INSIDE: SURF TRIP TIPS FROM A FEW OF YOUR BEST MATES | FILM-MAKER CLIVE NEESON | SURFBOARDS | A LOOK UP OUR SHORTS
№ 28
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2015
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PLAN YOUR NEXT NZ SURF TRIP... Top tips on spots to surf, places to eat & stay, and things to see and do...
Trav McCoy-Ruapuke Photo: Jim Culley
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Explore Australia, find that perfect wave...
surf safari ie s s u A l a e r a e c n Experie tedit k y ll u f 4 x 4 r o n with a camper va 00 per week hire*. 8 out for surfers. $ * 2 x Surfboards
included’
l Early Bird Sopr emcoia re
Book 90 days and before you travel % 12 receive a further discount.
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Talk to us about Tours Surfeit Oz Surf nds la to the Abrohlos Is y! ul WA this June & J
(+61) 0422 449 955
www.surfeitoz.com.au
surfeitozcampervans EASTER 2015 | SMORGASBOARDER
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ALSO AVAILABLE
CLASSIC Limited Edition Solid Classic mal Duke Kahanamoku came from Hawaii to visit Australia in 1914. He came with no surfboards, he made one himself with his own hands and surfed it. Mark Riley took one of his own fishes which weighs only 3kgs and compared it to the Dukes 35kg. Mark said “Dukes board was fantastic to touch, and to feel a piece of history carved out of a few pieces of Oregon was great.” Duke said “I always preferred those surfboards made of wood” (like Mark).
• Wood coloured fin boxes • Clear board grip tape - Let the beauty of the balsa show through with clear Versagrip Traction Tape. Environmentally friendly and suits all size boards. • Timber fins
Mark still builds his solid balsa boards in the very same method as the Duke did. He has built five boards the same way, but in the style of the ‘50s and ‘60s (so they can be ridden).
• Surfboards
These solid boards are 9’7” x 22 ½”x 2 ¾” and weigh 12kg.
• Aussie-made leashes
SURFBOARDS THAT DON’T COST THE EARTH!
• Instructional DVDs
• Blanks • Cork tail pads & SUP deck grip
• Raw balsa/ cedar DIY board kits
• Board racks • Tide clocks • LICK liquid surf wax. Wholesale enquires welcome
w SHIPPING ANYWHERE, INCLUDING NZ 6
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HANDCRAFTED IN AUSTRALIA Riley Balsawood Surfboards are made using renewable resource balsa and recycled polystyrene for performance, durability, beauty and lower environmental impact
Call 0412 376 464 or Email mark@riley.com.au
www.balsasurfboardsriley.com.au Australian Environmentally-friendly handcrafted surfboards for the individual in all of us, with a guarantee. Enjoy Responsibly EASTER 2015 | SMORGASBOARDER
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B A C K OV E R T H E D I TC H Are we possibly a little in love with New Zealand? It may seem that way, and there are too many good reasons for that to name in one magazine, which is why we here at Smorgasboarder keep visiting, keep discovering and keep finding another one of those good reasons to do so. True to the very roots of the mag, we haven’t seen the inside of a boardroom in putting this issue together, but rather miles and miles of open road and beautiful NZ coastline, meeting real people in the real world. Between two separate family roadtrips and unbelievable input from
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our Smorgasboarder readers, this mag is chockers with tips, travel advice and ideas to help you plan your own visit - because if you haven’t yet, then boy are you missing out on something special. For those keen for a look back into the past of not only NZ, but the greater surf and adventure sports world, we even have an interview with Last Paradise film-maker Clive Neeson. At this point, we’d like to take the opportunity to say a special thank you to all those businesses supporting
Smorgasboarder, making sure this free mag makes it into your hands. They are - as always - the surf shops, the shapers, the cafés, the small businesses... Those salt-ofthe-earth folk who keep the real, everyday surfing world turning for the majority of us. So, enough from us, get stuck in and get a tiny taste of New Zealand in these following pages and discover some of the surfing gems just waiting for you.
Cheers!
rders
sboa the Smorga
...WHEN YOU’RE WARMING TO THE NZ COAST... Great coffee, roasted daily. Volcom Lane, Raglan NZ WWW.RAGLANROAST.CO.NZ
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Auckland’s West Coast. Photo: Zach Poulton - www.zpsurfphotography.co.nz
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WHAT'S
INSIDE... MAKING MARMILADE
16 Nicole and her handmade fashion
DETAILS, CREDITS & STUFF Grab SMORGASBOARDER FREE at quality surf stores, shapers and cool cafés on the coast of Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, Western Australia and New Zealand... Be nice and buy something while you’re there. Or read it online.
MAGAZINE SUBSCRIBE FOR HOME DELIVERY
If you can’t get to a store or other venue to pick the mag up in person, you can also choose to have SMORGASBOARDER delivered to your door. See www.smorgasboarder.com.au. A few back issues are also available for $5 a piece, plus t-shirts & more!
$25 AUS & NZ - 1 YEAR - SIX EDITIONS.
THE COVER SHOT LAST PARADISE 36 NZ back when...
Surfer Trav McCoy in the pit at Ruapuke, snapped by NZ surf photographer and schoolteacher-by-day Jim Culley. Jim says: “I recently did a trip with him to the Mentawais where he was working as a boatman for six months. Guy rips!” See Jim’s website, www.jimages.co.nz for more, and follow his great shots on instagram: @jimages_co_nz
STILL PARADISE 48 ...and NZ right now
SMORGASBOARDERS
CONTRIBUTING...
ADVERTISING/EDITORIAL: Dave Swan dave@smorgasboarder.com.au 0401 345 201
This is YOUR mag. It’s here for you to tell your stories, show your pictures and share your thoughts - and score some free stuff on the way too, to boot.
NEW ZEALAND: ‘Jiff’ Morris jeff@smorgasboarder.co.nz 0220 943 913 DESIGN/EDITORIAL: Mark Chapman mark@smorgasboarder.com.au 0400 875 884
THE USUAL
SOUTH AUSTRALIA: James Ellis james@smorgasboarder.com.au 0410 175 552
THE LATEST GEAR
GEAR TESTS & REVIEWS: Gus Brown gus@smorgasboarder.com.au
112 Surfboards 119 Ding Repairs
CLOSEOUT
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Columns Music Socials Aloha Barry
There’s only a few of us here, so please be patient when you get in touch - we’ll try our best to get back to you as soon as humanly possible. Get in touch to discuss any ideas you’d like to be considered for a future edition or online.
ACCOUNTS: Louise Gough louise@smorgasboarder.com.au
14 Reader Photos 20 News & Community
119 122 125 130
E: editorial@smorgasboarder.com.au P: PO Box 501, Moffat Beach QLD 4551
BEST NON-DAILY PUBLICATION
QUEENSLAND MULTIMEDIA AWARDS 2013
WWW.SMORGASBOARDER.COM.AU The coolest d new surfboar designs! Page 112
Smorgasboarder is published by Huge C Media Pty Ltd ABN 30944673055. All information is correct at time of going to press. The publishers cannot accept responsibility for errors in articles or advertisements, or unsolicited manuscripts, photographs or illustrations. The opinions and words of the authors do not necessarily represent those of the publisher. All rights reserved. Reproduction in part or whole is strictly prohibited without prior permission.
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Next edition, we’ve got copies of Seasick Steve’s “Sonic Soul Surfer” to give away. Send in your pics to letters@smorgasboarder.com.au
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Kai Ennetts at Noosa. Photo: Thomas Lang Clean Early morning, Shelly Beach - Central Coast. Photo: Richard Beggs
“Endless Glassy Barrels. Surfer Unknown.” Photo: Luc Bruna
READER PHOTOS
This issue’s reader photos score a copy of The Braves album, “South Paw Product” thanks to Masterstroke Records.
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It’s pretty good when your mum’s just a grommet at heart! Family pics supplied, surf photo: Mick Curley
NICOLE STARTED MARMILADE while undertaking a Fashion Diploma at TAFE. She started off with a tiny stall at Eumundi markets with only a handful of bags, skirts and singlets. With her first market day a big hit, and a few shops coming on board, it all took off for her from there. “I had a shop at Cotton Tree (Maroochydore), then Yaroomba (just south of Coolum Beach). We made everything at the shop, which was a bit of a novelty for the customers, seeing it all in action. But then two little vegemites came along… I needed to simplify things, so we now do Eumundi (Markets) every Saturday and I have an awesome Facebook clientele.”
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With the two littlies, Nicole now has fashion assistants in the making. “It’s funny because my husband has his own business, so they both see us taking pictures of things and putting them up on the internet for sale. My 5-year-old Bailey always takes photos of my old Marmilade pieces and asks me to put them on the computer for Lego money, or a pic of the dog and wants $500 for it… So they are pretty savvy already, I think… We aren’t your conventional 9-5 parents. They definitely see us work hard, but also see us surfing/holidaying and having lots of fun in-between.” “Daisy (3) is a tiny little thing and is loving catching little waves on her boogie board - on her last go she kept jumping up with a smile plastered earto-ear saying “one more” like a hundred
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MARMILADIES FIRST
MAKING MARMILADE WE ALL LOVE the idea of handcrafted surfboards and original art. Clothing however often gets a little less consideration when it comes to how it’s produced. Peregian Beach’s Nicole Lynch is one designer that for 15-odd years now has decided against any sort of mass production and lovingly creates all her unique clothing by hand. We find out a bit more about her and Marmilade, her clothing label. “Super colourful, happy, vibrant, eye-catching, fun and comfortable” is how Nicole describes Marmilade, and it’s pretty spot on as her creations have a distinctive look. “You can spot it a mile away… Each piece is individually patchworked together by myself using stretch lace fabric and various yummy trims I source on my local and international fabric shopping trips. No two pieces are the same, so its great if you want something original that’s been made with lots of love.” WORDS: MARK CHAPMAN, MAIN PHOTO: MICK CURLEY
As action-Mum, one of Nicole’s major loves is surfing, which she took up in high school and has been hooked ever since. She gets out at least three or four times a week on her 8’6 mal.
Marmilade style... Photo: Madeline Kate Photography
times… Lots of high-five-ing. Our favourite family times are the trips up to Double Island. I love having them on the SUP with me and they have both been on my skateboards with me since they could walk. I used to always have the odd granny shake their head at me... Daisy was so cute - she’d strap her helmet on, sit up the front, get her hands in position on the sides of the skatey and off we’d go, I’m still a grommet at heart so we have lots of fun times together.”
“It’s just perfect for the points, with a very cool pink/colourful polka dot spray. It’s from the Boardroom Miami - our friend owns it - and it also has a great bit of Posca paint art by my friend Jeremy Ievins (featured in Smorgasboarder #19). “I love the points at Noosa, especially Nationals, Little Cove, First Point when it’s not holidays... My favourite thing to do is meet my girlfriend Linda at 5am at Nationals to catch some fun waves, ‘woohoo’ each other, have lots of laughs and giggles, then stop off at Bean Drop on the way home. It’s like my little happy pill for the morning and I’m ready to get on with the day. It’s definitely food for my soul”
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Photo: Madeline Kate Photography
Nicole’s great surf shots were taken by the awesome photographer Mick Curley (who took the shots for a story on Red Island in Smorgasboarder #26), so we were curious how that came about. “Mick is a friend who used to live around the corner from us in Peregian, but has been living in Bali for the last 6 years and he hasn’t looked back. He’s living the dream as a freelance photographer over there, shooting regularly for Rip Curl. He was back home over the Xmas holidays and I was super lucky that he took some pics for me.” Remaining true to Marmilade being handmade locally, there’s refreshingly no plans of corporate global domination for Marmilade in the future.
Photo: Mick Curley
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“No, not for me. I am perfectly happy the way things are. I have a job that I totally love, great staff, great hours, I can surf when and where I want, as much as I want, work from home, get to go on lots of holidays – and tie in a fabric shopping trip onto the end of those trips. It’s a win -win situation. I get so much fulfilment from my customers and how happy I make them in my clothes. That’s because they are handmade and special, and they can see how much time goes into each piece.
Self-contained apartment across from some of the most amazing surf on the Gold Coast.
Photo: Kirstin Scholtz
“My husband and I used to ‘shotgun’ who had an early surf the next morning - it used to be first one out the door gets to go. I would always win, so he started hiding my keys the night before so he could get out first. All sorts of issues when your wife gets more surfs in than you do… Lucky for me the points drive him nuts with all the crowds and parking - he’s an open beach kinda guy, so it works well.”
Any closer to the Superbank, and you’d be in the line up
“I want to do some more courses, like millinery, get back into swimwear which is one of the things I love to do and started off doing, but too time consuming with the kids, but now that my eldest starts school I should have a little bit more time to play around with all the ideas that are swimming around in my head.” Now that you’re definitely keen to get hold of a unique taste of Marmilade, drop in to the Eumundi Markets on a Saturday if you’re on the Sunshine Coast, or visit Nicole’s Facebook page. facebook.com/marmilade marmiladeclothing.com.au
190 Marine Pde, Rainbow Bay, Coolangatta www.columbiaapartments.com.au Call 07 5599 0666
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AKA: THE NEWS... COMMUNITY WHAT’S HAPPENINGS & OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS letters@smorgasboarder.com.au
smorgasboarder
BUSHFIRE SURF TALES Regular readers will remember Demetrius Kalatzis - a home board builder who shared the tale of building his timber surfboard, Franchesca, in Smorgasboarder #26 (Page 100). Well, Demetrius had a bit of a rough start to the year...
loving surf, art, life, beer
surfing tribe
“Last Friday our house in the Adelaide Hills was surrounded by bushfires. I was in Sydney whilst my brother and my parents fought through the night to protect the house. They succeeded in saving the house and most of the sheds. Unfortunately during the fires we lost power for four days.” While they were without electricity, a pack of Smorgasboarder mags arrived in the mail, and Demetrius sent this picture of himself and his brother Nick taking some time out in front of what used to be our archery target and woodshed.
join the tribe: surfing-tribe.com
“We survived the bushfires and four days without power, lucky we had plenty of reading material!”
EYE SEE... Thanks to David Freel of Kiama for fixing up one of our fishier facts from the last edition... “Great magazine and excellent article on Greg Huglin. One small point though, Great White Sharks are the only sharks who do NOT have a nictitating membrane. When they attack, they turn their eyes around in their sockets!” Phew. That’s much more convenient than fact-checking in person, face-toface with our friend here to the right... 20
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DUKE STYLE In 1915, Duke Kahanamoku made himself a surfboard in Cronulla, wowing beach crowds with it on Valentine’s Day. Mark Riley is bringing the style back to the Southside, building five boards the same way, but in the style of ‘50s and ‘60s boards for better overall performance. To get your hands on one of these solid 9’7” boards, see balsasurfboardsriley.com.au.
Cronulla big wave charger Matt “Sparky” Clarke checks out a Riley solid balsa 9’7” Classic.
COVER I.D. Noosa Town planner Jack Lewis was spotted as the surfer on the cover of Smorgasboarder #26, snapped by Katrina McDonald of Rivermouth Store in Tomakin, NSW. Jack is dad to three young kids and has to strategically time his surfs for when he’s not pushing his young ones into waves at the points. “A big shout out to the Noosa Boardriders Club, who do a great job encouraging all the young grommets.” says Jack. For good measure, here’s another shot of Jack being sun-safe.
‘60s BUZZ
In response to our interview with Kevin Cunningham of Spirare Surfboards and his honeycomb surfboard lattice designs, Mal Sutherland - surf photography pioneer and Chairman of the Surf World Gold Coast museum - filled us in a bit of a history that predates Kevin’s work by a fair bit. “Nat (Young) made five of these boards in the 1960s and we have the only one surviving in the museum. It is owned by one of our collectors and I would hate to put a value on it.” EASTER 2014 2015 | SMORGASBOARDER
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WAVE POWER RESCUE SLED 62” / 36” / 4.3” 71” / 39” / 4.4” • Anti-Delamination Vinyl • HD Rails • Reinforced Bottom • New X-EPS Foam • Dual Aluminum Stringer • Ecualize Air Valve • Optional Deck Bungee • Optional Side Bungee • Last Chance Handles
02 4226 1322 • info@watermanssurf.com.au
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Before you jump to any conclusions like I did, this is not another sharkie zapper thingy-me-bob or WW2 naval mine, it is a new environmentally-friendly electricity generator that uses the motion of the ocean. And it is not a dream, Australia’s new CETO 5 system is already providing electricity to our nation’s largest naval base. The Carnegie Perth Wave Energy Project is a multimillion dollar initiative designed to demonstrate the large-scale viability of wave power. A modular array of three submerged buoys and water pumps channel clean, zero-emission energy into Australia’s power grid, apparently whilst desalinating the water simultaneously.
