THE NEXT BEST THING TO NEW BOARD SMELL
2 0 1 4
B O A R D BUYER’S G U I D E
W H AT I T R E A L LY M E A N S TO B E A
F R E E S U R F E R ?
HEATH JOSKE PHOTO: NATESMITHPHOTO.COM
JANUARY 20I4 VOLUME 01 OF 12
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F I V E
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H A N D F U L &
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C R A Z Y
S U R F E R S H O U S E
Our mission was ambitious to say the least. We wanted to hand-shape five boards, then commission artists to treat them as canvasses, and finally ride the pimped wave sliders all in the space of a week. Our chosen setting to bring together a melting pot of board builders, artists, musicians, master chefs and surfers was Corona’s La Casa house in Byron Bay. The idyllic digs had us a stumble away from a Pandanus-fringed beach and at least a little removed from Byron’s myriad of distractions. We can’t say pulling the project off was easy, but dam we had some fun doing it…
01 » THE TRACKS EXPERIMENT
Top to Bottom: Asher Pacey beats the heat with a home-made icey pole. Simon Jones enjoying his hinterland home. Ben McTavish applying the finishing touches to the board he dubbed 'The Bowie'.
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"That's my commute," states shaper Simon Jones with
tric whir of the sander and the soft scraping of the
a proud grin as he points to the 30-yard track, which
surf form on foam. Between boards, we conducted
leads from his backyard down to his hillside shaping
interviews on haystacks and sucked on homemade
bay. Simon's rustic shaping shed in the Byron hinter-
coconut iceblocks for relief from the burning sun.
land was to be the setting for the first component of
Simon's place was the sort of quirky, fairytale setting
the project we'd dubbed the Electric Cool Surf Ex-
where you checked the surf from a fig tree on the hill
periment. On a hot spring day four shapers would
and the family dog was in the habit of wandering to
arrive with a planer in one hand and a blank in the
the affluent next-door neighbour's place to be spoilt
other. Their brief was as simple as it was challeng-
with duck breast for dinner.
ing. We'd asked each of the experienced craftsmen
Simon, a kind of alternative living version of Lord
to make a board that took them outside their regu-
of the Manor, regaled us with shaping stories over
lar comfort zone – to embrace their creative instincts
lunch. Like the time Reno Abellira showed up in By-
and take a risk with something entirely experimental.
ron and lived like a rock star for six months on little
"Turn on the air con and watch out for the pythons,"
more than the strength of his reputation as a surfer
was Simon's only advice to his shaping peers as they
and shaper. The diminutive Hawaiian with a pen-
entered his small, self-styled shack with grand designs
chant for twin fins and ostentatious dress was gifted a
on their mind.
BMW to drive around and wherever Reno lay his hat,
On a public holiday when most surfers were enjoy-
the red carpet was rolled out.
ing the beach and a barbie, Simon Jones, Ben McTav-
It's true that Byron remains the sort of hal-
ish, Matt Hurworth and Dan Macdonald were in the
lowed surfing landscape, where being a respected
bay, sweating bullets as they applied the sum of their
shaper earns you the status of a sage. The likes of
knowledge to an impromptu surfboard that would
Bob McTavish, George Greenough, Jeff McCoy,
be ridden by a handful of pro surfers within a week.
Michael Cundith, Bruno Buzzolan, Paul Hutchin-
This was supposed to be a board to have fun on but a
son and Mark Plater all call the region home. Col-
shaper always feels the pressure when they know their
lectively they are responsible for some of surfboard
craft will be ridden by an expert wave-slider.
shaping's most significant innovations, successful
Although they were working while everyone en-
refinements and indeed, biggest experiments. Given
joyed a day off, the four craftsmen couldn't deny that
the importance and mystique still accorded the surf-
Simon's hillside bay offered a novel shaping experi-
board in Byron, it provided the perfect setting for
ence. A chorus of cicadas and the distant moo of cat-
our modern fibreglass and foam experiments. Read
tle provided the acoustic accompaniment to the elec-
on to find out what happened.
ISSUE Nº 520 // TRACKSMAG.COM // 021
PHOTO: BJB
01 » THE TRACKS EXPERIMENT PHOTO: BJB
Left to Right: Asher Pacey employs perfect laid-back form as he cleaves the lip on a Matt Hurworth Quad. Heath Joske, swooping on one of Matt Hurworth's single fins.
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PHOTO: KATRINA PARKER PHOTO: BJB
PHOTO: KATRINA PARKER
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01 » THE TRACKS EXPERIMENT
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Meet Ben McTavish and feel the full presence of
With bubble-wrapped foam blank under one
your ears ring constantly?" I ask. "All the time …
country soul. With the square jaw, short cropped
arm and toolbox in the other, Ben calls to mind
I think my ears are more sensitive than my lungs."
hair, check shirt and flanked by his F100 ute, he
a bush doctor about to make a house call in the
As the subtleties of an idea begin to emerge Ben
gives the impression he spends his day tending cat-
Byron hinterland. For our team of open-minded
blows off the foam and signs off on the aptly named
tle not shaping surfboards. As the warm and open
surfers, the appointment is eagerly anticipated.
'Bowie'. The board comes in at 5'6" by 19 1/2" by 2
conversation shifts from pleasantries to recalling a
Outside the shaping bay Ben muses on what he's
5/8" and looks electric. "These shouldn't have gone
recent surf, Ben reveals his passion for making both
about to shape. "I love what happened in the '80s
anywhere," he points out. Ben laments “the disease
alternative and traditional surf craft, today hon-
... lots of volume." He pulls out the blank he's pre
of the ‘90s” when an epidemic of foam anorexia
ing in on the ‘80s. “There were a lot of design in-
hand shaped and we all look on with delight as
sucked the life out of boards. Fortunately surfers
gredients that happened through that time period
Ben takes us a step back in time. Lots of volume
currently enjoy an age where foam is your friend
and things did get rushed and I guess as a younger
in the nose, a bump flyer into a heavily tapered
and the heavy rockered, biscuit-thin-banana-boards
shaper I missed it so it’s really healthy for me to
tail. Ben describes these key elements and the flat
of the '90s have faded into distant memory. Boards
revisit it.”
deck, which allows a “good power zone” that can
like the 'Bowie' reflect an open-minded era where
Ben’s a second-generation shaper. His father
be surfed more off the front foot. He imagines such
the best design principles of now and then can be
Bob needs no introduction. Ben has had the good
a shape working well around the peaky north coast
combined and Ben firmly believes it's volume that is
fortune of learning his craft from one of the true
beach breaks of Byron Bay. "It will be a quad," he
giving people more enjoyment in their surfing.
legends of surf culture. The notion that invaluable
decides, relishing the opportunity to marry a mod-
knowledge has been passed on from father to son is
ern trend to his '80s inspired creation.
