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THE MAGAZINE FOR THOSE WHO LOVE TO SURF ISSUE #2 NOV/DEC 2010
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” t u o b a l l sa i g n i f r u s au . m “is what o c . e tim d o o g . w ww
Photo courtesy of Dick Hoole
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INSIDE
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FROM SURF THUG TO CHAMP
CAPTURING THE PERFECT WAVES
THE IRON MAIDEN OF SURF BUSINESS
STAND UP AND BE COUNTED
PASSED DOWN FROM DAD
How Noosa’s Israel Kani turned negatives into positives
Photographer Sean Scott gives an insight into his inspiration
Gail Austin’s neversay-die attitude has kept the wins coming
People with paddles... Where is this SUP thing heading?
Four different fathers and sons talk about surfing and bonding
ALL THE USUAL BITS THE LATEST
Feedback P14 News P18 And Greatest P20
TRAVEL
Road trip: The Gong and Beyond P64 Tropical itch P86 Plane Trip: Muizenberg P88
GEAR
Shaper profile: Thomas Bexon P96 Latest surfboard designs P103 Skateboarding P113
CLOSEOUT
History Music, Film & Books First Aid & Fitness Get learning People out and about
P117 P120 P122 P124 P130
Toasty warm on the Bass Coast Photo: Jeff Tull
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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 Agnes Water to Warrnambool. We also supply select stores in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. For a full list of distributors, visit the directory in the back of the mag or at www.smorgasboarder.com.au - 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 sign up at www.smorgasboarder.com.au and go and wait by your mailbox. It’ll arrive every two months.
THANK YOU
Thank you once again to all our creative contributing writers, fantastic photographers and excellent people who made this edition possible. We’d like to make special mention of Louise ‘Squirrel’ Gough and Gus Brown as well as Helen Chapman and Katie Swan for putting up with us.
THE TEAM
If you’re after any information on advertising, distribution, editorial, subscribing, contributing or just plain getting involved in some way, drop us a line... Mark Chapman mark@hugecmedia.com.au 0400 875 884 Dave Swan dave@hugecmedia.com.au 0401 345 201
CONTRIBUTORS
WRITING TALENT: John Hart, Dr Pete Kirkham, Nigel Potts, Craig Baird, Kent Ladkin, Hoges and Will at Island Surfboards PHOTOGRAPHIC GENIUS: Sean Scott, Mark ‘Crumpet’ Taylor, Joel Coleman, Keith Hamlyn, Jules Phillips, Jeff Tull, Grant Molony, Steev S, Keith LBG, Richard Higgins, Lainey Brown, Simon Muirhead, Phil Burnham, Michael Dawes, Ray Collins, Ben Vos, Lucas Muro, Trevor Skinner, Tom Woods, Jin Han Teng, Lee Slabber, Craig Wilson, Timothy Van der Venter, Simon Allard, Jason Mercer, Terry ‘Spud’ Murphy and newcomer Lachy MacMackin. Tech specs: Mark - studio@hugecmedia.com.au Money matters: Dave - money@hugecmedia.com.au Ideas & submissions: editorial@smorgasboarder.com.au Distribution: mags@hugecmedia.com.au
WWW.SMORGASBOARDER.COM.AU
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.
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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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LATEST: EDITION
BACK SO SOON I was on my favourite beach this morning. It was raining, but the sun was shining. I told my little boy that when this happened, it was called a Monkey’s Wedding. He said that it was called a sunshower. At five years old, his name for it made more sense than mine. I’ve never really understood what a Monkey’s Wedding meant anyway. Or why monkeys would get married, for that matter. Kids are smart. But we were both right, according to wikipedia - the fountain of all knowledge. It seems that my description points to my South African youth, while my boy... well, he’s true blue. This little difference in terminology made me understand why often my friends have no idea what I’m on about. Smiling and nodding doesn’t fool me, people... That said, you obviously never completely forget where you came from and our international trip is exactly that: a visit back to South African shores, exploring the chilled surrounds of Muizenberg Beach in Cape Town on page 88. With an even bigger magazine that the first, we’ve crammed in more travel, more gear, more great surfing images and plenty of love for the ocean as we talk to men, women and even families that love and live for their surfing. It’s been a wild ride... Issue two has come around so much quicker than we had ever imagined. Still reeling from all the positivity and fantastic feedback from our launch edition, we are awestruck and incredibly grateful for the positive reaction from you, the reader, as well as for the fantastic involvement of all of the businesses along the east coast that have supported us by way of advertising to make this free mag possible for you.
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Cole Richards/Narrabeen Photo: Crumpet Productions
And we’re over the moon at the ridiculously talented and steadily growing army of contributors that have chosen to be involved with the mag. Smorgasboarder just couldn’t happen and wouldn’t be what it is without these skills and talents. And it’s all spreading... We’re already getting around further afield than we originally planned as we welcomed Reef2Beach surf shop up in Agnes Water / 1770 as our northernmost shop to now stock smorgasboarder. The amount of online readers we’ve picked up along the way has just amazed us. In only a few short weeks, an absolute wave of people got to flicking through the online version of the magazine at www.smorgasboarder.com.au, with people from all across the globe dropping us emails to say g’day. As to our hopes for the magazine being a way for the surf community to air views, share thoughts and generally get involved? These hopes are already being realised thanks to the staggering amount of feedback, subscriptions and contributions we’ve received so far, not to mention the connections that we’ve been told about: Businesses jumping on board to support organisations featured in the first edition, stores discovering new shapers and manufacturers to stock, people generally meeting and greeting through the pages of the mag... It’s truly what it’s all about and makes us happy little campers. All we can say is a massive thank you, thank you, thank you. It makes the sleepless nights and long hours worthwhile. Keep reading, keep writing, keep clicking and keep in touch. Mark
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LADIES FIRST
AT THE TENDER AGE OF 20, BUDDING FITNESS GURU AND SUPER-HOT SURFER ANGIE KOOPS LEFT THE LAND OF THE LONG WHITE CLOUD BEHIND, TO BE ‘BEACHED AS’ ON THE GOLD COAST. IN A FEW SHORT YEARS, SHE SEEMS TO HAVE SETTLED IN REALLY QUICKLY .
G N I PLAY FOR S P O KO No slouch in competition surfing, Angie Koops has racked up enough trans-Tasman titles in a few short years to fill a very large chilly bin. Since her arrival in Australia, she’s collected herself a decent little flock of sponsors, with companies like Diverse Surf, Fox, Smith, On A Mission, Maxum watches, Tahitian Noni, and even hometown biggies like Mountain Dew NZ all keen to kit her out with product and put her face to their brands. Not bad for an import, eh bro? Okay, no more Kiwi jokes... Over to you Ange...
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“Hi I’m Ange. I was born in NZ and grew up in a little country town called Kaikoura - a unique place where the mountains reach the ocean. In winter you can snowboard and surf in the same day. You just have to make sure you build a bonfire before you hit the surf... You’ll need it to thaw out.” “I was 14 when I first started stand up surfing, my bro did it a lot when he was younger and I got my first board off him. I started bodyboarding when I was about six, just mucking around with the cousins skim-boarding and playing in the dumpers. “I’m studying at present, learning to become a fitness specialist and I also have my own remedial sport massage business.“
BIGGEST SURFING INFLUENCE? In Australia would have to be my boyfriend Dru... He’s fun to surf with. BEST SURF SPOTS? I live on the beach at Palmy and I love it. I also love a spot in Bali, but I’d have to kill you if I told you... WHAT BOARD WORKS BETTER IN NEW ZEALAND? A SUX-FOOTER, OR A FUSH? Haha! None of the above... Maybe a fiieeeeve nine rounded pun tail. WHAT’S MOST IMPORTANT IN YOUR LIFE? Family
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photo: Shane Newman
Angie enjoying some time in the Land of the Long White Rooster Tail Photo: Simon Muirhead/Simsurf
BEING A PERSONAL TRAINER, WHAT ARE YOUR TOP TIPS FOR GETTING AND STAYING SURF FIT? Fuel your body with ‘real foods’, try to stay away from the processed packaged foods and work both the anaerobic and aerobic energy systems as we use both in surfing. So for example, going for a distance run is good but you also have to do explosive work, such as sprints. WHAT’S SCARIER: TEAHUPOO OR A TRIPLE-DIAMOND BLACK SNOWBOARD RUN? Haven’t done either. I think a triple is considered suicidal? And Teahupoo, well, just watching those guys deep scares me. Thank you miss Koops. And never mind: just writing the question scared us. Next time you’re surfing the Goldie and a girl on a Diverse board rockets by? Make sure to say g’day to Angie.
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LATEST: FEEDBACK
THE CAN IS NOW OPEN... Yes, it’s getting fiery... The Making Waves For Recognition Of Shaper’s Skills article in the first edition of smorgasboarder certainly hit a nerve and has people talking. Thanks for the feedback. Keep it coming!
NOT HAPPY, JAN Now to start let’s get something straight set about me. I am all for shapers and do believe it’s a dying art that needs saving. Yes, board prices have only risen 20 dollars in the past 15 years. But today’s manufacturing processes have increased profit margins and boards are being made with less material not to mention being extremely fragile. Boards were made with thicker foam, more glass and had a gloss coat. Now days the standard is a thin 4 x 4 x 4 sanded, and that’s it. I believe shapers are killing their own industry, with little or no innovation in the construction process. The other problem that’s fuelling this whole debacle is pro surfers who get boards either for free on contract, or at a significantly reduced cost. These pros go through more boards per year than most mugs would go through in a lifetime. If more pros followed innovation, instead of following what the other sheep are doing we might see some MORE innovation and a total revision of the industry. I’m personally sick of being taken advantage of by shapers and pro surfers inability to innovate or try something new. James Palm Beach Not a happy customer there, James? There are plenty of shapers out there making high quality boards. We know they’re out there. And as to innovation, we’ve discovered some truly creative shapers on our travels up and down the east coast over the last year in particular - just check out the Gear section. As with any quest for quality and innovation, you just have to look that little bit harder to find the right person.
WE WANT YOUR LETTERS This edition’s giveaways include copies of the excellent Isaac Paddon and the Tides CD “Where we once stood” and sets of Elofant Straps, which will keep your boards stored safely - see page 22 for more info on the straps. Send in your letters and thoughts to be in line for the freebies! Email us on
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.
TEACH ME, TEACH ME I’ve been trying to get a foothold into the shaping industry for ages but no one seems to be willing to help me gain the necessary skills of board making. Many shapers don’t have the funds to take on an apprentice, due to the lack of profit made on surfboards. It would be great if the government stepped in and gave support to established shapers to pass on their skills and knowledge. If you know anyone in Vicco that can teach me please let me know. Luko Recently I wanted to understand more about surfboard design and construction. I bought a heap of reading material and got some John Carper shaping and glassing DVD’s. After doing my homework I wanted to jump in with both feet and have a go at making my one. I looked for where I could have a lesson and found the only place that would give me one was in Newcastle at a University. I then found out they had stopped running the course last year. I continued to look but found nothing, wondering how other people like me learned. Based on Chris Garrett’s comments, and the fact that I have found it hard to find a place to shape and learn this very underrated skill I totally understand and support his quest to formally recognise and provide a career path for people who want to work in the surfboard manufacturing industry in Australia. I would think a good way to raise awareness of this part of the surf industry and gain further funds would be to also run courses for amateur builders like myself. I have been really amazed at how many people have been interested in what I am doing when I tell them. I have a lot to thank the surfing world for not least the constant rush I get out in the water every time I catch a wave. I look forward to the next edition of smorgasboarder and If anyone knows of courses for surfboard shaping or is willing to give me a lesson then let me know as you would easily part me from some of my hard earned cash and would bet others would follow. Ed Newcastle Gents, we feel your pain. Finding an official course is difficult as we found out many phonecalls later, but there ARE people out there. Up on the Gold Coast, Richard Harvey runs a short course, a few of the wood board guys run courses... But talk to your local shapers. If they brush you - and they shouldn’t - just remind them that they had to learn too.
SATISFIED AND SMILING Hi guys, Thought I should give you some feedback about Smorgasboarder. I loved the issue, particularly the wooden board segments, and hope you continue to have a “maker focus “ in upcoming issues. Great stuff. I grabbed my copy from Byron Longboards, couldn’t believe such a quality piece was free. Russell Mudgeeraba
letters@smorgasboarder.com.au
No, no... thank you, Russ! Plenty more shapers on the way for you! 14
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photo: Shane Newman
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.
LETTER OF THE MONTH YOU’RE NEVER TOO OLD I have just returned home from an extended eight-month business trip to Victoria, surfing mainly around the Surf Coast area. The locals back home are sick of me telling them about how good it was (although very cold) and how average my home break now feels. That aside, some things were the same. Just like home, I was taken back by how accepting the locals were as long as you showed some respect, and how everyone had the time to chat about where I had come from, why I was there, board design and the like. I had taken with me my two 6’5”s Jye Byrnes Quad and Bonzer, and the pleasing thing to note was the amount of older surfers like me that had not opted for the easy way out and jumped onto a mal as soon as they hit 40. Most were still surfing short (-ish) boards that had been adapted accordingly - maybe a little bit longer or thicker, but still performance boards. And they were still surfing well. Now don’t get me wrong. I am not anti-mal; I say “ride em’ all”. Watching a highly-skilled longboarder surfing a well-trimmed log is a thing of beauty, but “straight-legging” it to the beach is just awful to watch, no matter how long the ride or how big the wave. The point is, as you get older, don’t get sucked into the everyday “you’re old so you should surf a mal because its cool” guff that we are fed from the some areas of the surf industry. If you surfed a 6’7” x 19” x 3” single-fin, twinny, or whatever, when you were 18, why not keep it up? If your shaper is worth his salt he should be able to craft something that will suit your needs and circumstances. Go do some laps in the pool. Don’t go the easy, and ultimately, dull option because someone tells you so. With surfing, quality is always better than quantity. Grant Nelson Bay Hear, hear... It’s about ‘ride whatever you want’ and whatever makes sense for the day and the conditions. But we reckon you’re just being nice to those tough Surf Coast boys so you don’t get your windows waxed again... Watch your mailbox Grant - a prize pack is on its way.
NASTY LITTLE ENTRY
Ali Stewart sent us this pic of a dodgy way in, all the way from Cape Town in South Africa.
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LATEST: FEEDBACK
INBOX OVERLOAD
When we put the word out for photo submissions last edition we didn’t expect the volume of responses or such great quality images to arrive! That’s right - we got some great images from all across our coastline, so rather than just show off one good one, we figured we may as well show you a few more. We love ‘em, keep ‘em coming! Next edition again, the best reader submitted photograph will win a great prize pack as a thank you for sharing. The January edition prize is sponsored by the kind folks at On A Mission, who are putting up a special package including a board bag, deck grip and leggie!
Yamba is most definitely a photographic favourite of ours with some incredible images arriving regularly, contributed by talented folk like Trevor Skinner (above) and Simon Allard (below). See more of Trevor’s stuff in the People of the lens section starting on page 36
So get snapping and email your attempts at glory to us:
letters@smorgasboarder.com.au
Below: Jason Mercer got us this cracker from somewhere in the Illawarra. Don’t you just wish you were there?
Victoria’s Jeff Tull (above) is quickly becoming a firm office favourite. Jeff has followed up on his great shots in our Phillip Island feature in September with some even more exciting ones from the Victorian coast. See more of Jeff’s photos in the People of the lens section starting on page 36, and also page 6!
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...AND THE WINNING SHOT
We really couldn’t go past this ‘perfect day’ pic sent to us by Terry ‘Spud’ Murphy. Could you? To explain this Gold Coast beauty, he says: “Ask Where’s Wally... that gives it perspective.” Check your mailbox, Terry. There’s some prizes on the way!
15-year-old Lachlan McMackin sent us these photos he had taken “with a cheap, waterproof camera” on the Sunshine Coast. Imagine what he could do with expensive gear! Above, Lachy’s mate, Ryan Forman is practicing for his future surf mag cover shot.
How’s this shot? Sanctuary Cove Security Officer Steve Lazzaro out of the office and in the Green Room at Burleigh.
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LATEST: NEWS A reserved spot... Manly morning Photo: saltmotion
BUILDING UP OUR RESERVES
The new Manly-Freshwater National Surfing Reserve became the 11th official surfing reserve to be declared in Australia on September 25, 2010. ManlyFreshwater joins ten other iconic surf spots including Killalea State Park, Maroubra, Lennox and Crescent Head. The four kilometre area stretches from Harbord Point to Fairy Bower including Freshwater Beach, Queenscliff, North Steyne, Manly Beaches and Shelly Beach to Fairy Bower Point. Commonly known as the birthplace of Australian surfing, the area’s rich surfing history truly justifies the declaration. As the site of Australia’s first legal daylight bathing in 1902, Manly hosted the first known body surfing contest in 1908 and hosted the first World Surfboard-riding Championship in 1964 won by ‘Midget’ Farrelly and Phyllis O’Donnell. And most famous in surf folklore perhaps is the Freshwater Beach board surfing demonstration by Duke Kahanamoku in the summer of 1914-1915. All said, a reserve well deserved.
DRAGONS FANCY FINE FISH
Balsa board guru Mark Riley had some rugby league royalty drop in at his showroom in Miranda. First try scorer of this year’s NRL Grand Final, Mark Gasnier of the victorious St George Illawarra Dragons, came in checking out the range - with the fish taking his fancy. Mark’s here with Scott Campbell - the strength and conditioning coach for the Dragons. For more Riley, check out the first edition of smorgasboarder online, or see www.balsasurfboardsriley.com.au 18
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QUICKIES STAR SHEPHERD Not even Darth Vader would be messing with any whales if he got a look at the latest Sea Shepherd vessel, the Ocean Adventurer. The 12-yearold, 115-foot, stabilised monohull fills the role of fast interceptor for the Antarctic Whale Defense Campaign, replacing the Ady Gil which was rammed and destroyed in January.
SURF AID FOR TSUNAMI RELIEF
Firstly, we’d like to give a big thumbs up to Surf Aid International for their wonderful efforts in assisting the local villages affected by the recent Mentawai tsunami. It is amazing what lengths people will go to in assisting others. Secondly, on behalf of Surf Aid International we would like to request your support to help the decimated villages of South Pagai where over 300 lives have been lost. To make a donation go to www.surfaidinternational.org It’s great to see local businesses like World Surfaris and Kirra Surf actively getting behind the relief effort to raise funds at a recent film night this October.
INDUSTRY GROUP GETS UNDER WAY The Australian Surf Craft Industry Association (ASCIA) - the proposed national industry voice for manufacturers, suppliers, wholesalers and retailers of surf craft - will hold a meeting on Tuesday, November 9 from 6.30 - 8.30pm upstairs at the Cooly Hotel, Coolangatta. The intention of the meeting is to develop a set of objectives for the association and what parties it will represent, along with electing a steering committee to drive the charter. To register your intention to attend RSVP by email to info@darcysurfboards.com
Stuart D’Arcy shares a laugh with Chris Garrett at a recent Shaper’s Forum
Not only does it look cool, it saves whales... 528 whales in fact, are alive and swimming thanks to Sea Shepherd’s work in this year alone. Find out more, support the cause and get involved. See the website: www.seashepherd.org CARA-BEEN AND GONE Mick Carabine has sold his business and is retiring to Shoalhaven Heads. Well done Mick and all the best for the future. A great result for a champion bloke. BINGIN IN BALI Speaking of businesses for sale, Warwick Martin of Dukes Longboards fame on the Gold Coast is selling up and heading for his Bingin Villa in Bali for good. If you love surfing and surfboards, why not buy a whole shop! You couldn’t go past a shop like Dukes. Established fourteen years, the lease for the store also comes with a couple of two bedroom units, a garage and a few car parks out the back. FANCY A BISCUIT? How about a wooden one? Rumour has it Cape Boatworks in Fairy Meadow, near Wollongong, will soon have the new Grain Homegrown Surfboard Kit for the Channel Islands Wood Biscuit. Grain have partnered with Al Merrick who originally developed the board with Rob Machado. The board looks set to be available in a 5’6”, 5’8” and 6’2” Biscuit. HUEY YOU GONNA CALL? www.askhuey.com.au has changed the format of their online weather and swell forecasting website. Now you can find out what’s happening around 2 million locations globally. There are 7-day swell and wind forecasts and soon to be introduced global wind and swell maps.
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LATEST: & GREATEST
NOW HERE’S A REVELATION
Word has it Takuya (Tappy) Yoshikawa of Revelation Surfboards in Japan, is making his way to Australia in early December to shape boards for two weeks alongside Southcoast Surfboards’ Ian Chisholm. Want to get your hands on one of these limited edition customs? To find out more, see www.southcoastlongboards.com.au
Speaking of Southcoast, Ian is set to have Tyler Hatzikian’s new creation - The Magneato - in store soon. Tyler’s made some radical, radical advances in singlefin design. For more on Tyler Surfboards, see www.tylersurfboards.com Finally (he sure has been busy) Ian is now the agent for Axxe Wetsuits (shown left) from Japan. The latest suits are designed for the Spring/ Summer season for our brothers and sisters down south that don’t always get to enjoy donning boardies for the warmer months. For those unfamiliar with the brand, Axxe custom makes high performance wetsuits that are handmade specifically for your body. Choose your style, colours and materials... The quality has to be seen to be understood.
A STEP BLACK IN TIME
Jesse Watson of Black Apache Surfboards is set to launch his own range of extremely cool retro-influenced wetsuits - the perfect match to his boards. These custom suits - which would be just as at home on the pages of a 1970’s edition of Surfer Magazine - are made from a mix of neoprene and Japanese rubber, said to be super soft, stretchy, comfortable and of course, warm. With plenty of time to go before winter, start saving your pennies. See www.blackapachesurfboards.com.au
LAST MINUTE BUDGET CUTBACKS
Got a travel itch? www.gosea.com.au is a new surf travel website that is basically the wotif.com of water sports. Travel operators from the surf, dive and sailing field list their vacancies at the best rates available. If you are flexible enough to book your surf trip within 60 days of departure, you could save yourself some big bucks. There’s nothing better than getting a good deal at the last minute.
MUST-LISTENS
MUSIC THAT KEPT US SANE ON THE ROAD AND IN THE OFFICE
JOHN BUTLER TRIO
ALO
THE LONELY ISLAND
JARRAH RECORDS A much rockier release than the Trio’s previous rootsy offerings. Take that, naysayers. Infectious tunes and truly meaningful lyrics when you can understand him. www.johnbutlertrio.com
BRUSHFIRE RECORDS Start with a truly incredible group of musos with ridiculously catchy songs and tons of talent, add in Jack Johnson magic and you have the perfect soundtrack to everything. www.alomusic.com
UNIVERSAL REPUBLIC RECORDS Childish, crude and stupid, this is true medicine for staying awake two days straight. Jack Black’s Saxman will be a classic that has us in tears for the next ten years. www.thelonelyisland.com
APRIL UPRISING
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MAN OF THE WORLD
INCREDIBAD
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MUST-READS
GREAT PUBLICATIONS WE ENJOY
GET A GRIP
We do like the sound of a local company making some cool new custom and very special signature deck grips for some top companies. Around since the early ‘90’s, Crosslink Traction in Byron Bay are funking up your footrest with these homegrown tail pads using a unique process that lets them embed full colour logos and designs. But it’s not just for your shortboard... They also do grips for SUPs, kneeboards, mals, retros and more. Fancy your own personal touch? They can do you a custom. For more, see www.deckgrips.com
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Score yourself a super-cool smorgasboarder deck grip from Crosslink Traction. See page 120 for more.
KURUNGABAA
Available for $15 at kurungabaa.net Most definitely not what you would expect from a surf-related publication, Kurungabaa is a not-for-profit volunteer publication, published bi-annually by a collective group of dedicated writers and artists. The journal is a collection of poetry, fiction and other ocean-inspired writing printed with a colour, card cover and mostly black and white internal pages. It’s a huge read, not to be attempted in one sitting. This is no surf mag, but rather a deep and reflective document that you’ll be able to read on and off for years to come. At $30 per year for something thought-provoking it’s definitely worth supporting. For more information and to subscribe visit www.kurungabaa.net
INFLATABLE FUN BAGS FOR SURFERS Are you like us, wondering what the hell PaddleAir actually is? Well, technically speaking, PaddleAir is an adjustable inflation chamber that is integrated into a rashie. Why do that? If paddling your board hurts like hell, particularly on your sternum, PaddleAir elevates you off the board. It can also relieve paddle pain and assist you with stronger strokes. It even sounds like fun. The new model is out now and has a more concealed system than the original. Interested? Contact Sput Keevers at www.byronbaylongboards.com.au for more info.
FOAM MAGAZINE
Available for $3 in Vic surf shops
WAXING LYRICAL We recently tried Stomp Surf Wax and we’re sold. Wanting to know more, we were very interested to find out the guy behind Stomp has a long history in the wax industry. He knows his wax... www.burleighwaxco.com.au If you prefer the all-natural experience, there’s an alternative for you in Treehugger Wax. Made from beeswax and natural resins, it’s an eco-friendly way to stick to your board. More at www.surfinggreen.com.au
In 2009 and at only 17, James Jacobi left school to launch his own surf magazine, FOAM. The landscape format mag presents a different perspective on Victorian surfing and is produced in dramatic black and white, complete with moody photography by Ocean Grove snapper Ed Sloane and a talented handful of contributors. For more, see: www.foammag.com.au and to see more imagery by Ed - in colour even - visit his website at sloanephotos.blogspot.com nov/dec 2010
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LATEST: & GREATEST
The mosT amazing range of Longboards, reTro and shorTboard brands on The easT CoasT
STORE FOR LESS BUDGET BOARD STORAGE SOLUTIONS
Surfboard’s aren’t cheap, but thankfully, keeping your precious craft stored neatly out of harms way needn’t break the bank. There are plenty of fantastic storage solutions - racks, straps, shelves, grips, clips - enough options out there to suit most needs and budgets. We’ve looked at two entry-level storage ideas to keep your boards off the floor and leave a few dollars in your pocket.
ELOFANT STRAPS This simple system of velcro straps holds two boards, is easy to install and use, and is yours from under $30. Not really a system you’d use as a display in your lounge for that 70’s singlefin you bought for far too much at that vintage surfboard auction after a few too many beers, but most definitely a simple setup for the garage for easy access and safe storage. It can hold surfboards, snowboards, wakeboards, kiteboards... Anything up to around 15kg. See www.elofant.com for more info.
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40 Bronte Rd, Bondi Junction Phone: 02 9389 5477 www.surfculture.com.au www.sixounceboardstore.com.au 22
SURF N’ RAK If you prefer the idea of a steel rack, Surf N’ Rak has a range of wall mounted racks that start at $29 for a single rack, up to $180 for a 6-tier setup. A good in-betweener is the 3-tier version, the SR3, which goes for $95. With a load capacity of 15kg per support, it’s safe, easy to use and provides quick access to your boards. And for those of you with bigger toys to store, there’s a new range of SUP racks to check out as well. For more info, and the rest of the range, see www.surfnrak.com.au
nov/dec 2010
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The more things change, the more they stay the same
36 years on, surfers still surf and Southern Man Surf still stands strong as Ulladulla’s original and best surf shop. Stocking the best range of surf, skate and bodyboards as well as leading surf brands such as Vern Jackson Surfboards, Rip Curl, Billabong, Roxy, Rusty and Quiksilver, you can expect the same great service and advice the surf community has enjoyed since 1974.
Sponsored rider Scott ‘Whippy’ Denis (photo: Simon Punch)
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
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November is most definitely surf festival month, with the first cab off the rank Kirra Surfstock Festival - a non-profit community project that celebrates surf culture while raising awareness of coastal management. Now in its second year, the family friendly event will feature a number of beach lifestyle events ranging from surfing to bikini parades, from beach soccer to music - which will include amongst others Band of Frequencies and one of our favourites, Isaac Paddon and the Tides. The festival runs from November 12 -14 and activities include two days of markets, an attempt on the Guinness World Record for the most number of surfers riding one wave, various surfing competition events and much more. Best of all, and close to our hearts, of course... it’s free! There is no charge for the community to enjoy the live music, markets and all the other activities the Kirra Surfstock Festival has to offer.
NEW SINGLE AND NEW SHOWS FOR THE GIRLS
LATEST: COMMUNITY
SURF CELEBRATION TIME AT KIRRA
For more information, visit www.kirrasurfstock.com.au
With a new single in hand entitled My Mind Is An Echo Chamber, Sydney’s The Beautiful Girls hit the road this December and January for shows along the coast. The tour kicks off on Friday, December 10 at the Mona Vale Hotel in Sydney and continues in the new year with shows in Wollongong, Bateau Bay, Yamba, Byron Bay, Coolangatta, Brisbane, Caloundra, Ferntree Gully, Melbourne, Frankston and Barwon Heads. See www.thebeautifulgirls.com for dates in your area.
POSITIVE PROGRAM Keen to get involved? Visit www.desert2surf.org to learn more about partnership and volunteer opportunities, and how you can support this empowering and inspiring initiative.
Desert2Surf is a not-for-profit organisation, established in 2008 to build the capacity of indigenous youth living in remote and disadvantaged communities through outdoor activities like surfing. Using the power of surfing as a catalyst to engage, inspire and empower young indigenous people, a group of dedicated and passionate people help youth aged 12-15 to participate in challenging and fun outdoor activities like tackling the waves - something many of these kids have never laid eyes on, let alone experienced. Desert2Surf trips facilitate development of leadership and personal skills, provide cultural exchange opportunities, and directly assist indigenous youth through advocacy and community representation. See our next edition for Desert2Surf tales of stand up paddleboarding with freshwater crocs, and how you can get your hands on a uniquely designed indigenous surfboard direct from the Northern Territory.
Rebecca Dennis from Minyerri NT surfing with Sunny Oliver-Bennetts of Desert2Surf in background. Photo: Deb Oliver
Kirra heiroglyphics Photo: Michael Dawes
A MANLY LOOK BACK AT BELLS On the subject of surf festivals, the Manly Festival of Surfing 2010 kicks off on November 18. With a promised four days of surf, surf, surf the festival organisers are squeezing in shortboards, longboards, stand up paddleboards, kombis, music, art, film, and fashion. As part of the festival, saltmotion gallery and Byron Bay surf identity Rusty Miller have teamed up to exhibit previously unseen photographs from the 1970 Bells World Championship and the migration of surfers to the Byron Bay region. This will be an exhibition worth visiting. For more, see www.saltmotion.com When: 18-21 November. Opening Night Thursday, November 18, 6-9pm Where: saltmotion, Market Place, Manly (opposite Manly Library) What: Turning point: Trimming Lifestyles Contact: 02 9976 6518 or gallery@saltmotion.com
One of the photos on display: Wayne Parkes with a Morris 1100 and some racy S-decks at the 1970 World Surfing Contest, Bells Beach, Victoria 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. nov/dec 2010
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LATEST: INTERVIEW
THE
KANTENDER NOOSA’S ISRAEL KANI...
