ISSUE #10 MAR/APR 2012
TAKE A BOAT TRIP TO THE WILD FRONTIER - TRAVEL TALES P74
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WHERE TO PICK SMORGASBOARDER UP
Quality surf stores, shapers and cool cafes on the coast of Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania. For a full list of distributors, visit the directory in the back of the mag or just get to your local surf shop and talk to some real people, in the flesh. If you see a local store advertising, please support them! They’ll also have the lion’s share of mags in your area. smorgasboarder is published six times a year.
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Joel Coleman of saltmotion seems to spends his days travelling around the world to perfect surf destinations, so it’s no wonder he manages to capture perfect images like this one. Read all about his trip to PNG on Page 74.
BOYS & GIRLS OF SMORGASBOARDER LOTS OF STUFF & ADVERTISING Dave Swan dave@smorgasboarder.com.au 0401 345 201 SYDNEY STUFF Ben Horvath ben@smorgasboarder.com.au 0401 362 788 LOTS OF STUFF & DESIGN Mark Chapman mark@smorgasboarder.com.au 0400 875 884 SOUTH AUSTRALIAN STUFF James Ellis james@smorgasboarder.com.au 0410 175 552 STUFF, ACCOUNTS & EVERYTHING ELSE Louise Gough advertising@smorgasboarder.com.au MORE DESIGN STUFF: Dean Slockee PROOFING, TEST STUFF & STUNTS: Gus Brown
CONTRIBUTORS
Thank you so much to all you. You simply rock and without you, we would only have stories about two bald guys doing dumb crap all the time.
Ideas & submissions: editorial@smorgasboarder.com.au
WWW.SMORGASBOARDER.COM.AU smorgasboarder is published by Huge C Media Pty Ltd ABN 30944673055. All information is correct at time of going to press. The publishers cannot accept responsibility for errors in articles or advertisements, or unsolicited manuscripts, photographs or illustrations. The opinions and words of the authors do not necessarily represent those of the publisher. All rights reserved. Reproduction in part or whole is strictly prohibited without prior permission.
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HANG TEN So this is edition ten. We’ve been publishing smorgasboarder almost two years now and are still having a hell of a lot of fun. Sure it’s been coupled with many a late night and way too many coffees, but delirium has a nice way of giving you a warm inner glow and at times makes you laugh uncontrollably. Maybe the warm glow is the coffee? Anyway...
Rusty
Too many people stick at dead end pursuits that make them feel miserable instead of going after the things that count – good times, good friends, plenty of laughs and a fair few surfs before, after, or in-between work. Welcome to smorgasboarder world. There’s way too much doom and gloom at present, so we figured why not try and put together a mag that raises your spirits, keeps you in the loop with what other real people are up to and most importantly, is a bit of fun. And so it is, speaking of fun, that we deem this our ‘Feel Good’ edition. There are plenty of uplifting stories, from disabled surfers feeling the thrill of the waves once more to working with the less fortunate surf fraternity in Cuba. We have a number of young ladies with immense creative talent and a love of the ocean that are sure to be inspiring role models for our ‘wahine’ readers. Gifted young Sunshine Coast photographer Jack Dekort, talks to us about his fortunate means of making a living... “What’s better than taking photos of the thing I love to do most?” We even take a trip to Jack’s home town of Coolum and check out what makes the Sunshine Coast North Shore so special in our local surf travel destination. We speak with one of the funniest guys we have ever met in the surf industry - good friend and talented shaper Jesse Watson of Black Apache Surfboards. Jesse doesn’t take life, or himself, too seriously so it’s no wonder he’s always smiling. And as usual there’s also heaps and heaps to read, plenty of surfboards, skateboards, tests, projects and opinion pieces to keep you entertained and amused. Ahh, the world is a great place. Be happy good people, live life, surf as often as you can, and above all remember: ‘economic realities’ be damned, the ocean is still free.
Dave
Big Cat -‐ 7’0”, 7’6” & 8’0” Piranha -‐ 5’8”, 6’0”, 6’2”, 6’4”, 6’6” & 6’10” Dwart -‐ 5’8”, 5’10” & 6’0”
Having fun and feeling good - 14 year old Noah Cooney of Phillip Island. Photo courtesy of Full Circle Surf, Phillip Island
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SURFTECH AUSTRALIA
www.surftechaustralia.com.au mar/apr 2012
02 4226 1322
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
12
LADIES FIRST
40
KYM CAMPBELL
Two inspiring ladies with massive talent and a love for the surf
The girl power keeps rolling, and rocking... Bring on the surf tunes!
Joel Tudor
48 JACK DEKORT
We look at a young photographer’s amazing water imagery
64 WAVES OF SOUND
Two shapers share their after-hours passion for making guitars
74 PNG BY SEA
Is a boat charter a different experience to a resort? We find out.
ALL THE USUAL BITS THE LATEST
16 Feedback & Reader Photos 30 News & Community
TRAVEL
86 Northern exposure
GEAR
105 The shaper’s apprentice 112 The indian’s coming... 123 New board designs 138 Skate: boards for brains 145 Test everything
CLOSEOUT
146 Tips for the collector 148 Restoring a piece of history 152 Columns
TIC ACROBOAUNT DISM 2 #
66
MACHINES
150
TO THE GALLERY
We ask a few questions about the motorised future for surfing
Foam set to one side, Mitchell Rae discusses work with a paintbrush
Make the most of that final moment with a flip. Unknown acrobat at Wanda, Cronulla. Photo by Daniel Hampson. www.looktosea.com.au
Papa Joe -‐ 9’6” Classic -‐ 9’4” Good Karma -‐ 6’0” Dead Fish -‐ 5’10”
SURFTECH AUSTRALIA
www.surftechaustralia.com.au mar/apr 2012
02 4226 1322
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“I live a very clean lifestyle. I hardly drink, I eat very well and exercise regularly. I am so passionate about health that it’s hard to describe. It’s the main focus for me. My main aim careerwise is to promote happy, healthy and active kids.” In case you missed it, we featured Kelly’s first book – Sunny and Coco’s A-Z of Surfing – a few editions back and ever since have wanted to find out a bit more about the lady who put so much effort into this great bedtime read for our youngest of grommets. “I grew up in beautiful Forster on the Mid North Coast of NSW. I played a ton of sport growing up and we spent a lot of time in the water, which is easy in Forster as it‘s all beaches with the very large Wallis Lake,” Kelly tells us. “I attended Southern Cross University and completed a Bachelor of Exercise Science and Sports Management, majoring in Sports Management, and then completed a Diploma of Education as a backup plan.”
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As a graduate from university she was impossibly fortunate to be posted directly to the Holy Grail for teachers - the Far North Coast, which some might work their whole life to get to - and is now in her twelfth year as a PE Teacher at Ballina High School. With luck seemingly permanently attached to her side, she ended up the recipient of the NSW Premier’s Teachers Scholarship, travelling the world for five weeks to study how to encourage participation in leisure activities for youth. With her focus being on aquatic activities, her trip took her to Florida, California and Hawaii - a great way to experience different surf cultures around the globe. Back in Australia, Kelly decided that she needed to add even more into her already busy days and began to draft her book. “My inspiration for the book is from my obsession with health coupled with my main love of surfing,” she says. “It was a goal of mine for a few years. One day I decided I was just going to get stuck into it and complete it.”
Kelly taking it easy . PHOTO: Supplied
LADIES FIRST
Lennox Head PE teacher by day, boardrider’s club committee member, school surfing program coordinator and accredited surf instructor by night and whatever other spare time she can find, Kelly Smith is as passionate about surfing and healthy living as she is about her latest endeavours as a children’s book author. WORDS: MARK CHAPMAN
Surfing means everything to Kelly, so it was only a natural choice for the subject matter of her book, with Lennox Head - a place where surfing means so much to so many people - providing the perfect environment to produce her book in. “It’s your lifestyle. It’s what you wake up thinking about and it’s your last thought before you sleep,” she says. “You always notice what the wind’s doing, wish you were surfing rather than at work... You get out there every opportunity you can. It brings together a unique community. It’s invigorating, medicine for the soul and good times. “Oh, and it also keeps you grounded and environmentally aware,” she adds. The environment is another passion she brings to the fore in her book, with a page dedicated to conservation through a piece by Sea Shepherd. When it came to the faces in the book, two young grommets at Byron Bay Boardrider’s Club became the inspiration for Sunny and Coco.
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Kelly taking it easy . PHOTO: Supplied
“Always with huge smiles on their faces, so excited to go surfing and hang with their friends... They were lovely kids who had their heads screwed on - healthy and happy! Good role models for the kids out there.” To make the work even more worthwhile, Kelly tells us that Sunny and Coco’s A-Z of Surfing has been greeted with a great response so far. “It’s been fantastic, very positive. I’m still yet to come to a conclusion of who likes it more, the kids or the parents. It’s so bright and happy, it just screams good times. “There’s kids running around the house doing shakkas and peace signs, then others that read it every night and refuse to part with it, so it goes to school on a regular basis. “Others have praised that it actually gets young boys to sit still for five minutes and read a book. “It’s also proved to be appealing to a wider age group then I first thought. Surfing Australia brought a stack for their Vegemite Surf Groms campaign and there could also be a possible collaboration with a few senior, highly respected members of the surfing community in the pipeline.” Now with an A-Z, we had to find out which was Kelly’s favourite letter, and if ‘S’ was a hard choice to make, considering all the great choices like surfboard, stoked, smorgasboarder... “Ahh, great question. There are so many to choose from, that’s too hard. Right now while it’s raining I’ll say ‘V’ is for Vacation: “You are so excited to be going away, to a tropical island where you can surf all day!”
“As for ‘S’ it was an extremely tough choice. It came down to ‘smorgasboarder’ and ‘steamer’ but the steamer came in first as “It keeps you warm on those chilly days, don’t forget it so you can catch lots of waves!” I always get people flipping to the tricky letters and say ‘Ahhh, of course! What else could ‘Z’ be for besides Zinc?’ With such cheerful subject matter, working a children’s book couldn’t be anything but a really fun and rewarding process. Kelly thinks so and says she is going back for seconds. “I’ve loved every second of it. To be honest, seeing the stoke on the kids faces is enough for me. To share that buzz and enthusiasm for surfing is priceless. The plan is to create a series. The second book follows the big day trip to the beach to find waves and in the future Sunny and Coco may even head overseas? “But before that all happens I need to see some sales through of the current book. I’m also waiting for Hollywood to knock on the door for the feature film of Sunny and Coco’s Surfing Adventures!” So how can people get hold of a copy of Sunny and Coco’s A-Z of Surfing and get their own little grom equally excited and educated all in one hit? Hop online to sunnyandcoco.com.au. The book is available for only $20 and comes with a free Sea Shepherd sticker and a Sunny and Coco colouring-in poster. Any further enquiries can be directed to sunnyandcocoenquiries@gmail.com
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LADIES FIRST Kirra at work. PHOTO: Darren Leal/Supplied
We came across Kirra Cheers’ work a few editions back, while visiting Byron Bay. Really enjoying her work , we were keen to catch up for a chat. Turns out, we were just in time to say goodbye... Narani Henson of girl’s surfing website surfsister.com.au caught up with her for a chat. WORDS: NARANI HENSON, SURFSISTER.COM.AU After completing her studies in photography, Kirra Cheers set off for an adventure of a lifetime... Travelling around Australia. It was this body of work that Kirra produced over this transient year that ultimately led Kirra to winning the National Travel Scholarship with the Australian Institute of Professional Photography. Serving as a launching pad for her career, Kirra shares her excitement of moving from Byron Bay to New York in 2012. Kirra jokes about her ‘office’ having an ever changing back drop and it is this nomadic way of life that she loves. Where did you study photography? “I studied for my Advanced Diploma in Commercial Photography at Croyden Tafe in Adelaide, S.A. How did you go about winning the National Travel Scholarship and what does that entail? “The Travel Scholarship was a program run by the Australian Institute of Professional Photography. For the application, I put together a portfolio of 25 of my favourite travel/landscape photographs together with an audio visual presentation explaining my dreams and aspirations to work as a travel photographer. As the winner of the scholarship, I
was treated to a three day, one-on-one workshop on Fraser Island with Darren Leal - one of Australia’s most prolific travel photographers. We talked a lot about where I wanted to go with my career and what I had to do to get there. I learnt so much from Darren and I walked away with clarity and a strong plan of action for the future. Next year the adventure moves to New York? “I have accepted a position as a lead photographer for Christian Oth – one of my all time photographic idols. From Byron Bay to New York, a natural wonderland to a concrete jungle, polar opposites in every sense. A large appeal of photography has always been that I can pick up my work place and take it with me. My portable office adapts and changes but gets me there all the same. New York is surrounded by water but as you pointed out completely different to the surf and beach culture of Australia, how are you going to use this to your advantage? “In such a competitive industry, anything that helps you stand out from the rest is a positive. I’m proud to embrace where I have
come from and vow not to turn in to an angry, cosmopolitan, latte-swilling yuppie.” What are some of your favourite places that you have travelled and photographed and why? “I spent six months travelling Western Australia in a camper trailer so I have a definite soft spot for WA. The idyllic waters of Coral Bay near Exmouth are really hard to go past. The whole place is teeming with wildlife. I really want to go back to swim with the Whale Sharks that visit every winter. “I also lived in Broome for a few months and spent some time in Cape LeVeque. It is so remote and the colours are like nothing else I have ever seen. It is such a shame that the mining companies are currently tearing it up and large parts are no longer open to the public.” What and who inspires you in your creative process? “I really believe in feeding your creative mind and this shouldn’t just be limited to photography. I enjoy all art forms from music to cinematography - there is always something I can learn and apply to my photography. Lately I have been watching a lot of Scorsese films. The way he frames each scene is so moody, each frame tells a story.” “Living in such a culturally diverse environment like Byron really helps as well. Inspiration is everywhere.” We sincerley wish her all the best and hope that Kirra keeps plenty of Byron in her heart as she makes the big leap to the Big Apple. For more of her work, visit Kirra’s website at www.kirracheersphotographer.com.au
SurfSister is a website for female surfers, focused on the rich and inspiring culture of woman’s surfing with the aim of uniting surfing women around Australia and the world by empowering and informing females of all ages whilst promoting women’s surfing, culture and lifestyle. For more, visit www.surfsister.com.au and sign up to the newsletter to stay in touch. rs/Supplied
A Byron Bay sunrise. PHOTO: Kirra Chee
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An infamous patch of Victorian reef. “This day Damien Wills and Marti Paradisis’ ski broke down, forcing them to paddle into 8-10ft bombs. Damien managed to snag this beast, barely making the drop then inevitably getting swallowed whole, which is a common case at this unforgiving reef.”
Photo: Nick Wilms nick-wilms.tumblr.com/ Congrats Nick, you’ve got a prize pack from Surfdecals.com on the way!
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READERS PICS
Thomas Litzner from Stradbroke Island snapped this great shot of an unknown charger taking on the the Boxing Day swell at Kirra on the Gold Coast. Congrats Thomas! A cool pack of SurfDecals.com gear is on the way!
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READERS PICS mar/apr 2012
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Thanks to SurfDecals.com for putting up cool gear to give away!
There’s MegaWasp waterproof duffel bags for our favourite reader shots! Photos to letters@smorgasboarder.com.au
Teenage snapper, Joel Hede-Skinner of Yamba sent in this fine spray art. Congratulations Joel, a pack of SurfDecals.com gear is on the way! mar/apr 2012
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letters@smorgasboarder.com.au
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NO FLUKE OR MIRACLE
First off, I would like to clarify right away that I am writing in response to many people’s comments and my own gut feeling. Smorgasboarder’s amazing success and growth is testimony to the fact that until now everyday surfers, small accessory manufacturers and surfboard shapers have had none or very little media support. The guys at smorgasboarder are producing a magazine with a broader appeal and as such new businesses and products are popping up like mushrooms. Ones who never got the air play. Ones we had never heard of before. I think this is a good thing for the surf industry and, in particular, shapers, as it will reintroduce individual design concepts to the consumer once more. This will broaden the options available to surfers. You have to ask the question though, why? How has this magazine grown so quickly? The general opinion seems to be, no big time surf companies with their propaganda dominating the first 6 pages and no pro surfers being interviewed or photographed. Instead, it’s lesser-known mortals doing the same stuff and being interviewed and receiving deserved exposure. That would never happen, and it never has, in the pages of the more known B grade controlled bias commercial self-interest magazines that have had their own way for far too long. The wheel has turned, it’s about self expression again and people are saying no more! We are over the propaganda. Smorgasboarder’s success is no fluke or miracle, far from it. In fact it is ushering in a new, much broader and more realistic coverage of the recreational sport of surfing. Congratulations and stay at it. Keep surfin’ Geoff McCoy
It turns out there’s a lot of love heading back Geoff McCoy’s way too, following our piece on him in the last edition...
HAT’S OFF TO GEOFF McCOY
Great piece on Geoff McCoy and fitting recognition for a legend. The guy was a leader. I think there should be a National Shaper’s Day for Geoff McCoy, and Cheyne Horan for that matter, in recognition of what they did for the surf industry. Back in the day everybody had a McCoy and those that didn’t, wanted one. The popularity of his shapes was bloody unbelievable. What’s got me buggered though is why the Lazor Zap hasn’t hit the retro scene. I mean, they have brought every other bloody thing back, even that dunny door with two fins. Retro keeps coming up with rubbish with things that sort of worked at the time. The Lazor Zap is the most practical shape of all time. Me personally, I think it needed more fins. But as for the overall shape, I can’t fault it. I have done my own experiments with the shape for ten years now. You can have a 6’2” board pulled down to a 5’5” and still have the same amount of foam as in that larger board. As Geoff says, the beauty of it is, you stand off the tail and you never have to adjust your seat. The Zap also lends itself to so many different bottom configurations that can work in any way, shape or form. Long Live Geoff McCoy! Glen ‘Cat’ Collins
The mag just keeps getting better. Loved the interview with Geoff McCoy. Would be great to see some shaping articles Dick Van Straalen, TF, Wayne Lynch, Maurice Cole - the list goes on. Rob Graham, Geelong Thanks Rob! There’s plenty more reading on great shapers to come!
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We meet so many inspirational people along our travels and through this magazine - people that make you realise that life is truly all about giving it the best go you can, every day, and not leaving anything undone. Recently we received a letter form Wazza Shanks, the man behind Elofant Straps and now his new venture, SUP Straps - a really convenient and low-cost board storage system for surfboards, SUPs, snowboards and more. We were happy to hear that he had taken the business to the next level and was now manufacturing the product himself, but there was much more to it...
For more information, see
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Jake Thompson
Wazza Shanks hard at work making straps
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Ask about our stockist incentives and we’ll tell you where to stick it.
FAMILY FOOTSTEPS
“Its funny how this all came about, buying the machine and making straps myself... My Dad was an upholster in the Railway Workshops in Ipswich and as a kid, I used to help him on weekends. “It was the 10th anniversary of his passing on 9 Jan, 2012 and I felt a calling to take up something he did all his life. My mum, who is now 81 years old, came over the other day and was touched by my workshop and the use of Dad’s old workbox - it’s the red looking box on floor near the machine. He made it and it still had his scissors and his things in it . “I am sharing this with you guys, as without your help and ideas, I would not have ever contemplated all this, so thanks very much. Maybe we can share another beer soon.” Cheers, Wazza (Chief Machinist Board Straps - ha ha) And this is the kind of story that makes it all worthwhile for us. The massive bonus of this tale is that there’s now one more business bucking the big business trend and manufacturing locally, which is something we are immensely passionate about. You know the old saying, ‘Use it or lose it.’ It’s high time we all got behind locals keeping it local and do our bit to support each other.
letters@smorgasboarder.com.au
LETTERS
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ONE WAVE TOO BIG
When Currimundi’s Dave Dawson went on a board snapping surf session, he didn’t realise that his tale of woe would turn into a ticket to a brand new wetsuit, thanks to Triple X Wetsuits in Ballina. Next time Dave’s waiting for the big one out back, he’ll be able to do it in titanium-lined comfort with no wind-chill worries.
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“Last winter I was surfing super clean 4ft Kawana with my mate Dom. The waves were hollow, fast and pretty straight but I thought that if you picked the right one, you would make it out the tunnel.”
TRIBAL GREEN Last edition we asked you to send us a photo of your ‘Wave Tribe’ to get yourself this great backpack, leg rope and cork eco deck grip from Wave Tribe.
Congrats to the Brauer tribe from Middleton, SA. You’ve got some Wave Tribe gear on the way!
Cnr Lawson & Jonson, Byron Bay 02 6680 9666 www.balcony.com.au 28
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“I put my new Go Pro Hero on my new 9’1” performance mal and we paddled out together. Once we were out there, we realised it was fairly solid. Dom and two other guys sharing the bank were on shortboards, getting sick waves but also an occasional beating. Being a bit older, and on a mal, I was determined to wait and pick the right wave. Eventually a set came through, sweetly shaped, and what I thought would be a nice open right barrel. “The take off was easy, but as I dropped down the face I realized it had a fair bit of size to it and was moving a bit faster than me. I didn’t make it out the other side. I paddled in with my two new short boards with Dom p*ssing himself in the background.” Dave Dawson, Currimundi, QLD Enjoy your new Triple-X wetsuit, Dave!
GIVE AWAY
LEFT TO RIGHT: Louise Brauer, Misty Brauer (age 2), family surfing mate Cooper McEwan (age 6), Sunset Brauer (age 6), Mallee (age 8) and Nick Brauer, all on wooden surfboards handshaped by Nick and Louise.
Grab yourself a copy of Kym Campbell’s promo CD, Real Life. Drop us a line and tell us why you need one on competitions@smorgasboarder.com.au
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25/02/12 11:58 PM
Riley Balsawood Surfboards are made using renewable resource balsa and recycled polystyrene for performance, durability, beauty and lower environmental impact
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LATEST: COMMUNITY
DOGGED DETERMINATION
Dudley the black Labrador provides unselfish, almost limitless help each day to Jenny Angliss-Goodall.
Anything she drops, he picks up – hairbrush, fruit, handbag, keys, saucepan, chopping board, soap in the shower... He passes towels off the rack, opens and closes drawers, gets the phone and pushes buttons at pedestrian lights. But on Saturday, Dudley was a bit out of his depth when his mistress decided to go for a surf at Pt Leo...
Jenny had volunteered to brave the waves as part of the Train the Helper day for nearly 200 volunteers who had answered the call from the Disabled Surfers Association’s newly-formed Mornington Peninsula branch. While she was being ably assisted onto a surfboard to catch breaking waves to the beach, Dudley was dashing in and out of the shallows, keeping a watchful eye, but frustrated at his inability to do his usual job. The end of Jenny’s time in the surf set off frantic tail wagging and a close-up sniff to make sure she was safe and sound. And then Dudley was off, running alongside the special wheelchair being used to ferry disabled surfers across the sand into the water. There had been no need for Dudley to worry, as Jenny was in safe hands as she swept beachwards, through the middle of two lines of outstretched hands ready to pluck her out of the water in case of a wipeout. The training day was the required lead-in for Saturday, 17 March when up to 40 people with disabilities are expected at Pt Leo to experience what it feels like to ride a surfboard. The ratio of volunteers to a participant depends on the condition of the day and the nature of the surfer’s disability, but there are never fewer than six pairs of helping hands within arm’s reach. 30
Dudley has been with Jenny for six years after a two-year wait through Assistance Dogs Australia. He was raised in Sydney by a lovely family who taught him many things before he went back to boot camp for his intensive training. “They loved him as much as I do,” she said. “For me it was love at first sight”.
“WE WERE ALL THERE, UNITED BY THE JOY OF SURFING AND A DESIRE TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY” “He does worry about me – which was evident when I was out surfing – but he could hear me so he was OK. He will swim out if I am in the water but otherwise he paddles around and runs in and out.” Jenny described her surfing experience as awesome, fantastic and wonderful. “It was fast, exciting, wet and I love the wind rushing by me,” she said.
“I am a water person to start with so there was no fear involved for me, as strange as that may sound. “That doesn’t mean that there won’t be fear in the next person. Trust is the number one requirement I believe. Trust in self and in the people who are handling you.” President of the DSA’s peninsula branch Gary Morton said it had been humbling to see so many people giving their time to learn how to get disabled people safely into the water to catch a gentle wave. “The training day at Pt Leo reminded me that it’s not so easy for everyone to do something as simple as a walk on the beach or catch a gentle wave,” he said. “But many hands make light work.” Members of the DSA Ocean Grove branch loaned equipment and expertise while the Pt Leo helpers participated in practical demonstrations, lifting the participants onto surfboards, and providing safety and encouragement to help them make the most of the experience. “The volunteers came from every imaginable background. We had Mornington Peninsula Shire councillors working in the surf with school students,” Gary said. “We had top business executives laughing with hardcore surfers and participants with double amputations. We were all there, united by the joy of surfing and a desire to give back to the community.”
MAIN: Dudley not too happy about Jenny going surfing without him. TOP: Jenny and Dudley together ABOVE: Jenny experiences the thrill of surfing thanks to the DSA
Normally, Dudley, an assistance dog, is her constant, faithful companion, even being allowed in the cabin on a commercial flight interstate.
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LEFT: DSA founder, Gary Blaschke
The Disabled Surfers Association was formed in 1986 by Gary Blaschke who was injured in a motorbike accident, but wanted to remain a surfer. There are 14 branches in five states, working to make beaches more accessible to people with a disability as well as holding “hands-on days” in the surf. There is usually a ratio of six volunteers to one disabled participant at the hands-on events, sometimes with up to 30 volunteers forming a runway for the surfboard. People are taken in waist-deep broken waves with a 10’2” softboard. Volunteers who missed out on the training can still come to the DSA’s community disabled surfing event at Pt Leo from 9am-2pm on Saturday, 17 March. Potential sponsors or volunteers, visit www.disabledsurfers.org, call Ash Gardner on 0417 362 983 or find the Facebook page by searching for Mornington Peninsula Disabled Surfers Association
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Blair Cording of the non-profit collective Royal 70 lost his heart to Cuba when he and his young family experienced everday life in the South American country. Here, he shares with us some of the story so far. WORDS & PHOTOS: BLAIR CORDING
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LATEST: COMMUNITY “Eduardo Valdes, President of the Cuban Surfriders Association leaves me on the porch of his house in the suburb of Playa to take a phone call. It’s 4.30pm on a boiling hot summer afternoon in Havana and I’ve been stuck here now for nearly a month. The days are unbelievably sweltering, the nights even worse; muggy and sticky beyond belief. You don’t get used to this kind of heat. You only learn to deal with it. Before the trip, Ed warned me not to come to Cuba in summer, they say not even the devil would visit during summer. I never listened, but every minute I spend in this heat I wish I’d heeded his advice. The power has been out all day around the neighbourhood because of the heat. It’s not unusual. Cuba’s electrical grid struggles to supply the people. mar/apr 2012
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As I wait for Ed to finish the phone call, a few local surfers gather on his porch, as do some neighbours. Everyone’s talking about the power outage. They are over it. No-one slept last night as there was no electricity since then. You can’t survive a night here without air-conditioning. Cubans speak fast and I lose any hope of understanding what is creating the bursts of laughter among them. Despite the language barrier, I struggle to imagine leaving this hell I have grown to love with all its highs and lows. These guys are family. The entire neighbourhood had become like family and I was in love. FROM
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Being in Cuba has been 100 times harder than I ever could have imagined. I didn’t come here to do the tourist thing and it certainly has been far from a holiday. When planning the trip, going the tourist route was the last thing I wanted to do, but I’m now wishing I had. Things would have been so much easier. The plan was simple: cycle to Baracoa, surf along the way, spend time getting kids in the water. Throw my one-year-old son into the mix, some local surfers, a box of ocean-related educational books for schools, document the trip and fly home. Sounds easy, perfect... En route to Cuba, my partner, our son and I arrive in Mexico and spend most of our time tracking down lost equipment. We had planned for this, but what we hadn’t counted on is the items going missing. Among them was a box of books called “All the Way to the Ocean” by Joel Harper, to help educate children on the importance of coastal conservation. The delivery of those much-needed books was a huge part of my goals for this trip. I was devastated not to receive them and, with only a few hours before our flight departed for Havana, I had to stand tall and move on. We meet Maile Aguerre, President and Juca Barros, Vice President of the Pan American Surf Association (PASA) at Cancun airport for the Havana flight. Maile and Juca bring with them 18 surfboards that were donated to Royal 70 for the Cubans by Mark Kelly at Global Surf Industries in 2009. The boards had missed an earlier chance to enter Cuba and had been waiting in Florida for this trip. Maile’s decision to join us was a lastminute blessing for us and for the Cuban surfers. Within minutes of meeting Maile, we stand next to what could only be described as one massive headache for Aeromexico and one mission impossible for us to get these boards past Cuban customs. I quietly freak out. Surely we’re screwed. Four adults, one small child and 18 brand new boards, some which were 9ft soft boards... Cuba’s customs were going to be all over us. We had no permits for the boards and we had already been warned about bringing too many in. We were told that a few years before a US movie producer had used surfboards to smuggle in illegal satellite equipment for CIA-backed anti-Cuban groups. Only a month before our arrival it had been big news on Cuban television so surfers had already been under the eye of the secret police. As we check everything in, we’re approached by an official from the airline. There’s a problem and the boards can’t all be sent on our flight. They will have to be split up, some arriving at the destination over the next few days. I stand there pretending to be stunned when it actually couldn’t have worked better. I can’t believe our luck. Maile quickly uses this news to our advantage and talks the official into paying any fees in Havana when the boards arrive. With safe passage to Cuba, we all spend the first few days getting to know our new friends and preparing for the next phase of our trip heading east on the island towards Baracoa.
