SURF IS FREE... LIKE MAGS SHOULD BE
SOUNDWAVES
A CHANCE MEETING WITH THE GOLD COAST’S ISAAC PADDON P22 TRAVEL: EXPLORE PHILLIP ISLAND P46
GEAR: BOARDS GALORE P75
THE MAGAZINE FOR THOSE WHO LOVE TO SURF
ISSUE #1 SEP/OCT 2010
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INSIDE
76 22 28
ALL THE USUAL BITS
THE TALENTED MR RILEY
I BEG YOUR PADDON
WHALING: INTO THE BLUE
THE LATEST
Mark Riley’s master craftsmanship of balsa surfboards
Why you may know Isaac Paddon’s voice but not his face
We take a look at the war being waged in international waters
TRAVEL
P14 News P15 And Greatest
P46 Road trip: Phillip Island P68 Plane Trip: Hermosa Beach
GEAR
P84 B oard profiles & skateboard reviews P96 Southern Man, Ulladulla’s original & best
CLOSEOUT
P100 Art: Many Good Resins to see Ian Chisholm’s art P113 Mick Waters’ Filmmaker’s Five
Late arvo surf Photo: Crumpet Productions 4
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DETAILS & THINGS
WHAT WE’RE ALL ABOUT
Smorgasboarder is for all of us that love surfing, whether it’s to relax, unwind, get in a healthy bit of exercise or to catch up with friends and family.
WHERE TO PICK US UP
Quality surf stores, shapers and cool cafes within 10kms of the coast from Noosa to Warrnambool. We also supply select stores in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. For our full list of distributors log onto www.smorgasboarder. com.au, visit our directory in the back of the mag or get to your local surf shop and talk to some real people in the flesh. Smorgasboarder is published six times a year - September/October, November/December, January/ February, March/April, May/June.
CAN’T GET THERE? SUBSCRIBE
If you want Smorgasboarder delivered to your door, you can become a home subscriber. The mag is still free, but Australia Post need to get paid. $18 gets you six editions. Just fill out a few details on www.smorgasboarder.com.au and go and wait by your mailbox. It’ll arrive every two months.
THANK YOU
l
Origina
The unique innovation from the worlds most progressive softboard manufacturer. Ultimate durability. The materials that we use in the constructions of these Gboards are one of the worlds toughest and most durable. In addition, the foam core we use is closed cell. Therefore if the board is punctured or damaged on the rocks etc. the foam won’t allow any water to be absorbed, using this material eliminates the costly procedure of ding repairs.
Thank you to all our creative contributing writers, fantastic photographers and various good people who made this particular edition happen - you’ll see their names dotted around the mag. In particular though, a special thank you to Brett Bam, Ben ‘The Stig’ Vos, Gus Brown, Louise Gough, and Elise Donnelly for the help in making this first edition happen. An extremely special thank you to Helen Chapman for the many late nights - this would not have made it to the printers without you. And most of all thank you to Katie and Helen for your incredible patience and support in the months leading up to the launch. It’s done now.
CORE TEAM
If you’re after any information on advertising, distribution, editorial, subscribing or just plain getting involved, get in touch... Mark Chapman mark@hugecmedia.com.au 0400 875 884 Dave Swan dave@hugecmedia.com.au 0401 345 201 Tech specs: Mark - studio@hugemedia.com.au Money matters: Dave - money@hugecmedia.com.au Ideas & submissions: editorial@smorgasboarder.com.au Distribution: mags@hugecmedia.com.au
WWW.SMORGASBOARDER.COM.AU
7.0
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Also available: Gsleds, Stand-Up-Paddle boards, Classics, SLSA boards
www.gboards.com.au 6
Contact your nearest surfshop for more information or p. 03 5261 9013 e. info@gboards.com.au september 2010
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smorgasboarder is published by Huge C Media Pty Ltd ABN 30944673055. All information is correct at time of going to press. The publishers cannot accept responsibility for errors in articles or advertisements, or unsolicited manuscripts, photographs or illustrations. The opinions and words of the authors do not necessarily represent those of the publisher. All rights reserved. Reproduction in part or whole is strictly prohibited without prior permission. We print with Pep Central and Craft Inprint Group, an environmentally aware and committed printer whose business is founded upon the principles of minimising waste and maximising recycling. Nice work.
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To all our friends, family, existing and new customers... Thank you so much for your support. You have helped us rise from the ashes.
THE NEW INDEPENDENT
20% DISCOUNT Present this coupon for 20% discount on clothing and accessories. Does not include surfboards or bodyboards.
148 Junction Street, Nowra (opposite Coles carpark)
4421 4108
Valid until 1 December 2010. Laybys accepted and 1 December 2010. september 2010
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LATEST: EDITION
WE’RE DROPPING IN With the break of a new day, all along the east coast there is the coconut hint of fresh wax in the air along with the sound of barely dry neoprene and rubber being stretched over hundreds of heels in parking lots. There’s the quiet conversation of friends as the sunrise is watched through blurry eyes still adjusting to the new day. There’s the zip of boardbags opening, car doors closing as people do the surfy-run for no apparent reason. Thousands of splashes happen simultaneously, all the way from the Sunshine Coast in the north right down to Phillip Island. Some of those splashes are noticed by others around in the high-traffic waves of Manly, Noosa or the Gold Coast, while some go unheard except for the solitary surfer making them in one of a thousand secret spots. But alone, or in a crowd, each and every person in the water gets the same… A fresh taste of saltwater, an unridden set, a new thrill, a new opportunity to live, be free and experience all the ocean and life has to offer.
Not all mornings are spectacular, nor is every session in the water the ultimate experience, but the constant search for that perfect wave - that moment of clarity - is fuel enough to keep people coming back again, to experience those firsts over and over again. A small blip in the grander scheme of surfing, life and the universe is our little first - the inaugural edition of smorgasboarder. As we all continue our respective individual journeys, we hope that this magazine will become an extra travelling companion for many, a mouthpiece for those with something to say, a platform for those with tales to tell and a genuine voice for the surfing community along the Australian east coast. This isn’t our magazine, it’s OUR magazine, and we hope that you will be one of the many interesting and interested people we will meet and include along the way. As we take our first step into our new and unridden wave, we’re only too happy to have you along for the session.
Photo: Jules Elliott
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LADIES FIRST
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LOCA Coolum ing down nk, clea love ty ba ulla, walk Wurt ter than d an emp d swell. I ast. t n o e fi o b C e o to is ag olum ind and e Sunshin e stayed o C t w a w th ere s, no e on atu wave days her LY: Uluw ooters th fter c L a those ATIONA ode our s ancakes N r p R d a E n n T a . a i f l IN n Ba e clif e ban on th ay and at rf while o d y y su ever ever
TARA Christie In a world clambering for positive female role models, Primitive Surf team rider Tara Christie has put in the hard work to be exactly that person.
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“There are no surf shops in Brisbane” Not true. Not true at all.
MEET TARA CHRISTIE...
“I was born in the infamous Brisbane city - a fair distance from the beach. I believe living there allowed me to never take surfing for granted. It’s all I wanted to do while at school. The south side of Brisbane was very ghetto and a lot of kids were turning the wrong way. I was lucky to have a dad who loved the coast and would religiously take us to the beach on holidays and weekends. That’s where I learnt the basics of surfing.“
Tara says her father is still one of the major influences on her surfing. “Not only did he buy my first board - a dingy old board from the trading post - but he taught me to win humbly and lose gracefully when it came to competitive surfing.” Freshly graduated from university, Tara has been a team rider for Brisbane surfboard manufacturer Primitive Surf for around eight years now and also endorses the clothing brand Moselle, who donate their profits to women rescued from human trafficking. She has recently taken over the role as President of the Sunshine Coast Girls Boardriders Club, who support local girls in their surfing development and help them achieve their goals. “Most women are looking for others to surf with and make new friends. It’s a good way for them to connect on a regular basis in a safe and supportive environment.” And if that’s not enough to keep her busy, Tara also helps out with Christian Surfers Coolum Beach, who organise surfing camps, competitions, road trips and hang-out nights for kids in the local area. “Every Friday night we gather at the local board riders shack and the grommets skate, eat pizza, play ping-pong and watch surfing DVDs.” Tara tells us that Christian Surfers is a not-for-profit organisation that aims to support youth towards making healthier life choices. “There are a lot of negative influences for teens and being able to organise events like these gives them another option in their lives.”
In fact, primitive surf has been supplying top quality surfboards and surfing products to the city hustle and bustle for well over 10 years now. With custom board shaping on site, primitive surf is literally a one-stop shop of everything a surfer needs: boards, gear, travel information nights and even elite SAS surf coaching. And, located right near the Brisbane airport, primitive surf is your perfect stop, whether you’re arriving for a Queensland holiday, or flying out on an exotic surf trip overseas. So before you head off to the waves, feel free to test out a surfboard from our extensive range.
601 Nudgee Rd, Nundah, Qld 4012 Phone: Fax:
07 3266 1001 07 3266 2002
open 7 days MON-FRI THURS SAT SUN
8:30-5:30 8:30-8:00 8:30-4:00 10:00-4:00
www.primitivesurf.com september 2010
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LATEST: FEEDBACK
NEXT EDITION, YOU WRITE THIS...
CARABINE SURFBOARDS WOLLONGONG
FOR SALE
AFTER 41 GREAT YEARS, IT’S TIME TO PUT MY FEET UP AND GET SOME MORE SURFING IN. Owner retiring. Sale includes stock in shop and factory ready to go. With accounts. Rip Curl, Ocean & Earth, Peak, Creatures, Network Surf, Balin, Surf Hardware Int. $50,000
With this being our brand-spanking new, bright and shiny first edition, it would have been more than a little tricky to have letters to the editor in here already. So, what we would like to do instead is to use this opportunity to encourage each and every one of you to use this forum to share inspiring stories, vent your frustration, point out our flaws or shower us with praise. Use this space and this magazine to let your voice be heard in our surfing community and of course, get freebies. See the giveaways to the right for what you can score for having your ramblings and personal photos committed to the letters pages of our mag. In fact, I’m only writing this for my free stuff. As you’re reading this, you’re already a part of the family so feel free to treat this as your home. This magazine is all about you, and us, the greater ‘us’ that is - our collective family of surfers and surf lovers. The water worshipping cousins, uncles and aunts you haven’t even met, yet share a common bond, albeit a little thinner than blood.
For information, call Mick on (02) 4229 9462 or 0402 019 771
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF WAYS YOU CAN JOIN IN THE CONVERSATION: Email all your innermost thoughts, letters, stories, photos, praise, rants to letters@smorgasboarder.com.au or send other contribution ideas, surf photography or fantastic ideas for stories to editor@smorgasboarder.com.au. Join us on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/ Smorgasboarder-Surf-Magazine/133229320054947 (or easier, just search for smorgasboarder) We promise not to poke you.
This is only the first set rolling in and there’s plenty more swell on the horizon, so join us in these uncharted waters as a proud new part of the smorgasboarder family.
BEST DEALS ON LONGBOARDS
on the entire east coast of Australia!
392 Harbour Drive, The Jetty Strip, Coffs Harbour NSW Phone: 02 6658 0223 www.thelogshack.com.au 12
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We just know you have a great story to share. Send it in and if yours happens to be the most riveting, entertaining or thought-provoking submission for the edition, be rewarded with a prize pack of what we happen to have handy in the giveaway drawer. Every letter published gets a free something-or-other anyway, so give it a crack.
photo: Shane Newman
LETTER OF THE MONTH Email your thoughts to letters@smorgasboarder.com.au
YOURS
This edition’s giveaways include copies of the Mick Waters movie, Little Black Wheels, a Surflock combination lock, a set of Foilz Fins and a swimsuit voucher worth $90 from Hive Swimwear.
WINNING SHOT
Just the same as letters, in every edition of smorgasboarder, the best reader submitted photograph wins a nifty little prize pack as a thank you for sharing. Because just like waves, sharing is where it’s at. We’re looking for interesting, abstract, quirky... So, get snapping and email your attempts at glory to us:
letters@smorgasboarder.com.au
Photos like this cracker landscape from Lucas Muro and the high traffic incident of Curl Curl’s Matt Poul from Northern Beaches lensman, Crumpet, are just ideas to get your creative juices flowing. Think photos of your grandad on a log in budgie smugglers, a surfing dog, awesome waves, your board collection... Whatever gets you excited will do the same for us. Maybe not the Pops one though...
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LATEST: NEWS EN
SURF
RE
IRI TAI ES LE WE R LC OM
QU
E
STICKERS WWW.INBLOOMSTICKERS.COM.AU
CLA SSIC SURFING IMAGES HIG H QUALITY STICKERS
CALL KRIS
02 6685 5100
INTERNATIONAL SHAPER OF THE YEAR A GLASS ACT Well known for his experimentation with wood boards, few would possibly know Tom Wegener began shaping foam in Australia back in 2000, developing models to suit the point waves of Noosa and later, beach breaks. Due to popular demand his tried and tested foam and fibre-glass models will return and be made exclusively under the Noosa Longboards label. A range of models will be available through Noosa Longboards from mid-September. It makes for the perfect opportunity to check out their new signature store in Hastings Street containing rarities such as a 1960s Fender flag signed by Jimi Hendrix, a 1963 vintage pinball machine and a 1961 Duke board from Hawaii. Visit www.noosalongboards.com.au for more details. Photo: www.fotosinnoosa.com
For something a little different Southcoast Surfboards, Gato Heroi, Bing, Takayama and a unique range of surfing memorabilia
ISLAND STYLE TAKES AWARD 5/21 Clarence Street, Port Macquarie Ph/Fax (02) 6584 1995 or 0416 226 774 More online... 14
www.sandyfeetsurf.com.au
A big win for Big Wave Complex. Not only is The Island Accommodation - Studio suites and flash packers super swish, stylish and has the best rooftop party deck, it has been voted to have the Best Environmentally Sustainable Design at the recent Building Designers Association of Victoria awards. Yet another reason to get island fever. See our Phillip Island travel story on page 46 for more.
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QUICKIES ON BOARD 20 YEARS RPS Boardstore celebrates 20 years in business on September 6. If you are in and around one of Melbourne’s hippest suburbs, Elwood, pop into the store and pick up some great bargains on surf, skate and snow gear. www.rpstheboardstore.com PLAN AHEAD For the well-prepared surfer, now is a timely reminder, the Manly Festival of Surfing will be held from November 18-21. A celebration of surfing music, film, fashion and history, the Manly Festival of Surfing continues to evolve. Spread throughout Manly, the festival features a huge range of activities that will entertain over 20,000 visitors and last year welcomed surfing legends, plus 6 World Champions past and present. Word has it, a major music concert will again take place at the stunning cliff top location at North Head, overlooking the Northern Beaches. For details check out manlyfestivalofsurfing.com.au
SHAPING THE FUTURE
In the face of the growing surfboard manufacturing market in Asia, there are plans to establish an Australian surf craft manufacturers association to oversee the future of the industry. “Hopefully we get people who do want to get involved,” Bek Clarke of DMS says. “This all about saving a dying local industry. Everything else in the surfing industry seems to be moving forward except us. Too many people are closing their factories because it is too hard to get workers and too much of a struggle. DMS, Darcy Surfboards and Chris Garrett Shapes have formed the basis of the association so far and are actively seeking local surfboard manufacturers to get involved. For more details contact Michelle Blauw on 07 5559 5066.
LIVE SURF TUNES I you are keen to check out Isaac Paddon live in person (for more about Isaac see our story on page 22) you can catch him in a solo performance on Saturday the 26th of September at his favourite haunt, the Pacific Hotel, Yamba. Isaac will be performing a mellow, chilled-out afternoon session from 2.30pm. www.isaacpaddon.com FEET FETISH In case you didn’t know, Sandy Feet is in new digs on the Cnr of Clarence and Murray Streets, Port Macquarie. Mike’s new store is a cracker. He’s also just taken delivery of some amazing new boards from Ian Chisholm of Southcoast Longboards. www.sandyfeetsurf.com.au FEET UP And whilst we are speaking of feet, Mick Carabine is looking to put his up. After 41 years in the business, Mick is looking to take things a little more leisurely. His board building business in Wollongong is up for sale. For more details contact Mick on (02) 4229 9462. september 2010
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LATEST: & GREATEST
RACK ‘EM UP Those lucky enough to make it to the Noosa Festival of Surfing in March of this year would have seen Solid Racks’ gear and appreciate their racks are without peer. They’re solid! Nice racks for surfboards, SUPs, snowboards and more. See www.solidracks.com for a stockist in your local area.
ARTIFICAL REEF
Reef’s new concept tent is a cracker. Given the brief: “provide quick shelter on the beach when you’re far from civilization” the team at LifeStyleDesign devised a tent made up of two parts – an adjustable canopy (left) and an inflatable sleep pod (below) which apparently all pack neatly into what doubles as an esky. Cheers to that! Please note: before you run out and look for it at your local shop, remember that ‘concept’ means it’s not yet available. But here’s hoping it is soon.
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MUST-HAVES
COOL IPHONE APPS FOR SURFERS
IN THE BAG With names like Green Eggs, Fish Finger and Jelly Tip, it sounds like the guys at the Critical Slide Society are in need of a good feed. There’s certainly no need to feed their creativity, their range of board bags are a feast for your eyes. For a full range of stockists go to www.criticalslidesociety.com
SURFBOARDS
Moviola Studios $2.49
CASPIAN SEE His work may not be new to Sydney-siders but to us the surfboard art by Caspian de Looze is some of the best we have seen on the east coast. Check out more on www.surfdecals.com
This is a great app for those people just getting into surfing or who want to know a little more about surfboards, what equipment to buy and how it works. Expertly written by former world surfing champion Shaun Tomson, it’s an easy to use application designed to help you choose the right equipment for your ability level. At smorgasboarder, we’re committed to providing our readers with a wealth of information about the world of surfing and with that in mind, here’s an app for one of our favourite international surf magazines from the UK.
AHOY CAPTAIN! More proof that surf and art go hand in hand. These fins from the Captain Fin Co would look just at home on your wall as they would on your board. See if your local surf shop can get them in for you. For more information and more fins, visit www.captainfinco.com
SURFER’S PATH
Pixel Mags $1.19 The Surfer’s Path is quite unique in the surf magazine world, offering a more eclectic view of the world of surfing. There’s a strong international travel focus, profiles of unusual characters and stories from all walks of life. The magazine also takes up a hugely influential stance on environmental issues affecting all surfers. This app lets you to read the mag on your phone. Never as good as sitting on the couch with the real thing, but a great way to keep on top of things on the move. september 2010
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STRAIGHTBOARD... ...when you ca n carve like a su rfer?!
Designed for surfing, the SmoothStar Thruster system
allows the front truck to move horizontally and vertically, transforming the way a skateboard handles...
your Improve y stoked ta s and surfing surfs! between
LATEST: & GREATEST
Why
SOLAR POWER
With the warmer months upon us it is important to be sun smart and slip, slop, slap. Not that you have to slop on sunscreen anymore! The season’s new sunscreens are non-greasy, provide 30+ protection, are free from nanoparticles and best of all, are water-resistant.
SUN SMARTS But what the hell are nanoparticles, we hear you say? They’re nasty little particles found in some sunscreens and cosmetics that can clog up your skin and cause health problems. What kind of protection does 30+ sunscreen provide? This is the factor by which the sunscreen increases the time it takes you to get sunburnt. A properly
TURN EASIER
applied coat of SPF 30 sunscreen will keep you burn-free for 30 times longer than normal, so if you’d usually get mild sunburn in 10 minutes, the SPF 30 sunscreen will in theory keep you burn-free for five hours (300 minutes). That said, it’s a good idea to reapply sunscreen every two hours, because water and sweat wash away the coating on your skin.
You can control your speed by carving from side to side.
TURN TIGHTER
than any normal skateboard and work speed into the board without pushing. SmoothStar is available in 3 sizes, for a different ride and for different sized riders.
SKATEBOARDS DESIGNED FOR SURFERS For more information, call 0407 405 390
or visit www.smoothstar.com.au 18
SOLRX
SPF 30+ available in a variety of sized tubes or pump spray. Chapstic also available. Thanks to the unique Waterblock SystemTM SolRX Advanced formula sunscreens are rated Very Water & Sweat Resistant. On average, water and sweat removes standard water resistant sunscreens after 40 minutes of activity. SolRX lasts four hours in and out of the water.
ASK HUEY SUNSCREEN
SPF 30+ , available in 100ml tubes Non-greasy and fast absorbing, you won’t feel like you have any sunscreen on and it won’t sting your eyes. Ask Huey sunscreen uses an environmentally-friendly organic formula which is ideal for people with oily and sensitive skin.
ISLAND TRIBE
SPF 30+ available in 50 & 100ml tubes or a 125ml pump spray Launching on November 1, the flagship of the new sunscreen range is a clear gel designed to provide maximum protection to water sports enthusiasts who spend large amounts of time in the sun and water. Island Tribe sunscreen is specifically formulated so as not to run in your eyes.
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Line Up in Samoa
Line Up in The Maldives
.. offers surf packages to suit every budget. Maninoa Surf Camp at Siumu on the south shore of Upolu is situated on a beautiful, private beach with over seven world class surf spots within a short boat trip of the camp, including the famous Coconuts straight out front. Your experienced Australian surf guide will ensure you take advantage of the island’s best breaks, surfing in clean, clear water with no crowds and no hassles.
We have developed a reputation in The Maldives as being one of the most unique Surf Travel companies in the region. With a number of different options to choose from including Surf Resorts, Surf Charters and recently opened Budget Surf Camps. We have packages to suit families, couples and singles with all levels of accommodation from cheap (our new surf camp at Cokes) through to luxurious (5 star Paradise Island Resort).
10 Days for only $1695 • Return airfares from SYD/MEL/ BNE (add $150) • Beachfront Twin share / Fale Accommodation • Daily surf boat transfers • Use of all camp facilities • 2 meals per day (breakfast & dinner) Samoa has surf all year round!
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Our new surf camp in the southern atolls of Gaafu Dhaalu, is considered to have the Maldives’ best waves and no crowds.
Packages from $100 a day! • includes a/c rooms and meals
Line Up Surf School is one of the premier coaching clinics on the Northern Beaches catering for the beginner through to people looking to improve their surfing. We also cater for corporate outings. Situated opposite Dee Why beach the school is open 7 days a week with private and group lessons running daily. Our coaches are all experienced surfers with international experience, working overseas in surf camps in countries such as Indonesia, Samoa, the Maldives and Hawaii.
Lessons start from $45 • includes board, wetsuit hire
Line Up is a SPECIALIST SURF store dedicated to servicing our customers’ needs for everything from custom board orders to helmet-mounted camcorders and everything inbetween - surf travel, clothing, wax, sunscreen. All we do is surf. We’re home to many well known shapers, who have made all manner of boards for the professional surfing world’s elite, in our surfboard showroom. Boards by local Sydney shapers including Dave Wood, John Larder, Col Adams and more.
LINE UP SURF 12b The Strand, Dee Why, Sydney NSW 2099 Phone: 02 9971 8624
Photo: Jeremy Wilmotte Maninoa Surf Camp, Samoa
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LATEST: EVENTS
YAMBA TO LAUNCH NEW LONGBOARD EVENT Ray Moran (above) is said to be the first person to surf Angourie, back in 1962. 48 years later, Ray - who now lives in Manly - stands outside the Yamba Surf Club with his longboard as a visitor to Yamba for the festival of Comedy, Music and Art. At this year’s festival it was announced that in 2011, in conjunction
with the Yamba Angourie Surfing Hall of Fame, Yamba will host the inaugural Tommy Walker Longboard Classic, named after the historical photo that has been making waves for the town. For more about Tommy Walker, see the History section on P101 and for more on the festival, see weloveyamba.com.
FROM THE BOARDROOM
TO THE BOARDMEETING For those of us with kids, I wonder if you can remember the first time you took your daughter or son out for a surf. I can. It is one of the most memorable experiences in my life and one I will cherish forever. Now, take a minute to imagine what it would be like if your child was disabled, or became disabled. With that in mind, it is important to appreciate what we have and spare a thought for those less fortunate. That is what a dedicated group of Sunshine Coasters do each year through an amatuer corporate surf event called The Board Meeting. The charity event is held on the second weekend of November each year to raise much-needed funds for local disabled children. The event is in its 8th year and has already raised $80,000 to assist young kids realise their full potential. Funds are committed to providing families of disabled kids with much-needed assistance and equipment such as wheelchairs to assist their child’s mobility and in some cases, independance. If you live on the Sunshine Coast or are here on a ‘corporate weekend’ dig deep, paddle out, catch a wave, have some fun and assist this local charity with their worthy cause. The activities includes plenty surfing as well as a surfing memorabilia auction. Entry is open now and the boys would be more than happy to have more on board. Event details are on their website www.theboardmeeting.org.
SC FASHION FEST SHOWS OFF WATER-WEAR Girls who chase the curls now have good reason to attend this year’s Sunshine Coast Fashion Festival, which runs from September 6 to 11 at Quay West Resort & Spa Noosa. Local swimwear label, Hive, designed by mad-keen surfer and former surf instructor Kat Hogg, is only just one of several surf swimwear labels for the ladies making an appearance at the festival. To purchase tickets, book accommodation or for more info, visit www.sunshinecoastfashionfestival.com
On the subject of suits, Surfaid International announced that in August their Surfing Suits program had been a resounding success, raising more than $30,000 for the the organisation.North Curl Curl Beach was the venue for the east coast event and saw surf legends Simon Anderson and Tom Carroll join in the fundraising efforts. Good job. www.surfaidinternational.org
Event Venue: To be held at Kawana Beach (with alternative sites at Maroochydore Beach or Ann Street, Caloundra, if conditions require) Event Date: Competition from 6.00am Saturday, November 6, 2010. Entries close: Friday November 5, 2010. Entry cost: $500.00 for team of 4 and includes t-shirt, gift bag & drinks vouchers for both registration night and auction night.
The Sea Shepherd oranisation defend those in the ocean that cannot defend themselves. If you feel for the cause, please get involved. More online:
SNIPPETS FROM THE SEA... Last month, the Sea Shepherd vessel Golfo Azzurro - on an undercover operation to defend the pilot whales in the Faroe Islands - had its cover compromised, and the ship was boarded and searched by police. The vessel was released because no laws had been broken, but was then escorted by the Danish Navy. Sea Shepherd crew members were continuing their patrol, but this time under the watchful eyes and guns of the Danish Navy. http://www.seashepherd.org/australia/
If you have any news and events that should be in these pages, please feel free to drop us a line at editorial@smorgasboarder.com.au. september 2010
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Photo: Joseph Ryan
Photo: Dan Howard, Ocean Art Photography
LATEST: INTERVIEW
I BEG YOUR PADDON? There’s something about musos who surf. In touch with nature and with egos in check, despite commercial and chart success flowing their way. We’re talking names such as Jack Johnson, Donovan Frankenreiter and Ben Harper - all as well known outside the surfing fraternity as they are in it. But a chance meeting in a surf shop has left me convinced we’ll one day soon rate Isaac Paddon right up there with the best of them. Even if I didn’t know who the hell he was at first. Well, I didn’t know I knew him at the time... if you know what I mean. WORDS DAVE SWAN
I had stopped in at Diverse Surf on the Gold Coast to catch up with the singly named “Isaac” and photograph a few boards for the magazine. We got chatting, as you do, and eventually my inquiries turned to his surname. “Paddon,” he replied casually. It got me thinking: “That sounds familiar,” I said. “Why do I know that name?” “Oh, I play a bit of music in a band.” Then it hit me. It was bloody Isaac Paddon. The same Isaac Paddon I’d been telling my mates about. This guy I knew nothing about, but who was on my iPod. The same guy with three songs on the soundtrack of Home - one of my favourite Australian longboarding movies. Having figured it all out, I got straight into this interview.
Fortunately, it turned out for me that Isaac is a down-to-earth, easy-going bloke you could easily imagine having a beer with. And not only is he a talented musician, he can surf too, although he won’t readily admit it. He’s a loving family man but still likes to sneak off for a quick surf trip when he can. And like so many of us, he hasn’t really come clean with his wife as to how many surfboards he actually owns. After a good chat, Isaac handed me a copy of his newest CD, which went straight into my car’s CD player. I’m happy to say that each new song I heard was as good as the ones I already knew. This cracker of a CD is now officially in my Top Ten.