FROM THE BOARD TO TH
E BOXING RING
An angry and explosive young local at Noosa’s points, Israel Kani’s early year s saw his life heading down a destructive path of vio lence and partying, w he re getting into fistfights in the su rf was just a normal pa rt of any session. Fortunately, a small gem of advice fro m a fellow surfer helped him chan nel his aggression an d tu rn his life around to excel as on e of Australia’s top bo xers. WORDS BY MARK CHAPM AN
Photo: Supplied
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“FIVE FOOT SHEET-GLASS SHORIES AT SUNSHINE, JU ST CLEAN AND BARRELLING WITH ALL M Y MATES OUT THERE. TH E PAYOUTS ARE THICK AN FAST AND THE GIRLS ARE D ON THE BEACH. THAT’S A PRETTY GOOD DAY.” nov/dec 2010
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Photo: Supplied
Photo: Joseph Ryan
LATEST: INTERVIEW
“A CLIP OVER THE EAR... A PUNCH ON THE CHIN AND IN YOU GO, SON.”
When you first meet Israel Kani, it’s not what you would expect from a hard-nut boxing champ with numerous belts to his name which include an Australian National Title. With a wide grin and plenty stories to tell, he’s anything but unfriendly or intimidating. And despite his record of KOs and the fact that I would pity anyone that finds themselves on the receiving end of a swift smack to the chops from him, these days you would have to be in the ring to get a belting from him, as the years of meeting out vigilante justice in the surf and parking lots of Noosa have long since been left behind. Now a doting Dad of two – TikanaLea and Sienna – Israel was born on the Central Coast of NSW and first discovered a love for the ocean on a foam surfboard in the waves of Terrigal main beach at 8 years old. “My parents would go to church and afterwards I’d go down and ride my foamy. I had a cousin that kneeboarded at the time, but me and a few mates really got into surfing. It was good.” He practiced his skills around magic spots like Shelly Beach, Avoca and 28
Wamberal, but a trip to Queensland in his teens introduced him to what would become his future home. “When we first came here on holiday, the points at Noosa were pumping. I came over the hill to First Point, saw it and thought ‘No way...’ and fell in love with the place straight away. A couple of months later, we were living here and I was surfing the points on a regular basis.” But the new breaks also came with crowds and plenty of excuses for conflict. “The points used to break all the time. We got good waves all the time. I‘d finish school and would surf Tea Tree till dark. We were the ratbags out there, the full locals, telling people to go in … bad attitude. “We’d be out surfing Sunshine. Guys would be dropping in or hassling the young guys. I’d be the first one out there to send them in. A clip over the ear… a punch on the chin and in you go, son. I was pretty renowned for it.” As a competent surfer and a solid competitor in his 20’s, Israel - who was part of the Noosa Boardriders Club - even picked up some professional sponsors along the way including Water
Pistols, Fox, Shaping Company, Balin and Mrs Palmers. Some of his favourite surfboards, he recalls, were from those early days, including his first serious surfboard from Shaping Company. “SC… Rounded square [tail]. Loved it. Snapped it three times, but I loved it so much, I kept getting it fixed. And it still went good. I loved that board, man… “My next board was a Shaping Company rounded square, six channels, deep… And I loved it. It was that good for the points, because you could get a bit of air under the channels and the tail would slide. It had heaps of drive. Single to double concave in the end, but always rounded squares.” Unfortunately, despite good performances in competitions, he explains that the surfing environment at the time wasn’t the most conducive to positive living. “We’d be in tents smoking cones. But boxing really saved me. In surfing I didn’t have to try too hard to compete, but in boxing there’s no smoking cones and getting into the ring. You’ll get yourself killed.”
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ON FEAR...
“Just big waves man. My hat’s off to them. I would fig ht anyone, and I mean anyone, be fore taking off deep at Pipe. It’s a different sort of courage. In bo xing, you get knocked out, you’r e out cold, you don’t feel a thing. Getting pummelled in 15-foot Pipe is a different ballgame. Th at’s ballsy I reckon. Big waves are a different sort of fear I guess. You ’ve got to have fear in boxing because it makes you sharp. Keep s you on edge. Fear in surfing is different. If you have that fear an d you stuff up on take-off in 15-foot Pipe, you get smashe d, big-time. Teahupoo… Man, my hat’s off to those guys. I wouldn’t be surfing that joint. That’s menta l to me…I don’t mind the bigger stuff but that’s out of control.”
Finally the big change came where the very reason for getting himself in trouble was what would set his life on course, thanks to a few words of advice after a particularly nasty day in the water. “One day at Tea Tree, I’d punched four guys and caught three waves. An old dude’s told me ‘Man, why don’t you take up boxing. You’re in the wrong sport’. “ And it all made sense. After getting in from the surf, Israel found a gym in Peregian Beach and started training under Victor Pinzuk, winning his first fight at 25 – a late start for a boxer. Ignoring warnings that he was too old, he turned professional at 31. “Everyone’s going ‘You’re never going to make it as a pro’ and then I ended up winning the Australian Super Middleweight title.“ This achievement sits alongside a Pan-Pacific belt, two Queensland Professional titles and a host of others, but Israel is most proud of the Australian title - the pinnacle of Australian boxing.
One belt that unfortunately did elude him was that of the reality television series, The Contender Australia, where he was up against 14 top Australian boxers, competing for $250,000 prize money and the opportunity to hop in the ring with The Man Anthony Mundine. He exited the competition on a split decision that went in favour of former Australian Light Middle and Middleweight Champion Josh Clenshaw, and then ended up being unlucky once again in a wildcard return bout, bowing out to the series winner Garth Wood. “After 55 fights that was the first time I’ve ever been knocked out or stopped in a fight. But I was still pretty lucky to get to where I was anyway.” Since the series, Israel – who still maintains a surf connection in sponsors, being supported by My Brother’s Keeper - has very much turned his attention to training young up-and-coming boxers in his gym – the Noosa Box Office – located in Noosaville. And with nov/dec 2010
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“For me it’s all or nothing. I know what it takes to surf well. I used to be in the water four times a day, if I got out at all… And that’s what you have to do to become good. I have to do it all the way. I couldn’t halfbox and half-surf.”
“I’D PUNCHED FOUR GUYS AND CAUGHT THREE WAVES. AN OLD DUDE’S TOLD ME ‘MAN, WHY DON’T YOU TAKE UP BOXING. YOU’RE IN THE WRONG SPORT” So these days, with his fighting being positively focused into a career, it’s all about relaxation when it comes to picking up the surfboard. “It’s not even so much catching a wave. It’s just being out in the water on a good sunny day. Clean water clears you head. It’s a good de-stresser… “It’s a different lifestyle and it’s awesome. I love being surfed out and I love being trained out – so sore in the shoulders and arms that you can’t move. I love going to
the beach all day, you get home and you’re decked, sun-decked… it’s a good feeling.” But despite being a Noosa local, Israel tends to avoid his old stomping grounds when possible. He says it’s not worth getting injured and putting your life and career on the line, and even on the busy days, when things can get heated, he prefers to take the high road. “I love Tea Tree when it’s on but the crowds are just ridiculous. I try to avoid surfing the points now.
ON FAMILY
nI “Sienna was two weeks old whe . title an trali Aus the for was fighting dad and le unc her ty, Kris , cée fian My were taking turns, round by round, to watch her in the car while I was fighting, so she was pretty much there. And then I got a knockout in , the fifth round, and out with the belt So … bub little my nd arou wrapped yeah, family is everything.”
“I had one guy coming out, dropping in on everyone and I sorta gave him an earful. He offered to put me on the beach, but one of my mates said ‘no man, don’t, don’t… ‘ so he just paddled off. If you’re reading, mate, you’re lucky... You’re lucky, son” (laughs) But no, I couldn’t be bothered. I’m just having too much fun.” “I’ve got a tip for most of the old guys out there but… Look after the young guys, because the old guys are just getting older and weaker and the young guys are getting older and stronger, so you gotta watch out for them. You’re better off making friends with them now, so you get a few more waves as you get older. Hassle ‘em now and you’re not going to get any waves off ‘em, and you’ll probably get a hiding in the carpark.”
ea, L-R: Israel with daughters Tikana-L ty Kris cée fian and Sienna
It’s very easy to see why he’d rather brush the conflict, with so many positive aspects to focus on at the moment, including a return to the ring. “I got a few good fights left in me. I’d like to get a couple of different belts… a couple more belts for the mantle and then get my boys and girls winning belts.”
Photo: Supplied
LATEST: INTERVIEW
his focus on his new career and business, surfing competitively has been off the cards for a long time now.
“I like training people, bringing the best out in people. I get more nervous for them fighting than when I fight.” With the Noosa Box Office Gym going from strength to strength, a loving family at home and the ocean just around the corner, the future looks like a happy place. So, will he end up one of the silver surfers hassling in the surf? “Nah, you won’t catch me doing that. I’ll be out somewhere, where there’s no-one else out or a couple of mates down the beach. There’s plenty of beach out there…”
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The Island is brand new, eco-friendly accommodation, specially designed for you with state-of-the-art facilities and comfortable and friendly services. We understand the importance of meeting people and so the complex has been designed with this in mind - open spaces for relaxation, fun, dining and good times. Our vibe is friendly and relaxed.
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The Big Wave Complex, 10 - 12 Phillip Island Tourist Road, Phillip Island, 3925, Victoria, Australia
surf shop • surf school • accommodation • cafe nov/dec 2010
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LATEST: IMAGES
20th of March 2010: Category 3 Tropical Cyclone Ului is bearing down on North Queensland. To add to the intensity of it, the cyclone is also cradled by a large high-pressure system moving over New Zealand and directing huge gale force swell towards the Southern Queensland Coast.
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“As I had anxiously been watching these developments over the past week and deliberating where to go, I decide to pack up the cameras, throw a mattress and board into the back of the car and head north to Noosa. I arrive early afternoon to light rain and a few large waves but nothing epic just yet. “After spending that night at the caravan park, I roll out of bed at 4 am to get a decent car park in Noosa for the day ahead. The car park is already busy but I am lucky enough to snag a spot and I prepare my camera gear ready to shoot the sunrise. After squinting into the darkness, trying to get some idea of what is happening through the very overcast skies, light starts to win the battle over the darkness. “Large unruly waves start to appear roaring into the Noosa headland and soon enough the rain starts again. I soon came to my realisation that the epic eight foot sunny blue-sky scenario I had in my head was not going to happen. As I walk up and down the headland, like a surf junky desperately looking for something to shoot to salvage the situation, I realise that I am still in love with the ocean and the lifestyle that it brings, from those rare precious moments I live to capture, to the unexpected, and through to all the pure beauty it brings in between.
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THE WEATHER WATCHER “I have based my photography around these utopian ideas I have in my head. “My passion involves watching the weather maps and forecasts, searching for those areas where Mother Nature whips up a frenzy creating large ocean swell that then travel thousands of kilometers. “I then try to meet these swells where they hit land (hopefully with sunny skies and offshore winds) and capture my idea of a coastal landscape photograph. I also enjoy capturing images of surfers, who too, have been waiting for these swells to meet them, dancing with them to the end. More often then not it doesn’t work out as I had planned, but I have found that it only reinforces my love for photography, as it is these searches that open my eyes to the beauty of the very existence around us.
“I have traveled all the way to Western Australia to come home with my best image being that of a surfboard fin. I have been down at The Wreck at Byron Bay waiting for the tide and to see if the same cyclone swells produce the goods here, only to leave with one of my most treasured images of a lone girl riding her bike along the beach. My Noosa trip is only another example of this - a sunset image of The Golden Girl, and an action shot of surfers jumping into the Boiling Pot were captured on my trip.
“I have been very fortunate to be able to capture images exclusively for my own galleries and have tried to create my own path by printing the images onto canvas and displaying them as photographic art. I now love nothing more than to hit the road with my young family, camping and photographing up and down the east coast of Australia.”
“The ocean and the surf has become more than just a lifestyle - it is life. I have always loved to share my interests with others and I think photography for me has been the best way to achieve this. The underlying surf culture in Australia along with all the scenery, we as surfers are blessed to witness, has given me enough inspiration to keep on shooting for several lifetimes. nov/dec 2010
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LATEST: IMAGES “ Sasha Stocker at Burleigh Heads. This shot was a sequence that went on Coastalwatch and I had about five people claim it was them”
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“ This was taken on one of my trips chasing the cyclone swells. The swell backed off a bit and the rain cleared for sunset and I was very happy with the golden girl image”
“ Taken at Byron Bay. I just got on one of the backpacker boats out to Julian Rocks and snorkelled around to get this image of a green turtle.”
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“ Taken at Byron when I was heading down chasing a cyclone swell. The swell was a lot smaller than I had hoped and the tide was all wrong so I just went for a walk on the beach with my camera and I was stoked with the shot I got - a total random image that is timeless”
Sean Scott is a passionate and talented photographer living on the Gold Coast. He has two galleries - in Burleigh Heads and Coolangatta - that display and sell his prints and he supplies his images to other quality surf art retailers further afield, such as the Water Surf Art Cafe in Coffs Harbour and the Sound Lounge in Yamba.
“ These are some of my favourite types of shots. I love to get into the water as it is almost as much fun as surfing. The reflections in the water are incredible to shoot”
Easy-going and personable, Sean’s love for life is evident in the beautiful work he produces. Meeting him in person is as much of a pleasure as is looking through his huge collection of waterinspired photography. His eye for a well-formed wave and a beautiful surf scene, as well as his dedication to spending time in the water - even putting himself in harm’s way - just to capture that magic moment in time has firmly established him as a favourite amongst lovers of surf art and water photography. For more information and to see more of his work, visit www.seanscottphotography.com and if you’re on the Gold Coast, check out the work in person.
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LATEST: IMAGES “ Don’t need to know where I’m going... Just need to know where I’ve been.” Photographer Jeff Tull captures a bit of Victorian spray art.
Assorted waves, chilled rides and great big boards seen around Yamba, NSW. Photos by Trevor Skinner
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It’s fun to stay at the Y-A-M-B-A... Phil Blanch of Yamba goes disco on his morning walk. Photo by Trevor Skinner
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LATEST: IMAGES “ Hey! You’re the guy that took my wallet...” Coffs Harbour waterboy Johnny Craig about to speed past Tom Woods of ST IMAGES www.stimages.com.au
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PEOPLE
OF THE
LENS
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LATEST: IMAGES Standing around in the sun on Sydney’s Northern beaches. Above: Jules/Oceaneye www.oceaneye.com.au Below: Joel/Saltmotion www.saltmotion.com
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NEVER OUT OF BUSINESS FOR A DAY: Not even the complete destruction of the Goodtime store fire could break the Gailforce. Photo: Supplied
LATEST: PEOPLE
IN IT FOR A GOOD TIME Some think she’s Wonder Woman and others think she’s an old battleaxe. Either way, Gail Austen is one woman who leaves an indelible mark on you. We talk with the enigma and surf business icon that is ‘Gailforce’. WORDS BY DAVE SWAN She has been awarded the Order of Australia for her services to youth, won the 1997 Telstra Australian Business Woman of the Year, been inducted into the Australian Businesswomen’s Network Hall of Fame, come close to winning a State surf title in her youth and even been crowned world marathon kayaking champion at the Masters Games. But it is possibly her role as the leading lady of Goodtime Surf, Skate, Sail and Kite megastore in Brisbane that has truly brought her to the attention of the surf community.
factory, see what he is up to and what you think.‘ They recognised my brother needed a hand on the business side of things.
BUT FIRST, LET’S CLEAR THE AIR.
“The change from the big old boards to these short boards was amazing. We had the likes of Rabbit round there, Michael Peterson, Peter Townend. They were all working there. They were babies though, only kids.
Is she as hard as people assume? I must confess, my initial perception was that she was. You see, in my teens, I had on several occasions tried to sell Gail a crappy secondhand surfboard for above market value. In true Gail style she promptly let me know I was dreaming, hence my earlier, yet unfair assessment. Truth be told, Gail is not mean-spirited in the least. She is determined beyond belief and has achieved so much despite adversity. She’s tough, determined and won’t put up with any bullshit. If that means she’s hard, then yes - she’s tough as nails. You don’t run a surf shop for close to forty years through all the trials and tribulations of the industry and survive if you’re a fool. And one thing is for certain, Gail Austen is nobody’s fool. THE START OF GOOD TIMES Having worked for Jackson Surfboards in Caringbah, near Cronulla, Brian Austen moved to Queensland to shape surfboards for Ray Woosley and later, Joe Larkin. Following stints with these famous shapers, Brian started his own surfboard factory in July 1971 at 28 Bolton Street, Kirra, called Goodtime. His explanation for the business name was simple: “Goodtime, that’s what surfing is all about.” During this time Gail was working in the fashion industry in London and planning to travel to America to work in film production. But a trip home for Christmas changed her life forever. “I arrived back in Australia on Christmas Eve, 1972. My parents picked me up in Sydney and took me down the Gold Coast, where they were living at the time. They said, ‘We would like you to look at your brother’s
“So I went around on Boxing Day and had a look at his factory. It was the most dangerous place I had been in my life. It was unhealthy. It was toxic. I thought it was dreadful! But I could see the pieces of art there. I recognised that. I had surfed as a youngster, so I knew what surfing was about.
“They shaped the boards, would go for surf, have a wash, get all the stuff out of their ears, their lungs and their body and then get back to work. That’s what they did and that was fine. However, the factory needed tidying up and organising, which is what I did. “The shop my brother had opened in Coolangatta which was just like a cigarette kiosk really - wasn’t making any money. The few surfboards he did sell were sold for far less than cost and when you looked at how many boards they actually made, it was only half to one surfboard a week… between all of them! “I said to him, ‘You’re not going to get very far doing that. But if you’re able to make more surfboards, you’ll be able to open a shop in Brisbane, where people have got money.’ “Down the Gold Coast in those days, nobody had anything. You can’t operate in a marketplace where nobody has any money. I convinced Brian to go to Brisbane and find a place to set up shop. I offered to work in it for a while to help out. That’s how I got involved.” Gail eventually found her brother a shop at Breakfast Creek - a former butcher’s shop complete with stainless steel fit-out and all the old remnants including the butcher’s block and anvil. “So here I was in this butchers shop with Brian’s boards. I put a big surfboard out the front to let people know we were there. Inside I made a nice display of his boards, sat there and had nothing to do. That was no good for someone like me.
So I said: ‘You can’t live by surfboards alone. You’ve got to have something else.’ Nobody in the surfing industry at that point would have considered such a thing. Surfboards were surfboards. It was a religion. “The first thing I did was to introduce skateboards. I went over to the local rollerskating factory, Gayrad in Brisbane. I bought wheels and trucks. Then I got bits of timber and my brother made fibreglass decks. “At first he was outraged. He wanted nothing to do with this surf and skateboard thing and warned me to not dare bring the skateboards down to the Gold Coast. However, combining surf and skate proved to be very, very successful. “Then a friend of Brian’s who had worked with him at Woosley’s in Newmarket, made canoes. I went and saw him and said, ‘The river’s right there, I’m on the river, I want some canoes.’ When my brother came up from the coast and saw those he was so offended, he just walked out of the store. He just couldn’t bear to see this canoe next to his surfboards. I thought, ‘Oh well, I am not offended by it. It is all part of the fun of getting out on the water.’ Gail didn’t have the space to display the canoes so she hung them from the ceiling. “When people came in, they would ask where the canoe shop was. I would point up and say, ‘and the stock is out the back.’ “So that was the world I was in. I would be driving between Brisbane and the Gold Coast, sorting out the factory, sorting out the shop. It was a neverending, tremendous amount of work and I was still doing this all for free. “From there it was sailboards. In around 1974 Delhunty’s came to see me and I had never seen a sailboard in my life. They had made their first sailboard and couldn’t sell it to anyone. They came to me and I thought, ‘What a good idea.’ “So I got a friend of mine Rosco (Ross Cook) to come over. We got out a canoe and the sailboard and off I went sailboarding down the river, while he paddled after me with the canoe. I got confronted with a ship, which was a problem, so we had to get the sailboard into the middle of the canoe and paddle like hell back to Breakfast Creek. Someone happened to be going nov/dec 2010
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LATEST: PEOPLE
past and took a photo of these mad people about to be run over by a ship and we ended up on the front page of the Daily Telegraph. That was the beginning of my sailboarding business and that was really how the Brisbane shop developed. “The Gold Coast of course kept that religious surfing theme for a long time. After a while Brian began to realise there was money to be made by having canoes and sailboards and skateboards and this idea of the surf shop I wanted to create, seemed to be a good idea.”
CHALLENGES. THERE HAVE BEEN A FEW FROM STORE TO STORE Goodtime moved from Breakfast Creek to Windsor when ownership of the building changed hands and the new owners wanted to tear it down. Despite a twelvemonth lease, Gail was forced to find new premises. The building was never torn down much to Gail’s annoyance. “I found a place on Lutwyche Road. The building was in the midst of construction, being built of besser bricks, and I thought now there’s a place they can’t mow down with a grader.” Gail spoke with the owner and asked him if she could rent it. “He was very, very cautious because I had a tiny surf shop in Breakfast Creek in a former butcher’s shop and I didn’t look like I was going to be very successful. I was in the surf industry, I was a woman, aged thirty and I was yet to have children. There were numerous reasons why you wouldn’t rent to me, and he didn’t want to, but in the end I talked him into it. I thought it was great because I could bring all my surfboards, skateboards, canoes and sailboards in and by that stage, I was starting to introduce hang-gliders and clothing.” Four years into her six-year lease, in November 1980, Gail was served with a writ by the Brisbane City Council. “I just wasn’t asked to leave. The council withdrew my right to trade because I was using a warehouse as a retail outlet on a busy road and causing traffic congestion. I was deemed a nuisance.”
STEPPING STONES: From the factory (top) to the Gold Coast and Brisbane stores (middle), through to supporting local surfing events (bottom) Gail immersed herself in every part of the Goodtime business and the local surfing world.
Gail’s intention this time was to buy a building. “My aim was not to be controlled by landlords and the council. That way I could control what happened to me.” The building she found in November 1981 was the Goodtime store in Woolongabba, where she still is today. FIRE Unfortunately for Gail, it was not all good times ahead. One night in November 1984, Goodtime Woolongabba burnt to the ground. It would not be fully rebuilt until the end of the following year, but Gail never went out of business. Not for a single day. “The very next day I was in business. I sold two paddles out the back out of my Land Rover. The media asked me to look downcast. I thought to myself I have to be very clear here and give a positive message. I was asked by the Channel Nine reporter at the time how I felt and I said, ‘I feel great. I will be in business out the back. It’s a big day tomorrow – opening day!’ “When I saw the fire from across the road in my Land Rover I admit thinking for a minute, ‘Well, what do I do now.’ But then without any hesitation, I knew what I was going to do because this is what I do. I do business and any challenge is just another challenge. I knew it was going to be hard but then you just have to get on with it. I remembered someone then saying, ‘What are you going to do now?’ and I said, ‘Someone get me a broom and a shovel.’ “ Gail slept out the back. She dragged bits of molten steel from the fire, twisted it, painted it and made stands for the various surf craft that continued to arrive from her suppliers. “I had done a lot of work with the Stubbies company through Goodtime and various contests I organised. A truck of theirs arrived with $2000 worth of goods and no bill. The note read, ‘Here’s a hand. Just sell it and make some money.’ Rip Curl never let me down either. It was probably twelve months until I could pay my bills but they stood by me.” Dart Surf Skis also continued to supply Gail, full knowing that she would be in business. Their only question at the time was, ‘Where do you want them delivered?’ Free Flight Surfboards did the exact same thing. She got a permit to continue selling on what was then deemed a demolition site providing she wore a hard-hat and boots. In true Gail style, she went out straight 44
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away, got what she needed and got back to business with cranes, demountable sheds and tents making up the new look Goodtime. As for security, her means of protecting her wares from local villians was to pay them a visit with her trusty shotgun at the drinking establishments around the Gabba to inform them of their plight if they dared steal from her after what she had been through. No thefts and a few months later, the Goodtime store was back again, better than ever, but not long after Gail and Brian decided to split the business, with him retaining the Gold Coast store and factory, and her the Brisbane business. THE CHARACTERS Over the years, many notable surf industry identities have made it through the doors of Goodtime, among them a few future surf company founders. “When I first met Gordon Merchant at the Gold Coast shop he was working for a company called Kream. One day he came in selling this marijuana shirt they made. I suggested he should have a beach pant as well. I provided him with some patterns for the pant I had sourced from my former business in London. Next minute, Gordon started Billabong and we became their number one account.
ICONIC GOLD COAST SURF BUSINESS FOR SALE
“We were also the first to stock Quiksilver in Queensland. A little while later a young man came into my shop who also had a clothing label called Quiksilver. He came in with these incredible clothes and I said to him, ‘I love your clothes but you can’t use the name Quiksilver. Someone already owns that name in Melbourne.’ “I ended up phoning Allan Green (one of Quiksilver’s founders) whilst this guy was in the store. Allan agreed to pay him to re-register his name. That guy drove back to his home in Taree and on his return saw a tuna boat returning from the sea and thought ‘Hot Tuna… that’s what I will call my clothing line. “Another interesting person was Dare (Jennings) from Mambo. I used to go to Sydney a fair bit and I used to buy the Phantom t-shirts from Dare in Darlinghurst. One time I went in and he said, ‘Gail I have got these surf clothes I am designing.’ I saw them and said, ‘Mate this is a winner. Let’s have it.’ I ordered it straight away but Dare had a bit of trouble selling it to other stores in the beginning. It was at a time when that sort of clothing wasn’t really acceptable, not just in the fashion industry but in the surfing industry as well because it was taking to a different level. “So for me, the growth of the clothing side of the business, was due to the fact I had an eye for it. I wouldn’t have made any money otherwise.
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THE FUTURE Gail Austen is undeniably a powerhouse and one hell of an amazing woman. At the age of sixty-six she is still going strong. She is still in charge of what is reputed to be Australia’s longest running surf store. She has seen thirty-four competitors come and go, many of whom are still big in the surf industry today.
OCEAN GROVE
So what does the future hold? This is best left said by Gail herself. “Until a year ago I worked seven days a week. I tried five days for around four months but after I had fixed everything around the home I was bored. I am back working six days a week now. The excitement of business, the fun I have and the challenges I face are stimulating and keep me young and on the ball. “
THE MODERN MARKETPLACE With these 40 years of experience in mind, we were keen to get some of Gail’s insight into business and the surf industry as it stands today. GAIL ON BUSINESS “I have been ridiculed countless times in the surf industry as the iron lady who runs the supermarket of surfing, I have heard it so many times, I no longer care. I always thought to myself, ‘We only have a population of this much in South East Queensland and you want me to restrict my market to just surfboards? Never gonna happen mate! From a business perspective it is just not possible.’ “Product is the most important thing you can have in any business. The product is what that customer buys, what he walks down the street with, what he uses. Everything that happens going forward relies on that product. It’s got to be good, it’s got to be serviceable, it’s got to be backed up and it has got to do what you say it’s going to do.
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“Once you have product then its service and price. Price is at the end of the road. The last thing you sell is price.
Just a real surf shop...
“When you look at the development of every aspect of this business, from surfing to skateboarding and windsurfing and so on… everything I am involved in, I personally went out and did it.
Surfboards, movies, art and memorabili a at the top of th e hill in Yamb a.
“We also focus on the beginners in each of the sports. More than any other shop we welcome beginners. In many Gold Coast stores, if you didn’t know the lingo, you weren’t made to feel very welcome.” GAIL ON IMPORTS “People have to be more welcoming of competition. China is just another competitor. I have been in business all my life and competition is something I thrive on, the more competition the better. “I recognised very early in the piece what was going to happen in relation to Chinese imports. I thought I have to support a local shaper, produce an Australian made surfboard but at a price affordable for entry-level surfers. We developed a surfboard line called Boost Surfboards. It’s not necessarily profitable but it introduces kids and beginners to surfing. “Blackrock is our intermediate level and as surfers advance they buy better equipment and our margins increase. All in all, we produce an Australian product, hand shaped in a modern style that you can go back to the store if something is wrong. There is a backup service. “The reality is, I do an enormous amount of business with people who choose to buy cheap and inferior products first. China has introduced people to surfing that never before thought about it. We have to accept there is a stepping process, that as people become informed and develop their surfing skills, they will be looking for a superior product.
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“We have to accept we are not going to win all the wars. We won’t win all price wars. People will inevitably learn from what they buy and it is part of the education process. The worst thing you can do is rubbish the competition. Strength, durability and performance do not come cheaply. People will inevitably wake up to this fact just as they have with bikes, canoes, cars, hardware tools…” HELPING OTHERS “When I do something, I always look to see if I can help someone else. You might as well make it worthwhile. I want to see more benefit than just the person sitting in front of me. That’s why in any event I run, I will make sure a charity benefits from it. I have learnt that in life from a very young age. “A person like me will be disliked more than loved because when I run things, I run them properly. For that fact, I am bound to rub people the wrong way. Therefore I have always made a point if I am going to do something, someone’s going to get the benefit from it. It allows me to get past the BS and feel better within myself. So when someone goes crook at me for the way I ran something, I can say, well I wasn’t doing it for you, I was doing it for them.” SHINING MOMENTS Finally, we asked Gail about what she considered to be her greatest achievements. “I was instrumental in setting up a number of Brisbane’s skate parks. I recognised no one was helping set up skate parks for the kids. I was selling plenty of skateboards so I decided to do something about it.” “I created the Australian Women’s Surfing Association and went all around the country getting women to join. Women’s surfing in Australia had gone backwards since Phyllis O’Donnell was world champion and I decided to do something about it. I said to Pam Burridge, who was was only twelve at the time but an upcoming superstar, ‘When Australia has a female world champion I will retire.’ Pam went on to become the world champion and I didn’t have to run it anymore. “I started the Brisbane Surf Riders Association to counter all that ‘Brissos go home’ nonsense. I recognised Brisbane surfers had to get better so they would be accepted when they ventured down to the Gold Coast. We ran our contests on Stradbroke Island, away from the crowds in those days, so we could get the standard up. “I also ran the biggest canoeing event in QLD for twenty-five years. “I did these things because I could see they were needed. That’s my nature. I am not trying to be a hero. It’s just that if I see a need for something, it’s automatic. I do something about it. That’s what I enjoy. That’s my life.”
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STAND UP FOR YOUR RIGHTS Get up, stand up! Stand up for your rights! Come’on people now! Oh, if only Bob Marley knew the hardships of the world today, particularly the plight of SUPs. But are these ‘street-sweepers-of-the-sea’, as they are so affectionately referred to by their shortboard brethren, genuine members of the surf fraternity or not? WORDS BY DAVE SWAN | PHOTOS BY MICHAEL DAWES
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There definitely seems to be a growing acceptance of stand-up paddle surfing within mainstream surf culture. No longer is there as much of an ‘us and them’ mentality. Master watermen such as Tom Carroll, Gerry Lopez and Laird Hamilton have no doubt given the sport added credibility. We talk with a number of people within the industry about the rapid rise in popularity of SUPs along with the associated pros and cons. But first, why this harmonious acceptance of SUPs? Are they real surfers or just mopping a spill in aisle seven?
