and work
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
12
26
42
66
74
84
92
96
104
116
146
READER PHOTOS
Fourteen pages
of fully fantastic
photography... By you!
LADIES FIRST
Renate Moerman
talks about being a
girl in the surf
RANDOM TALES
A travel journal from
the road delivering
Smorgasboarder
BODYSURFING
Two brave souls with
no surfboards on a
Maldives surf trip
MANY BOARDS
True smorgasboarders
ride them all.. literally.
Here’s one who does
SURF SHACKS
Meet the architect
that designs dream
beach houses
COLLECTORS
Cole Thomas shows
us his great collection
of surf and skate gear
RED ISLAND
A true undiscovered
gem of surfi ng is
under threat
SUMBA NIGHT
A great little travel
tale from years ago,
but still fresh today
SPRAY GUNS
Shane Egan and
Daniel Joyce discuss
the art of airbrush
MASTERSTROKE
Buzz Thompson talks
about music and
surfi ng in Victoria
THE USUAL BITS
THE LATEST
12 Reader Photos
28 Letters
30 News and community
GEAR
116 Artists
130 Board profiles
142 Gear tests
CLOSEOUT
149 Columns
150 Store profile
152 Books
157 Socials
162 Aloha Barry
Byrne
Owen Wright
OWEN PRO
5’10/18.38/2.25
6’0/18.5/2.38
6’2/18.62/2.38
6’4/18.75/2.5
6’6/19/2.62
C O N T R O L S Y S T E M
O ZONE
5’9/19/2.25
5’11/19.25/2.38
6’1/19.5/2.5
6’3/19.62/2.62
SURFTECH AUSTRALIA
www.surftechaustralia.com.au
02 4226 1322

READERS’ PICS
Magic moment at
Seaford SA.
Photo: Joe Montesi
BECAUSE THIS IS YOUR MAGAZINE...
There’s a little something in the mail for all the photographers who have a shot in here.
Maybe it’s a surf DVD? Perhaps a great CD? Hey, it’s a surprise, like Christmas in March...
SEND IN YOUR PICS: letters@smorgasboarder.com.au
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SMORGASBOARDER | MAR/APR 2013

We get so many amazing everday people sending in incredible shots all the time, from
hobbyist photographers through to pros, from people having fun with their GoPros to
some who just happened to get lucky with an iPhone. Every edition, we tear our hair out
(fi guratively of course) agonising over which ones to put in, because there’s always so much
great stuff to choose from! This time? No agonising, we decided. We’re putting in as many
of your great shots as we can in one brilliant READER PHOTO FEST, so we hope you’re as
stoked to see your snaps in the mag as we are to get them to our inbox! Enjoy...
Randy French
L:12’6
W:32”
TH:5.08”
V:279.9L
F:Single
Wood
Flowmaster
L:12’6
W:32”
TH:5.08”
V:279.9L
F:Single
AST
L:11’6
W:30”
TH:5.7”
V:240L
F:Single
AST
SURFTECH AUSTRALIA
www.surftechaustralia.com.au
02 4226 1322

READERS’ PICS
READERS’ PICS
Matt Foy giving a Tom Wegener
‘Joker’longboard a good ol’ run.
Photos: Kylie Foy
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SMORGASBOARDER | MAR/APR 2013

MAR/APR 2013 | SMORGASBOARDER 15

READERS’ PICS
South Coast, loving
it and living it up.
Photos: Chris Lovell
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SMORGASBOARDER | MAR/APR 2013

MAR/APR 2013 | SMORGASBOARDER 17

READERS’ PICS
Avalon, Northern Beaches. (We’ve
had this cracker in the trunk for far
too long... Finally, Tom!)
Photo: Tom Bennett
18
SMORGASBOARDER | MAR/APR 2013

SUP BOARD CARRY SLING
Assists when carrying boards long distances
SURFBOARD STORAGE STRAPS
Holds 2 x surfboards flush on the wall
SUP BOARD STORAGE STRAP
Holds 1 x SUP & 1 x paddle flush on the wall
STORE & CARRY
YOUR BOARDS EASILY
AND AFFORDABLY!
More info online
WWW.ELOFANT.COM
www.facebook.com/elofantboardstraps
MAR/APR 2013 | SMORGASBOARDER 19

Josh Cammarere (12) surfi ng
West Sumbawa last year.
Photo: Tony Cammarere
Bells Beach: Samuel Dunlop
Callum (9) full concentration, on-shore YCW, Phillip Island. Photo: Paul Copeland
Wave warrior
Isabel Nagel (5) at
North Broulee
Photo: Ross Wilson
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SMORGASBOARDER | MAR/APR 2013

READERS’ PICS
Kale Battistin,
Kawana Pocket.
Photo: Sam Hall
Koa McCelland (5), Wollongong. Photo: Rick McClelland
MAR/APR 2013 | SMORGASBOARDER 21

Northern NSW blue,
Cabarita Beach.
Danny Brown
Somewhere on the
Sunshine Coast
Photo: Millie Crook
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SMORGASBOARDER | MAR/APR 2013

READERS’ PICS
Big at Manly.
Photo: Adam Salman
Paul Scholten,
Emerald Beach NSW.
Photo: John Scholten
MAR/APR 2013 | SMORGASBOARDER 23

READERS’ PICS
Contrast.
Somewhere
around
Newcastle.
Photo:
Daniel Lobb
... and the Gold Coast! Photo: Chris Munro - www.redhotshotz.com
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SMORGASBOARDER | MAR/APR 2013

MAR/APR 2013 | SMORGASBOARDER 25

LADIES FIRST
NOT BEING DROPPED IN ON:
Renate on a fun day in Noosa - no
fuel for a rant in this photo!
Photo: Hamish Laing
UST WEAR A BIKINI
“For you chicks, it is easy to get waves. All you have to do is wear a bikini.”
Have you ever said or thought this? Now go and stand in the corner and think about it
for a while. Shame on you, for uttering such a sexist remark in these modern times!
Let me get it straight once and for all: it is NOT that easy being a female in the water.
If anything: it is sort of hard actually, more often than not.
WORDS: RENATE MOERMAN PHOTO: HAMISH LAING
26
SMORGASBOARDER | MAR/APR 2013

For some reason blokes are convinced it’s
all easy play out there for girls. While you
probably enjoy being behind the hottest chick
on earth - duck diving, wearing a tiny Brazilian
bikini, unfortunately, in real life Miss Reef
doesn’t surf your local break and the actual
girls in the line-up usually sit either left or
right from you. Mostly on your outside, haven’t
you noticed? Not because the ladies can’t
figure out where the best take-off spot is, but
because if they do position themselves there,
you thankfully use them as a marker to paddle
around - just to go and sit a little deeper.
Honestly?
Now, be truly honest with yourself: have you
ever given a girl (that was not your girlfriend,
sister or daughter) a wave? Have you? If your
answer is ‘yes’: good on you. (Applause).
But, have you also snaked a greater amount,
or hassled, blocked, dropped in on? You have,
haven’t you? I know. Because that is reality.
Guys do that. All the time. Not just the ones
that shred, but any guy-with-board, from
kook to pro. Over the years, I’ve distinguished
different kinds of male nuisances in the
water. Let’s see if you recognise yourself as
one of them:
THE OSTRICH
Without even looking properly, a lot of guys
seem to think ‘she’s not going to get it’ and
blatantly drop in. Paddling back out they’ll
still look the other way.
THE FRENETIC
The ones that have been spending their
weekends at the beach for, let’s say, the
past year or two. They’ve now reached the
level that they can trim along the wave and
of course think they’re ripping. They either
assume that they’re better than any girl, or
still feel the need to prove themselves, but
they sure put a lot of effort into that hassling!
THE DELIBERATE BLOCKER
On some dudes, usually 60+, women can
have the effect of a red fl ag to a bull.
‘Females don’t belong on waves’, their face
says, as they cut us off. Often these are
the guys with double standards. On bigger
boards, surrounded by mates, they take
wave after wave and share them among
themselves. But uh-oh, if a wahine gets a
couple of rides in a row... ‘How rude is she?’
LAST BUT NOT LEAST: THE MACHO
They drop in just because they can. After
all, we’re an easy target. It’s not too hard to
out-paddle us, and we most likely won’t beat
you up...
DIFFERENT,
BUT THE SAME
Did you notice a little sarcasm before? Good.
Sarcasm shows I’m annoyed, but not overly
angry. Because, don’t get me wrong, I love
men. I love being around them. It’s good fun.
I have always had more male than female
friends, and in that sense it’s great to be ‘the
chick in the water’. Not that I see myself
different from any other surfer. I am not after
privileges. You don’t have to give me waves
You can of course, but don’t have to. I’ll work
for them myself. But it needs to be fair play.
I know that generally men are stronger,
paddle faster and that they can be just that
bit earlier with their take-off. And that’s okay.
Maybe I even like it that way. I don’t mind a
bit of a pecking order. It’s the fact that males
hassle us ladies more frequently than they do
other males that gets to me. If there are fifty
odd surfers out - and they all drop in twice -
how much fun do you think I have?
THE GREATER
MAN THE
GREATER
COURTESY
I remember vividly the expression on one
surfers face. He dropped in on me while I
pulled in a barrel at Bells. He looked at the
wave - his face lit up (it was a beauty) and
then he glanced at me. I could tell his eyes
saying ‘Oh, a chick’ and without thinking
twice he burned me.
Is it because I come from Europe, that I am
more accustomed to chivalry? Small courtesies
sweeten life - that’s what I think. Like flirting,
but with grace. Not that it’s just surfers - away
from the beach it is not much different. They
often take me by surprise, chaps jumping
queues in front of me at the supermarket...
Only in the ocean it’s more frustrating. We’re
all there to have a good time, and paddling
costs more energy than standing in line, or
opening a door for oneself.
There is one situation though, I noticed, when
men naturally do give away a lot of waves:
Yes, when they are out surfi ng with their
girlfriend, sister or daughter. Funny thing is
though, the waves they give away are seldom
theirs. Time and again they are mine...
TRUE OR FALSE? What do you reckon? Join in the conversation on Facebook and share your thoughts!
www.facebook.com/smorgasboarder
MAR/APR 2013 | SMORGASBOARDER 27

ADDICTED? WE HAVE
Hire • Tours • Sales • Demos • Trade-ins • Advice • Repairs
EVERYTHING
YOU NEED... AND MORE
letters@smorgasboarder.com.au
LETTERS
UP AGAINST THE WALL
ACCESSORIES
STAND UP
PADDLEBOARDS
SURFBOARDS
SKATEBOARDS
PADDLES
KITEBOARDS,
KITES & MORE
WAKEBOARDS
“Hi Smorgasboarder! I am a big fan of your mag, and when I’ve finished
reading, I cut out all the pictures and stick them on my wall! Thanks for
the awesome pics and keep up the good work!”
Henry Crowter (13)
DAMAGE & PAIN
WE’RE NOT LAUGHING AT YOU, WE’RE WINCING WITH YOU
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“First Point Noosa,
lining up the barrel, a
gumby tried to duck dive
his Mal in front of me!
The doc said an inch
either way, I would’ve
lost an eye, or be dead.
I said ‘Lucky it hit me in
the head - might have
hurt otherwise’. She
didn’t think I was funny.
Haha...
Steve Halpin
28
SMORGASBOARDER | MAR/APR 2013

Byron Sunset Happy Hour!
Monday to Friday 4-6pm
Half price selected Tapas (Calamari and dips)
$5 select beers & house wine, $10 Margaritas
Photo: Jane de Wet
SURFING
TRANSPORT
SOLUTIONS
Photo: Martin Fox
You’ve struggled at some time, loading boards into or onto the ute, car or van, haven’t you? But not
to worry - you’re not alone! We recently got some great photos sent in to offer up some solutions
to everyday board transport problems...
Above left, Jane de Wet from the Sunshine Coast snaps proof of how many boards her hubbie
can fi t into a Hilux - a valiant challenge to Eddie Wearne from Shed Nine surf shop in Rye on
the Mornington Peninsula (right). And below, Martin Fox shares an innovative new rack system.
Classic. Advice? Get some roofracks, van straps and tie-downs from the cool companies that
advertise in Smorgasboarder already!
Open every day Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Tapas till late.
Cnr Lawson & Jonson, Byron Bay
02 6680 9666 www.balcony.com.au
Jervis Bay Stand Up Paddle
ABOUT TO EAT SAND...
“These are a few shots I took with my GoPro. They were taken at
Shelly Beach on some crazy sandy shore breakers! To shallow for a
surf board, but great for the body board.”
Jessica Lucas, Sunshine Coast
MAL VS MAL
“Copped this tap on
the head from my
9’8”G&S, trying to
suck too much out
of the shore break
at Mettams, WA.”
Mal McQueen
Lessons, Tours, Board Hire
www.jervisbaystanduppaddle.com.au
0403 354 716
MAR/APR 2013 | SMORGASBOARDER 29

THIS IS THE
NEWS
WHAT’S HAPPENING IN THE LOCAL SURFING COMMUNITY
Floating Sunglasses
editorial@smorgasboarder.com.au
facebook.com/smorgasboarder
twitter.com/smorgasboarder
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• Polarised Bi Focal
• Polarised Photochromic
• Polarised PC (Melanin infused)
• RX Prescription
San
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Showroom - Unit 11 / 4 Leda Drive,
Burleigh Heads QLD 4220
Ph 07 5576 4365
SUP SPEED DEMON
Jenny, the vice president of the Disabled Surfers Association, Mornington
Peninsula branch, has such a need for speed she insisted on some
handlebars for her SUP ride. Matt Drysdale obliged and sent in these
superb photos. Thanks Matt. He is now onto his next project - a specially
designed paddle so Jenny can take to the water by herself. Great to see
you getting amongst it Jenny, there is absolutely no stopping you, nor
should there be. For more on the DSA, see disabledsurfers.org
AND SHE
SAID YES
Last edition, Kristin Bower
of Indy Surfboards, the man
behind the switchfoot surfing
movement, proposed to his long
time girlfriend Cerise through the
pages of Smorgasboarder
(see his move in the interview on
pages 120-123 Jan/Feb 2013 at
www.smorgasboarder.com.
au). We were only too happy
to get behind the cheeky idea.
Thankfully Cerise said a great
big ‘Yes’. Phew. Congrats guys!
GOT NEWS?
Send it in. Upcoming events, charity
happenings, interesting stories, email to:
editorial@smorgasboarder.com.au
30
SMORGASBOARDER | MAR/APR 2013

SURFING AND SHARKS:
We’re sure film crew
were hard to come by...
SHARKS & STORMS
SURFWORLD FESTIVAL’S PICK OF INTERNATIONAL FILMS, 2013
Aussie big wave extravanganza Storm Surfers took out the Peter Troy
‘Spirit’ Award for best capturing the spirit of surf adventure.
The film, directed by Chris Nelius and Justin McMillan and featuring surf
legends Tom Carroll and Ross Clarke-Jones made up part of the schedule
for the largest surf film festival in Australia held at the Surfworld Museum
Torquay during January. The 2013 festival attracted record crowds as
patrons flocked to see films from Australia, Spain, Japan, England, Finland,
South Africa and the USA.
South African documentary Surfing and Sharks won the audience
award for Best Surf Film, with Cyrus Sutton‘s Under the Sun taking Best
Cinemantography and the Spanish film Sand, Paper, Stone by Gabriel
Garcia Magrina enjoying the Best Short Surf Film spot.
For more info on the festival, see www.surfworld.com.au or join up on the
Surfworld Facebook page, www.facebook.com/SWMTorquay.
For trailers of the movies, see www.surfingandsharks.com,
www.stormsurfers.com.au and underthesunsurf.blogspot.com.au.
FREE STUFF TO
WIN!
The folks from Madman Entertainment have put up
copies of the Storm Surfers DVD for you to win.
How? See our FREE FEST promotion on page 41!
MAR/APR 2013 | SMORGASBOARDER 31

TOUGH
AS NAILS
Recently we caught up
with Graham King of King
Surfboards and he let us
inspect the results of a new
foam formula he’s created. It’s
white, bright and out of sight.
After several attempts to dent
his new foam blanks, we gave
up without making a scratch.
S u r f S k a t e r i d e & S l i d e
Flowboard!
Surf the StreetS
on 14 WheelS
Surfing &
Snowboarding
cross trainer
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• Sticks to wet surfaces
Surf • SUP • PWC • Gel Coats • Kayaks • Outriggers
Distributed by Watershack Pty Ltd
watershack.com.au • rob@watershack.com.au
QUICKIES...
KNEELOS UNITE
Round 1 of the Australian
Kneeboard Circuit for 2013 will
begin at Phillip Island this March
16 and 17. There is no professional
kneeboard scene so the gathering
is purely social.
Over 100 entrants will get down on
their knees and rip it up. It’s a great
excuse for like-minded individuals
to get together and surf for the love
of surfing. For more details see:
www.kneeboardsurfaustralia.com
GOOD COUNSEL
The world’s first ‘Surf Council’
has been inaugurated on the Gold
Coast. A gathering of all surfing
groups in the region has formally
agreed to an official body that will
act as the voice for the surfing
community in the city. For info go to
www.surfcouncil.org
SPOT ON
Matt Johnston of MCJ Surfboards
is just about to open his new surf
store at Waihi Beach, north island
New Zealand, called The Surfspot.
Should be open mid March with
everything good - locally made NZ
surfboards, fins, surfing hardware
and skate gear as well as a ding
repair service and surf lessons.
Mob +64 (0)2 2031 7110
GOT NEWS?
GET SHACKED
Paul and Ken, the boys from the
Log Shack at Coffs Harbour are
moving on. This little cracker of a
surf store along with the building
are up for grabs. Expressions of
interest call (02) 6658 0223.
NEW OWNERS
And while some move on, some
move in. Graeme and Brenda from
the Island Surf Shack at Cowes
on Phillip Island have sold their
business and so it is we welcome
the new owners, Max and Kerri.
All the best for the future guys.
STOP THE BOMBS
Why as humans do we often look
at the easiest and quickest way of
doing something rather than the
right way? The practice of ‘fish
bombing’ is reportedly getting
out of control in the Mentawais.
The technique of bringing a heap
of dead fish to the surface is
destroying the ocean floor, turning
reefs into wasteland. Check out
this clip to see the devastation that
has already taken place and sign
the petition to take action.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_
JglSkSEEc
www.change.org/en-AU/petitions/
stop-bombing-the-mentawai-reefs
Send it in. Upcoming events, charity
happenings, interesting stories, email to:
editorial@smorgasboarder.com.au
32
SMORGASBOARDER | MAR/APR 2013

INTO THE
SPIRIT OF
THINGS
The sixth annual
BaliSpirit Festival (Mar
20-24) is nearly here.
It’s not too late to book
tickets to this spiritually charged event that celebrates yoga,
dance and music - which includes Sunshine Coast dub/dance act OKA
(above). Attracting top yoga and dance instructors, healers, musicians
and several thousand guests over fi ve days and four nights, the event
involves daytime workshops, world music concerts and holistic healing
sessions. The festival emphasises giving back to the local Balinese
community through creative and meaningful outreach initiatives.
All up, it’s a good excuse to get to Bali. See www.balispiritmedia.com
STOOPID VIDEO
On the subject of music - check out the
new Slightly Stoopid video online for a
new take on crowd surfing...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxJtBEfAT_E
CDs to
WIN!
See P41
Glenn ‘Surfalot” Carter of Scotts
Head, North Coast, NSW
Short to long,
every Ron Wade
surfboard is built for
peak performance
Over 40 years of experience goes into every Ron Wade design.
NOT BAD FOR A NEWBY
Grant Newby, the man behind the Alley Fish Fry and Wooden Surfboards
Show & Ride, has begun making his own line of surfboards – and not just
for him to ride! The boards are Paulownia vacuum bagged over EPS with a
lanolin finish. Says Grant, “The raw wood feel is something that just blows
people away.” And reportedly, there’s no need for wax. The boards become
‘sticky’ as soon as they’re wet. “It is fun to watch peoples reaction when
they come back after riding the boards. They float so well and you can surf
them so much shorter than you ever imagined.”
www.surfboardsbygrantnewby.blogspot.com.au or call (07) 5539 5969 to
chat to Grant in person. For Fish Fry 2013 action, see page 157.
The Bull 9’3”
The Wildfire7’2”
For more information and quotes, please contact us:
Email sales@ronwadesurfboards.com.au Mobile 0410 443 776
For wholesale enquiries, please call 02 9979 7071
Visit Mona Vale showroom, 9-4pm Saturday or by appointment.
www.ronwadesurfboards.com.au
MAR/APR 2013 | SMORGASBOARDER 33

LATEST: COMMUNITY
The good deeds keep
flowing from the Loud Life
boys and their friends. Gus
Murray – co-founder of
the up and coming clothing
brand – recently joined up
with five other surfers for a
trip to Bali - for a surf, skate
and to invest in the lives of
the less fortunate.
SPREADING
THE LOVE
ABOVE: Soccer with the kids
LEFT: Gear going to good homes
BELOW: Views for reward
Headed up by Josh Lean of Kite
X Academy under the banner of
Love is A Verb , the purpose of the
trip in particular was to work with
impoverished and underpriviledged
youth in the area.
“We were able to give three local
groms three new surfboards and
they were stoked,” Gus reports.
“We also donated eight brand new
fully set up skateboards to the Bali
Life Orphanage in Pechatu, and left
twenty decks over there. “
“We gave a village soccer
organisation 30 new Adidas balls,
and donated some extra money for
their cause. They were over the
moon we helped out in that area
and helped teach 90 kids.
Love is A Verb was born out of
a desire to create a platform for
people to give generously and reach
out to those less fortunate both
locally and overseas. See
www.loveisaverb.org to fi nd out
how you can be involved.
“All in all it was an amazing trip”, Gus
tells us. We’re sure it was, and hope
it will be repeated many times to
come. Once again, well done boys.
34
SMORGASBOARDER | MAR/APR 2013

Riley Balsawood Surfboards are made using renewable
resource balsa and recycled polystyrene for performance,
durability, beauty and lower environmental impact
HANDCRAFTED IN AUSTRALIA
Instructional DVDs: Learn To Surf, Build A Solid
Balsa Board, Build A Foam Core Balsa Board
Raw Balsa • D.I.Y. Kits • Surfboards
Blanks • Tide Clocks •Fins • Fin Boxes
THE FLYING FISH 5’11”x20 ¾”x2 ¼”
Cedar deck, balsa rails, tail, nose and bottom. Removable
quad or twin fin setup with fins! Less than 4kgs.
SHIPPING
ANYWHERE,
INCLUDING NZ
Call 0412 376 464 or Email mark@riley.com.au
www.balsasurfboardsriley.com.au
Australian Environmentally-friendly handcrafted surfboards
for the individual in all of us, with a guarantee. Enjoy Responsibly
MAR/APR 2013 | SMORGASBOARDER 35

LATEST: & GREATEST
PATCH IT UP
Covers dings instantly and sticks to
everything including wet surfaces
and wax. Puka Patch is basically
super strong waterproof ding tape.
Can be used on epoxy and PU
boards. Save your ding repairers
having to dig a heap of crap out of
the hole. 5 clear patches to a pack.
www.pukapatch.com
A CLEAR WINNER
Another option to wax if you want to
maintain the beauty of your prized stick.
This environmentally friendly, space-aged
traction tape suits all board sizes and won’t
rip you apart like sandpaper but is sticky
when wet. RRP from $10
www.balsasurfboardsriley.com.au
LATEST
&GREATEST
TANGLE
X-RATED WEBSITE
TRIPLE X WETSUITS have launched their brand
new online store. It’s simple to navigate around so
purchasing ‘the hottest wetsuit you’ll ever wear’ just
got even easier. An extensive range of sun protection
wear and custom rashies are also available.
www.triple-x.com.au
IRON FEET
Range includes collaborations with Duane Peters and Jason Adams
&GREATEST
TANGLE
FREE
It looks like any other
leggie, with one
small exception – a
half ounce sliding
weight which is heavy
enough to let the
leash trail behind you
when paddling and
sink when sitting in
the line-up. Available
exclusively at
zaksurfboards.com
Woohoo! Iron Fist’s range of shoes has landed. Made
by skaters to be as tough as tough can be, and with the
style and flair that is Iron Fist’s unmistakeable style of
streetwear, these could easily be your next favourite
pair of shoes. RRP from $69 - $85.
www.ironfistclothing.com.au
36
SMORGASBOARDER | MAR/APR 2013

TWO COOL IDEAS TO
MAKE TRANSPORTING
THAT BIG BOARD A
WALK IN THE PARK...
Photo: Jarrod Slatter
SHOW THEM
YOU CARE
It’s not a board bag, it’s a board blanket.
Wrap up the ones you love and keep
them safe and warm. RRP from $75 NZD.
A range of equally cool beach bags as
well RRP $39 NZD.
www.sadhanasurfboards.co.nz
SLING ME ONE
SUP CARRY SLING by Elofant Straps.
Easy to use and only RRP $30. Made
from strong, 50mm wide polypropylene
webbing with Tri Glide buckles and
padded shoulder protection.
www.elofant.com
IT’S A BREEZE
Carrying up to 2 SUPs, the SUPWHEELS is
particularly a great SUP transport solution
for those windy days. Never-go-flat solid
rubber tyres, foam covered chasis, salt
water resistant. RRP $199.
www.streetsup.com.au
(See the test on page 142)
Visiting the
NOOSA FESTIVAL
OF SURFING?
See DW boards in the flesh at
Wally’s Water Gallery,
Lorraine Ave, Marcoola (only a quick
drive South of Noosa)
MAR/APR 2013 | SMORGASBOARDER 37

