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ALOHA BARRY, BY CURL
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SPIRITUS
JAMES McMILLAN
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THE COVER SHOT With so much talent in one edition, how could we commit to one cover? Well, we couldn’t. To add that extra arty touch to our first mag of 2013, we’ve got four special edition covers. Which one did you get? Which one’s your favourite? Drop us a line on our Facebook page and let us know. LIMITED EDITION
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1 of 4: Curl, the artist behind Aloha Barry. Read more about him on page 82.
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2 of 4: Self portrait of earth-inspired SA artist Jason Swales. Read the story on page 62. LIMITED EDITION
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CONTRIBUTORS 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. Ideas & submissions: editorial@smorgasboarder.com.au There’s only a few of us, so if you don’t hear back right away, we’re not ignoring you, we’re just running madly or “testing equipment.” Don’t be so sensitive. Sheesh.
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3 of 4: Jordie Brown of High Tide Surfboards on putting art onto and into his craft. Page 104.
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A signed A3 size James McMillan print of his work Spiritus. For details see below left.
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4 of 4: The weird and wonderful world of Byron Bay’s James McMillan. See page 48.
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smorgasboarder is published by Huge C Media Pty Ltd ABN 30944673055. All information is correct at time of going to press. The publishers cannot accept responsibility for errors in articles or advertisements, or unsolicited manuscripts, photographs or illustrations. The opinions and words of the authors do not necessarily represent those of the publisher. All rights reserved. Reproduction in part or whole is strictly prohibited without prior permission.
We print with Pep Central and Craft Inprint Group, an environmentally aware and committed printer whose business is founded upon the principles of minimising waste and maximising recycling. Nice work.
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PHOTO | MICK BURNSIDE
7/01/13 8:42 AM
Surf inspires art in its many forms. Photo: Stork - see page 14 for more Power Base Fins & Boxes - Completely Integrated
WHY THIS EDITION SUCKS The crossover between art and the surfing lifestyle is by no means a new development. Ever since the earliest days, creative people and artists of all kinds - musicians, painters, sculptors, writers, photographers, you name it – have all been drawn to the magical, mystical place that is out there in the waves. Perhaps it’s because there’s something innately creative about how you ride a wave? Perhaps it’s because you can relive your happy surfing times through a paintbrush or plectrum? Perhaps it’s because creatives tend to love dayjob-dodging and so position themselves more favourably to take advantage of all the ocean has to offer? Whatever the reason, the two will forever be intertwined as part of the greater culture of surfing. With that in mind, we’ve chosen not only to dedicate this edition to artists from a variety of fields, areas, and disciplines, we’ve also done something ever so special in recognition of this amazing artistic diversity: four very different collectable covers for this one edition!
So why does this edition suck then? Despite being jam-packed with so much talent it’s near bursting its glossy little pages, there’s still so much we COULDN’T cover in one edition, and still so many talented people we just simply couldn’t fit in. This only scratches the surface of this massive part of our culture – so on the bright side, of course this means there will be far more to come in future editions. But hopefully what we’ve served up here is an introduction for some and a reminder for others, inspiring you to look up some local surf artists in your area, buy some artwork for your home, visit an exhibition or even pick up a paintbrush yourself. We hope you enjoy this edition as much as we have enjoyed putting it together. Have a fantastic 2013 and may there be waves for all of us! PS: Congratulations on surviving the 2012 Mayan Apocalypse. Cheers!
ers
sboard
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MORE POWER MORE CONTROL
OWEN WRIGHT
Chooses DXL CERAMIC C4 with Power Base Boxes
www.powerbasefins.com.au 02 4323 4818 Jan2013_Smorgas_intro.indd 9
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MOULDED EVA SIDE WALLS
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
14 34 38
14 DELIVERIES South Coast gold and more with photographer ‘Stork’ Thompson
96
AERIAL EXPOSURE
Joel Coleman finds a way to experience the inaccessible
THE STORK DELIVERS See the South Coast as canvas and exhibition space
SAVE OUR SEAS
Surfer and activist Dave Rastovich paddles for popotos
NOOSA HEADS
Pointbreak paradise the crowning glory of surfing in the north
42
ART: JAE COPP
48
ART: JIMMY MAC
62
Bill Tolhurst
Meet the artist behind the Bleach Festival exhibition space
Take a trip through James McMillan’s private world
ART: EARTH INSPIRED
Three artists that take true inspiration from Mother Nature
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ART: BEHIND BARRY
96
FIORDLAND FLIGHT
Cartoon creator Curl spills the beers on Aloha Barry
Joel Coleman discovers an amazing part of New Zealand
THE TIDE IS HIGH 104 Victorian shaper
Jordie Brown shares the art of his craft
DREAMS 142 ELECTRIC The Fiik family tell
142 ELECTRIC AVENUE
Meet the boys behind the electric skateboard revolution
their electrifying tale of skateboarding
THE USUAL BITS THE LATEST
12 Reader Photos 26 Letters 28 News and community
GEAR 104 112 128 139
Shaper profile Board profiles Surfboard tests Skate: Art
CLOSEOUT
154 Columns 156 Relax 162 Aloha Barry
CTX Quad - 5’10, 6’0, 6’2, 6’6 & 6’10
SURFTECH AUSTRALIA
www.surftechaustralia.com.au 02 4226 1322
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READERS’ PICS
Som surfing b e serious y (12) as s Lachie Brearly n Anthony apped by dad , .C of the n ongrats! A pa ir e floathin w Grom mod el gs Optics w unnies from Ba rz ill be on the way !
SEND YOUR PICS! letters@smorgasboarder.com.au 12
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8/01/13 12:03 AM
s These few photo k on her too an rol Ca n isi Ro s were too GoPro at Watego ! Thanks ow sh to cool not floating Roisin - a pair of Optics sunnies from Barz y! wa the on be ll wi
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South Coast magic with Whippy Dennis. Photo: Stork 14
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LATEST: PHOTOGRAPHER
THE STORK
DELIVERS WORDS: MARK CHAPMAN PHOTOS: STORK
Mark “Stork” Thompson went from a surf-mad kid from South Western Sydney to an accomplished, published surf photographer with a growing reputation - for not only his quality of work, but also as a generally down-to-earth bloke with a big heart. Along with his photography, that big heart was also recently on display, where he used the opportunity of an exhibition at Merry Street Restaurant in Kioloa to help do some fundraising for Cancer research (see last edition of smorgasboarder, page 189). Here’s a quick look into his world and work.
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“THE EXHIBITION WAS MY FIRST AND I TRIED CREATING A DISPLAY THAT WOULD APPEAL TO A BROAD AUDIENCE.” Stork on his recent exhibition in Kioloa
In a strange twist of fate, an ear injury that kept him out of the water gave Stork the time and opportunity to find photography. Surfing a wedgy wave near his Sydney home, he slapped the side of his head against the water and ruptured an eardrum. On doctor’s orders, Stork had a CAT Scan to get the all-clear on any potential inner ear problems, but unfortunately what it picked up was a cholesteatoma – a tumor growing in his middle ear. 16
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While it was successfully removed, the result left Stork deaf in his left ear, but it wasn’t all bad news, as he explains: “With 12 months out of the water and time to kill, I picked up my dad’s camera to keep busy, and the rest is history.” That history is steadily being written in his growing body of work, of which the more recent pieces seem to be a very art-focused - such as at his recent Merry Street exhibition
– featuring more empty waves than people. We asked Stork if was that a new direction he was pursuing. “I still consider myself pretty fresh and new to photography. I haven’t tried to restrict myself to a particular niche. The exhibition was my first and I tried creating a display that would appeal to a broad audience. I find the shapes that are created when water and air are combined are really interesting so I went down that direction to please a larger audience.”
So what makes a pleasing, standout photo for a photographer then? “Disregarding lighting, because the right lighting conditions can make anything look amazing - the photos that appeal to me most are those captured with a fisheye lens from a position within a wave that makes you need to look twice to think, ‘How on Earth did that person get into that position to shoot that image?’
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I haven’t personally appreciated any of my images on that level, but guys who have nailed it for me are Russell Ord at The Right and Daniel Russo at Chopes.” Stork has steadily racked up a fair count of published pics. While the internet has made it so much easier for people to get work out there, we were curious if it’s still a buzz for Stork to see his work in physical print. “Hmmm… Physical print is always, and will always be, of higher credit to a photographer than work published on the internet. What’s shown on the internet is
there today, and forgotten tomorrow in a sense. “There’s so much content out there now that it’s hard to chase waves and financially come out on top after your shots have been published. So, the appreciation for me isn’t in the financial side – it’s through the general public appreciating my work. It’s that it’s seen through print or online. There’s no difference to me.” The South Coast is very special to Stork. Not only a great canvas for his work, it’s the two-part combo of amazing waves and jan/feb 2013
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“We’ve Worked on improving each other’s craft through constructive criticism. it’s a good relationship.” Stork on working with South Coast surfer Whippy Dennis (left).
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LATEST: PHOTOGRAPHER
“THINK OF A REMOTE TROPICAL ISLAND - WHITE SAND, PALM TREES, ALL SURROUNDED BY COLOURFUL REEF AND WORLD CLASS SURF BREAKS...” Stork on Namotu Island, Fiji (above)
equally amazing people that draws him south from his Sydney home. “The waves are incredible with so much variety, ranging from fat, long, mal point breaks, to short, rampy skatepark waves, to heaving, tow slabs. The people have such a relaxed vibe - always friendly and happy. Without my friends down there I would never have achieved as much as I have now.” “I was more inclined to shoot the boogers when I first started shooting, but it’s a tight crew down on the South Coast between both stand ups and boogers, so everyone seems to blend in together. From there, my interests just expanded towards stand ups and I met Whippy (surfer Scott Dennis). “We’ve grown our photographer-surfer relationship over the last year or two. We’ve worked on improving each other’s craft through constructive criticism. It’s a good relationship.” Not all the relationships have been that constructive though, as we found out when we asked about what hairy situations Stork has faced as a surf photographer.
Stork takes a break
“Down in South Oz we had stumbled across a rather paranoid local who didn’t mind regulating he’s local,” he explains. “I set up to shoot my mates from above the headland while another car had rocked up jan/feb 2013
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“I HAVE NO IDEA WHERE MY FUTURE IN PHOTOGRAPHY LIES. I’M NOT ONE TO FORCE THINGS.” to shoot the same spot. Old mate rocks up not long after and starts abusing these other guys for exposing his spot. Once I saw the axe come out of his car ready to clock the guys in the head, human centipede style, I thought ‘Sh*t, I’m next!’ I’d stashed my camera away under a rock.
GREAT WAX ON, GREAT WAX OFF
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out” “is what surfing is all ab www.goodtime.com.au
“The other guys luckily escaped the lunatic, but he then approached me. With my heart thumping hard and fast - he didn’t see my Pelican case luckily - but with nowhere to run but off the edge of the headland, I didn’t like my chances. To make matters worse, we’d locked our keys in the car that day and I had to leave my camera in that spot till we were finally able to leave.”
“A mate of mine, Jeremy Wilmotte from www.oceanpixels.com.au has been a massive help and big influence of mine since the beginning. He referred me onto the gig and introduced me to the owners. “The job is basically, shooting surf photos of the guests that come and stay on the island. My job is to capture their holiday. It’s a lot of fun! Scotty and Mandy do an amazing job with running the island as well.” With such a positive present, the future can only be good for Stork, and he’s just enjoying the ride and going with the flow.
But fortunately, shooting surfing has mostly been a bit more pleasant for Stork, being an excuse for travel to most states in Australia NSW, WA, SA, Victoria, and Tassie, and to fill his passport with stamps from Hawaii, Tahiti, the Philippines, Indonesia, Fiji, the Cook Islands and New Zealand.
“I have no idea where my future in photography lies. I’m not one to force things. I’d rather take an opportunity as it arises. It’s the law of attraction, in a sense... Without sounding like a hippy, I’ll seek it out subliminally. Though maybe I’m saying this because I’m in the thick of a stint of work, and I’m in denial that I can’t go on a trip any time soon! (laughs)
“Whats on the list to come? ...Not quite sure,” he says.
“Once I have some money behind me I’ll get something organised!”
“I’m a terrible planner. I’d like to do a quick stint back on the North Shore and then to the West Coast of America. I need to get away from the Pacific! It’s just too good to beat though... (laughs)”
For more of Stork’s work, see his website storkphotos.com.au.
And too good it is - especially his most recent Pacific gig as a resort photographer in Fiji. “Well, think of a remote tropical island white sand, palm trees, all surrounded by colourful reef and world class surf breaks, and you have Namotu Island, Fiji! It’s heaven on earth! Google it! I dare you…
jan/feb 2013
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All photos: Jacob Lambert
1
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Thanks Simon. SAD indeed... Agro is dumb. People who spread agro by doing things like printing up stickers are even dumber. A little bit like keyboard warriors that talk tough on internet forums. Seriously folks, we survived a f*&%ng apocalypse already. SUPers can be knobs just like surfers can be knobs - it’s not the board, it’s the rider. So, how about we all show a little respect and let’s just all get along in 2013?
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“Hey Guys. Love your magazine and your support of our unique surf community. I live in Brisbane, which is about an hour from the coast and serve in the Australian Army. We are lucky enough that each Service of the Australian Defence Force has recognised and supported surfing as a sport and allows us to attend surf meets - an annual development camp and compete against each other once a year. The Army Surf Riders Association (ASRA) and our local dedicated chapter work hard serving Australia and surf hard on weekends and during their leave. “Ultimately serving in the Army doesn’t suit the surfers dream of living on the coast and surfing every day, but it makes us keener, and reading your magazine only inspires our passion and encourages us to take more surf trips, find surf training aids and remember that surfing is about waves, the feeling of harnessing the energy of the ocean and the people you share them with. “Some articles I would like to see in your magazine could feature some of our unique boardrider’s clubs, surf nutrition and surfer-friendly foods, and stretching commonly overused muscles from surfing. “Once again thank you for giving me and the team a magazine that supports the surf community instead of the major companies that try to drive it. Keep up the good work.” Rob White, Brisbane, QLD No mate... Thank YOU for not only your support of the mag and surfing in general, but for everything you boys do for us and the country. Cheers! Boardriders Clubs... Got good stories? Get in touch!
jan/feb 2013
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Peru adventuring is just around the corner for little Layla. Congratulations!
Oscar and Belinda Corzano from Peru Aventura, the specialists in South American surf expeditions, welcomed their beautiful daughter Layla Khuyana on November the 5th. Oscar says, “Since Layla was born, my life has changed in so many ways.” Oh yes our dear friend Oscar, just you wait, it’s only the beginning of a great adventure...
NEW BLOOD FOR THE FACTORY SURFBOARDS Long-time legend Paul Carson has handed the reins of The Factory Surfboards in Allen Street, Caloundra to young gun Matt Williams - former apprentice to top shaper Tom Wegener - but Paul’s not disappearing altogether just yet. “After working for Tom for six years, learning the ins and outs of surfboard design, The Factory Surfboards was a perfect blank canvas to start my own career,” Matt explains. “Having Paul in as my mentor in shaping and glassing is a massive help. Paul has been doing surfboards for 35 years, and together we’ll be making quality, high-performance sticks that work!”
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JAYSCHMITZERPHOTO
SHELLHARBOUR SURF & SKATE PROVIDING SMILE GENERATING EQUIPMENT.
ABOVE: Ken, circa 1960, at BogangarLEFT: On the belt team of Kirra SLSC
LEGENDARY WATERMAN A SAD LOSS FOR THE SURFING COMMUNITY - KEN WILES R.I.P.
“ALL SURFERS SEARCH FOR SHELTER”
An iconic clubbie, surfer, swim/surf coach and entrepreneur, Ken Wiles passed away just prior to Christmas at the age of seventy-five after a long battle with cancer. Ken established Queensland’s first ever surf shop in George Street Brisbane called The Surf Shop. It was the first of its kind. Prior to this, ‘surf shops’ were surfboard factories with a counter out the front selling t-shirts and wax. When he later sold the shop he ran a successful surf camp in the Philippines for many years. It is his heroics in surf lifesaving and in training future champions of the surf and pool however that he will be most remembered for. Ken joined the Kirra Surf Life Saving Club in 1956 and immediately built a reputation as an incredibly strong competitor after winning a series of state and national titles. As a belt swimmer he won the Australian title in 1959 and became captain of the club the next year. He also captained the Queensland Surf Lifesaving team on six occasions. In 1965 Ken moved backed to Sydney and took over the San Souci swimming pool at Cronulla where he trained three-time Olympic gold medalist Shane Gould when she was a child. Moscow Olympics gold medalist Michelle Ford also trained in his squad along with future Australian Water Polo captain Andy Kerr. Ken himself was captain of Queensland’s first ever water polo team many years earlier. In surf lifesaving, he trained surf legends Peter Tibbets and Graham Elliot. Whilst I do not believe I had the personal pleasure of meeting Ken, I did get to know his brother Gus (Robert) Wiles very well and he is one of the nicest men I have ever met. If this is any measure of the man that Ken was, I can certainly understand the huge loss felt by his brother and his many mates. Rest in peace. Dave Swan
GOT NEWS?
Send it in. Upcoming events, charity happenings, interesting stories, email to: editorial@smorgasboarder.com.au
SHELLHARBOUR SURF & SKATE Addison Street, Shellharbour Village NSW PHONE: 02 4295 3373
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370 Harbour Drive Coffs Harbour Jetty NSW 2450 P: 02 6651 4500 E: info@watersurfartcafe.com www.watersurfartcafe.com
GIVE, AND YE SHALL RECEIVE! THE VERY HAPPY WINNER OF THE SMORGASBOARDER SUBSCRIBER COMPETITION 5-BOARD QUIVER There is saying that goes along the lines of ‘No good deed goes unrewarded.’ So it was great to hear the man who won our smorgasboarder subscriber competition hadn’t in fact subscribed for himself but for two couples he had met on a recent surf trip to Damai Bungalows in South West Sumatra. As the story goes, Jon Frappell, from Burringbar in NSW, and his good mate Dan Flynn headed to this surfer’s paradise and had planned an epic couple of weeks surfing to their heart’s content. It didn’t turn out the way they planned. I will leave it to Dan to explain what happened next: “We heard about this place but it was way better than we imagined. The way they have set up the camp is just so impressive. The bungalows are nice and clean, it accommodates only twelve guests and they even have five cooks and a beautiful kiosk to cater for your every need. There is a pool table and the break is right out front. Anyhow the waves are unbelievable. Fun to serious, often head-high and they just run forever. “I am not a big-wave guy by any stretch, but you know how it is when you first get there - you are all amped. We were thinking, ‘Yeah it looks alright. We can handle this.’ Most waves were head-high to double overhead. Every twenty minutes or so however, these sets just came from out of nowhere and were massive.
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“A couple of waves in and I was on the biggest wave I have ever caught in my life. I was 100% focused on making the drop and ensuring I wasn’t going to die. I paddled in and I hear this ‘Flynny, Flynny!!’ I couldn’t see anything and thought, ‘Oh, Fraps is calling me on.’ I have just about made the drop and am flying through the air and my board stops dead. I didn’t know what happened. I looked around, checked my board out. All my fins were gone and my plugs had been shifted back in my board.” Dan’s fins had come into contact with Jon’s leg. Thankfully no stitches were required but it left one massive crease in Jon’s leg that saw it blow up to twice the size within a day and looked like he was suffering from a severe form of Elephantitis. Jon picks up the story: “We were introduced to some couples who were originally from Newcastle - Luke and his wife Nerida, and John and his wife Bridgette… Just lovely people. I was just sitting on the step the next day and they asked me what had happened and then they saw my leg. Without so much as a further word, they went straight back to their rooms and got their first aid kit, peroxide, cotton buds, you name it and tended to my wound. They gave me close to the remainder of their medical supplies, even though they needed it for themselves. Bridgette even gave me some stretches to perform because she knows yoga. They were just great people who made it such a good holiday.
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HAPPY WINNER!
RILEY
JON FRAPPELL
MARLIN
MT WOODGEE BULLET
FACTORY LONGBOARD
SMOOTHSTAR FLYING FISH
More Smoothstar, P141
“Anyhow, when I came back home I decided to subscribe to smorgasboarder for them. And bloody hell, I win this amazing prize from you guys.” And if this story wasn’t proof enough as to how good a bloke Jon and his mate Dan are, listen to this. Each trip they take something for the locals, whether it be the local ding repairer (a sound idea to get in good with the guy you will be supplying plenty of business to) or a young grom. “On our last trip to Damai we took over some gear and a board for a really nice young bloke called Rendi. But he only got it on the condition he learnt the alphabet. His mother worked as a cook there. We wrote out each letter of the alphabet with a corresponding word. Ayu, his mum, wrote out the words in Indonesian and he nailed it in two days.” Beautiful stuff, and if this wasn’t enough they have great taste in boards too! I asked the boys what boards they ride. Dan replied first:
“MC (Michael Cundith). He is the man. Jonny put me onto him. I didn’t know him from Adam. I ended up speaking to him for half an hour and he said to me, ‘Danny, I could talk to you all day about this, but it’s not going to mean sh*t. Pick one of these boards, there are waves over at Tallows.’ I picked up a King Fish, at that stage I was riding a mal, and we surfed some cracking waves. I went back into the shop and said I want one of these, the exact same one. I ended up buying four boards off MC in 18 months. Every one has been a winner. He is the shaper. As for Jon, ‘I am a McCoy man. After reading your article in smorgasboarder I was hooked. To which Dan adds, “McCoy owes Jon so much. He was telling us all, ‘read this article, read this article’. Five boards later. Jon and Wayne went down, Wayne got a custom and Jon got one off the rack. I went down and got one. Then they went and got two more customs. That was all directly from that article.”
More Fiik, P142
FIIK
BIG DADDY
When I left Jon’s house I couldn’t help think to myself, ‘I couldn’t be happier with who won this prize... The lucky b*stard.’ ENJOY THE BOARDS JON!
THANK YOU Not only to all you awesome subscribers, but also to the five great businesses that put up the fantastic prizes: The Factory Surfboards (Caloundra), Mt Woodgee Surfboards (Currumbin), Riley Balsawood Surfboards (Miranda), Fiik Electric Skateboards and Smoothstar Skateboards!
BECOME A SUBSCRIBER! You might not have five new boards, but you can still have smorgasboarder home delivered, every two months for a year at only $21. Don’t miss out, sign up at www.smorgasboarder.com.au jan/feb 2013
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GET YOUR SUN FIX Most of us have heard of solar cured resin for dings. For fibrglass boards that is, not epoxy. Ocean & Earth now have a UV Epoxy Resin that comes complete with an applicator and sandpaper. RRP $14.95 www.oceanearth.comau
STRAP ON... Sunnies. Nifty little glasses for around the traps or out in the surf. Comfy fit with a strap so they don’t fall off. RRP $48.95 www.thesurfguru.com.au
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I VON A T-SHIRT You too can be cool in retro and hot-rod inspired t-shirts from Akymbo/Von Nagler. See the interview with Kym Nagler on page 92 for more on his art and shirts. 32
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PADDLING FOR THE POPOTO Surfer and environmental activist Dave Rastovich is well known for his high-profile work with Surfers for Cetaceans, fighting the fight for the welfare of marine mammals everywhere. One such fight is for the Maui’s Dolphin in NZ. Anna and Niall of PiwiWiwi Campervans in Raglan tell us about how he is raising awareness to help oppose seabed mining in the area. Over to them... Since arriving in Raglan a little over a year ago we’ve realised that the New Zealand coast and the marine wildlife beyond are facing multiple threats. We live by the ocean, we play in the ocean and we feel a responsibility to protect it too. But how? Like everyone else, we’re busy people. Running PiwiWiwi Campervan Rentals and keeping up with the daily grind, we don’t have much spare time and we certainly don’t have spare money to throw at threats to our environment. One of these threats is seabed mining. The famous black sand of New Zealand’s West Coast is about 20% iron. Much of the coast has been opened up to international companies wanting
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to extract this mineral. Doesn’t sound too bad – an invisible mine somewhere out at sea - why should we care? The thing is, seabed mining could devastate our unique marine ecosystems, alter our world-renowned surf breaks and completely wipe out species such as the Maui’s dolphin. When we heard about the proposed seabed mining on our doorstep we were understandably appalled. We joined local action group Kiwis Against Seabed Mining (KASM), we wrote emails, signed petitions but felt we should do more. Then one day Phil McCabe, chairman of KASM, came to us with an offer we couldn’t refuse…
Dave ‘Rasta’ Rastovich, surfer and environmental activist, was coming to New Zealand to paddle a 350 km stretch of the North Island’s west coast. Dave is a founding member of the global marine mammal advocacy organisation Surfers for Cetaceans (S4C) who have helped highlight the plight of marine mammals in films such as ‘The Cove’ and ‘Minds in the Water’. Despite growing up on the Gold Coast, he’s actually a Kiwi and wanted to highlight the plight of another New Zealand native, the Maui’s dolphin (or Popoto). This is the world’s smallest known dolphin species, and with only 55 adults left, is currently classed as Critically Endangered. It lives
only on the West Coast of New Zealand’s North Island and its entire habitat is in the proposed mining area. The aim of Rasta’s paddle was to bring awareness to the devastating impact that seabed mining would have on this beautiful species and to connect with both locals and the international press along the way. He expected his trip to take two weeks and he needed a place to stay as well as transport for his ‘entourage’. Phil asked if we would be willing to provide these guys with a couple of our campervans as their wheels and home? Of course we would! Finally, a way we could help. Ahead of Rasta’s trip Phil, his partner Bernadette and their
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LATEST: COMMUNITY LEFT: Rasta past a big set, leaving Port Waikato for Whatipu. Photo: Hilton Dawe S4C TOP: KASM silent protest. ABOVE: Niall of PiwiWiwi (left) with Rasta. BELOW: Rasta and some Maui’s Dolphin from his board-mounted GoPro camera. LEFT: Rasta and his craft of choice for the trip. Photo: Hilton Dawe S4C
“THE DOLPHINS WERE SWIMMING WITH ME THE WHOLE WAY.” Rasta tells of friends in wild seas near Auckland
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Rasta and protestors. Photo: Hilton Dawe S4C
daughter Sequoia (11) had completed a week-long walk along Taranaki’s coast from Opunake to Whanganui, talking to locals in surf clubs, schools, councils and public meetings to spread the message. Despite a fantastic response, they wanted to bring the story to a bigger audience and were looking forward to Rasta arriving in town. When the S4C gang hit Raglan we had two PiwiWiwi Surf Campervans ready for them, complete with Maui’s dolphins swimming across the doors. They were stoked. They loaded up and motored down to Cape Taranaki where the daunting paddle was to begin. Rasta’s craft of choice was an impressive 17ft paddleboard, similar to the board he had used for the grueling Molokai to Oahu paddle in Hawai 12 years earlier, and well suited to the rough conditions that he would encounter. Rasta launched from “Te Mapua”, a waka (canoe) channel between the rocks that has been used as a departure and arrival point for generations of Maori accessing the sea. Local land custodian, Tihi Kura Hohaia, blessed the journey via traditional Maori prayer. A week later, and bringing stories of wild seas an interested Rasta arrived in Raglan at the halfway point of his epic journey. He was met by a flotilla of over 100 supporters on craft of all types – surfboards, SUPs, kayaks, even a dinghy that had been a garden ornament for the past few years – and escorted into the harbour. A family event at the beach was followed by an evening gig at the wharf which was packed to the rafters, raising some much needed funds for KASM’s work. Leaving Raglan, Rasta’s next safe harbour was Port Waikato, a huge 46km away. He was grateful for the company of Bernadette in her kayak over this journey which was only one mile less than the Molokai to Oahu paddle. Seven hours later, they reached the Port tired but safe. 36
As Dave approached Auckland and neared the end of his expedition, the seas grew wild and the currents treacherous. It was here that the animal that he’s trying to save came to swim with him. Rasta said, “I had big top-to-bottom waves exploding around me, but somehow managed to avoid being taken out. The dolphins were swimming with me the whole way. Then, when I got close to the harbour entrance, they just disappeared. It was as if they were guiding me through.” Later Rasta said it was one of the best days of his life. Piha beach was the scene for the expedition’s completion. As with Raglan, there was a huge turnout for a tiny town. Over 300 people and several camera crews were waiting for Rasta to round the headland and finish his mammoth effort. The surf was big and messy and Rasta’s 17 foot board would surely be a liability. Somehow he managed to get in without tumbling, even surfing a couple of waves along the way - legend! Visibly overcome with emotion at the achievement, Rasta took a minute to compose himself before swapping the solitude of the ocean for the circus of cameras and interviews. TV3 even bumped US President Obama down to 2nd behind the story that afternoon. Another family day and another packed evening gig were a fitting end to an awesome effort. So have we made a difference? Did we do enough? Yes and no. Many more people know about the issues now, but nothing has been decided yet. Why should you care? As Rasta puts it: “People the world over come to experience the raw, untouched waters of New Zealand and celebrate a space not yet disturbed by industrial humanity. Yet, if widespread seabed mining reaches the coastal waters of this country, the allure of visiting a once pristine place will disappear.” Educate yourself, have your say and find out what you can do at kasm.org.nz.