JONATHAN STUBBS Bluewater Players, Noosa “Yeah, it’s totally changed. Aside from the devotees of stand-up there was perhaps a stigma initially attached to it. Certain people wouldn’t come into our store because we only did SUPs. But that’s changed for one because we don’t get swell up here on a regular basis. Plus you have guys getting a little older who aren’t getting as many waves as they used to. And once they have had a try and can see it is not that easy (doing what we do in the surf) they turn around and say, ‘I have respect for you guys now.’ Full-on, hardcore surfers such as Tommy and Nick Carroll have also broken down the barriers by taking up paddles themselves and giving it a go.
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“BETTER STILL, YOU CAN LEARN ON FLAT WATER. YOU COULD NEVER DO THAT ON A NORMAL SURFBOARD.” PETER JAPP Eastcoast Stand Up Paddle, Barden Ridge “Well there has always been a bit of a difference between shortboarders and longboarders. Now we have the SUPs.
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“SUP at this stage are kinda down the food chain but that is rapidly changing with the focus on high performance. The boards have come down in size to near the 8ft mark. Now you basically have guys who were on shortboards doing stand-up.” By which Peter is no doubt referring to paddling and not comedy, but I guess that depends on the skill of the rider.
LUKE MEYERS SHQ, Sandringham “These guys are making it gain acceptance. When you see Tommy Carrol in a recent shot pulling into a really nice wave, leaning on his paddle and getting barreled, I think surfers can see the performance aspect of the sport. “It is pretty hardcore surfing with such a large heavy board, taking off on some of the waves they choose to. Doing what they are doing on a wave gives it a lot of credibility.” Fair point there boys. I have seen some pretty amazing SUP surfing shots myself and I have nothing but respect for what some people are doing on a wave. Check out Haley Fiske at
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TULLY ST JOHN Noosa Surf Works, Noosa
I must admit a few of the guys who have taken up SUPs over the last few months have certainly dropped some kgs and have commented how much fitter they feel and stronger in the surf.
“I think everyone can now see the fitness benefits associated with stand-up, from kids through to the older crew. Plus it’s a new challenge for surfers who have been surfing a long time.”
So SUPing can make you ‘tooyight like a tin drum’ (apologies for my lame reference to the Austin Powers movie Goldmember) but what about the downside of such a rapid rise in popularity?
JONATHAN: “Paddling every day keeps you fit and helps your core strength, which in turn is great for your surfing.”
SCOTT PENWARN Greenline, Mermaid Beach
Mavericks for those still unimpressed. So what else is fuelling the rapid rise in popularity?
PETER: “The fitness aspect of SUP is beneficial to your wellbeing plus it’s a sport that young kids, mothers, fathers and whole families can do together.” TULLY: “Those who haven’t surfed before, can feel the stoke of getting onto a wave in a pretty short amount of time. It’s opening up a new easy way to enjoy what we surfers have been enjoying for a long time.” PETER: “Better still you can learn on flat water. You could never do that on a normal surfboard. You would need a wave. With SUPs you can learn your basic skills on flat water or small chop.”
“It’s a matter of etiquette. I guess some people get out there, whether it be on a shortboard, longboard or SUP and try to take every wave. They’re not really considering other people. “If you do that on a SUP, you are going to cop it because you are so visible. “Regardless of what craft you are on, it’s the clown who doesn’t ‘give a rats’ and drops in or circles around everyone to snake them, who are the real problem.” LUKE: “I think we are starting to break down the barriers between SUPs and other surfers but that all comes back to respect. Where it’s working is where everyone is obeying
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“WHERE IT’S WORKING IS WHERE EVERYONE IS OBEYING THE RULES OF THE SURF REGARDLESS OF WHAT SURF CRAFT YOU ARE ON.”
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the rules of the surf regardless of what surf craft you are on.
But how many hours should you clock up in still water before you tackle the surf?
“And I do think it’s about sharing when you are out there. You may come across certain breaks where you know you could catch every wave on the SUP but you want to make friends out there and have a chat.
JONATHAN: “Everyone develops at a different rate but generally speaking, at least a month of going at least three days a week.
“So it is important to let a few waves go, especially when you first get out the back to show the other guys in the water you are not going to hog every wave. You have to show etiquette. “ JONATHAN: “There are a lot of people out there who should spend a little bit more time on the flat water and learn some skills. When I was learning, a mate said I should do heaps of flat water paddling, so I did. I learnt my skills and didn’t downsize too quickly. I went from an 11 ft board down to a 10”2, to a 9 “8, to a 9”6 and now I am on an 8”6.” PETER: “Beginners have to find a place to learn and not just go straight out into the line-up and get in everyone’s way.” SCOTT: “SUPs in inexperienced hands in crowded line-ups are dangerous. A lot of beginners are on 11 and 12 ft boards and they don’t know what they are doing. Some have never surfed in their life and go straight into the line-up. “Even on a small day it is dodgy. You go out on an 11 ft board with a 10 ft leg rope and you have a pretty wide circumference where you can take people out. “It is our responsibility to educate people as they are walking out the door with these boards. What we don’t want to see is what has happened at a few Californian beaches were SUPs have designated ‘no-go zones’. “They have basically been banned from certain breaks because people have not respected the rules of the surf.” With regard to educating riders, all gentlemen agree on this point and each of their respective businesses offer lessons, or are affiliated with coaches who teach the basic skills of stand-up paddling and surf etiquette.
LUKE: “People in particular need to learn how to do ‘kick turns’ in the water. Turning and paddle technique are important. You need to do all that before you think about venturing into the surf. You have to know your own ability.” Kick turns heh? So beware all you shortboarders out there, the SUPs are now learning Karate. LUKE: “From there it’s about finding suitable breaks away from crowds. Sometimes it means a lesser wave but you are not competing with heaps of other surfers and are giving yourself time to develop.” And as for the future? PETER: “Stand-up paddling is not just for the surf. You have flat water, rivers, lakes… there are guys even riding rapids overseas. With surf breaks getting so crowded more and more people are looking to get away from it all. I think In Australia we will see a lot more flat water and open ocean events.” TULLY: “The open ocean side of things is a whole other aspect to stand-up paddling. When you are a kilometre out to sea and beyond the shark nets, running the swells along the coast and using the energy of the ocean to generate some speed, there is nothing like it. You only have to see the Molokai challenge to get an appreciation for what I am talking about.” The 52 kilometre paddleboard crossing of the Molokai (Ka’iwi) Channel is considered the most brutal physical and mental challenge in the world for waterman. The race between Hawaii’s two major islands starts at Kaluakoi on the west end of Molokai island, across the Ka’iwi Channel to a finish line at Oahu’s Maunaloa Bay. The best do it in just under five hours. The Gold Coast’s Jamie Mitchell has won the race a staggering nine times straight.
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“YOU CAN PUT YOUR SIXYEAR OLD KID ON THE FRONT OF YOUR BOARD... OR YOUR DOG”
LUKE: “The flat water aspect of SUPs is really the growth area. “You look at a company like Naish and they are so heavily focused on the still water side. In Europe, they’re touring around the canals of Amsterdam and Venice.
JONATHAN: “The boards have evolved so much even in the last 12 months. Simon Anderson is doing his Fibre Flex board. Tully is one of the leaders in design and manufacturing and is producing some amazing boards. “
“The people like myself who are riding an 8’6 SUP are pretty small in numbers within Australia. People are looking for boards they will predominantly paddle in flat water and occasionally take out into the surf.
SCOTT: “Yeah, Simon Anderson’s Fibre Flex and Chris Garrett’s Step-Deck SUP are ones to note.”
“In many ways it is a lot like windsurfing in the early eighties. One in every three households in Europe had a windsurfer and used it for predominantly still water.
“What we have found, is it’s now coming back to what works. We tend to find that about 30 inches wide is a magic number. In the sense it is a good width for stability but still good for surfing performance. Anything wider tends not to have the surfing performance and narrower is more suited to surfers in the 50 to 60 kg range. That is a rough indicator.”
“Now SUPs have the potential to be bigger than windsurfing was. That will only happen if it is something the family can do, that you can put your six-year old kid on the front of your board... or your dog.” (laughs)
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How about future board design?
LUKE: “There were a lot of companies on the market experimenting with different designs.
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Finally, at this point I must confess I have not yet ventured to the ‘dark side’. I am alone in the office for not having tried it. I have nothing against SUPs, even despite my name-calling throughout this article. I don’t really mean it, they are purely friendly terms of endearment, like referring to longboarders as long-planker-wankers or alaias as the ironing-boards of the ocean - and I ride both anyway. The fact is, I just haven’t had the opportunity yet. But I am as keen as. The various appeals of stand-up mentioned in this article, resonate with me. Smorgasboarder is about our love for all manner of surf craft. I love longboards, shortboards, fishes, alaias… you name it, I’m happy to ride it - different boards for different conditions. Stand up is just another good reason to get wet. Long live the janitors-of-the-sea.
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LATEST: PEOPLE Mark Pridmore pushing son Cain onto waves Photo: Supplied
PASS THE TORCH We’ve been led to believe by stereotype that parents are supposed to get old and out of touch with their kids, complaining how life was better back in their day, while teenagers in heavy eyeliner (or guyliner) sulk and disconnect themselves from anything to do with family life, staying locked up in their room, smoking cigarettes and listening to satanic heavy metal... There’s a funny thing about stereotypes though - they fortunately and most certainly don’t have to be true to life. While some family units may well follow this sitcomlike path, families with a close connection to the water often seem to do the exact opposite and form even deeper and more meaningful bonds in the surf. We talk to four very different fathers and sons about their relationships and find out how surfing together has influenced their lives.
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“ I GET MORE STOKED WHEN I SEE CAIN GET A GOOD WAVE THEN I DO, THAT’S FOR SURE.”
Photo: J.Bitton
MARK & CAIN PRIDMORE Yamba-based surfboard manufacturer, Mark Pridmore seems to have passed on his love of surfcraft to the next generation, with his son Cain getting involved with the family business from an early age. Dad started it... I started shaping when I was about 15, (now 37) but it was an ‘on again, off again’ thing. I would reshape foam from old boards and any bits of old foam or shitty blanks I could get. I’d learn and have fun riding them. I was also spraying these and skateboard decks for myself and mates, which led to a job spraying boards at Wave-Zone Surfboards, who also sponsored me at the time. These days, I’m working on my own label - More Surfboards - and still doing some of the sprays. But my son Cain (12) is doing a lot of the artwork and colours on my shapes now. It started when I saw a few of his sketches about 2½ years ago and thought that he should put some of that onto one of my boards. It’s just grown from there. Art wins awards Cain recently won the school aged division of a surfboard art exhibition held by the Gold Coast Surf World - a really cool event brought together shapers and artists, a real celebration of creativity and surfboards. Are the kids avid surfers? Yeah, they love the beach and enjoy the waves. I think it has to be one of the best things: to be able
to share the fun of surfing with your kids. I get more stoked when I see Cain get a good wave then I do, thats for sure. Future plans for Cain’s artwork Cain can do whatever he wants with his artwork, I am just supplying him with some opportunities and hopefully skills for the future. He has plenty of ability and the more he does, the more that ability can blossom. Is he keen to also get involved in shaping? Cain has shaped 3 or 4 boards with my help, but he is becoming more and more competent. He has a good knowledge of design. I doubt there’d be too many 12-year-olds who know as much.
Above: Cain and sister Sirrah (7) with the start of the ‘Pool table fish’ that won Cain his art award. Below: Proud dad with Cain’s artwork on More Surfboards
The reaction so far Some guys have been requesting Cain do their artwork, others are wary of a young kid being let loose with paints and posca pens on their new sled. And other customers genuinely don’t believe me when I say my son did that spray, until I show ‘em some pics. Kids are so capable and they learn so quickly - just gotta give ‘em the chance. They have a different perspective on things and haven’t been corrupted and polluted by marketing and image. It’s more innocent and just fun... which suits surfing and what I am all about.
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LATEST: PEOPLE
LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON: DYLAN & JOHN SHARING WAVES AND STYLE IN BALI
Almost twins: Dylan (left) and John (right) 58
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Who got you into surfing, and was there any family influence? John: My mates got me into surfing at Nahoon Reef in East London, South Africa but no family influence – only bought my first surfboard at 18 years of age. Dylan: My whole family were born and bred on the coast, so it was only natural for surfing to fall into the picture. My dad got me into surf lessons with a friend of ours we called “Lazy Leonard”. He taught me all the ins and outs of surfing. Do you remember the first time Dylan was on a surfboard? John: Yip. He was seven years old. I spent hours pushing him onto waves. As I’m sure many fathers find out, if they fall off at that stage it’s all your fault for pushing them onto the wrong wave. I’m still pushing him but now it’s out of bed. Dylan: I initially started out body-boarding at a really young age until dad decided to send me to surf lessons at seven, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I remember Dad pushing me onto waves at St Francis Bay for hours and hours. Do you two get to surf together much; who’s teaching who the tricks? John: Yes. Mainly weekends, and all holidays are spent at Crescent Head. Tricks? No one can teach a 17 year old anything, let alone tricks! Dylan: Dad and I surf together regularly on the weekend, but I am often driving up the coast with my mate Willis, looking for a good break. They say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks but you can teach a new dog old tricks, which is very true, because the old dog is still yet to learn how to duck dive. Dad is often seen turning turtle on his shortboard! Do you think that surfing together has strengthened your relationship? John: Yes, it’s something we are always planning or discussing. Early mornings are the best, although it is always a battle to get Dylan out of bed. Dylan: Surfing has somewhat strengthened our relationship, but more so, I think that it has created a new source of competition and rivalry.
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Do you see it as something you’ll continue doing? John: Yes, and I’m counting, I have 16 summers left until I turn 70 so if I do drop in on Dylan it’s because I’m running out of time and waves! Dylan: I think surfing is something I will continually be doing throughout my life until I become an old sun-bleached prune, but until then I will be enjoying every second of it. What is the most special thing about your time together surfing? John: When Dylan finally admits it was worth getting up early, and then breakfast and coffee after a good surf. Dylan: The most special time together surfing with my dad would probably have to be that moment when I know I’ve just made it under a clean out set and look back to see my dad turning turtle and copping the grunt of the wave on the head. Karma always seems to come back and bite me though.
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Graeme & Brenda Howard 148 Thompson Ave/PO Box 554, Cowes Phillip Island 3922 Ph/Fax (03) 5995 1659 Mob 0411 701 428 Email pip@waterfront.net.au
Photo: Grant Molony
A surf shop with personality. Memorabilia, clothing, accessories and surfboards.
RUSS & ZANE MOLONY One of four brothers, Russ Molony of North Entrance on the NSW Central Coast is a carpenter by trade and a part time WQS surfer. Having become addicted to surfing at five years of age, he never looked back. Now he’s enjoying the opportunity to pass it all on to his five-year-old boy, Zane. Early days...
For something a little different
Southcoast Surfboards, Gato Heroi, Bing, Dick Van Straalen and a unique range of surfing memorabilia
My older brothers surfed, so they got me out there on my blue foamy and pushed me into a few. There was a big crew of grommets that all learned on the same wave. The Cove at Bateau Bay was learner’s heaven. Equipment these days for learner’s is so much easier and faster. Great news for beginners. I went in my first competition when I was 14 in a schoolboys event. I recently returned home from the European leg of the WQS where I equalled my best pro result - 5th place in the 5 Star Relentless Boardmasters in Newquay England. It still doesn’t compare to coming home and getting pumping waves though. The last couple of weeks have been all time! Zane’s introduction to surfing
5/21 Clarence Street, Port Macquarie Ph/Fax (02) 6584 1995 or 0416 226 774 More online...
www.sandyfeetsurf.com.au
Zane wanted to surf last summer so I got him out in front of our place. He actually got up first go and rode it for a few seconds. He surprised me in how good his balance was for a 4-year-old. He’s actually still learning to swim, so he wears a life jacket and we find a nice shallow bank. Even when it’s freezing cold he’s keen to hit the waves so I think he’s hooked. Zane has saltwater in his veins, so the future’s at his feet. Passing it on Spending quality time with Zane teaching him about life and the world is the most important part of a good father-son relationship. I cherish every second of our time together. Passing on surfing and the knowledge of the ocean is just a bonus. In Zane’s words I asked Zane if he wanted to add anything. His reply: “I surf heaps better then my Dad. Tell them that”. Russ says in parting: “I’d like to thank Rex Marechal at RMS Surfboards for shaping some sick shred sticks. Filtrate Eyewear for their cool shades and all the Molony tribe for ruling.”
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LATEST: PEOPLE Russ doing some close inspection of the face Photo: Grant Molony
“I SURF HEAPS BETTER THEN MY DAD. TELL THEM THAT” ZANE MOLONY, 5
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LATEST: PEOPLE Photo: Supplied
“ HUMILITY AND RESPECT FOR OTHER PEOPLE. AND JUST TO ENJOY LIFE” Tully St. John on the most important lesson learned from dad, Mike.
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MIKE & TULLY ST. JOHN Noosa Surf Works is a well known and well respected business, just as the St. John name is well respected for the surfboards they produce. In a world where the average person stays in a job for only a few years, finding someone continuing on in a family business, and building on the family name and legacy is truly a rarity. It all started back in the early 50’s, when Mike’s interest in surfing was ignited by his father’s water time on a huge cedar board, which led to him becoming one of the local surf kids in Sydney’s eastern beaches. “We lived on the beach. It was just part of our lifestyle. It was different in those days. There wasn’t any surf school, boardriders club or competitions, nothing like that. Surfing was just something we did in between playing cricket, football and swimming.” “We were active kids and surfing was just something that a few people did. We all knew each other around the area. Us kids used to drag the 16 ft toothpicks from the surf clubs. When the guys were at work Monday to Friday, we used to wag school and go down the surf club.” Being in that environment, it was inevitable one of the mates had to try their hand at working on the boards. “For us kids to carry a balsa board around, from Tamarama to Bondi, was a long, long way, so as the boards started falling apart we would strip them down, cut them down and reglass them smaller…” From the early beginnings, Mike found himself following a career in the surfboard industry, working for various shapers and finally founding his own business. With the arrival of son, Tully, the stage was set for introducing the craft and the business to the next generation, despite any reservations Mike may have had. “I’ve been around it since I was born, basically.” Tully tells us. “Swept floors, mucked around in the factory, just waiting for dad to finish work when I was a little kid. I just watched how the boards got made from early on.” “When I was about 12 years old I first did some work on a surfboard. It wasn’t really something I was interested in. It was just what Dad had done.” But despite learning the ropes in board repair as a teenager, Tully decided to look outside of the family business, doing an apprenticeship as a chef from the age of 15. After completing the apprenticeship, Tully got back into surfboards. “But you can’t say I encouraged you. Quite the opposite in fact”, says Mike. “I didn’t want him to do that at all. I thought it’d be a good idea to do something else. Anything else.” But who listens to their parent at 18? “Being a young surfer, I always had a burning ambition to shape a board for myself one day.” His time as a chef, however, is not something he regrets doing. “That taught me what it would take to become a good craftsman. To take it step by step and not just try and jump to the conclusion before you’d learned the basics and gone back to traditional methods that had been used. It also taught me organisation and people skills which has helped me in business today.” “I reckon I did 10 years before I even considered myself to be anywhere near qualified to shape boards. I did everything from glassing, sanding, finning of boards, restorations on old boards to get my eye in, and then endless hours of just watching other shapers hand shaping boards to get a good basis.” And a good basis it is, with a huge variety of shapes and designs produced by Tully at the Noosa Surf Works business. These days, the apprentice has long since become the master and the handover has allowed Mike to take a back seat. “These days Tully runs it. He’s the boss, I just do whatever he wants me to do, from vacuuming up to helping out. I’m just here at the beck and call of the boss (laughs)”
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THE
GONG AND BEYOND OFTEN MALIGNED AS NOTHING MORE THAN AN INDUSTRIAL CITY, SUCH MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT WOLLONGONG ARE QUICKLY DISPELLED WHEN EXPLORING THE STUNNING COASTLINE STRETCHING FROM STANWELL TOPS DOWN TO SEVEN MILE BEACH IN GERROA IN SEARCH OF SOME SOUTH COAST MAGIC. WORDS BY DAVE SWAN
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TRAVEL: ROAD TRIP Shellharbour Photo: Steev S www.flickr.com/eonns
WELCOME North Beach Photo: Supplied
TO THE ILLAWARRA Ohhh... The Gong. Gotta go The Gong. The place sounds so cool. In fact, it is cool. But we are talking about more than just Wollongong. Our exploration goes all the way beyond the city and to the outer limits of the Illawarra. The region’s beautiful beaches and stunning coastal scenery have so much to offer. In terms of waves, there are countless surf spots of varying descriptions to speak of, right the way along the coast.
North Kiosk at North Beach Photo: DS
Surfing the north around Coal Cliff you will find yourself sandwiched between the Pacific Ocean and the cliffs of the Illawarra escarpment, which drop precipitously to the sea. It is one of the most dramatic backdrops any surfer could experience. Then you have the world-class break at Sandon Point. On its day, it can easily hold 8ft to 15ft plus and is not for the faint-hearted. It’s a beast of a wave complete with freefall takeoff and grinding barrels. If you’re a big-wave maniac, there’s more action further south at Windang Island in Shellharbour . For a somewhat cruisier, mellower wave there’s the famous Killalea State Forest, home to The Farm and Mystics. And further south in Gerroa, you have arguably the best learn-to-surf wave on the east coast at Seven Mile Beach.
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Ahh the variety. Ahh the serenity. The Illawarra has the goods to make any surfer salivate. The beauty of this job is that you get to see some absolutely amazing places. But THIS region is just nothing short of spectacular. I don’t want to sound like a broken record but it is just incredible. Whilst here, it’s taken every ounce of strength to get through my work because all I wanted to do was pull the car over and get in for a surf. It’s absolutely stunning. If there were ever a place I would pick up and move the family from the Sunshine Coast, this quite possibly would be it. That’s how highly I rate the place. You’re an hour from Sydney; the world’s most beautiful city, you have the ocean, the highlands for hiking, you’re a stones throw from Kangaroo Valley, further south is Jervis Bay… the appeal of the place goes on and on. But truth be told, I will be the first to admit I thought the place was nothing more than an industrial town. It’s what a friend had told me many years ago and as such, I had taken it as gospel. You can imagine my shock when I eventually ventured there myself. I didn’t know what he was on about. Maybe time had changed things? One thing is for sure, in my opinion, the area is a top east coast surf spot with an endless array of natural beauty and great surf breaks.
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THE
South Beach Wollongong, looking towards Port Kembla Photo: Richard Higgins www.flickr.com/photos/24364979@N00/
GONG AND BEYOND
“A TOP EAST COAST SURF SPOT WITH GREAT WAVES”
Austinmer Pool Photo: Supplied
Shellharbour morning Photo: Keith LBG
Scarborough Hotel Photo: DS nov/dec 2010
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Somewhere near Windang Photo: Lainey Brown laineybrown.carbonmade.com
TRAVEL: ROAD TRIP Kiama sunrise Photo: Kiama Tourism
WHERE
IS THE ILLAWARRA EXACTLY?
Looking over seven Mile Beach Photo: DS
The Illawarra is a coastal region situated immediately south of Sydney and north of the Shoalhaven, known as the NSW South Coast region. It encompasses the cities of Wollongong and Shellharbour and the town of Kiama. Geography is something that defines the region. To the north, the city of Wollongong is never more than six kilometers at its widest. The city is fringed by mountains, which are the eastern edge of the Southern Highlands plateau, that are not so much high as steep, and to the east lies the Pacific Ocean.
Werri Beach Sunrise Photo: Kent Ladkin
Wollongong is only 80 kilometers from Sydney and around an hour and twenty minutes drive. Further south the region widens, and the coastal plain becomes increasingly hillier.
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The coastline extends some 100 kilometers from the southern hills of the Royal National Park in the north to the Shoalhaven River in the south. Points and beaches face all matter of directions and as such you can usually find a wave somewhere on the coastline whether the swell direction is coming from the south round to the north-east.
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PIT STOPS ALONG THE WAY FROM THE NORTH
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OTFORD PANTRY, THE APPLE PIE SHOP 22 Lady Wakehurst Drive Otford Sat 9am-5pm, Sun 8am-5pm The furthest stop north, just pass Stanwell Tops. It’s only open weekends and public holidays so if you’re lucky enough to be there on any of these days, go there. A coffee and some fresh pie… oh yes.
THE SCARBOROUGH HOTEL
383 Lawrence Hargrave Drive, Scarborough It’s so good the town was named after it. The pub CAN actually lay claim to this fame. Wollongong’s oldest premises has been recently renovated and can possibly boast the best beer garden I have ever seen on the east coast. The views are amazing, the laid back vibe superb and it’s family friendly.
We've been at the forefront of surfing's evolution since 1963... BUT YOU’RE STILL THE MOST IMPORTANT PERSON IN OUR BUSINESS
THE HEADLANDS HOTEL
Headland Ave, Austinmer If you like rustic old pubs, with shark teeth above the bar, positioned right on a point with views of the surf and a wood fire burning - well this one is a pearler. Although I highly recommend you have a surf before venturing into the pub. The size of the shark jaws is a little off-putting if seen prior to a surf.
IN AND AROUND WOLLONGONG NORTH KIOSK
1 Cliff Road North Beach, North Wollongong 7am to 5pm daily The coffee is incredible, food service prompt and very affordable. A range of fresh juices and smoothies are also available. And you are RIGHT on the beach. The perfect early morning pit stop for surfers on the go.
FIVE ISLANDS BREWING COMPANY
The fact I have stopped here several times on recent trips to The Gong is testament to my love for this venue and my love for beer. Is there anything better than a local brew house with views over the ocean? A late arvo surf at South Beach next to the lightho use and a pint of Rust Amber Ale – that’s the best way to finish your day.
GOING SOUTH OCEAN BEACH HOTEL
From short through to long, we have the perfect board for your quiver, or can custom make it to your requirements
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2 Addison Street, Shellharbour
A great spot to relax with a beer after a session at Cowries where you can retell your tales of taking off on hollow, barreling waves with next to no water below. The hotel’s seafood restaurant has also won countless South Coast and state best restaurant awards.
SHORT BLACK
88 Terralong St, Kiama As far as Kiama goes, I haven’t tried anything else bar Short Black for breakfast and coffee. When something is this good, you fear taking the chance on anything else.
SURF BOARDS FACTORY SHOWROOM 24 Flinders St North Wollongong, NSW 2500 Phone: 02 4228 8878 Fax: 02 4229 7594
AUSTR A LI A CITY SURF CENTRE 231 Crown Street, Wollongong City, NSW 2500 Phone: 02 4229 1202 Fax: 02 4225 2161
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HISTORY So many great surfers and great shapers have called, and still call, The Gong and it surrounding regions home. The list of surfers through the years is like a roll call of Australia’s best, guys like Ken Middleton, Kevin Parkinson, Paul Brooks, Terry Richardson, Robbie Page, Brian Cregan and the Byrne Brothers - Phil, Dave and Chris - who really put Wollongong on the map. Then there were the ladies such as Sharon Jackson (nee Holland) and Sandy Drysden. Later on it was the likes of Sandon Point’s Chad Ryan and Jake Spooner who carried the flame. There’s Mick Lowe of Windang and big wave charger, Kate Skarratt - one of the first ladies to tackle Hawaii’s Pipeline. Today, it’s the new breed such as Gerringong’s Todd Prestage and Gerroa’s Dean Bowen and Sally Fitzgibbons. You also have talented free-surfers and big wave chargers such as Michael Hopkins and Dylan Longbottom.
So you can see, from just this very brief history, the Illawarra surf scene was, and still is, alive and kicking.
On the shaping side of things, John Skipp of Skipp Surfboards was pretty much the founder of Wollongong’s surf scene. First working for Cansdell and Jackson Surfboards, he set up Skipp Williams Surfboards when Jackson decided to focus purely on his Cronulla operation. As for John, he’s still going strong and through the years has employed many great shapers such as the late Kevin Parkinson and Frank Latta. Also working with Skipp were the likes of Paul Nichol, Terry Richardson, Phil and Dave Byrne, who together with brother Chris went on to establish the world renowned Byrne Surfboards. Byrne have attracted some of the most notable pro surfers through the years such as Shaun Thompson, Larry Bertleman and Tom Carroll along with up-and-coming sensation Owen Wright.
LOCAL SURFBOARD BRANDS THROUGH THE YEARS •
Cansdell and Jackson Surfboards founded 1958, North Wollongong
•
Skipp Surfboards founded 1963, Wollongong
•
South Coast Surfboards founded 1972, Sandon Point
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Mike Davis Surfboards founded 1975, Kiama
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Byrne Surfboards founded 1977, Wollongong
•
Carabine Surfboards founded 1977, Wollongong
•
Terry Richardson Surfboards 1978, Wollongong
•
Crooked River Surfboards founded 1978, Gerroa
FAST FACTS Climate: Warm summers and mild winters mean that the area’s wide range of outdoor recreational activities can be enjoyed all year round. Maximum average temperatures range from 26C in summer to 17C in winter. Population: The Illawarra region has a population of just over 410,000. The city of Wollongong accounts for almost half of it and is in fact the tenth largest city in Australia, the third in New South Wales after Sydney and Newcastle. Nearest city: Wollongong is just 82 kilometres south of Sydney
www.caPeboatworks.com.au 37-39 Chapman St, Fairy Meadow NSW 2519 Phone: 02 4283 1115 70
Photo: Steev S
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Illawarra waves Photo: Kent Ladkin
THE
GONG AND BEYOND
THE WAVES “Wollongong has a huge range of waves but I mainly surf the northern suburbs on a large north-west swell and in a northerly wind I go surf Windang Island, which is possibly one of the best quality waves we have here when it’s working on the low tide. It breaks really big on the southside. But it is hard to leave Sandon (Point) when I can just walk down the road. I have been surfing here for some forty something years. It’s a pretty challenging wave and works best in a big southerly swell. It’s probably best at double overhead and it breaks though on almost any type of swell. On a north swell, when it is big, it is nearly a full-on Hawaiian sort of wave - triple overhead, challenging and very hollow. Peggies also works in these kind of conditions, which is a fun Queensland-like wave. I can also surf the left hand side of Sandon on my funboard. It’s a fat wave.”
“Having surfed nearly every spot from Stanny (Stanwell Park) to Merimbula, there are so many good waves around, it would have to be one of the best stretches in Oz. There are still plenty of secret spots and ones that are still pretty untouched.