STARTING TO SHRED
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A new softboard or should I say “hi-tech safe board” has arrived on the scene called Liquid Shredder distributed through Watermans Surf Co. Its unique construction includes dual aluminium stringers and a patented manufacturing process that shrinks the aircraft quality vinyl skin tightly over the board’s closed cell foam blank shape as opposed to being laminated (glued). A vent plug near the nose, similar to say a Firewire, further prevents delamination and allows the board to equalise. The board also features smooth contoured rails that stop your arms from chaffing when paddling. All sounds pretty cool so how does it surf? We’re very impressed. It’s essentially a stepup from a standard softboard - kind of like a padded fibreglass board that you wax up and can even stick in a board bag if you want. The mini-Simmons style Ghost (blue board pictured here) is already proving to be a big hit 22
CETO unit
How it works is oceanic waves move the buoys in turn activating pumps that push pressurised water through power turbines. Fascinating stuff. To read more about the Carnegie Perth Wave Energy Project go to www.carnegiewave.com on beaches such as Tamarama that have apparently restricted the use of fibreglass boards. Look out for a full rundown on this design and a huge range of other softboards in our bumper Softboard Review just prior to Spring (yes, we are acquiring lots and lots of softboards over the next few months to test for you, our readers). 02 4226 1322 info@watermanssurf.com.au
ABOVE: Liquid Shredder Safe Boards with the lovely Phoebe in Hive Swimwear.
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WORTH THE DRIVE... On my recent 6,500 km round trip distribution/ editorial run down the Australian East Coast, I took 3 days out to attend the Tree to Sea Wooden Surfboard Workshop in Mt Eliza. What an experience, and I mean ‘EXPERIENCE’! It sounds clichéd but it was so much more than just building a board. I have built a PU fibreglass board from start to finish, foiled fins and all, even shaped an alaia and both were fun, but this was kind of different altogether.
It was just such a great gathering of people – eight of us in total, all from incredibly diverse backgrounds under the tutelage of Rob, Gary and Darren. It was such a unique experience, a hell of a lot of fun, plenty of laughs and of course the board I made was a cracker. In the end it kind of felt weird to leave the place. Anyhow, you will get to read all about it in our next edition along with my Random Tales from the Road.
For one, I didn’t have that knob I work with alongside, which is always a blessing. Mark was back on the Sunshine Coast pulling together the mag you are reading now.
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Latest: Project
Building a surfboard...
Hot like a sunrise Aaron Stacey is a Gold Coast surfer with a magic workplace - he manages Columbia Apartments with his wife Olia, right across from the Superbank, so you know where to find him if the office is empty. Recently, Aaron picked up on a childhood passion and dream of building a surfboard, booking a surfboard shaping course to get some expert guidance and - fingers crossed - a surfable board at the end of it all. We had a chat to Aaron to find out how it all worked out. WORDS: DAVE SWAN
Getting from here to here...
WHAT WAS YOUR MOTIVATION BEHIND WANTING TO BUILD YOUR OWN BOARD?
“Ever since a grommet, I was fascinated with surfboard shapes and designs.”
Ever since a grommet, I was fascinated with surfboard shapes and designs. Jack Knight made my first custom made board when he had SeaFlight Surfboards at Long Jetty in a tiny little shed. I used to ride my push bike after school and watch him shape. Jack Knight and Mitchell Rae (Outer Island) have been my biggest inspiration. When I was 15 I decided to have a go at making a board. Looking back now, it was very rough and surfed terrible, so I always had a burning passion to have another go and do it right.
YOU UNDERTOOK THE EXERCISE WITH AL COLK. HOW DID YOU GUYS COME TO KNOW ONE ANOTHER? About a year ago I Googled surfboard shaping courses and Al Colk’s website came up. I had to postpone for a while due to work commitments but then I saw Al’s ad in Smorgasboarder and I just rang him and booked it in then and there. WAS THE PROCESS AS HARD OR EASY AS YOU IMAGINED? The hardest part was getting the steps and processes in place but with Al’s guidance everything went smoothly. EASTER 2015 | SMORGASBOARDER
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I TRUST YOU DID THE WHOLE BOARD FROM START TO FINISH? CAN YOU BRIEFLY EXPLAIN YOUR EXPERIENCE THROUGH EACH STAGE OF THE BOARD’S CONSTRUCTION? With Al, you go through the whole process of shaping, glassing and finishing and it’s a three-day, oneon-one tuition. DAY 1: Firstly we had a walk through the factory and all the different bays. We had a discussion on what I wanted to make. From there we choose a suitable blank and headed to the shaping bay. The most critical thing is marking out the plan shape using templates and blending everything in together. We cut and smoothed out the plane shape and this where you need a good eye to get any lumps and bumps out. Then it’s time for the planer. Starting with skimming the deck and then flipping it over and planning the bottom contours, constantly checking thickness and blending the rocker, all with Al’s expert guidance.
Next was blending and shaping the rails, finishing the day off with a final fine sanding. DAY 2: We were straight off to the spray booth. I had a design in mind but it sort of changed and evolved as we went on. This was the birth of Rhonda (hot like a sunrise). Then we went into the glassing bay and this where the real pressure starts as you’re working against the clock. The key is to have everything prepared before starting laminating. With Al looking over my shoulder, everything went smoothly. DAY 3: We went into another bay to set the fins. This was quite difficult to get the right pitch while holding everything together with some masking tape till the resin goes off. Then it was into the sanding bay. I was anxious about sanding, with the thought of sand-throughs, but again Al was there to help me. To finish off, we sprayed Rhonda with a special surfboard lacquer and a light wet rub sand.
WELL, MOST IMPORTANTLY, HOW DOES SHE RIDE? Worst part was waiting for Rhonda to cure. I was hoping it would go off. I paddled out at Little Mali (just of Snapper Rocks) and thought gee it paddles well. Then I got a wave and everything just felt right. I had a great session on it and felt I had surfed the best I have in years. ARE THERE PLANS FOR FUTURE SURFBOARDS DOWN THE TRACK?
In production... The shaped blank gets sanded.
Definitely, I’ve got the shaping bug. I’m in regular contact with Al and looking forward to getting back in the bay very soon to make a whole quiver of Rhondas. I think it’s great for any surfer to understand the fundamentals of what goes into making a surfboard and it’s been one of the best experiences of my life. SO WHAT ARE THE REST OF YOU WAITING FOR? GO MAKE A SURFBOARD!
Rhonda goes like a dream
“It’s been one of s the best experience of my life.”
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Ray Collins
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AUSTRALIA’S PREMIER SURF BRAND FOR ZINC PRODUCTS
“When I’m exposed to the elements shooting for hours on end, I only trust Sun Zapper to keep me covered” RAY COLLINS
International Award Winning Photographer
raycollinsphoto.com
SPF 50+ BROAD SPECTRUM WATER RESISTANT FOR UP TO 4 HOURS SUITABLE FOR ALL SKIN TYPES ASSISTS IN MAINTAINING SKIN ELASTICITY
Available at all good Surf & Ski Stores, ideal for Surf School’s and the Outdoors.
www.sunzapper.com.au
facebook.com/sunzapper
@sunzapper EASTER 2015 | SMORGASBOARDER
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L OFFER 2-FOR-1 SPECIA SURFWEAR FROM DUNSTAN
Check out with code: dunstanoz241 www.dunstansurfwear.com
I MADE THESE BOARDIES! WE CHECK OUT DUNSTAN AND PLAY DESIGNER
SO, CUSTOM BOARDIES...
I’d always wondered how well it would work out. Then Dave and I got to give Dunstan Surfwear’s online boardshorts design a go, and I’m a bit of a convert, I must admit. The brainchild of Sri Lankan surfer, Dunstan Wickramasekara, gives average Joes and Joannes the opportunity to play with styles, colours, patterns, stitching and
{
The delivery box
LATEST & GREATEST
Cool freebies included a fridge magnet, a measuring tape and a surf guide!
DESIGN YOU OWN BOARDIES WITH A
NO, I DIDN’T STITCH THEM MYSELF, BUT I DID DESIGN THEM ONLINE...
trims to design an ideal pair of boardies. Finish off with full, custom measurements, and Dunstan deliver (very, very quickly, I might add) a pair of perfectly fitted shorts for your wearing pleasure, in a package way beyond expectations. The freebie extras in the box even include a tailor’s measuring tape to nail the measurements even better for future orders.
Dave’s Stumpy Swan design on screen at dunstansurfwear.com, and complete, 100% as designed, and comfy as can be.
This is what Dave thought:
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“I was certainly in need of a new pair of boardies, so I was happy to undertake the process of designing my own boardshorts. What I didn’t expect however is how much I would get into it... “The program for designing your boardies is super simple for even a technophobe like me. Yep, I could have designed my
boardies in 5 minutes - which is what I planned to do, because I was on deadline. However I got into it so much, I think I spent over half an hour deliberating on the boardie cut and style, the various colour combinations, stitching and detail. The whole process left me an absolute convert. Absolutely awesome. “As for the final product and the fit? Very impressed. Custom boardies are definitely the way to go to fit my stumpy legs and big rear end.” At $100 a pop it’s not far off what you’d pay off the rack anyway, and it’s all you. And you can give it a go with a 2-for-1 offer (that’s $50 each) Simply use the code: dunstanoz241 www.dunstansurfwear.com
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Photos: Madeline Kate Photography
Incorporating 28 years of experience creating bespoke furniture with a passion for surfing and hollow wooden surfboards.
Hollow Wooden Surfboards Surfboard Building Courses Paulownia Timber & Supplies
MADE WITH LOVE MARMILADE’S HANDMADE FASHION
For absolutely unique, colourful and eye-catching custom clothing, handmade here on the Sunshine Coast, drop in to the Eumundi Markets on a Saturday if you’re on the Coast, or find out more information online. See page 16 for more on the lady behind Marmilade - Nicole Lynch. Facebook.com/marmilade, and marmiladeclothing.com.au
182 Crockford St Northgate Qld 4013 CALL 07 3256 9000 enquiries@bywaterdesign.com.au
EASTER 2015 | BYWATERDESIGN.COM.AU SMORGASBOARDER
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GOODBYE SUMMER A LAST LOOK AT SWIMWEAR
seaster.com.au
With a tear in our eye, we’ve bid farewell to the warmer months, but hey, you still need surf bikinis for your warm overseas holidays, until Spring comes back here anyway...
The hottest gear from Costa Rica... dkoko.com 30
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Hire the latest range of b oard designs f rom top shapers. Take it for a test run... Hire before you buy.
Seaster is a brand new range of Brazilian bikinis, neoprene surf bikinis and wetsuits. For more see the website... seaster.com.au
As the name says... facebook.com/barebumbikinis
Travelling to Noosa? No need to lug your log through the airport.
And for warmth, don’t forget Hive also do their Ectotherm neoprene range too... hiveswimwear.com
Surfboards by Tolhurst, Laguna Bay, Goddard, G&S, Surfline and Wilde. Beside Cafe Le Monde, Hastings St, Noosa
0424 985 687
foamandresin.com.au EASTER 2015 | SMORGASBOARDER
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NAMBUCCA HEADSGREAT THE ENTRANCE TO THE WATERS
FAMILY SURF ES
Photos: North Coast Holiday Parks, Tom Woods
CAPES
WHERE IS IT?
FISHING
Smack bang halfway between Brisbane and Sydney, the quiet coastal holiday town of Nambucca Heads is set on a headland at the mouth of the Nambucca River.
Nambucca is an angler’s dream, there are just so many options. Vast stretches of coastline, rocky outcrops and an extensive estuary system means Tailor, Snapper, Jewfish, Kingfish, Pearl Perch, Sampson and Mackerel can be caught offshore with Bream, Whiting and Flathead found in the estuary and further upstream, Australian Bass.
THE SURF A river this size sculpts some pretty nice banks and there are fun waves to be had here when the conditions are right. Best SE swell, N-NW wind. All tides.
NORTH COAST HOLIDAY PARKS NAMBUCCA HEADLAND The park is located directly on the headland, with spectacular ocean views to the north and south. There are six ocean view cabins, to dogfriendly cabins and numerous powered and unpowered sites. It’s often described as the “quiet and scenic option in Nambucca Heads” by many guests who have enjoyed their stay. Best of all, the beach is right in front. www.northcoastholidayparks.com.au
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IES VISIT...
ACCESSOR & S T C U D O R P K II F F NGE O R THE COMPLETE RA
FO
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Kiwi Allan Byrne, one of the legendary storytellers in the film Last Paradise.
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WORDS: DAVE SWAN, ALL IMAGES SUPPLIED COURTESY OF CLIVE NEESON
NEW ZEALAND’S MAGNIFICENCE lies in its compact and diverse geography. The country’s very emergence above the waves is a direct result of its location on the Pacific Ring of Fire where it straddles the Pacific and Indo-Australian Plates. Tectonic uplifts of land and volcanic eruptions have dramatically shaped New Zealand’s stunning landscape of mountain peaks, rolling hills, translucent lakes and rugged coastline, and it is these very extremes of nature that in turn inspired a bunch of wideeyed Kiwis. With their keen sense of adventure, a love of the wild and a tiny streak of madness, the wonders of New Zealand’s wilderness became their playground. The multi-award winning film Last Paradise traces the lifetime journey of a small group of pioneering mavericks whose antics and ingenuity paved the way for modern day extreme sports, an ‘industry’ that has seen New Zealand become the world capital of adventure tourism.
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LAST PARADISE however is so much
more than a mere adrenalin-fuelled surf action movie. It’s an eye-opener on so many fronts. It’s in fact a multi-layered film - the untold story of the evolution of extreme sports, whilst also highlighting how much our world has changed during this period. Beautifully restored original footage spanning some 50 years takes us back in time to the early ‘60s and ‘70s in New Zealand before taking us on a trip around the world and right up to the present day with storytellers like AJ Hackett and Allan Byrne. It has you marveling at the resourcefulness and what some may consider as reckless regard for personal safety of this maverick bunch. The film captures the excitement of adventure and the spirit of innovation. Despite being the first surf movie to be screened at global energy conventions, as it has been in Hawaii, it doesn’t preach. Last Paradise allows you to draw your own conclusions. Beyond just entertainment, the purpose of Last Paradise as a surf film is to change the world. National Geographic also saw this potential, becoming the international distributor for the movie.
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Featuring a soundtrack boasting 68 tracks - including three personally granted by Cat Stevens - to carry the mood and emotion of the visuals, Last Paradise is breathtaking, awe-inspiring, comical, confronting and thoroughly entertaining. The man behind the film is Clive Neeson: surfer, physicist, electronic engineer, educational speaker, adventurer and filmmaker who spent a lifetime filming it and four months in the desert writing the script to meet the challenge of combining a story of extreme sports innovation, science, adventure travel and planetary change. I recently spoke with Clive about how he came up with the idea for such a film and indeed what it was like growing up in the Land of the Long White Cloud back then. “Last Paradise tells this funny story about a group of mavericks who as kids are hell-bent on trying to pitch themselves against the forces of nature while exploring new concepts of fun. The film more or less starts in New Zealand because it is indeed the birthplace of extreme sports. The audience gets to share in their experiences, inventions and adventures.” Clive has even extended his involvement to personally touring the film with a young team of adventurers and scientists to create a very different movie-going experience.
At these special screenings you not only get to take in the full cinema experience of the action unfolding in high definition on the big screen, but engage Clive in discussion following the film as he avails himself to discuss aspects of the film and answer audience questions. “We happened on this idea when Last Paradise screened at the Santa Barbara Film Festival where it was selected for replays by popular demand.” Six months later, in a phone call out of the blue, the City invited the film back to the prestigious Arlington Cinema with Clive as guest speaker.
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LATEST: LOCAL
TOP & BELOW: Movie frame from Last Paradise
“The audience was huge and it was humbling to see their reaction. They were incredibly excited, awakened and inspired. It was there that the hosting professor declared that it had the potential to change the world. So, we designed a cinema show in the same fashion.” Being a story about Australia as well as NZ, the acid test would be the Australian cinema release in 2014. Last Paradise passed with flying colours, out-performing other indie movies, playing to 60 packed cinemas around the country with launches hosted by surf legends Tim Winton, Rabbit Bartholomew, Barton Lynch and Peter McCabe. More is planned for 2015.