Our focus shifts as the bush doctor packs up, rolls up the cord of his planer and purposefully organises
made wonderfully apparent when Ben arrives with
Watching someone shape a surfboard reveals a
his tools. Carrying his wooden toolbox and bubble
a 1970s wooden toolbox and planer, inherited from
lot about their personality. Ben has a methodical
wrapped shape Ben reaches his F100 ute and reveals
his father. It’s quickly apparent Ben has the no frills
approach to a blank. Like a surgeon he carefully
one final surprise; a 5'0" quad that is nothing like
ego of someone who has consciously set himself on
unpacks his toolbox, setting his tools out in an or-
we've seen before. Complete with spiralling artwork
the path less travelled. Not one for fanfare, Ben has
derly fashion. Then he begins to work the blank
by Paul McNeil the 'Butter Ball,’ as it's been dubbed,
stuck to his principles and let the boards do the talk-
into a finely tuned machine. The hands follow the
immediately finds the arms of an excited Asher Pac-
ing. He’s not the kind of shaper who gets caught up
eyes with each stroke of the planer as a film of
ey. Smiling and content, Ben climbs aboard his ute
in popularity contests.
foam dust quickly coats Ben from head to toe. "Do
and bids us a friendly country farewell.
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Top: Ben McTavish cross-stepping through the shaping bay. Bottom: Asher Pacey throwing Ziggy Stardust on the Ben McTavish 'Bowie'.
Main: Torren Martyn applying the body torque to Simon Jones' asymmetrical shape. Inset: Guru shaper, Simon Jones, explaining 'The Origin of The Species'.
PHOTO: BJB
PHOTO: BJB
S I M O N
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Simon Jones is sitting at Lennox point on a windblown,
foot.” Simon had Lennox point in mind when he made
as a shaper. Simon already had firm ideas about why
three-foot afternoon looking eagerly over the lineup,
the board and could imagine a natural footer using the
he wanted to focus on handcrafted single fins. “I liked
alongside his doting son, Dash. Byron surfer, Torren
double flyer-pintail, inside rail to come hard and tight
the idea of a board that was made by someone… It
Martyn, is out in the water on one of the two boards
off the bottom and then pivoting off the asymmetrical
also seems important to spend some time on a single
Simon has made for the experiment and the shaper
diamond tail on the outside rail. However, he indicates
fin, to fine tune your knowledge of wave energy… you
is understandably anxious to see how it performs be-
that the asymmetry wasn't his only deviation from his
can’t just shove your feet at the back and go ‘boom!’”
neath the feet of a skilled practitioner. “ It’s a bit nerve-
regular approach.
wracking,” he suggests. “ I really went out on a limb with this one.” Of all four shapers who took part in our Electric Cool Surf Experiment it was Simon who had em-
Back at the point Torren Martyn is trying to make
“The further departure from the norm for me is that
the asymmetrical board work on the chattery, after-
it’s a single concave, where usually I run V through the
noon Lennox faces. It’s not an easy task in the crowd-
tail, through to flat under the front foot and slight V
ed, light onshore conditions. On the first few waves he
under the nose.”
strives to get a feel for the asymmetrical shape – just
braced the spirit of experimentalism most wholeheart-
On a more philosophical level, Simon discusses the
drifts down the line and searches for the sweet spots
edly. The custodian of the Morning of The Earth
board as a kind of artistic statement, which is designed
on a board with two distinctly different tail sensations.
surfboard label is renowned for producing aesthetically
to make us question our preoccupation with beauty
Eventually he figures out the nuances and there are
beautiful single fins – the sort of classically designed,
and symmetry.
a few brilliant moments where everything connects.
retro wave spears that instantly make you want to
“Beauty and symmetry are part of the human
Torren flies down the line, jamming turns at will,
abandon modern performance preoccupations and
conquest but it occurred to me that in the search for
trailed by his whip of long blonde hair which makes
experience the sensation of surfing with one fin. How-
those things perhaps we were missing out on a whole
it look like he is simulating an iconic 70s moment with
ever, for our test, Simon happily donned his Dr Frank-
lot of things that were present in asymmetry.”
an asymmetrical twist. Simon looks satisfied but not
enstein hat and produced two boards, which were dis-
Simon eventually borrowed Charle’s Darwin’s fa-
entirely content. He knows the board’s full potential
tinguished primarily by their asymmetrical tails. When
mous title and dubbed his board The Origin of the
would best be explored on a clean, five-foot day but
quizzed about why he felt experimenting with design
Species. “Single fins are one of the origins of the
for now he will have to be happy with the fact it’s been
was important, Simon touches on the very nature of
species – although the first boards didn’t have any
brought to life.
the creative process itself.
fins – single fins hold such a mystique and an inter-
"A lot of board production is based on safely staying
est,” he muses.
Recently, Simon had the opportunity to make boards for Andrew Kidman’s highly anticipated re-
within the margins. And sure enough that makes good
It was the mystique associated with hand-shaped
make of Morning of The Earth – The Spirit of Aka-
business sense but on a creative level it’s pretty sort of
single fins, which initially drew Simon to creating the
sha. The film features the likes of Mick Fanning and
barren territory to stay that way. Conversely with hand
Morning of The Earth surfboard label. Simon had
Tom Curren riding Simon’s hand shaped craft. It’s
shaping, it’s so easy to be in the moment and just go
grown disenchanted with the surfboard industry, while
another landmark in a personal shaping evolution for
well ‘there’s a flash’, why don’t I just go down that path
working in board factories on the Northern beaches
Simon Jones and there is no small irony in the fact
and check it out. This project was a perfect situation
during the 90s. “I saw the movement offshore and
that he named his board for this project The Origin
to do that.”
though that something within my approach had to
of The Species. It was in that like-named text, Origin
change ... Shaping bays were no longer places of life
of Species, that Darwin stressed that the survival of all
and colour.”
animal species hinged on their ability to adapt to their
Simon possesses the air of the intellectual guru and had both philosophical and technical explanations for his incongruous tail shapes. “In certain conditions that
Looking for a way of getting back to a product that
environment. In response to an industry that has be-
area between the toe and the heel of the surfer has a
retained its human connection, Simon got in contact
come saturated with machine-produced, high perfor-
couple of things in play. Essentially what I’ve tried to
with Albe Falzon [The director of Morning of The
mance boards, Simon has carved a niche for himself
do is make a board for a natural footer at a right point,
Earth] and asked him what he thought about releasing
as a bespoke shaper. It gives him a major point of dif-
that had a tight turning arc off the bottom – off the toe
a range of boards that were inspired by the seminal
ference and fortunately for us it means that, for now at
– and then a pivot point off the heel, so it incorporates
movie. Fortunately Alby thought the idea was cool,
least, there is someone committed to protecting a craft
two quite distinctly different sensations off the back
thus giving Simon the green light to reinvent himself
that gives us a direct link to our surfing past.
01 » THE TRACKS EXPERIMENT
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Clockwise from top left: Dan Macdonald working on his 'Hangover'. Asher Pacey couldn't keep his paws off this sexy little beast of a board. Heath Joske employing both arms for leverage as he lays it over on Dan Mac's 5'3" pintail, 'The Hangover'.