Paul Nichol - Paul Nichol Shapes
“We have one of the best beginner beaches around at Gerroa. The bombie off the point is pretty nuts but definitely not for the faint-hearted (we have also heard it is one of two major shark breeding grounds on the South Coast, so beware)
“Sandon (Point) is a reasonably good wave. It is probably the best point break in the area. Windang Island is good when the swell is on. Most of the good surf spots in this area are reef breaks. The Farm however is a good place for longboard riders and it’s a pretty spot.”
Phil Byrne - Byrne Surf & Ski “Sandon Point and Woonona would be internationally known. Belambi Point is the most popular spot for mals. South Beach in Woolongong is crowded but can carry a good wave. The Farm is one of the most popular places with good reason. It’s a unique place, where in the water you can’t see human habitation.”
John Skipp - Skipp Surfboards
“People in and out of water are unreal. In each area everyone kind of knows everyone and generally there is a good vibe. Maybe some people would argue, especially when I was in the water… hehe… but it’s all about respect. I’d never hassle the older experienced crew, therefore the younger crew shouldn’t either. I hope that attitude carries on.”
Daz Longbottom - Zink Surf
“Then there’s Werri Beach with a point break at the southern end and the beachies further north are pretty good as well. In and around the place there are also a couple of good secret spots as well that people can find for themselves. I’m not telling you. “The area’s appealing because there are all different kinds of waves around and we also have a couple of big wave spots that hold 8 -10 ft plus.”
Jade Robinson - DSN Shapes
WIN 1 OF 2 TANDEM SKYDIVES skydive the beach sydney are giving away to 2 lucky smorgasboader readers a mid-week tandem skydive to jump over the nsw south coast. email marketing@skydivethebeach.com and tell us your favourite south coast surf break. include your name, email and phone number for your chance to win! competition closes 3 december, 2010. winners will be announced in the january edition. prizes cannot be transferred, refunded, exchanged or revalidated.
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TRAVEL: ROAD TRIP The view form north to south Photo: Jin Han Teng
THE WAVES From Wollongong heading north towards Sydney the Royal National Park has over 20 kilometers of coastline. There is plenty to explore for the adventurous surfer. The most well known spot, Garie Beach, provides consistent waves all year round breaking on sand and rock and can hold up to 10ft of swell. Best on a NE-SE swell. NW-SW winds. All tides.
Take Note... Not all surf spots are mentioned here. Our intention is only to provide a basic guide to known surf breaks. After all, the best part of surf travel is to get off the beaten track and find those ‘secret spots’ for yourself. Always remember to be respectful of local surfers and leave with happy memories and new friends.
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1 STANWELL PARK
COAL CLIFF
Great beachies in small swells. The southern end has sandbanks that can deliver big, hollow barrels breaks left. NE-SE swell. SW winds. Mid-low tide.
3 SCARBOROUGH
BEACH & WOMBARRA
Scarborough is north and Wombarra south. Both work best in summer. Wombarra can be on in winter if the banks are established. NESE swell. SW-NW winds. All tides.
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COLEDALE BEACH
Average at the beach, but ‘Thommo’s on the point at Shark Park can be a nasty wave that will hurt you, breaking left over a rocky bottom. Prepare to have a fun paddle. Best in head high+ swell. NE swell. NW winds. Best low tide.
HEADLANDS
Sharkies is up from the point off the beach and Headlands is a heavy right, breaking on a bloody shallow reef bottom. A hell of a barrel and fast. Don’t visit the pub before your surf. That’s how the spot got its name. Both breaks best in mid-tide. E swell. W wind.
6 AUSTINMER BEACH
Gets crowded in summer. Little Austie to the north is a nice but small right. Further down there are good beachies. NE swell. NW- SW wind. Mid-tide best.
7 THIRROUL
Peaky beachies. Good learners beach. Gets crowded in summer. Small right at southern end. NE-SE swell. NW wind. Mid to high tide best.
South Gong Photo: Steev S
Sandon Point Photo: Keith LBG
Classic beachies and classic views of Stanwell Tops from the water. Not too affected by summer winds. Good on a southerly swell. NE swell. NW winds. All tides.
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THE
Shellharbour spray Photo: Steev S www.flickr.com/
GONG AND BEYOND
SANDON POINT
THe Farm Photo: Steev S
One of The Gong’s hotspots, but if you’re not experienced, then stay well clear. Not for beginners or even mediocre surfers. All you’ll do is piss off the locals. Can get as big as 8-15 ft. A monster of a wave when it’s on so pack your brown boardies. SE swell. SW wind. Mid to low tide. Class. Only small easterly swells are okay for intermediate surfers.
9 PEGGY’S & BANZAI
The northern tip of Bulli Beach. A ledge extends out to sea. Right-hander is Peggy’s. Left-hander Banzai. Some say a lesser break and more forgiving the Sandon. Others reckon on its day it is for chargers only. NE Swell. NW-SW wind. Low tide.
10 WOONONA
Good consistent beachies for all surfing standards. NE swell. NW-SW wind. Mid-low tide.
12 TOWRADGI
Left and right beachies. Rarely crowded. Best at low tide. NE-SE swell. NW-SW wind. All tides.
11 BELLAMBI POINT
Good bommie of the point. Can be steep and hollow. Bit of a different suburb. Lock your car, hide your valuables and no banjo jokes. SE swell. SW wind. All tides.
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NORTH & SOUTH BEACH
Gets crowded but a personal favourite. Since first visiting Wollongong I’ve regularly surfed South Beach. I like it despite the fact I had the worst bluebottle experience of my life – 15 of the bastards. Very funny, until my groin swelled up like a golf ball and I could hardly move my leg. NE swell. SW wind. Mid-low tide.
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WINDANG ISLAND
Near the mouth of Lake Illawarra so there are plenty of men in grey suits around. When it is on, is an absolute classic big wave spot. Barreling long left-hander. NE-SE swell. W wind. Mid-low tide.
THe Farm Photo: Steev S
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TRAVEL: ROAD TRIP
THE WAVES 23
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Kiama Harbour looking South to Gerringong Photo: Kiama Tourism
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15 COWRIES & THE POOL
Stay away unless you can surf like a pro. Handles loads of swell. You get to check out the bottom when you take off – nice! Cowries is on the NE tip of the harbour. Pool is off the… pool, at the southern end. NE-SE swell. SW-W wind. All tides.
16 THE FARM
Protected from NE winds. Peaky beachies. Right point at the southern end is great. Just a magic spot. Popular longboard wave. Unfortunately is becoming quite crowded and the vibe has suffered as a consequence. SW swell. NW winds. Midhigh tides.
17 MYSTICS
Further south round the bay from The Farm. Holds plenty of swell. Numerous secret spots. Find them for yourself. Not for beginners. SE swell. NW wind. Low tide.
18 BONEYARD
Just sounds so inviting. Isolated but beautiful. Head down the cliffs to the rocks. By now you have surely worked out it is only for really good surfers. NE-SE swell. SW wind. Mid tide.
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19 BOMBO BEACH
Just north of Kiama’s town centre. Picks up a range of swell. Consistent beachies. Good for all surfers but can pack a punch from time to time. SE swell. NW-SW wind. All tides.
20 THE POOL & THE WEDGE
Rights and lefts either side of the famous blowhole. Best when it is overhead. Serious surfers only. E swell. SW wind. All tides.
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WERRI BEACH
SEVEN MILE BEACH
South end is Werri Point. Great long right-hander. Best overhead and above. Good surfers only. Decent beachies further north. All levels. NE swell. NW-SW winds. Mid tide.
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Possibly the best learner beach in the country. Beautiful gentle rolling waves and a mecca for beginners and backpackers alike. SE swell. NW winds. Midlow tide.
BLACK POINT
North of Seven Mile Beach. The bombie can go off but for experienced surfers only. Check out your surrounds. Nice and deep around you. Fish with teeth live there. SE swell. N-NW wind. Mid to high tide.
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Photo: Lainey Brown
Seven Mile Beach Photo: Kent Ladkin
Bombo Beach Photo: Kiama Tourism
TRAVEL: ROAD TRIP
AFTER SURF When you have finished surfing, there is a load of other activities to enjoy whilst in the area.
Wollongong's Premier
Canoe and KayaK
adventure ComPany!
For starters, the Illawarra Escarpment that fringes Wollongong has so many hiking trails you could never do the same walk twice. And if walking is really your thing, further south near Kiama, you can undertake a magnificent two-hour hike through spectacular rainforest to Minnamurra Falls. Go early in the morning. It’s your best chance to beat the crowds and see various wildlife including lyre birds and wombats. It’s $11 entrance to the park. If a flat track is more your style, you can walk, run or cycle along Wollongong’s beaches. An extensive walk/ bike track extends 10 kilometers north from the city centre to Thirroul, hugging scenic beaches all the way. The same track also extends 10 kilometers south to Lake Illawarra and Windang.
Canoe anD KayaK aDventures | Corporate aCtivities Camping | Canoe anD KayaK sales | aCCommoDation
KayaKadventures.Com.au south Coast safaris 02 4268 5058 | 0404 895 379 76
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To see more beautiful scenery, it’s best to explore the region by car. Grand Pacific Drive is sensational. The name says it all. The road itself stretches from the Royal National Park in the north to Shoalhaven in the south. It’s
a roller-coaster ride through rainforests and past seaside villages and amazing coastline. A highlight is the Sea Cliff Bridge, an engineering marvel that swerves out from the cliffs over the ocean. Be sure to also make your way to the Bulli Pass Lookout (north of Wollongong and on the main road to Sydney). Barbecues, picnic tables and kiosks are available and the lookout is free. The lookout presents an incredible view over Wollongong and its beaches. More great views can be taken in from Mount Kiera Lookout and from Stanwell Tops, a noted top hang gliding ‘hangout’ (pardon the pun). If these intoxicating views aren’t enough and you want to ‘step it up a notch’, then take a geezer from 14,000 ft. There are only a handful of places you can sky dive over the beach in the country. That’s why, if you are up to it, Sky Dive the Beach Sydney are the people to talk to in Wollongong. You only live once and the chance to see such breathtaking natural beauty from ‘above it all’ is not to be missed. Having sky-dived before, I highly recommend
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Photo: Steev S Left: A top way to see the scenery with Skydive the Beach. Top left: Kiama’s famous blowhole. Top Right: Minnamurra rainforest. Insert: Hangliding is another popular way to rise above it all. Above: The Sea Cliff Bridge - an amazingly picturesque drive. it. The guys at Sky Dive the Beach run an extremely professional outfit, so you can rest assured, you are in good hands. I was all set to take the jump when I was last down in The Gong and was so excited to have a second opportunity. Unfortunately the gods of weather weren’t smiling on the day. We experienced winds over 50 knots and unless I was keen to take a cheap trip to New Zealand, we had to reschedule. The guys at Sky Dive the Beach were great though. They don’t take any second chances when it comes people’s personal safety and were happy to allow me to reschedule a jump some time in the next twelve months. If the surf is flat and you’re still keen to get out on the water, Canoe and Kayak Adventures have an extensive range of guided and unguided sea kayaking adventures. Popular paddles
include the Royal National Park, Headlands at Austinmer (they’ll shout you a beer or soft drink at the pub afterwards), North and South Beach and the Five Islands Wollongong. There are also half-day tours of the Minnamurra River just south of Wollongong. Many group bookings receive a complimentary lunch and start from $55 per per person. Finally, a trip to the area is not complete until you visit Kiama’s famous Blowhole. In big seas it is at its most spectacular and can spray a spout of water up to 25 meters skywards.
NEARBY
If you’re in the area, take the opportunity to drive a bit further south to Kangaroo Valley and the Southern Highlands. You can visit the quaint towns of Bowral and Moss Vale and see some of the most picturesque natural scenery in the country. nov/dec 2010
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TOP STAYS
THE
GONG AND BEYOND
There is perhaps nothing more relaxing than staying at a beachside bungalow with the family or a group of friends. You have your own space, plenty of room to store the boards and can even relax on your own deck with a beverage. The beach is walking distance and at night you have your own kitchen facilities to cook up a feed. The minute you step foot inside the park grounds your blood pressure drops. As far as holiday parks and cabins go, Kiama Coast’s five holiday parks are possibly the best. Beautifully positioned and in one of the prettiest stretches of coast on the eastern seaboard.
KENDALLS ON THE BEACH HOLIDAY PARK Bonaira St, KIAMA
KIAMA HARBOUR CABINS Blowhole Point, KIAMA
WERRI BEACH HOLIDAY PARK Pacific Avenue, GERRINGONG
SURF BEACH HOLIDAY PARK Bourrool Street, KIAMA
SEVEN MILE BEACH HOLIDAY PARK 200 Crooked River Rd, GERROA
If absolute beachfront is what you are looking for then this is the place for you. Offering a choice of luxurious one, two or three bedroom cabins plus some of the most sought after camp sites on the east coast, this holiday park provides the ultimate fun filled family holiday or romantic weekend escape.
This award winning holiday park offers luxurious one, two and three bedroom cabins and overlooks the Pacific Ocean and gorgeous Kiama Harbour, with a backdrop of the mountains. It is the ideal location and accommodation for those seeking an adventure filled holiday or a quiet rejuvenating getaway.
Proximity: Right on the beachfront and minutes away from Kiama’s CBD. Patrolled beach. Phone: 02 4232 1790 E: k endalls@kiamacoast.com.au www.kiamacoast.com.au
Proximity: Opposite patrolled beach. Overlooks Kiama Harbour and the Pacific Ocean Telephone: 02 4232 2707 E: blowhole@kiamacoast.com.au www.kiamacoast.com.au
Located on a scenic beach between two rocky headlands, with rock swimming pools and a natural lagoon, Werri is an ideal spot. Surfers and bodyboarders have some of the best waves on the South Coast, while others can enjoy the new resort style pool. The park caters for all types with beachfront cabin accommodation (some with spas) as well as powered and unpowered sites.
On the headland overlooking Kiama’s main beach, the holiday park is ideally located for surfers and fishing fans. The whole family can enjoy the park’s resort style swimming pools, games room and the fully equipped camp kitchen. There are a variety of accommodation choices from powered tent and caravan sites through to 22 luxury cabins, each with magnificent ocean views.
Discover Gerroa’s only beachside holiday park - an award winning park with magnificent facilities and a range of luxury beachside accommodation. The park offers first class facilities for all budgets with cabins, surf shacks, safari tents, en-suite cabins or camping. Close to shops and clubs, the park is a water lover’s paradise offering canoeing, fishing and of course, surfing.
From $50-$320 per night
From $195-$340 per night
Proximity: Opposite patrolled beach and minutes from Gerringong CBD Phone: 02 4234 1285 E: werri@kiamacoast.com.au www.kiamacoast.com.au From $115 to $260 per night
TV
gym
laundry
kitchen
parking
wi-fi
pool
refrigerator
Proximity: Opposite patrolled beach, with restaurants and shops a short stroll away. Telephone: 02 4232 1791 E: surf@kiamacoast.com.au www.kiamacoast.com.au From $90 -$135 night
family-friendly
pet-friendly
Proximity: Opposite patrolled beach. Right between the Ocean and Crooked River and adjacent to the Seven Mile Beach National Park. Telephone: 02 4234 1340 E: s evenmile@kiamacoast.com.au www.kiamacoast.com.au From $85 - $285 per night
spa
bbq
Photo: Kiama Tourism nov/dec 2010
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QUEST WOLLONGONG 59-61 Kembla Street, WOLLONGONG
Quest Wollongong is the best located 4.5 star accommodation in the Gong, available for nightly, weekly or monthly stays. Free secure onsite undercover car parking available. Proximity: 60m to Crown street, 400m to the beach. Phone: 02 4221 1500 E: questwollongong@questapartments.com.au www.questwollongong.com.au
IBIS WOLLONGONG Cnr of Church and Market Street
MEDINA EXECUTIVE WOLLONGONG 19 Market Street, WOLLONGONG
Ibis Wollongong is a 3.5 star hotel located in the heart of Wollongong restaurant and business district, minutes from beautiful beaches. Winner of Best Standard Accommodation on the South Coast 2008, 2009 & 2010.
With 71 spacious rooms embracing the seaside setting within the contemporary and stylish Medina design.
The air conditioned rooms include tea and coffee facilities as well as mini bar fridges, complete with flatscreen TV and internet connectivity. Special Access rooms and facilities are also available. Proximity: 10 minute walk to the beach and WIN Entertainment Centre. On the doorstep of Crown St Mall Phone: 02 4223 6000 E: H6377@accor.com www.accorhotels.com/6377 From $119 per room per night
WOLLONGONG SURF LEISURE RESORT 201 Pioneer Road, FAIRY MEADOW With direct access to the patrolled beach, this three-and-a-half star Fairy Meadow beach resort offers 1,2 bedroom + motel style fully selfcontained family units from $85 per night (4 persons) or large campsites from $25 per night (2 persons). Facilities include a large heated indoor pool, steam room, two spas, games room, tennis, mini golf and Austar.
All apartments have balconies with many offering views over the Wollongong coastline and cityscape. Proximity: 450m to Wollongong beach Phone: 02 4250 5000 Email: mewg@medina.com.au www.medina.com.au Rate per night (average) $180 for a studio apartment $215 for one bedroom apartment $265 for one bedroom and sofa bed apartment
Proximity: On the beach and 5km north of the CBD Phone: 02 4283 6999 Email: admin@wslr.com.au www.wslr.com.au
From $140 per room per night. Mention this listing for 10% off
From $25 per night
FLINDERS MOTEL 19 Flinders St, WOLLONGONG SOUTHVIEW BULLI 19 Southview Street BULLI Southview is a newly renovated bed & breakfast and self contained holiday accommodation, nestled between Sandon Point Beach and Bulli Beach. Recently rated 4.5 stars by AAA tourism it is the perfect place to unwind and perfect for the surfer and their family.
KIAMA COVE MOTEL 10 Bong Bong St, KIAMA
Kiama Cove Motel is located in the heart of Kiama, overlooks Surf Beach with most rooms having ocean views, air-conditioning, king sized beds and all with complimentary continental breakfasts.
SHELLHARBOUR BEACHSIDE TOURIST PARK John Street, SHELLHARBOUR
Proximity: Nestled Between Sandon Point and Bulli Beach Telephone: 02 4268 6303 Email: info@southviewbulli.com.au www.southviewbulli.com.au
The park is located on a headland near the charming Shellharbour Village with cafes, restaurants and shops. Only a short walk to some of the area’s fantastic surf breaks. Powered sites or fully self-contained beachside cottages are available. Pets are welcome on powered sites with prior arrangement.
From $145 per couple per night
Proximity: Right on Kiama Beach. Short walk to the main street of Kiama. Phone: 02 4232 3000 E: kiamacove@bigpond.com www.kiamacove.com.au
56 80
gym
Proximity: 3 minutes drive to the beach and close to surf stores Phone: 02 4226 6566 Email: info@flindersmotel.com www.flindersmotel.com Rates starting from $135
Proximity: On waterfront. Two minute walk to the heart of Shellharbour Village Phone: 02 4295 1123 E: touristpark@shellharbour.nsw.gov.au www.shellharbourtouristpark.com.au Rates starting from $29 per night
From $99-$169 per room per night
TV
Wollongong’s newest accommodation complex, the Motel is centrally located and offers a wide variety of accommodation for all situations and occasions. Flinders Motel guarantees to make your stay in Wollongong a pleasurable one, whether you are here for a holiday, business or just passing through, we can cater for family getaways, sporting events and large groups.
laundry
kitchen
parking
wi-fi
pool
refrigerator
family-friendly
pet-friendly
spa
bbq
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FIVE REASONS 1. Fantastic views of Wollongong 2. The best beers, from our own brewery and more 3. Fabulous food. Really. 4. Family friendly dining and entertainment 5. Did we mention the beers?
you All the reasons need to visit re e i m e r p s ’ g n o g n Wollo microbrewery & restaurant Five Islands Brewing Company Phone – 02 42202854 WIN Entertainment Centre Cnr Crown & Harbour Streets, Wollongong NSW 2500 www.fiveislandsbrewery.com
MONDAY
Happy Hour 5pm - 7pm (FIBC local beer) + $1 Pool All Night!
TUESDAY
Happy Hour 5pm - 7pm (FIBC local beer) + $1 Pool All Night!
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WEDNESDAY
Happy Hour 5pm -7pm (FIBC local beer) + Trivia 6.30pm. FREE to play, Great prizes, $10 Trivia kitchen special.
THURSDAY
Happy Hour 5pm -7pm (FIBC local beer) + $1 Pool Local Live Bands from 8pm $10 Jugs FIBC local beer, $10 Pizzas & $9 Cocktails from 5pm.
FRIDAY
Happy Hour 5pm -7pm (FIBC local beer) + $1 Pool, All day dining from 12pm until late + Cocktail Specials from 5pm.
SATURDAY
All day dining from 12pm until late. Cocktail Bar open from 5pm.
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SUNDAY
Brunch from 9am. Summer Sunday Sessions - Live acoustic sets from 1pm.
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Stay in comfort, walk to the action
Pool area Photo: Southview
FEEL AT HOME ON SANDON POINT Ibis Wollongong is located in the heart of the city, near entertainment and shopping and only a five minute walk to North Beach and Harbour.
From only
$129.00
per night* *See rates online Cnr Market & Church Street Wollongong Tel: 02 4223 6000 Fax: 02 4223 6006 www.accorhotels.com/6377
When in The Gong, you have to check out its most famous wave - the legendary Sandon Point. And if travelling as a couple, there is no better place to stay than Southview Bed and Breakfast. When it comes to getting away, it helps to find that special yet affordable ‘home away from home’. Southview Bed and Breakfast is just that. More to the point, it is just 200m from either Sandon or Bulli Beach - around a two-minute walk with your board. Southview has been recently renovated and consists of two separate, private fully self-contained units. It has been rated four and half stars by AAA tourism. Your choice is between a seaview or garden unit. I chose the seaview room and wasn’t disappointed. After a long day I made my way up to my room, cracked a complimentary Southview Lager, made by the blokes from Five Islands Brewery Company, which was mighty fine, then had another and already started feeling better. I phoned for some home-delivered Thai from a local restaurant, which I found within the services folder in my room. I put on the tub (there is a massive spa bath in the very large bathroom) and then chilled out to the music playing on the home stereo.
“200m FROM EITHER SANDON OR BULLI BEACH”
The best located 4.5 star accommodation in the Gong
Why settle for anything less?
After dinner I watched some local surf DVDs (part of a large collection of DVDs provided by Southview) put together by Clarrie Bouma, which featured classic footage of Sandon Point through the seasons going several years back. It was the perfect way to relax. In the morning, my bed was so unbelievably comfortable I struggled to get up. Once I saw the view from my balcony though, I was up and about to check out the local surrounds. Unfortunately, as rare as it was, the point wasn’t working at all. I seem to have a knack of bringing flat spells with me when I travel down the east coast. Anyhow, I checked out the beach, the neighbouring sea pool and walking track that winds its way alongside the coast all the way to Wollongong’s heart. This really is a magic part of the world. I will be back for sure and next time I will surf Sandon.
Mention this ad to receive 10% off the quoted rate! 59-61 Kembla St Wollongong
02 4221 1500
www.questapartments.com.au 56 82
Your view Photo: Southview
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LOCAL FAVOURITES
OUR RECOMMENDATIONS
Chris Kelly, Fin Box • Post surf breaky you can’t beat Fireworks cafe More Street, Austinmer. Its the quaintest little eatery around these parts. • For a tradie’s lunch hit up Flemings cake shop on the south side of Thirroul. Their Pie with pea’s and sweet treats are off the hook! • The Headlands Hotel is an old school pub on the headland above Little Austinmer Beach. Great beer, good pub food and a billion dollar view. • If you have the kids in tow, try Scarborough Hotel. It has a massive lawn area overlooking the ocean where the kids can run around while you enjoy a beverage or meal in one of the huge cabanas.
Diggies beside the North Wollongong Surf Club has beautiful food, super fresh and superb coffee. A spot I have discovered that I will go back to again and again. Too many dishes to recommend but here’s two of the best – Poached pear & ravensthorpe rumble w/ low-fat yoghurt & honey or Pumpkin panackalty – smoked bacon & potato hash w/ roasted pumpkin, topped w/ poached egg, rocket and ciabatta toast.
Paul Nichol, Paul Nichol Shapes • Beaches Hotel at Thirroul is great for live music, a couple of beers and a good feed. John Skipp, Skipp Surfboards • Ruby’s in the caravan park at Bulli Beach is very popular with the surfers Phil Byrne, Byrne Surfboards • Saffron’s at Thirroul have good hamburgers. • For the young crew the North Wollongong Hotel is the best spot. There’s a surf culture feel to the place and it is full of uni students.
Top and above left: The Five Islands Brewery Company. Above right: The Fireworks Cafe. This picture: The Ocean Beach Hotel
Phil Pepper, Skipp Surfboards • A couple of scallops and a couple of schooners at the Beach Hotel after a surf at The Farm. That’s the best. It can’t be beaten. Daz Longbottom, Zink Surf on Kiama • There are still plenty of good bakeries around. I grew up going to bakeries after a surf - none of this latte and foccaccia stuff.
TRAVEL: ROAD TRIP
THE GO FOR FOOD
The North Wollongong pub is a great place for a super cheap feed and a few beers. Even on a Wednesday night it is packed to the rafters with loads of big screen TVs inside and even outside in the beer garden. iBistro in the Ibis Hotel Wollongong recently appointed a new executive chef by the name of Simon Everett, who was formerly a restaurant owner himself in Kiama. Well, I ate there and the food was absolutely unbelievable. Two to recommend – Garlic & chill prawns w/ baby spinach, spaghetti & chilli mayonnaise or Mustard crusted spatchcock w/ dirty rice & suicide sauce. Grand Hotel in Kiama. Great local feel and tasty homemade pizzas. The Perfect Wave Café in Gerringong. I am a little bit boring when I am out for breakfast - I love my bacon & eggs. Perfect Wave is a full-on vegetarian café – nothing with a face or heart. The food is sensational. The mushroom, poached egg and ciabatta toast I had was unbelievable, huge and filling. I didn’t need lunch later that day. The coffee’s organic but most importantly, is very good. There’s some great smoothies and juices too.
Kent Ladkin, Natural Necessity on Gerroa • Seahaven Café has great food and coffee.
BEER Now to my favourite topic after surfing...
The Five Islands Brewing Company Bar and Restaurant is situated along the Wollongong city foreshore. The views of the ocean are spectacular. There is a huge lawn out front, so there is plenty of space for the kids to run around before settling down to a meal and a few drinks. The food ranges from burgers and light meals to homemade pizzas, chargrill steaks and seafood, then there’s the ‘favourites’ menu including lamb shanks and traditional fish’n’chips and even platters to share – namely seafood and Mexican. Oohhh. There is also a kid’s menu with all the classic fare.
Five Islands Brewery Company’s main dish... Great beers.
As far as wines go, FIBC has the most extensive wine list in the whole of Wollongong. You name it; they have more than likely got it.
Then there’s the beer. Yes, liquid nectar is available in the tap and bottled variety. Choose from various Australian boutique beers, popular beers, premium and imported. BUT what you really are here to try, and MUST try, are FIBC’s very own brewed lagers and ales. My mouth salivates as I write this. Brewed locally it means these very, very special beers are super fresh, chilled and ready to drink. I have to list them all, for I have tasted them all, and I indeed love them all. I am Homer Simpson. Choose from Dapto Draught, Longboard Pale Ale, Barbeerian Wit, South Peach, Rust or Bulli Black. Or don’t choose and get a sampler tray of three different beers for $6.50. Or two to try the whole lot. But then you’ll probably want more. nov/dec 2010
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TRAVEL: ROAD TRIP
HOME TO Surf legends? Yes, they’re everywhere. One of the founding fathers of the Wollongong surf scene, John Skipp is always around for a chat if you can catch him at one of the Skipp Surfboards locations, and Phil Byrne of Byrne Surfboards can be found in Fairy Meadow. For getting a feel for the locals though, any good day at Sandon Point will see plenty respected names paddling out, like Paul Nichol of Nichol Shapes... And you never know who you’ll run into at the local pubs. Everyone here just seems to have surfing in their blood.
There’s no shortage of places to go shopping, as the Gong through to Gerroa has an incredibly diverse range of surf shops - each one worth checking out while you are in area. In particular and especially for those more arty surfer types, make sure to visit the newly opened Fin Box in Thirroul. It’s one of the coolest surf shops around and owner Chris Kelly has done a superb job bringing together some of the finest and most exclusive range of threads, sleds and surf art.
For sheer volume of choice, a visit to Natural Necessity Surf Shop in Gerringong is a must. It’s quite possibly the biggest surf store on the east coast. And while you’re there you can grab a coffee and a bite to eat at the Perfect Wave Cafe, which is a tourist attraction in itself. So many beautiful places to see, interesting people to meet and fantastic spots to surf for all kinds of surfers. Thinking of planning a surf trip soon? This should be it.
“THERE ARE SO MANY GOOD WAVES AROUND, IT WOULD HAVE TO BE ONE OF THE BEST STRETCHES IN OZ.” DAZ LONGBOTTOM, ZINK SURF KIAMA
Somewhere around Gerroa Photo: Lainey Brown laineybrown.carbonmade.com 84
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THE
GETTING THERE
GONG AND BEYOND
The best way to get there is by car. There are no direct flights to Wollongong and unless you have an unlimited about of patience and time, put a line through rail and bus transport as well. It’s just too complex for my liking. If flying from Brisbane, Melbourne or a regional hub, fly to Sydney and then hire a car. The drive down to the heart of The Gong is about an hour and twenty minutes. If you take the drive through the Royal National Park and then on to Grand Pacific Drive, you will lose track of time anyhow (particularly if you take the time to take in some of our favourite pit-stops).
DRIVE TIMES IN AND AROUND THE AREA Stanwell Tops to Wollongong city centre
32kms
20-25 mins
Wollongong to Shellharbour
25kms
20-25 mins
Shellharbour to Kiama
15kms 10-15 mins
Kiama to Gerroa
12 kms 12 mins
Stanwell Tops to Gerroa
82kms
1hr
FROM BRISBANE
FROM MELBOURNE
Brisbane to Wollongong is just over 1000 kilometers and around eleven and a half hours. It can be done in a day if you are a machine but is best broken up with a nights stay just north of Sydney.
The drive from Melbourne is a relatively easy one. It takes around seven and half hours and covers just over 800 kilometers. You could leave early morning and be there by the afternoon.
Follow the Pacific Highway down to Sydney and from there, after dodging the traffic, you will eventually get onto the Princes Highway that basically takes you all the way to Wollongong.
Take the Hume Highway through Albury and then on through famous towns such as Gundagai, Yass and Goulburn.
On the way down, or back, make sure to stop off at the Bulli Pass Lookout. The alternative route also takes in Grand Pacific Drive which is a must.
From there, simply head towards the southern highlands and then down towards the coast. If you add around an hour to your journey you can take in the towns of Bowral, Moss Vale and the magnificent Kangaroo Valley. It is definitely worth the extra effort and time.