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LATEST: INTERVIEW
THE MAN Born in Manly in 1978, Isaac lived in Dee Why and Mona Vale until he was about two, when Mum Karin and dad Derek upped the family – including sisters Rachel and Leah – and moved to the Central Coast. In his first year of high school the family moved to the Gold Coast. Isaac has called the Gold Coast home for the last twenty years. “I consider myself a local now,” Isaac explains. “One of my mates, who was born and bred here, said you can’t consider yourself a local until you have spilt some blood on the rocks. I have done that at several breaks now so yeah, I consider myself a local.” So strong are his ties he plans to stay in Tweed Heads indefinitely, drawn to its chilled vibe. “I regularly surf from Kirra south,” he explains, “At the moment I have been going out at Snapper on a longboard – you get more waves out there on a longboard with the crowds. When that gets too hectic I head south.” And if he gets the yearning for new horizons, well that’s where the band comes in handy. “Because we are always travelling with the band I get to go to a lot of other spots,” he says “So providing you get a couple hours of sleep after a gig, you can get in a surf the next day.” We had to know more.
THE MUSIC Describe your musical background… Mum is from the West Indies so we were always right into our music. Dad was from England and was an influence in my love of folk music. When did you start playing? When I was about 15 years old. I was in the school band playing guitar but could only manage to strum three chords. The Gold Coast is pretty fast paced, in the water and out. How did you not end up playing super-fast punk instead? In my earlier years I definitely had a punk phase. I was really into Pennywise and Bad Religion. Nowadays I still like listening to artists such as Neil Young, Jeff Buckley and, for modern bands, New Zealand reggae bands such as Cornerstone Roots and The Black Seeds. The first band I played in was called A Trip to Birdland. They didn’t have a singer, asked me and I said ok. We played a gig in my final year at Elanora High School. Even though we had rehearsed a few times, when we got out to play I wasn’t really ready for it. I was pretty nervous but . . . Anyhow I finished at the end of Grade 10 but kept playing with them for the next couple of years. One of the most notable musicians I have opened for is Jeff Martin from the Tea Party. In terms of gigs, what we have done at this stage is just the east coast from Noosa down to Sydney. We haven’t really ventured out much further than that. Some of our CD sales however come in from Great Britain, Japan and America. You do meet a lot of travelers when we are playing gigs, and they tell their friends about us, so when they get home, they spread the word. Or you get stuff like surf movies that help you out as well. What is your favourite place to play? Definitely Yamba (in New South Wales). Yeah, Yamba is my favourite place just because I like going there, whether I am playing or not. It’s good, especially in winter. It is nice and quiet. You can get away from the crowds. It is just good to get down there and have a surf. Playing in the band is really just an excuse to get down there for a surf trip. When we play Byron we usually play at the Great Northern Hotel. It took me two years to get my first gig there. I was just constantly sending in CDs and ringing up. 24
When I got my very first gig there, the manager rang me and said ‘I have got you a gig. It is on the Saturday of the Blues Fest and it is going to be capacity crowd’. So he goes, ‘Be ready for it.’ I said to him ‘I am really sorry. I haven’t got the band that night. Can I still play the gig?’ He said, ‘No worries.’ And I said, ‘I promise I will do a good job.’ How did you handle it? Were you nervous? Yeah I was. I got a solo act supporting a band called Marshall & The Fro. I had only played a few gigs and I wasn’t used to playing in front of big crowds, or I was playing in noisy pubs where people didn’t listen anyhow. So the curtains open and all these people rush to the stage and I play the first few chords and they are just screaming and jumping. I wasn’t ready for it. I instantly starting sweating. But basically the crowd started encouraging me and amped me up to get going and from there I kind of got into it straight away. On the very last song, Marshall came up with his band. I wasn’t really expecting it but they just jumped up on the stage. It was just really good to get that first gig at the Northern with capacity crowds. What is the capacity there? Four hundred and fifty, but it seemed like there was more. It was only a little room. I must have left a good impression because they have had us back every time. We play gigs there now regularly. That first gig was about five years back. How long have you been with the band? We did our first serious CD in 2003. It was called Here Comes the Sun. Until then I was really only mucking around in beach car parks, playing nothing serious. We used to light a fire in a 44-gallon drum down at the Currumbin beachfront car park, have a few beers and play a few songs. You couldn’t get away with that now. That was old school Currumbin. Not long after that I had a band that was half serious, did the first CD and then did the second CD in 2005. From there I started getting really into it. My circumstances changed and I changed my whole band and released this last CD, which has been out about 12-18 months now. Tell us your worst moment on the road with them? It’s a long story, but needless to say it involved my Hiace Van leaking oil everywhere, a faulty gear transmission that meant I could only drive in fourth gear, extreme flooding on the way to a gig in Urunga (New South Wales), breaking down on the way home, blowing out a tyre on the trailer towing my van back to the Goldy, having to run numerous red lights because I couldn’t get the car out of fourth gear and then being asked to go on stage early for our gig at Kirra. Need I say more? Buy me a beer when you next see me and I will tell you the full story. What came first - surfing or music? Definitely a surfer first. Like I said, the band is really just an excuse to go on a surf trip, although I have scaled it back now days with young kids.
ON THE WAVES When did you first get into surfing? When I was about six, Dad pretty much just pushed me off in the white water when we were living down the Central Coast. After that, I was only really a summer time surfer because we lived about 25 minutes from the beach, and Dad wasn’t really into surfing, but he would take us down in summer. I didn’t really start surfing until I was about 12 or 13. Where you more of a short or longboarder? I was more of a shortboarder back then. We used to go down to the Tugun tip and we would buy old boards – stuff that is worth heaps now. I remember I picked up this Mark Richards Twin Fin,
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“...the band is really just an excuse to go on a surf trip”
which I still have now. I got it for $7. I have had it for a while now. I bought it when I was about 15. I picked up a few old boards like that and we would ride those boards too. Back then you didn’t think they were worth anything. You just enjoyed riding them because they were something different from your everyday shortboard. For the last 16 years I have been riding Dave’s boards (Diverse Surf owner/shaper Dave Verrall) and just trialling all these different models he makes. I just go and ask for a lend. Dave would just go out and pick a different model and I’d take it out and ride it. So you ride short, long, retro… I ride everything.
Photo: Jake Carroll
Photo: Joseph Ryan
But in competitions you ride longboards? I have done a few contests in the last three years but I have only really been longboarding more so over the last three to four years. It is good if you ride all different equipment because you never miss out on a surf. Whether it is ankle height or too big to paddle out in, you still have to go anyway; you don’t miss out. So if you have a really big plank you can go down the beach and get a few waves. If you only had a short board you would miss out. So you never got into the shortboard contest scene? I think when I can go in the Masters I might (laughs) ...only a few more years. I think I just never really had a desire when I was younger. Competing in longboarding now appeals because it lets you ride a range of different longboards - 10ft, 9ft, super thick, super thin. You don’t have to ride this exact board. There’s no ‘You have to ride three fins, 18 ½ wide by 6’1’. There’s no set exact rule for it. It is all about expressing your art when you are in the water. Whether or not the judges like it is a different story. Everyone judges differently in every contest. I consider myself more of a free surfer anyway. I only go in a few contests every now and again. Where else in the world would you like to surf? Anywhere I can get an awesome barrel, lefts or rights. Anything stop you from surfing? Serious injury. Nah, I’d probably go anyway.
THE QUIVER So how many boards do you have in your quiver? The ones I ride regularly, I have got four or five. Then I have a heap of retros I look at more than actually surf. They’re on the to-do list to fix. So 10 or 12 or more? Maybe more. Photo: Jesse Carroll
Are you married? I have a wife, Kelly, and two boys, Tyler and Jesse. I can understand now why you are not admitting to how many boards you have! There are a few hidden in the roof. A few at Dad’s house. A few upstairs at work. That’s why it is good working here. You can just test out anything. Just the other day in the arvo I wanted to go straight out back at Tugun so I grabbed a board out of the demo room and headed out. What’s your favourite board? It is hard to say. My favourite old board is definitely my MR Twin Fin. It is a bigger one so it is easy to paddle and floats well. My favourite board I enjoy riding for the waves we have been getting at the moment is my Diverse 10ft Noserider. The one featured in our board guide? No, I am not allowed to ride that one yet. Dave said it is for when
Photo: Simsurf Photography
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his leg gets better (Dave badly broke his ankle in a surfing accident overseas recently).
Just a real surf shop...
We have talked about the surfboard quiver, how about the guitar/ music quiver? I have got two Maton acoustics I regularly play with. One’s really old and beaten up and that’s my favourite because the more beaten up and uglier it looks, it just seems to sound better. It’s like a good wine; it just gets better with age. The kids have scratched it and tried to jump on it. When my puppy was little it put scratches all over it. They are the two Maton acoustics I regularly take on the road with us. I also have a Fender Stratocaster that snapped that I am getting fixed.
Surfboards, movies, art and memorabili a at the top of th e hill in Yamb a.
Snapped? I just stored it away for about two months and I opened it up and it was just broken. I think it was temperature - hot/cold, hot/cold and too much tension in it and it just broke. I didn’t wrap it into anyone’s drum kit.
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THE FAMILY
AU ST RALI A
Your kids are Jesse (two), and Tyler (five). Are they into surfing yet? Basically, from day one, I have had them in the water. Before they could even stand I had them on the front of my longboard. We’ve been going out from Rainbow through to Snapper on the small days. As soon as they could stand up I would go out and surf tandem with them. I will get up first, still holding on to them, pick them up in front of me, and they will go just ‘Daddy, daddy, don’t let go of me. Don’t let go’. When it is nice and clean through there it is absolutely perfect. When you have got your kid on the front of your board you get, like, kid sympathy. You get more waves. People are like ‘Oh let him go, he has got a kid’. You just come cruising through.
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In a surfing sense, what does the world need more or less of? People just need to chill out in the water. You are out there to relax and unwind. It’s not all about getting the most waves. Greed is sometimes the cause of problems.
We've been at the forefront of surfing's evolution since 1963... BUT YOU’RE STILL THE MOST IMPORTANT PERSON IN OUR BUSINESS
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LATEST: INTERVIEW “..It’s good if you ride all different equipment because you never miss out on a surf.” Photo: Dan Howard, Ocean Art Photography
And localism? I understand it, particularly if people are greedy, trying to take every wave as I said, or in the wrong spot for their ability. That said the ocean is not anyone’s to own. On your website, there is a sign stating ‘Surf is free’. Yeah, I just saw it at a surf trade show in Japan and thought it was pretty cool. Dave was heading over there and he asked us whether we wanted to come. I was just like, ‘Cool’. I was there to just be a representative of Diverse Surf with Dave. The time over there was great. I got a lot of chances to write songs. We would be on the road here and there for several hours, I would be crushed up in the back of the van with wet wetsuits but it gave me a chance to write. That’s when I get a chance to write some songs – road trips.
DANGER, DANGER Your scariest moment in the surf? We were surfing a place called Half Moon Bay in Tasmania and I was there with a younger mate. We had trekked across all these farm pastures out to the surf. We were only surfing a shory in crystal clear waters but then there was some bait fish and a few small sharks, reefies or something. So I told my mate and decided to head in. He was like, ‘You and your sharks’ and just then these huge tuna started jumping towards us and I saw this massive black shadow. It was definitely a white pointer. My mate reckoned the dorsal fin was a couple of feet. Any others? Surfing when I was about 15. Me and my mate headed out in this huge swell. We decided to jump off the groyne at DBar and paddle out. We were out a fair way. I was furthest out but this massive wall of white water just pummeled me and had me a couple of metres from the rocks at Froggies (the rocks going around from Snapper to DBar – there is no beach and you are basically in real trouble if you wash up in big swell). There were incoming white water walls and I was paddling for my life. One I will remember.
SIDE PROJECT How did you get involved with the surfing movie Home? I met Joseph (Ryan), the guy who put together the film, because he was recommended to build my website. He was building websites for a job but now he is actually filming for a living. He came around and built my first website and then we just became good mates. We started surfing and the next minute Joseph bought himself a camera and he just used me as a bit of a guinea pig trying out different effects and things. After that we did a few surf trips together and he brought out his first movie and he goes, ‘Ah, I need some music’ and I said ‘Well you can use whatever you want. Whatever songs I have got’. The first movie was called Moving On. We got an idea for the title track and we sat down together and just penned it out. A couple of years later he had an idea for another movie (Home) – an east coast trip surf from Noosa to Cronulla, just catching up with Australia’s best surfers. We hooked up with the best longboarders in each area. So again I recorded a few songs for the film such as the title track, Home, and a few of those songs made their way on to my latest album.
AND FINALLY? Your favourite east coast surf break? Definitely Snapper. It is the best right-hand point break.
Check out Isaac Paddon and the Tides’ most recent album, “Where we once stood” and for more info on Isaac and his music, visit www.isaacpaddon.com.
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LATEST: DEBATE Minke whales: Majestic, not meat.
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WORDS BY BRETT BAM
Whales have long captured our fancy and imagination with their sinewy grace, their explorations deep into pockets of the ocean we can scarcely imagine, their familial bonds and their friendly and inquisitive natures. But as much as we appreciate their strength and beauty from the safety of the shore or a ship, we can’t ignore the fact they are at the centre of a fierce battle for their very survival. And Australia is on the frontline of the fight.
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LATEST: DEBATE July 19, 2010, 236 pilot whales slaughtered in the town of Klaksvik in the Danish Faroe Islands Photo: Peter Hammarstedt / Sea Shepherd
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I have spent a lot of time with whales and dolphins. I’ve been so close to the splash from their breach that I was drenched from head to toe. I have had the mist from their exhalation drift across me like a fine rain. Or more accurately, a fine, atomised mist. In the Caribbean I was in the water with a singing male humpback. It was a powerful moment; I could feel the sound vibrating in my chest and ears like the largest bass woofer ever made. In Africa I was batted aside like a fly by the flukes of a large female swimming underneath me. I have seen a mother lifting her calf to the surface for its first breath, with the afterbirth staining the water around them both and I have seen male humpbacks fighting over the mating rights to a female, terrifying in its power and ferocity. Within all of the countless breaches, tail slaps and fin slaps I have seen playful behaviour, moments of sweet tenderness, terrifying power and silent speed. These creatures are awesome. It’s an obvious word to reach for but, truthfully, it’s the only one I can use, with an emphasis on the awe.
There are many societies that do not feel a great love for whales and dolphins. Seen rather as product or as objects of sport, whales and their kin don’t get kind consideration all around the globe. For many years I thought the fight for the protection of whales and dolphins had been won, that the days of killing these creatures was long gone. I was under the false impression that we had entered a time of peace and enlightenment where these beautiful animals were protected and appreciated for the natural wonder they create. After all, what is the International Whaling Commission for? Sadly, I was mistaken. As it turns out, there is a full-scale war being fought in international waters, and the people on the frontline come from every corner of the globe to fight the fight. This war has been raging for decades and every year it becomes more intense. Each side has a great passion for their cause, and each side believes with great faith they are right and their struggle is righteous.
The world today will either be stepping forward into an era where conservation and the environment really matter, or it will be stepping back into the Dark Ages, where the people of the world think that slaughter of whales using grenades, electric lances and shooting them with rifles is something that we should accept. Ian Campbell, former Australian Environment Minister My experience has largely been with humpback whales, but I have also been up close and personal with Brydes (pronounce broodus) whales, southern right whales, and have been fortunate enough to catch glimpses of minke and fin whales. Even more than these experiences with whales, I have spent a tremendous amount of time swimming with dolphins. I have seen them off the Wild Coast of South Africa in super pods numbering in the thousands, their wake changing the surface of the sea in kilometer wide patches. I have played with them in deep water on scuba and on backline while they put me to shame with their wavecraft. These experiences have shaped my life and created a passion for cetaceans that will never fade. Many of you reading these words will genuinely be able to identify with the emotions sparked by encounters with these magnificent denizens of the deep. It is an almost universal sense of respect and admiration. How could it be otherwise? And yet it is.
This battle is not only being fought on the high seas, it is also being fought in International courts and boardrooms by lawyers and lobbyists. And the fight gets a little more desperate and dangerous every year with the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society at the forefront of the conflict. Founder of the organisation, Captain Paul Watson, has even taken a shot to the chest for the cause. The fact he was prepared with a bulletproof vest is indicative of the seriousness of the matter, yet saving around 500 whales a year as Jeff Hanse, Australian Director estimates, makes it worth the risk.
Jeff Hansen, Australian Director of Sea Shepherd on... JAPANESE WHALING VESSELS: ‘Each year this depends, but there are normally 3 harpoon or kill ships, 2 spotter vessels, 1 refuelling or supply vessel, one factory/processing vessel and one of two vessels with military or Japanese coast guard on board to give us a hard time, or tail us and report our position to the rest of the fleet.’ HUMAN FATALITIES: ‘Never and we aim to keep it that way. The film footage of the ramming of the Ady Gil shows the Japanese whaler purposefully aiming for a collision. It’s a miracle no-one was killed.‘ AUSTRALIA’S ROLE: ‘Australia is leading the charge in the voice for the whales. We are the only country having the guts to finally stand up to the whalers and take them to the international court. Australia is a classic example of what can be possible for the whales, as just over 30 years ago the last whale was killed in Albany, WA. Yet now Australians are a passionate whale-loving nation with a 360-million dollar whale watching industry. This is what the IWC should be about, protecting and observing whales through a sustainable global whale watching industy and trying to further understand their complex communication and social interactions. If Japan should stop whaling tomorrow, Australians should never forget where we came from and should acknowledge Japan’s positive step forward.’
“Last Antarctic summer the Japanese whaling fleet set sail for Australian waters in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary with a mission to kill 1035 whales. “Sea Shepherd was up against spy flights being launched out of Australia, military vessels, devices and personnel and we even had our one of our ships deliberately rammed and sunk by the Japanese.” Photos: Sea Shepherd Conservation Society
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One major point of contention for anti-whaling activists is the brutal method of hunting these creatures. They detail the use of explosive harpoons and 50-calibre machine guns, of creatures being electrified, lassoed and drowned, and bled to death. Images of these hunts are heart-wrenching and visual evidence is often restricted for the gore content it holds. The cruelty in the killing is one of the reasons protestors are so passionate about their cause, and their passion is intense. In the remote coastal village of Taiji in Wakayama Japan, the locals capture and kill dolphins. This activity was documented in award-winning documentary The Cove. Its graphic imagery is exceptionally disturbing. The film claims 23,000 dolphins are killed in Japanese waters each year through netting and harpooning, while the Japanese government claims the figure is closer to 18,000. The dolphins are killed for food, and the meat is sold to schools across Japan for use in their school cafeterias. Creatures caught alive are transported to aquariums across the world and sold into captivity - something to remember the next time you see a dolphin performing tricks in an aquarium. The filmmakers have recently been struggling to show the film to the Japanese public. Their struggle has been long and dramatic and filled with violent protest, but they have succeeded. For the first time
ever, the Japanese people are being educated on the actions their fishermen are taking. Many have reacted with shock and horror, condemning the killing and placing pressure on the government to put a stop to the slaughter, which fortunately seems to be a growing trend. In the Faroe Islands in the Norwegian Sea the locals of Faroe Islands indulge in another kind of bloody event. In an annual event known as grindadráp, the Faroese islanders come together to heard entire pods of pilot whales into shallow water, forcing them to beach themselves, where they are killed for their meat. These images are disturbing in the extreme with the sea literally running red with blood. Faroese children are taught this as a rite of passage and something to take pride in. The leaders of the whaling industry - Japan, Norway, and Iceland - continue unchecked, but not unopposed. Of the several organisations that carry on the fight, not only is Sea Shepherd in the mix but David Rastovich, one of the world’s best surfers, is very active in the cause within the organisation Surfers for Cetaceans. He has paddled out into the cove in Taiji in a peaceful protest, along with actress Hayden Panettiere. He has followed the humpback migration south by sailing a single seat sea-kayak from Byron Bay to Bondi beach on an epic 36-day, 700 kilometre journey, accompanied by fellow pro-surfer Chris Del Moro and whaling activist and Surfers for Cetaceans’ Howie Cooke. The epic trip was made in order to bring attention to the whaling movement and use that focus to persuade former Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd and environment minister Peter Garrett
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www.blackapachesurfboards.blogspot.com
Left: Dolphin slaugher in Taiji, Japan. Above left: Pilot whales slaughtered in the Faroe Islands. Right: Sea Shepherd supporter Dave Rastovich, co-founder of Surfers for Cetaceans, leads a group of surfers and activists in a prayer circle in memory of the dolphins slaughtered in Taiji in October ‘07. Photos: Sea Shepherd
We owe it to our children to be better stewards of the environment. The alternative? A world without whales. It’s too terrible to imagine. Pierce Brosnan, actor
to stand by their election promise to take Japan to the International Court for their part in the slaughter. Recently, in a ground-breaking case, the Australian government has fulfilled its promise and taken Japan to the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) to account for its actions. Anti-whaling factions everywhere applauded the action and Australia’s commitment to the preservation of cetacean species. This has been a unique and decisive move placing Australia in the frontline. Other leaders in the fight include Greenpeace and the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society. But these well-meaning organisations face a very well funded and determined foe. The Japanese government has been accused of inviting third world countries to the annual IWC meetings and then offering large bribes by investing in their economies to secure their vote for commercial whaling. When faced with such a highly funded economic giant of a competitor, the anti-whaling protestors need a champion like Australia to take up the cause and bring its formidable resources to bear. So the next time you’re out there on a surfboard and a pod of dolphins swims past, or a whale breaches out on the horizon, take some time to be thankful that we live in a place where these creatures are protected, appreciated and loved, because there aren’t too many places in the world like Australia. If you would like to contribute to the cause, these organisations could always use donations and volunteers. For details on how to help get online: Surfers for Cetaceans - www.s4cglobal.org The Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society - www.wdcs.org.au Greenpeace - www.greenpeace.org Sea Shepherd Conservation Society - www.seashepherd.org Brett Bam owns and skippers Liquid Getaway whale watching cruises. Visit www.liquidgetaway.com.au september 2010
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LATEST: LOCALS
Charging the islands Sandy Ryan has many faces and all of them seem to be smiling. Phillip Island’s likeable local lad charges crazy waves at Shipsterns, surfs insanely inhospitable breaks in his hometown, stars in surf vids - even as an actor in Kookman - and holds not one, but three consecutive Victorian longboard titles. You would be smiling too.
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Without pushing yourself you won’t be able to get the best rush Sandy Ryan
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You’re noted as a fearless big wave charger. Is there anything that scares you? I don’t think I warrant that title at all, and in terms of being scared, I certainly feel that way in a lot of situations when surfing heavy waves. But that only adds to the experience. When I feel scared it makes it harder to commit, but the other side of the coin is that the reward of the commitment is so much more satisfying. ...like the feeling of overcoming or conquering a challenge. What’s the biggest wave you’ve surfed? The biggest waves I have surfed were in Tassie. I went down there with my mate, Simon McShane, and we weren’t expecting too much, but stumbled down the bush track to witness not only the biggest, but most mutated waves I have ever seen. The local lads were amazing to watch and had it so dialed! On the island we really lack any proper big wave spots, so that’s why I look to other places to get that chance.
Seal Rocks... a white pointer hangout with a nasty way in and a nasty way out... Firstly do you agree that you’re a lunatic, and secondly have you ever had a nudge or a nibble (from a shark, that is)? Other than reef sharks, I have never seen them. When I surf, I am way too interested and excited about catching waves to worry about that. If I was in some of the places I have surfed on a flat day then I would be intimidated for sure. You obviously enjoy pushing the boundaries. What’s getting you excited about surfing at the moment? I am very fortunate to be able to surf with a lot of really good guys at home and abroad and I think that is a fantastic way to push your surfing. The best waves are the ones you think you won’t make, so without pushing yourself you won’t be able to get the best rush and will end up improving at a slower rate. I also think if you only surf the same board, same break and same size waves for a long period of time then your surfing may tend to feel a bit stale. Paddle or tow? I just love the excitement of paddling. It is such a challenge, but to get a good one is a sick feeling. I have towed as well and there are definitly a lot of times waves have no entry point and towing is the only option. But if I have the choice, I will always paddle and I think in the future a lot more guys will leave their skis at home. You and your dad (Matt Ryan of Island Surfboards) are obviously pretty close. What’s the best thing he ever taught you? We are really close and we both enjoy surfing together and have been doing that since I was quite young. He has taught me many things over the years but teaching me to surf would definitely be the best by far. It’s such a great gift to be able to pass on, and now it’s part of my job to teach people to surf, which is awesome.
Photos: Jules Elliott
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Wayne Ryan surfing the Maldives in the early days
THE LIFE OF RYAN
We chat to Wayne Ryan of Line Up Surf in Dee Why about his dedication to faith and to surfing.
For many of us the chance to surf represents an opportunity to relax and unwind. But to others, it serves a greater spiritual purpose. Wayne Ryan, one of the founding members of the Australian chapter of Christian Surfers International, has just as much fun in the water as the rest of us. But introducing others less fortunate to the joy of surfing seems to magnify his stoke. Wayne has always possessed an unwavering belief in God. From humble beginnings in the outskirts of metropolitan Sydney, his grandmother instilled in him a strong sense of faith. Wayne’s work with Christian Surfers has helped many troubled souls find new meaning and purpose in their life through the joys of surfing. As he believes, “God is not the fun police. God is simply there to help us find a means to enlighten our lives, to provide personal growth and belief in ourselves. Being more secure in yourself can be very liberating.”
“ SURFING IS A WONDROUS GIFT. SEEING A MOTHER OR FATHER SHARING A WAVE WITH THEIR KIDS, HOOTING AND HOLLERING BRINGS A SMILE TO YOUR FACE.” Wayne has personally witnessed kids on the streets, lying drunk in the gutter, turn their lives around to become successful in their careers and at home thanks to a new-found faith in God introduced through the Christian Surfers fellowship. “After all, I am living proof of the power of faith. I have always punched well above my weight and yet fortunately, here we are, 20 years later – a successful surf shop, one of Sydney’s most notable surf schools and a growing surf travel business with camps around the world. Even as contest director for the first Jesus Pro Am, I prayed for swell and the surf lifted from 2-3ft in the morning to heaving 6ft-plus barrels by the afternoon. I have been very fortunate in my life and I know the reason why.” For more on Christian Surfers log on to www.christiansurfers.org.au or contact Wayne at his Dee Why store on (02) 9971 8624.
Backhand at Dee Why point september 2010
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To live the Sunshine Coast lifestyle, from the Hinterland...
www.raywhitelifestyle.com 9/43 Maple Street, Maleny QLD 4552 P.O Box 1010, Maleny QLD 4552 | Phone 07 5499 9966 Fax 07 5429 6540 | Property Management 0447 447 445
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“Before you ask me the question, yes this is a real job and yes I feel like we work pretty damn hard at it. I know what you will be thinking, ‘How can you take people surfing all day in more than likely perfect waves and then sit down and have a few beers with them and honestly try to call that work?’ “Yeah I know how it looks. I will admit, I do have a great job and it is probably one of the best jobs in the world. My crew and I get to do something we love every day - simply surfing with your mates.” After surfing together and living in the close confines of a boat with a tour group for a week or more, Louis considers his guests to be new-found friends, however, he admits it’s not all “cakes and pies. it’s a hefty responsibility taking 10 people on a charter, some on their once-in-a-lifetime trip while other are on their their annual pilgrimage from work and wives. We even run all girl tours and expectations are always the same: perfect waves with no one out. “We get to meet some amazing people along the way, from all walks of life, and all types of professions. We get to share some amazing experiences with our guests, whether it’s laughing harder than you think is humanly possible or putting them into position to make the best barrel of their lives. It’s a buzz to be in charge of a boat and surfers’ dreams - finding their idea of perfect waves and the best day of their life. “That’s a pretty big call but it’s every surfer’s dream to have that moment in an empty line-up, in a tropical destination, set looming, swinging, paddling, pulling-in, silence and bang! All of a sudden, all at once, your heart beats again, you breathe and hear sounds once more until you fall back into the water drowning in your own smile. That’s what we try to find for people, that moment.. Perfection.” Liquid Destination operate the Nautilus
One in the Maldives - in particular the remote outer atolls where the waves are less crowded. “First and foremost we are here to surf and we are here to surf the best waves. We go wherever we need to be to get the best waves in the Maldives. We go there first.” Each surf trip is planned around the guests’ ability level and the emphasis they place on surfing uncrowded breaks.