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Ed had planned to meet the local surfers and kids at Playa 70 (playa meaning ‘beach’ in Spanish and 70 being its name) late one afternoon for a beach clean-up and surprise surfboard giveaway. Despite running late for the get together, I quickly stop in to my casa (Cuban homestay) for some supplies. It was then that I noticed we had been robbed of the money for travelling down the island. I was devastated - not only for us, but also for the Cubans. The money was to benefit them. We only have ourselves to blame. We were staying in an illegal casa, as we were waiting for another one to become available. We had arrived just after 3am and hadn’t sorted out keys. It had been on my mind, but I felt safe where we were. The occupants followed the Yoruba (Santeria) religion and practiced rituals on a regular basis. Some nights I would sit outside and listen as a man chanted and banged a stick on the floor for
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photo: Shane Newman
hours. One of the surfers in our group also followed Yoruba and told us stories of the things she had seen. The animal sacrifices, the trances, the dancing, the draining of a stillborn baby’s blood. I felt safe there. No one was going to screw with this casa or us. How wrong I was. We headed down to Playa 70 with heavy hearts and tried to put our worries aside as we met the Cubans we had been supporting over the past two years. We gave away boards and, for the next few hours, got lost in their joy and excitement. I looked out across the water and watched the sun as it set, taking some of my worries with it, but knowing that when it smiled on me again those worries would be back tenfold. The next three days were chaos as we tried to transfer more money. All we seemed to be doing was hitting one brick wall after another and we were getting desperate. We couldn’t access credit card facilities or our Australian banks. After many emails and much wrangling we managed to get a small portion of what was stolen transferred into an account we had set up in a Cuban bank before we left Sydney, but we knew this wasn’t going to be enough. We had come this far and we weren’t going to give up, so Ed and I packed everything for our trip east, which included bikes, bags, the bike trailer and surfboards for the kids in Baracoa, and set off for Trinidad with my partner and son in tow. We arrived in the ancient little town in the early evening and the next day decided to assess our situation. Every step forward seemed to force us three steps back. Hurricane Irene was now building off the coast and our next destination was being hit by heavy rain and 100 mph winds. We couldn’t stay in Trinidad much longer as we couldn’t afford it, so we had to make a decision. We were desperate to head east. Irene was creating the perfect swell, but I had to think about my little boy, who was also struck down with a raging fever as four molar’s decided to make an appearance at once. The decision was made. We headed back to Havana the next day. I spent the final night in Trinidad running through the cobblestone streets clutching my son who was gripped with a fever straight from hell, his little helpless body in spasm. My heart pounded with fear as so many locals came out to help. With all the lows of this trip, Cuba and its people were still winning my heart.
(YOU CAN’T KILL IDEAS)
Heading back to Havana turned out to be a blessing. For the next three weeks we formed bonds and friendships that are going to last a lifetime. We became part of the Cubans’ lives and lived with them, as they live. We were opened up to the real Cuba, not the visitor’s experience. I took kids surfing, got drunk with the ambassador of Slovakia, stood up Celia Guevara (daughter of Che) to go for a surf in foot-deep water with a razor-sharp volcanic rock bottom, infested with spiny sea urchins and lionfish. My hands and feet were cut to pieces. I had travelled to Cuba with a couple of goals and left with hundreds. The island had become a new home and I made the promise to start and finish a whole new set of projects. In a time where most seem obsessed with taking care of number one, it’s brilliant to see people giving of themselves to benefit others instead. To find out more about Royal 70’s work in Cuba, or to offer help or support in some way, please visit www.royal70.net for more information. mar/apr 2012
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NEWS THIS IS THE
WHAT’S HAPPENING AROUND OUR SIDE OF THE COAST editorial@smorgasboarder.com.au
facebook.com/smorgasboarder
twitter.com/smorgasboarder
NO UNDERGROUND CELEBRATION
Maree & Ondi
A big congratulations to Maree and Ondi from the Underground surf shop in Coolangatta and Noosa. Both celebrated their 40th birthdays in February, as well as their recent engagement. Congrats all ‘round!
BUILDING UP TO IT
Surf Fitness Training Surf-specific workouts
you can do at home Get fitter, stronger and your surfing enhance performance more waves, Catch Get more barrels better and have Surf more fun
To get started with your free surf-specific workout, visit...
www.TOTALSURFINGFITNESS.COM/freeworkout
Robert Ivers’ next round of wooden surfboard building workshops are running this March, April and May. To be held in Mount Eliza on the Mornington Peninsula, the course runs 3 days and introduces a number of new construction techniques. www.hwsb.com.au
NEW MANLY DIGS Manly Longboard Co has moved to a new address at Shop 10, 74 The Corso in Manly. www.manlylongboard.com
‘Get Well’ gifts
THANKS FOR YOUR THOUGHTS The guys at FCS have a good sense of humour and promptly sent me a noseguard for my board following my run in with a penguin. And a big thanks to Paul Cole as well. Upon hearing of my uncoordinated attempt to ride his speed machine, Paul sent up a get well package. The kids instantly flogged the lot but at least I got left with that superb Duff Beer beanie. - Thanks, Dave
SAM EGAN CELEBRATES We’d like to extend a hearty congratulations to one of the nicest old sea dogs - Sam Egan - who is this year celebrating 50 years of mowing foam. Half a century on, he’s still making amazing boards and is always up for chat whenever we call through Newcastle.
SNOW IS ALMOST HERE
The CJ ‘Snowy’ McAllister Winter Surfing Festival will be run over 3 days from June 9-11. This milestone will be celebrated in a big way by the crew at the Manly Malibu Boardriders Club who host the event. More details www.mmbc.info
Sam Egan
The event that commemorates the man who pioneered surfing on the Northern Beaches of Sydney will celebrate 25 years this June.
CORRECTION: We would like to advise the photo of Geoff McCoy carving it up on page 143 of the Jan/Feb edition was taken by Michelle Strain and not Michelle Morrison, who in fact works at the PSM factory, home to McCoy and Town & Country Surfboards. It was Dave’s fault. He’s not very smart. 36
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photo: Shane Newman
OUR CALENDARS ARE SET FOR NEXT YEAR
IN SUPPORT OF THE BROOKS FAMILY
Next time we visit Melbourne we’ll make sure it coincides with Street SUP’s next photo shoot. By the way, check out their new SUP Wheels. A pretty nifty invention for under $200 to get your big board down to the beach.
Good friend Duncan Eadie of Jan Juc recently informed us of the unbelievable show of support for the Brooks family following the tragic passing of their son, Shaun, an extremely talented surfer from Torquay. More than 150 surfers paddled out to lay him to rest, including his dad Rod and younger siblings Alana and Troy. Many more people lined the cliffs. We too would like to express our sincere condolences to the Brooks family.
Oh, did we mention the shoot also featured the very lovely Hive swimwear model Nikki-Rose Quinlan? www.streetsup.com.au www.hiveswimwear.com
INSPIRATION & FUEL We spend a fair few hours of our lives working on this here little magazine, but through the big nights we always manage to find a few little things to keep us entertained, energised, laughing and focused. Here’s what’s kept us going: Drive-through coffee; Marshall and the Fro CDs - not new, but still awesome. Unique sounds from one of Australia’s best musicians. Ben Salter -The Cat CD - yes, we’ve mentioned it before. Kym Campbell - the new promo CD. See page 40 for an interview with Kym. Dave’s also been reading Between the Sets. Recently released by the lovely Kym from See You Out There, it’s a collection of inspiring and feelgood surfing stories. John Brasen’s tale of his first day in Bali had us in stitches. www.seeyououtthere.com.au mar/apr 2012
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The
LATEST: & GREATEST
Torture Chamber We get some fun stuff to test here at smorgasboarder but most recently through the post our latest bag of goodies entailed a fair bit of pain and suffering. What was basically required was we ding our boards, get stung by blue bottles, eaten by mozzies, fried by the sun, freeze our nuts off, attempt crazy skateboards maneuvers in pitch darkness and tie ourselves up - OK, maybe not ourselves, but a SUP.
What lengths we go to for our readers to keep them informed on the latest and greatest gear...
SOLTEK UV This relatively new UV curing catalyst for fixing dings or making a board from scratch. It’s powderbased and is apparently not classed as dangerous goods, nor is it flammable. Chemically formulated to resist yellowing, it claims to stay clearer longer and be 3 times stronger than traditional cured resin boards.
X-STING-WISH Sure beats the hell out of the method of peeing on jellyfish and blue bottle stings. This all-natural new product is getting rave reviews from all around the country in providing relief from all matter of stings, bites and rashes. www.seeyououtthere.com.au
STICK-IT GLOW IN THE DARK SKATE WAX The name says it all. Wax up your rails to grind so they light up like an airport runway. www.stickitgroup.com
HOTSUITS WETSUIT HEATERS As far as we know, Hotsuits were the first to go down the heated wetsuit road all the way back in 2004. This is a low cost additional heating system for your wettie, so you can tackle even the most frigid waters. One hour heated time and reusable for hundreds of sessions. One size fits all.
www.soltekonline.com.au
www.hotsuits.com.au
SUP STRAPS Get your SUP all tied up with this super simple solution. The best and easiest storage to pack your SUP neatly away for only $34. www.elofant.com
THE GOOD OIL This hemp oil claims to be a good way to treat dry skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis.
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GO AWAY A mix of natural pure oils to keep the bugs at bay. Goodbye mozzies and sand flies.
ORGANIC SOOTHE & MOISTEN An all-natural soothing solution for sunburn relief and tired, sore muscles that also acts as after sun moisturiser.
www.thegoodoil.com
www.seeyououtthere.com.au
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LATEST: INTERVIEW
“And what about these clothes that I’m wearing, or the body that I’m carrying? Cause these clothes were half the price and my real nose will suffice, I’m gonna spend all my money on real life. The ocean has no price tag.” Kym Campbell, Real Life 40
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Free Flowing
She sings, she surfs. Her songs sound like the beach. Here’s one smart and switched on singer who’s combined her two greatest passions to live a life that others can only dream of. Let’s meet Kym Campbell. WORDS: MARK CHAPMAN
PHOTOS: Sarah Christensen www.photographysc.com mar/apr 2012
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The Surf
The Journey Anyone who doesn’t associate Seattle in the USA with music has probably lived under a rock for the past two decades or so. Anyone who associates Seattle with surfing has probably banged their head on a rock at some stage in the recent past. Which kinda easily explains how singer, songstress and surfstress, Kym Campbell came to make the move to our sunny shores.
After a fair bit of studying, travelling around the country and freshly taking up surfing, Kym recorded her first EP on the Gold Coast at the Music Conservatorium. Passionate about where she could go with her music, she took the plunge, leaving a stable, well-paying job to pursue her dream. It’s a gutsy move for anyone, but Kym had the full support of her family and friends.
Sometimes called the female Jack Johnson, Kym has steadily been building her career as a songwriter and performer of the mellowest kind. And as much as musos dislike those sorts of labels, we reckon it’s a pretty decent compliment.
“I spoke to my stepfather about it and he said ’ Just go for it. You’ve got to do what you love. You’re never going to get another chance in life to follow your passion.’ So it was really cool. I had a lot of support from friends and family.”
With reggae-laced acoustic beach sounds backing up her chilled vocal melodies and harmonies, any one of her tunes off her first two independent releases make the perfect backdrop to a lazy afternoon at the beach.
And her risk has been well rewarded – two releases down and it’s been an amazing journey so far, which includes Kym being picked up by a Japanese record label.
Now officially claiming True Blue Aussie-ness, Kym arrived here in 2001 on a study abroad program from a university in California. “Just living on the beach, I fell in love with the lifestyle,” she tells us with a big smile in her voice. “And I actually got citizenship a couple of months ago, which has been cool.”
“I don’t think I would have ever imagined getting this far, but it’s so cool. It’s just been about taking opportunities as they come.” “The Japanese deal came about from me sending my first, selfproduced album around. I was trying to get some placements in surf films. One of the places I sent it to was a Japanese company. I thought they only did surf videos, but it turns out they were actually
quite a big record label in Japan. They contacted me and said ‘We’ve got your CD, we’ve listened to it, we love it and we want to release you over here.” It was really luck of the draw for me there.” Luck. Yeah... It’s funny how the harder you work, the luckier you get. In 2011, on her second visit to Japan, Kym was to play at the ‘Green Room’ festival in Yokohama, only a few weeks after the March 11 tsunami devastated so much of the country. She was on a plane with only ten other travellers. Due to so many international artists pulling out of the festival and their tours because of the natural disaster, Kym ended up being pushed up the bill. “It was a real bummer that so many musicians were cancelling tours and not going over because I think the Japanese people really just needed to keep moving on. It was a real pleasure for me to go over there and support people... and kinda help out, I guess, with making life a little bit easier.” “Playing for the Japanese people is just fantastic. They are the best audience ever – just so lovely and thankful... It’s such a cool vibe to play over in Japan.”
“I started surfing at age 20, which was frustrating for me in the first couple of years. I snowboarded and wakeboarded back home and I was like ‘Oh yeah, this’ll be really easy. It’s just a boardsport, like everything else...’ but I was quite surprised when it was a lot harder than I originally thought it would be. “I always wanted to surf. I grew up in Seattle where I guess you can surf, but man, it’s cold. I’ve always loved being in the ocean so it was something I always knew I wanted to do, which is probably why I chose to do a study abroad in Australia. I was thinking ‘I’ve got to either move to Hawaii or Australia!’ “I’m just so passionate about the ocean. Once you start surfing, nothing can really top it. “I think most surfers could say, you pretty much form your whole lifestyle around being able to get a surf in. That really defines me ever since I moved to Australia - being obsessed with surfing. It goes really well with being a musician and creating time to be able to write music, surf and be a bit of a bum... (laughs) ...to an extent!” It’s obvious that surfing and the ocean are something very special to Kym, but we wanted to know, in particular what the magic attraction is for her. “It’s quite hard to describe, really... It’s almost an addiction. If I don’t get a surf in for a few weeks I can get pretty grumpy. I need to get out there and get back in the water.” “The ocean has such a draw to it, some sort of energy that you’re attracted to and you want to spend as much time as you can, in the ocean and around the ocean. It puts you in a good mood and you feel, well, satisfied.”
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LATEST: INTERVIEW
“The ocean has such a draw to it, some sort of energy that you’re attracted to.”
PHOTOS: Sarah Christensen www.photographysc.com mar/apr 2012
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PHOTOS: Sarah Christensen www.photographysc.com
“In relation to writing music, I get a lot of inspiration from the ocean and going out and having a surf. It really puts me in the mood to write and motivates me to live the life I live.” And as we enviously realise, that life just happens to include travelling up and down the coast with a couple of guitars and surfboards in a van. “Absolutely!” Kym answers to the question of using these travels with music as a means to find a surf. “I spend a lot of time on the Central Coast. I do a lot of shows around the area – Avoca, Wamberal and Terrigal are some of my favourite spots, but Seal Rocks is amazing too. “I haven’t got to surf in Japan yet – we weren’t there for that long. We’re pretty spoilt for choice, being able to tour and surf over here on the East Coast of Australia, so more so, I want to go snowboarding when I get over to Japan again. “I lived on the Gold Coast for eight years before I moved to Sydney. Even though you can get crowded surf, you can go down to Cudgen or down Byron way and get some pretty uncrowded waves. “Moving to Sydney, to the Northern Beaches, it’s just unbelievable. I just tried to get out as much as possible. I pretty much base my chores around being able to get some surf in on the way. (laughs)”
The Quiver “I’ve broken a lot of my boards recently... I’ve had really bad luck! The one I’ve been using at the moment, that’s not damaged is a 6’1” DMS rounded squaretail, by Dan McDonald on the Gold Coast. It’s a bit of a bigger board than I need for my size, but it kinda fits where I’m at surfing-wise.”
The Music “One of the things I enjoy about the kid of music I write is melody. I think a good melody makes a really good song. Every year that I write, I think my writing improves. Being able to write a song that is catchy but has some sort of lyrical content is what I’m trying to go for. Every year I feed off of what I’ve learned before.” “A lot of songwriters say this and it sounds a bit weird - but songwriting for me is something that just kinda happens. It’s almost like you’re the medium for it to come out through. “Sometimes you can literally just sit down and write a whole song. The melody pops out, everything pops out and there it is. It’s quite a cool experience and you get an adrenalin rush off of writing a song that you enjoy.”
The Future The next chapter in Kym’s career is the release of her new, fulllength album, Real Life, which will be available this June. Being passionate about the environment, she’s trying something a little different this time around. She’ll be releasing it with no packaging and will be approaching her upcoming 2012 tour as a poster-free promotional campaign as well. “What I’m doing with this is an environmentally-friendly, digital-only release. I just don’t think printing CDs is as useful as it was before, so I’m trying out the digital-only release and we’ll see how it goes.” “There’s always a really good place for posters and artwork, but this is a bit of an experiment, so we’ll see how we go with it.” Musically, fans of Kym will have no reason to be disappointed. Some of the songs on the new album were recorded at the same time as the Preview EP, which was released last year, so most of the new release is a pretty seamless continuation of the same relaxed flow and feel. “...It’s probably just a bit more progressive than Preview,” “The track ‘Take a Stand’ is quite different from the stuff I’ve written and produced previously. It’s like a
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real reggae, electric guitar, rough sort of a song, and lyrically it’s got sort of a political context so it’s quite different to songs I’ve written in the past. But I really like it. Hitting the road soon, Kym’s tour looks to be starting on the South Coast, moving down from Sydney. “I’m quite excited because I get to do the Great Ocean Road, Melbourne to Adelaide. I want to do a lot of regional towns and bring my surfboard (laughs). I haven’t had a surf along the Great Ocean Road yet, so I’m pretty excited about that. This will be followed by a Japanese release of her single in June and then the East Coast of Australia in July which brings her all the way up the coast to Noosa. If you’re already a fan, keep your eyes and ears open for Real Life through Medici Studios this May. If you’re not a fan yet, you will be. Check out her website at www.kymcampbell.com for updates and tour news or connect on facebook at www.facebook.com/ kymcampbellmusic And we’ve got some Kym Campbell promotional CDs up for grabs! See page 28 for more.
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“This is my good mate, TOM TYLER. We’ve done a lot of travelling together. He’s the biggest frother out there which is why he makes a great travelling partner.”
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LATEST: PHOTOGRAPHER
OF
MASTER
JACK’S TRADE Welcome to the waterworld of Jack Dekort, a Sunshine Coast photographer getting deep perspectives on surfing from all around the world. This is his work. WORDS: MARK CHAPMAN PHOTOS: JACK DEKORT
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“...SHOW A LITTLE RESPECT”
FROM ONE NORTH SHORE TO THE OTHER
The irony... As I do this interview with Coolum-based surf photographer, about his work and his home on the Sunshine Coast North Shore, he’s packing to once again head over to a different kind of North Shore altogether, all the way across the Pacific to Hawaii - the dream destination for any surf snapper.
“It looks like I’ll be flying into a pretty solid swell...” There must be a fair bit of jostling for position as far as photographers go? What’s the vibe over there? “From my past experience over there, yes there’s a bit of jostling out there. It’s mainly towards guys with no clue what they’re doing and make it difficult for the local or more established guys. There’s no trouble if you give them a bit of room and show a little respect.” So, back to the start of it all... You’ve got your name around a fair bit as quite a young starter on the surf scene. When did you first get into photographing surfing? “About six years ago. I started off mainly shooting friends at my local. It was purely for fun in the beginning. I had no real intention of making any name or money for myself. It wasn’t until the past few years I actually started taking it a little more seriously when I started getting a few shots run here and there, and started getting paid to shoot.” 50
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LATEST: PHOTOGRAPHER “This was the second day of my first trip to HAWAII - a smaller day, but super clean.”
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“This was shot on a flat day at WAIMEA BAY. I waited for sunset to get the light I wanted and as the tiny waves would wash up on the steep sand berm, they would run back towards the incoming waves and create this flare effect.�
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Actually, speaking of the name – is that Dutch? “Yep! my grandparents are. They moved to Australia shortly after living through occupied Holland during the Second World War.” So what’s inspired you to shoot surfing in particular? “This is the most clichéd, surf photographer answer I’ve read a million times, but it’s true - the ocean was the only thing I wanted to be involved in, so I found myself with a shiny new toy... What’s better than taking photos of the thing I love to do most?” As for the toys, what photographic gear did you get started with? “I started off shooting on a Fuji-something... I can’t even remember what the model was. I had no clue what I was doing then - it was more of an impulse buy because I had some spare cash. I had no intention of getting into photography whatsover, but I loved it straight away. Best impulse buy I’ve ever made.” Your work covers dream surf destinations from all around the world – what are some of your favourite spots and travel memories? “Anywhere In Indonesia - that place is the most beautiful place in the world and the people are amazing! You’ll always see something new, and scoring uncrowded waves in the middle of nowhere is unbelievable.” Any strange happenings or stories along the way? “The first time I ever went to Bali, my mate Levi had his scooter stolen one night out in the Kuta Vortex. Word quickly spread around town and everyone knew who we were. We had the guys who we hired the scooters from trying to take our passports away. They were not happy! After a few long days of dealing with that crap, Levi coughed up the cash to replace it and we actually made good friends with the scooter guys. I go have a big feed and catch up with them every year. A good example of turning a negative into a positive, I guess.” (laughs)
“...SCORING UNCROWDED WAVES IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE IS UNBELIEVABLE.” While travelling the world is great, you get to come home to a truly magic spot - Coolum Beach - so you’re a pretty lucky man as far as that goes... What makes Coolum home for you? “Coolum’s a great place to live, apart from the lack of consistent waves most of the year... But when the swell turns on there’s a huge variety of different waves on offer around the area. What I really love about Coolum is that it’s still got that small town feel to it. Everyone knows everyone! mar/apr 2012
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“THE MENTAWAIS. Our surf guide scalped himself on the reef and had to be shipped off to Singapore to get fixed up with 161 stitches. It scared all the other boats off, which left us with this - all to ourselves - for two days.”
“JASPER EDERSBY and I always end up in Bali around the same time every year. He showed me this wave a few years back. It’s a great place, a lot less known, which is why my lips are sealed. If you do know where it is... Shhh!”
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“WHAT’S BETTER THAN TAKING PHOTOS OF THE THING I LOVE TO DO MOST?” It’s one year now since the tragic passing of Hawaiian big-wave surfer, Sion Milosky. Surfing at Mavericks on the afternoon of March 16th, 2011, the 35 year old drowned after a huge fall and two wave hold-down. Here Sion is in life, doing one of the things he loved most.
“This is a pretty special shot for me. Sion was pretty much the best guy to watch out at Pipeline - an absolute madman. It was very sad to hear of his passing at Mavericks the year after this photo was taken.”
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Any particular favourite surf spots there?
Feel the spirit of adventure
“I have a very soft spot for a place around the corner from Coolum... I’m not going to name names, but it’s where I learnt to ride waves, take pictures, drank my first beer... It all happened at _______.”
Haysey at Pataura. Photo: Harro
YOUR GEAR:
“I’m currently shooting with: Nikon D700, Nikon FG, Canon AE-1,70200mm 2.8, 200-400mm f4 and a bunch of other Nikon lenses. I shoot with all Aquatech water housing gear.
Step off the map
Surf the Solomon Islands Explore the hidden paradise of the little South Pacific archipelago.
“The only craft I’ve been using lately is a hand plane. They are just too much fun for a plank of wood. Crowds do my head in and I just flat out can’t deal with it. With the hand plane I can still get barrelled and not have to deal with anyone hassling me.”
YOUR PHOTOS:
You’ve been published far and wide, in mags, online on websites like Swellnet... Any standout moments in seeing your photos in print? “Nothing really worthy of bragging rights, like covers etc... Just a few pages here and there. Every time I see a photo of mine next to a photographer that I look up to and respect, it’s always an honour. It’s a satisfying feeling every single time.”
YOUR WORK:
No crowds
You have incredible in-water shots and amazing wide-angle imagery. To get these you must end up in some hairy situations?
Surf with just a few of your mates or take ya families on a real adventure.
“I think I’ve been pretty lucky so far - nothing major. I’ve been sucked over the falls a few times and bounced off the reef, but that’s about it.”
Isabel
So what’s your favourite kind of photograph - from your own work and when you look at others?
Papatura Island Retreat or Kagata Village stay
“I love a good line up shot, where you can imagine yourself going to the place. I have a line up shot at a place in the Mentawais which is normally very crowded, but this day we had it all to ourselves and it was perfect! (See page 76) That’s pretty special... Lots of good memories in that shot.”
Makira
Star Harbour Lodge. Just re-opened for surfing.
Malaita
What’s planned for the future? Are there plenty more Jack Dekort surfing photos on the way?
Solwata Surf Camp
Gizo
Photo: Bosko
Sanbis, Fatboys, Oravae Cottage and Gizo Hotel
“Well, after Hawaii I’ll be spending a bit of time at home, then onto California in July/August, I think. Then I’ve got a wedding In Bali to shoot, which I might turn into a wedding-surf-trip shoot, if all goes to plan.” We’re sure it will be just as exciting to see all those new photos as it has been to watch Jack’s portfolio grow over the past few years. There’s plenty of great stuff yet to come from this man’s lens.
Jack on the other side of the lens... See more of his work at www.jackdekortphoto.com
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LATEST: LOCAL
LEFT & ABOVE: From prototype to completion. Mark Ivory picking up his new board from Richard Harvey .
IVORY TOWERS MEET MARK IVORY, A CANE FARMER FROM THE NORTHERN SUBURBS OF THE GOLD COAST, WHOSE CREATION WE CAME ACROSS WHEN RESEARCHING OUR FREE THINKERS STORY ABOUT SHAPERS PUSHING BOUNDARIES OF DESIGN, WHICH FEATURED IN OUR NOV/DEC 2011 EDITION. Mark has a need for speed. We talked to him about his pursuit and the design he formulated himself and was bringing to life with the assistance of master shaper Richard Harvey on the Gold Coast. WORDS: DAVE SWAN “Working full time I don’t get much time to surf other than weekends. I was after a surfboard that was easy to paddle and catch waves on, that wasn’t big and cumbersome once on the wave. “Basically you want length to get onto a wave, but then you want it to disappear. I want to ride a shortboard on a wave. So that is what I set out to do.”
Plan shape Listening to Mark, the basis of his plan shape is not dissimilar in theory to Geoff McCoy’s Nugget or Astron Zot even though the board outline is very different. In essence, Mark was after a board with a wide tail to enable him to immediately find his perfect position on the board and obtain optimum trim without having to shuffle here and there. The volume in the tail is designed to elevate the board so that his feet could be positioned further back increasing control and lessening the likelihood of nose-diving. The other aim was so the board can be ridden higher on the wave face, generating greater speed. “When you jump up on a surfboard your body automatically knows where to position itself for balance. One foot towards the tail and the other naturally positions itself where the widest point of the board is. Your psyche tells you where to stand. By 58
having the widest point of the board just behind the middle of the board your feet automatically find the perfect position. “As for the nose, the plan was to remove as much volume as possible. It is just there to get me onto the wave easily, and nice and early so you don’t rush things. With late takeoffs you have so much to consider in such a short space of time. You rush, you make mistakes, you wipe out. “The spoon shape of the nose takes on the teaspoon theory where water wraps the underside of the nose and doesn’t want to go over it, avoiding nose-dives.”
exhausts “The board features two air intake manifolds, ported from the deck near the nose, into two separate transfer chambers, going into a single barrel Venturi exhaust. “The Venturi exhaust system basically gives you a jet boost. It sucks air from the nose right the way down the board and out the bottom near the fins. It floats you a little better. It helps lift the board, reduce the planing area and reduce drag assisting the board to release and turn more easily. You are effectively riding on air. “The sound effect is also quite exciting and helps to vitalise your body. It is like driving a sports car with the top down. You come alive.”
What is the Venturi effect? As Mark explains it, it’s basically a jet effect. The Venturi effect is the phenomenon that occurs when air flows through a pipe with a constriction in it. Velocity increases as pressure decreases when air is forced through the constricted chamber. “It is a special case of the Bernoulli’s Principle (see our story on shaper Paul Cole on page 101 of our Nov/ Dec 2011 edition at www. smorgasboarder.com.au) and can be observed in both nature and industry, for example the capillaries of the human circulatory system and in carburetors that use this effect to suck gasoline into the engine’s intake air stream.”
Cutaway to enhance maneuverability and with greater area towards the tip, the Wavefin is designed to deliver drive deep within the wave. The theory behind the fin is to reduce drag, generate speed and increase hold on big waves, stopping the board from skipping out when making big carving turns without sacrificing performance and ease of turning. The wings at the base apparently enable you to tailor the amount of nose lift. Mark explains you can position them to ensure the nose stays down to generate greater trim speed and avoid nose lift on those big and blustery days. It all adds up to be one intriguing board and a labour of love for a passionate surfer with an innovative spirit. “At the end of the day, I was just after a board that was going to enhance my ability.” Amen to that.
Wavefin “My aim was to have as little fin as possible with just the wing tips at the bottom. “I really like twin fins and I wanted a twin fin I could ride in a very big wave. I was after the incredible looseness of a twin fin with the drive and hold of a single fin. I find this fin gives you greater feel because by adjusting the wing tips you can drop the nose and bring the board up under your feet.”
The Wavefin, refined
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“It helps lift the board, reduce the planing area and reduce drag assisting the board to release and turn more easily. You are effectively riding on air.”
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RIGHT: The single-barrel Venturi exhaust system at the bottom of the board expels air towards the fins.