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TRAVEL: EXPERIENCE
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Asher Pacey at P-Pass Photo: World Surfaris
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THE APPEAL OF PERFECT, UNCROWDED WAVES, BREAKING IN IRIDESCENT CLEAR WARM WATER IS UNDENIABLE, SHARING SUCH MAGIC MOMENTS WITH FRIENDS OR FAMILY - UNFORGETTABLE. WE EXAMINE THE OVERSEAS SURF TRAVEL PHENOMENA. WORDS BY DAVE SWAN Is it just me or am I the only bloody person on the planet not to have surfed a tropical island? Everyone nowadays seems to have just returned from surfing perfect waves in the Maldives or somewhere or another. So why have surfers gone troppo? SHAUN LEVINGS - World Surfaris “It’s the lure of overseas surf travel. People are getting increasingly frustrated at their local with crowds and fickle conditions. When they see exotic images of perfect Maldives and user-friendly waves in warm water, they go, ‘Get me the hell out of here.’ “ LOUIS HARRIS - Liquid Destinations “Today we are asked to perform the corporate monkey dance longer and harder. It’s worth every cent to a desk bound slave to be freed from their everyday job. For those who do surf, there isn’t a lot in life that can top sitting on a boat with a bunch of mates drinking beers after a days surfing.” Hallelujah! But have the number of surfers travelling OS picked up dramatically? IAN LYONS - Atoll Travel “What’s fuelling surf travel is the sheer number of surfers and places available from boat charters to resorts and surf camps. Prior to the late eighties a lot of these destinations didn’t exist.” “Surf trips started in the early to mid seventies. By the early eighties it really became popular following movies such as Morning of the Earth. In those days, to quote Bruce Raymond, people were ‘time rich and money poor’. People would travel on a shoe string and spend months in little villages.” LOUIS: “We’ve come a long way from our early pioneers who trudged through mosquito and tiger infested jungles in search of their Nirvana. The biggest problems today are broken air conditioners and warm beer. What used to be a month or maybe a year long scour of the tropics in search paradise is a set ten-day itinerary.” SHAUN: “We get a pretty diverse group of people booking holidays these days.
Sure the majority are males but surfing is growing rapidly in popularity with the ladies and this is reflected in the groups we have going on surf trips.” “It’s the same with families. This market has grown substantially now there are surf resorts in the Maldives and Samoa that cater for children and partners that don’t surf. “It’s great to go to a place where you can ride the most perfect barrels of your life, afterwards go snorkeling and sailing with the family and then kick back and relax for the remainder of the day. Plus there is so much culture to take in and enjoy.” LOUIS: “For some people they do it at ten years of age with their dad or for others they wait until they are fifty or sixty. It’s everyone’s dream to surf an exotic uncrowded destination in their lifetime.” IAN: “When we started sending people to the Maldives in the early nineties the average age was thirty-five to forty. Now the average age is forty-eight.” “In the early days the older guys were in their early thirties. Nowadays you have people in the sixties going on surf trips – they’re the same people some thirty years on. “There’s no real age for giving up surfing. It’s not just a sport for the young kids. Surfing is now for six to sixties. Surfing is also very mainstream in its acceptance, whereas in the seventies it was a counterculture.” So there are no hell-men left? SHAUN: “We also run a Stealth Travel Club. Scardi (David Scard) from our Kirra Office is an astute follower of swell conditions worldwide. He prides himself on being able to call when Speedies Reef (in Grajagan Bay, East Java, known as G-Land) will be 6 foot and pumping. He can get it pretty much bang on.” “A lot of guys from the surf industry call upon Scardi to make forecasts to determine whether to send surfers such as Mick Fanning or Stef Gilmore up to the Caroline Islands for a bit of a mission. So we formalised these ‘spurof–the-moment’ missions. The whole
idea is to form a membership of hardcore surfers. When the time is right for a given destination, we send out a stealth alert. Members get a message on their mobile that goes, ‘Cloudbreak is going to be 10 foot next Monday, we have 4 spots available, do you want to jump on?’ “ So how many of these hardcore surfers are there out there, aside from those who surf overhead Moffat Beach… don’t laugh. SHAUN: “A couple of hundred. Team managers love it because if they have high profile team riders in between contests, they can get them up to Fiji or wherever and shoot them in the latest pair of boardies in 8 foot barrels.” “We also get guys who are fortunate enough to have pretty flexible work arrangements or who run their own business and are in the position to drop everything and go, ‘Yep, let’s do it.’” Families are going, groups of mates are having the time of their lives and now there’s even blokes going every couple of months at the drop of a hat. But isn’t anyone concerned about the shark factor? You know, the men in grey suits? The Noahs? Aren’t they in abundance in these far flung destinations? SHAUN: “We have never had an incident in thirteen years of sending some 3000 surfers every year to far-flung destinations. They’re too well fed.” How about if you want to go somewhere a little different to everybody else, say Norway? I have seen those guys in the American surf mags. That looks cool – real cooool in fact. SHAUN: “At this stage there’s no real interest in the extreme cold water stuff. We were promoting trips to South Africa a few years ago and had a tour from J-Bay to Cape Town surfing the Garden Route. To be honest, there just wasn’t the demand for it.” “There are intrepid dudes out there doing that stuff. You often see the Molloy brothers surfing Iceland or Vancouver Island but the ordinary Joe Blow doesn’t
want to don 6mm of rubber and a hood. Not at this stage anyhow. Our real market is the tropics – warm water with beautiful mechanical reef breaks.” Soft. Sure all these OS surfers are hell-men when it comes to tackling 15ft Cloudbreak but ask them to put on a bit of rubber and they go soft like a marshmallow. Time to drink a mugaccino of you know what. Right, so if cold water is off the menu, where’s the next frontier? IAN: “The Maldives are perfect for us. Around three quarters of our customers have been booking the same tour, in the same slot, year in, year out for fourteen years straight.” LOUIS: “We have a few new frontiers planned. Stay tuned.” SHAUN: “The Caroline Islands are still, I guess, what you would call a new frontier. It has really only become known for the last seven years. P-Pass is regarded by Kelly Slater and Andy Irons, as the best right-hander they have ever surfed. On its day it is just a phenomenal barrel. It’s ‘the glamour’ wave for surf photographers.” “Papua New Guinea is also relatively new. In our summer months it has become a really popular destination for Aussies as it is so close to home. We opened the Tupira Surf Club in Madang last year. It’s a classic spot that suits surfers on a budget who want to get off the beaten track. There’s a great, userfriendly right-hander directly out front of the resort. “PNG doesn’t have as many heavy hollow extreme waves as say Indo. It’s just got user-friendly waves and that is what we are finding a lot of guys and girls are looking for. They don’t want to be charging death pits, just user-friendly, uncrowded waves.” LOUIS: “One thing is for certain. The natural progression in a dedicated surfer’s life is, at some stage, to go on an overseas surf mission.”
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A QUIET SURF
WITH A FEW GOOD MATES WORDS BY MARK CHAPMAN
Is this a line-up you’d be keen to paddle into? You would, if you were part of the annual world record attempt for most surfers on a single wave, staged during the Earthwave festival held at Muizenberg Beach in Cape Town, on the southernmost tip of Africa. But never fear... there are plenty more waves to be had the rest of the year.
Photo: Lee Slabber www.leeslabber.com nov/dec 2010
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Photos right: Craig Wilson
TRAVEL: PLANE TRIP
“ TOURIST KILLED BY ‘DINOSAUR SIZED’ SHARK...”
This is not a headline you want to see, about the place you’re heading to, barely two weeks before boarding the plane. Fish Hoek, literally one beach away from Muizenberg in Cape Town, South Africa was the site of the first fatal shark attack in those waters in the last five years. An unfortunate ocean swimmer was taken by a white pointer so huge the word ‘dinosaur’ shot straight to Twitter, seconds after the event and was picked up immediately by news organisations around the world. But despite the macabre fascination people have for shark stories, it isn’t quite as exciting when you know that in a few days time you’ll be suited up to look like a skinny seal, hopping in for a paddle in that very same water yourself. With all the beaches closed, shark-spotters on high alert and the recent blood in the water, surfing in Cape Town didn’t seem like such a top idea there and then. But then again, you only live once. And no big fish - hungry or not - was keeping me out of the water in one of South Africa’s most fun beaches.
I arrive to thankfully open beaches. We slip the wetsuits on and head out right away. Our first surf about an hour and a half of gliding fun on mini mals - is strangely uncrowded. We find out later, talking to one of the locals, we were out under a white flag, the Shark Spotters signal for a big, hungrylooking fish swimming around your area right now. White? Probably because that’s the colour you turn if you actually come face to face with one. Day two. It’s either red flags or black flags – high shark alert or poor visibility, so who knows... But we go out anyway and are rewarded with a great day in the sun, and a few extra-long rides. By day three, any worries of sharks are long gone, washed away by the relaxing roll of the Muizenberg lines and we’re just having pure, unadulterated fun. It doesn’t get much better than this.
Photo: Timothy van der Venter flickr.com/photos/anothertimothy
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Photo: Craig Wilson
Nestled on the eastern side of the Cape Peninsula, Muizenberg is commonly referred to as the birthplace of surfing in South Africa, and due to its learner-friendly conditions, it’s most definitely been the birthplace of many a surfer’s love for the water.
than some other Cape Town breaks and the water is a good few degrees warmer than on the Atlantic side of the Peninsula - Muizenberg gets to around 18-20 in summer while the Atlantic folk enjoy ice-cream headaches and aching feet pretty much most of the year.
Named after one of the region’s postmasters in the 1700’s – Sergeant Muys – the name roughly translates to Mouse’s Mountain. These days, the pristine stretch of beach, surrounded by these majestic mountains Cape Town is so famous for, still proudly maintains its reputation in the surfing history books.
For these reasons and more, all kinds of people gravitate to its shore - a melting pot of colours, cultures, languages and backgrounds, locals and visitors, all brought together by surfing.
“ MUIZENBERG IS COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS THE BIRTHPLACE OF SURFING IN SOUTH AFRICA”
Local surfers line up, ready for the Earthwave Gunness Book record attempt. Photo: Lee Slabber leeslabber.com, supplid by Kahuna Promotions
With a slow rolling wave and relaxed vibe in the water, the chilled ride is a mirror to what happens on the shore around the laidback cafes on the beach. But if you’re after big-wave-riding, heart-pounding, adrenalinpumping surf, this is most definitely not the beach you would be visiting – this is for kicking back and taking it easy. The Indian Ocean waves here are far gentler here
Well known as an iconic longboarder’s paradise – the haunt of woody wagons and giant mals in its day Muizenberg has also become popular with the Stand Up folk in recent times. Does this mean it’s too busy now? Not at all. The beauty of this sand-bottom beach break is that it would be incredibly hard to crowd it. With a rideable wave that extends more than a kilometre up the beach, party waves are the norm. There doesn’t really have to be any dropping in – you could easily have ten people up and riding on the same wave without the least bit of worry about fighting words or ding repairs in the near future.
In fact, the area of the wave is so wide, Muizenberg has been host to a number of Guinness Book record attempts and during the 2009 Earthwave festival, set the record at 110 surfers on the same wave (a little like Tea Tree at Noosa on a big swell without some yelling ‘Oi!’) all riding for at least five seconds. 2010 saw a valiant attempt of 93 people, but the record remains untouched. More important than the record itself though is the way the event brings like-minded surfers together in the area. As Paul Botha of organisers Kahuna Promotions says… “a fantastic effort by Cape Town’s surfing community” as every man, woman, child and family pet make their way to the beach every year for a mix of surfing, entertainment and charitable pursuits.
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TRAVEL: PLANE TRIP Photo: Craig Wilson flickr.com/photos/creative666/
CONDITIONS Bottom: sand Break: slow, rolling wave Level: beginner to intermediate Best conditions: NW wind, incoming tide Best when: Anytime - on at least half the year Board: Longer and fatter boards are first choice Water temps: 20 in summer, 15 in winter. Crowd factor: Crowded at Surfer’s Corner, but plenty room down the beach Hazards: Rips and sharks
Photo: Craig Wilson
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Of the surfable area along the front, the most popular spot is tucked up in the corner of the bay. This is Surfer’s Corner. Although it’s still friendly and easygoing, this is definitely the busiest section, so for more space to yourself and less hassle, just paddle down a little further down where there are still plenty of waves to be had. It’s not exclusively a longboarders break. You see a bit of everything here and despite the fact that it’s not a powerful wave, you still see plenty of shortboards around enjoying it just as much. When it comes to boards and trying a few different options, Gary’s Surf School is right out front for board hire, as is the Surf Shack – a surf school and store with jovial and excited staff full of tales and keen to talk about boards, designs and what works for the conditions at their home break, which happens to be offshore in northeast to northwest winds. When the
southeaster kicks in, there’s sometimes a wave that forms out further to sea, but there would be a huge paddle through plenty of whitewater to get to it. And ladies, make sure to check out Roxy’s – a surf school dedicated to getting girls started in surfing with some good gear to browse through. The bohemian village vibe of this historic seaside suburb comes complete with antique stores, secondhand bookshops, a hemp shop and Cape Town’s oldest surf store – The Corner Surf Shop in Main Road – where you can ogle over a huge range of surfboards from local shapers as well as see some historical surfing gear from the region. Some other worthwhile stops are the Lifestyle Surf Shop up front and the Stubbs Surfboards factory, a few blocks back, where you can chat to longtime locals andOwen Photo: Steve admire some great surfboard craftsmanship.
Photo: Timothy van der Venter nov/dec 2010
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Photo: Shark Spotters
SHARK SPOTTERS
“ ...A MELTING POT OF COLOURS, CULTURES, LANGUAGES AND BACKGROUNDS, LOCALS AND VISITORS, ALL BROUGHT TOGETHER BY SURFING”
In 2004, Greg Bertish kicked off the program with a few people and a few mobile phones, keeping a lookout for sharks in the area. With some fundraising in the surf community and sponsorship from local business, the program was formalized and now employs a group on a full-time basis, operating in shifts. Using a system of coloured flags, the crew on the beach let swimmers and surfers know what the spotters on the mountainside are seeing - with green being the one you want to see flying as you head in. But according to the folks at Shark Spotters, shark bites are rare. Since the 60’s, there have been less than 30 attacks and only a handful of them fatal. That being said, Muizenberg does rank as the highest number of sightings – 371 in the last six years - with Fishoek coming in second at 145. But Shark Spotters are far from fearmongering shark-haters and are extremely active in conservation of the creatures, stating that these apex predators are a naturally occurring species in Cape waters where they play vital roles in the health of the marine ecosystems. Great Whites are a protected species in South African waters and can’t be hunted or killed, fished or harmed. Trying any of that could land you behind bars, out of pocket around $10,000 or both. For more information, see the website
www.sharkspotters.org.za
Photo: Mila Zinkova
Photo left: Shark Spotters, photo right: Craig Wilson
Locals enjoying the surf despite the big fish. Photo: MC
Photo: Timothy van der Venter
Now let me preface this by saying, I don’t think about sharks much. I’m not usually checking underneath me or watching the horizon for any movement, but Cape Town boast the big beasties so it’s fantastic to know there’s a group of individuals high up on the mountain watching over the bay with polarized binoculars, keeping a constant lookout for the men in grey suits, or Great White suits as it turns out.
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TRAVEL: PLANE TRIP
9 6 ‘ e c n i S
Evo 7’0 by Greg Hogan
Turbo Fish 6’7 by Glyndyn Ringrose
THE HIGHEST QUALITY, HANDMADE CUSTOM SURFBOARDS
Photo top: Timothy van der Venter
Right: Buskers at Kalkies. Above: breakfast at Knead Photos: MC
With it’s narrow streets, European buildings and terraced houses, Muizenberg is a perfect holiday base to check out what else Cape Town has to offer – and it’s plenty. As a tourist destination, the region is rich with experiences, from visiting wineries, to catching a cable car up Table Mountain, watching baboons, bushwalking, checking out art, haggling with street vendor artists over knocking a few cents off the price of a wire sculpture, eating the most incredible fish and chips, fresh off the boat at Kalkies in Kalk Bay (do it – it’s awesome) and having drinks at any number of fantastic bars and clubs (Cape to Cuba is highly recommended).
“GREAT COFFEE AND FANTASTIC FOOD” But you don’t have to wander far from the Muizenberg beachfront to get fed. Knead bakery along the front of Beach Road at Surfer’s Corner is a favourite after-surf stop. With great coffee and fantastic food, it’s a no brainer when it comes to breakfast time. The Café De May makes some mean crepes, with a library of surf magazines to flick through while you kick back with a quality coffee, and The Big Blue Café is certainly also worth a visit, if only to check out the classic collection of old surfboards from the 70’s and 80’s lining the ceiling and walls. If you look closely enough, you’ll see a few newer ones too, as some of the local locals use it as a place to leave their boards between surfs.
Sandy Ryan s Photo: Jule 147 Thompson Ave, Cowes VIC (03) 5952 2578 cowes@islandsurfboards.com.au 225 Smiths Beach Rd, Smiths Beach VIC (03) 5952 3443 smithsbeach@islandsurfboards.com.au
ISLANDSURFBOARDS.COM.AU 94
That in itself epitomises the vibe here - relaxed surfing, great food and friendly people. Yes, it feels like holidays here, with the locals as colourful as the rows of brightly painted beach huts that run along the foreshore. When it comes time to head home, it’s a difficult goodbye, but I’m leaving with some great memories and enough days of fun in the surf to keep me smiling for weeks to come. I’ll be back.
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KNOW YOUR BOARD Floatation! Kind of important if you intend on surfing. If you’re sinking down to Davy Jones locker, perhaps you need to turn up the volume. So what the hell is volume exactly? A complex question but here are some hot tips on determining the ideal volume you may require.
GUEST SHAPER, GREG HOGAN OF ISLAND SURFBOARDS SIZE DOES MATTER WITH Whether you’re a 120kg 50-year-old, or a 50kg 15-year-old, you are going to need width and length in a surfboard to help you learn to surf. The width gives buoyancy, planing area and stability. One of the major mistakes developing surfers make is to decrease that width to extremes too soon. The blame for this can be levelled at professional surfers (because they surf so well on little boards), the surf industry (for making it cool to surf on little boards), and the developing surfers themselves (for believing the hype around small boards). The biggest misconception is that you can’t turn wide boards. One only needs to take a look at guys like Joel Tudor and Dave Rastovich to see that myth completely busted. The fact is, for a developing surfer it’s not the width of a board that will help them improve their turns, but their technique. And how do you improve that technique? By catching plenty of waves. And to catch more waves you are going to need something to float you. Enter width, length and thickness into the equation. Plus, surfing is first and foremost about fun. You can’t have any fun - let alone develop your surfing - if you’re scratching around on a 6’2’’x18’’ and missing all the waves. The last 20 years or so saw the shortboard revolution, and the pros riding smaller boards in bigger waves - even Kelly Slater. But remember, you aren’t Kelly Slater! And this is where surfing differs to most other sports. If you buy yourself the latest and best tennis racquet, golf clubs
or fishing reel used by the pros, it might help you improve towards that high standard, but not with surfing. You need the equipment to suit your body size, ability and experience. Remember, we don’t all wear the same size jeans! The last few decades made surfing small boards cool and it has left its legacy on a lot of surfers today. Every time I surf I see at least one guy (usually more) that needs a way bigger board than what he’s riding. Remember, the reason that guy at your local break rips so much on a small board is not because of the board, but because he has great technique. As you get better, you too can refine your boards. It doesn’t matter how cool your board looks in the car park, it’s how it performs in the water that matters! The most important thing is to be completely honest with your shaper about your ability. They are the ones who should know what is best for someone of your size and experience - if they don’t, it’s time to get a new shaper. It just takes you to swallow the ego and admit where you’re at. Your surfing will thank you for it! Greg Hogan has over 35 years shaping experience and involvement with the team at Island Surfboards. He is also a judge and coach with Surfing Australia.
WHAT IS VOLUME? Not easily calculated without a comprehensive understanding of surfboard design but relates to the length, width and thickness... but also takes into consideration surface area and displacement volume. We’ll stop there before it becomes too confusing. In short, it is the key ingredient that floats you and your board. WHY LITRES ON BOARD SPECS? It’s used to measure the volume of the board. Many shapers now use this measurement along with the length, width and thickness of the board. Please note: EPS/ epoxy boards can have up to 30% more floatation but the same volume as a normal PU style board. CONSIDERATIONS SURFERS ABILITY LEVEL If you’re developing as a surfer, the wider and thicker your board, the easier it will be to surf SIZE & WEIGHT OF SURFER A bigger, heavier surfer needs a board with more buoyancy TYPE OF WAVES On a gutless small wave, most surfers can control a board with more volume. The bigger the wave gets, the surfer still needs enough volume to get onto the wave, but not too much that it sends the rider skidding across the surface of the wave without being able to dig in a rail to turn. SURFING STYLE ‘Power surfers’ who are less light on their feet need more volume for when they shift their weight on the board
For more info visit www.islandsurfboards.com.au
TOO LITTLE OR TOO MUCH? TOO MUCH VOLUME Your board will go fast but lack control TOO LITTLE VOLUME The rider will be able to sink a rail but lack speed coming out of the turn, almost stalling on the wave. Plus the board will be bloody hard to paddle, making it a pain-in-the-arse to get out and hard to get on waves.
INSIDE... NEW OLD SCHOOL P94 BRAND NEW BOARDS P102
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If it floats, it’s here... All the latest designs in shortboards, fish, eggs, longboards, SUPs and everything else from shapers along the East Coast.
WHERE TO TURN UP THE VOLUME Going thicker by 1/8 will deliver up to 4 times more volume than going up an inch in length and be almost equivalent to making the board a ½ inch wider. Buying a board and getting one just right for you is tricky. That’s why it’s important to talk with your local surf store board expert or your local shaper. Remember, no one surfboard design will work in all kinds of waves for all types of surfers. That’s why you need a quiver, so get building it! For some inspiration see our board profiles starting on page 103.
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GEAR: SHAPER 27 He may be only b years of age ut for he’s got a knack l creating beautifu retro boards that is work. Proof to th ly nt claim: He rece l won the Nationa e Log Roll at th Australian Old Mal titles on his own craft. He’s winning contests and winning over surfers who love yle that traditional st of surfing. 96
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Against the odds, Thomas Bexon is a young guy who’s gone old school and is coming up trumps.
GET YOUR
BEX
ON WORDS BY DAVE SWAN
There’s next to no competitive surfers out there competing on their own boards nowadays. But that’s Thomas, he likes to do his own thing and is not too concerned with what everybody else is doing. This individualism carries through to his surfboard design. Thomas Surfboards are handmade with no compromise on quality. His boards are made to order with dimensions changed to suit the individual. Thomas has honed his board making skills within the competitive arena and regular surf trips... ahh... product test field trips. His boards look unbelievable, are incredibly fun to ride and personally make me toey just looking at them. But enough about my problem... We ask Thomas how he first got into shaping and his love for traditional logs and noseriders. “I guess I started shaping because no one else was making what I wanted at the time. I made my first board in Mum’s garage and she hated it. I was around fourteen at the time. “I bought a blank, started shaping and it ended up horrible. One side was an inch wider then the other and it had no rocker and didn’t work at all. I am so stoked I still have it though. “I did a few more in Mum’s garage and then got the chance to shape at school. Maroochy High had surfing as a subject. At the time, only Maroochy High and Miami High on the Goldie (Gold Coast) taught surfing as a subject. Brian Weirs’ brother, Peter, was my teacher. We learnt how to shape surfboards, foil fins and fix dings along with some basic woodwork. We got to go surfing heaps as well. I got to learn the basics. We did four classes a week on everything that was surf related including how to judge surf contests and film reviews.” Thomas developed a love for old boards during this time. “A mate and I stumbled across a few old surf movies that had a bit of logging in it and we thought it was epic. We became mates with Brodie Weir through Brian (Weirs Surf Shop in Maroochydore, who have a range of vintage boards on display and for sale) and he would let us ride the old mals from the shop. nov/dec 2010
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GEAR: SHAPER
“I guess the appeal of the logs was because they were something different. You didn’t see anyone else riding them. That’s what made them interesting. Plus, when we started riding longboards, we didn’t want to ride oversized short boards (by this Thomas is referring to performance longboards). The other reason is logs suit the suit the waves here. “I grew up surfing the waves of Maroochy to Alex (Alexandra Headland) - so much board-building history in that part of the Coast. Rooster, McTavish, Pascoe, Les Purcell and Bob Cooper... Heaps of cats made boards and Noosa was their testing ground. That’s how I’m looking at it. No better way to test a log than on perfect waves. Now I surf more Noosa and Coolum, but still get a dose of Bluff now and again.” Whilst Thomas enjoyed riding these traditional style surfboards, it appeared no one at the time was actively shaping them. “I first started shaping logs ten to twelve years ago because no one was doing them. You couldn’t get a heavy single fin with a rolled bottom and round rails anywhere. Longboards were really only starting to come back and the focus was on performance longboards. “After high school I did three years of Uni studying a bachelorette of social work. I did a fair bit during that time with disadvantaged kids and just continued my shaping as more of a hobby.”
“I was shaping boards for myself. Then I started doing a few for some friends and that’s how I got started. I was initially glassing the boards, but they were a bit rough so I ended up getting them glassed by Paul Carson who owns The Factory in Moffat Beach. Next minute Paul offered me a job.” For Thomas it was the perfect opportunity to learn how to glass and shape from one of the most respected surfboard craftsman on the Sunshine Coast. “Paul was, and is, a perfectionist. In a way, that was good. When I first learned to do some polishes and stuff like that, I would say, ‘Yes, look how good this is’ and he would come in and say, ‘Fix that, fix this.’ It would shatter you. I think I was being paid $20 - $30 per polish, but they took me hours. I did get quicker at it. “I learnt so much from Paul. I had shaped before but had never had anyone telling me if I was doing it right or wrong. It was just trial and error. He gave me tips on numerous things like channels and so forth.”
Photo: Keith Hamlyn fotosinnoosa.com
When boardmaking turned from hobby to making a living.
After four years at The Factory, Thomas took up a shaping bay at Hayden Surfcraft at Kunda Park. Steeped in history, the Hayden factory was just the place to further his development. “To be in a place where George Greenough and Bob McTavish did their thing is pretty cool. All the old templates are still upstairs. They have the same band saw they used in 1962. I was cutting out fins the other day and thinking, ‘Greenough used this same band saw to cut out fins.’ It is pretty amazing. “Because they (Hayden) are doing everything from surfboards through to the clubbie stuff you have access to all different types of material. You can use the coolite foam, epoxy and carbon fibre. “ As to his detractors, who dismiss Thomas because he is so young, he has already won so many of them over. “I’ve had a few old guys that have said ‘You can’t make longboards. You weren’t riding them when they were originally made.’ Of course I wasn’t. I wasn’t born then. But everyone has to start somewhere and I am just trying to do my thing. And now I’m winning a lot of the old guys over. I am shaping boards for them and their friends and their friends and so on... so I must be doing something right.” Thomas is incredibly humble. But then again, he can afford to be. His boards speak for themselves. They are all class.
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SURFERS GARDEN Thomas’s surfboards are not only a little out of the ordinary, so is the way he lives his life. He lives in a surfers’ commune of sorts right near the beach, not far from Coolum. Together with a group of mates – Doc (Thomas Bexon), Little-man (Mark Sharp - Thomas’ key test pilot), surfersgarden (Thom O’Brien) and Jacob Stuth - live a life reminiscent of movies such as Morning of the Earth. The group document their every day on their blog site surfersgarden. Thomas explains their ‘Country Soul’ style of living. “I slid into it with a friend who already lived there. I was just lucky enough to move in with him. “It’s just a bunch of houses, all real close, without a fence in between. The set up is a group of good surfers living in the same area and on the same wavelength. “Out back of one of the houses we have this garden where we grow all our fresh fruit and veges. We go surfing and talk about the garden or cooking and stuff like that. Whatever we do, we tend to document it on our blog.” We discussed the advantages of living so close to the beach. “From the back of the house, we can see the water. We just open the door and there’s the surf. The house is cool but old. When it rains it leaks. When there’s a strong wind, you can feel the house moving. That’s ok though because it is such a good spot.“ As a blog, surfersgarden has a great deal more appeal than the norm. It’s littered with heaps of cool surfing pics, loads of Thomas’s boards and various other surf craft, along with some great recipes. It takes you away from the mundane of everyday life, perhaps even providing you with a chance to step back in time. Check it out at surfersgarden.blogspot.com
DESIGN FOCUS
In traditional logs and noseriders, for Thomas it comes down to rolled bottoms and rails. “What I am doing is a little bit different to the traditional longboards. My boards, in particular, have quite rolled bottoms. I found they work better. They’re just better for logging, stall-turns, sideslips, trim and good old-fashioned noseriding. “I have kept refining what I am doing. I am really happy with how my longboards perform now. I think after surfing them for so long and doing so many, I have worked out what really works when it comes to a traditional longboard. “A lot of my ideas are stolen off what they were doing in the late 60s in California and here in Australia. There was a pretty crazy progression in surfing history. A lot of the boards they were shaping had many great characteristics, but some aspects of their design don’t necessarily work in our waves here. They had noseriding wired, but some of the shapes just don’t cut it in hollower waves.” But why the love for rolled bottoms? “They are probably a bit harder at the start to ride. The board is a bit ‘tippier’. It’s not as stable but because of the roll, you get so much more control on the nose. You can stand on the nose and with your back foot shift your weight and fully change the direction of the board without having to walk back off the nose. They are a lot more manouverable. “With the rolled bottom and round rail, I have the deck flatter. This means the board sits flatter in the water. I am purposely slowing the board down so it is easier to noseride. I don’t want them to go fast. I mean you do, but just not too fast when you’re perched. “In addition, concaving the decks at the tail gets rid of volume and makes the boards a bit easier to turn. I also do not foil the fins in the traditional way. I am leaving them quite flat so you go slower. You want the board to hold when you are noseriding. “These design elements allow you to noseride in the critical part of the wave as opposed to out on the shoulder as you do with a performance longboard. You can noseride right in the pocket and stay there longer. It gives you a better feeling.
STEPDECKS “I have been playing around with stepdecks a lot lately. They get rid of volume at the front of the board. This way you have a bit more rocker in the board. “When you are noseriding, because of the step and the fact the nose is thinner, the board flattens down quickly and you obtain trim quicker. Hence, the board takes off when you are noseriding. It just flexes more and gives you more control and is more fun. You can feel the bounce in the board. “You can run up the nose of the board and push it down and feel the board flex, flatten and speed up. That is the idea behind it. I think it works. One I recently shaped is the best board I have ridden in little waves.”
nov/dec 2010
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GEAR: SHAPER
The length of boards you are shaping? “In terms of logs, I am mostly shaping boards 9’4 to 10ft. Even guys who are lighter, say around 75 kilograms, are requesting boards 9’6 to 9’8 but just a little thinner. Just because they are logs they don’t necessarily need to be super fat and chunky. Some are only 2 3/8 thick. In many ways it is not the size of the board that makes them work but the shape, particularly with regards to the rolled bottoms featured in my boards.”
