Smorgasboarder 26 - Xmas 2014

SUR FBO A RD DESI GN | T R AV E L | AM AZ I NG PEOP LE

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MORE SURFBOARDS THAN EVER:

SHAPER QUIVERS TRAVEL ALL OVER: WESTERN AUSTRALIA & TAIWAN

GREEN GEAR & SURF TECHNOLOGY

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Greenroom� in t�e �istance THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF THE LAST 5 YEARS YOU, THE READERS, HAVE BEEN PART AND PARCEL OF OUR PAROCHIAL SUPPORT OF THE MANY PEOPLE AND ORGANISATIONS CHAMPIONING WORTHY ENVIRONMENTAL CAUSES AROUND THE BELOVED OCEAN WE ALL ENJOY. Right from the start, we made sure SMORGASBOARDER stood for something beyond just an entertaining read, in our very first edition back in September 2010 highlighting the plight of the world’s whale and dolphin population. Since then we have brought you stories encouraging marine conservation whether it be about New Zealand’s Popoto (the world's rarest and smallest known subspecies of dolphin) and the threat of its extinction due to sea bed mining or the abhorrent practice of shark fining.

We've addressed the issue of accumulating plastics in our ocean as we traced the Voyage of Rubbish in a story written by Colin Hutchins, promoted conversation surrounding new ideas for managing our waste through Chris Anderson’s 1000 surfboard graveyard and spoken of the blight on our coastal landscapes that are the now the decommissioned ‘white elephant’ desalination plants at Wonthaggi on Victoria’s Bass Coast and Tugun on Queensland’s Gold Coast. In 2012 we launched a dedicated eco column written by Nicole O’Reilly from Surfing Green to keep readers abreast of all things green in the world of surfing and it has run in every single edition since.

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We've highlighted local community concerns about the protection of Bastion Point in Mallacoota and the Spit on the Gold Coast’s Broadwater, as well as the staging of surf competitions on South Australia’s Kangaroo Island. We've even gone as far afield as the pristine breaks of Pulau Merah in Indonesia (Red Island), which are threatened by the prospect of open cut gold mining. We have actively supported and promoted the various beach clean up days organised by many tireless organisations such as the Surfrider Foundation and Take 3.

As you are all aware, working to protect our environment extends well beyond man’s impact on nature but also includes our social environment and how the world’s people live and indeed exist. To that end we have promoted the unbelievable work of organisations such as SurfAid International and Groundswell in the clean up, relief and rebuilding of coastal communities in places such as the Philippines following Typhoon Haiyan and the destructive tsunamis that hit the Mentawaiis and Samoa. We've informed you of the terrific mission work being conducted in Bali by Love is a Verb and community programs conducted by Royal 70 in Cuba.

We have even been able to assist to bring boards to the disadvantaged in Papua New Guinea and it has always been a pleasure to regularly showcase the terrific work performed by the Disabled Surfers Association of Australia.

Aside from informing readers about the good work of others and promoting their charitable appeals for funding, we have also actively raised funds through our business network, namely after Brisbane’s floods in 2011 and we have passionately encouraged surfers to return to one of our favourite surf cities Christchurch - to help the local community get back on its feet following the devastating earthquakes in September 2010 and February 2011.

We’re not stopping now. This edition is just another opportunity to spread good word about good work!

With this edition and our “environmental focus”, we turn your attention to what advancements have been made in relation to building eco-friendly surfboards.

Through the years there has been a lot of talk and hype so we look at what real progress has been made.

But really, we're just one piece of the puzzle. Yes, we can be a mouthpiece for all these amazing people and organisations working to help our planet, but it's up to all of us to actually do something about it. Whether it's picking up rubbish on your local beach, or mounting an international campaign to save endangered species, no act is too small or too 'out there' to make a difference.

So get active in any way you can and together, let's make our planet a better place.

Cheers!

rders

sboa the Smorga

BEING NICE TO THE PLANET WARMS YOUR HEART TOO Great coffee, roasted daily. Volcom Lane, Raglan NZ WWW.RAGLANROAST.CO.NZ

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FoReWoRD

"no act is too small or too ' out there' to ma ke a differe nce."

Siena Hanna (14) from the Sunshine Coast is one of the next generation of surfers. Let's make sure we do something about the environment to make sure that Siena and all our kids and their kids to come have a clean, green planet to enjoy.

More on Siena, Page 18.

CHRISTMAS 2014 | SMORGASBOARDER

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26 Latest & Greatest

DETAILS, CREDITS & STUFF

AGELESS BEAUTY

Grab SMORGASBOARDER FREE at quality surf stores, shapers and cool cafés on the coast of Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, Western Australia and New Zealand... Be nice and buy something while you're there. Or read it online.

44 Joshua Scott's shots

SUBSCRIBE

than one There's more ard, and bo a in sk to y wa .. still be green.

Page 90

$25 AUS & NZ - 1 YEAR - SIX EDITIONS. Are you this guy?

Drop us a line!

GREEN GEAR 52 Earth-friendly surfing equipment

MADE IN TAIWAN

131 So many boards....

THE LATEST

12 Reader Photos 22 And Greatest 32 News & Community

GEAR

131 Shaper's Quivers 163 Test everything

CLOSEOUT

167 Music 169 Columns 171 Socials 178 Aloha Barry

THE USUAL

SHAPER'S QUIVERS

THE COVER SHOT

Katrina McDonald of the Rivermouth General Store in Tomakin, NSW captured this unknown surfer in Noosa.

"I was thinking 'What the hell is the dude doing? Way too deep when taking off.. Anyway he was the man of that wave!" www.therivermouthstore.com.au

108 Andy and Darryl's surf adventure

SMORGASBOARDERS

CONTRIBUTING...

ADVERTISING/EDITORIAL: Dave Swan dave@smorgasboarder.com.au 0401 345 201

This is YOUR mag. It’s here for you to tell your stories, show your pictures and share your thoughts - and score some free stuff on the way too, to boot.

NEW ZEALAND: ‘Jiff’ Morris jeff@smorgasboarder.co.nz 0220 943 913

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FOR MAGAZINE HOME DELIVERY

If you can’t get to a store or other venue to pick the mag up in person, you can also choose to have SMORGASBOARDER delivered to your door. See www.smorgasboarder.com.au.

A few back issues are also available for $5 a piece, plus t-shirts & more!

WHAT'S

INSIDE...

SURF ON WHEELS

DESIGN/EDITORIAL: Mark Chapman mark@smorgasboarder.com.au 0400 875 884 SOUTH AUSTRALIA: James Ellis james@smorgasboarder.com.au 0410 175 552 ACCOUNTS: Louise Gough louise@smorgasboarder.com.au GEAR TESTS & REVIEWS: Gus Brown gus@smorgasboarder.com.au

E: editorial@smorgasboarder.com.au.

P: PO Box 501, Moffat Beach QLD 4551 There’s only a few of us here, so please be patient when you get in touch - we’ll try our best to get back to you as soon as humanly possible. Get in touch to discuss any ideas you’d like to be considered for a future edition or online.

BEST NON-DAILY PUBLICATION

QUEENSLAND MULTIMEDIA AWARDS 2013

WWW.SMORGASBOARDER.COM.AU Smorgasboarder magazine 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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READER: PHOTOS

READER PHOTOS

NEXT ISSUE! Got a great surf shot?

The good gents at SALTY SHOES over in WA have put up a few prize packs of cool SALTY SHOES gear for giveaways, including t-shirts and caps.

Send in your shots via the website, www.smorgasboarder.com.au, or email to letters@smorgasboarder.com.au.

WA photographer, Chris Wing of Liquid Motion Photography captured this cracker shot of surfer Jethro Hedstrom. Enjoy your prize pack, including Azov's "Soundwaves and Saltwater Veins"

(Make sure to include your postal details and t-shirt size.) t For more abou e ar, se Salty Shoes ge Page 28

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smorgas

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alia & online

R E M M U S R O F S T R I H S T E IDEAL K O L B D L O Y R E V E R O F

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READER PHOTOS A day at work for Egor

When your day job is mining in the Pilbara, there's nothing like a refreshing trip to catch a few waves to keep you going until those next magic days off.

Ryan "Egor" Egan sent in a few shots from his adventures at Bingin.

"Flew up to Indo chasing a swell early October after sitting on a mine site watching the same swell just pulse the whole southwest coast of WA...

"On a smash and grab mission to Bali for a short swell for four days. Your wife gave you strict instructions to get your fix of pits. The first day consisted of getting pitched for three hours, bogging rail on every turn and basically learning to surf again. The second day you're finally feeling like you can surf again, getting a few good ones, and ripping all the skin off one of your toes..."

Looks like your trip was well worthwhile Egor... A prize pack is on the way - enjoy!

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READER: PHOTOS

READER PHOTOS Proud dad Mathew sent us this cracker shot of his son, eight-year-old ripper, Noah Waters. He's been surfing since about 5 and loves barrels... You go, Noah!

Paget Thomson from Coastal Visions Photography, Cabarita, snapped this great shot. See more of his work at www.coastalvisionsphotography.com.au and www.facebook.com/CoastalVisionsPhotography

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LATEST: LENSPERSON CHRISTMAS 2014 | SMORGASBOARDER

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LADIES: FIRST

PEAS IN A POD Siena Hanna (14) and Phoebe King (16) are both members of the Mudjimba Boardriders Club, both partial to a surf at Old Woman Island, both ride 5'8" surfboards and are both are scoring wins competitively. Here's both of them answering a few identical questions too...

S I E N A H A N N A WHAT'S YOUR DREAM SURFBOARD? A beautiful hot pink gun would be sick!

FAVOURITE MOMENT SURFING? Best moment for me would be surfing in Bali at my favourite break, Padang Padang, I also love to surf Ulus, Balian and Medewi.

The warm crystal clear water and the lush green environment surrounding me.

I love the adrenalin rush I get and want to try and push myself as much as I can. Also the challenge of dodging the reef and sharks.

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WHAT DOES SURFING MEAN TO YOU? Surfing is a big part of my life. I try to get out as much as possible. This morning my Dad couldn’t take me due to his work so I got up at 5.00 am and rode down. It only takes me 20 mins.

HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE TRAVELLING THE COUNTRY SURFING? It feels incredible and will be the biggest and best experience I have ever had with my surfing and I am hoping for this to go on and on.

WHAT’S YOUR BEST BIT OF ADVICE TO OTHER SURFERS OUT THERE? Just get out there and give it a go, you never know!

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Sound surfing advice from Phoebe

"MAKE SURE YOU’RE HAVING FUN! IF YOU’RE NOT HAVING FUN, YOU’RE NOT DOING IT RIGHT!"

PHOEBE KING YOUR DREAM SURFBOARD? Any surfboard that goes fast!

Siena and Phoebe head out at their home break Photos courtesy of Phoebe and Siena's parents - thanks!

YOUR FAVOURITE MOMENT SURFING? There’s been so many great moments but one of my favourites would have to be when one day I was surfing at Mudjimba Island. It was just a perfect day. There was crystal clear

water, turtles everywhere, no wind, perfect 3-foot lefts running for ages and only me and a couple of my friends out there. We had perfect surf all to ourselves for a whole day!

WHAT DOES SURFING MEAN TO YOU? Surfing means a lot! I don’t know what I would do without it. I'm so lucky to be able to surf whenever I want and that I live in such an amazing place.

HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE TRAVELLING THE COUNTRY SURFING? I haven’t travelled much yet, but when I do travel, I love getting to see new places, surf new waves and meet new people. Plus you get to have some time off school!

WHAT’S YOUR BEST BIT OF ADVICE TO OTHER SURFERS OUT THERE? Make sure you’re having fun!

If you’re not having fun, you’re not doing it right!

CHRISTMAS 2014 | SMORGASBOARDER

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LATEST & GREATEST

THAT’S A BIT CHEEKY MIX & MATCH

Brazilian-inspired Australian swimwear label Kokoh Bikini has launched their 2015 Summer Range Ebb and Flow featuring a range of cheeky cut mix and match reversible tops and bottoms. kokohbikini.com

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ADJUSTING TO THE CONDITIONS Dkoko’s latest range can be adjusted to suit the conditions you are surfing, with their everpopular sexy surf bikini bottom featuring a string in the hip and tie at the back for a smaller, firmer fit. The tops feature crisscross backs. dkoko.com

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LATEST & GREATEST

BEE A WINNER There’s good reason why Hive Swimwear won the Swimwear Category at the recent 2014 Sunshine Coast Designer Awards and Hall of Fame - their current 2014/2015 Tribal Tropic Collection is simply stunning and perfect for active surfer girls and ladies. hiveswimwear.com

ULTRA SUN PROTECTION Having recently received the full array of Sun Zapper’s sun protection range we have been busily testing away, getting in as much surfing and beach time as we can, all in the name of product research of course!

Well, we are suitably impressed. In fact, even more so. Check out our Test Everything review of Sun Zapper sun protection products on Page 163.

Sun Zapper is a 100% Australian owned company with all products formulated, tested and manufactured here in Australia. Their range specifically caters for our harsh Australian conditions with sunscreens, lip balms and zinc sticks to suit every member of your surfing family.

Sun Zapper products can be purchased online or at Woolworths, Big W, IGA and Foodworks to name but a few stockists. sunzapper.com.au 24

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STAND FREE! Well, freestanding that is...

Fit 1-4 boards on this rust-free aluminium frame with 50mm padded EVA foam protective sleeves from Ocean&Earth.

There's no fixing to walls, so no angry landlords... Nice work. www.oceanearthstore.com

SURF ON WHEELS SHADOW SKATES MASH SURF AND STREET INTO ONE

THE SURFERS who first decided to mimic the feel of surfing by attaching rollerskate wheels to a plank way, back in the day, would have had their jaws hit the floor if someone had rolled by them on a SHADOW SKATES board.

Surely the ultimate union between surf and skate, Ian Llambi and Hayley Windsor have combined their love for surfing, design and shared beachside experiences to bring a colourful quiver of small surfboards on wheels to the young and the young at heart.

FORE FUN

.. and function, the Golf Skate Caddy by the boys at Fiik Electric Skateboards is without a doubt the absolutely coolest way to cruise around a course. www.golfskatecaddy.com.au

And yes, they’re surfboards – on wheels – not really skateboards as you know them. Made from foam and fibreglass like a traditional surfboard, and glassed with the coolest colours, these babies are built for cruising. Hayley describes them as “a stylish, practical novelty that's been turning heads since the first prototype was crafted and gifted from a beachside backyard last year.”

Last year? Yup, they’re that new. What started as a unique gift idea to impress Hayley, led Ian on a bold quest to create a one-off surfboard on wheels for her.

"I was deciding between buying a skateboard and shaping a surfboard for Hayley,” says Ian. “Once the idea of combining the two came to mind, and I'd cut my remaining surfboard blank in half, there was no turning back."

After finding no successful examples or instructional design which he could follow to make the skateboard, Ian turned to his

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LATEST & GREATEST

"I'D CUT MY REMAINING SURFBOARD BLANK IN HALF, THERE WAS NO TURNING BACK." engineering background to ensure a robust and durable make, without sacrificing the aesthetics of the inspiration it was drawn from – surfboards. He also made the clever decision to protect the design, just in case.

"Once I realised there were no examples I could copy, it was exciting to think that I might be making something the world had never seen,” Ian says. “I had no idea it would turn as many heads and start as many conversations as it has though.”

Photos by Claudio Kirac / Art-Work, courtesy of Shadow Skates

And there will be plenty of conversations, we’re sure… “Foam and fibreglass on a skateboard? Pft. It’ll never work,” grumble the peanut gallery of naysayers, as they do of every new and exciting idea. So we say to the peanuts: “Jam it good and proper, our visionless friends!” We personally are stoked and super-excited to be giving these babies a test run very soon, so watch this space and www.smorgasboarder.com.au for more! They’ve already got a tick of approval from some very high-level downhill names like Steve Daddow, so bring on the SHADOW… A limited-edition pre-Christmas run of SHADOW SKATES of only 100 boards have been done, so if you’re quick, Retro and Short-board inspired styles can now be ordered online.

Visit www.shadowskates.com.

CHRISTMAS 2014 | SMORGASBOARDER

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SALTY GOOD VIBES LATEST & GREATEST

"A world filled with things that are nice. From the spawn of Neptune. Not perfect but real. We like the ocean."

A new surf lifestyle brand from over in the West, SALTY SHOES is all good vibes and fun gear. No big corporate goings-on here, just down-to-earth threads, served up with a smile. Shirt $39.99, Cap $34.99 www.saltyshoes.com.au

SUMMER THREADS

See plenty more t-shirt designs on the website

Chris at EVOLUTION APPAREL has been busy. There's a stack of new designs to suit all tastes this summer, from tough Mexican skulls (above) to old school '80s gold (left) - a fully flouro raglan tee that just screams '80s skate. With quality shirts at only $35 each, you can restock your wardrobe. www.evolution-australia.com

OLD SCHOOL SURF TOPS Wear the heyday of surfing on your chest and celebrate pioneer surfboard shapers and surf film makers with classic clothing designs from Rare Surf Tees. These are a great gift for a mate, or yourself...

Shirts $44.95, Hoodies $89.95 www.raresurftees.com 28

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SURFERS HARDWARE

Team Tested: Caiden Fowler

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COOL COFFEE STOPS Regular Smorgasboarder readers may have picked up that we have a bit of a weakness for a good coffee. And it's not just the caffeine hit - finding a cool spot, with nice people, where you can enjoy a good surfing yarn and catch up on the local news, is just as important as those brewed beans.

When the shop itself has all the above, and to boot is as interesting as Izba on Nicklin Way, Currimundi on the Sunshine Coast, then it's a no-brainer for us - it's now our regular local stop. Set up Christchurch-style in a shipping container, Pete and Kate (below), make a mean cappuccino. The wake-up-juice merchants even have an extra caravan at the back of their funky little block that serves awesome food too.

Izba Espresso

ABOVE: Izba's cool container brings a bit of Christchurch (left) to the Sunshine Coast.

RIGHT: Kate and Pete hand over two large caps.

BELOW: Speedy, smiling service - there's no waiting for Lucas, just Huey...

...and in Town of Seaside, just north of Marcoola, Waiting For Huey is a brand new corner concern, with owner/barista/pastry-chef Lucas always up for a surfing chat... If the name of the business doesn't give that away in itself of course.

In fact while you lounge around waiting for your latte, you can get sucked into the surfing he always has on screen, get psyched, dodge work, go for a surf...

Great coffee, fresh pastries and - like Izba - there's always a few Smorgasboarders to read as well!

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AKA: THE NEWS

WHAT’S HAPPENING IN OUR LOCAL SURFING COMMUNITY & OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

@smorgasboarder.com.au

facebook.com/smorgasboarder

@smorgasboarder

twitter.com/smorgasboarder

NIKKI VAN DYKE

10-12 PHILLIP ISLAND RD, NEWHAVEN, VIC, 3925 PH: 59567553

Experience surfing like never before...

GOODBYE RUBBISH Jessica Abraham is the young lady behind the ECO. Clean Beach Initiative encouraging young people to get involved in keeping our oceans and beaches clean.

"It’s about planting this passion’s seed at a young age and creating a society that is environmentally conscious and wants to preserve the beautiful coastline we are so blessed to live on," says Jess.

10-12 Phillip Island Tourist Rd, Phillip Island, VIC (at the Big Wave) Entry: Adults $4.50, kids $2.50, family $12.00.

www.islantis.com.au 32

TheIslantisSurfExperience

"Together with Full Tide, we hold regular beach clean-ups across the Sunshine Coast, focusing on change at a local scale. We aim to teach both locals and tourists the understanding that it is our job as a community

to keep this beautiful ecosystem clean and as untouched as possible.

"The importance of a healthy ocean for a healthy planet is paramount, and I want future generations to be able to live and experience the serenity and beauty of the ocean, the same way I have been blessed enough to do my whole life." www.facebook.com/EcoCleanBeachInitiative

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ONEON-ONE TUITION

RIGHT: David and Di BELOW: The Duke, David ...and a Smorgasboarder

D.I.Y.

ALOHA VIBES It's amazing the places Smorgasboarder magazine ends up... David Ward of Glengowrie, SA recently had his copy along for some holiday reading.

LEARN

"Just last fortnight I spent time with my wife Di, cruising and enjoying the Hawaiian islands, including a visit to the North Shore of Oahu and a surf at Waikiki."

TO CRAFT YOUR OWN

This photo of Dave in front of the Duke most certainly deserves a run in the magazine! Got any shots of yourself with a Smorgasboarder in some weird, wonderful or far-flung spot?

We'd love to see it, so send it to letters@smorgasboarder.com.au

CELEBRATE DUKE'S DAY As Aussies visit the Duke, preparations are under way for the spirt of the Duke to revisit Australia!

Two-time world longboard champ, Duane De Soto will play Duke Kahanamoku this January, to celebrate the centenary of the Duke's famous exhibition of Hawaiian surfing.

“I am not even close to the Duke,” Duane says. “It's not that I would feel I would be replacing or close to replicating what Duke did, but just trying to come close and humbly put on a good show that would make him proud. I’m extremely psyched and excited..."

“The first day at Waikiki, Duane picked the board up, threw it onto his shoulder and paddled out to the break," said re-enactment and board organiser

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JAN 8-10 2015, FRESHWATER BEACH, SYDNEY

Eric Middledorp. "On his first ride I knew we'd found our Hawaiian to play the part of Duke Kahanamoku.”

SURFBOARD “I was stoked with the course and and I learned so much” Andy Armstrong

At the time of going to print, the search is on for a young female surfer to play the part of Isabelle Latham, who was plucked from the crowd back in 1915 by Duke to give the 2,000 strong crowd a display of tandem riding.

Dukes Day will be an event for the entire family and anyone who loves the ocean and surf culture.

Go to dukesday.com for history, program, events, sponsors and also details about the Duke Shorts short film competition and your chance to win a Panasonic GH4 still/video camera valued at $3,000.

Take away a board you have made start to finish - from mowing foam to resin finishing.

Get schooled in all aspects of surfboard building: • Shaping • Glassing • Sanding • Finishing • Artwork

All with guidance from shaper Al Colk’s five decades of firsthand foam and fibreglass experience.

An intensive, all-inclusive 3 day course.

Shortboard $1,200 Longboard $1,500

Al Colk

Contact Al Colk directly: M: 0408 425 368 E: CHRISTMAS AL.TUBETIME@GMAIL.COM 33 2014 | SMORGASBOARDER

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SURF COMMUNITY

UNDERSTANDING SURFING INJURY This time last year, we introduced you to Bond University researcher James Furness’ research on injury in surfing. The survey part of the research is now done, with over 1,300 people taking part.

"The purpose of this study was to identify the incidence, severity, location and type of acute injuries in participants over a 12 month period and in turn, to provide a foundation for injury prevention strategies,� said James, a Consultant Physiotherapist for Surfing Australia and a clinical skills tutor at Bond University.

"With surfing hot spots becoming more overcrowded and more surfers experimenting with new surfing techniques such as aerial manoeuvres, introducing effective preventative measures to help reduce the injury rate is becoming far more crucial.

Freya Prumm, not getting injured Photo: ran/girlsurfnetwork.com

Pulling together Australia's largest study of surfers, James found recreational surfers suffer significantly more chronic injuries compared to their competitive counterparts, which may be due to them being physically conditioned as sportspeople, as opposed to weekend warriors, like most surfers with actual day-jobs out there.

BIG WAVE CHANGES The iconic Big Wave Complex on Phillip Island, as you cross the bridge from San Remo has undergone a few big changes of late, with the addition of the Islantis Surf Experience interactive exhibit, and now Islantis Surf Shop changing to Rip Curl Phillip Island. You'll still see the same faces in store however, with Islantis' Scott Jackson still at the helm.

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Now James is actively recruiting competitive and recreational female and male surfers to take part in the next phase.

ABOVE: See surfing in a different light. www. theislantissurfexperience.com.au

"We have gathered the data and we are now recruiting surfers to be part of the next stage, which consists of comprehensive physical assessments."

During stage two of the study, participants undergo a thorough physiological assessment and are assessed for flexibility and strength.

A number of high-profile surfers have already participated in stage two of the study including Bede Durbidge, Adam Melling, Mitch Crews and Dion Atkinson.

Freya Prumm (a Ctrl-V team rider - ed), who is currently ranked number 39 in the world, has also participated and says the results of the assessment have helped her to improve her strength and conditioning training for optimum performance in the water.

"Being a part of this study was a huge step for me in edging toward my surfing goals," she said.

"After a thorough assessment

by James and his team, I was given informative feedback on where my physical strengths and weaknesses lie. Following a plan to address those weaknesses, I immediately began enjoying improvements in the water.

"For anyone interested in improving any aspect of their surfing, I urge you to take advantage of this free opportunity."

To take part email James Furness on jfurness@bond.edu.au

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Geoff's son, Jack Moase

GEOFF MOASE R.I.P.

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Thank you to Peter Sturm of My Perspectives for the photographs of the day.

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SURF COMMUNITY

PADDLEOUT FOR GEOFF Family and friends gathered at Tallebudgera Beach to say farewell to Geoff Moase, who passed away surfing in Indonesia this September.

Here at Smorgasboarder, we had first met Geoff at one of Grant Newby's Wooden Surfboard gettogethers in the park at Currumbin, and got to know him over the years that followed. Always gracious with his time and forever passionate about timber, we spent many an hour chatting with him, and drooling over his super-cool timber boards.

Along with so many others out there in the surfing community, we too will miss our chats.

R.I.P. Geoff.

Photo: Mark Chapman, 30 June 2014

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A poem by Hollie Dawson (16), Mornington Peninsula, VIC

Polynesia's where it all started This sport is one of a kind Not for the faint hearted In fact, terrifying at times

WAVES - OF TALENT

SURF COMMUNITY

'SURFING'

Thanks Wayne!

I grab my deck from the sand My mate is with me My hands holding the rails Now it's out to the sea

LEFT: Mark's inspiration gets him working BELOW: The crowning glory - the board's done!

Cold water chills my spine Waves crash over us My wetsuits on so I'm fine The temperature is not a fuss I begin a constant paddle My back muscles become tight I can see a set coming Oh what a sight I'm not out the back yet I've got a long way to go Duck diving the waves Getting tossed to and fro Whitewash is running Past the wave break A rip is occurring This is so great I take a free ride Out to the back The rip is dragging me I get to be slack I'm out the back now There's only one thing to do It's times to go surfing This is my cue I now take the drop And cut down the wave face I look towards my mate He thinks I am ace The wave gains some speed I carve off the lip I re-take the drop Oh I'm going so quick A full day ahead And only one wave down Everyone is out here It's good vibes all round  Â

WAYNESPIRATION

"After seeing the story of Wayne Lynch* he

inspired me to make my first surfboard.

Here's the result. Thanks Wayne."

Mark Todhunter, Ballina

*Mark had recently scored himself a copy of the Uncharted Waters DVD in our "Surf like Wayne Lynch" photo comp, Autumn 2014.

Congrats Mark, that is one awesome board! As suckers for single fins, this is one of the coolest reader boards ever!

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SURF COMMUNITY

A truckload of stoke

DROPPING BOARDS FOR PNG WORDS: TED BASSINGTHWAIGHTE

PHOTOS: www.throwingbuckets.com.au SAPNG's Andy Abel (left) meets with organiser, Ben Millington

"OVER 300 SECONDHAND SURFBOARDS, A DOZEN BOOGIE BOARDS, A LARGE QUANTITY OF LEG ROPES, SURF WEAR AND OTHER ACCESSORIES WERE DONATED"

ABC1233 producer Ben Millington and his crew organised a campaign called Operation Drop In where listeners across the greater Newcastle and Hunter Valley, NSW were asked to donate surfboards and surf gear to the men, women, boys and girls of Papua New Guinea - in particular Vanimo, the people of Bougainville and all ten of the Papua New Guinea Surfing Association (SAPNG) affiliated surfing clubs around the country.