LIVING
LOUIS HARRIS SHARES A BIT “Each trip has something new and each day brings a new experience on the boat. We have people who have cabin fever, cut themselves, are hung-over, get barrelled, get worked, break boards and this is all before breakfast. Some days last forever, other times you would swear you missed a couple of days. It all blurs into one on the boat. And that I suppose is the beauty of it - to get people lost in time and have no idea what time of day it is, or even what day of the week it is. No matter what, Louis and the crew want their guests to charge when the waves are on. “When the waves are pumping, we want our guests out there, as it might be gone tomorrow or not as good. We have a pretty strong belief that even if it’s a little big, you have to get out there and sit in the channel, maybe sneak into a couple. Guests kick themselves when they go home having not tried. I know that I stopped watching and wondering years ago. You have to be out there to at least give yourself a chance to get one.” As the surf guide, Louis always tries to take the
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HE LIVES ON THE SUNSHINE COAST AND WORKS IN THE MALDIVES. CAN LIFE GET ANY BETTER? lead and get out there no matter what the conditions. “You want to get people excited, get them pumped.” Louis’ job is not without its challenges though. He strongly believes his role is more than just that of surf guide. It is important to have an understanding of people in general, whether they are guests, the crew or local Maldivians. “You have to be the type of person who is genuinely interested in all conversations. You have to deal with all
soccer or the Nautilus One Challenge... “It must be said - we are lucky that the Maldives has such consistent surf. You can surf all day, and it’s pretty much offshore all year round. These world class waves have something for everyone. “We run trips for longboarders, shortboarders, girls’ trips, you name it. I’ve even got something coming for the chargers, which will be a hit-and-run style mission, flying people in and out
THE DREAM
...to the beach Speak to the experts. Buying, Investing & Property Letting
ABOUT HIS LIFE AS A SURF GUIDE IN THE MALDIVES the stuff behind the scenes on the boat with the crew. You have to make it all look so easy. It would really affect the dynamics on the boat if the surf guides were stressing about fixing a broken air-conditioning unit. “We are constantly making decisions on where to go, what waves to surf, where would be good right now, where will be good in an hour and where will we stay the night.” Louis confesses although to have had some shockers in terms of surf trips. “The awesome ones by far out way the couple of bad ones,with shitty weather and waves. There isn’t much we can do when it’s driving rain and 40-knot winds. When the weather is poor, I feel for the guests. It takes a lot to get a leave pass from the missus or time off work, not to mention the cost and the sacrifices made to pay for the trip. “It’s hard to keep people happy when it’s like that but we have a few tricks up our sleeves and provide some pretty good entertainment. Keeping the mood up is our specialty, whether it be poker, table
for the peak of the swell. It’s only for the people who want the big, heavy stuff” In addition to his role of surf guide, Louis and his team at Liquid Destination put together a personalised surf photography and video package for each one of their guests. “A big part of what we do is to take surf shots of our guests and make a full movie of the surf trip. It’s probably the hardest part of the job. We film and shoot photos from land and water. Each trip we have thousands of photos to go through and hours of footage to edit. I think it’s worth it though. It’s such a cool thing for our guests to look back on and maybe show their kids in ten or twenty years time - them surfing the Maldives all those years ago.”
www.raywhitelifestyle.com Louis is the owner/operator of Liquid Destination. His experience is second to none in surfing the Maldives.
www.liquiddestination.com
Ground Floor, 9 Nicklin Way, Minyama QLD 4575 Email info@raywhitelifestyle.com | Phone 07 5458 5777 Fax 07 5458 5788 | Property Management 0447 447 445
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LATEST: IMAGES 38
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GOOD MORNING, MANLY “I’m an early morning person.” Every day - rain or shine - Manly photographer Joel Coleman delivers a series of stunning scenes, fresh from the morning along the beautiful Northern Beaches of Sydney, to thousands of subscribers to the saltmotion daily email list. We stopped by the saltmotion gallery for a cup of coffee and a chance to talk to Joel about his work. WORDS MARK CHAPMAN, PHOTOS JOEL COLEMAN
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Those of you who already subscribe to the saltmotion daily email will be familiar with Joel’s rich water landscapes, surfing images and often random photos of interesting scenes and people performing their various morning rituals on the beach. What is now a huge mailing list of fans from near and far started in 2007 as a weekly mailout of some interesting photographs to a small group of friends. “That mailing list might have been 15 people, max.” says Joel. “And it was all of those 15 people, because those were my friends and it was just something to do.” While Joel had taken note that other photographers were sending their pics for exposure to websites such as Swellnet and Coastalwatch, he didn’t think of himself as a professional at the time and just continued on his own path. However, only a year later, he decided to push his photography to the next level. Jumping in full-time, he set up a small website and got more disciplined about his work sending out an update every Monday, which ultimately set the wheels in (salt)motion. Joel started surfing in his teenage years around Bondi and Tamarama, where he went to school. At the same time, he took up photography as an art subject in school and loved it straight away. 40
“Almost instantly my mates were like Let’s get photos of us surfing!” With surfing as his first subject matter, he was very fortunate to end up landing a job in the dive industry where he learned about water housings and how to work with cameras in the wet. Weekends spent in the dive shop gave him access to equipment such as underwater housings not many teens would be able to afford. “This put me where he is today,” he says. By age 15 I was photographing in the water. But it’s a big step going from snapping some photos in the water to running a gallery in Manly, which is exactly what Joel and his partner Sherie decided to do. “If you want to make a living as a photographer, there are a lot of avenues to go down. Whichever you choose, you have to commit 100%, or you’ll find yourself in a day-job that you hate, wanting to take photos on weekends, and wanting to surf as well. Then you don’t take photos and just get frustrated. So, I had the plan to go down the gallery route. “I did an exhibition, which was successful and gave me a confidence boost to know that if I hang my stuff on the walls, people will actually buy it. And that’s a big thing, because until you do it, you don’t know.” The chosen premises at Market Place
Manly, just off the Corso and a few steps to the beach, couldn’t be a more perfect venue to display the images of the ocean. “We are a gallery - which does showcase my work - but we’re more than that. We encourage a lot of interaction between our subscribers. The local people on the list can come down to the cafe, chew the fat, have a coffee… Saturday mornings here are great. People go for a surf, then stop by and just hang out with us. And that’s kinda really what we want to encourage, and we love it.” A trip to the saltmotion gallery is worthwhile. Seeing the surf images and ocean art landscapes from the daily email on high-quality metallic and acrylic prints is nothing short of amazing. If people are drawn in from the website, Joel wants them to bowled over by the photo in the flesh - and most would be.
If this small sample of Joel’s gets you excited, make a definite point of visiting saltmotion next time you’re in Manly, and for a daily dose of images, subscribe to the email list at www.saltmotion.com
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“ THE NORTHERN BEACHES ARE JUST NATURALLY BEAUTIFUL AND I GET TO PHOTOGRAPH SUNRISES FROM THE TOP OF A CLIFF... THAT’S PRETTY DAMN GOOD.” JOEL COLEMAN, SALTMOTION september 2010
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PEOPLE
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Jordie Brown, effortless, August 2010. Photo: Scotty Wintle september 2010
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PEOPLE
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Luke Berry Photo: Crumpet Productions
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It’s hardly an unknown surf destination, but Phillip Island’s reputation as a swell magnet is understated, particularly when compared to the much-publicised Victorian Surf Coast. WORDS DAVE SWAN
Photo: Jules Elliott september 2010
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TRAVEL: ROAD TRIP Photo: Ian Pacey
WELCOME TO PHILLIP ISLAND
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Photo: Jules Elliott
The island’s beaches, reefs and points face in several directions. No matter what the wind is doing, there will be action somewhere. If the winds are onshore at one spot, they will be offshore at another. Waves range from nice little ones for beginners to absolute monsters that would freak out the most hardened surfer. No matter where you go, there will be surf somewhere. In fact, Phillip Island could arguably lay claim to the most consistent surf, all year round, of
almost any east coast surf destination. Think that’s a pretty big statement? Well its fai to say my time on the island changed my perspective forever. Back in 1999, I had lived in the Victorian capital for about three years. With a wife from Melbourne and the good fortune of a family beach shack in Lorne, I never saw the need to venture south-east when looking for a surf. After all, didn’t the Surf Coast have the best waves in the state?
Truth be told, I only ventured over to Phillip Island once during my time in Melbourne - on a late winter afternoon when it was overcast. Hardly a fair appraisal of what the place had to offer. It wasn’t until February this year that I finally made my way back, helping to promote the Noosa Festival of Surfing. And it was there and then I was blown away by the island’s waves, its natural beauty, the cool little towns such as San Remo and Cowes, the size of the
surf community and the shapers who call the island home. Let me say again, Phillip Island is not some little surfing backwater. It deserves its place as one of the most prominent surf destinations on the east coast. And it is for this reason we have chosen to feature it as the Road Trip in the launch edition of smorgasboarder – your new free east coast surf magazine.
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TRAVEL: ROAD TRIP
WHERE IS PHILLIP ISLAND EXACTLY? The island is about 140km south-east of Melbourne. Its northern coastline is in the calm of Westernport Bay. Its western shoreline faces the Mornington Peninsula and the south coast faces the open ocean of Bass Strait. It is the south and southwest coast that deliver some of Australia’s best surf and scenic coastline.
The big bridge between San Remo, on the mainland, and Newhaven, on Phillip Island, is your gateway. The island itself is about 10,000 hectares, 26 kilometres long and 9km wide. The coastline stretches 101km, with more than half of it delivering a steady stream of waves. Before heading over to the island, pop in at the Westernport for a beer. It’s a cracking pub with a boat-shaped bar.
A SURFING ICON If you have ever doubted Phillip Island’s surf credentials, you might consider the following: For the past three years the team from local business Island Surfboards has won the Toll/Ipec Industry Challenge
in which four of Victoria’s biggest surf industry companies battle it out in a tagteam event. Island won out over the major surf companies from the more recognised Surf Coast.
Photo: Jason Stevens Photography
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TRAVEL: ROAD TRIP Graeme & Brenda Ho ward
A surf shop with personality. Memorabilia, clothing, accessories and surfboards
A BIT OF HISTORY Koalas were introduced to the island in 1880.
148 Thompson Ave/PO Box 554, Cowes Phillip Island 3922 Ph/Fax (03) 5995 1659 Mob 0411 701 428 Email pip@waterfront.net.au
The Indigenous Bunurong People were the first to use the resources of Phillip Island and the surrounding region. In 1798 George Bass was the first white man to discover the island while travelling south from Sydney in a whale boat on his way to locate a passage from the mainland to Tasmania (Bass Strait). Initially known as Snapper Island it was later renamed Phillip Island in honour of Sir Arthur Phillip, a First Fleet captain and the first governor of New South Wales.
In 1926 Phillip Island hosted the first Australian Grand Prix and today it remains famous for its motoring connections.
Quality accommodation QUEST Phillip Island Located in the vibrant, holiday township of Cowes, Quest Phillip Island is a short stroll to local shops, restaurants and beaches and within a short travelling distance to Phillip Island’s many attractions including the Penguin Parade, surf beaches and Grand Prix Circuit.
In 1842 the McHaffie brothers purchased a pastoral lease over the island for 10 pounds. They burnt scrub and cleared pastures for cattle and introduced species such as deer, rabbit and kangaroo.
FAST FACTS
QUEST Oceanic Quest Oceanic features one, two and three bedroom, fully self contained apartments. The apartments feature quality furnishings and fittings, dvd players, stereos, full kitchen, laundry facilities with large balconies and onsite undercover secure parking for one car.
Phone: 03 5952 2644 questphillipisland@bigpond.com.au
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In 1826 white man first formally occupied the island, which had been used informally by sealers for some decades previously.
Climate: Temperatures range from 17C to 35C depending on the season. Population: There are about 7000 permanent residents with the population expanding to more than 50,000 in summer. Tourism: Phillip Island hosts more than 3.5 million visitors every year. Property: The median house price at Cowes is $317,500. The median unit price is $234,000. At the other end of the island, across the bridge at San Remo on the mainland, the median house price is $396,000 and the median unit price is $315,000. Main crust: Phillip Island Nature Parks is the largest employer. Nearest City: Melbourne
Hardships in the late 1800s forced many small farmers from the land, selling to wealthier farmers. By 1882 William Harbison and John Cleeland owned the majority of rural land, using it for cattle and sheep grazing.
In 1940 the first bridge was built to connect the island to the mainland.
Did you know? The island is known as one of the international motorbike circuit’s most breathtaking destinations, with panoramic ocean views and spectacular vantage points around the track. The 2010 Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix is October 15-17, when bikes will hit speeds upwards of 320km/h. Visit www.gpticketshop.com Churchill Island is a 57-hectare historic working farm with daily demonstrations such as sheep shearing, cow milking, blacksmithing and working dogs. Drawcards include animals such as sheep, ducks, chickens and peacocks, heritage buildings, gardens, an animal nursery and licensed café. Visit www.penguins.org.au
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THE WAVES “Obviously, one of the major advantages of living down here is that any day of the week, you can pretty much get a wave. We don’t have a major influx of people. You can just surf mid-week and have perfect empty waves to yourself. But when you’re surfing with other, everyone has a smile, and you have a cold beer afterward in the car park.” Dan Rutherford – Full Circle Surf
“The beauty of the place is the sea breeze, most wind directions you can get some part of the Island where there are good conditions, depending on the size of the swell. “Most waves around the island can be surfed on either a short or longboard with the exception of a couple of extreme surf spots which are only for the most experienced and capable shortboard riders.” Matt Ryan – Island Surfboards
“There are so many different options to choose from. You can get waves every day of the year and it is far more consistent than the west coast.” Scott Peberdy – Outereef
“Phillip Island’s entire coast is a surfers’ playground with a break for almost all conditions and all skill levels. “I find Phillip Island surfers to be super friendly out on the water. When there is a quiet patch there is always an opportunity for conversation and when the waves come, there’s seldom any kerfuffle about accidentally dropping in and so forth. “Woolis and Smiths are certainly not the only beaches on the island though. On a bigger, more swelly day the other side of the island is the place to be. Both Flynn’s and Cat Bay offer a super clean wave when there is some swell.” Jason Stevens - Photographer
ckson and Scott Ja Tom Carroll “The unique ruggedness of the coastline and consistency of the swell has to be see to be believed. The beauty of the place in terms of the lack of development on the actual coastline itself further adds to the appeal. There are a variety of places to surf with next to no distance to travel and easy access. You can get from one side of the island to the other in ten to fifteen minutes. You can’t get that many, varied surf breaks in such a short distance anywhere else on the east coast.” Scott Jackson – Islantis Surfboards
“The island is a place where you can find a quiet wave away from the maddening crowd. There is always somewhere to escape the winds and just enjoy the water. “We have the best of both worlds, quiet country lifestyle in winter and in summer it comes alive with the colours and heat of summer. When the ocean beaches are busy there is always the bay to get your saltwater fix. Good cafes, good food and cold beer is available all year round. As the Island is only an hour from Melbourne, we boast a feeling of a laidback lifestyle known as ‘Island Time’.
Graeme & Brenda, owners of Island Surf Shack, always up for a laugh
Graeme Howard – Island Surf Shack
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TRAVEL: ROAD TRIP
SURFING PHILLIP ISLAND
Cape Woolamai - Photo: George Apostolidis/Tourism Victoria
CAT BAY REGION
WOOLAMAI REGION
A number of breaks. A good summertime location, unique because it can be surfed on a sea breeze. Requires moderate to heavy swell, breaking over flat rock.
03. Inside Right Point – high tide on smaller swells. Best at one metre. Watch the end suck rock. SW to SE.
01.
04. Flynn’s Reef – right hand reef. For the experienced surfer. One of the best and most used sites on Phillip Island.
Shelly Beach – safe for beginners and seldom over a metre in size. Half to full tide is best. SW to SE. Left point and centre hump on low tides. 02. Right Point – left hand reef break. Requires more experience. Holds waves 2.5 metres. Best on an incoming tide. S to E winds.
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Consistent because of regular sand bank formations over rock. Generally the most surfed beach on Phillip Island. At its best on a low to moderate swell. Clubhouse stretch of beach is patrolled at weekends and school holidays. Left and right sand banks. 05. Magiclands – all tides. E to SE winds, protected from stronger winds by Cape Woolamai. Best at 1 to 1.5 metres.
western end of the beach. Consistently good with many State and national titles held here. Can be rippy and dangerous at times. 07. Forrest Caves – N to NW. Occasional good waves but not as consistent as Woolamai. Lefts or rights. Small to moderate swells.
06. Woolamai – NE to N wind is best, but holds N to NW at the Ocean Reach
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N
WESTERN PORT COWES
RYHLL PT D AN SL D OS OA GR R
SHELLY BEACH
INSIDE RIGHT POINT
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IRONMAN ROAD BACK BEACH ROAD
GAP ROAD
AC
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ICA
02
NT
RIGHT POINT
VE
FLYNN’S REEF
VENNOR
AD
WESTERN PASSAGE
COWES RYHLL ROAD
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PH
ILL
WATTS ROAD
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14
13
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SUMMERLAND SUMMERLAND SHORE BREAK KITTYS CENTRE MILLER BAY POINT CRACK SEAL ROCKS
BASS STRAIT
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SMITHS BEACH
YCW BEACH
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EXPRESS POINT
SURFIES POINT
IP
PHILLIP ISLAND INFORMATION CENTRE ISL
AN
DR
OA
NEWHAVEN
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SAN REMO
07 FORREST CAVES
PYRAMID ROCK
EASTERN PASSAGE
06 WOOLAMIA SURF BEACH
05 MAGIC LANDS
SURF BEACH REGION
SMITH’S BEACH REGION
SUMMERLAND PENINSULA
Flat sand beach breaks. Mostly lefts. N to NW occasionally. Generally the best on low tide. Also heavy reefs producing the largest surfable waves on the island. Experience a must.
Safe family beach with left and right beach breaks. Moderate swells.
Produces good waves in winter conditions for both novice and experienced riders. Often good in stormy periods or when the rest of the island is blown out.
08.
Surfies Point – right hand reef break, low to high tide. Moderate to heavy swell. NW wind and best in winter. Holds 3m plus. 09.
Express Point – right hand shallow reef break on moderate to heavy swell. Very hollow, very dangerous. N to NW wind.
10. Smith’s Beach – Sand banks. Peaks N to NW winds summer and winter. Patrolled in summer. Best at 1-1.5m. Popular summer beach. Summer crowds. 11. YCW Beach – NW to N wind. Good for bodyboarding with high tide shore breaks at western end and low tide rights at eastern end.
12.
Kitty Miller Bay – right hand reef break on moderate to heavy swell. Half to high tide.
14. Centre Crack – Half to low tide and NW to SW wind. Moderate to heavy swell. Winter surf mostly. Best at 1.52m. 15. Summerland Point – right hand rocky point at high tide. Protected under Phelan’s Bluff. W to SW winds, 1-1.5m ride.
13. Summerland Shore Break – high tide lefts and rights. NW to SW wind. Metre waves are best.
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TRAVEL: ROAD TRIP • Seal Watching Cruises • Sunset Cruises • Private Charters
The Esplanade, Cowes, 3922 info@wildlifecoastcruises.com.au www.wildlifecoastcruises.com.au
Bookings Call 1300 763 739
attractive by nature
Phillip Island & Bass Coast Visitor Information Centres Visit our friendly staff and volunteers for information on: • Accommodation bookings • Tickets for attractions • Free maps & brochures • Local events and activities Look, book and pay online at: www.visitphillipisland.com or www.visitbasscoast.com Phillip Island Visitor Information Centre 895 Phillip Island Tourist Road Newhaven 3925 Ph: 1300 366 422
Cowes Visitor Information Centre 91-97 Thompson Avenue Cowes 3922 Ph: 1300 366 422
Wonthaggi Visitor Information Centre 73 Watt Street Wonthaggi 3995 Ph: 1300 854 334
Inverloch Visitor Information Centre 16 A’Beckett street Inverloch 3996 Ph: 1300 762 433
Luxury
self-contained apartments at affordable prices in Cowes, Phillip Island...
FLAT DAYS In the unlikely event the surf is not working somewhere on the island, or more likely, you are totally exhausted from the waves and want some quality time with your family or friends, there is an endless number of activites to enjoy on the island. The island has a range of beach and bush tracks/ boardwalks. They include Conservation Hill and Rhyll Mangrove Boardwalk, which overlook the Rhyll Wetlands, and Rhyll Inlet, which offers excellent bird watching opportunities. There are animal attractions galore on the island. Maru Koala and Animal Park has everything from Tasmanian devils, crocodiles and dingoes to an 18-hole pirate-themed mini golf course.
Those with a sweet tooth can treat themselves at Pannys Phillip Island Chocolate Factory, which boasts a chocolate café and interactive Amazing World of Chocolate. It is certainly appears to be one of the island’s most visited attractions.
If you are truly interested in sea life one of the best way to see our ocean’s creatures is up close and personal. See the southern hemisphere’s largest fur seal colony aboard Wildlife Coast Cruises luxurious 19m catamaran The Kasey Lee. p 03 5952 1351 f 03 59523144 e info@thewaves.com.au www.thewaves.com.au
The National Vietnam Veterans Museum has recently opened its new premises next to the Phillip Island Airport. It holds thousands of military artefacts and displays.
Free off-street parking | bbq | guest laundry | internet smoke free self-contained | spa
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Victorias natural surfing destination... • S pacious 1, 2, & 3 bedroom apartments from $175 per night • J ust 5 minutes from some of the region’s best surfing locations • S tunning bay views and excellent resort facilities
The penguin parade is possibly what the island is most famous for. The little fellas waddle up the beach to the safety of their homes in the sand dunes each night and it is a sight to behold, particularly if you have young children. Buy your ticket as part of a three-park pass, which also includes Churchill Island Heritage Farm, the koala conservation centre and nobbies centre Australia’s newest marine attraction.
Photo: Phillip Island Nature Parks
Mention this ad and receive a
EE FR breakfast
or bar tab
17 Potters Hill Road, San Remo VIC 3925 info@silverwaterresort.com.au | 1800 033 403
www.silverwaterresort.com.au
Cooper Griffin
25 years later... still flying high Indulge the need for speed at the grand prix circuit, which has go karts, hot laps, guided circuit tours, a selfdrive experience and a history of motorsport display.
At A Maze ‘N Things the whole family can enjoy optical illusions, mazes, puzzles mind games and Puzzle Island while the Bunurong coastal drive offers endless natural beauty, from the windswept dunes of Kilcunda to Anderson Inlet at Inverloch. For more information make your way to The Phillip Island Visitor Information Centre at 895 Phillip Island Tourist Road, Newhaven.The centre is open every day of the year from 9.00am to 5.00pm and until 6.00pm during the summer school holidays. (1.00pm to 5.00pm Christmas) The centre is on the left hand side of the road, 1km over the bridge onto Phillip Island. Follow the i signs. There is a large parking area for cars, caravans, motor homes. There is also an after hours information shelter with information about accommodation, attractions, events and free maps.
We’ve been around long enough to know that the best boards mean the best performance, from beginner to advanced, from softboards to SUPs. That’s why we only stock the best.
STOCKING ALL MAJOR LABELS
Fullcircle, JS, Firewire, Chilli, Rusty, Hayden, Emery, DHD, Santa Cruz, Webber, Simon Anderson, McTavish, Superbrand, Stacey, Tokoro, Hot Buttered, GSI, Fibreflex & much more
www.fullcirclesurf.com.au 4-5 Vista Place Cape Woolamai VIC 3925 03 5956 7453
115 Marine Parade San Remo VIC 3925 03 5678 5873
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TRAVEL: ROAD TRIP
In winter you have a cosy fireplace and in summer, a massive roofto p sundeck.
EAT, SLEEP, MEET & BE MERRY...
THE ISLAND The first thing that strikes you as you walk into The Island Accommodation is how ultra-modern, clean and contemporary the whole complex is. The guys have really revolutionised budget accommodation. It comes as no surprise the complex took out the recent Building Designers Association of Victoria’s 1st prize for the Most Environmentally Sustainable Design at the 2010 awards. State-of-the-art facilities feature throughout and the complex is sumptuously furnished. Words cannot describe how plush it is for budget style accommodation. Consider these appointments: • M assive roof-top sun deck with 360-degree ocean views and numerous balconies and decks including sun lounges and cafe style seating • Feel at home in the two fully appointed gourmet self-catering kitchens. • Open-plan dining areas with large and spacious chill out lounges boasting roaring fireplaces and airconditioning for summer. • TV lounges with 50” plasmas, highspeed internet café and wi-fi
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• Secure under-bed locker storage in multi-share rooms • Guest laundry, BBQ facilities, lift, disabled toilets and showers, onsite parking, swipe card security, linen, free onsite bikes for hire and parking • Laid back and friendly. The Island Accommodation has plenty of open living spaces providing ample space for relaxation, fun, dining and good times. Surfers of any age, whether they’re in groups, are travelling as a couple or family, are sure to be absolutely stoked with the convenience, affordability and comfort. Better still, it forms part of a larger complex known as the Big Wave Complex. It includes Islantis Surfboards, The Big Wave Café, Phillip Island Paddle and Surf School and Internet Café.
ISLAND WAVE COMPLEX 10-12 Phillip Island Tourist Rd, NEWHAVEN Proximity: Close to public transport and San Remo’s pubs and takeaways Phone: 03 5956 6123 Email: info@theislandaccommodation.com.au From $30 per person, per night
Top to bottom: Fully equipped lounge; shared gourmet kitchen facilities; shared bathrooms; private studio suites perfect for those who need some privacy. Main picture: Massive views from the rooftop sundeck
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BRIDGE MOTEL NEWHAVEN 31 Forest Ave, NEWHAVEN For surfers, their families and friends, Bridge Motel provides clean, airconditioned and comfortable rooms without the expense. Located in a quiet scenic location, the motel offers single, double plus both family and group accommodation.
QUEST OCEANIC 146 Thompson Ave, COWES
WESTERNPORT HOTEL 161 Marine Pde, SAN REMO
Opened in November 2005, Quest Oceanic features one, two and three-bedroom, fully self-contained apartments. The apartments feature full kitchen, laundry facilities with large balconies and onsite, under-cover, secure parking.
The Westernport Hotel offers accommodation, featuring five country hotel-style rooms. Rooms on offer include ensuite rooms to dormstyle accommodation – perfect for that unplanned stopover, or for the convenience of staying close to all that San Remo and Phillip Island have to offer.
Proximity: In the heart of Cowes. Phone: 03 5952 2644 Email: questphillipisland@ bigpond.com.au www.questoceanic.com.au
SILVERWATER RESORT 17 Potters Hill Rd, SAN REMO
Rooms include fresh linen, towels and basic tea and coffee making facilities, and offer shared toilet and showering facilities.
Silverwater Resort offers 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: On the waterfront and close to Cape Woolamai. Phone: 03 5956 7218 Email: info@bridgemotel.com.au www.bridgemotel.com.au
Proximity: Across the road from the San Remo jetty and foreshore Phone: 03 5678 5205 Email: info@thewesternport.com.au www.thewesternport.com.au Bookings are essential
Proximity: Five minutes to surf beach, two minutes to town Phone: 1800 033 403 Email: res@silverwaterresort.com.au www.silverwaterresort.com.au
Rates starting from $76 per night per room QUEST PHILLIP ISLAND Cnr Bass Ave and Chapel St, COWES
From $175 per night
The apartments feature fully equipped kitchens with full-size oven, dishwasher and microwave, separate living/dining area, LCD flat-screen TV, Austar, DVD player and reverse cycle air-conditioning/ heating in the lounge area. Quest Phillip Island features one, two and three-bedroom, luxury, self-contained apartments - the latest in contemporary architecture and design.
ISLAND PARADISE HOLIDAY RENTALS - PHILLIP ISLAND Your boutique holiday rental specialists on Phillip Island. Offers the surfing enthusiasts affordable accommodation at Cape Woolamai, Surf Beach and Smith’s Beach. · Waterfront properties · Walking distance to surf beaches · Fully self-contained with BBQ facilities. · Properties to suit families, couples and groups.
The property is in the heart of Cowes, Phillip Island’s major seaside township, close to restaurants and recreational beaches. Proximity: In the heart of Cowes. Telephone: 03 5952 2644 Email: questreception@ waterfront.net.au www.questphillipisland.com.au
THE WAVES No. 1 The Esplanade, COWES
SURF AND CIRCUIT ACCOMMODATION 113-119 Justice Rd, COWES
Rates starting from $200 per night
Please contact for a quote
laundry
kitchen
parking
wi-fi
pool
Rates starting from $135
No campsites, no caravans, no crowds, just relax!!! Proximity: 3km from town and five minute walk to beach Phone: 03 5952 1300 Email: helen@surfandcircuit.com www.surfandcircuit.com
gym
Proximity: Across the road to the beach. Phone: 03 5952 1351 Email: info@thewaves.com.au Fax: 03 59523144 www.thewaves.com.au
Modern resort unlike any other. Eight fully-serviced, contained units situated on 2.5 acres. Adults and toddlers pool, tennis court, playground, outdoor/ undercover B.B.Q. areas
Phone: 0407 801 878 (Melissa) Email: h olidayrentalsphillipisland@ bigpond.com www.holidayrentalsphillipisland.com.au
TV
Waves Apartments opened in January 2010 offering luxury accommodation at affordable prices. Located along the beachfront of Cowes, only a stroll to all restaurants, retail area and cafes. Apartments are self-contained with a separate sleeping area for children, two person spa and separate shower.
refrigerator
family-friendly
pet-friendly
spa
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Come overseas from $30/night*
Brand new Eco-friendly accommodation is specially designed for you with state of the art facilities, comfortable and friendly services. At The Island we know the importance of meeting people. The complex has been designed with this in mind. Open spaces provide ample space for relaxation, fun, dining and good times. Our vibe is friendly and relaxed.