FINS
“I am mostly making my own fins. I am looking at what delivers the most hold when noseriding. The real straight hatchet fins are good but they are a bit jerky through turns, they don’t flow. “The fins I am creating are…well, big. They still have rake and curve but with a real wide base. A real big tip as well. By having the curve instead of the straighter traditional hatchet fin, they are just that little bit smoother through turns. Instead of just being good for pivot turns you can flow your turns more. My fins also make you go slower - I do this purposely for noseriding. There’s more drag, making the board more stable for getting out on the nose. “Glassed-in fins are definately the go for my boards. I can do boxed fins, but because I shape the tail of the boards really thin for the last 6 or so inches, you can’t get the box far enough back without it popping through the deck. When I glass the fins, my rule is the tip of the fin sits in line with the tail of the board so the base of your fin only ends up about 4 inches from the back of the board. I find it just works.” What else are you doing? “I am shaping quite a fair number of twinnies, simmons and performance quads, hulls and eggs, as well as a few alaias, of late. “Everyone knows that Tom Wegener started the alaia thing. I was lucky to see a lot of what Tom was doing whilst working at The Factory.
HAND PLANES
“When Tom started shaping the alaias, a lot of people just didn’t want to hear about it. But because Tom was so stoked and so into it, and persevered with it, I guess more and more people were willing to give it a go. I was one of them. Since then I have started playing around shaping various styles of alaias.
“They give me something to do in summer when we cop the northerly winds up here. I used to use the scraps of wood left over from the alaias I shaped. At first they were just for me and my mates to muck around with but it’s surprising the amount of interest I have had with them. They have really taken off. I’m now having to order wood especially for them.”
“Alaias take you back. If you have been surfing for a few years, you know what you can do on a surfboard. But when you jump on an alaia, you start all over again. They develop your surfing by pushing everything you know out the window.
“Using Paulownia means you can get a lot of concave and shape to the hand planes. I have made varying lengths and even a few with pintails. It is amazing the difference you can feel with the various shapes. When the surf is crap, people can still go out and get stoked on them.
“At the moment I am getting some one piece Paulownia blanks from a local guy in Maleny (Most blanks are made of several strips of wood. A one piece blank is very rare). That’s pretty exciting. I can’t wait to shape a few and test them out.”
“Take a pair of flippers and boardies and then drop in on your mates and just have fun. Four of you can catch one wave, ride on each other’s backs… just be stupid. It takes you back to being a kid again and you are all smiles.”
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THE BOARDS TRADITIONAL LOGS & NOSERIDERS
Just like yesteryear but with a twist. Designed specifically for our conditions and to allow you to camp out on the nose all day. These boards deliver real speed when you are noseriding in the pocket and not just on the shoulder of the wave.
PERFORMANCE LONGBOARDS
Sort of self-explanatory. Performance longboards are suited to the surfer that wants to be able to combine tail surfing with noseriding. Usually glassed light to offer performance and maximum freedom from the tail.
MIDLENGTHS & HULLS
Suited to larger, more hollow waves midlengths feature a rounded pintail and a ‘two plus one’ fin setup with a big centre fin and small side ‘biters’. Hulls, with a super-flexi finger fin, slight rolled bottom and flat rocker haul arse down the line. Usually in the 7-8ft range allowing freedom to move up and down the board, these suckers are trim and glide machines that will take lines nothing else will.
TWIN FIN FISHES
The retro style of the fish is as popular as the cruiser. With plenty of area and trim capabilities, Twinnies are ideal for points or small to medium beach breaks. Loose, fun boards to ride. The more performance twins love a hollow wave, and then there’s the Simmons which will trim to your heart’s content.
QUAD FIN FISHES
Quads are more performance orientated than the twin fins, with extra drive and maneuverability. Quads are best described as a blend between a Twinnie and a Thruster, borrowing elements from both. Shape design depends on what type of waves the individual intends surfing.
Retro, vintage, old-school... Call it what you like, but the design principles, styles and ideas of the past are as relevant today as they were 60 years ago, and modernised or reworked through the eyes and hands of master craftsmen such as Thomas Bexon guarantee they’ll remain that way for many, many years to come.
“SHAPING IS LIKE SURFING... I’M SO STOKED ON BOTH” nov/dec 2010
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GEAR: FORUM
AUSTRALIAN MADE OR NOT, OR KIND OF... “SURFBOARDS HAVE RISEN LITTLE MORE THAN AROUND $70 IN SEVENTEEN YEARS”
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Our objective at smorgasboarder is to always encourage our readers to think for themselves by presenting a fully rounded perspective on issues that affect us as surfers. At present, there is no issue more topical, or indeed controversial, affecting the Australian surf industry than imported surfboards. The further we delve into the topic, the more we uncover a whole range of issues, all of which are intertwined. These are namely: ÌÌ Wholly Australian made boards vs. Australian shaped boards made overseas ÌÌ Traditional PU/ Polyester boards vs. EPS Foam/ Epoxy Resin boards ÌÌ Performance ÌÌ Their suitability to the beginners market ÌÌ The commercial viability of local Australian production ÌÌ Workplace health and safety issues ÌÌ Custom shaped boards vs. stock boards, albeit based on proven templates ÌÌ Free world trade vs. protecting Australian industry ÌÌ The hypocrisy of demanding cheap products but insisting they are Australian made. Is this a reality? ÌÌ Whether the same rules that apply to surfboards also apply to clothing? In investigating these issues we have determined it is not possible to cover such a complex subject in one small page. The issue raises so many questions for both the consumer and the surf industry itself. As a result we would like to open this discussion to you, our readers Australian surfers - and invite comment
from people from within the surf industry. We plan to publish these comments in an expanded editorial piece in our January edition of smorgasboarder. Firstly, what of the surfboards made wholly and solely here in Australia? A vast majority of talented Australian shapers, manufacturing surfboards in our country today, are struggling to survive in a less-than-perfect work environment. To be frank, many find it hard to make ends meet, working incredible hours just to scrape together some sort of a living. Most Aussie shapers do what they do for love not money and would be amongst some of the lowest, if not the lowest, paid workers in the country. A basic shortboard retails for between $650 to $700. The margin per board is about $200. If those boards are sold through retail outlets, the margin is close to $100 or less. Considering an average shortboard takes some ten hours to shape, that works out to be between $10 to $20 per hour the shaper is being paid for his or her time. At this point, it is important to bear in mind a shaper takes at least some ten years to develop their skill. Out of that $100 to $200 then comes tax, staff wages (if the shaper has any staff), and various other business running costs such as rent, plant and machinery etc. Despite this, we as consumers in the majority, want our boards cheaper. We want leg-ropes thrown in, deck grips, cheap board bags… oh, and wax too. That leaves next to no margin and the fact surfboards have risen little more than around $70 in seventeen years highlights the plight of many in the industry within Australia. That’s a price increase of less than 1% per year. Compare that to the increase in the cost of living and various products and services, particularly in
relation to skilled trade services e.g. think of a plumber for instance. Then there are various types of imported boards, adding further pressure to an already price sensitive market. Australian designed surfboards manufactured overseas Overseas production has proved lucrative to some Australian shapers and delivered fitting reward for their years of service to the industry and product development. Are they not entitled to reap some return for all their hard work and innovation? Shapers such as Bob McTavish, Wayne Lynch, Mark Richards, Bill Tolhurst, Greg Webber and Phil Byrne and are now involved in the successful export of Tuflite surfboards to the Northern Hemisphere bringing in valuable export revenue into the Australian economy. Nev Hyman of Firewire Surfboards is also doing the same with new technology employed in the construction of his surfboards. One of the apparent reasons for the pursuit of offshore production is the transition from traditional Polyester Resin/ PU surfboards to EPS Foam/ Epoxy Resin construction. People in favour of offshore production would maintain it is not economically viable to produce surfboards utlising this new technology here in Australia. Proponents of this new technology would also argue Tuflite surfboards are far superior in their performance. That in itself is another point of contention. As with everything, there are always two sides to any story. We’re keen to hear yours. But please always remember, the beauty of surfing is that everyone has differing points of view; whether it be the type of board you ride, what it is made of or where it comes from. Send your thoughts and comments to letters@smorgasboarder.com.au
nov/dec 2010
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GEAR: BOARDS
ing The K Surfboards
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by Island
Shaper: Zak Koniaras Dimensions: 7’6” x 22” x 3 ¼” Ideal conditions: Summer slop to point breaks Ability level: Novice to intermediate Suits: 90kg+ Description: This big boys’ hybrid has plenty of volume over the chest, flat into vee bottom and double flyers to give you tanks a surfboard with plenty of float without compromising manoeurability. Construction: PU foam, polyster resin, 6oz bottom, 10oz deck Fins: 5-fin setup Shaper comment: We are always playing with templates for the big boys and this shape has been a good seller over the last few years. It’s always hard to offer plenty of volume in a board and still keep the freedom of a shortboard without going to EPS.
Shaper: Jon McLeay Dimensions: Examples: 5’6” x 19 ¼ x 2 3/8 5’10” x 20 1/8 x 2 5/8 Ideal conditions: 1 - 5ft. Extremely versatile Ability level: Fun for all Description: Deep concaves under the chest keep it responsive and free under the front foot. Drivey as a quad and so smooth as a rounded pin. Great as a thruster in the bigger stuff if you’re willing. To be ridden about 5 - 6 inches smaller than your shortboard and about 1/16 thicker , ¾ wider Construction: Stick with whats best works for you, and your pocket - PU Fins: Quad with the choice as a thruster Shaper comment: We’re experimenting and playing with our foam more than ever, creating you exciting new sticks. Support and believe in the art of hand shaping before it’s lost! Enjoy a pea today.
Shaper: Greg Hogan Dimensions: 6’5”x 20 ¾”x 2 ¼” (from 5’10’’ to 7’6’’) Ideal conditions: Small to medium, flatter and less than ideal waves Ability level: All levels outside of rank beginner, great progression board for beginner, must-have for the competent surfer to make the most of a surf when the waves are lacking. Description: A fish in a shortboard’s body. Pulled in swallow tail and relatively narrower nose than other fish allows high performance in better waves, but width around chest area gives paddle and planing ability. Construction: PU, glassed in combination 6oz and 4oz Fins: Tri or quad fin setup, Futures or FCS Shaper comment: Wave range, wave range, wave range. To perform when the waves aren’t, but if it gets a little testing, you can rely on this to get you in the spot you want to be.
ZAK SURFBOARDS 307 Victoria Road Thornbury VIC 3071 Ph: 03 9416 7384 Mobile: 0438 416 738 zak@zaksurfboards.com zaksurfboards.com
CHAOS SURFBOARDS 1/236 Harbord Road Brookvale NSW Ph: 02 9907 2769 M: 0410 707 079
ISLAND SURFBOARDS 147 Thompson Ave, Cowes, Phillip Island VIC Ph: 03 5952 2578 E: cowes@ islandsurfboards.com.au islandsurfboards.com.au
E: jon@chaossurfboards.com
chaossurfboards.com
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Shaper: Paul Uscinski Dimensions: 6’2” x 19 13/16 ” x 2 9/16 ” or customized to suit Ideal conditions: 1 - 6ft Ability level: Beg to adv Description: Heaps of drive and stability. Very maneuverable due to slightly more tail lift and responsive using a combination of a smooth rocker entry with single concave, flowing to double concave to vee in the tail. Extra drive and release of double flyers and swallow tail. Balanced thickness and accurate foil for a high performance feel. Construction: Hand shaped PU foam and polyester resins, 6 or 4 oz glass. Fins: 5-fin FCS system for quad, thruster or 5 fin setup Shaper comment: Well balanced board for confidence in a wide range of surf conditions. Get up and plane quickly so you can catch heaps of waves. Supa fun!! 100% satisfaction guaranteed.
COD SURFBOARDS 25 Kestrel Court Victoria Point, QLD 4165 Ph: 0415 722 891 paul@codsurfing.com.au www.codsurfing.com.au
yL bShaper: Lee Cheyne
Dimensions: 6’2” x 19 ¼” x 2 7/16” Ideal conditions: 1 - 3ft Ability level: Novice to advanced Suits: 80+kg Description: This is a step down board with a deep concave under the front foot, into vee double concave through the tail, full curve outline with wide point 4” further back. The perfect board for those smaller days. Construction: Burford foam, Surf 9 4oz glass and Silmar resin. Fins: FCS 5-fin setup for the best of both worlds Shaper comment: This style of board has awesome speed and it feels really light and responsive off the back foot. Available in most tail shapes!
LEE CHEYNE DESIGNS 19/48 Machinery Dr, Tweed Heads South NSW 2486 Ph: 07 5523 3237 lcdboards@gmail.com myspace.com/454626994 tradewindsurf.com.au nov/dec 2010
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GEAR: BOARDS
FbyleBxusthraatil Shaper: Jed Done Ideal conditions: An allrounder to work from 1’ to 6’. Ability: Int to adv Suits: Custom-built for a good surfer about 6’3” and 85kg, but can be built for any age, weight and size Description: A transition board for a conventional surfer making the progression to flextails. Construction: Single stringer PU blank, glassed in polyester resin with 7” flex tail glassed in carbon fibre and vinylester resin Fins: 4-Way Fin System for fine tuning the surfboard for rider after it’s built, with Z-fins for the extra flow and release off the top 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 a 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 104
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Shaper: Craig Rees Dimensions: (Above) 6” x 19 ½” x 2 3/16” Ability level: Intermediate and up Suits: Different sizes Description: The Blunt was born when a long term customer came to me asking for me to make him a board similar to what Dane Reynolds had been riding. When it was finished it looked and felt insane. I realised that it was similar in the back to our Punt model... the Nose was wider and the rocker slightly different, but basically it was a tweaked Punt, hence: The Blunt. Construction: PU foam with polyester resin, vacuum bagged with carbon fibre rails. Fins: Thruster or quad Shaper comment: This board should be about 2-3 inches shorter than your standard shortboard, the same thickness and an inch wider.
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Shaper: Chad Ryan Dimensions: 6’0”x 19 1/8”x 2 5/16” Ideal conditions: 1 - 5ft. Incredibly versatile Ability level: Intermediate to advanced Description: Concave under the chest makes it responsive on the front foot, to double through the fins for extra squirt. Super-fast and loose, yet responsive in the small stuff. Extra width throughout board for good float. To be ridden 2-4 inches smaller than your shortboard. Construction: Polyester construction, Standard or team glassing. Fins: Thruster, quad, or have it plugged for both. Shaper comment: Experimentation is the go with my shapes at the moment - to create the most radical, yet functional surfboards.
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Shaper: Zak Koniaras
Shaper: Tully St.John
Dimensions: 6’4” x 20 ¼” x 2 5/8”
Dimensions: 5’7” x 19 ¾” x 2 ½”
Ideal conditions: 2 - 5ft
Ideal conditions: 2 - 5 ft
Ability level: Intermediate
Ability level: Novice to pro
Description: An old 80’s template revamped, this board flys! Single into double concave, low entry rocker, low to mid rails, single flyer swallow, everything to make this board handle sucky beachies to long point breaks. Plenty of volume over the chest makes paddling super easy. Construction: PU glassed with 6oz bottom, 10oz deck Fins: FCS or Futures whatever you prefer Shaper comment: Super easy and super fast board to ride with plenty of float. Loves tight arc turns and and gives you plenty of release.
Suits: All weights Description: This is the ultimate small wave weapon. Surfs really well on both beach breaks and points. We can customise to the person’s height weight and surfing ability. Construction: Stringerless or stringered, PU or epoxy Fin set-up: Thruster or quad Shaper comment: This board has a deep single concave and super loose plan shape. It also comes in a swallow tail or square.
SKIPP SURFBOARDS FACTORY SHOWROOM
PRIMITIVE SURF 601 Nudgee Rd, Nundah, Qld 4012 Ph: 07 3266 1001 E: info@primitivesurf.com www.primitivesurf.com
24 Flinders St North Wollongong, NSW Ph: 02 4228 8878 CITY SURF CENTRE
231 Crown Street Wollongong City, NSW Ph: 02 4229 1202
E: factory@skippsurfboards.com.au
skippsurfboards.com.au
ZAK SURFBOARDS 307 Victoria Road Thornbury VIC 3071 Ph: 03 9416 7384 Mobile: 0438 416 738 zak@zaksurfboards.com zaksurfboards.com
NOOSA SURFWORKS 11 Bartlett St, Noosaville QLD Ph: 07 5474 4567 E: info@noosasurfworks.com.au
noosasurfworks.com.au
nov/dec 2010
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1/11/10 1:15 AM
GEAR: BOARDS
c i s u m t e e w s Sweet, DynocorieverWseD by D TM
Shaper: Dave Verrall Dimensions: Custom only! Ideal conditions: Smaller to average size days Suits: A performance surfer who wants a strong, user-friendly board Description: Made with DYNOCORE™technology, incorporating a high tech fusion of fibres and foam. Construction: A fusion of four specialty fabrics combined in the right place to launch you out of turns and off lips, while remaining steady underfoot. The core is a tight beaded EPS foam without a stringer, opening the door to flex tuning with shape and fabric. Glassed with some of the most technicaly correct surfboard epoxy resin. Fins: Fin Solutions 3-in-1 plug for strength and drive Shaper comment: A lightweight, durable custom surfboard with engineered flex return creating it to feel just like a specially made pro’s board, but lasting like a surfboard should.
DIVERSE SURFBOARDS 476 Gold Coast Hwy, Tugun, QLD 4224 Ph: 07 5598 4848 dave@diversesurf.com.au diversesurf.com.au
ve eed and dri generate sp to lt le fe b a rd a e o b b to The “I seemed ven trying. e rd without e scribe as good bounc on this boa e d a h ld g u u o w ro I hat drive th like it had w feel. I could ntum e ly e m o liv l m a g n re a losi or spring... ok without p turn or ho had great drawn out to ing stuck in the lip. It ve t gett er boards I’ and withou flex than oth oard was re o m d a h b it e release and good way. All in all, th .” ldn’t fault it in a t u u o b c , I n d e n d a d e ri d ri to le b njoya extremely e
on Isaac Padd
Diverse Team rider and muso, Isaac’s seen here putting the DynocoreTM through its paces. If you’re lucky enough to be at the Kirra SurfStock Festival this year, you’ll also catch him headlining the entertainment bill on Saturday. Check out his music at www.isaacpaddon.com and for more on the festival, see www.kirrasurfstock.com.au
nov/dec 2010
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GEAR: BOARDS
The Slalappnteris 2 by Is
Shaper: Grem Dimensions: 6’2” x 21’’ x 2 ¾’’ Ideal conditions: 2 - 6ft beaches/reefs/pointbreaks. Ability: Novice to pro. Suits: All -available in custom from 5 - 7ft. Description: A blend of what works in a shortboard and in a fish to cater for the world class beach and reef breaks on Phillip Island. A performance fish style board with volume, and a little more flip in the rocker than Slapper 1. Construction: Ocean Foam hardcore blanks, FGI resins and Airilite cloth Fins: 3 or 5 fin, with 5 fin FCS/Futures most popular. Change your setup to surf as a Twinny/Thruster or Quad. Shaper comment: Developed by demand! The original slapper was so popular that guys have been hassling us to create a quiver based on the original.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 106
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y bShaper: Craig Rees
Shaper: Mark Riley
Dimensions: (Above) 5’10” x 19 ¼” x 2 3/16”
Dimensions: 5’2’’- 6’8’’ x 18 ½’’- 20’’ x 2 ½ - 3’’
Ability level: Intermediate and up
Ideal conditions: ½ - 6 ft
Suits: Different sizes Description: Inspired by a need for our ding guy Frizzle to get a better performance fish type board that would go good in a variety of waves. It has a fish planshape with a wide round tail, best when kept thin with boxy rails. Construction: PU foam with polyester resin, vacuum bagged with carbon fibre rails. Fins: Thruster or quad Shaper comment: Our Shop Manager Dale just came back from 2 weeks at Ulus and was raving about how it went in 4ft sucky waves. This board is now his go-to board for 1 - 4ft waves.
PRIMITIVE SURF 601 Nudgee Rd, Nundah, Qld 4012 Ph: 07 3266 1001 E: info@primitivesurf.com www.primitivesurf.com
Ability level: Beginners to mature Description: 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 Native to merely 3kg (excluding fins). The result is a high performance surfboard with far greater strength and durability than your regular polyurethane board. Construction: Balsa with EPS foam core Fins: Thruster or quad Shaper comment: For summer and its small waves, The Native is a thruster thrasher for the larger or older generation who don’t want to go to a longboard or a fish – this is in between these.
RILEY SURFBOARDS Ph: 0412 376 464 E: mark@riley.com.au balsasurfboardsriley. com.au
by
Shaper: Mark Pridmore Dimensions: 6’2” x 20 ½” x 2 ½” Ideal conditions: Typical Aussie beachies and points (tiny to a bit overhead) Suits: Everyone from older guys wanting a good paddler to less skilled surfers wanting stability, to rippers wanting a high performance semi-fish for small waves. Custom shaped to suit individual needs. Description: A semi-fish that can be surfed hard like a shorty but with all the speed and glide of a fish. The Fat-Bat comes from years of feedback and development - a very FUNctional and easy to ride board that makes surfing average waves extremely fun. Construction: PU - PE Fins: Quad FCS Shaper comment: Try one. You’ll see...
MORE SURFBOARDS
Angourie Rd Yamba NSW 2464 Ph: 0405 475 026 moresurfboards.com
Retro FunNicBholoard by Paul
Shaper: Paul Nichol Dimensions: Above - 7’ x 21”x 2 5/8 All sizes available Ideal conditions: 1-5ft Ability level: Novice to experienced Description: A retro of a board I had as a teenager, just when shortboards were starting to happen. Stringerless semi-mal shape, flexible and more float, with a single concave which is quite deep. I always remember how great the original board was. Construction: PU foam, 4oz glass, stringerless Fins: Thruster shown, but available in any setup Shaper comment: Super fun board on waves you would not usually surf on a short board.
PAUL NICHOL Sandon Point Bulli NSW Mobile: 0414 814 332 acesolar@y7mail.com
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GEAR: BOARDS
Fisnh LB y Grow b
Shaper: Andrew Wells Dimensions: 5’10 x 21 ½ x 2 3/8 Ideal conditions: Small to medium waves. Great for summer days. Ability level: Int to adv. Suits: People who love to surf with style. Description: Plenty of width under the chest gives paddle power, and once up and running, it flies. With plenty of float, it easily skips over fat sections, maintaining speed and drive. Extra weight gives smooth flow in the water, letting you carve with pure style. Construction: Hollow timber construction from Paulownia and Cedar. Fins: Twins, keels or quads Shaper comment: A great small wave board, and one of my personal favourites. Individually hand crafted, these boards not only look great, they surf great and will give you years of enjoyment.
GROWN SURFBOARDS Lennox Head
PO Box 801, Ballina NSW 2478
Ph: 0407889049
sales@grownsurfboards.com.au
grownsurfboards.com.au
SemThi-ohmausll by
Shaper: T homas Bexon Dimensions: 7’2 x 21 ¾ “ x 2 ¾” Ideal conditions: Waist to a bit overhead Ability level: Anyone with an idea about trim. Suits: Competent surfers after alternative feel or just looking to cruise. Description: A semi-hull combining elements of displacement hulls, eggs and performance bottoms. Construction: Foam and fibreglass. Resin colours. Fins: Little side biters and flexi Greenoughinspired number in the middle. Shaper comment: Combines trim and glide of displacement hulls but performance-inspired bottom shape in the back gives drive. Super fun in most waves. A little more friendly to those not up for the full hull deal Stroke in easy, move up and down the board and pull out smiling.
THOMAS SURFBOARDS PO Box 234 Maroochydore Qld 4558 Ph: 02 6584 1995 Mob: 0412 131 491
thomas_bexon@hotmail.com
thomassurfboards.com
MBinlacik ASpachiemSmurfbooanrdss Aragodrenrgr#oun3d Thye CThurigs GBaroreattt b n by
Shaper: Jesse Watson Dimensions: 5’4’’ x 21 ¼”x 2 5/8” Ideal conditions: 1-5ft beachies and points Ability level: Int to pro. It takes an understanding of flow to ride these boards well Description: A hull style entry that rolls into a flat through the middle with a deepish slot concave from the midpoint through to the tail. Long turns and super fast lines off the top are the norm. These boards epitomise speed Construction: This one is PU and polyester resin tint - brown pigment with a caramel nose dip. Also available in epoxy and carbon fibre. Fins: Custom, hand made simmons keels Shaper comment: This is THE board for the summer, everyone in the know is riding one. I guarantee your surfing will never be the same again. Seriously addictive.
by U
Shaper: Steve ‘Zorro’ Goddard formerly of Aragorn Surfboards 1974-77 Dimensions: 6’3” x 20” x 2 ½” Ideal conditions: 2ft beachies to 5ft points Ability level: Intermediate to semi-pro Suits: 30-80kg Description: A handcrafted modern version of the 80’s twin-fin that’s fast and loose. A good all-rounder, great for small to mid-range waves. Mid rails, V bottom with trailer. Available in 5”6 to 6”10. Construction: PU foam. Fins: FCS Shaper comment: This board is designed to be surfed on the rail, responsive for those fast directional changes.
Shaper: Chris Garrett Dimensions: 5’8’’ x 19 ¼”x 2 3/8“ Ideal conditions: 1-5ft beachies and points Suits: Everyone... I’ll customise to suit you Description: Shorter, wider-assed and fullernosed. Slightly flatter rockered with a deepish single to double concave, exhausting with a hefty vee. Fuller tail gives plenty planing area between your feet, with the reactive rails make this work a treat. Plenty of spark off the mark and heaps of giggles. Construction: Polyester resin and fibreglass. 4oz bottom and 4x4 deck. PU Burford blanks. Fins: Best as a thruster. Choice of set or system Shaper comment: Super fast and loose with plenty of rotation in the turns. Surprisingly versatile with a wide sweet spot makes this board your new favourite... and you’ve gotta love that!!
black apache surfboards
BLACK APACHE SURFBOARDS Ph: 0410 419 791
E: blackapachesurfboards@ live.com.au blackapachesurfboards.com
UNDERGROUND SURF 3/31 McLean St, Coolangatta QLD 4225 Ph: 07 5599 1040
kirra@undergroundsurf.com.au
undergroundsurf.com.au
CHRIS GARRETT/ PHANTOM SURFBOARDS Ph: 0424 450 690 E: blabla@ chrisgarrettshapes.com.au chrisgarrettshapes.com.au
nov/dec 2010
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GEAR: BOARDS
ouses and ““Noseridingll tofloaroteunrsdh rock ‘n ro all and... mitore.lo”ves to do them
Meoogday’fsisShurf
Monkey magic. Photo: MC
by W
Paul Woodbry enjoying the fruit of his labour in Currimundi cream. Photo: DS
THE WOODY’S MEGAFISH... HOW DOES IT GO? WORDS DAVE SWAN
It’s easy to paddle. Can nose ride. Is as loose as a goose ... I mean really, really loose and goes like the absolute clappers. Few boards are so loose and so fast. I lined up a few sections and thought to myself, “I will never make it.” And before that thought had left my head, I was across the face and out on the shoulder. It is unbelievably, bloody quick! Especially for a board of its dimensions. Really, really quick and so easy to turn. The Megafish as it is now known, was initially called the ‘What the’ and the ‘Bitzer’ and fittingly so. It’s only 6’6, has an extra, extra wide nose and a tail so narrow, it is less than 12 inches where you place your back foot. It resembles a massive tear drop. Now sure, there may be boards with a similar plan shape but not to this extreme. It’s like your widest noserider combined with a gun. It works like a shortboard but has longboard capabilities. 108
Confused? Well it works. For average surfers, such as myself, it’s so exciting when a board makes you feel so much better than you really are. I actually felt like I could surf on this thing. It’s a hell of a lot of fun and is superb for surf slop, the kind of conditions that plague the Sunshine Coast at this time of year. It generates such a lot of speed in ordinary conditions. By comparison, I took out another board in similar conditions, a 5’10 fish, and couldn’t get it going. I dropped off the back of the waves. On a 9’4 longboard the conditions were too choppy. The Megafish was the deal. And whilst it loves slop, it also handled a dumping 5ft beach break later that week. After testing it in a variety of conditions over the last month it is probably time to give it back. Fat chance!
Shaper: Paul Woodbry Dimensions: 6’6”x 22 5/8” x 2 5/8“ Ideal conditions: ½ - 6 ft Suits: Beginner to Pro Description: If you have a longboard but would like to ride something shorter with the same ability to flow, or you’re a shortboarder who wants a “never miss a surf” board. Single concave running to flat near tail, mid rails with a 2 + 1 fin set up. Construction: Polyester resin and good old PU blank Fins: Finbox + FCS Shaper comment: This was created to fill the void when the surf was too small for a shortboard, but if the waves picked up you didn’t need to change boards to accommodate. It fits in the car so you don’t have a storage problem if surfing another board. Just a whole lot of fun wrapped in fibreglass.
WOODY’S SURF 6 Arilla Street Wurtulla QLD Ph: 0408 763 541 Email: woodyssurfdesigns @hotmail.com
nov/dec 2010
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GEAR: BOARDS
SLtaeguanlta Bhay
by
StyeThpdoemcask b
Shaper: Tully St.John Dimensions: 7ft to11ft. Ideal conditions: 1 - 10ft Ability level: Beginner to pro Suits: All shapes and sizes Description: This is a great all round paddleboard, deck concave gives it a great amount of stability and entry concave and nose area makes it easy to paddle out through the break. This board is the all in one, turns out of the tail well and is great for nose riding, it’s an easy board to surf. Construction: Epoxy construction, comes in full carbon or all over pigment. Fin set-up: 2t1 or 4t1 Shaper comment: Procrastination is the thief of time get one on order today, you won’t be disappointed!
Shaper: T homas Bexon Dimensions: 9’8” x 23 ¼”x 3” Ideal conditions: Logging waves, anything under head high, ideally peeling points or clean beachies Ability level: Intermediate to advanced logger. Anyone after fun. Suits: Around 75 - 85kg. All boards made to measure Description: Stepdeck noserider, with step to reduce volume, increase flex. Construction: Layer of 6oz and a layer of 7 ½ oz both sides, this is built to last. All colours done in resin. Glassed on fin. Fins: One big red one fixed right on the back Shaper comment: a full blown trim and noseride machine, these are tried and tested in some of the best logging waves around. An experiment in design where they left off when Bob and co started sawing noses off and not standing on them.