Half of the surfboards are to have their noses painted fluorescent pink by SAPNG. These surfboards are for the exclusive use of female surfers, to help empower women and to create an equal platform for aspiring female surfers to also be able to enjoy the stoke we take for granted as surfers.

Over 300 secondhand surfboards, a dozen boogie boards, a large quantity of leg ropes, surf wear and other accessories were donated through Operation Drop In. In addition $3,000 was raised through donations and tickets sales for a screening of the PNG surfing move, Splinters attended by Andy Abel of the SAPNG. For more information on SAPNG, see the website www.sapng.com Big back pats to Ben and ABC 1233 Newcastle for making this happen. Well done to all involved - this is life changing stuff for surfers in PNG that we here in Australia can't even fully comprehend.

Keep spreading the love! www.abc.net.au/newcastle

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Mike with Stinger-man, Ben Aipa

RANDOM TALES FROM THE ROAD

MIKE'S CALI TRIP Mike Bilton – the ever inventive board builder from Bilton Surf on the Gold Coast who wowed us all with his cool LED surfboard creations – recently did a dream trip for any shaper, to exhibit at The Boardroom surfboard building expo in California. Back home with fresh inspiration, Mike fills us in on his trip.

WORDS & PHOTOS: MIKE BILTON

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got their shapes finished, but it was great to watch a few in the comp and see just how different everyone’s shaping techniques were especially under the pressure of the clock and a hundred-odd people looking on. The judging was completed and all of the shows awards were presented, including Best of Shows which showcased some crazy designs.

Birds Surf Shed

RANDOM TALES

The Tribute Shape-Off

Garry Hannel of GH surfboards offered to share some knowledge on his older ‘70s and ‘80s shapes, including some of his old Bonzers and the Rip Curl team boards he made back in the day (The photo is of Gary holding one of his old templates from the '80s). A few hours with Gary was time well spent as he shared his wealth of knowledge on shaping.

EVER SINCE I first read about The

Boardroom show as a teenager (formerly the Sacred Craft Expo) I knew it was something I wanted to attend. When the opportunity came up to exhibit at the show, it was a chance I couldn't pass up. Aside from ticking something off my bucket list, I had something to contribute as an exhibitor. Preparation started by shipping half of my boards by sea - I didn't want to chance my entire showing to the roulette wheel that is checked baggage, but I did roll the dice with six boards and they got though fine. The surf was average in the lead up to the show, but after a 14 hour flight and battling peak hour LA traffic driving to San Diego, a small wave at Del Mar beach never felt so good!

SET UP was on the Friday, and I wanted

making surfboards. The big events of the show are the Chunk of Foam Challenge and the Tribute Shape-Off. The first is to shave a board from a chunk of foam in three hours, and the second is to replicate a board in only an hour and a half, which is then judged by a panel including the man who made the original!

DAY TWO kicked off early with a demo

day at Del Mar beach on a grey windy morning.

Once again I saw loads of boards I’d rather be trying out than sitting on the beach watching other people have a good time...

The opening of the show meant the last of the shaping challenges. Unfortunately not everyone Garry Hannel

SHEDS AND MUSHROOMS

I had time to visit a local San Diego hub of surfing, Birds Surf Shed, and met the man himself, Bird, who had loaned me stands for the surfboard show helping make things much easier for me. Bird has one of the biggest and most varied surfboard collections I’d ever seen and he makes an effort to get them all wet as often as possible, or at least when he can get a ladder big enough to get them down.

I also had some drinks with the boys from surfoboards.com, and they filled me in on their progress and challenges they are facing in growing surfboard blanks using mushrooms as

a core material. Lots of people were shocked at this, but their progress is moving along and constantly getting stronger and lighter. My feeling is it will soon enough be a viable option - maybe not for a high end performance board, but for a fish or retro I think it will be there before people realise. (For more on Mushroom Blanks and Surf O Boards, see page 80) There is a definite trend in the USA towards finding new materials and processes to make surfboards, and they're willing to share knowledge with each other in order to progress the industry as a whole.

For more on the expo see boardroomshow.com and for Mike's work, see www.biltonsurf.com Demo day, Del Mar

to get it done so I could have my chance to check out the things that I wanted to. After all, there are some legends of the industry exhibiting as well as some of the latest in board manufacturing technology and processes.

DAY ONE

of the show saw a few thousand people through the door. My personal highlights were getting to meet Rusty Perssendorfer, Ben Aipa and Gary Hannel amongst other shapers I’ve admired since before I started in the industry, and whose designs have definitely influenced my own approach to CHRISTMAS 2014 | SMORGASBOARDER

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JOSHUA

S C ot t COastAl PhotograPhy

At only 14 years old, Wollongong-based Joshua Scott is one up-and-coming surf photographer that's well worth keeping a close watch on. With an eye for composition well beyond his tender teen years and a serious sense of maturity in choice of subject matter and post-production techniques, Josh is turning out images that challenge any and all ageist expectations of what a photographer should be... And they're just damn fine shots to boot.

So, without further ado, here's a bit more about the young man...

WORDS:

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MARK

CHAPMAN

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LATEST: PHOTOGRAPHER CHRISTMAS 2014 | SMORGASBOARDER

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LATEST: PHOTOGRAPHER

Mate, you’re 14 yearS old!

How long Have you been taking pHotoS? I only started photography early this year (January 2014) thanks to my grandparents who helped me buy my camera. I wouldn’t be where I am today without the help of my grandparents from both sides of the family.

So How did you get into it?

I always liked the feeling of pulling into a nice barrel on my bodyboard.

Some people don’t have the chance to see what that feeling is like, so that’s when I thought it would be good to capture that moment. I started using a Go Pro attached to my bodyboard so I could film, and then progressed to my camera and housing.

No-one in my family knows how to use a camera, so I taught myself - a lot of hours reading and watching Youtube videos. I also had the help of Susan Gruber and her expertise in shooting. wHat gear are you uSing?

At the moment I’ve been shooting with a Canon 70D kept dry in a Aquatech housing. Most days I shoot with a Tokina 10-17mm fisheye lens or Canon 50mm 1.4.

JOSHUA

S C ot t COastAl PhotograPhy

tell uS about your neck of tHe woodS - wollongong. any favourite SpotS to take your Surf SHotS? That’s a tough one... Sandon Point is an all time favourite, but I must say CHRISTMAS 2014 | SMORGASBOARDER

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I love shooting beach breaks on the Coal Coast.

It’s my type of thing. But lately, I’ve been stepping it up to heavier, shallow reef breaks several kilometres out to sea. wHat’S your obSeSSion witH eMpty waveS about?

o b a C

Photochromic bi-focal lenses

• Polarised Polarised • Polarised Bi Focal Polarised • Polarised Polarised Bi Focal • Polarised Photochromic • Polarised PC (Melanin infused) • RX Prescription

a c i s r Co

The ocean produces some crazy stuff… The formations of waves are indescribable. I wake up every day of the week having the cravings to shoot in different aspects, by combining light and speed to my photos. Each photo of mine holds something special to my heart. I find you can shoot photos of surfers doing airs and barrels, but if you shoot empty waves it opens you to a whole new world.

A world of creativity… i noticed SunZapper are Supporting you aS a pHotograpHer. wHat doeS tHat Mean for you, and How doeS it feel to be SponSored So early in your pHotograpHy career?

In the past 9 months of my photography, I was lucky enough to become an ambassador for SunZapper Zinc & Sunscreen, Arnette Sunglasses and Surfears - three amazing companies. The

Floating Sunglasses

www.barzoptics.com www.barzoptics.co m Showroom - Unit 11 / 4 Leda Drive, Burleigh Heads QLD 4220

Ph 07 5576 4365

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COastAl PhotograPhy

S C ot JOSHUA CHRISTMAS 2014 | SMORGASBOARDER

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S C ot t COastAl PhotograPhy

"This photo was taken by Lachlan Scott. Lachlan is my little brother. He shot the photo and I edited it for him."

Josh

support and help I have received from these companies is amazing - I couldn’t ask for anything else! I’m so grateful and blessed to be on board with them. I’d also like to say a HUGE thanks to Brenden Newton from AIME (Aboriginal Indigenous Mentoring Program) for all the help to get me where I am today.

wHat are your future planS? I want to finish school and hopefully be lucky enough to study at University, but I will not be giving up photography as it's a major factor in my life, and a huge passion of mine.

I’m not quite sure what job I would consider working in, but time will tell. @joshuascott_photography

wHere can people See More or buy your pHotoS?

Joshua Scott Coastal Photography

At the moment my photos are for sale via Instagram or Facebook. I’m in the process of building a website, so at the moment you can find my photos on social media branches.

I also accept orders upon request via email joshuascottcoastalphotography@gmail.com

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GREEN: BUILDING Carving on a Mitchell Rae balsa board. Photo supplied by Outer Island 52

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CONSTRUCTION PAGE 56

GREEN MACHINES An eco-friendly surfboard… Wow, what a Pandora’s box we opened.

Is it a mythical object, a figment of our imagination or a very real and achievable goal?

There’s been a lot of talk through the years but has any real progress been made? Are all the efforts made to date in vain? Do surfers really care and if so, are they prepared to pay for it?

Ahhh, so many questions!

The first thing we will say is that there are not enough pages even in this big edition of Smorgasboarder to comprehensively cover the trials, tribulations, successes and failures of manufacturing a surfboard with a lesser carbon footprint than the ones we have come to know and love. One thing you can be assured of however is that we won’t force-feed you our own beliefs. Have a read of the various perspectives and make your mind up for yourself.

HOLLOW CONSTRUCTION PAGE 70

RECYCLERS PAGE 72

GROWING BLANKS PAGE 80

GREEN FINISH PAGE 90

GREEN WAX PAGE 96

WETSUITS PAGE 98

HOME BUILDING PAGE 100

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THE PERFORMER

ALSO AVAILABLE

The best of both worlds - a recycled EPS foam core and 2-3mm balsawood skin. With a weight of only 7kg and an emphasis on manoeuvrability and maximum speed, the Performer is designed and shaped for today’s high performance longboarding.

The Performer comes with a single box fin and two smaller stabiliser fins. Custom orders are welcome.

Now available at wholesale pricing.

Specifications Length: 9’0’’ - 9’10’’ Width: 22 ¼’’ - 23” Thickness: 2 ½’’ - 3 ¼” Weight: 6kgs – 8kgs Construction: foam core modern longboard Stringer: Triple cedar – 30mm apart Bottom: Vee Tail: Rounded square Rails: Nose - 70/30 Centre - 80/20 Tail - 90/10

SHIPPING ANYWHERE, INCLUDING NZ

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HANDCRAFTED IN AUSTRALIA Riley Balsawood Surfboards are made using renewable resource balsa and recycled polystyrene for performance, durability, beauty and lower environmental impact

Call 0412 376 464 or Email mark@riley.com.au

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Nov2014_Smorgas_ads-Riley.indd 55

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OFF THE

GRID CONSIDERING around 90% of your surfboard is made up of what is arguably described as a toxic foam blank, you might consider the first point of call in creating a more environmentally-friendly surfboard would be to remove the blank altogether. Here we look at some innovative and interesting approaches to creating a surfboard without one – shapers that have literally ‘gone blank’ and turned to the wisdom of bees, nature and the power of grid mathematics and applied it as a means of providing the strength and core of surfboard design.

WORDS: DAVE SWAN

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GREEN: BUILDING

OUT OF THE BOX THE

CARDBOARD-CORE SURFBOARD We readily admit, surfboard craftsman who are prepared to venture left field in the hope of improving surfboard design or unveiling a new method of construction truly excite us. I guess playing with a quarter of an inch here or there may prove adventurous to some but it’s not exactly what we really consider to be breaking down the barriers of surfboard design.

Nothing has quite blown our minds however in the way Mike Sheldrake has. We came across his cardboard surfboards around the time we started Smorgasboarder some five years ago. Since that time Mike has progressed his build method and developed several designs that are sure to make you view the use of cardboard in a completely new light.

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THOSE WHO ADMIRE modern-day feats of engineering would be hard pressed to go beyond the transformation of the humble cardboard box into its many uses we see today - from architectural monuments of grandeur through to cutting edge furniture, bike helmets and even bikes themselves. Interestingly, when the 6.3-magnitude earthquake that devastated Christchurch in 2011 destroyed the landmark Christchurch Cathedral, the ever-inventive Kiwis, alongside Japanese architect Shigeru Ban, decided to build a temporary place of worship nearby whilst work was undertaken to reconstruct the original cathedral. The “Transitional Cathedral” as it's known is the world’s first cathedral made substantially out of cardboard.

So you can see from the examples listed, the structural integrity of cardboard is quite sound. Due to its strength-to-weight ratio and its recyclable nature, the use of cardboard in the construction of surfboards has merit. But as you can guess, there are also pitfalls to this material as Mike Sheldrake will testify to.

Mike’s adventure into cardboard-core surfboards all began when he was forced to retire his 13-year old 8’6” Robert August due to damage. With next to no budget and no surfboard building skills to speak of, he set about to try and create a surfboard for himself. His admiration for hollow wood board construction had him wondering whether he could replicate something similar utilising his computer skills - he had formerly worked as a computer programmer.

Mike began fiddling with intersecting ribs when he conceived cardboard might make the perfect material for modeling his design.

Mike figured with the right design, cardboard would provide ample strength. The affordability of cardboard sheeting and the fact it's a “more natural material” than foam also resonated with his design philosophy.

"The transition from thinking of cardboard as a model material, to thinking it might really work came after riding the first board," Mike explains. "But the suspicion was there when I decided to build and glass a full scale model. I figured I'd paddle the model out and maybe destroy it. But if it held up, I'd keep working with cardboard."

Employing a structural approach Mike termed the “quarter isogrid”, he developed a notched rib assembly that was relatively simple to construct, yet sturdy enough for the rigours of the ocean. His next step was to design and build his first cardboard-core surfboard.

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MIKE’S QUARTER ISOGRID (CARDBOARD CORE IN THE RAW AND GLASSED) “The board core mainly needs to be strong in compression between deck and bottom, and I'd say my cardboard cores are at least as strong as 2lb per square foot of foam in compression. They're a bit flexible like foam. The density of the structure is roughly the same.

The overall performance of the core seems pretty much the same to me.”

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GREEN: BUILDING

WHAT’S YOUR RIDE? Stepdeck mal, noserider, fish, single fin, mini Simmons, Hot Curl, thruster… Mike has developed cutting files and kits for 12 different types of surfboard styles.

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GREEN: BUILDING

CARDBOARD CONSTRUCTION Like one giant jigsaw, a Sheldrake cardboard surfboard kit is literally a board in a box. Each piece is individually identified to allow you to piece together the craft - like this Hot Curl design to the left. Contours, concaves and curve – stepdecks, scooped nose profiles... As you can see to the right nothing is impossible.

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POOLING RESIN, SAND-THROUGHS, PIN HOLES AND LEAKS WERE ALL PART OF THE LEARNING PROCESS MIKE DEVELOPED an initial template based on tail of an egg and the nose of a Robert August funboard.

Once he was happy with the overall outline and curve he progressed to cutting out the pieces for his giant jigsaw puzzle. He called on a few favours, got his design laser cut and before he knew it, was sitting on the floor of his garage assembling his creation. It all came together quite well but the next stage of glassing the structural core was another experience altogether.

He employed the same methods used for traditional surfboards, wrapping the core in fiberglass cloth hardened with epoxy resin but by his own admission, Mike’s first surfboard was pretty rough.

“It turned out really ugly and lumpy. Sort of hideous really but it had promise.”

In fairness what Mike was attempting however was almost unfathomable, quite possibly to even the greatest surfboard-building minds. His quest had nonetheless begun though.

What we found as refreshing as the journey upon which he embarked was Mike’s openness to the learning process and how he shared his experience with anyone interested. To many, such an approach would prove too revealing. We asked him about the warts-and-all personal appraisal of his project and what drove him to keep going.

“I cringe a bit at how earnest and ignorant all that is, but it reveals the kind of stuff people want to know.

People were asking how I built the boards, how I came up with the process, what my relevant background was and whether I had tried this or that. It takes mistakes and imperfect results to develop something like this. That's part of the how. I didn't have a relevant background when it came to glassing, and there was no reason to pretend I did. I showed how some obvious approaches people kept suggesting didn't work as well as expected.

“No way was I going to go for the high-tech hard sell.

'Revolutionary Patent Pending Technology Born Whole and Flawless from Mike's Brilliant Mind!!!' Forget it.

The whole thing is still a slightly messy experiment.

MISTAKES, I’VE MADE A FEW...

(SING IT LIKE OLD BLUE EYES) First attempts at taking the all-star core pattern right to the edge as opposed to using radial rail pieces proved a challenge.

“That was the original design on the first board, and I've revisited it a few times. It's just simpler to assemble and not fussy when it's up on the glassing stands. But you have to span larger gaps with the glass around the rails, so it's harder to get decently smooth rails with those cores - at least with the simple glassing technique I present.

That's why all the kits for sale are the radial rail design, so the rails come out smoother for first time builders.

POOLING RESIN - A change in his glassing method from presoaking his cloth saw Mike overcome this issue. Mike explains a little about the glassing process and his preference for using epoxy resin over polyester.

“I went with epoxy initially because it's stronger ounce for ounce, and not as prone to cracking, and because it wouldn't stink up the garage as bad. Later I discovered other crucial advantages: Epoxy soaks well into fabric and cardboard on it's own - polyester doesn't.

This allows the simple light-touch brushing approach to glassing these cores. You get a thin film applied on top of two or three layers of fabric, and it will gradually wick into the fabric and the cardboard below on it's own.

“One kit builder ignored my epoxy specification (more power to him) and tried to use polyester.

He reported that the lamination failed to bond to the cardboard. He was actually able to peel it off and still use the same core with an epoxy lamination.

“Epoxy shrinks much less than polyester as it cures. Because I glass the board in sections, with multiple batches of resin, if a section on the left side of the board cures and shrinks before a section on the right side, that has the potential to pull and twist the core. I haven't had this problem with epoxy.”

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MISTAKES...

FIXING THEM UP

PIN HOLES, RESULTING CONDENSATION AND THE PROCESS OF DRYING OUT YOUR SURFBOARD. “The core structure is made of notched ribs that slide into each other. Each notch has a little half circle cut out of its side for ventilation. So every hexagon and triangle cell in the structure is open to its neighbours. This allows airflow throughout the entire structure, facilitating dry out in the event you incur any damage to the board or discover a pin hole.

"With airflow and heat, these boards can be dried out within a day or two. The cardboard structure remains intact. I'm sure long-term water exposure, or any water exposure, must weaken the structure somewhat, but any degradation has not been noticeable in the boards I've dried, repaired and ridden.”

IT'S AN EXPERIMENT that has no doubt intrigued others. Mike’s cardboard cut pattern files are available online for free and for those who want a head start, precut core kits can be purchased from his website from a mere USD $150, depending on the size of the board. Mike doesn’t suggest building one of his boards is a simple process from start to finish though.

“Don't try to build one of these boards if you're not up to it. There's enough information freely available here and elsewhere to evaluate whether you're up to the challenge. I need people ordering kits to understand that. In fact, I hope the rough edges of my build guide and videos work as a filter, to weed out the people who need everything completely predigested, polished and perfect. It's a double message. I want to say it's messy and hard and experimental, but it doesn't take an expert. It's simple enough, and you can do it.”

I must admit, I couldn’t stop laughing when I read the Legal Disclaimer: No Morons on his website.

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Here’s an excerpt.

"If you are reading this, chances are already pretty good that you are not a moron.

Morons usually don't read instructions and warnings.

"Yet somehow issuing written warnings offers us some protection when morons blame us for losses and damages due to their own unnecessary and willful ignorance.

"Because I want to see boards built and ridden, and because I'm not doing any of this to separate fools from their money, I want to discourage you from attempting to build one of these boards if you are in fact a moron."

Thankfully it appears we don’t have too many morons in our corner of the globe as Mike explains.

“Probably a bit more than half of the orders I get are from AU and NZ. You guys are way more tuned into my deal than the US.” CHRISTMAS 2014 | SMORGASBOARDER

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I asked Mike about the business side of things and what’s kept him going all these years.

“I keep kit production set up because that's the one step in my process that needs an expensive tool the laser cutter. So what keeps my little unprofitable business going is this desire to get laser-cut core kits out to builders around the world at a reasonable price. Retail or industrial laser cutting services would charge way more for these kits. They have serious overheads and no passion for surfboards, so their prices are probably justifiable.

“Even my low prices are too high for some, and I don't want to stand in the way, so I make the digital cut patterns available. If you're broke but driven, you might be able to seek out free or cheap laser access at a nearby school or hackerspace. Then you would just need to buy or scavenge local cardboard and you'd be able to cut your kit for less than what it costs me to ship one to you - maybe even for free. It's my sincere hope that broke but resourceful builders put me out of business, by finding and turning people on to the laser cutting resources in their local community.”

I guess not all are motivated by money. Mike Sheldrake is simply happy with his part in life, bringing his style of surfboards to the people.

“I found this great pleasure and satisfaction in building and riding my own surf craft. When someone comes to me wanting to do the same, I get excited for them. I want to help them have that same experience, and I don't want to get in the way. So I show my journey and my way, and I point to SurferSteve.com, because I found his free conventional board making instructions extremely helpful.”

There’s a lot of aloha spirit in what Mike is doing and we for one commend him on what he has accomplished to date. We sure as hell are keen to make one of his cardboard-core surfboards as soon as some downtime presents itself. www.sheldrake.net/cardboards

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"IT'S MESSY AND HARD AND EXPERIMENTAL, BUT IT DOESN'T TAKE AN EXPERT. IT'S SIMPLE ENOUGH, AND YOU CAN DO IT.” Mike, on building your own cardboard surfboard

EVEN FINS Mike didn’t limit himself to just cardboard core surfboards, he also started creating his own fins, even working out how to install a fin box although his preference remains with glass-ons.

Show off.

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CHRISTMAS 2014 | SMORGASBOARDER

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BREATH OF INSPIRATION H O N E YC O M B S & T A C K L E YOU’RE LOOKING at a core of thin woven bamboo veneers set within a balsa wood frame which is then shaped, wrapped top and bottom with a paulownia timber skin, and then glassed. Pound for pound, it's considered to be stronger than steel with brilliant flex and memory. It’s certainly an innovative way to replace a foam blank.

WORDS: DAVE SWAN

We assume you can’t believe what you're seeing - neither could we. Just as Mike Sheldrake blew our minds when we were first starting Smorgasboarder, so too did this guy, Kevin Cunningham of Spirare Surfboards.

We distinctly remember looking at his honeycomb-core surfboards in complete awe, and still do.

Kevin hails from Baltimore, Maryland, MidAtlantic East Coast USA. He fell in love with all things surfing whilst holidaying in Ocean City. Later in life he graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), still on the East Coast but further north above New York State.

Think of winter water temps in the supersevere ice-cream headache range of 3 to 6 degrees and you get the picture of what it’s like surfing these parts. It's here where Kevin started Spirare Surfboards and where he still resides today. No doubt the next question you are asking is where he came up with such an idea.

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The first few surfboards Kevin shaped were in his living room of all places and this got him thinking about the environmental footprint a surfboard leaves and whether there was a way to design a more eco-friendly surfboard that utilised sustainable materials. In particular, he considered replacing the Clark Foam blank that was the industry standard in the US at the time, with a safer, alternative material. Kevin explained that he “never liked the toxicity of TDI foam.” Sustainable wood was his material preference.

He was working with honeycomb structures for an architecture studio at RISD and thought this could work for a surfboard. Kevin saw it as a way he could keep the weight of a wood board as light as possible whilst retaining its strength. He had been working on the concept for a number of years but Clark Foam’s closure in 2005 put his idea into overdrive, that and the inspiration he derived a couple of years earlier from an article in The Surfers Journal.

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Thankfully Kevin didn’t give the game away and during the time he was developing his honeycomb core surfboards, he was also looking into bio foams, and recycled EPS as an alternative core material to the honeycomb bamboo structure. This lead Kevin to develop his FU Lite Construction.

“I spent a few years developing the design to get an actual working performance surfboard.

The best way I can sum it up is that the boards worked, but producing them did not. The reality of producing the boards for a reasonable price was out of the question. Honeycomb boards took 40 to 60 hours to produce start to finish (build the blank, shape the blank, skins, rails, etc).”

This method of construction initially used a parabolic paulownia wood perimeter to deliver controlled flex to the rails of the surfboard, where the board is engaging with the wave the most, a recycled EPS foam frame and poplar wood skin to unify the overall structure.

When I read this I couldn’t help but think how sad it is that in general, we surfers often don’t recognise and appreciate the amount of work that goes into crafting surfboards, let alone ones of this ilk.

GREEN: BUILDING

“I started with green design and sustainable construction back before Spirare was even Spirare. In 2004 I came up with the idea to use a lightweight honeycomb core for an all-wood surfboard design after reading an essay by Miki Dora in which he outlined a challenge to make a board from all natural materials.

“The recycled EPS turned out to be very successful in providing a core/blank that can be shaped like any other board, and is green. Most importantly the performance of the boards is fantastic. The finished weight on the FU Lite Wood/Recycled EPS boards is the same if not a few ounces less than conventional PU foam and poly resin boards, but the durability and life of the FU Lite Wood/Recycle EPS far exceeds that of the conventional PU.” Kevin explains the design also maximises flex.

When a surfer enters a turn the board flexes and stores that energy before springing back to really project the board out of that turn at speed.

“My primary focus today is on the FU Lite Wood/ Recycled EPS, Wood/Recycled EPS/Carbon, and Half & Half constructions. The Wood/Recycled EPS/Carbon and Half & Half construction are new this year. They are variations of the original FU Lite Wood/Recycled EPS design.

The Wood/Recycled EPS/Carbon boards use the same wood top and bottom skins as the FU Lites, but utilise carbon fiber on the rails instead of solid wood; this makes the boards extremely light weight and lively. Half & Half’s have a wood deck skin only with no stringers; making for lightweight flexi boards.”

RECYCLING FIN KILLERS INTO KILLER FINS Marine debris, too often found tangled around dead turtles has been salvaged and repurposed as inlays for Kevin's fantastically beautiful fins - true functional art.

It's clear that Kevin is equally committed to performance as he is to using eco-friendly materials and methods as well as creating aesthetically pleasing surfboards.

CHRISTMAS 2014 | SMORGASBOARDER

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Kevin, on incorporating marine debris into his work

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“I think most surfboards have lost the art and have opted for mass production. I want to be able to offer something other than the plain white surfboard with a company logo. My goal is to marry great performance with clean lines and beauty.”

Kevin’s conscientious approach to sustainable design does not simply rest with the surfboard itself, he is also constantly on the look out to innovatively use and recycle marine debris. Indeed the garbage he collects from his local beaches such as discarded fishing line and nets are infused into his boards for both practical and artistic purposes and 68

in particular the range of fins he creates.

“I think there is a lot of potential with that material and I have only started to scratch the surface of what can be done with it.”

When asked whether he needs to construct them in such a way to get the foil and flex he requires, Kevin had this to say.

“I do try to orient the stands in a manner that will give a better flex pattern. There is some fiberglass cloth laminated in the fins as well for added strength too.”

design and construct his surfboards utilising alternative materials and methods to make highly functional pieces of art that emphasise his green design and sustainable construction.

