ISSUE 1: July 2013
ISSUE 1 June Featured: 2013 Behind the Paddle to Battle MS FEATURED: • Behind the Scenes at the Paddle to Battle MS
Issue 1 || BLADE Magazine || 1
Managing editor: Matt Burgess Contributors: John Messenger, Fionna Guy, Marco Lubbers Photographers: Matt Burgess; John Messenger (Photos by JB), Marco Lubbers Cover Shot: Beau Nixon going vertical on a barrenjoey screamer - John Messenger Inside Shot: Where we’d all rather be: Chickens, North Male Atoll, Maldives- Matt Burgess Contact: info@blademagazine.net 2 || BLADE Magazine || Issue 1
Welcome to the first issue of BLADE Magazine. Blade has been designed as a free online magazine, celebrating the best riders and photographers capturing what we do with our blades in the surf. Let me be the first to thankyou for your support and continued readership as new issues are prodcued and published. It is our dream here at BLADE to have new issues available on a monthly basis, free to you all online! If you wish to offer content, please dont hesitate to send us an email! Matt Burgess Managing Editor
Issue 1 || BLADE Magazine || 3
4 || BLADE Magazine || Issue 1
|| KAI BATES || Photo: Matt Burgess
Issue 1 || BLADE Magazine || 5
|| RIGGS NAPOLEON || Photo: Matt Burgess
6 || BLADE Magazine || Issue 1
Issue 1 || BLADE Magazine || 7
My Dream!
Behind the paddle to battle MS
Photo: Matt Burgess By: Fionna Guy My first exposure to Multiple Sclerosis (MS) was in 2005 when I returned from over seas travelling and working in United Kingdom and Europe where I picked up a job to pay off my sponsor, ‘visa’. I had the pleasure to sit next to a wonderful, passionate and inspiring man who became a dear friend. He was battling MS for many years and this is where I learnt what it was like to live with this difficult, non-discriminating and most heartless disease MS. For those that don’t know about Multiple sclerosis (MS), it is a chronic disease that attacks the central nervous system (the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves). The progress, severity and specific symptoms of MS cannot be predicted. MS is a lifelong disease for which a cause and cure are yet to be found. MS is the most common disease of the central nervous system in young adults. With varying degrees and severities of symptoms, often my friend would be absent from work after an ‘episode’ as he called them. I’m certain he didn’t share all the symptoms he suffered, as he was focused and determined to find a cure.
8 || BLADE Magazine || Issue 1
Symptoms of MS include; unusual fatigue, difficulties with walking, balance and coordination, sensitivity to heat and/or cold, bladder and bowel changes, slurring of speech, visual disturbances, muscle weakness, tremor, stiffness or spasms, pain, pins and needles… list goes on…it really isn’t a nice disease . I was quickly introduced to a wonderful family, Foundation Five Million (F5M). Their sole endeavor was to raise funds and awareness for Multiple Sclerosis Research Australia (MSRA) to reach AUD$5 Million in 5 years. This dedicated and passionate family was driven by the belief that a cause and cure would be found in their lifetime and is evident in their fundraising success. Achieving the AUD$5M just as the fifth year chimed . With the passion and drive F5M evolved to keep striving as the cure was yet to be found. With this evolution a simple and yet so effective ‘+’ was added and the foundation grew to be known as Foundation Five Million Plus (F5M+). To date they have raised over $6.6M into MSRA .
Then I received news that my cousin at aged 14 years was diagnosed with MS. This spurred me into action and I dreamt of ‘how could I make a significant difference?’ It struck me one morning when I was participating in my weekly Stand Up Paddle (SUP) board time trials at Narrabeen Lake. This is where Paddle to Battle MS was born. I shared my story of how MS had touched my life with some close SUP’ers and their enthusiasm and support was infectious. Everyone I spoke to was eager to paddle to race towards a cure and support such a worthy cause. In November 2012 (yes the same company I originally started with in 2005!) my role was made redundant. This was the opportunity I was waiting for, I now had the time. All I needed was a team, location and support and some idea on how to pull this together. Quiet literally I had only participated in a handful of SUP events and learnt pretty quickly what a BOP was! F5M+ where ecstatic at the concept and supported in every aspect they could. Instrumental to all activities was an ex colleague I approached to support me with this crazy idea. Yes some say he is just as crazy as me! Stephen Hill was the engine behind the scenes working a full on day job then late into the night (most often early mornings) with me on Paddle to Battle MS.