ACROSS LEFT: Clive exploring Europe for surf in the ‘70s. Photo by Ian Watkins* ACROSS: Clive kitesurfing in Hawaii, 2013. *All images supplied courtesy of Clive Neeson EASTER 2015 | SMORGASBOARDER
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CLIVE is the central cinematographer of Last Paradise, which also includes footage shot by his parents. They were wildlife cinematographers in East Africa during the ‘50s and Clive and his brothers grew up on safari before travelling around Australia and settling in NZ. Here they discovered an untapped adventure playground, hurtling themselves along mud flats, down steep grassy slopes and off cliffs - all in the name of childhood amusement before taking their adrenalin cravings to even greater extremes.
“Back then most kids were confined to traditional field sports in town. Outdoor adventures were not seen as a responsible “sport”. But those maverick kids who defied the norm and joined us in the wild, well, they immediately became good mates. Some had lost a parent or had no toys. But the wilderness was free and the toys were yet to be invented – that was the excitement. “As teenagers, the discovery of unridden surf breaks became the progenitor of our quest for adventure. Out of surfing came the pioneering of bungee jumping, hang gliding and windsurfing. The extreme sources of energy we have in New Zealand such as the wind, waves and the mountains gave us so much pioneering opportunity. “Why I came to have so much footage of this was due to my desire to capture our discovery of anything new - a sport, an undiscovered paradise or a new technology invention. They were all exciting adventures and as you see in Last Paradise - they were the foundations of extreme sports evolution. Interestingly, as a cinematographer, Clive is completely self-taught. He began filming his mates’ antics from the age of 15, hiking around the world with home-built water camera and rigs in a backpack. By 17, he dreamed of making a film about innovation and adventure. What ensued over the course of time was a stockpile of incredible footage of the pioneers of modern day extreme sports. But one regret was that for simple cost reasons back in the day, Clive had filmed in smaller formats, incompatible with cinema. Decades later however, in a stroke of fate Clive was called as a technological consultant during the making of Peter Jacksons Lord of the Rings at Park Road Post Production. He used some of his own archive footage to test the systems which had the unique ability to restore small formats. When converted to big screen the technical team at Weta Digital were stunned at the quality and content. They wanted to see more, eventually inviting Clive to create the film at their own studios. “I needed no convincing, it was a lifetime dream come true”. And so Last Paradise was born. Achieving big-screen quality was only possible because Clive had developed cameras to film very closeup. But this is also what gives the audience the special feeling of actually being there, amongst the action. But Clive wanted Last Paradise to tell the whole story. “I began a huge investigation to track down all the “lost” footage we knew of and we restored that too. A year later we had the richest stockpile of the unseen adventure travel archives including gems such as of Miki Dora surfing in New Zealand and AJ Hackett’s bungee jump off the Eiffel Tower.” EASTER 2015 | SMORGASBOARDER
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LATEST: LOCAL
IN 2007 Clive took all of this original footage, in the various formats in which it had been shot, to Peter Jackson’s Park Road Post Production in Wellington.
ABOVE: Only in NZ.... RIGHT: Clive with Jon Newel at Peter Jackson’s Park Road Post Production. LEFT: The homemade water camera that Clive carried around the world in the 70s. BELOW: So, how well did a homemade camera hold up in the water? Just see for yourself...
“They had this unique ability to restore even small format film, correcting it and colour grading it to make it all uniform so the production was seamless.” The result is an iconic film with all of the explosive, high-energy, colour-filled imagery you would expect of a surf film but with an engaging storyline. As I mentioned earlier, one of the most remarkable aspects of the movie was the ingenious inventions these crazy Kiwis come up. “Being an island far removed from the rest of the world, the grassroots ingenuity came out of necessity, our remoteness bread self-sufficiency. You couldn’t readily purchase something off a shelf. Everything was handmade, homemade stuff. You had to work out how to build it yourself and this resourcefulness lead to funky inventions such as the Jet Boat that originated from a sheep farm, which you see in the movie. “When you see guys hang gliding down the Tasman Glacier it was all with homebuilt stuff. No helmets, no safety gear or parachutes, no thermals, just their jeans and a lot of bravado. “It is when you pursue adventure and danger, you gain a very good handle on technical things, even to the extent of just being able to survive in the places you want to travel to.” And it is through the film that Clive hopes to reawaken the spirit of innovation. Indeed it is within the younger audience members in particular that Clive wishes to ignite a spark as it is his firm belief that it is our youth that hold the key to solving the problems we face in modern day society.
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Grass surfing
Grass skiing...
The first snowboard
Innovative skating
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“LAST PARADISE
is a celebration of our search for paradise and between the lines you will experience how the world used to be. The filming began in a time when there were 20 times more wild animals in Africa and the world’s many cultures were mystical novelties to be discovered. “We tend not to notice small amounts of change year by year but you are overwhelmed in the film to see the actual change that has occurred. Scientists call this ‘Shifting Baselines’ – every generation accepts what they are born into as the norm, so we gradually lose sight of what paradise used to be. “The questions raised by the younger members of our audience would never normally be asked unless they watched environmental docos, which most people seem to have grown tired of. So I wanted to create something entirely different - an entertaining audience experience, where the audience can be swept back in time, relive the fun and adventure whilst experiencing how the world really was and make their own assessment of the future.” What is both stunning and confronting is the amazingly rich cinematography of the yet untouristed surf destinations such as Bali, Mexico and Europe in the early ‘70s. It’s here that the film defines wealth itself and its different meanings to the peoples of these countries back then. For the Balinese it was contentment, in Mexico it was the simple concept of happiness, for Europeans it was a sense of identity through ancient tradition. “Happiness, contentment, tradition and culture, these things were the true meaning of real wealth. In the movie we see first hand what happened when that wealth was cashed in for money under the modern economic model based on consumerism and perpetual growth. The purpose of Last Paradise is foremost to entertain and get people excited about what’s possible in their own life. They enjoy the ride, but they leave the cinema with an awareness that has them asking questions relating to big issues like energy development, the fate of the wilderness and our own civilization. So it is through the course of the film you come to glean the double life Clive leads between adventure madman and mild mannered member of the conservative scientific community. Not only had he acquired his Masters degree in physics and electronics under pioneering physicist Professor Bruce Liley, Clive went on to work internationally as consultant in the field of energy development and high-tech innovation including the first digital climate monitoring and process control technology. “As a physicist, I wanted Last Paradise to create awareness about the real big issues in the world, their cause and solutions – but embed it all in a fun ride for the audience“.
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You come to understand how various aspects of the film start to fall into place and realise that the survival of our planet is dependent on the connections our children make with the wilderness. “Tomorrow’s protectors of the wilderness are the kids who play in it today” and I’m deeply concerned by how many kids no longer play outside. Where will the next crop of wilderness ambassadors stem from? The film inspires children as well as adults to get out there, experience nature and hopefully develop that sense of wonder which leads to studying the physical sciences. “Pioneering science is needed more than ever to tackle big issues such as energy and wilderness loss. The increasing shortage of kids studying science today is the biggest hurdle for the leaders of projects aimed at developing affordable and sustainable alternatives. “Last Paradise reveals not only this, but shows what can be achieved when kids pursue their life’s dream with passion. At its core was that special love of the wilderness gained through surfing. Now as adults, they work to save the wilderness which gave them so much. Because it was their childhood playground and hopefully will be for the children to come. That is the culture that Last Paradise was created to spread. Through each screening event in the cinema, school and home we can help change the world”.
WATCH IT... The ultimate way to experience Last Paradise is at one of the special cinema events planned for 2015. See www.lastparadisefilm.com to watch the trailer, and register to stay in the loop of when it’s playing in your town. A special DVD version of the film created with National Geographic is now also available from the website so you can own and enjoy it again and again and share this educational tool.
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BUILD YOUR OWN WOODEN SURFBOARD
w offer demand we no Due to popular
orkshops 1 Day Shaping W
3 Day Building & Shaping Workshop - Over 3 days we teach you how to build a wooden surfboard from scratch, starting with timber planks and internal frame to create your board. The last day is spent shaping. After 3 days you take home your Wooden Surfboard, complete with fin box/plugs, leash plug, vent and fins. 1 Day Shaping Workshop - In a 1 Day Shaping Workshop, we start with a pre made wooden blank, then teach you how to shape and create the finished board, similar to how a conventional surfboard is shaped. At the end of the day the board is fully shaped, complete with fin box/plugs, leash plug, vent and fins. Longboards, shortboards, retros and classics - made by you with a little help from Tree to Sea Australia Workshops are held in Mt Eliza, Mornington Peninsula, Victoria, Australia. See website for 2015 workshop dates. Reserve your place now. www.treetosea.com.au
Wooden Surfboard Workshops
Alaias & Paipos
are traditional Hawaiian surfcraft. Alaias and Paipos are available from Tree to Sea Australia or attend a one day workshop and handcraft your own. See website for details. HANDMADE SURFCRAFT
TREE TO SEA australia
THE GOODNESS OF WOOD
www.treetosea.com.au
Robert 0409 211 751 Gary 0423 804 975 info@treetosea.com.au
EASTER 2015 | SMORGASBOARDER
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The goodness of wood. Plantation grown timber. No fibreglass. No foam. No resins. Just wood (and glue). Keeping our environmental splash to a ripple.
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New Zealand Surfing all over
...a road trip
Anyone who has surfed for more than one
summer holiday will be well aware that
trips and a whole lot of personal tips and
riding waves in spots like the one on this page
recommendations from a few thousand mates
your local in the morning. Oh no, it takes
a rough guide to travelling and surfing
doesn't generally happen by walking down to time, and it takes travel - getting out of
your comfort zone and exploring the world.
- yes you, the readers - we've put together
through the regions of the North and South. No, there are no secret spots in here - those
One of the most rewarding and always
you have to respectfully discover for yourself
opinion is New Zealand. There are no
as enough inspiration to get you on the road
surprising places to explore, in our humble guarantees - hell, there aren't even always
tarred roads - but when you get out there, the magic is waiting to be discovered.
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With notes from two different family road
- but the next 50-odd pages should serve
to somewhere in NZ that suits your style of surfing and feeds your need for adventure. Enjoy!
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CAPTURING IT...
This lonely sc ene was snapped by NZ surf photographer Ji m Culley (who al so took the cover shot). See more at: jimag es.co.nz EASTER 2015 | SMORGASBOARDER
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IT... CAPTURING
rfer Unknown su a bottom r fo in ng diggi here east turn somew , taken of Auckland lton ou P h by Zac ph ra y.co.nz zpsurfphotog
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New Zealand Surfing all over
Where are we going? Northland Coromandel
Starting in the North,
we wind our way down
Bay of Plenty
Auckland
to the South Island.
We're checking out the
Waikato
coastlines and criss-
crossing the islands to find great surf towns,
Taranaki
random roadtrip gems and must-do stops
further inland too.
Eastland
NORTH
Hawkes Bay
Nelson
Wellington Marlborough
West Coast
Canterbury
Wanaka & WWWW
SOUTH Southland
Otago
H OW DO WE GET THERE? In style, in the best possible way to tour around NZ - by motorhome!
With so much to see and amazing campgrounds, holiday parks and even freedom camping, this is a no-brainer. You can also get 50% off Department of Conservation campsites at doc.govt.nz/campsitepass.
Freedom camping?
Look for this sign!
The freedom comes with responsibility though, so make sure you know the right thing to do regarding camping, driving, waste disposal and so on... see camping.org.nz. EASTER 2015 | SMORGASBOARDER
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• Fast, self-service check-in • Wide range of campers • 8 branches in Australia • 3 branches in New Zealand • 24/7 roadside assistance • Unlimited kilometres • Kitchen utensils & equipment • Bed linen
BOOK 1800 670 232 IN AU NOW 0800 422 267 IN NZ 52
www.mightycampers.com SMORGASBOARDER | EASTER 2015
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New Zealand Surfing all over
What do we need?
t 1. A great wetsui
2. Transport & Accommodation
Yes, we love NZ, but its bloody cold, so unless you have Siberian blood, you'll need a wettie suited to the time of year.
Check! There's a huge choice of motorhomes and smaller campers right for you.
Mighty Campers are great comfort for your budget and come in a range of sizes. Britz are perfect for the family - which is why we were travelling in a 6-berth Britz Frontier - while Maui step you up even further with a higher-end motorhomes. A couple needing pick-up at the airport, and a camper pre-loaded CAN'T STORE YOU SURFBOARDS with boards and INSIDE? all... Piwiwiwi in Grab a set of these Raglan are for you.
You can use the opportunity to get local knowledge and a customfitted suit from Seventh Wave in Christchurch. We've said it before, we'll say it again - unbelievable suits.
4. Surfboard
3. Warm gear! Even Spring can be
chilly, so make sure
you've got some wool and wet-weather gear too.
5. A guide...
before you go, and you can sleep soundly, knowing your sticks are safe
With so many talented shapers in NZ, if the budget allows, splash out on a custom board, perfectly suited to the local conditions.
Go old-school with a book in the glove box, or get the Sherpa Surf Guide app on your phone for a 6 day forecast. And it's FREE.
Sherpa lets you check up to 40 spots at a time. Zoom to an area on your screen, hit “Check�, and the app will rank all the spots from best to worst. (A waterproof phone case won't hurt either)
12:24 pm
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We start off our journey right at the top, where it's about as warm as you can get water-
wise, and there is so much to be discoered.
In fact, Northland warrants
a surf trip in itself to truly
experience the variety of waves
on both sides of this tip of the
North Island. There are reefs and beachies and a variety of
swell angles. If it’s onshore on one side it is offshore on the
other and with only an hours
drive or less in between, you
have your bases well and truly covered.
The jewel in the crown
is Shipwreck Bay in the far north with its long
New Zealand Surfing all over
- Northland -
TRAVEL TIP #03 A 4WD and a good pair of walking shoes is the best way to truly explore this unspoilt reg ion.
Photo: Jim Culley
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Photo: Jim Culley
lefts but there are equally fun
waves to be had all the way down to the southernmost breaks of
Mangawhai Bar, Langs Beach and Waipu Cove.
In summer time here you
can even break out a pair of boardshorts. The main city in the region is Whangarei
(pronounced fonga-ray), which
is roughly in line with Moruya on the New South Wales South Coast.
"Shipwreck bay going off. My
favourite place to surf with my
mates from the Tutukaka coast." Simon Egginton EASTER 2015 | SMORGASBOARDER
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When you've got two completely differnt coastlines within a short drive from a major city, you really are spoilt for choice.
Surfwise, the Auckland region is most famous for the wild west side, with spots like Piha and Muriwai having their esteemed
reputation for a very good reason. That said, the East Coast has
plenty of gems - open beaches and points - just waiting to be ridden. If this picture doesn't say that in a snap, we don't know what will...
New Zealand Surfing all over
- Auckland -
BELOW: The view from Barry's Point looking south, and the kids playing with light and Lego at the Art Gallery. www.aucklandartgallery.com
We spent a couple of days
in Auckland, to take in the
city sights and get our fix of
culture. After a friendly chat with owner, Marius, we found ourselves camping at the
Takapuna Beach Holiday Park, on the water at Barrys Point
with a magic view and a perfect place to SUP. This is the spot for city facilities, yet feeling like you're away on holiday.
(Takapuna actually gets some storm surf, and there are a
couple of reefs in the area that can jack up for a few innercity waves.)
FREE FAMILY DAY OUT Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tﾄ［aki is a perfect day of culture for the kids (and big kids), with historic to contemporary art, engag ing interactive exhibits and a cafﾃｩ.
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NZ ROADTRIP One happy surfing girl at Te Arai point on Auckland's East Coast. Photo: Zach Poulton, www.zpsurfphotography.co.nz EASTER 2015 | SMORGASBOARDER
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NZ ROADTRIP
Mike Jolly give his quad longboard a workout. Photo: Paul Hogan, Hogan Images Ltd.
New Zealand Surfing all over
- Auckland -
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TRAVEL TIP #266 Piha has top spots to stay - Check out Piha Surf's Caravans for cool comfort, and Piha Doma in Motor Camp to . be right at the act ion
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RIGHT: Mike's daughter and multiple NZ Woman's Longboard and Shortboard champion Anna Jolly. Photo: Paul Hogan, Hogan Images Ltd.