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LATEST: COLLECTOR
PEANUTS, RICE & A WH0LE LOT OF FOAM
PAUL CORBETT GIVES US A LOOK INTO HIS PRIVATE COLLECTION OF SURF RARITIES. WORDS & PHOTOS: SIMON KETTLE
When Paul Corbett told me during a recent surf session he’d collected a few surfboards over the years and that he’d love to do an interview for smorgasboarder, I was excited to see what he might have tucked away. Arriving at his lovely home in the quiet seaside town of San Remo in Victoria I was immediately taken aback. His whole house is dedicated to surfing with old boards hanging decoratively inside and out along with an amazing and diverse range of posters, records, movies and books. In fact, I thought I was moving through part of the surf museum! He told me he also had a few 70s boards packed away in a storage container as we walked through to his ‘boardroom,’ and again I had to stand in awe at the eclectic range of longboards Paul has on display. Some have been passed on through friends, bought on eBay or found at local garage sales. Many of these boards Paul has had professionally restored, while others are waiting patiently to shine again once more. There are very early surfboards by Rice, Klemm- Bell, Woods and Pyke but it’s a late 1967 Hobie ‘Corky Carroll Model’ that really catches my eye. What a classic! With each surfboard he shows me I have to ask, ‘have you surfed it and how does it go? Paul’s reply is always the same ‘oh no, they’re an investment and I couldn’t stand one hitting the rocks!’ If I was Paul I’d have to surf them all at least once! Paul gives us a cheeky look at and rundown of a few of his favourites. 60
PAULS TRASURES, FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: 1. “GORDON & WOODS” D-fin. It’s 9’2” long and was made
approximately mid 1960s. Fully reconditioned with new D-fin by the boys at Oke Surfboards.
2. Affectionately called the “PEANUT,” I designed this board after seeing the new shapes that were introduced a couple of years ago with the cut away rails. 3. The HOBIE “CORKY CARROLL MODEL” with Razor Rails was one of the first boards with a removable fin. This is an exceptional board again purchased from eBay. 4. The George Rice “ISLAND COMPETITION MODEL” is 10’2” long and is approximately 1964 vintage, from what I am told. 5. The LEN DIBBEN is 9’6” long and Len used to make my boards in Perth when I first started surfing back in 1964. Len also used to be in the Warraine Board Club back in Perth. 6. This PYKE STRINGERLESS “V” BOTTOM was made approximately in the late 60s or early 70s from what I am told; this was purchased off eBay and reconditioned by Oke Surboards. A great job by great craftsmen.
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LEFT: Paul in his castle
HOW DID YOU START THIS, SOME WOULD SAY, ‘CRAZY OBSESSION’ WITH COLLECTING SURFBOARDS? Well, it all came about when I got back into surfing at around 50. I met a guy called Mark Meade, affectionately known as ‘Hobie’ because he had a connection of Hobie Alter boards. He was also the Australian distributer for Hobie Surfboards here in Melbourne. One day he said ‘why don’t you come over and take a look at my board collection?’ He had about 30 boards, all personally signed by Hobie Alter. He said he was doing it for superannuation and I thought, at my stage in life, why don’t I look at something like that too? So that’s how it all started.
PAUL’S TIPS: “Know the history of surfing. If you see a board, research the history of it.” “One of the main things you have to look at is the condition of the board before you buy it. eBay is pretty difficult, but try get additional photos or a phone number to find out more.” “The logo should be good and readable, and check for much water damage.” “If the right guy can do a good job restoring it, like I’ve had done with some of mine, then make sure you can see who made the board and the serial number too.”
WHAT’S THE MOST BIZARRE PLACE YOU’VE FOUND A BOARD? That’s a good question. I’ve got some customers at work who do hard rubbish collections and I’ve found a couple of good ones through that. They just knew I was looking for boards and put it aside for me. A stringerless Pyke is probably the best one I’ve picked up that way. IS THERE A SURFBOARD AMONG YOUR COLLECTION THAT WORKS BETTER THAN YOU COULD HAVE EVER IMAGINED? The Peanut, but that’s one I designed. That’s probably my favourite board of all time, so far. I’ve also got a 1972 9’3” Hobie that was in pretty rough condition. I’ve surfed that and was quite happy with how that one went out at ‘Shelly’s. (local break) ARE THERE ANY OTHER SURF ARTEFACTS YOU COLLECT? Yes, surfing LP’s and posters, I’ve got heaps! I’ve got them from Op shops and Ebay again. I also have an original ‘Doc Ball’ book on surfing in wonderful condition. THERE MUST BE ONE GREAT SURFBOARD ‘OUT THERE’ THAT STILL KEEPS YOU DREAMING AND SEARCHING? Ooh, which one would that be? (Long pause while in deep thought) A Miki Dora Da Cat. But now we’re talking some serious money. If I could get hold of one of those you’d be talking upwards of $15,000 for a good one. Even a bit more! But, there are a lot of surfboards collectors out there now and they’re starting to realise what’s history and what it could be worth. 62
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GORAN PEKO
Koma Surfboards In a small factory in Bailey Crescent, Southport you’ll find Koma Surfboards. Inside you’ll meet Goran – a friendly all-round surfboard manufacturer that’s as happy to chew your ear off in a chat as he is to take on the most challenging of work on surfboards. And when Goran finally blows off the foam dust, you’ll find him reaching for a guitar to belt out a set of his own punk tunes. But why start making guitars? “So I could learn how to play one,” he laughs. “Basically work out how they’re made, work out how the sound gets generated. I figured if I could learn how to make one, I could learn how to play one. It’s the long way around (laughs) but that’s the way it kinda panned out.” Taking an unconventional approach from word go, his guitars are a little leftfield of what you’ll find in your local music shop. “I probably don’t use real ‘favourite’ guitar woods, I suppose,” Goran says of his mutant creations of ply, pine, the odd bit of maple, aluminium, fibreglass and just about anything else he has handy. Just like Goran’s band WTF? (Why The Face?) these guitars are pure punk – rough and ready and definitely not for everyone. “I’ve had one guy write me off and say I was going to give Australian luthiers a bad name... W*nker. (laughs)” Not that opinion has stopped him selling a good few over the past years. So what does go into a Koma guitar?
A quality shared by many masters of the art of surfboard shaping is a relentless need for creation. While most people go home from their day jobs to a cold beer and a warm couch, these creative souls spend every waking moment finding new ways to express themselves and put their mind - and hands - to further use. Here are two such men that turn their excess energy to making musical instruments, but in very, very different ways.
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Out-there experimentation is the name of the game for Goran Peko. He reckons why go tried and true when you can try something new? PHOTO: Mark Chapman
“This red one (main picture) was about 20 hours from start to finish. It’s a ply construction that’s been glassed with 4oz, laminated, then filler-coated. The hardware’s pretty straightforward – a single humbucker...The neck’s made of a bit of hoop pine from a wall in house in Southport. It’s got a fiberglass overlay headstock, with a bat logo. It’s been painted in red enamel, airbrushed and had a couple of coats of clear put over it.” Sounding more like a recipe for a surfboard than a guitar, it goes to show there’s certainly nothing normal about Goran’s approach to making guitars. But, like the old bumper sticker asked, “Why be normal?”
www.komasurf.com
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LATEST: SOUNDWAVES
A GUITAR IS BORN... In this series of photos you can clearly see the immense amount of work required to produce a single guitar. Hours of measuring, cutting, clamping and gluing gets you to the final product... A beautiful piece of musical timber artwork.
TIMBER LOVER: Peter Sheely turns trees into timeless, traditional handcraft
PETER SHEELY Sheely Surfboards Peter Sheely’s name is synonymous with Newcastle surfboard making, but now semi-retired, Peter’s found that there’s another love in his life guitar making. “It’s the timbers I love,” says Peter. “I had always enjoyed making classic, timber longboards, but somehow I never really got enough timber to make a lot of them.“ “My apprenticeship was in a furniture factory where we made custom made furniture. It was great grounding for working with timber.” Peter has made surfboards for over 40 years in Newcastle NSW, working with many top shapers and surfing with the best. However, when semi-retirement was offered by his wife - who told him she’d keep him in the manner he was accustomed - he found time to explore the craft of guitar making. “Around the same time, a new bloke moved to town - Strato Anagnostis - setting up the Australian Guitar School not far from my home,” Peter tells us.
“Strato turned out to be master of guitar making and my inspiration to make an acoustic guitar. I enrolled and haven‘t looked back.” The class was small, intense and just what he wanted. “Who would have thought you’d ever see me sitting on a computer each evening checking out timbers, and working out what sort of timber I wanted for my guitars”, Peter says. “I mean, computers alone were pretty challenging... And then to be making a guitar, ordering some of the finest timbers in the world, from the other side of the world, I couldn’t believe it.” His first guitar was made from assorted timber - the soundboard from European Spruce, the back and sides from East Indian rosewood and the neck in Honduran Mohogany. “Since then I’ve made a few guitars, mainly for myself and my daughter. Each one has been an amazing experience,” says Peter. “I really love the craft. Of course I still make surfboards, but it’s nice to find something else I really enjoy as well.”
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LATEST: DEBATE
WORDS: DAVE SWAN
Just like John Connor and his fellow humans in the Terminator franchise, are soul surfers now in danger of mass extinction at the hands of powered surfers and motorised boards?
Garrett McNamara takes off on a monster wave, no tow-in, no paddling... just a WaveJet. Photo courtesy of WaveJet 666
It’s an interesting topic and one that is sure to engage enlivened and passionate debate. Are powered surfboards a good idea, or a Frankenstein-style abomination that rocks the very heart and soul of surfing as we know it?
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Over the last few months you have possibly read or seen some footage of big-wave hellman Garrett McNamara charging a 45ft rogue wave at Praia De Norte off the coast of Portugal on his WaveJet-powered 10’4” gun, the very same trip where he towed into the largest wave ever ridden, a boardshortssoiling 90+ft monster.
“If towing in on jetskis is considered ok, how the hell is this any different. It’s in fact closer to true surfing than the former.”
No matter what side of the fence you sit on, you have got to admit Garrett has cojones the size of an elephant and is one damn good brand ambassador.
The first two comments might prompt the average reader to suggest those people might pour themselves a mugaccino of harden the... you know. But even those opposed may agree, the last two notes of praise have merit. Powered boards would possibly make fantastic surf lifesaving equipment and get you to those ‘far off in the distance waves’ no one else wants... at least until another hundred or so surfers rock up at the same break on their own surf scooters.
He explains his new pride and joy, “The ability to track down and get into that wave with the WaveJet propulsion pod locked into my board, and utilise the power as I rode the wave, was incredible. It was so amazing to kick out and not have to paddle to get out of harm’s way and get right back to the peak to catch another wave.” And that in essence are several of the advantages of the WaveJet board and part of its appeal to the big-wave fraternity and indeed the lifesaving movement. Other inventions, such as the locally-made Power Boards from the Sunshine Coast lay claim to similar benefits. Inventor Chris Preston, a builder by trade, badly damaged his shoulder in 2007 but refused to give up his surfing obsession. Incapacity become the driver for his invention and with the help of a local shaper, electrical engineer and his understanding of fluid dynamics, following years as a commercial fisherman, he got to work. The Power Board flyers now spruik they’re ‘The next big thing in surfing!’ A paddle assist motorised surfboard that is great in all kinds of surf – big or small, for beginners through to experienced surfers. It also promotes the benefits such as surfing for longer periods, assisting with those hard to catch waves and helping battle the fatigue of regular paddling. Online forums are already abuzz with comments from fans and dissidents. Comments from those in favour include: “It would certainly spare my sore back and its painful muscle contractures from years of paddling.” “It’s called surfing but we spend most of the time paddling and sitting. I would love to catch more waves and paddle less.” “I think it would be great for surf rescues. Sure beats noisy jetskis and rubber duckies.”
Whoa... Just a minute now... Electric motor? Tons of waves outside of crowded lineups? Having fun all by yourself on waves no one else wants?
In fairness, is the legitimacy of powered surfboards as vehicles to catch humungous waves any different to that of a jetski and tow board? They may not yet have the speed, but are they perhaps less dangerous and noisy? But what about the suitability of these boards in your local line up? The popularity of surfing has already seen many accessible surf breaks become well overcrowded, with a variety of surfers of various skill levels riding all manner of things from shortboards to longboards, kneelos and sups. And with a name like smorgasboarder – ride everything and anything – we love that. But do we seriously need to start segregating our breaks? Or will things naturally evolve? Should there be areas for various surf craft and more importantly, skill levels? Snowfields have long had designated green, blue and black runs advising powderhounds of the suitability of each. But this is a topic for another debate... So, do surfers want motorised, jet-propelled surfboards in their local lineup? Here are a couple of views expressed by those opposed to the power revolution. “Whatever happened to soul surfing? The feel of the ocean, the tranquility of being out in the water and enjoying Mother Nature.” “What an ecological disaster! How many faux-paddles per litre?” “What happens when someone falls off one of these things? Does it buzz around the lineup, skipperless, mowing down kids and other surfers alike?” “If you don’t have the physical strength and skill to tackle the surf au natural, how dangerous are you going to be on one of these bloody things?”
'SO, DO SURFERS WANT MOTORISED, JET-PROPELLED SURFBOARDS IN THEIR LOCAL LINEUP?' mar/apr 2012
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G U Y HA S T I N G S ✯ SU R FA R I M A P S
Like anything, whether it’s a clueless SUPer or an ignorant shortboarder aggressively performing a slashing cutback 10cm from your face, or an idiot behind the wheel of a car, in the hands of the wrong person, powered surfboards could be a nightmare. However, perhaps more concerning is the observation of what could be described as comments from the so-called, ‘I want it now’ me generation. “I don’t want to paddle, I don’t want to put in any effort or better my health, I just want heaps of waves and I want them now without having to wait.”
Pictorial map making, painting and illustration. Based in Byron Bay since 1982
✯ 0422 175 706
w w w. s u r f a r i m a p s . c o m
Whatever happened to reward for effort? Isn’t that the sweet taste of victory? Feeling the burn in your arms after a decent paddle to be greeted with a beautiful barrel that walls up before your very eyes? Sure there are benefits of inventions of this kind for surfers who are incapacitated in some way who still want to enjoy the thrill of catching a wave. But with that said, Bethany Hamilton has only one arm and it hasn’t stopped her from paddling out.
'IS THE LEGITIMACY OF POWERED SURFBOARDS AS VEHICLES TO CATCH HUMUNGOUS WAVES ANY DIFFERENT TO THAT OF A JETSKI AND TOW BOARD?'
WAVEJET www.wavejet.com • • • • • • • •
Available in a body board, 7’1” shortboard, 9’0”, 9’6” & 10’0” longboards, 10’0” & 10’6” SUPs, a gun and rescue board Four times faster than paddling, boards are capable of 8 to 10 knots Installable waterproof pod powers the craft Wirelessly controlled from a band on your wrist Powered by a lithium-ion battery charged by outlet or car socket 30 minutes run-time Jet shuts down when the board is further than a leash length away Prices start from just over $4,000 for a shortboard
POWERBOARD www.powerboards1.com A fair degree of secrecy still remains about what lies ‘under the bonnet’ or rather, deck, of these boards, but once on the market the boards will be: • Available in traditional size surfboards. Prototypes are 6’4”, 8’4”, 9’1” Skinny & Fatboy, 9’6” and a surf rescue board with work underway on a SUP • The design apparently doesn’t impact on the boards ability to surf • All boards feature a load bearing switch in the deck which is activated when laid on or stood on during surfing • You can surf the board without the use of the motor if you choose • The weight is approximately 5 kgs heavier than the traditional surfboard • The surfboards are expected to cost $ 3,300 • Battery charged from a standard wall and car socket
POWERSKI JETBOARD
www.powersurfboard.com.au and www.powerski.com The gentleman behind the Powerski Jetboard appears to be one of the original inventors of powered boards. However, after scanning some 20 pages and reading “I, Robert E. Montgomery, designed...” every few paragraphs, I, David G. A. Swan, lost concentration, could read no more and broke down into uncontrollable laughter. Go find out more yourself.
What do you think? Do you want to give it a go or say a big no? Send us your thoughts - letters@smorgasboarder.com.au 68
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TRAVEL: SUP TRIP It all started with a throwaway comment - a somewhat crazy idea - but they’re the kind of ideas I like. Something along the lines of “Hey, lets strap tents and gear to our paddleboards and paddle from Audley to Bundeena in a weekend. It’s only about 14km.� WORDS: MICK SLATTERY PHOTOS: DANIEL HAMPSON
“Count me in,� I said, smiling to myself that these things never get off the ground. But I didn’t count on Peter Japp, the man who had thrown the idea out there, to choose a date, book a campsite, buy some waterproof bags and start setting up his board with proper straps. I guess you don’t get to be president of a SUP club without being somewhat organised. As the date fast approached, I realised I didn’t have a board that would suit, so I had to ask my wife if I could borrow hers - a very nice, brand new 12’6� Coreban Alpha race board that she had only ridden once. She graciously allowed me to use it, as my only board is a 9’6� Naish Hokua which is great in the surf, but not much chop as a river cruiser - or in races, as I found out after I entered a 12’6� class race and came dead last. In fact they were waiting for me to finish so they could start the next race... but that’s another story. I also realised that I’d need a much longer paddle. Having a paddle cut down to only 4-5 inches taller than me for the surf didn’t fair too well on the thicker race board - I found I had to bend over to get my blade in the water, which after a while hurts your
FIVE MEN
& A RIVER
back, shoulder, legs... Well, pretty much everywhere.
There were five of us keen enough to follow through with this little tour. The main man Peter Japp and his partner in crime Lou from Eastcoast Stand Up Paddle, along with Daniel Hampson from Look to Sea photography, Steve McCarthy and myself -all members of the Cronulla Sutherland Stand Up Paddle Club. As we were setting up, it was clear we each had our own way of strapping the gear to our boards. Pete, of course, was well set up with Lou and Daniel not far behind him, but Steve and I stood on the riverbank wrapping duct tape around our boards to keep the gear secure. It didn’t look great, but worked like a charm. We set off at 3:30pm on Saturday arvo after kissing our wives and kids goodbye, paddling straight into a 15 knot headwind. It’s a funny thing about rivers - no matter which way the river twists and turns, the damn wind is still in your face. Surely there’s a scientific explanation, or is it just Mother Nature having a laugh at our expense? It was a hard slog with a board full
of bags and a backpack and as it was a weekend, the waterways were packed with boats. There was one section in particular where the river really opens up, so boats were flying by either side of us, causing cross waves that were hard to stay balanced in, not to mention maintaining momentum as we got tossed every which way. But only twice did one of us fall in - both times it was Steve.
I was by far the slowest of the group and the guys waited for me to catch up a few times, but as I reached them they would paddle off again after having a nice little rest. They found this very amusing and were laughing about it later that night over a few beers. We finally arrived and had to carry our boards over a sandbar to get to the deep water again. Okay, we cheated a little we could have paddled around, but it was good to get off the board for a few seconds. We paddled right up to our campsite, unpacked, set up the tents, locked all our boards up, had a quick shower and put on our booties for the walk to Bundeena Bowls Club or better known as ‘Club Bundee.’ A few quick jugs down, we were off for dinner in
the Chinese restaurant, all so hungry we could have eaten a horse and chased the rider.
After a few good laughs with the restaurant staff calling us ‘soft’ for asking to turn the aircon down, we moved out to the bar with our fried ice-cream and switched to bourbon. Last drinks were called, and after another quick round we were getting the boot as the last stragglers in the club. Now we just had to find our way back to our tents through the bush track in pitch black‌ Morning came quickly, which was good considering my neck was stiff and sore from sleeping with no pillow. Note to self - pack a pillow. We paddled around the next bay to Bundeena for breakfast, only to find the CafĂŠ didn’t open for 40 minutes. This didn’t bother any of us except Pete, who was keen to go to the servo for a pie and chocolate milk. For us coffee drinkers though, we were happy to chill out and shoot the breeze, stoked for a rest... A strong coffee was a must as was a massive breakfast. The cafĂŠ finally opened and the girls started to set up the outdoor tables and chairs, but Pete couldn’t wait. He walked in and ordered a burger with the lot - take away. He sat in the
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, No matter which way the river twists and turns, the , damn wind is still in your face gutter and scoffed it down while we sat sipping coffees, reading the paper, and eating nearly everything on the menu. Fed and happy, we got back to the water, but making a decision about whether we should paddle back to Audley or paddle to Cronulla was a sticking point. I guess we should have just stuck to the original plan. The boys paddled out to Bay Surf and caught a few runners, dodging boats and jetskis before the paddle back to Audley, which thank goodness had the wind behind us so it was a rather leisurely paddle back.
Lou tucks in
All in all, it was a blast, I would definitely do it again and we learnt a lot from this experience. All the guys are a great bunch of blokes and it felt good to achieve our goal. I’m just afraid what Pete will come up with next.
The boys at camp
Locking the boards up
On the way back I got to reflect on what to do differently next time…
Take a pillow, for sure, and wear booties on the board, as after a few hours the grip feels like concrete on your feet. A camelback would have been a lot easier to have a drink instead of stopping to get out a drink bottle, especially in a head wind as you get blown backwards, wasting valuable gains. A bigger board would also be an advantage but unfortunately I don’t have an endless supply of cash...
If you’re in the area and want to get involved, check out the Cronulla Sutherland Stand Up Paddle Club website at: www.cronullasup.com.au If you think a river trip is something you might like to take on, get in touch with Pete at the Sutherland Shire Stand Up Paddle School. www.sutherlandshiresupschool.com.au 72
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The carrot at the end of the stick of every great surfing holiday is the possibility that you might, one day, return for more. With so many travel options available to us today, a further bonus is that you can visit the same place, but enjoy a completely different experience. Last year, our travel guru, Gus Brown introduced us to New Ireland, Papua New Guinea on his stay at Rubio Island Retreat. But would you see PNG through different eyes from a chartered surf boat? Joel Coleman of saltmotion gallery in Manly finds out. WORDS & PHOTOS: JOEL COLEMAN
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took a little effort to get to the boat. Leaving Sydney we flew to Brisbane to get a connecting flight to Port Moresby where a final flight would take us to Kavieng. Once there, the crew of the PNG Explorer would greet us. Then we would head out to the islands and surf our fill over the next week. As it turned out, there were a few crinkles in the connections. A three hour delay in Brisbane meant we missed our connecting flight from Port Moresby to Kavieng and we spent the night in the PNG Hilton. Well, we spent the night in a room near the airport that had air- conditioning, cold drinks and a shower. The next morning, back at Port Moresby airport, we heard the announcement that the flight was delayed again we breathed a sigh, got comfortable and watched the PNG tourism 76
clip endlessly loop on the T.V. Each time it flashed a few seconds of surfing the three of us got a little more excited and a little more frustrated. Eventually we boarded, still with plenty of daylight, we figured we would at least scratch in a late evening surf. The tropical heat in Kavieng hit us like a plank and I was itching to get in the water. On reaching the terminal we saw the sign.: “No baggage was on this flight – it will be here tonight”. At that point Dardy, the surf guide from PNG Explorer showed up, laughed and said “Welcome to PNG”. Dardy threw out a few options and we settled on taking the tender to meet the Explorer about an hour away, he would lend us boards and a pair of boardies to surf in and send one of the crew back to get our baggage in the morning. I must admit that the thought of trusting someone to deliver my camera cases to a boat floating
around a few islands off the coast of PNG left me with a few doubts. Then Dardy dropped the bombshell: “If we leave now you guys will get a late surf in” – Decision made, we went, as fast as that tender would take us and that saltwater spray and ocean breeze washed away the taste of airports and delayed flights. When we reached the Explorer the three of our group that had made it to the boat on time were out in the line-up with the captain. We wasted no time in joining them. That surf was nothing special, the onshore had ruffled the surface and the swell was no more than shoulder high, but trust me when I tell you after diving into the warm water and paddling into a few peelers, the hassle of getting there had been forgotten and the trip had begun. I stroked over to the rest of the guys and said hello, met Andrew, the captain, shook my head
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TRAVEL: PLANE TRIP Andrew Rigby has been exploring the PNG area and running charters for several years now, working on different boats and now on his own newly refitted charter vessel. Andrew may only be in his early thirties but his knowledge of this area is extensive and his enthusiasm to surf, dive, fish is just amazing.
and smiled at him. We shared a laugh and I could not have been happier to be there. The group was a mixed bunch for this trip, made up of my mate Andy, a marketing manager from New Zealand, Simon, an English born IT guru working in Sydney, Rob, another Brit who made his living defending King and Country in the Royal Army, Matt, a finance trader who lives and surfs in Hong Kong, Mark, a horse breeder who grew up on the Northern Beaches and myself, there to photograph, write and hopefully slide into a few
cheeky waves as well. The group dynamics ended up being first class and we shared a ton of great waves and an equal amount of laughs each day. PNG may not have been on your list of places to get to for a surf charter. Trust me when I tell you this, it should be. The place is scenically breathtaking. The area forms part of the ‘coral triangle’ meaning the aquatic life and reefs are some of the best in the world and to add the cherry, the waves are mind blowingly, stupidly, amazingly perfect as well!
The boat is designed to go to sea and hunt out new surf breaks and that’s exactly what they do with it. Inside comfortable couches, large cabins, air-conditioning and everything else you could hope made us feel pretty darn comfortable. All the crew were phenomenal and Andrew’s sister, Christie, who heads up the galley team, had us eating better than any five star resort. After the dramas of getting there we were all pretty pumped to hook into some decent waves. The first evening session would prove to be merely a taster of what was on offer. When we loaded our boards into the tender before dawn mar/apr 2012
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X GENUINELY
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FROM CHINA
GASfins are here to support local surf manufacturers with quality products made by real people who really surf. While, like other fin systems, GASfins are manufactured overseas, they comes from a place where people enjoy BBQs and beers, play rugby and most importantly SURF - not some big, faceless factory.
Enjoy affordable quality
0417 980 524 • gasfins@gmail.com
WWW.GASFINS.COM.AU
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the next day you could tell something was on the boil by the way Dardy was looking, pointing and laughing at a break they call ‘The Slab’. Dardy is an unassuming bloke, Aussie to his core with a wicked sense of humor, and he literally foams at the mouth when there are hollow waves on offer... and he was frothing! The Slab turned it on all morning – barrels to your heart’s content, just us in the water and more hoots and hollers than a football grand final. I must admit I was a little gutted that my water housing had not shown up yet, but at the same time, lucky that I had a couple of cameras and lenses to shoot with and get the session recorded in pixels. I’m not going to try and tell you how perfect this wave is... It doesn’t translate into words - the photographs tell the whole story. We scored that wave for three consecutive days. I’ll say that again - every day for three days we scored perfect barrels before breakfast. Mark, Dardy and Andrew clocked up more tube time than you could manage with a weeks pass on the London Underground and the other boys nutted up and had a damn good crack at the pitching lip and scored some of the best waves of their lives. The middle of the day in this part of the world is not a good time to be in the water, with the sun blistering you can almost smell your skin cooking. So instead of frying ourselves each day, we did a little mission to check out one of the local villages, go fishing or just relax on the top deck and gather some strength for the afternoon waves. With winds and tides the way they were The Slab was not really an option for the late sessions, so we surfed a few mellower breaks - walling, glassy waves with the odd cover-up on offer over a friendly reef. We surfed until dark each night, which gave me an opportunity to get a bit of night photography in as well always a bonus for the novelty factor.
ABOVE: Reef rash getting some treatment on board the Explorer... The smallest price to pay for perfect barrels. RIGHT: As friendly as you could hope for, the local kids keen to be in on the action, and the session of night photography was a blast.
The night photography got a few of the boys excited and we got talking of trying it out at The Slab. The only problem was The Slab was generally not working in the evenings. Not deterred, the next day the whole crew was in the water at 4:20am. Still pitch black we gave it a red hot go. On this morning, the swell had backed off a little too much and the waves were not on offer. Just when I was about to pull the pin the sun came up and turned the sky into one of the most spectacular sunrise shows I have ever seen. As if that was not enough and PNG wanted to show me what she really had to offer, a massive rainbow lit up the other side of the bay. I’m telling you again, PNG should be on your list of places to get to.
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Get back to the roots... with paulownia
With this trip being a seven-day charter we started to discuss a few of the other things we could get up to around the area. With a rich WWII history in the area, whispers of mini-subs and Japanese aircraft wrecks started to circulate. We decided to make a move and check out a few of these sights on the way back to port over the last few days. We surfed a few more glassy sessions with not another soul around then got the boat steaming towards an island that held a former leper colony in the days before the war. The old buildings had seen better days and walking through some of the structures we uncovered some old medicine bottles and a cemetery for those unfortunate souls who died of the condition that had seen them isolated from the rest of the world. Just off the island was a hidden gem. A WWII Japanese fighter plane that had ditched into the sea and had come to rest in approximately 12m of water. Perfect for free diving, so we all jumped in to check it out. The wreck was amazingly intact with the propeller sitting upright, the cockpit still housing ammunition chests and what looked like bombs. We got lucky with the water clarity and all the boys were totally blown away by the experience.
AD Our buoyant, lightweight timber floats all around the world.
,
We spent the rest of the last day sinking a few drinks on an uninhabited island surrounded by pristine reef and white sand. A makeshift game of beach cricket degenerated into a coconut-throwing match and we all had a great laugh. After the crew had put on a final feast, we headed back to Kavieng to pack up our board bags and get moving to the airport – well half of us did, I scored an extra night on the boat and got to see the other side of the surf charter industry... As I sit in the air-conditioned lounge writing this article the crew are cleaning, polishing and preparing the boat for the next charter. I can’t even begin to tell you how tempted I am to stow away and go again.
• Tom Wegener preferred alaia blanks • Alaia & Kite Boards • Long Boards • Hollow Boards • Chambered Boards Story courtesy of Joel Coleman at
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
If you’ve been bitten by the travel bug contact Joel and Sherrie at saltmotion in Manly to find out more about their travel booking service. There are some unique opportunities available to travel to some of the most popular through to the lesser known surf destinations around the globe, so if you fancy yourself as an adventurer, get in touch. And if you end up on a trip with Joel, you know you’ll have the opportunity to get some stunnng photos to show off to the friends and family. You can find out more about the saltmotion travel offers online at www.saltmotion.com, where you can also view amazing galleries of some of the trips so far. Images are available to purchase as prints in a variety high-quality formats. In fact, when you’re there, make sure to sign up for the saltmotion email newsletter to get a dose of perfect waves and incredible photography delivered to your inbox daily. www.saltmotion.com
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TRAVEL: ROAD TRIP GARY YOUNG AND HIS WIFE DECIDED TO DRIVE FROM ENGLAND TO AUSTRALIA. CLOCKING UP 42,000KM THROUGH 17 COUNTRIES, THEY PICKED UP A FEW STORIES ON THE WAY THAT WON’T EASILY BE FORGOTTEN.