LATEST: & GREATEST
PUT SOME
ART ON IT
Kade SP of Phillip Island
beautifies his boards.
Photo: Courtesy of Molotow
Originally a range of German street art products, MOLOTOW, is now a full suite of art gear to brighten up your surfboard, skateboard
and just about anything else, and has just become available in Australia. With a range of pens, sprays and more, this is the full suite
of products you need for doing art on boards. For more information and inspiration, check out www.facebook.com/molotow.australia
SHOW US YOUR ART,
WIN A BLANK CANVAS!
RECKON YOU HAVE A GREAT IDEA FOR ARTWORK ON A SURFBOARD?
Send in your best idea of artwork YOU HAVE CREATED and you could be in line to win one fantastic prize pack...
1 x brand new, blank JOEL BECK Surfboard!
1 x set of MOLOTOW art products to get creative with!
1 x set of GASFINS carbon-base fins to drive your board!
1 x pack of HURRICANE accessories, including legrope and deck grip!
Send your entry, with contact details by 14 June
2013, to competitions@smorgasboarder.com.au.
Thanks to Joel and Shaun of CO-LAB in Wurtulla
for putting up the surfing gear and thanks
to Romy and Clarke of Molotow for the art
materials. NOTE: This competition is not open to
professional artists. For full terms and conditions,
see www.smorgasboarder.com.au
38
SMORGASBOARDER | MAR/APR 2013

MAR/APR 2013 | SMORGASBOARDER 39

GET ONE YEAR’S HOME-DELIVERY
SUBSCRIPTION TO SMORGASBOARDER
FOR ONLY $21. 6 editions over 12 months, delivered to your door
Never risk missing out on a copy again AND you go into the draw for not one surfboard, but to:
WIN ALL OF
THIS GEAR!
YES,
THE PRIZE INCLUDES:
ALL OF IT!
FOUR BOARDS
+ A STEAMER...
ALL YOURS.
1 x 9’4” VAMPIRATE Hulawindy longboard
1 x 5’9” SAMSARA V-Drive surfboard
1 x 3mm TRIPLE X Titanium Steamer (m/f)
1 x speedy FIIK Stinger Electric Skateboard
1 x 39” SMOOTHSTAR Dolphin Cruiser Longboard
ONE PERSON WILL WIN ALL OF THIS!
It’s only open to our subscribers, so that’s way better odds than the lottery! And you’re a winner anyway with your year’s home delivery to
smorgasboarder for your trouble. Buy one for yourself. Buy one for a friend. Buy one as a thoughtful birthday present. Every current, paid
subscription counts as an entry, so you can enter as many times as you like!
WWW.SMORGASBOARDER.COM.AU
OR CALL 0439 842 924 TO SUBSCRIBE BY PHONE
Promotion closes June 30, 2013. The prize will be drawn on July 1, 2013. Open to all new and current smorgasboarder subscribers in Australia
and New Zealand. For full terms and conditions go to www.smorgasboarder.com.au.
40
SMORGASBOARDER | MAR/APR 2013

FREE
FEST
FOOTWEAR BY
IRON FIST!
The awesome new range of
shoes from the good blokes
at IRON FIST hits the
streets this month. We have
three pairs to give away!
www.ironfistclothing.com.au
PACKS OF CDS,
DVDS & STICKERS!
We have copies of STORM SURFERS,
on DVD and Blu-Ray kindly donated by
Madman Entertainment!
Tim Bonython has generously put up
copies of the amazing IMMERSION
DVD - For more on him and the movie,
see page 50.
Silverback has supplied a stash of
SLIGHTLY STOOPID gear including
CDs, stickers and a guitar pick!
See slightlystoopid.com
And there’s some cracker ALOHA
BARRY stickers from Curl at PI!
TO WIN:
Simply sign up to our email
newsletter at smorgasboarder.com.au,
and like our Facebook page,
www.facebook.com/smorgasboarder.
There are SIX CD/DVD packs and
THREE pairs of IRON FIST shoes
going to good homes. GOOD LUCK!
IN-HOUSE SHAPING
SURFBOARD MACHINE
CUTTING SERVICE
CUSTOM SURFBOARDS
CUSTOM LAMINATING
CUSTOM ARTWORK
GAS FINS/PLUGS
HURRICANE SURF
ACCESSORIES
10 TEXTILE AVE
WARANA QLD 4575
(07) 5493 3539
Full details at smorgasboarder.com.au
MAR/APR 2013 | SMORGASBOARDER 41

IN ULLADULLA, THE SAUNDERS NAME
HAS BEEN SYNONYMOUS WITH
SURFING FOR OVER 38 YEARS...
NOW WITH
TWO LOCATIONS
ENJOY THE SAME GREAT SERVICE, BEST
BRANDS & FRIENDLY FAMILY SERVICE
LIKE US ON
For personal service and a
great range of fashion and
accessories, surfboards,
skateboards, bodyboards
and much more, visit Southern
Man Surf shop in Ulladulla on
your next surf trip.
CALL US: (02) 4454 0343
T7/119 Princes Hwy, Ulladulla
The Woolworths Centre
Ulladulla NSW 2539
WWW.SOUTHERNMAN.COM.AU
The Core Board Store...
Live the Search at the South
Coast’s largest Rip Curl
flagship store. 100% Locally
owned in partnership with
Southern Man Surf.
CALL US: (02) 4454 4904
138 Princess Hwy,
Ulladulla NSW 2539
ripcurl@southernman.com.au
LIKE US ON
WWW.RIPCURL.COM.AU
Southern Man Surf
sponsored rider
Scott ‘Whippy’ Denis
Photo: Stork
RANDOM
TALES
FROM
THE ROAD
A TRAVEL JOURNAL
WORDS AND PHOTOS:
DAVE SWAN
We have a great deal of fun putting
Smorgasboarder together from writing
to designing and working with the
many varied businesses that make it
so special. What is possibly most fun
however is getting on the road and
meeting these people face to face.
Over the course of time, our little
network of friends on Facebook,
following our progress down the east
coast of Australia and across to New
Zealand as we personally deliver the
mag, has grown and grown. Yep, you
heard right. No hordes of staff and a
list of strategic partners. We deliver
Smorgasboarder in person - and at this
point, we want to say a big thanks to
James over in SA who does the same,
Dean in WA and Jeff on the south
island of NZ.
Anyhow, we thought you may be
interested to see a few excerpts from
our road trips, the people we meet
along the way, the places we surf and
the top little coffee shops and cafes we
visit to refuel... Oh, and the occasional
spot we stop for a cold beer at the end
of the day. With this in mind, we have
decided to open up our travel diaries
for those interested. To follow it live,
Simply like us on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/smorgasboarder
and you have a ticket to ride.
42
SMORGASBOARDER | MAR/APR 2013

DAY 5
WHAT A DAY! If the searing
heat wasn’t enough, the official
temperature recorded south of
Nowra was 49 degrees (yes
that’s a ‘4’ not a ‘3’), I also
had to contend with an armed
robber who had eluded police,
crashed his stolen vehicle and
was on foot with a gun running
through bushland towards
Culburra Beach.
WHERE WAS I? Heading
back from Culburra Beach
towards South Nowra having
visited Daren Glennan at Entity
Surfboards. Super friendly bloke
with a range of fine boards from
short through to long.
NEEDED TO UNWIND with
a quick, cool dip. Not much
swell about but it’s time to
test the pink - ahh, magenta -
Pacemaker.
HAVING DODGED THE
CROOK and numerous police
cars heading in each and every
direction, I made my way to
Mark Rabbidge’s place in
Bendalong. The NSW bushfires
are still raging. Places to avoid
today – Bendalong!
COULDN’T SEE ANY FLAMES
just smoke as I made my way
though Dean’s Gap. Even though
my windows were up and the
air con on full, I could still feel
the heat from the fire on my ears
as if I was standing next to a
fireplace. Those fire fighters are
amazing.
MARK RABBIDGE’S PLACE.
Could chat to him all day.
Absolute top bloke. Working
on some super cool cars. And I
confess I couldn’t avoid picking
up a tester. Super excited. It’s
not pink, it’s magenta – but isn’t
magenta pink?
With the robbers and bushfi res
behind me, I head off for
Eden, or so I think. The Pacifi c
Highway is cut off near
Eden. A strong southerly has
kicked in and brought large
gums down across the road.
Bushfi res have also whipped
up near Bega and Pambula
just to the west. Going to stop
at Narooma, love this spot.
DAYS 6-8
AFTER A BIG DAY’S DRIVE
from Narooma through to Lakes
Entrance and on to Phillip Island
I have arrived at Cowes. The
place is chock-a-block. What the
hell? It’s still school holidays,
there’s a circus in town and
the Tough Mudder event is on.
14,000+ competitors. I don’t
stand a chance of getting a spot
for the van.
BIG DAY’S DRIVE along the
Victorian Shipwreck Coast from
Cape Bridgewater (about an hour
from the SA border) to Lorne.
Came across a cool new store/
café at Lavers Hill called The
Shoppe run by Kim and John
Vince featuring local arts and
craft, superb coffee and food and
some cool surf gear with some
sweet boards by Darren Dickson
of Torquay on display.
AFTER MY LITTLE SURF
I rewarded myself with a beer,
as you do, at one of my favourite
pubs in the world, the Wye
River Hotel. One of the local
lads told me there had been a
4m White hassling surfers at
Kennett River the night before
and a fisherman in his dinghy
at Wye River the night before
that. So pleased I decided to
jump in by myself for a surf just
before dark around the corner
from there.
Lucky. Amaroo Holiday Park.
Unbelievable. Less than 100m
from the main drag. AND, I can’t
believe it, there is an awesome,
awesome Japanese restaurant
in the campgrounds.
Wye River Hotel
MAR/APR 2013 | SMORGASBOARDER 43

RANDOM: ROAD DIARY
Mickey T’s turf. Photo © Raglan Longboards
New Plymouth Boardrider’s
beachfront clubhouse
The Mighty Eel - EEL667
DAY 15-17
ARRIVED AT RAGLAN. I love this place.
Got a site at the Raglan Kopua Holiday Park
– great spot, right in the centre of things.
Watched some kids ripping at the skate bowl
beside the park then headed across to the
Harbour View Hotel for a beer and a meal.
CAUGHT UP WITH MICKEY T AND
SUNNY from Raglan Longboards. Two of the
nicest people you will ever meet and some
of the sexiest boards I have ever seen. The
only problem was, there was no swell. So my
yearning for another Mickey T board full of
magic will have to wait until next trip
CALLED IN TO SEE WALSHY (Robert
Walsh) from Del Surfboards working on a
super sweet single fin. These would have
to be some of the most meticulously crafted
surfboards I have ever seen. The quality of
the glassing is out of this world.
44
SMORGASBOARDER | MAR/APR 2013

Is surfing Raglan's
world famous left
hand breaks on
your bucket list?
Then tick it off and
come on over!
Tents, campervans or
caravans, backpackers,
cabins or motel units.
OPUNAKE, just down the coast from New
Plymouth. First pulse of swell to come through since
in NZ. Never surfed here. Time to christen the spot.
Hope everyone is having a good day at work because
that was a little cracker. Big thanks to Brent and
Craig from Dreamtime Surf Shop for the loan of the
mal. Real good blokes.
Hosts: Mary and Rob Clark
Address: Marine Parade, Raglan
Phone: (07) 825 8283
Email: stay@raglanholidaypark.co.nz
MAR/APR 2013 | SMORGASBOARDER 45

DAY 21
ONE OF THE BEST DAYS OF MY LIFE, NO JOKE. The
header for this page could easily have been, “Why I love
Roger Hall.” An absolute master craftsman and one of the
nicest guys on the planet.
I caught up with Roger for a surf at Waipu Cove and rode
a couple of his finless Hot Curl Fastback numbers. I am
hooked for life.
ROGER EXPLAINED HIS BOARDS TO ME...
“This is my 6’ Hot Curl Re-evolution model. The idea behind
it is I am re-evolving the 1930s Hot Curl and bringing it into
modern surfboard terms. This is my favourite so far. I am
been having so much fun on this I am scheming up a couple
more. One is a refinement of this and another is built from
the same chassis, so to speak, with a completely different
body. It will incorporate concave wings.
L-R: 6ft, 9ft, 8ft.
“THE MAIN THING WITH
THESE BOARDS IS YOU
HAVE TO FREE YOUR
MIND OF HOW YOU
WOULD NORMALLY RIDE
A SURFBOARD.”
Roger, on weed
46
SMORGASBOARDER | MAR/APR 2013

“I have been playing with the ratios of the tail width and the
tail height as well as the concave trimming platform through
to the convex control. I always look to put a good stringer in
them so they have a good bit of internal heft as well. It gives
you good paddle speed so you can get a nice early line into
the wave.
“The main thing with these boards is you have to free your
mind of how you would normally ride a surfboard. You ride the
boards really far forward and your feet are closer together in
a traditional stance or you place them parallel to the stringer.
You surf more from leaning on your rails. The board pivots off
the forward rail curve and you steer it. The tail then comes in
behind your line and pushes you in that direction.
“Moves are the opposite of what you
would normally be accustomed to. A cross
step, with weight transferring to your
front foot, will swing the board away from
the wave and set up a cutback or reset
the board into the pocket.
“They sit really well in the pocket.
The weight in the tail acts as a
counterweight and a bit of a driving
force. My 9’ noserider also has a decent
chunk of wood in the tail so it has a
more neutral buoyancy than the foam,
which has a tendency to float up the
wave. I am experimenting with various
hypotheticals.”
MY PERSPECTIVE ON IT: I am always
after a different ride sensation. Not only
did the Fastback satisfy my desire but it
delivered one of the most fun surfs I have
had in months. Whilst the boards may look
difficult to ride, they are far from it and were perfect for the
little sliders we had on the day. Plus with a thick blanket of
seaweed on the shoreline, no fins meant no entanglement.
IF THAT WASN’T ENOUGH we finished 3-4 hours surfing
with a few beers, okay maybe more than a few, and
homemade pizza at the Waipu Pizza Barn. Not only were the
pizzas sensational and their own home brew addictive, the
brothers who run this unbelievably funky little bar/ restaurant
Clayton and Jeff were absolute classic blokes and a lot of
fun, as were all the staff. I will return, there is nothing surer.
An absolute cracker of a night. As I said, one of the most fun
days of my life.
BOARDS, LESSONS, ADVICE, CLOTHING & MORE!
RETRO
BOARDS
& GEAR
On the way to Fitzroy Beach, the Beach Street Surf
Shop is modelled on yesteryear, not the glass boutiques that masquerade as surf shops! Real
chrome-andsurfers
offering real advice, plus the best selection of
boards on the coast. Open every day, all hours, surf
dependent - as they should BEACH ITS ALL
be! STREET ABOUT
We also offer lessons from beginner SURFING!
to advanced.
Our surf coach, Daisy Day, is also Like the Beach region’s Street Surf Shop on Facebook!
best and most famous surf photographer. The
shop is home to Lost in the 60’s Surfwear and the
BlackSand label and we have a good range of
secondhand boards on offer.
39 BEACH ST, FITZROY, NEW PLYMOUTH, NZ
P: +64 (06) 7580400
E: beachstreet@xtra.co.nz
LOCAL
CLOTHING
BRANDS
MAR/APR 2013 | SMORGASBOARDER 47

48
| MAR/APR 2013
SMORGASBOARDER

The Heated Undersuit
turns every
wetsuit
into a
steamer
DAY 23
OH BUGGER. Time to get to work again.
Weather is fine, swell is on. Piha YEEHAA!
Call in to Piha Surf to catch up with Mike –
always good to chat. So down to earth and a
really nice guy. And ahhh, I borrowed one of his
beautiful boards.
PIHA IS FAST BECOMING MY
FAVOURITE WAVE. It is always pumping. The
big rock kept telling me to have one more wave
but then I heard sirens on the beach. First time
for everything. Cleared out of the water with a
tsunami alert.
Caught up with Fiona from the Piha Domain
Camp, lovely lady. The park is absolutely
awesome, just metres from the beach but
hence I wasn’t able to stay with the alert in
place. Time to keep moving. Caught up with
Pete, who is one funny bugger and runs The
Piha Store. He fixes me up with a coffee, pie
and a Karma Cola to go. Legend.
NEXT TIME
REMEMBER! You can follow
these trips on Facebook every
time the new edition of the
mag is released. Simply follow
us on www.facebook.com/
smorgasboarder. Plus, if you do,
there are some great prizes up
for grabs! See page 41 for more
information.
Mike
Heats up
in minutes
Lasts up to 150 mins
3 temperature settings
powered by
two waterproof,
rechargeable lithium
polymer batteries
*free postage
$380 in Aus and NZ
Australia
Retail enquiries welcome.
1300 853 175
info@thermalution.com.au
www.thermalution.com.au
MAR/APR 2013 | SMORGASBOARDER 49

IMM
LEFT: Filmmaker Tim Bonython.
ABOVE: A screen still is just a taster
of what his films hold in store.
50
SMORGASBOARDER | MAR/APR 2013

LATEST: INTERVIEW
ERSED
THE WORLD & WORK OF TIM BONYTHON
The definition of ‘immersed’ is to be covered completely by liquid, or be wholly and deeply engaged,
engrossed and absorbed in a subject. There could be no truer description of award-winning surf
filmmaker Tim Bonython’s world of water, and the passion and commitment he has shown to capturing
the world’s best surfers in full flight.
WORDS: DAVE SWAN
IMAGES: COURTESY OF TIM BONYTHON
MAR/APR 2013 | SMORGASBOARDER 51

52
SMORGASBOARDER
MMERSED
| MAR/APR 2013MMERSED

Early Days
Born in Tennyson, a beachside
suburb of Adelaide, Tim Bonython
walked out the back door of his
family home and quickly discovered
the playground that would keep him
enthralled for the rest of his life.
laTEsT: INTERVIEW
Even though he lived on a beach
with no surf, he found all manner
of things within the ocean to
consume him from catching fish in
milk bottles to spear fishing. Later
on when his parents moved to the
inner-city suburb of Paddington
in Sydney, he discovered a new
frontier, Bondi Beach.
Tim attended Cranbrook School in
the eastern suburbs not far from
Bondi, along with another, now
famous surfing family, the Webbers,
brothers Greg and John. He would
regularly catch the bus down to the
beach and in his first year managed
to snap three Coolites. At this point
his mother decided to buy him an
old, second hand Ron Ford single fin.
Tim explains his surfing progression.
“I couldn’t ride it, so I started
kneeboarding it and suddenly I was
a kneeboarder. My relationship with
the ocean, in a surfing sense, really
took off. I was thirteen. I suppose
you could say I was a bit of a late
starter.”
Tim began dating one of (radio
presenter) John Laws’ daughters,
and would regularly hang out at
their Woollahra home. He noticed
in John’s office, a Super 8 movie
camera lying about...
“I said to John I had noticed the
camera sitting on the floor and
explained how I was right into
photography and asked whether
I could borrow the camera. John
replied to me, ‘Tim, I know you have
been eyeing that camera off and you
can have it as long as you promise
to me you will make something out
of it.’ So I started shooting surfing.
“My first day, I filmed Cheyne Horan
at Bondi. I would also go over to the
Northern Beaches to shoot Peter
Crawford on his kneeboard.
mar/apr 2013 | sMOrGasBOarDEr 53

YEARS OF EXPERIENCE:
There are few icons of the
surfing world that Tim hasn’t
met or filmed during his career.
I was blown away by how good he could
surf a wave. Most people would take off and
go slowly around the pocket whereas Pete
would go straight down, do a big bottom
turn, straight back up, hit the lip, carve back
into the wave, disappear into the barrel,
come out... He was doing things no surfer
could do. He was an incredible athlete and
an extremely talented photographer that
inspired me.”
It was at that point movies such as Crystal
Voyager and Follow the Sun began to hit
Australian movie screens and Tim was well
and truly hooked.
“There were a lot of great films we used to
see at the Opera House. I was about sixteen
at that stage. I remembered seeing that
point-of-view footage by George Greenough
in the barrel at Lennox Head and I couldn’t
believe that was what barrel riding was
like. That was when it all started to come
together for me and it was just a natural
progression from there to shoot surfing.”
After school Tim went back to Adelaide and
worked as a DJ. The gig gave him the cash
to regularly go off to the Yorke Peninsula
surfing for three or four days at a time whilst
camping in his Kombi van and shooting a bit
of home movie surf footage.
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SMORGASBOARDER | mar/apr 2013

latest: INTERVIEW
“My first
day, i filMed
Cheyne
horan at
Bondi.”
“I got to know a guy called Peter Victorson. He
had a surf shop called Top of Taps at Tapley’s
Hill. Peter gave me a bit of coin to film the
Coca-Cola Surfabout with the view we would
show it at the local pub. I then asked if I could
film that Bells contest and he gave me a couple
of hundred more. That was 1981. I had never
been to Bells in my life.
“That was the iconic year for professional
surfing. It was when modern day surfing more
or less was born with the introduction of the
Simon Anderson thruster. Since then I have
only missed a handful of Bells contests but
that was the biggest and the best. Simon just
stamped his way of doing things and showed
the world the future on twenty-five foot faces.”
mar/apr 2013 | sMorGasBoarder 55

MMERSED
56 SMORGASBOARDER | MAR/APR 2013
LIVING THROUGH
THE LENS:
Films like Tim’s let mere
mortals experience the
true power of the ocean
from an armchair.

Latest: INTERVIEW
Tim then went back home to show his footage
only a couple of weeks after the contest. His first
venue was the Victoria Hotel and to his delight
the line of people cueing to see his film stretched
from outside the pub and right down the hill.
“I thought, ‘This is it, this is the future.’”
In 1998 Tim shot some absolutely incredible
footage of monstrous waves breaking at a spot
called Jaws off Maui in Hawaii. He turned the
footage into one of the biggest selling surf
videos of all time called Biggest Wednesday.
It was this movie that spawned the Australian
Surf Film Festival, a travelling road show of surf
films now entering its 11th year.
“From that point I have never looked back.
Obviously back then there were no videos, DVDs
or internet. I would just hit the road and screen
the movies around the pubs showing surfers
what was going on in the world out there.
“I would sit in the pub with my super 8
projector, an 8x10ft screen set up at the back
of the room, a cassette deck, sound system and
mic. I would sit there and narrate the film with
one hand controlling the levels, and the other
on the slow motion control. That was it for
the next ten years - showing films in pubs and
clubs, the good life.”
Present day
Tim is just as hyped and passionate about
shooting surfing footage today, as he was when
he started back in the late seventies although
he has achieved a bit more balance in his life.
Rather than “burning the candle at both ends”
as he did when he initially returned to Sydney
working in the Australian independent music
scene at night before heading straight to the
beach to shoot, he has settled down with his
beautiful French wife and two kids.
“I still enjoy the good life in terms of travelling
the world but I have concentrated on my film
career and family foremost. My passion still
mar/apr 2013 | sMOrGasBOarder 57

keeps me young and energetic. I am going to
hold the froth as much as I can. It is who I am.
“It is all part of the job and the energy goes
with the anticipation. I look at a lot of charts
and swell predictions. These things only
happen in one day and it is really important
to make sure you document those days. You
have to be energised, you have to be prepared
because it is all guns blazing and you must
make sure you maximise the moment. Often
these guys are putting their lives on the line for
that moment of glory and you have to be on the
ball to capture it.”
Last year was a particularly memorable one for
Tim. It not only marked the tenth anniversary
of his Australian Surf Film Festival but it
screened his most recent large-scale project
called Immersion, which was seven years in
the making.
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SMORGASBOARDER | mar/apr 2013

latest: INTERVIEW
“these guys
are putting
their lives on
the line for
that moment
of glory...”
Featuring giant Teahupoo, Jaws, Shipsterns
and Cloudbreak along with interviews with the
likes of Kelly Slater and Gerry Lopez, Immersion
also documented all the different ways you can
enjoy the ocean.
“I wanted to capture all the exponents of the
other arts as well from body surfing with Mark
Cunningham, kite surfing with Ben Wilson,
windsurfing with Jason Polakow, goat boating
with Ben John from Avalon, Tom Carroll with
his SUP and bodyboarding with Mitch Rawlins
and Ben Player.”
mar/apr 2013 | smorgasBoarDer 59

EQUIPMENT
The reality of surf media seems to be you make do with
what you have. That’s not a complaint, but simply a matter
of fact. You have to appreciate the industry for what it is and
the fact you have the pleasure of dealing with real people
day to day. It’s more about passion than commercial gain.
Talking with Tim is confi rmation of this belief.
“The ultimate camera you can have is a Phantom Flex. It’s a
$500,000 camera. I don’t own one. The company that makes
Phantom is called Vision Research. These cameras deliver
unprecedented high-speed image capture and go beyond HD
to support 4-megapixel imaging.
“The other cameras considered the bees knees are the Red
Cameras started by Jim Jannard, the original founder of
Oakley. He sold the sunglass company and decided to work
on launching digital fi lm cameras. They are now industry
standard. The Red One 4k camera shoots 120 frames per
second. It all ads up to a pretty expensive kit once you add
a viewfi nder, grip, batteries and a lense, which can cost as
much as $100k. A good Sachtler (tripod) alone can be up
to $18,000. Their latest is the Red Epic and it shoots up to
240 frames per second. Some of the most respected surf
fi lmmakers have got one.
“My camera is probably the best HD camera out there and
is good for shooting surfi ng movies but they don’t shoot high
speed. It only shoots 50 frames per second. It’s part of the
Panasonic P2 range known for their good quality fi les and
the fact they don’t suffer from too many glitches. I bought
my cameras post the Sydney Olympics for about 2/3 their
original price.”
60
SMORGASBOARDER | MAR/APR 2013

mar/apr 2013 | SMORGASBOARDER 61

LATEST: INTERVIEW
“I’M JUST
LIVING THE
DREAM,
CHASING
GREAT WAVES
AND MEETING
GREAT
PEOPLE.”
THE FUTURE
As for what lies ahead, for Tim it’s slab hunting.
“With the introduction of surf skis, Australia suddenly became a
new frontier for big wave surfi ng but it has now become the ultimate
frontier for slab hunting.
“The biggest wave to me is not as exciting as the biggest slab. It
comes with serious consequences when the water hits a shallow reef.
The old school thinking that the biggest wave is the most exciting I
believe is incorrect.
“We have this massive coastline with dotted reefs creating the best
barrels in the world. There are slabs such as Cyclops off Esperance in
WA, Pedra Branca 30kms off the southeastern tip of Tasmania and no
doubt dozens more way off the coast that are yet to be discovered.
“I’m just living the dream, chasing great waves and meeting great
people. It’s way better than being rich. As long as I can feed my family
and keep them happy I am stoked.”
WIN A COPY OF
IMMERSION ON DVD
We have copies of the fantastic movie
Immersion to give away. For more information,
see our FREE FEST promotion on page 41.
For more info, to watch the trailer, or to buy
the DVD, see www.immersionthemovie.com
62
SMORGASBOARDER | MAR/APR 2013