In case you were wondering about the origins for the name of his business, the words respiration and inspiration have the same Latin root, spirare, which means, “to breathe.” www.spiraresurfboards.com

There is no denying Spirare Surfboards are a class act and Kevin is constantly exploring new and innovative ways to

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voltaic energy CHRISTMAS 2014 | SMORGASBOARDER

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GREEN: BUILDING

Each year Mitchell Rae crafts a small number of signed and dated custom balsa boards. In creating these long lasting statements of his craftsmanship he draws inspiration from the guitar maker’s art with hand inlaid Mother of Pearl eyes and logos to elevate them to a higher level. Mitchell explains, “It’s a similar fashion to collector’s guitars, years of use and hard riding enhance their intrinsic value. Like a ’57 Gibson Les Paul, they become full of memories and experience. They look good on the wall but these boards are built to be ridden.”

FROM WORKSHOP TO THE WATER A few humble pieces of timber find new life as a high-performance craft with an artist's finish.

LOADED GUN WORDS: DAVE SWAN

Mitchell spends in excess of 60 hours constructing these boards, sparing no effort. They are what he considers the “pinnacle of the surfboard maker’s art. Folks have no idea how much crazy love I pour into these creations.”

Built from the lightest balsa from Ecuador and Papua New Guinea with Western Red Cedar and Redwood stringers, they are chambered for lightness, split, bent and glued using techniques similar to that of boat builders and aircraft wing construction. Each board also incorporates Mitchell's devotion to flex.

“I am looking to load the timbers in a similar fashion to the wooden bow analogy. We set the timbers up and actually bend them to where the wooden bow would be holding its flex before you let the arrow go.

When the glues dry, the timbers will hold that shape. It’s sprung

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under tension so when you flick it, it sings. It has a real different quality to it than if I carved a profile on one big chunk of raw stock.”

“The bent wood and chambered construction sets up a resonance like that of a violin or guitar.

Awesome to ride, a long process to build. These boards will last for generations, family heirlooms.

They will be around long after I'm pushing up daisies.”

Having seen these balsa boards in person, all I can say is the quality of craftsmanship is almost indescribable. When you pick them up, they feel alive. One day, one will be in my quiver... www.outerislandsurfboards.com

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"THE BENT WOOD AND CHAMBERED CONSTRUCTION SETS UP A RESONANCE LIKE THAT OF A VIOLIN OR GUITAR" CHRISTMAS 2014 | SMORGASBOARDER

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WASTE NOT, WANT NOT AUSTRALIANS are the second highest producers of waste per person in the world behind the United States. Depending on which authority you consult, each Australian generates somewhere around a tonne of waste per year. The average Australian household of four people makes enough rubbish to fill their entire house from floor to ceiling in just one year. Worst of all, our recycling efforts are not matching that of our waste generation, which year on year continues to increase.

Thankfully some of us are bucking the trend and in our sphere of influence, three shapers in particular are turning trash into treasure. Steveo, Jason Oliver and Chris Garrett have an innate skill of turning something most of us would discard into functional works of art.

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"I'VE USED EVERYTHING FROM OLD WINDOW AND DOOR FRAMES TO PACKING CRATES AND PALLETS..."

Jason Oliver, on materials for his boards

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GOOD MATES Chris Garrett and Jason Oliver each pay tribute to one another for the recycled wooden surfboards they have created both together and on their own. Both are advocates of the waste equals resource principle.

Chris credits Jason as the “brainchild” of their method of wooden surfboard construction and Jason claims that, “Chris is a wealth of information that has taught him so much in relation to shaping.”

What we can say about the two is that our admiration for their skill, and the surfboards they craft, extends well beyond the mere fact they use recycled materials. On that note however, we asked Jason why he initially sought out the materials he features in the construction of his boards.

“I just see so much stuff that gets thrown out and I look at it and think, ‘I could use that.’ I've used everything from old window and door frames to packing crates and pallets and all kinds of wood from Paulownia to Red Cedar, White Cedar, Silver Quandong… Anything that I can recycle that has the added benefit of being free.”

Beyond the appeal of simply recycling materials, both shapers are motivated to make boards that last, after all, sustainable surfboards are foremostly created by making boards more durable.

GREEN: BUILDING

CHRIS GARRETT & JASON OLIVER

A SECOND LEASE ON LIFE RIGHT: Jason attaches a reclaimed timber deck to frame.

BELOW: Who would expect an old shipping pallet to end up looking this good?

Chris reasons he is not being “green” just for the sake of it, “I don’t make any grand claims that these boards are the most environmentally-friendly boards you can make - they just last longer and take longer to make their way into the tip.”

Jason adds, “I got into wood boards because I like them and enjoy making them. I guess I set out initially to make a board out of wood that was as good or better than the same board made out of foam. I find wood boards perform as well, or better than fibreglass, and are stronger. With wood boards you also don’t have a lot of flex and they tend to be more responsive.”

Having tested a few of their boards, we know these boards are far from mere wall-hangers. Apart from being pretty indestructible, they also exhibit all the attributes of high-performance craft with their own unique nuances.

CHRISTMAS 2014 | SMORGASBOARDER

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GREEN: BUILDING

WOODEN SURFBOARDS SHAPES STEVEO explains he has always been good with hands whether it be in his former trade as a certified chef, working in security, construction or crafting beautiful wooden surfboards. He’s certainly not wrong.

We recently visited his home and workshop in Pomona where he creates beautiful wooden surfboards and skateboards using everything from discarded cedar venetian blinds and old doors to pallets, furniture, timber scrap and even parts of a piano. An old Hawaiian shirt Steve’s wife didn’t fancy too much has also been re-purposed as a fabric inlay. Absolutely nothing goes to waste.

The recycled materials he uses make his boards cheaper to build but their appearance is anything but. Herringbone parquetry patterns, gold pearl finish coats and layered wooden fins all add to the appeal of these stunning boards.

KEEN TO GO GREEN YOURSELF

Steve conducts one-on-one wooden board building courses. He will supply the know how, tools and materials or you can bring your own. Price for the course, which involves building the board from start to finish, is $475 and $70 per foot of board. woodensurfboardsshapesbysteveo.com.au 74

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GREEN: BUILDING

RILEY STRONG

WORDS DAVE SWAN

Mark Riley didn’t set out to be an eco warrior. He simply wanted to make boards that were built to last and looked beautiful. Over the course of time he came to realise however, what he was doing had a positive environmental impact. Here’s an insight into his journey.

A more than accomplished Rugby League player, who played senior footy for the Illawarra Steelers and Gold Coast Seagulls in the NSWRL, Mark Riley was also a carpenter by trade. After badly breaking his leg for the third time in 1990 he gave the game away and turned his attention full time towards his home building and renovating business. A trip to South America however changed his tact again, this time pursuing another of his loves, surfing.

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“I started building surfboards in 1996. I was tired of the disposable nature of surfboards. The year prior I was five weeks into a surf trip through South America waiting patiently for this fickle but quality righthander to fire and when it finally did, I broke both of the boards I was travelling with in the first session.

I was filthy.

“I returned home from that trip with some Ecuadorian Balsa and was determined to make a durable surfboard. It consumed me.

19 years on and I haven’t had a single one of my surfboards snap.

I have achieved what I set out to do – make beautiful surfboards that last.”

It was the closure of Clark Foam in 2005 however that really hit home to Mark what he describes as the “toxic nature of traditional polyurethane surfboards.

“When I read about Grubby Clark closing down at the drop of a hat because of mainly environmental issues; a business that apparently had 80% of the market, which was sending out around the world something like 20 containers a day, that’s when I really came to realise how bad for the environment polyurethane blanks are. As a result, I did a lot of research into surfboard blanks. I also came to realise what I was doing was good for the environment because the boards I was making lasted so much longer. I had always been environmentally conscious in my approach but this just strengthened my belief in what I was doing and how I went about my business. It

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also encouraged me to find out about and adopt other ecologically sound materials, products and approaches.”

Mark today makes both the solid balsawood boards like the classic longboards of the '50s and '60s, for which he has become well known, as well as a range of lightweight performance fishes, shortboards, longboards and paddleboards, all made from balsa skins vacuum bagged to a recycled EPS core.

As Mark explains, “I wanted to create a surfboard that not only looked great but could compete with lightweight polyurethane surfboards. I didn’t want to go down the path of that toxic stuff containing all those VOCs (volatile organic compounds) though. I knew I had to find a material that complemented the balsa I source from sustainable farms. I came across this 100% recycled EPS foam.”

The blanks go through a process called regranulation.

Scrap pieces of packing foam from fridges, TVs and the like are ground up, pumped into a mould and heated.

Once ejected from the mould they are shuttled into large gas oven drying rooms. The blank is then shaped; vees, concaves, you name it before a 2-3mm balsa veneer is vacuum-bagged (laminated) onto the blank providing added strength. Solid rails are then added to the board, the shape is further refined with some light sanding before being glassed, finished and polished.

"GOING FORWARD, WE WILL HAVE A SUSTAINABLE AND ONGOING CYCLE." Mark, on his local balsa plantation

“The end result is a surfboard that is not only lightweight, has good floatation and performs really well, it will last at least five times longer than a regular polyurethane surfboard. I have got the weight of my 6’1” shortboards down to 2.2kg but you are not going to put dents onto it as soon as you touch this board. I recently made a 11’ x 30” x 5 1/2'” paddleboard that came in at 10kg.”

Not content with what he has achieved to date, Mark has further continued to work towards reducing his environmental footprint. All foam offcuts from his boards go back into his recycled EPS foam mix. Waste from his solid balsawood boards is used as garden compost and usable offcuts are donated to schools. The glues he uses contain no volatile or flammable ingredients. His vehicles have been converted to LPG to reduce the amount of fuel consumed. He is an active member of the Rainforest Alliance; an organization that works to arrest the major drivers of deforestation and environmental destruction and to further his commitment to responsible, sustainable harvesting of balsawood, Mark has even set up his own plantation up in Cooktown near Port Douglas in North Queensland.

“We now have 300-400 trees that are nearing maturity and are planting 100 trees a year so going forward, we will have a sustainable and ongoing cycle.

“There appears to be enough rain and humidity up there, the trees are growing well, which is great because the faster they grow, the better the quality – the wood is lighter in weight and colour. The samples I have taken to date make me confident we will soon be able to offer to surfers a 100% Australian grown and made balsa surfboard. I am pretty happy about that but with that said, there is always more work to be done.” www.balsasurfboardsriley.com.au CHRISTMAS 2014 | SMORGASBOARDER

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GREEN ROOM TEACHINGS Dave Porter of Treehouse Landscapes and Handshapes set up his premises in Bulli’s oldest running timber mill just over a year ago now. You may recall we featured a story on Dave this time last year. Well since then he has continued on lovingly handcrafting his surfboards as well as running various shaping courses for aspiring board makers. We caught up with Dave recently to talk about the unique boards he creates using environmentally friendly and sustainable materials and how these same materials are now starting to find their way into his shaping courses.

WORDS: DAVE SWAN

ABOVE: Flax fibre and hoop pine create a stunning finish.

FAR RIGHT: Chuffed student, Andrew Longhurst

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GREEN: BUILDING

Photo: Aaron Hughes

"WE HAVE REALLY PUSHED ALTERNATIVE MATERIALS FOR ABOUT SEVEN YEARS NOW" Dave Porter, Treehouse Landscapes and Handshapes

Dave explains he is now keen to apply the same ethos to the courses he has applied to his core business so that students can create their own lightweight, durable surfboards using sustainable materials.

“As you know with my own boards we have really pushed alternative materials for about seven years now. We have experimented with various foams, resins and cloth to create durable and sustainable lightweight performance surfboards.

Thankfully these have been really well received and surfers are loving them.

great response to the courses. A lot of people have since rented a bay and some have shaped as many as five boards.”

“On the shaping course side of things however, we went down the path of trying to keep costs low for customers so we were using traditional materials and manufacturing techniques.

People who were undertaking the courses were handshaping a polyurethane core with stringer and we were then providing polyester glassing. It’s been a great year and we have received a

“I originally tried to keep some of those alternative materials on the sidelines with regards to the shaping courses but people see my boards in the showroom and as a result we have just had so many requests for things like timber laminate decks and flax cloth. People are really liking the look of the materials and want to give them a try.”

Dave has been rethinking his approach to the shaping courses however due to many of the attendees expressing interest in the materials he is using in his own Treehouse Handshapes.

“As of the beginning of next year we will be the first business offering both handshaping courses, and a range of alternative glassing options such as bio epoxy lamination, pigmented glassing with bio epoxy and timber, cork and/ or flax laminates.

So yeah, we’re really excited about that. Students will also enjoy shaping the EPS foam and having the stringerless boards, which are really modern and lightweight and durable. We hope to see these boards in the lineup for years to come.

“This direction will also be good for my own health. I want to be able to do this for my whole career so I want to use the cleanest materials I can." www.treehousescapesandshapes.com CHRISTMAS 2014 | SMORGASBOARDER

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MAGIC MUSHROOMS IF SOMEONE once suggested you grow your own surfboard, you would definitely think they'd been dining out on the old magic mushrooms. The reality today however is that this seemingly implausible notion is possible. Through a new technology based on mushrooms developed by Ecovative, surfboard blanks can be grown in about a week. ‘What the?’, we hear you say.

WORDS: DAVE SWAN

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GREEN: BUILDING

A COUPLE OF FUNGIS Enjoying a Skype chat with Gavin McIntyre (right) and Alex Carlton (left) of Ecovative.

up on a farm he saw these mushroom roots, known as Mycelium, growing on and binding wood chips together.

Here’s a bit of a rundown on the technology before I get into the nitty gritty and go all high tech on you with the guys from Ecovative - Gavin McIntyre (Co-Founder & Chief Scientist) and Alex Carlton (Research and Product Development). Ecovative is a New York-based biomaterials company best known for its sustainable packaging materials for food, storage, insulation... You name it.

a mushroom (basically mushroom roots for the laymen). When glassed with eco-friendly resins and bamboo fibreglass or something of the sort, the surfboards will decompose, in effect reducing our landfills and marine debris.

Ecovative’s mushroom material technology is also being used to provide a platform for growing handplanes and fins.

Spurred on by environmentally conscious surfers, and with a few keen surfers within the company ranks, they decided to have a crack at producing a surfboard blank. They revealed their first ever Mushroom Surfboard prototypes at The Boardroom Show in Costa Mesa, California in October 2013.

GAVIN PICKS UP THE STORY AND FILLS US IN ON HOW THEIR JOURNEY BEGAN.

Ecovative are essentially growing surfboards made of renewable materials, namely agricultural waste from crop production inoculated with Mycelium, which is the vegetative part of

GAVIN: We got started in 2007. Just like you guys at Smorgasboarder actually, we were two guys working out of the basement of an old print shop. We were in our senior year in College and we were looking at alternative materials we might be able to produce that could replace toxic substances that harm our planet. Eben Bayer, the other founder, had the insight of using mushrooms as basically a natural glue. Growing

He brought the idea to me and said, “Hey, we have this natural adhesive, let’s see if we can grow some materials and see how they perform.

So we bought some mushroom grow kits off the internet together with some local farm waste (mostly corn stocks) and grew the first samples under our beds in our college dorm rooms.

Literally a couple of weeks later, we tested them and found out - based on the strength and the density and how much the product weighed - we had a really good alternative to Styrofoam (EPS).

We started protective packaging, and have been selling that now for about 5 years and I guess it was this time last year, Alex and I had been kicking around the idea of doing a surfboard blank. I had a surfboard in my office so I said, “Let’s cut this up and grow some blanks.” Alex did some blend development and that’s when we brought it to Surf Expo and starting meeting some shapers.

DAVE: COULD YOU EXPLAIN WHAT YOU MEAN BY BLEND DEVELOPMENT? ALEX: Our material is mostly agricultural waste and the mushroom is a binder. So the large majority of the over-arching properties are derived from the agricultural waste. We played CHRISTMAS 2014 | SMORGASBOARDER

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around with different agricultural waste as opposed to just corn stocks, which are really fibrous. Some sort of pith, like the inside of a stock, is more like a particle and so we tried different things like that to get different strengths, different densities - basically different material properties by using different waste streams.

DAVE: IF I UNDERSTAND, THE CURRENT DEVELOPMENT IS TO MAKE BLANKS LIGHTER? ALEX: The sticking point is getting it at a low enough density that it's still strong enough to be a decent material. It's very easy to get a super-low density. It's fairly difficult to get a low density that is still a nice, rigid material.

DAVE: IN TURN, IS THAT NOT A CHALLENGE AS WELL? I'VE READ THE BLANKS ARE NOT AS PLIABLE AS A STYROFOAM BLANK? ALEX: One of the ways we were able to get the density down was to incorporate more fibres to trap more air space, the same way EPS works. The down side to that is that if you want to take a planer to it, it pulls the fibres out. It's like trying to shave your head with a planer. It is not going to work out so well.

(BALD) DAVE: ALEX MAY HAVE THAT PROBLEM...

I CERTAINLY DON'T ALEX: We developed a blend that was easily shapeable and millable on a CNC, unfortunately it was six times the density of EPS – too heavy!

At least in this iteration of development we made the decision that getting the density right was more important than shapeability, especially since we as a company are really good at making custom moulded shapes from doing packaging.

It wasn’t so much of a stretch for us to imagine growing a surfboard blank itself, or a pop-out if you will, as opposed to a larger blank that is shaped down to incorporate custom rockers and outlines.

GAVIN: That’s where guys like David from Surf O Boards and Ed Lewis from Enjoy Handplanes came in. These are pretty tech savvy guys who knew how to use computer-drafting software. They drew up boards

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and handplanes and sent us the designs. We made the tools.

Now in the case with Dave (Surf O Boards) out in California, he actually grows his own boards. He buys the materials from us to grow those blanks to his own specifications.

So to explain this in a little more detail for you our readers, Mushroom Surfboards blanks are grown to a near-final shape, rather than a rectangular blank, which has to be cut away and shaped into a customised surfboard.

Creating a blank with a less finished outline and rocker would certainly resonate more with existing surf culture and the shaping community, but Evocative’s approach so far has the added advantage of minimising waste. And let’s face it,

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GREEN: BUILDING

HARD-SPORE SURF GEAR Surf O Boards are currently leading the charge for using mushroom blanks in their manufacturing

LEFT: Daniel Del Toro of Surf O Boards with their prototyp mushroom blank - mycofoam core - board, the El Portobello FAR LEFT: From agricultural waste to a surfboard blank, just like magic...

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FUNGUS PUT TO THE TEST

Surf O Boards' head shaper Daniel Del Toro (left) takes some friends out to give their prototype mushroom blank board a run, and has a whole lot of fun doing it.

See our website for the video: www.smorgasboarder.com.au

a lot of surfers buy stock model boards as opposed to custom shapes, so this is not a far cry from that.

DAVE: YOU'VE HAD ISSUES GROWING THE MYCELIUM CONSISTENTLY THROUGHOUT THE MOULD?

DAVE: SO THERE'S NO WAY OF SHORTENING THE FIBRES? I GUESS THAT AFFECTS ADHESION?

ALEX: That was actually one of the areas that probably took the most development.

The surfboard is one of the larger things you try and grow in one whole piece. The issue we ran into was essentially not getting enough air in the middle.

ALEX: The shorter the fibre gets the easier it is to build, but the heavier it gets. So it's this 'Catch 22'.

We could do a 5lb (2.26kg) surfboard today pretty easily. But it gets tougher to shape once we get down to a 1.5lb surfboard. At that stage the board is nearly all fibre. To get that kind of density you need almost 90% trapped air.

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GAVIN: Mushrooms have to breathe just like we do – they breathe oxygen and expire CO2.

So they needed air.

ALEX: With a thicker board (about 2 ½ inches) and with it being fairly wide, having to get air all the way from the edge of the mould to the middle was essentially impossible. A lot of the development went around how to supplement

the airflow so the Mycelium could breath but still not dry out in the process.

GAVIN: Which basically meant hooking it up to some fish pumps.

ALEX: Frankenstein like, but it worked. It will now consistently grow in about 7 days.

In a week, out of a new tool, you can grow a blank.

DAVE: WHAT’S THE BUOYANCY OF THE BLANKS LIKE? GAVIN: The specific gravity is very close to that of EPS. DAVE: I'M GUESSING IT'S AN OPEN AS OPPOSED TO A CLOSED-CELL FOAM? ALEX: It is an open cell but it's very similar

to EPS. The Mycelium itself tends to put this protein all over itself called hydrophobin and it's a naturally super-hydrophobic protein.

It's very similar to EPS in that it will stand off water for…

GAVIN: Alex is a chemist.

DAVE: SO YOU’RE SUGGESTING I DON’T KNOW WHAT A HYDROPHOBIC PROTEIN IS? NOT ALL AUSSIES ARE DUMB...

(LAUGHS) OKAY, WHAT IS IT? ALEX: Well, basically the Mycelium has this natural ability to repel water because the mushroom itself doesn’t want to get waterlogged, otherwise it will die. It's this natural response to moisture. It will put out this waterproof layer on all the Mycelium.

So that gives us a bit of a waterproof

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LR y p o er Sap C r p u t S n E n i s e R o i B

functionality, but like EPS, if you surf on it for a while with a ding in your board, it will eventually wick up water. It'll take a little time. But you have to fix your dings.

GAVIN: A good example of this in the States is that we have the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - a government agency that overseas the climate and the oceans - and they actually use our material as temporary buoys. They will float for over a week and then will slowly sink and return to the ocean, as they are marine-compostable.

DAVE: THAT LEADS ME TO MY NEXT QUESTION. HOW LONG WOULD THE BLANK TAKE TO DECOMPOSE? GAVIN: The core itself in a backyard compost pile would take 30 days. In a marine environment it would be about 60 days. That’s just the blank itself.

DAVE: AND I GATHER IT CAN BE EATEN BY MARINE LIFE IF THEY HAVE A PENCHANT FOR MUSHROOMS?

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Performance grade eco resin

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Safe and pleasant to use – low odour, low VOC’s

Available in Australia from

info@surfinggreen.com.au • 0412 042 811 • surfinggreen.com.au 86

GAVIN: The cool thing about fungi is that their skeleton basically is made out of chitin, which is the same biopolymer you will find in lobster and crab shells.

Lobsters are made of chitin and so are mushrooms.

DAVE: SO IF A SHARK ATE A SURFER RIDING ONE OF YOUR BOARDS IT WOULD BE LIKE EATING A GIANT LOBSTER?... MOVING ON...

SO, WE DIDN’T TOUCH ON THE DRYING PROCESS. AFTER GROWING THE BLANK, THE NEXT STEP IS TO DRY IT OUT?

At this point in our story it is relevant to turn our attention towards the ensuing discussion we had with David from Surf O Boards, early adopters of the Ecovative Mushroom Surfboards technology...

To give you a little background on Surf Organic or Surf O as they are known, the company was founded by Daniel Del Toro, the head shaper, and David Purser III, who runs the business side and does a lot of the CAD designs for their boards. Surf O was basically established to offer their customers “the most environmentally friendly surf and skate products available on the market, and to create them when there aren’t any.

Surf O Boards license the mushroom technology from Ecovative, but otherwise have no collaboration or affiliation with them. David filled us in on their experience with using this new technology to date.

DAVID: We met the guys at Ecovative at the Boardroom show last September. At the time they had a "surfboard" shaped mushroom, but glassed with Marine epoxy. The board was very heavy, but we could tell instantly that it not only had potential but could change surfing's future. Since then we have developed the world's first MycoFoam surfboard, lovingly named, El Portobello, after our favorite local surf spot El Porto, in Manhattan Beach, CA. DAVE: YOU'VE BUILT A FEW BOARDS NOW USING THE MUSHROOM BLANK TECHNOLOGY?

ALEX: It depends on what you're using. Here we have huge lumber kilns, so for us it takes a day.

DAVID: We have made four Mycelium surfboards so far. All four have been used for testing, and this latest turned out to be a whole generation better than the first three.

David (from Surf O Boards) doesn’t have a lumber kiln in his garage. He has a solar dryer so that takes 2 ½ to 3 days to dry the blank.

DAVE: WHAT’S THE EXPERIENCE BEEN LIKE SHAPING THESE BLANKS?

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and strong and can be glassed with both fiberglass and epoxy resins.

"IDEALLY WE COULD JUST GROW A RECTANGLE WITH ROCKER, JUST LIKE REGULAR FOAM BLANKS..."

David Purser III of Surf O Boards on future plans for mushroom blanks

DAVID: Shaping boards from these blanks in its current state is very difficult. The agricultural byproduct (basically mulch) that the mushroom eats leaves behind small bits of stems and leaves.

You need very sure hands and experience with the material, or it's extremely easy to take out bigger chunks than you intended.

We're testing some CNC companies' different bits and speeds and hope to have a way to "factory" shape these boards very soon. However, using the mould we designed, the blank grows to about 90% completion. It handles the rails and concaves very well. We have more difficulty with the deck growth than anything as it very rarely comes out smooth due to: gravity; the mushrooms' tendency to fill the remaining space; and the moisture that accumulates on the top of the mould. We've managed to strip it down well and sometimes do a bamboo deck inlay for fun and beauty.

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DAVE: ARE YOU CONSIDERING LARGER MOULDS TO ENABLE GREATER SURFBOARD CUSTOMISATION FROM THE BLANK? DAVID: Ideally we could just grow a rectangle with rocker, just like regular foam blanks. I think the material is likely a few years away from that step, but we've managed to make significant progress recently. We found that a harsh environmental change with the mushroom causes it to harden. The guys at Ecovative call it "buttoning". This hardened state is much thicker and eats significantly more of the seed material.

We already have to design our moulds larger than the spec for the surfboard because we experience about a 5% loss in size after dehydration. We've managed to cut some clean fish tails in our El Portobello board, despite the squash design. With effort and patience we can do some customising.

Right now we're experimenting with consistently

changing the density of the board based on the surfers preference.

DAVE: IN TIME, DO YOU BELIEVE YOU WILL YOU BE ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY ALTER THE DENSITY OF THE BLANK TO CREATE VARYING WEIGHTS? DAVID: This is something we are trying out now.

We are able to dial it in to a degree, but right now it's easier to make it heavier than it is lighter.

THERE IS NO DENYING the significant advancement made by Ecovative and the early work of Surf O Boards is a step in the right direction of producing environmentally friendly and sustainable surfboards. The foam’s consistency may be closer to particleboard than traditional polyurethane and polystyrene and more easily sanded than planed but it is buoyant

In fact, let’s be frank, it is groundbreaking work and friggin' unbelievable and their efforts to date need to be highly commended. As a surf community, let us ensure we are open to new technologies, approaches and construction methods and not be too readily dismissive of them. Surfing was once, or should I say previously ‘more’ inventive and exploratory in the pursuit of ways to heighten our enjoyment out in the ocean. Left field thinking was encouraged and applauded. We need to address the accumulation of plastics in our oceans and on land. We need to start thinking outside of the box and these mushroom surfboard blanks have a lot of potential.

What a pleasure it was to talk with all these guys - all extremely approachable and gracious with their time. My chat with Gavin and Alex was punctuated by a lot of laughs. These are two scientists I wouldn’t mind having a beer or two with if I ever get the chance to visit Green Island.

Gavin and Alex welcome any approaches by current or aspiring shapers here in Australia and New Zealand. They are keen to collaborate with board builders to advance this sustainable technology. As long as you're proficient with CAD design software they can make the tooling to suit and get you set up to grow your own blanks.

MORE INFO... SEE www.ecovativedesign.com www.surfoboards.com

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IT'S A LL ABO UT THE BEACH

WALLY'S W ATER

GALLERY N OW STOCK ING

PHOTO BY WALTER JOHNSON

QUALITY F ELT HATS

6 L O R R A I N E AV E , M A R C O O L A B E A C H Q L D ( 0 7 ) 5 4 4 8 8 5 6 0 S U R F B OA R D S • S U R F A RT • S H E L L S • D R I F T WO O D T H I N G S • C H E N I L L E S H O RT S • R E T R O S U N N I E S THONGS • TOWELS • UMBRELLAS • HAMMOCKS • GIFTS • GOPRO CAMERAS... AND SO MUCH MORE S T O C K I N G Q U A L I T Y A U S T R A L I A N - M A D E S U R F B O A R D S B Y T O M W E G E N E R , B U S H R AT, H I G H T I D E , B L A C K A PA C H E & S A S

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MIXED MATERIALS Shapers such as Dave Porter of Treehouse Landscapes and Handshapes are really pushing the envelope when it comes to incorporating sustainable materials into the finishing of a board.