THE SYRIAN SURF SEARCH WORDS GARY YOUNG PHOTOS KYM YOUNG
It wasn’t a surf trip. I knew this before we set off, but it was going to be about 25,000km and nearly a year before I was going to catch up with my boards that I’d left at a mates in Singapore, so I snuck one in. Of course I did. It might not have been a surf trip but we were going through eighteen countries to get from England to Australia and there was room in the car. But I wasn’t expecting my first fix of saltwater to be such a drama. Ten countries ticked off and I was already hanging for a surf. We’d just got to Syria after being knocked back by Iran and had to resort to plan B. Actually, we had to invent plan B. We were a bit fed up. A fix of sea air and all the associated positive ions was needed. They do have beaches in Syria – there’s a massive 60km of coastline that sits on the Mediterranean. So we set off from Aleppo for what we thought would be an afternoon’s drive to the beach. The motorway and its associated Deathrace2000 style driving got us to the foot of the mountains that run parallel to the coast with unexpected speed, but by the time we traversed the winding roads we soon realised we were pushing it to get there 82
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before dark. We should’ve stopped. It’s always our rule not to drive at night in a foreign country, especially a Middle Eastern one. It was pitch black when we got there. Trying to find a camp to pop up a roof tent is a challenge in the daytime but at night it makes it all that much harder. All we needed was access onto a beach - we had four wheel drive. After much fruitless searching we at last spotted a track heading down between the trees in the direction of the beach. It was looking like a winner. But after 500m we come across a chain across it. It’s really not worth risking it so I slid the shift into reverse. This is where it all went wrong. Occasionally there are things that you see with your eyes that sometimes your brain needs a moment to process. Some of them take your breath away for the right reasons, like seeing the Taj Mahal or Carroll’s snap at Pipe in ‘91. But a teenager in combats with camo paint on his face and the biggest machine gun he could possibly carry running at the car with the barrel pointing straight at us while shouting in Arabic at the top of his voice, is not one of those good reasons. His teeth
were the brightest thing about him being massively illuminated by our full beam and two huge spotlights. His aim was firmly at my wife sitting in the passengers seat. Of course it was - we were in a right hand drive Landcruiser in a left hand drive country. He thought she was behind the wheel. He didn’t even know she was a she. He couldn’t see anything because I was blinding him. My brain was catching up. I killed the lights and grabbed a torch which I frantically played between my wife and I, but the boy soldier hadn’t stopped screaming, as more started appearing from the bushes, all running, all carrying guns, and all apparently in their teens. One of them seemed to be in charge. He came to the passenger window. I tried to point out that I was driving but they seemed happy hanging out near the blonde, blue-eyed side. The mini-militia men seemed to have calmed down a bit and I tried at this point to say sorry, putting the car in reverse. Bad move. Twelve people were screaming and pointing guns at us again. I turned the engine off. Whether or not Red Bull or Bolivian mafia sponsor the Syrian army is hard to call but that these boys had been
partaking in one or the other in huge quantities was easy to see. They were wired, high on the adrenalin coursing through their veins delivered courtesy of two potential spies in their LandCruiser trying to backdoor their army barracks. Idiots. An hour later their officer turned up. Twenty at most, he was sweating, his eyes bigger than the supermoon. He agreed to look at our photos and seemed to understand that we’re something he’d probably never encountered before – tourists. An hour of idle banter was a challenge, with neither of us speaking each other’s language. It didn’t deter him. Eventually, at about one o’clock in the morning we waved goodbye to the underage commandos and followed a rough sketch that the spaced Captain had drawn us. It took us to a rocky beach that we could drive onto and park, with the sound of a contented sea slapping at the rocks to lull us to sleep. But hang on... Who were these two blokes that had come out of the dark and are heading towards us? I’m not even kidding - plain-clothed police. I asked them for ID, they showed me their guns. It was obvious sleep was still some way off. A protracted
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Original gun image: Sanandros/wikimedia commons
JAYSCHMITZERPHOTO
SHELLHARBOUR SURF & SKATE PROVIDING SMILE GENERATING EQUIPMENT.
“ALL SURFERS SEARCH FOR SHELTER”
conversation and many mobile phone calls later and they eventually conceded we were not providing laser targeting or photographing anything. As dawn arrived they left and we finally slept, on the beach, with permission from the police. My wife cried uncontrollably with shock and relief. I can’t even think of the horrors she’d imagined might happen. The sun soon convinced us it was time to move on so we packed up and drove down the coast. Almost every kilometre along each of the 60km we drove was a military installation of some kind - rocket launchers were permanently manned every 3km. Not the nicest stretch of coast I’ve ever driven down but, there was, without a doubt, a bit of wind swell. Around the next bend, a small bay opened out where a few families were BBQ-ing in their chadors and burkhars.
TOP: All beach, no ocean. RIGHT: Gary, armed to the teeth ABOVE: Hard-earned Syrian surf
I dusted off my board and jumped in to hit a little wedge in the middle of the bay. It was tiny, it was gutless, it was onshore but, #&*% me, it was surfing.
SHELLHARBOUR SURF & SKATE Addison Street, Shellharbour Village NSW PHONE: 02 4295 3373
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TRAVEL: BOATS
BUSINESS PROMOTION
u... The Handh rtainment saloon, ente k, six dec and huge cabins... twin-share
I’M ON A BOAT!
We’re always reading about magic boat trips to faraway breaks, so we figured it was time to look at the actual boats you’d be staying on. We asked the good folks at World Surfaris to pick one of the charters they represent to tell us a little about what an excited surfer can expect on the other side. After reviewing the 2011 client testimonials World Surfaris reckon one trip stood out as a clear favourite. Feedback from the Maldivian vessel, Handhu Charters that operates in the Central and Male Atolls. Guests scored the trip on service, experience, food, crowd dodging and of course value for money. So what makes Handhu so special?
THE CREW
The Handhu crew are a tight bunch, working alongside one another year in, year out. They know their roles and take pride in caring for guest’s needs. They promise you’ll want for nothing and get it all with a smile.
SURF GUIDE
Yursee aka ‘Easy’ is a laidback local with an amazing ability to pick swells days in advance. All you have to do is sit back and relax as you steam to the best spot possible on every day of your trip. Easy is an avid photographer and spends hours each trip shooting film of guests surfing for their ultimate trip souvenir.
REMOTE SURF REGIONS = MORE WAVES
Whilst onboard the Handhu nothing is rigid regarding the itinerary. Trips start in Male and finish way down in Laamu in the Central Atolls 11 days later where guests fly back to Male at end (or vice versa). Over this period guests can surf up to six atolls from the Male higher profile breaks to some remote, secret spots in the Central atolls. There’s surf on the East, West and South sides of the atolls, meaning somewhere is offshore each day. Guests are surfed out each day only to sleep it off and do it all again the next. Groundhog day in remote Maldivian perfection what’s not to love? Sunshine Coast local and Maldives regular, Rob Gough wrote the following in his Handhu testimonial:
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“Not sure what to say about the waves... “We didn’t have a single day of no waves and I often found myself talking to myself about how good it was, and where is everybody else in the world, as I turned around with my spaghetti arms to take another perfect wave. “There’s no one else around, apart from my friends that are scattered down the reef 150m after just having another sick wave. “And this all happened before the swell started to increase and we found some left-handers. You can imagine how that was with more then half of the boat being goofy footers. Yahoo! “I ended up with bruising all down my arm from pinching it to make sure that I was awake.”
NO FUEL RESTRICTIONS
So you’ve just spent all this money and flown halfway around the world the last thing you want is a restriction on how far the boat can carry you, especially if there’s a swell coming. While often captains are under instructions from companies to limit fuel usage, Handhu guarantees that extra mile figuratively and literally. If there’s a wave on the horizon, the Handhu promises to get you on it and they’ll steam all night to do so, guaranteed.
AND FINALLY
After such a great year in 2011 Handhu has invested a lot into maintenance and has improved the general condition of the vessel. World Surfaris promise that Handhu Charters is the best value for money surf trip available in the Maldives today. “You simply will not surf more waves, with less crowds on a vessel of this calibre at such a low price.”
SO, THE LOWDOWN
11 Nights, six atolls with endless surf possibilities, 90ft vessel with saloon, entertainment and a huge deck, six twin-share cabins with airconditioning and ensuites. Crowd dodging itineraries are tailored to your skill level with an expert guide and photographer and the package includes all meals, transfers, some drinks, snacks and all the surf options you can poke a stick at. The packages start at $2,470 per person for individual bookings or as little as $1875 per person for a group of 12 booking the entire boat. Groups as small as eight can book the whole boat and there are still plenty of trips fully available for the 2012 season.
Visit www.worldsurfaris.com today or send an enquiry to info@worldsurfaris.com and start your adventure.
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Drop in at our
Short boards, mini mals, mals, logs, fishes, alaias, whatever you have laying around in the shed or even your pride and joy sitting in the lounge room... Got some kite geear you don’t need? Got an old SUP you want to upgrade? We want it!
SUNSHINE HOW IT WORKS... COAST INTERSTATE? Mega-store!
1. Get in touch! Either call or e-mail us
2. Tell us about the board you want to trade and what new gear you’re after - SUP, surf, kite or wake!
NO WORRIES! We’ll even arrange freight and collection!
3. Send us a current picture of your board. We’ll evaluate the trade-in price and let you know how much it is worth against your purchase
4. We agree on a price and organise the collection of your old surfboard and freight your new board or gear to your door!
FOR? WHAT ARE YOU WAITING trade that CONTACT US TODAY and old gear for some new gear!
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inst a brand a g a r a e g e kit rd old SUP, orUP, surfboard, kiteboa new S r other gear o mar/apr 2012
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PHOTO: JACK DE KORT - Check out his portfolio and interview on page 48
Sam Rhodes getting his own aerial viewpoint of Coolum Main Beach
THE SUNSHINE COAST NORTH SHORE
NORTHSIDE
TRAVEL: ROAD TRIP
WELCOME to a world
of beachbreaks, boosts, barrels and brilliant fun. This is the Sunshine Coast North Shore beyond the tourist strip of Mooloolaba and before the royal righthand pointbreaks of Noosa. While it might not sport the same sort of waves as it’s holy Hawaiian namesake, with warm water all year and no shortage of breaks, it’s a true surfers playground with a unique personality and a hell of a lot of charm. Long-time local, Gus Brown, lets us in on a bit of the northern goodness. WORDS: GUS BROWN
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NORTHSIDE
First Bay fun, Coolum Photo Megan Slade
Matt Hill times a perfect little beachie and every man and his dog want in on it. Photo Jack Dekort 88
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NORTHSIDE
THE PLACE
Coolum Surf School’s Chris Kendall
The Sunshine Coast is a big stretch. Any attempt to try to condense the entire region into one local travel story couldn’t do the area justice. So, this time, we focus on the heart of this area - the central Sunshine Coast region, covering the surf and sites from Twin Waters north to Peregian Beach, known as the Sunshine Coast North Shore. TALKING TO THE LOCALS, THERE’S PLENTY OF LOVE FOR THE AREA - A GOOD SIGN FOR ANY PLACE... Chis Kendall, who runs Coolum Surf School with his wife Genevieve, is a long time local. Moving from Manly on the Northern Beaches of Sydney as a twoyear-old, he has have lived in Coolum ever since. “Coolum is the centre of the coast, so it is a great place to live. You have Noosa at one end and Point Cartright and Caloundra further south and all parts of the coast from here are easy to access. “What else is so special about it is that it is just Coolum. It has never been one of the bigger towns on the coast. But it has grown from its original beginnings of the one corner store and a lot of dirt roads. Today you are lucky to find a spare block of land. We still have beautiful natural surrounds though.” Shanghai Sally’s Tea and Furniture Emporium owner Ryan O’Rourke has similar thoughts on his local, Peregian Beach, just a stone’s throw up the beach from Coolum. “I love Peregian’s laid back, coastal vibe, the unspoilt environment and village charm. When it comes to surf, it’s hard to beat an early with a couple of mates on a nice little peaking Peregian bank”.
The green express Photo Ben Vos
Another Peregian Beach local, Evert Harder, is so passionate about the area that felt there was a need to have a longboard specially tailored to the local conditions. He got in touch with the guys at McTavish and arranged to have a special model made for his customers. The result? The Epic - a McTavish handshaped adaption of the Fireball Evo 2 model, exclusively available from Evert’s Surf Shop at Peregian Beach.
Evert Harder with his McTavish Epic
Pitta Street hopefuls Photo Nic Falconer
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WHERE IS THE SUNSHINE COAST NORTH SHORE ANYWAY?
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LOCALS SAY: Jay Heller Boardstore Surf, Not just skate stores anymore, As the mighty Google Maps so elegantly Boardstore Surf recently set Mudjumba points out from above, the Sunshine Coast is up shop in the old Old Woman Island Surf Shop in Mudjimba. about one hour north of Brisbane. Turns out, in recent years it’s been one of the most rapidly “I live in Coolum. Been there growing areas in Australia. The entire Sunshine six years now. I love it. It’s just Coast runs for about 100kms from Caloundra to a bit quieter and not as built Double Island Point and the North Shore is pretty up as the rest of the Sunshine much smack bang in the middle - south of Noosa, Coast, compared to the likes of north of the Maroochy River. Maroochydore or Caloundra. It’s probably 10 years further behind. Heading north across the bridge from Mudjimba is much the same. Maroochydore, the business centre of the Sunshine Coast, everything changes. Traffic “Mudjimba has the island which is all time, as far as surfing goes. lights turn to roundabouts, nature reclaims its When it’s working it has the best status and most importantly the surf becomes waves you can get anywhere. It’s less crowded. Lessons from the impact of best to get a boat over but if you unrestrained development, which are common in can’t, the paddle is worth it.” other highly populated regions of the east coast, appear to have been considered (with a few “As for the sharks, I’ve heard a exceptions) and the result is a great mix of the few stories - local legend. But thankfully no first hand accounts.” urban, the rural and the natural.
A BRIEF BIT OF HISTORY The traditional owner of the land in this area and surrounding region are the Gubbi Gubbi people. The first Europeans to the area were castaways and shipwrecked sailors in the early 1800s and in 1871 the first freehold land was allocated. Early industries included timber, dairy and cane farming. The area developed largely on the back of the cane industry during the early 1900s. This remained the main industry until the advent of tourism in the late 60s. The final nail in the coffin was the 2003 closure of the Nambour Sugar Mill.
g north ABOVE: How things have changed - lookin Photo: 1949. in Hill gon Tobog from m Coolu s acros .au State Library of Queensland www.slq.qld.gov
Early tourists accessed the area via train from Nambour (in the Sunshine Coast hinterland) however it was the opening of the Sunshine Coast Motorway on January 20, 1990 that really made this area easily accessible to holiday makers. mar/apr 2012
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AS FAR AS SURFING HISTORY GOES, THE AREA CAN LAY CLAIM TO A PARTICULARLY SIGNIFICANT CHARACTER - PETER TROY. Arguably one of the most famous surf adventurers of all time, Peter Troy, passed away September 29, 2008 at his home in Mudjimba, having lived as full a life as one could wish for. He was 70 years old. His pioneering ways are the stuff of legend and he undeniably left an indelible mark on the world of surfers, and indeed all manner of travellers with a free spirit. Peter was born in Torquay and throughout his lifetime travelled to some 130 countries scouring the globe for waves. Along with Vic Tantau and Owen Yateman he is credited with being the first to discover the surfing potential of Bells Beach in 1949, later staging the first ever Australian surfing contest with Vic Tantau on the Australia Day weekend in January 1962. The competition was subsequently changed to Easter in 1963 and is known today as the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Classic, Australia’s longest running surfing contest.
RIGHT: With moves like Jagger, there’s no doubting Julian Wilson deserves his success every bit. Photo: Simon Kotze BELOW: Overhead in Wilson territory - First Bay at Coolum. Photo: Ben Vos
Peter was inducted into the Australian Surfing Hall of Fame in 2002, and awarded with a Medal of the Order of Australia for service to surfing in 2007. He is also known for his part in Paul Witzig’s 1971 classic surf flick Sea of Joy, where he and Wayne Lynch surfed newly discovered Tamarin Bay on Mauritius. His other surfing discoveries included the famed Lagundri Bay on the island of Nias off the coast of Sumatra in Indonesia.
RIGHT: Peter Troy, the explorer. Photo courtesy of SurfWo rld
Torquay
At one stage of his life Peter lived on Mudjimba Island, also known as Old Woman Island, commuting to work at Surfair by tinnie. His life and times are beautifully captured in the book To the Four Corners of the World - The Lost Journals of the Original Surf Explorer.
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HISTORY RE-WRITTEN The Wilson clan - father Mick, mother Nola and their three boys, Seb, Bart and Julian still call Coolum home. Seb and Bart are both former longboard champs and with phenomenal success as a professional surfer, Julian could be now quite easily be known as Coolum’s most famous son. But, depite his heights of success, you’ll still find him catching a wave out front with everyone else, flashing a friendly smile and a wave. The Wilsons are widely regarded as a very close knit loving family that typifies the down-to-earth nature of the area.
A VILLAGE SURF SHOP , No attitude r& a e g just great io sh ned good, old-fa rvice customer se :
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LOCALS SAY: Wally Johnson Wally’s Water Gallery
Wally a funky High Victorian shaper Jordie Brown showing Marcoola Tide fish outside Wallys Water Gallery in
Some expert comment from a local who has lived his whole life in the sleepy little beachside suburb of Marcoola. When it comes to surfing the area, 99% of the time Wally hits the waves within a 4-5km radius of where he lives.
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“My friends are shocked when ever they see me outside Marcoola or Yaroomba. I just love it here. There’s no need to go anywhere else.
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“Surfwise, out front there’s always a good bank. You can roll up to the beach and have the waves to yourself.
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“Out in the water its kind of like everyone is best mates. The water out here just seems to make everyone super friendly and chilled. Everyone knows each other’s names. Everyone is practically neighbours anyhow.”
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TRAVEL: ROAD TRIP
TOP SURF SPOTS To be realistic, and I am sure those living in the area will agree, that when it’s on it’s on, and when it’s not it’s definitely not. So surfers who get up early and seize the opportunities when they are available, are those that get the rewards. Often quality conditions come and go quicker than issues of this mag at your local surf shop. Primarily this area consists of open easterly facing beaches, which when the wind, waves and sand collaborate provide for great conditions in small to medium size surf. However, when the swell is up during the cyclone season the surf tends to consist of nightmare paddles and un-makeable closeouts. The water temperature is excellent all year round with the coldest it gets being about 20 degrees in winter. Here’s a guide to some of the local breaks. As always, out of respect for the local surfers who live and breathe these waves, these are your main spots and well known breaks. If you venture off the beaten track you might discover some hidden gems, but always remember to play nice - consider others and remember some surf etiquette.
Does it get any better than this? Who knows? Who would care to question it... Cracker barrel shot by Jack Dekort
Running north from the mouth of the Maroochy River the TWIN WATERS BEACH is a great place to check for waves as it consistently has good banks. There’s a couple of kilometres of beach, so finding an uncrowded wave is not usually an issue, particularly for those willing to walk a distance from the final car park.
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MUDJIMBA BEACH break is directly west of Mudjimba Island that refracts the incoming swell. This combined with submerged coffee-rock makes for a peaky beach break that is popular amongst the local grommets. Given it is straight in front of the shops it can be quite crowded but good breaks can be found close by.
MARCOOLA is another long stretch of beach that can be pretty inconsistent. But, there are few crowds along this stretch so when the conditions are right, this is a great place to avoid the rush. YAROOMBA is one of the more consistent and popular breaks in the area, which is a northerly pocket below the scenic Pt. Arkwright headland. Local chargers frequent this spot as it regularly holds a solid wedgy wave where barrels are common place.
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LOCALS SAY: Chris Kendall Coolum Surfing School
different bommies out there and it is quite fat. It does help to have a bigger board to get through those sections.
Chris has run the local Coolum Surfing School now for more than ten years, so he knows a thing or two about the local breaks. “From Peregian to Twin Waters it’s not really recommended for those learning to surf unless you utilise the inner sand banks. Coolum is the number one place to learn to surf in the region, as it is a flat beach.
LOCALS SAY: Dave O’Reilly Surfing Green
COOLUM is the primary surf area frequented by both locals and tourists. Surf spots within close vicinity include Coolum main beach where a consistent left-hander reels in from in front of the surf club. At the southern end of the beach below the lookout at Point Perry, when the swell is 4 foot plus, a quality right-hander can break close to the rocks. This wave is definitely the standout when it’s on but typically a place for the chargers in the surfing community.
“Coolum Beach has great banks but the lifeguards always put the flags in front of the best right hander – bring on the hand plane! “Point Perry is the pick of the waves along here but it is fickle. When it’s on, it’s on! Don’t get caught texting your mates to say it’s pumping – just get out there.”
Just over the headland the FIRST and SECOND BAY (from the water it is really one bay) are also popular and fairly consistent. Although surrounded by rocks, the bottom is largely sand and the lefts and rights can be found depending on where you want to sit. In rare conditions, THIRD BAY breaks but this is definitely rocky and risky.
“My favourite wave is Mudjimba Island. You can’t beat paddling 1200 metres offshore and having a break all to yourself. But once again, it’s all about the conditions. Other than that, I personally love surfing Point Perry. A right hander and left hander comes off there.
“The main thing I would say when tackling the waves here or anywhere for that matter, remember surf etiquette. You don’t get behind the wheel of a car without a license. Make sure you have an understanding of the surf and surf etiquette before you tackle the waves. “If you don’t know how to control your board you create havoc for yourself and those around you. Learn about the basics before you go out in the water. It’s not hard to have fun out there, but it’s also not hard to get yourself into trouble.”
“In terms of longboard waves, the pick of the area would definitely be Second Bay in Coolum. It breaks on a few
About a kilometre north of Coolum surf club, STUMERS CREEK flows into the ocean. This is a popular family and dog beach due to the flowing fresh water. Small rock outcrops in the water combined with moving sand from the creek flows can result in some interesting but ever-changing waves. Walk a few minutes north and surf in front of the Peregian Wetlands Sanctuary for some of the least crowded breaks on the whole of the Sunshine Coast.
PEREGIAN BEACH is another long stretch of open coastline however it always seems to be a bit bigger and holds better banks than anywhere south. Popular PITTA STREET is one of the most consistent (and as a result crowded) beach breaks in the area. But hey, there are plenty of spots to check out on this stretch for those not wanting to hassle for waves.
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TRAVEL: ROAD TRIP
OLD WOMAN One of the hardest to access, but premium surf spots on the Sunshine Coast is the famous Mudjimba (Old Woman) Island. Located about 1km off the beach at Mudjimba it represents a premium reef break when the swell is up. It looks deceptively close when observing from the deck at Mudjimba Beach but for those keen enough to paddle across the rumoured sharky waters, the paddle is an energy zapper that takes about 20 minutes. These days a lot more regular surfers access the area by boat, which leads to the locals joking about the hazards of being run over on their paddle across. It’s pretty much been the worst kept surfing secret for decades. Old Woman island was long ago popularised by the classic 80’s Aussie surf flick Kong’s Island by Jack McCoy and David Lourie and featured in Mad Wax (1987) which starred big wave legend, Ross Clarke-Jones. Surf on Old Woman consists of both a right and a left hand reef break that wraps around the island. It handles anything from 3 foot up but accessing the area days above 6 foot is risky. Unfortunately, on a good day, the Island can become relatively crowded but those who are lucky to get out there when conditions change, and before word gets out, can really score. Since 1998 Mudjimba Island (and surrounding reef) became part of the Maroochy Waters Conservation Park. Historically,
the island was available for crown lease from 1948. The late Peter Troy, one of Australia’s surfing legends, was one of those lucky leaseholders. These days, the island is recognised as an important breeding area for migrating mutton birds. It’s covered in thousands of burrows where the females nest and lay their eggs. Given the importance and natural fragility of the area, surfers are discouraged from exploring the island itself. A word to the wise - this is holy ground, so if you’re planning on making a trip there, pack a bag full of manners. And if you want to gain some local cred and instant respect, do the paddle.
THE TALE According to Aboriginal legend, after a spat over a girl called Maroochy, a warrior called Ninderry knocked off Coolum’s head and it fell into the ocean. This is now Mudjimba Island. Mt Coolum is his body and Mt Ninderry, on the way to Yandina, is what’s left of Ninderry after he was turned to stone for not playing nice. Maroochy, heartbroken, literally cried a river, which is now the Maroochy river.
Old Woman Island from above, with Mudjimba and Surfair resort at Marcoola clearly visible on the shore. Photo: Above Photography www.abovephotography.com.au
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LOCALS SAY: Mike Swaine Above Photography
“I used to paddle out quite a bit, however I have stopped since I was out with a mate and a tiger shark fin popped up and literally started circling us. This was no dolphin. “When they circle, you know they are checking you out to take a test bite. It was just like you see in the old cartoons... Then it slowly went underwater out of site. That was the most nerve racking. I tried putting my head underwater to try and spot it, but it was gone. I have never been afraid of sharks, and laugh at all the media hype about them, however this was serious. “It was getting dark, and that paddle back was probably the most nerve racking feeling of my life. I Googled tiger shark images when I got back to compare the fin size to the body size and calculated him to be about 3-4m. “These days I either paddle out on a kayak, or kite out there. I see plenty of turtles (which is what the sharks are looking for) which is awesome, but whenever I hear that noise they make when they come to the surface, I still get a little jumpy.”
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IN MARCOOLA, WE HAVE RATS. THERE’S INDIANS ABOUT. WE HAVE SOME ANCIENT SURFBOARDS AND HIGH TIDE IS PRETTY BROWN. WHY GO ANYWHERE ELSE? UNIQUE AND INDIVIDUAL HANDCRAFTED SURFBOARDS BY BUSHRAT, BLACK APACHE, TOM WEGENER AND JORDIE BROWN ARE JUST A FEW OF THE REASONS TO VISIT. OH, AND THE GUY THAT RUNS THE SURF SHOP IS A WALLY.
It’s all about the beach 6 Lorraine Ave • Marcoola Beach
07 5448 8560 98
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BLACK APACHE Longboard by Jesse Watson
WEGENER Alaia by Tom Wegener
BUSHRAT Flextail by Jed Done
HIGH TIDE Single fin by Jordie Brown
AND THERE”S MUCH MORE THAN JUST SURFBOARDS AT WALLY’S... surf art • shells • driftwood things • chenille shorts • beach stuff • retro sunnies • thongs • stripy towels • umbrellas • hammocks • GoPro cameras
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STAY
WHERE TO
A bunch of guys on an el-cheapo weekend away, a family looking for a comfortable stay, high-flyers with dollars to burn... There’s pretty much the fiull range of accommodation along this beautiful strip of coastline.
COOLUM BEACH GETAWAY RESORT 3-7 First Ave, Coolum Beach A modern 4½ star resort. 18 spacious, air-conditioned 1, 2 & 3 bedroom townhouse-style units and apartments with self-contained kitchens, laundry and lock up garage. Tropical gardens, heated pool and spa, half tennis court, plus bike and surfboard hire. One street back from the beach with a quiet, pleasant family atmosphere. Proximity: Only a short stroll to Coolum’s fabulous beach, alfresco dining and shopping. Located centrally on the Sunshine Coast, the tourist attractions, world-class golf courses and rainforest walks are all within easy driving distance. P: 07 5471 6759 F: 07 5471 6222 Australia: 1300 723 263 E: info@getawayresort.com.au www.getawayresort.com.au
COOLUM BEACH RESORT 7-13 Beach Rd, Coolum Beach Affordable Coolum Beach accommodation. Fully selfcontained, spacious holiday apartments with heated pool, spa, plunge pool and sauna, only 50m to patrolled surf beach, 365 days of the year. Enjoy free cable TV, underground security parking, games room and two BBQ areas. Guests also enjoy a 10% discount at three restaurants - Garam Masala, Castros and Sunrise Cafe. Pamper yourself at Asante Day Spa, on site. www.asantespa.com.au.
COOLUM BEACH HOLIDAY PARK David Low Way, Coolum Beach Coolum Beach Holiday Park is set on ten acres of pristine beachfront land with direct access to patrolled surf beach. • • • • • • •
Powered caravan and tent sites Unpowered tent sites Self-contained cabin accommodation Modern camp kitchen and amenities PWD and baby facilities Laundry facilities Wireless internet hotspot
SEACHANGE COOLUM BEACH 1864 David Low Way, Coolum Beach
A world away from the everyday... 35 boutique holiday apartments with style and character... The ideal retreat for your tropical getaway. Designed to be different from the rest, Seachange features fully selfcontained one, two bedroom and family apartments - some with private rooftop spas and ocean views, all immaculately presented by resident managers who offer you personalised friendly service. Isn’t it time you experienced Seachange?
Proximity: 50m stroll to 17km of beach, all the way to Sunshine Beach. Easy drive to golf gourses of the Hyatt Coolum, Twin Waters and Noosa Springs.
Proximity: The park is in easy walking distance to local shops, restaurants, the Coolum Beach Surf Club and Bowls Club.
P: 07 5471 7744 F: 07 5455 7177
coolum@sunshinecoastholidayparks.com.au
P: 07 5471 7799 F: 07 5446 5380 Freecall: 1800 008 112
E: reception@coolumbeachresort.com
www.coolumbeachresort.com
P: 07 5446 1474
sunshinecoastholidayparks.com.au
Proximity: Walking distance to beach, local shops, restaurants
info@seachangecoolumbeach.com.au seachangecoolumbeach.com.au
Phone for your special price
Call for best rates
Check out hot deals online
Call for best rates
EXECUTIVE ACCOMMODATION
PET-FRIENDLY ACCOMMODATION
YOUR CHOICE OF HOLIDAY APARTMENTS
SURFAIR MARCOOLA BEACH 923 David Low Way, Marcoola
Managing over 25 executive beach homes and apartments from Twin Waters through to Coolum Beach, Coolum Holidays has the perfect property to indulge all of your needs while on vacation.