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Noosa is a firm favourite of Victorian surfboard maker Jordie Brown. Read more about him and his work on page 104. Photo: Scotty Wintle
NOOSA… DO YOU REALLY NEED AN EXCUSE TO VISIT?
To anyone who has been to Noosa, its appeal is straightforward: it is one of the most beautiful seaside towns in Australia. Any visitor who comes to our shores will more than likely be aware of its magnetism. So if you haven’t been you quite simply have to. It‘s majestic and the waves are near perfect. Nearly everyone has heard someone reference a magic break as ‘it is just like Noosa’, and if you needed any more reason to visit, the annual Noosa Festival of Surfing is on again this coming March from Sunday the 10th to Saturday the 16th. More than just a surf comp with a range of amateur, specialty and team surfing events, the Noosa Festival is a chance to immerse yourself in surf culture from the past right through to the future from music to film, art and photography.
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EVENTS THIS YEAR INCLUDE: LIKE A CUP OF TEA WITH GOD The rich surfing history of Noosa and the Sunshine Coast, presented in words, music, movies, photographs and art. STAND-ALONE SUP MINI FESTIVAL A two-day Stand Up Paddle extravaganza to kick off the festival, with surf events, ocean racing, expo and beach entertainment. NORTH SHORE JEEP SURFARI Disadvantaged and disabled kids join the world champions for the surfing adventure of a lifetime.
Every competitor entry is worth one ticket in the World Surfaris draw, plus competitors can earn more chances by filling in the competitor survey. To enter and for full competition details visit www.noosafestivalofsurfing.com If you are looking for a great place to stay during the festival look no further than page 40 of this edition or visit the website www.visitnoosa.com.au. There are also other options and plenty greak breaks, such as half an hour down the road at Coolum.
DOG SURFING SPECTACULAR Hotdoggin’... literally. Finally, if you are considering entering an event, you have no better motivation than World Surfaris’ sensational prize draw - an Ocean Divine luxury Maldives boat charter trip for two, flying Singapore Airlines valued at $9,350.
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Main image by Keith Hamlyn Š fotosinnoosa.com
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THE ART OF SURFING
THE LONG
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NGESTWAVE WAVE When surf arts and culture festival Bleach* hits the Gold Coast this February and March, Jae Copp’s work will be front and centre. We find out more. WORDS: CAROLYN EMGE PHOTOS: JOHN GASS
Hunched over an artwork in progress at his hideaway in the hills deep in the Tweed Valley, Jae Copp works intently on his installation for Bleach* Festival - a surfinspired arts and music festival that takes place in the lead up to the Quiksilver and Roxy Pro world tour events in February and March.
Surrounded by solitude, Jae’s studio may only be twenty minutes from downtown Coolangatta but it’s a complete world away. While his studio may be physically removed from the ocean muse inspiring him, throughout his work Jae’s intuitive lines and subtle use of colours suggest a connection with nature that spans a divide greater than geography. It’s not traditional surf artwork as such, rather artwork inspired by the love of nature that surfing engenders. Originally from Sydney, Jae spent his formative years enjoying the holy trinity of surfing, skating and snowboarding. Drawn to artwork and graphics inspired by skate and graffiti culture, he started dabbling in art, and dreamed of landing a gig designing graphics for skate decks. He tried to get a day job signwriting but instead found himself doing manual labour to earn a crust. Feeling like he’d hit a dead end, Jae spent time overseas before heading to the Gold Coast twelve years ago in search of a “better life and healthier lifestyle.” The area’s warm water and consistent surf spots like D’Bah obviously agreed with Jae. He settled into the easy-living lifestyle of Rainbow Bay, studied graphic design and scored a gig designing for skate label Soup Kitchen. For five years he learnt the ropes designing graphics for clothing and skateboards. When Wooden Toy magazine got wind of Jae’s work, and his illustrations were published in the mag, things started happening. Jae started participating in group shows, mainly in Melbourne and his work started popping up everywhere, with Jae’s illustrations gracing products by the likes of Element, Red Bull and Darcy Surfboards. For years since the Wooden Toy burst of fame, Jae has just kept plugging away on his
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Photo: John Gass
artwork He’s beyond cruisy about his career, and was never really comfortable with pigeonholing his art as purely skate. When forced to describe his work, Jae calls it “contemporary folk,” although he doesn’t believe in categorising art in relation to certain niche audiences or genres. “I don’t think it’s up to me to say who is going to take on my work. Personally, I’d like to see my work appreciated everywhere, but I wouldn’t just want it to be mainstream. It’s not up to me who my work appeals to, and I’m not trying to cater to a niche. I’m sure it will find a niche eventually again though – it’s gone from skate culture sort of thing to going into something else, but I don’t know what it’s going to be. I just hope my work is constantly evolving.” He no longer regularly jets down to Melbourne for art shows, but Jae doesn’t feel artistically isolated, drawing on his own imagination for inspiration. “Even when I go down to Melbourne and hang with friends down there, I can’t work in that environment. I can collaborate, but I can’t just sit down and draw with friends. It takes too long to come up with an outline.” Jae works predominantly with timber and paper, and also incorporates hand stitching into his works of fanciful illustration. The installation Jae is working on for Bleach* will be housed at a makeshift arts and theatre precinct on the beachfront in Queen Elizabeth Park just before you head around the point from Coolangatta to Kirra. The area will also host outdoor movie nights, 44
live music, and workshops. While other Bleach* events like big rock concerts on the beach will occur across a wave along the coastline, this one static area of the festival also will house commissioned contributions by surf-inspired artists like Narani Henson, Claudio Kirac, Nick Chalmers, and Nick Lawrence. The theme? The Longest Wave - a loose concept based on Damon Harvey’s recordbreaking four minute ride the length of the Super Bank, from Snapper to North Kirra. While the feat happened back in 2002, the festival plucked the story from dusty archives of surfing folklore and turned it into an overriding theme to celebrate the rich surfing history of the area, inspiring not only artworks but also a community photo exhibition featuring historical shots as well as images from top lensmen like Ted Grambeau, plus a series of guided walks hosted by surf author Tim Baker. Heading into the festival, some of the other main contributors to the Longest Wave exhibition’s art component were still tossing up ideas on how to tackle their installations, but Jae was busy creating. Two months out from Bleach* he wasn’t sure how his work would finally come together, but had nailed the overriding way he’d interpret The Longest Wave into art form. “Without giving too much away, it’s very story orientated, but with no direct message – rather subliminal messages. I’m illustrating marine life, and putting them in ‘odd’ situations,
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“I DON’T THINK IT’S UP TO ME TO SAY WHO IS GOING TO TAKE ON MY WORK.”
almost like a celebration of the weird and wonderful aspects of nature, but also incorporating a dark reminder of looking after the environment as it will not be here for everyone to enjoy if it is not.” Rising early each day to get the project finished, Jae points out while his artwork is priority, his daily routine is not dictated by his art. Any given day, he’s as likely to get sidetracked building an outdoor pizza oven or gardening away in his leafy retreat as he is to do any actual artwork. But when the mood strikes him, he’s back bending wood into circular frames to house his marine visions, and admits he’s looking forward to seeing the finished results at Bleach*.
“I’m working on individual pieces right now, so just to put the whole thing together... I can’t wait. As far as enjoying Bleach* – it’s the kind of outdoor living we should be enjoying more of. We have the environment to enjoy here, but we’re a bit too focused on indoors. There should be more outdoor things like it all year ‘round. Even if we just had beer gardens again – where have they gone? They’re the little changes. If we keep taking out nature and these other little pockets of goodness from our lifestyle, we won’t have anything left to enjoy,” Copp said, unfazed that saving the environment doesn’t often extend to protecting gardens of the beer variety. In Jae’s captivating world of fantastic creatures, where jellyfish glide in wooden-guilded seas of breathtakingly intricate beauty, there’s also an element of wry humour – and more than enough room for a beer garden or three. Catch Jae’s work At Bleach* 2013 Bleach* Festival will kickstart with a Pre-Bleach* Weekend teaser on the 15-17 February, then run from February 22- March 3 at venues across the Gold Coast. For a full schedule of events and more info, see www.bleachfestival.com.au
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FINDING FREEDOM Byron Bay’s James “Jimmy” McMillan has been a surf competitor, an author, moviemaker, photographer, graphic designer and co-organiser of the Byron Bay Festival of Surfing. How we were introduced to him initially though, was through his work as a visual artist. And that work was something we just had to share with smorgasboarder readers. Jimmy graciously shares more than just his work, giving us some very personal insight into his life and artwork. INTERVIEW: MARK CHAPMAN IMAGES: JAMES McMILLAN SURF PHOTOS: KUNI TAKANAMI
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With such a long list of activities under his belt, we were curious as to what Jimmy’s main priority is these days? “Family has always been very important to me, so that’s a daily focus. Outside of that my main creative focus is painting, along with the occasional combination of words either in the painting, or somewhere else random. Ideas haunt me all day long. Or maybe they hunt me all day long… either way, I entertain them and go off on little mind trips, and if the idea seems good enough I’ll pen it down. “When I was younger, in my early 20’s, I used to go into my garage and build these huge canvases and then paint strange surreal things onto them. I thought I was a real weirdo, so I’d hide my paintings from the world and only let my direct family see them. It took me a lot of years to accept that I was an artist. When I did that it brought freedom. I’m proud of what I am and what I do, but I do more than just paint though, cause I have to, otherwise the kids don’t eat.” You’ve been very busy and your art has been a ticket to world travel for you. What’s been some standouts for you in that regard? I’ll touch on the word ‘busy’ first because I think a few people need to hear this about me... I’m always busy because ideas need to be cultivated, which takes time, and producing art takes lots of time. In my first book, Blue Yonder, I wrote some words about George Greenough - something about how, in conversation, George seems to be kind of chasing his stream of consciousness as he talks, and in a different way, that’s kind of what my life’s like too. It’s so interesting and adventurous, because I’m always trying to catch up on my next idea and produce it into something tangible. My ideas are my silent friends and I have a need to create
“I’D HIDE MY PAINTINGS FROM THE WORLD AND ONLY LET MY DIRECT FAMILY SEE THEM” them, and that need doesn’t ever go away. About travelling: I love adventure. That someone would offer to fly me to another country to show my art is wild. Japan is great. The people are just awesome... So humble and respectful, which in turn, brings out the best in me. And coming back from Japan, I always stop in at Bali. I have a local family there at Uluwatu. I’ve been staying with them on their farm since I was 17.” So going back to the beginning – how did it all kick off for you? Did the artistic family influences help or hinder? Well the fact that my Dad was an artist did have a huge influence on me. My Dad was never around much - and then unfortunately he died when I was still a teenager - but some of the things he did definitely influenced me: vegetarianism, a love of horses, and painting. Those things are all a part of who I am today. “When we were young my sister was always painting these really great landscapes on canvas too. I could never really paint from reality, so the artist idea kept getting crossed out until I realised that it wasn’t about perfect pictures - it was just about expressing and creating. It’s kind of like surfing in a way I guess.” Art-wise though, you went the formal education route too, but it seems like you didn’t find a fit there? “I liked the idea of art school, and my perception of it was dreamy days in the studio painting away and learning different techniques along with other mediums like sculpture and charcoal. But in my brief stint there it wasn’t like that, and drawing still-life and portraits just wasn’t something that I enjoyed or gained much satisfaction from. “I just loved getting in my garage with loud music and letting my mad natural self come alive with the paint. My son Colby is really good at portraiture work and my jan/feb 2013
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younger son Blake he seems to be heading into the more surreal type direction, and they’re both good at what they do. “All expressions are valid and I believe that the most satisfaction in art arrives from doing what comes naturally. Studying visual art at Sydney Technical College a bit later on was a much better fit for me where It was all about the art, with a little bit of history thrown in. It was mostly hands on, and being a carpenter and getting a lot of satisfaction out of working with my hands, I managed to get through those couple of years and gain a diploma. Pop-surrealism... Explain that a little. “Surreal and popular. I guess that’s the easiest way to explain it. My style of art spans the whole 19th century in that Surrealism was an artist movement from the mid 1920’s and is defined by exploring the creative potential of the unconscious mind, which is part of the trail that I follow in my work. “My art does have some reality in it too but I just don’t represent it as most people would see it. Everything in this world needs a label, or a name so people can talk about it, sell it, categorize it or whatever, and pop-surrealism is what some of the galleries that I’ve worked with have come up with to describe my work.
“MY ART IS A RESULT OF MY LIFE AND THE CULTURES I HAVE BEEN DEEPLY IMMERSED IN, WHICH ARE, SURFING, SKATEBOARDING, AND PUNK MEETS EARTHY BOHO SPIRITUAL BLOKE.” With the bold lines, text and bright colours, the work blurs over into graphics territory, do you ever pick up slack from highbrow art traditionalists about walking that line? “No, I haven’t as yet. Highbrow art traditionalists seem boring and resistant to change, and perhaps they’re more about the money too. “Oil painting landscapes is awesome and it’s also not easy. My Dad painted like this, but I can’t afford to supply me with oils and I haven’t got time to wait for it to dry. I like results, and acrylic and spray-paint dry pretty quick. The bold lines are what I like to do to highlight particular parts. Every line is a challenge to get a perfect curve, or sometimes not. “My art is a result of my life and the cultures I have been deeply immersed in, which are, surfing, skateboarding, and punk meets earthy boho spiritual bloke. My head is always stuck in some magazine. I’m an image junkie. I love font, and more to the point, I love words and the powerful meaning behind them.” You have to be happy with the style you’ve created – instantly recognisable, colourful, happy and friendly. What do you feel about the work you’re currently producing? “It’s dark but no one knows that. And it’s colourful because my spirit is in that place. The work I produce is me. I remember the first painting I did in this current series and it was called ‘freedom’. I still have that painting. It was all about letting go. I feel good about my work because it’s real and honest and I can produce it all day long.” There’s a lot of humour in your work. Is that intentional? “Is there? I didn’t know that. So no, it’s not intentional. Everyone gets something different from each piece. To some buyers it’s simply about the subject and colours, or how the image fits on their lounge room wall, while to others it’s all about how the art stirs them jan/feb 2013
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AY TORQU G
N OPENI N SOO
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THE ART OF SURFING
Photo: Kuni Takanami
“BOTH SURFING AND ART ARE EXPERIENCES THAT I LIKE TO CALL ‘NO MIND STATES’...”
inside. It’s cool when I get the opportunity to talk to the people that collect my art. They all have such different responses and I’m really interested in people and their thoughts. I’m a curious cat and I always ask questions.” What’s been the main influences on your work to date? Any recent ideas or artists that have caught your attention or inspired you? “My early art was all collage and words and my influences there were no doubt a result of a challenging childhood. I’d grab my skateboard and head off by myself to all these little art shows in Sydney and take photos of the things that I liked. Then I’d gather the images on my bedroom floor and stick them onto bits of wood and cardboard and paint some pictures over them. I used to like spray-painting random words on the walls of the back alleyways back in Cronulla too. I had this big green army jacket and I’d keep a can of black spray-paint in the inside pocket. “Around that time surfing media in general was very bland and the magazines were all about the professional competitive movement, so as a teenager I was not exposed to the creative characters that I liked to align with. I used to seek out Thrasher skateboard magazine, at the newsagency or my mate Jake Brown’s house, because it always had this little art section in the back call Floss and I’d just stare at the art and then race home and make random stuff. “It wasn’t until I moved into the studio up on the mountain behind Mullumbimby in 2005 that my painting took the current direction that I’m on with it. It took that period of
isolation on the mountain to really find my style and now I can’t do it any other way. And I don’t want to.” Any favourite or preferred medium? “I always work with acrylic, spray-paint and ink. They all dry fast and I know their personalities. I know what the paint’s going to do when it hits the surface. My Dad was an oil painter and when he died my Grandma gave me all his stuff, but I never had the patience or care to work with the oil. My sister Melissa is really good with oil, but it doesn’t really suit my techniques and what I like to create. I’ve been enjoying working with wood lately too. I love the texture qualities and smell of wood and I enjoy using my tools and hands to bring to life the ideas in my head. Creating is a kind of birthing I guess.” stART me up… Tell us more about that and your involvement in youth art development. “Wings is a company I started a few years back that is all about the encouragement of youth in the particular direction of surfing and art and it is supported by T-shirts that I create. “When I was in my late teens I went through a stage in my life where I was drinking heaps and taking drugs. I was lost. One of my best mates had died, my Dad had just died of cancer, and I was really bummed out and became depressed. Everything sucked big-time and nothing meant anything special to me. I was trying to run away from the demons in my head, and surfing and art were the only things I had where I could do that, where I could find peace.
Not just paintings, James applies his skills to constructing art pieces as well.
jan/feb 2013
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“Both surfing and art are experiences that I like to call, ‘no mind states’... You’re 100% there, in that physical moment, but at the same time you’re not really there at all. Both experiences are very powerful in a way that you own them, and in that moment, they own you. You become one with your experience. And in that experience there are no restrictions, no rules and you’re free to do whatever the hell you like. “It’s empowering, and the lifestyles that surround these pursuits are very pure and enriching to the soul. I’m an ambassador for this and I do it through Wings via the avenue of ‘stART me up’ youth art event at the Byron Bay Surf Festival, and also through working with Christian Surfers Australia where I am part of a group of leaders that take teenagers on surf camps where we get crazy and have loads of fun surfing with the groms and all the while building valuable friendships that empower these kids in loads of different ways through life. It’s cool stuff.” And of course, onto surfing – you’ve immersed yourself in that all your life. How does that fit into your life today, how does it slot in with your art and how important is that connection to you? “Well it is me. I’m a surfer and an artist. Everything I’ve ever done as far as work and pleasure goes has been about both making things and art, or surfing related. I surf almost every day. Sometimes it might only be for 20 minutes and other days 3 hours. “But for me it’s not just about the time in the water. It’s about the adventure... The drive to the beach with the music on and singing loud, and it’s about walking down a cool bush track to check the waves. It’s about taking the family and getting everyone in, and it’s about the bit afterwards where you’re in the carpark humbly talking about how much
jan/feb 2013
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you were shredding... (laughs).” So what craft are you riding these days? “I ride Stuart Darcy handshapes. He’s a great shaper, has a particular eye for detail and is very generous with his time and his surfboards. “We’ve been experimenting with a few different shapes over the past four or five years, and that started with a 5’8’ fish that I rode a lot in the Mick Waters surf film Little Black Wheels. It was a proper fish with twin keels, deep swallowtail and a flattish rocker. Darcy calls it the ‘superfish’. It was a great fit for me at the time because I’d just had my back operation and before that I could hardly walk. So jumping on that fish at that time, and just quietly gliding around the back beaches of Byron was perfect because before that I was mostly riding standard high-performance thrusters and occasionally my 5’6” Mackie side-cut fish. I love high-performance surfing and just shredding the heck out of sections but riding that fish gave me back something I’d forgotten about, or maybe never experienced: the glide - enjoying moments between turns to just cruise and appreciate that effortless motion of gliding and really feeling into it. “Since that board, I’ve had an asymmetrical 5’8”/5’10” swallow and at present I’m on a 5’10” quad with chine rails and flat nose-rocker. Next board will probably be similar to my current quad, but with a few qualities of the asymmetrical and the fish, with touch more rocker for tighter surfing. Darcy and I were talking about creating a Jimmy Mac model born out of our experimenting, but he’s overseas now so it’s kind of on hold at the moment.” Home is Byron Bay: How does that feed you? “It both feeds me and messes with me. It’s an idyllic place, and sometimes I have a problem with that because at some stages of my life I’ve lived in very un-idyllic conditions and so it can sometimes seem like it’s not real
“MY ART DOES HAVE SOME REALITY IN IT TOO BUT I JUST DON’T REPRESENT IT AS MOST PEOPLE WOULD SEE IT” to me here - like we’re living in this bubbleworld that at some point could just go ‘pop’ and it’ll be all over. But I love the diversity of people here. It’s interesting and I’m always curious about what all the peoples lives entail. And there are waves somewhere, every single day.” What are your plans for 2013? What can people expect, how can people get hold of your work? “I have some fresh plans for my art that I’m keen to get into. And with that, I feel as though I’m on the threshold of some change, but I won’t be pushing for that change to happen, rather let it unfold organically.
WIN!
A signed James McMillan print! See page 6 for more information.
Photo: Kuni Takanami 58
“Looks like I might be off to Hawaii for an art show towards the end of next year, so I’m planning what to make for that - plus I’ll be stoked to surf there again too. I always have a few original paintings on the go and I have my prints readily available at Retrospect Galleries. “My website is constantly building and I’m going to make some short films to stick on there too. Apart from that I’ll be looking for some tubes or reading the Bible. For more, see www.jamesmcmillan.com.au
jan/feb 2013
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Narani Henson
Jason Swales
Francesca Narni 62
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THE ART OF SURFING Narani Henson
Surfers
share an amazing connection with the ocean - something that separates the pursuit from many other pastimes and passions out there. Without the water there would be no waves. Without the pulse of the swell, there would be no pleasure. Without the ocean, there would be no playground for surfing, so we appreciate it.
Artists
who share this love of surfing, often express this appreciation through their art. Here are four unique individuals that mix message and medium to educate, entertain and inspire. Meet Narani Henson, Scotty Denholm, Jason Swales and Francesca Narni.
earth INSPIRED WORDS: MARK CHAPMAN
Scotty Denholm jan/feb 2013
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Jason WORDS: MARK CHAPMAN
SWALES
“When I was a grom I used to stand in waist deep water and take photos of the waves as they peeled past me. My Dad, an ex-naval technician and budding artist got hold of these photos and out of two of the best created this beautiful oil painting of a stormy wave scene. This painting still hangs on my wall today and is one of my major inspirations.”
Jason Swales of Marion Bay on the Yorke Penninsula in South Australia is a well-travelled surfer and an artistin-residence in a surfing community, which sounds like an absolute dreamcome-true scenario. We dig deeper into Jason’s life and work. Enjoy! After watching his father work, drawing and painting just came naturally to Jason and he attended a signwriting school to try and make use of his artistic talent. When his teacher told him that it was pointless to learn a dying trade as signwriting was soon to be taken over by computer-cut letters and graphics, Jason says he somehow I ended up as a rigger in the entertainment industry, building outdoor stages, hanging PA and lighting grids for all the major touring bands. The added bonus of this lifestyle was that he was travelling to amazing places and taking boards wherever he went. “After spending a year surfing in Africa I ended up landing an unbelievable job with a Londonbased production company,” Jason explains. “They would fly me across the world setting up super-parties for the kids of certain wealthy sultans and sheiks, where artists like Michael Jackson, Elton John, Sting, Whitney Houston, Seal and so on would play to an elite guest list that were flown in from all over the world. 64
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THE ART OF SURFING jan/feb 2013
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“I made big bucks that enabled me to travel to all those overseas surfing destinations I’d always dreamed of. I’d surf for as long as my money would last and longer, painting pictures of the local surf-spots and selling them to tourists when I ran out of money. “I always believed in spending at least three months in prime season at every surf destination, and always got my job back when returning to London penniless and hungry.“ Jason returned to Australia after four years of enjoying this incredible journey yet feeling, bewildered by the materialistic city life. “I renovated and sold my little suburban house and built a home in the small coastal surfing town of Marion Bay. With a population of around 140 people, built against the boundary of the stunning Innes National Park with great surf, and at that time relatively unaffected by mass-tourism, I felt Marion Bay was a perfect place to settle. Cold water and big ‘fish’ are just a small price to pay for perfect uncrowded waves.” Those preceding years of travel had given Jason plenty inspiration for his art though, with his medium of choice and style definitely influenced by those nomadic years. “I used to travel with pastels. They’re great for blending the aqua blues and greens. After starting out with pastels, now I paint a lot in acrylics for their quick drying advantage and bright colours. This has also enabled me to advance my brushwork. I usually don’t include people or manmade objects in my paintings. I think that we are spoiling this world, transforming its natural beauty for convenience and monetary gain.” This thinking comes across strongly in Jason’s work, which features a lot of empty waves in pristine environments. “Every surfer dreams of that perfect empty line-up in pristine natural surroundings, don’t they?” Jason responds, and we can’t really disagree. Despite shooting down roots in Marion Bay, Jason says he still travels a lot, but now with his family. “My wife, a Park Ranger on the Yorke Peninsula, our 2 ½ year old son and our 6 month old daughter. They all love it, and I love travelling with them. We have started a new family tradition where we try to go to a new country for every year we are old, which makes 47 so far for me. “As far as a standout for surf destinations, they are all gold. The different waves, foods, people, wildlife, cultures and environments you encounter is what makes each surf destination unique, and the memories will stay with me for the rest of my time on this fragile, beautiful planet. The waves and the experiences are what influence and inspire my paintings. In my travels I’ve had some of the most desolate and the most amazing times, 66
I’ve been the poorest and the richest I’ve ever been, and have surfed the most crowded to the most isolated of surf locations.“ These days a lot of Jason’s work is commissioned, but he prefers not to paint a surf break he hasn’t been to yet – which sounds like a great stitch-up excuse to have to travel some more, of course... “I want the feelings and experiences to be expressed in my paintings, and I believe the ones where I have been able to picture myself there have something extra special. ” says Jason. “Fortunately, there aren’t too many spots I haven’t been to, and if I haven’t been yet, I’m keen to go! Many of the requests I get are for people’s favourite beach or surf break, so they can drift away to their favourite spot or a happy memory when they look up at their painting on their lounge room wall.”