PHOTO: BJB
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We really had no business asking Dan Macdonald to
there was plenty of volume towards the nose to allow
wave to shreds on. Surely the devil always surfs with
show up and make a board on a public holiday Mon-
for front foot drive and easy paddling. However, to off-
a hangover? The fins, Dan suggested, would provide
day. On the evening before our shaping day, tens of
set the looseness that typifies double-fin designs, Dan
drive and an additional element of hold through turns
thousands of east coasters had tuned in to watch the
had a couple of tricks up his sleeve. He ran a deep
and critical sections.
Manly Sea Eagles succumb to the might of the East-
concave through the back end of the board, which
Perhaps to tone down the board's fiendish appear-
ern Suburbs Roosters in the Grand Final. Pubs and
narrowed like the point of a sword into a tight pin-
ance our art director, Mat Macready, decorated it with
clubs swelled with parochial league followers and little
tail. Finally he gave the full rails a diamond edge so
an ornate design that combined elaborate swirls with an
Dan found himself sinking amidst the din of cheer-
that they would still have bite when the pros laid them
organic hue. Once ridden, it rapidly became a favourite
ing fans and chinking glasses. Although he didn't sup-
over. All of these features were intended to marry the
amongst our testers. "I think this one is my pick," mused
port either of the two teams playing it would have
magical flow of a twinnie with a board that could also
Heath Joske after dissecting the bank in front of the La
been somewhat un-Australian if he hadn't accepted a
handle pressure on the rail and hold through power
Casa house with the scalpel-pointed pintail.
mate's invitation to come out for a few beers – after all,
turns; and at 5'3" it was the kind of board you could
The morning after our Friday night party, Dan's
everyone else had the following day off, so why should
jam in to any sized pocket. "We've been making a lot
board was sitting on the rack calling my name like
he miss out on the fun.
of boards like these so that surfers on the Gold Coast
some kind of possessed object. Fittingly I had a
"I almost flagged it," confessed Dan when he
can still have fun when the waves are small or the
hangover. As I stumbled sorrowfully down the house
showed up to Simon Jones's shaping shed with a roar-
nor'easter kicks in," Dan suggested. By now Dan was
stairs and stared at the lineup through Corona-stained
ing hangover. By the time he arrived the midday sun
smiling with a mixture of relief and pride. His sole
eyes, I knew full well that I needed to get in the water
had pushed the share price of shade through the roof
job for the day was done and he was happy with the
to escape the daggers in my brain. The waves were
and Dan was sweating like a sumo wrestler in a sauna.
end product.
small but I spotted a little wedge in front of the rock
"I better get in there and shape this board before I
Dan emerged from the bay as a kind of hero who
wall to the south of the house that I thought the devil-
spew," suggested Dan with brutal honesty; and as he
had forced aside the stomach curdling reminders of
horned "Hangover" board might suit. Sure enough
made his way in to Simon Jones's shed with a fresh
the night before to shape a board under serious pres-
the board's title could not have been more apt and it
blank under his arm I wondered what a fresh-chunder
sure. When I suggested he call his board "The Hango-
featured everything you might want when feeling a lit-
spray job might look like.
ver" he nodded with a chuckle, conceding the name
tle shady. It was loose and didn't require much work to
Once in the bay however, Dan shrugged aside the
was appropriate and too spent to wrack his brain for
gather incredible speed and because it was only 5'3"
stifling memories of the night before and applied
anything else. However, Dan claimed that the board
you planted your feet in one spot and slayed away;
himself with pure professionalism. The transforma-
had one final, defining aspect to be added. "It's more
there was no need for the sort of unnecessary move-
tion was striking as the diminutive Gold Coast shaper
like a double single fin than a twin fin," he insisted.
ment you didn't want to make in that kind of state.
slipped into a zone of deep concentration and began
"Can you please make sure that the glassers include
sawing away at the large block of foam he'd laid across
three FCS plugs to cater for the extra-large fins."
Finally the design features did everything Dan suggested they would. Just when heavy legs were in danger
Sure enough when the board came back from the
of becoming too loose and wobbly the pintail would
laminators three days later we attached the two long,
hold in, the rails would bite and the devil-horned fins
heavily raked, red fins and the board resembled some-
would thrust you securely through a turn. The Hang-
It didn't take long for the board to begin taking
thing conceived of in the fires of hell. With the two
over definitely went off when ridden in accordance
form. The end goal was a twin fin with a twist. Like
red fins protruding from the bottom like devil horns,
with its namesake; I could only imagine how much
most twinnies the wide point was well forward and
it seemed like the sort of board Satan might tear a
better it would go if you rode it with a clear head.
the shaping stands. "This is a seven foot blank but I'm going to trim it down into a 5'3"," he stated assertively.
ISSUE Nº 520 // TRACKSMAG.COM // 029
01 » THE TRACKS EXPERIMENT
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that the board is designed to deliver.
Matt Hurworth is no stranger to hand-shaping boards
and giving the board its basic shape. Then a surf form
in an experimental mindset. "Chippa and I usually get
(a small manual tool like a hand planer) is employed
Grinning broadly as he holds aloft his creation, Mat-
in the bay around three times a year and just cut things
to tidy up the outline, shaving the blank like a cheese
ty realises he has one more job to do – give the board
out freehand," he informs me as he prepares to shape
grater and sending white confetti cascading towards
a name. Momentarily bemused he brightens up when
his board in Simon Jones's bay. Matt is of course refer-
the floor.
Tracks art director, Mat Macready, suggests he call it
ring to his number one test pilot, first cousin and occa-
Matt regularly laps the board, using his eye to test
the "Little Red Dragon". The two had chatted earlier
sional shaping companion, Chippa Wilson. On Matt's
for inconsistencies and making adjustments where
about their shared passion for the St George Dragons
boards Chip's career has made a literal and proverbial
he sees fit. Eventually it's time for the long, straight
Rugby League team and the day after a rugby league
trajectory into the next stratosphere, courtesy of his
driving whir of the electric planer. There is debate
Grand Final had been played the name seemed en-
space exploration beyond the lip.
amongst shapers as to whether a vertically or horizon-
tirely suitable.
Matt employs a highly effective analogy to explain
tally gripped planer is better. Matt has opted for a ver-
When the Little Red Dragon hit the water the follow-
why he believes shapers also have to try different
tical alternative, while Dan Macdonald was insistent
ing Friday, it lit up the lineup. It's size and shape were
things. "The same way you learn different lines by rid-
on using an American made planer with a horizontal
probably best suited to Asher Pacey and the ropey-built
ing different boards, you learn new things by shaping
side grip. Like the surfers they build boards for, each
natural footer was able to splice sublimely through the
different boards … otherwise it gets too robotic.
shaper has their own peculiar preferences.
buttery, green walls which provided the fairytale ending
When Chippa and Matt finish and glass their free-
As the planer mows through the foam, there is a
to our trip. As Matt had hoped, the scooped deck gave
hand quivers they usually head south to Iluka to test
sculptor's delight in watching the board transformed
his board an additional level of connectivity and the
them out. However, Matt usually makes a couple of
from a rough, white chunk into an object of function
nose still retained enough area to let you propel off the
stipulations to give himself half a chance against the
and desire. There's almost an actual moment of incep-
front foot into a state of perpetual stoke.
cousin who swallowed a kite at some point in his youth.
tion, when a board begins to take form and excites the
"It's no airs and no legropes," he states with a chuckle.
imagination with its possibilities.