Take your four legged friend on your next holiday! Enjoy a stress free holiday knowing your pet is safe with you. Pet friendly holidays are becoming increasingly popular and Coolum Holidays has 30 holiday homes that specialise in providing the right accommodation for you and your pooch. All our holiday homes adhere to strict policies and conditions so that your holiday with your beloved pet is safe, secure and comfortable.
Managing an array of self contained apartments on the beautiful North Shore, Coolum Holidays will help you find the perfect apartment to relax in whether it be for two nights or two months.
CLUBB COOLUM BEACH 1740 David Low Way Coolum Beach
All of our executive properties are tastefully decorated throughout and provide a high standard of facilities including swimming pool, air conditioning, bbq and pay television. Accommodating singles, couples and families, our portfolio of executive accommodation will surely not disappoint. P: 1300 303 423
www.coolumholidays.com.au
A $110.00 non refundable pet fee applies to all bookings made – a small price to pay for peace of mind. P: 1300 303 423
www.coolumholidays.com.au
From $1300 a week, shorter stays available 100 TV
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Stay in one our apartments and stretch out with more privacy and space than a hotel room, perfect for an extended stay or corporate accommodation. We can offer you a great deal on one, two and three bedroom apartments – phone our friendly booking consultants today.
Proximity: Absolute beachfront location at Marcoola Beach only 5 minutes from the Sunshine Coast airport. Across from local shops and takeaways.
P: 1300 303 423
P: 07 5412 0100
www.coolumholidays.com.au
From $490 a week, shorter stays available parking
wi-fi
Situated in the heart of the Sunshine Coast with Marcoola Beach right on your doorstep. SurfAir Marcoola Beach is the ultimate family resort where you can choose from either self-contained apartments or hotel rooms. Fantastic accommodation with onsite beauty and day spa, 60m lagoon-style pool, resort shop, bistro, bar. Central to all Sunshine Coast attractions.
From $490 a week, shorter stays available pool
airconditioning
E: marcoola.reception@wyn.com http://hotels.wyndhamvrap.com/ hotel/overview/property/73
Rates from $99 per night family-friendly
pet-friendly
With its waterfront position and central location, Clubb Coolum Accommodation offers luxurious, self-contained cool holiday apartments with a 4.5 star, AAA rating. Enjoy a meal in the on-site restaurant and make the most of the games room, putting green and full size tennis court Being directly across from the patrolled beach, the views are spectacular, to say the least. Proximity: Opposite patrolled beach, on the main Esplanade at beautiful Coolum P: 07 5446 3888 F: 07 5446 3369
E: enquiries@clubbcoolum.com.au
www.clubbcoolum.com.au From only $130 per night
spa
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CALYPSO SANDS HOLIDAY APARTMENTS
2201 David Low Way, Peregian Beach
Calypso Sands, situated in Peregian Beach on the beautiful Sunshine Coast and only minutes from Noosa is a stylish resort which impresses anyone who sees it. With 14 fully appointed, two bedroom townhouses, and no busy roads to cross to reach the ocean, Calypso Sands is the ideal family accommodation. Proximity: Walking distance to beach, local shops, restaurants. Near golf course and central to Sunshine Coast attractions P: 07 5448 3399 info@calypsosands.com.au www.calypsosands.com.au
Check our tariffs online
HORIZONS AT PEREGIAN 45 Lorikeet Dr, Peregian Beach The property features 15 x 2/3 bedroom fully self-contained holiday apartments and penthouses. Ideally located directly opposite the popular South Peregian surfing beach with its reef breaks at Pitta Street. A great heated pool and spa with secure underground parking. Proximity: Opposite popular surfing beach, 15 minute walk to Peregian Village for cafes and shopping P: 07 5448 3444 F: 07 5448 3711
E: admin@horizons-peregian.com
www.horizons-peregian.com
Ask about our mid-week surfers special @ $299 for three nights.
For those with a thicker wallet wanting to stay in real style, Twin Waters Resort and Hyatt Regency Coolum offer luxury accommodation both with extensive resort facilities.
TRAVEL: ROAD TRIP
For those on a budget there are quality Caravan Parks located at Mudjimba and Coolum. A large range of beach houses and units are available from Mudjimba to Peregian all either on or within close vicinity to the beach. Located near the Airport at Marcoola is a range of holiday apartments. One of the originals is Surfair, which was made famous as a destination for winners of the 90s dating show ‘Perfect Match’ and was a popular past music venue before the days of noise restrictions. Surfair has evolved significantly since. Coolum also has an extensive range of accommodation as it really represents the central tourist hub of the area.
OUR PICK: Just a few minutes drive from the beach you can enjoy the thrill of cable skiing, no matter what level you’re at.
For an alternative adrenalin rush, you can’t go past cable-skiing at Go Wake in Bli Bli!
Flat day? No drama. There’s a swag of attractions around the area. Plenty to keep you and the family entertained
THINGS TO DO & SEE GO WAKE BLI BLI This place is a cracker. If the surf is flat head towards the canefields at the back of Mudjimba. Go Wake is only a 5 minute drive and is a purpose built watersports park. You can skurf, wakeboard, ski or kneeboard your way around the lake. It is also a great place to learn. If you’re a little paranoid about the fish with big teeth, Go Wake sure beats the hell out of dangling your legs in some murky river waters waiting for the boat to swing around after you have fallen off. Open 7 days from Sept to May, 10am to 6pm, and till 9pm in Jan school holidays. Open Fri to Mon in June- Aug,11am to 5pm. Prices start from a 1hr pass for $29 to full day from $50. Min. age 10 yrs www.gowakesunshinecoast.com.au SUNSHINE CASTLE BLI BLI This Norman Style Castle is worth checking out if you have young kids or have a penchant for dressing up in medieval garb. There is plenty to see from displays and exhibitions and there’s a gift store and fully licensed café. Open daily from 9.30am to 4.30pm. Entry – kids $10, adults $14, family from $34. www.sunshinecastle.com BIKE HIKE An excellent bike path behind the foredunes runs the whole way from Twin Waters to Peregian and further north to Noosa. Much of it is flat and easy going, which is great if you’re not a regular spandex wearer. BACK TO NATURE Mt Coolum is an impressive landmark and a popular walking/hiking spot. At over 200 meters high this ancient volcanic core takes about a half hour return trip. Given its proximity to the coast it offers superb 360 views over the region. WETLAND WALK For those with an aversion to heights, walk through the Peregian Wetlands Sanctuary to view untouched coastal heathland that comes alive during wildflower season in September.
DIVE THE HMAS BRISBANE In 2005, a few kilometres northeast of Mudjimba Island, the HMAS Brisbane was scuttled to make for an underwater diving paradise. The “Big Cat” can be accessed through local dive centres. GOLF CENTRAL If you like hitting the greens as much as the green room, you won’t be hard pressed to fill your day at any of four golf courses in the area - Twin Waters, Peregian Springs, Mount Coolum and Hyatt Regency Coolum. Twin Waters Golf Club World class 18 Hole Par 72 championship golf course offering a stunning setting and challenging layout for players of all levels. Green fees public $77, juniors $35 www.twinwatersgolfclub.com.au Peregian Springs Golf Club A challenging 18 hole private golf course complete with practice facilities. Open to members and their guests. www.peregianspringsgolfclub.com.au Mount Coolum Golf Club Is a relatively flat course nestled at the foot of Sunshine Coast landmark Mount Coolum. Green fees 18 holes adults $44, juniors $15. www.mtcoolumgolf.com Hyatt Regency Coolum Golf Club Each year some of the world’s best golfers descend on the Hyatt Regency Coolum, recognised as one of the best courses in Queensland, for the Australian PGA Championship. Green fees 18 holes - $110 public, $83 juniors. www.coolum.regency.hyatt.com These are only a handful of suggestions... With so many things to do, make sure to pop over to the tourist information booth at Tickle Park in Coolum for plenty more ideas or go to www.visitsunshinecoast.com.au.
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EVENTS PEREGIAN ORIGINALS - Every 1st and 3rd Sunday, free entry. This is a popular laidback affair, featuring great musicians. Held in the park located between the Peregian Surf Club and the beach.
Some things just shouldn’t get wet.
waspbags.com.au
EAT & SHOP Small shopping precincts are located next to the beach at Mudjimba, Marcoola and Peregian. Funky little eateries and shops are waiting to be found when exploring these areas.
t food
Buy online or ask your friendly surf shop...
GOLDEN DAYS FESTIVAL, COOLUM - November The festival has run for 3 years now at the Coolum Sports Grounds. This music and surfing festival has grown significantly and headliners have included Aussie legends The Cruel Sea and Xavier Rudd. www.goldendaysfestival.com
bes Bulli - best coffee,
WASP Bags are completely water and sand proof. Noticed how if yyou get the tiniest bit of sand or water in your phone, iPod o or camera they are never quite o tthe same again? Thanks to their unique seal, WASP Bags ensure u tthat the things that should stay dry, stay dry. d
A TASTE OF COOLUM - June The event has grown enormously over the past 10 years. A wine and food lover’s happy place held at the Hyatt Regency Coolum.
We’re incredibly biased, but would rate Bulli Café in Marcoola as one of the best places to grab a coffee or pizza on the Sunshine Coast and would rate Wally’s Water Gallery as one of our five favourite shops in the country - they have a very select, but amazing range of boards, unbelievably classy, yet affordable coastal homewares and some great surf prints and photos. Not your typical surf shop but a nice break from the ho hum of the big four brands. Coolum is the central business hub of the region. Even with recent re-development of many of the shops, it has managed to maintain its coastal village feel due to its proximity to the beach and casual outside coffee and eating opportunities. A local’s choice for a bite or coffee is the Caf Coolum. Superb Merlo coffee is professionally prepared by trained baristas, and as coffee freaks like myself would attest, that is so important. Further north the friendliness continues. It’s funny, often the smaller the operation the more personal the service. I guess you could call it the ‘old way’ of doing things - when people took the time to greet you and understand what you were after before trying to sell you something. Evert Harder’s Surf Shop is just that, a good old down-toearth surf shop. Ryan O’Rourke’s Shanghai Sally’s Tea and Furniture Emporium just around the corner is one of our favourite coffee and refueling stations when we are travelling up and down the coast, plus they have some great gift ideas for the wives when we have been absent with work for way too long...
GETTING THERE! By car central Sunshine Coast is just over an hour north of Brisbane straight up the Pacific Highway.
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You can fly directly into Sunshine Coast Airport, which is located in Marcoola. Jetstar and Virgin flights have flights available to the Sunshine Coast from Sydney, Melbourne, Hobart and Adelaide. The area is also accessible from Brisbane airport via shuttle-bus. If you do fly into the Sunshine Coast and are after a set of wheels, Sunshine Coast Hire Car Rentals have small, medium or large family cars and guarantee the best possible price without the extra hidden costs. It pays to shop around and these guys won’t be beaten for the best price. www.carhiresunshinecoast.com.au
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Peter White, in the white.
BOARDS • SKATE • TESTS • REVIEWS • FASHION
ck giving the board a Mini-Sim test pilot Tim Smo th West Vic. Sou , ong raw Nar in run down
THE SHAPER’S
DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO BE A SURFBOARD DESIGNER?
APPRENTICE ! S R E D N E T HE CON T
Last edition we put the call out to you would-be shapers: Show us an idea for a surfboard. The favourite design - as chosen by the folks at Classic Malibu in Noosa, QLD - will see the designer working alongside master shaper Peter White (left), hands-on involved in the production of their own board and learning some of the skills it takes to become a fullyrounded surfboard shaper. And the ideas came in! Some neat and tidy, some crazy and out there. Here are the top contenders in the running to become The Shaper’s Apprentice!
Our first contender is from Warrnambool on the the Shipwreck Coast of Victoria. James Osborne is keen to translate the features and ideas of his experiments with timber boards into a foam shape.
#1: MINI-SIM
BY JAMES OSBORNE, WARRNAMBOOL, VIC “I’m a hobby board builder and mad keen surfer. I’d love to pick up some more skills, knowledge, and experience in shaping boards! I’d also love to work with a master craftsman to make some of my dreamt-up, concept boards a reality!
With a fair bit of thought, testing and a timber prototype, could the Mini-Sim go the distance? James thinks so...
“Up until now I’ve mainly worked with timber making a few hollow boards “I love the shape of my most recent one, and I’d like to build another similar with some refinements - pull the tail in a little and switch from the big single concave through the tail to an angular double concave. I’d ideally like to shape it with a foam core and put a thin paulownia laminate over the top with either a really light glass job or just varnished... “This board is a blast to ride in small to medium surf, but the weight and wider tail makes top turns a bit challenging.”
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THE SHAPER’S
DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO BE A SURFBOARD DESIGNER?
APPRENTICE ! S R E D N E T N CO
The Archer boys show off their plans and a previous creation, the swallowtailed mal known as the Banana
THE
What happens when dad sits down with his two teenage boys to come up with an idea for a surfboard? The Squid makes an entrance, it seems.
#2: THE SQUID
BY THE ARCHERS, BUDERIM, QLD “Shaped like a water creature should, The Squid has everything you need to carve up the ocean. We have designed our board to suit large and small squidilidinks and you will notice the four concave squid pockets (channels) that will help pull the squid into sucky waves that are often found on the east coast. When it comes to thickness - think ‘one surf of calamari please’. “The nose is chocka block full of ink ready to squirt you onto any size set. “A balanced engine room sees four fins, one central box set up to allow for all sizes and two either side that will give support for cut backs and bottom turns. “All sea creatures deserve to be noticed and The Squid is no different. She needs to have squidlike resin tints (polished) that show off her ink spots and purple persona. No squid-rider will be able to resist this truly unique and impressive quiver pal. You can ride, slide and glide on this sucker - yeah that’s right, Get Your Squid On, people.” Deep fry it and serve it with chips, could THE SQUID hit the (ink) spot?
Team Squid - Gus, Ned & Sambo. 106
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GEAR: NEW WAVE
Borrowing ideas for the snow and applying them to the surf, Mitch Longley has come up with a unique, finless design.
#3: G ROOMER
MITCH LONGLEY, COTTON TREE, QLD “My design idea for this board, the ‘Groomer’, came about after not picking up a surfboard for almost a year. During my recent time overseas, snowboarding filled the void left by being out of the water. A lack of fresh snow left me riding the tame machine groomed runs (aka ‘groomers’) and I adapted my style to spice up my riding with spins, nose to tail balancing and riding switch. I wanted to take this style back to surfing and design something fresh, fun and progressive. “My tunnel channel bottom and rail design is inspired by vintage timber hydroplane speed boats in the hope of making a fast, finless and versatile surfboard. The top plan shape is inspired by a snowboard to achieve a fully reversible and symmetrical board in length and width. The use of three stringers is primarily for strength and also to support the tunnel channel through the core of the board. “Surfing, to me, is all about fun. As the Groomer could be a ridden in many different conditions and is a very different concept to most boards on the market, I believe it could bring a whole new level of fun to surfing.”
ABOVE: THE GROOMER: A snowboard for the surf with some serious bottom action for control LEFT: Mitch, gooming.
Troy hard at work
Troy Williams has considered every technical aspect, right down to the most detailed measurements of his four-finned creation.
#4: S MALLFRY QUAD HYBRID TR0Y WILLIAMS, BAYSWATER, VIC
“The Smallfry, has volume for float and width for stability, yet is still short and loose enough for those older guys who still want to carve. The volume of the board is kept across the deck from rail to rail stepping down. Volume is also kept full at widest point for chest float and increased paddling and planing performance. “Features include a slightly rounded nose to give extra volume for paddling, planing and wave catching, yet pointed enough to assist in duck diving and punching through the lip. “The wide point is forward of centre for volume under chest and stability, as well as front foot control. The width then tapers to loosen up the back end of the board. “A single flyer swallow tail, the flyers positioned at rear foot sweet spot to promote control, drive and to assist in turning while the swallow tail adds width
and rail length for stability and hold, and assist in quick release for directional changes/turns. “The deck is flat to slightly domed, designed flat for stability of feet with a slight dome to assist rail to rail transitions, as does the single to double bottom concave. “With a low entry rocker, flat through mid section to a slight exit rocker, it’s designed to aid wave catching and help crossing white wash to make wave sections. “The board holds volume across deck and steps down over the last 100mm to a tucked under high performance type rail squaring up to a edge through tail section. Lower rails will allow the board to be buried into wave face easier and tail edge will add bite to assist in turning. “As for fins, I’ve chosen a quad fin setup for rear foot stability and drive.“ mar/apr 2012
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THE SHAPER’S
APPRENTICE ! S R E D N E T N CO THE
An entry came in from an interesting gentleman named Pahl Dixon. Pahl, who has grown up in and around the water thanks to being born into a surfing family, was looking for an all-rounder and thought “Hey, why not design one yourself?”
#5: ALL PURPOSE MAL
PAHL DIXON, SOMEWHERE ON A BEACH IN AUSTRALIA “This is my plan for an all-purpose mal that will satisfy beginners to experts (and me). I’m keen as!”
It seems it’s not just the Aussies that are keen to up their skills alongside Peter... All the way from New Zealand, Jelle Nijdam sent us a design for a board to take on those little days
#6: SMALL WAVE SPEED FREAK JELLE NIJDAM, WELLINGTON - NEW ZEALAND
“The design of the Speed Freak board has aspects of a boat’s planning hull. At university I did a lot of testing of boat hulls in flow tanks which gave the inspiration to designing a surfboard with similar characteristics. “The idea was to have a surfboard that gets onto the plane quickly, maintains speed and turns with ease. The centre of the board lies deeper in the water than the rails enabling rail to rail transitions. At least 3/4 of the board’s has a flat rocker profile and Mini Simmons-inspired rail outline. “The complete outline of the design incorporates Mini Simmons and fish aspects.”
ABOVE: The all purpose Mal. RIGHT: Pahl with surfboards, surfmats and transport... What more do you need?
ABOVE: If there are any doubts that the double concave/hull design works, here it is in action... The board in the picture is a fish shape 5’10 x 22 ½”. 108
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Peter White at Noosa Photo supplied by Classic Malibu
PETER’S POINT OF VIEW
WE ASK CLASSIC MALIBU’S PETER WHITE FOR HIS TAKE ON TODAY’S SURFBOARD MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY
Q:
So many aspects of the production process are outsourced from machines shaping the raw blank, to outside contract glassers, sanders and polishers finishing the surfboard. How important is it to understand how to craft a surfboard from start to finish and be intimately involved in the whole process?
A:
To hand-shape from the raw blank creates a better understanding of the board. It allows the shaper, using his shaping experience and wave knowledge, to create new designs and new models. If you look at guys who have made boards for decades, you will most likely see a creative personality... That goes for those guys who glass, sand, spray and polish boards as well as the shapers. It is a shame that some of today’s shapers have lost the art of developing a surfboard from scratch. With the advent of computer shaping machines, literally anyone can use real shaper’s designs and put their own labels on boards. In fact there seems to be a trend, whereby, board labels are created
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without the actual namesake having any real knowledge of shaping or glassing boards... Both are outsourced with shaping machines and contract glassers finishing them off. I am not totally against shapers using shaping machines to create consistent accuracy in their own shapes, or to meet production quotas. At Classic Malibu the majority of our work is in-house with custom hand-shapes, together with the use of computer cutting of our standard shapes for accuracy and to meet demand. We do, however, like our workers to understand all aspects of production and take pride in their contribution. It seems that not many today have the time or inclination to learn
“LOOK AT THE EXPERIENCE OF THE PERSON SHAPING THE BOARD, THEIR FINISHING TECHNIQUES, AND THE CARE THAT GOES INTO MAKING THAT PIECE OF EQUIPMENT” all aspects of production, from board design, shaping, glassing, sanding and polishing techniques. It’s now all about the marketing of the product. A lot of “shapers” nowadays are better at “blogging” and “facebooking” than they will ever be at making a surfboard.
the enjoyment you pay for. My advice? Always question WHO is behind the surfboard you are riding and is there is real soul put into its production.
To create REAL quality in a surfboard you have to look at the experience of the person shaping the board, their finishing techniques, and the care that goes into making that piece of equipment which should give you
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Cowboys (�) an Indian OK GUNSLINGERS, ROUND UP YOUR POSSE, THE INDIAN’S A ‘COMING. BLACK APACHE IS ON HIS WAY. WORDS: DAVE SWAN
Well no prizes for guessing who the Indian is... None other than Jesse Watson from Black Apache Surfboards. As for the cowboys, I guess that would be Mark and I. Mark always had a penchant for leather chaps. Anyhow... Our association with Jesse dates back to the time we started smorgasboarder and is one that has become a great friendship in a short space of time. Whenever we speak, exchange an email or catch up in person, there are always plenty of jibes, good banter and fun to be had. The reason is pretty simple: he is a top bloke and a funny b*stard as well. But, best of all, he lets his boards do the talking. His boards are super cool, but Jesse himself doesn’t put it on. You won’t find him donning a sailor cap or a pencil moustache. I guess some guys try to be cool and some guys just are. He is the chieftain of old school shapes with a modern day twist on performance. His boards just have a certain class that sets them apart from so many others. Beautiful resin tints, pigments, glassed-on fins, gloss polishes or even lightweight high performance craft, if that’s what you’re after. Quite simply, this kemosabe is the goods.
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GEAR: SHAPERS mar/apr 2012
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(�)
showdown
at dawn
We hook up with Jesse at 7am for a cup of coffee and a chat. First thing he orders is a banana smoothie. Turns out he doesn’t drink coffee. ‘Never mind’, I say. ‘Next time we can catch up for a beer.’ “I don’t drink anymore. Too many ‘Frank the Tank’ moments”, he says. Within the first minute, I’m starting to question our friendship. I mean, if you can’t share your vices with your mates, well then, what the hell is the world coming to? It’s there and then the cheap shots at one another start, but Mr Watson is on form and volleys back every wisecrack. So I decide to just get on with the interview and start by putting him right on the spot.
Why do you have such a following when you don’t try to be cool? Your boards are revered and yet you’re so laid back and down-to-earth, even if you don’t drink beer or coffee. I don’t think you can take yourself too seriously. I love taking the piss. Any chance I get, you know. I have models like Anchors are for W#nkers and a new shortboard called The Jiblets with Burt Reynolds in the nude and he is laying on a woolskin rug. I like to poke fun at people. At this point I have to turn your attention to the description of Jesse’s single fins on his website. I was in tears reading it. This is how it goes:
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Most times when I think of a single fin, I think of Jerry Lopez at Pipeline and it’s fast, but that is because of the wave. Other than that I just think of those really slow, bogged down, mono speed boards that don’t work. I wanted a single fin that was as fast as twinnies or as fast as a shortboard, but that you could ride in any conditions. The trick was, I wanted to build a single fin where there was no temptation whatsoever to put side fins on it. I wanted a real simple, bread-andbutter board - a single fin, working man’s board. I think we nailed it.
“Single fin surfboards, daggers, midlengths, kook killers, w#nkers anchors... whatever you’re chasing, they all have one thing in common... single fin style. There’s no faking single fin style. This is the board you have if you can only have one board in your quiver, the board you can ride whether it’s 2 foot or 10 foot, point breaks to beach breaks. There’s no mistaking the cerebral bliss of a smooth top to bottom run on a good single fin. Terrifying, horrifying, balls-to-thewall fun. They’ll flash you a smile and then punch you in the face. A true Jekyll & Hyde. We endorse all versions of the single fin form and this is the space those misfits call home. If you haven’t got a midlength in your quiver you need to ask yourself: “Why?”
What length do you recommend?
It’s absolute gold and prompts me to ask Jesse, ‘Aren’t you afraid of upsetting someone?’
It’s also funny as it started out as a bit of a tangent. I just wanted to ride a dagger, something to go between my 6’10” hull and my 9’6” log. The thing is, there is nothing in between. Everything I sort of looked at were mini-mals and I hate mini mals. They are like the Hyundai Excel of boards. It’s ok for everyone but not perfect for anyone.
I don’t say burn bridges, I say nuke ‘em. Nuke ‘em so bad no one will know it’s a bridge anyway.
“People need to remember to have fun. Surfing is all about fun.”
So back to single fins, they seem to be going through a massive resurgence in popularity?
I posted a thing on Facebook the other night. It was an emergency moustache kit for the corporate high flyer that rolls into Cooly late and didn’t know he needed a moustache to fit in. I take the piss out of myself as well. Surfing has become way too serious. People need to remember to have fun. Surfing is all about fun.
At the moment, I am riding a 7’8”. I’m 6’1” and am about 96 kg on a good day. After last night’s dinner I would be 98kg. I also have a 7’10” and was riding a 7’2”. It just depends on the application. The 7’8” is tinted, so it’s a heavier board as well. It just depends on the drive and the size of board you want. I find I like the bigger ones a bit better. At the moment I haven’t got a longboard in my quiver, believe it or not, because I have been riding the 7’8”. I can still ride 2ft on it, but you can also get barreled. I can do wraparound cutbacks because of the flex fin. It works so good.
Any guy that comes into the shop and says I want a mini-mal, I say ‘No you don’t. You want a mini-mal like you want a punch in the face with the lights off.’ My Anchors model has become my biggest selling board.
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GEAR: SHAPERS When it comes to Mini Simmons logs and retro shapes with modern takes, Jesse is one of the top dogs, without a shadow of a doubt. mar/apr 2012
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Rock ‘n Roll... One of the new range of Black Apache shortboards
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So, single fins are the go... But what else has taken your interest recently? I am right back into my fish of late but really, I love bringing back those old concepts and applying modern design principles to them – altering the rail shapes, the rocker. I think that is where it is at. It’s kind of like the old phone numbers that were 6 digits long. You go and add two numbers to the front of them and you have a whole new set of numbers to play with. It’s the same sort of thing. It’s taking the concepts of the past, such as the fish, and adding a modern twist. But there will always be some who take it too far, like wearing canvas shoes and beaver tails. For me, it’s the ‘Frankenstein theory’ that makes me shape. I can’t leave things alone. I’m always striving to make something better. I always considered you ‘Mr Mini Simmons’. I think you were one of the first guys we saw doing Mini Simmons and you certainly got me hooked. (laughs) Oh, that’s a horrid label. If I ever meet Bob Simmons I am going to kick him in the nuts. Nah seriously, the guy is a legend. I go through phases with all my boards. I’ll change my quiver, sometimes within a month. At the moment I have one single fin and twelve shortboard thrusters. Next week I am doing a whole bunch of fishes and Simmons. I have actually gone back to riding my fishes at the moment over my Simmons. But then as soon as I get back on a Simmons, I can’t believe how fast that thing goes – every time! I have shaped so many for my mates, I end up grabbing theirs. It’s one of those things that I made for years before I even knew they were in Australia. I got into Simmons when I was working at Classic Malibu quite a few years back. It was one that was a little different to the one I do now. It was a bit more shortboardish. It had the fins further up and it was a little more progressive, even then.
I met some French guys that came through the factory and it was good to see that I wasn’t the only one riding one. Every single place that I went there after, and I could rattle off a list of well known shapers, said it was a dog. I would get it glassed and guys would laugh at them. It didn’t bother me because I am just going to ride what I want to ride. Doesn’t matter if I want to ride a piece of foam with no fin, that is what I wanna do. The funny thing is, all those guys that laughed, they all do a Mini Simmons now. Every single one of them. I never thought I would hear you say you’re riding a shortboard thruster. I hadn’t ridden a thruster for maybe four years and in the last year I have ridden a thruster non-stop. It’s always in my quiver and any chance I get, I pull it out. I know I am never going to be a pro surfer though, but this year especially, I feel like my best surfing is still coming. I am going a bit more vertical. I’m putting more time into my surfing, which is weird as I haven’t always had the time to do that with shaping. I tend to put more time into other people’s boards and your own surfing usually suffers because of it. But yeah, I am riding shortboards again because I am shaping so many at the moment. I would not have normally gone back to shortboard thrusters but I have had so many guys hassling me for them I started doing them again and have really enjoyed it. Anything in particular design wise you are focusing on with your shortboards? Traditional outlines and taking those favourites like an 80’s thruster and bringing it up to speed whilst keeping the volume in there. As far as shortboards go, I like the stuff that Matt Biolas does with Lost. He really thinks outside the box but with solid design principles behind it. Really pronounced hips or crazy tails. He especially pushes his fins right up to 3 ¾. Most guys
perhaps wouldn’t realise how radical that it is, but in Australia if you go to 3 ½” it’s kind of crazy to have a back fin so far up. What happens is, the tighter your fins are, the looser and twitchier your board is. Matt designs his boards for Trestles (in California), which is quite a slow wave. The Lost Rocket will be one of the most copied boards at some point. Hell, I did a version myself but I changed it to suit our conditions: Changed the tail outline a little bit, moved the fins and that’s what you do.
certain ideas from other shapers. There is so much paranoia in surfing in relation to whose ideas are whose. I’ve got no time for it. My whole philosophy is to have fun. Poke fun at the serious people and don’t be the way they are. If someone else makes the same board as me, I don’t care. I’ll tell them everything I know, it doesn’t mean they are going to be able to do it. I will help other shapers, aspiring shapers, as much as I can. I mean, when I was learning to shape, Richard Harvey (renowned Gold Coast shaper) gave me all
“...no you don’t. You want a mini-mal like you want a punch in the face with the lights off.“ Anytime I pick up a board as a shaper I will think, I love this but I would do this. I can’t avoid doing that. I think that is where the shaping side of things comes into it - not knowing when to leave things alone.
these shaping tips and I said, ‘Richard you are giving me all your secrets.’ And Richard goes, ‘It doesn’t matter, I’ll tell you whatever you want. It doesn’t mean you’re going to be able to do it. I’ve been doing this for how many years?’