GREEN FINISH ECO-FRIENDLY FIBREGLASS REPLACEMENTS AND RESINS When constructing a surfboard, you wouldn't be surprised to realise that green surfing eco-considerations don't just stop at the blank. There's a lot more that goes into the finishing of a board, with people researching and using alternatives for long-time standards of fibreglass and resins.

WORDS: DAVE SWAN

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When researching this topic we consulted a number of local shapers including an organisation in the United States called Sustainable Surf, which is a not-for-profit organisation that has developed a program called the ECOBOARD PROJECT. It is essentially a science-based, independent standard for surfboards manufactured with sustainable materials utilising the latest advancements in “green chemistry”. All materials are benchmarked and verified as to their legitimacy in effectively reducing the environmental and toxic impact of making surfboards.

A certified ECOBOARD must be made from at least one of the following materials: foam made from a minimum 40% recycled foam or at least 40% biological content, a minimum of 15% biological resin or made from wood.

Having looked at some of the alternative approaches to addressing the toxicity of foam, we thought it time we investigate the various bio resins and cloth available when building a ‘green’ surfboard.

GLASSING WITH A BIOBASED SURFBOARD RESIN. Firstly let’s look at resins. With the benchmark criteria for surfboard resin containing at least 15% biological carbon content and low Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), we were somewhat surprised to find there appeared to be only two companies who commercially produced surfboard resin that fits the bill.

The first and perhaps lesser known of the two resins is produced by Sicomin, an epoxy system formulator based in France with over 20 years’ experience in their field. Their system Greenpoxy 56 is an epoxy resin that has 56% of its molecular structure coming from plant origin. Not too much appears to be known about this bio-based epoxy resin, which we believe was only made available to the Australian market earlier this year.

Entropy Resins is the other company we certainly do know of that produces two different types of bio-based resins that have really begun to make inroads with Australian surfboard manufacturers. We recently spoke with Nicola and Dave O’Reilly from Surfing Green who have been importing Entropy Resins since 2011.

According to Dave they have watched and in some ways been part of the evolution of the Entropy products. “Right from the start we knew that getting shapers to change what they are doing was going to be a bit of an uphill battle. Everything in surfboard manufacture in Australia is constricted by very tight cost margins due to competition from China and other countries.”

Finished with Entropy Resin, Photo courtesy of Surfing Green

Since that time Surfing Green has been slowly working on educating both the shaper on the advantages of using the bio resin and the consumer on why they should pay slightly more to not only benefit the environment, but also those shaping their boards. Nicola, who also happens to write our Green Column

in Smorgasboarder explained the eco credentials of Entropy Resins.

“Most surfers, and undoubtedly all shapers, are aware of the dangers posed when glassing a surfboard with polyester resin.

Polyester resins are toxic and have cancercausing chemicals in them. Despite the well documented dangers many shapers still stick to their tried and true resin of choice. This reluctance for change is often attributed to factors such as thin financial margins, however slowly the industry is moving forward to embrace less toxic components.

“Epoxy resin, when used to glass surfboards as an alternative to polyester resin, is proven to be twice as strong and does not contain the same carcinogens as polyester resin. The downside however, is that it often causes skin reactions and other problems so is not always able to be used by every shaper.”

According to Nicola, as a means of countering the problems surrounding these two traditional options for surfboard glassing, two brothers in the United States decided to use their skills and love of surfing to create a resin that was bio-based and significantly less toxic than any that had come before it.

Rey and Desi Banatao of California, being highly qualified scientists (Rey holds a PhD in Polymer Chemistry and Desi a BS and MS in Material Science and Engineering) have committed to providing a cleaner alternative for shapers and surfers alike.

“Entropy Resins advocate that there is no better chemist than Mother Nature and that not all carbon is created equal. They replace petroleum-based carbon with renewable plant-based carbon. The raw materials going into their resins are co-products or waste products of other industrially important processes and are materials that do not compete with food sources or displace foodbased agriculture.”

Since starting their experimentation with creating a bio resin back in 2006 in a make shift lab under an office space owned by their father, the Banatao brothers have

been busy perfecting their end-product in order to answer demand for a resin that performs to a high standard and delivers on its environmental claims. Dave explains this point in more detail from a shapers perspective.

“The beauty of the Entropy resin for the shaper is that they can use a product that performs in exactly the same manner as traditional epoxy, yet has extremely low odour, doesn’t cause the same adverse reaction to the shaper and emits zero to near zero VOCs during use.

“In recent years, the fact that high profile shapers and surfers have become more environmentally aware and are starting to advocate the use of products such as these has meant a much more receptive attitude from others in the industry. Kelly Slater’s quiver on the ASP Tour last year included boards glassed with Entropy resin and proved that performance is not compromised by having a more ecological product.”

“Entropy themselves have really stepped up their development of their surfboard resins (they also produce a range of resins for use in other industries) by identifying that their early versions of the resin weren’t able to compete on certain levels. While the performance has always been great, the fact that they use plant based materials meant that the early versions were a little yellowed and were only really suited for use on timber boards. This turned off a lot of shapers who wanted that crisp white finish or didn’t want the yellowing to affect their tints. The latest version not only includes the UV inhibitor, but also contains an optical brightener to allow shapers to achieve that bright, white finish.

The resulting demand has increased two fold.

“Pleasingly we are seeing more and more shapers enquire about the resin and many of the younger generation of shapers are giving it a go and loving the results.”

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sustainability tick of approval and is close to being a viable option.”

HEMP FIBRE Hemp is one of the oldest materials known to man. It’s use dates back some 10,000 years.

It has a number of attractive characteristics including being the longest and strongest natural fibre and is considered to be an exceptional structural material for use in buildings and even bridges.

Flax Fibre - functional and beautiful.

Photo courtesy of Treehouse

ECO-FRIENDLY FIBREGLASS REPLACEMENTS

Fibreglass is glass-reinforced plastic. Many have endeavoured to replace this material with natural alternatives. Some have been successful, some not so successful and some are still very much a work in progress. Some shapers have conjured up ways to remove fibreglass altogether by vacuum-bagging timber laminates to foam cores. The timber is treated with Lanolin or painted with an epoxy resin to protect and waterproof the surfboard. Here’s a few of the eco-friendly alternatives to fibreglass we know of:

BAMBOO FIBRE Considered to exhibit the same strength characteristics as typical 4 oz. E-glass cloth, boards built using bamboo fibre are said to be just as durable as the ones glassed with fibreglass and polyester resin. Nicola from Surfing Green explains some of the other advantages and disadvantages of using this material from their own personal experience.

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“Bamboo fibre is synonymous with ecology, providing an alternative to other fibres in many different arenas, most notably clothing.

When Greenlight Surfboard Supply started experimenting with this material as an alternative to fibreglass they realised they had come up with a viable alternative. Being biodegradable, sustainable and manufactured using pollution free processes, bamboo cloth also provided strength equal to fibreglass and with a knit rather than woven finish, it was able to stretch all ways. But it was that stretch that ultimately proved to be its downfall. The stretchiness of the fabric made it fiddly and difficult to work with, and there were also issues with the cloudy finish once the resin was applied.

“While this was a valiant attempt at converting a sustainable fabric into one that could be used to manufacture surfboards, Greenlight have suffered a decline in demand for this material and have subsequently stopped producing bamboo cloth in the meantime. There are other people attempting to use bamboo as an alternative for laminating purposes so hopefully an end product that suits everyone’s requirements can be found. It certainly gets the

Hemp can grow on dry land or with minimal irrigation, adding organic matter to the soil and it does not require insecticides or herbicides because it grows too quickly for any weed to compete. Indeed Hemp only takes 4 months to mature and reportedly produces nearly four times as much raw fibre as an equivalentsized tree plantation. But if hemp is so good why did it nearly disappear altogether until the turn of this century? The simple answer is the Industrial Revolution. Hemp and other sustainable materials were replaced in favour of petroleum-based products that were seen as inexpensive and infinite. I suppose we are now starting to come full circle.

In terms of the use of hemp as an alternative to fibreglass in making surfboards, the jury is still out. Whilst some consider hemp cloth to be 10-15 percent stronger and deliver greater flex properties than traditional fibreglass, many consider it too heavy and too hard to work with at this stage. As it is a cloth however, this may be addressed in time with variations in weight and weaves that do not soak up as much resin.

Another advantage of working with hemp is that when sanding it, the dust is inert as opposed to fibreglass dust, which is reportedly carcinogenic.

FLAX FIBRE Another natural fibre that is being used as an alternative to fibreglass is flax. We spoke with Dave Porter from Treehouse Landscapes and Handshapes about his experience using this type of cloth in his boards.

“I have generally found it takes a bit of time to adapt to using new materials. With flax cloth

for example there are a lot of different weaves and weights and it took me a long time to find the right cloth that I was happy with. Also it is a different process to using polyester or some of the old fashion standard resins. You have to adapt to using epoxies and a new glassing process. There is a commitment that needs to be made there. If you are a manufacturer with

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your head down producing high quantities of boards, it is very hard to pull away to find time to experiment with different materials such as this. It seems to be a grassroots movement because it is the guys who have the flexibility and time to experiment. These are the guys who I think are starting to lead the industry in this regard.”

As to what challenges flax presents when used in the “glassing” process, Dave had this to say.

“With any standard fibreglass cloths, when you squeegee in the resin, you can really see any air left in the laminate but as flax is not transparent, you have to be quite meticulous and work the flax cloth well to make sure you evacuate all the air.

“Wrapping around the rails requires some slightly different techniques with the squeegee to make sure you tension it nicely and that all the threads are pulled in the right direction. You can’t freelap because you see where the cloth overlaps. You need to do cut laps, which again is a bit more labour intensive. Other than that it is just knowing the strength of the cloth and knowing how many layers to build up and how to combine it with traditional fiberglass. We generally put a standard, light fibreglass layer over the top of it."

CORK We have seen it used as a soft-top in Richard Harvey’s "Corky" creation for beginners but Dave Porter is currently experimenting with using a cork/flax composite to replace fibreglass.

“We sourced some cork recently and have had a go at some EPS boards fully laminated in cork and flax. I have surfed a couple of the prototypes and am really enjoying it. We are just trying a few more tweaks construction wise to strengthen the boards and get all the joins really nice and neat.

“We actually wrap the cork right around the deck, rails and bottom, using flax fibre to reinforce it. The whole lot is then vacuum bagged onto an EPS core. So far the boards have come out really good. We have some

orders already but have asked people to hang off for a while until we thoroughly test the prototypes. I am really excited about it and it is a great material to work with, it’s sustainable and it has a great earthy look.

“Since the wine industry has turned away from cork there is a whole industry that needs to be supported and it is struggling at the moment.

To be able to take an existing industry that is providing a renewable resource and to be able to find another use for it is pretty exciting.

SUSTAINABLE SURFBOARDS: A FIGMENT OF IMAGINATION OR THE FUTURE OF SURFING? I guess the answer to this vexing question depends on who you ask and their perspective on the current state of play and the future of manufacturing surfboards, as well as the needs and wants of surfers. As Dave Porter explains, “Producing sustainable surfboards is always a work in progress. There are always new materials coming out and improvements in existing materials. The most important message to get across is to encourage shapers to start experimenting with these materials. They are certainly not perfect at the moment but we need to think about the impact of the materials we currently use and choose materials that have less of an impact on the environment. We also need to consider increasing the durability of surfboards whilst keeping them lightweight at the same time, keeping that performance aspect about them because otherwise these processes won’t be adopted.

“I don’t think anyone at present can run around claiming to make a totally green surfboard.

However, if we can improve those things, it will be a good step forward in an ongoing process of constantly looking for better materials and keeping an open mind on what surfboards can be made of.”

Darren Burford of Burford Blanks echoes Dave’s sentiments regarding the durability of surfboards but from a different point of view.

“I still maintain that if you make surfboards slightly stronger, we will address a large part of our environmental concerns. If you make it once and it lasts you longer you have one lot of rubbish and that is more environmentally friendly than if you use supposed “green” materials. As a general rule my concern is that the green stuff is in some ways a token offering for marketing purposes. It is usually not about making the planet better but about going that route in a marketing sense. That may p*ss people off but that is my belief.

“The problem we currently face is that people want lighter boards and the reality is they fall apart quicker. Most shortboards these days are a fashion item. What’s been done this year, people don’t want next Summer. I am not talking about fishes, logs and single fins but modern shortboards, which are a large percentage of the market. If it is not light, you don’t sell it. If it doesn’t have the right width and thickness at this present moment of time, in which it will be different six months later, people aren’t interested. If you keep building boards with a single layer of 4oz glass they are going to be fast transitioned to landfill.

“Which leads me to fibreglass, there is only one type made in Australia but the yarn is still imported because there are no manufacturers of yarn here. So your environmental footprint is larger but where do you start and where do you stop? Most of us drive our cars to the beach, many of us go on overseas or interstate surf trips. Whether you are using EPS or Polyurethane foam or epoxy or polyester resin you need oil.

“You can make “green” polyurethane blanks by using corn starch or sugar in part of the foam mix but they don’t last as long. We have tried it.

The same goes for recycled foam. If you want insulation foam it is fine. If you want it for a surfboard where you are not going to put your foot through the deck, it’s no good. They fall apart and so you have to make it again and thus you increase the amount of waster over and CHRISTMAS 2014 | SMORGASBOARDER

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Get back to surfing’s roots...

with paulownia

above the polyurethane blank you were trying to replace in the first place. Our focus is on making the best foam in the world so surfboards last longer.”

Chris Garrett has made surfboards with all manner of materials, some of which have been heralded as environmentally friendly and celebrated for their use of recycled timber.

Native Hawaiian surfer with alaia board, circa 1911

Tom Wegener preferred alaia blanks • Alaia & Kite Boards Long Boards • Hollow Boards • Chambered Boards

Our buoyant, lightweight timber floats all around the world.

SURFBOARD SUPPLIES Contact David Evans P: 03 9588 2533 E: info.sales@paulowniasurfboardsupplies.com W: www.paulowniasurfboardsupplies.com

Buy the Best Paulownia Timber Australia has to offer.

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“Many of the timber boards I have made, I have not come at them with the view of marketing them ‘environmentally friendly’. I just wanted to make something durable that was a little bit different and alternative to the main. In actual fact the recycled timber boards, because they were glassed inside and out, used double the amount of fibreglass and resin, but people thought they were a revelation. They weren’t, in that regard. Later on the timber veneer boards I vacuum bagged onto styrofoam, eliminating all of the fibreglass and 90% of the resin, were ‘eco-friendly’ and they didn’t rate a mention. I found it discouraging if you were in fact trying to be environmentally friendly.

“The other problem with making boards environmentally friendly is that they are expensive to make and they require processes that are longwinded and as a result, people are not prepared to pay for it. They love the environmental tag but they are not prepared to pay for it.

It is an ego stroke and as long as they have their eco friendly brand conscious recognisable surf product under their arm or on their person, they feel justified and validated. It’s all about marketing and you either buy into that market or you don’t.

“The reality is the polyurethane/polyester surfboard are as cheap as it gets.

Unless you are prepared to take your eco concept to a third world country and reduce your labour costs, it can’t compete

price wise. Once you ship them back over here however, how large has your environmental footprint become?

“The key to me is to try and slow the transition to landfill. Realistically the material process of polyurethane blanks and polyester resins, with what you can do with it, the mouldability, the weight – there is just nothing else out there realistically. So I try to build my boards the best I can, with the best materials so they last longer so people don’t throw them away as quick. That is my environmental statement these days. I would rather charge more and have customers come back a little less frequent rather than most business models that are based on frequency of numbers where the surfboards are disposable or they change models continually. I tend to want things to last.”

When discussing the eco credentials of any form of surfboard manufacturing, one of the most important points that needs to be taken into consideration as Chris highlighted is where the surfboard is made. Mark Riley gives us an insight into his own personal experiences.

“Many surfers don’t know where their boards come from. I regularly ask people about it and the reply will often be, ‘I don’t know.’ Then I will enquire as to who made it? ‘I don’t know.’ What’s it made from? ‘I don’t know.’ Is there a guarantee on it? ‘I don’t know.’ How do you repair it? ‘ I don’t know.’ And my final question is, how many Aussies touched this board in the manufacturing process and the reply is regularly, ‘I don’t know.’ What’s the environmental footprint of offshore production?

“At least when you do buy something from me you know where it has come from, who know who makes it, you know the processes I undertake and you know it will last because I have a guarantee on all my boards from snapping.”

SMORGASBOARDER | CHRISTMAS 2014

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www.seventhwave.co.nz

The Max wetsuit made to your shape and size The best fit = the warmest wetsuit.

From $599 NZ

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WORLDWIDE CHRISTMAS 2014 | SMORGASBOARDER

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WICKED WAX?

SURFING DOESN’T HAVE TO BE HARD Highest quality, best value softboards for kids, learners, and those who just want a safe fun in the surf.

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At this stage of proceedings you might be thinking that surfing, for so many of us, is not as soulful as we may think. Essentially - from a green extreme perspective most of us are riding surfboards that endanger the planet and the same goes for our wetsuits. And the news gets even worse, the wax you use is no better.

WORDS: DAVE SWAN

Most surfers are aware bout 95% of surf waxes on the market today contain a concoction of petrochemicals, namely paraffin, petroleum jelly, microcrystalline, vistanex, all of which are essentially the byproduct of crude oil. What then makes your wax sticky is a mix of synthetic resins and glues. Even those sweet smelling tropical fruit aromas emanating from your bar of wax are made from a variety of chemicals - the scent of strawberry uses up to 40 alone. You'll also be pleased to know that we reportedly use 6 million bars of the stuff worldwide each year.

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What’s also of concern is that some companies who have seemingly made an effort to go ‘green’ may still use petrochemcials in their ingredients, namely paraffin wax and mineral oils.

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“My own kids love them too...”

Dean Geraghty

Glenn Fatches from Bees Knees Surf Wax had this to about some waxes on the market that claim to be environmentally friendly. “So it seems most "eco-blends" use soy wax and people think it must be ok and ‘natural’ because it comes from soy beans, but if you look beyond the labelling it's not that simple.

“There's only 2 or 3 companies in the world that commercially produce soy wax. They all use Monsanto's G.M.O. soy beans. These are grown on an industrial scale with chemical herbicides, pesticides and fertilizers. The wax is then extracted from the beans using chemical solvents.

It's then bleached and deoderised with more chemicals then mixed with yet more chemicals to make it hydrogenate (solidify). After that it is still quite soft and so it gets blended with other waxes like paraffin and/or chemicals to make it useable. All through that whole process a lot of chemicals and fossil fuels are used to make a so-called "natural" wax.”

So if that is indeed the case, what the hell are your options if you do want to make an effort and opt for a wax that is at least slightly more eco-friendly?

Are they as good as the surf waxes we have come to know? Here’s a rundown on some waxes that stake their claim as being as good for the environment as they are for performance, many of which we have come to know, having tested them ourselves over the past few years.

SMORGASBOARDER | CHRISTMAS 2014

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GREEN: GEAR

BEES KNEES SURF WAX

BELLS SURF WAX

TREEHUGGER NATURAL

LICK LIQUID SURF WAX

MATUNAS ORGANIC

Bees Knees Surf Wax hails from Nambucca Heads and uses locally produced beeswax and sustainably harvested botanical based oils and resins. Glenn Fatches of Bees Knees explains the wax is made entirely from natural, organic, non-toxic, bio-degradable and sustainable ingredients being harmless to you and the planet. Even the packaging is made from recycled wastepaper.

With Bells Beach and the surrounding reef breaks now classed as protected marine reserves it was fitting that last year a Victorian Surf Coast family launched an eco-friendly, biodegradable surf wax to respect surfing in this region.

A small family owned and operated business in Lennox Heads makes Treehugger for the environmentally conscious surfer.

Each block is hand made and hand poured. The main ingredient is beeswax which is melted and combined with a mix of coconut and other vegetable oils. Natural plant based gums are added for stickiness and natural minerals and clays are added to create a thicker wax that bumps up quickly when it's rubbed on your surfboard.

Is a French invention now distributed throughout Australia and New Zealand by Riley Classic Balsawood Surfboards. It doesn’t come in a bar but rather a tube. The positive here is you only need to squeeze out a little bit of the sticky stuff to smear over your board, meaning less wastage. It sounds weird but it definitely works. It is sticky for sure, lasts quite a while and keeps your board looking smick.

With claims to be “the original organic wax” Matunas has seen the likes of Kelly Slater and Joel Tudor use their product and have subsequently developed quite a following.

“We use no chemicals in the process. Also all our processing is done using a ‘bio-char’ processorer which is classed as "carbon negative" so it's nonpolluting and sustainable and also makes a truly eco friendly bi-product.”

90g Cool Water, Warm Water RRP: 3-pack $15, 5-pack $25, 10-pack $40

Bells Surf Wax is said to be a quality 100% organic product modelled on a unique 3D bell shape for simple handle-like application. The key ingredient for their secret formula is bees wax and 4-6 other additives (dependant on the formula), all being au natural. Like many of the above waxes it is not mass produced and is hand-poured into moulds.

120g Base coat, Cool/Cold, Warm & Tropical RRP: $6

Graham Colpus of Treehugger confirmed their wax contains no petroleum by-products, harsh chemicals or synthetic materials and is made of all natural biodegradable and sustainable ingredients. Even the packaging is made from recycled paper.

Lick Liquid Surf Wax is said to contain no petrochemicals, only vegetable-based, biodegradable ingredients.

35g All temperatures.

RRP: $28 (but it goes a long way)

75g Cold, Cool, Warm and Tropical, and a base coat for cool and cold waxes.

Originating out of Santa Cruz in California, Matunas' organic credentials have been challenged by competitors in the past, but independent tests conducted

by S&N LABS have reportedly delivered conclusive results the components of Matunas surf wax are from natural origins.

The ingredients includes clay, beeswax, jasmine, raspberry, coconut oil, tree sap, aloe and honey with each block wrapped with recycled paper and printed with soy ink. Matunas is considered to be non-toxic and biodegradable.

90g Cold, Cool, Warm, Tropical and Basecoat RRP: $3.99, 5-pack $19.95

RRP: 5-pack $20 Nothing to see...

CHRISTMAS 2014 | SMORGASBOARDER

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GLOBAL

WARMING In the main, pretty much nothing we surfers use is biodegradable, and most of it is pretty toxic too.

We've looked at the alternatives emerging in relation to surfboards, so now let’s look at that piece of rubber that keeps us warm.

Most are aware wetsuits are made from neoprene; a synthetic, petroleum derived material with a highly toxic manufacturing process.

Invented in 1930, neoprene was first used in wetsuits in the 1950’s.

Since that time, in terms of a wetsuit’s environmental footprint, we haven’t made a hell of lot of progress. So what are the alternatives if you genuinely care for the planet but don’t want to freeze your bits off?

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Our friends at Surfing Green have regularly kept us up to date with what’s ‘suit’able for our environment, from Rip Curl’s use of nonsolvent glues to O’Neill’s use of recycled plastic bottles and Billabong’s commitment to reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions. Triple X Wetsuits have even endeavoured to address the expendable nature of wetsuits by guaranteeing to repair their suits for life. The most significant advancement of late however appears to be by Patagonia who have teamed up with biomaterials manufacturer Yulex to produce wetsuits made of a bio-rubber that comes from the flowering shrub guayule, which is grown in the Arizona desert and requires very little water. These suits are presently 60% Yulex bio-rubber and 40% neoprene.

It is interesting however, when we talk of environmental concerns, most of us refer to our physical environment and man’s impact on nature. However there is also the social environment to consider, being one's economic, social and political surroundings.

Being a responsible corporate citizen goes beyond concerns for just the natural environment alone but also our social environment by ensuring cheap developing world labour is not exploited.

A company that doesn't go overboard in promoting their eco-credentials, to avoid it appearing as what they refer to as “Green Sheen” or “Greenwash” (a form of marketing spin highlighting an organisation’s environmental policies) is Seventh Wave from New Zealand’s South Island. Seventh Wave wetsuits are hand made in New Zealand and use limestone neoprene as opposed to oil-based neoprene. I asked founder Paul Zarifeh about the differences.

“On its own, limestone neoprene is not necessarily more eco-friendly than oilbased neoprene. What contributes to it being more 'green' depends on its use of more sustainable and less toxic resources during production, and the longer its useful life span.”

“We use limestone-based neoprene from Yamamoto in Japan. 97% of limestonebased neoprene is calcium carbonate.

Although it’s a finite resource, there is an estimated reserve of limestone to last for 3,000 years. Arguably the extraction of limestone has less of an impact on the environment than oil-based neoprene, which depends on oil exploration, drilling, and potentially dangerous transportation (think oil spills). Also, current oil reserves are fast being depleted. So despite both extraction methods being far from environmentally friendly, limestone would seem to be the more 'green' of the two.”

Both types of neoprene also necessitate the conversion of core materials into polychloroprene rubber chips that are then melted, mixed, baked and cooled to form neoprene sponge. Creating neoprene is energy-intensive however Yamamoto, the main producer of limestone neoprene, argues that its process uses one-tenth of the heat used in refining petroleum.

“The fact that limestone neoprene is considerably warmer due to its high micro-cell structure also means that less polychloroprene is needed in the production of a limestone-based wetsuit. In other words, 2mm limestone neoprene is as warm as a typical 3mm sheet of neoprene made from oil, which means there is less polychloroprene/raw materials needed and proportionally, less of an environmental impact.”

This aspect of limestone neoprene is interesting in itself. From what we understand, limestone neoprene effectively has a lot more bubbles packed together within the neoprene. Oil-based neoprene has a cell penetration of 60-70%, whereas limestone neoprene has a 94% cell penetration. This micro-cell structure apparently provides limestone neoprene with several distinct advantages in that is more impermeable, and therefore lighter, warmer and more durable.

In particular, it's this aspect of durability in specific reference to sustainability that Paul is particularly passionate about. As he reasons, if wetsuits are made to last longer and not simply deteriorate after a season or two, less will end up as landfill.

“There are three main ingredients in a wetsuit. Labour, neoprene and design.

Our production is hand made. We don't do big production runs and then run around trying to dump stock to get rid of it (less waste). We also customise the wetsuit to the customer for the purpose of getting the best fit possible. This we have found is the most important factor to get the warmest wetsuit possible.

“Limestone based neoprene does not absorb water. It lasts longer, does not

"ARGUABLY THE EXTRACTION OF LIMESTONE HAS LESS OF AN IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT THAN OIL-BASED NEOPRENE, WHICH DEPENDS ON OIL EXPLORATION, DRILLING, AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS TRANSPORTATION" Paul Zarifeh, on why Seventh Wave choose limestone-based neoprene

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GREEN: GEAR delaminate or compress as easily. It is warmer to wear for longer. It costs more to produce and purchase but customers love it.

“Finally, we have designed our wetsuits for fit and function. Our Max model has curved seams all over it. This allows the neoprene to stretch even more. It's the seams that stop the stretch factor. Over the years of repairing every different brand possible we have seen the problems and designed the Max to avoid most of these issues. The other ingredients are: thread, zips, glue, Velcro, webbing, domes, labels, ink, tape etc. With all of them we try to use and find the best available.

Especially thread. You'd be amazed at how many wetsuits we've repaired with sh*te thread and crappy glue jobs.

Surfer Freddy Owens, riding his first self shaped board - a 9'7" Pig, inspired by a '60s Dunlop log, and stayong warm in his Seventh Wave suit.

Photo: Tom Owens

“We are a small company by most standards.