Jason’s passion for the environment extends beyond his artwork though and this past year saw him spending a fair bit of time as part of a local action group setting up Daly Head as South Australia’s first National Surfing Reserve, with the official opening happening right as you read this magazine. He’s also been busy building his art gallery, Studio Surf, at his home in Marion Bay. “I hope to have the gallery open next year,” says Jason. “But in the meantime my art is on display in my home-studio by appointment, or on the web. If you’re ever down in Marion Bay, be sure to drop in and say hello. I always love to meet new people.” See more at www.studiosurf.com.au or foolow Jason on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ JasonSwales.StudioSurf
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THE ART OF SURFING
“I think that we are spoiling this world, transforming its natural beauty for convenience and monetary gain.�
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THE ART OF SURFING
Narani WORDS: MARK CHAPMAN
HENSON
You may recognise the name Narani Henson from the pages of smorgasboarder magazine, or from her own surfing website dedicated to the ladies, Surfsister.com.au... But NZ-born Byron Bay local Narani’s not only a writer. Her talents extend way beyond the pen to the paintbrush, and far more. In fact, she uses the ugliest of objects from the beach to create the most beautiful and engaging artwork, with the soul she puts into her pieces of art reflecting every bit of her love for the ocean and the environment we all inhabit.
“Plastic has become part of our food chain...”
E
Plastic. Tell us about it. “I was studying at Uni and I was being exposed to all these great artists that did Land Art and Environmental Art, writing thousands of words about their intentions of drawing attention to their conceptual themes. But I think it was a TED talk (Technology, Entertainment and Design) about the ocean being the largest amount of water on Earth and the most at risk that really got me thinking. “I love the beach, the ocean, the waves and have to admit that I wanted to be a part in helping to save it in some way from pollution. As clichéd as that sounds, I wanted to express the importance of picking up marine plastics and rubbish from the beach. So I started collecting plastics everyday from my local beach and making art with it. jan/feb 2013
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What made you focus so strongly on consumer waste in particular as an environmental issue? “Knowledge of what’s going on… Do you know that 2.4 million pounds of plastic is estimated to enter the worlds ocean every hour? Which is 1089 tons of plastic! There is so much plastic floating in the sea, governments don’t know what to do with it… Plastic has become part of our food chain, because marine animals are eating it and it’s slowly poisoning everything - including us! Once you know this stuff, it’s hard to walk past plastic debris on the beach… It must be a strange process transforming something ugly that you dislike into something beautiful and pleasing to yourself? “I think art should be a positive experience and I really try to be a ‘glass half full’ kinda girl. I have taken an ugly topic and made it look beautiful which is a great way to make people think, “change”. “It makes me feel good when someone gets what I’m doing, which is raising awareness about marine plastic and taking responsibly for their patch of coast. You’ve completed formal studies as an artist. How do you find that’s influenced you and your development as an artist? “My subject has been water, waves, and seascapes for as long as I can remember - maybe that’s from growing up on an island? Or the fact that I spend so much time at the beach and like many artists, I paint what’s around me? I like learning, and studying has pushed me to make the transition from doing abstract painting and printing to being an environmental artist. “My subject matter hasn’t changed - just the materials that I use. I think it has given me confidence to do something weird like make art with marine plastic.”
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out at Piha on Auckland’s west coast, and moved out there when I left school. I also spend many a session at the snow. I started surfing with my girlfriends, mucking around in the cold waters of NZ really. I also worked in the surf industry for quite some time.
“I like to paint in oils, I use resin, fabrics, charcoal, plastic, cotton, clay, plants… Anything I can get my hands on really.” Do you produce a fair bit of work during the year? Any personal favourite pieces? “Yep I make art and it’s all for sale. My website is really a catalogue of all my work sold or unsold over the last 10 years. I like it all for different reasons… I don’t have a favourite.” With the love for the ocean evident in the artwork, and your love for surfing on display through surfsister.com.au, it’s obvious that the water plays a major part in your life...
“When I came to Aussie in 1998, I was stoked to be in warm water! I met my now-husband Kurt, who was working for a surf tour company, and it’s really just been a way of life ever since.
THE ART OF SURFING
You use mixed media... Any favourite to work in?
Do you find any parallels between your art and surfing? “It’s hard to define the edges of art and surfing, it’s all self-expression and fun!
“Surfing isn’t something that I do, it’s really more of a lifestyle for my little family. I spent my teen years
LEFT: Ocean From Space, oil on canvas BOTTOM LEFT: Marine plastic diptych
“Surfing isn’t something that I do, it’s really more of a lifestyle for my little family.”
Photo: Alex Frings, Supplied courtesy of Narani Henson jan/feb 2013
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How does living in Byron Bay influence these two aspects of your life? “Don’t tell anyone, but the surf gets all right around Byron... It’s really beautiful, and I feel blessed to call it home. I think Byron is a great place for water people and artie farties. There is a lot to get involved in and I really like being a part of a small beach community. And it’s a great place to raise my daughter.”
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To see more of Narani’s work, visit her website www.naranihenson.com. She also has a selection of work at D-Bar Café Gallery on the Gold Coast and will be the featured artist there for the month of October 2013. Catch Narani’s work at the Bleach* Festival, where she’s spearheading the SurfSister Kaleidoscope exhibition at Coolangatta’s Kallalu gallery, with several females brought together by their mutual love of surf. She’s also a feature artist in The Longest Wave exhibition at Queen Elizabeth Park Coolangatta. See the website: www.bleachfestival.com.au
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THE ART OF SURFING
Scotty WORDS: MARK CHAPMAN
DENHOLM
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Obsessed with images since age 10, Scotty Denholm is a 29 year old eco surf artist from the Sunshine Coast, creating art with earth-friendly materials. With conservation as an endearing theme in his life, Scotty spends his days working at Australia Zoo and his evenings at his easel. He fills us in on why he does what he does. “It’s hard not to be passionate about conservation when you work at a place like Australia Zoo,” says Scotty. “After having been there for a while, everything else in your life eventually follows. I was always into conservation but the zoo definitely reinforces it. “I can’t complain - it’s taken me to some cool and interesting places. Last year I was in Borneo helping regenerate rainforests for endangered Pygmy elephants and orangutans.
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“My art has taken this path because I saw an opening to make a change. There’s so many things in the art and surfing industries that could be done in a much better, eco-friendly way to reduce the impact on our environment. So, my hope is to educate and inspire others to do the same and to eventually put pressure on the big brands to change the harmful processes they use to create some products.” While there are plenty of environmental issues facing our oceans, Scotty is most passionate about the exploitation of marine species.
“The collapse of some species will have a domino effect on a lot of other species and habitats,” he explains. “The science is right there in front of us, yet we still allow money and greed to dictate what happens to our oceans.” Scotty’s been translating this environmental passion into art for many year, starting off – as he clearly remembers – at a school camp at the age of 10.
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the environment. A few people said it couldn’t be done and I know others who have tried but gave up and went back to ‘traditional’ materials. I don’t think it’s hard, it just takes determination and once I’d set out with a plan, I wasn’t going back.
“I found art quite young... almost by accident. I was at a school camp in a little country town a couple of hours from where I went to primary school. I just happened to do a little painting of a tree and it all went from there. Growing up in the bush gave me a great appreciation of the landscape and native wildlife. This came across in my early art pieces which were almost exclusively traditional Australian landscape scenes. “We moved to the Sunshine Coast a few years later and I soon took up surfing and instantly had an appreciation for the ocean. The conservation side came into it a bit later and about 5 years ago I had a break from painting and came back with a message and purpose to bring together conservation, surf and art.” “I only had a tutor between age 11-13, so since then my style has naturally evolved into what you see today. I guess you would call it realism, but I like to add my own touch to that. I like people to know they’re looking at a painting and not a photograph... so I sometimes simplify colour schemes or make obvious brush strokes.
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There’s also an element of fantasy for me too. The beauty with painting waves - opposed to photography - is that if there’s an imperfection. I can change it to make a more perfect scene. “
process took me about 18 months to source and test eco-friendly art materials. I’m still testing new things, and improving the quality and environmental integrity of the materials.
These perfect scenes are largely traditional landscapes and seascapes in oils, but not just any old oils…
“I think just painting surf scenes alone is enjoyable, I get stoked putting together and watching a wave come to life. I like to challenge myself too, I don’t normally paint a generic seascape, but a specific surf scene which has a degree of difficulty to it. I think that’s what makes my art different from others.
“When I got back into painting from my break with my new found message, I also set out to walk the walk and use materials that cause little to no harm to the environment in both the production of the product and the artwork. The whole
“The most rewarding thing though is that it’s all done without harming
“A lot of art materials, like oil paint are made from crude oil byproducts and artists need to use highly toxic solvents to wash brushes and other processes. I got around this by using water mixable oils. I just wash my brushes in water with some Earth Choice soap and they’re all good. Depending on the painting, my canvas is either hemp or Belgian linen, both of which are highly sustainable compared to standard cotton canvas. I use old regrowth Hoop Pine for stretcher bars, linseed oil as a medium. The list goes on... While Scotty chooses to go the hard road in sourcing his materials, we must disclose that he doesn’t put the same effort into this surfing. He lies down a lot… “(Laughs) I’ve been known to stand up from time to time. But in my heyday I chose to bodyboard. I’m not sure if it’s my old bones or I’m just getting a little wiser and
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uglier, but I see myself now as an allrounder rather than a stand-up, longboarder or bodyboarder. I appreciate doing and watching all disciplines nowadays. I have a huge respect for the waterman of days gone by... the surfers and paddlers of the 60s, 70s and 80s.” Between the painting, water-time and the enviro-warrior gig, Scotty still makes time for music. “Nowadays I think for me it’s more of a time to let loose, it’s an outlet to let off a little steam. The punk/hardcore scene is very important to me and I’ve been involved in it one way or another since I was 15, but I haven’t been in a band to express issues for a long time. Music in general though is a big inspiration. By ‘letting loose’, he definitely doesn’t mean sex, drugs and rock n roll... Scotty lives a pretty different and healthy lifestyle - part of the bigger picture of environmental consciousness. “(Laughs) I’m all about high fives and stage dives. I guess being Straight-Edge (consciously abstaining from alcohol, drugs and lots of other harmful things)
is different outside of the hardcore scene, but I’ve been living this drug-free lifestyle so long now I don’t really think twice about it. “I don’t really think the two cross over that much - living drug free is a very personal thing for me. I’m not one of those hardline vegan straight edge dudes pushing ‘meat is murder’... Not that there’s anything wrong with that, it’s just not for me. I prefer to fight for more crucial conservation issues. I’m going to cop it from a few friends when they read this (laughs). For example, Australia has an extremely poor mammalian extinction record, which will only get worse if nothing is changed soon. I don’t eat red meat, for the record.” To see Scotty’s work in the vegetarian flesh, he will have an exhibition of work at Cafe Envy in Mooloolaba sometime this year, any time at Gypsy Stone in Mooloolaba and on his website www.scottdenholm.com or follow him on www.facebook.com/ ecoartistscott.
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THE ART OF SURFING
“I guess it was a beautiful escape for me - to enter a world of my own creation where there were no labels no rules and no talking.”
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Francesca WORDS: MARK CHAPMAN
NARNI
“Deeply connected to nature, Francesca is inspired by the sensual world around her and by the unknown” This quote, from Fran Narni’s website gives a little insight into her work. Her life of travelling and surfing pretty much seem to encapsulate this statement, as an artist and surfer, Fran draws inspiration from the natural world, as she finds it. She graciously shares a bit more about it all with us.
“It’s never really the same every time,” Fran explains about her creative process. “Often it’s just an urge I get... I’m feeling inspired… By something I have experienced, a place, or a memory, or music, a feeling. Sometimes it’s just a need to immerse myself into that space as a retreat from other things. Surfing started late for Fran, although she was always drawn to the ocean with snorkeling, swimming and sailing giving her a great affinity for the water. However it wasn’t until the 90s, when she moved to Pt Noarlunga, south of Adelaide where she first started to develop an interest in riding waves. “I had a go on a friends old dehydrated 5’8 McGregor single fin - not the easiest board to learn on. I was hopeless and didn’t bother with it again. A year or two later I decided it was time to have another shot it. I felt compelled in a way. I was suddenly really drawn to it - I felt like I had to do it, or else. I managed to get hold of my neighbour’s softboard and went back out. I had a couple of lessons and I will never forget standing up on that board for the first time and the feeling it gave me - exhilaration and freedom. I was completely hooked. I was a 30-something grommet and loving every bit of it. I had found something that I loved, and that gave me a sense of life and connection again, and from then on I was immersed in the world of surfing.” Art, however, was something that started a lot further back than surfing, but is equally important to this multi-talented young lady today, embodying itself in not only painting but also a love for filmmaking and music. “I think when I was young, and all through school, I used to like to draw. I guess it was a beautiful escape for me - to enter a world of my own creation where there were no labels no rules and no talking. “I was also around it as a child - my grandfather made things from silver, my grandmother was a painter, and my auntie as well, so there was exposure to art and creativity when I was growing up. The school I went to encouraged art as well - it used to be just called “barn” as the classes were held in an old barn. It was the kind of school where you had a lot of choice and freedom- we were allowed to choose our own subjects, so I chose barn and half my day was spent there. When I was young, I was also fortunate to go to Italy with my Italian father, where I got to see so many incredible paintings and sculptures in Rome and Florence. Lots of experiences were inspiring to me and art was just always something I went back to.” “Going to art school in the mid-90s opened me up to lots of other possibilities, such as music and film. I learnt a lot from studying video in the early days of art school. I had an old Super-8 film camera jan/feb 2013
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which I used to use and the editing was done splicing film by hand, it really gave me a great appreciation of feature film makers, the time spent and the creative process involved. “I made some great musical connections at art school too, which really helped me to explore different styles and start to jam with other people. I learnt to play the piano when I was very young and then went on to learn the guitar. Again, I am still learning - it never stops, always changing, just like surfing.”
Fran also composes her own music and over the last few years has been experimenting with recording and even created soundtracks for her own film work. “Music is something that I love passionately. It calms me, lets me express what is inside of me and lets me go to places that I just can’t go to without it. I recently bought a new guitar, and I’m loving that. Film and music combined really appeal to me and I have made a couple of short films where there was no dialogue, just visuals and my music. I’m
“It calms me, lets me express what is inside of me...”
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hoping to make more, some being surf-themed but more artistic and abstract .There’s so much I would like to explore with filmmaking.” Fran’s painted work focuses primarily on natural themes, with beautiful, clean waves and oceanscapes inviting you in for an idyllic escape in the middle of nowhere. But while she draws inspiration from her travels for her oils and mixed media work, she prefers spending her spare time surfing.
Get back to the roots... with paulownia
“I have done some painting while travelling but not much, maybe a few watercolour sketches and drawings to work from when I return. I also work from photographs I’ve taken sometimes.” Back home, when Fran’s not flexing every creative fibre she can find, Lennox Point is a first choice surf spot for her to unwind, but she says it’s hard to pinpoint a favourite. “A perfect day in the water for me would be the random surprising surf in a new place when there is hardly anyone out and the sun is shining, the water is glassy , a few dolphins around and its 4-6ft. It doesn’t happen often though… Sadly, the surf is very crowded these days. I do love Indo - great for me being a goofyfooter, and I love the different culture. Being originally from South Australia I’ve had some great surfs on the west coast of SA and down in Margaret River as well... There are so many beautiful waves here on the east coast, it’s been great exploring all the spots. And as to the future? “Hmm. I guess I would like to see myself being as creative as I am now, if not more. “Hopefully still surfing and exploring, and playing lots of music, making films and hopefully making and selling lots of paintings, and just having fun really!” And that sounds like the most perfect plan for the future we can think of.
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Fran’s art can be viewed online at www.francescanarni.com and for any questions or enquiries about Francesca’s art send an email to franarni@hotmail.com
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BEHIND
BARRY WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF
Regular readers of smorgasboarder will have come to know (and we’re sure, love) Aloha Barry, the irreverent, politically-incorrect, crusty, old-school, hippiebogan-bludger that graces the back of the mag every edition with wit, crooked insight, a touch of country introspection and the occasional surf adventure thrown in for good measure. There was no way at all that a smorgasboarder art edition could happen without finding out a bit more about the story behind Barry, and so we take some time out to pick the slightly twisted (or completely curled?) brain of the man behind the cartoon - the artist known as Curl, who is cool enough to rock just one name, like Madonna, Everlast or Prince. WORDS: MARK CHAPMAN ILLUSTRATIONS: CURL
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“I wouldn’t say I was Barry, but I’d like to think there was a little bit of Barry in all of us.” JOKES ASIDE, WHO IS CURL? TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND, WHERE YOU COME FROM AND WHERE YOU FIND YOURSELF NOW. “Well I live on Phillip Island with my wife, three boys and a brown dog. We’ve just come back home after a bit of a stint in the West, and at the moment I’m working for my mate Slick in a screen printing factory. “We do a fair bit of reminiscing about the good old days - before we had all our ridiculous commitments and responsibilities. Other than that, it’s just running around after the kids and sneaking a surf in now and then it’s a good time in life though I reckon.” SO, HOW DID YOU COME TO BE INVOLVED IN ART? “It’s something that I guess I’ve always done from time to time as a bit of fun, but as I’ve gotten a bit older, I decided to put in a bit of effort and see if I can get any good at it.” WE RECKON THE GROWING LEGION OF BARRY-ITES WOULD AGREE YOU MIGHT BE HALF ALRIGHT AT IT BY NOW... THAT SAID, HOW HAVE PEOPLE REACTED TO YOUR WORK SO FAR? “There’s been a certain amount of cringing… I think when you’re doing these kind of drawings it’s very easy to offend, or confuse some people and make them feel
uncomfortable. I suppose the thing I aim for is to get a chuckle out of someone, but have them feel guilty about it at the same time… Like when you see a little kid stack his bike, it’s usually hilarious but you really shouldn’t laugh... Or should you?” I DON’T KNOW – I LAUGH EVERY TIME DAVE DAMAGES HIMSELF BY STICKING A SURFBOARD INTO HIS LEG AND THE LIKE… BUT, OTHER THAN THE GUILTY HUMOUR, WHAT’S THE INSPIRATION BEHIND BARRY? WHAT LEADS YOU TO THE STORYLINES AND SITUATIONS? “It’s all about a slightly unusual fellow doing very usual things .Barry is just meant to be a mongrel breed of those slightly different blokes that everyone knows. They perhaps drink and smoke a little too much, are a tad eccentric, but fun to have a beer and a chat with. They have a bit of a different take on life but are usually quite wise in their own peculiar way. I find “Barry’s” very good company to keep.” AS FAR AS BRINGING BARRY TO LIFE GOES, TALK US THROUGH YOUR ARTISTIC PROCESS. THE CARTOON IS FINISHED DIGITALLY, BUT HOW DOES IT ALL COME TOGETHER AND WHY DO YOU ENJOY DOING YOUR ART THIS PARTICULAR WAY? “I just draw the picture in pencil and finish it off with black felt tip pens, keeping in mind how I want the colours to turn out. I then scan it, try to brighten it up and make it look interesting on the computer.
“Computers are just a quick and efficient way to finish pictures off. The actual drawing would take around 80% of the time you put into it. If it doesn’t look good in pencil, it won’t look any good on a computer screen!” SO DO YOU DO MUCH OR ANY HANDFINISHED ART THEN? PAINTINGS, AND SO ON? IF SO, WHAT SORT OF MEDIUM DO YOU PARTICULARLY ENJOY? “The only other pictures I do are just straight black on white. They’re good fun, but usually take triple the amount of time, I wouldn’t mind trying a bit of painting at some stage though.” WHAT OR WHO HAVE BEEN INFLUENCES IN YOUR ART AND IS THERE ANYTHING OR ANYONE PARTICULARLY INSPIRING YOU AT THE MOMENT? “My favourite type of artwork has always been what I’ve seen on band posters, stickers, t-shirts, skateboards, tattoos, graffiti and comics etc. the higher end of the lowbrow stuff, so anyone that can do that kind of thing really well is a big influence. Anyone that can get a laugh or make me think or both - I’m not too fussy. Mate, there is so much great stuff about.” SURFING IS OBVIOUSLY A MAJOR PART OF YOUR LIFE TOO – AND LIVING ON THE ISLAND OBVIOUSLY GIVES YOU ALL THE OPTIONS IN THE WORLD! TELL US A ABOUT HOW YOU GOT INTO IT. “Riding a surf mat at Smiths Beach got me kickstarted. They gave you a rash on the guts, but that was all it took to get me sucked in all those years ago.”
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THE ART OF SURFING
SO CURL... ARE YOU ACTUALLY, SECRETLY, BARRY?
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WHAT ARE YOU INTO RIDING AT THE MOMENT THEN?
called the Island Vibe which has just started up down here.”
“I picked up a second hand Channel Islands 6’10” earlier this year that was in really good nick and it’s probably one of the nicest boards I’ve had, kept me keen all winter.”
SO, WHAT’S THE PLAN FOR THE FUTURE? WHAT’S BARRY GOING TO GET UP TO?
SO WHAT’S YOUR ALLTIME GREATEST SURFING MEMORY? “When I think about all the good surfs I’ve had over the years, and try to narrow it down, it’s impossible to consider one to be the greatest, which makes me a pretty lucky bloke. A good, long day of surfing in clean conditions with your kids or some great mates and a cold beer to soothe the ache in your shoulders afterwards…I’m happy to say I’ve lost count of how many of those I’ve had.”
At the moment I’m working on a few of my own designs and printing up stickers and Ts under my own label called “ PI “ which is pretty good fun. As far as Barry goes, a book would be cool, but I’d ultimately love to see him get animated - bring him to life - that would be a hoot. THAT IT MOST CERTAINLY WOULD BE.
HAVE YOU SPREAD THE WORD MUCH REGARDING YOUR ART – ARE YOU DOING MUCH ILLUSTRATION ASIDE FROM BARRY? “I try to always have something on the drawing board, tried a couple of kids books, the odd bit of illustration work. Barry also appears in a really nice local magazine called Coast and I do another strip in a local paper
If you’re after some great illustration work, or you’re keen to get your hands on some PI gear, drop Curl a line at johmarks@bigpond.net.au or call on 0407 515 333.
Curl not only does Barry, but produces commissioned work too.
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THE ART OF SURFING
IN THE TUBE Making a surfboard isn’t easy. Making a tiny little surfboard, not only to scale, but with all it’s intricacies and details is just crazy, some would say. Paul Cruttenden from Tasmania, however, has turned the manufacture of miniature replica vintage surfboards into an artform. We were intrigued to find out more about the process. WORDS: DAVE SWAN
So, how did you get started making scale model surfboard replicas? “In 1995 I asked local shaper, Brian Hughes, to build me a replica of a board that was built for me in 1966 by Fred Pyke. To help me better understand the features of that 1966 board I built a scale model, about 1: 8. It wasn’t all that good but the board that Brian delivered was spot on, fantastic, and I still always enjoy a session on it. Anyway, that was how Tubed Australia started. I made a few more shapes with different timber combinations. Originally I designed the longboards to be displayed on a square base, I registered the wave design and looked at packaging options as I saw
the opportunity to sell them on the internet and deliver by post. Cardboard packaging for the square base was too costly. It was then that I realised the a mailing type tube would be the best way to go - change the shape of the base to round, and the business name Tubed was a no-brainer. The original range sold very well and within a year I was getting feedback that there was a market for framed sets with a narrative explaining the origins, materials, dimensions, designer and other relevant details other each board. I have continued to use hand written text in these sets because, although time consuming, it seems to keep the personalised quality of my work.
TOP: A story set ABOVE: Lots of timber for little boards jan/feb 2013
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Now
stocking
SUPs!
More boards than you can poke a log at.
s Harbour NSW 392 Harbour Drive, The Jetty Strip, Coff www.thelogshack.com.au Phone: 02 6658 0223
I can’t believe the extent of detail you go to including nose and tail blocks, laminating the stringers, fins… you even replicate the plan shape, rocker and rails as accurately as possible... There is a lot of detail. My background is industrial design. I have been designing and manufacturing furniture for many years and I now teach. The detail is what people get really drawn into with work like this. If they’re not accurate representations of the original then people don’t get excited about it. I strive to get the detail right and that thankfully, it gets people drooling over the accuracy of the replicas. Do you need to be in possession of the actual board to replicate it? No. I do a lot of research in museums and view various collections. I am a regular visitor to Torquay Surf World and the one on the Gold Coast. I use a lot of books, I‘ve been to a lot of exhibitions and I photograph the boards. Plus, I have a good understanding of the flow of the boards. I’ve shaped a couple of full sized boards myself many years ago. What types of timber do you like to work with? I use virtually all Tasmanian timbers with the exception of Koa, but it’s becoming increasingly difficult to come by. The various sets and tubes feature Tasmanian Huon Pine, Myrtle, Blackwood, Sassafras and Californian Redwood, Balsa and Koa. I have never used foam or fibreglass. What kind of tools do you use to shape the boards? I make a jig, as you would a full size wooden board and then I use that to replicate the rocker and profile shape, and the rest of the work I complete by eye. I have collections of templates in three different scales.
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“DETAIL IS WHAT PEOPLE GET REALLY DRAWN INTO..” How long does each piece take you to complete? Because of my background in design and the systems I employ in building the pieces, I have been able to recreate the boards in an efficient manner. I have made it as simple as possible. I spend a lot of time setting up the initial shape, but it gets easier from there. It still requires what most people would consider far too much work though. You are no doubt a passionate surfer yourself? I am! But I’ve been kept out of the water for the last few years due to a rib injury that was exacerbated by a nice two-week session in Rote, West Timor. So I am sadly not surfing as much as I should be. Born and bred Taswegian? No, I grew up in Melbourne and surfed the west coast of Victoria from 1964 through to the early 70s. My first surfboard was a 16ft Toothpick when I was eight years old. I used to paddle it on Port Phillip Bay. Anyhow, when we moved down here I surfed at first, had a family, stopped surfing, started windsurfing and later got back into surfing after a ten-year absence - on longboards. We recently moved just south of Hobart to Kingston Beach. We get swells out front, but it’s often just big closeouts on the southerly swells. I can hear the waves from my workshop. It’s a nice backdrop. For more, see www.tubed.com.au or call Paul on 0409 787 231
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THE ART OF SURFING
Beware the Thongpire!