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MAR/APR 2013 | SMORGASBOARDER 63

PLANE
& SIMPL
When Richard and Garry showed up for
a surf trip with not a board-bag in sight,
surf guide Peter “Stumpy” Wallace
and photographer Brett Wortman were
understandably a little puzzled. It turns
out the waves in the Maldives can be
just as much fun without a surfboard as
the “Two Bobs” showed the crew of the
Handhu Falhi.
WORDS & PHOTOS: BRETT WORTMAN
66
SMORGASBOARDER | MAR/APR 2013

TRAVEL: PLANE TRIP
E
MAR/APR 2013 | SMORGASBOARDER 67

TRAVEL: PLANE TRIP
BELOW: Dick and Gazza ready for action.
Photo: Brett Wortman
WHEN Richard Winston
and Garry Baker showed up with no board
bags in sight, surf guide Peter “Stumpy”
Wallace and I wondered if there had been
a mistake, and if the pair had perhaps
booked the wrong tour. Aged 65 and 54
respectively and defi nitely not looking like
the average surfer, my theory was that
they were senior environmental scientists
here to save this beautiful island nation
from drowning in a sea of horrid plastic
- wishful thinking on my behalf, and the
problem of plastic in the oceans remains
but that’s another tale very much needed
to be told…
After lapping up the confused looks
of their fellow guests burdened by
cumbersome board bags, Dick and Gazza
fi nally put us out of our misery and
revealed they were bodysurfers, and this
was in fact their third tour of the Maldives.
Their fi rst two trips had been to the central
atolls and they were back to see what the
outer atolls could offer them.
Dubbed ‘Two Bobs’ by Stumpy due to
their striking resemblance to a couple of
buoys when fl oating in the line-up, the pair
live and breathe the sport. Back home at
Cronulla they surf most mornings at their
local - Wanda Beach - with a bunch of
equally nutty enthusiasts known as the
Wanda Teabags. It was here that the pair
fi rst met.
In his other life, Gazza is a semi-retired
food technologist specialising in ice cream
who’s travelled the world sourcing specific
varieties of seaweeds and plant seeds
for food use. He is also in high demand
judging ice cream and gelati for major
competitions around Australia and even in
New Zealand and India. Dick, on the other
hand, is a retired electrician who ended his
working years at the ABC on infrastructure
for their radio and television network.
In the Maldives, however, they were
simply the Two Bobs.
“DUBBED
‘TWO BOBS’
68
SMORGASBOARDER | MAR/APR 2013

LEFT: Travelling light for a fantastic surf trip
Photos: Brett Wortman
...BY STUMPY DUE TO THEIR STRIKING
RESEMBLANCE TO A COUPLE OF BUOYS
WHEN FLOATING IN THE LINE-UP...”
MAR/APR 2013 | SMORGASBOARDER 69

70
| mar/apr 2013
SMORGASBOARDER

TRAVEL: PLANE TRIP
Despite their age and lack of fl otation, Gazza and Dick proved to
be quite the chargers and they held their own in the line-up even
when other boats were sharing the break with us.
Two Bobs used special handplanes designed by a mate back home,
and wore unique lycra uniforms with long sleeves and hoods
to protect them from the elements. With Speedos below and
lycra hoodies above, the outfi ts weren’t complete until they had
strapping tape across their noses as extra sun protection - because
sunscreen and zinc just wasn’t enough. I hope I’ve painted a funny
enough picture, because the look was nothing short of hilarious.
The best thing was though, that the pair laughed louder than
anyone at themselves. It’s actually quite hard to pay someone out
when they’re dishing the jokes at themselves louder than the rest.
They taught us all about the fi ner nuances of bodysurfi ng, such as
which handplanes and fi ns suited particular breaks. They explained
the different types of bodysurfers, including the old-school headfi
rst variety, the two-handed athletic trickster variety that use
individual boards on each hand, and their breed, who favour a
single, large board for speed runs on big waves.
Gazza, with his relative youthfulness and large athletic frame, was
particularly good at jagging the bombs out the back. However,
he’s as blind as a bat without glasses on, so Dick would act as his
eyes and tell him when the best waves were coming and which
direction he should swim. Strangely, Gazza would return the favour
by regularly dropping in on Dick who didn’t seem to mind the
company one bit.
“SPEEDOS
BELOW
AND LYCRA
HOODIES
ABOVE”
MAR/APR 2013 | SMORGASBOARDER 71

“THE BOYS
WOULD END
UP CATCHING
THE BIGGEST
WAVES
OF EVERY
SESSION”
Two Bobs never hassled for waves and often others
burdened with surfboards exploited their friendly nature.
Patience is however one of their many virtues and without
fail the boys would end up catching the biggest waves of
every session and charging them past the entire line-up. It’s
a shame Gazza was too blind to see all the fist pumps as he
rocketed past, and that neither could hear our hooting due to
the hoodies covering their ears.
The best waves they’ve had in the Maldives were at
Sultans at six-foot, but they could see a lot of potential in
Tiger Stripes. The dedicated wave riders have also been to
the Mentawis twice and twice to Fiji, where they scored
200-metre-plus rides at Namotu Lefts when it was over tenfoot
- apparently the biggest and best body surfing waves of
their lives.
Own a Coff’s Harbour icon + Freehold
As you read this, Gazza and Dick will be packing their planes
once again to explore the southern Seenu Atoll with ten other
body surfers. I can’t wait to share a few more laughs and get
some more great shots of Two... or this time Twelve Bobs.
Hilarious and inspiring. Thanks for the memories boys.
...IS FOR SALE
For expressions of interest, contact Paul or Ken:
02 6658 0223
www.thelogshack.com.au
CLASSIC. What this shows is there really
are no boundaries to making the most of the ocean. To
experience the Maldives on the Handhu Falhi, see the World
Surfaris website on: www.worldsurfaris.com.
72
SMORGASBOARDER | MAR/APR 2013

WHAT YOU WANT.
CUSTOM HAND SHAPES
BY AL COLK
SINCE 1966
Contact me directly:
MOBILE: 0408 425 368
EMAIL: AL.TUBETIME@GMAIL.COM
MAR/APR 2013 | SMORGASBOARDER 73

MAN OF
MANY BOARDS
If there was ever one core, overarching principle Smorgasboarder magazine was based on, it’s that of
no discrimination... Ever. It’s being accepting of forward thinkers and experimental ideas, being inclusive
of surfers of all levels - from kookiest beginner to most seasoned pro - but most importantly of all, being
absolutely psyched and ready to give every kind of board under the sun a fair go.
Years into it, we might just have stumbled across the embodiment of these principles - discovering someone
who not only rides a wider variety of boards than quite possibly anyone else we’ve ever met on our travels,
but does so with absolute style and a sense of humour to boot.
Meet a true smorgasboarder: Mornington Peninsula board junkie, Eddie Wearne.
WORDS: DAVE SWAN AND MARK CHAPMAN
74
SMORGASBOARDER | MAR/APR 2013

LATEST: LOCAL
Eddie, Indo. Photo: Paul Kennedy - pkphotos.com
MAR/APR 2013 | SMORGASBOARDER 75

On the beach, surrounded
by so many friends...
EDDIE WEARNE was born in Forster
Tuncurry, NSW, and spent his childhood
between Byron and Nimbin, and the Southeastern
suburbs of Melbourne.
“We moved to the Mornington Peninsula when I hit
high school”, he says. “Once that was over, I dropped
out of Uni while living in Torquay. I have lived on the
Goldy and spent a lot of time drifting, chasing waves
and good times. I’ve spent most of the last decade
between Rye and Indo, but I’d like to think I’ll never
really grow up.”
Eddie started riding skimboards and bodyboards
at Wilsons Promontory at age twelve, and once
he got a taste, was hooked and surfed between
Pt Leo and Portsea during his teens - the small
wind chop in Port Phillip bay around Mornington
was a regular haunt for a kid with no wheels.
This diversity of surfing conditions and early
taste for a wide variety of boards just seemed to
spiral to ridiculousness as Eddie (didn’t) grow
up. As the epitome of a smorgasboarder, there’s
not much Eddie won’t ride. He runs us through
his quiver...
SO MANY BOARDS
“Skateboards, including Smoothstars, streetboards, longboards and
electric boards... Snowboards, skimboards, different kinds of bodyboards
for prone, dropknee, and standup stances... Fish, mini-Simmons,
shortboards, kneeboards, mals... SUPs, alaia’s, handplanes and more -
pretty much whatever I can get my hands on...
“I’m pretty lucky to be able to ride the different boards at work because
of the ShedNine shop. My quiver is constantly growing, improving
and evolving. All the different boards complement each other, and
understanding how they all work and relate to each other, and how
subtle differences affect the changes in the ride, is a major part of my
fascination.”
“Why focus on one instrument when you can learn to play a few different
ones? To me it’s all about being able to have fun in any conditions. I’m
stoked to paddle out on any size waves from half-foot slop to as solid as I
can handle, as long as I’m riding the right board - the board that makes it
the most enjoyable for those particular conditions. To quote from my latest
Captain Frothalot surf comedy fi lm: ‘A wise man once said he who rides
many boards will never be bored.’
“It’s rewarding to fully understand and recommend the right craft to
a customer. Surfi ng different craft is invigorating and refreshing and
travelling to good waves with a heap of different boards, for me, is the
ultimate.”
Music to our ears… To give you an idea of the true versatility of
Mr Frothalot ShedNine Wearne, we touch on a few areas he’s
been involved in, starting off with a stint as a professional booger.
76
SMORGASBOARDER | MAR/APR 2013

LATEST: LOCAL
Eddie, an alaia and mate Muklis Anwar
Finless? Damn straight... Yes, it’s a bodyboard.
Smooth moves on a Smoothstar. Photo: Dunxy
Snow problem at all.
Photo: Wavetagger
Frothalot handplanes it
MAR/APR 2013 | SMORGASBOARDER 77

Dropknee in G-Land
Varial flip. Photo: Furniss
BODYBOARDING AND FILM
“I had six stickers at age eighteen, knocked out many idols in competition,
competed dropknee and prone in a variety of selected tour events all over
Australia and overseas, and developed a hunger for larger and heavier
waves.
“At times I was a dole-bludger, but I worked many odd jobs for cash,
travelled a lot - happily existing on the breadline - but I never really
completed enough events on the tour to reflect the ranking that I felt I was
capable of.
“Coming from Victoria it was difficult to gain the recognition and exposure
required by my sponsors. I was always one of the wildest, party-animal
guys at the tour comps, and I became fascinated with extreme sports
video production. I gradually became more involved with videos and my
focus shifted to filming - producing and marketing surf, skate, moto and
bodyboard films under the ShedNine label. I trademarked the ShedNine
brand in the late ‘90s, produced 11 titles eventually topping the charts
with Australia’s highest selling freestyle motocross DVD ‘The Return.’
“For quite a few years, instead of finding stoke filming someone
riding waves, I became fascinated with the angles I could work with a
handycam, shooting Australia and the world’s leading dirtbike riders, who
took me under their wing. These were wild times. I was mostly surfing in
the mornings and filming dirtbikes after lunch anywhere between home
and the Sunshine Coast - amazing memories shared with amazing people
GOOD OLD TRADITIONAL SURFING
“I’m thirty-five now, but in my mid twenties I stopped riding waves for a
while - a little disillusioned by the experiences I had trying to make an
income from bodyboarding. I skated solid for 18 months, then began to
ride surfboards more than bodyboards.
“These days I love riding as many different boards as possible. I’m still
frothing like a grom, maybe more than I ever have. Most of all, I enjoy
riding finless boards standing up, it’s a really warm, smooth and flowing
way of connecting with the wave - make one false move and its over.
“It’s ironic that where I live the waves are rarely suitable, so I’m always
stoked to stumble upon those kinds of waves when I travel.”
SNOWBOARDING
“I’ve been snowboarding for fifteen years, but never spent more than a
couple of days there at a time. I drive a bus full of crew up for day trips
throughout the season to Mt Buller. It’s great taking kids from my local
area up there for the first time. Some of the kids who can skate and surf
well already, and have a bit of ability, just come up and we kind of make
‘em go big (laughs).
“The lines drawn while snowboarding can really complement surfing,
skateboarding and particularly dropknee bodyboarding and finless surfing.”
78
SMORGASBOARDER | MAR/APR 2013

LATEST: LOCAL
EDDIE’S DAY JOB
“ShedNine is constantly evolving. First came
the DVDs and tees, then a range of clothes
and highest quality Aussie-made surfboards,
skateboards and bodyboards. Opening a core
board shop, right near the local Rye, Ocean
Beach was a natural progression and a clear
lifestyle choice made to support a close
relationship to the ocean.
“Off-season, we open at eleven during the
week and stay open late all year, to allow
for extended surfing sessions and dodge the
crowds, as well as being open when people
head for an after-work paddle.
“These days we stock over seventy labels
of surf, skate, moto, bodyboard and snow
gear, boards, clothes and accessories. We’re
constantly promoting our elite level team
riders, and pushing to support them wherever
possible. It’s been a great reward to see our
team rider, Marti Paradisis, take out the Big
Wave Awards this year. The guy is a maniac
and really deserved it.
SKATEBOARDING
“I was lucky during my teenage years that my friends were all based a
little inland and we could not get to the surf all the time, so we skated
heaps and experimented with rollerblading, BMX and the like.
“I was never really interested in team sports and ball sports.
Skateboards are perfect for someone who wants to learn to ride any of
the other boards or work on stances and styles.
“To me, skateboards are the link between, and the stepping stone to all
other boardsports.
Eddie’s finless quiver. Photo: Moran
“I guess ShedNine is more of a hangout than a
plaza-style retail chain, or an online shopping
centre. Our shop is old-school - a real surf
store, where people can touch and feel the
real deal. We run barbies, film premieres,
jam sessions, edit film and record music, with
sandy kids all hanging out the front eating icecreams
and skateboarding while the old man
chills inside with a knock-off beer. It’s actually
a huge amount of work, but all the crew
involved love it. Community spirit.
“Many people ask when we’re opening
another five stores, I’m like just really trying
to keep it on a level at the moment. Why run
five or ten stores when we could still improve
this one? ShedNine suddenly feels all middleaged,
new-gen, but we’re all about stoking the
groms - trying to inspire the next generation by
setting a good example for the kids to live life
to the fullest and push their skills and abilities
to the next level, no matter what they ride.
MAR/APR 2013 | SMORGASBOARDER 79

Frothalot backhand, Indo. Photo: Paul Kennedy - pkphotos.com
LATEST: LOCAL
80
SMORGASBOARDER | MAR/APR 2013

TRAVEL
Between Eddie’s pro career of swell chasing, and his
personal obsession with the ocean, he’s racked up a fair few
miles on land and in the air in search of waves.
“I’ve surfed in Indo, Hawaii, Japan, Fiji and many trips to WA, SA,
QLD, NSW, and Tasmania. All surf trips - I just take skateboards for
fun. Don’t get me wrong, I love snowboarding, but yeah, I’ve never
been overseas chasing it… Maybe one day.
“All these trips were amazing, but the ocean is my home. For me, Indo
is the clear favourite. I fly there tomorrow for my fifteenth time. It’s
nearby, and has the best waves and culture, and a great exchange
rate. Over the years I’ve picked up a fair bit of the language. It’s like
my second home.
“I have worked every day, seven days a week since I got home from
the last trip almost six months ago, only five days off in total. That’s
how my wife and I keep heading back there - we both work megashifts.
One day we dream of setting up a little accommodation for our
friends to stay at over there, and just cruising, living the dream surfing
and skipping chunks of the Vicco winters when our shop is quieter.”
Photo:
Muizy
WHO IS CAPTAIN FROTHALOT?
“A few of the lads at home have been calling me ‘Captain Frothalot’
for a while cause I’m always frothing to surf, even when the waves
are no good.
“A couple of years ago, Surfing Life and Air Asia ran a short filmmaking
competition to win an overseas trip on their ‘No Pro tour’. I
first won a trip to Bali ,where I drew up the devil suits and the local
tailors made my vision a reality.
“The rest is history. I ended up winning flights, money and cameras
over a couple of years. My wife’s pretty special and she loves filming,
so she came along and lapped up the free trips.
MAR/APR 2013 | SMORGASBOARDER 81

“We never planned to make a DVD. The forty-five minute DVD is
basically those winning Youtube films padded up with some even
wilder clips and music thrown together. It’s out there, it’s meant
to be funny… Why blend in when you can stand out? Basically,
Captain Frothalot, is my zany alter ego. All he wants to do is ride
waves on as many boards as possible, he is always frothing to surf
and he doesn’t mind a beer. “
Photo: Muizy
While we’re not quite sure how that’s actually
different to real-life Eddie, there are some notable
interests that Frothalot might not have the same skills
in, such as Eddie’s dabbling in music.
“I play guitar, drums, clarinet, sing and am into freestyling
Hip Hop. I’m a keen songwriter, but its kind of sporadic, I’ve
got an album, and have played a few gigs, but surfing has
always come first. This winter I’m looking forward to some
cold weather, and hope to find the time to record some
more.”
So many things to do, so many places to visit, so
many boards to ride... Meeting energetic, excited
and dedicated people like Eddie Wearne make
you appreciate that you don’t have to live your life
shackled to any conventional idea of how things
should be. Instead, make your own way and do it to
the fullest.
Go for it. Live it up, and simply tear the guts out of
every bit of enjoyment you can find in life. We only
live once, and it would be such a shame to miss out on
filling that life with as many experiences as possible.
I think I might need to go for a surf now.
To check out some of his
raw, funny - even inspiring
- Captain Frothalot video
footage, visit Eddie’s website
www.shednine.com.
Or, be sociable and drop
in to the ShedNine store
in Dundas Street, Rye and
make sure you pick up a copy
of the Captain Frothalot DVD
in person!
82
SMORGASBOARDER | MAR/APR 2013

MAR/APR 2013 | SMORGASBOARDER 83

LATEST: LIVING
Insane views from a Bungan Beach residence designed by Peter.
LIFE IS
BEACHY
Every surfer dreams of owning their own beach house overlooking their favourite break.
We spoke with multi-award winning architect from Sydney’s Northern Beaches, Peter Downes,
an avid surfer himself, who designs the homes dreams are made of. We discovered how a life
chasing waves has led to the most fulfilling of careers.
WORDS: DAVE SWAN
IMAGES: COURTESY OF PETER DOWNES
84
SMORGASBOARDER | MAR/APR 2013

“Surfing lead me to exploring the Australian coast, which lead me to
living in Avalon, which lead me to an architectural career designing
houses on the coast all around Australia, all totally unplanned, of
course, and through no great management on my behalf.”
It’s uncanny how the planets can sometimes align - for everything
to fall into place just when you need it most. And so it was for Peter
Downes who grew up in the western suburbs of Sydney. He recalls
the highlight of his earlier years to be when the family packed up the
car and headed for Seven Mile Beach - just south of Gerroa in the
Shoalhaven Shire, about two hours south of the Sydney CBD - to camp
for the summer holidays. Around the age of fifteen, his family moved
to Currarong, down near Jervis Bay and this is where Peter first caught
the surfing bug.
“It was a good place to learn because the waves there are generally
pretty small and there was no one else around. I learnt on a 9’6” Ron
surfboard.”
His passion for the surf never waned. When he left home the lure
of the sea was ever present, so Peter moved to Manly, on Sydney’s
Northern Beaches.
“I went to Uni, started an engineering degree part-time and during the
day I worked as a draftsman. I realised I was pretty good at it, so after
a while I dropped out of Uni and just focused on drafting.
“It was the ‘70s and it was a great time for the mining industry.
I ended up working as a draftsman, and then a site manager in
interesting parts of Australia right through the ‘70s and early ‘80s. I
used to design the material handling side of things from ship loaders
to stacker reclaimers.”
One job saw Peter based at Cape Cuvier, south of the Tropic of
Capricorn, north of Carnarvon. He recalls his deployment fondly.
“I went up there to supervise the construction of a ship loader. I took
the job because just up the coast was Red Bluff, which was a secret in
those days. A surfboard manufacturer in Perth had told me about it. I
used to go up there on the weekend and surf with maybe two or three
other guys in the water.
“The water up there is just full of life. You could not put an extra fish
in there without taking one out. Red Bluff is an amazing surf spot. In
summer it’s dead flat. In winter it’s huge. I never saw it under 16ft. That
was as big as I surfed it, but it is quite an easy wave, relatively friendly
for its size. You paddle out in deep water and around into the wave.
It’s not real sucky - you skate along the top of it. When it gets bigger, it
gets more hollow and gnarly.
“I got my best barrel ever there. I can still picture it, with the sun
shining through the top of the wave prismatically from the barrel. I had
just got there after some rain and the whole desert was covered with
flowers. When you were sitting out the back looking towards land you
could see this sea of flowers and smell the perfume. It was a really
spacey experience.”
mar/apr 2013 | SMORGASBOARDER 85

WHALE BEACH: One
of Peter’s designs with
amazing views and an
unbelievable position.
86
SMORGASBOARDER | mar/apr 2013

DESIGNING DREAM
BEACH PADS
Peter continued to work as a freelance draftsman at various
mining sites until the mid ‘80s when he headed back to the
Northern Beaches and rented 3sqm of office space from a
mate in Manly Vale.
“After a while I got listed in the phone book under drafting
so people would would ring up about a deck or a garage. By
the ‘90s the engineering side of things had near completely
dried up and the drafting got busier and busier.”
It didn’t prove enough though, and with three young boys
he was struggling to make any kind of headway financially.
Peter was playing squash with a group of guys each
week at the local courts when one of them, who knew
he was quite broke and trying to find a new career, put a
proposition to him. The said gentlemen mentioned he had
just bought a block of land overlooking Bilgola Beach.
“He said to me, ‘Have a go at designing a house for the
site, and if I like what you come up with, I will pay you
for it and build the house.’ I thought it was a really good
opportunity. Thankfully, he liked what I came up with. Not a
bad starting point for an architectural career.
“It’s still one of my favourite houses. Because I didn’t
know what I was doing, I didn’t have any restraints. With
my engineering background I made it like a giant hollow
pyramid with steel posts holding up the roof. It was eleven
metres high and occupied two-thirds of the site. You
couldn’t get away with it now because of energy rating
issues and building restrictions. It was an opportunity that
wouldn’t ever come along again.
“I continued doing the odd small project and then a couple
of other opportunities came along. I later joined the
Building Designers Association, which is for people like me
who haven’t got an architectural qualification. I submitted a
house I had designed for their awards and amazingly it won
the best house in NSW for its category, and I then went on
to the national design awards. Since then I have won 44
state awards in various residential categories.
“I was recently given an architectural diploma based on
the work I have done to date - work experience (he laughs).
So far I have completed about 1,000 projects and around
60-odd significant homes. Eight or ten are currently on the
drawing board. One project of late is quite significant. The
property is just south of Perth, and occupies a kilometre
of beach. There is no budget. The client owns the world’s
largest excavation company.”
“My lovE foR
SINGlE fINS
StEMS fRoM tHE
SuRfING tHEy
PRoDuCE.”
BELOW: Peter at work on
a budgetless house. Nice.
Photo: Dave Swan
lAtESt: living
mar/apr 2013 | SMoRGASBoARDER 87

It's all about the beach
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88
| MAR/APR 2013
SMORGASBOARDER
6 Lorraine Ave,
Marcoola Beach QLD
(07) 5448 8560
Visiting the NFOS?
We're just 20min
South of
Noosa
f

Photo: Dave Swan
ABOVE: Peter at
home with two friends.
Photo: Dave Swan
BELOW: Peter’s
asymmetrical design
plans and final product.
Photo: Peter Downes
DREAMING UP
BOARD DESIGNS
For twenty years Peter was busy with the business and
raising kids and at that stage only had one longboard to
speak of. When life settled down a little he decided to get
more into surfing once again.
“Through the years I have worked out I have probably bought
and sold sixty odd boards and for all that money and effort
I had only one board in the garage. So I thought I will keep
buying one or two boards a year, but I will keep them. I
started to think about what they were going to be, and how
they would fit into my quiver.
“I have always been fond of twin fins and single fins. My love
for single fins stems from the surfing they produce. If you look
back to Morning of the Earth and that super smooth downthe-line
motion they produce, their speed and ability to do
big cutbacks... They are just perfect. I have always enjoyed
watching the likes of the late Michael Peterson surf, and the
same goes for Joel Tudor today.”
Along with single fins and twinnies, Peter also has a
penchant for designing his own asymmetricals.
“Way back I made this little 6’6” square tail single fin. It
was fantastic on the forehand side. You could do a real big
bottom turn and go straight down the line, but it tended to
spin out a bit on the backhand side because the fin was too
small. So next I made a 6’9” round tail with a bigger fin,
and it was really good on the backhand, but not as good on
the forehand.
“I went back to the 6’6” and added angled side fins. That
made it really good on the backhand, but it lost its magic on
the forehand. When you stepped on the gas, instead of just
wanting to go down the line, it now wanted to go up the
wave face. So then I thought I would make a board that puts
it all into one board. It was 6’6” round tail on the backhand
side, and a square tail on the forehand. I put a small fin on
the backhand side in the normal position and on the forehand
side another little fin that was pretty much level with the
main fin and another parallel to the stringer. It got rid of the
tendency to go up the wave.
“Anyhow, I rode that board for a couple of years and then
got rid of it. Only a couple of years ago I experimented with
LATEST: LIVING
Photo: Peter Downes
MAR/APR 2013 | SMORGASBOARDER 89