Mike Jolly of Piha Surf (left) is a surf shop owner,
surfboard builder and long-time respected local, so
who better to offer some fatherly surf guidance for the Auckland region? Over to you, Mike.
"The West Coast has attracted surfers since the late 1950s. Piha Beach, in particular, because of its
accessibility, shoreline parking and legendary waves is a very popular choice with Auckland surfers.
"Muriwai and along side it, Maori Bay offer powerful waves and relatively easy access.
"Bethells and KareKare have always been for those
wanting to get away from the crowds and find some West Coast solitude.
"During the '70s and '80s not only did surfers have the Piha Bar on tap, but just over the hill, a nearby
right hand point was consistently firing off like some exotic location. Alas in the mid '90s the Bar at
Piha disappeared , and has only shown good form for
TRAVEL TIP #267 When the wife and kids have lost it, the Piha Cafe is a funky, family-friendly stop to relax for a bite.
fleetingly short periods since. That right hand point also suffered the same fate.
"However, last year (2014) in Autumn the Piha Bar
roared back into life and we all rejoiced as epic left hand conditions reigned supreme once again.
"At the moment we have typical summer / early autumn conditions and the best waves at Piha now seem to occur north of Lion Rock. A high
tide, offshore easterlies, and under 6 foot of swell seem to be the criteria.
"As with all of Aucklands West Coast
beaches, the black sand banks come and go
with the many Tasman Sea storms - its what keeps things interesting - there is always a
new bank forming somewhere, a new window of opportunity. Go Seek."
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"The Piha Bar returned in epic form for Autumn 2014"
Some pure surf stoke... If these beautifual shots by photographer Paul Hogan don't get you pumped and ready to grab a board, perhaps you should be reading Stamp Collector Monthly instead...
See more of Paul's work at www.hoganimages.com
Unknown surfers surrounded by emerald green... All photos by Paul Hogan, Hogan Images Ltd.
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New Zealand Surfing all over
SURF GE AR
FOR REA L
SURFER S
- Auckland -
HIRE , DEMOS AND S IR A P E R , S FBOARD CUSTOM SUR umbin om at Curr tory showro opular models c fa r u o to Come r most p to demo ou
THREE
STORES!
1730 Gold Coast Highway, BURLEIGH HEADS 122 Griffith Street, COOLANGATTA 2 Stuart Road, CURRUMBIN (Factory Showroom)
WWW.MTWOODGEE.COM.AU EASTER 2015 | SMORGASBOARDER
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New Zealand Surfing all over
Just a hop, skip and a
- Coromandel -
jump from Auckland lies the Coromandel Peninsula, which extends North for around 80km,
starting from the Bay of Plenty in the east.
We scored a smaller day, but all good...
For an area so close to a major city (it's
only around a two-hour drive) its amazing how absolutely unspoilt it remains. With
natural attractions like hot springs, forests, beaches and beautiful surf destinations,
it's a must-do on a North Island trip when the east coast is getting swell.
"" It is a place where fathers and sons young and old can bond," says Smorgasboarder reader Nick Brown.
"...where the water is actually surprisingly warm, even for a visiting Aussie like myself. With a small north east swell and the lightest of south west wind, Dad
verses Seabass for a New Years day surf-off made of glass. One for the memory banks."
LEFT: Sebastien, ABOVE: Dad, Nick
Whangamata Beach (right) is one of many surfing
options along the coastline. It's one of NZ's well known surf breaks, and it totally deserves the reputation.
Whangamata Bar throws out great left handers and there are choices of peaks down the beach, with opportunity for flatwater SUP in the estuary as well.
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Photo: Paul Hogan, Hogan Images Ltd.
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- Hot Water Beach While we scored not a wave here, Hot Water Beach was a strange and
unforgettable experience... Plus, it would be a cracker when it's on.
Beach walkway from the Top 10.
So, how does sitting and relaxing in a hot spa on the beach sound? Pretty good? We thought so, and headed to
Hot Water Beach, where at low tide tourists hire spades
to dig holes near the water's edge. These holes - if well placed - promptly fill up with scalding hot water from the geothermal springs that run under the beach sand!
So, with spade in hand, we rubbed shoulders with other
TRAVEL TIP #78 The local pizza place, Hot Waves CafĂŠ has an Open Mic night on Fridays. Bring a torch for your walk back to the Caravan Park!
tourists and staked our claim in the sand (trying not
to look in the direction of the European backpacker guy
who hadn't figured out wearing wet, white undies while
bending over is just wrong. My eyes still burn. Anyhoo...) Weird, wonderful experience - a big tick on the list!
A pleasant stroll from the beachfront is the Hot Water
Beach Top 10 Holiday Park - a
very new park on the site of an old
nursery. Owned and operated by the lovely Sheree and Grant Webster, the park has possibly the coolest
cabins we've ever come across. Based on a Japanese design, these timber dwellings not only look amazing,
they're roomy, comfortable and fully
kitted out inside. The park has great play facilities for the littlies, an
on-site shop for essentials and even a
Fish 'n Chip takeaway (which served up really great food). You really don't
need to go anywhere else, just relax. One of our top stops of the whole trip.
Stunning cabins, amazing spot... www.hotwaterbeachtop10.co.nz Photo: Helen Chapman EASTER 2015 | SMORGASBOARDER
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New Zealand Surfing all over
- Waikato -
Photo: Jawn Milek, milekphotography.com, courtesty of Solscape.
The Waikato region is home to New Zealand’s
most world-renowned surf destination – Raglan. Its famed left-hand point breaks of Indicators, Whale Bay and Manu Bay, and the various subsections within each one, are the most
celebrated in the Land of the Long White Cloud due to their consistency and the fact this place turns into an ocean of corduroy lines when an
8-foot, long-fetch swell arrives. It's a sight to
behold. Line upon line of the most perfect waves
peel along the points for up to 3 kilometres. The place makes me dribble.
The town of Raglan itself is also one of the
funkiest little surf towns in NZ. Better still,
TRAVEL TIP #83 Raglan's Piwiwiwi you Campervans* can pick d kan Auc or n ilto up at Ham an airport with a camperv fully kitted out with surf gear, ready to go. *see www.piwiwiwi.co.nz
legendary Kiwi shaper Mickey T, the shaper of the most amazing high performance longboards,
shortboards and funboards calls Raglan home. And whilst Raglan is the most celebrated in the
region, there are still plenty of little gems just 66
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LEFT: Bridal Veil Falls RIGHT: Surfer Todd Doyle hits the Raglan Valley sections. Photo: Jim Culley
11/03/2015 2:47 pm
over black-sand beaches
at river mouths and rocky
headlands. Often these remain largely unsurfed due to the
sheer magnetism of Raglan. As
often is the case, the road less travelled can prove to be the
most rewarding. Why not find out for yourself?
NZ ROADTRIP
north and south of it breaking
MUST DO NEXT TIME! Eat, stay and hang out at Solscape, overlooking Manu Bay. Amazing views, awesome eco accommodation options, healthy food, yoga & so much more...
RIGHT: Some chilled folks relaxing and taking in the views at Solscape before hitting the classic breaks like over on the left. www.solscape.co.nz
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ON THE ROAD:
Waikato to Bay of Plenty A more recent breed of tourist to grace NZ shores is that of Ringers, Tolkienists, Tolkienites, Hobbitchasers and the like - fanatical fans of fantasy epics The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings. And does NZ ever cater for the fans! (Flying Air NZ, we'd even started our trip with the very entertaining Hobbit in-flight safety video) On the ground, there's ever imaginable tour across both islands from location visits to movie studio and production facility tours, but the crown jewel has to be Hobbiton - the set for 'The Shire'. Outside Mata-Mata (which has the
MOVIE TRIVIA... The tree you see - its not real! It was recreated for The Hobbit and has around 376,000 of these vinyl leaves handwired onto it...
Mata-mata i-site
Bilbo's house... Yes, we were here on party business. The stone steps (left) were the only remnant of the original LOTR set when building commenced for The Hobbit.
coolest themed i-site building ever) Hobbiton is no dusty set tour! The acres of farmland are fully maintained - with real growing veggies and flower gardens, washing on the line and 'produce for sale', it feels like a real little living village.
Ginger Beer good.
The guided tour had us looking inside hobbitholes, learning a few production secrets from the Ring toss with James movies and even playing ring-toss under the party tree. Best of all, the tour ended at the fully operational Green Dragon Inn, with a complimentary drink from their own Southfarthing range - cider or ale, and ginger beer for the kids and nondrinkers. Visiting Hobbiton was a brilliant day - a trip highlight for the kids - and this big kid too...
Tour guide James lets the kids have a look inside a hobbit-hole
Hobbiton's surf break
For an even bigger experience, Hobbiton also has a farmstay package with tours included. For more information on the tours and facilities, see www.hobbitontours.com. A big thank you to Shayne and the Hobbiton folks for the experience!
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New Zealand Surfing all over
- Bay of Plenty -
Mount Maunganui! I'd been keen to visit for a while, so
once booked into the caravan
park at the foot of the Mount, we had a couple of days to
Take in the view...
explore. The town sits on a
peninsula north of Tauranga, and has plenty of surfing options
BUILD A BOARD, SURF & STAY! with Bryan ‘BJ’ Smith
when the swells on, with miles of beach running south. We made the most of this brilliant spot with an afteroon climb up the
Mount - Mauao, an extinct volcano. Great views, worth the walk.
NZ $2,500 includes: Self-made board, pick up and drop off at New Plymouth airport or bus terminal, meals and accommodation.
Email BJ on seasons@xtra.co.nz or call +64 2 173 2766
Bring your partner for an extra $500
WWW.SEASONSSURFBOARDS.CO.NZ
SEASONS SURFBOARDS
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" Tauranga is one of New Zealand’s premiere spots. New Zealand has all of the waterways you could want to explore right on our doorstep..." Kirsten Wilton
New Zealand Surfing all over
- Bay of Plenty -
Greg Priest enjoys small rolling waves on a local board - a Liquid Stixx SUP by Andy Jordan, Tauranga. Photo: Cormac Seymour
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NZ ROADTRIP
TRAVEL TIP #12 1 To get to Mat akana Island, go by boat or ferry, as you' re not allowed to pa ddle across the ch annel.
ABOVE: The crowded break at Matakana Island. BELOW: Surfer Owen Barnes. Photos: Hambo and William Barnes
To add to the variety of breaks available in the area, on the other side of the Mount and across the channel lies Matakana Island. Here you'll find right and left-handers and
powerful, hollow barrels for the experienced surfer - a little like the South Straddie of NZ.
Here's a local's per spective, by Owen Barnes:
inside the green room - only we, as surfers, know the feeling.
"Seeing that rolling swell heading in from the Pacific readying itself to unload onto the shallow inside sandbanks. We wait patiently for that A-frame peak to head our way.
"With speed and energy from the foam ball, this wave is ready to spit you out into the channel. With a smile on your dial and hoots from your mates you paddle back out with this amazing stoked feeling ready and waiting for the next wave to head your way.
"Paddling hard to get in early before the bottom of the wave drops below sea level you sneak under the curtain for a view
"As you look into shore, the untouched, white sandy beach with a pine tree forest backdrop is what makes Matakana Island one very special place to surf. "Can’t wait for the next swell to produce some more green room cylinders."
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NZ ROADTRIP
Beachstreet Surf Shop team rider Jay Z. Photo: Daisy Day, courtesy of Beach Street Surf
New Zealand Surfing all over
- Taranaki Ahh, The Naki, we just love the sound of the place. It just sounds so hardcore, and it is. There are some surf spots here that will really test you. Hell, there are just so many surf spots. You effectively have 180 degrees of varying swell angles. This spectacular
volcanic peninsula has an endless array of waves around every corner pitching over rocky points and reefs. And each are sure to munch your board at some stage and so it is comforting. But what about the name? The region is so named due to Mt Taranaki, a volcanic peak that dominates the skyline and to a degree, the weather and surf.
It also provides the most stunning backdrop to your surf sessions and photos incidentally.
Another appeal of the area is Mt Taranaki’s proximity to the ocean. Being only 30 minutes away, in winter you can be snowboarding in the morning and surfing in the arvo. Absolute heaven.
Classic Taranaki. Photo: Jim Culley
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NZ ROADTRIP
TRAVEL TIP #45 Make sure to bring a couple of boards. The rocky coastline will chew 'em up and spit 'em out.
Beachstreet Surf Shop owner Jamie 'Chip' Andrews Photo: Daisy Day, courtesy of Beach Street Surf
ABOVE: Beachstreet team rider day out... Photo: Daisy Day
New Plymouth - the hub of Taranaki surfing Photo: Dominika Zielinska, www.facebook.com/chroniclesoflyall 74
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The name Surf Highway 45
says it all... Running 105km
from New Plymouth to Hawera, there are surf spots aplenty,
waiting to be discovered along the Taranaki Coast, all with
majestic views of Mt Taranaki. What better way to check it
out than taking your time in a campervan with a few good friends...
"The adventure begins with our
annual 'Surf Sister Surf School' Staff
Trip. Four Canadian surfer girls set off
in a campervan to check out the rocky point
breaks New Zealand has to offer. We were lucky enough to score decent swell and glassy conditions at most surf spots.
"On arrival the locals would often say to us, 'its a good thing you arrived today,
we've had no waves for weeks'. The stand
out surf break was on the Taranaki surf
highway. Rights for days! We surfed, and surfed, and surfed till we had noodle arms and couldn't paddle anymore.
"The surf break offered a long right point break, with a decent wedge take off, open
faces and long walls with possible barrel
sections. The crowd is small and friendly, and often it was just my friends and I -
we could do nothing but look at each other, smile and laugh, 'How good is this!!'
Whilst surfing you can enjoy the view
Photos: Sherrie Houghton
of the green farm fields and the snow capped Taranaki Volcano.
"Another great thing was the grassy
parking lot looks straight over the point break, which made it an excellent spot
to set up camp for the day. Surf. Eat. Sleep, Repeat!"
Sherrie Houghton - Reader
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TRAVEL TIP #26
Rachel Sanderoff
When the sign says "Scenic lookout"... Believe it. You'll be rewarded with some amazing natural beauty... LEFT: Rotorua's steamy geothermal landscape. RIGHT: A lucky stop... BELOW: Maori rock carvings at Lake Taupo, only accessible by boat
- Taupō -
At 616km2 Lake Taupō is massive. It looks like it might even get waves here...
For accommodation here, Taupō Debrett's gets a massive thumbs up. The holiday park has all the facilities you need, there's a restaurant on site, it's a quick drive to town, and best of all, you can walk to the resort pools.
ON THE ROAD:
Taranaki to Eastland The drive across takes you through Rotorua and Taupō, one of the best places to experience traditional
Maori culture. Not only is this a culturally rich region, it's also
world famous for geothermal springs. Trust me, there is absolutely
nothing better than sitting in a
thermal pool on a cold day, which
is what we did - all day long - at Taupō Debrett's Spa Resort. Water slides, cold and hot pools, and even
private hot spa rooms - we were spoilt for choice. Relaxing in a hot pool at 9pm at night? Royally spoilt. With
our motorhome just a walk away, it
was the ultimate way to end the day. Unfortunately, we missed Rotorua
this time to dodge rain, but we'll be back for the Hangi Feast for sure. Big, winding drives... Beautiful.
MUST DO NEXT TIME! The OGO folks were very cool and real keen to throw us down a hill in a giant ball. Sounds like an awesome arvo... 76
LEFT AND ABOVE: these pools are relaxing enough to make you forget your surfboard - well, for a day at least...
For more info on the Taupõ Debrett's Spa Resort and accommodation options, see www.taupodebretts.co.nz
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New Zealand Surfing all over
- Eastland-
Like Taranaki in the west, Eastland offers surfers a 180 degree swell window.
However the north facing coast on the cape is quite inconsistent. To simply head straight through to Gisborne from Opotiki would be a crime because you never know what lies around the next corner, and you virtually have the entire place to yourself.
It’s remote. The drive from Auckland to Opotiki takes around five hours in itself.
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TRAVEL TIP #23 The Wainui Store just back from Wainui Beach does great coffee, food and icecream. A worthy surfers stop.