WHATEVER
TIKIS YOUR FANCY
Lowbrow, retro, kustom kulture, tiki... Call it what you will, Kym Nagler’s AKYMBO art is just plain fun, and he does a fantastic job of translating that fun into everything from furniture to paintings, to thongs for art’s sake and toilet-roll holders. WORDS: MARK CHAPMAN
“My name is Kym Nagler, aged 54, married to Trish, from Adelaide in South Australia… As a kid growing up in the ‘60s I was exposed to shows like Hawaiian Eye, 77 Sunset Strip, surf music, The Munsters, cheesy Hollywood beach party movies and all kinds of pop culture of the day. I’ve always liked to draw and I can remember wanting to be a commercial artist, but never pursued it. When I left school in ‘74 there were no career counselors - I didn’t even know what University was…(laughs) so, I left school and got a trade as a carpenter joiner.” Jump forward a few decades and Kym began to see art and hear music that related to surfing and decided to start creating his art with his own take on it all, with a decidedly retro Tiki-twist – which included even making furniture out of old surfboards! “I thought AKYMBO was a bit of a play on my own name and it sounded a bit tiki style, and then added the Von Nagler for other stuff. It’s all pretty irreverent really - it’s just what I do.” Being a huge fan of the lowbrow art style, Kym’s work immediately struck a chord as there’s a very cool crossover between hotrod and surfing culture. “Well I’m a huge fan of (Big Daddy) Ed Roth’s work,” says Kym. “I used to copy his monster drag car stuff all the time as a kid, although I would never put myself at their level. I wouldn’t have a clue where I fit into all this? Surfing, hotrods, motorbikes – it’s all about freedom and escape isn’t it? “There are a lot of talented artists out there, doing amazing work, so I guess I’ll have to let other people be the judge on my stuff. If people have a laugh and get it, great…” Kym also credits his inspiration to Rick Griffen, Robert Crumb, Charles Shultz, Shag and more.
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“Guys like Tony Edwards - used to draw Goodvibes everywhere - all the tiki artists, any cartoony stuff… Plus, things that happen around you, out in the water are also inspirations. Basically take the p*ss. Surfing and art for me is about having fun.” Like many who didn’t grow up beachfront, Kym didn’t start surfing till he got his licence. “Mum and dad never owned a car, so about late ’74, when skateboarding was booming and we used to just hang out and skate, one night this older guy pulled up in his decked-out Commer van - I can still see it all surf posters stuck around the inside, this yellow G&S single fin laying on the mattress with that Osibisa flying elephant on it, and dark side of the moon playing on his eight track...
Cracking t-shirts, Paipos with art on them...
“This guy was cool, plus girls seemed to like surfers. (laughs)… For a while, anyway. After a few weeks of getting to know him, I bought a Burford warrior, hired a wettie and away I went. I’m still surfing, he no longer does.” And not just surf… Kym’s the proud owner design of… The Knuckledragger surfboards. “It’s just a bit of joke really… Sometimes surfing takes itself all too seriously… Basically, I had an old mal blank lying around for a couple of years. Seeing as guys are riding everything from wood to Styrofoam blocks - even a door, I think I saw – so I thought ‘Bugger it’ and cut it down to 7’1” and reshaped it. Way too quickly, I might add. As you know, model names became popular again, so I thought of “The Knuckledragger.” It’s assymetrical, but you can ride it. It’s ugly and a bit weighty, but it goes and I’d love to ride it at Noosa or the Pass. Actually, I’d like to see it ridden by a real hot logger... (laughs) Ride the wild Knuckledragger!
ABOVE: Does this even need a caption? RIGHT: Hold your tongue!
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To view and get hold of Kym’s work, drop him a line on Facebook - www.facebook. com/AkymboArt. The Middleton Bakery on the south coast of SA, Surreal Surf Art Gallery Port Elliot, Wild on the Beach in Lorne and Golden Breed at Pacific Fair on the Gold Coast all have his work in stock.
“IT ABOUT ’FSRALL AND ESCEEDOM E, ISN’T ITA?P ” The Fly’n Veekele - Classic...
Some words of thanks from Kym: “Thanks to Mid Coast Surf for glassing the Knuckledragger (without laughing!). To my wife Trish - you’re the best, and to all my surfing and music friends who are my inspiration. I have met a lot of great people just through going surfing….Thanks. Hi to the Mexican - you legend!”
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THE ART OF SURFING “PEOPLE CAN PRINT A ONE-COLOUR SHIRT IN THE BACKYARD. WE TRY TO DO SOMETHING A BIT MORE SPECIAL.”
WEAR ART YOUR WELCOME T-shirts. They can be statements of fashion, political persuasion, support of a brand or band, or just a way to wear something cool. Either way, there’s a whole lot of cool art that finds its way to being emblazoned upon the old t-shirt, and there’s a whole art behind exactly how that happens. We chat to Chris from Evolution Screenprinting in Maroochydore on the Sunshine Coast. WORDS: MARK CHAPMAN Chris’ day job is to do exactly this – get great prints into a wearable form (one of those great prints being our very own, very cool “Surf is Free” smorgasboarder shirts, available for $30 pp on our website www.smorgasboarder.com.au – gratuitous plug!) but he also uses his downtime to do artwork and designs for his own personal clothing label. “You’ll start with the basic design you want, whether that’s hand-drawn or something you want to modify,” Chris explain how he goes about his design process. “Either way, everything is finished on the computer. Even if it’s a photo, you’ll modify it to make it a little more artistic. Not everything needs to completely over the top though - sometimes simpler is best.” Chris’ designs are quite intricate and complex, with a lot of layering, which he brings to life with forward-thinking printing techniques. Chris explains his thinking: 94
“I think it comes from being in the trade. You’re always challenging yourself to come up with the most complex, hardcore piece of artwork and still have it look good. “As to the printing - especially if a client needs something that’s a bit different it’s a case of trying techniques that suit the print and not just doing the same old. People can print a one-colour shirt in the backyard. We try to do something a bit more special. And we’re not massproducing here, so we can do that.” “Living on the coast, my shirts tend to be a bit more surf-oriented, but it can be anything, from a statement to something like a graphic that just makes your brain tick over a bit.” For your own printing and promo gear, or to get yourself one of Chris’ own designs, see his website on www.evolutionspd.com or give him a ring on 07 5443 8683
TWO SIDES OF THE TRADE: The printing floor and the design workstation, with some cool examples of Chris’ work on t-shirts.
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TRAVEL: PLANE TRIP
BACK BEYOND THE
OF
WORDS AND PHOTOS: JOEL COLEMAN
Last edition, we featured photographer Mike Swaine, who gets about in a tiny plane snapping photos from above‌ This edition, another photographer (and fellow NZ-lover) Joel Coleman of Saltmotion Gallery in Manly finds himself up in the sky in a similarly tiny plane, landing on a remote beach in search of cold water waves, in an amazingly untouched part of the world.
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“FIORDLAND IS
COMPLETELY INACCESSIBLE. YOU REALLY NEED AN AIRCRAFT...”
I had heard a rumour that there were waves in the Fiordland area of New Zealand’s South Island, but that’s all it was - a snippet of information wafting around in surfing folklore. I had previously been on a trip around the North Island and surfed amazing waves, being totally blown away by the scenery and majesty of the place. Everywhere I went, I heard the same thing though: “This is nothing… You should see the 98
South Island…” So, I booked a ticket, rented a campervan, packed my cameras and surfboards, and headed off to take a look for myself with those rumours of the Fiordland waves a recurring thought in the back of my mind. About halfway through the lap of the South, I had enjoyed some pretty good waves, seen a lot of lambs and experienced more ‘WOW’ moments than I thought possible from looking at scenery.
I had been posting daily updates to my website and, thanks to the magic of the internet, I received an out of the blue email from a guy called Warrick Mitchell from Heli-Surf NZ, whose family are one of the few - and I mean few - who have spent time living in the coastal Fiordland area. “If you’re interested in coming for a wave, please let me know, I’d be happy to host you.” I had never replied to an email so fast in my life.
A few days earlier, I had chartered an aircraft to do some aerial photography over Fiordland and I was utterly amazed by the experience. I went into complete sensory overload trying to compute what my eyes were seeing, and one of those things I did see were point breaks. The only catch was getting to them. Fiordland is completely inaccessible. You really need an aircraft to get into the Coast - even
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TRAVEL: PLANE TRIP boats have trouble reaching some of these places. So the opportunity to be taken into the area to surf was something I could not pass up. There was a slight complication to the mission: time and weather. The only predictable thing about New Zealand is the unpredictability of the weather. Throw in the fact that when I heard from Warrick, I was on the other side of the country and had a fast approaching return flight back to Australia, this was going to be a tight mission.
Some frantic last minute preparations and a small window of weather allowed us to go ahead with Colin Boyd, who works with Warrick, as my guide. Colin had warned me that conditions were not looking ‘all time’ but I was keen on the adventure and decided to press on with the trip regardless. We had a one-day window to work with - fly in, surf, and fly out… Game on! Packing into a single engine aircraft at 6:30am in Queenstown,
the weather was already looking sketchy. The pilot could fly, but some high cloud over the mountains suggested a landing might not be possible on the beach. Still, we pressed ahead. Flying over the snow-capped mountains to go surfing was surreal, an experience unlike anything I had ever done before and the views are worth the trip alone. When we reached the coast however, I got my first glimpse of a point break that was
peeling down a totally isolated coastline - a coastline that made scenes from the film Jurassic Park look tame. A momentary break in the weather allowed us to land on the beach and the pilot laid down the scenario for us: We only had an hour and a half before the tide came in, covering the sand that we needed as our runway to take off. We could fly back at 6pm on the next low tide, however the weather was forecast jan/feb 2013
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to close in making a late take off a gamble. Essentially we had time for one surf, so we had better make the most of it, and quickly. As I mentioned earlier Warrick’s family had been living in the area for most of their lives. As far as I am aware, no one lives there full time, but during certain seasons they are there and have built a pretty good cabin setup in the trees. Unfortunately I didn’t have time to see it this time around, not if I wanted to surf! What they did have was a quad bike and a trailer, which was our fast tracking alternative to the half-hour hike out to the point. We loaded ourselves into the trailer - myself with all my camera gear, second cameraman Colin and our surfboards. We crossed the first river, stacked it crossing the second, detaching the trailer from the bike in an abrupt vertical dismount (no injuries to anyone or anything) then doubled-timed it to the first surf break. Whilst the waves were not epic that day, we were not expecting them to be. It simply didn’t matter as the points were breaking and we did get to surf what was one
“
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TRAVEL: PLANE TRIP
“THE TIDE WAS PUSHING IN AND WE NEEDED TO GET OUT OF THERE,
FAST” of the most isolated places I have ever been. The whole adventure of getting there just added to the sweetness of each ride.
The water temperature on this side of NZ is also surprising. At around 16˚c it is much warmer than the south and east coast. Running back to the plane on the beach was an effort. The tide was pushing in and we needed to get out of there, fast. We laughed as we took off and absorbed the spectacular views flying back into Queenstown. Once the aircraft was jan/feb 2013
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Floating Sunglasses
“FLYING OVER
SNOWCAPPED
MOUNTAINS • Polarised • Polarised Bi Focal • Polarised Photochromic • Polarised PC (Melanin infused) • RX Prescription
TO GO SURFING WAS
SURREAL”
San n Jua unloaded, Colin and I walked across to the park, sat beneath the trees and simply laughed, heart still racing, at what we had just done. A true surf strike-mission to one of the most inaccessible places imaginable. I felt alive.
www.barzoptics.com Showroom - Unit 11 / 4 Leda Drive, Burleigh Heads QLD 4220
Ph 07 5576 4365 102
This adventure was made possible by Warrick Mitchell and Colin Boyd from www.helisurf.co.nz For a video diary of the experience, see http://www.youtube.com/ watch?feature=player_embedded&v=1halRZrSQC8 For more on Joel and his work, visit www.saltmotion.com
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DISCOVER SOUTH AMERICAN SURF! ON A CENTRAL AND NORTHERN
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GEAR: SHAPER PROFILE
TI Victoria. ork near home in Jordie tests his w tle Photo: Scotty Win
o T T n A w “I jusT nough MonEy MAKE E AnD suRf AnD To lIvE T I Do. Do whA 104
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H G I H K R A M E D I T the affirmative as nt an argument in ou m to e er w u a form of artistic If yo rfboards is indeed su g needn’t in ak m er th to whe ring process, you tu ac uf an m a to . The posed h Tide Surfboards expression as op ig H of n ow Br ie than Jord , every aspect look any further afting his boards cr n he W . an tis polishing, man is a true ar g it, glassing it, in ap sh to k an bl e by hand. from gluing up th e it, is performed m na u yo , ls ca ork, de g his own resin work, artw is already leavin ie rd Jo g, un yo ill quite Despite being st rf scene. the Australian su on k ar m le lib inde AN WORDS: DAVE SW
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Multi-SkilleD: Noseriders, fish, single fins, quads, thrusters, timber and foam... Jordie is as versatile in the shaping bay as he is in the water. Photo: Scotty Wintle
“I’m not really restrIcted to one style of surfboard” Acquiring a High Tide surfboard could be likened to buying an original artwork on canvas – while you can always go for a more affordable print, choosing to buy an original is a very different kettle of fish. There is no mistaking that which has been crafted by the very artist themselves, nor any question as to the quality. And there is something special about owning an original artwork - let alone a functional piece of art that doesn’t simply adorn your walls but can be used on a daily basis for all to see. We had the opportunity to catch up with Jordie and his lovely partner Tiph just before Christmas to talk about their craft.
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Jordie: I guess my business is pretty unique compared to most surfboard businesses in that I don’t plan to get any bigger. I just want to make enough money to live and surf and do what I do. If anything, over the last few years I have taken less and less orders so I can put more time into each individual board. It’s working really well at the moment because I am doing the least amount of boards since I began, but I’m really happy with them at the moment. The quality is where I want it to be. Dave: So tell us how you got into this board building business in the first place. Jordie: I made my first board when I was about thirteen, with my old man in the backyard. We
had a pretty special relationship. He has since passed away. My dad called himself a ‘recycled surfer’ because he used to surf back in the day. He started again later on with me. We surfed together and got to making a few boards. Through my experimental board building I got to meet Ian Chisholm at Southcoast Longboards in Torquay and he was impressed with some of my early work and offered me a part time job doing ding repairs at his factory. After about a year he offered me an apprenticeship. So when I was about 15, I went to work full time in his surfboard factory where he got me shaping. I was pretty fortunate with
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GEAR: SHAPER PROFILE FINISHING TOUCHES: Jordie’s artistic expression adds extra depth and personality to his highly individual boards.
my apprenticeship, because I got the opportunity to learn every stage of the process. I worked my way up from sweeping the floors and doing ding repairs, to polishing, sanding, shaping and glassing. I’m in a position now where I can do everything from start to finish and I’ve done it all at a production level. At the same time I also undertook a boatbuilding apprenticeship where I learnt my trade as a boatbuilder and shipwright. It taught me how to work with different materials including timber and various tools. Dave: Ian Chisholm obviously had an early influence on your shaping. Are there any other shapers you particularly admire?
Jordie: When I worked with Chissa, I learnt the production side of things. I learnt quality craftsmanship but also how to do it at a production level and hone my skills. I later went to work for Dave Boyd at Imperial Surfboards. He is the best shaper I have ever worked for. Every board he has made for me in the past is just perfect and does exactly what you want it to do. He is just so precise. He is a real craftsman. I don’t believe he has ever truly got the recognition he deserves. He is without doubt one of the best shapers in Victoria. When I worked for Boydy he taught me the finer end of things. He is very meticulous and an absolute professional. He taught me how to refine my shapes. He didn’t shy away from teaching me anything.
I guess that is the reason why we are seeing a gap in the development of shapers today because the older guys have been a bit protective as to their whole approach. I wouldn’t be where I am without the help of guys like Chissa and Boydy. It was great for them to be so open about showing me how to make boards. The other shaper I greatly admire is Wayne Lynch. I don’t know him personally, I just have a great deal of respect for his board designs. His approach to single fins and even early thrusters are just so finely tuned for the waves where I live. I have made quite a few replicas of his boards. But when I say replicas, they are not just straight up copies. I always put my own spin on them. I have learnt a lot from looking over his jan/feb 2013
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GEAR: SHAPER PROFILE
shapes. He is one guy who is not afraid to put a bit of thickness in his boards. I think that is quite important for not only good surfers, but everyday surfers too. The way he foils them out delivers the thickness where you need it. Dave: It’s interesting in that you mention thickness, as you’re not afraid to add a little bit to your boards as well. Jordie: I think the whole ‘lighter is better’ thing is one of the most common misconceptions in surfboard design today. Words can’t describe what it’s like to take the drop on a heavier board and drive through that bottom turn and slingshot yourself down the line on a nice, clean 4ft peeler. It’s that intense feeling of momentum and glide. A bit of extra resin, glass and volume in your board won’t hurt. I make all my boards using traditional construction methods with resin tints and heavier glass jobs. When I think about the boards that guys are riding from the seventies and they’re still being enjoyed today, that’s what I want. I’m really passionate about making boards like they should be made, strong and built to last. Dave: Your reference to traditional surfboard construction leads beautifully to my next question. You have become renowned for doing everything by hand. It is something you are obviously very passionate about? Jordie: For me, I like it because I have complete control over my product. Design-wise I am not constricted by what rockers I can buy in. I glue up my own blanks. When I want to try something, I can do it all myself. With hand shaping, there are no limits as to what you can do with a blank. I love that aspect about it. But it is not just the shaping side of things - I really enjoy making the whole board from start to finish. I’ve learnt the traditional way to make surfboards. As I said, I glue up my own blanks, make my own stringers, hand shape, glass them myself, sand, polish and make the fins as well. Dave: So in terms of your actual surfboard designs, is there a particular aspect you are focused upon?
Photo: Scotty Wintle
Jordie: I am not really restricted to one style of surfboard, but my boards are heavily inspired by riding older boards. You know, often I have found an old single fin and have loved it so much I’ve and surfed it to death. And then the thought process has started… “Maybe if I change this a little bit it might surf a little different, tweak it up a bit…” I guess you could say they are replicas of old boards with a few refinements. The same goes with my customers. Some bring me their all-time favourite board and I will replicate it, but just fine-tune it a little more to how that person is presently surfing. Because they are customs, every board is totally different. That’s what keeps it interesting and fresh. Every board is unique. But when I shape replicas, I’m after something very specific. With my own boards I have a rough idea and then I get into the shaping bay and just go for it - a lot of the time that’s when I come out with the best boards. It’s just a free-for-all. Whatever flows, I run with.
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TEAMWORK: Jordie and partner Tiph work together to take High Tide artwork to an even deeper level.
ARTWORK Dave: You were one of the first shapers I personally came across to be taking to your boards with a Posca Pen. Had you always intended to carry out the whole process right through to the artwork on your boards? Jordie: I have always loved art. When I started making my own boards I put my own artwork on them. A few friends obviously saw them along with other surfers out in the water, ordered some and it just stemmed from there. It’s now a big part of what I do. The beauty about artwork on boards is that it is a very functional form of art. If you paint a canvas it just sits on a wall. Whoever comes into your house gets to see it. When I do a board for someone, you give them a beautiful bit of art and it is being used everyday. Each time it is pulled out of the board bag down the beach and out in the surf, people are seeing it. I feel it is a really rewarding form of art because it is getting used and seen. It is artwork that is made to be surfed and not just sit on a wall. Recently it has been great to work with my partner Tiph. She has a background in art and has been formally educated whereas I have no schooling. I’m selftaught as opposed to Tiph who is quite an accomplished artist. It’s really cool melding our two styles together because Tiph’s work is quite polished whereas mine is more spontaneous. Tiph: I was painting canvases for ages and I stopped because I was over it. Jordie asked me to do some work on his boards and I am obsessed with it now. I can’t wait to do the next one. It brings me a lot of joy because I feel like I am adding to the amazing work that he does. Jordie does a lot of swirls and I work with them. After he has finished his resin art, I do my thing on top of it. Jordie: We may come up with an idea like an octopus. Tiph will work out where it will go on the board and I will do all the resin colour work and she will then add her touches. The depth and colours are just amazing. It has been great having Tiph on board. She is just such a big part of the business now and we have really gone back to grassroots even to the extent of making our own hand drawn decals. The boards are at a point where they have never been before. Tiph is a large part of that. Dave: Do your customers often request something specific or leave you to your own devices?
Jordie: I don’t have a lot of customers that ask for something specific. I’m very fortunate in that a lot of them will have seen my work and just ask me to put something together. I then work out a base idea and go from there. Tiph: It takes me ages, whereas he just goes full bore. I sit there thinking about what I am going to do, turning my head, considering certain ideas and by the time I have done that, he’s finished this awesome piece. Jordie: That’s the difference between our two styles. I am just better off going for it and seeing how it comes together. Tiph plans it all out and then goes about creating her piece. Dave: Have you mastered any other techniques such as airbrushing? Jordie: It’s actually something we are just getting into at the moment. We have been playing around with it. Tiph is doing a lot of stencilling, and I have done some freehand. It’s something we will get more into in the future, but for the moment it has been just Posca Pen and resin art.
HOME Dave: You mentioned you are happy with your bit in life. That obviously stems from what you do, but I am also guessing it is in part due to where you live. Was there a particular reason for setting up shop in Skenes Creek? (which is just north of Apollo Bay on Victoria’s Great Ocean Road) Jordie: My family had a holiday house in Apollo Bay and I spent a lot of my childhood there. After my old man passed away I started spending more and more time down around the area. I really love it. You are able to surf by yourself and there is a great deal of freedom with regards to how you can live your life. It was also a great place to set up the business because there are no other surfboard builders around. I don’t mean that in terms of competition. There’s just a lot of politics in the industry and I am happy to be away from it. I can do my own thing. For me it works to have no outside influences. I can make the boards I want to. I can surf the way I want to surf. You don’t get caught up in the hype of what is going on in Torquay because it’s such a hub for the surf industry. Dave: Despite being a little out of the way, it doesn’t seem to have affected demand for your surfboards? Jordie: I have no desire to send boards around the world. I just take on the work jan/feb 2013
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Dave: No wonder you are obsessive about your shaping if you are making boards for your dad’s mates. Jordie: With mate’s boards it is also when I get to be creative because I’m surfing with them every day. I understand how they surf and what will work. A lot of them are just beginners or intermediate surfers and it’s really good to try different things for them. Having such a close relationship with the surfers who ride my boards also really helps with feedback. In fact, I like to go surfing with a lot of the guys who buy my boards if I can because that gives me a real understanding of what they are after.
through them whereas I can test boards, which definitely helps. The other benefit of being a surfer shaper is that if I see my surfing going a certain direction, I can shape the board to suit that. One thing I had been working on of late is the perfect board for me to travel with. I have been trying to whittle down my quiver down to just one board. I am sick of lugging around board bags. I have just finished a 4’6” fish that can fit in the back of a car and it goes amazing.
TRAVEL Throughout the last few years Jordie has also become somewhat of an intrepid traveller venturing to various corners of the globe in search of surf. He has documented his travels with many stories published in various surf magazines worldwide including smorgasboarder. Dave: Has your international travel over the last few years simply been surf trips or are you after inspiration for your designs?
ACROSS: Jordie on one of his Fish that he is so well known for. Photo: Scott Wintle LEFT: Custom board, custom artwork. BELOw: Happiness is a few great waves on a great board.
GEAR: SHAPER PROFILE
I need and still the majority of my boards go to mates - probably around fifty percent. I still make boards for a lot of my dad’s mates and my friends who have been riding my boards for years. I love that. I couldn’t handle having one of my mates buying a board from a surf shop. That would drive me crazy. It would just frustrate me no end.
Photo: Scotty Wintle
Photo: Scotty Wintle
SURFING Jordie not only harks back to days gone by in terms of his meticulous approach to crafting surfboards that will last for generations, he is also quite an accomplished surfer in his own right. In a sense he is a reincarnation of the surfer/ shapers of old. Guys who could interpret what could be achieved with surfboard design because they were capable of taking a surfboard to places on waves most mere mortals could not. Jordie’s superb style and precision noseriding along with his mastery of finless craft has seen him develop a solid reputation amongst his peers. Dave: Does being a good surfer help? Jordie: I guess a lot of shapers have team riders and gain feedback on their designs 110
Jordie: I think it’s more of a personal thing than anything to do with work. I needed it to grow. I feel it is just good for your personal development, particularly when I am living in such a small town. I could stay where I live for the rest of my life and be completely happy. Home is home, but I travel for the experience. It throws you out of your comfort zone. You meet interesting people you wouldn’t ordinarily meet in your day-to-day life. It has given me a different outlook on the way I live my life and how I make boards as well. I guess you have time to think about design and how to approach my shaping. I am still very young - I have plenty of time. I’m in no hurry to do it all right now because I recognise I have a lot of improving to do. I won’t be where I want to be as a shaper for another twenty to thirty years. That’s what I mean with making less boards. I’m
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here for a long time. I will just keep chipping away at it. I don’t feel the need to get a massive amount of boards out there. Dave: Finally, any new projects on the horizon? Jordie: I have been working a lot with timber lately trying to produce a more natural surfboard. It’s better for my health and I am mindful of the waste I produce. I can even put the mulch on my garden. I have tried hollow board construction but lately I have been leaning more towards chambered boards because I feel they are structurally more sound. But I have millions of projects on the go. One of the most rewarding things I have done with my shaping of late is to take on a young guy to help with my boards. His name is Jake Bevan from Cronulla. He is a very accomplished surfer himself. He has spent a lot of time with me over the years and I have made a number of boards for him. He has been with me each time I have shaped one for him. He has a real interest for board design. Jake has been working for me over the summer, and watching a young guy like that grow has been great. He’s just eighteen. He has just shaped his first board and it is better than what many others would produce who have been shaping for numbers of years. Working with Jake is incredibly important to me in terms of passing on what I have learnt and seeing the industry continue to grow. It is a way of keeping traditional shaping alive.