Home in Warriewood
“I SEE
SURFBOARDS AS
SCULPTURES. IT’S
A REAL CRAFT.”
this similar design again. It works just as well. I got the guys
at McTavish Surfboards to shape it for me. I’m a fan of their
boards because they are quite thick and have good, old school
rails. I based it on the ‘Egg’ model because they have the
volume and rocker I like and all they did was square up the rail
to my specifications. The fins weren’t quite where I wanted
them so I had them redone by a guy at Mona Vale.”
The board is set up to ride goofy-foot and is 6’6” x 22” x 3”
conforming to Peter’s ‘geometric formula.
“One of the reasons I started making my own boards was
because boards at the time were becoming thinner and lighter.
So I made my own that were a little thicker and heavier. It
made up for a lack of ability. They were easier to paddle, trim
and get onto a wave. They plane through the slow sections
enabling you to surf waves that no one else wants. Nowadays
I won’t buy a board unless it complies by my formula.
“I like surfboards that are fast by themselves. You don’t have
to drive them. Single fins with a flat sort of rocker are like that.
You don’t have to do a radical turn before they come alive.”
Peter’s not out to make any money from his design. As
he says, “I have the greatest respect and admiration for
shapers. I see surfboards as sculptures. It’s a real craft. I
would just like to get the kudos should my design ever be
adopted. From what I can gather, there are a limited number
of asymmetrical boards out there.”
As for Peter’s surfboard quiver today, it’s like his design
business: it continues to expand. You can sense he’s pretty
content with life. Family, surfing, business... Things have
turned out okay. As for where he now resides, he had this to
say, “I moved up here for the surfing, and it proved to be the
best thing for my career as well. It’s just a magic spot. I can be
surfing at Palm Beach by myself or with a mate, and an hour
later I can be at the Harbour Bridge in the heart of the city.”
More on Peter’s work: www.peterdownes.com
90
SMORGASBOARDER | MAR/APR 2013

KELLY NORRIS
Photo by Smico
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MAR/APR 2013 | SMORGASBOARDER 91

PEOPLE: COLLECTORS
Cole Thomas’ shed is literally packed to the rafters with surf and skate memorabilia of the past 40-odd years. Photo: Simon Kettle
THE
MAN
CAVE
A COLLECTOR’S PERSONAL HEAVEN
92
SMORGASBOARDER | MAR/APR 2013

Like many a board fanatic, Cole Thomas’ love of board riding
has flowed over into collecting. In fact, he started collecting
before he realised, having held onto the very first
skateboard he rode as a 12-year-old. His collection
over the years has spread around the exterior of his
home, but most of it lovingly stored in his man
cave or ‘Surf Shack’ as Cole calls it. It’s here
that intrepid interviewer Simon Kettle gets
a chance to sit down and let Cole spill the
beans on the art of collecting all things surf.
WORDS AND PHOTOS: SIMON KETTLE
Cole started skateboarding in the early ‘70s. A
few years into his teens, he and a couple of mates
headed down to Ted Bainbridge’s surf shop on the
Nepean Highway in Frankston to buy their first
surfboards.
“The board I picked was a 6’2”, single fin
swallowtail,” Cole says.
His fi rst wave came via the Frankston beach on
a storm day. Waves only form in Port Philip
Bay when there are huge winds and storms.
Cole and his mates would walk down the pier,
jump off, wait for a wave and ride it all the
way down to the creek. Then they’d walk back
and do it all again.
“I always ended up fi lthy in that creek,” Cole
tells me.
As the boys started getting ‘older’ - still only 15
- they’d hitchhike to the surf, or catch the train
to Crib Point, then jump off and pick up the ferry
to Phillip Island to surf and camp overnight on
the sand dunes - this was long before there were
the houses that are there now. They used to do
this nearly every weekend, until a licence finally
gave them the freedom to go surfing everywhere
from the Great Ocean Road to Phillip Island and
through Gippsland on the Bass Coast.
What seems like only a few boards and a few years
later, Cole’s created his own cave of collectables.
MAR/APR 2013 | SMORGASBOARDER 93

PEOPLE: COLLECTORS
“IF I FIND A NEW BOARD THERE’S ALWAYS ROOM…
OR I’LL MAKE ROOM.”
READY, SET …GO!
“I probably really started to get stuck into the
collecting side of surfing in my middle to late
30’s and I’d collect anything I could find to do
with surfing and skateboarding. I already had a
few artefacts, but around this time I consciously
decided I was going to go after stuff.
Then suddenly, everywhere I went, I would see
something that I’d want, so I decided to grab
everything I could: surfboards, skateboards,
video tapes, magazines, records, posters and
signs. Next thing you know I’m heavily involved
in collecting, dealing and selling.
“I really just started this for me personally and
the love of surfing. Now, I’m struggling to fi nd
the time to go look for these items but I’m still
just as keen to collect anything I can get my
hands on. Skateboards from the late ‘60s or ‘70s
would be the thing I’m most keen to get hold
of at the moment, but I think right now they
are the hardest things to fi nd. Or if I do fi nd
one, people are just asking too much money for
them. I’d also like to find more twin fi ns like the
Klemm-Bell I have here but they didn’t make
many twinnies and they’re really hard to find.”
TOTAL CONTROL?
“Well, it’s not ‘under control’ it’s just controlled
by how much the boards are to buy. If I see a
skateboard or a surfboard that’s not too expensive,
I will keep buying them. But, I’m not going
to the markets as much as I used to. School
fees cost a lot of money, so when that fi nishes
I can probably go and collect whatever I like.
But, if there was something I really wanted or
worth something, I’d find the money somehow.”
IF I COULD TURN BACK TIME
“There was a single fi n Piping Hot surfboard,
brand new, mint condition I’d come across
about two years ago. I found it at the tip in
a soft cover and paid only $5 bucks for it! It
must have been sitting in someone’s shed for
years, unused. I ended up selling it to another
collector who he gave me $250 for it. Oh, it
makes me feel sick! I’m kicking myself over letting
that one go, but I sold it and a few others
because I wanted... needed to get my Sandman
panelvan on the road.”
Cole shows off his pride and joy Klemm-Bell. Photos: Simon Kettle
MAKING ROOM
“If I fi nd a new board there’s always room…
or I’ll make room. I come out into the ‘Surf
Shack’ and look where I can move this board or
that board. All of the things I’ve collected are
out here or around the back of the house. My
wife doesn’t really want this all coming into
the house, which is fair enough. I do give her a
call if I fi nd something new or if we’re together
I can just talk to her but she’ll probably just
say, ‘oh, not another one!’ (Laughs) But she
understands that it’s a passion for me.”
TO THE GRAVE
“Well, it has to be the Klemm- Bell. When I
found that board - which was only a couple of
dollars from the tip too - I had an artist paint
the picture on it and it symbolized my mark. It
has a diamond tail, and I just love the thick rails
and the fi n on it. I had a couple of other Klemm-
Bell boards but I moved them on. This is the
last one I have, and I’ll never get rid of it.”
ADVICE TO THE INNOCENT
“If someone wants to start collecting today,
should they go for the old stuff or the new stuff
that might be collectible in 30 years’ time?
Mmmm… If they go with the old stuff, I’d say
it would be pretty hard to start something up
unless they’ve got a lot of money. Even finding
the little things, like old VHS tapes are so hard
to fi nd now. You could go to the tip for a whole
month and fi nd nothing. Even the tips know
what things are worth these days! There’s
probably more of a chance to get into the
modern stuff and wait to see what happens in
the future.”
94
SMORGASBOARDER | MAR/APR 2013

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MAR/APR 2013 | SMORGASBOARDER 95

Not far from magical, yet
increasingly crowded Bali is a
newly discovered, secluded,
crescent-shaped bay with swaying
palm and pandanus trees.
It offers ultra-fun, consistent left
and right-hand beach-breaks, with
no one around. Day by day, empty
A-frames break with just a couple
of local surfers, and the odd
tourist, to share the spoils of this
untouched area.
WORDS: MICHAEL McCOMAS
PHOTOS: MICK CURLEYOLD
96
SMORGASBOARDER | MAR/APR 2013

MAR/APR 2013 | SMORGASBOARDER 97
WORLD: COMMUNITY

The place I am writing about is
Red Island – known to the locals as ‘Pulau
Merah’. Red Island is situated a few bays west
of the famous G-land - one of the longest,
heaviest most perfect waves in the world - and
is accessible from the ferry port in Bali of
Gilimanuk. It’s surrounded by lush green hills
and clear blue water with unusual (for this
area) white sand covering the shore. It’s one of
those rare places that cater for all ability levels
of surfers from learners to pros. Red Island has
something for everyone.
In the corner of the bay, under a towering big
dome-like island, is a mechanical left and right
A-frame that breaks on all available swell,
and on average breaks in the 2-4ft range every
day. Further down the beach is more subject to
the south swells and shifty beachies break on
average between 3-5ft on most days.
On solid swell, the A-frame in the corner turns
into a long, left-hand point style wave, with big
walls, great for practicing multiple cutbacks
with the odd barrel section, whilst further down
the beach turns into massive peaky mountains
of craziness. Most days you find yourself trying
to count how many waves you‘ve caught in
the corner, whilst the right breaks into a user
friendly deep channel the left runs down the
beach and you find yourself completing many a
runaround to the easy ‘drift out’ in the channel.
Between surf sessions the guides can whip out
the Zodiak and take you fishing, snorkelling or
spearfishing around the nearby islands - often
pulling up to a secluded bay and cooking your
catch up on a ‘Indostyle’ BBQ.
Red Island really is paradise, but unfortunately
there is one catch… And it’s a big one.
Beneath the beautifully green, protected
mountains lies one of the biggest gold deposits
in the world. Whilst it’s debatable whether this
is a good thing or a bad thing for the locals of
the area, one thing is for sure that it’s a major
threat to the environment. Whilst the area
comes under a ‘protected forest’ status similar
to our National Park status, there are efforts
under way by mining interests to have these
changed from ‘Protected’ to ‘Production’, which
would see the area turned into an open cut
mine, with a port terminal constructed in an
adjacent bay, which would have ships running
through Red Island, the pristine waters at
G-land and possibly Bali.
The greater majority of locals in the area are
opposed to the idea of an open cut mine, as
it would devastate local water resources,
which they rely on for agricultural and fishing
98
SMORGaSBOaRDeR | mar/apr 2013

“Red Island Really
Is paRadIse, but
unfoRtunately theRe
Is one catch... and It’s
a bIg one.”
WoRld: COMMUNITY
mar/apr 2013 | sMoRgasboaRdeR 99

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100
| MAR/APR 2013
SMORGASBOARDER

Photo: Mick Curley
WORLD: COMMUNITY
“NOT ONLY DOES TOURISM HAVE A LESS NEGATIVE
EFFECT ON THE ENVIRONMENT, IT ALSO CREATES NEW
OPPORTUNITES FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH...”
BELOW: WHAT AN OPEN CUT
GOLD MINE ACTUALLY IS.
Kalgoorlie’s Super-Pit. Wikimedia
CC. Photo: Brian Voon Yee Yap
MAR/APR 2013 | SMORGASBOARDER 101

WORLD: COMMUNITY
GOLD
“IT’S A GREAT
PLACE FOR ALL
SURFERS FROM
BEGINNERS TO MAL
RIDERS TO NEW
AGE AIR-FLARERS..”
Photo: Mick Curley
102
SMORGASBOARDER | MAR/APR 2013

purposes. The proposed mine site is
situated between two of the largest
national parks in Java, the Meru
Betiri National Park, which is home
to one of the most important turtle
breeding sites in Indonesia, and
Alas Purwo National park where
G-land is situated.
As it stands, exploratory operations
have ceased, after forcible removal
of the company by local interests –
a battle that now continues being
fought in an international court.
So, we continue to promote tourism
to both locals and foreigners, to
hopefully show the local forestry
minister that not only does tourism
have a less negative effect on the
environment, it also creates new
opportunites for economic growth
with tourism related businesses.
Time will tell how this plays out.
One thing is certain however, and that
is the waves at Red Island will always
break, and as long as the crowds
of Bali continually increase, we, as
surfers, will always be seeking that
new, uncrowded getaway - which
you are guaranteed at Red Island.
It’s a great place for all surfers from
beginners to mal riders to new age
air-fl arers. Yes, Red Island’s waves
are the true gold here.
For more information on the
accomodation at the newly built
surfers’ stay, consisting of three
large comfortable bungalows with
private open air bathrooms, and
amazing local meals with cold
Bintang always available and a
campfi re out front to sit around at
night, check out the A Red Island
Surf Adventures website www.
aredislandsurf.com or follow them
on Instagram – aredislandsurf. A
Red Island Surf Adventures run
packages out of Kuta (Bali) with
the option of surfi ng G-land, Balian,
Medewi and other secret spots in
the area.
MAR/APR 2013 | SMORGASBOARDER 103

104
| MAR/APR 2013
SMORGASBOARDER

Occy’s Left
TALES: BACK IN THE DAY
ONE NIGHT
IN SUMBA
While surf trips are about finding amazing waves, sometimes it’s other parts of the adventure
that stick in your memory. It’s not always the epic, but often the little things that bring the
colour and detail to our experiences. Almost 20 years on from a trip with two mates in the
mid-’90s, Sunshine Coast surfer Shane Palethorpe recounts one of these little memories -
a quest for tinned food on the Indonesian island of Sumba.
WORDS & PHOTOS: SHANE PALETHORPE
MAR/APR 2013 | SMORGASBOARDER 105

Hotel Occy’s
Waingapu markets
106
SMORGASBOARDER | MAR/APR 2013

AFTER many trips to various parts of
Indonesia chasing waves, a trip to Sumba
would provide lasting memories, with one
night in particular remaining with me forever.
A month of good waves at Lakey Peak in
Sumbawa had us fi t and primed for further
adventures, so two mates and I put our
heads together and decided to escape the
increasing crowd at Lakeys and head for
Occy’s left in Sumba.
The 12-hour ferry ride from Bima to
Waingapu the capital of Sumba was great,
with a beautiful sunset over the stern of
the ship. We arrived just after dark to the
bustling docks of Waingapu. Having no idea
where we were going, we managed by blind
luck to fi nd a losmen to crash for the night,
and the following day caught the public bus
for the 8-hour journey to Waikabubak, the
closest town to Nihiwatu - Occy’s Left.
Eventually we found ourselves at Chief
Metebulu’s village high atop the hills
overlooking the bay where the left is
located, and settled in for the night. The
following day presented small waves not
worth surfi ng, so some diving was the
order of the day. However the next morning
showed two-foot corduroy lines to the
horizon, and the promise of a long period
swell, so we decided to wait and see what
the next day would bring.
We were the only people in the water
for the next few weeks, and the swell
eventually topped out at 6-10 feet, with
some awesome barrels shared between
the three of us. Yet, although the village
was a great place to be, and the chief very
accommodating, there was one thing we
were short of - food. We had been surviving
on noodles with an egg or a bit of chicken
waved over it for several days, and the term
‘hungry’ would be an understatement. We
couldn’t go on much longer like this.
“WE WERE THE ONLY PEOPLE
IN THE WATER FOR THE NEXT
WEEKS, AND THE SWELL
EVENTUALLY TOPPED OUT AT
6-10 FEET...”
Late one afternoon, a local teacher rode into
the village on an old two-stroke motorcycle,
and when I heard he was to stay the night,
an idea hatched: use his bike to ride into
Waikabubak for some food that night. After
an arrangement had been reached, I grabbed
some money from the crew, a large rucksack
and headed off into town.
The sun was already setting when I
departed, but fi gured I would be ok if I just
followed the ribbon of tarmac that passed
for a road. Along the way - probably every
500 metres or so - I would come across
large pythons lying across the road, soaking
up the last of the warmth from the day.
They were not an issue while I had light,
as I would just ride around them, but as
night fell I was totally reliant on the feeble
headlight on the bike to both spot and avoid
the snakes.
About a third of the way into town, with
night now fully upon me, the engine cut out.
Yes, I had run out of fuel, and unlike other
parts of Indo where you have fuel for sale
nearly everywhere along the roadside, there
was no such luxury in this part of Sumba.
I had not even checked the tank prior to
leaving, and this would prove to be the
catalyst for a crazy night in Sumba.
And anyone that knows old two-stroke bikes
will understand that the headlight is run
from a magneto that’s only powered when
the engine is going. Without the engine, no
light.
I would be pushing the bike along the road
with no lights or villages along the way to
shed any light on the direction I must take.
The only indicator was the crunching of
gravel on the road verge when the front tyre
left the tarmac.
But, that would prove to be the least of my
worries…
Whenever I felt the front wheel go over
some sort of bump, I would run the next few
metres and at the same time try to jump
into the air. Try it - not easy, but with the
adrenalin level high I managed it with ease.
I must have gone over at least half a dozen
snakes in this fashion on the trip to town.
I eventually came to the range of hills
between the coast and Waikabubak, and
pushed that damn bike all the way to the
top, where I could just see in the distance
the distant lights of downtown Waikabubak.
Comforting, but still a long way to go.
Coming down the range of hills gave new
meaning to the word excitement, I had to
listen very carefully for the crunch of gravel
to avoid going over the edge of the cutting,
and after another hour or so managed to
push the bike into town.
TALES: BACK IN THE DAY
MAR/APR 2013 | SMORGASBOARDER 107

108
| MAR/APR 2013
SMORGASBOARDER

At what passed for the petrol station, I
started to fill the tank. Something made me
fi ll it right to the top. Lucky I did, as I would
need most of it to get back later in the night.
I found the local Chinese run “ sell
everything” shop and proceeded to clean
them out of whatever I could carry in the
rucksack: tinned strawberry jam from
Australia, tinned NZ butter, Indo bread, tinned
Chinese luncheon meat, and whatever else
could be eaten. The rucksack was almost full
when I left the store and headed off into the
night again, only this time with a headlight to
show the way.
Feeling quite chuffed at my efforts to fi rstly
get into town, and secondly to have such a
treasure of food to return with, I couldn’t wait
to get back to the village for a real feed. After
about an hour on the road I realised I was
horribly lost. To add to that, the rear tyre had
totally gone down, leaving the bike sliding its
arse-end around all over the place, but I had
no option but to keep going... Slowly.
I didn’t even know if I was on the right road,
and was hopelessly lost. In the far distance, I
could see a glow of lights, and made my way
towards them, down a dirt track, ending up
at some sort of mining camp with about 300
guys working there. It seemed to be around
10pm at night, but I was only guessing.
The guys all came racing out to greet me.
Although I couldn’t understand a word of their
dialect, they soon had the rear tyre off and
started fi xing it for me, as the manager of the
mine invited me to sit with them and eat. I
thought the night had been interesting up to
this point… How wrong I was.
Although I had trouble with the dialect,
there was one word I understood only too
well - anging (dog) - and this would be the
centrepiece on the table. When I tried to tell
them in Oz we have dogs as pets, they just
laughed at me. Whether this was because
of the mess I was making of their language,
or the fact we kept them as pets, I will never
know. However, the generosity had been
outstanding in helping me with the flat tyre,
so not wishing to offend anyone, I had little
choice but to hoe in and try to forget I was
eating Fido. Let me tell you, dog meat must
be one of the worst meats I have ever tasted.
Even a strong curry would have trouble
masking the flavour, but then again, it was
probably all in my head.
Following dinner, they all pointed to where
I should be heading. As I rode away, I heard
a big cheer from the workers. I thought they
were just giving me a send-off, but no, I
had already started heading in the wrong
direction, and they were yelling trying to point
out my error. But off I went, thinking I was on
the right track.
Simon and Shane, Sumba jungle
“I DIDN’T EVEN KNOW IF I
WAS ON THE RIGHT ROAD, AND
WAS HOPELESSLY LOST.”
TALES: BACK IN THE DAY
MAR/APR 2013 | SMORGASBOARDER 109

“DOG MEAT MUST
BE ONE OF THE
WORST MEATS I
HAVE EVER TASTED.”
6-10 foot Occy’s
How wrong could I be? After another hour or so of getting lost
again, I spotted a feeble light from beside the road coming from
a small shack. I approached the shack to find an elderly guy
with his meager possessions, and I tried to convey my problem
to him, where I was trying to get to… Imagine diagrams in the
dirt if you will. Eventually he took pity on me and indicated he
will accompany me on the back of the bike, to the turnoff I need
to return to the village.
Sumba is a balmy place with high daytime temperatures, but at
night the temperature plummets and it gets pretty cool. After
about 30 minutes I can feel the old guy shivering behind me and
fi guring I have the direction sussed by now, I decided to take
him back to his home, and make it back on my own.
When I dropped him off, I tried to offer him some money for his
help, but like so many people who don’t have much, he wouldn’t
take anything. I ended up leaving a wad of notes under a plate on
the table. I hope he made good use of it and wasn’t offended.
Soon, I was lost again, but this time not too far from the turnoff
to Metebulu’s village, and after a further hour or so of going
in circles, I accidentally stumbled into camp with my mates all
waiting up and wondering where the hell I had been. It would
have been well past midnight by this time.
What a mission, but I had enjoyed every minute of it, and the
adventure is as clear today for me, as it was on that crazy night
in Sumba. The following morning we would luxuriate in French
toast cooked on the sides of a wok, and let me tell you, food
had never tasted so good.
Days later, the swell had died down and other surfers started to
arrive, so we felt it was time to leave our paradise and return
west to Bali.
To have surfed Occy’s left was fantastic. To have it at 6 to 10
feet was amazing. To have no other surfers around, it was a
dream. And to have that one crazy night in Sumba? Priceless.
110
SMORGASBOARDER | MAR/APR 2013

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MAR/APR 2013 | SMORGASBOARDER 111

TRAVEL: SNOW
Photo supplied by Warrick Mitchell
FRESH
TRACKS
The weightless feeling of carving fresh powder snow is a
sensation like no other. There’s almost a certain mystique to it
that is hard to describe unless experienced first hand. Warrick
Mitchell recalls his quest to make fresh tracks with a heliskiing
mission he undertook on the South Island of New Zealand.
WORDS & PHOTOS: WARRICK MITCHELL
112
SMORGASBOARDER | MAR/APR 2013

With a short break from work, we jump
almost straight from surfing Byron onto a
Brisbane flight and soon find ourselves touching
down to the winter snow in Queenstown.
I had with me a snowboarder from Europe
and a skier who bases his worldly snow
travels out of the Gold Coast. It was early
winter and New Zealand was getting doused
in powder making us keen to get amongst it.
Stepping off the plane in Queenstown you
are immediately greeted by the towering
jagged peaks of The Remarkables and fresh
winter air. Surrounded by two national parks,
Queenstown has a landscape that inspires
movie makers and adventurers alike.
The mountains are pushed up by the Indo-
Australia Plate and shaped by two million
or so years of grinding glaciers and eroding
weather systems. The feeling as you hop off
the plane into the small bustling resort is
surreal and seems to never grow old.
We load our gear, and ourselves, into a rental
campervan and head over the hill to the resort
of Lake Wanaka. With its clear waters and
steep alpine backdrop, Wanaka has a perfect
setting, and the many bars and restaurants
whet our appetite in the anticipation of the
days to come. We’ve timed our visit well, with
fresh powder falling overnight.
Our next day riding in Wanaka is stunning,
but we soon hit the road north towards the
large Canterbury mountains on a mission.
The South Island straddles the Alpine Fault
line where the Pacific and Indo-Australian
plates crash together coming ashore from
the deep water off Kaikoura. They make
their way south all the way down into the
Fiordland, before heading back out to sea.
The result is the dramatic South Island and
Southern Alps rising high out of the South
Pacific Ocean. At its largest in the center
of the South Island are Mount Cook and
Tasman, towering at approximately 3700 and
3500 metres respectively.
We make our way to the north of New
Zealand’s biggest peaks to the Rangitata
Gorge, which twists deep into the base of
the Alps. By the time we’ve made the long
spectacular drive in, we are closer to the
west coast than the east coast where we
started out. At the end of the road, Helipark
NZ, situated on a high country station and
lodge, is developing their vision for the
world’s first heli-accessed free-ride park.
(The helicopter flies all day, dropping groups
into different spots. You decide where to go
and how many runs.)
Our goal is to join Mark and Marie Claire
(then owners of Helipark), to experience both
the heli accessed riding of Helipark and to
fly across the mighty Rangitata River for a
second day to heli ski in the mountains to the
south. For this we want a fresh powder day,
and while we wait for the snow, we decide
to hit the numerous club fields starting an
hour to the north.
We choose Broken River for our day with an
overnight stay. It’s an experience all in itself.
We load the gear lift and make the hike
up the access path under the native trees.
At the top we re-unite with our gear and
hit the ‘nut cracker’ rope tows. The riding
is challenging and rewarding and overall
down-to-earth. The night’s accommodation
is perfect, nestled on the verge of the native
forest and the alpine realm. We stay in
central-heated, self-contained cabins and
share exciting travel stories with others who
are chasing the winter powder. The Broken
River Lodge is also licensed and comes with
a chef if you choose to dine.
mar/apr 2013 | SMORGASBOARDER 113

LEFT: Mt Potts backcountry
heli-drop
Next day we enjoy a daybreak start, greeted
by friendly Keas (the world’s only alpine parrot)
on the snow-covered steps up to the lifts. We
enjoy the mornings riding before heading back
to Helipark as a fresh storm and snow is rolling
in and our names are on the top of the list for
the following day’s heli time.
We wake from our cabins at the Helipark
base camp - Mount Potts Lodge - just before
daybreak to a crisp and clear still morning.
Coffees, breakfast and laughs are enjoyed
while we gear up and the sun warms the valley.
We don our transceivers, the blades start to
spin and we load the helicopter ten metres
from our doorstep ready for the day ahead.
Warrick is no stranger to choppers, and is the
man behind HeliSurf NZ. www.helisurf.co.nz
“WE’VE TIMED OUR VISIT WELL,
WITH FRESH POWDER FALLING OVERNIGHT.”
114
SMORGASBOARDER | MAR/APR 2013