Photo: John Messenger
Local businesses threw their weight behind the cause with Sam Parker of Wind Surf ‘n’ Snow eager to support and throwing contacts for me to approach. The Naish team Andy Davies, Aiden Lewis and Greg Johns offering the free use of the Naish One Design 12.6 inflatable race boards. With all these industry contacts at my finger tips I reached out to some corporates and senior leaders that I worked with over the years. The response was amazing! Very quickly things picked up pace. I desperately needed a location and a race director. I had my eye on Collaroy Beach chosen for it’s natural Amphitheatre, refurbished club house to cater for the less mobile and typically safe family friendly surf conditions. My uncle, a life member, introduced me to the Collaroy SLSC president Richard Trim who loved the idea and a date was locked in. Later that week I was introduced to a possible race director Sam Williams who also was eager to participate and called to action her contacts to support. By the end of the week I had a location, support and date. I even had the opportunity to met the local Warringah Council Mayor Michael Reagan. During this meeting (which Sam kindly donated 5mins to me) I explained my plan. He was touched as his sister had been suffering from MS for some years and wanted to support.
Issue 1 || BLADE Magazine || 9 Photo: John Messenger
Photo: Matt Burgess Sponsorship packs distributed, cold calling began and negotiations started and finished. Fliers sent out, web page built including registration and donation page and Facebook created and communications begun. Event and water safety plans including aquatic license applications created and submitted to authorities and everything had to be pushed through and chased up, we had 10 weeks to put on the best SUP event in Sydney in the name of charity. We just had to achieve this.
Somehow things got done, family and wonderful friends rallied around and we managed to pull through. My focus was to get the word out about the event. Facebook became my friend. I was writing press release after press release for the papers, TV and radio. I even hung out at Brown Water Friday afternoon in case I ‘bumped’ into Tim Bailey and his weather cross!
The day before I was exhausted but as any project manager knows the last 10% of any delivery is the toughest and requires the most attention. My As it got closer to the event the little things needlounge room looked like a bomb had hit with itemed to be wrapped up, how would we pay for the ized auction items and kit for the officials. My phone sausage sizzle? Who would get the cool drinks? was running hot with support and queries. Then I How many volunteers do we need and who would got a call we had hit AUD$9,000. I had arranged help? Do we have music for between the races? What about a winners podium and yikes what about through my ex employer Vodafone to match up to prizes, trophies or prize money! This list grew daily AUD$10,000. We needed that AUD$1,000! and well my body decided it was time to have appendicitis. Yes just a few weeks out from the event I called, emailed and Facebooked everyone calland amongst this craziness I had to have surgery to ing them to action. If you planned to paddle then register, it was simple! Oh and donations where of remove my appendix! course accepted. At 3:21pm the Friday before the event raised AUD$10,000 and Vodafone approved we could announce the match and so we where ecstatic to let everyone know we had reached AUD$20,000 before a paddle was even wet!
10 || BLADE Magazine || Issue 1
The pre meetings took place and the safety team were keeping a keen eye on the conditions working closely with the Collaroy SLSC. Interstate competitors arrived and last minute touches put in place and alarm clocks set for 5am…race day! The normally tranquil Collaroy beach was pumping, all thanks to a cyclone in Nth Queensland. Again the safety team met and plans reviewed, put in place and clearly communicated to all in our safety brief. I entrusted my team to do the right thing as safety was paramount. The decision was made to go ahead with the event. To some the pounding waves sent shivers down their spines in fright for others your could clearly see them ‘frothing’ to get amongst it! The MS volunteers stood there on the beach side scratching their heads wondering how do these fit, strong and yes crazy athletes even get out and complete the course. This thought crossed my mind too but I assured them they are more than capable and determined to fight this battle, their battle and race towards a cure for all MS sufferers.
The event was a success albeit a blur. Honestly I really can’t remember much of the day but do remember smiling faces on both competitors and MS sufferers and volunteers alike. The best part about it was there was only one broken board, no injuries or rescues. It was a safe event – thank God! As I’ve mentioned before there was plenty of special, dedicated and determined people who helped me reach my dream. Most importantly I couldn’t have achieved this without the support from my loving husband, Evan Green AKA Babycakes. With 2013 under our belt and the outstanding fundraising efforts of raising AUD$26,000 for MSRA – yes thank you all! Plans are under away for 2014 and we are stoked (and I think crazy!), to do this all again but for those that suffer from MS and the daily challenges they face it is with much determination, passion and commitment we will strive to put on another amazing event. The sentiment in the MS family and SUP family we all agree - long live Paddle to Battle MS!
Photo: Matt Burgess
Issue 1 || BLADE Magazine || 11
12 || BLADE Magazine || Issue 1
asD
DUTCH COURAGE By: Marco Lubbers
In a country where a decent swell is rare, Supper’s are well on their way to outnumber longboarders and shortboarders. Apart from that, oftentimes the ocean is dead flat or the waves are blown out by the wind. On those days, people take their boards to the cities and paddle through the inner city canals. More and more people skip the famous Amsterdam boat tour and use their sup instead. A couple of cities, like Amsterdam and Groningen even have their own spontaneous friday night sup. On the bigger events and races about a hundred people show up and fill up the narrow canals.
Issue 1 || BLADE Magazine || 13
|| GEOFF
Photo: Ma
14 || BLADE Magazine || Issue 1
BREEN ||
att Burgess
Issue 1 || BLADE Magazine || 15
16 || BLADE Magazine || Issue 1