We have learnt from experience and customer feedback. Trust me, if you get it wrong and the customer lives in the same town, they come back and tell you.”

Taking all this into consideration limestone neoprene is arguably more eco-friendly than petro-chemical neoprene, but there's a long way to go before a wetsuit and its production can be truly green.

“That's why Seventh Wave, although proud to use limestone neoprene, has never tried to push its environmentally friendliness—we prefer green rooms to greenwash!” www.seventhwave.co.nz CHRISTMAS 2014 | SMORGASBOARDER

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HOME BUILDERS If a surfboard can be seen as the medium through which a surfer connects with nature, then when a surfer goes the extra step to connect with the surfboard by actually shaping one him or herself, the experience can only make the connection that much stronger and infinitely more rewarding.

Here are some home board builders that have turned their hands to timber to experience the pain and pleasure of creating their own craft.

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GREEN: BUILDING

Building your first surfboard is an unforgettable experience - the anticipation, the fear of messing it all up, the hours of enjoyment tinkering away, and of course the crowning glory: finally surfing the piece of art you created with your very own hands. Smorgasboarder reader Demetrius Kalatzis recently decided to undertake this very journey and create a board for himself. Here’s his tale…

SHAPING FRANCHESCA WORDS & PHOTOS: DEMETRIUS KALATZIS

It all started in these very pages, when I picked up Smorgasboarder #9 back in 2012. There were a few articles on home builders and wooden boards and three in particular resonated with me: Damon Berezait’s coconut board, Greg Wheeldon’s beautiful, inlaid craft and Tod Dexter’s article on building the Grain biscuit. I procrastinated for a couple of months, surfing the net for a wooden surfboard kit. Why wood?

For me it holds a certain aesthetic appeal, I had a little experience with some other wood work projects and my Dad is a wood turner, so it’s easier to commandeer shed space with wooden projects. Eventually I settled on a kit for a fish from Surfing Green. They had two options: a Fugu Fish with a concave or a Fast Lucy with a flat bottom. Choosing a challenge, I went for the Fugu Fish. Her name is now Franchesca.

The online order kit came with laser-cut plywood to make the frame and lengths of Paulownia strip planking to stick around it, along with a manual for how it all fits together.

After taking over a section of the shed I set up on a trestle table, which was almost level, to begin putting her together. The first step is to construct the frame and then support it above the table on bits of plywood ensuring that everything is square. Four 5mm x 5mm strips are cut from the Paulownia and glued to the cross spars using instant glue (I used Loctite 454 which seemed to work well, but was a bit pricey). These provide the outline of the rails and can be a pain to get into position even if you have pre-bent the wood.

I recommend getting the first pieces of the deck glued on straight away as the hot glue holding the plywood to the table did not cope well with CHRISTMAS 2014 | SMORGASBOARDER

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03-02-14 9:33:53 PM

1. Levelling the work area

2. The plywood frame, levelled and secured

3. Gluing the deck in place

4. Bottom planking over the balsa blocks

5. Balsa tail block

6. Bending the tail rails

7. Gluing the tail

8. Gluing the rails in place

smooth down the rails, but found this tended to tear chunks out of the wood, so I changed to an electric belt sander.

Gluing the deck into place is not overly complicated, but can be very time consuming.

I tried to select pieces of paulownia where the grain matched up to give the deck a bit of character and laid them out in order. The manual recommended using glad wrap to hold the deck in place whilst gluing along with some weights to provide down force. I found that I couldn’t get the gladwrap to hold the wood in place and ended up using clamps. I also made a jig out of a piece of scrap wood that copied the curve of the deck and used this to hold the deck in place (see the big grey G clamp in picture 3). I also put a layer of newspaper between the board and the wooden jig to prevent them sticking together. Trying to get the deck perfect, I ended up only gluing one piece of planking at a time, which turned the deck into a pretty time consuming process.

When it was complete it was time to remove the plywood supports and cut it down to shape.

I started using a jigsaw, but found this was awkward and splintered the wood, in the end I used a bandsaw - but to do this you will need two people to support the board.

When the rail profile was roughly symmetrical, I cut the tail profile. I added a balsa tail block to provide greater surface area when gluing the tail in place. As this was retrofitted, it was a fairly awkward task. In hindsight, I would have installed a balsa tail block as well, or tried to make it out of solid paulownia. I also added a block to the nose. I’m not 100% sure either are necessary, but given the difficulty I had bending the rails into place I think the more gluing area the better.

I had intended to use removable fins, so prior to doing the bottom planking I installed balsa wood blocks in the tail to support the fin boxes.

It took a bit of time to sand these down so that they matched the contours of the spars, but it’s not hard work. As I laid the bottom planking, I traced the outline of the boxes and made a tracing paper stencil to allow me to find their positions once they were covered in. On the advice of the glasser though, I ended up getting glassed on fins so these became redundant.

It was now time to do the bottom planking.

I had used the square-edged timber for the deck, but with the concave this left a big gap down the middle of the board. I created an even match for the two centre pieces of bottom planking. The bottom was also time consuming as I persisted in only doing one piece at a time.

Once it was done, the bottom was cut to match the deck. I began using an electric planer to

I began my rails from the tail to try and get an even profile around the whole board. To get the wood to fit the curve of the swallow-tail, I needed to make another jig to bend the wood. I made one for the left side and one for the right side of the tail, but found only one of the jigs gave the correct curve. I selected scrap pieces of paulownia which had the grain running along their length to minimise the risk of them breaking, and soaked them in boiling water for a few minutes before leaving them in the jig overnight. The jig I made had the same curve as the tail, which meant that the wood I bent in it would relax slightly and have to be forced into position when it was glued to the board.

"THE WHOLE PROCESS TOOK ME ABOUT 18 MONTHS TO COMPLETE, BUT GENERALLY I WAS ONLY WORKING ON WEEKENDS.."

I found the best way to do this was glue the tail pieces on half at a time so I could secure the front half, and then bend the back half into position once the glue had dried on the front.

This didn’t follow the manual but I think it produced a nicer looking tail.

CHRISTMAS 2014 | SMORGASBOARDER

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GREEN: BUILDING

changes in temperature and I was left with a very wobbly structure, so the more stable you can make the board, the better.

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I found the manual that came with the kit excellent until it was time to do the rails…

The manual suggested that I could just glue them on, but I couldn’t get them to fit the rocker of the board. After some deliberation, and a few emails to Dave at Surfing Green, I decided to make the rails out of several pieces of wood instead of one single length. In the end each layer of rail was made up of about four short lengths of timber. I changed the lengths of these bits of wood for each layer so that the joins were not always in the same spot. I had a lot of trouble getting the rails in position around the nose - due to the profile of the board the clamps didn’t stay in position, so I had to hot glue some scrap wood to the rails so that the clamps could find purchase. I also employed the same technique I had used on the tail and glued the rails at the nose in two stages. Again, I found clamps where the best thing to hold the rails in position whilst the glue dried.

Nothing beats the feeling of riding a wooden surfboard you’ve built yourself

There’s nothing like the ride, feel and experience of an authentic wooden surfboard . . . and when you’ve built that board yourself, with skills that will stay with you for life, nothing beats the feeling.

Tree to Sea Australia offers 3 day workshops enabling you to build your own wooden board and give you the skills to build many more. Our wooden boards are environmentally friendly, and the feeling of riding one . . . incredible! Our unique construction method utilising sustainable plantation Paulownia timber, delivers a flexible, buoyant, manoeuvrable board that’s as good to ride as it is to own.

Longboards, shortboards, retros and classics - made by you with a little help from Tree to Sea Australia.

See web site for workshop dates.Workshops are held in Mt. Eliza, Mornington Peninsula, Victoria, Australia. Tree to Sea Workshop Gift Vouchers are available

Robert 0409 211 751 Gary 0423 804 975 info@treetosea.com.au

Wooden Surfboard Workshops The goodness of wood. Plantation grown timber. No fibreglass. No foam.

No resins. Just wood (and glue). Keeping our environmental splash to a minimum.

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www.treetosea.com.au

Finally, it was time to start shaping! I had neglected to make any shaping racks, but we have an old lathe bed in the back yard which with a couple of bits of scrap timber makes a pretty good rack. I did the initial rough shaping with a belt sander, but had a few issues with it scarring the wood so I soon transitioned to a finishing sander. To get the tail shape I had to use a file and do some hand sanding. Once the shaping was complete, the whole board was finish sanded by hand.

feedback on my shaping. Being the nice guy he is, Mark said he was surprised it was a first attempt, but recommended improving the rail shape and having a little less concave on the next one.

The whole process took me about 18 months to complete, but generally I was only working on weekends, and quite often not for very long periods on those weekends. When Franchesca was finally finished, the crew were all in Costa Rica on a trip, and unfortunately my brother managed to do his Achilles tendon the day before her maiden surf, so - as with the construction - it was just Francesca and I. I was pretty lucky with the surf conditions - she was ready for the first offshore day in about a month, with clean 2 to 3 foot swell.

She grabbed onto a rock, causing some slight bruising on a fin, but we had a pretty good session. I’d say we’re still getting to know each other but the initial signs were positive.

She even whistles when she likes a turn!

For anyone considering building their own board, I highly recommend it. It’s very rewarding to surf something you have made!

Thanks to Dave from Surfing Green, who was great with advice the whole way through.

Congrats Demetrius! We're sure this tale will be an inspiration to other home surfboard builders, and we're also sure you'll enjoy the waves with Franchesca for years to come!

I’d decided early on that I wanted to decorate the board using pyrography and so was fairly excited to see it at a stage where I could begin burning! Having limited experience I chose a design which just required dark lines and no shading. Liking what I saw, I started getting nervous about ruining my hard work when I tried to glass it, so opted to get it done professionally

by Mark at Mid Coast Surf. Aside from convincing me to go for glassed on fins, he also suggested using a bridge for the leg-rope instead of a leash plug. He did a fantastic job. The advantage of using a professional was I could get Flying on Fran

chesca

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Whatever you’re searching for, Scoot’s here to help you nd it.

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Perth to Taiwan Gold Coast to Taiwan Sydney to Taiwan

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*Fares comprise the price of the air ticket and associated taxes and surcharges. Taxes and surcharges are subject to change due to currency fluctuations. Fares indicated are one-way, for travel originating out of Perth only. Blackout periods may apply during school holidays and event periods. Economy fares include 15kg checked baggage, but exclude meals and inflight entertainment. Fares are based on payment via POLIpay and payment processing fees per guest segment are not included if an alternate payment method is chosen. Full list of fees are available at www.flyscoot.com. Seats are limited and may not be available on all flights or all dates. Bookings are not refundable except as provided in the Conditions of Carriage. All the terms and conditions are available at www.flyscoot.com.

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GREEN: BUILDING

Not all back yards are equal, it seems... What some people can create from the comfort of home is often mindblowingly cool. Joe Cervi's handmade timber quiver is most certainly mindblowingly and cool.

HOBBY QUIVER Hailing from the Mornington Peninsula, Joe explains he makes these boards at home as a hobby. An accomplished hobbyist, Joe's very comfortable mixing timbers for a seriously striking effect - just check out those nose and tail blocks! And when you look at the page across, it's clear they work pretty well in the water too.

"They have a plywood spar and ribs, and are glassed with epoxy. In the photo there's a 10ft SUP and paddle, a 9ft malibu, 6'3" single fin, 6'2" thruster and a 5'3" thruster for my seven-year-old son."

Kinda cool when Dad makes you stuff like this in the garage, isn't it?

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Joe puts his wood to work in the water. Photo: Wes Bowler, supplied courtesy of Joe Cervi

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PLACIDLY AMID THE NOISE AND HASTE Two mates find surf solitude in Taiwan's hustle and bustle.

WORDS: ANDY SCHEMBRI PHOTOS: DARRYL SAWYER & ANDY SCHEMBRI

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TYPHOON: "I COULD SEE THREE POLICE OFFICERS RUNNING TOWARDS ME, SO WITHOUT MOVING MY HEAD, LOOKING OUT TO SEE THE PERFECT 3FT LINE UP, I PRETENDED TO BE OBLIVIOUS TO THE MANIC WHISTLING AND PADDLED OUT..."

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ANDY SCHEMBRI is someone you would have loved to have as your mate a few short months back. As the winner of the Smorgasboarder/Scoot/Surf Tawain "Scoot to Taiwan" promotion, he scored two tickets for a surf trip of a lifetime to Taiwan. So who to take along? Andy's good mate Darryl Sawyer lucked the spot, and the two set off to experience the surf of the Orient. Now back home with big smiles and happy tales, Andy fills us in on highlights from their trip, and gives us a bit of a taste of what to expect in Taiwan.

TAIWAN is such a special place, simply by location. It’s still

remote enough to be out of the mainstream as a surf destination, but with such untapped potential. And due to its position, it’s able to pick up a lot of the Pacific swell fetch year round.

In saying that, the time of year we went (end of July), being our winter but summer over there, Taiwan is bombarded by typhoons. While typhoons are great at bringing up swell energy when they are hundreds of kilometres off the coast pulsing a swell window, the typhoon that we had in our 10-day stay was a direct hit, coming straight across the top of us and onto mainland China, which unfortunately just brought bad weather.

CROWDS:

"WHILE THERE WERE HUNDREDS OF TAIWANESE AND CHINESE HOLIDAYING ON THE BEACH, DARRYL AND I WERE THE ONLY ONES SURFING..."

We flew into Taipei and caught the speed train to Kaohsiung, Kenting district in the south. In itself, this was great fun: being on a bullet train going up to 300km an hour. Covering a distance from say the Gold coast to Port Macquarie in 1 hour and 40 minutes was amazing.

We got picked up from Kaohsiung and got taken to Nanwan, which was to be our base in South Taiwan. Unfortunately, the beaches were all closed off by the police and Coast Guard due to the approaching typhoon, and looking at a really nicely shaped 3ft reef break, dead glassy, with no-one out there was heartbreaking... Our guide from Surf Taiwan, Eric - a New York expat university professor with a wealth of local knowledge - suggested a quieter spot outside of town near a harbor that might be worth a look. We arrived to see at least four surfable spots, and with no one around we picked a right hand reef with a peaky take off that Eric was familiar with. With a 200m paddle to the take-off spot we were pleasantly surprised to find a well overhead shifting peak – a reef break that wasn’t too serious, but fun enough to spend the next couple of hours out. When the tide changed enough to make the shifting peak too much of a mission to get onto, we came in.

Back to town and that right hander at Nanwan was still looking pretty good, but with the beach still closed. We were advised to surf it after 5:30pm, which was when the Coast Guard and CHRISTMAS 2014 | SMORGASBOARDER

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LATEST: TRAVEL

CULTURAL EXCHANGE

"THEY WERE SO STOKED WITH THE EXPERIENCE, THEY WANTED TO SHOUT US LUNCH AND HANG OUT." Andy and Darryl give an impromptu surf lesson 112

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We also surfed Whites Beach where they filmed The Life of Pi - specifically the part where the boy and tiger land on the beach. With 4ft lefts and rights, crystal clear water, at 29 degrees, while there were hundreds of Taiwanese and Chinese holidaying on the beach, Darryl and I were the only ones surfing.

Classic photobombing opportunity...

police go home. So at 6pm (it doesn’t get dark until 8pm) I decided to chance it and ran down the beach to the paddle out spot. I bent over to do up my leggy and all of a sudden I heard a whistle getting blown vigorously and consistently. Out of my peripheral vision I could see three police officers running towards me. So, without moving my head, looking out to see the perfect 3ft line up, I pretended to be oblivious to the manic whistling and paddled out, making sure I kept looking out at the sea and playing the dumb tourist. I managed to catch a wave, but surfing towards the beach I made eye contact and I was ushered in, so could only catch that one wave. Not being able to communicate in Taiwanese to the officers, I simply waved at them and ran back up the beach with no dramas.

Over the next week, we surfed some other spots around the South Taiwan, Kenting area. One spot that I surfed by myself was something out of a war movie - a rock pebbled beach with giant concrete jacks fortifying the beach for as far as the eye could see, making it a perfect sniper hangout. Despite 5ft lefthand peaks breaking randomly up and down the beach, it felt a bit weird in the chocolatecoloured water. I had an uneasy feeling about the place with good cause - when we drove off from this spot, our guide Eric mentioned that this was part of the coast where the last two Bull sharks were caught...

All in all, Taiwan is an interesting place with its own idiosyncrasies, and definitely a potential surf hot spot. Not being in line with other surfing hot spots, I’m positive it will never get crowded.

The people were all super friendly and extremely keen to meet westerners.

We had a chance to teach some Chinese students on a holiday how to surf. They were so stoked with the experience, they wanted to shout us lunch and hang out.

Everyone was so humble - you never got a feeling of being in danger or in a bad situation, nor the sleazy feeling you can sometimes get in Indo. It’s definitely a place with potential and would be worth another visit, especially after returning home to the Gold Coast and seeing 300400 surfers out at Coolangatta...

Thanks again Smorgasboarder.

Only a pleasure Andy! The trip was made possible by the good folks at Scoot Airlines - who do some awesome deals to fly you all around Asia and more - and Surf Taiwan. For more information, see: www.flyscoot.com surftaiwan.com CHRISTMAS 2014 | SMORGASBOARDER

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THE BLUFF, BAIT & BARRELS THIS WINTER, FIve 'east coast guys' thaT barEly knew eacH oTHer set off to explore some remote, yet iconic wEstern AustraliAn Surfing locationS betwEeN gerAlDton and exmouTH. nooSA sportS PhysiothERapist and avid surFer Peter Hogg Talks about THe TrIp... and sharks.

WORDS & PHOTOS: PETER HOGG

stop #1 THe AbRolHoS islAnDS (28 deg S, 113 deg E) We had all heard of Supertubes and wanted to surf it. We had hopes of lone, perfect waves, lots of head-high tubes and good times.

If you’re lucky enough, you may be invited by Dale Wheatley on his 70ft cray fishing boat as we were. He knows the area like none other. Even the high-profile surfers - such as Rye Craike who films the 'Fish out of Water' series - have respect for this man. Dale is a crusty fisherman with a hut on one of the 122 Abrolhos Islands.

There are 3 main clusters of islands at the Abrolhos, which lie approximately 60km off Geraldton. The Wallabi Group, the Easter Group and the Pelsart Group. Very few tourists get a chance to visit because most land areas are off limits as conservation habitats. The Abrolhos have a Leeuwin southward warm current that creates a meeting place for tropical and temperate sea-life.

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On arrival to camp, I was pleasantly surprised that such a secluded place existed. There were rickety jetties joining onto sparse limestone platforms surrounded by sparkling waters rich with fish. On the first morning two sea-lion pups had made a home on my board cover. There were sea eagles, baitfish, bottlenose dolphins, humpback whales and‌

sharks! I was vaguely aware of the famous Batavia wreck (1629) and recalled stories of an infamous mutiny, and got to think that maybe sharks may have helped up the bodycount.

Feeling very privileged to be here and be shown the odd 'secret break' with Dale Wheatley I was excited about the surfing. We did surf Supertubes

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latest: tRaVEl CHRISTMAS 2014 | SMORGASBOARDER

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and it’s world class. It seems to be very consistent, but suited to experienced surfers only. The usual hazards are sea urchins, strong currents and again, sharks. Incredible barrels, but for the sake of privacy and respect for locals we refrain from giving exact locations. Respect boys! The locals of course don't mind reports of sharks to deter the faint of heart.

Whale-carcass buffet.

Check out the size of the fin!

"some People can'T aSsEsS rISk very well..."

Peter muses on the sense of being in a 6ft inflatable dingy, during a feeding frenzy

Day two we were heading to another quality wave and we came across a whale carcass on a sandbank. There were over a dozen mature tiger sharks feeding on this smelly carcass. It was incredible to watch them tear flesh from the dead whale, yet it was also disturbing seeing so many sharks in a frenzy. What I couldn't believe was that there was a young couple in a 6ft inflatable dingy filming the frenzy within touching distance - some people can't assess risk very well, in my opinion.

The Abrolhos Islands is one of the largest Tiger shark breeding areas in the world.

Statistically, Tigers are one of the three sharks that have contributed most to fatal attacks - the others being the Great White and the Bull shark. Surfing a nearby wave, with slight cross-shore wind, was suddenly less appealing to me… It reminded me of the thoughts I had at Cactus back in the early ‘80s - another sharky, iconic surf location.

But rather than go into a panic, let’s have a look at the facts to get the mojo back.

The Tiger shark, often called the 'Sea Tiger', is an apex predator that reaches sizes of 5m in length, averaging 3.25-4.25m, and is found in tropical/temperate waters near the coast. They usually roam the deep water but do move into channels to pursue prey in the shallows. The Tiger shark is camouflaged dark strips above and light bottom so they can counter-shade, remaining hidden from all directions. This nomadic shark species have electro receptors in the snout and along their side to detect electrical impulses.

The fin set facilitates quick bursts of speed and agility. They are broad-mouthed with a calcified jaw to enable attacks on large prey, like turtles. Interestingly, their young

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hatch from eggs within and are then born fully developed at 16 months, at a length of 51-70cm. Tiger sharks are considered an internationally threatened species and Greenpeace has added the Tiger shark to the 'red list' of endangered sea fish species.

Still don't have my mojo!

My wrap up on the Abrolhos is that it is a very special place with some world-class waves. You do need to source locals to get to the waves, as access is very difficult. In my opinion, sharks do add a significant real danger factor that should be respected.

stop #2 THe Bluff/ gnaraloo (24 deg S/113 dEg e) We headed north - I was happy to do that in June, even though we were leaving average temperatures at the Abrolhos of 9.5 degrees at night to 20 degrees in the day.

The Bluff is iconic and a 'must do' place to visit. We travelled north from Carnarvon and then right at the famous blowhole. It was easy to find. Our 10-seater van with board trailer coped well on the corrugated, dusty, dry roads all the way to the campsite. The Bluff had been on my bucket list for 20 years and it was pleasing to finally make it there.

We had a big W/SW swell meeting us there, and ideal SE/E winds. It was on! Again, on first inspection the line up was a place for experienced surfers. A fast, hollow and powerful left-hander breaks, on average, for 100 metres. But, there are sea urchins to watch out for.

After the first night in a swag it was obvious that a highlight for the next five nights was camping under the stars. The wave is epic - say no more. I saw some of the best rides from locals that I’ve ever seen. There were also two young girls (Denni and Coral Durant) that were taking on the wave - I immediately had to sign them up with my wife's business Hive Swimwear, and they are now team riders for Hive. I broke my favourite board out there, but enjoyed the experience of

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latest: tRaVEl New Hive Swimwear team rider signings, Denni and Coral Durant

Accommodation options at the Bluff

"THe Bluff had been on my bu�kEt list For �� YEars" surfing these more powerful waves compared to Noosa. It was such a good vibe there and everyone was friendly. If you didn't want to camp, you could pre-book a stone hut near the beach. There are also luxury tents, if you prefer that option. We wanted to experience 'the real deal' and camped in a swag near our own open fire. We also made two visits to Gnaraloo (40km North). The waves there are

outstanding, but also for experienced surfers only.

Over two days they were double to triple-overhead all day, breaking along the limestone reef like a guillotine. I had some of my best waves of the WA trip there. Many people camp at Gnaraloo as it has more amenities than the Bluff, but also more people.

Personally, I preferred staying at the Bluff.

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stop #3 exmouth (21 deg S/ 11� deg E) Exmouth provided our group with friendly rippable waves at 'The Dunes' over a sand /smooth sandstone bottom. Waves typically broke 50-80 metres and the wave was good at 3-4 ft and the water was warmer. We didn't manage to surf the islands north of Exmouth because of inclement wind, but I have been informed there are some great waves there. Next time.

The WA trip was memorable for many reasons - good waves, great camping, experiencing the wilderness.

But Back to THe sHarks...

Culling has been on everyone’s lips for some time now – what’s your opinion?

Personally, I did return to the East Coast with concerns over the prevalence of sharks in WA and became somewhat entangled and interested in the debate over their sharkculling program. There have been seven fatal shark attacks in WA between 2010 and 2013.

The local government implemented culling in 2014 using baited drum lines to protect users of the marine environment. The reported cost to the government was $610K for 107 days of work during the culling period. As a result there have been strong protests to express displeasure of the policy. In some extreme cases, government officials and fisherman have even been threatened by protesters.

Under the policy, sharks that are over 3m in length that are caught will be killed and destroyed. Over the first period during November to March 2014, 172 sharks were caught (including 50 Tiger sharks over 3m, no Great Whites and eight other animals mostly stingrays, and no turtles or dolphins).

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"An interesting debate - often argued �iTHouT rEspect foR An� facts.

Peter, on shark culling

Nine sharks under 3m in length died. The government claims to be carefully monitoring the program in an attempt to reduce the risk of shark attacks at popular swimming beaches. Their opinion is that there has been success in Qld and NSW. Before implementing the netting/baiting program on the East Coast in 1962 there were 82 reported attacks and 27 fatalities.

Since then there have only been four fatal attacks in NSW and Qld. Interestingly the statistics show there have been 652 attacks in Australia between 1580 - 2014 (185 being fatal). The USA also experiences shark attacks - they average 16 attacks per year but this represents a risk of only 1 in 11.3 million

chance of an attack and 1 in 264.1 million chance of being a shark attack fatality.

While I was in WA, I did have real concerns over safety with respect to sharks, but in saying that, I remain reserved about my final opinion on culling. The risk does however influence my intention to travel to WA to surf.

It should be acknowledged that organisations including the Humane Society International, Animals Australia and Surf Rider Foundation, as well as Kelly Slater, Greg Norman (The Shark) and the Australian Greens oppose the culling. On the other hand, many surfers from Margaret River and other WA beaches welcome the program. An interesting debate - often argued without respect for any facts.

Hope you enjoyed this article and that it promoted thought, with knowledge of some facts.

Peter Hogg Thanks Peter! And an interesting debate it certainly is. At the time of going to print, the WA government had announced it would abandon the shark culling program, but has reserved the right to re-instate it if the need arises. Polarising as culling may be, what do you out there in readerland think? Let us know on our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/smorgasboarder

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BRUNSWICK HEADS

NATURAL NORTHERN NEW SOUTH WALES

GREAT FAMESICLAYPE S SURF

WHERE IS IT?

THE SURF

FISHING

Brunswick Heads is 10km north of Byron and about half an hour from Coolangatta, but more relaxed and laid back than either, just as you'd expect from a cool little surf town that's not overrun by hipsters. The town is nestled near the mouth of the Brunswick River on the southern side. Here there is a small marina and on the northern banks, a protected rainforest.

The best way to describe the local breaks is fun.

And like most northern NSW surf breaks it can also get pretty darn good as well. A right peels off the north break wall of the Brunswick River and if its blowing northerlies, there’s the south break wall and even the river mouth. Aside from that, there are plenty of beachies. We're sure you can find the best ones.

Thanks to a pristine waterway that wraps itself through town, the fishing here is very good.

Expect your standard estuarine fare if you are good enough to catch them. There’s even some oysters growing wild on the rocks, just don’t knock any off from the private beds upstream.

WHAT WE LOVE The Brunswick Hotel. A classic Aussie pub with a leafy, riverside beer garden.

A great little café strip on The Terrace.

Chris Grant’s Brunswick Surf - he recently started stocking Phantom Surfboards.

There are no less than three North Coast Holiday Parks in Brunswick Heads and all are crackers – Ferry Reserve, which is dog friendly and has its own boat ramp; Massey Greene, which is only 3 mins to town and Terrace Reserve, which is actually in town and closest to the beach.

www.northcoastholidayparks.com.au

Photos: North Coast Holiday Parks, Tom Woods

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Mark Rabbidge with present and past incarnations of the Fatboy design

The board (right) goes all the way back to Mark's days as one of the leading shapers for Hot Buttered.

IN OUR FACEBOOK SURFBOARD BATTLE earlier this year, you shared surfboards you loved most, in the hopes of being the lucky Smorgasboarder reader to score the top voted one...