P: 03 5956 6123 E: info@theislandaccommodation.com.au
BOOK ONLINE AT
www.theislandaccommodation.com.au
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All your surf gear under one roof
Islantis Surfboards opened in Newhaven, on Phillip Island, in the late 1970s, to provide surfers with boards and other hardware. In thirty years Phillip Island has changed but Islantis is still here.
P: 03 5956 7553 E: info@islantis.com.au The Big Wave Complex 10 - 12 Phillip Island Tourist Road, Phillip Island, 3925, Victoria, Australia
DAILY SURF REPORTS www.islantis.com.au
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One place has you covered...
TRAVEL: ROAD TRIP
Visiting Phillip Island?
GETTING FED...
ISLAND STYLE For such a relatively small area Phillip Island is amazingly well serviced in relation to grabbing a bite and finding somewhere to enjoy a drink.
Th e w h i te p by t h e p ub ie r
bar bistro accommodation live music AHHA (Vic) Finalist 2008, 2009 - Best Entertainment Venue
161 Marine Parade, San Remo VIC 3925 info@thewesternport.com.au
Ph: 03 5678 5205 • www.thewesternport.com.au
MEET ME @ THE HOTEL ...for dinner...
...cocktails and drinks...
...great coffee...
...dancing and much more!
Cnr Thompson Avenue and the Esplanenade, Cowes 3922
Enquiries: 5952 2060
Pizza: 5952 2100
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There are four local wineries, two of which are on the island. We, however, found our way to a superb local microbrewery called Rusty Water. It is a great little setup with bar and adjoining restaurant boasting a range of handcrafted ales. The food is reportedly superb - we could certainly testify to the quality of the beer. Try a sample paddle which includes four different types of amber nectar. Be prepared to fall in love with their caramelized banana wheat beer, dark malt toffee ale, Koala pale ale and the Mako .. ahhhh. And if you are keen for a bit of a night out, head to The Hotel - great food, friendly staff, live music and you can even have a boogie. As far as restaurants and cafes go, there are about 31 establishments to choose from. We found the Panhandle Tex Mex Family Cantina and Bar great value - a perfect venue for an informal family and friends meal. For something a touch classier there’s several restaurants in the main street of Cowes including Sherwoods and Infused. For seafood you can’t go much better than Taylors, situated on the cliff tops of Bass Strait, set amongst a famous mutton bird rookery with some of the most outstanding views Phillip Island has to offer. The same applies to The Foreshore Bar and Restaurant at Rhyll - unforgettable views and exquisite food. The great views and great food continue at San Remo at the Watermark Restaurant, where you can savour the region’s best produce. Or you can follow the locals to the Westernport Hotel for a great meal and a few drinks in relaxed surrounds. Basically, you could wine and dine for weeks on end before you got tired of the variety of options available. There is certainly something for everyone, from couples to groups and families.
Hit the Wes tenport for a cold be er, or if you fancy the South Amer ican kind, the Pan handle has Mexican!
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THE FORESHORE BAR AND RESTAURANT 11 Beach Road, RHYLL, PHILLIP ISLAND The foreshore bar and restaurant is in the quiet little village of Rhyll. This unique and stylish restaurant has amazing water views for you to enjoy over a glass of local wine, whilst indulging yourself in our delicious menu comprising local produce and fresh seafood dishes • • • • •
Great creative food, great service 180-degree waterfront views Warm and relaxing environment Covered alfresco dining Bar and lounge area
Phone: 03 5956 9520 Email: enquiry@theforeshore.com.au www.theforeshore.com.au Open for lunch and dinner
TEL WESTERNPORT HO REMO N SA , Pde 161 Marine
venue with premier entertainment is Southern Victoria’s el is also hot the thin Wi y. The Westernport Hotel ay, Saturday and Sunda Frid ry k onto the eve nt loo me out ain ng live entert . With its stunni seat bistro style eatery h tourists. wit is it as als loc a family-friendly, 180 h wit r and jetty, it is as popula San Remo foreshore fresh local produce, ion of fresh seafood and ect sel a e lud inc r and the gs Menu offerin rnport seafood platte ure items as a Weste including such signat f.’ renowned ‘surf ‘n’ tur x and enjoy. ertained while you rela m to keep the kids ent There is also a kids roo 5 Phone: 03 5678 520 sternport.com.au Email: info@thewe t.com.au www.thewesternpor Open for lunch and
HOTEL PHILLIP ISLAND 11-13 The Esplana de, COWES Hotel at Phillip Isl and is the place wh ere you can relax and pizza, have a and enjoy a beer great meal or try one of the amazing real cocktail bar on cocktails at the on Phillip Island. With ly the aim to create contemporary ho tel dining, café cu the ultimate in lture and entertai on any visit to Ph nment, Hotel is a illip Island. must The hotel bistro is open for lunch an d dinner and is the together with fam ideal place to get ily and friends. Th e Hotel is also ren pasta and offers owned for its pizza the option to take and away. Phone: 03 5952 2100 www.hotelphillipis land.com Open from noon
to late.
SILVERWATER RESORT 17 Potters Hill Rd, SAN REMO Dine indoors or outdoors, from a casual breakfast overlooking the bay through to tapas in the bar or dinner on the terrace. Find time to savour our executive chef’s exciting menu which makes the most of the region’s fresh produce. Watermark Restaurant is open to the public for breakfast, lunch and dinner. With a region known for seafood, beef, dairy products and vegetables our inspired restaurant menus incorporate these fresh, local ingredients and flavours. Phone: 03 5671 9300 www.silverwaterresort.com.au Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner
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TRAVEL: ROAD TRIP Photo: Simon Arnot
HOME TO... Phillip Island has a number of class operations and some of the country’s most experienced shapers. Best of all, walk into any surf shop and you can have a one-on-one conversation with any of these shapers – they are approachable, personable and accessible. FULL CIRCLE SURF Russell Francis of Full Circle Surf started out with Ripcurl glassing and shaping in its infancy in the late ‘60s when Torquay was spawning the first of its global surf companies. Since then he has worked in Australia and overseas with different surf companies gaining experience in all facets of the surfboard shaping industry. ISLAND SURFBOARDS Island Surfboards was founded in 1969 and has become renowned for its quality handmade boards. With stores in Cowes and Smith’s Beach, Island Surfboards has become one of the most recognised names in the core Australian surfing industry. More than 500 surfboards a year are handmade from start to finish by experienced craftsmen, using the highest quality materials.
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ISLAND SURF SHACK If you are after something a little different, stick your head in and say g’day to Graham and Brenda. You won’t find more personable, salt-ofthe-earth people. Island Surf Shack has a great range of surfing memorabilia, gifts and clothes and has a select range of boards. The place has a real personality to it and there are fantastic gifts for kids to grown-ups. ISLANTIS SURFBOARDS Islantis has been around since the late ‘70s. Over the years it has slowly built up an amazing collection of surfing memorabilia. From old balsa mals to world championship winning twin-fins. There is a great showcase of surfing history on display at the store, as well as a very large range of the latest surfboards from Islantis and other well-known shapers. The store also has an extensive range of surf accessories and clothing. OUTEREEF Outereef specialises in producing high-quality performance surfboards shaped exactly to the dimensions you require. They put as much effort as possible into their boards, fully appreciating it is surfboard shaping that is the backbone of the business.
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Photo: Jeff Tull
GETTING THERE... FROM MELBOURNE The trip from Melbourne will take about 1.5hrs and is an easy drive with the South Gippsland Freeway and then Highway getting you most of the way there. FROM SYDNEY The quickest route entails heading inland, jumping on the Hume Highway and going via Melbourne out to Phillip Island. The trip is around 9.5 hrs and just under 1,000km. Not a huge ask for those keen to savour the delights of the island. The alternative is the more scenic coastal route with possible stops along the way at places such as Merimbula and Lakes Entrance. The trip will take just under 13 hours’ driving time and cover about 1013km. Be careful though, while beautiful, the trip from Merimbula to Lakes Entrance is a tough one and shouldn’t be tackled before or after dark. The stretch of road is notorious for trucks and wombats. If you have the misfortune of hitting a wombat (same goes for the wombat), its apparently like hitting a log and they have the potential to roll your car.
FROM BRISBANE You have a number of choices. The quickest and most boring is straight down the guts on the Newell Hwy. During the day the drive is monotonous. During the night it’s downright dangerous with the amount of wildlife, such as kangaroos. It will take you about 21 hours to travel the 1795km. (In fairness the are some nice little towns along the way and attractions such as the Dubbo Zoo. But these are possibly a little too far away from the ocean. Alternatively you can travel down the New England Highway, which is more fertile and more picturesque than the Newell Hwy, going via the outskirts of Sydney and down the Hume Highway. However, if you love the ocean you might as well make it a momentous surf road trip and stop at all manner of hot surf spots right down the east coast, travelling along the rapidly improving Pacific Highway. All up the trip will probably take you at least 24 hours and cover some 2000km but you will have some cracking tales to tell.
If you really want to get out and explore add about half an hour to your trip and head further south-west of Lakes Entrance and take the drive via Foster through to Wonthaggi and then on to Phillip Island. It is stunning countryside.
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TRAVEL: EXPERIENCE
SURFARI TRAVEL TIPS “Ditch the floaties. Stop swimming in the kiddie’s pool and embark on the international surf trip of a lifetime.”
Going on an overseas surf trip for the first time is a lot like learning to swim. You have to take the plunge. You have to leave the safe confines of what you know, like your local ‘kiddie’s pool’, and swim where the big kids play. Sure it may seem daunting at first, and even a little intimidating, but an international surf trip is a calling that any self-respecting surfer has considered, if not already done. But before you go, you need to know the answers to what, when, who, where and how.
So ‘what’?
Huge barrels, slow walls, sharp pits or mellow sliders? All destinations offer a variety of waves but many international reputations are deserved. Plan your trip around your ability but don’t be afraid to push yourself. Research the destination you’re considering. The internet is a great resource and sites such as worldsurfaris.com offer a good insight into Indian Ocean and South Pacific waves. wannasurf.com and magicseaweed.com are also good sites for referencing individual waves and how they behave. 66
When?
Because of the earth’s axial tilt we get seasons. Surf is caused by huge oceanic storms with the best storms occurring in winter. Bearing this in mind, when to travel is entirely up to you, but the swell magnets turn on at different times of year depending on which hemisphere is going through winter. Transitional seasons see the best of both worlds but usually produce mellower swells with the bigger earth-shattering swells less likely. The northern hemisphere winter storms turn on Hawaii, Caroline Islands, Papua New Guinea and Tonga producing consistent waves. Australia’s winter sees the south-facing swell magnets like the Maldives, Indonesia, Fiji, New Caledonia, Samoa & Tahiti turn it on. Most of these places have swell all year round. It’s what happens when you’re exposed to large amounts of uninterrupted ocean. But, if you’re after consistency, bare ‘when’ in mind when planning your trip.
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Photo: World Surfaris
Photo: World Surfaris
Take up the challenge of an international surf adventure
Who?
Boys’ trip, romantic getaway or family trip? Plan around the people you’re going with and keep them in mind.
There are hidden treasures on offer that are sure to keep even the most high-maintenance partners happy in places such as The Maldives, Bali, Fiji and Vanuatu.
Boys’ trip: What level of surfing is the group at? Land based or surf charter? If planning the annual boys or girls trip, then have a group BBQ and get a unanimous decision on what everyone wants and possibly elect a leader to deal with the travel consultant directly (he/ she gets the best cabin).
Comfort, a range of non-surf activities and good food and wine should be the key deciding factors, coupled with the fact that you have a cranking reef pass within paddling distance of your accommodation. Combine the two great loves of your life! …… or something like that!
Remember to ask how many spaces need to be paid for if you want sole use of the boat or surf camp. Boat charters offer substantial discounts on sole use trips, which could save the group hundreds.
Family Trip: Plan around the family. Lots of activities aside from surfing, facilities for younger children and consider the length of flights. It’s a holiday, so make it as stress free as you can. Bali, Samoa, Maldives and Fiji all offer resorts with care facilities to let you unwind and really embrace the family surf trip, ensuring you get a much-needed rest without the guilt.
Romantic trip: Let it be just that. A couple of surfs daily without buggering off all day (unless you both surf) will keep you in good with your partner, and keep you stoked. Plan to head to a place that offers a wide variety of activities such as a resort or a luxury surf charter with your own cabin to keep it romantic. Unless your partner is hard-core, they won’t appreciate being on a budget boat with a bunch of crusty blokes.
Where?
The ultimate question and directly related to what, when and who, requires you to get stuck into some research. A very nifty widget called the Surfari suggester can be found on
the worldsurfaris.com homepage. It narrows down a multitude of options to just a few according to your date range, surf ability and budget along with your desired form of accommodation. It is important to bear in mind, however, most destinations are reef breaks. But there is no need to feel intimidated. The reef causes waves to break mechanically. You can suss out the wave and get into its rhythm due to the predictable behaviour of reef-breaks. And it is surfing reef-breaks that will ultimately improve your surfing.
How?
Whether you’re a seasoned guru that pioneered Indo in front of awe-shocked locals, an adventurous grom, or just feel like ‘breaking out of the box’ to escape local surf frustration, you will probably need an expert travel consultant to arrange your package along with flights. World Surfaris employ a team of travel gurus to handle your travel arrangements with care and take out the guess the work, giving you the piece of mind to travel to strange new lands with confidence.
Remember our top tips: 1. Don’t travel without insurance!
3. Choose a good quiver! Most airlines will accept 2-3 boards as sporting goods but every airline is different. Make sure you check before your trip. Our recommended 2 board quiver is your standard all rounder & something with a bit more length for the bigger days. Remember a lot of domestic airlines have their own rules about baggage so internal flights can be a nightmare. Booking with an expert will probably save you $$$ in the long run.
4. Pack your boards with love! Airports are busy places and ground crew can be pretty rough. Take your fins off if you can. Use a towel and some padding to hold them in place if you can’t. Bubble wrap is a must! Keep it light and try to minimise movement. Remember - ‘if it’s not tight and light, it’s not right’.
The final question ...Why?
We say why not. Seriously? Just picture yourself there. The ‘big pool’ is calling you!
Remember Murphy’s Law, if it can happen, it will happen. Overseas care gets expensive. Insurance is a worthy investment.
2. Pack light! Chances are you’re
travelling to a tropical destination and you’ll end up living in board shorts, a t-shirt and thongs. Sun care is a must. Zinc, sunscreen and sun/rash vest are essential.
Travel tips were provided by Grant Shankster of World Surfaris
1800 611 163 www.worldsurfaris.com september 2010
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TRAVEL: PLANE TRIP
Photo: Daniel Sinton
Photo: Chris Holland
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WELCOME TO...
CALIFORNIA WORDS BY DAVE SWAN
You come for the waves and the water and won’t be disappointed by either. But when you’re ready to take a break from the beach, there’s more to this little slice of paradise than just surfing
Photo: Dan Sinton september 2010
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TRAVEL: PLANE TRIP Photo: Stacy Cochrell
THIS IS HERMOSA BEACH
Photo: hermosawave.net
The thought of a family holiday in California didn’t initially appeal. It might be a sign of my advancing years, but the word California conjured up images of TV show CHiPS, officers Frank Poncherello and Jon Baker and tight beige jodhpurs.
I knew it had been more than 20 years since I had visited the Golden State, but what seemed so cool as a teenager now seemed so, well, American. Not that I have anything against the Yanks; it’s just that in many ways Australia is like a 53rd state. And I wanted to go somewhere different.
Photo: Steve Owen
Boy am I glad I was overruled though. I had forgotten how great California really is.
From Los Angeles south to San Diego, ‘So Cal’ is a surfing mecca with an endless array of cool towns and some of California’s most revered shapers. LA is a big city … a bloody big city full of contrasts; the hills of Hollywood, the mix of characters who 70
Photo: Steve Owen
Santa Barbara through to San Francisco and further north is another world altogether. The countryside and surfing are so good it is best left to explore in a future edition of surfboarder.
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FAMOUS LOCALS BING SURFBOARDS
Photo: Dan Sinton
walk the boulevard, the mansions of Beverley Hills, the body builders and beach babes of Venice Beach, the magic that is Disneyland, the tough streets of South-Central, and the coastline from Santa Monica down to South Bay. Sure it can be dangerous at times, and there are things you should avoid, like my wrong turn that lead us into gangbanger heartland, smack bang in the middle of south-central Los Angeles. But overall it is an amazing city to visit, particularly if you get a chance to make your way to Hermosa Beach.
“HERMOSA IS ACTUALLY A SMALL, BEAUTIFUL SUBURB, 20 MINUTES SOUTH OF LAX AND DIRECTLY ON THE OCEAN” While it is often labelled a ‘beach city’, Hermosa is actually a small, beautiful suburb 20 minutes south
of LAX and directly on the ocean. The beach is expansive, from street to water, and the famous California sidewalk known as The Strand stretches for almost 42km. As soon as you see The Strand the urge strikes to grab a skateboard or bike and scoot off. So that’s exactly what we did. My eldest daughter took off on the bicycle equivalent of a chopper, my wife and son shared a two-seater pushie, and my other daughter and I did the same. The Strand is honestly the best way to explore your surrounds, marvel at the beachfront mansions, occasionally (occasionally) ogle the beach-volleyball players (without crashing) and, of course, check out the surf. With young kids, you always keep an ever-watchful eye on the surrounds but at Hermosa I could relax. It had an incredibly laidback vibe. Pardon the cliche but the feeling was one of ‘cool man’. After our bike ride we checked out a few surf shops in Pier Ave and stopped by Waterman’s Safe House for Surfers, which is proof that when Americans do something well, they do it incredibly well. The décor
includes a bench seat out the front made of Sector Nine skateboards, Volcom-themed tables inside, bamboo chairs branded with the Waterman insignia, surf memorabilia and photos, and even thatched bamboo menus. Waterman’s is quite possibly the best surf-themed bar and restaurant I have come across. It was all class and the food was equally as impressive, just like the beer.
Long-time local Bing Copeland played a key role in the evolution of the surfing industry, from starting work with the legendary Dale Velzy at 13 through to the 1960s, when he first began shaping his own boards commercially. Since those days Bing Surfboards has become one of the longestrunning and most progressive names in the business. Now based in Gardenia, just 12km from Hermosa Beach, Bing’s work is carried on by the extremely talented Matt Calvani, who has worked for some of California’s best shapers, including Hap Jacobs, Dennis Jarvis of Spyder Surfboards, Phil Becker of Becker Surfboards and, of course, Bing Copeland and Mike Eaton. The brand is available in Australia through California Surf Imports, www.californiasurfimports.com. East coast stockists include Six Ounce Board Store, Bondi; Heritage Surf, Manly; Deus Ex Machina, Camperdown; Sandy Feet, Port Macquarie; The Log Shack, Coffs Harbour
With the family fed and the kids tired after their bike ride and day in the great outdoors, it was back to our luxurious Beach House Hotel corner suite for some quiet time - and a chance for me to sneak off for a wave out front.
TYLER SURFBOARDS Since his appearance in the 2007 surfing documentary One California Day, Tyler Hatzikian has been the California shaper on everyone’s lips. A resident of El Segundo, just 6.5km north of Hermosa, his boards are exquisite, whether you are after a noserider, a performance longboard, or retro or modern shortboard. The range is unbelievable, as is his glassing jobs; check out The Ridler and start salivating. Even better, the boards are now available in Australia through Southcoast Longboards, www.southcoastlongboards.com.au 71
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Photo: Daniel Sinton
TRAVEL: PLANE TRIP
Photo: Robert Masys
SURF BREAKS
“ HERMOSA BEACH ITSELF GENERATES YOUR TYPICAL BEACH BREAK SET-UP WITH PEAKS LEFT AND RIGHT. “
HERMOSA BEACH’S LAID-BACK ATMOSPHERE CONTINUES OUT IN THE WATER.
Whilst not the hottest of So-Cal’s (Southern California) surf spots it has a variety of good waves for the advanced through to the beginner. Hermosa Beach itself generates your typical beach break set-up with peaks left and right. 16th Street has wellshaped waves over sandbars offshore of the storm drain. Hermosa Pier has descent peaks peeling off both sides of the pier. Waves can be hollow and fast when smaller summer south-west swells combine with easterlies in the morning. The area holds swells up to about 6ft. Winter swells work as well but can tend to be too juicy for the banks to handle with sets closing out quickly.
Photo: Steve Owen
Further north up the road, Manhattan Beach generally has superior breaks to Hermosa and is the first spot in the South bay to see south swells. The area can hold swells up to 10 ft. The Rendondo Breakwater just south of Hermosa Pier is the pick of the spots and the premier LA big wave destination handling swells 20ft+.
CONDITIONS Bottom: sand Break: left and right, best in peaky swell
Photo: Daniel Sinton
Level: generally beginner to intermediate Best conditions: low to medium tide, E/SE winds Best when: September through November Board: short or long, more often long Water temps: 15 in summer,10 in winter. Crowd factor: spread out, low key vibe, but is a city break and can get crowded Hazards: Negotiating close-outs, water pollution following heavy rains
Photo: Robert Masys
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Photo: Robert Masys
TOWN MUST DO
FAST FACTS Hermosa Beach is in the South Bay region of greater Los Angeles and is bordered by the other Beach Cities - Manhattan Beach to the north and Redondo Beach to the south. The city itself extends only 15 blocks from east to west and 40 blocks from north to south. The Pacific Coast Highway runs down the middle. Average temperatures are 24 degrees in the summer through to 13 degrees in the winter. Gentle westerly sea breezes take the edge off what can be high summertime temperatures in Los Angeles and elsewhere in the county. These same breezes help keep the famous LA smog away 360 days of the year. Hermosa Beach pier is at the end of Pier Avenue, the community’s main shopping, eating and partying areas. The area is home to sun worshippers and beach-loving athletes alike, from surfers through to beach volleyballers. Check out beautiful people exercising throughout the day. Properties within a short walk of the ocean routinely sell for well over $AU1.7 million. Those with direct, unhindered views routinely ask in excess of $2.3mi. Homes on The Strand frequently sell for $3.5–11.5m.
Surf. The obvious Cruise The Strand. Hermosa Cyclery, next to the Beach House Hotel, opens seven days a week; from 9am-6pm in summer and 9am5pm in winter. Rent a cruiser from $8 and a tandem from $15 p/h. A FIIK skateboard would go nuts here. Check out page 93. Waterman’s Safe House for Surfers. 22 Pier Ave. Surf-themed restaurant/bar with surf memorabilia and fantastic food. Spyder Surf. Part of the scene since 1983. For several years now, a Spyder Surf Fest has been held in April to celebrate surf culture Californian style. For your chance to attend the festival, see the inside back page of this edition. Disneyland. 1313 S. Disneyland Dve, Anaheim. The world’s best theme park is only a 30-45 minute drive. But truth be told, there’s nothing else remotely like it in the world. Just as much fun for parents as for the kids.
TRAVEL TIPS Flights Qantas flies direct from Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne into Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Sydney to LA takes about thirteen-and-a-half hours. Check out other airlines for their routes. Documents As with all overseas trips, you need a passport. But Australian nationals can now travel without a visa through the United States Visa Waiver program, under which you must apply in advance for an electronic authorisation known as ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorisation). For details talk to your travel agent or visit www. qantas.com.au or www.esta.us/ Baggage limits Each Qantas passenger is allowed two pieces of baggage, provided they do not exceed 23kg each. No single piece can exceed 32kg per passenger. Providing your surfboard does not exceed 9ft or 32kg they can be included in your free baggage allowance. Additional baggage is charged.
The most amazing range of Longboards, Retro and Shortboard brands on the East Coast including
Mandala, Mackie, Van Straalen, Takayama, Neal Purchase jnr, Bing, Zed, Formular Energy, Gato Heroi, Mctavish, Firewire, Chilli, JS, Al Merrick, Lost, Dahlberg, Stacey, Insight, Fibre Flex, Webber, 7S, Clear, Xanadu, Aloha...
40 Bronte Rd, Bondi Junction Phone: 02 9389 5477 www.surfculture.com.au www.sixounceboardstore.com.au september 2010
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TRAVEL: PLANE TRIP
“ IF YOU ARE GOING TO SPEND THE MONEY TO GET TO HERMOSA BEACH, YOU MIGHT AS WELL STAY AT THE BEST.
WHERE TO STAY The Beach House Hotel is the only place to stay in Hermosa. Right on The Strand and right on the beach, it’s also right in the heart of the action. LA Magazine calls the luxury hotel one of the 100 sexiest people, places or things to do in the area. And its location couldn’t be more perfect – just 20 minutes from LAX airport, nestled in Hermosa’s sunny heart. Smack bang between Manhattan and Redondo beaches it’s just a 30-45 minute drive from major drawcards such as Disneyland, Universal Studios, Beverly Hills and Rodeo Drive. The hotel boasts 96 lofts and suites, which evoke the feel of staying in a private beach house with separate bedroom and living spaces, fireplaces, wet bars and full sink, microwaves, refrigerators, goosedown comforters, Frette linens and robes, high-definition flatscreen TVs, a five-disc CD player and
iPod docking station. To sneak in a little business with pleasure, each room has two-line phones with voicemail that are fax and modem ready, as well as free wireless internet access. After a day on the waves, settle on the balcony to relax with a drink as the sun sets over the Pacific. Watch local surfers – and the occasional volleyballer – do their thing. The urban oasis also offers an extensive array of decadent spa therapies while inroom massages are just the trick to ease aching muscles. Take it from us, if you are going to spend the money to get to Hermosa Beach, you might as well stay at the best. BEACH HOUSE HOTEL 1300 The Strand, Hermosa Beach Proximity: On the beach, in town Phone: (310) 374-3001 Email: info@beach-house.com www.beach-house.com (USD) $209 - $489 per room, per night
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KNOW YOUR BOARD NOSE DESIGNS POINTED NOSE: Used for performance boards, allows for curvier rails, assists with big drops and steep waves. Also good for duck-diving. ROUNDED POINT NOSE: Less responsive but allows for extra volume in the nose for more floatation. ROUND NOSE: Used on Mals, assists stability and glide across the water surface. FOIL: This represents the distribution of foam or thickness across the board from the nose to the tail. Impacts floatation, the ease of paddling, and overall board performance.
LIGHTER DOESN’T MAKE IT BETTER WITH GUEST SHAPER, JORDIE BROWN OF HIGH TIDE SURFBOARDS
RAIL SHAPE (SHAPE NOSE TO TAIL) CURVED RAILS: Boards with curved rails allow for responsive direction change and acceleration from turns (eg shortboards, fish and eggs). STRAIGHT RAILS: Provide speed and direction and sacrifice responsively. Mals and guns utilise straighter rails.