“I STILL MAKE BOARDS FOR A LOT OF MY DAD’S MATES AND MY FRIENDS WHO HAVE BEEN RIDING MY BOARDS FOR YEARS. I LOVE THAT.” Jordie offers up an interesting perspective on the future of surfboard craftsmanship. His vision to not only bring his own youthful edge to what some may describe as an outdated trade, but to ensure it lives on for generations, is to be commended. It is an incredibly mature outlook from someone who is just twenty-seven years of age himself. Personally though, it is what I have come to expect of him. He is such a genuine bloke with absolutely no air of arrogance considering all that he has achieved already. Jordie is not interested in all the hype and glamour that surrounds some sectors of the surfboard industry. It’s not his interest in life. He surfs everyday, he does what he loves and it both sustains him and provides him with an opportunity to travel. He wants for nothing more. Pumping out models for the punters would only threaten his fierce determination to remain niche and continue his ‘hands on’, personal service he provides each of his customers with. Aside from his beautiful partner Tiph and surfing, his overriding passion is to simply lovingly handcraft each individual surfboard for his customers with an equal commitment to quality and creativity that many have come to expect. For more, see: www.hightidesurfboards.com If you’d like to discuss a new board with Jordie, call him on 0401 437 392 or email: hightidesurfboards@hotmail.com
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SHAPER’S PROMOTION
GEAR: BOARDS
From modern perf ormance boards to retroinspired designs, all High Tide Surfboar ds are completely hand-sha ped and hand-finis hed customs, made to su it exact requireme nts.
9’8”x 23 ¼”x 19”x 16”x 3”
7’4”x 22 ¼’’x 17 ¾”x 18”x 3”
6’4’’x 20 ¾’’x 14’’x 14’’x 2 ¾’’
5’6’’x 21 ¾’’ x 17’’x 16’’x 2 ¾’’
9’8”NOSERIDER by Jordie Brown
TRANSITIONALby Jordie VEE BOTTOM Brown
PERFORMANCE EGG by Jordie Brown
QUAD FIN FISH
The combination of subtle tail lift, wide, Californian square tail, rolled vee bottom and full 50/50 rails makes this noserider design manoeuvrable without losing any stability trimming and on the nose.
A great smaller alternative to your standard longboard, based on the transitional longboards of the late 60s, with low rocker, heaps of flex and a heavy, rolled vee bottom.
A bit of everything - this is an extremely versatile stick. With meat were you need it and refined were you need it, this design paddles great, yet surfs!
This is an extremely versatile design. It goes amazing in under shoulder-high waves and performs great when it gets a bit bigger! Short flat and fast!
X1
CONSTRUCTION
Heavy tinted glass job with 2’’ solid paulownia stringer and a 10’’ pivot fin.
SHAPER COMMENT
Based on the heavier, old-school style of construction of the mid-sixties, this noserider is the perfect board for the surfer wanting to experience the glide and movement of an era past.
CONSTRUCTION
X1
Heavy, tinted glass job with resin stringer, custom artwork by Tiphaine De Flurette and a handmade, glass-on 10’’ Greenough flex fin.
SHAPER COMMENT
This stick is a great hotdogger and noserides like you wouldn’t believe.
CONSTRUCTION
by Jordie Brown
2+1
Light 6oz/4oz trimmed lap glass-job, tint and a full gloss coat and wet-rubbed finish. Fin box and FCS sides.
SHAPER COMMENT
This is the perfect board for drawing nice lines on a clean open face!
CONSTRUCTION
X4
Resin stringer, light 6oz/4oz trimmed lap glass-job, custom art by by Tiphaine De Flurette and an FCS quad fin setup (also available with custom glass on fins)
SHAPER COMMENT
I traveled with only this design for six months and it never let me down, no matter what conditions I came across!
HIGH TIDE SURFBOARDS Skenes Creek, Vic 3233 Ph: 0401 437 392 E: hightidesurfboards@hotmail.com www.hightidesurfboards.com 112
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SHAPER’S PROMOTION
GEAR: BOARDS 7’ x 22” x 2 7/8”
9’4” x 22 5/8” x 2 ¾”
9’4” x 23” x 3”
THE MINI LB
KUNEKUNE*
NOSE RIDER
The NZ fun magnet (Thanks Dave Swan). Looks like a shortened longboard, goes like a rocket!
*Kunekune (n. Ku-ni Ku-ni). A small pig found in NZ known for it’s friendliness and intelligence.
Nose scoop with 20” nose and 15 ½” tail (available in Pin or Square). All Australian-made.
By Mickey T
CONSTRUCTION
2+1
Hand-shaped PU blank. Glassed to last with 6oz bottom and double 6oz deck. Resin colours and traditional gloss and polish finish. Fin box and FCS sides
SHAPER COMMENT
We took our bottom contours and proportions from our HP longboard, shortened it and lowered the tail rocker for speed and drive. The result? A stable, fast and fun surfboard that paddles well and leaves a smile on your dial. RAGLAN LONGBOARDS
CONSTRUCTION
2+1
Hand-shaped PU blank. Glassed to last with 9oz bottom and 9+6oz deck. Resin tints and traditional gloss and polish finish. Single box fin.
SHAPER COMMENT
A refined, modern version fo the classic ‘Pig’ outline of yesteryear. Updated rails and bottom contours make it possible to slide, glide and noseride with confidence. Board shown is intended for lighter surfer and the bigger sibling is 9’6” x 23” x 3 1/8”.
257c Wainui Road, RD3, Raglan 3297 NZ (on the way to the beach) Ph: +64 (0)7 825 0544 Mob: +64 (0)274 460 396 E: mickeytsurf@hotmail.com raglanlongboards.co.nz
CUSTOM MAL
by Soul Surf Designs
By Mickey T
CONSTRUCTION
9’1” x 22 ½” x 2 5/8” Leighton Clark | CLARK SURFBOARDS
X1
Farrelly blank, 6 x 6oz deck and 6oz bottom. Curved deck, 50/50 rails. 10” centre fin box with Dion 9 ½” Dolphin or Hatchet Fin. Custom sprays by Martin Worthington. Matt or Polish.
Made for Matt L, whose order consisted of “Make me a 9’ mal, tinted, glass on fin, no leggie plug, and make it sick.” This is what we came up with... He loved it!!
CONSTRUCTION
SHAPER COMMENT
SHAPER COMMENT
Custom boards are our speciality. Love to hear about what you are riding and what you want to ride.
SOUL SURF DESIGNS 10/90 Mona Vale Road Mona Vale NSW 2103 P: 02 9979 2226 www.soulsurf.com.au Join us on Facebook.
CLARK SURFBOARDS NOW IN A NEW LOCATION Units 7 and 8, 9 Chapman Road Hackham SA 5163 E: leightonclark01@yahoo.com.au M: 0422 443 789 Available at www.onboardsurf.com.au
Incredible on the nose, and super easy to paddle and turn.
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X1
Resin tints by Mick Higgings and a glass on fin
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GEAR: BOARDS
STORE PROMOTION
6’0” x 21 ½” x 3”
6’6”
STOKER V MACHINE
TWINZER FISH
5’8” x 21 3/8” x 2 ½”
MINI BONZER
7’0” x 21 ¾” x 2 ¾”
VENUS FLY TRAP
Bruce Fowler | Deadshaper
Larry Mabile | Third World Exotic
Campbell Brothers Surfboards
Simon Forward | Zak Surfboards
The Stoker V Machine, shaped by Bruce Fowler out of California, continues the great tradition of experimental board design from that part of the world. The Stoker V Machine is flat and packs a heap of volume in a small package – it will paddle like a longboard but perform like a real shortboard. It is effectively a one-board quiver in everything from mushy one foot surf to punchy overhead.
This is the second generation fish design based off the original keel, shaped by Larry Mabile in California. The twinzer fins are handmade by Jack Jensen and provide loose, fluid movements, with minimal drag. Imagine your keel fins split in four, with a break toward the tail. If you like your Classic Keel, you’ll love the Twinzer Fish. The bottom has a roll to vee with double concave through the fins. The finishes on these boards are something to behold!
Best to leave the description of this little gem up to the man (Malcolm Campbell) himself: “If you are looking to ride something that is extra short, is fast and rides equally well front side or backside, this might be your ticket... “This model does not, we repeat ‘not’ have the profile of a Hull type board. It is a shortboard that will paddle well, and not catch rails and tip over easily. “Short, fast, fun and surprisingly versatile is how it has been described so far... “Use your creative instincts.”
The Venus Fly Trap is the latest shape out of the Zak Surfboards Victorian laboratory. It is essentially a high performance mid-length, featuring a soft chine rail throughout, and a subtle single concave which adds up to a heap of release. You can throw this thing around, go vertical and still paddle like a champ owing to the full nose template. Will comfortably surf anything up to the five foot mark. Shaped by Simon Forward in Barwon Heads and as with all Zak boards, glassed in Torquay.
COMMENT
Suitable for all levels of surfer from beginner to pro and will be available in Zak Surfboards from mid-March.
TORQUAY STORE OPENING SOON!
COMMENT
Check these and all the other Larry Mabile shapes we have in stock at Zak Surfboards.
COMMENT
Available at Zak Surfboards now.
COMMENT
Ring or email for more information on available sizes.
In conjunction with these fine shapers, we will be offering custom orders, made in the USA and Hawaii and shipped to Australia. ZAK SURFBOARDS 307 Victoria Rd, Thornbury Victoria Ph: 03 9416 7384 E: zak@zaksurfboards.com zaksurfboards.com 114
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SHAPER’S PROMOTION
GEAR: BOARDS
FREE SHIPPING!*
From 6’0” - 6’2”
From 5’10” - 6’2”
5’8” x 18 ¾” x 2 ¼”
6’2” x 20 ½” x 2 ½”
NEW KONG MODEL
DURBO XL MODEL
BAD BRAINS
SWALLOWTAIL
Kong models are especially suited to the old school power surfer. The new round square version with FCS 5 Fin option is a good choice for bigger guys who want a high performance small wave board.
A small to medium wave board based on Bede’s shorter, wider, thicker boards. A great high performance groveller option for heavier Surfers.
A flat nose rocker with extra nose outline for paddling and gliding through the water with ease. Smooth, medium tail rocker to maximise the flow and drive of the board whilst still maintaining manouverability and release through turns. Medium depth single-to-double concaved bottom. Available in all tail shapes and 3,4 or 5 fin set-ups.
Paddles well, maximum turning ability and its blend of single into double concave is designed to create more speed.
COMMENT
SHAPER COMMENT
by Ian Byrne
CONSTRUCTION
X5
Burford PU blank, 4 x 4oz deck and 4oz bottom. Carbon tail strips. FCS fins.
SHAPER COMMENT
Kong has a long history with Mt Woodgee and has spent a lot of time with Ian Byrne to work on his equipment.
by Wayne McKewen
CONSTRUCTION
X5
Burford PU blank 4 x 4oz deck and 4oz bottom. FCS fins.
SHAPER COMMENT
The latest innovations from Bede’s and Wayne’s surfer-shaper relationship go into this model.
*FREE SHIPPING!
by Wayne Webster
3, 4 OR 5
by Dino Tziolis
CONSTRUCTION
3, 4 OR 5
FCS, Gas or Future fin plugs. Five fin, thruster or quad. PU core, new digital custom made prints, 4 x 4 x 4 glassing.
A high performance small wave board! I have given the board more flow and zap whilst maintaining its ability to be forgiving in smaller waves.
A great board for beachies or points for any young up and coming girls or guys.
WEBSTER SURFBOARDS 1/13 Clark St, Ballina NSW Ph: 0416 049 205
INTRUDER SURFBOARDS Unit 7, 37 Hillcrest Pde, Miami, QLD 4220 Ph: 0409 727 735 E: dinosdings@gmail.com
Australia-wide on all Mt Woodgee stock boards up to 6’8! (Offer excludes Movement and reduced to clear surfboards)
Ph: 07 5535 0288 www.mtwoodgee.com.au Join us on Facebook Stores at Coolangatta, Currumbin, Burleigh Heads
E: info@webstersurfboards.com.au
webstersurfboards.com.au
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SHAPER’S PROMOTION
GEAR: BOARDS
ORDER
ORDER
NOW
NOW
9’6” x 22 ½” x 3”
9’6” x 23” x 3 ¼”
9’6” x 23 3/8” x 3”
HOBIE CLASSIC
RETRO CLASSIC
THE CHICK PEA
Designed for the surfer that is looking to sit back and enjoy the glide. A classic shape with 50/50 rails, rolled vee bottom and a smooth rocker flow will give you a taste of that smooth classic 60s board.
A real modern classic with a smooth flowing outline, small amount of rocker and 60/40 makes this board a great all around classic style design. The Retro Classic is extremely user friendly in mushy to good surf for all varieties of surfers.
By Hobie Surfboards
1+2
CONSTRUCTION
5 stringers with 2” Balsa/ Redwood T-band and ¼” Redwood offsets. 8oz Volan glass and a clear or resin tint finish. Single Hobie glass-on fin (wood or fiberglass) and a timber tailblock.
By Hobie Surfboards
CONSTRUCTION
1+2
Triple redwood stringers, 8oz Volan glass with deck & tail patch and a clear or resin tint finish. Single Hobie glass-on fin and a timber tailblock.
Solid and strong with a wedged stringer in PU foam.
CONSTRUCTION
X1
12oz clear top x 10oz tinted bottom. Single box fin.
SHAPER COMMENT
Fun and easy going, with no hidden agendas.
Perfect for point breaks and mellow reef rides. Beginner to intermediate surfers.
A fast paddler, it glides and turns smoothly. Perfect for point breaks and mellow reef rides. Suits anyone.
E: info@hobielongboards.com.au ®
NSW, QLD Ph: 0418 423 222 VIC,SA,WA Ph: 0437 200 400
THE GAP
by Scott Newman | SLS
Based on traditional style logs with 50/50 rails, classic Volan glass with no leash plug - The Gap feels pure. Narrow 17’3/4’’ nose but a wide hip.
CONSTRUCTION
X1
Burford blank, ½” white wood stringer, Volan double 7.5oz deck + deck patch, Volan double 7.5oz bottom + fabic inlay.10.5” Dead Loggers fin (I see red).
SHAPER COMMENT
Fills the gap - feels like a log when you need a log but feels like a mid-length when u need a mid-length. For 1-5 foot days.
SHAPER COMMENT
SHAPER COMMENT
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by Jed Done | BUSHRAT
9’4’’x 23 3/16”x 3 1/8” 9’2”From -9’6”
BUSHRAT SURFBOARDS Merimbula NSW P: 0409 813 431 E: jed@bushrat.com www.bushrat.com
www.facebook.com/public/JedDone-Bushrat-Surfboards
SLS SURFBOARDS 4 Allan St, Moffat Beach Ph: 0424 314 183 E: slssurfboards@hotmail.com www.slssurfboards.com.au
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速
Order now E: info@hobielongboards.com.au
NSW, QLD Ph: 0418 423 222 VIC,SA,WA Ph: 0437 200 400
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SHAPER’S PROMOTION
GEAR: BOARDS
“Build you ow board and th n have the pl en easure of riding it!”
5’7” x 23” x 2 ½”
MICK’S KNEEBOARD By Goran Peko
X3
South Coast Foam PU blanks and polyester resin. Thruster setup with Shapers fins. Will be working on a quad model early 2013.
SHAPER COMMENT
Custom order for Mick, local surfer who has been riding my shapes for a couple of years. This model has been refined a bit. Very positive feedback.
KOMA SURFBOARDS 4/39 Bailey Crescent Southport QLD 4215 Ph: 0402 863 763 www.komasurf.com 118
5’9” x 19” x 2 3/8”
13” nose 15” tail
6’3” x 19 ½” x 2 ½”
V2 FLEX FISH
NIC OFF 2 MODEL
THE SUBBIE
A single to double concave summer fun machine for small to medium waves, custom handshaped from 5’ up to suit your body weight and fitness level.
First of the new range of experimental boards both long and short incorporating the lightness of EPS foam and the strength of carbon-fibre. Along with natural fabrics such as bamboo and abaca (the natural carbon-fibre). All boards shaped by Peter White.
Wider, fatter and longer than my standard woody shortboard (I usually ride 5’10” x 17 ¾” x 2 ¼”). Paddles great, duck dives easily and catches plenty waves.
Mitchell Rae | OUTER ISLAND
Short, wide and fast!
CONSTRUCTION
5’8” x 20” x 2 5/8”
CONSTRUCTION
2, 3 OR 4
V2 Flex / PU foam, light to strong glassing. FCS or Future twin keel, thrusters or quad (recommended).
SHAPER COMMENT
by Dave O’Reilly
By Peter White
SHAPER COMMENT
X3
Extremely quick, positive and manoeuvrable. The V2 Flex brings the board to life. Feel it flex and whip out of turns!
Board was ridden on January 2nd by Nic (Jones) and his comments were, “It should have had wings as it spent more time in the air than in the water.”
OUTER ISLAND SURFBOARDS 7 Bayldon Drive, Raleigh, NSW Ph: 02 6655 7007 info@outerislandsurfboards.com outerislandsurfboards.com outerisland.blogspot.com
CLASSIC MALIBU Cnr Gibson & Eumundi Rd Noosaville, QLD 4566 Ph: 07 5474 3122 info@classicmalibu.com www.classicmalibu.com
CONSTRUCTION
X1
Hollow chambered 100% Australian grown and milled Paulownia. We have everything you need to make your own! 8” Paulownia single fin, handmade from off-cuts.
SHAPER COMMENT
I’m not going to build you one of these. Enjoy the satisfaction of riding your own creation. BUILD YOUR OWN!!
SURFING GREEN Coolum Beach, QLD Mobile: 0412 042 811 surfinggreen.com.au
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SHAPER’S PROMOTION
GEAR: BOARDS
own then easure it!”
Any size - Custom
Any size - Custom
6’6” x 21 ½” x 2 ½”
5’4” x 22 ½” x 2 ½”
THE ISLANDER
THE STUBBIE
HULL SLIDER
THE STINGRAY
A narrower tail than our Fish. Slight single to double concave, wide point in front of centre
Remake of my 1960’s model. Updated bottom shape and rocker, slight concave chines, bottom to tail pod vee.
The Hull Slider has a hulled bottom from nose to tail, pinched 50/50 rails, set up as a single flexi fin or quad fins.
This has the same outline as the Square Mouth Shovel model from nose to just below the mid point then runs into a double flyer and then a huge crescent tail. Soft 60/40 rails, dead flat deck and a single concave running from nose to tail.
Michael Cundith
CONSTRUCTION
YOU DECIDE
Standard, strong, not too heavy and very durable, single to 5-fin.
Dimensions for the above board is 6’8”x 20 ½” x 2 ⅝”
SHAPER COMMENT
Great paddler. Fast and loose. Indo reports are unreal and local comments great. The Islander suits all surfers, holds in well, is fast and manoeuverable. Stoked.
MICHAEL CUNDITH SURF DESIGNS 3 Banksia Dve, Byron Bay Industrial Estate, BYRON BAY Ph: 02 6685 8778 info@mcsurf.com.au www.mcsurf.com.au
Michael Cundith
CONSTRUCTION
YOU DECIDE
Strong, not too heavy and durable, single to 5-fin. Custom for you. Above board is 5’10” x 20” x 2 ½”.
SHAPER COMMENT
Customers feed back is fantastic. Great for paddling into waves, fantastic for late take-offs as it’s wide, stable, and accelerates instantly. You can feel it rise up on top of the water. 5-fins works perfectly for wide tail. Holds in, is loose and has heaps of drive with amazing trim speed.
By DJB Surfboards
CONSTRUCTION
1 0R 4
PU foam, clear or tinted 7oz Volan glass with option for fabric inlays.
SHAPER COMMENT
By DJB Surfboards
CONSTRUCTION
Inspired by the hulled-bottom trackers of the 60s and 70s, this board is for summer sliding fun when you want something in between your short board and your log.
SHAPER COMMENT
A Simmons-inspired sled for anyone who wants to have fun in small to medium waves.
DJB SURFBOARDS Factory 6, 222 Headland Rd, Curl Curl NSW Ph: 0417 674 257 www.djbsurfboards.com.au jan/feb 2013
Jan2013_Smorgas_Boards.indd 119
2 0R 4
PU foam, resin tinted 6oz bottom, fabric inlay 4oz deck, gloss polished finish. FCS plugs set as quad, twin fin or twin keel fins.
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SWITCHFOOT A CHANGE OF DIRECTION WHAT’S NEXT IN THE WORLD OF SURFING? Today surfers are riding all manner of surfcraft from high performance boards to SUPs and even jet-powered surfboards and finless creations. Manoeuvres have gone beyond simple cutbacks, floaters and tube riding to a whole new arsenal of aerial stunts like 180s, 360s and frontside reverses. But where do we go from here? Perhaps we’ll see a change of direction? I spoke recently with Kristin Bower, a former Australian champion wakeboarder and sponsored Rusty snowboarder. Having travelled the world ten times over, he’s recently taken to the waves. With no preconceived ideas on how to surf he has developed his own style and a new surfboard design to complement it. WORDS: DAVE SWAN
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SHAPER’S PROMOTION
GEAR: BOARDS “When I first started surfing I began riding switchfoot, right foot forward, left foot forward, it didn’t matter. Snowboarding and wakeboarding taught me to go both ways. I would switch the board around, kick it backwards, ride around the other way. Everyone would just look at me and ask, ‘Why don’t I do those big bottom turns and snaps off the lip?’ and I would say, ‘Well because I like to do this. I didn’t know I had to surf a certain way. I am sorry if I haven’t followed your written guidebook on how to surf.’ That may be what Mick and Joel does but this is what I do. If you don’t like it, don’t look. “What does style really mean anyhow? To me style is individuality and you can’t judge that. Everyone walks differently. Who is to say which walk is best? To me the way I surf is just natural. It is the exact same stance you are just riding with the other foot forward. I don’t call it forehand or backhand. I call it toeside or heelside. I don’t have to worry about left or right hand waves, they are all on my so-called forehand.” Kristin confesses he is not trying to prove himself to anyone. He is just pursuing something that is of interest to him. And with the surf industry becoming a lot more progressive in its thinking beyond the main stream, the time could be right for a wider acceptance of the direction he is taking. “Surfing has grown to such an extent that there is space for people with different interests within surfing. I can see the progression is just on the cusp. I am not trying to reinvent the wheel, I am just trying to allow it to go in reverse. jan/feb 2013
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TOP & ACROSS: Test-pilot Elliot Binkins working on an R&D session. MIDDLE & BOTTOM: The Switchfoot takes shape at Ralph Riddell’s shaping bay.
SHAPER’S PROMOTION
GEAR: BOARDS
“There is increasing crossover in board sports. When I first started snowboarding there were a lot of surfers taking it up due to the appeal of the ‘endless wave’. A lot more surfers are now familiar with skateboarding, snowboarding, wakeboarding... And if you look at a snowboard back in the 80s compared to now, or even a skateboard, the designs have changed to encompass travelling both ways. Surfers are now starting to understand the culture of going both directions, but surfboards are still going in the one direction, literally. “I just believe surfers are now ready to see surfing go in another direction… backwards maybe… in a positive way. “When you look at any media grab or surf photo nowadays it is predominantly of a dude in the air. When you see any young kid over the age of ten out in the surf they are performing 180s and are landing switch (with the surfboard tail facing forward) but because of the surfboard design they have to then quickly flick it around because you can’t ride surfboards backwards. ” With what he has regularly witnessed, and indeed the style in which he likes to surf himself, Kristin wondered why no one had designed a twin tipped surfboard not dissimilar to a modern day snowboard or skateboard. “I thought to myself someone has to do something, even if it is just a stab in the dark. I am going to put my money behind it and test the water if anyone is interested. There seems to be a need and even some intrigue. “Every time I went out I got a few curious remarks but I also got a number of positive ones from people who were genuinely interested in what I was riding, and why, and how. One guy even ran up the beach a couple of hundred metres to tell me he saw me riding switch. I thought, ‘I can’t really see any negatives here.’ I have to make this thing. “So that is what I am doing now, developing a twin-tipped surfboard. I figure I have to have a go. But I realise as well you are always going to get the haters. You know
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they crack open their can of Haterade and start yelling abuse at you. There has to be progression though and what I am doing may just be one tiny step in a huge direction… maybe. Or I could be completely wrong and going in the wrong direction. People may just laugh at me but I really don’t care.”
InItIal development When Kristin first came home and mentioned to his partner Cerise, who, along with her family are out-and-out surfers, he was going to develop a twin-tip surfboard, he immediately copped flak. “Cerise just couldn’t get her head around it until she saw the initial prototype and recalled how I wakeboarded. I figured if I am able to swing her, I am able to convince anyone. And while I am talking about Cerise, would you mind if I take this opportunity to propose to her... Cerise will you marry me? “Anyhow back to the story. Thankfully Cerise’s old man, Ray Taylor, who is the unofficial Mayor of Snapper Rocks, introduced me to Ralph Riddell. They were apparently old surfing buddies from back in the day. He told me Ralph was a good shaper and would sort me out. I obviously had this idea, met Ralph and he said, ‘Let’s do it.’” Ralph and Kristin developed their first board together, fibreglassed in some small fins near the ‘nose’ and started experimenting but they reportedly had cut too much of the nose off. “We made the first board too short. I had a crack at it and had local whiz kid Noah Lane riding it but we were getting too many nosedives or were catching the fins because they were a little too big. Noah surfed it on a really big day at Snapper and still killed it but also got a few of those nosedives, so I went back to Ralph. “The second version is working out a lot better than I expected both in people’s reactions to it and riding wise. We didn’t have to change a lot but already the improvements are well positioned for version 3 to come out firing.
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5’8” x 18 ¼” x 2 ¼” “We rounded out the nose, tweaked the rocker a little higher and made the fins a little smaller so now there isn’t any nosediving going on and she surfs like a proper board both ways. It was still important though that we had some rocker in it. Just as with wakeboarding, you need some rocker to soften your landing and provide you with the ability to take off on steeper wakes or waves for that matter. It is the same principle, you are just putting it to a new sport.” “I think the most important change we made was making the nose fins removable so that you can still surf the board standard as they come and then when you’re up for something a little different you can put the fins in and paint a whole different array of colours with your expression stick. Even I am beginning to
figure it out and I’m only a beginner myself but for people like Elliot Binkins, another of our test riders, he is trying more and more advanced moves on it and riding away smiling. “Interest in the board certainly appears to be gathering some momentum. You get a fair few people staring at you out in the surf and on the beach but these days most people come up and are just inquisitive about it rather than dead against it. I honestly feel the surf industry has been looking for a change for some time now. It was only a matter of time until surfers started to switch up their riding. The reaction I get from people in the water is nothing but positive and a few even mention Kelly Slater who (from what I’ve been told) talks about switch riding and surfing’s progression into the future in one of the ‘Young Guns’ films.”