After countless votes, inspiring quotes and a whole lot of excited sharing, Katie Morton from Cronulla scored her husband Ian a stunning Rabbidge Fatboy, which came in as your overall favourite surfboard.

Designed and shaped by iconic Aussie board builder Mark Rabbidge in the quiet area of Bendalong on the NSW coast, the Fatboy has been a staple of his shaper's quiver, with over 20 years of development, feedback and refinement going into what Mark rates as his most popular model, hands down. It's the Fatboy's versatility that makes it such a winner with a range of surfers of varying abilities.

"It may be the board that gets you back in the water after years on the sidelines or, as a beginner, the board that will actually perform as you improve," Mark says. "The design is at home in a two-foot slop wave, on a beach break, or over in Bali on a screaming, overhead barrel."

As with all his designs, Mark makes the Fatboy by hand, 100% locally.

The design comes in a few variants, with the two main ones being:

STANDARD FATBOY "A winner for the ages," says Mark. "Probably the longest running model we make."

This was designed to perform more like as a shortboard for the approaching-40 surfer, and as an alternative to a mini-mal for beginners. It's now loved as either an all-round board that paddles well but still can go in the steeper parts of the wave and do some serious turns.

SIZE RANGE 6’10” to 7’6”

PERFORMANCE FATBOY "The narrower nose template on this makes this model more serious.

Also the concave combo offers more overall speed and drive for the more experienced surfer. Can ride solid surf on this one or as a shortboard for bigger blokes."

SIZE RANGE 6’ 10” to 7’6”

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Jokes aside, while the Fatgirl as a model name would probably make too many waves in the wrong way, considering our politicallycorrectness-gone-crazy society today, Mark's perfectly comfortable making boards for the ladies. After all, he is married to womens' surfing legend Pam Burridge. Mark's boards are customs, so they're made to suit you, regardless of weight, gender and the like.

Congrats again to Mark for being voted #1 by you, the Smorgasboarder readers, and to Katie and Ian as winners of the comp. Enjoy the Fatboy, and make sure you sneak a surf in on it yourself, Katie!

GEAR: SURFBOARDS

A third variant is a Fatboy Slim - of which name is more due to refinements in shape than anything to do with the UK DJ - and competition winner Katie Morton suggested a fourth: " By the way, if this is a Fatboy, why not make a Fatgirl model too."

For more on Rabbidge boards and to get an order in for yourself, see: www.markrabbidge.com Call Mark on 0427 767 176 or email sales@markrabbidge.com Thanks to Katie for the cool pics of Ian and Pam!

New board owner, Ian Morton makes a run with his Fatboy, and below, gets to meet Pam Burridge as an added bonus!

Mark Rabbidge, on one of the benefits of the Fatboy

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Grant 'Twiggy' Baker takes big wave honours at Mavericks earlier this year. Photo: Jay Headley, courtesy of Webster Surfboards

GEAR: BIG GUNS

WITH BIG WAVE SURFING NOW SQUARELY FOCUSED ON THE BIG WAVE WORLD TOUR, PADDLING INTO MONSTER SWELLS - AS OPPOSED TO TOWING IN - CONTINUES TO GROW IN ITS APPEAL.

We recently chatted to Wayne Webster about his big wave gun designs and how they have continued to evolve, following up on our conversation from this time last year. Considering his clients include big wave legends Grant ‘Twiggy’ Baker, Jeff ‘Camel’ Goulden, and Mark Visser with even a couple of boards on order from Mr Kelly Slater himself, it is fair to say Wayne is one of the main men in the worldwide gun trade.

“EVERYBODY used to say 'a gun is a gun', but now with the Big Wave World Tour, all of a sudden there's a set judging criteria and that’s just not the case anymore. The judges don’t want to see surfers just ride these big waves, but really take to them with shorter boards and perform more maneuvers. So more than ever, I'm trying to pack more and more volume into a smaller board.

“With Twiggy’s boards now, we have the volume of an 11 footer in a 10’6” and the volume of 10’6” in a 10’0” and down like that, understanding that these guys travel around with a quiver of boards of varying sizes to suit the conditions. I recently made him an 8’10” to tackle Waimea this year.”

Other design refinements, we have previously discussed continue to be a focus in crafting

Wayne’s guns (see Smorgasboarder #20 Nov/ Dec 2013 or www.smorgasboarder.com.au).

“There's a definite preference for flatter decks, more thickness in the nose and the tail and through the rib of the board. We're carrying that thickness through the board and are just beaking it off at the end, taking on more of an '80s style look to the boards. The spear-like guns we have come to know have all but disappeared.

“Boards are more balanced again. We're making them wider in the nose and the tail and allowing the thickness to carry through. Twiggy’s boards in particular feature quite a blocky rail to have that thickness throughout. Overall we are not tapering boards off as much as we used to.

"That said, we're incorporating modern rockers.

The curve into the outline combined with a flatter rocker makes for a short, fast board that is easier to pivot.

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GEAR: BIG GUNS Grant 'Twiggy' Baker takes big wave honours at Mavericks Photo: Jay Headley, courtesy of Webster Surfboards 128

“In a design sense I'm lucky, because as I'm getting older I'm still trying to ride 5’8”.

However, I'm putting more volume into my boards and this is assisting me with the thinking behind my big wave guns.”

It's not only his own preference for short boards with plenty of volume that is driving the ideas behind Wayne’s big wave machines.

“Personally I've found myself looking at clubby paddleboards because of the way they pick waves up so easily.

In the conditions these guys (big wave competitors) are surfing, often the initial ocean pulse is not a cresting wave. It's extremely hard to paddle into.

“The clubby boards are relatively flat with a straighter rocker and the outlines are more parallel. This is what assists them to move through the water so easily when paddling. So I am looking to incorporate a couple of these design elements into the guns. This way the board picks the wave up rather than just the sheer strength of the surfer paddling for the wave.”

There's no doubt the thinking behind his designs are resonating with surfers who hunt monster swells around the globe.

Wayne is fielding orders throughout Australia and overseas.

over there, telling you how hard it is to get a good board for Mavericks. I have to laugh when I say, ‘Well, you know you are ringing a guy in Lennox Head about one.’

It's weird, but it's good people are liking my guns.”

So, if you're considering chasing some rogue swells and think you're up for the challenge, Wayne had this final bit of advice to offer when ordering a big wave gun.

“The most important thing is you have to be particularly honest about your ability nothing worse than the wrong equipment in big conditions. You also have to be honest about the size of surf you are intending to ride.”

Surfing big waves is certainly not the time to overestimate your abilities. You don’t want to put your life at risk because your ego got the better of you. www.webstersurfboards.com.au www.facebook.com/WebsterSurf webstersurfboards

“I've just sent four boards to guys in Western Australia and another four to Vicco, and a fair few recently to South Australia. It’s that word-of-mouth thing.

I've been making a lot for Camel (who spends a lot of his time in SA now) and I guess guys see what he is riding and think, 'Yeah that’s what I have been trying to get.'

“I've also been sending a lot of boards to San Francisco as well, due to the fact Twiggy won the Mavericks event on my board this year. That’s really funny because you get guys calling up from

Twiggy catches a little dribbler at Jaws.

Photo: Rick Leeks, courtesy of Webster Surfboards

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Big wave surfing has long been regarded as a competition between man/ woman and Mother Nature - the power of the ocean versus the surfer.

Even the original big wave contest, The Eddie in Waimea, Hawaii (Quiksilver’s big wave contest in memory of the Hawaiian great, Eddie Aikau), set surfers to compete against the elements rather than other surfers. Each competitor would surf twice during the day’s competition, taking their four best waves from each session.

Nowadays the Big Wave World Tour has made competitions all the more intense, pitting surfers against each other and the elements, lifting the danger stakes by challenging surfers to take more risks.

Surfers have an hour to beat five other fellow competitors in their heat. Each surfer is judged on their two best waves with the best wave score doubled. This encourages surfers to “go for broke”.

As a result, safety surrounding such events has been heightened and it's of paramount importance to protect surfers laying their lives on the line.

A FEW FAST FACTS •

•

•

The Big Wave World Tour is now run in association with the ASP (Association of Surfing Professionals) There are 24 spots at each event comprised of the 12 top ranked big wave surfers and 12 others who “have put in considerable time at the specific venue.”

Six of these 12 are usually local surfers and another three spots

are allocated to ASP Qualified Surfers that compete in the World Championship Tour’s Top 34 who wish to ‘come out and play’ •

The tour itself is comprised of six events - three in the Southern Hemisphere and three in the Northern Hemisphere.

•

The competition requirements are that the waves are in excess of 30ft for each day of the competition, with waves preferably in excess of 50ft. Thus, it goes without saying that not all six events are staged. That is up to Mother Nature.

2014/15 SCHEDULED EVENTS WERE: Southern Hemisphere (Apr-Aug) •

Punta de Lobos, Chile

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Pico Alto, Peru

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Dungeons, South Africa

Northern Hemisphere (Oct-Feb) •

Todos Santos, Mexico

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Punta Galea, Spain

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Pe’ahi, Maui, Hawaii (Jaws)

In previous years events have also been staged at Mavericks, near San Francisco in California and at Nelscott Reef, Oregon, USA. CHRISTMAS 2014 | SMORGASBOARDER

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BEDE DURBIDGE

MT WOODGE SURF TEAM

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CUSTOM SURFBOARDS, REPAIRS, DEMOS AND HIRE

SURF GEAR FOR REAL SURFERS FREE ACCESSORIES PACK FINS, GRIP, LEASH, WAX & BOARD COVER

WITH NEW BOARD PURCHASE* *Does not include Grom models, Movement, or reduced-toclear surfboards. Conditions apply. See in-store for details.

THREE

STORES!

1730 Gold Coast Highway, BURLEIGH HEADS 122 Griffith Street, COOLANGATTA 2 Stuart Road, CURRUMBIN (Factory Showroom)

WWW.MTWOODGEE.COM.AU CHRISTMAS 2014 | SMORGASBOARDER

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Wayne with a gun-to-be Photo: Nick Burrow

-WEBSTERSURFBOARDS

"THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS YOU HAVE TO BE PARTICULARLY HONEST ABOUT YOUR ABILITY."

While well known for his highperformance shortboards and big wave guns, Wayne shapes an extremely varied quiver, for surfers of all styles and abilities:

Wayne's advice on what your shaper needs to know

WAYNE WEBSTER is a surfboard shaper living in Lennox Head on the NSW North Coast of Australia. He has been shaping and riding his own equipment for the last 23 years all around the world. Through personal experience and feedback from team riders, Wayne has developed his board designs to excel in 1ft junk to 70ft heaving slabs.

Wayne’s knowledge of board design and construction has come from hands-on experience in fin-making, glassing, sanding and shaping. He has worked in

Hawaii, Portugal, France, Scotland and at home in Australia where he shaped for Local Motion for 10 years.

WEBSTER SURFBOARDS pride themselves as being a quality product.

Our boards are all about the performance and satisfaction of our customers. All boards are made using world-class quality materials and excellent workmanship.

Wayne is a regular visitor to the Hawaiian islands and together with his experience in larger waves and his travels through

Indonesia, Europe and at home in the long point breaks of the NSW North Coast, he has developed an understanding of surfboard design for riding specific waves, small and large. This is why more surfers are turning towards Wayne’s shapes all the time. His passion is surfing and shaping.

For more on Wayne's big-wave creations, see page 126.

•

Grom

•

Fish

•

Step Down

•

Shortboards

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Step Up

•

Guns

•

Towboards

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Big Guy Boards

•

Longboards

•

Old School single fins and twins

Visit the workshop/showroom at 1/13 Clark St, Ballina NSW Call 0416 049 205 Email info@webstersurfboards.com.au www.webstersurfboards.com.au

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SURFBOARDS

Photo: Varenka Tuma

- O K E TO RUN a family business for over 45 years, let alone a custom surfboard one at that, you know something pretty special must be going on.

Together, Chok (Neil) and his two sons Dan and Rory Oke, are the family behind OKE SURFBOARDS. OKE SURBOARDS continue to be handmade using all Australian materials from start to finish at their Braeside factory in Melbourne’s southeast. Their loyal clientele, which continues to grow and grow, range from the very young to the young at heart, from groms to rippers, ladies and crusty old sea dogs. With such a down-to-earth bunch, its plain to see anyone can relate to these guys.

One thing their customers all have in common is an appreciation for wellmade custom surfboards.

SHORTBOARDS

Visit the workshop at 1/1-7 Canterbury Rd, Braeside VIC Call (03) 9587 3553 www.okesurfboards.com

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From the Abalone, perfect for Victorian beachbreaks, to the Popsicle Punter, the choice for Oke team riders in waves up to head high, to the Jolly Pop, Liam Jolly’s personal high performance go-to board in just about all conditions, OKE have a range of boards to suit those who want to get amongst it.

The curvier La Pepita and Ellipse deal with smaller waves but still let you generate speed in the flats and go vertical in the pocket.

FISH

The Frazfish and Big Fish are wave-catching machines that fly over flat sections yet retain that responsiveness surfers have come to expect from OKE’S shortboads, and they can still be put on rail.

MIDLENGTHS

Stylish single fins, big wave guns, forgiving fun boards for beginners and the Nugget, for those surfers coming down from a longboard or who just want more waves without losing maneuverability.

LONGBOARDS

Expect a range of glide machines with a range of fin set-ups, amazing resin work and tints and optional extras such as fabric inlays, triple stringers, timber fins, Volan glass and timber nose and tail blocks.

“RORY DOES 90% OF THE SHAPING NOW. DAN DOES ALL THE GLASSING, RESIN WORK AND REPAIRS. I'M JUST HERE TO GET IN THE WAY.” Chok Oke

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-SURF 1770GLENN 'CAT' COLLINS If you are after a normal surfboard, GLENN 'CAT' COLLINS can most definitely make one - he’s been shaping for over 35 years - it’s just that he most probably won’t. He’s just “not into that”.

Glenn Cat’s most interested in Freak Functional Shapes that go way beyond pushing the boundaries of surfboard design… They are somewhere beyond the boundaries of another stratosphere in a distant, far, far away universe.

If you are after a certain colour or look, best of luck with that too! We don’t imagine Picasso would have taken too lightly to receiving a detailed brief on what a said art-aficcionado may like. Just give Glenn Cat a rough idea of what you are after and the mad-scientist-comeartist-come-surfboard-shaper will get to work in creating a unique surfcraft just for you.

Call (07) 4974 7770 Email surf1770@bigpond.com www.surf1770noosa.com

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Sergio Gomez

-GOMEZSURFBOARDS "Every surfer in the world rides differently; no single one is the same.

From style and technique to wave and place, one is unique to the next.

"To create a custom board for each individual is one of the things that inspire me, to generate new possibilities of wave riding and stoke for that person.

"With more than 20 years of shaping experience around the world, with every order and new customer I meet my passion for shaping is continuously deepened by the challenge to handcraft innovative shapes.

"My motivation comes mainly from surfing and the fact that ideas for new shapes and designs are endless."

Sergio Gomez

ABOUT MY SURFBOARD DESIGNS "I believe it’s important for any surfer to try different surfcrafts not only to improve their surfing but also to enjoy surfing from a different perspective.

"My shortboards are designed for speed, drive, flow, maneuverability and ultimately performance. I focus on smaller than normal shortboards that generate speed

when the surf conditions don’t provide that for us.

"One of my favourite shapes is the Fish not just for the speed but the increased drive it produces.

These are lot of fun and perfect for those summer waves.

"When shaping boards such as single fins, eggs or big boys I concentrate on simple outlines

with a lot of flow. These boards are easy wave catchers, stable yet have great rail to rail transition making surfing cool.

"Finally there is nothing more beautiful than a classic log.

Longboards are supposed to be ridden as longboards, with style, grace and flow. I enjoy shaping classic longboards and noseriders

playing around with concaves, spoons, rolled bottoms and vees.

"I not only enjoy making a board that will perform well but I like to get funky with artwork, tinted resins, fabrics turning it into an object of art. This is a fun part of any custom surfboard making that board even more unique."

Torquay, Victoria, VIC Email sergio@sgdboardsdesign.com Call 61 (0) 497 385 388 www.gomezsurfboards.com CHRISTMAS 2014 | SMORGASBOARDER

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- B L A C K A P A C H E

"COMBINING ELEMENTS OF THE PAST AND ELEMENTS OF THE FUTURE TO CREATE SOMETHING NOT QUITE AS GOOD AS EITHER."

S U R F B O A R D S

LEARNING how your board works will improve your surfing, guaranteed. You learn to look for what’s "right" for you when you need a new sled. You ask questions, you learn, you move forward.

A good shaper should be asking questions and getting you involved. What’s in your quiver already, where you surf, what kinds of waves you surf, how often you surf, what you like and don’t like about your boards, what are you struggling with, what are you good at, how do you want your surfing to be and feel.

If you’re not asking yourself these questions and your shaper or local shop jockey isn’t either, alarm bells should be ringing.

BACK (L-R): 9'6" x 23" x 3" Le Hanches 9'8" The Churro

SHORTBOARDS

Call 0410 419 791

Email blackapache@me.com www.blackapachesurfboards.com

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These are far from stock standard. If you remember having a mullet back in the 80s you will love these babies with a modern twist.

SINGLES

Retros, Stepups and Guns. If you crave that smooth top to bottom run single fin style or fancy yourself as a bit of a charger, this is your deal.

MIDDLE (L-R): 5'10" Dead Mans Hand, 5'11" El Muerto, 5'9" Dead Mans Hand, 6'6" Killing Floor, 6'6" Bonzer 3, 6'10" Hard Times, 6'10" Indo Drifter Pin, 7'10" She Wolf, 7'10", She Wolf V2, 8'6" She Wolf, 7'10" Anchors V1 FRONT: Some fat headed idiot, Krypt Surf Mat, Fourth Gear Flyer XL, fins by Pod and Da Fins

TWINS

Fishes with triple stringer keel fins to modern variations, we catch ‘em fresh.

Or maybe you have a need for speed and the unmistakable skatey feel of a Simmons.

3-4 & 5 FINS

Stubbies through to Bonzers guaranteed to give you the squirts and have you rambling about the Venturi Principle. Plus widowmakers, quads and quintets to meet your special needs – remember conformity is boring.

MIDLENGTHS

Boards for when it is small to overhead in a variety of templates and foils.

From Hulls that will get your groove on, giving point waves a whole new meaning, to Kook Killers and Daggers.

LONGBOARDS

This is where size does matter. Serious single fin groove for those after a traditional longboard with modern refinements or who want to squeal like a pig.

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HARVEST SURFBOARDS are a range of vintage inspired surf craft that focus on quality not quantity, developed and created by Jack Knight and his son Aaron Knight.

From shaping through the single fin/ shortboard era to aiding Glen Winton (Mr X) in the development of the original Quad-Fins, Jack has been handcrafting boards for over 40 years and has rich first hand knowledge of surfboard design. Jack is originally from Manly Beach, NSW where he started his shaping career in 1969 through an era filled with single fins and experimental designs.

Aaron has been working alongside his father since 2009 designing, glassing, and developing the HARVEST range of boards that focus on concepts and ideas from the bygone eras of surfing.

OUR RANGE OF HANDCRAFTED BOARDS

We specialise in single fins, twin fins, midlengths and logs and also have the original channel bottom single fins, invented by Jim Pollard which Jack shaped first hand at Shane Stedman's surfboard factory in Manly in the 70's.

The boards are all handcrafted from start to finish at our workshop on the Gold Coast with the foundations of having 40+ years of experience and knowledge within the industry.

All our boards are glassed to be strong and last, weight is not a factor.

We prefer the quality not quantity mindset and aim to keep the personal touches in all our craft. We also love to use tints, pigments and fabrics as a means of adding individual character to our boards.

-HARVESTSURFBOARDS

"I THINK THERE IS SUCH A GREAT ART BEHIND MAKING A SURFBOARD AND I THINK IT IS A SHAME WHEN A BOARD GETS PUMPED OUT OF A MACHINE WITH NO INDIVIDUAL TOUCHES. WHERE IS THE SOUL IN THAT?" Jack Knight

Visit our workshop at: Christine Avenue, Miami Gold Coast, QLD Call (07) 5576 5914 www.harvestsurfboards.com Email hello@harvestsurfboards.com Boards available at Underground, Noosa and Board Culture, Mermaid Beach

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- M A R K R A B B I D G E S U R F B O A R D S

MARK RABBIDGE has been a leader in surf craft design since the 1970s having shaped and worked for many of Brookvale's iconic surfboard manufacturers of the day, most notably at Hot Buttered where he saw and helped spearhead the many changes in surfboard design through that period.

Instrumental in the resurgence of longboarding, Mark competed on his own boards and finished a close second in the 1987 World Title with spots in the top five over the next five years.

Married to former surfing world champion Pam Burridge, Mark spent years on tour, giving him invaluable insight into the highest level surfing of the '80s and early '90s. He shaped boards for many pro surfers over that period, the most famous ride being Tom Curren on his virgin 6'6" RABBIDGE tearing J Bay apart.

Today, he continues to hand shape custom surfboards from the quiet NSW South Coast hamlet of Bendalong.

SHORTBOARDS

Rabbidge boards are all about making turns connect. It is a philosophy as much as a design trait. Surf the wave not the surfboard. Your mind should do the surfing and your board just comes with you.

Call 0427 767 176 Email sales@markrabbidge.com www.markrabbidge.com

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LONGBOARDS

The telling feature of these boards is their ability to recover from critical situations, a long rail line can be your worst nightmare if you aren’t able to adjust and trim out again. The key to a good board is the ability to survive the maneuver and get speed again to make the wave.

EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN

Fishes, Fatboys*, Four Plays (quads), Micros, Big Wave Guns, Pacemakers and Finless Creations – a range of different surfboards to suit different conditions, all of which are then hand shaped and custom made to suit the individual.

With this open mind to design, Mark has a long history with alternative boards. These are far from your standard boards or novelty retro designs but are rather high performance craft that have been refined over and over again through the years. *Read more about Mark's Fatboy model on Page 122

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L-R: rem. Iscia con ni consenis demposseria volum fugiaeptia velibusam, sunt d COMBINING 14 YEARS of experience working in high-end production factories, and the know-how gained surfing in national competition, surfer/shaper Jordie Brown (a qualified shipwright) has established himself and his boards amongst the best Victoria has to offer in the way of 100% handcrafted, customised surfcraft.

Jordie’s vision is to bring a youthful edge to a dying trade, and to inject contemporary innovation into classic design. Every HIGH TIDE board is 100% handmade; from the glue-up of the blank to the final polish.

With the time consuming nature of production, and an emphasis on quality over quantity, HIGH TIDE produce 4 to 6 custom surfcraft a month. Board designs are based on the heavier, old-school style construction using weightier, longer-lasting, pigmented and tinted glass jobs, a variety of solid timber stringers, and finish coats and polishes.

- HIGH TIDE SURFBOARDS CUSTOM CRAFT

When choosing your board you get an in-depth consultation for a tailor-made shape suitable for your size and ability. You get a choice of colour, resin design, stringer, and artwork. Also included is a hand-drawn, personalised decal design.

Our boards are based around a traditional style of construction using modern materials, which means although the boards do take a little longer to make, they tend to last longer too.

To maximize the life of your board, HIGH TIDE offers an Ongoing Repair service too.

REPLICA

As well as my own designs of traditionally inspired craft, I replicate old surfboards, whether it be your old favorite at the end of its life, or a classic shape that you want to preserve and surf at the same time. Using traditional hand shaping techniques I can create a new board, incorporating everything you love about your old board with subtle, customised enhancements.

RESTORATIONS

I’ve always been fascinated with bringing old surfcraft back to life.

As well as producing custom surfboards and replicas, we restore choice pre-loved craft to their former glory using traditional methods of construction and the loving touch that HIGH TIDE is famous for. Also, alongside pigment coats, finish coats and polishes, we can add custom art to spruce up your classic craft.

Call 0401 437 392 Email hightidesurfboards@hotmail.com www.hightidesurfboards.com

"OUR BOARDS ARE BASED AROUND A TRADITIONAL STYLE OF CONSTRUCTION USING MODERN MATERIALS" CHRISTMAS 2014 | SMORGASBOARDER

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WOODEN SURFBOARDS SHAPES B Y STE VE O

I've been working with surfboards for close to 20 years. I cut my teeth with foam and fibreglass but have since focused my attention on all things wood.

I am totally into building, riding and promoting top-of-the-line unreal looking hollow wooden surfboards. So as to minimize the impact on environment, I only use recycled timber or sustainable harvest plantation timber. Left over pieces get made into nose and tail blocks, fins or tick finish inserts to jazz up the look even more.

My boards are more than just wall-hangers, they are built to be ridden and enjoyed and will last a lifetime.

Call 0421 522 503 Email woodensurfboardsshapesbysteveo@gmail.com www.woodensurfboardsshapesbysteveo.com.au

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TIMBER SURFBOARDS

SKATEBOARDS

FOAM & GLASS

COURSES AND KITS

I shape all manner of timber surfboards from fishes to guns, malibus, kneelos and standup paddleboards, including paddles.

I make a range of unique skateboards decks of varying lengths and styles that not only look amazing but are near indestructible.

While it's the wood boards I enjoy the most, I still make foam and fibreglass surfboards of all shapes and sizes.

I conduct one-on-one wooden board building courses and can schedule a time to suit you.

I supply all the knowhow, tools and materials or you can bring your own. To build a board from start to finish so it is ready to surf is $475 plus $70 per foot of board.

All are hollow just like an aeroplane wing.

They are heavier than foam and glass but in saying that the boards are still very light and very fast down the line. They are unreal to surf!

Each board is hand crafted and is a unique one of a kind so you will never see your board under someone else!

Surfboard blanks (frames only, no deck, bottom skins or rails) are available from $200 and kits containing templates plus wood start from $600.

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O U TE R - IS L AND-

Mitchell Rae (Second from right) with Outer Island Surfboard riders (L-R) Mega Samahdi, Andy Campbell, and Jake Drifter

SURFBOARDS

In an age when surfing is run by corporations and the art of shaping has gone to the machines, OUTER ISLAND stay true to the roots. We have total commitment to design and hand construction of the finest surfboards on the planet, all custom-built, small numbers, and full in-house construction.

We take pride in the strength and longevity of our boards, which outlast production-built boards by four times and more. Slow cure resin mixes with fiberglass applied under tension in a manner that creates a complex matrix of diagonal fibres are just some of the techniques we undertake that make for a stronger board by utilising the maximum potential of materials with no increase in weight.

V2 FLEX MODELS

MOONRAKER, SMART BOARD, PERFORMER Featured in 90% of our boards for the last five years, V2 Flex is our own unique, revolutionary design controlling the overall flex pattern of a surfboard. Two stringers in an inverted V from the nose exit the rail forward of the fins, allowing the tail to flex where you want it - in the tail section - and stiffens the board through the forward section. V2 Flex boards feel sensitive and alive under foot, flexing into the turns for tighter arcs, greater hold and delivering a burst of drive (reflex) out of the turns.

FLEXTAILS

CORAL REEFERS AND GUNS

SUPERMALS

Flextails generate propulsion, drive and acceleration out of the turns.

The tail flexes as you apply power, carving a tighter arc. Energy is stored in the carbon tail, and is released out of the turn (reflex) delivering a massive burst of drive and speed, like an arrow from a bow.

It’s expensive to get to those remote places where the last thing you want is equipment failure, so these are built strong to handle serious swells. These boards inspire confidence and give you the edge when the swell is up!

We offer a range of styles from High Performance Supermals and Nose Riders to traditional Logs in a variety of construction styles. Traditional glass tints, Cedar stringers and balsa/Cedar T Bands, three stringers, V2 Flex, Flex Tail Carbon Flex Technology, carbon fibre rails, custom airbrush designs and more...