NOOSA SURFWORKS 11 Bartlett St, Noosaville QLD Ph: 07 5474 4567
THOMAS SURFBOARDS PO Box 234 Maroochydore Qld 4558 Ph: 02 6584 1995 Mob: 0412 131 491
E: info@noosasurfworks.com.au
noosasurfworks.com.au
thomas_bexon@hotmail.com
thomassurfboards.com
SupWeregeTunnera by
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 only a few 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
Performance dMal by Islan Shaper: Glyndyn Ringrose Dimensions: 9’1”x 23 ¼”x 2 7/8” (From 7’6” up) Ideal conditions: All round conditions Ability level: Intermediate to advanced, can be tweaked to suit beginners. Description: Extra tail flip, lower rails and heavy single into double concave gives run into the flats, but allows high response in the turn when back on the tail. Construction: PU, glassed combination of 6oz and 4oz to customer’s preference. Fins: Glass centre box fin, optional stabilisers (FCS or Futures) Shaper comment: The model ridden by Sandy Ryan in his three consecutive Victorian Mal Championships and also when he’s tackling some of Victoria’s heaviest reef breaks.
ISLAND SURFBOARDS 147 Thompson Ave, Cowes, Phillip Island VIC Ph: 03 5952 2578 E: cowes@ islandsurfboards.com.au islandsurfboards.com.au
Log High PerformancTiede
by High
Shaper: Jordie Brown Dimensions:
9’2 x 22 ¼” x 17 ¾” x 14” x 2 ¾”
Ideal conditions: Waist high to well overhead. Suits: The logger wanting something a little more progressive without compromising on momentum and glide. Description: Based around a subtle threephase rocker, combined with a single concave in the nose running thru to a rolled vee bottom, this board noserides, trims and performs off the tail. Construction: Slightly weightier 6-oz glass job than your average performance longboard. Available with a full polish or a wet rub finish. Fins: Works great as a single fin or with a 2+1 Shaper comment: The perfect stick for the surfer chasing a longboard to make the most of a variety of different waves and conditions without losing the style and flow of a traditional board.
HIGH TIDE SURFBOARDS Skenes Creek, Vic 3233 Ph: 0401 437 392
hightidesurfboards@hotmail.com
hightidesurfboards.com nov/dec 2010
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MARK PRIDMORE
JORDIE BROWN
TONY DEMPSEY
DAVE VERALL
MARK RILEY
JESSE WATSON
CHRIS GARRETT
JON MCLEAY
DAVID EVANS
STUART CAMPBELL
CRAIG HEATH
CRAIG REES
PHIL BYRNE
PAUL NICHOL
JOHN “ROBBO” ROBERTSON
THESE HANDS HAVE SHAPED
TULLY ST. JOHN
CHAD RYAN
JED DONE
THOMAS BEXON
ADAM “SPARROW” FLETCHER
NOW THE FUTURE RESTS IN YOURS.
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29/10/10 4:15 PM
GREG HOGAN
LEE CHEYNE
PAUL USCINSKI
RODNEY DAHLBERG
ANDREW WELLS
PHIL PEPPER
MICK CARRABINE
STUART D’ARCY
GLYNDYN RINGROSE
WAYNE LOWEN
JOHN SKIPP
MARCUS GRAY
SAM PARSONS
MICHAEL DI SCIASCIO
JADE ROBINSON
OUR SURFBOARD INDUSTRY.
PAUL CARSON
YASU NAGAMI
RALPH RIDDELL
PAUL WOODBRY
MAURICIO GILL
SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL SHAPER These images represent only a handful of the dedicated craftsmen working as shapers in the local surfboard industry, and they represent years of experience and knowledge. Before you buy your next board, make sure you talk to your local surf shop or shaper about what is right for you. PROUDLY SUPPORTING THE PEOPLE KEEPING US IN THE WATER
nov/dec 2010
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GEAR: PROJECT
FINLESS FRONTIER Although the idea of finless boards is far from a new concept, the acceptance and willingness to give these ideas a go, using modern surfboard manufacturing technology, has really grown in recent times. With one of the most prominent proponents of finless craft, Tom Wegener, just launching his Seaglass - a foam version of the traditional Alaia - interest in finless boards has never been more intense. When we dropped in for a visit at Richard Harvey’s gallery and surf shop in Miami on the Gold Coast, we were keen to hear about his experiments in the same arena.
ENTER THE DOUBLE ENDER... Inspired by weight-distribution concepts Richard learnt in snowboarding, he began experimenting with the idea of a finless board that would be a little easier to paddle than a traditional Alaia, and would also be easy to ride in either direction, off either foot.
“PEOPLE HAVE BEEN RIDING MY BOARDS FOR TWENTY YEARS AND HAVEN’T NOTICED, BECAUSE IT ALWAYS LOOKS RIGHT WHICHEVER WAY IT’S AROUND”
At only 5’5”, the Double Ender features a nose and tail rocker, and a centre concave. “The idea is that when you’re riding it backwards, it has a bit of rocker in the tail, so it’s not going to push… If boards are square across the back, they push water. You can spin them around, but you can’t ride them backwards. “ But with the Double Ender’s symmetrical design, you may as well forget about which way’s front and which way’s back. “It matches my logo...” says Richard. (If you haven’t picked it up, the Harvey logo reads the same, any way you look at at it... Sneaky.) “People have been riding my boards for twenty years and haven’t noticed, because it always looks right whichever way it’s around.” Another interesting aspect of the board is it doesn’t need waxing, thanks to a process of creating grip borrowed from the 70’s. “It’s like an hexagonal fabric. We lay it in, and then peel it off. Then when you foot gets wet, your skin goes soft and it grips. It’s really solid” So, the all important $700-or-so question... Does it work? Check out our we-test-as-many-things-as-wecan edition, due out in January, when we take it for a little ride. For more on Richard and his work, see his website www.harveysurf.com - or visit the gallery in person at 3/10 Pacific Avenue, Miami.
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The Harvey Double Ender 5’5 x 20 ½ x 2 ¼ centre, 2 ¾ rails Centre concave is 7/8” deep Bio-kentic non-wax deck
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Why
STRAIGHTBOARD... ...when you ca n carve like a su rfer?!
Designed for surfing, the SmoothStar Thruster system
THE PENNY DROPS Well, well... for those of you who haven’t spotted them back on the shelves yet, this little plastic moulded beauty is a blast from the past, for sure!
allows the front truck to move horizontally and vertically, transforming the way a skateboard handles...
The Penny is an extremely cool re-issue of the original 1970’s style plastic boards, and in all the bright colours you may remember. Personally, I had a lumo-lime green one, back in the day when having a colour TV at home made you the coolest friend to hang out with and only one of your parents had to work. I still have no idea how I never ended up in hospital doing downhill runs on this glorified rollerskate... Anyway, for nostalgia sake, or for a compact board, or just to look retro and arty-cool, check out the Penny. It’s like Barbie Girl fantastic. See your local shop or for pics and info see www.absolute-distributors.com/penny/
your Improve y stoked ta s and surfing surfs! between
SMOOTHSTAR IN ACTION Smoothstar have just released a brand new video on their YouTube channel, featuring young team riders and junior surf champs Laura Enever and Jordan Lawler. The video is worth watching to get a good idea of how the boards work and how these two feel it improves their surfing - which most of us would like to do! Check out this clip as well as a good few others on: www.youtube.com/user/SmoothStarSurf
TURN EASIER
You can control your speed by carving from side to side.
TURN TIGHTER
SKATE SAFETY FIRST
than any normal skateboard and work speed into the board without pushing.
Early Skateboards have just released a new safety pack they’re calling the Gnarkit. Now before you poo-poo the idea of pads and gloves, remember that Early make skateboards specifically for ridiculously fast downhill racing, so when you’re sliding around corners at speeds of 80km/h, every bit of padding helps if you and the board part ways.
SmoothStar is available in 3 sizes, for a different ride and for different sized riders.
We’re super-excited to be road-testing the Arift in our next edition, so get the band-aids and Dettol ready. Early Skateboards are known on a pro-level for high quality and performance but are also very good for beginners who want to try the sport out at an affordable price. More information? See the website: www.earlyskateboards.com
The Gnarkit (above) retails for just over $150 and the Arift board (right) goes for less the $300 as a complete board.
SKATEBOARDS DESIGNED FOR SURFERS For more information, call 0407 405 390
or visit www.smoothstar.com.au nov/dec 2010
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IDERS TEAM R right wen W
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ELECTRICDIVISION FIIKSKATEBOARDS.COM Untitled-1 114
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FUTUREISINKNOWLEDGE LITHIUMPOWER • ABSREGENERATIVE • WIRELESS WIRELESSREMOTE REMOTE
DIVISION 600w
POWER TURNING ACCELERATION SPEED
STREET SURFER 800w
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RAGER 400w
POWER TURNING ACCELERATION SPEED
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POWER TURNING ACCELERATION SPEED
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SHORTY 600w
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STINGER 600w
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POWER TURNING ACCELERATION SPEED
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Stockist Enquiries - 1300 344 575
Untitled-1 115
QLD Stockists Beach Beat - Alexandra Heads Beach Beat - Caloundra Beach Beat - Dicky Beach Darkside Skateboards - Miami Goodtime Surf - Woolloongabba Hurley Burleigh - Southport KTM Action Motorcycles - Nerang KTM - Brisbane Local Knowledge - Noosa Local Knowledge - Nobby Beach Primitive Surf - Nundah Roar Industries - Currumbin Surf Connect - Brisbane Nth
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NSW Stockists Aloha Manly - Style Manly Bay Action - Byron Bay Coopers Surf - Coffs Harbour Coopers Surf - Jetty Core Surf Store - Nowra Coopers Surf - Park Beach
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29/10/10 2:08 PM
SKATE: MOVIE
IT’S ALL DOWNHILL FROM HERE
Passion, pain and pads - for your knees and elbows that is. Skate Australia is a locally produced documentary DVD on the Australian longboard skating scene - a less publicised but extremely exciting offshoot of the wheeled board family. But the making of this film exacted a high price. WORDS MARK CHAPMAN The 35 minute “Longboard Road Trip of Discovery” produced by Dampling Productions in Byron Bay started as an exciting project amongst friends in Brisbane that was to chronicle a trip through Australia, showcasing longboard skating and covering all aspects of the emerging sport, including slalom, sliding, dancing and of course the big event - downhill.
How do you feel, with the project completed?
Where is the movie available from?
“It is a big relief since it has been such a personal and emotional production. Really excited to get it out to the public, spread the good times and stoke that was captured on film during the six month road trip.”
Unfortunately, tragedy struck the production when in August 2009 Anthony Fricker, the originater of the idea and director of Skate Australia, died due to a head injury he received in a skateboarding accident during the filming of this documentary.
“There are always dangers involved with action sports, you get out there to do something you love in the safest possible way. Longboard skating is a fairly safe sport, it has a lot less accidents then normal short board skating. Anthony is one of a handful of people that have passed away while downhill skateboarding, the first person in Australia. I still get as much joy and fun from skating as I used too.
“Skate Australia is for sale at our website www. skateaustralia.com.au and there will be several screenings down the east coast of NSW. On November 26 there is a screening at the Newtons Nation festival in Bathurst, where there will also be a downhill skateboard competition on the Mt Panorama racetrack with riders hitting over 100km down the track! It will be an awesome weekend!”
At only 22, the unexpected death of the enthusiastic young filmmaker sent shockwaves through the skating community and stunned family and friends. News of the event spread quickly across the internet as tributes appeared on skating websites such as the Australian Skateboard Racing Association. Swedish twin brothers Jonatan and Sebastian Lundmark had been working with Anthony on the project and committed to completing the documentary with the footage they had available. A year of production time later, the tribute to their late friend is complete and gives a fascinating insight into the culture, people and environment of extreme skating in Australia. We asked Sebastian about the production...
Has Anthony’s accident affected how you see skating as a sport and/or hobby?
Anthony’s death was a real eye opener for me. Life is precious - too short not to live it to the fullest and make the most out of it.” Are there more movies planned for the future? “Travelling, action sport and filmmaking are the biggest passions in my life, so combining them all is a pretty good recipe. Byron Bay will be my base for the coming years where I have just started my new production company Rest Your Eyes. “We have two new documentaries in the pipeline that are in pre-production right now. We will also continue doing music videos and commercials.
“A MAD-DOG ADVENTURE THE CLIFFS, HILLS, TOWNS TO SKATE CITIES OF AUSTRALIA'S EA AND BIG ST COAST”
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SKATE AUSTRALIA DVD Travelling from the beach to the bush down the Australian east coast, the film is packed with amazing footage of leather-clad and helmeted skaters reaching speeds of up to 100km an hour, but it also goes further into the friendships formed and the fun of being on the road with good mates. Set to a great soundtrack, there are fun scenes of parking lot runs, coverage of the Beat The Beast charity event in North Queensland... And what skate movie would be complete without being told off by the police at least once? Focused not on loss, but rather on the enjoyment and fun of skating, the movie has been finished in the spirit it was started - with a whole lot of love and excitement for boards on wheels. A seven-minute tribute to Anthony - Steep Descent - is also included as a special feature. As an introduction to a style of skating you may not be familiar with, or just as a feelgood skate movie, this just needs to be seen. For more info, see the website: www.skateaustralia.com.au
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CLOSEOUT: HISTORY
. . . y r o t s Hi
A little bit of
CHINA GILBERT R.I.P. SOUTHERN SURF LEGEND PASSES AWAY
Victorian surfing recently lost one of its greatest characters with the passing of Rex “China” Gilbert at age 86 on September 28, 2010. China was Victorian board champion from 1948 to 1951, with he and Vic Tantau dominating the board competitions in the decade following the second World War. First joining in 1947, China was the longest serving member of the Torquay Surf Life Saving Club, his enthusiasm and creativity coming to the fore with off beat activities such as the “Galah Awards”. He also acted as caretaker for 20 years from 1980-2000. China was part of the notorious “Boot Hill” mob and the “D’s” who’s parties and shenanigans have become part of Torquay folklore. Over the years China’s life has become woven into the complex surfing tale of Torquay, and his character integrated into the cultural fabric of the town. A public memorial for China was held at the Torquay Surf Life Saving Club on Saturday the 6th of November at 2.00pm.
Above: The smiling China Gilb ert as he’ll be remembered by his mates. Right: Long boards at attentio n on Torquay Beach, 1947. From left: Unknown, John Allan, Barry Patten, Ken Harris, BiU Bennett, Pete r Bennett, Reg Gray, Dick Gar rard, Keith Putt, Frank Inness, unk nown, unknown, “China” Gilbert and Eric Knight.
60’S LEGEND BOBBY BROWN HONOURED ON GOLD COAST
Craig Baird, Torquay Surf World
Surf World Gold Coast in Tomewin Street, Currumbin opens a special exhibition dedicated to surfing legend Bobby Brown on November 11, 2010. Timed to coincide with the Kirra Surfstock Festival, the exhibition will celebrate the life of a surfing enigma and his significant contribution to the classic sixties era of surfing. Ranked alongside Midget Farrelly, Nat Young and Peter Drouyn as one of the best surfers of the 1960’s, Brown was only 17 when he qualified for the final of the first World Surfing titles in 1964 won by Midget Farrelly.
Terry Fitzgerald,1970 World Surfing Titles
EXPERIENCE THE REVOLUTION
Simon Buttonshaw
If you happen to be in Torquay, make some time to check out Revolution, which opened in September. Running through until March, the exhibition showcases the surfers and the stories from the 1970 World Surfing Championships held at Bells Beach and features spectacular images, vintage surfboards and rare and previously unseen footage of 70’s surfing at Bells Beach and Johanna Beach. Well worth a look around for this, and the many other permanent exhibits. Open daily from 9am-5pm at the Surf World Museum, Beach Road, Torquay. For more about the museum, visit www.surfworld.org.au
His short but impressive surfing life featured in movies like Bob Evans’ 1963 “Young Wave Hunters” and Paul Witzig’s 1967 groundbreaking movie “Hot Generation”, both of which will feature in the exhibition alongside timeless surfing photos of Brown and others from the 1960s, archival movie footage, surfboards, clothing, surf magazines and newspaper clippings. The exhibition will also feature the impressive Perpetual Trophy, modeled on Jack Eden’s classic photo of Brown’s famous “soul arch” bottom turn at Sandon Point. The official opening night of the exhibition on November 11 from 6.30pm is open to the public. Tickets are $15 and available at the door, or by phone (07) 5525 6380. See www.surfworldgoldcoast.com for more.
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GEAR:FASHION
Seafolly Cyber Surfer seperates Photo: Supplied - Seafolly www.seafolly.com.au
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Baku Guam Photo: Supplied - Baku www.baku.com.au
PERFECT FIT How do you go about choosing the perfect swimsuit that will be practical and sensible in the surf, but not make you feel like you’ve raided your nanna’s drawers. We asked Kent Ladkin of Natural Necessity Surf Shop in Geringong to give us his expert input. The dreaded time of year to buy your new cossies has arrived again. If you been blessed with the perfect body, then this will be relatively easy, but if, like most of us, when you look in the mirror, the voice doesn’t say,” You are the fairest of them all’, then this article may help.
For example: you have a DD bust. If you can accept that it might be more at home in a banded halter top with hidden underwire support, rather than a sliding string triangle, you are more likely to achieve success.
If the effects of gravity have not yet struck, and you are the same size top and bottom, then you may fit a regular bikini in your size. Otherwise, you will need to be fitted with a separate cossie.
That is not to say that your practical choice has to look any less sexy. On the contrary, when paired with a cute frilly pant or tie-side hipster, you will find yourself looking and feeling better than ever. You’ll be confident in the knowledge that your ample bust will be unable to escape when the first wave hits.
The beauty of separates is that there is that you can mix and match to create the perfect cossie for every woman’s needs. You have the opportunity to get exactly the right size in both bottom and top and in a shape which is tailored to your unique contours.
Swimsuits designers have recognised the the growing popularity of surfing amongst women. Many designs today are both functional and fashionable featuring t-back, cross-back or action backs tops designed to provide support and stay in place whilst you surf.
If you are self conscious about your hips and thighs, then a boy-leg short or flattering, feminine swim skirt will do the trick. A smaller bust will be greatly enhanced by a moulded booster triangle top. If your tummy is not as flat as you would like, try a singlet with a floaty, flared body with power mesh under to hold you in. There are swimwear solutions to remedy every concern.
There are now so many styles to choose from. It’s just a case of talking to a trained professional who can identify what style is best suited to your body shape.
Every woman is self-conscious about something, but in your quest to find the perfect cossie, you will need to accept and embrace the individual features that make your body special.
Baku Chinchilla Photo: Supplied - Baku www.baku.com.au
Natural Necessity Surf Shop stocks 90 ladies swimwear labels and up to 4,000 separates, 4,000 bikini sets and 600 one pieces through the summer season and has swimwear staff trained to assist you find the perfect swimsuit.
Ginja Isla Coco Photo: Supplied - Ginja www.ginja.com.au nov/dec 2010
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FILM
MUSIC
SIPPING JETSTREAMS VAS ENTERTAINMENT (2009)
We just can’t help giving stuff away, so...
GET YOURSELF A FREE dEcK GRIP! If you can’t get to a surf shop that stocks smorgasboarder, you’re worried that all the copies may be gone before you get there, or you’d just rather stay on the couch and wait for the mag to arrive in the mail, you can subscribe for the measly cost of just $18 for six editions. The mag is still free, but Australia Post like to get paid. To subscribe, simply go to www.smorgasboarder.com.au, click the button and go and wait by your mailbox.
The firsT 10 people To subscribe
each get a free smorgasboarder deck grip supplied by the friendly folks at Crosslink Traction in Byron Bay!
VALUEd AT
$40 For more information on Crosslink Traction and to check out their cool range of tailpads, visit www.deckgrips.com
www.SmORGASbOARdER.cOm.AU 120
Not a new movie, but we finally picked it up on our last trip and figured if we hadn’t seen it, there were plenty more who hadn’t either. Surf filmaker Taylor Steele’s latest offering opens up with the quote that encapsulates the movie within a few words: “The world is a book. Those who don’t travel read only one page.” With exotic scenes of snakecharmers and desert landscapes, the movie kicks off with a session of beautiful barrels in Morocco set to Massive Attack’s Angel and continues on to explore other less surf-exposed corners of the globe including Hong Kong, Italy Egypt, Barbados and more. Although there’s no shortage of incredible surfing, an all-star cast of surfers and amazing waves on display, this is far more than just a surf movie. Sipping Jetstreams is a beautifully produced travel diary, full of rich and colourful snapshots of the people and places the movie is set in. Context. We love context. Rather than just seeing beaches and boards, you really get a great feel for the countries visited and the great contrasts between life in the vast open spaces and cities on show. It’s always great to see some smorgasboarding in there with some fun skate scenes in Cuba... And even the SUPs get a quick look in, with the worlds most famous, original European stand up paddlers - the gondoliers of Venice - showing up in the Italian segment. Standout scenes? Chapter Four’s aerial shots give a different and very interesting perspective while dreads, palm trees, awesome waves with Kelly Slater and island tunes make the Barbados segment hard to top. Bonus features include a photo gallery of some of the incredible photography of the trip and a short film on the Bantul Kindergarten Project set in Jakarta after the Indonesian earthquake of 2006. There’s just enough of a taste of the world in here to have you reaching for you passport. “I’m just trying to read the whole book.”
A limited version was released with a 300 page book full of great pics and handwritten journals. Worth checking out.
PROMISES Hopeless Sons
PEE RECORDS
Five tracks of raw and angry Queensland hardcore, featuring ex-members of Gold Coast metalcore boys Vices for Virtues and the drumming talents of Nic Lalot of southsiders Driven Fear. The combo guarantees you a heartfelt 15 minutes or so of detuned guitars, rock solid drumming, great gang vocals and frontman Zacca’s trademark throat-tearing. Regardless is a standout track, kicking off with Sick Of It All-like bassline and a great New York style two-step midsection. If you like your music heavy, this is perfect for a pre-surf hype-up in the car. Give it a spin. All gold. www.peerecords.com
THE JEZABELS Dark Storm PHANTOM DOMESTIC
Dramatic indie pop rock from Melbourne, the Jezabels mix a wide range of influences into this little EP which just hit #1 on the local iTunes charts. The moody and beautiful vocals are reminiscent of Kate Bush and Tori Amos, layed over textured guitar and piano backing set to pretty enthusiastic drumming. Arty background tunes to class up your collection. Catch them on tour this November on their return from the USA. www.thejezabels.com
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BOOKS
CLOSEOUT: RELAX
MUSIC
PLANET SURF RYAN A. SMITH
CAMERON HOUSE
JOHN BUTLER TRIO THESE ARE THE DAYS: THE MAKING OF APRIL UPRISING JARRAH RECORDS
A year in the making, this DVD is an open and unique look at the life of the boys in the John Butler Trio, as well as an intimate, behindthe-scenes insight into the making of the 2010 April Uprising album, which achieved platinum status this September. A mix of music, interviews, horsing around and serious moments of reflection, the hour-long production takes you on a trip through John Butler’s Fremantle: the markets where it all began for him as a busker, through to his studio where the April Uprising was recorded.
Travel. We love it. And this 176-page paperback book is all about it. Planet Surf is essentially a primer for pretty much most surf spots around the world. It touches lightly on each destination, giving select tips and highlights. Add in a few great photographs of barrels in destinations far beyond and it’s just enough to get your blood pumping and your passport itching to go. However, because the book - as the name suggests - covers the entire planet, deciding on where exactly to go on your next international surf trip will be the hardest choice. The section on Australia covers all the usual suspects and big-name breaks, as you would expect given the massive volume of surf spots to cover, but it’s also nice to see that lesser known - or at least less popular - international surfing destinations get a run too. Africa, Europe, America, Asia and beyond… it’s all in there. The travel sections are broken up nicely with extra segments of info on everything from surf history to surf-mobiles to boardshorts to big-wave riding, which keeps the book fresh and interesting throughout. Planet surf is neatly done with plenty of bitsy information for pick-up-put-down reading, and enough visual material to keep you flicking through for images alone. A good coffee table book for the aspiring surf traveller, or couch surfer.
But it’s not called a trio for nothing. Drummer Nicky Bomba and bass player Byron Luiters also get their time on film, which between all the interviews and candid material truly conveys a sense of how the close-knit unit create such incredible and unforgettable tunes.
TRUNK JUNK #1
A little bit of skateboarding footage brings some board cred to the disc and also shows that Mr Butler has talent in his feet as well as his vocal chords and fingers.
The first edition of new publication Trunk Junk Quarterly is a 100 page snapshot of some great quality art and photography, some surf, skate and music – with one of our favourite’s Isaac Paddon and The Tides album even making an appearance. The well designed, well printed mishmash of board culture in general with free stickers and a pull-out poster is delivered in a box – an overall package totally justifying the $15 price tag. (Hey, if you’re going to pay for a mag, you may as well get your money’s worth!) This will definitely appeal to fans of mags like Juxtapoz and people with an interest in art and design, but will also have a few gems for skaters and surfers. Good job. Oh and if you order it online, you get a free 46 page zine and what looks like some cool coasters. Stiffed. I didn’t get those… We’re looking forward to seeing the next quarter roll around already! trunkjunkquarterly.com
If you’re a JBT fan, this movie would have to be part of your collection. If you’re not a fan yet, watching this DVD might very well sway you into becoming one. The only complaint... what’s with the cheap-arse packaging? But never mind - you don’t watch the box. And I guess it might be forgiven considering how cool the April Uprising CD’s package is. Good stuff. Get it. Watch it. Love it.
TRUNK JUNK QUARTERLY PUBLISHING
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CLOSEOUT: FIRST AID IA
Cooper Griffin
25 years later... still flying high
SECRET SPOTS THAT YOU WANT TO AVOID
Let’s not make this too scary. Surely a lifetime of the most sublime of pastimes is worth a few scars. But I’ll share a few tips to keep the scars small and the surfer surfing. 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
WORDS BY DR. PETE KIRKHAM I have a regular clientele of seasoned surfers in my skin cancer clinic here on the Sunshine Coast. One thing that’s always interested me is that during a skin check, both my patient and I often focus on the same spots. I’ve had a fair bit of training and experience so it’s somewhat disconcerting that someone with no experience can manage this. It’s probably similar when a group are picking the best surfing spot for the day, sometimes you just sort of know. Whatever your level of expertise. It’s all about the one that catches the eye. Gut feeling. That doesn’t take any special training, just a good eye and that sixth sense. A melanoma doesn’t always look like what you’d expect a melanoma to look like but it does often look ‘dodgy’. Much more common skin cancers like basal and squamous cell cancers also often look and feel different.
.com.au etaway g d i u w.liq
ww
Everyone’s well versed in the change in shape, size and bleeding etc. as potential warning signs too. Areas I tend to check carefully in surfers are the lower legs, shoulders and the face, as these seem to be particularly vulnerable areas for basal and squamous cell skin cancers.
urS ing to l l e k r Sno ntureS S i e r v a d f a a eniC Surf S ing SC h C t a w whale 07 5326 1700
Pre Bookings essential Parkyn Parade, Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast, qld, australia
Melanomas are often found in relatively non sun exposed areas. The number and type of moles and ‘big hits’ of sun early in life are both probably important risk factors for melanoma. Early diagnosis keeps everybody happy. A dedicated annual skin check does really help. In the meantime slip, slap, slop and get out there.
Detecting melanoma. From top to bottom: melanomas showing 1. asymmetry, 2. a border that is uneven, ragged, or notched, 3. displaying coloring of different shades of brown, black, or tan and 4. diameter that had changed in size Photo: National Cancer Institute/Skin Cancer Foundation
Dr. Pete Kirkham is a general practitioner at Nambour Medical Centre. www.skinclearclinic.com.au
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CLOSEOUT: FITNESS
TENDON TO BE A PAIN YES, IT’S SURFER’S ELBOW WORDS BY JOHN HART
John Hart is a qualified fitness instructor and personal trainer with a Masters in education who also writes books, trains and rehabiliates people, takes photos, directs movies and is always happy to share what he’s learned.
It seems all sports like to claim Lateral Epicondylitis as their own specific sport injury, better known in the world of surfing as “Surfer’s Elbow.” However, you may also have heard this more commonly referred to as “Tennis Elbow.” So what is Lateral Epicondylitis (Surfer’s Elbow) and how can we prevent, cure or just plain fix it? Surfer’s Elbow is an overuse injury involving the extensor muscles that originate on the Lateral Epicondylar region of the Distal Humerus (Funny bone). It is more properly termed a tendinosis that specifically involves the origin of the Extensor Carpi Radialis Brevis muscle. Basically speaking, it is an overuse or inflammation injury. Whilst this injury plagues many sports people, about 40-50% of the surfing fraternity will suffer this type of aliment during their surfing years. It predominately inflicts overzealous, mad surfers who stay in the water for literally hours at a time. This ailment also affects tennis players and golf players. It is in fact a common problem. The injury involves inflammation of the Radial Humeral Bursa, Synovium, Periosteum and the ligament (connective
tissue). There may also be some tearing of tissue. However, this would be rare in relation to those involved in surfing. If you have this injury you would present with lateral elbow and forearm pain exacerbated by paddling. The pain will also extend down the forearm and often occurs in recreational surfers between the ages of 30-50 years young. Other symptoms may include pain about 1-2cm down from the bony area at the outside of the elbow. Symptoms may include reduced strength in the wrist, (when trying to open the twist top of a beer after that long surf in the sun!) pains on the elbow itself and your fingers feeling stiff when you try and open your hand. To confirm whether you have Surfer’s Elbow, try the chair raise test. Stand behind a chair and attempt to raise it by putting your hands on the top of the chair back and then lifting it. If pain results over the lateral elbow, chances are that you have Surfers Elbow. About 95% of patients with the condition will respond to conservative treatments and will not require any surgical procedures. Surfers whose condition is unresponsive after 6 months of therapy (including steroid injections) may need to seek a surgeon’s opinion.
MANAGEMENT & TREATMENT When the injury occurs, apply ice or coldtherapy to the pain region (the elbow) for 15 minutes at a time. Repeat this 7 to 8 times a day. This will help to reduce the pain and any inflammation that may be present. Rest is also extremely important in the healing process. Rest is not something surfers like to do, however no rest will increase the problem and it will be present for a much longer period of time. You can also wear a support-brace to protect the tendon whilst healing and strengthening it, particularly when you return to surfing. These can be purchased from your local chemist shop or Sports Physiotherapist, whom can also advise on the best treatment for you. The brace should not be put on the painful area but placed approximately 10cm down the forearm. As with all soft-tissue injuries a comprehensive rehabilitation program should be carried out by your favourite Exercise Scientist or Physio.