Kristin doesn’t expect this to be his ‘idea’. He is aware of how quickly ideas are claimed as someone else’s invention or innovation. He basically just wants to see surfing move forward and do something ‘for the people’. “All I want is somebody to at least look back and say that guy tried to do something. I am not here to make a million dollars. All I want to do is have fun and if I die having tried to do something I feel is worthwhile doing, that’s awesome. At the end of the day if I die with all my money it is not going to be very fulfilling is it? I am putting everything I have into having a crack. “And once again in case you missed it the first time, Cerise will you marry me?”
SWITCHFOOT by Kristin Bower
Started out 6’1” but we cut the nose off. Single to double concave through fins at both the nose and tail. Everything is still very experimental but that’s half the fun.
CONSTRUCTION
SHAPER COMMENT
For someone who can draw from their snow boarding, skating and wakeboarding.
Kristin Bower E: indywakeboards@gmail.com jan/feb 2013
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3+2
Just PU normal as they come. Polyester resin, standard glass. My opinion on fins is smaller the better: 3 rear and 2 nose, but it’s optional.I actually like to ride it 2 rear and 2 nose to loosen it up.
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SHAPER’S PROMOTION
GEAR: BOARDS 5’10” x 21” x 2 ½”
6’0”” x 21 ½” x 2 ½”
4’10” x 21 ½” x 3 3/8”
4’5’’ x 21’’ x 2 ¾’’
STUBBYLICIOUS
RETRO TWINNIE
THE PACEMAKER II
BREAKDOWN BOOGIE
Retro twin fin with plugs for a trailer fin for extra stability in bigger waves. Flat rocker with a vee through the tail.
I’ve refined the board a little more and it’s even faster than before. An absolute rocket. For fat, facey waves or little zippers, this board suits the jaded shortboarder or amped longboarder - anyone who wants to draw some new lines, from intermediate to hero.
Not for the wall flower, this is a small to medium wave board for those set to get-down this summer.
By Jesse Watson
Fabric inlay. Comes free with a beard kit and attachable beaver tail for your wetsuit.
1+Bs
CONSTRUCTION
4/4oz deck, with über-modern fabric inlay. 4oz bottom with custom 8 ¼” Volan flex fin and mini sidebites. So hipster.
SHAPER COMMENT
THE board for summer. So far past retro, it’s verging on postmodern. Next week it’ll be in rehab - it’s THAT COOL. Super fast, super sick, super cool. you know you want it. Look of feined interest not included.
BLACK APACHE SURFBOARDS Ph: 0410 419 791
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by Graham Carse
SHAPER COMMENT
Built for small to medium sized waves as a twinnie. A great funboard and a must for your quiver. Can be shaped to your requirements. Only the highest quality materials are used to make a surfboard best suited to your style and experience.
by Mark Rabbidge
CONSTRUCTION
4 or 5
Made here in Ulladulla. Don’t sell out our heritage. Use your head - buy from an Aussie (us, or someone else will do) and keep your freedom of choice alive.
SHAPER COMMENT
Ride with 4 x flexy custom fins or 5 for extra options.
QUARRY BEACH SURFBOARDS
75 David St, Caversham, Dunedin NZ
Ph: +64 3 455 7414 M: +64 27 518 8678 www.qbsurfboards.com
RABBIDGE SURF DESIGN Ph: 02 4456 4038 M: 0427 767 176 Bendalong, NSW markrabbidge.com Email: sales@markrabbidge.com
by Dave Porter | TREEHOUSE
CONSTRUCTION
X4
Lightweight, stringerless EPS foam blank. Locally sourced Hoop Pine deck laminate. Durable epoxy resin and ‘S’ glass. Futures Quad.
SHAPER COMMENT
Take away the foam you don’t need and this is what you get. Foil and fin placement adjusted for drive and speed. Volume distribution and rocker custom on each order. Dance the same-old with the masses, or boogie to your own groove. Discover B-side surfing. Custom order only * *Deposit and full dance sequence to a 70’s funk classic in mpeg format required (may be used for training purposes)
TREEHOUSE HANDSHAPES Ph: 0415 925 739
E: dave@treehousehandshapes.com
treehousehandshapes.com
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SHAPER’S PROMOTION
GEAR: BOARDS
FREE
T-SHIRT*
5’10” x 19 ¾” x 2 ¼”
6’4” x 21” x 2 ¾”
6’0” x 19 ½” x 2 ½”
6’0” x 18 3/8” x 2 ¼”
POP TOP
BEGINNER BOARD
WIDE SQUASH TAIL PIG By Dean Geraghty
By Dean Geraghty
Matt Williams | THE FACTORY
Designed a bit wider, a bit flatter. Perfect for waves up to 4ft and for big airs. Double and single concave throughout makes for rail to rail surfing.
CONSTRUCTION
X3
The extra carbon helps for a longer lasting board.
SHAPER COMMENT
Designed with the Sunshine Coast in mind, the Pop Top is a must for your summer quiver.
THE FACTORY SURFBOARDS 17 Allen Street Caloundra QLD 4551 Ph: 07 5492 5838 E: hotking_69@hotmail.com thefactorysurfboards.com.au
Jan2013_Smorgas_Boards.indd 125
by Peko | UNDERGROUND
Designed specifically for the beginner, with soft, forgiving rails and full volume for easy paddling and stability. Tri-fin setup with mild single to double concave bottom, round or swallow tail for ease of turns, and flatter rocker for smooth, steady speed.
CONSTRUCTION
X3
A-grade materials including PU blank and resin and FCS fins.
SHAPER COMMENT
Great first board for kids and adults alike or for the inconsistent surfer who just wants a heap of fun. Overall a great family board.
UNDERGROUND SURF 3/77 Noosa Dve, Noosa Heads Ph: 07 5455 4444 kirra@undergroundsurf.com.au undergroundsurf.com.au Like us on Facebook
This is my PIG model for summer small waves, designed to handle from 2ft to 5ft conditions easily.
X3
CONSTRUCTION
PU foam, fitted with 4 Way Fin System - www.4wfs.com - the preferred fin system for its custom adjustability.
SHAPER COMMENT Design your board online with me. The process allows you as a surfer to get to understand the design elements and features of their board that work and help improve your surfing.
INFERNO
An all-round alternative to my small-wave PIG model, increasing the range from 2ft to 6ft waves, with the ability to work through smaller, flatter conditions too. Flatter tail rocker, lighter single concave and a hint of a double to zip through turns.
CONSTRUCTION
X3
Custom to suit you, and saved in our design program as your LIVING FILE, to revisit and refine as your surfing progresses.
SHAPER COMMENT
Let me walk you through my design process. Helping you understand your board’s performance, through design, will make you a better surfer!
GERAGHTY SHAPES Dean: 0422 442 044 E: info@geraghtyshapes.com www.geraghtyshapes.com
* every board order includes a free t-shirt jan/feb 2013
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Jon Frappell and his Marlin
SHAPER’S PROMOTION
GEAR: BOARDS
THE ONE THAT DIDN’T GET AWAY The winner of the recent smorgasboarder subscribers competition, Jon Frappell, is now the proud owner of a Riley Marlin, made specially for the event, and signed as such. This board is as light as a polyurethane fish and features unparallel stringers. During turns, these drive energy to the tail of the board for clean, crisp, powerful carves. So we expect a lot of that and photo evidence Mr Jon Frappell. Length: 5’0’’ - 6’8’’. This one was 6’5” 7/8. Width: 19 1/2’’ - 21 1/2’’. This one was 20 3/4. Thickness: 2 1/2 - 3’’. This one 2 5/8. Type of surfer suited to: Jon Frappell Type of waves suited for: whatever he can handle Weight: 4.8 kg Type of construction: EPS foam core Type of stringer: Riley unparalleled & cedar centre stringer Bottom: Vee from nose to centre and flat at the tail Tail: swallow Features: 12 month warranty - you snap it- we replace it. Eco friendly, light and durable. Proven shape and easy repair in poly.
NO-STRINGER QUAD FISH by Mark Riley This unique blue wood stain sets this board apart from the rest, featuring a flat bottom laying out to double scoop through to the fins.
SPECIFICATIONS
ECO FRIENDLY AND ALL PROUDLY HAND SHAPED IN AUSTRALIA. RILEY BALSAWOOD SURFBOARDS Ph: 0412 376 464 E: mark@riley.com.au balsasurfboardsriley.com.au 126
X4
Length: 5’6’’ Width: 20’’ Thickness: 2 5/8’ Weight: 4kg Construction: Recycled EPS stringerless foam core with 2.8mm balsa sheeting Bottom: Flat from nose to centre and double scoop concave at the tail Tail: Swallow Features: 12 month warranty - you snap it- we replace it. Eco friendly, light and durable. Proven shape and easy repair in poly.
MINI-SIMMONS/ VALLY by Mark Riley This little pocket rocket features a funky Walnut stain cross. It’s new to our range and has already become a favourite of my glasser Michele. Ultra light, ultra fast and comes with a twin set of beautifully hand made Riley keels to motor it along.
SPECIFICATIONS
X2
Length: 5 ½’’ Width: 20’’ Thickness: 2’’ Weight: 3kg
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SHAPER’S PROMOTION
GEAR: BOARDS 9’1” x 22 ½” x 2 7/8”
6’0” x 20 ¼” x 2 ½”
It’s this big!
PURPLE MAL
THE ONE WITH THE MURAL by Rory Oke
Glenn ‘Cat’ Collins | SURF 1770
by Neil ‘Chok’ Oke
This mal features a nose concave, slight roll through the middle to a scooped vee out through the tail.
CONSTRUCTION
1+2
Handshaped PU Ocean Foam blank, 6oz polished tint/ pigment glassing. Box and side fins.
SHAPER COMMENT For anyone after a mal that will perform!
One of our “frazfishes” with custom artwork by Ross Wilsmore. For those who want a board that goes as great in the water as it looks good out.
CONSTRUCTION
GONE FISHIN’
I made this one for Zane Harrison.
X3
Handshaped PU Ocean Foam blank, 6oz cloth, polished finish. Speeedfins s123 sides with a smaller trailer fin.
SHAPER COMMENT Ross is our in-house artist, so his work is available on all customs. OKE SURFBOARDS 1/1-7 Canterbury Rd, Braeside, VIC, 3195 Ph: 03 9587 3553 www.okesurfboards.com
Jet Bottom by Erle Pedersen. Shaped, sprayed, glassed, sanded and polished by Glenn Cat Collins.
Surfboards and surfing props E: surf1770@bigpond.com www.surf1770noosa.com jan/feb 2013
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We were pretty excited, and for even a split second dreamt we could actually surf.
TEST G EVERKNYOCTKHITIN TILL “DON’T IT” YOU’VE TRIED
FROM the SCREEN to the beach GERAGHTY SURFBOARDS Rocket-fish custom order 6’2” x 19 ½” x 2 9/16“ (31.4l) WORDS: DAVE SWAN Dean Geraghty on Skype
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‘Performance’ isn’t something that naturally springs to mind when I describe my surfing and when it comes to Mark, he possibly hasn’t even heard of the word. But so it was that we took delivery of our new ‘performance’ shortboards from Dean Geraghty following our Skype interview featured in the previous edition (smorgasboarder Nov/Dec 2012). We were pretty excited, and for even a split second dreamt we could actually surf. My board delivered on expectations of how it would paddle. In fact it was quite easy, considering the previous regular ride was a 5’0” fish. It did take some getting used to in the surfing department though, simply because the last few shortboards I’d ridden had next to no rocker and a tendency to
glide, whereas with this kind of board, you have to work it to generate speed and can’t stray away from the wave’s power zone. Quite frankly, I’d forgotten the need to do this and it took a little while to get accustomed to it. That said, once some decent swells hit the Sunshine Coast just prior to Christmas it was comforting to know I now had a board that could handle what was required! A few nice size waves later, and it all came flooding back - a timely reminder of how much fun a performance thruster can be in good surf. Surfing such boards also highlighted to me the intricacies of performance surfboard design - how various elements are delicately blended together to get the right result.
The bottom of my board profile featured an everso-slight single concave into quite a deep double concave through the tail with vee between the fins. This, combined with the round tail, delivered drive but made transition from rail to rail easy. I loved the sensation of real power to drive into turns and snap it around. It was a sensation I hadn’t felt for a while. The rounded tail also enabled me to hold the board in the critical part of the wave and also suited my front foot style of surfing. I look forward to another few decent swells so I can get more accustomed to the board and how it performs. I am rediscovering a new facet to my surfing. That’s what I have always loved about riding various types of boards.
jan/feb 2013
7/01/13 7:14 PM
TAKING DELIVERY It was a bit of a strange experience taking delivery of the boards, having seen them designed on screen in front of us. Not really like lifting the tape to get a sneak peak at your christmas gift, but more of a nasty tease to keep you in suspense. However, the wait - which was not at all long - was certainly worth it, with the two crisp, brand new boards looking as professional in delivery as the process that birthed them, and living up to all expectations and discussions during our Skype interview. To experience the process for yourself, see: www.geraghtyshapes.com or email deang@geraghtyshapes.com
THE FINS An extra bit of icing on the Geraghty cake is the addition of 4WFS (Four Way Fin Systems) on both boards. These give you the ability to adjust the cant, splay and offset of the fins... Basically what that means is you can fine-tune your board for top performance, AFTER it’s built. You can experiment yourself, or take the board back to the shaper and improve your ride, without having to build a whole new one. For more, see: www.4wfs.com jan/feb 2013
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THE EYE... Photos: Mark Chapman
MARK RABBIDGE DESIGNS 6’6” Extreme-chanelled twin-ish thingo WORDS: GUS BROWN
TEST G EVERKNYOCTKHITIN TILL “DON’T IT” YOU’VE TRIED
Like a set of steak knives... But they work, making the board easy to pivot despite the deep channels.
Like the Magic Eye optical illusion 3D images of the ‘90s this Mark Rabbidge “Eye” (our name for the board) special is definitely a 3-dimensional experience. The board tested is about 6’6”, 3“ thick and about 21” wide. However, the real innovative features of this board are the two massive deep V channels that run three quarters the length of the board, from which the two fins are set and protrude outward at diverging angles. The tail maintains the width with a double swallow design.
Now, unlike most of the boards I have had the opportunity to test, this baby felt like it was designed with my slightly overweight frame in mind. Kooky surfing style aside, I found it perfect for the 2 foot, relatively glassy conditions and it provided plenty of speed and maneuverability, but most importantly, was incredibly easy to ride. Watch out for the sharp fins and tail points though - they could inflict some serious water wounds! I went into the water thinking “this will be an experience” and came out marveling at how well it went. It goes to show it really pays off to be openminded about surfboard design and what you ride!
A profile not dissimilar to a crinkle cut chip
Mark Rabbidge has an eye for what works...
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7/01/13 7:18 PM
BELOW: Test-pilot Karl finds fun rides in the smallest of slop - the mini-Simmons knows no slowing. Photo: Mark Chapman
A SLED TO KEEL FOR
BLACK APACHE 5’6” Mini-Simmons WORDS: DAVE SWAN
I don’t care about what legends of the surf say, I am just going to come out with it and state that for me personally, mini-Simmons are the most fun boards I have ever ridden. Whether or not it is the type of surf we get up here on the Sunshine Coast, where the waves don’t generate a lot of power, or the fact that I can’t generate a lot of speed usually on a wave, these boards deliver the speed I need to get to places on waves I normally wouldn’t. And with speed you can perform nice big roundhouse cutbacks and sweeping forehand turns. I just love them. Mate and guinea pig test-pilot Karl had never ridden one, and was completely blown away by how much fun they are. We couldn’t get him to test any other boards after he jumped on this little number. As a matter of fact, I had to watch him pretty closely when we got out of the water just in case he tried to slip it into the boot of his car. I have often referred to Jesse Watson of Black Apache Surfboards in the past as “Mr. miniSimmons” because he IS the man - one of the blokes who lead the charge in bringing these boards back to be enjoyed once more. And yes, I will admit and come to terms with the fact his board is far superior to the mighty, bright green Stumpy Duck I made myself a few years back. Mr Watson: You rule. I suck.
Midlife Crisis? Who needs a red sports car when you have this racey little number with a good set of keels
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TEST G EVERKNYOCTKHITIN TILL
ed shoulder *Double-joint e surf stanc and gumby ed not includ
“DON’T IT” YOU’VE TRIED
Fins = 1. Count ‘em.
Slick fabric inlay! Gingham style...
SINGLE FUN BLACK APACHE 7’6” Anchors are for W*nkers Midlength WORDS: MARK CHAPMAN
“Mr Apache. I write to inform you that you, in fact, do not make surfboards. You... Make happiness.” This was the text that Jesse Watson of Black Apache Surfboards received from me right after my first session on the Anchors midlength. Why this is important is because a) first impressions are lasting impressions and b) I would have sent that text again every session since (except that it would make me a stalker, and Jesse doesn’t respond to my texts anyway). Crushing feelings of rejection aside, this board is talked up to be fun and flexible and I have to agree 200%. This board paddles like a dream, it catches waves early and easy, it glides, it goes... And with a neat and tidy fabric inlay, it’s one damn fine looking single fin too. Leaving plenty of meat in the middle for lazy paddlers such as myself, the Anchors is narrowed at the tail for great control and turning, giving it a plan-shape that looks as good as it goes. Speaking of the fin, the Anchors comes with Jesse’s own signature series Black Apache 9.0” Volan flex fin.
Being a custom board, the Anchors come in a variety of sizes, colours and finishes, so the sky’s the limit to what yours could look like. In Jesse’s words: “I said it before and I’ll say it again, if I could only have one board in my quiver (heaven forbid) this would be the board. The usability is criminal. The fun factor is phenomenal.” Once again, I agree completely. A beginner/ gumby like me will find this easy and fun in the most basic of conditions, while a more skilled surfer will be able to really make the most of the design in bigger waves. Thumbs up all the way. For more, see the website: www.blackapachesurfboards.com.au (on the Sunshine Coast, see Black Apache boards at Wally’s Water Gallery in Marcoola.
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BE BRIGHT! NOT BORING!
Get GASfins multicoloured plugs, any combo, any colours put into your next board. Make a statement and fight bland and boring with high-quality plugs, fins and hardware that is
GENUINELY
GET GAS COLOUR UNDER YOUR BOARD Ask your local shaper for GASfins PROUDLY USED BY SURFBOARD MANUFACTURERS ALL DOWN THE EAST COAST OF AUSTRALIA AND INTERNATIONALLY.
SHAPERS: Get in touch to try GASfins yourself. Quality and performance for customers without the price tag for you. 0417 980 524 • gasfins@gmail.com jan/feb 2013
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GEAR: FEEDBACK
A softboard was on the cards for our daughter, as she’s almost old enough to take to the waves with her dad, or at least I hope so. After reading the various reviews in the last edition of smorgasboarder, I was lucky enough to come across a secondhand GBoards Original a friend was selling. But with a good few years of use, would it stll be any good? Also, being a bigger guy who normally rides boards from the 60s and 70s I was quite unsure about how I would go on a soft board.
A SOFT SPOT
Regular smorgasboarder gear tester Pat Quirk does a little discovery of his own and tells us about his find of a secondhand softboard for his daughter, and how it’s ended up as fun for him too. WORDS: PAT QUIRK
TEN YEARS ON AND STILL GOING STRONG
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To my surprise I found the board was great fun to ride in all kinds of conditions and it seems as tough as old nails and easy to ride. In fact, if ever there was any testament to the strength and durability of the GBoards Original and the reason it is used religiously by so many surf schools, this is it - the board is secondhand, and from what I’ve been led to believe, around ten years old, yet is still as rock solid as a new one. I doubt you would find many vintage softboards around the traps. The first surf I had on it was 1-2 foot average beach break waves with a light onshore wind. The 8’6” GBoards came into its own catching waves super early, after getting used to the generous rocker of the board I was able to whip round some nice bottom turns despite the weak swell. The second time I surfed it was in a good two foot super clean early morning beach break peaks and it was a blast, once again catching the small waves easily, allowing you to turn your board, set your trim and scoot down the line. This board is super wide and thick and extra volume equals more waves and more fun. The stringers inside this board were really stiff and solid despite it being close to 10 years old - and the turning was way more solid than I thought it would be. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this board to anyone with kids or anyone learning to surf. If a board of this age is still in such good nick and I can see many years of fun left in it, it’s definitely a great investment if you buy a brand new one. It seems like it’ll be part of the family for life. And speaking of family, I can’t wait to get our daughter out for her first surf...
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TEST G EVERKNYOCTKHITIN TILL “DON’T IT” YOU’VE TRIED
PART II Last edition our kids tested the GBoards Classic to see how it fared as a beginner board. This time around, we thought we’d test how they performed when a bunch of middle aged, errrr... slightly ‘heavier’ gentlemen surfed them.
THE WASH Rating Now as we have previously mentioned, the GBoards Classic has been designed for absolute beginners who want to buy their first board at the right kind of price. It is not to say that these boards don’t surf well though. Tester ‘Damo’ Davis can surf rings around all of us and within a few seconds had caught a couple of crackers to immediately put everyone to shame. Don’t you hate people like that? It comes down to the fact that making the perfect softboard is not as simple as it sounds. You want something that is safe and won’t clock you one causing major damage. Plus you want it to be durable. But you need it to surf better than a foam mattress and not take in as much water. The GBoards Classic gets you as close to that criteria as physically possible. Sure, you won’t be busting airs, but you are guaranteed to have a lot of fun whilst learning to surf on a strong, stable and safe surfboard, no matter what your age. That is what you are after in a softboard, particularly one for all the family to ride.
As you can see, all ages and sizes can ride these boards. It’s definitely one for the family.
Main Appeal Peace of mind that these boards carry one of the most reputable names in softboards. They do the job they’re are intended to do – help beginners get into surfing.
Range The Classic range is extensive, starting from 5’6” through to 8’0” available in red, blue and pink.
Price From $299 through to $549.
More info www.bicsport.com
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THE WASH Rating I am not giving this board back, if that gives you any indication. It’s great as a finless flyer, oversized booger or camera mount when we are shooting water photography.
Main Appeal Incredibly fun to master, or should I say stand up on. I have decided that any of our friends who join us on one of our board testing days who become a little lippy will be thrown the challenge of riding the Moke.
Range es the Moke a little
Finless fan Dave giv
spin.
53 inches of fun in yellow, blue or white. Features two fibre stringers and double substrate channels.
Price $199.95
More info www.elninosurf.com
I don’t know what it is about finless surfboards that ignites my interest they way they do. I think it has something to do with my short attention span. I find I always move onto the next thing before I have finished the first. Having nowhere near mastered the art of surfing a ‘normal’ board, in all honesty I am pretty crap, I constantly seek out the thrill of something presumably harder. And the Moke lived up to this expectation… initially. Hey, I rode it. I didn’t rip on it. I don’t rip anything aside from my shorts when I bend over after too much Christmas pudding and beer. I digress. 136
I loved this little board once I got the hang of it and got some decent size fun waves to push me along. I did say ‘little’. She stands at just under a mere 4’6” but is 21” at her widest point. It even has these nifty little knee wells for when you are paddling. Because the board is so short, your knees sit just below the tail and with these wells you can steer it out through the break. Those who have ridden finless boards would know that before you get accustomed to them, the initial sensation when you are paddling out is that they are all over the shop. This stops that.
How did it ride? For kids who are learning to surf it was easy and fun to paddle and allowed them to really feel in control surfing down a wave, albeit in a prone position. It was just too small for them to stand up. Maybe a little ripper would go beserk. For me, once I got used to the size and the sensation of surfing what initially felt like a kick-board, I had a ball. I needed the waves to have some power to get me on but then there was a whole lot of slipping and sliding going on which I am absolutely addicted to. Big thumbs up from me. Dave Swan
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PART II
THE WASH I am happy to report the Island Surfboards softboard was great fun to ride and would be really good for learners. I was lucky enough to have had three fun sessions on this board ranging from super clean early morning 2-footers, a solid 4-foot day with the occasional nasty dumper, and 2-3 foot day on beach break peaks with a light onshore wind. Overall this board went well and you could say it had just a touch of performance to it. The flat planing surface generated plenty of speed. The tail on this board seemed to have a little less volume and was a little tighter, which gave it just a bit more bite when turning, but not enough to make it harder for those still learning to ride. The 2-3 foot sessions on this board were a blast. The session out in the 4-foot plus dumpers was fun, but you needed to position yourself carefully on each wave... However, these boards are specifically designed for learners and you would NOT send surfing newbies out into those kind of conditions. That said, the board still handled well enough and some good waves were had - thankfully this board has safe and forgiving learner-fins. This board also loved to trim, and for the more experienced surfer wanting to get a little fancier, regular Hang Fives weren’t out of the question. I would recommend this board to anyone learning, or just wanting to have fun on smaller days.
We say: “A board that feels so comfortable, that ‘Helmet’ Quirk is happy enough to ride helmet-free must just be the most astoundingly safe craft ever invented.”
Rating A great quality softboard with a performance edge
Main Appeal Island Surfboards have not only run their own surfboard manufacturing business on Phillip Island for some 40-odd years, but run a surf school as well, so they know what goes into a good softboard.
Range 6’6”to a whopping 11’. Just about any size you could need in yellow, pink and blue.
Price From $375 to $695
More info www.islandsurfboards.com.au
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BOARDS WITH WHEELS
Art exists in many forms, and one of the most ancient would be the art of tattoo. Originally for spiritual purposes a lot has changed in the world as far as ink on skin goes, but some still believe in the deeper significance of the artform. One such practitioner is tattoo artist, surfer, skater Su’a Sulu’ape FreeWind of Black Wave Tattoo in Los Angeles, who is extending his artistic vision to appear on the decks of Kahuna Creations boards. “Native North American heritage begins with a multitude of migrations over centuries from many different cultures and continents,” Freewind explains a little about his ancestry. “Native American artwork rituals and ceremonies can find parallels and comparisons in other shamanic and indigenous cultures all over the world. For instance, the Maori consider the Native North Americans as their distant cousins. In fact the Totems of the Pacific North West are very similar to that of the Maori of New Zealand, which have the native North Americans mentioned in their songs. “North America as a continent was accessed with migrations by sea and water as well as land and ice, so the use of the water and paddle was essential to its colonization and development.”
TOP: Paper designs und er way for the Black Wave dropdeck performa nce longboards. ABOVE: R&D... Big stic k, longboard... Now what artwork will make this even better?
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GEAR: SKATE
Freewind grew up in the North West Coast spending most of his time living between San Francisco and a Northern Indian Reservation. From an early age he was introduced to canoeing, hunting and fishing, whereas in San Francisco, from the age of five, he was crafting homemade skateboards out of steel rollerskates, later with clay wheels and exposed bearings before the day’s of urethane. “In bombing the steep mean streets of San Francisco for fifteen years, I forged a connection between surfing and skating, which I dreamed of as my asphalt ‘black wave’, he explains. “San Francisco’s steep inclines were a true test of courage and a rite of passage. It was like skateboarding’s equivalent of surfing Mavericks in the north, or Waimea in Hawaii. Skateboarding proved to be instrumental in my transition to Los Angeles where skateboarding became my primary transportation and I was old enough to access the sea with a surfboard in hand.” ABOVE: Su’a Sulu’ape Freewind is known for his culturally correct tribal and contemporary neo-tribal design. Now, his skills have been applied to some pretty nifty dropdeck performance longboards by Kahuna Creations. RIGHT: Freewind and Cory McBride of Kahuna Creations BELOW: It’s not just how it looks that matters, it’s how it goes!