Words cant describe what it’s like to take the drop on a heavy board, drive through a bottom turn and slingshot yourself down the line on a nice, clean 4ft peeler. Only a surfer knows what it like experiencing that intense feeling of momentum and glide when your flying across an open face, locked in a high speed trim with the lip feathering just in front of you. Through the 80’s and 90’s, the art of making and riding heavier boards took a back seat to lighter, finer and more progressive shapes in the name of performance, but I’ve always had of a love affair with riding original, old boards and it has definitely had a huge influence on my own shaping. Over the last couple of years I’ve been revisiting a lot of the old-fashioned methods of surfboard construction, using solid timber stringers combined with weightier trimmed lap glass-jobs and through this I’ve found a whole new world of possibilities on the face of a wave. I think the whole ‘lighter is better’ thing its one of the most common misconceptions in the surfboard design today! Whether it be long or short, a bit of extra resin, glass and volume in your next board wont hurt. The most exiting movement in surfing over the last 10 years has been the revival of wider, thicker and heavier retro-based surfcraft. We’re extremely lucky here in Australia to have a real depth of talented local craftsman putting their own unique spin on some old concepts. So go check out what your local shaper has to offer. Theres no one better to get you on the right stick for where you surf. Try some heavier boards out in the water and see how they work for your style of surfing, and don’t be afraid to give some older boards a go too. Who knows, your new favorite board could even be laying underneath the house, covered inch-deep in dust just crying out for a some love. Jordie Brown is the man behind High Tide Surfboards in Skenes Creek, Victoria. See more at www.hightidesurfboards.com
INSIDE... THE BALSA MASTER P76 BRAND NEW BOARDS P84
TRASH TO TREASURE P94
All the latest designs in shortboards, longboards and more from shapers along the East Coast
RAIL PROFILE DOWN RAILS: The edge of the board is on the underneath. The rest of the board eases over to the deck. ROLLED RAILS: Down rails, which are slightly rolled under. SOFT RAILS: Have a round radius of at least 2cm HARD RAILS: Have a smaller, sharp edge. TAIL SHAPES PIN TAIL: Suited for traction, control and speed. Used for big surf Guns. ROUND TAIL: All-rounder, control, speed, and manoeuvrability. SQUASH TAIL: Common on short-boards, more responsiveness than the round tail. SWALLOW TAIL: Wider tail providing speed in slow section, good for small waves, Used for Fish. SQUARE TAIL: Adds stability and allows for pivotal turns. Commonly used with longboards. ROCKER: The bend from tail to nose. Less rocker provide more surface tension and allows for speed ease in getting on waves. Large rocker loosens up the board and allows for responsive turning and surviving nasty drops. THE DECK DOME DECK: Allows for volume in middle while maintaining thinner rail profiles for turns and manoeuvrability. FLAT DECK: Provides for thicker rails and increased flotation. STEP DECK: Allows for move volume and strength and paddle power. UNDERNEATH THE BOARD FLAT: A flat underside assists with planing on the water surface. CONCAVE: The broad scoop through the middle of the underside channels water to the fins for speed. DOUBLE CONCAVE: Commonly used is single concave at front and double towards the back allows for looseness. CHANNELS: Grooves used to channel water across the underside of the board for speed september 2010
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GEAR: SHAPER
RILEY THE TALENTED MISTER
Mark Riley is a pretty matter of fact character that doesn’t suffer fools. His personality is reflected in his craftsmanship of quality balsa surfboards – a no nonsense approach to producing strong, durable, quality surfboards that work, plain and simple. Riley’s boards are stunning on the outside, but we asked Mark about the inside - the basic elements of his surfboard design and construction that set them apart from the rest. WORDS: DAVE SWAN PHOTOS: MARK CHAPMAN, HOLGER STRIPF, GUS BROWN, BEN VOS
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Y Setting the tone for Mark Riley’s entire operation and a direct reflection on his absolute attention to every detail, all Riley surfboards are 100% hand-shaped and glassed in Australia – no exceptions. Mark’s boards are made from the finest balsa available. Boards can be constructed of solid balsa, like the replica boards of the 50’s and 60’s, or with a foam core. These boards are still incredibly strong but are a lot lighter, delivering more of a high performance surfboard.
The balsa is sourced from sustainable, eco-friendly farms in Ecuador. With deforestation of pristine forests proving to be one of the world’s biggest problems for our eco system, Mark was keen to ensure he is using a renewable resource that would not have a negative impact on the environment. Further to this commitment, Mark now grows balsa trees near Cooktown in northern Queensland. Better still, because the balsa substrate is stronger than a regular polyurethane blank, his boards require less resin, further enhancing their green credentials.
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GEAR: SHAPER
EPS CORE BOARDS
SOLID BALSA BOARDS
Mark’s performance boards are made with a foam core. The type of foam used is a recycled EPS foam which makes a great surfboard and is more environmentally friendly than a standard PU surfboard. EPS foam does not share the Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) or dangerous isocyanates found in polyurethane.
Mark’s solid balsa boards are constructed of either first or second grade balsa. The grade of balsa used depends on the rider, what they are after and how much they want to spend. Second grade balsa is a bit heavier, darker and has more knots featured in the wood. Some people prefer this more rustic look while others prefer a lighter cleaner appearance.
However, because the foam is recycled it is not bonded as well as virgin EPS, so it requires a veneer over it as the lamination is what delivers the strength. This method makes the perfect inner core for a surfboard. A balsa skin is then effectively glued to the EPS foam core. Balsa is the preferred material because it is the lightest and easiest to work with and sand compared to other woods and resin sticks to it better than other woods.
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Other woods are incorporated into the construction such as South American Red Cedar which is used in all stringers because the polyester resin used sticks better to it than Western Red Cedar.
Blanks are then made in a process called regranulation. Clean scrap pieces of EPS like used packing foam from new TVs and fridges are put through regranulators and pumped into the shape mould and heated. Once the blanks are ejected from the mould they are shuttled into large gas oven drying rooms. They are stored in the ovens for a set period of time at a set temperature until removed and stored until required.
When asked about using alternative woods, such as Paulownia, Mark explains his preference is to work with balsa. “Paulownia is more expensive and heavier than balsa. That said, Paulownia is harder than balsa. You can even use both types of wood in the one board if you desire but you have to consider the weight of the finished board. I personally recommend using balsa. It’s lighter, softer, easier to work with, cheaper, better looking, has better adhesive properties to fiberglass, is faster growing, has more history and greater market acceptance as a classic material for building wooden surfboards.
The unique combination of balsa and EPS foam delivers great flex and flotation characteristics, making Riley boards responsive as well as durable.
Mark is also direct in his assessment of hollowing balsa boards to lighten them. “There are a lot of risks for not a big advantage of hollowing out a board. The air inside
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“ 100% HANDSHAPED AND GLASSED IN AUSTRALIA – NO EXCEPTIONS.”
DO IT YOURSELF
the chamber can heat up if you leave the board on the beach or in the car and eventually it will expand and pull the board apart. I would definitely not recommend hollowing a board out.“
For people who want to gain the experience of building a balsa board themselves, Mark has developed a range of DIY kits for people of varying levels of experience.
A MATTER OF PREFERENCE
There are complete balsa surfboard shaping sets for solid or foam core surfboards and for those daunted by the task of complete assembly, the balsa blanks allow one to just sand down a finished shape, do the glassing and claim the glory.
Riley’s foam core boards are lighter and more suitable for today’s performance surfing. However, if you are into the retro, cruisy feel, you should consider a solid board. The price is essentially the same. Each method of construction takes around 30 hours to make a board from scratch. It’s interesting to note, all Riley boards come with a 12-month guarantee. Basically, if you snap it, Mark will replace it. With that said, no Riley surfboard has apparently been snapped in the last 10 years. It sounds like a challenge for a few of our surfing mates who seem to have a fascination with trips to the ding repair shop. The reason for the guarantee? Mark is confident his boards are without doubt the highest quality available. He goes on to explain why his boards are so affordable compared to other balsa boards that cost sometimes in excess of $4000 USD. “The reason my boards are so attractively priced is four-fold. We grow and import our own balsa wood from Ecuador.
To make sure you don’t lose your way through the board-building process, the solid kits come with a instructional DVD and there is an e-book that you can download from the web site, or for the tecnhophobes, Mark even has printed copies to mail out.
“The trees are fast growing and we only harvest the largest trees. Plus, the balsa is imported by ship, not air and we have continually refined and improved the operation since its inception in 1996.”
The foam core kit however is strictly for those in the know and as such, doesn’t come with instructions. If you don’t already have experience with glue-up techniques, vacuum bagging and the required tools, no DVD or e-book is going to help you. And balsa makes for expensive firewood.
If you are considering a Riley surfboard, Mark has a range of demo boards that can be shipped anywhere in Australia for a small charge and a nominal rental fee of $50 per week, deducted from the price on purchase. september 2010
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GEAR: SHAPER
FOR THE KIDS Being a father himself, Mark is passionate about passing on his love of surfing and surfboards to the next generation. We were fortunate enough to go along with Mark when he visited the Year 2 class of Yowie Bay Public School to present a surfboard-making demonstration for the 8-year olds. Wide-eyed and attentive, the kids got to see and feel a finished surfboard, feel the weight of a piece of balsa wood and hear all about what goes into the making of a surfboard – from the raw wood right through to glassing. Best of all, the day ended with the kids being able to make their very own mini balsa wood Malibu to take home. With their surfboards all sanded and stamped, it was plain to see that surfing had them excited, and how much they had all enjoyed the experience. In years to come, I’m sure that there will be more than one of them that will be able to look back and remember this as the day their love for surfing first began. And who knows… there may even be a budding shaper among them. And with the success of the event evident, Mark says that he hopes to be able to present more of these workshops in the future, which is only good news for the kids out there.
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BEYOND BOARDS For those of us keen to know what the tide is doing when planning our next surf, Mark makes individually handcrafted time and tide clocks which are miniature replicas of his surfboards and board racks are hand-crafted to fit any shape board from short to long.
“ THAT’S THE BEAUTY OF WORKING WITH WOOD” Every piece is different. Every piece unique.
FINS Mark makes a full range of fins to meet each individual surfer’s requirements raked longboard and stabiliser fin sets, twin fin keel sets, thrusters, quads, D Fins and single-fin traditional retro styles. Surfers can choose between glassed-in fins or fin-boxes.
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GEAR: SHAPER
All boards are... • 12 month warranty - you snap it - we replace it • Micro-tagged to prevent theft
THE ALLROUNDER
THE PERFORMER
The Allrounder is an EPS foam-core performance MiniMal. It is the only board that features our newly designed 1/8’’ cedar rail stringers for added stiffness on smaller waves. This type of board is suited to most riders – perfect for small to medium sized conditions and great for all ages.
The Performer combines the best of both worlds - a recycled EPS foam core and 2-3mm balsawood skin. With a weight of only 7-8 kg and an emphasis on manoeuvrability and maximum speed, the Performer is designed and shaped for today's high performance longboarding. The Performer comes with a single box fin and two smaller stabiliser fins. Custom orders are welcome Specifications Length:9'0'' - 9'4'' Width: 22 1/4'' - 23' Thickness: 2 1/2'' - 3''' Type of surfer suited for: intermediate Type of waves suited for: 1' to 8' Approx. weight of board: 7-8kg Type of construction: foam core modern longboard Type of stringer: triple - 30mm apart Bottom: Vee Tail shape: rounded square Rails: nose: 70/30 centre: 80/20 tail 90/10
Specifications Length: 7’0’’ - 8’6’’ Width: 20 1/2’’ - 23’’ Thickness: 2 1/2’’ -3’’ Type of surfer suited for: beginner to experienced Type of waves suited for: 1 ft to 6 ft Approx. weight of board: 3.5 kg Type of construction: EPS foam core Type of Stringer: Riley cedar rail stringers & centre stringer Bottom: Vee Tail shape: square Rails: hard 80/20
THE ROAD TEST GUS BROWN AND BEN VOS My expectation is that a wooden board would be incredibly heavy, but due to its foam and balsa construction - even at at 9’3 - the Performer is actually very light, yet it’s also rock-solid, with a great finish. The materials also appear to give it that bit of extra flotation, which makes paddling easy. Test conditions were small but the board responded well, easily catching the weak swell on offer. The Performer also responded well to turns. Even though we were only gliding along ripples, the board was stable enough to provide plenty of opportunity for riding up near the nose. This is definitely a wooden board not just designed for the wall, but a good all-round ‘performer’ that is definitely easy to surf. I’m sure it would handle some quality surf and cope well with a much faster wave. 82
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THE CLASSIC
THE LIMB
The Riley Classic is a solid Malibu inspired by these boards of the 50’s and 60’s which the Australians, Americans and Hawaiians rode at the small point breaks of Noosa, Malibu and Waikiki. This is a great board for hot-dogging and reminiscing about those good ol’ days. The Classic should definitely be ridden but nonetheless it looks great on office walls, restaurants, homes and shops, creating a heritage look.
The Limb is a balsa skinned EPS foam core shortboard. The recycled EPS foam and the absence of a stringer create a significant reduction in weight bringing the Stick to around 3kg with great memory and flex. This is a great board for beach breaks from 2 to 8 foot waves, the Riley Limb has a set thrusters fins – but boxes are optional at no extra cost. The Riley balsa coloured fin system allows for changing fin setups and lets you choose between fin size, rake, angles, material, and more.
Specifications Length: 9’0’’ - 12’ Width: 22 1/2’’ - 23’’ Thickness: 2 1/2’’ - 3’ Type of surfer suited for: mature Type of waves suited for: 1-4 ft Approx. weight of board: 12-15kg Type of construction: solid balsawood Type of stringer: triple cedar stringer Bottom shape: flat Tail shape: square Rails: 50-50
Specifications Length: 5’10’’ - 6’8’’ Width: 18 1/2’’-20’’ Thickness: 2 1/2’’ -3’’ Type of surfer suited for: advanced to experienced Type of waves suited for: 2 ft to 8 ft Approx. weight of board: 3 kg Type of construction: Recycled EPS foam core Type of stringer: none Bottom shape: Vee scoop in the tail to concave centre and concave nose Tail shape: rounded square Rails: 80/20 Logo: Computer cut cedar balsa giving it the natural look and feel. Tail Blocks: Thinner tail block Volume: Slightly more thickness and volume than the stick Fins: Stick on 4 ½” wood combo thruster
THE STICK
THE MACKEREL
The Stick is a balsa skinned EPS foam core shortboard. The recycled EPS foam and the absence of a stringer create a significant reduction in weight bringing the Stick to around 3kg. For summer and its small waves, the Riley Stick is also available as a quad. This quad is way faster than your standard thruster or even twin fin and much more responsive.
This is the modern version of the retro fish. It has a little less volume with a rolled deck giving it better and tighter turns. This has a quad fin box set up that can be used as a twin also. The cedar stringers separate the stained balsa strips to represents the Striped Mackerel
Specifications Length: 5’2’’ - 6’8’’ Width: 18 1/2’’-20’’ Thickness: 2 1/2’’ -3’’ Type of surfer suited for: advanced to experienced Type of waves suited for: 1/2 ft to 9 ft Approx. weight of board: 3 kg Type of construction: EPS foam core Type of stringer: none Bottom shape: Vee scoop in the tail to concave centre and concave nose Tail shape: swallow Rails: 80/20
Specifications Length: 5’10’’ - 6’4’’ Width: 20’’ - 22’’ Thickness: 2 1/2 - 3’’ Type of surfer suited for: advanced to experienced Type of waves suited for: 1/2 ft to 5 ft Approx. weight of board: 4.6 kg Type of construction: EPS foam core Type of stringer: Cedar parallel stringers Bottom shape: Vee from nose to centre and flat at the tail Tail shape: swallow Rails: Vee at front & centre and flat at tail
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GEAR: SHORTBOARDS
ish TurbbyoIsF d n la
Did you know? *A former WCT competitor, Glyndon Ringrose of Island Surfboards, was one of the only surfers on the tour who was riding boards he shaped himself. 84
EVOd
by Islan
Shaper: Glyndyn Ringrose Dimensions: 6’7”x21 ¼”x2 5/8” (Also from 5’6” to 7’6”) Ideal conditions: 1-5ft everyday average conditions Ability level: Fun for all Suits: Shaped to suit customer, any size. Description: Fuller nose, swallow tail, double concave and flatter rocker Construction: PU, glassed in a combination of 6oz and 4oz to customer requirement. Fins: Thruster or Quad, FCS or Futures Shaper comment: Fun board for your average conditions that anyone can ride and have fun. Ordered by everyone from our team riders, to dads wanting to surf with the kids.
Shaper: Greg Hogan Dimensions: 7’0”x 20 ½”x 2 ¾” (Also 6’6” to 7’11”) Ideal conditions: All round Ability level: Beginner to advanced. Suits: Surfers of all levels who want comfort and ease Description: Rounded pintail, full concave into slight double, slight V through nose to feed Construction: PU, glassed in a combination of 6oz and 4oz to customer requirement Fins: Thruster, FCS or Futures Shaper comment: Shaped for comfort and ease of surfing, paddle power maximised without compromising manoeuvrability. Shaped for surfers going up or down in board size and also guys travelling overseas. A board for all conditions, possibly the most universal shape on offer.
ISLAND SURFBOARDS 147 Thompson Ave, Cowes, Phillip Island VIC Ph: 03 5952 2578 E: cowes@ islandsurfboards.com.au islandsurfboards.com.au
ISLAND SURFBOARDS 147 Thompson Ave, Cowes, Phillip Island VIC Ph: 03 5952 2578 E: cowes@ islandsurfboards.com.au islandsurfboards.com.au
SPrcimiimtivietaSrurf
by
Shaper: Craig Rees Dimensions: 5’7’’ - 6’8’’ Above 6’1’’ x 19 ¼’’ x 2 ¼’’ Ability level: Intermediate and up Suits: Different sizes Description: The latest addition to the Primitive range. A blend of two old favourites, the Punt and Performance Shortboard, the Scimitar has a wider planshape married with a performance rocker giving you the ease of riding a wider board that you can still trust when its over 4ft. Construction: PU foam with polyester resin, Vacuum bagged with Carbon/Kevlar. Fins: Thruster or quad Shaper comment: Most guys are riding this model 2-3 inches shorter than their normal shortboard. With the aim of making a more durable product we have also been vacuum bagging the glass on with Carbon Kevlar around the rails. The result is a super strong, lightweight board that is much less likely to end up in two pieces.
PRIMITIVE SURF 601 Nudgee Rd, Nundah, Qld 4012 Ph: 07 3266 1001 E: info@primitivesurf.com www.primitivesurf.com
FreSaurkfboards
by Zak
Shaper: Ken Reimers Dimensions: 6’4 x 21 1/2 x 2 3/4 Ideal conditions: 2ft-5ft Ability level: Novice to Intermediate Description: Designed as a surfboard that surfs like a shortboard but offers heaps of bouyancy. It has a shortboard rocker, single into concave with a chine rail to give plenty of release from rail to rail and makes it handle sucky beachies, not like a fish. Concave deck for a stable paddle platform which gives the surfer a board with wave count in mind. Construction: Polyester resin 6 oz bottom, 10oz deck Fins: 5 FCS plugs - ride it as a quad or a thruster Shaper comment: Super fun and easy to ride. Has plenty of release and loves big arc turns. A must for the surfer who wants everthing in just one board.
ZAK SURFBOARDS 307 Victoria Road Thornbury VIC 3071 Ph: 03 9416 7384 Mobile: 0438 416 738 zak@zaksurfboards.com zaksurfboards.com
FbyleBxusthraatil Shaper: Jed Done Ideal conditions: An allrounder to work from 1’ to 6’. Ability: Int to advanced Suits: This custom was built for a young, experienced 80kg surfer. It can be made to suit any age, weight and style. Description: Performance flextail with a slight hip to promote top to bottom surfing. A very fast and carvy surfboard. Has a slightly rounded nose (on trial) to prevent carnage. Construction: Vinyl-ester S-glass bottom; polyester deck; stringerless PU blank; western red cedar rods in the rails on deck; thin carbon fibre/cedar strips on bottom; carbon fibre flextail. Fins: 4-Way Fin System Z fins Shaper comment: These flextails have a negative tail rocker, which increases down-the-line speed and drive. Once tail is loaded in a turn it flexes to suit the arc in which you’re travelling, then springs back to negative position at the apex of the turn giving the board continuous stored energy, which equals top end speed.
BUSHRAT SURFBOARDS Merimbula NSW Ph: 0409 813 431 E: jed@bushrat.com www.bushrat.com
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DFeultllciracle CFomullcbirocle
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Shaper: Russell Francis Dimensions: 6’ x 18 3/4” x 2 5/16” Ideal conditions: 1ft-5ft Ability level: Intermediate to advanced Suits: 70-75kg Description: A smaller wave board for all round conditions. Flipped nose with a moderate rocker line and a medium single concave with smaller boxy rails and a widish thinned tail. Construction: Burford foam 4 x 6 x 4 glassing with carbon heel and toe patches. Fins: Thruster Shaper comment: Smooth small wave board running a single concave with easy rails on entry and boxed square rails starting in front of the fins through to the tail, giving this board lots of spark.
FULLCIRCLE SURFBOARDS
4-5 Vista Place Cape Woolamai VIC 3925 Ph: 03 5956 7453 115 Marine Parade San Remo VIC 3925 Ph: 03 5678 5873 fullcirclesurf.com.au
by
Shaper: Russell Francis Dimensions: 6’2” x 20 1/2” x 2 5/8” Ideal conditions: 2ft-6ft Ability level: Novice to advanced Suits: 80-90kg Description: Great all-rounder for a variety of surfers. Single to double concave running through the swallow tail. Low rocker making for an easy paddler with a curvy planshape.The perfect Combo. Construction: Burford foam 4 x 6 x 4 glassing with carbon heel and toe patches. Fins: Thruster Shaper comment: A super fast and easy to ride board with plenty of paddle power with thinned nose and tail for sensitivity. Double concave through the tail giving extra drive and confidence.
FULLCIRCLE SURFBOARDS
4-5 Vista Place Cape Woolamai VIC 3925 Ph: 03 5956 7453 115 Marine Parade San Remo VIC 3925 Ph: 03 5678 5873 fullcirclesurf.com.au
ancer The Slapper GunshotanDgst by Islantis by G a Shaper: Christian Chapman Dimensions: 6’1 x 18 ½ x 2 ¼ Ideal conditions: Fast, hollow waves. Suits: 80kg surfer with back foot power Description: Fast board for Gold Coast points, with single twin through to front foot. Construction: All gangsta boards are 100% hand shaped. 3ply stringers for strength Fins: FCS, but shaper does avise on set fins for performance and drive Shaper comment: Special Gangsta fin placement for performance and drive to improve any surfer.
GANGSTA SURFBOARDS Glen ‘Pugs’ Johnson Ph: 0438 158 993 or +62 81 805 534 069 (Bali) Mermaid Beach Store Shop 1/2558 Gold Coast Coast Hwy, Mermaid Beach, QLD 4218 Ph: 07 5526 6969 Gangsta Surf - Bali Poppies Lane 1 Kuta Bali-Indonesia Ph: +62 361 767 174
Shaper: Grem Dimensions: 6’1’’ x 20 1/8’’ x 2 5/8’’. Ideal conditions: 1-5ft beaches/reefs/pointbreaks. Ability: Novice to pro. Suits: All - available in custom. Description: A blend of what works in a shortboard and in a fish. Designed and created by Grem and the Islantis team to cater for the world class beach and reef break setups on Phillip Island. A performance fish style board with volume. Construction: Ocean Foam hardcore blanks, FGI resins and Airilite cloth Fins: 3 or 5 fin, with 5 fin FCS/Futures most popular. Change your fin setup to suit the conditions. Surf as a Twinny/Thruster or Quad. Shaper comment: Currently our most popular model. Ease of paddling, accelleration and destroying a lip are second to none. Custom orders about 2-weeks. Demos available from shop.
ISLANTIS SURFBOARDS 10-12 Phillip Island Tourist Rd, Phillip Island, Vic 3925 Ph: 03 5956 7553 info@islantis.com.au www.islantis.com.au
Diverse is serious about customDS 10se dressinrdg s.thSeiree surfboa by Diver f.com.au/art/ Shaper: Dave Verrall diversesur Dimensions: for more 6’3 x 19 x 2 3/8” = 28.4L Ideal conditions: Good surf.. 2-6 foot hollow beach breaks & cracking points. Suits: You.. if you want to rip tear & shred every wave that comes your way. Traditional high performance thruster. Description: You need a good shortboard in your quiver that just goes insane when the surf is great. Fast, loose, drive and control - the Sprint has it all. Ten second tubes, huge hacks, tail slides or kerrupt flips. You can do it, well, so can the Sprint. Construction: Polyurethane foam, wood stringer & polyester resin.. traditional proven materials! Fins: Fin Solutions thruster setup. Stronger than the average 2 plug system, take FCS replacements. Shaper comment: If you want to win contests, come and see me!
DIVERSE SURFBOARDS 476 Gold Coast Hwy, Tugun, QLD 4224 Ph: 07 5598 4848 dave@diversesurf.com.au diversesurf.com.au september 2010
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GEAR: RETRO
Wby oCnhgrisleGparorentgt Mby Binlacik ASpachiemSmurfbooanrdss Shaper: Chris Garrett Dimensions: 5’8’’ x 19 1/4”x 2 3/8” Ideal conditions: 1-5ft beachies and points Suits: Beginner to pro, depending on the size of the board Description: Flat entry with a generous tail lift, single concave feeding into two deepish concaves and a vee releasing out through the tail. Rolled deck with medium rails that spiral and foil out through the tail to give great sensitivity and hold in the turns. Fast takeoff and tons of fun in average to good surf. Construction: This one is PU and polyester resin but I have done plenty in EPS with Kevlar rails and epoxy. Fins: Thruster or quad Shaper comment: Most people tend to be scared to go smaller… Don’t be too shy …This one has a ton of float and will paddle and surf better than your normal board.
Tip: If you buy a Garrett, make sure the Phantom slips you a copy of Phanzine...
Shaper: Dave Verrall Dimensions: 5’6 x 20 1/4 x 2 1/2 = 30.6 L Ideal conditions: 1-5ft Suits: Fun rides & everyday surfing Description: Amazing speed combined with incredible maneuverbility. Double vee and a nice concave jets you under the lip and through all the sections. We like to use handmade wooden keel fins for extra drive and strength, however this one has removable glass fins. Available in tints, pigments, polished and polyester! Cool cats who have purchased one often have a SG single fin in the lounge and a DS Sprint for a little change. Construction: Polyurethane foam, wood stringer & polyester resin.. traditional proven materials! Fins: Twin Keels Shaper comment: Life is too short to grovel on a shortboard.. Get a fish and live to surf everyday.
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Shaper: Tony Dempsey Dimensions: 5’10 x 20 1/4 x 2 1/2 Ideal conditions: 2ft beachies to 5ft points Ability level: Novice to semi-pro Suits: 30-80kg Description: A modern replica of the single fin Dempsey first shaped in 1967. Handcrafted turbo concave (soft concave going into a V in the tail) with a very low rocker principle. Mid rails, single fin with two forward mounts so you can ride as a single or tri-fin... Two surfboards in one! Available in 5”6 to 6”10. Construction: EPS foam. Fins: FCS & fin box Shaper comment: This surfboard is designed so that anyone can have fun on it. The width of the tail is designed to create a phenomenal amount of area to assist with cutbacks and creates sensational planing area and speed.
black apache surfboards
CHRIS GARRETT/ PHANTOM SURFBOARDS Ph: 0424 450 690 E: blabla@ chrisgarrettshapes.com.au
chrisgarrettshapes.com.au
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Shaper: Jesse Watson Dimensions: 5’0 - 6’0. Above: 5’6” x 21” x 2 5/8” Ideal conditions: 2ft mushburgers to 5ft points Ability level: Novice to advanced Suits: 65-105kg Description: Becoming a very popular board with those in the know, including Dane Reynolds, Dan Malloy, Andrew Kidman, Chris Del Moro. A great fish alternative. Combines high lines off the top, big arcs and amazing speed capabilities. Construction: 4+4oz deck, 4oz bottom, double blue pigment with banded nose in full gloss and polish. Fins: Custom, hand made glass-ons. Shaper comment: If I could only have one board in my quiver it would be the simmons. Making and promoting them as long as anyone in Australia, its the fastest, most fun board, in everything from 2ft mush to 5ft point breaks. Try one you wont be disappointed.
TW 10 by Diverse
BLACK APACHE SURFBOARDS Ph: 0410 419 791
E: blackapachesurfboards@ live.com.au blackapachesurfboards. blogspot.com
DIVERSE SURFBOARDS 476 Gold Coast Hwy, Tugun, QLD 4224 Ph: 07 5598 4848 dave@diversesurf.com.au diversesurf.com.au
UNDERGROUND SURF 3/31 McLean St, Coolangatta QLD 4225 Ph: 07 5599 1040
kirra@undergroundsurf.com.au
undergroundsurf.com.au
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FEATURED BOARD
e v r a c t s a o Central C Critical Slide Society rider Kerry Down lives “for the sweet smell of salty swells that roll into the many various reefs and beaches that are scattered along the Central Coast.” He recently acquired this handcrafted fish by Jesse Watson of Black Apache Surfboards and this is what he had to say...