As Matt prepares to transform his blank into something of meaning, he dutifully dons his shaping outfit –
Now that Matt has a clear vision for the board he begins to explain some of the design aspects.
Matt is most definitely one of those shapers who seeks inspiration from the waves he rides and he is still a fine surfer by anyone's standards. On the final, fantastic Friday of our trip he showed up to the La Casa
blue boardies and white shirt … "So, I don't get marks
"This one's going to have a concave on the deck,
house and surfed like an eager grommet on a range of
on the boards," he explains. The hat spins backwards
so that your feet are a bit closer to the water and it's
the boards that had been made for the project. He'd
and Matt is into it. "I haven't really got anything in
got a bit more sensitivity … but it's still got those big
spent from dawn till dark on the previous day finish-
mind," he claims with welcome honesty. After all we
bulky rails for drive and paddling." Like Greenough's
ing a massive quiver of boards, so that Chippa was
have asked him to treat this as an experiment. "I just
famed spoon, the scooped deck in Matty's 5'6" would
well equipped for a new Indo swell. The Friday after-
want to make something that will flow in two-four foot
lower the surfer's centre of gravity and ideally improve
noon session was a sweet reward for his labours and
waves," he concludes.
handling and control.
he emerged from the surf wearing what Shakespeare
As an idea crystallises he begins to manipulate
However, to ensure the board retains enough width
might have described as "his boldest suit of mirth" –
the blank with surprisingly certain movements. One
in the nose for front-foot propulsion, Matt employs an-
an ear-to-ear grin and eyes that sparkled with content-
might imagine shaping to be a long, considered pro-
other trick of the trade. "To keep the area in the nose,
ment. As a shaper Matt's commitment to riding waves
cess, but when you're in the bay you realise that it's
about 14-and-a-half inches in this case, I just reverse
serves him well and whether he is employing the as-
quite a physically engaging job. Matt circles the board
one of my tail templates and put it up the front." Matt
sistance of sophisticated shaping machinery or free-
with assertive steps making firm, accurate strikes of his
is essentially using the tail shape from another board
styling with a blank, Matt possesses an intuitive under-
pencil to mark the outline on the blank. The hand-
as the nose template for his new design. Finally he em-
standing for the kinds of craft that will take modern
saw pumps up and down, tearing at the excess foam
ploys a quad set up to maximise the sensation of flow
wave-pilots to the cutting edge of performance surfing.
030 // TRACKSMAG.COM // ISSUE Nº 520
Top to Bottom: Asher Pacey jamming the tail on Matt Hurworth's 'Little Red Dragon'. Matt Hurworth has plenty of shaping tricks under his cap and ... Clean lines, perfect technique and flow – Matt Hurworth displaying all the attributes of a good shaper at Lennox.
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Steven Subonj, aka Shuey, sage of the glassing trade.
PHOTO: BJB
Cast your eyes on a freshly shaped surfboard and it's
Kevin Sheedy that had a lasting effect on his perspec-
usually love at first sight. But do you realise there are
tive. Sheedy told him to give everything a go in life
teams of unsung heroes that help conceive that beau-
and learn from your mistakes. "I was younger back
tiful creation? Glassers, sanders and finishers fine-
then and those words still speak to me. I always tell
tune your craft before sending you out at your local.
the other guys, never, ever stop learning and don't be
These faceless men do a helluva lot more than you
afraid to make a mistake," he says.
think, yet are often taken for granted.
Now his own boss, Shuey has enlisted the help
Owner of Glassing Division, Steven Subonj, better
of others who are just as passionate as him. Sander
known as Shuey, knows one or two things about mak-
Conor Duffy believes there are many misconceptions
ing quality surfboards. Shuey is a relaxed sort of fel-
about making a surfboard. "People think it's easy, it
low. He's tall, with longish hair, wearing a well-worn
doesn't matter or anyone can do it," he says. "Every-
white shirt and resin-coated sneakers. It doesn't take
one is putting in as much effort as the shaper is." Jules,
much prompting for him to share the story of how he
the youngest in the team, believes knowing what in-
got into the industry. Dropping a mate off to Centre-
gredients it takes to make a board might help people
link he noticed an ad for a ding repairer. "So I raced
appreciate the end product more.
there dripping wet in a tank top and boardies and the
Misunderstandings are easy to have as a shaper
first thing he asked me, the only thing he asked me
rarely acknowledges the team of worker bees that
was, do you stand up or boogie board? I said, stand
have a lot to do with quality control of their end
up of course!" "I was told to come Monday and that
product. "It breaks my heart when you see a board
was it," explains Shuey.
sitting in a surf shop for $750 that's got a corporate
Shuey's mentor was Richard Firehock at Brothers
name on it, that's got shit quality all over it," says
Nielsen. He reveals that it was in the art of observa-
Shuey. It would seem transparency in the production
tion where he learnt his most invaluable experience.
process might not only provide acknowledgement
"I watched Richard like a hawk, I even took notes,"
to the glassers but also provide the shapers and the
he says. Shuey then went onto working at DHD and
customer with an understanding they are getting a
was immediately tuned in to making high perfor-
quality product.
mance, lightweight boards. He eventually wanted to
There's a huge sense of pride that Shuey has for all
move down the coast and found work with Gunther
the people that work for him. They get on with the
Rohn where he was "turned from a boy into a man,"
work knowing that they might never get any recogni-
he says, laughing hysterically.
tion yet continue to strive for perfection with every
Having three varyingly unique experiences defi-
board. Next time you order your board or find one
nitely helped define Shuey's approach in the bay but
on the rack perhaps take the time to ask the shaper
it was a 10-minute conversation with AFL legend
or guy in the store who got it looking so damn good.
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PHOTO: BJB
Top: Asher Pacey sculpting the edges of a little, North Coast gem. Bottom: Asher more comfortable than a Joey in a pouch, in his swag.