Don’t you pick up any sensitivities in relation to adapting or putting your own interpretation on existing shapes?
With technology and the way things are, I make half a dozen boards before my fin templates are on Swaylocks (an online surfboard design forum). It’s like, ‘Who is this Black Apache guy?’ And the next thing they have my fin templates on there. You can’t fight that. There’s no point in trying. That river is running fast, so you may as well jump in and see where it takes you.
Good shapers ride plenty of different boards and from that you get ideas and inspiration. That is how shaping progresses and always has. Every shaper gleans
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ABOVE: Talk himself down as he may, Jesse is no slouch in the water. BELOW: Dave’s inspiration for the Stumpy Duck
“I know I am never going to be a pro surfer though, but this year especially, I feel like my best surfing is still coming.”
So on that note, do you want to come clean and admit you ripped off The Duck? Even my daughter saw these photos and commented that someone had obviously copied my surfboard. (Just to put you in the picture, there’s a running joke with Jesse that he copied the mighty green Mini Simmons I shaped about a year back called The Stumpy Duck. Truth be told, I was trawling his website for ideas.) Pfff! kids... What do they know?... She probably thinks you’re a master craftsman and you shred every time you go out... If you don’t want to lose your daughter’s respect you best tell her the truth now before she hears it from someone else. (Tough talker. I bet he can’t replicate the accidental asymmetrical design I put into it - by that I mean my board is unfortunately lopsided.)
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Speaking of crap boards, what do you make of the cheap stuff? I think there’s room for everyone in the surf industry. I think cheap boards get people into surfing that wouldn’t get into it otherwise. At the same time, quality surfboards are way too cheap for what they are. So many people I know in the surf industry work two jobs. It is a labour of love. Personally, I set a price for my boards based on what goes into them. I have always stuck to my guns on that. The irony is, I got into shaping because I couldn’t afford to buy all the boards that I wanted. So I figured, I will just learn how to make them. $100K later, I am still poor and I haven’t got the boards I want. But it has been a fun journey from my early days as a firey.
And finally, we have to ask, a native American tribal name for your surfboard label? How exactly did you come up with that name, Two Dogs? I just picked a couple of words I liked and picked something catchy. I was trying to think of something that inferred being the black sheep – the apache that wore the dark skin. So if you were a ‘black apache’ you would be the odd one out in the tribe... Same sort of thing. That’s me.
For more on Jesse’s boards, take a look at the Black Apache website at www.blackapachesurfboards.com.au To see the boards in the flesh, or to discuss getting a board for yourself, drop Jesse a line on 0410 419 791
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This little Indian, well he’s actually a big unit, has learnt from some of the best guns in the West... The likes of Richard Harvey, Peter White from Classic Malibu, Bristol-born, old school shaping artisan Neil Randall of If 6 was 9 Surfboards and Peter Dron of Tunnel Vision Glassing. All are legends of their craft and have instilled the best in Jesse in terms of his attention to detail, meticulous craftsmanship, creative flair and overall willingness to experiment and push the boundaries of design. It’s the reason why he is wanted in six states of Australia and considered an outlaw by many of the shapers he has left in his wake....
� BLACK APACHE QUIVER Midlengths/ anchors/ singles
You’ve read it all before. If you crave that smooth top to bottom run and are after some single fin style, this is the number one board for your quiver whether it is small or overhead. Available from 6’10 – 8’10” in a variety of templates and foils.
mini Simmons
Jesse’s largely the man who brought it back so he’s been at it and refining it for around 5 years now. If you have the need for speed and the unmistakable skatey feel, this is the fastest thing you will feel under your feet – period. Good things come in small packages – 4’5” to 5’8”.
stubbies/ hulls
From 5’4” stubbies to the mac daddy displacement hull, point waves will take on a whole new meaning to you. Forward trim and flex fins will get your groove on.
bonzer
logs/ pigs
This is where size does matter. So whether you are after a traditional longboard with modern refinements or just want to squeal like a pig, these boards have some serious single fin groove.
That’s right, they are. Speed to burn and all the curves. A neverending tangent of concaves and fins. These boards will give you the squirts and have you rambling about the Venturi principle.
Wanted
• FOR FORCING SURFERS TO THINK FOR THEMSELVES AND NOT JUST FOLLOW THE PACK
hybrid/ performance
This is the space those freaks call home if you’re after a completely new design or one off. Remember conformity is for the boring. Think of everything from specialised widow-maker Indo barrell chasers to crazy diamond tail fishes with double flyers.
fish
Here fishy, fishy. Unless you have been on the farm in the heart of Amish country for the last five years, then you know this board has changed it all and Jesse catches them nice and fresh. From triple stringer keel fins to modern variations, 5’0” to 8’0”. At their freshest at 5’8”.
• OFFERING UP SO MUCH VARIETY IT’S IMPOSSIBLE TO RIDE JUST ONE BOARD • MAKING INSANELY BEAUTIFUL BOARDS THAT MAKE YOU DRIBBLE UNCONTROLLABLY • FINISHING BOARDS TO SUCH A LEVEL OF PERFECTION YOU WILL QUESTION BEING WORTHY TO RIDE THEM
wooden surfboards For all the naturists in the hood or those after the lively feel of wood. Get one of these under your feet for an all together new sensation. Solid balsa, Paulownia or modern hollow construction will have you shouting, ‘Shiver me timbers.’
• CRAFTING BOARDS THAT HAVE YOU GOING SO FAST YOU’LL KID YOURSELF YOU’RE READY FOR A WATER SPEED RECORD • SEDUCING AND ENTRAPPING SPONSORED RIDERS OF OTHER SHAPERS TO FORK OUT THEIR OWN CASH TO RIDE HIS • CREATING SUCH HIGH-END PIECES OF FUNCTIONAL ART YOU ARE TORN BETWEEN HANGING THEM ON A WALL OR RIDING THEM
thrusters
Yeah, you read it. But Jesse’s spin on these is far from stock standard. If you remember having a mullet back in the 80s you will love these babies with their modern twist, weird inlays and funny model names to boot.
alaias/ bodyboards It’s all about glide, bite, slide and release. These little numbers are surprisingly sophisticated and the subtleties of design go far beyond them being just a bit of driftwood. Sliders for those who like to do it standing up or lying down.
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GEAR: SHAPING UP
“ Completely burnt out on the industry that spawned him, Andy took a job working restoring old ships in the docks in Melbourne and fully immersed himself in the metropolitan lifestyle, a world away from the ocean.�
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PRODIGAL SON
Rekindling a former friendship is a lifechanging happening that only a fortunate few get to fully experience. A chance meeting in the surf between shaper Jordie Brown and his old mate Andy Warhurst got them talking about Andy’s return to surfing and a rekindling of another friendship - a blank and a trusty planer.
WORDS: JORIDE BROWN PHOTOS: SCOTT WINTLE
One brisk morning in early April I made my way down a corrugated gravel track to one of my old stomping grounds on the outskirts of torquay. It was one of those classic autumn mornings that never cease to remind me why I live in one of the coldest surfing locations in Australia. Although the air was still fresh the abundance of sunshine made it feel like a lukewarm summer’s day. As I drove, the tea trees on the road side were barely being disturbed by the gentle breeze blowing from the northwest towards the ocean. Filling the last place in the car park I took a moment to sit and watch what seemed to be your standard bundle of weekend warriors, battling it out to catch the clean 3ft runners peeling across the picture perfect patch of reef. Straight away one surfer stood out miles ahead of the pack, taking off deep behind the peek, swooping through a bottom turn then planting a hang ten all the way through to the rocky shore line. Intrigued by this unknown surfer’s display of timing, poise and grace I hit the water to get a closer look at who it was. To my surprise as I made my way into the line up the bearded young bloke turned, smiled and said “Hey Jordie, how’s things, bro?” it took a few seconds for the penny to drop but behind the mass of hair and piercings was my old surfing buddy and fellow South Coast factory grom Andy Warhurst. The last thing I’d heard of Andy was about five years back. He had given up surfing, sold his quiver and made the move two hours from the surf to the guts of the city in Melbourne. But here he was surfing better than ever. After reconnecting on that morning, over the next month, Andy made his way down the coast to hang at my place, help out around the factory and share some waves like we had done so many times before throughout ‘grommethood’. It was a great experience watching one of the most naturally gifted longboarders to ever come out of Victoria rediscover his love for surfing and the ocean and refreshing to hear his unique perspective on returning to the world he walked away from. From an early age Andy was nothing short of a prodigy. The pint sized curly haired grom was the talk of the Victorian competition scene at the tender age of 14. With his impeccable natural sense of timing, a swag load of polished stylish moves straight out of the 60s he showed a fearless approach to charging big waves and barrels. In the midst of the progressive long boarding push in the mid 90s Andy won three junior state titles and about every comp in-between with ease, although there was always pressure to conform and ride lighter performance based boards, Andy set his own line and never compromised his own
unique style of surfing and the old school boards he chose to ride. It always amazed me how Andy learnt to surf with such poise and grace growing up on the heavily short board orientated east coast of Victoria. He would surf a big day out at Gunnamatta, without a leg rope and with a pack of snarling heavy short board locals heaving long board abuse and still make it look like it was as playful as a 3ft peeler. No wonder the kid’s got a bit of attitude. Aside from the library of old surf flicks he studied day in and day out the biggest influence on Andy’s surfing was his old man. It was nothing for the Warhurst boys to load up the old family 4WD, clock some hour behind the wheel, and surf all weekend living off baked beans and rice cream. Mark is a well-respected stylist and tube rider in his own right and in Andy’s younger days they shared the special father-son relationship that a handful of surfers are fortunate enough to experience. A talent like Andy was never going to go unnoticed and as a young lad he had a string of smaller sponsors knocking at his door but it wasn’t till he hooked up with Torquay surfboard manufacturer Ian Chisholm that his surfing was to come in to its own. Andy then made the move to the west coast of Victoria to be schooled in the fine art of making handmade traditional surfboards at South Coast Longboards, undertaking in a four year apprenticeship, receiving his qualification as a boat builder and shipwright while living in a small, onebedroom unit only blocks away from the surf. During his time at South Coast Andy really started to specialise with his surfing, riding and working on heavier traditional single fin designs with Ian and testing them on the small nose riding friendly points and reefs, surrounding his new home. Throughout Andy’s years he slowly lost the desire to compete despite his surfing maturing far beyond his years. Like a lot of young prodigies, Andy always seemed to have restlessness deep inside him and as his apprenticeship drew to an end, he started surfing less and less, till he finished up with South Coast, sold his boards and moved away to the city. Completely burnt out on the industry that spawned him Andy took a job working restoring old ships in the docks in Melbourne and fully immersed himself in the metropolitan lifestyle a world away from the ocean. The work in the docks paid well but Andy earned every cent he made working with chemicals, dust and fumes that are sure to end your life far before it’s due. After two long years his hectic lifestyle of partying and adverse health problems that come with working with the unpredictable materials were taking their toll. Making the decision to start again Andy made his way north to Queensland for a fresh start. On the Gold Coast he mar/apr 2012
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wound up working for Dale Chapman as a full time production glasser and sander. Back living close to the ocean Andy was still yet to reconnect with his love for logging only hitting the water a couple of times a week riding borrowed wafer thin thrusters that didn’t suit his style of surfing. One day while having a feed in the main drag of Coolangatta, Andy met a young surfer from Brazil, who would be a main player in getting him back in to the water. The two got chatting when Gary skated up to Andy out of the blue and sat down for a yarn. Flying into the country that morning he was looking for some crew to surf with and the like-minded wild men hit it off. With the lure of a change of scenery and the taste of a fresh adventure the two loaded up their vans and made their way down the east coast of Australia back to Andy’s home on the east coast of Victoria. In search of work and waves the two manic youths made their way across Port Phillip Bay to try their luck around Torquay, but arriving in the height of the back packer season it wasn’t as easy to make a quid as they first thought. Andy went back to work for his old mentor Ian Chisholm working on a handful of choice boards and Gary picked up a couple of days washing dishes in the local to earn enough for food and a little bit of fuel to do the odd run down the coast chasing waves. The boys were living off the sniff of an oily rag out of the back of their vans surfing their days away and spending their nights sitting round a camp fire indulging in the cheapest wine you can buy. What a life! Over a few cold beverages when discussing the changes in long boarding since he had stepped away from the whole scene Andy constantly commented how accepted
At home in the water, at home in the shaping bay, Andy’s back doing what he does best - making boards. PHOTO: Scott Wintle
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who learned how to craft boards the old fashioned way from start to finish. At the moment Andy is working for other people and making boards for mates but would always love to set up his own factory making boards some time down the track. His design focus is very much centered around experimenting with craft for his own use. “I’m not really making boards for too many people. I’m just seeing where I want to go with my surfing and try to make boards that get me there. “For the last few years I’m been making pretty big longboards but I’ve been scaling it down, from around 9’10 to about 8’11, with a lot narrower noses and wider tails. A lot more tail rocker. I’ve been flipping the blanks for more tail rocker to get more out of turns and being able to position yourself quicker on a wave.” “The inspiration for me at the moment is the transitional period, where people started cutting off a couple of feet off their boards... Wide tails, pulled-in noses, the whole v-bottom thing. It’s not really my style of surfing, but the ideas behind those sorts of boards is where I’m at.” “I’m also working on no-noses, which are working really well. How I see it is that having a wide nose is like having two big ears on the front of your board that can catch water at any time.When you’ve got no nose it’s a lot slicker and doesn’t catch water when turning.” Andy has always had his own unique style in and out of the water and it would be great to see him put that personality in to some quality boards under his own name. For now though Andy’s future is a bit of a mystery, he plans to take off on a long journey, hopefully over a number of years with good mate Gary
“ Wide tails, pulled-in noses, the whole v-bottom thing. It’s not really my style of surfing, but the ideas behind those sorts of boards is where I’m at.” surfing alternative surf craft has become in the water, especially the tradition style of logging, “it really blows my mind to see how many people are down the beach on logs and other retro crafts these days, opposed to when I left when it was only a very small minority, locally anyway”. Although, you could never tell when watching him surf now, Andy said he definitely found it hard coming back to surfing after such a long time out of the water. ”At a time when I had very little money or boards and my wetties were all full of holes, I was fortunate to have the guidance of Ian Chisholm to work on new board designs.” It was refreshing hearing another likeminded young boardmaker’s point of view on surfboards and the traditional style of construction that we were both schooled in. Andy talked extensively on how blessed he feels to be one of the last of generation
starting in Brazil hitch hiking and surfing all the way to Mexico but there’s no blueprints. As Andy put it, he just wants to go and live. The path ahead remains unwritten for Andy but one thing’s for certain no matter where he goes with his surfing he will always turn heads in the water. It was clear as day in a lot of the conversations I had with Andy that he has the itch to travel and for the charismatic talented young surfer the world is his oyster. With a cheeky smile, infectious laugh and knack to seek out an adventure, wherever he turns, the journey ahead is sure to lead him off the beaten track of the travelling surfer. While there’s still years of surfing, travel and experimention ahead for Andy, don’t forget the name - we’re sure there are some magic boards to come from his imagination.
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SHAPER’S PROMOTION
GEAR: BOARDS
POINTS NORTH
PLANKTON
DK HEAVY
STANDARD MAL
Shaper: Terry Glass
Shaper: Tom Wegener Dimensions: 9’4” x 23” X 2 ¾” - 9kg Ideal conditions: Small to medium clean waves. Suits: Anyone who wants to surf the traditional longboard style. Construction: Hollow construction paulownia sealed with linseed oil, gum turpentine and vinegar. The wood needs some care, but rewards are big for a little effort. It takes two weeks to make one and I send heaps of photos of the progress to keep the customer stoked. Fins: Box single fin or set wood single fin. Shaper comment: After 7 years of making alaias and planktons, I know that the oiled wood surface is substantially faster and smoother through the water than boards finished in fibreglass. You can feel the difference on the first wave. It’s a lot easier to get to the nose when the board gets to trim speed faster! Cost: $2,200 Custom orders through Tom Wegener 0401 257 479
Shaper: Scott Newman
Shaper: Bronte Bampton Specs: 9’1” x 22 ½” x 2 3/8”- 3” Suits: 1-6 ft average to quality surf Description: Standard mal for all level surfers. Single concave with slight doubles through fins. Medium entry with average tail lift med/low rails. Construction: PU blank, FGI resins, Aerolite cloth. Stock: 6 x 6 x 6 Fins: Fin box plus stabilisers – can be ordered in quad. Shaper comment: This is our most popular mal which suits absolutely everyone whether you are a beginner or experienced.
Dimensions: 9’4” x 23” x 3” Ideal: 1-6ft Ability: Beginner to advanced. Description: Classic mix of new and old school, user freindly, high performance, nose riding, Construction: PU, 6oz bottom, 6oz deck plus 4oz and deck patches. Fins: Single works best with 9” to 10.5” Shaper comment: 100% hand shaped using organic tints. Over 40 years of experience shaping and testing.
UNDERGROUND SURF 3/31 McLean St, Coolangatta, QLD 4225 Ph: 07 5599 1040 kirra@undergroundsurf.com.au
undergroundsurf.com.au
TOM WEGENER SURFBOARDS Ph: Tom 0401 257 479
tom@tomwegenersurfboards.com
tomwegenersurfboards.com
Dimensions: 9’4” x 23 ¼” x 3 1/8” Ideal conditions: Everyday. Suits: Dudes that want to go surfing. Description: ...... Construction: Half-inch white wood stringer with black glue lines, resin work by Dan MacDonald, double 6 oz deck and double 6 oz bottom. Fins: 10” Hatchet fin, But I love it with a big, fat D-fin. Shaper comment: 0424 314 183 - Call in the next 5 mins and I throw in a set of steak knives.
SLS SURFBOARDS 2/57 George St, Moffat Beach, QLD 4551 Ph: Scott 0424 314 183 slssurfboards.com.au
LIQUID STIX SURFBOARDS Moana, South Australia Ph: 0407 606 685 E: liquidstix@bigpond.com www.liquidstix.com.au Available @ MCS & Preece’s
THE STEPDECK (CUDDLES SPECIAL)
Shaper: T homas Bexon Specs: 9’3” x 23 1/8” x 2 ¾” Description: Stepdeck with concaves and contours in places you’d imagine and some you wouldn’t. The flex of no stringer gives you the ability to stay right in the sweet spot of the wave without having to backpedal. Deck concaves and bottom caves combine with roll to create something truly special and unique. Construction: Stringerless blank, 8oz Volan with hand screenprinted Volan deck and tail patches with overlayed Volan patches. Fins: Glassed on fin Shaper comment: Matt Cuddihy had a special request: “I wanna win the Noserider at the Festival this year. I wanna be able to perch on the nose all day long.” I reckon we’ve done a pretty good job. For a good look at the board and all it has going on, or to see Duddles put it through its paces, get to the Noosa Festival of Surfing.
THOMAS SURFBOARDS PO Box 239 Noosa Heads Qld 4567 Ph: 0412 131 491
thomas_bexon@hotmail.com
thomassurfboards.com
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CRAZY AL’S SINGLE FIN
Shaper: Jed Done Dimensions: 7’ x 21 ¾” x 2 7/8”
Ideal conditions: Any. Ability: Any. Suits: Keen senior surfer to a younger beginner. Description: A very easy to surf single fin. Reverse ‘V’ bottom, even foil and rocker with a clean outline and fuller rails. It’s all about the trim on this one. Construction: Dion PU blank. Resin pigment bottom, resin tint top and resin pinlines full gloss Fins: Greenough 8 ½” Shaper comment: Fun and easy to surf!
BUSHRAT SURFBOARDS Merimbula NSW Ph: 0409 813 431 E: jed@bushrat.com www.bushrat.com 124
CARBON FIBRE MINI MAL
STUARTS CUSTOM
6’8” MINI MAL
7’0” MINI MAL
Specs: 7’6” x 21 1/8” x 2 7/8” Ideal Conditions: 1-4ft Suits: Caters for all types and age surfers and handles well in most conditions. Description: Carbon Fibre Mini Mal made from recycled foam and environmentally friendly resin. Lightweight, super strong and durable. Polished mirror finish looks amazing. Construction: Carbon Fibre, Recycled EPS foam, Low V.O.C Epoxy resin Fins: Comes Carbon fibre/ bamboo FCS-compatible fins. Thruster setup. Pricing: $1250 (inc GST) Comes with FREE “ECO PACK” worth over $400 including: Hemp Boardbag, Carbon Fibre/ Bamboo Fins, Hemp Accessory Organiser, Recycled Leash, Bamboo Soy Ding Repair Kit, Organic Wax and Bamboo Wax Comb. Groovy Baby!
Shaper: Paul Carson Dimensions: 7’3” x 21 3/4 x 2 5/8 “ Suits: Anyone Description: Full nose performance board with concave running from under nose through to double concave vee in tail. Construction: Hand shaped. Black resin on nose with orange resin tint all over. Fins: Shapers “CW” single and two sides, but can be anything Shaper comment: Just another variation of so many different styles of boards that I am doing lately - everything works.
Shaper: D ean “Dino” Tziolis Specs: 6’8” x 21” x 2 3/8” Ideal: For beginners to advanced riders looking for heaps of fun. Description: The perfect combination of a longboard and a short board. This pintail will stick to the rail on those perfect tubes and point breaks. It has a lot of drive for those turns on the beach breaks. Construction: PU Core South Coast blanks, DMS glassing. Original art decal inlays, which can be customised to suit your own personal style or graphics. We have a tattoo artist working in the house 100% full time. He is keen to deliver the art you need for your board, even if you decide to go with your local shaper. Fins: Future or Fusion FCS Shaper comment: A quality brand with tried and tested experience, producing boards with or without graphics from three of the best Gold Coast shapers. We can deliver awesome art on boards shaped by Greg Webb, Craig Madison, DMS, or any shaper. We deliver the graphics WORLDWIDE.
Shaper: D ean “Dino” Tziolis Specs: 7’0” x 21” x 2 ½” Ideal: For beginners to advanced riders, looking for heaps of fun Description: The best board for fast and easy paddling. It has great stability with exceptional manoeuvrability. Will give you extreme floation and speed. Catch plenty of waves without getting tired. Get in the inside with plenty of time to take off. The Inkside 7’0” Mini Mal = fun and performance. Construction: PU Core South Coast blanks, top quality glassing. High quality art decal inlays. Fins: Future or Fusion FCS Shaper comment: With 25+ years of surfing experience around the globe, Inkside Surfboards are a quality brand with tried and tested experience, producing boards with or without graphics from three of the best Gold Coast shapers. We can deliver awesome art on boards shaped by Greg Webb, Craig Madison, DMS, or any shaper. We deliver the graphics WORLDWIDE.
INKSIDE SURFBOARDS Ph: 0431 455 928 info@tattoosurfnink.com www.tattoosurfnink.com
INKSIDE SURFBOARDS Ph: 0431 455 928 info@tattoosurfnink.com www.tattoosurfnink.com
ECOSURFER Torquay, VIC Ph: 0417 520 052 E: info@ecosurfer.net www.ecosurfer.net
THE FACTORY SURFBOARDS CALOUNDRA 17 Allen Street Caloundra QLD 4551 Ph: 07 5492 5838 factorysurf@southernfoam.com.au thefactorysurfboards.com.au
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Surf 1770 Surfboards
and surfing props for movies and ads
surf1770@bigpond.com
surf1770noosa.com
Long Live Geoff McCoy Thanks to McCoy, I have enjoyed 10 years of my own experimentation with the revolutionary Lazor Zap design. Welcome to my Zap world... Cat Zaps, Half Zaps, Jet Zaps, Channel Zaps... - Glenn Cat Collins -
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started “This board was d 18 with a friend an er months later, aft ojects many other pr her, e have gone befor the in I finally got it y.” ntl ce water re
THE SUBBIE
McBEAN
Shaper: Dave O’Reilly Specs: 6’3” x 19 ½” x 2 ½” Ideal for: Breaking waves. Suits: Anyone prepared to build their own board and then have the pleasure of riding it. Description: Wider, fatter and a bit longer than my standard woody short board (I usually ride a 5’10” x 17 ¾” x 2 ¼” but I’ll show you that next mag!). Paddles great, duck dives easily and catches way more waves than Larry’s Agent on his mal. (Who’s Larry? Watch this space). Construction: Hollow chambered 100% Australian grown and milled Paulownia. We have everything you need to make your own! Fins: 8” Paulownia single fin. Handmade from off-cuts. Shaper comment: I’m not going to build you one of these. I guarantee the satisfaction of riding your own creation will far outweigh the time and effort that’s gone into it. BUILD YOUR OWN!! Heaps of Year 12 students build these for projects, so you can too.
Shaper: Dave Verrall Soecs: 5’0” x 22” x 2 ¾” Ideal: Fun day under 5ft. Ability: Fat fun for everyone. Suits: Those who don’t take much in life seriously. Description: Developed from the well rounded designs of shaping legend Geoff McCoy. Geoff’s influence on modern short boards is widely forgotten, but very important to lead us to today’s modern performance boards. We are happy to acknowledge Geoff Mccoy and build on his work with our own spin and concepts. Designed with Quad speed and a strong double concave to maintain direction and control. Foam and foatation is not forgotten - generally around 3” thick and 10”shorter than your traditional style thruster. Construction: Good old PU foam and coloured resins. Retro stuff really. Fins: Fin Solutions Quad. Shaper comment: See above.
THE CAVEMAN
SMOKIN’BEAN
Shaper: Paul Woodbry
Shaper: James Ellis OSX - APS3000 Specs: 5’11” x 22 1/8” x 3 1/16” Ideal: 1-4 ft, all types of surf. Suits: At this width and thickness, guys and girls 90kg+. Custom available. Description: Flat, super fast and resembles a black jellybean. Tiny amount of reverse V. Sharp rounded tail, fishy nose, beautiful full rails for excellent hold. Construction: High-end. 200 GSM Cert. Japanese TORAY Twill Weave Carbon fibre, SCB PU foam, epoxy resin and acrylic epoxy gloss coats. Fins: Shapers plugs (5mm forward and back travel) with DVS (Dick Van Straalen) carbon fibre/composite fins from Shapers Shaper comment: Catches waves as easy as a mal. Turns like a shorty. Carbon construction gives this board a rocketing parabolic rail effect. A team effort between Distribution, D.D.S.A. CREATIVE, Pete from OES.
Dimensions: 5’10” x 20 ¼” x 2 5/8” Ideal: ½ - 2ft Suits: Those who want to tear a tiny wave apart Description: Board that works in wind blown slop to a nice clean little beachie. Construction: 4oz bottom, 4oz deck and full deck decal adding another 2oz worth of compression strength. Fins: 5-fin set up, so it can be changed up to suit what you want. Shaper comment: A great little board that turns the softest of waves into something fun.
Woody Surf Design boards exclusively available from:
DISTRIBUTION SURFBOARDS
SURFING GREEN Coolum Beach, QLD Mobile: 0412 042 811 surfinggreen.com.au
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DIVERSE SURFBOARDS 476 Gold Coast Hwy, Tugun, QLD 4224 Ph: 07 5598 4848 dave@diversesurf.com.au diversesurf.com.au
SURFWARE AUSTRALIA
2 Bulcock Street, Caloundra QLD 4551 Ph: 07 5491 3620 surfwareaustralia.com
Ph: 0410 175 552 PO BOX 633 Willunga SA 5172
james@ljdistribution.com.au
Available through interested surf stores
TRI FIN SWALLOW TAIL KNEEBOARD Shaper: D ave Parkes Specs: 5’8” x 22 ¾” x 2 ½” Ideal conditions: 1-4ft Suits: A lighter surf in waves that are not all that powerful Ability Level: Anyone, but a surfer who wants to throw it around - like Albert and Chayne - will get heaps out of it. Description: The shape is all modern with a single to double concave, refined rails and moderate rocker. Construction: I usually do these ones with a lighter glass job but the board pictured, has a classic resin and pigment bleed with cut laps and a full gloss/polish finish. Fins: Futures, FCS or Powerbase Shaper comment: A great summer performer.
CUSTOM KNEEBOARDS
PARKES AUSTRALIA 4/83 Centennial Circuit Byron Bay, NSW Ph: 02 6685 6627 E: d-par@bigpond.com parkesaustralia.com B Y R O N
B A Y
.
A U S T R A L I A
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SHAPER’S PROMOTION
GEAR: BOARDS
THE PHOENIX
MINI BULLET
WHIPPA
Shaper: Lee Cheyne Specs: 6’0” x 18 ½” x 2 5/16” Ideal: Good waves 3-6ft. Suits: Anyone looking to push their surfing to the next level. Description: ‘Pro model’. Medium nose entry for good paddle speed and accelerated tail rocker with deep single to double concaves. Construction: Burford ultra light blank, Silmar resin and Hexel S cloth. Fins: FCS Fusion, Future Shaper comment: Quality custom made surfboards factory direct. Made by a tradesman with minimum of 18 years experience. No ghost shapers, no dodgy materials, no cutting corners, no imports. Just quality, value for money surfboards.
Shaper: Wayne McKewen Specs: 5’9” x 19” x 2 3/8” Ideal: Anywhere from small beachies to medium point or reef waves. Suits: Surfers looking for better performance in a small wave board Description: These boards are stringerless to maximise flex. They have flatter rockers and a bit more volume as they need to be quite short to get the maximum benefit from the design. Most are vee bottoms and there are nine tail variations. Length is from 5’7” to 6’0”. Construction: PU Burford blank, 4 x 4oz decks and 4oz bottom. Fins: All have FCS 5-fin set ups to allow you to use as a thruster or a quad. Shaper comment: Added flex translates to a whippy feel and acceleration through turns. Customer and team feedback has been excellent.