Aplacak cApahchee STurwfboainrds
by B
Shaper: Jesse Watson Dimensions: 5’6” x 19 ¾” x 2 ½” Ideal conditions: 2ft beachies to 5ft point madness Ability level: Anyone can ride a fish but to do it well takes skill and style Suits: Anyone looking to put a bit of flow into their surfing Description: If you missed out on the fish revolution then you must have had your head in the sand. Nowadays everyone has a fish in their quiver. It’s the board you can ride 300 days of the year Construction: This one is a 4 + 4oz deck with a 4oz bottom tint and pigment combo and a protec finish to keep the weight down. Fins: Handmade glass on keels, single foiled for bite. Shaper comment: More for performance than a retro fish. Lightweight glass and modern rocker/ foil/rails mean you can go straight from shortboard to fish without missing a beat and carve it up.
“Boy do they go good... from hollow little tubes to fast down the line walls, this board takes off like a bullet and lets you throw it around like it’s one of your thrusters... It’s going to be very hard to get off this board!”
black apache surfboards
BLACK APACHE SURFBOARDS Ph: 0410 419 791
E: blackapachesurfboards@ live.com.au blackapachesurfboards. blogspot.com
Surf shots by surfer/ photographer Jughead
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GEAR: ALL KINDS
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from Grown constructs, his boardst check ou ns this editio ’ project
by Z
Shaper: Andrew Wells Dimensions: 6’4 x 21 ½ x 2 ½ Ideal conditions: This board is great for small conditions and even better in clean head high waves. Ability level: All Suits: Bigger guys or those wanting something with a bit more float. Description: A more hybrid shaped fish, with wide point back toward the middle, however still wide enough in the nose to give plenty of paddle power. Single to double concave in the base that gives plenty of speed. Construction: Hollow Timber Fins: Twin Fin or keels Shaper comment: A great all-rounder, plenty of float and very fast. It is ideal for bigger guys wanting to ride a shorter board, because its a hollow timber board it has a lot more float than a similar sized foam board.
Shaper: Ken Reimers Dimensions: 6’ x 21 x 2 3/4 Ideal conditions: 1-3ft summer slop Ability level: Novice to Intermediate Description: The Zak Fish is a small wave gem and the volume over the chest makes it a dream to paddle. The board loves a big wide face and is loose and responsive off the tail, while the flat into V bottom with its MR twinfin setup into small trailer makes it super fun to ride. Construction: Polyester resin 6 oz bottom, 10oz deck Fins: MR twinfin setup with small trailer Shaper comment: The fish has made a massive comeback over the last few years and most likely because they are just super fun boards to ride in the summer.
GROWN SURFBOARDS Lennox Head
ZAK SURFBOARDS 307 Victoria Road Thornbury VIC 3071 Ph: 03 9416 7384 Mobile: 0438 416 738 zak@zaksurfboards.com zaksurfboards.com
PO Box 801, Ballina NSW 2478
Ph: 0407889049
sales@grownsurfboards.com.au
grownsurfboards.com.au
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Fishurfboards SuperegeTunnera The Milaeyrlin Faty BDSasCtard b by R ak S yW b
Shaper: Tom Wegener Dimensions: 8’ x 20” x 2.5” Ideal conditions: Small to medium waves Ability level: Intermediate to advanced Suits: Adventurous spirits after a different glide Description: The Super Tuna is a limited edition board of 10 only, beautifully handcrafted by Tom Wegener. The boards are $2000, and there are 8 left. Construction: Hollow, Paulownia wood with red cedar rails and 2mm plywood overlay on deck. Shaper comment: The ultimate introduction to finless surfing for the mature surfer. Fun and easy to ride in small to medium surf.
TOM WEGENER SURFBOARDS 108 Cooroy, QLD 4563 Ph: 0401 257 479 info@tomwegenersurfboards.com tomwegenersurfboards.com
Shaper: Mark Riley Dimensions: 5’0’’- 6’8’’ x 19 ½’’- 21 ½’’ x 2 ½ - 3’’ Ideal conditions: ½ - 5 ft Ability level: Advanced to experienced Description: The Marlin is a EPS foam core performance fish which features our unparallel stringers. During turns, these drive the energy to the tail of the board for clean, crisp, powerful carves. The 2 ½’’ thickness of the board under the chest area makes this board a great wave catcher. Construction: Balsa with EPS foam core Fins: Your choice of twin, keels or quad Shaper comment: The Marlin is as light as a regular polyurethane fish. It’s easy to paddle making it easy to catch waves, and the swallow tail really helps you in sharp turns.
Shaper: Ackers Dimensions: 6.4 x 21 x 2.7/8 and 6.7 x 22 x 3 Ideal conditions: 1ft to 6ft Ability: Beg to adv Suits: Lightweights-heavies Description: DSC’s version of a mal/mini mal, originally marked as the “mid-life crisis”. Two sizes/widths. Paddles easily, built for guys/girls who want a longboard alternative. Construction: PU foam 6oz bottom, 2x6 deck, full finish coat polish. This means resin not 2pack or wipe on Fins: Front fins plugged, rear fin boxed with FCS adapter Shaper comment: Comes rolled in the nose to a shallow concave to v in the tail, allowing easier rail to rail. More refined than the name suggest - definitely for the more discerning surfer who appreciates quality. Not a fish, a bag full of fun.
RILEY SURFBOARDS Ph: 0412 376 464 E: mark@riley.com.au balsasurfboardsriley. com.au
DSC SURFBOARDS Midtown Arcade, Noorooma Cr, Narooma, NSW, 2546 Ph: 0424 867 962 E: dscsufboards @optusnet.com.au
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GEAR:LONGBOARDS This is James Wwahtasotn and Woo Marsh agreie both riding at the moment.
CheGaaptoDHaetroei The BWigatKegoo,nsg by by Shaper: R obin Kegel (California) Dimensions: 9’6 x 22 ½ x 2 ¾ Ideal conditions: 3-4 foot Ability level: Intermediate to advanced logger Suits: all sizes Description: Heavy weight single-fin noseriding log. Construction: Foam and glass. Awesome resin tint. Fins: One big one Shaper comment: All around outline, our most full template, complimenting a bladey foil and consistent rocker. good for most longboard conditions and lighter footed surfing.
GATO HEROI is at SANDY FEET SURF CO 5/21 Clarence Street, Port Macquarie, NSW 2444 Ph: 02 6584 1995 Mob: 0416 226 774 mike@sandyfeetsurf.com.au www.sandyfeetsurf.com.au
DP 10 rPseig by Dive
Noserider by High Tide
9’4
Deck SUP Step Rail /Step arrett
by Chris G
Shaper: Phil Myers Dimensions: 10’ 23” x 3 1/2 Ideal conditions: 1-5ft point breaks. Suits: This is our “big boys board” and is truly the all round board for the larger lad. Description: Turns, trims, and noserides unbelievably well even in small waves. Double concave under the fins. Round tail 19 nose 14 1/2 tail. Construction: Aussie made fibreglass with a 6oz bottom and 6 x 6oz deck Fins: 2 + 1 setup - Fin box and 2 side fins Shaper comment: Anyone who has seen legendary “big boy champion” John Keevers surf this board are gobsmacked by his surfing - and he’s “slightly” over 100kg and in the over 60 age division.
Shaper: Dave Verrall Dimensions: 9’4”X 23” X 3 1/8”= 74L Ideal conditions: Awesome to ride in 1-4 ft, great any day. Suits: Anyone who wants, has or believes in style. Description: Features a beautiful blend of resin colours that add to its classic appearance and shape. A single fin 10” box. A magic carpet ride... ‘The pig’ model at Diverse will allow you to nose ride like you’ve never nose ridden before! It’s what it’s all about. Allow your classic style to unfold riding the magic of ‘the pig’. Construction: Polyurethane foam, wood stringer & polyester resin.. traditional proven materials! Fins: Choice of wooden D-fin or glass box fin. Shaper comment: Every one of these I shape I just want to keep and ride!
Shaper: Jordie Brown Dimensions: 9’4 x 23 ¼’’ x 19’’ x 16’’ x 3’’ Ideal conditions: Waist to shoulder high peelers Ability level: Intermediate to advanced Suits: Any surfer not scared of weight and volume. Description: The combination of subtle tail lift, wide Californian square tail, rolled vee bottom and full 50/50 rails makes this noserider design surprisingly maneuverable without losing any stability trimming and on the nose. Construction: Heavy tinted glass job with 2’’ solid Paulownia stringer. Fins: Handmade glass on 10’’ pivot fin. Shaper comment: Based on the heavier oldschool, mid-sixties style of construction, this noserider is the perfect board for the surfer wanting to experience all the glide and moment of a past era.
Shaper: Chris Garrett Dimensions: 8’6’’ x 27” x 4 1/4” Ideal conditions: 1-5ft beachies and points Suits: Made to suit.This one is custom for James Watson. It’s pretty tuned. Description: Almost dead flat deck for superior paddling and stability, with step in rail to reduce rail volume for surfboard-like sensitivity. Bottom is vee into two concaves, easy paddling nose rocker and fair amount of tail lift for surfing more in the pocket. Construction: EPS foam and pigmented epoxy resin. Fins: Thruster Shaper comment: High performance board for an elite surfer. For us mere mortals, I’d add more width and length. I only make customs to suit your personal needs and preferences. Nothing is too hard or freaky… In fact, the weirder the better!
BYRON BAY LONGBOARDS 89 Jonson Street, Byron Bay NSW 2481 Ph: 02 6685 5244
DIVERSE SURFBOARDS 476 Gold Coast Hwy, Tugun, QLD 4224 Ph: 07 5598 4848 dave@diversesurf.com.au diversesurf.com.au
HIGH TIDE SURFBOARDS Skenes Creek, Vic 3233 Ph: 0401 437 392
CHRIS GARRETT/ PHANTOM SURFBOARDS Ph: 0424 450 690 E: blabla@ chrisgarrettshapes.com.au
byronbaylongboards.com.au
hightidesurfboards@hotmail.com
hightidesurfboards.com
chrisgarrettshapes.com.au september 2010
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GEAR: FORUM
“Manufacturing is a core part of the surf industry” Chris Garrett
MAKING WAVES FOR RECOGNITION OF SHAPERS’ SKILLS Lets face it. Nobody likes to part with their hard-earned cash. But most people understand that utilising the services of a tradesperson such as a plumber, electrician or builder comes at a price. Then why, when it comes to surfboard manufacturing, is it a different story? Maybe it’s because shapers are not formally recognised for their trade. Most of us know the role shapers play in the creation of a surfboard. But in a process than can take anywhere from six to ten hours just for a standard shortboard, there’s an enormous amount of skill that comes into play, from shaping to glassing. The problem is, there are no formal qualifications or training for shapers. And in an age where that piece of paper is the key to everything from pay to prestige, it’s a massive hindrance. Albeit one that could be about to change. Ask any surfboard manufacturer, such as Chris Garrett, and they will tell you the price of surfboards has only risen $60 to $80 in the last 15 years. It seems pretty scant when you consider how much the cost of other leisure and entertainment activities has gone up; items such as music, books and movies. “A lot of people don’t realise just what goes into a board,” Chris continues. “How many hands it goes through and how much skill there is involved. Again 90
it comes back to the lack of formal respect. But the issue is at least on the agenda. One promise that came out of the recent federal election was a Coalition commitment to spend $500,000 on a Gold Coast pilot program on surfboard manufacturing. Bek Clarke, partner in Daniel Macdonald Shapes and the Curve surf shop, says a system of formal recognition for surfboard manufacturing would be welcomed, as would an official training program – such as a certificate cum apprenticeship over two to three years - to ensure industry skills are enhanced and passed down through the generations. “At the moment a lot of people who do get involved in the industry are pigeonholed to only really learn certain aspects,” she says. “So one person will only know how to do polishing, or sanding, or glassing. The actual craftsmen of the industry, who know how to do all the aspects of board building, they’re a dying breed. That’s a dying trade. So we want craftsmen who learn every aspect of the board building process which, as a surfboard manufacturer, you should be able to do.” Bek says a lot of people preferred to get involved in the marketing and business side of the trade. “Everyone wants to be involved with Billabong and Quiksilver.
However, when it comes to the core of the industry, which is surfboards, kids just aren’t really interested,” she says. Then comes the side effect expense of such ad hoc, non-formal training. “The challenge at the moment is we have young guys learning the trade who have been at it now for a couple of years and are just starting to get on top of things, and yet we have been paying them around $1000 a week. Unfortunately along the way we’re paying for the mistakes they make, which in fairness is part of the learning process, but it just puts further pressures on a business that has next to no margins already. Once a mistake is made on a board, that’s it. “The other challenge we have is a lot of our workers at the moment are from overseas, so most of our workers we do train up to a certain point head back home with their skills and we’re left scraping for another worker to train up. The workers come from Japan, Brazil and South Africa. The only people who seem enticed to work in the industry are from overseas. It’s too hard to find Aussie workers. “There is no support to train these people. It would be a lot easier if you could get qualified workers. It is so hard to find workers who know what they are doing.”
When quizzed about what guidelines are currently in place to determine a worker’s readiness to enter the board-building industry, Dan Macdonald says, “At this stage there are no formal set guidelines as to how many hours need to be completed to seek a certain qualification with regards to aspects of manufacturing. This needs to be worked out by people within the surfboard manufacturing industry.” Long-time shaper Chris Garrett finishes off our conversation by saying, “What we are ultimately striving to establish is a funding grant for training to further develop the surfboard manufacturing industry in Australia. We believe surfboard manufacturing is a core part of the surf industry and we should recognise the skills of our workers.” Our few months on the road promoting smorgasboarder magazine and discussing the various issues facing local shapers has strengthened our commitment to become a staunch advocate of the local surfboard manufacturing industry. We’re here to champion the cause of those keeping you in the water, and will in each issue keep our readers informed of industry developments. We welcome readers’ comments and ask all correspondence be forwarded to editorial@smorgasboarder.com.au
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NEWS GET UP, STAND UP. STAND UP FOR YOUR RIGHTS. SUP surfers, for a while now, have been fighting for their rights and respect from fellow surfers of smaller boards. Now their landloving cousins have entered the fray in the world of skateboarding... Check out ‘skate paddling’ on youtube.com to see what we’re on about.
SKATEBOARDS THAT AREN’T QUITE SKATEBOARDS If you’re a keen surfer and have built up a bit of a surfboard quiver at home, now is the time to start on your skateboard collection.
TARP-ON-IN Flat as a tack... When there’s not a wave in sight, what can you do? Grab a tarp and surf it! Seems kind of weird to be in the ‘blue room’ but this is what days on end with no surf really does to some people.
After all, to be a true smorgasboarder, you have to have some boards with wheels too. To start off the skate section of our first edition with a bang, we were lucky enough to pick up test boards from SmoothStar and the Fiik boys. And thanks to Da Bomb Surf Shop, we managed to grab one of the new streetboardz to include in the review as well. When it came to the road tests, we had a ball. In fact, we struggled to get on with the rest of the magazine... But we did. See overleaf what we found out.
Check out the website for links to these great videos. www.tarpsurfing.com
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SKATE: ROAD TEST
SMOOTH STAR Get the hang of it and it’s smooth cruising fun for big kids and even little kids. WORDS MC
STREET BOARDZ It’s described as the ultimate cross-training tool for surfers and surprisingly the claim is spot-on. I use the word surprised because it took a while to get my ahead around the mechanics of the whole thing. This thing really was a surfboard with wheels. WORDS DS You lean into turns like a surfboard. It responds like a surfboard. You will even find yourself trailing a hand on the road like you would on a wave. I took some getting used to because the board didn’t really handle like a skateboard at all. One is always a bit tentative with something new, and while it’s one thing to fall off your surfboard trying a new move, it’s another altogether to come off a skateboard and faceplant on the bitumen. Once I did get a feel for the streetboard however, I had more confidence on it than a normal skateboard. To confess, my skateboarding is pretty average. Surfing comes more naturally to me even though both disciplines are somewhat similar. streetboardz claim that once you have ridden one of their boards, you will feel an immediate difference the next time you go surfing. They were right there too.
“DAD! CAN WE SKATE?!” ” This has been the question levelled at me every day since I first st e. got the SmoothStar 39” Cruiser Longboard demo board home. Once my test co-pilot, the fearless Easy-E, got a taste for cruising down the bitumen with Dad at the rudder, it was all go. When you’re used to a standard skateboard, the SmoothStar ar - which goes for around $299 - throws you a little when you first hop on board. With it’s swivelling front truck Thruster system (see to the right, below) it’s incredibly loose - and I mean loose. This thing turns on a 5c piece. However, if like me, you’re used to ‘90s-style, tightened-upto-the-point-of-popping the-rubbers-out trucks which keeps the board as stiff as um... a board... then this is pretty weird to start off with. That being said, this whole longboard/carving thing has really got me more and more interested over the past few months and I was super-keen to try the Smoothstar out. While the start was a bit wobbly, once you get used to the back-foot control, a whole new world opens up. The SmoothStar website says the Cruiser is their equivalent to a min mal, for those who like to cruise and practise nice wide carving turns. This is all true. Rolling down a hill, you get to do super-lazy wide turns and could just carve forever, or as long as the hill goes anyway. It picks up plenty of speed, but it’s not too scary, because you have a fair bit of control due to how tight you can turn it. But will it help your surfing as it claims? It definitely rides more like a surfboard than a skateboard, so I think it definitely would. And my surfing is so bad, everything helps. Love it. Great ride, great fun. E agrees.
SPECS AND FEATURES 39” LONG BOARD “CRUISER” • 39” x 8 ½” • Rides like a mini mal/longboard • Perfect for steep hills and carving side-to-side Other boards in the SmoothStar range includee two different 36” Short Board Cruisers, the 32” Flying Fish and the 30” Retro Rocket. For more info, see www.smoothstar.com
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We tested the board in the morning and had a surf later that day. Lo and behold, I definitely felt smoother through my turns. “But why is it so”, I hear you ask in a Monty Python voice. Well, it is because of the unique dual coil spring system in the trucks which allows the board to simulate the rail-to-rail experience of surfing. It’s a fair testament to the board’s ability to mara (Mick Fanning’s improve your surfing when the likes of Phil McNamara n ssurfer as well as elite Coach), Barton Lynch (former world champion surf coach and Australian team coach) ass well as Martin Dunn (one d numerous tim of the world’s most elite coaches and times the Australian st thing since sliced bbread. team coach) all rate it as the best etboardz are the best surf training devices In their words, “The streetboardz available. They take the rider back to the fundamentals of ssurfing. They ue opportunity for both the rider and coach to w provide a unique work and fohnique, style and overall strength in a controlled and managed cus on technique, nment.” Barton Lynch/ y Martin Dunn. So who are we to arg g environment.” argue?
SPECS PEC ECS AND FEATURES F • 4 models are ar available • Streetboard:: the model we tested: perfect for carving big hills • Dragon: suited to the competitive surfer for cross trainin training • Cruiser: larger board oard for longboard enthusiasts • Pool Bomb: best suited ited to the skate park streetboardz range from m $295 for the Pool Bomb through to $550 for the Streetboard. For more information, rmation, see www.streetboardz.net
GOING ELECTRIC IN THE AVENUES
FiiK
I think the boys at Fiik have a problem. You see anyone who has had a go on one of their boards can’t get off them. It’s probably why all the boards road tested by various mags have never been returned. WORDS DS Hell, I couldn’t get off them. I took my kids for a ride and I couldn’t get them off the boards. A few of my mates came around and then I couldn’t get them off the boards. We passed a few neighbours up the street returning from an afternoon surf, they wanted a go and then we couldn’t get them of the boards. It’s fair to say the Fiik board is addictive. Why drive down the road to check out the surf when you can Fiik it down? Even better if the return trip is uphill. Simply squeeze the trigger (ever so gently because these things go like the clappers – up to 35 kms per hour, reportedly) and away she goes. Hills certainly aren’t a problem as they have plenty of grunt. And if you have the Big Daddy model, going cross country won’t stop you either. They will traverse next to anything. They ride like a typical longboard skateboard but can do so much more. The boards are powered by a silent electronic system having evolved from their predecessors noisy two-stroke engines. To find out more about the Fiik and how it can be truly ridden by the experts, check out their clip featuring Owen and Tyler Wilson: http://youtu.be/Vsg6HcK_0FQ
My favourite was the Street Surfer. Whilst the Shorty was a little more responsive and could turn on a dime, the Street Surfer could go next to anywhere – up gutters, over grass, you name it. I have got to buy one. I can just picture myself skating down to my favourite surf break to check things out with one of the kids on board. That’s what living at the beach is all about.
SPECS AND FEATURES • Minimum 2-3 hours battery life • Available with lithium or standard battery • Rechargeable memory free, deep cycle, high output battery packs • Speeds up to 35km/hr • Wireless hand-held remote control • 3 speed settings • ABS brakes • There are now 7 models on offer • Prices are incredible considering what they do and range from $650 to $950 for the standard models. • Green credentials – its powered, but environmentally friendly. Considering the automotive alternative, it gets a big thumbs up. More: www.fiikskateboards.com.
The Fiik Street Surfer - what childhood dreams are made of
The Shorty
THE VERDICT: VERY DIFFERENT OPTIONS All really fun rides in their own respect. Skating traditionalists will probably find themselves more at home on a SmoothStar, while surfing, non-skaters might find the streetboardz a more comfortable transition. As for the Fiik boards... if you have cash to spend, just go and get one. For fun, for thrills or even quick commuting, these are just awesome.
Street Surfer lawn burnouts
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GEAR: PROJECT
from this
n w o r G e m Ho Andrew Wells makes wooden surfboards and he makes them very well. For the past few years, his business has quietly grown from a personal board-building project to an established following for his Lennox Head NSW based company, Grown Surfboards.
2.
1.
1 Milling the palings 2 Timber milled ready to go
to this You’ll find Andrew - a trained environmental engineer - actively involved at community events such as the Alley Fish Fry and the Wooden Board Day at Currumbin. In the spirit of information exchange and secretsharing, he was just as happy to share a bit about one of his recent projects - breathing some new life into a pile of old fence palings by creating this beautiful 6-foot singlefin. “The reason behind using the fence palings for this board was because I use recycled timber as much as possible. It gives boards more personality and character. “I was walking my dog past a guy replacing his fence which had blown
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over in a storm. I started thinking it would be cool to try and re-use the fence palings to do a rustic timber looking board, keeping all of the nail holes, and so on to really give the board some character. “So I grabbed a stack of the palings off the guy - who looked at me very strangely when I told him what I was going to use them for -and got to work.” Andrews says that because the palings were redgum it was going to add a fair bit of weight to the board, which is the reason he chose an old singlefin design. “It has a fair bit of thickness through the board which essentially gives it more float in the water to counteract
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3.
4.
on frame and 5. Bottom decktimber added centre stringer
3 Internal frame for the board 4 Paulownia bottom deck being glued onto frame
6.
7.
8. 9.
the additional weight. I went with the narrow pintail as I wanted it to be a fun little point-riding board that would hold its line in the pocket nicely.” 35 hours of work saw the board constructed and finished, ready for glassing. But it wasn’t easy going due to the fact that the redgum was so seasoned, making it hard as a rock. “While milling down the palings into boards for the deck, I managed to rip about four teeth off my table saw and proceeded to blunt every tool in my shed trying to shape it. It took about three hours to sand the deck, which coated everything in red dust, which in turn stained everything else.“
10.
But in the end Andrew reckons the finished board was well worth the effort. Although he hasn’t had this one in the water, he compared the ride to another board of the same style and size:
6 Deck boards being attached 7 Deck on 8 Top and bottom decks on, plan shape cut ready to add rails 9 Rails on, ready for shaping 10 Rails shaped and board sanded, ready for glassing
The finished surfboard - glassed, polished and ready for the waves
“It needs a bit of push in the wave to get it going, but once you drop in, the extra weight in the board gives you a stack of speed and momentum out of your bottom turn. “And it really locks in nice and solid in the pocket. I have had some of the best barrels on that board.” For more on Andrew’s work, see www.grownsurfboards.com.au
6’ x 20’ x 2.5
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Vern Jackson Surfboards
COUNTER CULTURE
Proud stockists of all leading surf brands and
“ A GOOD OLD SURF SHOP IN AN ICONIC SURF TOWN”
Juanita & Kent Saunders, Southern Man Surf Shop
Dave Cram, 1993 (photo by Slim)
Brett Burcher
1991 1985 Ulladulla shaper Vern Jackson combines the best ideas from the past with the innovative and progressive thinking to create some of the finest boards in the water today. That’s why you’ll find his boards in Southern Man Surf.
Nitro
Fatboy
$ 690
$ 780
This is a highperformance fish blending ‘70s outline with 21st century design.
A scaled-up version of the Nitro for big guys.
Perry Mason, 1993, with Martyn Saunders (now 25)
For personal service and a great range of surfboards and accessories, skateboards, bodyboards, clothing and much more, visit Southern Man Surf in Ulladulla on your next surf trip to the South Coast of NSW.
138 Princes Highway, Ulladulla, NSW 2539
www.southernman.com.au 96
Kent Saunders presents the 1984 Surf Off trophy to Glen Kelly
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THE MAN STILL STANDS The iconic Southern Man Surf shop in Ulladulla on the picturesque New South Wales South Coast has been a mainstay of the surf trade along the Princes Highway and still stands tall after almost four decades of business. 36 years ago there were no thrusters. 36 years ago, there was no formally organised surfing competition, and you might easily have surfed a single fin next to a knee boarder. 36 years ago, most people reading this mag were probably at school, in nappies or not yet even a twinkle in their parents’ eyes. And 36 years ago surfers all along the east coast, freshly hyped up from Morning of the Earth, were travelling and discovering new breaks and new experiences, while a young surfer - Dave Mathews - went into a new venture - the original Southern Man. Nan and Joe Saunders bought the store in April 1979 and by November that year Kent, Juanita and 6-month-old son Ben had moved to the South Coast to involve themselves in the business, running Southern Man while Nan and Joe opened a menswear shop, which is still operating and still in the family, run by Kent’s brother, Craig. The iconic Ulladulla surf shop began as a ‘surf shop and jeanery’, stocking brands such as Golden Breed, Hang Ten, Cream, Pipeline Leggies, and the good old Levis and those ‘70s fledging brands Billabong, Quiksilver, Rip Curl, Kuta Line and Ocean and Earth. Southern Man moved to its present location in 1984 and, other than a lot of refurbishment, hasn’t changed a lot over the years. With a loyal following, the store has long been a stalwart of the surf industry in the area and a second home to South Coast surf heroes such as Glen Kelly and Mark Lenton, John Giles, Steven Dair, Nathan Marks, Mark Roughly Graeme and Brad Parsons, Slim and current up-and-comers Brett Burcher, Scott ‘Whippy’ Denis, Darcy Piper, Sean and Tess Mawson and some great bodyboarders such as Glen Thurston, Damien Martin, Liam Glass, Mat McArthur and Joe Silver. An institution in the local surf scene, the store continues to sponsor countless surfers and various sporting clubs, events and charities. Over the years, Southern Man has always remained true to its roots, supporting local shapers by stocking local boards, from Skipp Surfboards, USC, Swift Stix, Ocean Movement and BK Surfboards in the ‘70s, ‘80s, ‘90s to Vern Jackson Surfboards since early 2000. In 1980 Kent and Juanita Saunders took over as owners of Southern Man and, with a strong sense of family in the business, today their sons Tim and Martyn - who practically grew up in the store - make up the team along with Perry, Sam, Dani and Tash. This crew know their game and Juanita is still on the floor selling and organizing seven days a week. Although the shop has been around for more than three decades, it’s anything but old and stale. A recent refurbishment has delivered a clean, uncluttered layout in the various departments in the store – surf, skate, bodyboards and mens, ladies and children fashion. But Southern Man is still very much a surf shop at heart, to which the surfboard shed out the back bears witness. With the best views on the South Coast the shed is filled with an endless number of new and secondhand boards. Make sure you check out the ‘treasure chest’ next time you stop by the store. Southern Man Surf shop at Ulladulla is open rain, hail or shine, seven days a week, week in, week out. In fact, the only day of the year it closes is Christmas Day. On your next trip to the South Coast, make sure you stop in and say hello at “the original and still the best” Southern Man Surf shop.