JUST UP THE ROAD
TRAVEL: SNOW
Jase Johns of Queenstown’s NZ Shred takes us alon on a little trip of discovery WORDS & PICS: JASE JOHNS
It’s early on a Tuesday morning in
July and my fingers are cold, as
I try to push the last roof clamp
down on the snowboards. I pour
more hot water into my cup of
tea, as the rest of the crew are
just starting to filter through the
shower. We’re about to set off
on another mini-Roadie. I’ve
got some folks over from the
Sunshine Coast who have flown
in for a weeks’ snowboarding.
They’re after a mix of ‘big and
commercial’ as well as some
sort of quintessential ‘Kiwines’s
in the mix. Having spent the last
seventeen years in the region
and in the snow industry, I’m
hard pressed thinking of a more
appropriate adventure.
I turn the key, and the engine
of the NZSHRED Landcruiser
rattles into action – that diesel
hum, I liken to a ranchers most
faithful horse, with the confident
look of “Where would you like
to go, Boss?”. Driving away from
Queenstown feels wrong, but
greener (or in this case, whiter)
pastures lie but a short two and a
half hours drive away. Everyone’s
asleep, so I’m in charge of the
tunes, as we roll in to Omarama.
Here’s a chance to fill the truck
with juice, as well as get some
fresh caffeine into our veins
before the last push.
The weather report looked great
for today and tomorrow and that
fresh snow on the road over the
Lindis Pass, which had kept me
concentrating while everyone else
slept, reminded me that there
should be some great riding ahead.
Just as the road started to get
straight and boring, the sound of
the indicator as we turned left at
the big timber “Welcome to Ohau”
sign, resuscitated those in the back
seats... We were getting close.
You could see Ohau Ski Fields
wedged in one of the numerous
basin valleys that dropped from
the Southern Alps, and poke their
tentacles towards the picturesque
Lake of the same name.
Weaving through a stand of
old man pine, we round the
corner and our first signs of
accommodation… Ohau Lodge.
We pass the bunk rooms and
campervan parks before hitting
the office and main building. I
confidently tell the crew to hang
tight and I’ll check what the score
is. As I walk into the Lodge, and
up the stairs, you can’t help but
be taken by the eclectic mix of
architecture, that screams of the
untold number of winter travellers
who’s weary legs have also
clambered up these secret steps.
As I chat to the young girl behind
the counter, Louise the owner,
springs up from behind the
computer at the back of the room.
“Well, you’ve picked another great
few days to come up!”, she says
with that combination of warmth
and welcome annoyance that you
get from someone working when
they wish they could play. It’s
great and it’s real.
Our rooms aren’t ready... Why
should they be, it’s only just 11am.
So I quickly check the weather
report on the counter before
heading back to the truck, where
I find everyone has got restless
and I am now the only person not
already in snowboarding gear. I’ll
do it up the hill – “Right, you guys
ready to head up?”, I say more out
of courtesy, as we have already
turned up the Access Road. A little
smile crosses my face, as we pass
the old shack just before the first
water crossing … it’s covered
with stickers, all snow-related.
And I spy the NZSHRED one right
in the middle and reminisce on its
attachment, many years earlier,
on a ‘stir-crazy’ mission, when a
blizzard not only shut the ski fi eld,
but also left us well entrenched
at the Lodges bar, due to all
roads north and south being cut
by snow.
With the eagerness of seagulls
to as stray chip, we head straight
for the ticket office. The afternoon
is settled and the snow is chalky.
The views are breath-taking,
back down the valley to Lake
Ohau and across the MacKenzie
Country plains. It’s getting to midafternoon,
so I ask if anyone feels
like a hike. The track has been
cut half way to the ridgeline, so
it is slightly more than a plod, for
those extra joyous lines. Another
few runs and we are all starting to
think of refreshments. It’s an easy
roll back down to the Lodge.
After settling in and showering,
we all meet for a pre-dinner drink
at the bar. The delightful homestyle
meal fills everyone up and
the bar again calls, as much to
have a drink, as it does to see if
you know anyone else or to swap
stories of runs now long gone.
Everyone settles in, in their own
way. Some play pool, others board
games on the couches, a few
brave souls take to the outside
verandah seats. You can’t see
much, however the reflection of
the moon in the flat Lake water,
suggests a chilly night ahead.
My day is done. The next day
we awaken to a day much like a
repeat of the day before, a great
little example of what can be
achieved without the big budgets
and marketing matrices.
OHAU SKI FIELDS:
A great South Island
snow option.
Jase runs NZSHRED in
Queenstown, stocking a range of
snow, surf, skate and SUP gear.
www.nzshred.co.nz
MAR/APR 2013 | SMORGASBOARDER 115

SPRAY
GUNS
If ever there was an artform
inextricably linked to surfing, it’s the
skill of spray - the art of the airbrush.
We chat to a current king in the field,
and a living legend of the art.
“ART GETS
EVERYWHERE”
PART 1:
Talking about people, places and painting anything in sight:
DANIEL JOYCE
116
SMORGASBOARDER | MAR/APR 2013

MAR/APR 2013 | SMORGASBOARDER 117
GEAR: INTERVIEW

Photo: Mick Dyson
118
SMORGASBOARDER | MAR/APR 2013

DANIEL
JOYCE
is a multi-talented artist that has
turned a travelling freelance gig
and his skill at art into a full-time
business and career. With a wide
variety of work in his portfolio,
his feel for faces and incredible
portraiture has even seen him as an
entrant in the prestigious Archibald
Prize - a national art competition -
for which he produced a portrait of
Newcastle legend and international
surf icon, Mark Richards.
Portraits, cartoons, art on boards –
not being tied to any one product
or material of choice, his work
has been displayed on surfboards,
skateboards, vans, canvas, walls…
the list seems endless. Phew. With
that bit of a background sketch, we
let Dan fill in a few details
GEAR: INTERVIEW
WORDS: MARK CHAPMAN
PHOTOS: COURTESY OF DAN JOYCE
FAR LEFT: The Surfing
Legends series. MIDDLE:
Dan out front at home.
LEFT: Skateboard artwork
MAR/APR 2013 | SMORGASBOARDER 119

“Art gets everywhere on anything,”
Dan says. “There’s always a way. I’ve
been putting some ink into skin lately
...working on doing some more of that.
I haven’t graff’d up a train yet. Trucks
and aircraft, but no trains. I probably
spent too much time as a grom in the
ocean, as opposed to the city subway.
Some of that urban graf work is pure
talent though.”
Dan’s a self-taught artist with a love for
art and the ocean that started off at a
very young age.
“As a grom I just went on fishing
camping trips with my dad, mum ‘n bro
every weekend,” He explains. “I would
do sketches of these trips when I was at
school - I was a fisho first and still am.
By the time I started paddling out with
my mates from school I’d already had
an appreciation and knowledge of the
ocean and all its medicinal qualities.
“I drew faces at school, so I love my
pencil portrait and caricature work. I
love transforming concept sketches -
either for my own body of work or for
a client - into large-scale, full-colour
applications, whether it’s a mural on
a wall or custom car, or a composition
from my surf photos that I will turn into
a panoramic beachscape on canvas.
“Photographing and sketching the
waves and places I surf then turning
them into big panoramic colour
paintings is the go.”
“I DON’T MISS A MORNING
SESSION OR GOOD SWELL.
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY,
I DON’T MISS A DEADLINE.”
Dan tells us that the same as any
young bloke finding some work
along the road to keep the surf and
snowboard travel dream alive, he
would use his art where he could to
fund and extend his travels to some
magical places around the world.
“A few months in Mexico would rate
pretty high,” he says of some of his
choice picks of places. “I’d recommend
surfing the north-west coast of Ireland
during their summer... and Guinness.
Back-to-back seasons snowboarding
in Austria will teach you a lot about
surviving on the road and being in the
YES, ANYTHING: There’s not much
Dan hasn’t applied ink, pen or paint to.
120
SMORGASBOARDER | MAR/APR 2013

snow gave me a deeper love for
the ocean. I’d recommend that
trip to any of the young crew.
“A Mentawais boat trip with your
mates is something you have
to do, although there’s a pretty
nice head high peak running lefts
down the beach just out front
of here… Got some crackers
this morning, so my fav’ spot is
definitely where I live.”
And despite being incredibly
busy with a mountain of work,
Dan makes sure to make the
most of that magic at home as
often as possible.
“Too much work is no good for
your health. Nothing gets me
pumped more than when I’ve got
several art jobs backed up with
deadlines or whatever. I’ve got
a beautiful family to feed, so I
put pressure on myself to smash
all my jobs to a quality finish on
time, though without balance in
life, work becomes impossible.
“I live 5 minutes walk from my
beachbreak and reefbreaks and I
work 5 metres from where I live,
so it’s important I don’t miss a
morning session or good swell.
But more importantly, I don’t miss
a deadline. I work at night a lot!
“If the surf and work is pumping
at the same time however, it
can get tricky. Too much surfing
while stretching deadlines
usually means I’ll paddle out and
have a shocker.”
As far as the art goes, airbrushing
is Dan’s main medium, which he
explains is fast and versatile for
what he does. He explains a little
about the process behind it all.
“If you’ve ever blasted a spray
gun or done some aerosol can
work, it’s the same principal
with compressed air - just that
an airbrush allows fine, hairline
control. Just pull the trigger for a
few thousand hours ‘till you get
the feel for it!
“I don’t call myself an ‘airbrush
artist.’ I’m just an illustrator who
uses an airbrush as one of his
tools. There’s a lot of ‘airbrush
artists’ out there who only know
masking and taping and stencil
techniques to get results. That’s
fine, and there’s loads of tricks
you can learn this way - even
possibly a market for those type
of graphic effects, if you want
to spend your time masking and
taping and using a stencil knife in
order to paint smooth fine lines.
99% of my work with an airbrush
is total freehand. It’s just another
discipline, so the harder you work
at what you want from it, the
more you will be rewarded.”
But the reward goes both ways,
as Dan uses his art for good too.
From day one he has donated
artwork to various causes. In
fact it was his involvement with
‘SIDS and Surfest’ back in 2000
that inspired him to start work
on the Surfing Legends project
- caricatures of men’s world
champion surfers, of which the
originals have all been signed.
This cool series of caricatures
he explains “illustrate trademark
characteristics of a person around
an easily recognisable melon.”
Spreading smiles and good
vibes, Dan believes it’s all about
karma to give back to the people
who need help, which in his case
happens to be via surfing-related
fundraisers.
While artworks are like children,
we were curious if Dan had any
particular favourite pieces?
“My latest piece is my best,”
he says. “The surfing legends
collection which is a work in
progress is a favourite. The
collection is for sale with a
clause that lets me continually
add more legends and champs
as they arise.
“I’m pretty stoked with all my
pieces, as they have all involved
a similar amount of energy to
produce. By far my best work
though, is my wife and 3-year-old
daughter, with grom number two
due in March 2013.”
Dan welcomes people getting
in touch about any of his art, so
if you’re interested in finding
out more, or need some artwork
done, drop him a line. For
questions, comments, orders,
shows and latest works, see
www.danieljoycedesign.com or
look up ‘danieljoycedesign’ on
Facebook.
mar/apr 2013 | SMORGASBOARDER 121

SPRAY
GUNS AN
PART 2:
UNEXPECTED
JOURNEY
The work - and adventures - of
SHANE EGAN
THE ‘SMAUGASBOARD’.
A beautiful board with beautiful artwork, and my,
my - how well that name rolls off the tongue.
122
SMORGASBOARDER | MAR/APR 2013

You might not instantly
recognise the name, but
even if you only discovered
surfing yesterday, you will
most definitely be familiar
with something Shane
Egan’s artistic hand has
touched. A creator in art
and surfboard design,
Shane’s airbrush work
of the 70’s is the stuff of
legend - not to mention his
involvement in either the
design or print of almost
every iconic surfboard
decal of the era. Now a
resident of Tonga, he fills
us in on his incredible
journey through Australia
and New Zealand through
one of the most inspiring
and experimental decades
of surfing history.
WORDS: MARK CHAPMAN
PHOTOS: COURTESY OF SHANE EGAN
“Being able to pack up my
Airbrush and pencils enabled me
a nomadic, surfing, lifestyle and
gave me the honour and pleasure
of working with some of the
great shapers and characters of
that era”.
Born in 1952, Shane Egan
grew up around Narrabeen
and Warriewood on Sydney’s
Northern Beaches, but after
leaving school developed a bit
of wanderlust and set off to
explore…
“It was the ‘Morning of the
Earth’ years, and the North Coast
and beyond beckoned. After
a few trips south and north I
settled for the warmer climes
of Coolangatta - a great time to
be there in the early 70’s. Then,
as the Gold Coast got busier, I
began frequenting New Zealand.
My brother Dale and I had been
trying to save some dollars to get
over there and ended up winning
a couple of return tickets in a
shopping mall raffle! (laughs).
This began an annual pilgrimage
for Shane and his wife-to-be
Chrissie Charlton (daughter of
Kirra legend Johnny Charlton)
and me. They planned to spend
summers in NZ and winters
on the Gold Coast – a pretty
perfect arrangement by anyone’s
standards. New Zealand,
however, ended up offering
Shane a lucrative employment
prospect, which saw him
spending a little bit more time
there than originally foreseen.
“We rocked up to Whangamata
at the end of our second trip,
where Kingsley “Knackers”
Kernovske had leased Bob
Davie’s board factory and began
Natural Balance Surfboards,” he
explains.
“He wacked a wad of cash down
on the shop counter and said
’Stay’.”
Shane says New Zealand was
still pretty much a fledgling surf
community then - great people
and an absolutely beautiful
country with quality, empty
waves all over the shop. He
found himself exploring his
creativity in a big way including
sticker design, airbrushing
boards, paintings and large
murals, but also got into refined
board design.
GEAR: INTERVIEW
MAR/APR 2013 | SMORGASBOARDER 123

GEAR: INTERVIEW
“IT WAS THE ‘MORNING OF
THE EARTH’ YEARS, AND THE NORTH
COAST AND BEYOND BECKONED.”
“I convinced Kingsley to build the
fi rst Modern Mal there around
’76 and I built the first snowboard
there circa ’77-‘78. After the fi rst
initial rush to Bali had settled, we
opted for a few extended trips up
there from ’79. And again around
’83, with our two little ones (son
Chas & daughter Hayley) in tow,
we went up with Jeff Doig’s crew
to set up the first board factory.
Our last stay in NZ, before the big
move to warmer waters again in
Tonga, was ‘85.
“I’m a big Tolkien fan. Chrissie
and I did a trip back to NZ earlier
in 2012 and visited the Hobbiton
set at Matamata and Weta Cave
in Wellington - great! I always
pictured NZ as Middle Earth! We
also caught up with Bob, Taff,
Rollie & Pete and all the old surf
shop crew who were still chillin’
out at Whanga.”
Shane formally trained as a
screenprinter and while on the
Northern beaches was involved in
the production of iconic logos and
surfboard decals including ones for
McCoy, Goodtime, Oke, Michael
Peterson and more.
“I did a few years at a display
company in Brookvale, screen
printing and colour mixing
with Manly surfer Ian “Goody”
Goodacre,” he tells us. “All good
experience but from Narrabeen, I
started doing extended trips up the
coast, supported by selling handdrawn
decals to the local board
builders. It was a simple idea which
added individuality to boards.
“All I needed was an ink pen, a
6-pack of coloured pencils, a stock
of rice paper and a flat surface
(usually the picnic bench closest to
a surfbreak). Basically, less space
than a spare pair of boardies.
“It was Geoff McCoy who fi rst
asked me to draw one up to be
printed. ‘Jim the Printer’ was
producing the board decals at
Brookvale and while the arty,
multi-coloured designs were in
vogue through the 70’s, he’d hook
me up to do them all.
“Most of the decals were either
designed and or colour-separated
by me. Some manufacturers had
their own ideas, but I still did all
the separations. This involved
doing separate, overlapping greyscale
drawings for each colour.
“No computers, and camera
separations were way more
expensive than what I could do
them for back then. Never saw the
designs in colour ‘till they came back
from the printer, so it was always
fun to see how they came up!
“Some guys like Alan Oke (Oke
Surfboards) and Brian “Fury”
Austin (Goodtime) already had
recognisable logos but asked me
to embellish on it. In this case his
‘Oke’ tree became stranded on
a tiny island with perfect waves
peeling around either side.
“I designed a couple for Michael
Peterson based on right hand
barrels & tropical fruit. He couldn’t
decide though what name he
wanted to call his boards so he had
me draw up a bunch of different
names on a separate sheet to cut
out and place over the coloured
decal as the whim took him.
“My personal favourite is the
design I did for Wilson Surfboards
at Raglan. The view out to
Indicators was just so picturesque -
I went all Art Nouveau.
“Turns out I’ve gone the full cycle
and reverted back to screen
printing my own art on t-shirts &
sarongs. I started doing rock and
124
SMORGASBOARDER | MAR/APR 2013

fashion design t-shirts towards
the end of the 70’s into the early
80’s and now unusual designs just
for our shop.”
But drawing logos for decals was
far from the extent of Shane’s art
on boards. After painting some
backgrounds on boards with a
spray gun connected to the back
end of a vacuum cleaner, Shane’s
mum – a commercial artist
herself at the time - bought him
an airbrush and QLD surfboard
manufacturers Joe Larkin and Keith
Paull offered him some shaped
blanks to put his hand to.
“I guess I never looked back and
I pretty much had a free run of all
the better surf factories on the
Gold Coast and Byron Bay and by
’75 New Zealand as well. I took
full advantage of the mobility of
the adolescent profession which
allowed me to travel to different
surf locations and work alongside
many of the best shapers of the
era. Having started out hand
drawing decals, I often included
this technique to add detail and
focus to a board mural. I also
included pencil inserts in many of
my airbrush paintings.”
“I started out airbrushing sleek,
glossy, single fins - with no
legropes, for rocky point breaks - a
rather disappointing combination
in retrospect. Some of the sleekest
were through the ‘Stinger’ era.
The second round of the Twinnies
were nice too and Keith Paull and
I smoothed out the chunky US
Bonzer design and produced a
beautiful pin-tail version with the
channel keels coming out at flyers.
“I started my own shaping career
at Keith’s and went from chined
concaves to shaping full, multi
curve-channel thrusters. With
such board designs the tape-ups,
framing the murals, had to suit the
sleek lines but the art within could
be anything from wistful mermaids
and perfect fantasy surfbreaks to
dragons or space surfers.
Shane also kept his brother Dale
sponsored with boards through his
competitive career.
“He was pretty much on top in
his early years and gave good
feedback for my board design.
There was no monetary reward
then so he opted for the ‘soul
surfer’ life - something that can
actually be a lucrative career these
days - Go Rasta!”
Shane describes his work as
‘Surreal Fantasy... always in perfect
harmony with nature’.
“I tried to create my own world
from the fusion where everything is
fantasy perfect and surreally bright,
MAR/APR 2013 | SMORGASBOARDER 125

GEAR: INTERVIEW
the waves crispy sharp, wrapping
endless point breaks and inhabited
by surfing elves. The whole vision
was so 70’s - “searching for empty
perfection”!
“My work was mostly inspired by
the literary world created by Tolkien
(The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings
which I carried around like a stack of
bibles) & Robert E Howard (Conan)
and the artwork of Frank Frazetta,
Dali, Rick Griffin and Bill Ogden.”
And speaking of Tolkien, one of
Shane’s works has a particularly
special place for us – the
Smaugasboard! He explains…
“The Hobbit obsession led me
to airbrush this board for myself
around 1975. I designed the board
with retro - already back then -
influences and had Keith Paull
shape it. The airbrush is of Smaug
the dragon, in his treasure cave
conversing with Bilbo the Hobbit,
supposedly invisible at the time.
“I called it ‘Smaugasboard’, after
the dragon, with a pun on the
spread of food. It was one of a
continuous string of retro-inspired
designs including a mini Plastic
Machine (circa ‘74) and the first
of the Modern Mals we built at
Whangamata.”
Art-wise, airbrushing is insanely
difficult to master – a fact that
few would understand today,
since the advent of Photoshop and
digital art. So for those who don’t
understand exactly how it works,
we asked Shane to give us a quick
explanation of the process to
produce an airbrushed image.
“While the airbrush has its
limitations, for what it can do, it’s
the perfect medium - especially for
skies and water, where there are
mostly soft edges, fades and colour
blends. There was no airbrush
academy, or book of instructions
- I just had to work things out as I
went along.
“Martin Worthington was doing
his own thing at Hot Buttered in
Sydney, and there was no peer
group to compare notes. There was
no specific paint for the airbrush.
This took a lot of experimentation
as well - especially for painting on
the foam and being glassed over.
There was fading, de-laminating,
bleeding, clotting and spattering
to overcome and different stencil
materials to test.
“I would sketch the layout in the
lighter colours and add layers
of darker colours - all the while
the images becoming more in
focus and dimensional. Knowing
just when to stop was often
determined by the swell conditions.
The fibreglass layer over the top
enriched the effect and became
almost jewel-like.
“It was a beautiful era really.
Surfing was an art and so was
the board building process. There
wasn’t much money involved - we
just did it for the love of surfing.
In comparison, I think today the
surfboard has the status more
befitting a tennis racquet.
And with regard to today, what
about how the digital world has
changed what art is, and how it’s
produced?
“Well, you know... I used to have
thick calluses on my fingers from
the airbrush, and you had to swing
your arm around quite a bit, with
big swooping movements. I just
don’t know how that action would
translate to a mouse.
“While I’m amazed at where
the digital world has taken us,
it is kinda sad to see the virtual
disappearance of art as we knew
it. But hey, after Dali, Frank Frazetta
(of Conan art) and Surf Airbrush,
there’s not much that hasn’t
been done. As a result, stuff just
gets wackier in an attempt to be
different - and that’s okay, but not
quite the same.
“With Photoshop and digital
reproductions, you can have
anything printed on anything, and
that has dispelled a lot of the
magic. Commercialism also hasn’t
helped individuality.
“I believe that movies are where
art is presently at its best, but
this requires a makeover. The
technology is there for us to make
beautiful audio-visuals, but our
minds are in the gutter. There are
a lot of great stories out there,
so no excuse. I’m a big fan of
3D. Some people have a problem
with it but it works for my eyes.
Can you imagine what would
be going through Walt Disney’s
head, watching today’s 3D digital
animation?
Shane tells us how he’s always
really thrived on the creative
process of art and functional
design. Thesedays, with a small
beach resort to run, and the art
mostly about designing for their
shop, he says he still just enjoys
being creative and treading
new ground - from building his
home, resort accommodation
and landscaping the surrounds to
writing and surfboard design in
particular, for which he still has a
unique taste for.
“I’ve always had a couple of boards
including a state-of-the-art and one
of my retro-fusion designs - which
has been a parallel evolution on
the Plastic Machine-theme. I’m
finally content with where the
design has come to. and now it’s
my main board.
“ The waves here are really fast
and hollow and it works perfect
- crazy! It has lots of different
features, like re-designed, cropped
fins... But the most obvious are the
cropped nose and tail - effectively
reducing the board length by a foot.
No more points for me!
“I’M FINALLY CONTENT WITH WHERE THE DESIGN HAS COME TO.”
Shane’s cropped compact design,
shaped by the boys from Oke Surfboards.
Check out the 2007 Musica Surfica
DVD
extras for a segment on it.
126
SMORGASBOARDER | MAR/APR 2013

Cape Woolamai Beach,
on Phillip Island, Victoria
MAR/APR 2013 | SMORGASBOARDER 127

“I used to shape my own boards till I moved to Tonga then just
had Neal Purchase Snr. make them to my design. He went into
retirement about the time I wanted my ‘Cropped Compact’
shaped so I e-mailed Neil Oke the details and picked up the
board on the way through to King Island - he did a great job!
“I had been invited down to the KI finless gig with Derek Hynd,
my brother Dale, violinist Richard Tognetti, Tom Carroll, Tom
Wegener and a crew of luminaries for the Musica Surfica
documentary in 2007. Quite a few people must have seen
the documentary, as it won awards, and there are now some
replicas and similar boards to my design popping up about
the place. There’s a guy from Lennox who won design awards
in the US with a very close version and even Tom Curren has
been riding a square one. Some young guy from the States is
making an asymmetrical version.”
LIVING IN UTOPIA
Finally, with Shane’s unique perspective and intimate
knowledge of how surfing has changed over the last few
decades, we wanted to know if, looking back, the ‘Utopian
Dream of the ‘70s’ was ever a reality, and if he sees the
possibility for ever achieving it in the future?
“Sure, a lot of people lost the plot shortcutting with drugs
but for me the ‘Utopian Dream of the ‘70s’ was a reality, and
for the most part still is. Mind you, it is like living in the past,
so you have to find somewhere you can do that... And those
places are running out. That is to say, the future is eventually
catching up to the remotest locations, and there is always
someone wanting to sell it out from under your feet.
“It definitely doesn’t go hand in hand with a growing
population. This is where wave pools come into the equation
to take some of the pressure off otherwise pristine locations -
Go Greg (Webber)!”
What a priviledge to share such great insight. Let’s hope we
can also all keep the dream alive for as long as we live.
0407 218 591
WWW.SURFNRAK.C0M.AU
Sutherland Shire, NSW, 2230, Australia
For more on Shane and his work, see his website,
www.bluebananastudios.com which he says is another one of
those “yet-to-be-completed projects.”
128
| MAR/APR 2013
SMORGASBOARDER

TEAM RIDER // JOSH SLEEP
ED SINNOTT // SHAPER
2/81 centennial Circuit, BYRON BAY
espsurfboards.com
0404 059 321
MAR/APR 2013 | SMORGASBOARDER 129

SHAPER’S PROMOTION
GEAR: BOARDS
6’ x 22” x 2 5 /8”
JELLYFISH KISS
By Goran Peko
5’5” x 22” x 2 7 / 8”
DISCO BIKKY
by Dicko
5’5” x 21” x 2 ½”
THE KEEL HAULER
By Andrew Wells
5’7’’ x 20 ½’’ x 2 ¼’’
LUCY’S LIKENESS
by Dave Porter | TREEHOUSE
For the heavier surfer or
anyone who likes a board
that catches heaps of waves.
Retro look and feel with a
deep single concave running
through most of the bottom.
Custom orders welcome.
CONSTRUCTION
X 4
South Coast Foam PU foam and
polyster resin. Shapers Stealth
S7 and S5fins
SHAPER COMMENT
My personal board for smaller
waves, a bit shorter, a bit
wider... A lot of fun making this.
Single flier step-tail pin with
a massive bonzer double
concave. Quaddy set up and
plug for Knubster.
CONSTRUCTION 4 + 1
All PU, handshaped and 2 x 4
and 1 x 4 bottom with finish
coat polish.
SHAPER COMMENT
Fastest board in the water from
1 to 4 ft. Sweet.
‘70s inspired traditional fi sh
outline blended with modern
rails, this board manages to
hide plenty of volume. It has
a fl attish rocker with a single
to big double concave out
through the tail.
CONSTRUCTION 2 OR 4
Burford blank with 6/4oz top and
6oz bottom. Twin keels or quad.
SHAPER COMMENT
Fast and fun. The extra volume
gives it plenty of paddle power
and the twin keels give it plenty
of speed and drive. Great in
small waves, even better in
head high long open faces.
One for the ladies. Completely
custom for Treehouse
ambassador Lucy Farrier,
currently making her way
around Oz by tent and 4WD.
CONSTRUCTION X 3
Lightweight, stringerless EPS
foam blank. Locally sourced
Hoop Pine deck laminate.
Durable epoxy resin and ‘S’
glass. Futures thruster.
SHAPER COMMENT
Lucy wanted a board that was
light and would paddle well,
while still being easy to duckdive
- something unique that reflected
her smooth approach to surfing.
Safe travels Lucy, we hope you
have an amazing adventure and
score heaps of great waves!
KOMA SURFBOARDS
4/39 Bailey Crescent
Southport QLD 4215
Ph: 0402 863 763
www.komasurf.com
DICKSON SURFBOARDS
M: 0437 246 848
E: dickosurf@gmail.com
Shed 4, 10 Baines Cr, Torquay, VIC
Look for Darren Dickson
Surfboards on Facebook
WELLSY CUSTOM HAND SHAPES
Lennox Head
P: 0407 889 049
sales@grownsurfboards.com.au
grownsurfboards.com.au
TREEHOUSE HANDSHAPES
Ph: 0415 925 739
E: dave@treehousehandshapes.com
treehousehandshapes.com
130
SMORGASBOARDER | MAR/APR 2013