We are all about custom design and construction.

Unlike conventional boards which are rigid and have one inbuilt set of curves, they feel alive to ride, changing shape while in motion.

The essential ingredients are maximum paddle power to get you out to the line up, super easy wave entry, blazing speed and ripability.

Our Coral Reefers and Guns put you in control of the situation.

We are the acknowledged world leaders in Flex Technology, with FlexTails, carbon fibre controlled flex patterns and the use of timber in specific functions to control the overall flex pattern of a surfboard.

7 Bayldon Drive, Raleigh, NSW Call 02 6655 7007 Email info@outerislandsurfboards.com.au www.outerislandsurfboards.com.au CHRISTMAS 2014 | SMORGASBOARDER

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-SOUL ARCHS U R F B O A R D S

ROBBIE MARSHALL hand shapes surfboards out of Broulee on the South Coast of NSW. Has been shaping quite solidly for the past four years with guidance along the way from Mick Mackie and Dylan Perese of DP Surfboards.

With a carpentry background and a love for recycled timber, Robbie uses recycled wood as stringers and fins upon request. Handfoiled fins in timber and fiberglass are a speciality that complement the boards. It's great to have fins made by the same guy who has shaped the board, tailored to the surfboard and rider's needs.

Predominantly a single fin and fish surfer, the love for these shapes shines through in these shapes, but not to be pigeonholed in to one board style, Robbie custom shapes everything from fishes, single fins, shortboards, quads, longboards to whatever else you can imagine.

Call 0404 348 131 Email dobba_21@hotmail.com Facebook Soularch Surfboards Instagram robbie_marshall21 See Soul Arch Surfboards displayed at the Rivermouth General Store, Tomakin, NSW

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CHRIS GARRETT SHAPES

P HA N TOM

SURFBOARDS I LOVE SURFING EQUIPMENT that's easy to ride, fast, reactive and actually helps me surf beyond my ability.

This is the approach I take to all the boards that I shape regardless of my client's ability. For over 30 years I have been fortunate enough to make a lot of people happy by matching boards to people to waves, and share in their joy and stoke. How good is that?!

Available at

Sunhouse, Coolangatta Brunswick Surf, Brunswick Heads The Boardroom, Miami

Call 0424 450 690 Email phantomsurfboards@gmail.com www.chrisgarrettshapes.com.au

BOARDS (L-R) FROM TOP LEFT..

ROCKET TWIN FISH

SQUARE TAIL SLIPPER

ACEY-DEUCEY

HARMONY HULL

POBBLEBONK

ESS TAIL KILLER KEELER

KILLER KEELER

This board surfs like a skateboard with loose trucks, but on train tracks! Super fast and drivey, with plenty of bite to hold you through some of the tightest turns you'll want to do.

Usually best ridden 4-6" shorter than your height.

This wave cruiser inspires creamy rides and tasty turns. This one features used coffee grounds from the Sunhouse to colour tint the resin in the bottom layer. An awesome board on the points and with the wider tail, will still hold its own in the beachies.

Long rail for the drive off the bottom and short rail for the hack down off the top. It's the only step-up board I have for the points when they are firing, and this is the board I rode at Kirra a couple of months ago.

It flies.

The sweet sugar glider of a board that I ride when I'm feeling cruisy but still want to perform and draw nice clean lines. Tri-plane hull under the nose for cheater 5's and ease of paddling, a fouruster fin set up ( twin tail finned thruster) and a vee double out of the tail.

Super fun.

Originally made to surf the crap waves no one wanted at Snapper, this micro-mal/disc/slab with a deep swallow is the goods for surfing super fast and loose in pathetic wave conditions. Really just a mal with the useless walking bit taken out.

This concave decked board is my latest favourite and really I've just gotten rid of the bits in the board that I don't use. eg, the pointy nose and the long rail in the cutback/off the top.

With a wide nose and tail taken from the fish design and the narrowness of a performance board, this hybrid keeler is a super fast and highly manoeuvrable paddle machine. It's been hard to get off this one for the sheer fun and excitement it gives me in all wave conditions.

5'4" x 18 ¾" x 2 ½"

5'10" x 21" x 2 5/8"

5'11" x 18 ¾" x 2 3/8"

6'2" x 21 ¼" x 2 5/8"

4'10" x 22" x 2 3/8"

5'2"/4'10" x 19" x 2 3/8"

5'5" x 18 ¾" x 2 ½"

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"I LOVE SURFBOARDS. I USUALLY HAVE UP TO 20 AT A TIME. THESE ARE MY CURRENT FAVOURITES." Ron Goddard

G- S OU RDF BDO AA RRD SDCall 0437 425 405 Email ron@goddardsurfboards.com.au www. goddardsurfboards.com.au

SPEED QUEEN

SUNRISE

9'0" x 21' x 2 7/8"

9'1" x 21 ¾" x 2 5/8"

I always have one of these. Great Indo gun. I have thinned the nose thickness to reduce the swing weight, and they are wide so it doesn't have to be huge to use it.

Wide nose, narrow tail, slight concave to V, soft to hard rail, a bucketload of bottom curve.

It has a heap of fin variables to change it's personality. I love my sunrise - it turns, it noserides.

A pleasure to ride.

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"I STARTED SHAPING IN 1969. It has been a life long passion. I now concentrate on custom work, turning out a few a week, keeping the quality up as much as I can. I still think the surfboard is an artform and always will. I'm an old man, so obviously this is an old man's quiver. I regard my quiver as leveling sticks - the task being to try and get the perfect level between young energetic grommet and waning geriatric... as close as possible anyway."

M8

8'0" x 22" x 2 5/8" My whole quiver gravitates around this board. It's finely tuned with thin rails and hard edge through the tail. Slight concave to slight V flat off the tail. It's my best mate.

WAND

7'0" x 21" x 2 2 5/8" A little bit retro.

Fullish nose drawn out pintail. Single concave to chine rail through the tail. It's a great transition board for me - in the middle of the mals and the stubbies.

HIP TO BE SQUARE

6'6" x 20" x 2 /8" 5

I'm enjoying this board when I'm on my game (less and less as I get older!) It's pretty much a blownup short board: single concave to chine rail, it's the standard rounded square with soft hip in the outline.

BUNKER

5'8" x 21 ¾" x 2 ½"

FREE RANGE EGG 5'6" x 21 ½" x 2 5/8"

GOLDFISH 6'0" x 20 ½" x 2 5/8"

KITE

I love my stubbies I've worked on fat little boards forever - long before they became high fashion. The Bunker is a product of over 40 years of research and development.

Single concave with chine rail. IT'S CHUNKY AND IT'S FUN. Yes, I'm yelling.

My Free Range is just a fun button.

The big, wide tail gets it up and skating in marginal conditions. Great little board when I don't want to ride a mal, but the waves are tiny.

This little board did suprise me when I took it out at small Cloudbreak, Fiji.

This is my classic fish. It's a bit of a wall hanger - solid balsa and redwood rails. It doesn't get out much. It's a pleasure to ride though.

I love riding waves with a kite - the future of surfing, I reckon - paddle in when the wind's light offshore, get whipped in when it's over 20 knots.

This little board is crazy. I'm loving it to death...the photo doesn't show the beating it's had... still going strong.

4'10" x 18" x 2 3/16"

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RIGHT: The Classic Single Fin and Bonzer.

BELOW: Paul Winter with a range of Fuyu surfcraft

We design and handcraft all boards to the highest possible standards using the finest materials available. While we have a range of proven models, custom orders are our specialty with a number of test-drive demo boards available to assist with your personal order.

We manufacture quality longboards, classic retro and hybrids, and recently introduced new models - Bent Temple, Bonzer, Classic Single Fin and the Box + Dice (a log/hp blend).

-S UFR FUB OYAUR D-S

FUYU models are available from outlets on the Sunshine and Gold Coasts. We currently have boards stocked in Golden Breed Noosa and Byron Bay, Underground Surf Noosa, Noosa Longboards and Beach Beat Alexandra Headland.

AT FUYU SURFBOARDS, we acknowledge the essence and soul of surfing through maintaining our local industry, aiming at all times for quality rather than quantity, and implementing feedback from our customers.

Since officially opening our factory in May 2013, our first major milestone of producing 100 boards is fast approaching.

These initial months have seen much research, experimental forays, and everevolving shapes and glassing procedures.

M: 0418 884 242 T: 07 5447 5810 www.fuyusurfboards.com E: mail@fuyusurfboards.com

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-TREETO SEA SURFBOARDS & WORKSHOPS

KEEN TO BUILD on your surfboard quiver?

Ever considered building your very own environmentally friendly and sustainable wooden surfboard? We can teach you all you need to know, to be able to make your own wooden surfboards at home, as often as you like.

We've taught people from all ages and all skill levels. It doesn't matter if you are a skilled tradesman or someone that rarely handles tools of any kind. You will not need any wood working knowledge to be able to make your very own fantastic wooden surfboard.

There are no high-tech machines or advanced skills required to build your own wooden surfboard at one of our workshops.

These courses are designed at a grass roots level to enable anybody who has the desire to build their own board to achieve just that!

BOARD CHOICES

We have a comprehensive list of board plans and we are constantly updating our range. Over the past couple of years, approximately 200 boards have been built in our 3-day workshops.

Some participants even booked another workshop to build a second board.'

Email info@treetosea.com.au Call Rob 0409 211 751 or Gary 0423 804 975 www.treetosea.com.au 148

We've started adding some of our own designs to increase the range of shapes and to meet requests of our customers.

These are all proven, functional designs, built to be ridden. Boards from Tree to Sea are as much fun to ride as they are to build.

SURFBOARD MODELS

FISH: 5’11” Vola, 6’4” Striper SHORTBOARDS: 6’1” and 6’4” Saplings RETROS: 6’9” Driftwood, 7’2” Pintail MID LENGTHS: 6’10” Woodpecker MINI MALIBUS: 6’6” and 7’6” Splinters, 8’ All Rounder MALIBUS: 9’1” Splinter, 9’1” Retro Pig, 9’6” Classic Retro SPECIALTY BOARDS: 8’ Indo Gun

CUSTOM DESIGN SERVICE

If none of our models suit your needs we can design a board to your requirements.

We'll email you the finished design for your approval.

BOARD AND FIN OPTIONS

Both nose and tail can be thinned out to suit your requirements.

Tails can be changed to Rounded Pin, Squash or Square tails.

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SHOTGUN SHORTBOARDS

LAGUNA BAY LONGBOARDS

LAGUNA BAY STAND UP PADDLE

We have a very diverse range in short boards, everything from the 4’5” Tunnel Rat Project which has channels and surfs like a skate board on water to a big range of fishes and fun boards ideal for small to medium size surf including a retro range with a twist.

The MSJ Supa Model arguably the most high performance longboard in the world, ridden to massive wins by such names as Josh Constable, Taylor Jenson, Jackson Close, Harrison Roach, Bryce and Nava Young, Jesse Jerrems, Ezra and Zye Norris to name a few.

Our stand up paddleboards are a combination of all our board designs and years of shaping and glassing put together.

Then there’s our All Rounders, which have all the requirements as travel boards or when the waves go up a level. Then we head into our Gun range and all our templates we have created over the years.

The Fliptail Nose Rider is the ultimate in noseriding developed on the well-groomed point of Noosa and has been ridden to victory at this year’s Noosa Festival of Surfing, the biggest noseriding event in the world, while the Log Model is a combination of a longboard template we created in the '60s modifying it to current day.

If you are looking to tweak a few measurements or create something special, check out our custom boards on our website.

We work with you to create the board of your dreams.

NS U ROF OWOSR KAS NOOSA SURF WORKS is a family run business that’s been operating in Noosa for over 45 years. We pride ourselves on creating high quality fine tuned equipment and put love and attention into every board.

All our boards are made and created in our high tech factory in Noosa. We have a small crew of craftsmen that are part of the family and all have over 30 years of surfboard manufacturing experience.

Our boards have been ridden to many Regional, State and Australian Titles and many big wins abroad including a World Longboard Title in 2006.

If you're chasing a quality ride to add to your quiver or even just starting out, check out our website, join our Instagram/facebook page or come and see a board being made at our factory.

1/11 Bartlett St, Noosaville, QLD Call 07 5474 4567 Email info@noosasurfworks.com.au Tully St John with a range of Shotgun Surfboards and Laguna Bay Longboards, and (left) a Laguna Bay SUP.

www.noosasurfworks.com.au

CHRISTMAS 2014 | SMORGASBOARDER

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Jay Jackman, at the Sadhana House of Creativity

SADHAN A SURFBOARDS

The idea of SADHANA SURFBOARDS was born in 1997 on a lifeguard chair, as a reaction to the mass-marketed, mediocre, one-size-fits-all approach to surfing at the time and since 2008, our base in Christchurch, New Zealand has opened up a nearby playground of waves for which to ride a diverse choice of surfboards.

From humble beginnings, utilising various garages, shaping rooms and sheds around the world, SADHANA has grown to provide one of the most comprehensive ranges of hand shaped boards on New Zealand’s beautiful South Island.

Visit the Sadhana House of Creativity Shop 52, The Tannery, Christchurch, NZ Surf, Clothing, Music, Art, Repairs, Blanks & DIY Supplies

Call +64 (0)3 389 5611 www.sadhanasurfboards.co.nz

At SADHANA we believe that quality and workmanship aren't a thing of the past. Our boards are made in the traditional way using no large factory machines or mass production technology. Utilising strong quality laminates, vintage cotton inlays, custom stringers, resin tints and hand foiled fins, we guarantee progressive, consistent and durable surfboards for small wave stylists and big wave chargers alike.

All models are now available in both Bennett PU and Superfused EPS/epoxy.

From 2' to 20’, SADHANA has you covered.

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QUARRY -BEACH-

SURFBOARDS

BOARDRIDING is dependent on many factors; waves, wind, surfboards, balance, skill and luck.

As surfers, we understand that we have little control over any of these factors: we surf as often as nature makes it possible to have some fun and to improve our skills.

One element we do have control over is the craft we ride. Obviously our crafts vary dependent on age,

weight, style and the type of waves we surf. So how to get the best from this complicated set of requirements?

You could ask a random shop assistant who imports boards from Australia or seek the expertise of your local shaper who knows the local conditions and has possibly seen you surf. And most importantly, he will listen to

what you need to get from your new board. He can also look at your current board and discuss with you what he can change in order to help you catch more waves, carve better, boost airs or even walk to the nose.

Graham Carse is a longtime Dunedin local, with a well developed knowledge of local conditions and what

works for them. Since 1989, Graham at QUARRY BEACH SURFBOARDS has been the man to chat to about your next board.

Whatever style you're after, he's made it - from beginner boards to high-performance shortboards, from slop-grovelling small wave boards like good old fish to monster-wave guns.

Visit the shop: 75 David St, Caversham, Dunedin NZ Call +64 3 455 7414 or +64 27 518 8678 Email grahamcarse@xtra.co.nz www.qbsurfboards.com CHRISTMAS 2014 | SMORGASBOARDER

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I S L A N D S U R F B O A R D S

"OUR BOARD BUILDING TEAM BOASTS OVER 130 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE" (And ISLAND shaper Glyndyn Ringrose can do handstands too)

AT ISLAND SURFBOARDS we’re a close knit, family run operation who all surf and have the expertise to intimately understand, in detail, what kind of board and what dimensions will suit different styles, types and levels of surfer, and in which conditions.

Our board building team boasts over 130 years of experience with the likes of Glyndyn Ringrose, Greg Hogan, Terry Klemm, Slim Hyndman, Peter Coffey and Andy Biddington.

Our factory is also home to a ding repair service, as well as wholesaling all types of surfboard shaping materials.

147 Thompson Avenue, Cowes, VIC Phone 03 5952 2578 Email cowes@islandsurfboards.com.au 225 Smiths Beach Rd, Smiths Beach VIC Phone 03 5952 3443 Email smithsbeach@islandsurfboards.com.au www.islandsurfboards.com.au

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All boards are made with the highest quality materials. We can custom make a handmade surfboard to your requirements and with our factory located out the back of the Cowes store, a shaper is usually on hand to discuss your requirements, and you can even watch your board as it is created.

There is also a great range of stock boards in both our Cowes and Smiths Beach stores with knowledgeable staff to steer you in the right direction. We cater to surfers of all standards and needs. You can custom order in person, or even on our website.

SHORT TO LONG

SOFTBOARDS

From shortboards, funboards, guns, mini mals, as well as the new Island Classic Mal range (available in triple stringer style), Island has the board to suit your needs.

Combine this with an ever-evolving, high performance kneeboard range, and all your new board dreams can come true. ISLAND recommends FCS and Futures fin systems, as well as the option of glass in fins.

If you are after a softboard, ISLAND manufacture their own range of softboards expertly designed by shaper Glyndyn Ringrose utilising quality materials that result in an exceptionally well made board that is competitively priced.

For a strong, surf-school quality board, you don't have to look any further.

SMORGASBOARDER | CHRISTMAS 2014

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Sunny Coast Surf Photographers www.ctrlv.com.au/sunny-coast-surf-photogs e: dave@ctrlv.com.au | m: 0407 371 166

Ben Osborne

5’6 Short Board + DCal - $375

Ben Osborne

5’5 Fish Board + DCal - $425

Kieran Tunbridge

5’6 Short Board + DCal - $375

Kieran Tunbridge

5’6 Short Board + DCal - $375

Warwick Gow

5’5 Fish Board + DCal - $425

Kane Brown

5’6 Short Board + DCal - $375

Warwick Gow

5’5 Fish Board + DCal - $425

Kieran Tunbridge

5’6 Short Board + DCal - $375

Warwick Gow

5’5 Fish Board + DCal - $425

Kane Brown

5’5 Fish Board + DCal - $425

Kane Brown

5’5 Fish Board + DCal - $425

Ben Osborne

5’6 Short Board + DCal - $375

AMAZING PHOTOS AND ART ON BOARDS

THE PERFECT GIFT FOR CHRISTMAS

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- M R DA MAG E "I grew up surfing on the South Coast of SA. This is when I met Syd Wilmett who owned the local surf shop. I would often drop by to visit and chat to him about board making. One day Syd told me he was going to sell the business.

After some wrangling I bought it off him with Syd offering me a three year apprenticeship in surfboard making working on his MR DAMAGE and Wildcatz labels. During the day I would run the shop and at night I would work in the factory. Busy but fun days.

"At the end of my apprenticeship Syd left for the Gold Coast.

When I became too busy to run both the shop and shape, my brother Paul took it over. That allowed me to solely focus on my shaping and with that I started my own factory making NXT Surfboards. Two years later I closed it and like Syd, moved to the Gold Coast. After shaping a couple of boards for myself at the

Mark Benson of MR DAMAGE Photo: Andy/Photograffix

Brothers Nielsen factory, which was owned by Roger Firehock, he asked me to start shaping for them. I shaped for Brothers Nielsen for about four years and had great success with Shane Bevan winning on Phillip Island, the Mark Richards Newcastle Pro and the Konica Superskins.

"When I left Brothers Nielsen I moved back to SA having missed the country life. Back home I made boards in Port Elliot once again but later returned to the Gold Coast in 2000, where I then worked as a subcontractor shaping and laminating. Over the next few years I worked for Stuart Surf Designs, JS Industries and Magic Mix. I filled in for a few weeks at Phantom and Pipedream as well as shaping in Japan under my own label, Yours Surf and Sport.

"One day I rang Darren Handley and he offered me a full time position working at Base. There I had the opportunity to learn even more as I was working with DH, Simon Anderson and Murray Bourton. A couple of years on when my fiance Shira fell pregnant with our daughter Taylah, we decided to return to Port Elliot so that Taylah could grow up surrounded by our families.

"Following my return and a stint working at a local caravan park, one of my friends, Marcus Dewar,

kept on hassling me to make boards again and with his help I opened my new factory on Hill Street, Port Elliot, where I am today. I decided to start afresh and rang Syd Wilmett to see if I could use the MR DAMAGE brand name as I always liked it and thankfully he gave me permission. I figured it went well with the ding repairs side of the business and it is a way of giving a bit of a shout out to Syd for all his help and advice over the years.

Indeed I have been so fortunate to work with so many great people through the years who have supported me to no end.

"Currently I make custom surfboards, do ding repairs, contract glass and sell fins and resin supplies. My boards are at Southern Surf in Port Elliot and the Original Surf Co at Noarlunga.

Visit MR DAMAGE at Shed 2, 44 Hill Street, Port Elliot, SA Call 0416 199 764 Email mark@mrdamagesurfboards.com.au www.mrdamagesurfboards.com.au - Find us on Facebook 154

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LIQUID STIXX -STAND UPP A D D L E B OA R D S

Shaper Andy Jordan and Kirsten Wilton of LIQUID STIXX, NZ Photo: Anne-Marie Mathiesen.

"AT LIQUID STIXX, OUR AIM IS TO PROVIDE YOU WITH THE HIGHEST QUALITY, CUSTOM DESIGNED, AFFORDABLE, SUP GEAR." Liquid Stixx on a mission

LIQUID STIXX are New Zealand front-runners in custom SUP design and manufacturing.

At LSX we are continually progressing forward with our shapes and designs bringing our customers a high quality, custom designed affordable product. At LSX we stand behind our brand having built our business on strong customer ties and product guarantee.

Our SUP packages stand out above the rest with our inclusive high quality elite carbon paddle (available in different blade sizes and shapes).

For over four years LIQUID STIXX have teamed up with Andy Jordan to design original and locally designed products. Liquid Stixx has now grown into a strong brand of New Zealand designed SUP products.

If it's a custom design you want, come and talk with us we can custom order to suit your needs, whether it be SUP surfing, flat water or racing. LIQUID STIXX will supply you with all of the latest shapes and styles of stand up paddleboards on the market at very competitive prices.

Visit us at our Tauranga Showroom (by appointment only) CALL(NZ) 0800 SUPING (787 464) See our website for a stockist: www.liquidstixx.co.nz Call +64 (07) 5701953 Email kirsten@liquidstixx.co.nz Facebook Liquid Stixx

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Darren Pead, Jetlok Surf

- JE TLO K S

U

R

F

DROP ME A TEXT, email me any time to chat about ya next board, and you can drop over to have a cold beer or hot coffee with the shaper/glasser/sander.

JETLOK boards are 100% made by me - that's right, its old-skool over here.

Remember the days when that's how you ordered a board? It's a dying art.

Nowdays, it's order online or buy from surf shops, but here we do it different.

Support ya local shaper guys.

You can also find us on Instagram and Facebook. We're also looking for team riders, guys and gals, so thanks for ya support.

Yeewwww!

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THIS IS MY QUIVER that will make all the girl's legs shiver...

L-R: White Ghost 6'4' round pin, Double Shot 5'5" round square, Loose Az 5'2" chop square tail, Fruit Loop 5'4" chop square tail (the sign to entry to factory of bad manners), Coffey Lover 6'1" round square, Take Me 2 The Moon 5'7" star tail. Boards start from $499

Lake Munmorah, NSW Call 0421 400 537 Email jetloksurf@outlook.com Facebook jetlok.surf Instagram @jetloksurfboards

Aaron Surgenor, aka Surge, is the man behind SURGE SURFBOARDS, located in Kaikoura New Zealand. Surge makes 100% handshaped custom surfboards personalised to suit the individual. He is not into mass production.

Whether you’re a grommet frolicking in the whitewater or a seasoned pro apt at pulling into seething kegs, Surge will customise a board to suit your own particular surfing style.

The Highliner 5'10" x 19 ¾" x 2 5/16" (up to 6'8") 28.5l approx. volume Quad fins

SURGE SURFBOARDS has been through many years of surfing and experience combined. Surge surfboards for many surfers in New and travelling surfers alike.

SURFBOARDS

created shaping shapes Zealand

Kaikoura’s surf spots are well-known for their rough entry and exits, and many a surfer's board has fallen victim. Consequently, Surge is the local go-to man for a fast affordable ding repair service, along with the occasional secondhand surfboard and surf accessory supplies from his factory surf shop.

-SU R GE -

Call 02 7428 7453 Email surgesurfboards@hotmail.co.nz www.surgesurfboards.com

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Nick shows off some of his craft

TRIED & TRUSTED BLANKS n and ru Family owerned55 years for ov

BLANKS: A multitude of different lengths, rockers and weights STRINGERS: An extensive

variety of timbers of varying widths

-H A NN D SMH ACP E-S

SHAPING TooLS: All you need to make a board from scratch

5'4" Grom Pro performance board

5 STEwART RoAD, CURRUmBIN QLD • CALL US oN (07) 5534 3777

At NMC HANDSHAPES, we pride ourselves on the quality of our workmanship and how our boards perform. All boards are made by hand using the finest quality materials.

With over 25 years experience in the surfboard making industry, any type of surfboard can be created to your specifications whether you are a beginner or expert. Shortboards, longboards, fish, hybrids, big wave boards, grommet boards and paddleboards, we make them all and at a competitive price. Fibreglass and epoxy finishes available.

cy Our consbisesttenin is the orld the w

find out more online

NMC SURFBOARDS

Sheepwash Rd, Barwon Heads VIC P: 03 5254 1658 M: 0438 800 539

E: nmcsurf@bigpond.com www.facebook.com/nmcsurf

finplugcover.com™ neatly covers over unused fin plugs on surfboards and water craft.

facebook.com/ finplugcover finplugcover.com

CHRISTMAS 2014 | SMORGASBOARDER

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#SouthAustralianMadeSurfboards Nov2014_Smorgas_ads-DingKing.indd 158

1/11/2014 7:51 am

#THEDingkingadelaide #clarksurfboards

#surfboardsAdelaidE facebook.com/thedingkingAUS Nov2014_Smorgas_ads-DingKing.indd 159

1/11/2014 7:51 am

BUSINESS PROMOTION

gEar: businEss

powEr to thE shapEr "wE arE a part of a growing rEVolution in EnErgy gEnEration. in proViding ElEctricity usErs with a cost-frEE transition to sustainability, wE giVE thEm grEatEr control oVEr thEir ExpEnsEs and thE satisfaction of a carbon-frEE sourcE of ElEctricity."

frEE solar solutions for surfboard factoriEs WORDS: NATHAN BEGLEY, VOLTAIC ENERGY

VOltAic EnErgy was founded in early 2013 with the sole intention of giving everyday people the ability to switch to renewable energy sources, significantly lower their electricity costs and acquire energy-producing solar assets at nil expense.

Did we forget to mention our latest energy source?

Jess grimwood, snapped at the World Surfing Games in Peru.

She's a Central Coast surfer, firefighter and all-round legend and suported by Voltaic Energy.

Photo supplied by Voltaic Energy

The current situation in Australia is where people are forced to pay excessive electricity prices through monstrous national retailers, who source the energy from the national grid market. The yearly price increases that cripple small businesses and home owners are taken from the maintenance costs of network upgrades – basically the poles and wires that stretch all over the country.

So what’s the alternative? If they’re fortunate enough to have the spare cash, home owners can outlay several thousand dollars to purchase solar to lower their bill. (Most, even if they had the cash aren’t likely to drop $5k-$10k on a solar system – a trip to the Mentawais is more likely…)

but what if you don’t haVE thE sparE bEans?

What if you’re running a business, shaping out of your backyard shed or renting in an industrial warehouse?

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This is where we come in...

VOltAic EnErgy examines your exact usage patterns over days, weeks and months to establish the precise size solar system you need. We then purchase and install the system for free, selling the electricity produced directly to you.

It’s like your own power station, custom-made.

You’ll keep your existing grid connection just in case of rainy days, or if you want to burn the midnight candle shaping after the sun goes down.

Our solar electricity prices are fixed, they don’t increase - ever.

They’re also around 20% lower than grid-based prices, which means the average shaper/retailer can expect an immediate drop of about $60-$70 per month in electricity expenses.