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It's late one afternoon and Asher Pacey and I are driv-
a master chef to carry with them. "I can't stand blunt
ing south towards Lennox for a surf check. When we
knives," he insists as he stacks the freezer with the vac-
come around the bend that brings the fabled lineup
uum-packed tuna he'd recently caught.
into view, it's apparent that the dreaded nor'easter has
He can literally cast a line from his Tweed Heads
whipped the ocean into a confusion of white and blue.
backyard but will regularly go out in a boat in search of
"It looks like there is a bit of swell hitting," muses Asher
bigger fish, and he's even got a secret spot nearby home
enthusiastically. Inspired by Asher, I try to keep playing
where he can shuck fresh oysters off the rocks.
the optimistic riffs. "Perhaps we'll get it to ourselves be-
Asher is part aboriginal and although he doesn't
cause everyone is waiting for the better wind and swell
trumpet his cultural heritage, it seems he has defi-
forecast for tomorrow."
nitely inherited a Koori understanding of native flora
"That's right," continues Asher, "We'll zig where they zag."
and fauna. While we're away Asher shows us how to pluck wild spinach for salads, details dessert recipes for
Through the course of our week at La Casa it be-
freshly picked mulberries and lets us sample some of
comes clear that Asher pretty much spends his life
the native bee honey (apparently worth over 50 bucks
zigging where others zag, and that this is part of the
a kg) from his Dad's farm at the back of Nambucca. If
reason why he has been able to perpetuate a success-
there are no waves that's where you'll likely find Asher;
ful career as a freesurfer. Asher spends his life carving
planting crops like mango and macadamia alongside
niches where others can't and he does not fit comfort-
his brother. However Asher's culinary obsessions are
ably into any of the clichéd surfing boxes.
not restricted to clichéd health foods. He loves noth-
The first morning he picks up one of the single fins
ing more than dunking his fish in his commercial size
shaped at the test and I take into account his soulful
deep fryer and makes his own beef and fish jerky in
image and ropey frame, and suggest that he looks like
a home-style dehydrator. The only time he gets upset
the kind of guy who should know how to ride a sin-
with me all week is when I suggest we all go out for din-
gle fin. "Don't judge me like that," he responds. "I've
ner. "Don't go out for dinner," he urges. "Surely we can
never really ridden them to be honest." Although he
rustle up a feed up here."
might not have much experience on singles, the one-
Native animals are another of his specialties. Sitting
time aerial specialist has spent a year or so mastering
beneath a pandanus palm at Lennox one morning I
the alaia. On a wind-chopped, one-foot Tuesday he
glance skyward and marvel at the broad-winged bird
returns to the house around evening and boasts that
of prey that is gliding above the lineup. "Check out that
he'd been for six surfs that day, four of which were on
eagle," I encourage Asher, who just smiles coolly and
the alaia. Where some pro surfers will be glued to their
politely corrects me. "That's not an eagle it's a Brah-
computer screens, lamenting the lack of waves, Asher
miny kite."
will be smiling through another ride; bringing a little
Asher Pacey doesn't try to pass himself off as some
peak to life or a employing a wave craft that ensures
kind of alternative living guru. Instead of maintaining
he keeps having fun in the water. He'll zig where they
a rigid stance on food and living he is a champion of
zag. His unwavering love of surfing makes him a fa-
flexibility and possesses an uncanny ability to adapt to
vourite amongst photographers and filmers and helps
any situation. When we run out of beds in the house
ensure he maintains a high profile in the surfing world.
he's happy to take up residence on the veranda in his
Modern groms with pro surfing aspirations could learn
swag. If there is fish to be caught, he's dropping a line
much from the way Asher Pacey conducts his affairs.
and if there's a hint of a wave he'll surf all day; but
Perhaps what's most impressive about Asher howev-
if the only thing left in the fridge is sausages he's fry-
er is the way he finds a seamless harmony between his
ing them up and if it goes flat he'll never be bored. In
highly professional act and his other pursuits. Along-
many ways Asher is a role model for frugal living in
side surfing, finding and preparing food is probably
an age of mass consumption. His only real enemy is
Asher's favourite past time.
waste – wasted food, wasted waves; wasted opportuni-
When Asher arrived at the La Casa house, the first
ties. Ultimately, hanging out and working with Asher
thing he did was unpack his knife sharpener. He also
Pacey is always a pleasure because, most importantly,
boasts the kind of blade collection you might expect
he will never waste your time.
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01 » THE TRACKS EXPERIMENT
W H A T ’ S
A
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S U R F E R ?
Early in 2013 Heath Joske decided he wasn't going
found a way to have his cake and eat it. "I start off on
to die wondering about whether or not he'd given
the lowest percentage rate but it's enough to get by in
pro surfing everything he had. Ranked well inside
South Australia."
the top 100, the North Coast natural footer with
Heath already has his heart set on a block of land
the wookie facial hair [see Chewbacca, Star Wars]
where he can watch the sun slink into the southern
moved to the Gold Coast and trained intensely at the
ocean alongside his girl. "I want to build a shaping
surfing High Performance Centre for three months.
shed out the back," he insists earnestly. Heath's father
"I decided I wanted to give it my best shot," reflects
Paul remains one of the most respected shapers in
Heath as we cruise the North Coast, hunting waves.
the land and his brother Sage has helped his dad out
According to Heath, when the increased training
at Valla surfboards for years. Now Heath is intent on
load didn't translate to improved results on the WQS
following the rest of the family into The Bay. Perhaps
merry-go-round, he had a kind of epiphany about
inspiration came from a 21st birthday present that
what he wanted to do with his life and it no longer
went amiss.
involved trying to muscle his way in to the Top 32.
"Dad promised me he'd make me one of his cham-
The 25-year-old's doubts about persisting with com-
bered wooden boards for my 21st. I'm 25 now and
petition surfing were compounded by the fact he no
still waiting," he chuckles. If things go to plan he'll be
longer had the support of a major sponsor.
able to make one for himself eventually.
Satisfied that he'd given the singlet-wearing game
Despite having no support from a major spon-
a fair crack, Heath decided to rekindle his romance
sor, Heath is adamant that he remains passionate
with South Australia – in more ways than one. He'd
about pushing his surfing to new levels. Throughout
met a girl in Streaky Bay and decided that Eliza was
the week it's clear that his surfing remains a unique
worth moving interstate for. He'd be leaving behind
combination of classical style and full rail commit-
his leafy haven in Valla for a town where the red-
ment – power married to panache in a form that's
baked earth meets the sea. But Heath had also fallen
always easy on the eye. His decision to seek out new
under the spell of the rugged SA coastline; its empty
surfing challenges without being dependent upon a
waves and the eccentric characters who roamed it.
surf brand for an income raises interesting questions
"Before I went down there, I think I romanticised the way guys like Camel lived," suggests Heath in reference to the monastic, big wave hunter who boasts about never having had a job.
about what it means to be a 'free' surfer in this day and age. It's a tough time in the surf industry and as surf brands struggle to meet economic targets team rid-
Heath soon developed a taste for the South Aus-
ers are being culled like rabbits. It's likely that we
tralian waves. There was the massive offshore bomby
will soon see a lot of surfers facing a reality check
that proved to be the perfect testing ground for his
when their contracts are cut. The real test of your
big-wave paddling skills and a series of ledging reefs
commitment to surfing comes when you no longer
that spat lonely barrels into deep spooky channels.
have a sponsor to pay your way. Something you once
No work, and an abundance of waves satisfied him
took for granted has to be squeezed in around a job.
for a while, however the frugal creed that is the lot of
However, if you can strike a balance between work
the surfing feral eventually lost some of its initial lus-
and surf then perhaps you emerge as a more genu-
tre. It wasn't long before Heath was looking for work
ine version of the 'free surfer' concept because your
down south and he eventually signed on with a boat
motivation to ride waves is not bound to a brand or
that spent two weeks at sea when the prawns were on.
company in any way.