SHAPER’S PROMOTION
GEAR: BOARDS
5’2” x 18” x 2” 5’10” x19 ¾” x 2 ½”
THE GANET
by Matt Johnston
THE LADYBUG
by Matt Johnston
5’9” x 20 ½” x 2 ½”
STUBBYLICIOUS
By Jesse Watson
6’2” x 18 5 / 8” x 2 5 / 16”
LENNY THE OX
by Wayne Webster
Grom board 4’10” to 5’6”.
Nice outline, a touch wider in
mid point and tail, but having
extra width and full rail. Extra
tail lift and extra concave
really gets these things going,
allowing them to turn using
speed instead of losing it.
CONSTRUCTION X 3
Handshaped - no machines
apart from a planer. Poly blanks
4 x 4 x 4 glassing, FCS plugs,
Shapers S3 fins.
SHAPER COMMENT
Every grommet should have
one. All boards can be seen
at The Surf Spot, 4 Beach Rd,
Waihi Beach. New shop, new
look under construction.
Made for summer fun waves,
1½-4ft. Suits learners to
advanced. Wide mid point
following through for area
through the tail. Standard nose,
but a lot of volume under the
chest for paddling. Deep single
concave and extra tail lift. Fun
board that works 5’9 to 6’1, up
to 21” wide and 3” thick.
CONSTRUCTION X 3
Handshaped poly blank. 4 x
4 x 4 glassing. FCS plugs and
Slater fins from Shapers.
SHAPER COMMENT
Great all-round board, shaped
without machines apart from
a planer.
Fabric inlay. Comes free with
a beard kit and attachable
beaver tail for your wetsuit.
CONSTRUCTION 1+Bs
4/4oz deck, with über-modern
fabric inlay. 4oz bottom with
custom 8 ¼” Volan fl ex fi n and
mini sidebites. So hipster.
SHAPER COMMENT
THE board for summer. So far
past retro, it’s verging on postmodern.
Next week it’ll be in
rehab - it’s THAT COOL. Super
fast, super sick, super cool.
you know you want it. Look of
feined interest not included.
If you like drive and love
to arc on clean open faces
of the wave, LENNY THE
OX is your choice of board.
Featuring a medium nose
rocker accelerating through to
a smooth, clean tail curve, it
has a slight single to double
concave throughout the length
of the board and wants to be
surfed hard and fast. Available
in all tail shapes.
COMMENT 3, 4 OR 5
Perfect for the point breaks of
the NSW North Coast.
MCJ SURFBOARDS/THE SURF SPOT
4 Beach Rd, Waihi Beach NZ
Ph: +64 (0)2 2031 7110 E: surfspot22@gmail.com
BLACK APACHE SURFBOARDS
Ph: 0410 419 791
blackapachesurfboards@live.com.au
blackapachesurfboards.com.au
WEBSTER SURFBOARDS
1/13 Clark St, Ballina NSW
Ph: 0416 049 205
E: info@webstersurfboards.com.au
webstersurfboards.com.au
MAR/APR 2013 | SMORGASBOARDER 131

SHAPER’S PROMOTION
GEAR: BOARDS
ORDER
NOW
ORDER
NOW
9’6” x 22 ½” x 3”
HOBIE CLASSIC
By Hobie Surfboards
9’6” x 23” x 3 ¼” 9’6” x 22 ½” x 3 1 /8” 9’4” x 22 ½” x 2 7
/8”
RETRO CLASSIC THE BAMBI
DRIFTER ‘67
By Hobie Surfboards
By Carabine Surfboards
By Carabine Surfboards
Designed for the surfer that is
looking to sit back and enjoy
the glide. A classic shape with
50/50 rails, rolled vee bottom
and a smooth rocker flow will
give you a taste of that smooth
classic 60s board.
CONSTRUCTION 1+2
5 stringers with 2” Balsa/
Redwood T-band and ¼”
Redwood offsets. 8oz Volan
glass and a clear or resin tint
fi nish. Single Hobie glass-on
fi n (wood or fiberglass) and a
timber tailblock.
SHAPER COMMENT
Perfect for point breaks and
mellow reef rides. Beginner to
intermediate surfers.
A real modern classic with a
smooth flowing outline, small
amount of rocker and 60/40
makes this board a great all
around classic style design.
The Retro Classic is extremely
user friendly in mushy to good
surf for all varieties of surfers.
CONSTRUCTION 1+2
Triple redwood stringers, 8oz
Volan glass with deck & tail
patch and a clear or resin tint
fi nish. Single Hobie glass-on
fi n and a timber tailblock.
SHAPER COMMENT
A fast paddler, it glides and
turns smoothly. Perfect for
point breaks and mellow reef
rides. Suits anyone.
This is a conventional
longboard, nice and wide in
the nose, flattened rocker and
double concave vee bottom in
the tail.
CONSTRUCTION 1+2
PU foam, 6 + 4oz deck and
4 + 4 oz on the bottom.
8’-10’ fi n, with a set of GL’s in
the sides.
SHAPER COMMENT
Easy to ride, with good flow.
Ideal for Bellambi Pools
(I think that says it all).
Drifter has some of
the smoothest riding
characteristics of any board
you’ll ever ride. The pinched,
hulled nose sets her up on
a plane effortlessly when
paddling. The gentle bottom
curvature makes for smooth rail
transitions, and critically does
not drive you unintentionally
and needlessly ahead of the
wave’s curl, as is common with
flat bottom profiles.
CONSTRUCTION X 1
Volan top and bottom with
cool patches. Glassed on 10”.
®
E: info@hobielongboards.com.au
NSW, QLD Ph: 0418 423 222
VIC,SA,WA Ph: 0437 200 400
CARABINE SURFBOARDS
36 Finders Street Wollongong, NSW
Ph/Fax: 02 4229 9462
www.carabinesurfboards.com.au
132
SMORGASBOARDER | MAR/APR 2013

GEAR: BOARDS
SHAPER’S PROMOTION
9’1” x 22 ½” x 2 5
/8”
9’4” x 23” x 3”
9’1” x 22 1 /8” x 2 11 /16”
7’2” x 21 ½” x 2 ½”
CUSTOM MAL
Leighton Clark | CLARK SURFBOARDS
NOSE RIDER
by Soul Surf Designs
HP LONGBOARD
By Mickey T
THE TOI-TOI
By Mickey T
Made for Matt L, whose order
consisted of “Make me a 9’
mal, tinted, glass on fin, no
leggie plug, and make it sick.”
This is what we came up
with... He loved it!!
CONSTRUCTION X 1
Resin tints by Mick Higgings
and a glass on fin
SHAPER COMMENT
Custom boards are our
speciality. Love to hear about
what you are riding and what
you want to ride.
CLARK SURFBOARDS
NOW IN A NEW LOCATION
Units 7 and 8, 9 Chapman Road
Hackham SA 5163
E: leightonclark01@yahoo.com.au
M: 0422 443 789
Available at
www.onboardsurf.com.au
Nose scoop with 20” nose and
15 ½” tail (available pin, round
or square). All Australian-made.
CONSTRUCTION X 1
Farrelly blank, 6 x 6oz deck
and 6oz bottom. Curved deck
and 50/50 rails. Centre fi n box
with Dion 9 ½” Dolphin or
Hatchet Fin. Matt or Polish.
SHAPER COMMENT
Incredible on the nose, and
super easy to paddle and turn.
SOUL SURF DESIGNS
10/90 Mona Vale Road
Mona Vale NSW 2103
P: 02 9979 2226
www.soulsurf.com.au
Join us on Facebook.
An evolved high performance
longboard for competition or free
surfing. Lean, mean, fast and
loose, it allows you to approach
the wave any way you want to.
CONSTRUCTION 2+1
Handshaped PU, 6oz bottom,
6+4oz deck. Gloss and polish,
sanded gloss or sand/profi
nish. Also in EPS/ EPOXY.
SHAPER COMMENT
This season I’ve put a little
more nose rocker into the HP,
allowing the board to fit into
the wave better and tighten
up the turning radius, without
losing the noseriding ability
Lean rails, vee double concave
bottom contours and squash
tail make it a quick and lively
board. Custom orders to suit.
RAGLAN LONGBOARDS
257c Wainui Road, RD3, Raglan 3297 NZ
(on the way to the beach)
Ph: +64 (0)7 825 0544 Mob: +64 (0)274 460 396
E: mickeytsurf@hotmail.com raglanlongboards.co.nz
Full tail outline and relaxed
rocker make for easy wave
catching and get-up-and-go
without needing to fl ing
the body around too much,
although it responds equally
well to a bit of body-fl inging.
CONSTRUCTION X 3
Typically 5oz bottom with 2 x 5oz
deck to keep it little lighter. Gloss
and polish finish. FCS thruster.
SHAPER COMMENT
Wide enough to be very stable
but thin enough to be easy
to handle. We always have
one in our rental fl eet and the
feedback is overwhelmingly
positive from a wide range
of people. I often use it as a
stealth shortboard to sneak a
few waves off the crowd.
MAR/APR 2013 | SMORGASBOARDER 133

SHAPER’S PROMOTION
GEAR: BOARDS
5’10” x 19 ½” x 2 5 /8”
6’8” x 20” x 2 ¾”
From 6’-7’
6’10” x 21 ¼” x 2 ¾”
THE SINGLE GYMMIE
by Graham Carse
SLICK STICKS
by Graham Carse
SINGLE FINS
by Mark Rabbidge
MODERN-VINTAGE COLLECTION
GENERAL MANAGER
By Feral Dave
A diamond-tail single-fin with
double concave into a vee to
increase speed, and relatively flat
rocker to pick up waves easily.
SURFER COMMENT
“This board goes mean. It’s fast,
really fast, and so responsive.
Goes really well in hollow waves.
With all that foam in the nose, it
paddles into waves really easily.”
Simon Dickie
SHAPER COMMENT
This gymmie was custom-shaped
to fit feet of all shapes and sizes.
The single fin combines old-style
surfing with a flair for blowing up
when you’re feeling adventurous.
Retro-style single fin. First
shaped in Dunedin by Carsey
in the early ‘70s, this board has
been modified to suit today’s
surfing. It has a rolled bottom
into a vee and, as with the old
model, it has a flat rocker for
easy paddling into waves.
SHAPER COMMENT
I made this board for a mate
so that he could recapture his
youthful days as a soul surfer.
Length: 6’-7’
Width: 20” - 21”
Thickness: 2 ¼” - 3”
Single or double Flyers. Roll
under nose to slight concave in
middle to tail V with concaves.
CONSTRUCTION X 1
Made here in Ulladulla.
Resin tints or paint. Choice of
box or glass on fi n.
SHAPER COMMENT
I have been working on these
boards for a few years now.
They look old and go new. You
can ride them traditionally or
as you like, your call!
A 2+1 board that paddles like
a longboard, rides like a short
board. Refined rails and pin tail
for you to keep pushing harder
through each turn.
CONSTRUCTION 2+1
Burford’s PU, 6oz glass with
custom resin tint and cut laps.
Greenough single with side bites.
SHAPER COMMENT
We wanted a board to surf the
points when it’s too big for a
log... What we got is a board
that could almost replace
everything for traditional or
longboard riders.
QUARRY BEACH SURFBOARDS
75 David St, Caversham, Dunedin NZ
Ph: +64 3 455 7414
M: +64 27 518 8678
www.qbsurfboards.com
RABBIDGE
SURF DESIGN
Ph: 02 4456 4038
M: 0427 767 176
Bendalong, NSW
markrabbidge.com
Email: sales@markrabbidge.com
DIVERSE SURFBOARDS
476 Gold Coast Hwy,
Tugun, QLD 4224
Ph: 07 5598 4848
dave@diversesurf.com.au
www.diversesurf.com.au
134
SMORGASBOARDER | MAR/APR 2013

SHAPER’S PROMOTION
GEAR: BOARDS
Any size - Custom
THE ISLANDER
Michael Cundith
A narrower tail than our Fish.
Slight single to double concave,
wide point in front of centre
YOU
CONSTRUCTION
DECIDE
Standard, strong, not too heavy
and very durable, single to 5-fin.
Dimensions for the above
board is 6’8”x 20 ½” x 2 ⅝”
SHAPER COMMENT
Great paddler. Fast and loose.
Indo reports are unreal and local
comments great. The Islander
suits all surfers, holds in well, is
fast and manoeuverable. Stoked.
Any size - Custom
THE STUBBIE
Michael Cundith
Remake of my 1960’s model. Updated
bottom shape and rocker, slight
concave chines, bottom to tail pod vee.
YOU
CONSTRUCTION
DECIDE
Strong, not too heavy and durable,
single to 5-fin. Custom for you.
Above board is 5’10” x 20” x 2 ½”.
SHAPER COMMENT
Customers feed back is fantastic.
Great for paddling into waves,
fantastic for late take-offs as it’s wide,
stable, and accelerates instantly. You
can feel it rise up on top of the water.
5-fins works perfectly for wide tail.
Holds in, is loose and has heaps of
drive with amazing trim speed.
9’2” x 22 ¼ “ x 2 7 / 8” 6’2” x 19” x 2 ½”
PERFORMANCE
NOSE RIDER
by Daren
Glennan
SEMI-MOD SINGLE
by Daren Glennan
CONSTRUCTION 2 + 1 CONSTRUCTION X 1
King poly foam, Newkem
polyester resin with red and
aqua pigment, 2 x 4oz bottom,
4+6oz deck, gloss and polish.
Fins: 10” fin box 9” Soulflex
Fluid Foils fin with FCS side
bite option.
King polyurethane foam.
Newkem polyester resin with
translucent blue tint, 2 x 4oz
bottom, 4 + 6oz deck, gloss
and polish.
Fins: Single 8” fi n box running
7” Fluid Foils single fi n.
MICHAEL CUNDITH SURF DESIGNS
3 Banksia Dve, Byron Bay
Industrial Estate, BYRON BAY
Ph: 02 6685 8778
info@mcsurf.com.au www.mcsurf.com.au
ENTITY SURFBOARDS
1-2/2 Regmoore Close
Culburra Beach NSW 2540
Ph: 0423 987 492
www.entitysurfboards.com.au
MAR/APR 2013 | SMORGASBOARDER 135

SHAPER’S PROMOTION
GEAR: SHAPERS
FREE
SHIPPING!*
FIVE MINUTES WITH
IAN WORDS: DAVE SWAN
BYRNE
From 6’0” - 6’2”
NEW KONG MODEL
by Ian Byrne
Especially suited to the old
school power surfer. The new
round square version with FCS
5-fin option is a good choice for
bigger guys who want a high
performance small wave board.
From 5’9” - 6’1”
THE 4+5 COMBO
by Ian Byrne
Combining the channel bottom
with a shorter and wider highperformance
board, the 5-fi n
setup is a must for variety.
Works in pretty much any
conditions, from 2-6ft+.
136
CONSTRUCTION X 5
Burford PU blank, 4 x 4oz
deck and 4oz bottom. Carbon
tail strips. FCS fi ns.
SHAPER COMMENT
Kong has a long history with
Mt Woodgee and has spent a
lot of time with Ian Byrne to
work on his equipment.
CONSTRUCTION X 5
Burford PU blank 4 x 4oz deck
and 4oz bottom. FCS fi ns.
SHAPER COMMENT
They’re quick off the mark
and have higher top end
speed combined with the
maneuverability of a performance
shortboard.
Ph: 07 5535 0288
www.mtwoodgee.com.au
Join us on Facebook
Stores at Coolangatta, Currumbin, Burleigh Heads
*FREE SHIPPING!
SMORGASBOARDER | MAR/APR 2013
Australia-wide on all Mt Woodgee stock boards up to 6’8!
(Offer excludes Movement and reduced to clear surfboards)
Am I correct that you have been with Mt Woodgee
now for some 33 years, 18 as a shaper? People serve
that kind of time for murder. What’s the connection and
how did it all start?
When I fi rst came across to Oz to work I started at Hot Stuff
Surfboards sanding and then moved across with my brother
on Byrning Spears (shaper Al Byrne, who incidentally was
at Hot Stuff along with the talented Gil Glover - now at Mt
Woodgee - and Nick Aganosi, the owner of Mt Woodgee).
Nick and I got on well and when he formed Mt Woodgee it
was an opportunity to get away from sanding. He gave me
a whole heap of reject blanks and let me cut loose in the

shaping bay. One thing lead to another and then Wayne (McKewen)
came along and then Gil (Glover). We formed a good team with a good
mix of experience and enthusiasm.
I have been lucky to work with some talented shapers, and you take
a bit from each and how they approach shaping - different ideas for
different applications.
You are a staunch advocate of handshaping, start to finish, can
you explain your perspective on crafting boards?
It’s the true form of shaping a surfboard. When you get a real good
handcrafted board it is a gem, a magic carpet of sorts. It’s not a
production line thing - it’s more personal.
I do use machines these days. It’s good to have an understanding of
both. The machines are pretty precise now, and it enables you to have
more time to focus on design. That said, I still shape at least three or
four boards a week by hand.
You need a real understanding of how to hand shape before you jump
on a machine. You need to understand the fundamentals of design
There’s a lot of satisfaction, and a lot more work mind you, when you
shape a board by hand. You sit back and go, “Wow, I created that. It
feels good.”
I’ve heard you state your aim is to make boards that are both fast
and manouverable. Does one counter the other?
I like my boards to have a lot of drive because I find once you gain a deal
of speed it loosens up anyway. I would rather a board that does a couple
of big manouvers than one you can flick around, but has no real spark. I
want to jump on it and go, “Whoa, this thing is really taking off.”
What design elements do you refine to achieve this?
Either a deep concave or a refi ned tail so the tail bites in, or
alternatively concaves that go into a channel setup. I’ve been enjoying
mixing my boards up with four fi ns as well of late. Weve been setting
them up so you can ride them as a thruster or a quad. I’ve loaded them
up with four fins and channels. I thought it may be a little too much, but
it’s turned out to be real fun and I’m loving it.
For the benefit of our readers - particularly those learning about
the nuances of surfboard design - would you mind explaining
what you believe deep concaves achieve, as opposed to a board
with a flatter rocker?
It gives the board lift. A board with fl atter rocker may be fast and easier
to surf but it doesn’t give you that spark, which I fi nd exciting.
You shape such a wide range of boards would you mind
touching on some of the style of surfboards you craft?
We cater for everyone. I, of course shape my version of our Bullet,
which is a semi-fi sh, but it’s essentially a scaled-up version of a high
performance board, only wider. Wayne and I have developed our own
different models of the Bullet to suit our different styles of surfi ng.
That’s the good thing about having two shapers working together - we
bounce ideas off each other. They say two heads are better than one. Gil
is also getting back into the shaping side of things and adding to the mix.
Any projects in particular you are working on of late?
As opposed to a six-channel, I’ve been working on a four. A lot of people
freak out with the six-channel, but with the four it still has the channel
feeling, but is a little more neutral. It’s slightly looser. I’ve put four fi ns
with it and it’s so fast. By rearranging the fi ns they’re also less loopy
with big round carving turns. You can put it up vertical in the face.
Tell us about the replicas of the Kong
(Gary Elkerton) model.
Having worked with Kong over the years,
I know what he likes in his boards. We
have stayed true to the original design.
They worked back in the day, and there’s
no reason why they won’t work just as
good now. Some features are similar
to what I do today, with a bit more
refi nement in some areas.
A lot of the older boards were more user-friendly, and that’s why they’re
being brought back. Boards in the nineties were fairly narrow and highly
rockered and you had to ride them right in the pocket.
That’s the exciting thing at the moment - surfers and shapers are getting
more creative, and we’re also seeing single fins and twin fi ns being
revisited. It mixes it all up a bit. People aren’t worried any more about
only walking down the beach with a Ferrari style of board. They’re just
as happy to walk down with something really different. It makes it fun,
because everybody is after a board that specifically suits their style.
Years before we were all making the same boards because that was
what people wanted, and it all got a bit stagnant I feel.
WHICH IS THE ORIGINAL? Amazing attention to detail has gone into the limited edition replica
of Kong’s orginal ‘89 Pipe Masters board. Even the decals have been painstakingly recreated.
MAR/APR 2013 | SMORGASBOARDER 137

SHAPER’S PROMOTION
GEAR: BOARDS
9’10” x 23” x 2 7 / 8”
GRUGSTEP
Matt Williams | THE FACTORY
Round 50/50 rails and a thin
overall board makes for long,
smooth effortless noserides.
With tail pulled in and round,
you’ll still do flowing longboard
turns, but also slide into any
pocket for a full noseride.
CONSTRUCTION X 1
Highest quality foam and
fi breglass, glassed on fin.
SHAPER COMMENT
This board comes from 7 years
of shaping with Tom Wegener.
7’-9’
SUPERMAL V2
FLEX By Mitchell Rae
This is 8’ x 21 ½” x 2 ¾”.Custom
handshaped to suit needs, body
weight and fitness. Spiral chine
entry, medium concave.
CONSTRUCTION 1, 3 OR 4
V2 Flex with Kinetic Carbon
Construction panels, to control
flex pattern, increase the reflex/
ping out of the turns. Light,
medium or strong glassing.
SHAPER COMMENT
Extremely quick, positive and
manouvreable.
9’1” x 23 3 /8” x 2 7 /8” 9’1” x 22 ½” x 2 5 /8”
CHOK’S MAL
by Neil ‘Chok’ Oke
Pinched rails throughout, with
the wide curvy tail, makes this
model ideal for smooth, easy,
rail-to-rail surfi ng.
SHAPER COMMENT
The new version of a favourite
longboard I have been surfi ng
for the last 25 years.
RICK’S MAL
by Rory Oke
Concaved nose, fl atter through
the middle with a soft vee
running though the tail. Super
thin tail with slightly more lift.
CONSTRUCTION X 1 CONSTRUCTION X 1
Ocean Foam blank, 6oz
polished bottom and rails,
6oz polished pigment colour.
Ocean Foam blank.
wetrub deck. One big fin.
SHAPER COMMENT
A modern performer with an
old school look.
THE FACTORY SURFBOARDS
17 Allen Street, Caloundra QLD
Ph: 07 5492 5838
E: Williams.h.m@hotmail.com
thefactorysurfboards.com.au
OUTER ISLAND SURFBOARDS
7 Bayldon Drive, Raleigh, NSW
Ph: 02 6655 7007
info@outerislandsurfboards.com
outerislandsurfboards.com
outerisland.blogspot.com
OKE SURFBOARDS
1/1-7 Canterbury Rd,
Braeside, VIC, 3195
Ph: 03 9587 3553
www.okesurfboards.com
138
SMORGASBOARDER | MAR/APR 2013

WHAT TAPE?
Let the beauty of the balsa show through with clear Versagrip Traction Tape.
Environmentally friendly and suits all size boards. Buy online: www.balsasurfboardsriley.com.au
Chris McCormack 10’ SUP with versa tape
SHIPPING
ANYWHERE,
INCLUDING NZ
Call 0412 376 464 or Email mark@riley.com.au
www.balsasurfboardsriley.com.au
Australian Environmentally-friendly handcrafted surfboards
for the individual in all of us, with a guarantee. Enjoy Responsibly
MAR/APR 2013 | SMORGASBOARDER 139

SHAPER’S PROMOTION
GEAR: BOARDS
6’4”/ 6’6” 6’0” x 20 ¾” x 2 5 / 8”
PLUS ONE ASYMMETRIC
George Gall and Joe Vergilio
USA WEIRDO RIPPER
Channel Islands USA
6’1” x 18 9 / 16” x 2 ½”
JULIAN WILSON DRIVER
Matt Biolos | Lost USA
6’0” x 21 ½” x 3”
STOKER V MACHINE
Bruce Fowler | Deadshaper
You don’t see one of these
everyday! Although asymmetric
boards have been around for
a while, the boys at Plus One
in San Diego start from a
very different premise to the
standard. This is not a board
that goes only left or right – you
can surf these boards whatever
your local break throws up. We
surf differently on our backside
compared to our frontside, and
hence a symmetrical surfboard
may actually limit our potential.
So the boys have altered the
rail lines and have two different
rocker lines.
The Future fins on this one were
given to Zak by George in San
Diego. George was running a very
large glass fin on the shorter rail
line, a mid-sized F6 plastic and
the centre fin was a shaved down
almost grom- sized plastic fin.
TORQUAY STORE
OPENING SOON!
This board started with ex-
West Oz turned Cali ripper,
Yadin Nichol mowing some
foam in one of the Channel
Islands shaping bays. It’s a
high-volume board for those
small to medium days.
An exceptionally forgiving
board, it has a wide outline,
wide point well forward and a
nice thick foil throughout, with
a square-winged swallow tail
and lots of vee though the fins.
Oh, and Dane ripped on one at
Huntington during the US Open
of Surfing and he is bringing
one to Snapper for the Quiky
Pro too! Comes with Futures
five plug set-up.
This board doesn’t need much
introduction – it’s a Matty Biolos
shaped board for top-10 CT
surfer Julian Wilson. It’s the
Driver model, which is one of
Julian’s go-to boards for Lowers
and the US Open of Surfing
which Jules happened to win
last year. Fins are FCS.
WIN IT!
Stay tuned to the Zak Surfboards
blog for an upcoming competition
where you could take home
JW’s very own board! See
zaksurfboards.blogspot.com.au
WIN THIS
BOARD!
The Stoker V Machine,
shaped by Bruce Fowler out
of California, continues the
great tradition of experimental
board design from that part
of the world. It’s flat and
packs a heap of volume in a
small package – it will paddle
like a longboard but perform
like a real shortboard. It’s
effectively a one-board quiver,
in everything from mushy one
foot to punchy overhead.
COMMENT
The Stoker V Machine is
suitable for all levels of surfer
from beginner to pro and will
be available in Zak Surfboards
from mid-March.
In conjunction with these fine shapers, we will be offering custom orders, made in the USA and Hawaii and shipped to Australia.
ZAK SURFBOARDS
307 Victoria Rd, Thornbury Victoria Ph: 03 9416 7384 E: zak@zaksurfboards.com zaksurfboards.com
140
| MAR/APR 2013
SMORGASBOARDER