Shaper: Terry “Snake” Bishop
LEE CHEYNE DESIGNS 19/48 Machinery Dr, Tweed Heads South NSW 2486 Ph: 07 5523 3237 lcdboards@gmail.com myspace.com/454626994 tradewindsurf.com.au ww.facebook.com/ w people/Lee-CheyneSurfboards/1620685674
MT WOODGEE SURFBOARDS Stores at Coolangatta, Currumbin, Burleigh Heads Ph: 07 5535 0288
www.mtwoodgee.com.au
HIP SQUASH
THE 5169
Shaper: Woody Jack
Shaper: Leighton Clark Dimensions: 5’10” x 19 ¼” x 2 ¼” Ideal: 2ft plus. Suits: Good surfers looking for some performance in weak waves. Description: Flatter entry rocker to ease into waves and generate early speed,fuller outline,nose and tail for forgiving performance with a hip at front fins to promote snap in the pocket. single to double concave. Construction: PU blank 4 x 4 x 4oz glass with kick patches. Fins: ...... Shaper comment: A great board for those fun days on the mid. Will still go well in anything with a bit of fullness on the face, should be ridden 2 - 3” shorter the your performance board. Available in any size to suit rider.
Dimensions: 5’10”
Dimensions: 6’0”x 19” x 2 3/8 “
Ideal conditions: 1-3ft
Suits: Smaller waves
Suits: All levels
Ability: Intermediate to advanced
Description: Short, Wide, with reduced rocker with single double concave and nice big roundtail. Great small wave fun board. Designed for the 1-2ft days when you normally struggle on a short board, it’s like a fish but better, as you can still surf it hard and fast. Construction: PU Foam and polyester resin 4oz on the bottom and 2 x 4oz on the deck. Fins: Thruster gives it more speed with a set of PC K2.1
CARABINE SURFBOARDS 36 Finders Street Wollongong, NSW Ph/Fax: 02 4229 9462 carabinesurfboards.com.au
Description: Slight single to double concave with a vee double behind the back fin. It also features a boxier rail. Construction: Burford blank, 4oz deck 4oz bottom with carbon tail patches. Fins: FCS FK2.1 Shaper comment: The fuller rails and wider squash tail make this an ideal board when the waves are a bit little sloppy. It also goes amazing when the waves are pumping.
WOODY JACK SURFBOARDS AUSTRALIA
Unit 7, 25 Leonard Parade, Currumbin QLD Ph: 0415 789 706 E: wjboards@gmail.com www.woodyjack.com
CLARK SURFBOARDS 20 Cottage Road, Hackham SA E: leightonclark01@yahoo.com.au
M: 0422 443 789
Available at www.onboardsurf.com.au mar/apr 2012
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DAVE SWAN has a word with Sunshine Coast surfer, shaper and all-round nice guy, Josh Constable. PHOTO: BEN VOS
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We don’t really cover the competitive arena. When speaking to Josh Constable however it’s hard to ignore his staggering list of accomplishments: a promising junior shortboard career competing against the likes of Mick Fanning and Joel Parkinson before switching to longboarding where he went on to take out a World Longboard Title in 2006, along with six Australian Longboard Titles, and an Australian SUP Title and he was named by US Longboard Magazine as one of the most influential surfers of the past fifteen years. So, we knew there were a few questions we had to throw his way.
So Josh, have you sometimes struggled to put on a hat? (Laughs) “No, no, I am pretty level-headed. Anyhow compared to what my wife Anna has achieved, I haven’t done much. She has like 5 world titles. So I can’t get a big head. (Josh’s wife Anna Constable nee Shisler and her tandem surfing partner Bobby Friedman are renowned as one of the world’s best tandem surfing couples). “I really have had a great career and have been pretty fortunate with great sponsors through the years and good family support and friends. It’s been awesome.” Joking aside, Josh is genuinely down to earth, level-headed and held in high regard by a great number of people. His competitive side however has taken a back seat of late. You’re getting on a bit, had a few kids and are focusing on something else because you can no longer cut the mustard? “Very cruel. (laughs) No, the hard economic times out there at the moment has meant I have lost some major sponsors over the past year. In order to compete as a full time professional surfer I have had to look at other ways of capitalising on my name and what I have achieved. “With my competitive surfing, I have always been really involved with the design of my boards and have worked closely with whoever is shaping my boards at the time. I always had that passion to make my own boards but never had the time because I was travelling so much. When I am at home, I have a young family so time is pretty scarce. I’ve never had the free time to get into the bay and do it properly. “Now I am without major sponsors, I’m only picking key events and I have a bit more free time. Without a board sponsor, I’m going to do it on my own rather than building up other board labels.” Does that give you a competitive advantage, shaping your own boards and competing on them like surfers of old? “I guess yes and no. It was a huge advantage in the 60s with guys like Nat and Midget Farrelly, as they were all amazing board builders and surfers, so that gave them the edge. But now, many top surfers work closely with their shapers and have a good understanding. “For me, I guess, instead of identifying what
changes I wanted to make to my board with my shaper, I just get on with making those changes. For that reason I feel like my boards are going to come out pretty good.” You’ve worked with some top shapers through the years? “I have worked with Dave Boyd, Bob McTavish, Donald Takayama, Timmy Paterson - who is shaping some of the best shortboards on the tour right now - and my brother-in-law Garth Day, who works for Lost in America and 60’s legend Bob Cooper. “I have been fortunate enough to work with really good shapers - not just local shapers - but world-class shapers from all over the world.” So the boards, what kind of plan shapes are you knocking out? “Boards that I like to ride and my friends like to ride. I’m doing a range of longboards and shortboards but again they are very traditional – little fishes, Simmons, displacement hulls. Nothing 6’2” x 18¼” x 2¼”. No DHD or Al Merrick-style boards. Just easy to ride, fun boards. I want to help people. You don’t have to be the best surfer or a world champion to ride my boards. My aim is to make them user friendly to improve your surfing ability.” You are obviously named after a policeman, so I’m guessing you have an affiliation with the forces, hence the name for your boards Creative ARMY? “Over the years, I have managed to meet so many cool people, whether it is through music or surfing or whatever. So, I plan to collaborate with certain people on projects. I am working on one with Bob Cooper right now. We are going to sit down and design a cool board together. “I am also shaping a board with some friends who are ex pro skaters who live in Brisbane. They own a barber shop and have a pretty cool line of hair products and shampoos called Upper Cut Deluxe. It’s very fashion forward, but right into the rock ‘n roll scene of the 60s and 70s hot rod scene... Rockabilly stuff. We are shaping a model together that will feature really cool art work. “That is where the name Creative Army comes from. I am just getting a bunch of guys together and creating an army of really creative people.”
WWW.CREATIVEARMY.COM.AU
SWEET LOVE
THE FIVE SUGARS
The Sweet Love is the classic style log that was made with the sole purpose of noseriding. Its wide nose helps you defy the laws of gravity with some insane noseriding and still very smooth in the tail to cut back and help re-set your line to get back up to the tip. It has 60/40 rails, a single pivot fin and a moon tail. It is perfect for ankle to head high waves and love’s a clean point break!
The Five Sugars has the traditional look with a single fin but made for the surfer that wants it all. Maybe you are a shortboarder that wants that board for smaller days, but doesn’t want a beast and still wants to be able to roll off the top and have plenty of speed. Or perhaps you are a longboarder that wants a board to noseride and still wants to be able to turn and surf those waves that aren’t your perfect point set up, and have plenty of speed. Then this is the board for you.
Stats: size 9’9” x 23 1/8“ x 3 1/8“ available in 9’1” to 10’1” Tail shape moon tail Rocker traditional Fin set up single Wave size flat-3 feet
CREATIVE ARMY Ph: 0402 621 164 josh@creativearmy.com.au creativearmy.com.au mar/apr 2012
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Stats: size 9’1” x 22 ½” x 2 11/16“ available in 9’1” to 10’1” Tail shape round tail Rocker modern Fin set up single Wave size 3-6 feet
CREATIVE ARMY Ph: 0402 621 164 josh@creativearmy.com.au creativearmy.com.au
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SINGLE FIN
8’ LONGBOARD
BEAVER BOTTOM PLATAPUSSY
Shaper: Mark Rabbidge Dimensions: 6’2” x 20” x 2 ¾” single flyer single fin Ideal: All conditions, small to mid range Ability: All surfers who want to have fun Description: Modern version of old standard. Basically, find an old good one, ride it and then improve it. Construction: Fantastic polyester Fins: One glass-on or box Shaper comment: These boards are not novelty designs - they surf in an all round modern way without the hang-ups of old 70’s technology.
Shaper: Mark Rabbidge Dimensions: 8’ x 21” x 2 ¾” Suits: Custom tailored to suit the individual Description: Double ender well balanced board. Trim concave through middle, roll vee through the tail. Construction: Dion foam blanks. I’ve been dealing with them for 45 years and for good reason. Fins: 3 fin set up. Shaper comment: I have been making this board since the 80’s. It’s like a shortboard you can noseride.
RABBIDGE SURF DESIGN Ph: 02 4456 4038 Mobile: 0427 767 176 Bendalong, NSW 2539 www.markrabbidge.com
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RABBIDGE SURF DESIGN Ph: 02 4456 4038 Mobile: 0427 767 176 Bendalong, NSW 2539 www.markrabbidge.com
SIAMESE TWIN
THE TRIPOD
Shaper: Rousa Dimensions: 6’6” x 22” x 3” Ideal conditions: Small to medium waves Suits: Beginners to advanced Description: excellent paddler due to the low nose rocker, combined with a little bit more foam under the chest up forward. Single to double concave with chine rails with a nice vee into a tidy tail for easy performance turns. Construction: Polyester old skool glassed to last. Fins: FCS or custom to suit. Shaper comment: This is a wave magnet that gives a smooth silky ride. Zak Surfboards has Rousa boards on the rack and online come and check them out.
Shaper: Zak Dimensions: 6’2” x 20 ½” x 2 5/8” Ideal conditions: 2-4ft Suits: Beginners to Intermediate Description: The Siamese Twin is two boards in one - its a shortboard and a fish combined. It has a boxy rail, flatter rocker, single into double concave and a 5-fin set up. It works really well in mushy 1ft slop as a quad and, as a thruster, it loves fast little beachies. Construction: PU 10oz deck, 4oz bottom. Fins: FCS - 5 of the buggers Shaper comment: This is the one for the quiver. no bullshit
Shaper: Zak Dimensions: 6’4” x 20 ¼” x 2 ¾” Ideal conditions: 2-4ft Suits: Beginners to Intermediate Description: The Tripod is a summer shortboard , boxy rail, more volume from the mid way to the back. single into double concave, good release through the tail, slighty wider then your average shortboard over the nose. Still surfs hard just makes it easier and more fun. Construction: PU 10oz deck, 4 bottom. Fins: FCS Shaper comment: This board offers all the performance with a little more float under you. Steve Wild our team rider has been working on these for quite a while and thinks he has got this one right.
ZAK SURFBOARDS 307 Victoria Road Thornbury VIC 3071 Ph: 03 9416 7384 Mobile: 0438 416 738 zak@zaksurfboards.com zaksurfboards.com
ZAK SURFBOARDS 307 Victoria Road Thornbury VIC 3071 Ph: 03 9416 7384 Mobile: 0438 416 738 zak@zaksurfboards.com zaksurfboards.com
ZAK SURFBOARDS 307 Victoria Road Thornbury VIC 3071 Ph: 03 9416 7384 Mobile: 0438 416 738 zak@zaksurfboards.com zaksurfboards.com
SHAPER’S PROMOTION
GEAR: BOARDS HIGH PERFORMANCE
MALIBU
Shaper: Michael Cundith Dimensions: 9’1”x 22 ½” x 2 ¾” Ideal condition: 1-8ft Description: Concave nose and double slight concave Vee Construction: Special, new, high-quality resin and glass. Variety of weights to suit. Fins: Single box centre fin, or box centre fin and FCS side fins. Shaper comment: High performance, loose, fast and a great nose rider. This board has a unique trim spot which contributes to its high performance. A seriously fun board to ride.
THE PURPLE 6’4” IN THE SHOWROOM
THE MINI ME
Shaper: Michael Cundith Dimensions: 6’1” x 21” x 2 ½” Ideal: Small to medium surf Suits: 1-6ft Description: Extreme speed performance great paddler. Single concave or single to double concave. Construction: Special, new, high-quality resin and glass. Variety of weights to suit. Fins: All fin set ups. Shaper comment: People call me MC the surf doctor. Making sure all my customers get what suits them. Over 40 models to choose from. 53 years of shaping.
Shaper: Peter White
Shaper: Rory Oke
Shaper: Mitchell Rae
Specs: 5’1 x 22” x 2 5/8”
Dimensions: 6’4” x 21” x 2 5/8”
Specs: 6’5 x 20” x 2 5/8“ to suit 80kgs. Available from 5’8” upwards.
Ideal: Beginner to advanced Description: Loosely based on the mini simmons. Our variation offers a lot more manoueverable board due to the break in the outline shape in the tail, decreasing the tail width and acting as a pivot point. The forward hull blends into a vee bottom with double concave.
Suits: Lazy surfers that want a lot of waves, yet still a board you can throw around. Description: Slight single concave running into a scooped vee through the fins. Construction: Ocean Foam blank, hand-shaped. Fins: Speeedfins ceramic s115’s
Construction: PU foam with poly resin
MICHAEL CUNDITH SURF DESIGNS Ph: 02 6685 8778 3 Banksia Dve, Byron Bay Industrial Estate BYRON BAY NSW 2481 E: info@mcsurf.com.au www.mcsurf.com.au
Fins: Single, twin, quad or 2+1
CLASSIC MALIBU Cnr Gibson & Eumundi Rd Noosaville, QLD 4566 Ph: 07 5474 3122 info@classicmalibu.com www.classicmalibu.com
Suits: 2 – 6 feet plus Description: The perfect all rounder... Deep single concave, turbo charged hot dog board... Feel the Flex and extra pop out of the turns. Construction: PU foam, your choice of glass, light, med or strong Fins: Quad set up / Carbon fibre / FCS or Futures compatible Shaper comment: A “Shipwreck Board.” If you had to get shipwrecked on a desert island with just one board, this one is a good choice.
Shaper comment: Super fast as all mini simmons styles, but more manoueverable and easy to paddle.
MICHAEL CUNDITH SURF DESIGNS Ph: 02 6685 8778 3 Banksia Dve, Byron Bay Industrial Estate BYRON BAY NSW 2481 E: info@mcsurf.com.au www.mcsurf.com.au
V2 FLEX SMARTBOARD
DART FISH
OKE SURFBOARDS 1/1-7 Canterbury Rd, Braeside, VIC, 3195 Ph: 03 9587 3553 okesurfboards.com
OUTER ISLAND SURFBOARDS 7 Bayldon Drive, Raleigh, NSW Ph: 02 6655 7007 info@outerislandsurfboards.com outerislandsurfboards.com
outerisland.blogspot.com
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FLEXTAIL
THE HILLBILLY
9’4 NOSERIDER
PERFORMANCE EGG
80S STYLE QUAD
Shaper: Jed Done Specs: 6’1”x 20 ¼” x 2 5/8” Ideal: Shoulder high to double over head. Description: All round flextail quad, born from 11 years of riding and refining flextails.Wedge stringer, wide point forward, deep concave underfoot, foil shape and negative rocker in flextail all lead towards speed and drive. The ‘v’ in the flextail gives the rail rocker a hip that lines up with the leading edge of the quad fins. Fins have a slight twist in the tip for a wider sweet spot, allowing the board to go from rail to rail easily. This all means a fast board that turns well. Construction: Dion PU foam. Single wedged stringer. Tinted glass bottom with resin pinline. Carbon fiber flextail . Fins: 4WFS for flexibility Shaper comment: Works from 5’5” to 7’. It goes best 2-3” shorter, ½” wider and ¼” thicker than your regular shortboard. Don’t be afraid of the dark, these things go like a cut snake!!
Shaper: Jesse Watson Dimensions: 10” x 23 1/8” x 3 1/8” Ideal conditions: Up to head high sliders Suits: Hepcats to kooks, kicks, flicks and hanging heels. Description: Traditional noserider-inspired modern sled, but with modernised rockers and foils for the logger who wants to noseglide and whipturn like it aint no thang. Construction: Triple stringers, 6/4oz deck + 6/4oz bottom, gloss and polish, vintage fabric inlay with gold resin pinlines. Glass-on matched fabric leash loop - proper old skool Fins: Matching fabric Stage IV hook fin Shaper comment: A modern sled for the discerning kook. Traditional in looks - but a real hotrod under your feet. You’ll never spend more time on the nose than on this board. Its a ‘55 chevy with race car steering. Hang tens are the norm here.
Shaper: J ordie Brown Specs: 9’4 “ x 23’’ x 18 ¼’’ x 13/4’’ x 3’’ Ideal: Waist to shoulder high peelers Ability: Intermediate to advanced Suits: Any surfer not scared of a bit of weight and volume. Description: The combination of subtle tail lift, wide californian square tail, rolled vee bottom and full 50/50 rails makes this nose rider design surprisingly maneuverable with out loosing any stability trimming and on the nose. Construction: Heavy tinted glass job with 2’’ solid paulownia stringer. Fins: Hand made glass on 10’’ pivot fin. Shaper comment: Based on the heavier old school style of construction of the mid sixties this nose rider is the perfect board for the surfer wanting to experience all the glide and movement of an era past.
Shaper: J ordie Brown Specs: 6’4’’ x 20 ¾’’x 14’’x 14’’x 2 ¾”
Shaper: J ordie Brown Specs: 6’0’’ x 19 ¾’ x 13’’ x 14½” x 2 5/8” Ideal conditions: Anything from 2ft grovelers to over head slabs. Ability level. Intermediate to advanced Suits: The surfer looking for one board to surf in a variety of different conditions. Description: Modernized 80s style thruster, this design has a high single flyer with a swallow tail, low boxy rails and has plenty of meat in the guts of the board where its needed. Construction: Light 6oz/4oz trimmed lap glass-job Fins: FCS quad fin set up. Shaper comment: This fun little design got me through a summer of tiny swells and onshore sea breezes. Its flat, fast and a handy addition to any quiver.
HIGH TIDE SURFBOARDS Skenes Creek, Vic 3233 Ph: 0401 437 392
HIGH TIDE SURFBOARDS Skenes Creek, Vic 3233 Ph: 0401 437 392
HIGH TIDE SURFBOARDS Skenes Creek, Vic 3233 Ph: 0401 437 392
hightidesurfboards@hotmail.com
hightidesurfboards@hotmail.com
hightidesurfboards@hotmail.com
black apache surfboards
BUSHRAT SURFBOARDS Merimbula NSW Ph: 0409 813 431 E: jed@bushrat.com www.bushrat.com 132
BLACK APACHE SURFBOARDS Ph: 0410 419 791
blackapachesurfboards@live.com.au
blackapachesurfboards.com.au
hightidesurfboards.com
Ideal: A bit of everything, this is an extremely versatile stick. Suits: The surfer looking for an alternative to your standard thruster short-board in progressive waves. Description: This designs got meat were you need it and its refined were you need it, so it paddles great, yet surfs! Construction: Light 6oz/40z trimmed lap glass-job, tint and a full gloss coat and wet rubed finish. Fins: 2+1 box and FCS Shaper comment: The perfect board for drawing nice lines on a clean open face!
hightidesurfboards.com
hightidesurfboards.com
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SHAPER’S PROMOTION
GEAR: BOARDS
PERFORMER
ALL-ROUNDER
CLASSIC
THE LIMB
THE MACKEREL
The best of both worlds - a recycled EPS foam core and 2-3mm balsawood skin. With a weight of only 7-8 kg and an emphasis on manoeuvrability and maximum speed, the Performer is designed and shaped for today’s high performance longboarding. The Performer comes with a single box fin and two smaller stabiliser fins. Custom orders are welcome.
The Allrounder is an EPS foam-core performance Mini-Mal. It is the only board that features our newly designed 1/8’’ cedar rail stringers for added stiffness on smaller waves. This type of board is suited to most riders – perfect for small to medium sized conditions and great for all ages.
The Riley Classic is a solid Malibu inspired by the boards of the 50s and 60s which the Australians, Americans and Hawaiians rode at the small point breaks of Noosa, Malibu and Waikiki. This is a great board for hot-dogging and reminiscing about those good ol’ days. The Classic should definitely be ridden but nonetheless it looks great on office walls, restaurants, homes and shops, creating a heritage look.
A balsa skinned EPS foam core shortboard, the recycled EPS foam and the absence of a stringer create a significant reduction in weight, with great memory and flex. A great board for beach breaks from 2 - 8ft waves, the Riley Limb has a set thrusters fins, but boxes are optional at no extra cost. The Riley balsa coloured fin system allows for changing fin setups and lets you choose between fin size, rake, angles, material, and more.
This is the modern version of the retro fish. It has a little less volume with a rolled deck giving it better and tighter turns. This has a quad fin box set up that can be used as a twin also. The cedar stringers separate the stained balsa strips to represent the Striped Mackerel.
SPECIFICATIONS Length: 9’0’’ - 9’4’’ Width: 22 ¼’’ - 23’ Thickness: 2 ½’’ - 3’’’ Weight: 7 - 8kg Suits: intermediate Ideal waves: 1-8ft Construction: foam core modern longboard Stringer: Triple, 30mm apart Bottom: Vee Tail: Rounded square Rails: nose - 70/30 centre - 80/20 tail - 90/10
SPECIFICATIONS Length: 7’0’’ - 8’6’’ Width: 20 ½’’ - 23’’ Thickness: 2 ½’’ - 3’’ Suits: Beginner to experienced Ideal waves: 1 ft to 6 ft Weight: 3.5 kg Construction: EPS foam core Stringer: Riley cedar rail stringers and centre stringer Bottom: Vee Tail: Square Rails: Hard 80/20
SPECIFICATIONS Length: 9’0’’ - 12’ Width: 22 ½’’ - 23’’ Thickness: 2 ½’’ - 3’ Weight: 12 - 15kg Suits: Mature surfers Ideal waves: 1-4 ft Construction: Solid balsawood Stringer: Triple cedar stringer Bottom shape: Flat Tail shape: Square Rails: 50/50
SPECIFICATIONS Length: 5’10’’ - 6’8’’ Width: 18 1/2’’- 20’’ Thickness: 2 1/2’’ - 3’’ Weight: 3 kg Suits: Advanced to experienced Ideal waves: 2 ft to 8 ft Construction: Recycled EPS foam core Stringer: none Bottom shape: Vee scoop in the tail to concave centre and concave nose Tail: Rounded square Rails: 80/20 Logo: Computer cut cedar balsa giving it the natural look and feel. Fins: Stick on 4 ½” wood combo thruster
SPECIFICATIONS Length: 5’10’’ - 6’4’’ Width: 20’’ - 22’’ Thickness: 2 ½” - 3’’ Weight: 4.6 kg Suits: Advanced to experienced Ideal waves: ½ - 5ft Construction: EPS foam core Stringer: Cedar parallel stringers Bottom shape: Vee from nose to centre and flat at the tail Tail shape: swallow Rails: Vee at front and centre, flat at tail
RILEY BALSAWOOD SURFBOARDS Ph: 0412 376 464 E: mark@riley.com.au www.balsasurfboardsriley.com.au
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GROWN ORGANICALLY Meet Andrew Wells, a friendly, unassuming and down-to-earth bloke from Lennox Head that just happens to be a master in the art of making wooden surfboards - not that he’d tell you that. WORDS: DAVE SWAN
Tiring of riding substandard shortboards, Andrew Wells of Grown Surfboards in Lennox Head eventually decided to make his own. An environmental engineer by profession, he knew a thing or two about the boards he wanted to create, what he wanted to make them out of and how to go about it. “The reason I started initially was that I was sick of riding white shortboards and was unimpressed with how flimsy they were. If you got six months out of a new shortboard you did well. I found myself seeking out retro shapes that were a little more unique and quality handcrafted.” One thing lead to the next and pretty soon Andrew started to consider more sustainable and durable type boards. “I sort of stumbled across timber boards on the internet. I was always keen to do some woodwork and was comfortable working with timber. I started researching it and came up with a bit of plan on how to tackle it and then shaped my first board. It came out alright. It took about 6 months, start to finish. I surfed it, loved it. Got excited and made my second board. My mates started riding my first board and then they wanted one and it has just grown from there.” With each passing year, Andrew has made more and more boards as word has spread. He predominantly 134
“ I FOUND MYSELF SEEKING OUT RETRO SHAPES THAT WERE A LITTLE MORE UNIQUE AND QUALITY HANDCRAFTED.” crafts custom orders but Lennox Head Surf Shop and Deus Ex Machina in the western outskirts of Sydney also now stock his boards. “It just has progressively been ramping up. Last year I made something like 20 boards. I have 4 boards to make in the next month. It is going really well and has been fairly organic and word of mouth driven. “ As for wood, Andrew explains his affinity. “I just love it because it’s a natural material and I feel comfortable working with it. The kids are fine to come and wander through the workshop because its sawdust as opposed to any toxic chemicals sitting in the shed. Plus, I love the natural grains of timber. “With foam boards, the shape is pleasing to the eye, but when you do it in timber and all the colour of the wood and that timber grain interact with the shape of the boards... I just love them.” And I must admit, I do too. Andrew truly crafts beautiful boards that are just an unbelievable experience to ride.
Did you know?
In 2010, Andrew’s boards saw him featured by Guinness in a showcase of top modern Australian craftsmen, artisans and innovators.
CONSTRUCTION “I have played around with different styles and techniques but find hollow timber construction is the most efficient use of timber and the boards are much stronger and particularly lighter than say chambered boards.”
SHAPES AVAILABLE “Recently I have played around with some Mini Simmons designs and a few single fin bonzas, which I am really excited about. Aside from that I make a lot of fishes and eggs along with a few midrange fun boards.”
ARTWORK “Shane Martin does all my artwork. His custom airbrushing is completely mind blowing. We have done 4 or 5 custom art airbrushed boards now and they are highly sort after. I keep trying to hang onto them for myself but they keep disappearing.”
If you’re considering a timber board for your quiver, Andrew’s Grown boards come highly recommended. For more, see www.grownsurfboards.com.au
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GROWN ON ME Flow Fish board test by DAVE SWAN
SPEED DIALLER
Shaper: Andrew Wells Dimensions: 5’8” x 19” x 2 ½“ Ideal conditions: Small to medium waves. Great for summer days. Ability: Intermediate to advanced. Suits: All levels Description: This board is a mini-egg, small day fun board. Being hollow timber the board has plenty of float and you can ride it a few inches shorter than a normal foam board. Construction: Hollow timber - Paulownia and cedar with resin tint. Fins: Single Shaper comment: Mmmmm Jelly Beans!! Available in your favourite flavor! Every Grown board is individually hand crafted from recycled and plantation grown timber, takes over 30 hrs to hand craft and is completely unique. They look great, surf great and will give you years of enjoyment.
Shaper: Andrew Wells Specs: 6’2” x 20 ¼” x 2 3/8” Ideal: Anything up to 6ft. Description: A round tail quad with a slightly wider outline, big single to double concave and spiral vee out through the tail. Plenty of drive and is fast and loose. Being hollow timber, the board has plenty of float and easily skips over any fat sections, while still maintaining speed and drive. The additional weight in a timber board gives them a nice smooth flow in the water. This board goes great in waves with a bit of juice. Construction: Hollow timber. Plantation-grown Paulownia, recycled cedar. Fins: Quad Shaper comment: A must-have in the quiver. Every Grown board is individually hand crafted from recycled and plantation grown timber, takes over 30 hrs to hand craft and is completely unique. They look great, surf great and will give you years of enjoyment.
GROWN SURFBOARDS Lennox Head
GROWN SURFBOARDS Lennox Head
PO Box 801, Ballina NSW 2478
Ph: 0407889049
sales@grownsurfboards.com.au
grownsurfboards.com.au
PO Box 801, Ballina NSW 2478
Ph: 0407889049
sales@grownsurfboards.com.au
LEFT: Grown Flow Fish 6’4 x 21 ½ x 2 5/8 ABOVE: Flowing on the Fish in Caloundra
JELLY BEAN
Now sing it... ‘It ain’t heavy, it’s from my brother.’ Okay, I apologise for the slight alteration to the words of the classic ballad made famous byThe Hollies and Neil Diamond. For my 40th birthday I was gifted a beautiful Grown fish 6’4 x 21 ½ x 2 5/8 from my brother and a few very close mates. You see, we had this pact from our early twenties - when we each turned forty, our group of mates would buy the old b*stard a wooden board. It sounded like a bloody good idea at the time but when we encountered some five birthdays in close succession it was somewhat of a lean period for our respective families. Sure, we all owned beautiful wood boards but our kids were without clothes and shoes and... anyhow, I digress.
“ THE EXTRA BIT OF WEIGHT IN THE BOARD GIVES YOU A HELL OF A LOT OF ADDED MOMENTUM AND DRIVE.” So the board? It’s an absolute cracker. People tend to think woods boards are heavy. Yes, they are. They are heavier than a normal PU or epoxy surfboard, for sure. But have you ridden one in the water? You don’t ride a surfboard in a shop holding it under your arm. You ride it out in the surf. And it’s when you put these babies in the water that you notice how much float the natural properties of wood has, particularly these hollow wood construction boards.
My Grown fish paddles into waves as easy as. The extra bit of weight in the board gives you a hell of a lot of added momentum and drive. It just accelerates. I find I regularly race out past the shoulder of the wave and have to cut back into the power zone. You actually have to wash speed off the board. Plus, if conditions are a little wind-blown and choppy, it doesn’t skip about like a lighter board. You have a great deal more control. The handling characteristics are completely different to a normal board and this is what makes its appeal so unique and enjoyable. I love it. It is a different riding sensation. And that for me, is what I constantly crave. Aside from how it surfs, it is one sexy beast. Forget works of art adorning your walls, this is something you can display AND ride.
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BOARDS WITH WHEELS
AN ARBOR OF LOVE
When we called for entries to the Arbor team rider competition, open to normal everyday people like you, me and even some like Mark, we were amazed at the quality of entries. We often dedicate a lot of pages to amatuer surfers so we figured why not kick off our skate section with a couple of guys who sent photos of them ripping it up for their chance to be a star. Come on ladies, where are your entries?