SOUTHERN MAN SURF SHOP 138 Princes Highway Ulladulla NSW 2539 Phone: (02) 4454 0343 mail@southernman.com.au www.southernman.com.au Left: Scott ‘Whippy’ Denis (photo: Simon Punch) september 2010
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CLOSEOUT: FASHION
ACTIVITY IN THE HIVE
SURFER GIRLS GET BEACHWEAR THAT GOES WELL BEYOND SUNBATHING Sunshine Coast swimwear label Hive have taken a long, hard look at what girls really need in the surf to create a range that is both beautiful and functional. Designer Kat Hogg says the inspiration for the latest beachwear collection comes from “the desire to create garments complementary to the swimwear range that suit our active beach lifestyle.” Ocean dwellers like the blue ring octopus, angel fish, sea anemone, nautilus shell and marine eel have all found their way into the new collection alongside mermaids, turtles and reef swirl. Hive swimsuits are fully adjustable, so you can be as comfortable in the water as you should be. For more information on the swimwear, see the Hive website. Left: The Blue Ringed Octopus Right: Reefswirl in a duckdive
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ZAK SURFBOARDS
Not only does he have tons of boards, he has tons of cool merchandise too, from t-shirt to hoodies, you can rep Zak all year ‘round. www.zaksurfboards.com
NOOSA LONGBOARDS
The iconic surf location and the shop to claim the name. Plenty of t-shirt designs for guys and girls. Get into either of their stores to check them out or see noosalongboards.com
GROWN SURFBOARDS
All natural, just like the boards, Grown t-shirts are 100% organic cotton. Be a responsible earth warrior and read more at grownsurfboards.com.au
FIIK SKATEBOARDS
Riding an electric skateboard around naked, you’re likely to be arrested. So you may as well get a cool shirt to wear while cruising. fiikskateboards.com
BLOW-IN CAMOUFLAGE
TIP # 87: AVOID BEING SPANKED BY THE LOCALS: BUY SOME GEAR FROM THE LOCAL SURF SHOP OR SHAPER, WALK SLOW AND DON’T GRIN LIKE A TOURIST.
THE LOG SHACK
Get around Coffs looking like a local in cool, retrolook Log Shack gear. The perfect partner to that high-gloss longboard you just shelled out for. www.thelogshack.com.au
OUTEREEF
Yes, they have surfboards... but also possibly the largest range of t-shirts for a surf shop in Australia. Pop in next time you’re visiting Phillip Island. www.outereef.com.au
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GEAR: ART
MANY GOOD RESINS ART AND SOUL OF TORQUAY’S IAN CHISHOLM PHOTOGRAPHY HAYDN DAVIS, WORDS ANGELA KING Ian Chisholm is well known for the beauty, practicality and creativity of his custommade surfboards. Far from the world of mass production, he painstakingly shapes each one of them in his Southcoast Longboards factory, pouring in a healthy dose of heart, soul, creativity and passion. The end result is a work of art that would be equally at home in a gallery as any discerning board-collector’s quiver. So it’s no surprise to learn he also turns his artistry to a more traditional bent – colourful works on canvas. Ian, who has been custom making boards since the mid 1990s, indulges a sideline passion as an artist, working with leftover, non-biodegradable materials from his boards to create paintings that draw impressive comparisons with the likes of Jackson Pollock. Not only beautiful, they also help reduce his contribution to landfill. “Over the years I have come to enjoy expressing my love for colourful traditional finishes through glassing,” he explains. “Fascinated by the way the resin falls naturally from my boards to the glassing table, I played around with the idea to somehow capture the textured trails of colourful resin for others to enjoy. I came up with the idea to hang canvas on my glassing tables so it could catch it in its natural textured form. Then, I figured, why let the other materials from shaping go to waste? That’s when it started to come together.” Ian takes several weeks to complete each piece, using materials such as leftover resin, offcuts from the blank, shaping dust and stringer shavings and so each piece is wholly unique, underpinned by a creative process intimately tied to his boards.
“...THERE ARE PIECES OF EACH OF THOSE BOARDS IN MY ART”
“Because making surfboards is a very routine-orientated procedure and my art becomes sprung along with it, it all starts to feel very ritualistic,” Ian explains. “With my surfboards I put my hard work, blood and sweat into them while the art is a more relaxing, non-perfection procedure, so it all comes together and complements each other. While together it’s challenging mentally and physically, it also rewards and relaxes me. It’s a good balance.’” Drawing on a wide pool of inspiration, surfing culture is obviously a major influence. “I have always loved the beach culture of the 1950s and ‘60s, as well as the American hot rod scene of the same period,” he says. “I admire Tyler Hatzikian as a custom surfboard builder and the works of artists Salvador Dali and Jackson Pollock, as well as artist/filmmaker Thomas Campbell.” Despite the strong praise his art generates, Ian has no firm plans yet to open up his work to a wider audience through an exhibition. “So far I haven’t found the urge to push on it. I find my art is well suited to my factory showroom; it has a gallery appeal. It also brings a whole story together with the boards instore, because guaranteed there are pieces of each of those boards in my art. “I’m not stressed if they’re not selling like my surfboards because they take so long to create. My future plans are to keep doing them for my enjoyment, along with the surfboards. So, like my surfboards, I just hope people will appreciate and enjoy them as much as I do.”
To see and read more about Ian’s artwork, or for more information on Southcoast Longboards, visit his website: www.southcoastlongboards.com.au 100
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. . . y r o t s Hi
A little bit of
COLLECTOR’S NEWS MICK MOCK’S VINTAGE BOARD AUCTION
and even better when This is always a great place to see great vintage boards 967 for more info. 974 0403 on Mick Call well. as them on bid you can get to Date: Saturday 25 September Venue: Harbord Diggers Club, Harbord, Sydney
BUYING A PIECE OF HISTORY The surfing history highlight of the 2010 Yamba Festival of Comedy Music and Arts was the display and auction of possibly Australia’s first surfing photos taken at Main Beach Yamba between 1910-13. Surfing historian Geoff Cater of surfresearch.com notes that the surfer in the photo, Tommy Walker, purchased his board at Waikiki in 1909 for $2 and these images confirm written accounts of his surfing skills.
IS THIS THE REAL DEAL?
Prints of the three photos were auctioned as part of fundraising for the 2011 festival, ‘Celebrating 100 years of Australian Surfing Photography’ which will include the addition of the Tommy Walker Longboard Classic.
Just before going to print we came across this vintage Bear Board housed at a residence in Moffat Beach. Of course we qualify the word ‘vintage ’ with the fact that obviously it could only be as old as ‘78 when the movie was made, but due to the big-screen significance, we figure it deserved some investiga tion.
Yamba local, Raelene Clarke (above right), bought the archival quality framed prints at the Yamba Festival of Comedy Music and Arts at the Soul Surfing Exhibition. Part of the funds will also go to the Yamba Museum and the Australian Surf Museum at Manly. For more information on the plans for the 2011 festiva l or the Tommy Walker photos, see weloveyamba.com, or contact festiva l co-ordinator Debrah Novak on 02 6646 1174.
By all accounts it appears as though it may have been used in the movie Big Wednesday. The decal on the board clearly shows the name Mike Perry, who shaped the board used by Peter Townend in the scene where Jack Barlow goes for his last surf before he heads off to Vietnam. Jan-Michael Vincent’s board in the movie was not dissimi lar in appearance. However, Vincent’s board was balsa - not fibreglass - and was sold at the recent Hawaiian Islands Vintage Surfboard Auction on the 18th of July. Made of solid balsa, with the iconic Bear logo on the nose, the board sold in Hawaii was not a prop board, but the actual one ridden and used for filming. The board was in mint condition with only a few minor pressure dents and a few shatters. So was this a prop board used in the movie and how much is it worth? Unfortuntely, at the time of going to press, Tony and Evan Squirrell of North Coast Surfbo ards - the manufacturers of Bear Surfboards in Australia - had not yet had the opportunity to see the board in person and were unable to comment. Can you shed some light on this interesting find? If you know further information regarding the boards used in big Wednesday email us at editorial@smorgasboarder.com.au LEFT: Gary Busey, Jan-Michael Vincent & William Katt from the 1978 surf classic Big Wednesday
BACK THEN IN SURFING HISTORY WORDS: PAT QUIRK
Hard to believe but the Thruster design will be thirty years old this coming October, The design used on millions of boards worldwide was made popular by Simon Anderson in late 1980 and early 1981. Whilst Simon was not the first person to make three-finned boards his refinement of the design and his success riding them brought them firmly into the mainstream surfing world. The Campbell Brothers in 1970 made the Bonzer design incorporating one main centre fin with two smaller keel like fins on either side of the centre fin and Bob McTavish was also said to have tried three fins out as early as 1971 with the centre fin being larger then the two side fins. Simon’s Thruster design had three equal size fins as we see on most short boards today. However Simon built his first Thruster with the centre fin slightly larger then the side fins, upon handing the board over to his sander he asked him to make the centre fin smaller as it was hanging out over the tail of the board and he didn’t want to cut his foot on this overhang. This made the fins to be roughly the same size. The inspiration for the design came from Simon’s frustration in riding twin fin boards as they did not suit his surfing style. Good thing for us surfers that he didn’t like twin fins.
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CLOSEOUT: CELEBRATION
20
It was 20 years ago today…
It is hard to believe that we have been in business 20 years this September. It was on a cold winters day in 1990 , I (Andrew McCredie) had just returned from backpacking in Europe and Warwick (Lee) asked me what I was going to do now. “ How about opening a shop selling secondhand windsurf gear?” Why not! I’ve got nothing else to do.
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So we sat around his kitchen table for the next few months planning our grand opening. In September 1990 Repeat Performance Sailboards (RPS) opened in an old two storey shop front in Ormond Road, Elwood. We had very little money to spend on stock, only $1000 to buy the essential bits and pieces, so we put all our own gear and that of our friends in for sale on consignment. The plan was to use the commission made from selling the gear to buy more stock (not a great plan in hindsight). We couldn’t afford to pay ourselves so we both worked night jobs as well as being in the shop 9 to 5. I worked as a barman in a city night club and Warwick drove as a courier for the ambulance service. We would often meet back at the shop around 3-4a.m. have a beer and crash in a make shift bedroom above the shop. It was a tough couple of years but not without some good times. On any windy day we would hang a sign in the window, shut the door and go do some “R&D” at the nearest beach. After a few years we started making a wage, and we were now branching out into different sports. Surfing was a natural progression and so
was a relatively new sport snowboarding. We both loved to snowboard, so what better way to get ourselves new toys to play with than to sell the stuff. We outgrew our original shop and name, so two years later “RPS The Board Store” moved to 87 Ormond Road. RPS has evolved as we have embraced other board sports we love to do. Surfing, skateboarding, snowboarding, kitesurfing and stand up paddling. We offer repairs, lessons, overseas snowboarding trips… we seem to do it all. But some things don’t change. We still shut the shop so we can all go snowboarding together. Whenever the swells up a couple of the guys will be running a little late for work, and when its windy, well its your turn today and mine tomorrow. After all these years we have seen many characters from all these sports come through the store and have had some damn good times with them all. We still regard ourselves as one of the last true surf hardware stores in Melbourne and pride ourselves on expert advice and great equipment to ensure our friends and customers stay as stoked as we do. ...here’s to another 20 years!
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DIRECTORIES: SURF SHOPS SUNSHINE COAST & BRISBANE
COOLUM SURF
07 5351 1742 Shop 14, 8-26 Birtwill St Coolum Beach www.alexsurfshop.com.au
NOOSA SURF WORKS
07 5474 4567 1/11 Bartlett St Noosaville www.shotgunsurf.com www.lagunabaysurf.com
BLUE LINES
07 5351 1986 Shops 17 & 18 1776 The Esplanade Coolum Beach
WATERLINE
07 5474 1010 2/15 Venture Dr Noosaville www.zeewetsuits.com
WIPEOUT SURF & SKATE
CLASSIC MALIBU AUSTRALIA
ON SURFARI
07 5450 7272 1/938 David Low Way Marcoola Beach
07 5474 3122 Cnr Gibson and Eumundi Rds. Noosaville www.classicmalibu.com
LOCAL KNOWLEDGE
OLD WOMAN SURF SHOP
07 5474 1222 3 Gibson Rd Noosaville
07 5448 7025 Santorini’ Shop 6, 15 Mudjimba Esp. Mudjimba
NOOSA LONGBOARDS NOOSA 07 5447 4776 Shop 2, 55 Hastings Street Noosa Heads www.noosalongboards.com
GOLDEN BREED SURF NOOSA 07 5455 3722 15 Noosa Drive Noosa Heads www.goldenbreed.com.au
07 5474 9198 75 Noosa Drive & 1-7 Sunshine Beach Rd Noosa Heads
BLUEWATER PLAYERS
07 5473 5079 Shop 3A 11 Sunshine Beach Rd Noosa Heads www.bluewaterplayers.com.au 07 5473 5676 Cnr Lanyana Way and Arcadia Walk Noosa Junction www.backbeach.net.au
WIPEOUT SURF & SKATE 07 5448 0899 3/28 Duke St Sunshine Beach
PEREGIAN SURF SHOP 07 5448 2328 214 David Low Way Peregian Beach 104
DA BOMB
07 5451 0620 3/25 Plaza Pde Maroochydore www.dabombsurf.com.au
BEACH BEAT
07 5443 2777 164 Alexandra Pde Alexandra Headlands www.beachbeat.com.au
IMPACT SURF
BACK BEACH
07 5474 2162 197 Gympie Terrace Noosaville www.onSurfari.com.au
ALEX SURF
07 5452 6276 188 Alexandra Pde Alexandra Headlands www.alexsurf.com.au
SUBURBAN SURF
07 5493 7411 224 Nicklin Way Warana www.suburbansurf.com.au
DA BOMB
(07) 5437 9201 7/12 Thunderbird Dr Bokarina www.dabombsurf.com.au
BEACH BEAT
07 5491 8215 Shop 2&3 4-6 Beerburrum St Dicky Beach www.beachbeat.com.au
THE FACTORY
07 5492 5838 15 Allen St Caloundra QLD 4551
BEACH BEAT
07 5491 4711 119 Bulcock Rd Caloundra www.beachbeat.com.au
PRIMITIVE SURF
07 3266 1001 601 Nudgee Rd Nundah www.primitivesurf.com
GOODTIME
07 3391 8588 29 Ipswich Rd Wooloongabba www.goodtime.com.au
GOLD COAST SURF FX
07 5531 3199 127 Ferry Road Southport www.surf-fx.com
SURF FX
07 5538 0008 3191 Surfers Paradise Bvld Surfers Paradise www.surf-fx.com
SIDEWAYS
07 5592 3849 3012 Surfers Blvd Surfers Paradise www.sidewaysboardsports. com.au
DUKE’S LONGBOARDS
07 5572 0477 2578 Gold Coast Hwy Mermaid Beach www.dukeslongboards.com
BALI RETREATS
07 5572 0477 2578 Gold Coast Hwy Mermaid Beach www.baliretreats.com.au
STUART SURF DESIGN
07 5572 0098 2576 Gold Coast Hwy Mermaid Beach www.stuartsurf.com.au
GANGSTA SURF
07 5526 6969 Shop 1/ 2558 Gold Coast Hwy Mermaid Beach www.gangstasurf.com
GREENLINE
0412 398 585 2544 Gold Coast Hwy Mermaid Beach www.greenlinepaddlesurf.com
BOARD CULTURE
07 5572 9866 2438 Gold Coast Hwy Mermaid Beach www.boardculture.com.au
LOCAL KNOWLEDGE
07 5526 6377 2251 Gold Coast Hwy Nobby Beach
THE BOARDROOM
07 5527 7877 2084 Gold Coast Hwy Miami
MT WOODGEE
07 5535 0288 1730 Gold Coast Hwy Burleigh Heads www.mtwoodgee.com.au
MY PHOTO EXPERT
07 5535 2763 3/71 Township Drive Burleigh Heads www.myphotoexpert.com.au
SEAN SCOTT PHOTOGRAPHY
07 5520 2774 Old Burleigh Theatre Arcade, Shop 10, Goodwin Tce Burleigh Heads seanscottphotography.com.au
FIREWIRE SURFBOARDS
07 5587 7700 1/49 Currumbin Creek Rd Currumbin Waters www.firewiresurfboards.com
DMS
07 5559 5949 3/56 Currumbin Creek Rd Currumbin Waters www.dmshapes.com
SHAPERS
07 5534 4228 9/7 Traders Way Currumbin www.shapers.com.au
MT WOODGEE
07 5598 2188 2 Stewart Rd Currumbin www.mtwoodgee.com.au
DIVERSE
07 5598 4848 476 Gold Coast Highway Tugan www.diversesurf.com.au
DORRINGTON SURFBOARDS
07 5599 4030 16 Musgrave Street Kirra www.dorringtonsurfboards.com
KIRRA SURF
07 5536 3922 Shop 6, 8 Creek St Bilinga www.kirrasurf.com.au
UNDERGROUND SURF
07 5599 1040 Shop 3/31 McLean St. Coolangatta www.undergroundsurf.com.au
MT WOODGEE
07 5536 5937 122 Griffith St Coolangatta www.mtwoodgee.com.au
COOLONGATTA BOARD STORE 07 5536 7850 152 Griffith St, Coolangatta
SEAN SCOTT PHOTOGRAPHY
07 5599 1150 Shop 3, 110 Marine Pde, Reflections Tower Two Coolangatta seanscottphotography.com.au
BASE SURFBOARDS
07 5536 1470 Cnr Dutton St & Marine Pde Coolangatta www.basesurfboards.com
SIDEWAYS
07 5524 6699 2/13-21 Greenway Dr Tweed Heads sidewaysboardsports.com.au
NSW NORTH COAST Cabarita Surf Shop 02 6676 3151 16 Coast Rd Cabarita Beach
OCEAN SHORES SURF
02 6680 4570 Shop 2, Ocean Village Shopping Centre Ocean Shores
BRUNSWICK SURF
02 6685 1283 1/12 The Terrace Brunswick Heads www.brunswicksurf.com.au
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Pick up the next edition of smorgasboarder at any of these fine businesses - out in November.
MACTAVISH
02 6680 8807 91 Centenial Circuit Byron Bay www.mctavish.com.au
MADDOG SURF CENTRES 02 6685 6395 91 Jonson St Byron Bay www.maddog.com.au
MC SURF DESIGNS
02 6685 8778 3 Banksia Drive Byron Bay www.mcsurf.com.au
NORTH COAST SURFBOARDS
02 6685 6896 1/29 Acacia St Byron Bay www.bearsurfboards.com.au
MUNROE
02 6685 6211 29 Acacia St Byron Bay www.munroesurfboards.com.au
NSW MID NORTH COAST COOPERS SURF CENTRES
02 6654 0033 56D Beach St Woolgoolga www.cooperssurf.com.au
COOPERS SURF CENTRES
UNPLUGGED
02 6685 7441 Shop 1/ 2 Lawson Street Byron Bay www.unpluggedbyronbay.com
MADDOG SURF CENTRES 02 6685 6094 45 River St Ballina www.maddog.com.au
SALTWATER WINE
02 6652 6369 Shop 56, The Palm Centre Coffs Harbour www.cooperssurf.com.au
THE LOG SHACK
02 66580223 392 Harbour Drive, The Jetty Strip Coffs Harbour www.thelogshack.com.au
02 6583 7790 80 William St Port Macquarie
02 6584 4877 1/125 Gordon St Port Macquarie www.saltwaterwine.com.au
SALTWATER WINE
02 6584 1600 Shop F5, Port Central Shpng Cntr Port Macquarie www.saltwaterwine.com.au
SALTWATER WINE
WATER SURF+ART+CAFE
Distinctively relaxed atmosphere, exceptional food, coffee and tea, great service, photographic art from Australia’s best photographers, exquisite gifts and select surfwear and boards. (02) 6651 4500 370 Harbour Drive, Coffs Harbour Jetty www.watersurfartcafe.com
COASTAL CURVES
02 6568 6902 Ridge St Nambucca Heads www.coastalcurves.com
SOUND LOUNGE
VALLA
02 6646 3909 16 Yamba St Yamba
02 6566 0550 1 Crescent Head Tavern Crescent Head
COOPERS SURF CENTRES
02 6645 8362 Top of the Hill Yamba
THE PLANK SHOP
CRESCENT HEAD SURF CO
INNER VISION SURF ‘N’ SKATE
02 6685 5244 Shop 1 - 89 Jonson St Byron Bay 02 6685 6322 Shop 2 / 6 Lawson St Byron Bay
02 6566 5177 1/15 Livingstone St South West Rocks
02 6652 5466 Shop 34, Park Beach Plaza Coffs Harbour www.cooperssurf.com.au
BYRON BAY LONGBOARDS
AFENDS
WAVE WEAR
02 6568 8909 8 Monro St, Nambucca Heads www.vallasurfboards.com.au
SCOTTS HEAD SURF SHOP
02 6569 8344 Scotts Head NSW 2447 www.scottsheadsurfschool. blogspot.com
MARK RICHARDS SURFSHOP
02 4961 3088 755 Hunter St Newcastle www.markrichardssurfboards. com
SURFHOUSE PHOTOGRAPHY
61 Hunter Street Newcastle www.surfhousephotography. com
PACIFIC DREAMS SURFSHOPS 02 4926 3355 7 Darby St Newcastle www.pacificdreams.com.au
BREAKAWAY SURF CO 02 4956 6979 Stockland Glendale, 387 Lake Rd Glendale
SANDY FEET
02 4945 8965 703 Pacific Hwy Belmont South
02 6584 1995 5/21 Clarence Street Port Macquarie www.sandyfeetsurf.com.au
JUNGLE SURF
02 6555 8556 4/25 Manning Street Tuncurry www.junglesurf.com.au
SALTWATER WINE
02 6554 7979 5 Wharf St Forster www.saltwaterwine.com.au
BOOMERANG BEACH SURF 02 6554 0351 Shop 4, Boomerang Drive Pacific Palms
NEWCASTLE
Surf Factory 16 Maitland Rd Islington www.thesurffactory.com.au
BATEAU BAY SURF N SPORT 02 4332 1157 101a Bateau Bay Road Bateau Bay
SLIMES
02 4365 5511 1/203 The Entrance Rd Erina
ESS BOARDSTORE
251 The Entrance Rd Erina www.essboardstore.com.au 02 4342 2555 326 West St Umina
SYDNEY NORTH
02 4943 2699 181 Pacific Hwy Charlestown
EGANS
02 4334 6532 473 The Entrance Rd Long Jetty www.surferschoice.com.au
STS THE BOARD CENTRE
BREAKAWAY SURF CO
02 6583 6960 Shop 43, Settlement City Shpng Cntr Port Macquarie www.saltwaterwine.com.au
SURFERS CHOICE
BEACH WITHOUT SAND 02 9974 2861 Shop 1/24 Ocean Rd Palm Beach
02 4945 8055 575 Pacific Hwy Belmont
BEACH WITHOUT SAND 02 9918 2763 1a Nth Avalon Rd Avalon
THE SURF SHACK
RAISED BY WOLVES
SWANSEA SURF SHOP
02 4971 4422 164 Pacific Hwy Swansea www.swanseasurf.com.au
CENTRAL COAST BEACHIN SURF
02 43 96 5159 262 Main Rd Toukley Web: www.surfinfo.com.au/ nsw/beachinsurf
02 9918 8861 U 2/40 Old Barrenjoey Rd Avalon www.raisedbywolves.com.au
GLASS AVENUE
02 9997 8833 365 Barrenjoey Rd Newport Beach www.glassavenue.com.au
LITTLE DRAGON
0403 974 967 1 Bramley Lane Newport Beach
NINE HUNDRED SURF SKATE & WAKE
DIVISION SURF
02 4334 2234 1/85 Toowoon Bay Rd Toowoon Bay Jetty
02 9979 5334 Cnr Bungan and Waratah Sts Mona Vale www.divisionsurf.com.au
BOARDERLINE SURF SKATE
RAISED BY WOLVES
02 4332 7175 421 The Entrance Rd Long Jetty www.boarderlinesurfskate.com
02 9997 4838 9b Waratah St, Mona Vale www.raisedbywolves.com.au
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DIRECTORIES: SURF SHOPS CONTINUED THE SUGARMILL SURF EMPORIUM NARRABEEN
SURFECTION
02 9969 1011 522 Military Rd Mosman www.surfectionmosman.com
02 9913 3332 2/1329 Pittwater Rd Narrabeen www.sugarmillsurf.com
SUPER SWELL
POWERLINEZ
02 9144 3229 166 Mona Vale Rd St Ives
02 9913 2128 16a Waterloo St Narrabeen www.powerlinez.com.au
WICKS SURF CENTRE 02 9971 0760 1103 Pittwater Road Collaroy Beach
SKIPP SURFBOARDS
BONDI SURF CO/ BONDI UNDERGROUND
02 9971 0999 17 Anzac Ave Collaroy Windsurfnsnow.com.au
02 9365 0870 2/72 Campbell Pde Bondi Beach
DRIPPING WET SURF CO
LINE UP SURF AUSTRALIA
02 9300 0055 180-186 Campbell Parade Bondi Beach www.drippingwetsurf.com
02 9971 8624 12b The Strand DeeWhy www.lineup.com.au
SURF CULTURE
THE PERFECT WAVE
02 9939 0890 Suite 38, 42-46 Wattle Rd Brookvale www.theperfectwave.com.au
BENNETT SURFBOARDS
02 93895477 40 Bronte Road Bondi Junction www.surfculture.com.au
SIX OUNCE
(02) 9389 5477 40 Bronte Rd, Bondi Junction, NSW www.sixounceboardstore. com.au
02 9905 5157 180 Harbord Rd Brookvale
SUNSHINE SURFING
02 9977 4399 89 Pittwater Rd Manly www.sunshinesurfing.com.au
COOGEE SURF SHOP
DRIPPING WET SURF CO
CRONULLA
02 9977 3549 93 North Steyne Manly www.drippingwetsurf.com 02 9977 6955 110 The Corso Manly www.surfectionmosman.com
HERITAGE SURF AUSTRALIA
02 9977 7623 24 Darley Rd, Manly www.heritagesurfaustralia.com 106
02 9664 1293 222 Coogee Bay Rd Coogee
TRIPLE BULL - SURFSNOWSK8
SURFECTION
SURF PIT
SURFECTION
02 9130 8101 68 Campbell Pde Bondi Beach
WIND SURF ’N’ SNOW
WOOLONGONG
SYDNEY SOUTH
KRACK SURF & SKATE
02 9982 4829 1012 Pittwater Rd Collaroy www.longreefsurf.com.au
02 9544 0433 8 Cronulla St Cronulla cronullasurfdesign.com.au
02 4283 7196 2/100 Railway St, Corrimal www.surfpit.com.au
02 9387 1413 308 Oxford St Bondi Junction
LONG REEF SURF
CRONULLA SURF DESIGN
02 9544 0354 23 Kingsway Cronulla www.triplebullsurf.com
JACKSON SURFBOARDS
02 9524 2700 57 Captain Cook Drive Caringbah www.jacksonsurfboards.com.au
02 4228 8878 24 Flinders St, Wollongong www.skippsurf.com
CARABINE SURF DESIGNS
02 4229 9462 36 Flinders St, Wollongong
OVERBOARD
02 4225 0644 94 Flinders St Wollongong
EXTREME SNOW, SKATE & SURF 02 4226 3145 80 Market St Wollongong
BOARDOM
02 4295 3373 1/16b Addison St Shellharbour Village
ZINK
02 4233 1189 136 Terralong St. Kiama www.zinksurf.com.au
NATURAL NECESSITY SURF SHOP 02 4234 1636 115 Fern St Gerringong www.nnss.com.au
AQUATIQUE
02 4464 1881 123a Queen Street Berry www.aquatique.com.au
AQUATIQUE
02 4421 8159 125-127 Junction St Nowra www.aquatique.com.au
AQUATIQUE
02 4421 3077 Shop 58 Stockland Mall Nowra www.aquatique.com.au
CORE SURF STORE
02 4421 4108 148 Junction Street Nowra www.corestore.com.au
AQUATIQUE
02 4441 5530 55 Owen St, Huskisson www.aquatique.com.au
SUN & SURF SHOP
02 4441 1938 Shop 1, 168 Jacobs Drive Sussex Inlet
AKWA SURF
02 4454 5222 Shop 1, Mellick’s Corner, Princess Highway Milton www.akwasurf.com.au
SOUTHERN MAN SURF SHOP 02 4454 0343 138 Princes Hwy Ulladulla www.southernman.com.au
SALTWATER DREAM 02 4472 3811 2 Bay Central Batemans Bay
OFFSHORE SURF SHOP
02 4474 4350 66 Vulcan St, Moruya www.offshoresurf.com.au
NAROOMA SURF & SKATE
MELBOURNE ZAK SURFBOARDS
03 9416 7384 319 Victoria Rd Thornbury www.zaksurfboards.com
TRIGGER BROS SURF & SAIL 03 9537 3222 Shop 2, 1 St Kilda Rd St Kilda www.triggerbros.com.au
REPEAT PERFORMANCE SURF (THE BOARD STORE) 03 9525 6475 87 Ormond Rd Elwood www.rpstheboardstore.com
BRIGHTON SURF CO. 03 9593 2211 43 Church St Brighton
SHQ BOARDSPORTS 03 9598 2867 81 Beach Road Sandringham www.shq.com.au
MORDY SURF CENTRE
03 9580 1716 628 Main St Mordialloc www.mordysurf.com.au
TRIGGER BROS SURF & SAIL
02 4476 1422 30 Princes Hwy Narooma
03 9770 2223 7 Rossmith St Frankston www.triggerbros.com.au
DSC SURFBOARDS
PENINSULA SURF CENTRE
0424 867 962 Midtown Arcade Narooma
RAW SURFBOARDS 02 6494 4466 4/28 Lamont St Bermagui
MERIMBULA SURF SHOP 02 6495 1515 Merimbula Drive Merimbula
SALTWATER DREAM 02 6495 1600 39 Market St Merimbula
CORE SURF SKATE AN KITE
02 6494 3374 49 Toalla St Pambula Village www.pambulasurfshop.com.au
03 9783 3811 40 Wells St Frankston www.peninsulasurf.com.au
PENINSULA SURF CENTRE
03 5975 9608 78 Main St Mornington www.peninsulasurf.com.au
PENINSULA SURF CENTRE
03 5975 1800 835 Nepean Hwy Mornington www.peninsulasurf.com.au
TRIGGER BROS SURF & SAIL
03 5977 2844 Shop d23, Mornington Central, Barkley St Mornington www.triggerbros.com.au
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DING REPAIRS PENINSULA SURF CENTRE
03 5982 2433 Shop R15 Port Phillip Plaza Rosebud www.peninsulasurf.com.au
PENINSULA SURF CENTRE
03 5985 4637 2137 Pt Nepean Hwy Rye www.peninsulasurf.com.au
TRIGGER BROS SURF & SAIL 03 5984 5670 46 Ocean Beach Rd Sorrento www.triggerbros.com.au
TRIGGER BROS SURF & SAIL 03 5989 8402 Point Leo Rd, Point Leo www.triggerbros.com.au
COUNTRY VIC SURF SHACK
03 5155 4933 507 Esplanade Lakes Entrance
OUTEREEF
03 5678 5677 73 Phillip Island Rd San Remo www.outereef.com.au
ISLAND SURF CENTRE
03 5952 3443 65 Smiths Beach Rd Phillip Island www.islandsurfboards.com.au
STRAPPER SURF
03 5222 5799 Westfield Geelong, Malop St Geelong www.strapper.com.au
MURFS LONGBOARDS
03 5255 5525 82 The Terrace Ocean Grove www.murfslongboards.com.au
STRAPPER SURF
03 5255 2666 67b The Terrace Ocean Grove www.strapper.com.au
GREEN ROOM SURF SHOP
03 5256 2996 64 The Terrace, Ocean Grove www.greenroom.com.au
RASTA’S EARTH & SURF SHOP
03 5254 3255 51 Hitchcock Ave Barwon Heads www.rastasurfboards.com.au
TONIK SURF CENTRE
03 5678 5873 115 Marine Pde, San Remo www.fullcirclesurf.com.au
03 5254 1470 60/62 Hitchcock Ave Barwon Heads www.tonik.com.au
ISLANTIS
STONKER TORQUAY
FULLCIRCLE SURF
03 5956 7553 10-12 Phillip Island Rd Newhaven www.islantis.com.au
03 5261 6077 1a Baines Court, Torquay www.stonker.com.au
PHILLIP ISLAND VISITOR CENTRE 1300 366 422 Phillip Island Road Newhaven VIC www.visitphillipisland.com
03 5261 2670 1C Baines Court Torquay www.southcoastlongboards. com.au
FULLCIRCLE SURF
BLUNT (STRAPPER)
SOUTH COAST SURFBOARDS
BASE
03 5261 5666 3/108 Surfcoast Hwy, Torquay www.basesurfboards.com
STRAPPER
03 5261 2312 106 Surfcoast Hwy, Torquay www.strapper.com.au
STRAPPER
BRISBANE
NAROOMA
PRIMITIVE SURF
DSC SURFBOARDS
TUGUN
03 5261 2022 34A Bell St Torquay www.torquaysurf.com.au
TIGERFISH 03 5264 7271 12/15 Bell St Torquay www.tigerfish.com.au
ANGLESEA SURF CENTRE 03 5263 1530 111 Great Ocean Rd Anglesea www.secondhandsurfboards.com.au
LORNE SURF SHOP 03 5289 1673 130 Mountjoy Pde Lorne
SHARKY’S 03 5289 2421 Mountjoy Pde Lorne
HODGY’S SURF CENTRE 03 5237 7883 143 Great Ocean Road Apollo Bay www.hodgys.com
TAYLORS 03 5562 5681 132 Liebig Street Warrnambool
ISLAND SURF CENTRE
TORQUAY SURF WORLD
SOUTHERN GUNS
ISLAND SURF SHACK
FLICK SURFBOARDS
03 5261 4566 73 Beach Road, Torquay www.flickcorp.com.au
SKIPP SURFBOARDS
(Mon – Sat, 9-5pm, Sun,10-4pm) 07 5451 0620 - Maroochydore 07 5437 9201 - Bokarina
TORQUAY SURFING ACADEMY
WARRNAMBOOL SURF CENTRE
03 5952 1659 148 Thompson Ave Cowes
DA BOMB
03 5261 3508 96 Surfcoast Hwy, Torquay www.strapper.com.au
03 5261 7590 Shop 2, Surf City Plaza Torquay www.strapper.com.au
03 5952 2578 147 Thompson Ave, Cowes www.islandsurfboards.com.au
WOOLONGONG
(Mon-Fri, 8:30-5:30pm, Thurs 8:30am-8pm, Sat, 8:30-4pm, Sun, 10-4pm) 07 3266 1001
03 5956 7453 4-5 Vista Pl Cape Woolamai www.fullcirclesurf.com.au
03 5261 4606 Surf City Plaza Torquay www.surfworld.org.au
SUNSHINE COAST
03 5562 1981 136 Koroit St Warrnambool
03 5562 0928 176 Liebig Street Warrnambool
M-F,9-5:30, Thurs 9-7:30pm, Sat 9-4, Sun 10-4) 02 4228 8878
(7 days, 9-5pm) 0424 867 96
THORNBURY ZAK SURFBOARDS
DIVERSE
(M-F,8:30-5:30pm, Sat and Sun, 9-4pm) 07 5598 4848
COOLANGATTA
(Mon-Fri,10-6pm; Sat 10-5pm) 03 9416 7384
TORQUAY STONKER TORQUAY (Mon – Fri, 9-5pm) 03 5261 6077
UNDERGROUND SURF
PHILLIP ISLAND
(7 days, 9-5pm) 07 5599 1040
ISLANTIS
YAMBA
(7 days , 9-5pm) 03 5956 7553
THE PLANK SHOP
ISLAND SURF SHOP - COWES
02 6645 8362
COFFS HARBOUR
(7 days, 9-5pm) 03 5952 2578
THE LOG SHACK
FULLCIRCLE SURF
DEE WHY
FIX BROKEN BOARDS?