SHAPER’S PROMOTION
GEAR: BOARDS
750ml longneck Around 18” x 8” x ¾”
SKULL LAGER
Glenn ‘Cat’ Collins | SURF 1770
HAND PLANES
by Dave O’Reilly
6’0” YELLOW 7’0” PINK
BEGINNER SOFTIE
GERAGHTYSHAPES.COM
BEGINNER SOFTIE
GERAGHTYSHAPES.COM
So good, you’ll bottle it. What
an excellent glass job. As
usual, shaped by me - Glenn
Cat. Airbrush by Lil’ Tone.
Headstone, Phatbat, Eclipse,
Seafood Platter (and Pintail)
or one for each day of the
week. Bodysurf with unreal
results. Turn, carve and get
barrelled like never before.
The ideal beginner’s surfboard
for a bit of maouverability!
Soft, stable and strong enough
to learn on, and small enough
to throw around in the water a
bit for fun.
With a bit more length and
width, the 7-footer is the
ideal size for a beginner’s
surfboard! Soft, stable and
strong enough for your kids -
and adults - to learn to surf.
Cherry Pop
CONSTRUCTION X 2
100% Australian grown, milled
and shaped Paulownia sealed
with raw linseed/gum turpentine
mix or bio varnish gloss finish.
SHAPER COMMENT
Turns unsurfable onshore days
into hours of fi tness and fun.
Requires boardies with strong
drawstring. It’s no fun up the
beach with just fi ns on...
CONSTRUCTION
Dual slick bottom with dual
wooden stringers, soft EVA
decks, rubber rail protection...
All with Fused decks and rails
(which prolongs the life of
every board due to sun and
heat exposure) and comes
with 3 soft rubber fi ns.
COMMENT
Learn to surf and have fun!
Softboards start from as little
as $199.
CONSTRUCTION
Dual slick bottom with dual
wooden stringers, soft EVA
decks, rubber rail protection...
All with Fused decks and rails
(which prolongs the life of
every board due to sun and
heat exposure) and comes
with 3 soft rubber fi ns.
COMMENT
Learn to surf and have fun!
Softboards start from as little
as $199.
Surfboards and surfing props
E: surf1770@bigpond.com
www.surf1770noosa.com
SURFING GREEN
Coolum Beach, QLD
Mobile: 0412 042 811
surfinggreen.com.au
GERAGHTY SHAPES
Dean: 0422 442 044
E: info@geraghtyshapes.com
www.geraghtyshapes.com
MAR/APR 2013 | SMORGASBOARDER 141

Short board, long board, fish, nugget, pintail, swallow tail, squash, square,
single fin, thruster, quad, body board, body surf, skate board, snow board,
skim board, balance board... Been there, ridden those, keep riding them. The
observant reader might have noticed my list is long but not complete. I have
to admit: I have never used a paddle before, while riding a board. And yes, I
am pretty zesty to try that Stand-Up Paddling!
WORDS: RENATE MOERMAN
DOES IT
WORK?
SMORGASBOARDER
TRIED AND TESTED
Photo: Mark Chapman
GOING BIG
THE FIRST SUP EXPERIENCE ON THE FLOATIEST OF ALL...
The best thing about
soft-tops is you are less
likely to kill yourself or any
other surfer in the water.
Having said that, I would not
recommend taking this huge
puppy (10’4” by 32 ½” wide)
to a busy break.
Because this board
resembles the Titanic it’s
super stable and allows
a stand-up virgin such as
myself to jump on it with
ease and paddle away on the
fl at water of the inlet.
I’m quickly able to build my
confi dence on the board,
enough so I am game to
tackle a small break with no
one out.
The board is thick - which is
great for fl otation, catching
waves easily and it’s stable,
as I mentioned - but I have to
watch out not to dig the big
rails in the tiny ripples I take
off on! The fact I manage to
ride my second one nearly
to the shore shows it’s
defi nitely do-able.
WORDS: RENATE MOERMAN
GERAGHTY
SOFT SUP
PROS
The overall size of the board in
terms of its length, width and
thickness make it an easy board
to learn on.
CONS
The board’s sheer width, which
makes it so stable, in turn makes
it a little more difficult to turn.
Pivoting around on your paddle
takes a bit of effort.
THE WRAP
Great board to take out on
flat water and practice in
uncrowded, small waves. Will
build confidence quickly to take
your SUP’ing to next level.
EXTRA
I love the adjustable carbon
fibre paddle. You can adjust the
height and the sound the wind
makes brushing the pinholes
makes it sound like a flute (and I
sing along).
MORE INFO
For more on the Geraghty range
of softboards, see:
www.geraghtyshapes.com or
call Dean 0422 442 044
142
SMORGASBOARDER | MAR/APR 2013

Photo: Mark Chapman
GEAR: TESTS
Carlene says:
“I USUALLY PADDLE FROM CAR PARK TO
POINT, BUT I DON’T LIKE PADDLING BACK
AGAINST THE WIND. THIS CARRIER IS
PERFECT FOR THOSE WINDY DAYS; NO
WAY I MANAGE TO CARRY MY BOARD ALL
THE WAY ALONG THE BAYS”
SUPWHEELS
Now there is one thing you should know: I am a bit lazy, so there is a slight risk involved in sending me out to ‘objectively’ review
anything designed to make life easier... The idea of carrying one of those monstrous SUP boards makes me feel tired already, and I
would have no diffi culty rating this carrier 5 stars out of 5, without even fitting the wheels on the frame! But wisely, I invite my friend
Carlene (a real SUP-er) along to assist me in giving the SUPWHEELS a go.
Carlene does the carry - Photo: Renate Moerman
BEFORE...
AFTER!
1. The traditional long-distance
carry... This method is guaranteed to
make you three inches shorter.
2. Look at the first image on the
instruction leaflet, put on the wheels, then
the washers, then the pins. Easy.
3. The board goes fi n-fi rst on the
carrier, with a rubber strap to hold it in
place. It worked best when you pull the
board as opposed to pushing it.
THE WRAP: It’s a smooth ride; on pavement, in sand, and even down the steps. The best of all: these wheels never go fl at!
WHAT’S IT WORTH?
$199. Not super-cheap, but considering you can get to the beach with ease and carry up to two
SUPS, you can’t really put a price on comfort.
MAR/APR 2013 | SMORGASBOARDER 143

Photo: Elliott Chapman
DOES IT
WORK?
SMORGASBOARDER
TRIED AND TESTED
WORDS: MARK CHAPMAN
SMOOTHSTAR
BARRACUDA
From 30” to 39”, Smoothstar skateys
are built for all sizes, from groms to
grown-ups. When I first got hold of the
Barracuda - the smallest in the range
- I thought: “Oh yes, this is the grom
board - I’ll get the kids onto it.” I can
now report back that there is no chance
in hell I’m giving this one up to the kids.
Bigger obviously doesn’t mean better, as
this little rocket is fast, loose and more
responsive than a startled crack-junkie.
PROS
Compact, sturdy
and extremely
high quality
construction.
Perfect for landsurfi
ng when
the waves aren’t
playing along.
TECHNICALLY
SPEAKING...
LENGTH:....................30”
WIDTH: ...................8 ¾”
DECK:.........Maple/Birch”
WHEELS: .......62 x 46mm
EXTRA: ............ Thruster I
turning mechanism
THE WRAP
CONS
At $299, the Barracuda isn’t
bargain basement buying, but
you get what you pay for, and
this baby is worth every cent!
At the short 30”
the kids will think
it’s theirs, so you
may have to find
a secret hiding
place for it.
WHAT MAKES IT WORK?
IT’S WHAT’S UNDERNEATH THE BOARD THAT DOES THE JOB
No, I don’t mean the graphics,
although the WWII Tomahawk
fighter plane inspired look is
very slick (and comes in a few
different colour combos). What I’m
referring to is the Thruster turning
mechanism, which essentially
allows the front truck to rotate.
Spring-loaded, the Thruster lets
you turn way beyond the range of
a normal skatey, and - here’s the
magic - allows you to be selfpropelling.
You’re pumping the
board like a shortboard surfboard,
rather than putting your foot down
to give it a push along.
MORE INFO
The Smoothstar website has
loads of info, videos, photos and
you can even buy one online.
www.smoothstar.com.au
144
SMORGASBOARDER | MAR/APR 2013

Damo Davis digging it. Photo: Dave Swan
DOES IT
WORK?
SMORGASBOARDER
TRIED AND TESTED
WORDS: DAVE DRUERY
VAMPIRATE
GRAVE DIGGER
This has a fishy/mini-s hybrid look about it,
but I prefer my mate Darrell’s description.
He reckons its shape reminds him of a old
style ‘stubbie’ - short and squat with a flat
top. And like an icy stubbie on a hot day,
the Gravedigger feels great when you pick
it up - well balanced, attractive to the eye,
and inviting. When you try it, you realise its
truly something special - a perfect blend of
ingredients, combined to create something
unique that transports you to places you
never dreamt of visiting.
PROS
As a surfer, Ozzie
Wright I ain’t, but
this board makes you
feel like a legend.
TECHNICALLY
SPEAKING...
LENGTH:.................. 5’2”
WIDTH: .................... 20”
THICKNESS: ......... 2 5 /8 ”
FINS: ................ twin keel
EXTRA: .....funky artwork
THE WRAP
CONS
Seriously...
Nothing.
If you’re looking for a shortboard
that works anytime, but
particularly when the only
alternative is a longboard, then
this board is for you. Never
thought I would enjoy surfi ng such
a shortboard. The Gravedigger
has opened up a new dimension
in my surfing, absolutely love it !
DIGGING THE GRAVE
THE GRAVEDIGGER GETS A WELL-DESERVED SHOVELFUL OF PRAISE
Mark Gnech and Ozzie Wright of
Vampirate have created a board
which is not only heaps of fun
to surf, but looks like a stunning
piece of art.
I love the deep, wide, swallow
tail and squared off shovel nose -
one less thing to impale yourself
on - as well as the twin fi n set
up and fl at template. Having so
much volume for such a shortboard
the Gravedigger paddles like a
longboard and it’s the easiest board
to duck-dive and catch waves on.
Once you get used to the length,
you fi nd it generates amazing
speed down the line without
a lot of effort, enabling you to
comfortably link manoeuvres. It
fl ies through fl at sections, has a
positive feel underfoot, and wants
to turn without sliding or skating.
Aim it onto the shoulder of a
wave and it wants to cut back into
the pocket with little or no effort.
I suspect the performance and
feel of the board is in part rail,
tail and fi n design and part what’s
happening underneath. There’s
a fair bit of vee in the nose, flat
through the middle leading into
a deep single concave running
through the fi ns and out the back.
I had the chance to surf the
Gravedigger in a variety of
conditions and locations from
1-3ft. It works well everywhere
and loves small, sucky waves.
Hey, but don’t limit yourself to
thinking it’s only for small, trashy
beach breaks. In less than perfect
2ft Teatree (Noosa) it went like a
dream - in good 3-4ft point waves
I think it would blow your mind.
MORE INFO
vampiratesurfboards.tumblr.com
MAR/APR 2013 | SMORGASBOARDER 145

CLOSEOUT: MUSIC
I FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE
WITH FAST DRUMMERS...
IT SEEMS TO MATCH THE
PEED OF FAST TUBE RIDES.”
146
SMORGASBOARDER | MAR/APR 2013

MASTERSTROKESTROKE
Yet another passionate surfer born of the wind
swell waves of Port Phillip Bay, Buzz Thompson
lives a Peter Pan style life of music, bands and of
course - surfing. Calling the Surf Coast of Victoria
home, Buzz spent over a decade involved in the
annual Falls Festival, held in Lorne. He’s organised
shows, managed bands and driven international acts
around on national tours. Firmly entrenched in the
music industry, he’s taken the next big step in his
life and launched a cracker of an indie record label,
Masterstroke Records. In a beautiful circle of life,
it’s surfing that led him to the musical existence he
now leads. It’s funny how being friendly in the water
can take you places, isn’t it?
Buzzs fills us in on how it all came to pass...
WORDS: MARK CHAPMAN
“Williamstown itself is on the Peninsula, out on the other side
of Melbourne. You can see it across from St Kilda. When the
weather has been hot from the north you get 30 knot winds and
waves can blow up there a few times a year – it can even blow
up to a four foot, stormy wind swell. The waves would quite
often be knee, to even waist high, and when you’re a grommet of
eight years old, that’s more than big enough.
“And that’s kind of all we knew at the start. And of course,
there was a massive skateboard craze as well. Late ‘70s and
‘80s, if you couldn’t get down the coast you were surfi ng the
wind waves or you were going crazy on people’s driveways. It
was a sort of surf-skate scene.”
And a vibrant scene it was, with Buzz’s love of waves fueled by
well-attended surfing film screenings in the Williamstown Hall.
“Hundreds of us would go and see them. We’d be there and
see people surf Bells, and places in Hawaii and Indonesia... I
saw surfi ng in those fi lms before I had even seen real, proper
groundswells.
“I remember when I was in my teens, I got taken down the
coast by one of the older guys who I managed to give $5 worth
of petrol money, to get my seat in the back of the car. We went
down to Torquay. There was an offshore wind and there was like
a 2ft, solid groundswell. It was the first time I’d seen something
like that myself - apart from in a surfing magazine. It was
completely mindblowing - like you’d seen paradise.
MAR/APR 2013 | SMORGASBOARDER 147

Surf
aRT
Haus
CREATIVE
market like yourself no one like is watching...
everybody is.
BUZZ
THOMPSON
...carving his own path
And that was enough. In his early
twenties Buzz moved down the
coast near Lorne. It was here,
surfing the local breaks, that he
got to know Simon Daly, founder
of the Falls Festival - a meeting
that would set his life on course.
“I became friends with Simon in
the surf around Lorne. He was
into music and so was I, and we’d
run into each other in Geelong or
Melbourne at shows too. I was inbetween
jobs once, and asked him
if there were any jobs available
on the farm, setting up one of the
festivals. That was Falls 1996, the
fourth year of it.
And so it came about that Buzz
went on to become one of the key
organisers of the Falls Festivals
until 2009, when he finally left
to take on the full-time artist
management role of Dan Sultan
and Scott Wilson, who by 2010
had bagged seven major awards
including two ARIAS and two
independent awards. Now,
together with Scott, he has taken
that a step further in the form of
Masterstroke Records.
“I suppose it’s our love of
independent music, and love of
bands staying independent... It
seems to be the way it’s going -
not just music, but lots of other
things. People are really carving
their own paths.
“In the long term, we’ll forge
our own scene a little bit and try
to work with bands that we are
passionate about, giving them the
freedom to be themselves, and
join in with us.”
And what kind of bands are these?
The first release on the label, the
self titled Stompy and the Heat
album (which we reviewed in the
last edition and have played to
death ever since) is all about raw
rock ‘n roll, as is their overseas
act, The Graveltones , and the
latest signing from Melbourne -
King of the North.
“We’re interested in not taking
things too seriously, and fast rock
and roll seems to be a better
match with surfing and skating.
The roots scene… Ben Harper,
Jack Johnson, and all those
type of bands have connections
to surfing, but I feel more
comfortable with fast drummers...
It seems to match the speed of
fast tube rides. Heavy guitar riffs
feel like there’s more energy and
more like what I enjoy.”
Living fast involves staying up late,
but Buzz reckons it doesn’t hurt the
early starts for surfing – in fact it’s
just the opposite, he says.
“Once you’re on the band scene
and you start to become a little
successful, part of your contract of
your show is a drinks rider (a list of
requested backstage refreshments
for bands) so there are lots of
after-parties, VIP parties... I think
it’s a struggle for musicians with
alcohol and late nights. They do
need something to fall back on,
so being a surfer makes it much
easier in that regard, as you know
you’re going to have to get up
early. The surfing life is a fantastic
balance from some of those
industry traps.
Classic Surf T-shirts
from Surfing Legends
lastwaveoriginals@gmail.com • Call 0400 497 534 • www.lastwave.com
The self-titled disc from Stompy and
the Heat is the fi rst release from
Masterstroke Records - for fans of
extremely cool, very raw rock ‘n roll.
More on Stompy and Masterstroke:
soundcloud.com/masterstroke-records
or get connected on Facebook.
148
SMORGASBOARDER | MAR/APR 2013

ASKING THE
QUESTION
”...IF OUR SURFBOARDS ARE THE
BASIC DEFINERS OF OUR SURFING
CULTURE, THEN WE ARE BY
DEFINITION: ‘UNSUSTAINABLE.’ ”
www.sustainablesurf.org
Why should we care about what our
surfboards are made of? Does the
composition of your average surfboard
really make that much difference to
the preservations of our oceans? Most
importantly – why should we change?
These questions beg to be answered and
yet we often shrug off any guilt we may
feel when purchasing surfboards we know
to be toxic to our ocean environment.
So why don’t we change? Why is it that the
majority of the surfing population still ride
environmentally unsustainable boards? Is
it performance-based or consumer-driven?
Do we like the look of our fancy, white,
plastic sticks, or is it the lure of imitating our
favourite surfing heroes that causes most
of us to put our blinkers on? Lower prices,
honest ignorance, convenience or just the
simple ease of access to these foam wonders
of the surfing world? It’s most definitely a
combination of all of the above. But is it all
just doom and gloom? Of course not.
There’s a strong movement embracing
the need for change in the industry.
Shapers are greening up their materials,
factories and processes and some are
even experimenting with sustainable
alternatives. While many may not know
it, we are fortunate to already have
the necessary components to change
the mainstream to a more sustainable
surfboard without losing the performance.
The next generation of materials and
processes for creating surfboards
can dramatically lower the negative
environmental impacts, and they are now
well-tested and widely available.
If individual surfers start asking a few
questions of their shaper, and shopping
around for shapers who are starting to
embrace sustainability, they may not only
kick off a snowball effect but may just
tap into a well of ingenuity and creativity,
to help get back to the original ecology
of early surfing with a twist of modern
magnificence.
POINTS
OF VIEW
INDIAN
DISCOVERY
As we found out in the last ‘Stu the
Brew’ column from our Jan/Feb
edition, it was the clever Brits who
first invented the magical pale ale.
So it was too, the Brits, who then
developed India Pale Ale. And this is
the tale of how it came about.
The fl avour sensation that had spread
across Britain and the thirst for this new
Pale Ale lead to a glut in the market. Too
much of the special nectar was brewed
and thus with the market saturated,
breweries looked to the colonies to
expand their sales.
The beer was subsequently shipped
to India, which meant it had to survive
months at sea, and not only that, had to be
fi t for consumption after it arrived. Never
fear, the Brits had cottoned on to the fact
that hops were a natural preservative and
so by adding even larger quantities they
had a beer that could make the journey,
resulting in a beer with a shipload of hops
in it. The beer became known as India Pale
Ale or IPA for short.
In more recent years we have seen the
emergence of yet another new style; the
American Pale Ale, it is signifi cant for a
couple of reasons. First brewed in the late
seventies, it was made with a new hybrid
hop that for the fi rst time displayed more
of a fruit-like character, fl avours like citrus,
passionfruit and lychee were prominent in
these new hops. The malt character was
similar to its British cousin, big and bold,
but the hop aroma was like nothing else
before. A new style was born but more
importantly, this beer has a substantial
claim to being responsible for starting the
modern craft brewing revolution.
As you can start to appreciate, beer is
no longer JUST BEER - there are many
variations on the original and as many
interpretations as there are brewers. My
advice, well, it’s just the same as looking
for new waves... Keep an open mind, don’t
be afraid to take the road less travelled
and generally you will be rewarded for
your effort.
Nose & Paddle Guards,
Rail Tape & Leash Plugs
Pro Teck Fins
Travel Safe Repair Kts
Nicola O’Reilly is the better
half of the nice folks from
Surfing Green, a couple
passionate about
providing sustainable
surfing products.
surfinggreen.com.au
Stuart Richie is the head
brewer at the Byron Bay
Brewery
at Skinners
Shoot Rd, Byron Bay.
Stu knows his beer.
byronbaybrewery.com.au
SURFTECH AUSTRALIA
www.surftechaustralia.com.au
MAR/APR 2013 | SMORGASBOARDER 149
02 4226 1322

STORE PROMOTION
cLOsEOut: SURF SHOP
takE it aLL Back
Golden Breed’s all about nostalgia - and sticking to it.
WORDS & PHOTOS: RENATE MOERMAN
“GOLDEN BREED:
uNcONDitiONaL
aND puRE
accEptaNcE Of
aLL kiNDs Of
wavE RiDiNG.”
Setting foot through the door at
Golden Breed surf shop in Noosa
Heads is like stepping back in time. The
store has the feel of a beach shack from
the seventies or eighties. Island style
fitting rooms, bamboo wall-covering,
doors made out of recycled timber and
decorative hula girl statue-lamps. Even
the boardroom in the back would have
done well as a hangout shed for surfies
back in the day! There’s comfortable
seats with hibiscus-longboard prints,
mags to read and video’s to watch…
And 50-odd boards, in the range from
classic to retro.
Golden Breed took off in the ‘60s
in California as a counter-culture to
established surf brands, as most of
those were starting to become overly
commercial. Golden Breed organised
parties and surf get-togethers, rather
than competitions. And they contracted
controversial big wave rebel Jeff
Hakman as ambassador, supporting
him to become the world’s leading pro
surfer. Brought to Australia in 1969
as a ‘surfer’s brand’ Golden Breed
immediately became a huge hit, and was
renowned for its centerfold magazine
ads designed by artist Peter Ledger.
150
sMORGasBOaRDER | mar/apr 2013

GB store assistant Shelby
The legendary brand seemed to disappear
off the radar for a while but has been
back for a decade or so, much to the joy
of blokes living their second childhood.
“Often super stoked, they go: ‘It’s always
been my favorite brand!’” says Josh who
works at the Noosa store. The collection
contains everything that makes the
heart tick a bit quicker: corduroy board
shorts, aloha shirts, ‘80s-style tees and
stubby holders with Peter Ledger’s prints.
“Golden Breed is what it is, and they
are sticking to it”.
No doubt during the Noosa Festival
of Surfing (March 10 - 16) these super
stoked guys from all over Australia and
across the ditch will be restocking their
wardrobe. Incidentally, Golden Breed are
now into their fourteenth consecutive
year as a major sponsor of this event.
But the shop in Noosa does much more
than just cater for the older legends - it
carries the retro concept through all the
way, combining nostalgia and fashion
and really has something for everyone.
High quality apparel from funky retrobrands
Captain Fin Co, Rhythm, surf/
street fashion by West and Insight, Hive
bikinis, thongs from Reef and Dupe, sd
and Carve shades, as well as unique
Australian-made accessories.
“The store is now in its fifth year and
sales are great. Our original plan was
to bring the Golden Breed brand alive.
Now we want to finesse the concept
and roll out a heap more stores”, says
Golden Breed main man Nick Van De
Merwe. “ We are madly working on a
site on the beaches in Sydney... so stand
by for that one.”
The Golden Breed vision includes
‘unconditional and pure acceptance of
ALL kinds of wave riding’, something that
of course is music to our Smorgasboarder
ears. Surf mats in different sizes for the
little ones - not the ones we are used
to seeing George Greenough on, but I’m
sure they float adults too - entry-level
body boards, soft-tops and numerous
other beach-and-water toys too.
Only local shapers are represented in
the board range: Classic Malibu, Thomas
Bexon, Formula Energy, Josh Constable’s
Creative Army and Neal Purchase Jr.
(exclusive retail point in QLD). Very
much slide point-style - not too many
thrusters... But no matter what you surf,
it’s all good - Golden Breed take custom
orders for all their shapers in store.
The store is situated only a short stroll
from the points, the beach and the
accommodation-strip that is Hastings
Street. It’s often the first stop for surfers
from out of town, to replace a broken
leash (choose from FCS, Far King, Hydro),
stock up on wax or drop down a mm
or two in wetsuit - thickness (Matuse,
West, GB). And even if you didn’t bring
a board, Golden Breed is the place to
go - their board-hire range stretches far
further than the usual 8 ft soft-top and
backpacker boards.
WHERE IS IT?
‘On the roundabout of Noosa Drive
and Noosa Parade’
15 Noosa Drive, Noosa Heads
07 5455 3722
OTHER GOLDEN BREED STORES:
Pacific Shopping Centre (Gold Coast),
The Wharf (Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast),
Factory Shop, Caulfield (Victoria).
MAR/APR 2013 | SMORGASBOARDER 151