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CLOSEOUT: LEARNERS
Jervis Bay Stand Up Paddle
FUN, NOT FIGHTS AVOID THE RAGE. IT’S REALLY NOT WORTH IT
Lessons, Tours, Board Hire www.jervisbaystanduppaddle.com.au
0403 354 716
As Noosa’s Israel Kani - our feature interview on Page 26 will tell you from experience, it’s much more enjoyable to be in the surf without the hassle. So if you’re new to it all, here are some survival tips from Nigel Potts, Director of the Academy of Surfing Instructors to help keep you out of trouble. As surfing becomes more popular, the number of beginners continues to rise. More bodies and more surfboards means waves are more crowded and these conditions create the ideal breeding ground for “surf rage”. Inexperienced surfers often take waves without being aware of the “dropping in” rule. This rule governs who has priority on the wave. The surfer closest to the curl of the wave has the priority. Experienced surfers can catch a wave just as it starts to break and be up on their feet and riding quick as a flash. The inexperienced surfer, further along the wave, will then be in the way. Not only does this ruin the ride for the surfer riding on the wave, but it can also cause a collision to happen.
Understanding more about surfing and the ocean is definitely required before getting out on a surfboard. Most sports need some level of theory before delving into the sport. Scuba diving, for example, requires people to understand something about their equipment and safety issues before going into the water. The same is true for surfing. Unfortunately, many people think they can just jump on a surfboard and do it. Because they have not bothered to learn more about their equipment, the ocean, surfing etiquette and safety, they become a potential danger in the water. Surfing is a great sport and surf rage can be avoided if everyone is a little more “surf educated”.
The result could be serious injury and/ or board damage. This is definitely the biggest cause of a surf rage incident. But “dropping in” is not the only potential source of surf rage. Inexperienced surfers usually have little “ocean sense”. Rips and currents can easily drag a surfer out into the larger waves and in the way of experienced surfers. Beginners may also not understand the paddling etiquette rule and paddle straight into an experienced surfer’s path.
We have three copies of the ASI Learn to Surf for Beginners manual and DVD to give away thanks to ASI. Tell us about your learning experience, or send us a photo at letters@smorgasboarder.com.au
Academy of Surfing Instructors (ASI) is the world’s leading education and accreditation organisation in the surf industry, specialising in surfing, stand up paddle and bodyboarding. Instructional manuals and DVDs available for purchase. www.academyofsurfing.com 124
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BOOK REVIEW
Dropping in, snaking, just bein
g inconsiderate in general...
it makes people cranky. Pho to: Phil Burnham/Exposed Monkey
www.exposedmonkey.com
.au
SPORTS WISDOM REVEALED: THE COACHES DAVID BECKER & SCOTT HILL (2010)
To cut to the chase, there are a lot of books out there, particularly in relation to the field of sport, so why buy this one? It has differing points of view. Instead of some author’s all-knowing view on sports psychology, the book is a compilation of personal stories and success philosophies from twelve of Australia’s finest coaches. Phil McNamara, coach of two-time ASP world champion Mick Fanning, is one of the contributors. Readers will find his insights extremely interesting. It is essential reading for anyone involved in the development of junior surfing from coaches to parents of budding surf stars. Phil shares his views on a range of topics from his coaching philosophy, the attributes and pathways to success, incorporating technology in training, preparation, handling setbacks and sports parenting. Aside from Phil, there are many interesting perspectives from coaches in other fields of sport. Many speak of the importance of not “living life in a vacuum” and how important it is to take key learnings from various sports and apply them accordingly. Phil cites Tony Roche and Wayne Bennett as two influential coaches he has observed who have made an impact upon how he coaches his athletes. Some of the other coaches featured in the book include Ron Barassi, Laurie Lawrence, Norma Plummer, Lindsay Gaze and Johnny Lewis. Sports Wisdom Revealed: The Coaches is easy to digest and incredibly well structured, making regular reference a cinch - perfect for a book of this nature. The book is available as a printed paperback, or an e-book. For more information, see the website www.sportswisdomrevealed.com.au The authors of Sports Wisdom Revealed: The Coaches are highly respected physiotherapist David Becker, who for fifteen years worked alongside many of the world’s top coaches and athletes, and Scott Hill, former rugby league star for the Melbourne Storm and Kangaroo International. nov/dec 2010
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SURF DIRECTORY QLD CENTRAL COAST REEF 2 BEACH SURF SHOP
07 4974 9072 Shop 1, 10 Round Hill Road Agnes Water/1770 www.reef2beachsurf.com
Pick up the next edition of smorgasboarder at any of these fine businesses - out in January
SURF AND STREET SHOP
DA BOMB
GANGSTA SURF
DMS
COOLUM SURF
BEACH BEAT
GREENLINE
D’ARCY HANDSHAPES
BLUE LINES
THE FACTORY
BOARD CULTURE
SHAPERS
07 5471 3489 224 David Low Way Peregian Beach www.surf-shop.org
07 5351 1742 Shop 14, 8-26 Birtwill St Coolum Beach www.alexsurfshop.com.au
SUNSHINE COAST NOOSA SURF WORKS
07 5474 4567 1/11 Bartlett St Noosaville www.shotgunsurf.com www.lagunabaysurf.com
07 5351 1986 Shops 17 & 18 1776 The Esplanade Coolum Beach
WIPEOUT SURF & SKATE
WATERLINE
07 5450 7272 1/938 David Low Way Marcoola Beach
07 5474 1010 2/15 Venture Dr Noosaville www.zeewetsuits.com
OLD WOMAN SURF SHOP
CLASSIC MALIBU AUSTRALIA
07 5474 3122 Cnr Gibson and Eumundi Rds. Noosaville www.classicmalibu.com
07 5448 7025 Santorini Shop 6, 15 Mudjimba Esp Mudjimba
DA BOMB
07 5474 1222 3 Gibson Rd, Noosaville
07 5451 0620 3/25 Plaza Pde Maroochydore www.dabombsurf.com.au
ON SURFARI
OCEAN ADDICTS
LOCAL KNOWLEDGE
07 5474 2162 197 Gympie Terrace Noosaville www.onsurfari.com.au
07 5309 6624 103-105 Aerodrome Rd Maroochydore www.oceanaddicts.com.au
GOLDEN BREED
ALTERNATIVE SURF
07 5455 3722 15 Noosa Drive Noosa Heads www.goldenbreed.com.au
07 5475 4811 Shop 11 Aquarius Resort 140 Alexandra Pde Alexandra Headland
IMPACT SURF
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
BACK BEACH
07 5473 5676 Cnr Lanyana Way/Arcadia Walk Noosa Junction www.backbeach.net.au
BEACH BEAT
07 5443 2777 164 Alexandra Pde Alexandra Headlands www.beachbeat.com.au
ALEX SURF
07 5452 6276 188 Alexandra Pde Alexandra Headlands www.alexsurf.com.au
WORLD SURFARIS
1800 611 163 2/174 Brisbane Rd Mooloolaba www.worldsurfaris.com
SOLACE
SURF PLANET
WIPEOUT SURF & SKATE
SUBURBAN SURF
07 5455 4826 20 Duke Street Sunshine Beach solacestore.blogspot.com 07 5448 0899 3/28 Duke St Sunshine Beach 126
07 5476 6200 Shop 5, Buderim Marketplace Buderim www.surfplanet.com.au 07 5493 7411 224 Nicklin Way, Warana www.suburbansurf.com.au
(07) 5437 9201 7/12 Thunderbird Dr Bokarina www.dabombsurf.com.au 07 5491 8215 Shop 2&3 4-6 Beerburrum St Dicky Beach www.beachbeat.com.au 07 5492 5838 15 Allen St Caloundra QLD 4551
SURFWARE AUSTRALIA 07 5491 3620 2 Bulcock St Caloundra
BEACH BEAT
07 5491 4711 119 Bulcock Rd Caloundra www.beachbeat.com.au
BRISBANE PRIMITIVE SURF
07 3266 1001 601 Nudgee Rd Nundah www.primitivesurf.com
GOODTIME
07 3391 8588 29 Ipswich Rd Wooloongabba www.goodtime.com.au
07 5526 6969 Shop 1/ 2558 Gold Coast Hwy Mermaid Beach www.gangstasurf.com 0412 398 585 2544 Gold Coast Hwy Mermaid Beach www.greenlinepaddlesurf.com 07 5572 9866 2438 Gold Coast Hwy Mermaid Beach www.boardculture.com.au
LOCAL KNOWLEDGE
DIVERSE
07 5527 7877 2084 Gold Coast Hwy Miami
LOWEN 88
07 5526 5161 2a/2172 Gold Coast Highway Miami www.lowen88.com
HARVEY SURF GALLERY 0414 557 62 Unit 3, 10 Pacific Ave Miami www.harveysurf.com
MT WOODGEE
SEAN SCOTT PHOTOGRAPHY
SIDEWAYS
07 5592 3849 3012 Surfers Blvd Surfers Paradise sidewaysboardsports.com.au
DUKE’S LONGBOARDS
MT WOODGEE
THE BOARDROOM
SURF FX
07 5538 0008 3191 Surfers Paradise Bvld Surfers Paradise www.surf-fx.com
07 5534 4228 9/7 Traders Way, Currumbin www.shapers.com.au 07 5598 2188 2 Stewart Rd Currumbin www.mtwoodgee.com.au
GOLD COAST
SURF FX
07 5559 5866 1/8 Hawker St Currumbin www.darcysurfboards.com
07 5526 6377 2251 Gold Coast Hwy Nobby Beach
07 5535 0288 1730 Gold Coast Hwy Burleigh Heads www.mtwoodgee.com.au
07 5531 3199 127 Ferry Road Southport www.surf-fx.com
07 5559 5949 3/56 Currumbin Creek Rd Currumbin www.dmshapes.com
07 5598 4848 476 Gold Coast Highway Tugun www.diversesurf.com.au
DORRINGTON SURFBOARDS
07 5599 4030 16 Musgrave Street Kirra www.dorringtonsurfboards.com
BOARD CULTURE
07 5536 5866 Gold Coast Hwy(outside airport) Coolangatta www.boardculture.com.au
KIRRA SURF/WORLD SURFARIS 07 5536 3922 Shop 6, 8 Creek St Bilinga www.kirrasurf.com.au
07 5520 2774 Old Burleigh Theatre Arcade, Shop 10, Goodwin Tce Burleigh Heads seanscottphotography.com.au
UNDERGROUND SURF
DALE CHAPMAN
MT WOODGEE
MY PHOTO EXPERT
COOLANGATTA BOARD STORE
07 5593 8411 Unit 3/48 Junction Road Burleigh Heads www.chapmansurfboards.com 07 5535 2763 3/71 Township Drive Burleigh Heads www.myphotoexpert.com.au
07 5599 1040 Shop 3/31 McLean St. Coolangatta www.undergroundsurf.com.au 07 5536 5937 122 Griffith St Coolangatta www.mtwoodgee.com.au 07 5536 7850 152 Griffith St, Coolangatta www.cbsboardstore.com
SEAN SCOTT PHOTOGRAPHY
07 5572 0477 2578 Gold Coast Hwy Mermaid Beach www.dukeslongboards.com
GOLD COAST SURF WORLD
07 5525 6380 Tomewin Street, Currumbin www.surfworldgoldcoast.com
07 5599 1150 Shop 3, 110 Marine Pde, Coolangatta seanscottphotography.com.au
STUART SURF DESIGN
FIREWIRE SURFBOARDS
BASE SURFBOARDS
07 5572 0098 2576 Gold Coast Hwy Mermaid Beach www.stuartsurf.com.au
07 5587 7700 1/49 Currumbin Creek Rd Currumbin www.firewiresurfboards.com
07 5536 1470 Cnr Dutton St & Marine Pde Coolangatta www.basesurfboards.com
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NSW NORTH COAST SIDEWAYS
07 5524 6699 2/13-21 Greenway Dr Tweed Heads sidewaysboardsports.com.au
FULL FORCE
07 5524 2933 Factory 18 / 48 Machinery Drive Tweed Heads
SURF XCESS
02 6674 5350 88 Marine Parade Kingscliff
CABARITA SURF SHOP 02 6676 3151 1/38 Tweed Coast Rd Cabarita Beach
BRUNSWICK SURF
UNPLUGGED
02 6685 7441 Shop 1/ 2 Lawson Street Byron Bay www.unpluggedbyronbay.com
ALL ABOVE BOARD 02 6687 7522 68 Ballina St Lennox Head
MADDOG SURF CENTRES 02 6685 6094 45 River St, Ballina www.maddog.com.au
TRIPLE X WETSUITS
02 6686 3939 10 Piper Drive, Ballina www.triple-x.com.au
THE PLANK SHOP
02 6645 8362 Top of the Hill, Yamba
02 6685 1283 1/12 The Terrace Brunswick Heads www.brunswicksurf.com.au
SOUND LOUNGE
MCTAVISH
MORE SURFBOARDS
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
02 6646 3909 16 Yamba St, Yamba 0405 475 026 Angourie Rd, Yamba www.moresurfboards.com
NSW MID NORTH COAST XS SURF
02 6654 1049 76 Beach Street, Woolgoolga www.xssurf.com
COOPERS SURF CENTRES
02 6654 0033 56D Beach St, Woolgoolga 02 6652 8146 28 Orlando St Coffs Harbour www.cooperssurf.com.au
MUNROE
02 6685 6211 29 Acacia St Byron Bay www.munroesurfboards.com.au
T&C SURF DESIGN / MCCOY 02 6685 7485 10 Acacia Street Byron Bay
BYRON BAY LONGBOARDS 02 6685 5244 Shop 1 - 89 Jonson St Byron Bay
HO’OKUPU
02 6685 8861 2/9 Lawson St Byron Bay hookupusurf.com
THE LOG SHACK
02 66580223 392 Harbour Drive, The Jetty Strip Coffs Harbour www.thelogshack.com.au
SUNPATCH SURF SHOP
02 6653 1965 49 First Ave Sawtell www.sunpatchsurf.com.au
VALLA SURFBOARDS
02 6568 8909 8 Monro St, Nambucca Heads www.vallasurfboards.com.au
COASTAL CURVES
02 6568 6902 Ridge St, Nambucca Heads www.coastalcurves.com
SCOTTS HEAD SURF SHOP
02 6569 8344 Scotts Head NSW 2447 scottsheadsurfschool.blogspot.com
WAVE WEAR
02 6566 5177 1/15 Livingstone St South West Rocks
CRESCENT HEAD SURF CO. 02 6562 8306 33 Smith St Kempsey
CRESCENT HEAD SURF SHOP 02 6566 0550 1 Crescent Head Tavern Crescent Head
INNER VISION SURF ‘N’ SKATE 02 6583 7790 80 William St Port Macquarie
SALTWATER WINE
02 6584 4877 1/125 Gordon St Port Macquarie www.saltwaterwine.com.au
SANDY FEET
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
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
SURFERS CHOICE
SURF FACTORY
16 Maitland Rd Islington www.thesurffactory.com.au
MARK RICHARDS SURFSHOP
02 4961 3088 755 Hunter St Newcastle markrichardssurfboards.com
SURFHOUSE PHOTOGRAPHY 61 Hunter Street Newcastle surfhousephotography.com
02 4334 6532 473 The Entrance Rd Long Jetty www.surferschoice.com.au
BATEAU BAY SURF N SPORT 02 4332 1157 101a Bateau Bay Road Bateau Bay
ONE EIGHTY SURF COMPANY
Shop 2, 82a Ocean View Drive Wamberal www.180surfco.com.au
SLIMES
PACIFIC DREAMS SURFSHOPS 02 4926 3355 7 Darby St Newcastle www.pacificdreams.com.au
SANBAH
02 4962 2420 Shop 27, The Junction Fair Union Street Newcastle www.sanbah.com.au
02 4365 5511 1/203 The Entrance Rd Erina
ESS BOARDSTORE
251 The Entrance Rd Erina www.essboardstore.com.au
THREE POINTS SURF
02 4382 1541 170 Avoca Drive Avoca Beach www.avocasurfscholl.com.au
BREAKAWAY SURF CO
STS THE BOARD CENTRE
02 4943 2699 181 Pacific Hwy Charlestown
02 4342 2555 326 West St Umina
EGANS
02 4945 8055 575 Pacific Hwy Belmont
NORTHERN BEACHES
THE SURF SHACK
02 9918 2763 1a Nth Avalon Rd Avalon
BEACH WITHOUT SAND
02 4945 8965 703 Pacific Hwy Belmont South
RAISED BY WOLVES
02 9918 8861 U 2/40 Old Barrenjoey Rd Avalon www.raisedbywolves.com.au
SWANSEA SURF SHOP
02 4971 4422 164 Pacific Hwy Swansea www.swanseasurf.com.au
LITTLE DRAGON
0403 974 967 1 Bramley Lane Newport Beach
CENTRAL COAST BEACHIN SURF
02 43 96 5159 262 Main Rd Toukley www.surfinfo.com.au/nsw/ beachinsurf
DIVISION SURF
02 9979 5334 Cnr Bungan and Waratah Sts Mona Vale www.divisionsurf.com.au
ADRIFT SURF
RAISED BY WOLVES
02 4332 8355 133 The Entrance Road The Entrance www.adriftsurf.com.au
02 9997 4838 9b Waratah St Mona Vale www.raisedbywolves.com.au
BOARDERLINE SURF SKATE
SUGARMILL SURF EMPORIUM
02 4332 7175 421 The Entrance Rd Long Jetty www.boarderlinesurfskate.com
02 9913 3332 2/1329 Pittwater Rd Narrabeen www.sugarmillsurf.com
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SURF DIRECTORY CONTINUED POWERLINEZ
SURFECTION
WICKS SURF CENTRE
HERITAGE SURF AUSTRALIA
LONG REEF SURF
SURFECTION
02 9913 2128 16a Waterloo St Narrabeen www.powerlinez.com.au
02 9977 6955 110 The Corso Manly www.surfectionmosman.com
02 9971 0760 1103 Pittwater Road Collaroy Beach
02 9977 7623 24 Darley Rd, Manly www.heritagesurfaustralia.com
02 9982 4829 1012 Pittwater Rd Collaroy www.longreefsurf.com.au
02 9969 1011 522 Military Rd Mosman www.surfectionmosman.com
WIND SURF ’N’ SNOW
02 9971 0999 17 Anzac Ave Collaroy www.windsurfnsnow.com.au
SUPER SWELL
02 9144 3229 166 Mona Vale Rd St Ives
SYDNEY SOUTH
LINE UP SURF AUSTRALIA 02 9971 8624 12b The Strand Dee Why www.lineup.com.au
SURFECTION
02 9387 1413 308 Oxford St Bondi Junction
THE PERFECT WAVE
Pick up the next edition of smorgasboarder at any of these fine businesses - out in January
NATURAL NECESSITY SURF SHOP
EASTCOAST STAND UP PADDLE Dedicated to SUP - Sydney’s original Stand Up Paddle outlet. Performance, flatwater, race, and distance boards – we have a board to suit all skill levels.
0413 456009 0418 294854 27 Throsby Close Barden Ridge eastcoaststanduppaddle.com.au
WOOLONGONG FINBOX BOARDSTORE
02 4268 2050 1/ 269 Lawrence Hargrave Drive Thirroul thefinbox.blogspot.com
02 9939 0890 Suite 38, 42-46 Wattle Rd Brookvale www.theperfectwave.com.au
BONDI UNDERGROUND
SURF PIT
CHAOS SURFBOARDS
DRIPPING WET SURF CO
BYRNE SURF AND SKI
02 9907 2769 Unit 1/236 Harbord Road Brookvale www.chaossurfboards.com
BENNETT SURFBOARDS 02 9905 5157 180 Harbord Rd Brookvale
02 9977 3549 398 Pittwater Rd Mona Vale www.dripwetsurf.com
02 9977 3549 93 North Steyne Manly www.dripwetsurf.com
BASE SURFBOARDS
02 9976 0591 46 North Steyne Rd Manly www.basesurfboards.com
MANLY LONGBOARD CO.
02 9977 0093 39 Belgrave Street Manly www.manlylongboard.com 128
SURF CULTURE / SIX OUNCE
SKIPP SURFBOARDS
CRONULLA JACKSON SURFBOARDS
02 9977 4399 89 Pittwater Rd Manly www.sunshinesurfing.com.au
DRIPPING WET SURF CO
02 9300 0055 180-186 Campbell Parade Bondi Beach www.drippingwetsurf.com
02 4226 1122 115 Princes Highway Fairy Meadow byrnesurfboardsaustralia.com
02 93895477 40 Bronte Road Bondi Junction www.surfculture.com.au www.sixounceboardstore.com
DRIPPING WET SURF CO
SUNSHINE SURFING
02 9365 0870 2/72 Campbell Pde Bondi Beach
02 4283 7196 2/100 Railway St, Corrimal www.surfpit.com.au
02 9524 2700 57 Captain Cook Drive Caringbah www.jacksonsurfboards.com.au
TRIPLE BULL
02 9524 4822 41 Captain Cook Dr Caringbah 02 9544 0354 23 Kingsway Cronulla www.triplebullsurf.com
CRONULLA SURF DESIGN
02 9544 0433 8 Cronulla St Cronulla cronullasurfdesign.com.au
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
CORE SURF STORE
CORE SURF SKATE AND KITE
02 6494 3374 49 Toalla St Pambula Village www.pambulasurfshop.com.au
COUNTRY VIC
ATOLL TRAVEL
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
SALTWATER DREAM
SKIPP SURF
02 6495 1600 39 Market St Merimbula
AQUATIQUE
CARABINE SURF DESIGNS
02 4226 3145 80 Market St Wollongong
SALTWATER DREAM
SURF SHACK
02 4454 0343 138 Princes Hwy Ulladulla www.southernman.com.au
EXTREME SNOW, SKATE & SURF
02 6495 1515 Merimbula Drive Merimbula
02 4421 4108 148 Junction Street Nowra www.corestore.com.au
02 4228 8878 24 Flinders St, Wollongong www.skippsurfboards.com.au 02 4229 9462 36 Flinders St, Wollongong
MERIMBULA SURF SHOP
02 4472 3811 2 Bay Central Batemans Bay
OFFSHORE SURF SHOP
02 4474 4350 66 Vulcan St, Moruya www.offshoresurf.com.au
03 5155 4933 507 Esplanade Lakes Entrance 1800 622 310 4 Bridge Street Foster www.atolltravel.com
SERIOUS SURF STUFF
03 5674 2540 1 Williams Street Inverloch www.strapper.com.au
VORTEX SURF & SKATE 03 5672 4112 54 McBride Ave Wonthaggi www.strapper.com.au
PHILLIP ISLAND OUTEREEF
03 5678 5677 73 Phillip Island Rd, San Remo www.outereef.com.au
FULLCIRCLE SURF
03 5678 5873 115 Marine Pde, San Remo www.fullcirclesurf.com.au
ISLANTIS
02 4229 1202 231 Crown Street Wollongong www.skippsurfboards.com.au
NAROOMA SURF & SKATE 02 4476 1422 30 Princes Hwy Narooma
03 5956 7553 10-12 Phillip Island Rd Newhaven www.islantis.com.au
BOARDOM
DSC SURFBOARDS
FULLCIRCLE SURF
BERMAGUI SURF SHOP
ISLAND SURF CENTRE
02 4227 2777 206 Keira Street, Wollongong 02 4295 3373 1/16b Addison St Shellharbour Village
ZINK SURF
02 4233 1189 136 Terralong St. Kiama www.zinksurf.com.au
0424 867 962 Midtown Arcade Narooma 02 6493 4849 4/28 Lamont St Bermagui
RAW SURFBOARDS
02 6494 4466 Lot 1291 Tathra Road Kalaru www.rawsurfboards.com.au
03 5956 7453 4-5 Vista Pl, Cape Woolamai www.fullcirclesurf.com.au 03 5952 2578 147 Thompson Ave Cowes www.islandsurfboards.com.au
ISLAND SURF SHACK 03 5952 1659 148 Thompson Ave Cowes
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DING REPAIRS ISLAND SURF CENTRE
03 5952 3443 65 Smiths Beach Rd Smiths Beach www.islandsurfboards.com.au
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)
PENINSULA SURF CENTRE
03 5975 1800 835 Nepean Hwy Mornington www.peninsulasurf.com.au
TRIGGER BROS SURF & SAIL
03 9580 1716 628 Main St Mordialloc www.mordysurf.com.au
PAULOWNIA SURFBOARD SUPPLIES
03 9588 2533 45 Governor Road Mordialloc paulowniaparadise.com.au
OKE SURFBOARDS
03 9587 3553. Factory 1 1-7 Canterbury Rd, Braeside www.okesurfboards.com
TRIGGER BROS SURF & SAIL 03 9770 2223 7 Rossmith St Frankston www.triggerbros.com.au
PENINSULA SURF CENTRE
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
(Mon – Sat, 9-5pm, Sun,10-4pm) 07 4974 9072
SUNSHINE COAST
BASE SURFBOARDS
BRISBANE
TRIGGER BROS SURF & SAIL
STRAPPER
03 5984 5670 46 Ocean Beach Rd Sorrento www.triggerbros.com.au
OZMOSIS
MORDY SURF CENTRE
REEF 2 BEACH
03 5985 4637 2137 Pt Nepean Hwy Rye www.peninsulasurf.com.au
PENINSULA SURF CENTRE
BRIGHTON SURF CO.
03 9598 2867 81 Beach Road Sandringham www.shq.com.au
TORQUAY SURF WORLD
AGNES WATER/1770
DA BOMB
BEAN SURFING
SHQ BOARDSPORTS
03 5261 7590 Shop 2, Surf City Plaza Torquay www.strapper.com.au 03 5261 4606 Surf City Plaza Torquay www.surfworld.org.au
03 5989 8402 Point Leo Rd, Point Leo www.triggerbros.com.au
03 9525 6475 87 Ormond Rd Elwood www.rpstheboardstore.com 03 9593 2211 43 Church St Brighton
BLUNT
03 5984 5199 4 Ocean Beach Rd Sorrento 03 5984 0360 4 Ocean Beach Rd Sorrento www.ozmosis.com.au
VIC SURF COAST 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 5261 5666 3/108 Surfcoast Hwy, Torquay www.basesurfboards.com 03 5261 3508 96 Surfcoast Hwy, Torquay 03 5261 2312 106 Surfcoast Hwy, Torquay www.strapper.com.au
TORQUAY SURFING ACADEMY 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
SHIPWRECK COAST
03 5254 1470 60/62 Hitchcock Ave Barwon Heads www.tonik.com.au
PORT CAMPBELL TRADING CO
STONKER TORQUAY
TAYLORS SURFODESY
03 5261 6077 1a Baines Court, Torquay www.stonker.com.au
SOUTH COAST SURFBOARDS
03 5261 2670 1C Baines Court Torquay www.southcoastlongboards.com.au
03 5598 6444 27 Lord Street Port Campbell
03 5562 5681 132 Liebig Street, Warrnambool
SOUTHERN GUNS
03 5562 0928 176 Liebig Street Warrnambool
(Mon – Sat, 9-5pm, Sun,10-4pm) 07 5451 0620 - Maroochydore 07 5437 9201 - Bokarina
WOOLONGONG
SKIPP SURFBOARDS
M-F,9-5:30, Thurs 9-7:30pm, Sat 9-4, Sun 10-4) 02 4228 8878
JERVIS BAY
INNER FEELING SURFBOARDS (7 days, 9-5pm) 02 4441 6756
NAROOMA
PRIMITIVE SURF
(Mon-Fri, 8:30-5:30pm, Thurs 8:30am-8pm, Sat, 8:30-4pm, Sun, 10-4pm) 07 3266 1001
DSC SURFBOARDS (7 days, 9-5pm) 0424 867 962
THORNBURY
TUGUN
ZAK SURFBOARDS
(M-F,8:30-5:30pm, Sat and Sun, 9-4pm) 07 5598 4848
TORQUAY
DIVERSE
COOLANGATTA
(Mon-Fri,10-6pm; Sat 10-5pm) 03 9416 7384
STONKER TORQUAY (Mon – Fri, 9-5pm) 03 5261 6077
UNDERGROUND SURF (7 days, 9-5pm) 07 5599 1040
PHILLIP ISLAND
YAMBA
(7 days , 9-5pm) 03 5956 7553
ISLANTIS
THE PLANK SHOP 02 6645 8362
ISLAND SURF SHOP - COWES
TOMBSTONE SURFBOARDS
(Tues-Fri, 9-4pm, Sat, 9-12pm) 0432 330 826
(7 days, 9-5pm) 03 5952 2578
FULLCIRCLE SURF
COFFS HARBOUR
(7 days, 9-5pm) 03 5956 7453
(M-F, 10-5pm, Sat & Sun 10-2:30pm) 02 6658 0223
FIX BROKEN BOARDS?
THE LOG SHACK
SYDNEY NORTH
Promote your ding repair business for $15 an edition. Call 0401 345 201
CHAOS SURFBOARDS
(M-F,9-6pm, Sat & Sun 8:30-6pm) 02 9907 2769
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: RELAX
3.
ALL ON BOARD Â 1.
A little wet weather didn’t dampen the spirits or affect the turnout for the opening bash of Ocean Addicts, a brand new board store in Maroochydore on the Sunshine Coast.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Cold drinks and a sausage sizzle kept the attendees fed and watered as they browsed through the SUP, kite, wake and surf gear on offer, while the littlies enjoyed a round of face painting.
2.
PHOTOS: 1. Jayne and Andrew checking out some huge boards 2. Deb Mitchell enjoying the day 3. Co-owners Hayden and Ruth 4. Lorraine loves smorgasboarder 5. The red carpet was rolled out for young and old 6. Liz and Murray cook up some mean snags 7. Glen, Steve, Glenn 8. Scandanavian students Didde, Marthe and Randi experienced some Sunshine Coast hospitality 9. Ocean addict and co-owner Luke snapped here with Greg and Bec
8.
9.
For more on the store, see: www.oceanaddicts.com.au
Photos: Mark Chapman
ART OF SURFING
The Gold Coast competition attracted hoards of spectators and after a tense afternoon judging session, the winners were allotted their dues at a great opening party, complete with band and BBQ.
LET US KNOW ABOUT YOUR EVENT
If you have something on the go, let us know. Email us on:
editorial@smorgasboarder.com.au
130
The competition attracted over 60 original works from local and interstate designers and artists. Surf World Gold Coast Chairman Mal Sutherland said that surfboards had long been an outlet for artistic expression and the competition highlights the tremendous creativity in surfboard art.
Winners from left: D ick Van Straalen, Simon Skerry, Rodney Hopper, Ralph Riddell, Christian Chapman and (front) Cain Pridmore. Photo and words, Deb Perry
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NEXT EDITION
WE TEST EVERYTHING In our January edition, along with the usual travel, people and gear, we’re also testing as many things as we can in one edition. From wax to boards of any description to any random gear we can find - we’ll check it out and give it a run.
WHERE TO GET THE MAG SMORGASBOARDER IS FREE...
Shower time
Photo: Richard Higgins
flickr.com/photos/24364979@N00/sets/
...so pick up your copy at your local surf shop along the east coast from Agnes Water 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 THE MAGAZINE ONLINE Save money, save trees... The entire mag is there for your reading pleasure at:
WWW.SMORGASBOARDER.COM.AU
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