As you head around the cape, the prospect of waves goes from so-so to oh-no. This place is home to some serious surf spots. Most are for very competent to expert surfers. There’s an endless array of points, bars, beachies, reefs and even an island, in fact The Island (listed in The Pilgrimage as one of the 50 waves to surf before you die). It’s a shortboarders paradise all the way from Gisborne down to the Mahia Peninsula. Makorori through to Wainui near Gisborne town centre present some options for those not so hardcore or who are just keen to cruise on a longboard but this region can still get friggin huge. At times it is Puerto Escondido-esque. Wainui is a personal favourite, but not when it’s like that monster Mexican wave.
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And this is
why we love
New Zealand. Nowhere else
would you see this...
High above Gisborne Harbour atop
of Kaiti Hill proudly stands this
monument. The plaque reads as follows: "This statue was placed here at the
time of the bicentenary of the landing of Lieutenant James Cook and the
men of the Endeavour in Poverty Bay in 1769 – the first known landing of
Photo: Lillian Porres
Europeans in New Zealand.
"It was cast in bronze from an
original marble statue which had been purchased in Italy in the late 19th
century by Moss Davis, the owner of the Captain Cook brewery in Auckland.
"In the belief that it was a replica of James Cook it was gifted to the city and a twin bronze was placed on the brewery in Khyber Pass, Auckland,
despite concerns by those who recognised that the uniform was not that of the
British navy and the facial features bore little resemblance to Cook. "Since October 1969 the statue
has been a source of delight for photographers and a source of
embarrassment for historians. Who is he? We have no idea!"
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Photo: Lillian Porres
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"...and my favorite spot is the spit, Mahia - a radical wave in which you
see such a good level of surfing. It's just for advanced surfers. Mahia by
itself is magical, beautiful place to be and is the home of the best surfers of NZ, Ricardo Christie."
Lilian Porres, Smorgasboarder reader
New Zealand Surfing all over
- Eastland-
"Three in the water... perfection"
Chris Mahoney,
Smorgasboarder reader
Photo: Chris Mahoney EASTER 2015 | SMORGASBOARDER
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Haumoana Beach, Hawke's Bay, New Zealand Photo: Andy Heyward
New Zealand Surfing all over
- Hawkes Bay -
South of Mahia, tHawkes Bay is where
you'll find Napier, a city most famous as a bastion of Art Deco architecture, and
although it's not a major destination for surfers, there's definitely a wave to be found if the conditions are right.
The Reef is - as you'd guess from the
name - a reef break that has its days.
As a traveller, it's a little hit and miss, but the locals get to make the most of
it when its on, particularly in winter. Either side of Napier, you also have beach breaks that you can luck some great waves on the right day.
On our trip, we took in some animal experiences including the National
Aquarium of New Zealand on the Napier foreshore and The Farmyard Zoo - both
a good day out for the kids. Staying at the Affordable Westshore Holiday Park
we had easy access to the city. Damn that wind though - not a wave in sight for us. The locals reckoned the wind was pretty mild, as we leaned sideways...
But hey, Hawkes Bay is great wine
country, so we were smiling anyway! 82
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ON THE ROAD :
Hawkes Ba y to Wellin gton
Driving down from Napier, you
go through Dannevirke - a viking
- Martinborough -
town. Yes, I said viking town... Good place to
stop for a bite. Our final destination for a few days was however, Martinborough, just over 3 hrs from Napier, and 1 1/2 shy of Wellington. The closest surf here is about a 30 minute
drive down to Palliser Bay, but like Hawke's
Bay, this is wine country - particularly known BELOW: On the bikes to somewhere, and BOTTOM: Best room in the house
for Pinot Noir - so Martinborough's major
attraction is exactly that, along with great food. Nestled in amongst acres and acres of vineyards is the Top Ten Holiday Park, run by Lisa and Frank Cornelissen. It's only a small park, but one of the friendliest ones we stayed out the
whole trip, with great facilities for a comfy stay and choice of sites, units and brand new cabins - Frank was busily doing some fit-out work
while we lazed around eating local cheeses,
olives and sampling a bit of wine while the kids burned off energy on the playground.
The little town itself, with its formally-
arranged streets gave the grown-ups plenty of
ABOVE: Lisa and Frank park pet Claudia. For more info and to book, see www.martinboroughholidaypark.com
opportunity to burn the extra calories anyway. A morning run, and afternoon bike-ride (a lot bigger than we'd planned) kept us more than busy and well entertained.
Particularly for couples, this is the perfect
spot to hop on a bike and explore a few vineyards
- There's far more cellar doors than you could get through in a day.
TRAVEL TIP #51 If you want it ali ve with entertainment rather than la id ba ck, the best time to vis it is during the Toast Martinborough Fes tival EASTER 2015 | SMORGASBOARDER
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- Wellington Watching the waves hit the breakwall at the landing strip, Lyall Bay. Photo: Andrew Tierney
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While it totally lives up to its reputation of being a windy city (we lost the air-conditioner cover on the motorhome
overnight!) the city of Wellington - the southernmost capital city in the world - is a vibey hub of culture and great
travel experiences. Wellywood's also the heart of the NZ movie industry and home to the man himself, Sir Peter Jackson, so there's a big draw for the creative community in general.
Cool cafés, restaurants, galleries, quirky shops and beautiful bayside suburbs are just some of the reasons to spend more
than a day here before you hop the ferry to the South Island.
FREE FAMILY DAY OUT Te Papa Tongarewa - the National Museum and Gallery - is a great experience, and entry is free,* then wind down in the Botanic Gardens. *Admission costs apply to certain exhibitions
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Excited boys meet Rexxie, and left: Tua Tora, a custom guitar from the '99 Ten Guitars exhibition
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New Zealand Surfing all over
Surfing here I can’t think of many places where you get to surf beside an airstrip. The novelty factor of Lyall Bay has never worn off on me and there is always seemingly something there ranging from fun little sliders to a hefty left-hand break peeling off the airstrip break wall.
The fact Wellington is known as the windy city means those winds play havoc with the swell
along with a big thing nearby called the South Island that blocks many of the pulses coming up from the Antarctic. This limits the options. On its day however the Kapiti Coast an hours
The cool interior of the Maranui Café even gets the kids retro-ing it up.
drive away can deliver some magic but I’m happy to just stick to Lyall Bay.
TRAVEL TIP #73 For a family-friendly feed, the Maranui Café on Lyall Bay is the spot. Great food & coffee, cool, quirky styling and it's literally on the water. EASTER 2015 | SMORGASBOARDER
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Sitting between between Golden Bay and
Tasman Bay on the northern end of the South Island, the Abel Tasman National Park, although the smallest of NZ's national
parks, still covers over 200km2. A great way to see it? From the water of course...
Here, Smorgasboarder's Jeff Morris relays
a tale of an excitable SUP guide and three days of exploring this coastline...
SUP-ing
New Zealand Surfing all over
- Nelson ONCE UPON A TIME... ...there was a stand up
paddleboard instructor whose dream was to paddle the crystal clear waters of the Abel Tasman National Park on the South Island of New Zealand under clear blue summer skies in the company of fair maidens from far off lands such as Sweden and Germany... or anywhere really, he didn't mind. He would point out places of interest and wildlife and generally enlighten them with his vast knowledge. Those things that he was unsure of he would just make up. One summers day he found himself in the company of 2 fair maidens - one from the British Isles, far far away and the other from the North Island of New Zealand, not so far away.
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The maidens wished to undertake a 3-day tour of the Abel Tasman National on SUPs and were hoping that the instructor - who was in the employ of Kaiteriteri Kayaks & Stand up Paddle Boards - would guide them on their quest, even offering money to do so. The guide took many seconds (about 3) before he nodded his head in a vigorous fashion.
The fair maidens wished to stay out in the park each night under the stars and organised for their tents and equipment to be picked up and delivered to their camping destination each day by Abel Tasman Sea Shuttles, suppliers of superior over-water transport (OWT) machines in the region, the very same people who
would take the less-thanhardy guide home to his soft bed and array of fine wines each night.
Day 1 of the quest dawned bright and sunny. As the guide and other humble serfs loaded the boards and luggage onto the OWT machine, he gazed down at his arm which had become blue from much pinching.
They unloaded at Awaroa Inlet amid jealous looks from other passengers aboard the Sea Shuttles OWT machine and then paddled into the inlet at high tide. One of the fair maidens was so overcome by the pristine beauty that she stood on her head on top of the paddle board. This lead to much mirth and cheering amongst the onlookers. The merry crew then proceeded to a place only
accessible by small craft at high tide called Shag Harbour. This gave the guide yet another blue arm, only to find many sea birds perched on rocks as they entered the secret spot, oh well it was stunning nonetheless.
Day one ended at Tonga Quarry Beach after much swimming in clear waters, spotting stingrays and the application of copius quantities of sunscreen lotion. Leaving the maidens to their camp and an angry male seal, the guide boarded the Sea Shuttle OWT machine for home. Day 2 dawned less than perfect with a one metre swell, cloud and a chill in the air. The guide hoped the maidens would do the alternative Kaiteriteri Kayak full day tour that was offered to them,
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Sea Shuttle OWT
Shag Harbour
but alas they were already getting an early start and the guide found it necessary to join them from the back deck (something called a stern) of the Sea Shuttles OWT machine, which he did in a less than stylish fashion, after clambering back onto his board the guide (drowned rat) joined the maidens in a very quiet and literally chilled cruise along the rocky coastline until the sun appeared, the wind and swell dropped, the guide thawed out and the world once again became a wonderful place.
After more swimming, and stopping at various beaches the by now merrier crew arrived at Anchorage Bay where the maidens were to spend the night at the excellent Department of Conservation (DOC) camping facility. They pitched tents next to a joyful
Split Apple Rock
crew of kayakers from another village and had an excellent evening of food, wine and good cheer, while the guide went home to his soon-to-be-quitediminished wine selection and comfortable bed, missing out on all the fun.
Day 3 and the fair folk in Abel Tasman National Park had won the lottery with a clear sunny day dawning and the guide setting out to join the fair maidens, this time from the front (bow apparently) of the Sea Shuttle OWT machine in good style and to much cheering rather than snickering from the passengers on board. The happy paddlers made their way to Adele Island - home to a colony of seals and their pups, some of which came out to greet the paddlers and play in the
surrounding water, bringing much happiness, smiles and the incessant clicking of cameras. Moving on down the coast, and after many swim breaks at beautiful beaches, the merry crew arrived at Apple Tree Bay and dined on superb food for lunch.
After their fine fare, it was time to complete the final leg of the epic adventure, across the expansive Marahau Sandy Bay, which on occasion can be a bit boring, but not on this day, as a 22 knot wind was
pushing the happy paddlers at a fair rate of knots, leaving little to do except enjoy the ride on many small windswell waves.
Reaching the famous Split Apple Rock the crew pushed onto the final destination of Kaiteriteri, home to more Golden Sand, clear waters and an excellent but ominously named tavern called the Beached Whale, where after a quick freshen up, the fair maidens and lucky guide availed themselves of a fine ale or three and raised their glasses many times to a fine and fun journey.
EASTER 2015 | SMORGASBOARDER
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Mark Nichols, Photo: Jimmy Wright
New Zealand Surfing all over
"Top of the South Island, Nelson is a city not-so-known for waves - more so great weather and perfect sea breezes, making for a kitesurfing mecca. "Ironically, Nelson's surfer population outnumber Westport and Kaikoura combined. People move to Nelson for reasons other than surfing, but if you keep an ear to the ground & nose to the wind you would be surprised how many days a year you can actually get a wave in Nelson.
- Nelson Firing around the corner. Photo: Jimmy Wright
Mark Nichols of the Nelson Boardriders knows the area like the back of his boardbag, so who better to introduce his neck of the woods...
"When the swell arrives it's a case of 'drop everything' because if you are loyal to a 40hour a week job you may find the amount of days you get out per month dwindling. "Tides and timing are supercrucial, and only time spent living here attains you the knowledge needed to score succesfully. You need to have a genuine motivation to surf no matter what the conditions because there might not be another wave tomorrow. "Offer reffered to jokingly as 'Surf City', Nelson is the working man's surf town. When the surf is on, you dont wanna get caught working."
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TRAVEL TIP #64 Fancy a beer? March is when you can catch the Marchfest boutique brewing festival, and immerse yourself in Nelson's culture.
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NZ ROADTRIP
Nelson may not be the centre of New
Zealand surfing but it is literally the centre of New Zealand – smack bang in the middle of the whole country. It’s the second oldest settled city in the
Shaky Isles and the oldest in the South
Island. It also enjoys more sun than near anywhere else in New Zealand. Although it can't claim more surf, it can still get pretty darn good when the conditions are
right, as the photo depicts. Keep an eye on a northwest groundswell and voila! The
region has the geographic setup to deliver the goods when swell is present.
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Heading from Nelson down to Kaikoura takes you though the Marlborough wine region. If you love your sauv-blancs you will have heard of this place. The drive is spectacular and the little town of Blenheim is at the centre of it all with many a cellar door (around 20 I think) and a variety of artisan food outlets.
Past Blenheim you hit rugged coastline and your jaw drops as your marvel at the absolutely stunning scenery. It’s at the same time you start spotting block dots moving along the shoreline. Your mind isn’t playing tricks, camouflaged amidst the rocks are lots and lots of seals. A must see along the way is Ohau Stream, particularly from May through to October. Hundreds of Fur Seal pups born in the Summer make their way upstream to a rock pool complete with waterfall to play all winter long until they are ready to enter the ocean as adults come Spring.
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German beer love - Dodson Street
Blenheim The Kaikoura coastline
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New Zealand
"Freddy Owens on a Sadhana 7’4” Harbourmaster - a planing hull beast. Photo: Chris Owens
"The pristine green-blue water at Kaikoura is the stuff dreams are made of, especially if you score it glassy and uncrowded."
Surfing all over
Tom Owens
- Canterbury -
"Kaikoura. The harsh, cold weather is only
rivalled by the warmth of its people and colourful skies. The waves range from mellow to hectic. It's one of the few places where you can get barrelled
and look straight at a snowy mountain. Just keep the fire going to ease those ice cream headaches and watch out for the exotic wildlife…" Javier Leon
TRAVEL TIP #91 The Ka ikoura Peninsula Walkway is the best way to take in cliff-top vistas from in the sea to the mounta peaks.
"Waves, seals, mountains, sunsets, crayfish. What more could you want!" Annabel Varley - Reader
The seaside town of Kaikoura is a gem. Every Kiwi I have ever come across recommends
visiting here if you venture to the South Island. It's just
such a picturesque spot, and Kaikoura sunset, and warming up. Photos: Javier Leon
by all reports when the surf is on, there are a range of
Visitors and locals. Photo: Annabel Varley
quality breaks. In our past
three years Smorgasboarding
New Zealand I am yet to see it bigger than a pancake, but photos don’t lie.
The seals also look to have the place pretty sussed.
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New Zealand Surfing all over
- Canterbury -
Freddy Owens on a Dunlop 1960s Pig. A nice summery peeler on the log at Sumner. Photo: Tom Owens
The Canterbury Region occupies about a third of the South Island and so it is fair to say there
are a range of breaks along the coast to suit all level of surfers on all types of craft in variable conditions. To the north around Kaikoura is
considered to be home to some of the best waves, in particular Maungamaunu and Kahutara – just
think offshore deep water trench and you know some killer swells hit this region unimpeded from the open ocean. (Deep water trench also brings some
other things to my mind but just focus on the waves)
" It’s hard to imagine the waves get this big in Christchurch, it’s certainly the biggest wave I’ve ever seen. (check the houses to get a scale) I believe this spot remains unsurfed, even though it’s only a kilometre away from the city’s busiest beach; Taylors Mistake." Photo: Tom Owens 92
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Ike Hanson, North Canterbury, 6'8" Sadhana pintail - a nice, late autumn south swell. Photo courtesy of Sadhana
Further south you hit New Zealand’s second largest
city, Christchurch, which
is home to some fun beach
breaks ideal for shortboards through to paddleboards.
On from there you have the Banks Peninsula, which is
the eroded remnants of two
large shield volcanoes. The geographic set-up means
there are a range of options
and the scenery spectacular. Enough said.
TRAVEL TIP #163 Keep an eye on seals not only for the guys who dine on them but for the fact they can be quite narky themselves if you get too close.
Photo: Jono Smit EASTER 2015 | SMORGASBOARDER
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New Zealand Surfing all over
- Canterbury -
"Maungamanu - a right hand point break not far from Kaikoura.
When sitting in the line-up the mountains are so close it feels like you can almost reach out and touch them. Our friends own a bach right on the beach and it's one of my favourite places to be - even better when the surf is pumping."