CLOSEOUT: BOOKS
“IT ONCE AND FOR CERTAIN DISPELS
ANY POSSIBLE MISCONCEPTION
THAT NEW ZEALAND ISN’T A SURFING
DREAM DESTINATION”
THE SOUTH SEAS
- NEW ZEALAND’S
BEST WAVES
CRAIG LEVERS AND BRENT
COURTNEY
PUBLISHED BY PHOTO CPL
You have to love the opening to this
book. In fact, you probably couldn’t sum
up surfi ng New Zealand any better than
this:
“New Zealand can lay claim to being the
southernmost surfi ng community in the
world... As you’ll see from the images
in this book, the human element in this
environment is most likely sporting a
beanie, a Swandri (an iconic kiwi brand
of heavy woolen check over-shirt) and
gumboots…
“It’s not the place you come to sip
chilled beers while the warm trade wind
fans your sun-kissed skin and the sun
dips over the coral reef you’ve been
sessioning all afternoon. No, this is
where you crank up the car heater and
wait for the circulation to return to your
hands and feet on the way to the pub for
a jug of the fi nest local lager and a piping
hot steak’n’cheese pie…
“And that’s what this book is. It’s not
a surf guide and it’s not a bucket list.
It’s better: a visual celebration of New
Zealand’s great waves and a tribute to
surfi ng at the end of the world.”
I own a fair few of these kidns of classy
coffee table photographic books, but
this has without doubt become my
favourite. It covers New Zealand’s
surf exploration past and present with
stunning photography, breaking the ‘Land
of the Long White Cloud’ down into its
respective regions.
It once and for certain dispels any
possible misconception that New
Zealand isn’t a surfi ng dream destination,
showcasing the huge variety of
unbelievable waves from the tip of the
North Island down to the frigid waters at
the bottom of the South Island.
Available in virtually every kiwi surf
store - or at least the classy ones that
carry Smorgasboarder - and via the web.
Check out the preview and ordering
options at www.photocpl.co.nz
(Dave Swan)
152
SMORGASBOARDER
| MAR/APR 2013

DING REPAIRS
BUSTED YOUR BOARD?
GET IT FIXED HERE...
WISH YOU WERE HERE:
SUNSHINE COAST
FRANK SCRIVANO/LEROY SAMS
HULABALULA PUBLISHING
Get ready for extended bedtimes, as you and
the little ones get equally sucked into this large
format, wordless, make-up-your-own-story book.
From the mind of Frank Scrivano, each large
spread is hand-illustrated by artist/designer and
keen surfer Leroy Sams, and features all the
hustle, bustle and daily happenings of favourite
beachside spots on the Sunshine Coast, such as
Noosa, Coolum, Mooloolaba and more.
According to the press release, the book’s
content “portrays a culturally diverse, inclusive
and peaceful way of life, with a focus on key
themes such as community, care
for the environment, positive
relationships, and healthy,
active living.” That it certainly
does, all in a sturdy, board
format that should handle a
fair beating as only littlies can
dish out!
What a great way to
spend some quality
time with the kids,
expanding their
imagination,
and yours,
as you make
up stories
together.
For more info and
to buy online, see
www.hulabalula.com.au
(Mark Chapman)
AGNES WATER/1770
REEF 2 BEACH
Mon-Sat, 9-5pm, Sun,10-4pm
07 4974 9072
ALEXANDRA HEADLAND
ALTERNATIVE SURF
Sun, M - F 8:30-4:30pm, Sat 8-4:30pm
07 5475 4811
WURTULLA
NICHOLSON SURFBOARDS
REPAIRS & RESTORATIONS
Mon - Fri 7-3pm, Sat 7-midday
0438 631 153
Facebook.com/nicholsonsurf
MOFFAT BEACH
EPOXY BOARD REPAIRS
By appointment
0427 019 420
THE FACTORY SURFBOARDS
Mon, Wed-Friday 9am-5pm, Saturday
8am-12pm
(07) 5492 5838
SLS SURFBOARDS
Mon, Wed, Fri 11- 5pm, Sat 8 - 12pm
0424 314 183
NOOSA
UNDERGROUND SURF
7 days, 9am - 5pm
07 5455 4444
SOUTHPORT
KOMA
Mon-Fri 9am -5pm, Sat 9am -12pm
0402 863 763
MIAMI
DINO’S DING REPAIRS
Mon - Fri 9am - 5pm, Sat 9am - 12pm
0409 727 735
TUGUN
DIVERSE
Mon-Fri 8:30am - 5:30pm
Sat & Sun 9-4pm
07 5598 4848
CURRUMBIN
DIRECTION SURFBOARDS
Open hours 9am to 5pm
0450 556 233
KIRRA
GRB SURFBOARDS
Mon - Fri 10am - 4pm
Sat 10am - 2pm
0408 701 467
FIX BROKEN BOARDS?
Promote your repair business
for $15 an edition.
Call 0401 345 201
BYRON BAY
DR DING
SURFBOARD REPAIRS
Mon-Fri 8am - 5pm
Sat 10am - 4pm, Sun 10am - 2pm
0431 740 940
MC SURF DESIGNS
Mon - Fri 9am - 5pm, Sat 9am - 1pm
02 6685 8778
LENNOX HEAD
QUICKFIX SURFBOARD REPAIRS
Mon - Fri 10am-5pm
0432 361 791
02 6681 3142
BALLINA
PHIL’S FOILS
Mon - Fri 9-5pm
02 6686 7858
0401 841 298
YAMBA
PLANK SHOP
02 6645 8362
TOMBSTONE SURFBOARDS
Tues - Fri 9am - 4pm, Sat 9am - 12pm
0432 330 826
BUDGEWOI
BUCKO’S SURFBOARD
REPAIRS & RESTORATIONS
Mon-Fri 10am - 5.30pm
Weekends by appointment
0422 304 078
LONG JETTY
SANDLOCK SURFBOARDS
Mon - Fri 9am - 4pm, Sat 9am -12pm
0437 032 614
WOLLONGONG
SKIPP SURFBOARDS
Mon-Fri 9am - 5:30pm
Thurs 9am - 7:30pm
Sat 9am - 4pm, Sun 10am - 4pm
02 4228 8878
SHELLHARBOUR
BROWN DOGG
7 days a week - Just call
0416 455 985
JERVIS BAY
INNER FEELING SURFBOARDS
Seven days, 9am - 5pm
02 4441 6756
BELLARINE PENINSULA
ROUSA SURFBOARDS
Mon-Sat, 10am-5pm,
0403 693 333
THORNBURY
ZAK SURFBOARDS
Mon - Fri 10am - 6pm,
Sat 10am - 5pm
03 9416 7384
TORQUAY
STONKER
Seven days, 9am - 5pm
03 5261 6077
THE SURFERS SHED
Seven days, 9am - 5pm
0437 246 848
PHILLIP ISLAND
ISLAND SURF
SHOP - COWES
7 days, 9-5pm
03 5952 2578
ADELAIDE
WALLBRIDGE
SURFBOARDS
Mon - Fri, 12.30pm - 5.30pm
Sat 12.30pm - 5pm
08 8376 4914
MID COAST
THE DING KING
CLARK SURFBOARDS
Mon - Fri 9am - 5pm
0422 443 789
SEAFORD
LIQUID STIX
SURFBOARDS
Mon - Fri 9am - 5pm
Sat & Sun 9am - 3pm
0407 606 685
LONSDALE
MID COAST SURF
Call us for a quality repair
08 8384 5522
RAGLAN, NZ
RAGLAN LONGBOARDS
7 days, 10am to 5pm
except winter - catch us if you can
+64 7 825 0544
KAIKOURA, NZ
SURGE SURFBOARDS
Bust your board? Call us 24/7
027 428 7453
MAR/APR 2013 | SMORGASBOARDER
153

Brought to you by
Noel Mooney - 0417 756 076
coolumbusinessandtourism.com
SURF TRIP ACCOMMODATION
COOLUM BEACH
Welcome to a world of beachbreaks, boosts, barrels and brilliant fun - Coolum Beach on the Sunshine Coast
North Shore. Beyond the tourist strip of Mooloolaba and just south of the righthand pointbreaks of Noosa, the
water here is warm all year ‘round and there’s no shortage of surf breaks. It’s a true surfers playground and a
top destination with a unique personality and charm. Here are your top choices for accommodation.
EXECUTIVE
ACCOMMODATION
Managing over 25 executive
beach homes and apartments
from Twin Waters through
to Coolum Beach, Coolum
Holidays has the perfect
property to indulge all of your
needs while on vacation.
All of our executive properties
are tastefully decorated
throughout and provide a
high standard of facilities
including swimming pool, air
conditioning, bbq and pay
television. Accommodating
singles, couples and families,
our portfolio of executive
accommodation will surely not
disappoint.
P: 1300 303 423
www.coolumholidays.com.au
From $1300 a
week, shorter
stays available
PET-FRIENDLY
ACCOMMODATION
Take your four legged friend
on your next holiday! Enjoy a
stress free holiday knowing
your pet is safe with you. Pet
friendly holidays are becoming
increasingly popular and Coolum
Holidays has 30 holiday homes
that specialise in providing the
right accommodation for you
and your pooch. All our holiday
homes adhere to strict policies
and conditions so that your
holiday with your beloved pet is
safe, secure and comfortable.
A $110.00 non refundable pet
fee applies to all bookings
made – a small price to pay for
peace of mind.
P: 1300 303 423
www.coolumholidays.com.au
From $490 a
week, shorter
stays available
YOUR CHOICE OF
HOLIDAY APARTMENTS
Managing an array of self
contained apartments on the
beautiful North Shore, Coolum
Holidays will help you find the
perfect apartment to relax in
whether it be for two nights or
two months.
Stay in one our apartments and
stretch out with more privacy
and space than a hotel room,
perfect for an extended stay or
corporate accommodation.
We can offer you a great deal
on one, two and three bedroom
apartments – phone our friendly
booking consultants today.
P: 1300 303 423
www.coolumholidays.com.au
From $490 a
week, shorter
stays available
COOLUM BEACH
GETAWAY RESORT
3-7 First Ave, Coolum Beach
A modern 4½ star resort. 18
spacious, air-conditioned 1, 2
& 3 bedroom townhouse-style
units and apartments with
self-contained kitchens, laundry
and lock up garage. Tropical
gardens, heated pool and spa,
half tennis court, plus bike and
surfboard hire. One street back
from the beach with a quiet,
pleasant family atmosphere.
Proximity: Only a short stroll
to Coolum’s fabulous beach,
alfresco dining and shopping.
Located centrally on the
Sunshine Coast, the tourist
attractions, world-class golf
courses and rainforest walks are
all within easy driving distance.
P: 07 5471 6759 F: 07 5471 6222
Australia: 1300 723 263
E: info@getawayresort.com.au
www.getawayresort.com.au
Phone for your special price
SEACHANGE COOLUM BEACH
1864 David Low Way, Coolum Beach
A world away from the
everyday... 35 boutique holiday
apartments with style and
character... The ideal retreat for
your tropical getaway. Designed
to be different from the rest,
Seachange features fully selfcontained
one, two bedroom
and family apartments - some
with private rooftop spas and
ocean views, all immaculately
presented by resident managers
who offer you personalised
friendly service.
Isn’t it time you experienced
Seachange?
Proximity: Walking distance to
beach, local shops, restaurants
P: 07 5471 7799
F: 07 5446 5380
Freecall: 1800 008 112
info@seachangecoolumbeach.com.au
seachangecoolumbeach.com.au
Call for best rates
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SMORGASBOARDER | MAR/APR 2013

BUSINESS PROMOTION
SURFING COOLUM
Surf spots within close vicinity include Coolum main beach
where a consistent left-hander reels in from in front of the
surf club. At the southern end of the beach below the lookout
at Point Perry, when the swell is 4 foot plus, a quality righthander
can break close to the rocks. This wave is definitely the
standout when it’s on but typically a place for the chargers in
the surfing community.
Just over the headland the FIRST and SECOND BAY (from the
water it is really one bay) are also popular and fairly consistent.
Although surrounded by rocks, the bottom is largely sand and
the lefts and rights can be found depending on where you
want to sit. In rare conditions, THIRD BAY breaks but this is
definitely rocky and risky.
COOLUM CAPRICE
1770 David Low Way,
Coolum Beach
Located right in the heart of
Coolum Beach, our ocean view,
fully self contained apartments
cater for couples, families and
groups. With 1, 2 or 3 bedroom
apartments to choose from,
Coolum Caprice boasts the best
views and location in town.
Proximity: Middle of town,
walking distance to shops and
restaurants. Directly across
the road from the beach and
Surf Club. 15 minutes Sunshine
Coast Airport and 1½ hours
from Brisbane Airport.
Phone: 07 5446 2177
E: relax@coolumcaprice.com.au
www.coolumcaprice.com.au
From $140 per night
Smorgasboarder reader special:
Call today for 20% off!
ENDLESS SUMMER RESORT
9-21 Frank St, Coolum Beach
This is the perfect place to stay
in Coolum for holiday resort
accommodation. Ideal for
couples or the whole family.
Choose from fully self-contained
and spacious apartments
located in a peaceful setting,
away from traffic, but only a
100m stroll to the surf beach,
main restaurants and sidewalk
shops. Fantastic 25m heated
pool, waterslide, children’s
playground and mini golf on-site.
Proximity: 100m to patrolled
surf beach and shops.
Phone: +61 7 5471 9800
E: holiday@endlesssummerresort.com
www.endlesssummerresort.com
Keep an eye on our web page
for specials throughout the
year or call direct to ask for our
special surfer’s rates.
COOLUM SEASIDE
6-8 Perry St, Coolum Beach
Perfectly positioned to take
full advantage of the Sunshine
Coast’s natural scenic beauty
and holiday attractions. Our
fully self-contained AAA 5-star
rated one to four bedroom
apartments are air conditioned
and have Austar, LCD TVs, CD
& DVD players. Roof terraces
are available with majestic
coastal & hinterland views.
Facilities include 3 heated
pools, 4 spas, tennis court,
gymnasium, internet lounge/
library and poolside barbecues.
Proximity: Short stroll to
patrolled beach, shops, cafes
and restaurants.
Phone: 1800 809 062
E: info@coolumseaside.com
www.coolumseaside.com
Check our specials online
COOLUM MOTEL &
BUDGET ACCOMMODATION
1862 David Low Way, Cnr Ann St,
Coolum Beach
Coolum Motel is ideally
located across from beautiful
Coolum Beach. We offer a
variety of room types ranging
from Private Ensuited Rooms
to Budget and Backpacker
style and facilities. For a
family friendly venue offering
fantastic deals and discounts -
Stay with us!
Proximity: Short walking
distance to restaurants, shops
and clubs.
Phone: 07 5471 6666
E: info@coolummotel.com
www.coolummotel.com
From only $ 35 per night.
Quote this magazine for
20% DISCOUNT!
Dates and conditions apply
ELEMENT ON COOLUM BEACH
1808 David Low Way,
Coolum Beach
This is seaside luxury right
on Coolum Beach. These self
contained luxury Coolum beach
apartments combine the best
of urban chic and beachside
living. Stay in either a one,
two or three bedroom holiday
apartment right in the heart of
Coolum and right across from
Coolum Beach. Surf all day
and stay in style at Element on
Coolum Beach.
Proximity: 1 minute walk to
beach, shops and restaurants.
Phone: 1300 139 744
stay@elementoncoolumbeach.com.au
www.elementoncoolumbeach.com.au
From only $149 per night in
a one bedroom apartment
MAR/APR 2013 | SMORGASBOARDER 155

Planning a surfing holiday or weekend away? These fine accommodation options offer great
proximity to surf beaches in some of Australia best surf spots and beyond. Get out there.
TASMANIA
VICTORIA
SURF TRIP ACCOMMODATION
NEW SOUTH WALES
QUEENSLAND
NEW ZEALAND
MARRAWAH BEACH HOUSE
19 Beach Road, MARRAWAH
The Beach House is located on
an organic beef farm on the wild,
west coast of Tasmania. The
comfortable, self contained twobedroom
cottage has spectacular
views of the Southern Ocean
and easy access to the beach.
The perfect base to explore the
wilderness of the Tarkine and
Arthur River areas. 1 ½ hrs drive
from Burnie Airport and 2 ½ hrs
drive from Devonport Ferry.
Proximity: Close to quality reef
and beach breaks as well as the
local general store and hotel.
P: 03 6457 1285 or 0428 571 285
E: marrawahbeachhouse@activ8.net.au
Rates from $140 per night
SILVERWATER RESORT
17 Potters Hill Rd, San Remo
Spacious one, two and
three-bedroom self-contained
apartments all with spectacular
bay views and modern
conveniences. Complementing
the 4.5 star accommodation
is an excellent range of resort
facilities including indoor and
outdoor pool, billiards and games
room, tennis and basketball
courts, restaurant and bar.
Proximity: Five mins to surf
beach, two mins to town
Phone: 1800 033 403
res@silverwaterresort.com.au
www.silverwaterresort.com.au
From $175 per night
SOUTHVIEW BULLI
19 Southview Street, Bulli
Southview is a bed & breakfast
and self contained holiday
accommodation, nestled
between Sandon Point Beach
and Bulli Beach. Recently
rated 4.5 stars by AAA tourism
it is the perfect place to
unwind and perfect for the
surfer and their family.
Proximity: Nestled Between
Sandon Point and Bulli Beach
Telephone: 02 4268 6303
E: info@southviewbulli.com.au
www.southviewbulli.com.au
From $145 per couple
PORTOBELLO BY THE SEA
6 Beerburrum St, Dicky Beach
Caloundra
Fantastic surf spots right on
your doorstep. Moffat, Neill
Street, Dicky Beach all within
a 5 minute walk. Luxury
accommodation within 50 m of
some of the best restaurants
Caloundra has to offer.
Proximity: Across from
patrolled Dicky Beach, on-site
dining and shopping.
Phone: 07 5491 9038
E: info@portobellobythesea.com.au
www.portobellobythesea.com.au
From $325 for two nights.
PIWIWIWI SURF
CAMPERVAN RENTALS
Raglan NZ
DON’T STAY... EXPLORE!
The only campervan rentals
company in New Zealand aimed
at surfers. Vans are kitted out
with all the gear you need
including straps to hold your
boards safe INSIDE the van.
PiwiWiwi is a small, friendly
company based in the magic
surf town of Raglan.
Transfers to and from
Auckland Airport available.
Raglan Office: +64 7 825 0974
NZ Free Phone: 0800 74 94 94
E: info@piwiwiwi.co.nz
www.piwiwiwi.co.nz
From $25 per night
NEW SOUTH WALES
SCAMANDER BEACH SHACK
130 Scamander Ave, SCAMANDER
This is the ultimate authentic
beach shack and only $130
per night, anytime of the
year! Amazing location
right opposite Tasmania’s
premium east-coast surfing
beach. Uninterrupted views of
waves and the Scamander River
mouth provide breathtaking
scenery sitting in the comfort
of the shack. An ideal getaway
for surfers and their families or
keen fisherpersons plus a cosy
getaway for a couple.
Proximity: Right opposite
Scamander Beach.
Phone: 0400 912 583
www.scamanderbeachshack.com
$130 per night, all year round
KIAMA COVE BOUTIQUE MOTEL
10 Bong Bong St, Kiama
UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT
Kiama Cove Boutique Motel is
in a fantastic location right near
the heart of Kiama overlooking
Surf Beach. The motel offers
ocean views, king sized beds in
most rooms, off-street parking,
free Austar, swimming pool
and a fabulous sun lounge area
overlooking the beach.
Proximity: Right on Surf
Beach and a short stroll to the
main street of Kiama.
Phone: 02 4232 4500
E: info@kiamacove.com.au
www.kiamacoveboutiquemotel.com.au
Room rates are from $90
to $200 for family rooms
9 Shirley Street, BYRON BAY
Outrigger Bay is the perfect Byron
getaway for the ultimate relaxing
holiday. With direct access to
the beach, these fabulous 2 or
3 bedroom apartments are not
only in a stunning location but
are also so close to Byron’s great
restaurants and bars. This is
an ideal location for a surfing
holiday with the family or a
group of friends.
Proximity: DIRECT ACCESS to
beach - only 50m walk. 2 min
walk to town centre shops.
P: 02 6685 8646
E: info@outriggerbay.com
www.outriggerbay.com
From $195 per night
COOLANGATTA SANDS HOSTEL
Cnr McLean and Griffith Street,
Coolangatta
Your ultimate surf HQ!
Where else can you find some
of the world’s best beaches and
beach breaks on your doorstep
- Kirra, Snapper Rocks, D-Bah,
Rainbow Bay, Greenmount and
Coolangatta? Free breakfast, free
pick-up, economical shared and
private rooms. Stay three nights
and you can travel to Byron Bay
for free on our shuttle bus! Part of
the Coolangatta Adventure Crew.
Proximity: Across from great
surf breaks, restaurants, nightlife
Phone: 07 5536 7472
E: hostel@taphouse.com.au
www.coolangattasandshostel.com.au
Rates from $29 per night
PIHA DOMAIN SURF CAMP
21 Seaview Road, Piha, NZ
What a phenomenal location
for surfers and their families!
Piha Domain is a large,
family-friendly campground
in the heart of Piha Village,
accommodating tents,
caravans, campervans and also
has cabins to hire.
Only two minutes walk from
one of the best surfing beaches
in New Zealand, this is one
of the best value for money
camps in the country.
Proximity: Right on the beach
in front of the iconic Lion Rock
and only a short stroll to shops.
Phone: +64 9 8128 815
E: pihacamp@xtra.co.nz
Rates from $10 a night
for tent sites
TV
gym
laundry
kitchen
parking wi-fi pool airconditioning family-friendly pet-friendly spa
bbq
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SMORGASBOARDER | MAR/APR 2013

Photos supplied by Grant Newby
THE ALLEY
FISH FRY 2013
Another year, and another
Currumbin Alley Fish Fry! Seven
years in the community showand-shine
organised by Grant
Newby is far from slowing. The
day dawned with brilliant sunshine
and held throughout the day, but
rough, unstable surf conditions
saw only the experienced tackle
the diffi cult waves. An ecletic mix
of beautifully handcrafted wooden
hand planes, a travelling Japanese
soul surfer and musician, families
enjoying surf culture together and
in the many strange and wonderful
saltwater sleds that saw the light
of day at the heart of what the
Fish Fry means to people. More at:
thealleyfishfry.blogspot.com
BLEACHED
AZ, BRO...
Out and about around the 2013
Bleach Festival on the Gold Coast...
Photos supplied by Soul Arch Media
MAR/APR 2013 | SMORGASBOARDER 157

CLOSEOUT: RELAX
DALY HEAD... Now a protected break
MC Tim Bonython
talking through early
Yorkes film footage
Buck Rogers, Andy Short, Ray Agnew, Quenten Agius, Ed Satanek
Headphone Piracy
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SMORGASBOARDER | MAR/APR 2013

Daly Heads Surfi ng Reserve Plaque
Small surf businesses,cool products and more!
Advertise here - call 0401 345 201 for details.
* Boards not included
SUP
& SURfBoaRD
StRaPS
onlY
$30
toUGH,
affoRDaBle &
SImPle StoRaGe
SolUtIon foR
all BoaRDS!
SURF DIRECTORY
Like us on Facebook - elofant board straps.
Order straps online from
www.elofant.com
GETTING
A HEAD
The Daly Head National Surfing Reserve,
the fi rst along Australia’s southern coastline,
was dedicated on 12 January this year after
the Formby Bay Environmental Action Group
and the local surfing community put in two
years of hard work to get it recognised.
Photographer Harryart had to say:
“A big mention to Ed Satanek, who really
did - and has done - rallying, fundraising,
regenerating interest and general dedication
to this whole event. He wouldn’t want credit
for it out loud, but I and many others take our
hats off to this Yorkes protector and legend.”
Well said Harry, well done to Ed and all
involved.
Harry graciously also supplied some shots
from the celebrations of the day. Enjoy.
MORE THAN JUST A SURF
CLOTHING STORE!
WE STOCK BOARDS,
HARDWARE AND A DISPLAY
OF CLASSIC SURFBOARDS.
LOW PRESSURE
SURF CO.
68 Prince Street, Grafton NSW 2460
P: 02 6643 5551 F: 02 6643 5100
E: noel@lowpressuresurfco.com.au
CUTS WAX
LIKE BUTTER
Moulded
grip
Polymer
casing
Clean wax!
ONLY
$11.95!
Flexible
sealing lid
WWW.WAXHEAD.NET
MAKING A SURFBOARD?
RESTORATION OR REPAIR?
LEARNING ABOUT THE INDUSTRY?
MAKING BLANKS MAKING FINS?
416 A4,
full-colour
pages,
over 1000
photos.
THE
SURFER’S
TEXTBOOK
$79.95
BUY ONLINE TODAY
WWW.SURFERSTEXTBOOK.COM.AU
Early crowd

ROLLING INTO
AUSTRALIA DAY
Victorian Skateboarding and YMCA Riverslide Skate Park got the
Street SUP crew involved in this year’s Australia Day Parade in
Melbourne to promote people young and old to participate in the fun
and healthy lifestyle of skateboarding.
By the looks of things, a very fun day was had by all! For more on
Street SUP, see the website: www.streetsup.com.au
Photos supplied by Street Sup
WOODWORKERS
L-R : Gary, Graeme, Darren, Jonathan, Skye, Wally, Dion, Gretta, Rob
The fi rst 2013 Tree to Sea workshop was held in February, over three
very hot and humid days. Eight great looking boards where made,
including a few new models. A new rail system made boards quicker to
lay up and allowed for stronger boards with more flexibility of rail shape.
New instructor Darren has also joined the Tree to Sea team to be able
to increase the amount of workshops to meet demand.
If you are interested in a workshop, email info@treetosea.com.au.
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SMORGASBOARDER | MAR/APR 2013

Photos by Brendan Dowd
IMPROVED QUALITY BETTER MEMORY
EXTREME STRETCH KEEPS SHAPE LONGER
NEVER STOP
SURFING
OP
PORT FAIRY SWAP MEET
Over 150 surfboard enthusiasts, collectors and onlookers attended the first surfboard swap meet
held in Port Fairy over the Australia Day weekend. The event was hosted by locally-owned Go Surf
School,and organiser Keith Curtain said the event was an outstanding success! www.gosurfschool.com
Available DIRECT from ZEE,
or from select surf stores
Peter and Adam Robertson
Local Matt Dwyer
Oscar and Trevor
Jordan Lockett/Adam Robertson
With years of local
experience and the highest
quality materials, every
ZEE WETSUIT is built to
last. Made locally and
100% Australian owned.
NOOSA: 07 5474 1010
Unit 2, 15 Venture Drive,
Noosaville, QLD
MOOLOOLABA: 07 5444 7007
122 Brisbane Road,
Mooloolaba, QLD
sales@zeewetsuits.com
www.zeewetsuits.com
OPEN HOURS: Mon-Fri: 9 - 5, Sat: 9 - 12
BOTH STORES OPEN 6 DAYS!
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Ry Craike, Maldives punt.
It’s what we can’t tell you that matters
With hundreds of reef passes, it might be worth going with someone who knows