ABOVE: Our install at the Royal Hotel Cullen Bullen, NSW

We sell the electricity straight to you at a set price over a maximum of six years, when we hand the system to you. Now it’s yours, your daytime electricity prices are basically nil.

The systems aren’t fixed permanently to the building – if you move, so too can they be unplugged and re-installed at your new site.

We use only the highest quality panels and inverters; Canadian Solar and SMA, both widely accepted as the benchmark worldwide for solar technology. The warranties on the equipment will guarantee them running until you’re a grumpy old fossil on your mal.

VOltAic EnErgy isn’t a national corporation.

We are both Sydney and country-bred, with a dream to see people sourcing energy for themselves, direct from the Earth, and we are proud to be part of Australia’s ripping surf culture.

Jess Grimwood

"Voltaic EnErgy dEsigns and builds frEE custom solar powEr stations for ExclusiVE on-sitE gEnEration and consumption. wE systEmatically analysE your sEasonal and daily usagE pattErns to build a systEm tailorEd to your nEEds. ElEctricity gEnEratEd is sold dirEctly to you at a ratE Equal to or lEss than your currEnt grid-basEd ratE."

Our Australian champion, Central Coaster Jess Grimwood is the face of our East Coast Shapers Program, having been sponsored since March 2014, winning the Australian Surf Festival in August ’14 and repping for Oz in Peru at the World Surfing Games in October.

The East Coast Shapers Program provides significant electricity savings for shapers and retailers. It creates sustainability in surfing, and gives small businesses another board in their quiver.

for morE information: 1800 789 000 • info@voltaicenergy.com.au

www.VoltaicEnErgy.com.au CHRISTMAS 2014 | SMORGASBOARDER

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SURFBOARD

DINGS

ons s & Restorati

Repair

BUSTED YOUR BOARD? GET IT FIXED HERE...

New Zealand RAGLAN, NZ

RAGLAN LONGBOARDS 7 days, 10am to 5pm except winter - catch us if you can +64 7 825 0544

KAIKOURA, NZ

SURGE SURFBOARDS

Bust your board? Call us 24/7 027 428 7453

Queensland AGNES WATER/1770

REEF 2 BEACH

Mon-Sat, 9-5pm, Sun,10-4pm 07 4974 9072

PEREGIAN BEACH

PEREGIAN BEACH SURF SHOP Mon - Fri 9am - 5.30pm, Sat 9am - 4pm 07 5471 3489

KAWANA

NICHOLSON SURFBOARDS REPAIRS & RESTORATIONS

Mon - Fri 7-3pm, Sat 7-midday 0438 631 153 facebook.com/nicholsonsurf 162

MOFFAT BEACH

THE FACTORY SURFBOARDS

Monday-Friday 9am-5pm, Saturday 8am-12pm (07) 5492 5838

LABRADOR

GC SURFCRAFT REPAIRS Mon-Fri 9am - 5.30pm Weekends by Appointment 0401 016 088

SOUTHPORT

KOMA

Mon-Fri 9am -5pm, Sat 9am -12pm 0402 863 763

MIAMI

DINO’S DING REPAIRS Mon - Fri 9am - 5pm, Sat 9am - 12pm 0409 727 735

THE DING SHOP Mon - Fri 8.30am - 5pm, Sat 9am - 1pm 0404 804 498

BURLEIGH HEADS

MT WOODGEE

1730 Gold Coast Highway (07) 5535 0288 Sun-Fri, 9am - 5pm Sat 8:30am - 5pm

CRONULLA CURRUMBIN

MT WOODGEE 2 Stewart Rd (07) 5598 2188 Sun-Fri, 9am - 5pm Sat 10am - 4pm

CURRUMBIN

MAXIMUM SURFBOARDS 46 Currumbin Creek Rd Mon - Fri 9am - 5pm Sat 10am - 3pm Sun by appointment 0400 338 098

New South Wales YAMBA

PLANK SHOP 02 6645 8362

TOMBSTONE SURFBOARDS Tues - Fri 9am - 4pm, Sat 9am - 12pm 0432 330 826

COFFS HARBOUR

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JERVIS BAY

INNER FEELING SURFBOARDS Seven days, 9am - 5pm 02 4441 6756

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ROUSA SURFBOARDS Mon-Sat, 10am-5pm, 0403 693 333

THORNBURY BUDGEWOI

BUCKO’S SURFBOARD REPAIRS & RESTORATIONS Mon-Fri 10am - 5.30pm Weekends by appointment 0422 304 078

ZAK SURFBOARDS Mon - Fri 10am - 6pm, Sat 10am - 5pm 03 9416 7384

Seven days, 9am - 5pm 03 5261 6077

THE SURFERS SHED Seven days, 9am - 5pm 0437 246 848

PHILLIP ISLAND

ISLAND SURF SHOP, COWES 7 days, 9-5pm 03 5952 2578

South Australia MID COAST

THE DING KING Clark Surfboards Mon - Fri 9am - 5pm 0422 443 789

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mark@mrdamagesurfboards.com.au

DO YOU FIX BROKEN BOARDS?

Promote your repair business for $15 an edition. Call 0401 345 201

SMORGASBOARDER | CHRISTMAS 2014

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

DOES IT WORK? OARDER SMORGASBTE TRIED AND STED

Sun protection on a platter, Sunzapper's range covers the lot.

SUN-SAFE WITH SUNZAPPER A RANGE OF ZINC SUN PROTECTION THAT SCORE A DOUBLE THUMBS UP STRAIGHT TO THE POINT, I REALLY LIKE THIS SUNSCREEN. For me, sunscreen is a necessity.

For one, I am as bald as a badger (interesting saying, because badger’s aren’t bald at all). Two, I have suffered my fair share of skin cancers through the years from squamous cell carcinomas (one that saw a part of my ear removed) right through to a Grade 2 Melanoma that wasn’t far

off going into my bloodstream.

Needless to say, I need to be careful out in the sun. One wrong move and I’m cactus (No, I didn't just give away a secret spot).

I will admit though, there aren’t too many sunscreens I am keen on. Most make you feel like a grease pig or, if they are zinc based, are so hard to spread, you need a special trowel to move it across your face and body with

WORDS: DAVE SWAN

the end result having you looking like you’ve just poked your head in some flour.

Well this 50+ zinc sunscreen however wasn’t even white.

When you squeezed it out, it felt thick, but then it spread so easily.

Now without sounding very metro - not that there is anything wrong with guys who pluck their eyebrows and wax their chest – I’m guessing this is due to it

ABOVE: Luke Pleydon shows what you can do with a few zinc sticks and a little creativity. containing Aloe Vera and Vitamin E. It moisturises and makes your skin feel as smooth as a baby’s bum. Best of all, this zinc does not have any harmful nanoparticles and it’s made right here in Australia! Fancy that, here, in Australia. And considering not many things are nowadays, I suggest it is pretty bloody important to support Sun Zapper and try this sunscreen that I give a big double thumbs up.

HOW MUCH?

Sunzapper products range from as little as $4.99 for the SPF 30+ lip balm, to $18.99 for a triple pack of zinc sticks and are available from retail stores, or online from: www.sunzapper.com.au

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TEST: EVERYTHING

DOES IT WORK? OARDER SMORGASBTE TRIED AND STED

CRUISER 7'0" (Also in 6'6", 7'6" and 8'0") Features: Double substrate deck and 2 x stringers for extra strength. Comes with legrope.

Test pilot Finn Davis.

Photo: Mark Chapman

ORANGE YOU GLAD...

SUMMERTIME'S HERE, WITH BRAND NEW SOFTBOARDS FROM EL NINO! WORDS: MARK CHAPMAN

El Nino's signature bright orange fins have begun to feel a bit like a marker of summer for us. It's just such a happy colour, and El Nino boards are all about happiness on the beach.

On our test day, it's a rather average morning on the Sunshine Coast, but even the little dribblers coming through are enough to excite our three test-pilots for the day: Finn and Mali Davis, and Elliott Chapman.

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Finn's straight out on the Moke and with the help of dad, Damo, is catching plenty of ripple rides. Although it's a little shaky at first (at only 53" - 4'4" it's a really small board) he soon gets comfy with it and starts catching a few little crackers, like the one above.

Perfect to bellyboard on, drop the knee or plain surf if you're quick or small enough, the Moke is a whole lot of fun in a small package.

"THE MOKE WAS MY FAVOURITE...

IT’S A LITTLE DIFFICULT TO STAND UP ON AT FIRST, BUT I’D DEFINITELY BUY ONE." Finn votes for the Moke

THE MOKE 53" Twin-fins added to El Nino's

original Moke design make this a fun, fat little rocket.

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Test pilot Elliott Chapman Photo: Mark Chapman

On a side note, softboards can be difďŹ cult to wax up. Banana Wax however, just went on a treat.

El Nino's new leg rope system is child's play... literally., Nine-year-old Elliott attached his own legrope with a 50c piece

Damo Davis waxes up

The 7'0" Cruiser is perfect for kids with a season or two's surďŹ ng behind them.

Otherwise, the 8'0" is a better starting point.

The 7'0" Cruiser turns out to be a great allrounder. All three kids had a whale of a time on it. It's big enough to be that bit more stable and it's easier to catch waves on.

But the bonuses start before hitting the water. This year, El Nino have included leg ropes with certain models, the Cruiser being one of these. A further improvement on previous models is the ease of attaching the legrope with the simple twist of a coin (see right).

Test pilot Mali Davis Photo: Mark Chapman

Kitted up, legrope on, the kids hit the water.

Mali was first up and riding,scoring a few good rides straight to the beach, right away.

While she had fun bellyboarding on the Moke, the Cruiser was the board for her.

In fact, at 7'0 ", there's enough board there to float an adult for a bit of beachside fun.

With the Cruiser easy to paddle and catch waves on, Elliott also managed to snag a few and came up all smiles.

THE WRAP

Well-priced, strong, colourful and cheerful, El Nino really hits the nail on the head, particularly with the kids. After all, cool colours make the board go faster.

MORE INFO

www.elninosurf.com.au Big thanks to Damo, Mali, Finn and Elliott!

CHRISTMAS 2014 | SMORGASBOARDER

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WELLINGTON’S SURF CENTRAL!

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THE BEAUTIFUL GIRLS DANCEHALL DAYS MGM

Mat McHugh is back with a new release, this time as The Beautiful Girls. It’s safe to say there was a fair bit of anticipation for this release.

Plenty of hype in the lead up, partly due to a Pledgemusic campaign which reached 114% of the target funding, meant plenty of excited people.

Fans of Mat’s work across various projects know he likes to shakes things up. While his distinctive vocal style is ever present, he travels all over musically. Rather than the stripped down acoustic of Love Come Save Me, Dancehall Days has him immersed in samplers and synths, with a liberal dose of horns.

There's 39 minutes of laid back, relaxed listening here. Even the more up-tempo, housey track "Survival" can’t help but feel chilled with Mat on the mic.

Particular standouts? Track number 9 - "#1 Stylee" is a cool old-school mix of Mad Professor and Sublime-esque sounds, and the title track is a favourite.

AZOV

SOUNDWAVES & SALTWATER VEINS PARK PRODUCTIONS

Now I may be biased, seeing as the first time I encountered Azov (AKA Indra Gynell) was at home on the Sunshine Coast, and it may be because the release features the musical production talents of Recon 50% of the original Sunshine Coast surfing hip-hop duo, Evenbreak, of whom I have only good memories, but I’m a big fan of this release already after only a couple of spins.

Azov, who was featured in the last edition of Smorgasboarder, walks the line between his two passions of surfing and spitting smart lyrics. While this isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, don’t let the rap/hip-hop label box this - it’s no formulaic gangsterwannabe album.

Soundwaves & Saltwater Veins offers up 12 tracks of cleverlyphrased and well-delivered all-Aussie hip-hop, with not a fake American accent to be heard - ‘a cross between Rev. Run meets Redgum’ as Azov puts it in the track "Gold and Greenback." Dripping with self-deprecating humour, it’s

all about Aussie imagery and laid-back delivery, so if you’re after cap-in-ass-popping hardcore and angst, go park your lowrider someplace else.

"Dropsaw Symphony", "Show or Tell" and the closing track, "Numerics" are real standouts.

So, if you like rap, but you’d rather spin Hilltop Hoods than Cypress Hill (and are partial to Vegemite, Holden utes) then this will have you hanging for a party every January 26.

See Parkproductions.net to grab yourself a copy.

OUR PICK OF THE BUNCH!

MUSIC

ROADTRIP REVIEWS

BY MARK CHAPMAN

it’s not only about rolling up my chinos to expose my ankles as I wait for my half-strength decaf sustainable soy. Worship the Sun’s timewarp travels a bit more hippie than hipster.

As extremely authentic psychedelic guitar sounds flutter out of the speakers, the room almost swirls a little purple while long haired hippie-girls wearing flower tiaras wave away imaginary butterflies... But it keeps travelling.

“Better than mine” is a country number, complete with lap steel slide, while “No werewolf” is 100% instrumental surf guitar cool.

ALLAH-LAS WORSHIP THE SUN

CREATE/CONTROL | INNOVATIVE LEISURE

I think I feel my beard growing as I listen to Worship the Sun. There’s most certainly a distinct twitch on my top lip, as a pencil moustache starts sprouting...

Smack in the middle of Tarantino soundtrack and ultimate hipster retro-ness, this 14-tracker is a reverb-heavy kickback to surfy, folky oldschool California rock ’n roll.

While it’s all about invoking “beatniks, artists, surfers and nomads, remnants of a bygone Sunset Strip, golden tans and cosmic sunsets”, fortunately

For surfers, by surfers - support your local business!

Want to see yourself here? Call 0401 345 201.

YUP, THEY'RE MADE FROM FOAM AND FIBREGLASS. SEE HOW THEY ROLL AT SHADOWSKATES.COM

Despite the fact that I know someone in a fedora will twirl their ringmaster moustache to this album, commenting on the deeper social relevance of a barista’s polka-dot “We can do it!” headscarf - this album is cool. Really cool. In only a couple of listens it’s grown on me very quickly, but it’s a pretty polarising play (“This sucks.

It sounds like Status Quo!” just got shouted across the office… No, it doesn’t sound like Status Quo.) Anyway, so is it “the perfect soundtrack for the greatest surf film never made”? Not perfect, because that would undo the retro cool, but I rate it completely worth a spin. I must go brush my beard now.

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For surfers, by surfers - support your local business!

Want to see yourself here? Call 0401 345 201.

proudly stocking

THE LOGO SAYS IT ALL! • THE SURF • THE MOUNTAIN • THE OIL & ENGINEERING INDUSTRIES • STARS - SOUTHERN CROSS • BARBED WIRE - FARMLAND

Shop 2, Marina Road, Tutukaka Coast Northland, New Zealand PH 09 43 44135 EMAIL surf@tutukakasurf.co.nz Find us on FACEBOOK

WWW.TUTUKAKASURF.CO.NZ

• WINGS - FREEDOM PH +64 (06) 758 1757

BUY ONLINE WWW.TARANAKIHARDCORE.CO.NZ

Who better than to custom make your retro single fin board

DEL SURFBOARDS SINCE 1965

www.delsurf.co.nz d urf delsu u f co co PH +64 (06) 758 1757 168

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CHANGES AFOOT Of course it warmed my heart to hear that Smorgasboarder was planning to dedicate a large slice of their Christmas edition to sustainability in surfing. It’s fantastic to see that not only surfers, but a whole generation is embracing sustainability, and becoming more aware as to how we can protect and help our ocean environment.

When our business, Surfing Green, started, the options for eco-friendly surf products were few and far between.

Just eight years on, more and more people are jumping on board and embracing the alternatives or creating their own alternatives to traditional surf products, boards and accessories. We’re regularly contacted by individuals, businesses, start-ups and students creating fantastic products and wanting to get them out there. More and more retailers and shapers are jumping on board and changing, if not their whole business to encompass sustainability, then at the very least providing sustainable alternatives for their customers. These changes are being driven through awareness and individuals looking for ways to lessen their impact, whether they are the consumer or the manufacturer.

BYRON BITS BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE BYRON BAY BREWING CO.

TRY OUT ALL THE BEERS ON OFFER AT BYRON BAY BREWING CO.

TALKING BEER WITH BREWER SCOTT HARGRAVE

Summertime is fast approaching and for many people that means images of tanned bodies on the beach, long hot evenings and an icy cold, thirst-quenching beer.

Our Byron Bay Pale Lager is just the sort of beer to fit the bill.

A refreshing low carb beer, this pale lager is the perfect solution to a dry, dusty throat. With a very easy drinking nature and a slightly fruity note, courtesy of New Zealand grown Motueka hops, this beer can ease a scorched palette in moments.

This issue celebrates these people and raises awareness of some of the alternatives available. You can now become the proud owner of an Australian made surfboard, glassed with an eco-resin using a natural fibre alternative to fibreglass – with either a timber or recycled foam blank underneath, a recycled or timber fin system with the same performance as a traditional board. Wax your board with any one of the numerous eco surf waxes available out there, place a cork deck pad on top and deck yourself out in a snazzy sustainably manufactured wetsuit, rashie, boardies or bikini.

A large percentage of surf retailers now supply recycled or eco surf clothing and footwear, even down to waterproof watches made from timber. You can also carry your board around in a recycled board bag and slip, slop, slap with one of the various natural sunscreens available which are both kinder on your skin and on the environment.

Sometimes things are not what they seem. We add cane sugar to the kettle boil to make a low carb beer? Yep, cane sugar is completely fermented by brewer’s yeast diluting the amount of unfermentable sugars (or dextrins) left in the final beer. These residual sugars are the “carbs” that people talk about with regards to beer. Dextrins add mouthfeel to beer and lo carb beers have a little bit less than all malt or full carb beers.

So you can pretty much enjoy a complete ecologicallyconscious package, still perform in the surf, and wear funky beach threads. Big ups to everyone supporting these changes in our industry and let’s hope those creative juices keep on flowing.

Remember, always drink (in moderation) for enjoyment, not guilt reduction... ;)

Nicola O’Reilly is the better half of the nice folks from Surfing Green, a couple passionate about sustainable surfing products.

surfinggreen.com.au

WHAT’S ON

EVENTS AT THE BREWERY...

What does all this mean? Well, the calorific difference between full carb and low carb beers is about one jelly bean per glass.

Don’t expect low carb beers to reduce an expanding waistline. A healthy diet, regular exercise and a moderate intake of alcohol (full or low carb) are what we all need to stay trim, taunt and terrific. Now, lots of people drink Pale Lager because the easier drinking nature suits their palette and flavour expectations regardless of carb content.

FREE MEAL!

BUY ONE MEAL, GET THE SECOND FREE*

Cheers, Scotty the Brewer

1 Skinners Shoot Road, Byron Bay NSW 2481 Phone: (02) 6685 5833 Fax: (02) 6685 5519

WWW.BYRONBAYBREWERY.COM.AU

*For details, more specials and to download a voucher see the website!

CHRISTMAS 2014 | SMORGASBOARDER

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For surfers, by surfers - support your local business!

Want to see yourself here? Call 0401 345 201.

ANY CLOSER TO THE SUPERBANK, AND YOU’D BE IN THE LINE UP

Stay in Byron Bay

& enjoy direct access to the beach

Self-contained apartments across from some of the most amazing surf on the Gold Coast!

2 & 3 bedroom apartments, a two minute walk from Byron’s town centre.

190 Marine Pde, Rainbow Bay, Coolangatta WWW.COLUMBIAAPARTMENTS.COM.AU CALL 07 5599 0666

CAMP ON THE BEACH IN FRONT OF THE ICONIC LION ROCK, AT ONE OF NZ’S TOP SURF BREAKS

PIHA

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SURF CAMP PHONE: +64 9 8128 815 EMAIL: pihacamp@xtra.co.nz

RATES FROM $10 A NIGHT FOR TENT SITES

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Mick Fanning Photo: Quiksilver

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It’s not called The Observatory for nothing...

WATCH THE SUN RISE OVER COFFS HARBOUR • Spacious studio & 2-bed self-catering apartments • Private balconies • Spectacular views 30-36 Camperdown Street Coffs Harbour, NSW 2450 (Walk to the Jetty Strip eateries) P: 1300 302 776 E: info@theobservatory.com.au

WWW.THEOBSERVATORY.COM.AU

Enquiries: Cam 0408 983 702 Alicia 0432 686 751 Email: surf1770@bigpond.com

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CLOSEOUT: SOCIALS

THE MOLCH 2014 WORDS: RHONDA DOYLE AND ANGELA THOMAS PHOTOS: ANGELA THOMAS

An annual celebration of the life of Central Coast surfer Adam Hillier, the Adam Molch Hillier Memorial Surf Classic, for surfers from North Entrance To Forresters Beach, was held at Shelley Beach for the 18th year.

Adam was a wonderful surfer and enjoyed the sport with many of his mates. It’s now 19 years since Adam was killed by a hit-andrun driver while working a stop-go sign. He was only 18 at the time, and an apprentice bridge and wharf carpenter with Gosford City Council.

The weekend memorial event was enjoyed by all who attended, including family and friends. Plus they got to tuck into free BBQs, soft drink and water. As a self funded event - as in years before - competition entry covered the food, plus a beaut t-shirt, designed by Trent Brailley.

“A couple of the boys made lovely timber trophies,” said Rhonda. “And in 2001 we had a surfboard donated with Adam’s photo glassed into it, as a perpetual trophy for the Open Division winner. This year’s win was again taken by Russ Molony, Over 28’s winner was Robert Coote, while

Over-40’s was won by Matt Molony, Russ’s older brother. Under 18’s Girls was won by a newcomer Holly Gibbons, Under 16’s was taken by Brenden Wall, Under 14’s by Wade Clemens, Under 12’s by Joel Vaughan and Under 10’s winner was Hughie Vaughan, while Ladine Smith took honours in the Women’s Division.

Extra meaning has been added to the classic over the past few years with the addition of The Luke Hankey Grommet Trophy, in memory of Luke Hankey, who was stabbed to death in The Bateau Bay Hotel carpark in 2007. Luke was a grommet who came up through the ranks since the very first Molch and won the U18’s when he was only 14, he also made a couple of Open finals. The grommets trophy was won

by Nathan Cook.

Over the past years, Central Coast Kids In Need Inc has received proceeds from the raffle, which has always included a custom Rex Marachel RMS Surfboard. To date the raffles have raised around $25,500.00, which helps pay for families of critically ill children from the coast to travel and stay at Ronald McDonald Houses and Parents Hostels at Sydney and Newcastle hospitals. CCKIN assisted 238 families and outlaid $271,723.28 last financial year alone, so every cent helps. Check out our website for more - www.cckin.com.au This year however, instead of the raffle, a retro esky with this year’s Molch logo on it, donated by Safety One Workwear, was up for auction, and one of the competitors, Bill Mahony, gave $850 to CCKIN for it. Great gesture.

For more info on the event or CCKIN, please contact Rhonda Doyle. rhonda@cckin.com.au CHRISTMAS 2014 | SMORGASBOARDER

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SURF COAST LONGBOARDERS Enjoys some cracker photos taken by club member Michael Reid during the October Surfcoast Longboarders Club Comp held at Point Impossible on Victoria’s West Coast. More on the club at www.surfcoastlongboardclub.com

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For surfers, by surfers - support your local business!

Want to see yourself here? Call 0401 345 201.

Classic food with a modern twist Enjoy Coffs’ Healthy & hand-made on the premises with fresh ingredients.

Yes, this is an actual brekkie burger from The Galley...

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Sandwiches, wraps & more

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A BOUTIQUE ROASTERY WITH A PASSION FOR PRODUCING QUALITY COFFEE. want Artisti in your café?

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Byron Sunset Happy Hour!

Monday to Friday 4-6pm Half price selected Tapas (Calamari and dips) $5 select beers & house wine, $10 Margaritas

MICHAEL CUNDITH SURF DESIGNS

Telephone: 02 6685 8778 Factory Showroom: 3 Banksia Dve, Byron Bay Industrial Estate BYRON BAY NSW 2481 email: info@mcsurf.com.au

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Open every day Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Tapas till late.

Cnr Lawson & Jonson, Byron Bay

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www.balcony.com.au CHRISTMAS 2014 | SMORGASBOARDER

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For surfers, by surfers - support your local business!

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CUTS WAX LIKE BUTTER Moulded grip

Polymer casing Clean wax!

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CLOSEOUT: SOCIALS

BOARDS FIND NEW OWNERS Jay Pashley tells us all about the recent community surfboard market day held in Marcoola on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.

WORDS & PHOTOS: JAY PASHLEY

“Fine weather, small surf and the middle Sunday of the school holidays were ideal conditions for the inaugural Second Hand Surfboard Market at Marcoola. Over 150 surfboards of all sizes, configurations and conditions turned up for a consistent crew to consider, ponder, critique and buy.

“Being our first attempt at something like this, we weren’t sure who or what would turn up, but the response was fantastic with nearly 60 boards changing hands on the day. We had a number of people saying they sold theirs before they even got them on the grass.

“The day provided a great opportunity for the local Sunshine Coast surfing community to come together with a very relaxed and feelgood vibe. To top things off - thanks to the fantastic support of the local business community and the Mudjimba Boardriders Club - nearly $3,000 was raised through voluntary contributions from board sales and a monster fundraising raffle. The money was used to help send local junior boardrider Sienna Hanna to the Australian Junior Surfing Titles in WA this December (See Page 18 for more on Siena), and also put towards a new community playground and park at Marcoola.”

For more information and to put your hand up to get involved for the next one, get in touch with Jay: jay@northshorerealty.com.au or 0407 119 355 CHRISTMAS 2014 | SMORGASBOARDER

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For surfers, by surfers - support your local business!

Want to see yourself here? Call 0401 345 201.

Some things just shouldn’t get wet.

WASP Bags are completely water and sand proof. Noticed how if you y get the tiniest bit of sand or o water in your phone, iPod or o camera they are never quite the t same again? Thanks to their unique seal, WASP Bags ensure u that the things that should stay t dry, d stay dry.

Tradition, Style &Soul.

Buy online or ask your friendly surf shop...

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FUN IN THE SUN!

Noel Brady

CLOSEOUT: SOCIALS

Cale walking. Photo Noel Brady

The 14th Annual Fun in the Sun team challenge lived up to its name again this year. Hosted by Caloundra Malibu Club, the two day event was held at Ann St, Currimundi as the aroma of fresh Amore coffee filled the air, and spectators took in the action from their grassy hillside vantage point under the Pandanus trees.

With strong southerlies, a building swell and an outgoing tide, the conditions were testing for even the most experienced of competitors. A special mention goes to the junior competitors for their gutsy efforts. I think it’s fair to say that the old mal riders really had their work cut out for them. Catching a wave that linked up and ran all the way through to the beach was no easy feat. Those who were lucky enough to score one, were rewarded with an eruption of stoked hoots from the crowd.

Winners - Fiveskins, Photo: Christo

Noel Brady

First place in Division A went to The Five Skins team from Alexandra Headland Malibu Club.

Congratulations to Damien Coulter, Drew Coulter, Cale Coulter, Josh Berigen and Mick Vaisnys on a well deserved win. Division B saw the Smiling Assassins from Caloundra Malibu Club take honours.

Eion Whately, Photo: Noel Brady

The Classic Malibu Performer and Global Surf Industries SUP raffle boards were drawn at presentation. Another lucky contestant took home the Factory Surfboards’ Grugstep log winning it at auction for a great price. It was a well organised event with a great vibe which would not have been possible without the tireless work of the club’s committed members.

Thank you so much to everyone who helped out.

For more info and full results see the website caloundramalibuclub.com Jodie Brady, Caloundra Malibu Club

Kai Annetts, Photo: Noel Brady CHRISTMAS 2014 | SMORGASBOARDER

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Get out there, grab a few waves and a great break - see you all in 2015! Cheers for now...

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MALDIVES REMOTE ATOLLS

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