David Tyson - Smorgasboarder reader
Surfer Tim Clemence at the Sumner vs Kaikoura One Wave Competition 2014. Photo: David Tyson 94
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NZ ROADTRIP EASTER 2015 | SMORGASBOARDER
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ON THE ROAD: NZ ROADTRIP
Gore Bay
Looking past Cathedral Cliffs across Gore Bay. Photo: Dave Swan
log
Surf check - Sam Swan
Classic signage. Photo: Kipper
Just south of Kaikoura lies Gore Bay, a great South Island holiday spot with a beautiful beach just 10 minutes drive from the amazing natural wonder that is Cathedral Cliffs - a definite photo stop on a road trip. Surf artist Mark ‘Kipper’ Calcutt is one Christchurch local who calls Gore Bay second home - first choice for a weekend away. With a business in signs since the '80s, Kipper did shopfronts for most surf shops in the Canterbury region.
ARTFULLY INSPIRED, SHAMELESS PLUG... Manuka Bay-based Ashley Smith's illustration of a surfing sheep on the old sign at Gore Bay Beach Caravan Park was a starting point of inspiration for our new t-shirt design! Plug, plug... Buy one at www.smorgasboarder.com.au 96
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Kipper and his Shag Rock artwork
“These days were pretty cool,” Kipper recalls. “There were no major brands to bring in the masses. These people were very passionate surfers following their dream.”
Kipper and his Shag Rock artwork
Kipper: 'Breakwater' detail
Kipper’s life has revolved around the ocean, from which he draws his inspiration for painting and pastel work. One of his works, Shag Rock, depicts the pre-quake glory of the Christchurch coastal landmark. While Kipper originally planned to produced a handful of prints to make a few hundred dollars as a fundraiser for the local fire brigade, the interest has been so great, he’s ended up donating over $10,000 for the cause in the last four years - it’s been a popular image locals have wanted to remember.
“We all take our local landmarks and beaches for granted in our busy worlds,” says Kipper. “Once they’re taken away, they’re gone forever.” You can view Kippers work in person at Sadhana Surfboards’
House of Creativity at the Tannery in Woolston, Christchurch.
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Kipper gained his nickname while travelling through the North Island to the Nationals in the early ‘80s with three mates. “All we did was eat, surf and sleep," he explains. "The more I surfed, the more I was found in the tent, asleep, hence ‘are you having another kip?’ The name has stuck well for 35 years.”
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When you hit Christchurch you start to
encounter some fun beachbreaks such as New
New Zealand
Brighton and my favourite wave for a log
Surfing all over
or mini Simmons: Sumner. Taylors Mistake
around the corner delivers some added grunt for those who are up for it. Just be mindful there's usually a fair degree of swirling
- Canterbury -
water in this little bay.
Christchurch is Surf Central on the South Island. Home to SeventhWave Wetsuits, Sadhana Surfboards, Quane Longboards, Exit Surf, Groundswell, ASP Boards & Stoked. Jay and Hana
The Tannery
Shipshape Mall Container chic
If you're flying into the South Island,
Christchurch is usually your main port of
call and is the perfect spot to start your surf trip. It allows you to get your bearings and prepare for what you may encounter further north or south. It also gives you a taste of
how cold the water may be - 10 degrees for my recent winter tour and I have always
found Christchurch water to be warmer than anywhere else on the South Island.
The city itself is in full recovery mode and
is becoming more and more vibrant with each passing day. There's this dynamic mix of
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: ON THE ROAD ago Canterbury to Ot
A quick little story – It was my
daughter Phoebe’s 12th birthday and my wife and I were keen for her to
have a special day. The day before,
Local SUP shaper Shane Goodwin shows that there's plenty empty waves for Stand Ups around too
we headed out from Christchurch to Methven at the base of the Mt Hutt
Skifields. We made the steep climb
to the slopes in our Britz motorhome
(scary stuff) early the next morning and carved all day long.
historic elegance and contemporary
Woolston, a super-chic boutique
have Gothic, historical landmarks
fine ales at The Brewery and also
likes of the ultra trendy Re-
(where I happened to pick up my
flair going on. On one hand you and on the other you have the
Start shipping container mall
in the heart of the city. Another favourite is The Tannery in
shopping emporium, home to some
my beloved Sadhana Surfboards
Keen to top off the most perfect of days
board for my recent trip – thanks
the Banks Peninsula. I had heard
Jay and Hana).
we headed for the town of Akaroa on
about the range of breaks in the area and this picturesque French village EASTER 2015 | SMORGASBOARDER
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"Moved over to Waimate in South Canterbury some where from Margaret River in West Oz. I was a little underimpressed with the distance to nearest surf break - a
100 km round trip - water temp and wave quality. Then I rolled up at a spot near Kakanui and bang. I love NZ. I was first out and last in." Sam Pathe
nestled in the heart of an
ancient volcano. Being just 75 kms from the city of Christchurch, it didn’t
sound like much of a hike. Boy oh boy, in the dark
those 75 kms took at least a couple of hours. Up and
up we wound around sharp
bends in the pitch dark with
sheer drops just to the edge of the road. I prayed we wouldn’t encounter snow. Eventually we
got there and I
MUST SEE... The Banks Peninsula and the town of Oamaru with its 19th century architecture. Oh, and Moeraki’s Boulders, they’re natural.
immediately cracked a beer and toasted the fact I hadn’t
killed the family on my daughter’s
birthday. After I think my 4th beer
we ventured to the
town centre where we
Oamaru
Moeraki's boulders
stumbled on a little Italian restaurant
called Vangionis. Incredible
food and better still, we were all still alive.
View over Akaroa
GREAT FAMILY FEED
The view we awoke to the next
morning was breathtaking. This town is something else. We will
A living picture
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be back without a doubt.
Vangionis Excellent food, super-friendly service. A must if visiting Akaroa.
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As you head further south along the
Otago coastline the water gets colder
and the surf more serious. The waves
pack a heap more punch thanks to swell delivered straight from the Antarctic over a number of deep water reefs offshore.
There’s beachies, reefs, points and islands with waves ranging, in my
opinion, from big to huge to monstrous to friggin ridiculous. Anyone who
thinks New Zealand doesn’t have surf
it is so far from the norm it is a major
Otago region but at the same time
you surf these parts, and maybe just a
me. I always feel so alone but not
There are prime surf spots and hidden
penguins and seals and bull kelp and
the north to the quality set-ups north
sometimes. Water temps don’t get much
to the city beaches of St Kilda and St
can get right down to 7 in winter. Yes,
seemingly bigger and scarier.
hasn’t been here. I love surfing the
it absolutely scares the crap out of if you know what I mean. There are who knows what else and even snow
higher than 14 degrees in summer and you need some serious rubber and
adrenalin rush. You feel alive when little insane.
breaks all the way from Oamaru in
of Dunedin’s Otago Harbour through
Clair. From there south, it just gets
perhaps a drive by Moeraki on the way
down to grab some of their balls. To a Queenslander however, such as myself,
New Zealand Surfing all over
- Otago -
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edin) is very "St Kilda (Dun s with absolutely pump consistent and . It's lefts and rights your choice of bars break with sand a heavy beach rdly wn the beach. Ha spread right do k but wear a thic ever crowded, !" ld e mate, she's co steamer becaus
NZ ROADTRIP
Dunedin Architecture
Ben trickett
"Dunedin - It was only a 4 day quick trip for my sister's wedding, but I
managed to surf twice a day (early am and very late pm with the long days,
10pm-ish) at the best local city beach called St Clair.
"It was cold, but empty and great waves."
Kris Vandenbroucke
TRAVEL TIP #76 Rubber.. Think 4mm in summer and 5mm+ in winter with hood, boots and gloves, fully sealed. You don’t want water gett ing in here.
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New Zealand Surfing all over
- Otago -
(Above) "You could be fooled this is a tropical beach, but this is Dunedin -
mid summer - Water temp 15 degrees."
Photo: Tom Owens
Photo: Tom Owens
On the right, surfer Freddy Owens
heaves the Sadhana Vee Glider log into a clean Dunedin wall." Tom Owens
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There are plenty of things to do in Dunedin aside from surf,
enabling you to thaw out every once in a while. For the young
at heart, let us just say this is a university town, the likes of
which most Australians would
not have seen. There is plenty of fun to be had.
Aside from mischief, there are a number of attractions to see around the area. There's an array of wildlife tours and
cruises but having seen my share out in the water, and as I was travelling with my family this
time around, we decided to visit Larnach Castle and the home of Cadbury Chocolate.
Other than that, simply walking around the city centre taking
in its proud Scottish heritage
Nine-degree water? Whatever... Dave is toasty warm.
is pretty neat. Dunedin is one
of the best-preserved Victorian and Edwardian cities in the Southern Hemisphere, plus
there’s a host of trendy cafes,
restaurants and bars to indulge in fine food, coffee and craft beer. Mmmm.
GREAT FAMILY DAY OUT Feel like you’re on the set of Willy Wonka at Cadbury World and marvel at the turreted Victorian masterpiece that is Larnach Castle.
Spectacular views from Larnach Castle. Photo: Dave Swan
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Skiing & Snowboarding
New Zealand Surfing all over
- Queenstown Arguably the most beautiful place in the whole of New Zealand, Queenstown truly is breathtakingly stunning. From nearly every vantage point there’s a view of the surrounding mountains or Lake Wakatipu. The town has class. It's a pleasurable experience to simply meander about town and walk through the botanic gardens - also home to golf frisbee, tennis courts, lawn bowls and an ice skating rink. In the summer a paddleboard on Lake Wakatipu is highly recommended. If adrenalin-fuelled adventure is your go, Queenstown is home to whitewater rafting and mountain biking in the summer, jetboating, skydiving, bungee jumping, luge and canyoning all year round and come winter there’s the snow.
Our recent winter trip saw us hit the slopes of Cardrona just over half an hour outside of town. As far as a family ski field goes there really was something for everyone. There was plenty of powder and the views from the slopes amazing.
Queenstown Gardens
We used Queenstown as our base for 2 nights, and Wanaka, on the other side of Cardrona for 2 nights. Wanaka exudes the same class as Queenstown, but is just a little more laid back with less crowds.
Well worth a visit as well is Arrowtown - a historic gold mining settlement just 20 minutes outside of Queenstown.
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TRAVEL TIP #112 The Skyline Gondola hike from the town centre is a solid 1-hour climb that presents unbelievable panoramic views over Queenstown.
ABOVE: Relaxing during the climb. BELOW: Arrowtown's postcard-perfect shopfronts BOTTOM: Hitting the slopes at Cardrona
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New Zealand Surfing all over
BELOW & RIGHT: The crowds of the far South. Photos: Jase Johns, NZ Shred
- Southland The main attaction and true
beauty of New Zealand is in its unexplored, wild areas
where nature still rules with an iron fist and humans are few and far between.
If the crowd factor of these photos appeals to you as a
surfer, you're brave enough to take the road less travelled and you're not afraid of a
TRAVEL TIP #356 It's wild out here... Floating logs and debris are as big a concern as the men in grey suits
thick wetsuit, then regions
like Southland, Fjiordland and the West Coast of the
South Island should be on your radar.
No, you won't get molly-
coddled. No, you won't frolick from your resort to the warm, waiting reef, but hell, you'll have some tales to tell (or not
tell) of what you discover. Go on, get out there.
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NZ ROADTRIP
The wild West Photo: Dave Swan
- West Coast The wildest of the lot, the
West Coast can deliver some surfing gems along the
rugged coast, but always
be 100% aware that Mum
Nature's the one in charge.
Photo: Jimmy Wright
"An hour or so down a gravel road once you reach the west coast... Crystal clear water, sick waves, and only the mates you came with to share it with!" Jimmy Wright
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NZ ROADTRIP
Exit Surf Shop Manager, Hugh Ritchie. Photo:Warren Hawke, courtesy of Exit Surf
New Zealand Surfing all over
- West Coast -
Some parts of the West Coast will have you feeling like you are paddling onto the set of Jurassic Park to surf with Plesiosaurs (a massive marine reptile that lived 205 million years ago).
Fox Glacier
It is more often the case that you are waiting for the swell to drop here from the insane to the manageable but either way there always appears to be a mass of swirling water and things within it. It is not for the faint of heart.
One of the highlights as you move further south is both Franz Josef and Fox Glacier - both quite different, both truly remarkable.
TRAVEL TIP #748 You must see Punaka iki’s Pancake Rocks and blowholes along with the surrounding 100m limestone cliffs all formed some 30 million years ago.
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As we draw this notebook to a close, we leave you with one thought: EXPLORE! There's so much to squeeze into one life, but lets see how much we can experience - we'll all be so much the richer for it. Thanks to all who shared in our little adventure.
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GEAR
Surfer James Watson ries a Phantom... #gettagarrett Photo: Wilba
S U R F B O A R DS
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5’11’’ x 18 ¾” x 2 ½’’
TUG DELUXE by Chris Garrett
“A high performance board 5 for day to day surfing. Ideally suited to better quality waves but quite capable of holding it’s own in the junk as well. Usually a squash tail, the rounded pin-tail option is great for high speed critical manoeuvres with a bit of forgiveness built in to get you through when you’re not on your game. Lower rocker in the nose and a bit of kick in the tail keeps the triple concave alive and responsive. You are back in control and free to surf as you feel.”
6’0” x 20 ½” x 2 ½”
FISH & BOX by Jason Oliver
“I make custom, 1+2 hand-made boards of all types using recycled timber, old pallets and crates, Paulownia and other sustainable timber. “The deck of this board is glassed and the bottom sealed with epoxy resin to really make it quite light. The Fish is quite skatey and has plenty of drive and speed. It can be ridden as a twin fin but also has a fin box for a big single or nubster.”
PHANTOM SURFBOARDS Ph: 0424 450 690 phantomsurfboards@gmail.com chrisgarrettshapes.com.au
Boards available at: SUNHOUSE, Coolangatta THE BOARDROOM, Miami BRUNSWICK SURF, Brunswick Heads
JASON OLIVER HOLLOW WOODEN SURFBOARDS Ph: 0416 475 362 Email: jasoliver@live.com
jasonoliverwoodensurfboards.com.au EASTER 2015 | SMORGASBOARDER
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BLACK HULA
10’ x 21 ½” x 3 ¾” = 85.8L
GEAR: BOARDS
SHAPER’S PROMOTION
7’6” x 19 ¼” x 2 ¾” = 42.9L
SPARTAN • • • • • • • •
Big wave board Medium nose and tail rocker Vee double concave bottom Medium boxy rail with a refined tail
Big wave board Medium nose and low tail rocker Vee bottom Medium boxy rail with refined tail
6’2” x 18 ½” x 2 5/8” = 27.5L
LENNY THE OX • • • •
Step-Up board Medium nose and tail rocker Slight single concave to double concave Medium boxy rail
6’2” x 18 ½” x 2 3/8” = 29.2L
NAPALM • • • •
Step-Up board Medium nose and tail rocker Slight single concave to double concave Medium boxy rail
ARDS are proudly WEBSTER SURFBO yne Webster Wa by a llin Ba made in 049 205 NSW 2478 M: 0416 1/13 Clark St, Ballina bstersurfboards.com.au we o@ inf E: .au s.com W: webstersurfboard 114
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SHAPER’S PROMOTION
GEAR: BOARDS 6’0” x 19 ½” x 2 ½”
6’0” x 21” x 2 ¾”
DIAMOND TAIL SINGLE FIN
MOON RAKER V2FLEX
It’s part of the fish family and is designed to be ridden in similar small wave conditions. The channels in the tail are quite deep and act like flutes or fins in effect. The design complements the wider tail and the big single fin delivers the drive and makes the board less skatey. This is Pam’s latest board and she is loving it.
Liquid lightning! Incredibly fast, easy wave entry, small wave glide and run. Low rocker with a fully turbo’d up concave bottom.
by Mark Rabbidge
1
Custom handshape by Mitchell Rae
4
Fitted with 4 SwitchBladeFins this design holds traction and drive into solid double overhead waves, giving it a very broad wave range. The V2Flex delivers a variable curve, tighter arc, response and reflex / pop out of the turns... In short, they are alive to ride.
6’8” x 21 ¾” x 3”
6’6” x 19 ¾” x 5/8”
NICHO’S
FLYER SINGLE
Quick yet responsive 5 due the the pulled in swallow and slightly increased tail lift.