Apart from skating and surfing, Freewind undertook a journey of much work on his body in a short timeframe, which he says has given him a heightened sense of spirituality. “Most all of my tattoo work administered by myself or my teachers - Steve Smith and Leo Zulueta, and my adopted father Su’a Sulu’ape Petelo of Samoa - all had spiritual significance and were rites of passage to the next stage of healing and self-empowerment. “They were sessions that ran for many days in succession as well as single sessions lasting up to 37 continuous hours, adding up to a total of almost 600 hours so far. These extreme experiences gave me a heightened sense of my own ability to face personal challenges, as well as empowering me to do the same for others.” Aside from his affinity for traditional tattoo techniques and tools, Freewind has himself been practicing machine tattooing for 21 years, and says the transition between “old world traditional”, modern “neo tribal” and “poly tribal” tattoo styles is still an outstanding favorite to perform. “It’s the freedom of shading, dimensions and alternative variations to traditional designs and symbologies, respecting the iconic cultures and even the use of colors... Modern machine tattooing allows an expression that was not possible with the old-world technology.” And he is happy to employ new technology in his boardsports too... “Exploring snowboarding with the “Kahuna Creations Big Stick”, ordered one for my skateboard and the rest is history in the making. Still working on it…. Ride on!” For more on the Black Wave longboard, see www. kahunacreations.com and to get one for yourself, contact the good folks at www.streetsup.com.au. For more on Su’a Sulu’ape Freewind’s work, see www.blackwavetattoo.com
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GEAR: SKATE
SMOOTH
39” ART Thruster I turning mechanism
Here at smorgasboarder, we’ve been fans of Smoothstar skateboards for years now, and one thing that keeps our enjoyment levels up there is the refinement and constant tweaking that they go through. Most recently, the new range of Smoothstars burst out onto the street with amazing new artwork, one of which being the 39” Dolphin Cruiser, which features art by Sunshine Coast local Jason Sanger.
“I wanted a long point break, dolphins in the water, which has been an experience that I’ve had, which is fantastic” Jason explains.
Jason says the inspiration for his work comes from his environment – the coast and what he sees in nature – but a major part of his inspiration is surfing, which
And the image suits the ride of the cruiser down to the ground. Fitted with a self-propelling, rotating front truck system that makes Smoothstars so perfect for surfers, the 39” is the perfect cruising longboard for long, drawn-out carving turns. Coffs Harbour longboarder Harley Ingleby agrees, and you can see him giving it a workout here: http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=vDM-wIBar5E.
7-ply Canadian maple deck
For a cool look behind the scenes and some more on what went into the design of the board, see the clip on the Smoothstar site at www.smoothstar.com.au.
ABOVE: Scenes from the Smoothstar Dolphin video, Jason at work. RIGHT: The final board.
Medium rear kick
comes across in the design featured on the Dolphin: sun, overhead waves, surfing and of course, dolphins.
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SKATE: PIONEERS
C I R S T C E M L E EA
R D
kids any row m een n ’t g ve b ho didn ery ow a h t v ’ r w s ei ldn y wou eightie ning th ty McFl f us e r e e w r Th in th g of o e Ma ost o back reamin , just lik re. For m dream. up d rboard he Futu anciful of hove ack to t was a f uinn eas Q t t t a ir r id in B ever, i nd M d othe ing the a n a how k a Da eir sh hers teboard about m hilst th nly t o r B Ska set nd w rtai g FIIK gh, and ality. A they ce ’s leadin , e u r d r l o th ms a t hove wor ards. ’ e o drea ds don now th skateb ve att r are c a i h r o b IIK ct they a d yet M nd e l e F fly. lier of elieve uch an f age a r b supp ard to ed so m years o bad fo f the h It’s mplish ty-nine not too back o acco ly twen our. So, rom the is on thirty-f lokes f nd. b Dan young Hinterla K F FII two Coast N SY O A E d T l W R Go VE S COU : DA ED, RDS SUPPLI O W : TOS PHO
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A PINCH OF SALT
SKATE: GEARHEADS
S
Good food, good beer and somewhere to surf. Maybe throw in a bit of National Park to take the edge off the hustle and bustle, and quieten things down a touch... That sounds pretty much like heaven to us. And that exact little piece of heaven is exactly what Chef Matt Upson has created for himself in the picturesque little area of Kioloa, just 30km south of Ulladulla on the NSW South Coast. We chat to Matt and fellow surfing chef, Dean Pitt. WORDS: MARK CHAPMAN PHOTOS: STORK
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The Quinn brothers: Matt and Dan
Early days at the Quinn family home on the boys’ homemade skate ramp.
A host of big names have hopped on board FIIKs, including current ASP world champ, Joel Parkinson.
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“I built another skateboard ramp at school as part of a school project. A proper one with a steel frame and the correct radius but it wasn’t nearly as big. It was more like a mini quarter pipe.” The boys were hooked. Any trips with the family saw them bring along skateboards, whether it was to the big steel halfpipe at Beenleigh or around the Gold Coast. All they did was skate - that was all they wanted to do.
EARLY DAYS Matt and Dan, along with their older siblings and parents, grew up on a 44-acre farm inland from Mount Tamborine, which forms part of the Gold Coast hinterland. With an adjoining 150 acre property beside them, there was always plenty of room for the boys to explore and undertake various projects that threatened their personal safety. Anyone with sons will understand this. They built numerous cubby houses, flying foxes, go-karts and the like but a chance discovery one day spawned a whole new interest. Matt explains his precious find that he was later reportedly cheated out of by his older brother. “We had a three kilometre driveway, and one day coming home, I saw a skateboard on the side of the road, just sitting there with no one around. A little while later I snuck back down with my pushbike to where I saw it. It had just been left there, so I grabbed it, rode home and showed Danno. It was the best skateboard with Cockroach wheels and Independent trucks. “Danno did some sort of deal with me that saw him take the skateboard. I think I was given rights to use his GameBoy. It still remained his though and whenever I wanted to use it he would let me.” Matt was about nine years old at the time and Dan thirteen. At that stage the family was living in a barn on the property whilst their house was being built. With leftover building materials from the home and an old Chinese restaurant billboard they found behind a nearby bus stop, they set about constructing their first skate ramp.
It was around this time Matt purchased his very first skateboard and the subsequent disappointment lead him and Dan in their ongoing quest for more skateboards and better equipment. “I went over the road from dad’s real estate office to Watersports factory at Springwood and bought my first ever skateboard with my own money. Mum and dad never bought us anything like that. We always had to work for it and buy it ourselves. If you wanted something you had to build it yourself or buy it yourself. “When I got back home I was so stoked and showed Danno. He had a test of it and took off down our big ramp and slid down sideways on the Chinese sign slicing the wheels in half. The sign was like one giant razor blade. I was crying for days. And then he tells me I bought the wrong compound wheels. I was shattered but obviously had to get working to buy myself another skateboard and the obsession grew from there.”
TWO-STROKE ENGINE MOTORISED SKATEBOARDS All Dan wanted for his fifteenth birthday was a chainsaw motor that he planned to build his very own motorised skateboard with. It was a 65cc Stihl called the Farm Boss that cost $650
alone for just the motor without the bar and chain. All of his siblings and mates chipped in to buy it for him. “I had convinced everyone that’s what I wanted - the most powerful power-to-weight ratio of all the chainsaws, plus it also had a centrifugal clutch, which basically engages when you rev it up. What this allows you to do is roll along when the engine is not revving. “I had bought an MBS mountainboard prior for about $800 from Skate Biz. It was one of the first ones. Mountainboards were developed for snowboarding runs in the summer months basically an all-terrain skateboard. “My plan was to mount the chainsaw engine on the back of a normal skateboard and bolt it onto the mountainboard so it acted like a swing arm. The weight of the motor would sit on the swing arm and keep the weight on the drive wheel to keep it on course and stop it from popping around. When we started assembling it we even took it a little further and put a spring on it to give it more downward force.” Added to this was a throttle cable and eventually a mountain bike disc brake kit and various other parts whose variable uses basically left me dumbfounded as to how kids that age knew so much about mechanics and stuff. Hell, I’m in my forties and still have no bloody idea what they are talking about. “It was quite elongated and wasn’t transportable. It wasn’t something you could stick under your arm - more like a train, and particularly dangerous. It was probably capable of around 80-90km p/h, but wouldn’t handle that speed, so we were keen to gear it down.” The boys endeavoured to enlist the services of a mechanical engineer who performed regular work for their father to build them a gearbox. Dan worked extra hard to save up the $2000 he was quoted to build the gearbox, but was thwarted when the said engineer approached Dan’s father to discuss the project.
Dan explains the project: “We didn’t have the internet back then and no point of reference. As such, the ramp was quite vertical. It didn’t have the smooth radius you want, and the sheets were horizontal. What this meant was, in the middle it would flex apart and create a bit of a gap. If you ever got your foot stuck there it would act like a big pair of scissors. Friends would come around and everyone would maim themselves. It gained a reputation for how dangerous it was. We sat there every night and just went for it. We basically taught ourselves how to skate. With no outside influences we developed our own style of skating.
Wall-to-wall innovation: from the earliest models on, there’s been a lot of work and thought put into the current incarnations of the boards.
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“He pleaded with Tommo to not let me go ahead with this project because he feared for my safety. He thought it was a bit outrageous and he didn’t want to build such a device. Tommo was the first to say, ‘No bugger that, they should be on the production line. Don’t waste your bloody time with skateboards.’ He and dad secretly sabotaged it. I was pretty upset.” Years down the track, Dan would return to the said mechanical engineer’s business on one of FIIK’s latest lithium powered skateboards yelling out, “Hey Kevvie look what I’ve got. Remember this? I ended up making it” as he did a hot lap before sliding out the tail in front of him. “After the sabotage, we tried a whipper snipper motor. It still runs. It has a 33cc two-stroke motor with a gearbox reduction kit in it on the back truck, with a dropdown aluminum deck. It does accelerate properly, but is very unbalanced with its weight. It has a pendulum effect where the back constantly slides out.” Matt explains what they were like to ride. “They were all death machines. No one could handle them. They were notorious for taking a few scalps. The petrol ones were obnoxious, dirty to touch and you would burn yourself constantly on the exhausts.”
FAMILY At this point - to understand how the boys found the motivation and inspiration to realise their dreams and take the next step towards developing FIIK - it helps to understand a little more about their upbringing. The Quinn’s weren’t your everyday Aussie family. For starters, their parents were Kiwis. Tom Quinn (or ‘Tommo’ as his sons call him because he’s considered ‘one of the boys’) was born in a tiny town near Waimate just south of Timaru on New Zealand’s South Island. Vee was from Matamata on the North Island, which has since become famous as the location for the Hobbiton set in Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings film trilogy and the recent The Hobbit. Both were adventurers and entrepreneurs in their own right, keen to instill the same lively spirit in their kids. Vee ran her own clothing label. As a young man, Tom was in charge of a palm oil plantation in Papua New Guinea, taking over from the previous boss who had met an untimely end. He later moved to Australia and set up a real estate agency where sixteen years on he sold his share in the business in pursuit of a change. He bought a chemical factory in Brisbane that manufactured cleaning products and after enlisting the expertise of a chemist, he went on to develop various products including the well-known Australian cleaning product, Shower Power. Tom and Vee had five kids; Mark, Greer, Peter, Daniel and Mathew. If five kids wasn’t enough, they also had regular visitors in the way of overseas exchange students regularly living with the 146
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family. This exposed the kids to different cultures and perspectives and as Matt recalled, “the latest and best technology from Japan.” As the kids grew older and became ready to fly the nest, Tom and Vee set them each a challenge: once they finished school each had to travel to a non-English speaking country and live with another family for a year on an exchange program. The intent was to throw each of them into the deep end and out of their comfort zone. The challenge saw eldest son Mark and daughter Greer go to Japan, Peter to Costa Rica, Dan to India and Matt to Thailand. Matt explains the impact it had on his life and the new family multicultural dynamic it created. “By the time I returned from Thailand I could speak fluent Thai. I then spent four years in China and am now also fluent in Mandarin. None of us ended up marrying Aussies either. Mark has an American wife, Greer a Spanish husband, Pete a Pommie wife, Danno has an Argentinean fury, and I have a Chinese fury (he says laughing).” Each of the kids have pursued work in different fields around the globe including export, PR, marketing and of course Danno and Matt have their interest in FIIK. Dan ads, “Mum and dad are quite unique in that they never let anyone cap their imagination. They have always encouraged each of us to pursue what we want. We were fortunate to receive
good educations and to travel extensively both individually and as a family. In terms of our business, dad has not only been an exceptional father but a great support, coach and mentor.”
FIICKING THE SWITCH:
THE FIRST ELECTRIC SKATEBOARDS
While the boys were living on the farm, over in California in 1993, a man by the name of Louis Finkle invented the first electric skateboard. Finkle patented his design and drive system along with the concept of a wireless hand remote, despite the fact they did not exist at that stage. It would take another seven years before the boards would make their way into production. As far as Dan and Matt Quinn knew at the time, only a two-stroke motor could deliver the power you needed to drive a skateboard. It wasn’t until around 2004/05 that they saw motors powered by batteries that had enough torque and efficiency. Matt talked me through their first electric skateboard. “I had moved to Thailand for a year and came back with these little electric remote control cars.
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SKATE: GEARHEADS The Quinn boys in cruising mode. Dan to the left and Matt on the right.
“MY PLAN WAS TO MOUNT THE CHAINSAW ENGINE ON THE BACK OF A NORMAL SKATEBOARD AND BOLT IT ONTO THE MOUNTAINBOARD...” Dan Quinn, on the teenage incarnation I imported a couple of thousand of them when I was eighteen. I used to go to the markets and sell them. That was the start of our designs for the electric remote control. It was 2001. “A few years later I moved to China when I was twenty-one and lived there for the next four years. During this time I developed a fleet of motorised skateboards and was testing them out. Whilst I was in China, Dan was importing some electric skateboards from The States. “Danno got a few of Louis’ boards and was having all sorts of dramas with them - wheel bite, they would cut out, you would fall off and they would keep going, fuse problems, there was still no operational wireless remote… Dan adds, “I had skateboards everywhere I had pulled apart. At this stage Louis was having so many dramas with them he couldn’t sell them. He got out of it and sold the business along with the US patent to another guy in The States. “Through the work Matty was doing over in China, and what I was doing here, we picked up where Louis left off and started to chart a new course,
introducing our own remote wireless system. “We made moulds in China for the various skateboard parts at the same factory we got the original whipper snipper motors. In 2005 we had developed the world’s first 800-watt, all-terrain electric skateboard - what we have since refined and called the Big Daddy. “Louis had only ever developed electric street boards. We went back to our original plans to make an off-road board to house the size of motor we wanted. We started selling the boards to family and friends and in around 2009/10 we got a little more serious. It was about then you guys started the magazine and we began advertising the boards in smorgasboarder.” Matt returned to California recently with a close friend of Dan’s from school, Aaron. They met with Louis and he was so impressed with where the boys had taken his original design and the development work they had undertaken that he gave them the very first prototype he ever built. “We are probably more production-minded than most. Dad ingrained that production mentality
Tyler Wright jan/feb 2013
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into us - about how to bring a sustainable, highquality product to market at a reasonable price, rather than just have it as some airy-fairy dream. “The product has always been in people’s minds. It’s something most of us have dreamed of or would like. We just made it a refined, saleable product. But it has taken us a lot of time and money to develop. We had to make the moulds for the trucks, the base plates, engine mounts, engine covers, belt covers, the battery box – basically lots of moulds or ‘tooling’, as its called, is required. Each mould is around $10,000. “We have taken the time to get the quality, reliability and robustness where we want it. That is something we came to understand and found out the hard way though all our various product developments through the years.”
ONGOING DEVELOPMENT There was over ten years experimenting with motorised petrol skateboards before another ten years of experimentation with electric skateboards, but all through this time both Dan and Matt continually pursued improvement in their boards. With the recent release of their revamped, incredibly lightweight lithium-powered Rager model, they have scaled new heights and now have the most advanced board in terms of performance, maneuverability and power. It has a true skate feel, with a specially formulated hardwearing polyurethane compound wheel. The board’s centre of gravity has been lowered and newly developed, moulded trucks introduced to further enhance the ride experience. But if this board is the culmination of their efforts to date, it is just as interesting to hear from Matt about their journey to where they are now. THE BELLY OF THE BEAST: What lies beneath the FIIK Big Daddy all-terrain model
“In Danno we have the best tester in the business, he rides so aggressively. He absolutely destroys everything, usually in a matter of ten minutes, if not a day. If it passes the Danno test, it’s okay. “You can’t sell something that breaks quickly. We wouldn’t feel comfortable. That has been our ethos 148
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“In Danno we have the best tester in the business, he rides so aggressively. He absolutely destroys everything, usually in a matter of ten minutes, if not a day. If it passes the Danno test it is ok. “You can’t sell something that breaks quickly. We wouldn’t feel comfortable. That has been our ethos from the start. If we test it, ride it continuously and can’t break it, than it is fit for sale. That’s why we have taken so long in the development of the boards. We pretty much modified the board for close to ten years before we were at a stage that we were comfortable to sell it. “We have learnt everything about the boards through trial and error. Every week we would be trailing a new motor, new battery, new computer system, new control system.... These skateboards have to sustain full throttle the whole time nad need to take the load of 130kgs. “Most of the guys who want to test our Big Daddy, like the boys at the Burleigh Longboard Club, want to take it straight away on grass going up the biggest hill possible. That’s why we basically overengineered it so the belt slips before the motor blows. We also have an automatic temperature cut-off - a sensor that will cut the motor off before it overheats. The others don’t have this. “We have had five generations of wireless remote systems and numerous re-jiggings of the printed circuit boards. We could initially break one on a regular basis. “We have developed our own lithium batteries and have gone through the whole production process from the start: painting the actual lithium onto the foil, rolling it through the machinery, packing it into the cells, packing the cells into a pack, putting and charging the battery management system in that pack, moulding our own battery case, putting in our own battery level indicators and charging device, waterproofing…”
Mt Woodgee Surfboards team rider Bede Durbidge cruises the road-friendly Stinger
FIIK’s original wheels feature a billet aluminum (a lighter, stronger, corrosion-resistant version of the alloy) hub, which is machined and fused onto a Goodyear rubber wheel to make it into one piece. The wheels are designed to give you all the grip required and be harder wearing. The aim is to be able to perform power slides, but maintain constant pressure without the feel of the wheel sliding out from underneath you. Dan explained why they have opted for these kinds of wheels, as opposed to standard skate wheels on most of their models. “Normal skate wheels don’t work on an electric board. There are a few other companies who try it, but the fact of the matter is you do a lot more kilometres on an electric skateboard than you do on a normal one. Plus you often ride the boards on rough bitumen where you possibly wouldn’t a normal skateboard because people often use these boards as a means of travel. This, coupled with the fact there is a lot more pressure and weight being applied to the wheels, sees them heat up a lot more. Electric skateboards are hell on skate wheels. It wouldn’t be uncommon if you used standard skate wheels to see the rider go through them in a week or two. That’s $80 down the toilet on a regular basis. “But recently, after a lot of testing, we‘ve developed our own special polyurethane compound wheels. They are a much more square than a standard skate wheel, so there’s more surface area for contact and a lower profile. If you’re performing power slides, you want to maintain constant contact with the surface.”
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Dan explained the wheels are also gerometer tested, whereby a spike is inserted into the wheel to ensure it is the right hardness. It’s a delicate balance between being soft enough to provide grip whilst maintaining a degree of hardness to ensure longevity. “We have tried every imaginable truck system available, from pivot trucks and double pivot trucks to upside down trucks and torsion trucks. We have paid a lot of attention to how the board turns and carves, particularly when dealing with the power they generate. It’s incredibly important how the board turns, how fast it turns, the manner in which it turns in and out and the radius it turns on. You want trucks that are robust and won’t snap, and will move vertically rather than horizontally - as with most usual skate trucks - otherwise the board will torque steer. Independent trucks were our first experience, and they still stand up today. There are no bad mannerisms.
“If you were to use normal skateboard trucks, as do some others, when you drive power through a turn, it torque steers. Basically, you get the death wobbles, which at speed will result in a lot of lost skin and even worse. It actually steers the back truck around like a forklift. So when you turn, it actually kicks the back out. It’s not a good ride experience.
ABOVE: FIIK’s new, specially formulated polyurethane wheels. BELOW: The new slimline, revamped Rager model
ABOVE: Early adopters and ambassadors of the technology, the Wright siblings Tyler and Owen.
“Our boards also feature Kevlar belts… and the list goes on.” jan/feb 2013
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SKATE: GEARHEADS
THE IMITATIONS
LATEST GEAR
FIIK are now the leading supplier of electric skateboards worldwide. They have warehouses near Munich in Germany, Saint Eval in the UK, Florida in the United States, Springwood on the outskirts of Brisbane and Auckland in NZ
Along with their range of electric skateboards, FIIK has recently released a line of regular skateboards - the human powered variety. There are double kicks, street cruisers and a downhill range with dropthrough Paris trucks, right through to the full race slick dropdeck. Dan walked me through some of the range, along with other bits of kit.
The boys are constantly refining and improving their boards but as always in life, there will be businesses in hot pursuit of the innovations, copying their every move. Dan filled us in: “There are a few copies out there now, and we of course know of them because all of those customers come to us for repairs. There’s often no support, no one they can call up, and nowhere they can get parts. We have seen everything because this is where they all end up – here at our workshop, getting fixed for the umpteenth time. It’s always followed with the comment, ‘I wish I had just bought a bloody FIIK and saved myself the heartache.’ “After all the dickin’ around and repairs, what seems like an electric skateboard for a couple of hundred dollars cheaper than ours has cost them twice as much. You basically require two of the cheaper variety. One for its actual intended use and one for parts to keep the other on the road. “It’s not until you see our boards beside our competitors up close that you will truly notice the difference. Plus, we have demo boards available in all the shops we supply, so you can take our boards for a test spin.
“The decks are made from either Canadian Rock Maple with stringers to give them that little extra pop and stiffness or bamboo. The downhill range and cruisers feature artwork from Sofles, one of Australia’s most renowned graffiti artists. He is a Brissy (Brisbane) boy. The fun boards have been done by Cheongy (Dallas Cheong), frontman for Byron Bay’s psychedelic surf rock band, The Grains. “Our longboards all have stone-ground wheels, meaning they are pre-scrubbed, so basically you don’t need to break them in and can start bombing hills straight away - there is no slippery factor. They are also perfectly flat. We have a special jig where we run it on a granite stone and grind them down flat. “We have a new range of pads and helmets fitted with Terry Toweling, so they don’t stick to you and get itchy. With other helmets, we have often found the foam peels off and there is Velcro behind it, which is scratchy. We want people to wear helmets so we want them to be as comfortable as they can be. Then we have our hardware…Riser pads, double compound bushes, screws for longboards and shortboards and our own titanium bearings, which are super light, hardwearing and roll beautifully.” And is if that wasn’t enough, the boys have also recently produced their own t-shirts, hats, thongs and shoes.
THE FUTURE As you can gather from what they have already done in their lives at such a young age, the Quinn boys never stop coming up with new ideas. Looking around their workshop, there are a heap of new projects on the go that we didn’t even discuss that are near ready to be launched. As for what will be next? F.I.I.K. I guess we will learn in time. Like the acronym for their business: Future Is In Knowledge. For more, check out fiikskateboards.com, to see the full range of skateboards, or visit the showroom at Unit 2, 3366 Pacific Highway in Springwood, just south of Brisbane, to give a Fiik board a test run.
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Planning a surfing holiday or weekend away? These fine accommodation options offer great proximity to surf beaches in some of Australia best surf spots and beyond. Get out there.
VICTORIA
TASMANIA
SURF TRIP ACCOMMODATION
NEW SOUTH WALES
MARRAWAH BEACH HOUSE 19 Beach Road, MARRAWAH
SILVERWATER RESORT 17 Potters Hill Rd, San Remo
SOUTHVIEW BULLI 19 Southview Street, Bulli
The Beach House is located on an organic beef farm on the wild, west coast of Tasmania. The comfortable, self contained twobedroom cottage has spectacular views of the Southern Ocean and easy access to the beach. The perfect base to explore the wilderness of the Tarkine and Arthur River areas. 1 ½ hrs drive from Burnie Airport and 2 ½ hrs drive from Devonport Ferry.
Spacious one, two and three-bedroom self-contained apartments all with spectacular bay views and modern conveniences. Complementing the 4.5 star accommodation is an excellent range of resort facilities including indoor and outdoor pool, billiards and games room, tennis and basketball courts, restaurant and bar.
Southview is a bed & breakfast and self contained holiday accommodation, nestled between Sandon Point Beach and Bulli Beach. Recently rated 4.5 stars by AAA tourism it is the perfect place to unwind and perfect for the surfer and their family.
Proximity: Close to quality reef and beach breaks as well as the local general store and hotel. P: 03 6457 1285 or 0428 571 285 E: marrawahbeachhouse@activ8.net.au
Proximity: Five mins to surf beach, two mins to town Phone: 1800 033 403 res@silverwaterresort.com.au www.silverwaterresort.com.au
Rates from $140 per night
From $175 per night
QUEENSLAND
NEW ZEALAND
PORTOBELLO BY THE SEA 6 Beerburrum St, Dicky Beach Caloundra
PIWIWIWI SURF CAMPERVAN RENTALS Raglan NZ
Fantastic surf spots right on your doorstep. Moffat, Neill Street, Dicky Beach all within a 5 minute walk. Luxury accommodation within 50 m of some of the best restaurants Caloundra has to offer.
DON’T STAY... EXPLORE! The only campervan rentals company in New Zealand aimed at surfers. Vans are kitted out with all the gear you need including straps to hold your boards safe INSIDE the van. PiwiWiwi is a small, friendly company based in the magic surf town of Raglan.
Proximity: Nestled Between Sandon Point and Bulli Beach Telephone: 02 4268 6303
Proximity: Across from patrolled Dicky Beach, on-site dining and shopping. Phone: 07 5491 9038
www.southviewbulli.com.au
www.portobellobythesea.com.au
From $145 per couple
From $325 for two nights.