"I only have to work a hundred days a year on the
"It's a relief not to have to surf for a sponsor in a
prawn trawler," chuckles Heath, like a surfer who has
lot of ways," claims Heath. Certainly there is no pres-
036 // TRACKSMAG.COM // ISSUE Nº 520
Main: Heath Joske prompting comparisons to MP's famed cutback as he howls through a turn on Dan Mac's twinnie. Inset: By continuing to push his surďŹ ng without the support of a major sponsor, Heath is raising questions about what it means to be a free surfer.
ISSUE NÂş 520 // TRACKSMAG.COM // 037
01 » THE TRACKS EXPERIMENT
Heath Joske high-line drifting on one of Simon Jones' asymmetrical masterpieces.
sure to do trips at the behest of a team manager or get
er to the roof of our Tracks Isuzu truck. The board
shots in specific boardies – your board can be a blank
pile includes a gleaming, blue 9'6", which is designed
canvas instead of a billboard and your decisions are
specifically for paddling into the "Bombie" back in
all your own. There is no doubt that those who are
SA. When Heath clutches the board under his arm
paid to surf lead a privileged existence but if Heath's
his smile is prominent, even beneath the fleece of hair
path is anything to go by then being sponsored is not
on his face. It's a special looking board and he knows
the only way to operate as a world-class Free Surfer.
it's destined to put him in some serious situations.
Cut loose from the narrow criteria of the WQS,
When we drive through Valla, Heath points out
Heath has also had the chance to indulge in his pas-
the house he already owns and talks proudly of the
sion for different craft. "I guess I've always loved rid-
garden he planted around it. At the local coffee shop
ing different boards and I felt a little restricted on the
he is greeted by staff and customers like a decorated
tour," Heath indicates. Even on tour Heath's desire for
soldier returning from a foreign frontier. They are
alternative self-expression on a board would get the
all eager for updates on his wave conquests and fish-
better of him. Although he enjoyed significant success
ing adventures down south. After talking us through
in the competitive arena, in recent years he's probably
the local breaks in this idyllic corner of the world,
best remembered for flying down the line at J-Bay and
Heath takes us around to his family home. We make
throwing a huge high-line soul arch during a heat.
our way in via his Mum's veggie patch, past the
Heath's surfing was inspired that particular day
Mulberry tree and across a spacious back verandah
and the animated moment earned him fans around
that leads into a classic coastal home. Heath proudly
the world. One morning at Lennox during our week
points out his father's collection of surfing books and
away, Heath was once again losing himself in the
directs our attention to the Mark Sutherland surf art
moment via self-expression on a surfboard. Only this
which adorns the wall. As he shows us through some
time there was no singlet involved and he was riding
of his dad's archival material Heath tells us that his
a single fin he's shaped for himself. Watching from
dad keeps meticulous notes on every board he's ever
the hill above Lennox as Heath hit maximum veloc-
made. A photo on the wall shows Paul as a young,
ity and soul-arched through a dramatic highline it
pioneer shaper; a notorious perfectionist who would
was like receiving a history lesson in advanced-level
spend hours refining boards in his original farm-
surfing. There was also a profound sense that he was
house shaping bay.
having more fun than anyone else out in the water.
intriguing insight into a family that seems to have
drop Heath back at the family home in Valla on the
always been intent on carving their own path within
North Coast. He is planning to spend a week at home,
surfing. Like his father before him, Heath is sketch-
before heading back to SA to resume a life that would
ing out his own alternative surfing destiny and in the
evolve around surf, fishing and hopefully shaping.
process he's raising questions about what it means to
As we leave, Heath straps his six-board DMS quiv-
038 // TRACKSMAG.COM // ISSUE Nº 520
Unfortunately Paul's not around but we get an
At the end of our time at the La Casa house we
be a free surfer in the modern age.
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It seems no matter what the artist Paul McNeil tries
Paul believes the rise of pro surfing had a huge im-
his hand at he quickly captures the imagination of
pact in sanitising a culture that previously celebrated
many. Paul worked on album covers, posters and
expressions of art and creativity. "I realised that was
Paul believes two people in particular have had a major
videos all through the '90s with bands such as Sonic
because of the culture of pro surfing and people riding
influence in causing this cultural shift. "Ozzie Wright and
Youth, The Beastie Boys and Pavement. As well as
white boards but I just couldn't understand so I was try-
Thomas Campbell are two people who I think are really
living and working around rock stars he became
ing to bring colours back into boards like there were in
responsible for bringing art to surfing that hasn't been seen
one of the original Mambo artists with a career that
the '70s so people would love their boards and just nev-
for decades. Everyone is now drawing on their boards or do-
spanned 20 years, a period he cites as "brilliant and
er part with it instead of just being throwaway, seasonal
ing something or having beautiful tints or coloured boards
creative".
sticks really," he says. Surfing embraces consumerism?
and I'm still determined to make that happen," says Paul.
Eventually Paul gravitated to Byron Bay and quickly became entrenched in the rich surf lifestyle. Teaming
It'd certainly be harder to part with a board had it been adorned with some marvellous artwork.
shortboarder would ride a fish or a log, and now people just want to surf all the time whatever it takes."
For decades surfboards were an expression of surf culture, splashed with colour and designs that were both
The divide between the white, performance thrusters
iconic and beautiful. When artists like McNeil emerge and
the way surfboards should look; full of colour, art and
and the tinted, functional vessels is something akin to what
impart their talents the artistic pillars of surf culture are
sex appeal. "I was really depressed about people having
vintage car aficionados talk about. And Paul believes surfers
maintained. What then will our surfboards say about us to
white boards. I just thought the whole world had lost
are becoming far more open minded. "Already people have
future generations of surfers?
any imagination," he says.
more than one board, it was very rare 10 years ago that any
To see more of Paul's work check out theartpark.com.au
PHOTO: BJB
up with shaper Dain Thomas he began re-imagining
042 // TRACKSMAG.COM // ISSUE Nº 520
Johannes Leak could probably turn the attention of his
Cash, who probably never set foot on a beach in his
Uschi's provocative appearances in magazines were
paintbrush or drawing pen to just about any subject
life, but he was a tearaway and a wild guy and chances
often politically motivated statements designed to pro-
matter and make it look good. However, for his first
are if he had of grown up on the beach he would have
mote her views on liberal thinking.
major exhibition back in 2011, the classically trained
been a surfer. There's something about the spirit of the
"She was a wild girl who stood for freedom and per-
artist and surfer chose surfboards as a medium and pop
people involved and surfing, and how well they match."
sonal liberties and I thought that she would be a good
icons as his subject matter. The boards were adorned
For the Electric Cool Surf Experiment, Johannes
fit for that kind of board," explains Johannes, who had
with striking depictions of cult figures and, as is appar-
revisited one of his favourite subjects – '60s and '70s
been asked to draw on one of Simon Jones's single fins.