Old template - new rails and bottom shape.
CONSTRUCTION
Handshaped Ocean Foam PU blank, 6 oz cloth polished golden tint and 7” single fin.
by Rory Oke
Handshaped Ocean Foam PU blank, 6 oz cloth, polished finish. Speedfins Fibreglass s120 thrusters SHAPER’S COMMENT
Doubles as a great frying pan during the warmer months..
by Rory Oke
1
CONSTRUCTION
SHAPER’S COMMENT
A modern single fin for Vicco beachbreaks.
Get some excitement back into your surfing in anything from slop to barrels. RABBIDGE SURF DESIGN Ph: 02 4456 4038 M: 0427 767 176 Bendalong, NSW markrabbidge.com Email: sales@markrabbidge.com
OUTER ISLAND SURFBOARDS 7 Bayldon Drive, Raleigh, NSW Ph: 02 6655 7007 info@outerislandsurfboards.com outerislandsurfboards.com outerisland.blogspot.com
OKE SURFBOARDS 1/1-7 Canterbury Rd, Braeside, VIC, 3195 Ph: 03 9587 3553 www.okesurfboards.com EASTER 2015 | SMORGASBOARDER
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GEAR: BOARDS
SHAPER’S PROMOTION
6’10” x 21 ½” x 3”
5’9” x 20” x 2 3/8”
4’6” x fat
SINGLE FIN
CHOP TAIL
MOREgasm
TUNNEL RAT
by Leighton Clark
by Mark Pridmore
by Tully St John
Old school, 1 Paulownia and Cedar single fin with flyers modelled off a Col Smith template.
With a 5 fin FCS 5 setup, this board is great for the small punchy autumn swells single to double concave. If you live in Adelaide you need one!!
“‘Magix’ construction 5 (PU/Epoxy/carbon combo), super fun, fast and lively small wave board. This thing flies and with its Twinzer plus Nubbin fin setup, it’s got exceptional drive and manouverability. This fin set-up has been tweaked over several years of testing and is going insane. Fins hand-foiled by Sakakmoto here on the Sunshine Coast.”
Shortened down, 5 stubby version of a high performance board. The channels, size and outline combine in a mid 4’ board that surfs nothing like a retro board. Great for airs, tube riding and ripping a wave apart. 100% lovingly handcrafted. “Good things come in small packages.“
by Steve-O
“Not just art or a wall hanger, all boards are constructed and made to be used and enjoyed. “Each board is hand crafted and is a unique one-of-akind. No two wooden boards look the same, so you will never see your board under someone else!”
The Ding King is a collaborative of South Australian surfboard shapers, glassers, artists and sanders. As well as pumping out ding repairs, we also produce brand new surfcraft and run shaping workshops.
WOODEN SURFBOARD SHAPES BY STEVE-O Ph: 0421 522 503 woodensurfboardsshapesbysteveo@gmail.com woodensurfboardsshapesbysteveo.com.au 116
5’5” x 21 ¼” x 2 7/16”= 32.9L
Units 7 & 8, 9 Chapman Road, Hackham SA 5163
E: leightonclark01@yahoo.com.au
M: 0422 443 789
facebook.com/thedingkingAUS
M: 0405 475 026
Ph: 07 5444 4335
MORE SURFBOARDS
See www.MOREsurfboards.com or the Board Swap Shop (exclusive retail outlet), Cnr Pt Cartwright Drive and Nicklin Way, Minyama. www.boardswapshop.com.au
NOOSA SURF WORKS PH: (07) 5474 4567 1/11 Bartlett St Noosaville QLD 4566 Info@noosasurfworks.com.au noosasurfworks.com.au
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C13, T7, L+S14 & C5 = 39
SO WHAT’S NEXT? By Glenn Cat Collins
2 Don’t be a chicken. There’s something more inventive than threelegged poultry never too far away, so get your head out the bucket and add some spice.
7’10” x 22” x 3”
FULL CUSTOM
LOS GROWLER II
by Peter Sheely
by Jesse Watson
“Based on a 1968 1 tracker, this sevenfooter is a single fin diamond tail, complete with old-school Sheely Surfboards logo - custom made to suit the new owner.
“Our Australian 1 flavour of the classic and proven Californian-style template. Once you get it dialled it’s one of our most user-friendly longboards, combining all the features to get you on the nose and keep you there.
“If you want something special let me know.”
www.surf1770noosa.com E: surf1770@bigpond.com
10’ x 23 ½” x 3 ¼”
SHEELY SURFBOARDS
Ph: 02 4957 3161 M: 0417 264 739 E: peter@sheelysurfboards.com www.sheelysurfboards.com @sheelysurfboards
7’7” x 19” x 2 5/8”
THE GUN by Robbie Marshall
“Featuring a five-fin 5 setup to give you options, this gun is built to last. This thing is a beauty mate.”
“50/50 rails, rolled flat bottom and a slight concave up front create lift, while the flipped tail and rudder-style fin create a nice counterweight when you’re perched on the grill. Available with a scooped tail for the serious logger. From 9’2 - 10’6, true glide at 10’0. The smoothest operator in our stable and our best all rounder. BLACK APACHE SURFBOARDS @blackapache Look us up...
Ph: 0410 419 791
blackapachesurfboards@live.com.au blackapachesurfboards.com.au
SOUL ARCH SURFBOARDS Ph: 0404 348 131 E: dobba_21@hotmail.com Soularch Surfboards robbie_marshall21 EASTER 2015 | SMORGASBOARDER
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Entropy Bio Resin Super Sap CLR
TRIED & TRUSTED
blanKS and run Family owerned55 years for ov
oUR ConSISTEnCy IS THE bEST In THE woRlD blanKS: A multitude of different lengths, rockers and weights •
A low viscosity, low colour and UV stable clear liquid epoxy resin system
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Performance grade eco resin
•
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•
Safe and pleasant to use – low odour, low VOC’s
STRInGERS: An extensive
variety of timbers of varying widths
SHaPInG ToolS: All you need to make a board from scratch
5 STEwaRT RoaD, CURRUmbIn QlD Call US on (07) 5534 3777
Available in Australia from
finplugcover.com™ neatly covers over unused fin plugs on surfboards and water craft.
find out more online info@surfinggreen.com.au 0412 042 811
surfinggreen.com.au 118
facebook.com/finplugcover finplugcover.com
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SURFBOARD
DINGS
BUSTED YOUR BOARD? GET IT FIXED HERE... BUDGEWOI
BUCKO’S torations SURFBOARD REPAIRS & RESTORATIONS
Repairs & Res
New Zealand RAGLAN, NZ
RAGLAN LONGBOARDS 7 days, 10am to 5pm except winter - catch us if you can +64 7 825 0544
KAIKOURA, NZ
SURGE SURFBOARDS Bust your board? Call us 24/7 027 428 7453
Queensland AGNES WATER/1770
REEF 2 BEACH Mon-Sat, 9-5pm, Sun,10-4pm 07 4974 9072
PEREGIAN BEACH
PEREGIAN BEACH SURF SHOP
Mon - Fri 9am - 5.30pm, Sat 9am - 4pm 07 5471 3489
KAWANA
NICHOLSON SURFBOARDS REPAIRS & RESTORATIONS
SOUTHPORT
KOMA
Mon-Fri 9am -5pm, Sat 9am -12pm 0402 863 763
MIAMI
DINO’S DING REPAIRS Mon - Fri 9am - 5pm, Sat 9am - 12pm 0409 727 735
THE DING SHOP Mon - Fri 8.30am - 5pm, Sat 9am - 1pm 0404 804 498
BURLEIGH HEADS
MT WOODGEE
1730 Gold Coast Highway (07) 5535 0288 Sun-Fri, 9am - 5pm Sat 8:30am - 5pm
CURRUMBIN
MT WOODGEE 2 Stewart Rd (07) 5598 2188 Sun-Fri, 9am - 5pm Sat 10am - 4pm
MAXIMUM SURFBOARDS 46 Currumbin Creek Rd Mon - Fri 9am - 5pm Sat 10am - 3pm Sun by appointment 0400 338 098
Mon - Fri 7-3pm, Sat 7-midday 0438 631 153 facebook.com/nicholsonsurf
New South Wales
MOFFAT BEACH
PLANK SHOP
THE FACTORY SURFBOARDS
Monday-Friday 9am-5pm, Saturday 8am-12pm (07) 5492 5838
LABRADOR
GC SURFCRAFT REPAIRS Mon-Fri 9am - 5.30pm Weekends by Appointment 0401 016 088
YAMBA 02 6645 8362
TOMBSTONE SURFBOARDS
Mon-Fri 10am - 5.30pm Weekends by appointment 0422 304 078
CRONULLA
RILEY BALSA SURFBOARDS
7 days, 9-5pm 03 5952 2578
South Australia MID COAST
THE DING KING
WOODEN BOARD REPAIRS Mon-Sat 9am-4pm 0412 376 464
WOLLONGONG
LONSDALE
SKIPP SURFBOARDS
MID COAST SURF
Mon-Fri 9am - 5:30pm Thurs 9am - 7:30pm Sat 9am - 4pm, Sun 10am - 4pm 02 4228 8878
SHELLHARBOUR
BROWN DOGG
Call us for a quality repair 08 8384 5522
SOUTH COAST
MR DAMAGE SURFBOARDS Call Mark 0416 199 764 mark@mrdamagesurfboards. com.au
7 days a week - Just call 0416 455 985
JERVIS BAY
INNER FEELING SURFBOARDS
Seven days, 9am - 5pm 02 4441 6756
Victoria
ROUSA SURFBOARDS Mon-Sat, 10am-5pm, 0403 693 333
THORNBURY
ZAK SURFBOARDS Mon - Fri 10am - 6pm, Sat 10am - 5pm 03 9416 7384
COFFS HARBOUR
Seven days, 9am - 5pm 03 5261 6077
STONKER
THE SURFERS SHED Seven days, 9am - 5pm 0437 246 848
LEADING BY EXAMPLE Despite living in Australia for the past five years, I grew up in New Zealand and was lucky enough to live near the beautiful West Coast beaches of Auckland. My kiwi husband also grew up there, but further South, and we have lived and surfed in the many fantastic locations New Zealand has to offer, including Raglan, Whangamata, Taranaki and Gisborne to name just a few. New Zealand and its beaches are home to us. The raw natural beauty of the New Zealand coastline is something we can’t wait to share with our three kids each summer. And it doesn’t disappoint. From an ecological perspective New Zealand - and its beaches in particular - is a total gem. Every country has its natural beauty yet there is something that sets New Zealand apart from all the rest. New Zealand beaches are full to bursting with driftwood, sea shells and interestingly shaped rocks and stones. The sands come in a variety of different colours and there were not the multitudes of small colourful plastic pieces we have become accustomed to seeing over here after the Southeast storm cells push through. All in all the coastline has a clean, earthy feel to it. What interests me most about this is the reason for it. The most obvious of course is that New Zealand is not densely populated and therefore littering and pollution is less likely to occur. However, most of New Zealand’s coastline is very accessible to the general population due to its geography so beaches are usually very well patronised, especially in the North Island. Another suggestion would be that the direction of the global ocean currents do not result in a large proportion of the plastic debris currently floating in the ocean ending up on New Zealand beaches. But my biggest hunch is that New Zealanders, regardless of their cultural backgrounds, are taught to respect Mãori culture and what the ocean means to the Mãori people and therefore all people of New Zealand. The oceans hold particular importance to Mãori. The sea is a food source, and also has spiritual and cultural values. Historically it was a very important food source to the tribes who lived near the ocean. It was also used to trade with other tribes. Giving seafood, or kaimoana, was also a very important way to show hospitality and generosity at hui (meetings) and tangi (funerals) and other gatherings.
BELLARINE PENINSULA
TORQUAY
NEWTON 4/6 Druitt Court Open most days, just call. 0402 864 062
ISLAND SURF SHOP, COWES
Clark Surfboards Mon - Fri 9am - 5pm 0422 443 789
Tues - Fri 9am - 4pm, Sat 9am - 12pm 0432 330 826
SURF CRAFT REPAIRS JIM
PHILLIP ISLAND
AOTEAROA –
DO YOU FIX BROKEN BOARDS?
Promote your surfboard repair business for $15 an edition. Call 0401 345 201
Today Mãori are still very closely involved with the marine environment. Many of the traditional Mãori practices still exist as well as being involved with some of New Zealand’s largest fishing businesses. And to me this cultural respect of the marine environment helps to give New Zealand a head start in maintaining its pristine beaches and clean waters in the sea surrounding it. Let’s hope the rest of the world and those enjoying the ocean can learn from New Zealand’s example. Ka pai Aotearoa. Nicola O’Reilly is the better half of the nice folks from Surfing Green, a couple passionate about sustainable surfing products.
surfinggreen.com.au EASTER 2015 | SMORGASBOARDER
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Jervis Bay Stand Up Paddle
Tradition, Style &Soul.
Lessons, Tours, Board Hire www.jervisbaystanduppaddle.com.au
0403 354 716
The ONLY Travel Insurance that covers Surfboards IN the surf
T O P O F T H E H I L L Clarence St, Yamba (02) 6645 8362 W W W . T H E P L A N K S H O P. C O M . A U
SURFBOARDS & MUCH MORE
If your board snaps you can claim it! Unlimited Medevac Flights - Unlimited Medical - Surfboards IN the surf The Best Travel Insurance for Surfers going Anywhere Worldwide
SCAN ME TO VISIT THE WEBSITE
www.indosurf.com.au
www.mcsurf.com.au
INDO SURF TRAVEL INSURANCE
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3 Banksia Dve, Byron Bay T 02 6685 8778 E info@mcsurf.com.au
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PRODUCT PROMOTION
SUN SAFETY WITH SUN ZAPPER
IT’S OVERCAST... SHOULD YOU COVER UP? When the sun ain’t shining and the clouds come out, you’ll still go for a surf.. but will you apply sunscreen or zinc? Probably not. Even when the sun isn’t visible its rays are still reaching the Earth and can still damage your skin. Clouds can even increase the intensity of UV rays, as a mirror effect can take place, where the rays bounce off the clouds and focus on your skin. This process causes the UVA and UVB rays to damage and prematurely age your skin. So next time the clouds come out, don’t forget to apply some Sun Zapper Ultra Clear SPF 50+ Sunscreen. While we’re giving you sun safety tips, here’s another.. You’re out there in the surf for 2 hours, then 3 hours, then 4 hours and finally you paddle back to shore, all shriveled up but super stoked. You had a great session but did you reapply your sunscreen? We’re guessing that’s a no.. well if you take breaks and come back to shore, remember to reapply your sunscreen every 2 hours. And if you like your long stints out at sea then try keeping a stick of Sun Zapper Skin Tone SPF 50+ Zinc in your wettie and reapply every 2 hours. The Sun Zapper range has you covered with its Zinc-based Sunscreens and Zinc sticks, all Aussie made. Find Sun Zapper at your local surf store, Woolworths, Big W, IGA and FoodWorks. sunzapper.com.au
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ROADTRIP REVIEWS BY MARK CHAPMAN
MUSIC
THE GRAVELTONES DON’T WAIT DOWN
LAGOON DOG RECORDS/MASTERSTROKE
Buzz at Masterstroke Records is a champ. In sending a pack of The Braves “South Paw Product” CDs for the giveaway in our last mag, he kindly dropped in a copy of THE GRAVELTONES’ release, “Don’t Wait Down” for our listening pleasure too. And that it certainly has been. Masterstroke’s bringing these talented gents out from their home base of London for shows in Australia again this April, so it’s perfect timing for a pre-gig spin. The cover artwork explains it all. It’s frantic, furious and frikkin’ fantastic. Frankly, it’s been clogging up the playtime in the van now for days, but no-one’s complaining. For a two-piece, The Graveltones sure sound big enough. What is it with two-piece bands thesedays anyway? With cleverly layered sounds, a bit of octave pedal loving and full dedication to smashing strings and skins, Jimmy O (guitar/vocals) and Mikey Sorbello (drums) ensure there’s no “bassist wanted” ad in sight. Songs like “Bang Bang” are stomping rock ‘n roll fests while others like “Money” have a late-night sleazy swing to them... “I am a Liar” even brings the album back a notch to ballad-ish territory. Top pick? “You’re no Good” is as groovy as it gets. Get to a gig or you’ll regret it! www.thegraveltones.com 122
FIVE
QUESTIONS
FOR
DZ DEATHRAYS BLACK RAT I OH YOU
Okay, so this isn’t a new album. Released in May 2014, we’re almost coming up to a year old, but seeing as: a) we really like it; b) as we write this, they just happen to still be touring the album, doing shows with one of our office favourites, BASS DRUM OF DEATH; we figured it was very much well worth a mention. The folks at the recent ARIA Awards agreed, with the Deathrays taking out the 2014 award for ‘Best Hard rock/Heavy Metal album’ in November. It’s a garagey-rock-punkdance jumparound party record, but ‘Black Rat’ is also a little on the dark side... In the best way. This is no polite gettogether-for-dinner party. No, this is a 3am, really-should have-gone-home-earlier party. With melodic, yet gritty vocals, the tunes on the album are a full fest of catchiness - poppy hooks, with guitars blasting out octave-fuzzedup, overdriven riffs running through all sorts of effects , layered over drums that are just plain big. Huge. The self-titled opener sets the tone perfectly, followed by the single “Gina works at Hearts” - a meeting of metal riffs and a chorus that makes you want to put on legwarmers and pretend to be Jennifer Beals in Flashdance... Okay, maybe that’s just me. “Reflective Skull” is a personal favourite and top tune for the album. Hell, they’re all good. Get it. www dzdeathrays.com
DZ DEATHRAYS
Local lads DZ DEATHRAYS may have started off playing Brisbane house parties, but their two-man, noisy guitar and drums onslaught they call ‘dance punk’ has earned them ARIA awards and some major stage time all across the world. With a super-simple band member arrangement consisting of Shane Parsons (guitar/vocals) and Simon Ridley (drums/ vocals), the Deathrays have just released their latest offering, Black Rat. And because the tunes are just so damn cool, we got Simon to tell us a bit more about their personal style of surfing... PLEASE EXPLAIN YOUR TECHNIQUE FOR CROWD SURFING. Firstly empty pockets of all desirable objects. ie. wallet. Make sure your underpants aren’t hanging out as this can lead to their demise quite easily. If your going to use a foldback as a launch pad make sure it isn’t the kind that rolls back, otherwise you won’t be making it over the crowd barrier. I prefer lying on my back - it’s easier to drink whilst in said position. SHANE STEPS ON PLENTY OF PEDALS, SO HIS BALANCE IS PRETTY GOOD. SIMON, AS A DRUMMER YOU’D BE PRETTY FIT ANYWAY… SO WHAT’S YOUR EXCUSE FOR NOT SURFING IN THE OCEAN, WHICH IS ONLY A SHORT DRIVE AWAY?… JUST SAYING… I was on a beach holiday last week, but I don’t surf because I tried once and managed to cut up my foot. So now I just paddle round like an old lady.