(M-F, 10-5pm, Sat & Sun 10-2:30pm) 02 6658 0223
LINE UP SURF AUSTRALIA (M-F,9-6pm, Sat & Sun 8:30-6pm) 02 9971 8624
(7 days, 9-5pm) 03 5956 7453
Promote your ding repair business for $15 an edition. Call 0401 345 201
BONDI JUNCTION SIX OUNCE – INSIDE SURF CULTURE
7 days , 9:30-6:30pm. (02) 9389 5477
CLASSIFIEDS BUSINESS FOR SALE: LIFESTYLE PACKAGE
Work from home selling/trading surfboards, kayaks and surf skis. Large variety of stock from vintage to near new short/long boards + accessories and memorabilia. Full range of boards/accessories to be sold in one transaction. POA for serious enquiries, picture is only small part of collection. Sunshine Coast. Contact 0403 465 083 september 2010
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CLOSEOUT: LEARNERS
SURF SAFE TEN TIPS TO STAYING OUT OF TROUBLE THIS SUMMER Surfing is now more popular than ever. Many of you will be taking to the waves for the first time. You’ve got your surfboard and you hit the waves. However, unless you have some basic surf safety knowledge, it’s easy to get in over your head. Nigel Potts, Director of Surfing at the Academy of Surfing Instructors (ASI) has given us ten tips to help you surf safely and ensure you have fun at the same time.
LEARN TO
STAND–UP PADDLE BOARD...
LEARN TO
SURF...
IT’S EASY!!! Lessons, Training, Fitness, Tours, Camps, Equipment Sales & Hire and Bike Hire. JOIN THE FASTEST BOARD SPORT IN THE WORLD The Big Wave Complex 10-12 Phillip Island Tourist Road Newhaven, Phillip Island, 3925, Victoria, Australia. Ph +61(0) 5956 7553
WWW.PHILLIPISLANDPADDLEANDSURFSCHOOL.COM.AU 108
RAPIDLY IMPROVE YOUR SURFING ABILITY IN AN INTENSE, SOCIAL AND FUN ENVIRONMENT For more information, call 07 3266 1001 or visit
WWW.PRIMITIVESURF.COM
september 2010
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1. KNOW THE OCEAN
As simple as it sounds, the ocean and waves can be unpredictable at the best of times. Knowing about the different types of waves and how waves break will help you determine what waves to catch and which ones to stay away from.
2. DON’T BE WASHED AWAY
Rips and currents are one of the major hazards for inexperienced surfers. They can carry you far out to sea or into large breaking waves. Make sure you can identify where rips and currents are and stay away from them. Patrolled beaches usually have signs on the beach identifying where the rips and currents are. Look out for them.
3. LEARN THE LANGUAGE
Surfing has a language all of its own. Experienced surfers use not only surfing terms, but also shouts and signals when out in the water. If you are out paddling in the water and you here a shout or whistle, it is probably an experienced surfer surfing on a wave and heading towards you. It means “watch out, I’m coming through”.
4. HAVE SURFING AWARENESS
Don’t be a UFO – an “Unidentified Floating Object”. This is the term commonly used by experienced surfers for surfers who have little surfing awareness. When out in the water, be constantly aware of all that is happening around you to ensure you are not an obstacle to other surfers and swimmers.
Photo: Ben Vos
5. UNDERSTAND SURFING RULES
Just like any other sport, surfing has rules to ensure surfing is safe. The one major rule in surfing is the rule of “dropping in”. This is where you drop in on a wave another surfer has priority on. Make sure you understand who has priority on the wave so you do not take someone else’s wave.
6. DON’T OVERDO IT
Surfing requires a high level of physical fitness. You get a really good workout as you are constantly using your energy to paddle and catch waves. Experienced surfers are well-tuned fitness machines, having spent thousands of hours in the water. Make sure you do not overdo it. When you are tired, you may not be able to stay afloat if you lose your surfboard. When you start to get tired, go into shore, have a rest. Go back out when you are rested.
7. STAY COOL
If you find yourself in areas where experienced surfers are heading straight towards you, keep calm. Experienced surfers will have seen you and will adjust their line of surfing to go around you. Stay on your surfboard, do not panic or jump off your board. To do so can result in the experienced surfer not being able to adjust their line at the last minute not to mention being at risk from your loose surfboard.
8. SURF RAGE - DON’T TAKE PART
Surfing is a sport that is in harmony with nature. Surf rage generally occurs when inexperienced surfers break the surfing rules or panic and put other surfers at danger. So chill out, learn the rules and develop surf awareness and have fun.
8. RESPECT EXPERIENCED SURFERS
Experienced surfers have a respect and understanding of the ocean developed over many hours of surfing. The goal is to surf good waves, have fun and do it in a safe way. If a more experienced surfer than you offers you some advice, take heed. They could be offering you pearls of wisdom to help you perfect your surfing or be helping to ensure you surf safely and not put yourself and others at risk.
10. BE SURF SAVVY
Knowing more about the sport will ensure you surf safely. Check out your local surf shop/school and get as much information about surfing before you hit the water. Surfing is a great past-time that can be enjoyed by all. The more educated you are about the surfing, the more fun, easier to do, and safer it is.
Academy of Surfing Instructors is (ASI) the world’s leading education and accreditation organisation in the surf industry, specialising in surfing, stand up paddle and bodyboarding. www.academyofsurfing.com
ASI has just released its Learn to Surf Advanced Level manual as the follow-on from the beginners and intermediate manual. Topics covered include how to predict ideal surf conditions based on swell direction, tides and coast shape, tips on negotiating larger waves, step-by-step advanced level surfing manoeuvres such as fades, stalls, tail slides and much more to help you improve your surfing - even info on how to customise your board. The 100+ page paperback is jam-packed with fullcolour photos and easy-to follow instructions. Good learning material for those in need and great revision and reference for those who know. Learn to Surf Advanced Level is available for $27.95 from the ASI online shop - www.academyofsurfing.com or from your local ASI-accredited surf school.
september 2010
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CLOSEOUT: FITNESS
.au ay.com w a t e uidg www.liq
FIT TO SURF Whilst flexibility, strength and endurance is great for surfing and should not be overlooked, possibly more important is balance or proprioception. This term refers to a sense of joint position.
tourS g n i l l rke ntureS iS Sno e r v a d f a a C S eni Surf ing SC h C t a w whale 07 5326 1700
Pre Bookings essential Parkyn Parade, Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast, qld, australia
GETTING YOU BACK ON
BOARD
WORDS BY JOHN HART Proprioception exercises actually train the neuromuscular system. This type of exercise is often used in rehabilitation but can also be useful in preventing injury which is ideal for surfers for whom balance is important. Rather than take you on a journey of boring anatomy and physiology, let’s get right down to what it is and the exercises you can do. By using these techniques not only will you train the neuromuscular system you will improve your core stability. Kinesthetic awareness is the ability to have your brain understand where your body parts are in relation to an exercise, or if you like, make the adjustments required to learn balance. These proprioceptors are within muscles and they teach our bodies to have better balance and prevent injury. The brain learns how to respond when certain changes are taking place requiring balance and quick changes of positioning, such as in surfing.
OK... SO WHAT EXERCISES CAN YOU DO?
OUR GOAL
to have your core muscles operating correctly, and help you reach your physical goals, such as weight loss, rehabilitation from injury or general fitness.
0411 854 772 110
21 Albert St, Shelly Beach, Caloundra QLD 4551
Try the following exercises for the next 8-10 weeks, with a day rest in between. Rest between sets for one minute and 30 seconds between reps. Use a Bosu ball or a wobble board to do these on.
1.
Two legged squats standing on wobble board or Bosu ball. No weight at first (after you accomplish these add some hand weights.....3 sets of 15 reps)
2.
Progress to one-legged squats. Change legs (3 sets of 15 reps)
3.
Just to add some interest....... close your eyes and complete the exercises.
4.
Still on the bosu or wobble board, stand on one leg and have the other leg stretched out behind you at 90 degrees to the floor. Squat holding this position /then change legs and repeat (3 sets of 15 reps)
5.
Slow squat down (using bosu ball, both feet on the ball) and push up very fast. Repeat (3 sets 15 reps)
6.
Last one! Phew..... Jump on bosu ball using one leg and hold for 20 seconds. Jump off and back on again using the same leg. Repeat. Use alternate leg. (3 sets of 15 reps).
These exercises are designed for both core and the proprioceptors within muscles. Don’t forget to stretch hamstrings and quads after you have finished.
Photo: Ben Vos
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25/08/10 6:47 AM
CLOSEOUT: FIRST AID
“ Ouch! Troy writhes in pain and seeks comfort in a can of Panama Beer as Theodore, our guide, borrowed my glasses and started opening up the fifty three spine wounds with a needle. He also recommended having people urinate on his foot that’s what the locals do.” ‘Moik’ McCullough
Above photos: Michael McCullough - flickr.com/photos/ex_magician/
LITTLE PRICKS
You know it’s a bad day when you step on a sea urchin. I’ve had two run-ins with these spiky fellas myself, so I reckon I’m more sympathetic to my urchin-victim patients than your average GP. WORDS BY DR PETE
Dr Pete
My first encounter was on a blustery shore-break day after work. I thought I’d windsurf for the 2 hrs before dark to blast away the day’s stresses. I initially thought I’d scraped my heel on a lump of coral, which is what it felt like. And then the pain started. I hobbled out of the chop onto the beach to inspect the damage. Numerous grey-black spots covering my heel where the spines had entered and lodged. It felt like my heel was resting in a fire... So, if you have the misfortune to share the urchin experience, here’s a few tips and tricks to stop a bad day from becoming a shocker. Don’t panic. Despite the pain, you won’t die (I can attest to this). The venom comes from structures between the spines and is not dangerous. The pain can be eased
by soaking the foot in warm water and taking some decent over-the-counter painkillers. The temptation is to try and remove all the spines with a pair of tweezers, as you would with a splinter. This is a frustrating exercise because the spines are extremely brittle and tend to break off at the skin surface when you grasp them. A much easier solution is to apply a ‘drawing ointment’ to the area. My favourite is magnesium sulphate paste, also known as Magnoplasm. Apply the paste about 5mm thick and then apply a bandage. It’s a joy to see the ejected spines when you remove the bandage 24 hrs later. More deeply embedded spines may not come out for a long while, if at
all. Thankfully they’re simply calcium carbonate and will eventually be gobbled by macrophages, which are your immune systems scavenger cells. Oh, and just when you thought you’d got away without getting a needle, Tetanus immunisation is recommended for all marine animal injuries. Sorry.
Dr. Pete Kirkham is a general practitioner at Nambour Medical Centre. www.skinclear.com.au
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25/08/10 9:24 AM
SUNSHINE COAST: MAROOCHYDORE & BOKARINA
TWO GREAT STORES
& SURF MUSEUM!
The Old... Take a trip down memory lane at our informative surf museum. We also have the largest number of vintage surfboards, memorabilia and collectibles for sale on the Sunshine Coast!
FILM LITTLE BLACK WHEELS Little House Productions/ Mick Waters
One could say that packing a pregnant wife, a young child and a dog into a van to do a few months of roadtripping around Australia - from Byron Bay to Western Australia - might be a little foolhardy. Documenting the trip is brave. Doing a movie about it? Well, now that’s just plain genius. Now to some LBW is not a new release. However, surf movies - especially independent ones - tend to be a bit more of a slow burn, and we’re sure there are plenty people out there who have not yet been introduced to it, and we know that introduction is well worthwhile. Being a huge fan of filmmaker Mick Waters’ last movie, I was really amped to see what he had done. Believe, the previous film with it’s honest, heartfelt energy and raw purity, had set quite a standard and I had fingers crossed that LBW would live up to it. Full of real surfers, real surfing, beautiful boards and believable locations, it does exactly that.
SUNSHINE COAST SURF CENTRE & MUSEUM
The New! Custom boards, copies of your favourite board, retro style, repairs and accessories, we’ve got you covered. Our specialist shaper John Milne from HELLFISH has an extensive range of shortboards, fish, mantas, mini mals and longboards perfectly suited to our Sunshine Coast conditions.
3/ 25 Plaza Pde, Maroochydore, QLD 4558 7/ 12 Thunderbird Drv, Bokarina QLD 4575
Don’t expect big budget barrels. Don’t expect super-polished editing. This is down-to-earth, simple and real. And it really makes you want to grab your board - preferably something retro-ish - and go for a wave. At it’s heart, Little Black Wheels is all about love - love for family, love for friends and love for surfing. And really, what more could you ask for?
Ph: 07 5451 0620 Ph: 07 5437 9201
WWW.DABOMBSURF.COM.AU 112
With a similar relaxed vibe to Believe, no real moviemaking budget and a whole lot of love for surfing, Mick put together a collection of clips from his travels. Not so much a story about the trip, but rather a diary of moments and meetings along the way. And the man truly has a knack of finding interesting characters to feature. The quirky Johnny Abegg rips it up on brightly coloured Sea Surfboards and talks about vegetables. The man’s man, Kristian Spencer, takes on insane waves in WA and shows off his freshly caught fish. Everyone’s favourite soul surfer Dave Rastovich makes sliding along on an alaia look as easy as riding a travelator at the airport. The multi-talented Beau Young rips it up in waves and gets down with the kids, fingerpicking and singing songs about barnyard animals. Yes, the mix of people is as colourful and varied as the surfing in the movie. Add to this a fantastically relaxed soundtrack of laid-back acoustic numbers and you have a great way to spend a lazy flat day on the couch.
ce Best advi es le pric b a d r o f f A
MUSIC
Thanks to Little House productions, we have three copies of LBW to give away. One great movie in environmentally friendly brown card packaging, with design by Neal Purchase Jr. See Page 13 for how to get a copy.
BLUE KING BROWN
Worldwize Part 1: North & South LION HOUSE/MGM
I did the right thing. I listened to this CD before reading the press release, or anything about the album. And that’s the way it should be. Music standing up for itself, without hype, reason or PR spin. That said, you should probably stop reading this, pick up a copy of Worldwize and experience it for yourself. Old fans of Blue King Brown could never be disappointed with this two-disc offering, and the BKB is sure to gather plenty of new fans too, as this album is sure to be an instant classic. This is true world music - you can hear influences from every corner of the globe, but you have no hope in hell of nailing down exactly where this album is born from, even if you tried… Who would think Melbourne? This is dub, reggae - with a hand from none other than reggae re-inventors Sly and Robbie reggaeton and hip-hop with the sweet sounds of Natalie Pa’apa making this unmistakably Blue King Brown, and much much more than just background grooves. Disc one, Northside, brings the singalong tunes and disc two, Southside, breaks them down into laid-back dub versions. It’s like a full party in a pack: Northside for the dancefloor and Southside for the chillout afterwards. Boasting big name production and a host of different and interesting guest artists, Worldwize is an extremely polished and mature album well worth a listen. Seriously. With Northside on constant rotation in my car since day one, I can confidently say that Worldwize is a definite inclusion on the playlist for the next roadtrip, the perfect start for your morning drive to your local break and perfect background sounds for after-surf sundown beers.
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CLOSEOUT: RELAX
FILMMAKER’S FIVE Billinudgel-based surf-movie-maker, Mick Waters of Little House Productions - who brought us Little Black Wheels and Believe - has a chat to us about his top five surf movies ever... “ These are in no particular order and I don’t propose to be an expert on surf movies. These are films that I have seen which resonate with me for whatever reason. There are many more films that I haven’t seen and are great, and I hope to see them all one day soon.”
LITMUS
THE ENDLESS MORNING OF STORM SUMMER THE EARTH RIDERS
BIG HONOURABLE WEDNESDAY MENTIONS
I don’t know what it is? I have thought about this many times. Is it the moods, the people or the possibilities. I know ‘Litmus’ made me feel that it was okay not to ride a thruster like every other person down the beach. Up early, out late, surfing the way you wanted without the approval of others. Surfing wasn’t what the magazines had you believing, it was anything you wanted it to be. Highlights include: Derek Hynd’s stylish delivery at Jeffreys. Some of the best surfing I have ever seen. Big Jed Fitzgerald showing how truly special his surfing talents are... World class. I think it may run in the genes? Mark Sutherland’s haunting ‘Dream’ animation piece. Choose the right line. Andrew Kidman and Jon Frank definitely got this one right and have inspired a generation of surfers and film makers.
Bruce Brown had the right idea: follow the summer around the globe. Surfers are still doing this over 40 years later. The Endless Summer showed us all a life possible full of adventure, travel, corny dialogue but most importantly the waves. Highlights include finding and surfing the infamous Cape St. Francis and watching the natives’ reaction to Mike Hynson and Robert August’s surfing in Ghana. This movie is a classic and there aren’t too many surfers and nonsurfers alike who haven’t seen it. Like Albe Falzon, Bruce Brown got it right and also most probably never had to work again?
Hollywood’s only good attempt at a Surf movie. It highlights the lifestyle, personalities, surfing and challenges one goes through as you age and life gets more complicated. Some people maintain their love affair with the ocean, while others drift away. Highlights include the party fight scene, draft dodging antics and of course Big Wednesday. A great story with authentic characters that most surfers could relate to or know. Excellent and believable actors cast as surfers, and to top it off the camera work and surf scenes are first class due to the camera work of one George Greenough. I think I might rent this out on Saturday night?
Simple Ben, simple message. A timeless portrayal of surfing when it was pure and beautiful. Surfers living free and taking different lines. Seems there was more individuality before it all got bought up and floated on the Stock Exchange? Highlights include Steve Cooney and Rusty Miller surfing Uluwatu for the first time and Nat Young’s roller coaster domination of a certain right hand point. Unbelievable! Albe Falzon achieved what many film makers myself included - spend their whole lives trying to achieve: He made one of the best surf films ever, first attempt. So now he is still selling copies and gets to surf whenever his heart desires, a lot like the guys in the original film. Good on you, Albe.
This is the first surf movie I ever saw on the big screen as a double-bill with Blazing Boards on School Night at The Sydney Opera House. Caught the train from Fairfield to Circular Quay and remained dropjawed until I went to bed later that night. Was it the movie or the fact I was out on a school night? Both, I suspect. Highlights included Thornton Fallander’s pure lines with minimum fuss at Nias, Wayne Lynch’s Desert dwelling - one of the most natural surfer’s of the last forty years letting it all hang out. David Lourie, Dick Hoole and Jack McCoy put this all together. The locations, great soundtrack and the images all made you want to travel and still does. Plus, any movie that starts with Riders on the Storm by The Doors and Tunnel Of Love by The Sunnyboys gets a nod.
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF WAYNE LYNCH DOGTOWN AND Z BOYS SPROUT DESERT CHALLENGE GREEN IGUANA DEAR AND YONDER GLASS LOVE PUMP THE PRESENT LIQUID TIME INNERMOST LIMITS OF PURE FUN CRYSTAL VOYAGER
For more about Mick, see littlehouseproductions. com.au Send us your comments and thoughts to letters@ smorgasboarder.com.au.
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THE SEARCH
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CLOSEOUT: RELAX
WOOD IS GOOD
The Wooden Surfboards exhibition was held over the weekend of the 7th and 8th of July. Organised by Grant Newby this ‘splinter group’ is a non commercial, non competitive event in much the same vein of the Currumbin Fish Fry. In essence it’s a meeting of minds; wooden board builders, surfers and admirers sharing with one another board building techniques, discussing what has worked and what hasn’t. The attendance to the shapers forum on Saturday night was by all accounts nothing short of amazing. Over 120 people turned up on the night to listen to the three guest speakers; Tom Wegener, Roger Hall (wooden board shaper from NZ) and Mike Connor (wooden boards & ukuleles). Discussion revolved around how Paulownia had fuelled the timber board revolution. The difficulties of working with ply and the scarcity of balsa have paved the way for Paulownia which is easy to work with, incredibly light, impervious to saltwater and is incredibly fast growing. And reportedly, Australia is supposed to be the largest producer of Paulownia wood in the world.
Photos: Gus Brown, Dave Swan, Grant Newby
Sunday’s exhibition in the park was just as enthralling. Much dribbling over wooden creations was had by all. Thanks to Grant and all the shapers involved for putting on such a remarkable exhibition. To read more about the event visit www. woodensurfboards.blogspot.com
LET US KNOW ABOUT YOUR EVENT If you have something on the go, let us know. Email us on: editorial@smorgasboarder.com.au
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NEXT EDITION
A TRIP FOR TWO TO HERMOSA BEACH, CALIFORNIA IS UP FOR GRABS... Thank you for picking up the first edition of smorgasboarder. We’re glad to have you on board as one of our readers. As our way of saying thank you, we’re putting up a trip for two people to Hermosa Beach, California this coming March - in time to attend the Spyder Surf Festival. We’ll be putting the winners up in the luxurious Beach House Hotel near the famous Hermosa Pier and we’ll even shell out for a lunch at the Waterman’s Safehouse for Surfers Restaurant. For more information and to enter, visit www.smorgasboarder.com.au for details
WHERE TO GET THE MAG SMORGASBOARDER IS FREE... ...so pick up your copy at your local surf shop along the east coast from Noosa to Warrnambool. If they don’t stock it, ask them why not. SUBSCRIBE & GET IT DELIVERED If you’re not fortunate enough to have a local surf shop with copies of smorgasboarder, you can subscribe to have it delivered to your door. The mag is still free, but Australia Post likes to get paid for delivering it. For only $18, you get six editions - hot off the press - delivered to your door. Send a cheque or money order to PO Box 501, Moffat Beach, QLD 4551, Paypal to money@hugecmedia.com.au, or ring 0401 345 201 to pay by credit card. Cheques/Money orders to be made out to Huge C Media PTY LTD. READ IT ONLINE Save money, save trees... The entire mag is there to for your reading pleasure at:
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Photo: Amber Vandenberg Phillip Island sunset amber.vandenberg@uon.edu.au
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