ent in the adjacent photo, the pop-art portraits bring
'It' girl Uschi Obermaier. Uschi was an influential pop
Of course Johannes was also applying one of surf
the boards to life. When quizzed about why he likes to
culture figure and also had a hypnotic fix on several
art's universal truths – hot girls look great on boards.
feature pop figures on his boards, Johannes suggests the
of the era's rock icons. Jimi Hendrix, Mick Jagger and
Maybe it's because fibreglass made foxy is the closest
symbolism of the icons can easily be linked with some
Keith Richards were all linked with the stunning Ger-
thing to a surfer's ultimate cake and eat it moment –
of surfing's ideals.
man model, who is also credited with being a muse for
namely that you can have the girl and the wave all at
"Surfing is this continuous soundtrack to what's been
the Rolling Stones. Uschi became the first person to
once. Certainly, when Simon Jones's refined single fin
going on in the world ever since surf culture emerged,"
display full frontal nudity on the cover of a magazine
curves were matched with Johannes's seductive sketch,
he says. "It's been influenced by and it has influenced
and helped to inspire the sexual revolution in the late
everyone wanted to get to know Uschi.
pop culture in various ways. It doesn't matter who you
'60s. She was probably happiest being photographed
For more of Johannes's work, check out hannes-
really pick, it forces you to think of them and how they
topless, with her slender fingers wrapped around a fat
leak.blogspot.com or @johannesleak on instagram.
relate to surfing. For example I did a board with Johnny
joint. Although sometimes labelled a super groupie,
Email hannesleak@hotmail.com
ISSUE Nº 520 // TRACKSMAG.COM // 043
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Talk to anyone who has seen this quietly spoken artist in the water and their first comment is usually, "That guy rips". However, while he may be proficient on a board, drawing on one posed a whole new challenge for Tom. "I think the best thing for me about this is project has been just getting out of my comfort zone. I usually draw black ink on white paper. This time I had to use poskas and spray paint, and introduce a bit of colour, which I don't normally do. The scale is also much bigger than what I'm used to also. I think being on edge like that is good though." Tom has that rare ability to introduce you into a new world via his art. Heavily influenced by children's books, such as Maurice Sendak's famed Where the Wild Things
Are, and his reading of novels such as Lord of The Rings, his drawings create a new dimension that you want to dive in and escape to. When pressed to explain his art Tom is self-deprecating. "To be honest it's not massively deep. I don't often really think about what I draw, I just start and it heads off in that direction," he says. However a quote from one of his profiles suggests that he has thought long and hard about his artistic process. "Drawing as a form of meditation, the repetition of each stroke of the pen leaves the consciousness to roam of its own accord." Raised in country northern NSW, Tom admits that being surrounded by nature had a major influence on his art. "I read a lot of Lord of The Rings and I grew up in the bush. Therefore fantasy and nature are probably big themes in a lot of the stuff that I do."
Tom's work is also distinguished by the reappearance of an anthropomorphic figure [human and animal features]. "I just needed something to tie all my pieces together and give them a focus point. It's a little bit totemic I guess... I just really like that idea of animal and human features intermingled." Dare I say it, at a second glance Tom's piece for the Electrical Cool Surf Experiment brought to mind one of Tracks' more familiar anthropomorphic figures – Captain Goodvibes. Like Tony Edwards' unbounded adventures with Goodvibes, the Pig of Steel, Tom' Mileadge's otherworldly sketches make a direct appeal to the imagination – that kind of enchantment will always be a powerful artistic tool. To see more of Tom's work go to www.millke.com
ISSUE Nº 520 // TRACKSMAG.COM // 045
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Mat Macready had a busy week while we were in Byron.
enough he shelved his other responsibilities, left the
The Tracks art director volunteered to film and
Coronas alone for an afternoon and focused like an
edit for the web clip component of our Electrical
artist who’d been commissioned to hang something
Cool Surf Experiment [Check out Tracksmag.com]
in the Louvre. Mat’s finished work was an elaborate
in addition to producing the artwork on one of the
motif, combining a spherical theme with a floral influ-
boards. Not content with two balls in the air, he also
ence. Dan Mac’s pointy, red-finned board had resem-
organized the band and became the unofficial social
bled the devil’s sled, but by the time Mat was finished
coordinator when he befriended the girls from the lo-
the ornate design gave the board an organic quality
cal, ‘Treehouse’, café. Finally, in a week of whirlwind
that would make it look good in a corner of a designer
creativity, he found time to embrace his thespian side;
home or arcing crisply off the lip on a clean day.
when a few of the more highly-strung bouncers from
There is no doubting that Mat Macready is a re-
one of the local establishments didn’t approve of his
naissance man at heart. He’s living proof that one
conduct, Mat simply slipped into one of the half a
artistic endeavor fuels another and that we are all ca-
dozen aliases he can play and waltzed right through
pable of much more than we might expect. Ultimately
the door of the pub.
this mag and this project owe much to our art director
When it came time for Mat to decorate his designated board we weren’t sure what to expect, but sure
046 // TRACKSMAG.COM // ISSUE Nº 520
Mat, aka Loose Teeth. You can follow Mat on instagram @matmacready
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Louis Gervais' commitment to tattoo-style art is appar-
Soon his artwork was gracing the boards of the
ent from the moment you meet him. The softly spoken
likes of Asher Pacey, Mick Fanning and the Wright
artist is almost head-to-toe in ink and also works as a
family, and to cope with the demand he developed a
tattoo artist on the Gold Coast.
series of ready-made underlays. However Louis still
Commitment has never been a problem for Louis.
specialises in customised pieces featuring kaleidoscop-
He grew up surfing in Mackay in North Queensland,
ic colours and tattoo-inspired art. For this project he
dodging saltwater crocs, stingers and sharks just to
took a departure from his more fluorescent pieces and
score a few murky windswells. At 14 Louis miracu-
adorned Matt Hurworth's Little Dragon quad with
lously survived a box jellyfish sting after paddling out
a macabre coffin design. Louis' work is always strik-
for a surf on a new board. When a girlfriend was killed
ing and he seems capable of conjuring almost any
in a hit and run accident a few years later, it was time
mood or emotion with his infinite range of designs.
to get out of Mackay.