SO WHY “BLACK RAT”? AND DID YOU KNOW, FOR INTEREST SAKE, THAT THERE ARE SURFING RATS… Yes. Black Rat is kinda an inside joke we have with some old friends of ours. I’m not going to explain it cause then it’s not really an inside joke anymore. WHY IS VINYL SO COOL? Why doesn’t Huey from Huey’s Cooking Adventures want to live with me and prepare my breakfast every day? These are questions which we will never truly understand yet they just happen to be so. DO YOU STILL HAVE NO MATES THAT CAN PLAY BASS? Still waiting for that special bass player to walk into our lives and up onto the stage. Why doesn’t someone invent a Tinder-like app for meeting bass players? We all know the age old saying: ‘if you find the right bass player for the right fee, but if they drink all the rider and not help load out than you gotta be f*cking kidding me?’ Or something like that.... dzdeathrays.com
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It’s more than a sport, it’s a lifestyle
ALL YOU’LL NEED IS LOVE
VELVET MOTH INDEPENDENT
INDEPENDENT RELEASE
A really cool surprise in the mailbox... “All You’ll Need Is Love”, the self-produced, independent release by 21-year-old guitar-man, Oscar Laylor from Apollo Bay! With a touch of Donavon Frankenreiter in the vocals, even a bit of Dylan, this 7-track CD really goes to showcase Oscar’s extremely well-practiced fretboard skills. Fans of Stevie Ray Vaughan will totally lap up the texas-blues single-coil twang of “Let yourself be free” and “I’m taking time out for you.” There’s real, solid blues playing and songwriting here, well beyond Oscar’s years. Would be an experience live. reverbnation.com/oscarlalor facebook.com/oscarlalormusic
From members of SA surf instrumental band GT Stringer, comes Velvet Moth. (Thanks Kym Nagler for the musical education) ‘What started as an impromptu recording / jam, morphed into something else...’ and that something’s bluesy, psychedelic, experimental, highly musical and extremely cool. Jon Spencer, ALO, Cake? You’ll love it. Only $7! velvetmoth1.bandcamp.com
OUR PICK OF THE BUNCH!
CIRCA WAVES
YOUNG CHASERS DEW PROCESS
SONIC SOUL SURFER
CAROLINE AUSTRALIA
SCORE FREE COPYAO THE ALBUM! F SEE PAGE 14
C u s t o m built guitars with random amounts of strings, a good ol’ solid slide and a whole truckload of soul, Seasick Steve’s seventh album is one rollicking ride of fun. Grooving blues, boogie, country and more with footstomping beats and guitar twang is what this all about. Throw in a jaw harp and Steve on a surfboard, and you have the first single from the album, “Summertime Boy”. Written about the California lifestyle, the music video was filmed right here in Byron Bay (See smorgasboarder.com.au). The songwriting variety keeps the album 100% alive, beginning to end: “Roy’s Gang” is all drive, “Dog’s Gonna Play” is a huge anthem of a song, “Swamp Dog” sounds just like the name suggests, while “Heart full of Scars” is a really intimate, gentle and introspective one to see the album out. If drawling, blue-collar blues is your thing and the sound of cigar-box type slide drives you wild, this album is for you. Sonic Soul Surfer is a thoroughly current take from a master and veteran of the sound, and a true entertainer. “Man, you want me to play? I’ll play...” Good. One more thing - yes, Steve had his impressive beard long before it was trendy. www.seasicksteve.com
LIME SUP SKOOL B U S
LIME BURNERS CRAZY INDEPENDENT RELEASE
More soul food for blues fans! It’s amazing what you learn on the road. Rob ‘Scooter’ Phillipson of Surfeit Campers is also an awesome blues muso. This release by his band, Lime Burners is packed with laid back tunes, and wailing harmonica, guitar and bluesy organ riffs, offset with plenty of jazzy goodness. reverbnation.com/limeburners
Clothing & Accessories
WWW.PALMALLEYAUSTRALIA.COM
FOR THE LOCALS! We stock Rip Curl, Hurley, Rusty, Volcom, Tigerlily, Elwood, Seafolly, Havi’s, Vans, etc… & all things surf 60 Burgess Street, Bicheno, Tasmania (03) 6375 1717
SKOO LIMERDINSG OUN P B U T S UP PADDLEBOA HE MID NORTH L D TAN
COA S
Come try with us, you won’t regret it!
T
A last minute addition to the listening pile for the issue, but too good to leave out! Young Liverpuddlian lads offer up a debut cracker of truly English indie guitar-based pop-rock. The Circa Waves boys manage to deliver a modern, intelligent mix of modern English-sounding rock (think about sharing the stage with Arctic Monkeys and the like) mixing it up with ‘80’s pop sensibilities along the lines of The Smiths. These songs so catchy you’ll be tunefully mumbling along after one listen. What is it with that city? Future greatness here, for sure. circawaves.com
SEASICK STEVE
S
OSCAR LALOR VELVET MOTH
PARTY HIRE AND PRIVATE FUNCTION AVAILABLE
W: CALL THE CRE41 0481 264 9 $55.00 2-hour private one-on-one $25.00 per hour, two or more
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LIFESTYLE BUSINESS FOR SALE
SURF BEFORE YOU WORK Own an award winning tapas bar in Sunshine Beach, Noosa
Call owner (07) 5455 3200
Byron Sunset Happy Hour! Monday to Friday 4-6pm Half price selected Tapas (Calamari and dips) $5 select beers & house wine, $10 Margaritas
Delicious Breakfast, Lunch & Coffee
ere Own this... Live h for sale on An ideal surf shop business . Enhance your NSW of st Coa th Sou far the dream... lifestyle, start living the
to Sun 7am- 2pm Open: Tues Open every day Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Tapas till late.
Call 0400 423 766 sales@bermaguisurfshop.com.au
Cnr Lawson & Jonson, Byron Bay
02 6680 9666
www.balcony.com.au
Classic food with a modern twist Enjoy Coffs’ Healthy & hand-made on the premises with fresh ingredients.
Yes, this is an actual brekkie burger from The Galley...
VISIT NOOSA, STAY & SURF
Sandwiches, wraps & more
Great
Coffee!
...using award-winning, locally roasted beans
2 PARK CRESCENT SUNSHINE BEACH QLD 4567 150 METRES TO SURF BEACH, SHOPS AND SURF CLUB CALL (07)5474 6200
WWW.PARKSHORES.COM.AU 124
@ the Marina Opposite the Fish Co-Op Coffs Harbour International Marina T: 02 6650 0188 E: thegalleytakeaway@gmail.com
011 (02) 6652 9Ocean Parade,
(opposite the Hoey Moey) Coffs Harbour NSW 2450 Australia
It’s not called The Observatory for nothing...
WATCH THE SUN RISE OVER COFFS HARBOUR • Spacious studio & 2-bed self-catering apartments • Private balconies • Spectacular views 30-36 Camperdown Street Coffs Harbour, NSW 2450 (Walk to the Jetty Strip eateries) P: 1300 302 776 E: info@theobservatory.com.au
WWW.THEOBSERVATORY.COM.AU
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MOsista Michelle stylin’ Leigh Carey
pose
The Crew
Winner Ross White’ Buddha
MO-RILLA CLASSIC
The chocolate wheel
WORDS & PHOTOS: GLENN FENWICK
Rod Johnsen arrives in style
In the early 2000s a group of friends who call Warilla Beach,NSW home started a ‘get together surf day’ as a charity event to raise money and awareness for Movember. The event has gotten bigger and bigger each year, with the 50 comp spots snapped up as soon as they’re available and funds raised exceeding all expectations $15,000 was raised in 2013. The competition is now known as The MO-rilla Single Fin Classic, and as the name suggests, it’s mostly single fin boards - with no legropes - this year ‘70s-era twin fins were allowed. In keeping with the friendly vibe and community spirit, anyone who owns a single fin board brings it along, it’s placed in the pile, and anyone can select any board to surf on during their two heats. To make the contest fun - and the winner not necessarily being the best surfer - scores are given for unusual and expressive rides. Competitors each have to spin the chocolate wheel before a heat and surf in the manner prescribed. This varies from double points per wave, to swapping boards after every wave, to the dreaded “Soap Board” ie. the board set aside which has been soaped up rather than waxed...
Rod Piper, safety first
Ellis Nicol and the Soap Board The finalists
After the surf comp, there’s a massive themed presentation night party and shave-off at major sponsor Warilla Beach Hotel. This year’s theme was Mo-Stock – a Woodstock inspired event. Everyone gets in the spirit and gets dressed up, with some great costumes on display. It’s not just about raising money - Movember in MOrilla is proud to engage everyone in the local community and bring all together raising awareness for a great cause and having good times with great vibes. Team Morilla have been recognised as one of the best small teams by Movember Australia, raising a MASSIVE $22,720 for men’s health this year to bring our total to $123,097 since 2007!
Party time...
Mr, Miss and Mr Movember
I’ve been fortunate enough to be involved as a competitor, sponsor and Team Morilla photographer since 2012, (lucky enough to be named Co-Mr Movember this year!). This is an amazing community getting behind a great cause. A huge thanks to all the sponsors who contribute every year, it wouldn’t be possible without you all ! Bring on the 2015 Classic…!! EASTER 2015 | SMORGASBOARDER
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...wax created with the environmentally conscious surfer in mind.
COLD
COOL
WARM TROPICAL
ORDER ONLINE AT:
www.treehuggerwax.com
OVER 400 PAGES ON HOW TO MAKE A SURFBOARD
Surfing novels
by surfer, shaper and award winning author, Mike Davis
Including restorations and repairs
$79.95 THE SURFER’S TEXTBOOK
BUY ONLINE TODAY
WWW.SURFERSTEXTBOOK.COM.AU 126
THE SHAPER Half Sioux and all surfer, Medford Haley has always ridden waves most can’t see.
E-Book $9.99
mikedavispointsurfer.com
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SURF RETROSPECT Surf Retrospect was a month long celebration marking 100 years since surfing was first introduced to Sutherland Shire by the great Duke Kahanamoku. Various events were staged throughout the month of February including photographic, vintage and retro surfboard displays, surf history talks, an official dinner, the establishment of the Cronulla Surfing Walk of Fame and a reunion/ recreation of the famous “Toothpick Photo” that was taken by Barry Stackelburg 60 years ago, that we had the pleasure of attending. The photo’s significance marked the end of an era where toothpicks would be replaced by state-of-the-art balsa malibus. Many of the original participants lined up for the re-enactment including Barry Banister, whose nephew, Michael Banister along with James Young organised Surf Retrospect. The aim of the month long celebration was to raise funds for Surfing Sutherland Shire and assist in the development of future surfing champions. More at www.surfretrospect.com.au Photos Dave Swan, courtesy of Jackson Surfboards and Mark Riley
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Get back to the roots... with paulownia
Native Hawaiian surfer with alaia board, circa 1911
THE 3RD ANNUAL AUSTRALIA DAY
SURFBOARD SWAP MEET Our buoyant, lightweight timber floats all around the world. • Tom Wegener preferred alaia blanks • Alaia & Kite Boards • Long Boards • Hollow Boards • Chambered Boards
SURFBOARD SUPPLIES
Buy the Best Paulownia Timber Australia has to offer. Contact David Evans P: 03 9588 2533 E: info.sales@paulowniasurfboardsupplies.com W: www.paulowniasurfboardsupplies.com
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(PORT FAIRY) Now in its 3rd successful season, the Australia Day Surfboard Swap-Meet held annually in Port Fairy has been successful in connecting new surfers with ex-GO SURF soft boards as well as connecting old surfers with rare and vintage collectables and everything in-between including SUP’s, mals, mats and wetties. Through a bizarre mix of social media, and thanks to Smorgasboarder, the Port Fairy Surfboard Swap Meet helped connect Simon Anderson with one of the first three Energy thrusters ever made (which now rests at Surfworld in Torquay). It also landed Victorian Champion and Australian team representative Mark Phipps with his very first surfboard he won in competition. A mint condition Free Flight board, complete with a fluro ‘checkered’ spray, 6 channels and Lexen star fin, thruster combo. GO SURF Owner Keith Curtain says that the 2015 Australia Day Swap Meet also included an inaugural ‘collectors corner’ for local enthusiasts to show off their finest including
Gerry Lopez pin tail, an original Energy thruster and a hand shaped MP ‘fangtail’. “We hope to bring music, film and expand on the collectors corner concept in 2016. We are pretty isolated here in Port Fairy and we’re well off the beaten path when it comes to collectable surfboards. We started the day as a means to bring surfers together and talk about surfboards, as well as a way for kids in our surfschool to jag a bargain,” said Keith. For more photos go to www.gosurf.com.au and click on their Facebook icon.
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ADVANCED
WETSUIT TECHNOLOGY EXTREME STRETCH NECK FOR COMFORT
BRAND NEW CHEST ZIP DESIGN
BETTER MEMORY
BRISBANE BUILDING Beau and Nathan were stoked attendees of the most recent semester of Brisbane’s only wooden surfboard shaping course, run by Stuart Bywater.. Here they are with their sweet new rides.
IMPROVED QUALITY
EXTREME STRETCH KEEPS SHAPE LONGER
surf@bywaterdesign.com.au
WELDED AND TAPED SEAMS FOR BEST SEAL AND STRETCH
PHASE III STEAMER AVAILABLE DIRECT FROM ZEE, OR FROM SELECT SURF STORES NOOSA STORE OPEN 6 DAYS! L-R: Stuart, Beau and Nathan
HOURS: Monday-Friday 9-5, Saturday 9-12
2/15 Venture Dve, Noosaville, QLD
CALL: 07 5474 1010
sales@zeewetsuits.com |
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More depth and life’s wisdom from Bazza next edition. Enjoy, catch you next time!
11/03/2015 12:38 pm
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