E: info@southviewbulli.com.au
E: info@portobellobythesea.com.au
Transfers to and from Auckland Airport available. Raglan Office: +64 7 825 0974 NZ Free Phone: 0800 74 94 94 E: info@piwiwiwi.co.nz www.piwiwiwi.co.nz From $25 per night
NEW SOUTH WALES
SCAMANDER BEACH SHACK 130 Scamander Ave, SCAMANDER This is the ultimate authentic beach shack and only $130 per night, anytime of the year! Amazing location right opposite Tasmania’s premium east-coast surfing beach. Uninterrupted views of waves and the Scamander River mouth provide breathtaking scenery sitting in the comfort of the shack. An ideal getaway for surfers and their families or keen fisherpersons plus a cosy getaway for a couple. Proximity: Right opposite Scamander Beach. Phone: 0400 912 583
www.scamanderbeachshack.com
$130 per night, all year round
TV
gym
laundry
KIAMA COVE BOUTIQUE MOTEL 10 Bong Bong St, Kiama UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT Kiama Cove Boutique Motel is in a fantastic location right near the heart of Kiama overlooking Surf Beach. The motel offers ocean views, king sized beds in most rooms, off-street parking, free Austar, swimming pool and a fabulous sun lounge area overlooking the beach. Proximity: Right on Surf Beach and a short stroll to the main street of Kiama. Phone: 02 4232 4500 E: info@kiamacove.com.au
www.kiamacoveboutiquemotel.com.au
Room rates are from $90 to $200 for family rooms
kitchen
parking
wi-fi
9 Shirley Street, BYRON BAY
COOLANGATTA SANDS HOSTEL Cnr McLean and Griffith Street, Coolangatta
Outrigger Bay is the perfect Byron getaway for the ultimate relaxing holiday. With direct access to the beach, these fabulous 2 or 3 bedroom apartments are not only in a stunning location but are also so close to Byron’s great restaurants and bars. This is an ideal location for a surfing holiday with the family or a group of friends.
Your ultimate surf HQ! Where else can you find some of the world’s best beaches and beach breaks on your doorstep - Kirra, Snapper Rocks, D-Bah, Rainbow Bay, Greenmount and Coolangatta? Free breakfast, free pick-up, economical shared and private rooms. Stay three nights and you can travel to Byron Bay for free on our shuttle bus! Part of the Coolangatta Adventure Crew.
Proximity: DIRECT ACCESS to beach - only 50m walk. 2 min walk to town centre shops. P: 02 6685 8646 E: info@outriggerbay.com www.outriggerbay.com
Proximity: Across from great surf breaks, restaurants, nightlife Phone: 07 5536 7472 E: hostel@taphouse.com.au
From $195 per night
Rates from $29 per night
pool
airconditioning
www.coolangattasandshostel.com.au
family-friendly
PIHA DOMAIN SURF CAMP 21 Seaview Road, Piha, NZ What a phenomenal location for surfers and their families! Piha Domain is a large, family-friendly campground in the heart of Piha Village, accommodating tents, caravans, campervans and also has cabins to hire. Only two minutes walk from one of the best surfing beaches in New Zealand, this is one of the best value for money camps in the country. Proximity: Right on the beach in front of the iconic Lion Rock and only a short stroll to shops. Phone: +64 9 8128 815 E: pihacamp@xtra.co.nz Rates from $10 a night for tent sites
pet-friendly
spa
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Brought to you by
SURF TRIP ACCOMMODATION
COOLUM BEACH
Noel Mooney - 0417 756 076 coolumbusinessandtourism.com
Welcome to a world of beachbreaks, boosts, barrels and brilliant fun - Coolum Beach on the Sunshine Coast North Shore. Beyond the tourist strip of Mooloolaba and just south of the righthand pointbreaks of Noosa, the water here is warm all year ‘round and there’s no shortage of surf breaks. It’s a true surfers playground and a top destination with a unique personality and charm. Here are your top choices for accommodation.
EXECUTIVE ACCOMMODATION
PET-FRIENDLY ACCOMMODATION
YOUR CHOICE OF HOLIDAY APARTMENTS
Managing over 25 executive beach homes and apartments from Twin Waters through to Coolum Beach, Coolum Holidays has the perfect property to indulge all of your needs while on vacation.
Take your four legged friend on your next holiday! Enjoy a stress free holiday knowing your pet is safe with you. Pet friendly holidays are becoming increasingly popular and Coolum Holidays has 30 holiday homes that specialise in providing the right accommodation for you and your pooch. All our holiday homes adhere to strict policies and conditions so that your holiday with your beloved pet is safe, secure and comfortable.
Managing an array of self contained apartments on the beautiful North Shore, Coolum Holidays will help you find the perfect apartment to relax in whether it be for two nights or two months.
All of our executive properties are tastefully decorated throughout and provide a high standard of facilities including swimming pool, air conditioning, bbq and pay television. Accommodating singles, couples and families, our portfolio of executive accommodation will surely not disappoint. P: 1300 303 423
www.coolumholidays.com.au
A $110.00 non refundable pet fee applies to all bookings made – a small price to pay for peace of mind. P: 1300 303 423
www.coolumholidays.com.au
From $1300 a week, shorter stays available
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From $490 a week, shorter stays available
Stay in one our apartments and stretch out with more privacy and space than a hotel room, perfect for an extended stay or corporate accommodation. We can offer you a great deal on one, two and three bedroom apartments – phone our friendly booking consultants today. P: 1300 303 423
www.coolumholidays.com.au
From $490 a week, shorter stays available
COOLUM BEACH GETAWAY RESORT 3-7 First Ave, Coolum Beach A modern 4½ star resort. 18 spacious, air-conditioned 1, 2 & 3 bedroom townhouse-style units and apartments with self-contained kitchens, laundry and lock up garage. Tropical gardens, heated pool and spa, half tennis court, plus bike and surfboard hire. One street back from the beach with a quiet, pleasant family atmosphere. Proximity: Only a short stroll to Coolum’s fabulous beach, alfresco dining and shopping. Located centrally on the Sunshine Coast, the tourist attractions, world-class golf courses and rainforest walks are all within easy driving distance. P: 07 5471 6759 F: 07 5471 6222 Australia: 1300 723 263 E: info@getawayresort.com.au www.getawayresort.com.au Phone for your special price
SEACHANGE COOLUM BEACH 1864 David Low Way, Coolum Beach
A world away from the everyday... 35 boutique holiday apartments with style and character... The ideal retreat for your tropical getaway. Designed to be different from the rest, Seachange features fully selfcontained one, two bedroom and family apartments - some with private rooftop spas and ocean views, all immaculately presented by resident managers who offer you personalised friendly service. Isn’t it time you experienced Seachange? Proximity: Walking distance to beach, local shops, restaurants P: 07 5471 7799 F: 07 5446 5380 Freecall: 1800 008 112
info@seachangecoolumbeach.com.au seachangecoolumbeach.com.au
Call for best rates
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BUSINESS PROMOTION
SURFING COOLUM Surf spots within close vicinity include Coolum main beach where a consistent left-hander reels in from in front of the surf club. At the southern end of the beach below the lookout at Point Perry, when the swell is 4 foot plus, a quality righthander can break close to the rocks. This wave is definitely the standout when it’s on but typically a place for the chargers in the surfing community. Just over the headland the FIRST and SECOND BAY (from the water it is really one bay) are also popular and fairly consistent. Although surrounded by rocks, the bottom is largely sand and the lefts and rights can be found depending on where you want to sit. In rare conditions, THIRD BAY breaks but this is definitely rocky and risky.
COOLUM CAPRICE 1770 David Low Way, Coolum Beach Located right in the heart of Coolum Beach, our ocean view, fully self contained apartments cater for couples, families and groups. With 1, 2 or 3 bedroom apartments to choose from, Coolum Caprice boasts the best views and location in town. Proximity: Middle of town, walking distance to shops and restaurants. Directly across the road from the beach and Surf Club. 15 minutes Sunshine Coast Airport and 1½ hours from Brisbane Airport. Phone: 07 5446 2177 E: relax@coolumcaprice.com.au www.coolumcaprice.com.au From $140 per night Smorgasboarder reader special:
Call today for 20% off!
ENDLESS SUMMER RESORT 9-21 Frank St, Coolum Beach
COOLUM SEASIDE 6-8 Perry St, Coolum Beach
This is the perfect place to stay in Coolum for holiday resort accommodation. Ideal for couples or the whole family. Choose from fully self-contained and spacious apartments located in a peaceful setting, away from traffic, but only a 100m stroll to the surf beach, main restaurants and sidewalk shops. Fantastic 25m heated pool, waterslide, children’s playground and mini golf on-site.
Perfectly positioned to take full advantage of the Sunshine Coast’s natural scenic beauty and holiday attractions. Our fully self-contained AAA 5-star rated one to four bedroom apartments are air conditioned and have Austar, LCD TVs, CD & DVD players. Roof terraces are available with majestic coastal & hinterland views. Facilities include 3 heated pools, 4 spas, tennis court, gymnasium, internet lounge/ library and poolside barbecues.
Proximity: 100m to patrolled surf beach and shops. Phone: +61 7 5471 9800
E: holiday@endlesssummerresort.com
www.endlesssummerresort.com Keep an eye on our web page for specials throughout the year or call direct to ask for our special surfer’s rates.
Proximity: Short stroll to patrolled beach, shops, cafes and restaurants. Phone: 1800 809 062 E: info@coolumseaside.com www.coolumseaside.com Check our specials online
COOLUM MOTEL & BUDGET ACCOMMODATION 1862 David Low Way, Cnr Ann St, Coolum Beach
ELEMENT ON COOLUM BEACH 1808 David Low Way, Coolum Beach
Coolum Motel is ideally located across from beautiful Coolum Beach. We offer a variety of room types ranging from Private Ensuited Rooms to Budget and Backpacker style and facilities. For a family friendly venue offering fantastic deals and discounts Stay with us!
This is seaside luxury right on Coolum Beach. These self contained luxury Coolum beach apartments combine the best of urban chic and beachside living. Stay in either a one, two or three bedroom holiday apartment right in the heart of Coolum and right across from Coolum Beach. Surf all day and stay in style at Element on Coolum Beach.
Proximity: Short walking distance to restaurants, shops and clubs. Phone: 07 5471 6666 E: info@coolummotel.com www.coolummotel.com From only $ 35 per night. Quote this magazine for 20% DISCOUNT!
Proximity: 1 minute walk to beach, shops and restaurants. Phone: 1300 139 744
stay@elementoncoolumbeach.com.au www.elementoncoolumbeach.com.au
From only $149 per night in a one bedroom apartment
Dates and conditions apply
jan/feb 2013
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Guardsg,s le d d a P Nose &pe & Leash Plu Rail Ta
THE NEXT WAVE IN ECO
POINTS OF VIEW
Those of us involved in the push to green up the surfing industry celebrated a small victory recently with the advent of Sustainable Surf’s ECOBOARD standard. This non-profit organisation, based in California, has developed a standard they are hoping will catch on so that surfboards can be recognised for their “eco-ness”. The ECOBOARD Project helps consumers choose a high-performance, sustainable surfboard made with a reduced environmental and toxic impact. It’s the first independent 3rd party “ecolabel” for surfboards, verifying the use of sustainable materials in surfboards. Well worth celebrating, we say. To gain ECOBOARD status a board must meet certain criteria: a minimum 40% recycled or biological content foam blank, non-toxic epoxy resin glassing, or being made from a sustainably sourced wood.
k Fins Pro Tec
This is a very commendable step towards making sustainable surfboards not only easier to recognise, but in some ways easier to achieve, as the standards don’t require a board to be 100% eco. By making the criteria easier for shapers to achieve, more sustainable boards can be made without a significant increase in production and material costs. A surfboard that carries the ECOBOARD Project “verified” logo is defined by: 1. Performance: Equivalent or better performance than boards made from industry standard materials. 2. Ease of Manufacturing: ECOBOARDs should ideally require minimal changes in current manufacturing techniques, so that early adoption by the industry is possible.
pair Kts
afe Re Travel S
SURFTECH AUSTRALIA www.surftechaustralia.com.au 154
3. Environmental Benefit: A significant and meaningful reduction in environmental impact as measured by factors such as lifecycle CO2 emissions and toxic chemical/ VOC emissions. To define “significant and meaningful”, Sustainable Surf analyses data and reports on the impacts of surfboards, as well as existing and pending government regulations, and the latest environmental science.
PALE IS THE ALE
Last edition we talked about the many varieties of beer now available in Australia, one of the more popular styles being Pale Ale. Most beer drinkers will have at least heard of the style and are probably familiar with Australian versions brewed by Cascade and Coopers. The Australian Pale Ale is fairly subtle in flavour: a slight fruit character with a little more bitterness than your average lager and it’s very light in colour, often leading people to believe that’s why they are called Pale Ale. This is not actually the case, it is just the character of Australian Pale Ales. Pale Ales were first brewed in Britain over a century ago, their popularity spread rapidly. The beers exhibited characteristics not seen before: they were lighter in colour than the traditional dark beers, hence the name Pale, but not as light as you are probably thinking. The beer being drunk at this time was really dark like a Porter or Stout, so anything lighter was deemed to be Pale. The other defining character of these beers is the large quantities of hops used to make them. Hops are basically used to “season” the beer, and their use in specific quantities gives the beer its defining character. A large dose of hops at the start of boiling produces a bitter beer, another dose at the end of boiling gives the beer some aroma. Then there are countless varieties of hops, each with different aromas and perfumes, some subtle and some pronounced. The other key ingredient to these beers was the water. Because it was drawn from under ground, it was unusually high in mineral content. These minerals play a pivotal part in the beer character. Calcium helps give the beer a smooth mouth feel and finish, while magnesium can act as a catalyst to accentuate the effect of the hops.
Partly recycled from www.sustainablesurf.org
A flavour sensation spread across Britain as everyone was making Pale Ales, and before too long there was a glut in the British beer market.
We’re loving this new development in the industry and hope these standards will be evident in Australian stores (including online retailers) before too long!
See what the clever Brits did next and what spawned the name India Pale Ale in the March/April edition of smorgasboarder.
Nicola O’Reilly is the better half of the nice folks from Surfing Green, a couple passionate about providing sustainable surfing products.
Stuart Richie is the head brewer at the Byron Bay Brewery at Skinners Shoot Rd, Byron Bay. Stu knows his beer.
surfinggreen.com.au
byronbaybrewery.com.au
jan/feb 2013
02 4226 1322
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MUSIC WE LIKE:
S R I A P E DING R
R BOARD? BUSTED YOU HERE... GET IT FIXED
AGNES WATER/1770
REEF 2 BEACH
Mon-Sat, 9-5pm, Sun,10-4pm
07 4974 9072
ALEXANDRA HEADLAND
ALTERNATIVE SURF
Sun, M - F 8:30-4:30pm, Sat 8-4:30pm
SELF TITLED
2012 MASTERSTROKE RECORDS
This self-titled album is the first release from Stompy and the Heat. However these guys are no greenhorns, with members including writer/guitarist Scott Wilson and drummer Pete Marin who form part of Dan Sultan’s band, along with singer Bow Campbell from Front End Loader. The classic retro hard-ass (Tarantinoesque) cover art is an accurate reflection of the music that’s to come... The album starts of with “Alien Death Ray” which is a quality psychedelic 60s/70s instrumental power track. The other instrumental and final track “The last Wave” is a smooth mellow closer. Look-out for standout tracks “Black Lightning” and “Your Affection” that provide some rocking guitar, frenetic drumming and confident vocals. This is a classic release that will appeal to fans of guitar-heavy, overdriven, raw rock n roll. Overall, the pedigree is evident in this solid collection of authoritative, uncooked, and rocking bluesy songs. Well worth a listen! www.stompyandtheheat.com (Gus Brown)
BELLARINE PENINSULA
DR DING
ROUSA SURFBOARDS
Mon-Fri 8am - 5pm Sat 10am - 4pm, Sun 10am - 2pm
0403 693 333
MC SURF DESIGNS
ZAK SURFBOARDS
02 6685 8778
03 9416 7384
SURFBOARD REPAIRS
Mon-Sat, 10am-5pm,
0431 740 940
THORNBURY Mon - Fri 10am - 6pm, Sat 10am - 5pm
07 5475 4811
Mon - Fri 9am - 5pm, Sat 9am - 1pm
WURTULLA
LENNOX HEAD
NICHOLSON SURFBOARDS
TORQUAY
QUICKFIX SURFBOARD REPAIRS
STONKER
REPAIRS & RESTORATIONS
STOMPY AND THE HEAT
BYRON BAY
Mon - Fri 7-3pm, Sat 7-midday
Mon - Fri 10am-5pm
0438 631 153
Facebook.com/nicholsonsurf
0432 361 791 02 6681 3142
MOFFAT BEACH
BALLINA
EPOXY BOARD REPAIRS
PHIL’S FOILS
Seven days, 9am - 5pm
03 5261 6077
THE SURFERS SHED Seven days, 9am - 5pm
0437 246 848
PHILLIP ISLAND
By appointment
Mon - Fri 9-5pm
THE FACTORY SURFBOARDS
02 6686 7858 0401 841 298
ISLAND SURF SHOP - COWES
YAMBA
03 5952 2578
0427 019 420 Mon, Wed-Friday 9am-5pm, Saturday 8am-12pm
(07) 5492 5838
SLS SURFBOARDS
Mon, Wed, Fri 11- 5pm, Sat 8 - 12pm
0424 314 183
NOOSA
PLANK SHOP 02 6645 8362
TOMBSTONE SURFBOARDS
Tues - Fri 9am - 4pm, Sat 9am - 12pm
0432 330 826
UNDERGROUND SURF
BUDGEWOI
07 5455 4444
BUCKO’S SURFBOARD
7 days, 9am - 5pm
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
TUGUN
DIVERSE
Mon-Fri 8:30am - 5:30pm Sat & Sun 9-4pm
REPAIRS & RESTORATIONS Mon-Fri 10am - 5.30pm Weekends by appointment
0422 304 078
08 8376 4914
MID COAST
THE DING KING
CLARK SURFBOARDS Mon - Fri 9am - 5pm
0422 443 789
SANDLOCK SURFBOARDS
LIQUID STIX
0437 032 614
Mon - Fri 9am - 5pm Sat & Sun 9am - 3pm
Mon - Fri 9am - 4pm, Sat 9am -12pm
WOLLONGONG
SKIPP SURFBOARDS
Mon-Fri 9am - 5:30pm Thurs 9am - 7:30pm Sat 9am - 4pm, Sun 10am - 4pm
02 4228 8878
CURRUMBIN
BROWN DOGG
DIRECTION SURFBOARDS
7 days a week - Just call
0450 556 233
JERVIS BAY
KIRRA
INNER FEELING SURFBOARDS
Mon - Fri 10am - 4pm Sat 10am - 2pm
Mon - Fri, 12.30pm - 5.30pm Sat 12.30pm - 5pm
SEAFORD
SHELLHARBOUR
GRB SURFBOARDS
ADELAIDE
WALLBRIDGE SURFBOARDS
LONG JETTY
07 5598 4848
Open hours 9am to 5pm
7 days, 9-5pm
0416 455 985
Seven days, 9am - 5pm
02 4441 6756
SURFBOARDS
0407 606 685
LONSDALE
MID COAST SURF Call us for a quality repair
08 8384 5522
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
0408 701 467
FIX BROKEN BOARDS?
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* Boards not included
Small surf businesses,cool products and more! Advertise here - call 0401 345 201 for details.
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CLOSEOUT: SOCIALS
Barry Bennett signing some memories
WOOD AND GLASS EXTRAVANGANZA WORDS AND PHOTOS: Ted Bassingthwaighte Something special happens when old shapers get together. In Newcastle this last December, five highly respected shapers dusted off the foam and came together to celebrate their craft in an exhibition of old wood and glass surfboards. Newcastle longboard legend and past Australian champion Ron Rudder wanted to close the gap between the older generation of surfers and shapers, and younger surfers. To do this required a likeminded surfer. Roy Lee of Pacific Dreams Surfboards was that person.
Roy took no convincing when Ron asked to take over the Pacific Dreams shop on Darby Street, Newcastle. The staff at the shop and at the factory downed tools for three days and transformed the newly renovated shop into a museum of surfing history. Surfers are a generous bunch. In the months prior to the event Ron overwhelmingly appreciated the numerous offers of ancient boards for his exhibition and chose the most special boards he could find for the event.
But, there had to be a celebrity to attract the crowds. When Ron was offered for display a solid timber finless surfboard from the 1920’s, he grabbed it. The board belongs to shaper Bob Kennerson, who at 10 years of age while living in Collaroy was offered this board by a neighbour, Mrs Stovevale. The board was brought to Australia from Hawaii by Mr Stovevale who worked for P&O Cruisers. Apparently there were 2 of these boards and the other one is still hanging on the wall of the Collaroy Surf Club. To give Novocastrians an opportunity to not only see and feel the history but to be able to talk TO the history, five of the best and most long-lasting shapers in Australia were on hand over the weekend to talk about surfboard shaping then and now.
L-R: Ted Harvey, Sam Egan
Sam Egan celebrated his 70th birthday recently and at the same time celebrated 50 years of continuous surfboard shaping in Newcastle. It’s rumoured that Sam may be retiring soon but it’s also rumoured that he will continue to shape a few boards. This is good news for his many, many loyal customers and friends. Barry Bennett is probably the best-known surfboard shaper in Australia. On display were many Barry Bennett shapes covering decades. On the Saturday a long line of busted-arse surfers turned up at the Pacific Dreams surf shop with their old Barry Bennett shapes retrieved from the loft after a longforgotten surf. Barry obliged each and every one by signing the boards and telling the story of their boards.
Bob Brown from Foster was a welcome addition to the group. His laconic smile and willingness to engage in talking surfboards was a highlight of the weekend. Many Novocastrians took advantage of Bob’s warmth and knowledge. Bob ’Jacko’ Jackson is small in stature but a cultural giant. At the event opening on the Friday night ‘Jacko’ and the other shapers were presented with a framed canvas memento created by Alex Thompson of Newcastle Surf House Photography. ‘Jacko’ was beaming as he was given his award. He spoke eloquently about the craft of surfboard shaping and the importance of local people being involved in the process Bob ‘Kenno’ Kennerson has travelled the world shaping and surfing. He was involved in the development of the board Nat Young rode in his 1966 World Title win in the USA. A quiet man, Bob was a very pleasant addition to the weekend. The event also had another purpose with a silent auction running both days with all proceeds going to the Disabled Surfers Association and to Surfers in Need. The Wood and Glass Extravaganza would not have happened except for the vision of Ron Rudder, the immense generosity of Roy and Janet Lee and his crew including Alex Thompson of Newcastle Surf House Photography, and the interest and effort of the old shapers who gave freely of their time to make this unique event truly remarkable.
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L-R: Keen collectors: Pat ‘The Helmet’ Quirk, Darryl Homan and Adam Jenkins of Dewey Weber Australia
CLOSEOUT: SOCIALS Bowie Pollard and hot-rod creation
PARTY WITH THOMAS
Relax and get inked in the barbershop
How can we best explain this? The preChristmas shindig at Thomas Surfboards in Noosa this December was a total triumph. Thomas Bexon not only manages to put a whole lot of style into his surfboards, he also knows how to throw a party. Thomas Surfboards and Captain Sip Sops Barbershop hosted an afternoon-through-evening of all things cool. Sailor Jerry rum-infused punch was free-flowing, live music was on the go and collectors could marvel and haggle at the surfboard swap meet and show-and-shine. For ink-fans, there were tattoos happening in the Barber Shop (not sure how many postparty regrets of full-chest hula girls there might have been the next morning…) and to top it all, add in a few hot-rods and an artprize. The very well-attended event went on to show the Deus Ex Machina/Jack Coleman movie, Temple. Good vibes, good day.
Underground Surf’s Ondi and Maree +1
Thomas ttakes time out to enjoy the day.
thomassurfboards.com
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Men’s finalists
Monday to Friday 4-6pm Half price selected Tapas (Calamari and dips) $5 select beers & house wine, $10 Margaritas
JAN JUC GETS FESTIVE
Open every day Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Tapas till late.
Cnr Lawson & Jonson, Byron Bay
02 6680 9666
www.balcony.com.au
PHOTOS: Surfworld Museum Torquay.
The 7th annual SURF FEST contest at Jan Juc Beach in Victoria this past November attracted a record 20 surf teams from around Victoria including a record number of women’s teams. SURF FEST is a teams event where each team must have a short board, longboard and ‹retro› board rider. Some great old surfboards were ridden during the event including a rare MR twin fin and Simon Anderson ‘thruster’. The event was run by surfing students from the SEDA education program based in Torquay and the Surfworld Museum in Torquay. All money raised by the event goes to the Quiksilver Foundation which will use the money to fund surfing programs for disadvantaged youth. This year’s event was a huge success with great weather, fun crowds and a record number of surfers competing including former pro surfers Matt Hoy and Troy Brooks. Close to $2,000 was raised on the day for the Quiksilver Foundation. The 2012 winning teams were: Women’s Division - Amy Stewart, Annalese Spiteri and Angela Zorica and in the Men’s DIvision - Johnny Hawkens, Stui Hawkens and Simon Grayling.
Women’s finalists
L-R: Keen collectors: Pat ‘The Helmet’ Quirk, Darryl Homan and Adam Jenkins of Dewey Weber Australia
Byron Sunset Happy Hour!
Jervis Bay Stand Up Paddle
Lessons, Tours, Board Hire www.jervisbaystanduppaddle.com.au
0403 354 716
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Ashley Goodall P-EYE APPLE - Sebastien Fougere Sebastien Fougere
Artwork by Ashley Goodall - 3 soft ladies
The Sugar Cube Resin tint and fabric inlay, MS Surfboards
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Some of the crew Hand-shaped 7’0 retro tracker by SLS Surfboards and artwork by Thom Stuart Skateboard art by Lachlan Olive - Create - Destroy
P-EYE APPLE - Sebastien Fougere
A POCKETFUL OF ART Mitch Surman of MS Surfboards and Scott Newman of SLS Surfboards recently put together a pop up store/gallery behind The Pocket Esspresso Bar in Moffat Beach, Caloundra on the Sunshine Coast. Over 200 people walked through the doors on opening night to hang out and enjoy the atmosphere and excellent artwork by Ashley Goodall, Thom Stuart, Sebastien Fougere, Lachlan Olive and Brandon Rooney. There was also boutique surfwear to view while both Scott and Mitch displayed an impressive range of classicstyled and alternative surf craft. The opening night of art and beers wrapped up with the new surf movie Temple by Deus Ex Machina and Jack Coleman projected onto the shed wall. Keep an eye on The Pocket Gallery Facebook page for the next pop up store. Al enjoying the opening night
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Read all about Barry’s creator, Curl, on Page 82
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With hundreds of reef passes, it might be worth going with someone who knows
It’s what we can’t tell you that matters
Ry Craike, Maldives punt.