The boards can be vibrant and cartoonish or resonate
Eventually Louis gravitated towards the Gold Coast where his elaborate poska designs quickly became pop-
with deeper symbolism. Whatever fibreglass feel you are chasing, Louis knows how to ink your ride.
ular with local boardriders. In a surf city that spits out white boards like daily milk deliveries, Louis supplied a
Check out more of Louis' great work at
welcome source of colour and creativity.
www.louisisart.com PHOTO: KATRINA PARKER
ISSUE Nº 520 // TRACKSMAG.COM // 047
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D I N I N G B Y D E S I G N B
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ALL PHOTOS KATRINA PARKER
It’s not everyday that you wake up, brew a fresh pot
Sarah arrived at La Casa armed with a set of sharp
ated the most delicious meals – hand-made pasta,
of coffee and wander out to a verandah that overlooks
knives, an apron, her quiver and a week’s supply of
Asher’s line-caught tuna and mascarpone-based
perfect waves. After which you paddle out, surf for
bikkies specifically created for the Tracks crew. The
deserts were all woven into the exceptional culinary
a few hours. Paddle in. Then have a personal chef
customized cookies were dubbed the Tracks Tropical
experience. The delicious group meals served as
cook you delicious food from local produce. This was
Sliders and they were so delicious that as soon as the
the perfect finales to days of frantic wave-chasing
our week at Corona’s La Casa Artist Residency with
boys got hold of the jar, they were basically demol-
and creative endeavour.
foodie extraordinaire Sarah Glover.
ished within the first day. [See below to win a jar of
Originally from Tasmania, Sarah Glover is the
Tracks Tropical Sliders]
As the week came to an end, Sarah was tasked with hosting the dinner party of all dinner parties.
founder of Bondi Bikkies. She started her bikkie busi-
Much like the brief that was given to the rest of the
The shapers, artists and surfers involved in the Tracks
ness by wooing the hearts of the local surfer boys in
team for the week – embrace your creative instincts
Electric Cool Surf Experiment were invited back to
southern Tasmania with her baking, at the mere age
and shape something you’ve always wanted to, but
La Casa for an old-fashioned feast with an experi-
of 16, and she has continued to do so ever since. The
were never quite brave enough to do before - Sarah
mental twist! Sarah transformed the outside veranda
unique thing about Sarah is she tends to take an ar-
applied this same methodology to the kitchen. She
into a kind of middle-eastern food bazaar, where it
tistic approach to cooking and is rarely seen follow-
rocked up without having a recipe game plan, con-
was all about sitting on the ground to eat, share, chat,
ing a recipe, or using a cookie cutter. She is all about
vincing everyone that this is how the best recipes are
laugh and drink. It was pure culinary heaven with
creating and experimenting with new ingredients and
created. It was her mission to cook relatively simple
flat bread to dip into a various homemade dips, whole
using her hands to do so.
meals by adding ingredients that were either already
cooked roasted eggplant and a slow-cooked turmeric
Sarah is not only a biscuit baking master, she’s also
at the house, sourced from the local Byron Bay Farm-
chicken tagine, infused with three bottles of Corona
a trained chef and loves nothing more than getting
ers Market or given to her by fellow foodie enthusiast,
as an ingredient… who would have thought!
creative in the kitchen, plating up and devouring it
Asher Pacey.
with good company and good conversation. She loves
Once the feast was done, we all sprawled out on the collaborator and
lawn to listen to Central Coast band Tropical Zombie
the ocean and rides a log pretty darn well. Needless
brought a collection of condiments that he had
play. Went to bed. Woke up and surfed. What a week!
to say, Sarah was the perfect addition to the Tracks
picked up on various travels. Sarah brainstormed
To find out more about Sarah Glover's catering and
Electric Cool Surf Experiment.
dishes that would suit surfing appetites and cre-
Bikkies go to bondibikkies.com
Above: Culinary impresario and Cookie queen, Sarah Glover, working on one of her impromptu recipes. Asher Pacey enjoying a Tracks Tropical Slider bikkie.
To win a jar of Tracks Tropical Sliders, courtesy of bondibikkies, instagram a shot of your favourite page of this mag and include @bondibikkies in the caption.
048 // TRACKSMAG.COM // ISSUE Nº 520
Asher was Sarah's chief
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01 » THE TRACKS EXPERIMENT PHOTO: KATRINA PARKER
Above: A backyard full of unbroken dreams. Right: Front-window roost of our resident photographer, Nate Smith.
PHOTO: KATRINA PARKER
050 // TRACKSMAG.COM // ISSUE Nº 520
Heath Joske enjoying a little fins free refreshment.
PHOTO: BJB
PHOTO: KATRINA PARKER
Friday dawns with major expectations. We'd had four
bowl runners are being held up by a current that
after lap and make numerous board changes. From
boards shaped, glassed and artistically enhanced; now
could humble iron men, and the building north swell
the top floor window of the house I watch Heath
we only have a one-day window to ride and photo-
has converted our little beach into a kind of sand-bag
burrow through a paper-thin tube and then bury a
graph them all. Like all good surf travellers we load
point. The giant sandbags are designed to stop erosion
rail with both hands flung behind his back. Nathan
up the boards and drive around for two hours, only to
but on this day they provide the most novel of ways in
Smith's camera machine-guns into action from a posi-
wind up right back where we had started.
which to enter the water. When the rip becomes too
tion that has him close enough to the kettle to make a
Fortunately the bank out the front of La Casa has
much all you have to do is walk around to the northern
cup of tea.
turned on, meaning we can make the Pandanus-
corner and leap into the water from one of the sand-
framed backyard our base for the day and the top floor
filled pillows.
At one point both Heath and Asher are riding slightly different versions of Simon Jones's asymmetri-
of the house the sublimely convenient post from which
Aware that they only have a one-day window with
cal single fin design. The boards trim like sharks, zon-
to shoot photos. Out in the water dreamy-green, rip-
the boards, Heath, Asher and Soli Bailey complete lap
ing the surfers in on clean, high-lines and classic turns,
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but there are no rules about what you can do on a
to enjoy a middle-eastern feast. The conversation
single fin in the modern era and as Heath hurls him-
flows easily after a day of non-stop activity and as
self into a massive lay-back slash you can almost hear
we pause to savour the Corona marinated chicken
a Chewbacca-like groan.
it's apparent that maybe we had pulled this whole
As the day bends into afternoon delight, the beers
thing off. Boards, artists, diverse personalities, pho-
start to pop and the band sets up; their instrumental
tographers, filmers, foodies and musos had all been
meanderings accompanied by the eternal percussion
thrown into an eclectic mix and by weeks end we
of the nearby ocean. By dusk Asher has chalked up
were all on a high. If we hadn't discovered a tem-
half a dozen sessions and downed a couple of beers
porary surfing utopia we'd certainly proven that if
but paddles out for one more because there is nothing
you bring a bunch of talented people together they
like surfing with a live soundtrack. By now the band,
can feed off one another and create an electric at-
Tropical Zombie, are in full cry and big Rob, the ani-
mosphere. Returning to the humdrum of daily life
mated lead singer, is whaling beneath gold-lit Byron
loomed ominously but we were the products of our
skies.
own experiment and if we'd learned anything from
Upstairs, chef Sarah is a blur of colourful food
our time at the La Casa house it was that reality is
and exotic flavours as she prepares to feed 20 odd
something you shape for yourself. By now we were
surfers and their families. A painted canvas is laid
all better equipped to put a creative twist on what-
out as a table on the balcony, and we all sit around
ever future lay ahead.
GO TO TRACKSMAG.COM.AU TO WATCH THE FULL VIDEO OF WHAT WENT DOWN AT LA CASA
052 // TRACKSMAG.COM // ISSUE Nº 520