ABOVE: Screenshots from videos by Dylan Reid, Sydney. For the full effect, look up “Sic Clint� on YouTube. MAIN PIC BELOW: Travelling French photographer and skater, Sylvain Garcia and BELOW: Levi Cranston... Check out some of his smooth moves at: http://vimeo.com/34846112
YOU GOT THE GOODS? Send us some photos of you showing your skating skills and you might be the recipient of some cool Arbor gear in the form of a skateboard, t-shirt and even some fame in an Arbor ad. Send submissions to competitions@smorgasboarder.com.au For more on Arbor, see www.arborcollective.com and check out the Bamboo Pin board test on page 145. mar/apr 2012
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CHECK OUT LAST EDITION FOR OUR MELON-TEST ON SAFETY GEAR!
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WORDS & PHOTOS: JOEL LARWOOD I don’t know about you but I think brains are kind of really important. A group of skaters agree. This February Brisbane Freestyle Longboarders held an event for their first birthday to raise helmet and safety awareness but also to fundraise for the Brain Foundation. After going through a series of brain operations myself last year* I can certainly vouch for the importance of continuing brain research and support of patients through hospital staff. In my case, fortunately all went well and I’ve only had to use panadol and nurofen for pain relief, but some others need a bit more of a hand.
Research into this field of medicine not only adds to the knowledge and capabilities of neurosurgeons and neurologists, but can also help to broaden understanding of various conditions essentially helping to ease and eliminate the discomfort of not knowing what you or your family member is suffering from, or what path to take in their treatment and recovery. In the case of the Brain Foundation they do more than just research - they also provide support and community education. Through the event BFL not only helped to raise funds - with well over 200 people attending and donating - but also used the opportunity to educate on the
importance of wearing safety equipment whilst skating through the events held in the grom and monster divisions. Shred hard, shred safe was the message for the day. A big thumbs up to Joshua Marriage and Isaac Gale from BFL for putting it all together. If you‘d like to support the work of the brain foundation head on over to www.brainfoundation.org.au/donate For Brisbane Freestyle Longboarders info visit www.bflsteeze.com.au *Joel recently underwent surgery to remove and cyst pushing against his temporal lobe, which was causing a temporal lobe epilepsy. After a succesful operation he was left cyst-free, only sporting a small bald patch and even smaller hole to show for it. Ed mar/apr 2012
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SKATE: COOL GEAR
GOING KOASTAL In last edition’s board profiles we featured a cruiser called the “Meat Loaf” by Californian longboard company Koastal – Surf to Street distributed in Australia by Street SUP. Now, these boards are a little different from other boards out there... Yes, they have decks, trucks and wheels, but rather than standard maple decks, they use wood inlaid stringer decks and they make use of every scrap of wood to minimise waste - which we think is pretty cool. Add to that their own clear Lucid Grip deckgrip product and these American-made boards look something pretty special. Further endearing them to our heart, they’re a family-run concern - the Horn Family – Brad, Derek, Ryan. We got a little insight from them and the crew behind Koastal into their gear and their earth-friendly manufacturing. Over to Ryan...
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Dan Hoskins whipping up a batch ofMeat Loaf in the Koastal kitchen.
“Koastal as a brand has only been around for 4 years now. We’re a family business and our history goes way back to 1994 with our father Brad Horn creating his first longboard skateboard under the name D’ADV. It turned into a longboard manufacturing company making boards for other companies. “With a strong passion for surfing and skating we began making our own style of longboards that gave riders the same sensation one feels when riding a wave. These boards attracted a lot of attention and Derek created the Koastal brand. “California has been our major inspiration. The laid back surf lifestyle has always been a huge part of our lives. We are surfers with a desire to ride the pavement and feel like we are riding a wave. Our board designs come from our passion for surfing and our knowledge from years of experience in the skate industry.” A standout feature of Koastal boards are the unique decks – visually and in their construction… “We craft each complete real wood top sheet by hand. The Meat Loaf Series is made of 4 types of wood and 5 different colors. Our signature handcrafted stringer boards are combined with state of the art hardware, specially designed to guarantee a skateboard as distinct as its rider. 142
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“THE LAID BACK SURF LIFESTYLE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A HUGE PART OF OUR LIVES.” Most of our boards are designed primarily for carving and cruising, but the addition of Fiber-Lam (a fibreglass-based structural sandwich panel used for everything through to aircraft flooring) on the bottom can also accommodate a more aggressive ride. “ Serious about keeping it in the family, the boards are manufactured in-house, at a warehouse in Southern California. “We do not outsource anything. We bring in the raw wood, cut it all down, and run it through the many processes to get it to a finished board. There’s a cool YouTube video showing the whole process. We make a genuine effort to be as green as possible. The wood for our boards comes from
sustainable forests and we ensure each and every scrap of material never goes to waste. It is our mission to bring surf to the street without sacrificing quality or the planet.” So that the hard work in the decks isn’t lost under the grip, clear Lucid Grip is used on all the boards. “It is a product we have been developing over the years and only recently decided to put a name to the grip process” says Ryan. Lucid Grip is made from a recycled glass material and a water based liquid and is also sold as a separate product that can be used to patch up bare spots on your board or as a whole deck grip. With a strong focus on sustainability and with a unique feel about their gear, we reckon these boards could be pretty hot property soon. For more, check out the Street SUP website at www.streetsup.com.au and the Koastal website at www.koastal.co
oaf, Meat L serve to y ad re
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BRAND NEW DECK & DESIGN!
“RETRO CRUISER”
“DART GREEN”
BY G&S
BY GREMMIE
Dimensions: 28” x 8”
RRP: $199
Wheels: Green Jelly Gremmie 60mm 78A
Suits: Retro fans that like to cruise
Trucks: Rukus with ½’’ risers
Specs: 28”
Bearings: Abec-3 Pigs
Trucks: Square, old school trucks
Deck: Canadian Maple
Description: The Gremmie Dart Green complete comes with that collective quality. You get the Gremmie logo on top and bottom with grip panels and great colors. The Abec-3 Pig bearings offer removable red chromium steel dent resistant shields, brass ball retainers, a 7 ball design. Grade 10 balls with silver inner and outer bearing steel. Super finish for a faster spin and easy to clean.
Bearings: Abec-7 Wheels: 65mm cruiser Description: 28” cruiser, no kick nose with a square kick tail. Comment: Avoid the imitators and buy a cruiser from the brand that invented wooden laminate skateboards.
Comment: A solid set up.
“CLASSIC MINI” BY KOASTAL RRP: $219 Suits: Skaters of all ages looking for some compact fun with style. Dimensions: 23 ¼” x 7 ¾” Wheel base 16 3/8” Deck: Mahogany, Aspen and Purple heart wood stringer top sheet with a 6-ply core. Grip: Recycled clear grip by Lucid Grip Trucks: Gullwing M1 8 ¼” Bearings: Oil-filled Koastal Abec-5 Wheels: Koastal 65mm / 83a Durometer Description: Slight rocker shape, nice square tail that comes to a pointed nose. Comment: Great little mini cruiser. Fun board you can get real creative with. It’s light, durable and compact which makes it great for a little travelling board. Easily fits in a backpack or locker. There are four Koastal Minis in the series.
GOLIATH INDUSTRIES Ph: 03 9380 1799
info@goliathskate.com www.goliathskate.com www.facebook.com/ goliathskate
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G&S SKATEBOARDS Retailer enquiries: 1300 882 399 info@trinitydistribution.com.au
trinitydistribution.com.au
STREET SUP Ph: 0466 264 232 koastal@streetsup.com.au www.streetsup.com.au Join us on Facebook
“FRUIT TINGLE” BY OBFIVE
“SHORTI”
BY FiiK ELECTRIC
RRP: $169.95 Suits: Summer lovin, beach goin girls! Specs: 26.5” x 7.5” Deck: 7-Ply 100% Hard Rock Canadian Maple Trucks: 5” Polished Aluminium Bearings: Abec-7 Wheels: 65mm 83A Super High Rebound Description: Chicks love to skate! Ride to the beach in style with this quality cruiser from Gold Coast brand OBfive. The pastel colours will make everyday feel like summer. Comment: Check out the full range of boards at obfiveskateboards.com.au Also, check out our stockist link online to find your local dealer.
Suits: The all-round board stylist Dimensions: Big Deck: Wide stable deck giving you plenty of room to move with a classic, subtle fishtail design for style. Wheels: Lightweight polished aluminium alloy street rims with highdensity rubber tyres. Power: Premium performance, all alloy construction LithiumPolymer LiFePo4 or sealed lead acid battery Description: This board combines essential performance characteristics into one: Power, deck configuration, premium performance wheelbase, speed, range, and acceleration. Comment: The Shorti is for those who demand maximum flexibility from their board.
OBFIVE SKATEBOARDS Trade enquiries:
FIIK SKATEBOARDS 2/3366 Pacific Highway, Springwood QLD Ph: 07 3208 3208
kris@obfiveskateboards.com.au
obfiveskateboards.com.au Like us on Facebook obfiveskateboards
E: sales@fiikskateboards.com
fiikskateboards.com
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TEST G EVERKYNOTCKHITIN TILL “DON’T IT” YOU’VE TRIED
TREE TO STREET Part 2 LAST EDITION WE RAVED ABOUT THE ARBOR BLUNT - ONE OF THE SMOOTHEST, COOLEST LONGBOARDS WE’VE EVER HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF RIDING. WE LOVED IT SO MUCH, WE FIGURED WE MAY AS WELL SHOW YOU SOME MORE ARBOR.
“PIN BAMBOO” BY ARBOR
Suits: Longboard cruisers Dimensions: 46” x 9.5” Deck: 7-Ply Maple/ Bamboo top sheet Wheels: 72mm (78a) Arbor Bio-Urethane Street Series Trucks: 10’’ Gullwing Charger Bearings: Abec-5 Description: The classic tapered carver - the Bamboo Pin features a huge wheelbase for maximum stability at speed, and a wide, concave mid-section for deep, open-stance, lockn-hold skating. Comment: BAMBOO DECK PLY: Bamboo is the fastest growing plant know to man. It is widely accepted as today’s most renewable, sustainably grown building material. It is also one of the strongest materials on the planet. Bamboo’s tensile strength and weight-tostrength ratio are superior to steel; yet bamboo is light, flexible, and resistant to compression.
ARBOR SKATEBOARDS For local dealer information please contact us by email: info@futuresport.com.au, call 02 4365 1838 or visit arborcollective.com/skate
... Seriously Anyone ake could m d r a this bo ler o o c look o... d I than
Tool
Cool
ARBOR PIN BAMBOO from the Carve Collection The Pin Bamboo is a 46” longboard that seriously feels as classy as it looks. You just have to love the springiness of the bamboo deck... It’s bouncy as you like, but the big wide wheelbase gives it plenty of stability for a cruise. You feel totally comfortable just pointing this board, pinning your ears back and setting the pintail to glide. The under-deck artwork really sets it off, but seeing the bamboo from the top through the clear grip is a constant reminder that this is no cheapie throwaway. That said, it’s a really good, stable, quality board for beginners - not for those looking to get into downhill, though. It’s more for leisurely cruising on the beachfront
pathways and the like. Essentially, the deck’s quite high off the ground, so it won’t be quite as stable at high speed as a dropthrough.
Above: Watch that bamboo bend and flex... Oh, hang on, that’s just because Fat-arse Dave is on it... At least we know it’s super-strong.
But seriously, would you do burnouts with a Rolls Royce? Okay, you might want to, but it’s probably not the vehicle for the job... The Pin Bamboo is too pretty to go tearing up too much concrete, really.. Kind of like the equivalent of a timber surfboard - beautiful to ride and then hang on the wall to look at - as much a piece of art as a functional bit of fun. Feels great, looks great, is great. Enjoy a cruise... Find out more at www.arborcollective.com
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Can’t find MAGNETIC DECK GRIPS in your favourite shop? ORDER DIRECT! $29.50 delivered anywhere in Australia. Order 3 and get a free Magnetic Grip T-shirt.
DIAMONDS IN THE ROUGH ANDRE “ONDI” MARSAUS OF UNDERGROUND SURF SHARES SOME OF HIS TIPS FOR MAKING GREAT FINDS AND GOOD DECISIONS WHEN SHOPPING FOR VINTAGE BOARDS.
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The number one rule of collecting old boards is they have to be appealing. They have to be something you want to collect. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. So if you see a board you love, go for it. That is what I always say. It’s that simple. For what it’s worth though, in my opinion, a collectable surfboard has all its original bumps and lumps and shows its history. I want the entire board to be in its original state. That is what makes it a collectable in my book. If you are after a board that is restored to the extent that it’s covered in paint, well, go buy a new board. Original, in my opinion, is paramount.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR:
THE THINGS TO AVOID:
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Generally I’m on the lookout for boards pre-1984.
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Big brands, notable shapers, team rider’s old boards.
Weighty boards covered in paint. If something looks too good to be true, it generally is.
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Boards that have been personally shaped by the likes of MR, Michael Peterson, early McTavish, some Bennetts, Hot Stuff Rabbit models...
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Boards that are super heavy have used up a hell of a lot of resin to be restored, meaning there was something pretty major wrong with it.
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Check the dimensions of the board, who shaped it, what the initials are. You can ring someone like myself and I can give you a little history about the board and who would have shaped it.
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Check the board is in good condition all round. Look out for delaminations (where the layers of fibreglass have split away from the blank), which are common in older boards. Make sure the dings are serviceable and can be patched up without having to reconstruct the entire board.
Covered in paint. The main objective with a restoration is to keep the original colours. With any board that has been thickly painted over, there is something not quite right about it and it’s probably not worth the money.
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No decals, no authenticity.
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Orginal fins are really important. If the fins have been doctored or if it is a single fin and they have added extra fins, the value of the board is nowhere near what it might have been.
TOP PROMOTIONAL GEAR AND MERCHANDISE FOR YOUR BUSINESS
HOODED TOPS : T-SHIRTS : CAPS CUSTOM DESIGN SERVICE
WWW.SURFMERCH.COM.AU
More boards than you can poke a log at.
s Harbour NSW 392 Harbour Drive, The Jetty Strip, Coff shack.com.au elog www.th Phone: 02 6658 0223
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Look for nice tints and nice colouring. In your 80s boards they should feature nice bright colours.
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Make sure the decal is there, unblemished is best.
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Original fin/s are important.
“ I WANT THE ENTIRE BOARD TO BE IN ITS ORIGINAL STATE”
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3/31 McLean St, Coolangatta, QLD Ph: 07 5599 1040 3/77 Noosa Drive, Noosa Heads, QLD
26/02/12 12:35 AM
How Kerri-Anne Kennerley improved my surfboard collection. WORDS AND PHOTOS: PAT QUIRK
we should buy it (thanks HQ), so all sorted... or so I think. Have you ever tried to get a courier company to freight a surfboard? I run into a brick wall of “Mate, we don’t do surfboards” and “Sorry luv, we won’t freight surfboards.” All I need to do is get this board from the inner west of Sydney to Manly, where a company that specializes in freighting boards can pick it up from another board collector - thanks Seb.
Ondi hugs a great find - Bennett singlefin kneeboard outside the Underground store in Noosa
The most important thing is, when in doubt, talk to someone who knows what the board is really worth before you hand over your cash. They are a fair few guys, and some girls for that matter, right the way down the coast who really know their stuff. There are little things you come to know such as, when Bob McTavish was shaping for Keyo he used to put a little dot either side of the number to signify it was one of his. It is our business to know these sort of things. With garage sales you can sometimes be lucky enough to pick up a board for $20. If there is a beautiful classic board in good nick and they have $200 on it, the seller probably knows what it is all about. The reality is you can pick up collectables from $30 to $3000 bucks, it is such a broad thing. As a general rule of thumb you can expect to pay anywhere from $50 to $1000 for a classic single fin, around $50 to $500 for a twin fin, more if it is one of MR’s boards he shaped himself and $500 and above for a Rabbit’s Hot Stuff. Longboards are a whole different kettle of fish as there are so many sizes, materials used, the era it came from, you name it. It is hard to provide a range of what you could expect to pay. As for the board I am holding, its around $600. It’s a Bennett, very rare and in perfect condition. It is real collectable - original fin, decal, colours are great. It’s the perfect example of what you are after in a collectable. RIGHT: A collectable McTavish, all thanks to Kerri-Anne
Enter social networking. A high school friend suggests a mate of his who couriers flowers in Sydney and surfs to boot, so he knows how to treat a board properly - thank you Nathan and Tony.
Vintage surfboard collecting is an imperfect science at the best of times. From trawling through dubious listings on auction websites to information from a friend of a friend of a friend who might have a board you might like, one thing’s for certain - it makes for an interesting hobby. I’m sleeping in one morning after working late when my wife rudely calls from work and wakes me up. Failing to get back to sleep, I decide to flick on the TV. Channel surfing lands me on a segment on the Kerri-Anne Kennerley morning show reporting on a company that collects items from kerbside rubbish collections and resells them after fixing and cleaning them up. Two minutes into the segment, I see a surfboard being pulled out a pile of rubbish and much to my surprise I see the Bob McTavish Bluebird logo on what appeared to be a 70s board.
Less than a week later, my 70s Bluebird arrives during my daughter’s first birthday party. I diplomatically decide to leave the board wrapped up until the party’s over. Finally, I get to open up my present and see the Barry Bennett Surfboards logo on the bottom and the Bluebird logo on the deck in the flesh. I just have to find out this board’s history! In a gracious email back from Bob McTavish, I’m informed that the board is late 70s. From the size and style of the logo, and based on the nose template, he believes it was a custom for one of the Bennett guys in Brookvale. Bob himself signs the board a few months later. It was great to chat to him about it and the story behind acquiring it - thanks Bob. Needless to say, as a great board with a quirky story, this is one of my favourite collector’s pieces. It goes to show that if you have your eyes open you never know what will turn up, or where. Good luck to all you board collectors out there – you never know when the next treasure will be found!
“Who the hell throws out an amazing piece of surfing history like that?” I think to myself. The segment ends and my curiosity gets the better of me. After a phonecall to the TV station, I find the company and call them, on the off chance they still have the board. Much to my amazement, they do and are happy to send me photos which confirm my hopes - a 70s Barry Bennett with Bluebird logo. I call back very quickly. Then the real negotiation begins. I have to phone HQ (the wife) and tell her, with all my childish enthusiasm, about this amazing board. Helen knows a thing or two about old boards thanks to my collecting and agrees
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CLOSEOUT: COLLECT
CHANNEL SURFING
WWW.UNDERGROUNDSURF.COM.AU 26/02/12 12:35 AM
WHAT A WALLY!
NO, NO... NOT PAUL CARSON - THE MASTER SHAPER WHO LOVINGLY BROUGHT THIS CRAFT BACK TO LIFE - IT’S THE BOARD ITSELF!
Paul Carson of Factory Surfboards in Caloundra recently let us know he had a pretty special board in his possession he had been asked to restore. “Graham Smith is a friend of my brother-in-law. He had always said to me, for some 20-odd years now, how he had this board I should have a look at. It was his very own personal board that he had made by Wally Carle back in 1959. “When Graham came up recently from Cronulla, he dropped by and asked whether the board was maybe worth $50 or $100 bucks? I said, ‘Well let’s get into, restore it and see what it is worth.’ “After I completed the restoration I did a little research on Wally Carle. I phoned Geoff Cater of Surf Research, www.surfresearch.com.au after I noticed a Wally Carle board on his site. I found out Wally was the guy on the first ever cover of SurfAbout Australia magazine. He manufactured boards in Cronulla in that era under his own name and then later went on to shape boards for Norm Casey, who was a reasonably big manufacturer in Sydney of that era. Coincidentally, the first ever board I owned was a Norm Casey, as I also grew up in Cronulla.” Indeed, it appeared Paul had stumbled upon the Cronulla Triangle - a board that originated from Cronulla, a shaper and its original owner who were both from Cronulla and he himself, the guy who ended up restoring it, was from Cronulla. “The board is 9’2” x 3” x 22” and is surprisingly light. It’s not much heavier than your modern day log. It’s made of solid balsa with a thick pigment finish coat about 1.5mm thick, like an actual resin finish coat that has colour in it, which was the order of the day in that era. They didn’t care much for showing the balsa off as all boards were made of it. “The design on the deck is really funky. It has that sort of art deco look about it. Luckily that wasn’t damaged. There was only a bit of nose and tail damage but it was in incredibly good nick. Graham hadn’t surfed it for probably 25 years.” Paul considered the restoration relatively easy aside from colour matching the pigment. He had to insert a little stick of balsa in the nose because it had rotted, then re-glass it along with the nose, foil it back and then apply the pigment coat. As for the big fin, it was made of plywood so it was only a matter of cleaning it up and putting on another pigment coat. “To keep it original that is what I did with the restoration. A lot of people were wanting me to sand all the resin off and have a clear coat over it but that is not going to keep it original. I managed to match the pigment really well so it hasn’t come up too bad. “With all the restorations I have done, I haven’t seen one that old. I started surfing in ’62. I thought that the boards I had seen through the years from that era were some of the first boards around but obviously there were boards before that. And to have the board still in the possession of the original owner is something else. The fin is more of a keel fin than anything else and is pre-D-fin. The D-fins didn’t really start to come around till the early 60s. Probably ’62 or ’63 was the first D-fin that I saw.” And there you have it. And if your lotto numbers have recently come up, this board is now for sale. If you have a restoration of your own you want done, drop into The Factory Surfboards at 17 Allen Street, Caloundra to have a chat in person or ring Paul on O7 5492 5838. 148
ABOVE: Wally Carle on the cover of SurfAbout magazine’s first edition.
WORDS: DAVE SWAN
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GEAR: RESTORATION
“ WITH ALL THE RESTORATIONS I HAVE DONE, I HAVEN’T SEEN ONE THAT OLD” Paul Carson restores a bit of Cronulla surfing history
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MAIN IMAGE: Sumatran Barrel 24 x 36 oil on canvas TOP LEFT: Albe Falzon (left) with Mitchell Rae LEFT: Golden Moonrise. The original artwork and Mitchell translating the image onto a surfboard
“I DON’T DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN THE TWO. IT’S ALL ART TO ME” Ever since he was a kid, Mitchell Rae used to draw and paint. When airbrushed art on boards took off some 30 years back, he bought himself an airbrush and his love affair with the many forms of artful expression took off as well. In recent years Mitchell has immersed himself in art for art’s sake – traditional techniques with brushes. It’s something he finds immensely satisfying that takes on a form of meditation. When in the zone, his art carries him thousands of miles away from the daily grind. As for his muse, it’s no coincidence the ocean is a major source of inspiration. “I have been a surfer all my life. Water, waves and everything to do with the ocean are high on my agenda of the things I like to paint. People have said I have a really nice touch with this subject and I guess that’s from spending all my time around it. 150
I do however like to also broaden my horizons. To keep things interesting I also paint buildings and rural scenes. “I am not much into photo realism though - I like my paintings to look like paintings. In terms of medium, I like to cover all bases but my preferred choices are gouache and acrylic.” Now for those unfamiliar with gouache, it is a heavy, opaque watercolour paint, that has been used for centuries in fine art. Gouache paintings are richly and vividly coloured. The paint forms an opaque reflective layer on the surface and is not a stain like most watercolour pigment. Mitchell is keen to take his art to the next level and is determined to make it happen despite the rigorous workload he undertakes crafting his Outer Island surfboards.
“It’s a funny thing, I have been saying for years when I get some free time I want to get back into painting and about four years ago my family were gone for a week. I thought, ‘Yeah this is great’ and I went out, got some canvasses and paints and I haven’t turned back. Since that time I have been painting seriously. “Over the past couple of years I have participated in a few group showings and this year I have become even more focused, moving towards my first major exhibition at Ships of the Way Gallery.” This truly unique gallery in the quaint town of Bellingen on the mid-north coast of NSW showcases works of art in various mediums in three large rooms. “My next aim is to take that exhibition on the road perhaps to Noosa or the Eastern Suburbs and Northern Beaches of Sydney.”
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CLOSEOUT: ART
RAE OF LIGHT WELL KNOWN AS A WORLD-CLASS SHAPER AND WITH HIS SURFBOARDS CONSIDERED LIVING WORKS OF ART IN THEIR OWN RIGHT, IT TURNS OUT MITCHELL RAE IS ALSO AN ACCOMPLISHED ARTIST IN THE TRADITIONAL SENSE. INTERVIEW: DAVE SWAN
Recently on a trip to the Mentawais, Mitchell brought along his travelling art kit and on most days in the afternoon found some beautiful location to undertake a travel sketch.
the shape with a large spray gun. After glassing and sanding it, I’ve gone to airbrush and hand paint on the hard surface. It really came to life when it got the gloss and polish.
“I would put around two hours into each painting and by the end of the trip had completed a dozen or so. That was really an enjoyable part of the trip. I find that really rewarding and drawing direct on location is a fabulous thing. I have turned each of them into major works on canvas.”
“The board itself is a work of art. The artistic treatment is a bonus. I don’t differentiate between the two. It’s all art to me.”
Mitchell has also taken to transferring those works of art on canvas to custom surfboards he has crafted for loyal clientele. “A client recently ordered a 6’5” V2 Smartboard Quad and requested a full art paint job, based on one of my recent paintings, ‘Golden Moonrise’. I painted
To that end Mitchell has also teamed up with good friend, famed surf filmmaker and photographer Albe Falzon in creating a select line of boards called Buddha Stix. “It’s a concept which Albe and myself have discussed over quite a number of years. We are sending out spirit consciousness with esoteric images of a kind of spiritual nature from Tibet and Buddhism at large. We have incorporated those
aspects into the artwork on the boards and we believe they hold a very strong energy field around them.” Of course the main outlet for Mitchell’s creative expression remains to be his hand shaped surfboards. After all, sculpture is by definition the art of shaping three-dimensional figures. Mitchell’s finely crafted surfboards most certainly cover this discipline. Each time he pares away the excess foam from an oversized blank, he reveals the clear vision he set out to create. For more on Outer Island Surfboards see www.outerislandsurfboards.com and for Mitchell’s art, visit artscanvas.blogspot.com.au
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GET FIT, SLACKER
DEVELOP YOUR SURF STRENGTH & STABILITY
MUSCLE GROUP – CHEST AND ARMS Strength: Dumbbell Bench Press Start with the dumbbells at chest level, then press the dumbbells up above your chest and lower back down.
Stability: Single Leg Swiss Ball Push-up Perform a push-up on the stability ball with one leg in the air.
COMBINE STRENGTH AND STABILITY EXERCISES FOR A SUPERIOR SURF WORKOUT WORDS: CLAYTON BEATTY When it comes to getting in peak physical condition for surfing, there are a number of important fitness characteristics that you need to perform at your best. Two such qualities include strength and stability. Strength is important because the stronger you are, the easier it is for you to exert force and also absorb force. This translates to being able to paddle faster into waves, perform more powerful turns and manoeuvres, and reduce your risk of musculoskeletal injuries.
MUSCLE GROUP – LEGS Strength Exercise – Dumbbell Split Squats Start with one leg in front of the other and lower your back knee towards the ground stopping just short of touching, then push back up.
Stability refers to being able to remain balanced and in control of your board and body, which is obviously important for surfing with regards to all aspects of it from paddling, to popping up, through to riding a wave. If you are very strong, but not stable, then you are missing part of the equation, and likewise, if you have great stability, but lack in strength, you will not be able to surf at your true potential. If we want to get strong and also enhance our stability, how does this translate into our fitness training? Simple - we combine more traditional strength exercises with more unstable versions of the exercise to get the best of both worlds.
Stability Exercise – BOSU Lateral Squat Lunge across on the BOSU by pushing your hips back and keeping your other leg straight, then push back up.
STRENGTH & STABILITY SUPERSETS A simple way to achieve this is with Strength & Stability Supersets. If you pick a movement or muscle group, for example legs, then a great strength and stability superset would be to do Dumbbell Squats immediately followed by Balance Board Squats. The first exercise builds strength, the second trains stability.
MUSCLE GROUP – SHOULDERS Strength Exercise – Single Arm Dumbbell Press Start with the dumbbell at shoulder level and press it overhead.
Have a go at the following Strength & Stability Supersets in your next workout. Do 8 reps of the strength exercise, followed by 10 reps of the stability exercise, with minimal rest between exercises. You can also create your own supersets by choosing any muscle group and combining a strength exercise with a stability exercise. Clayton Beatty is a qualified Exercise Scientist with a BSc Human Movement Degree from the University of WA and is a member of Exercise and Sports Science Australia (ESSA). He runs Total Surfing Fitness, created to help surfers improve their skills and reduce the risk of injury.
Stability Exercise – Balance Board Lateral Raise Start standing on the balance board and raise the dumbbell out to the side keeping your elbow bent at 90 degrees.
We’re all keen to improve our surfing, so check out his website for surf-specific functional training exercises. Go to TotalSurfingFitness.com, and there’s even a free sample workout to get you started. 152
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POINT OF VIEW
INSIDE THE GREEN ROOM
THE WHOLE BALL OF WAX WOULD YOU HAVE A BAR OF IT?
Conserve water, go solar, ride your bike to work, don’t use those horrible thin plastic supermarket bags, start a worm farm, get a hybrid vehicle... What’s number one hundred and ninety nine point nine on your list of things to do before you gain full credit in lifestyle sustainability? Ditch that wax. Which wax you say? Easy. Any of those lovely smelling, beautifully whitened, petroleumenriched surfboard waxes currently getting soft in the summer sun on the dashboard of the trusty old surf mobile. First things first – what’s the history of this fragrant and most definitely essential accessory to the perfect quiver? Well, long before the days of Sex Wax and Mrs Palmers, surfers had been struggling to find a way of keeping their feet on their boards in the critical part of the waves. Until 1935, innovative surfers of the time would include a textured finish on their surfboards. The sandpaper-like glass job certainly increased friction but had one major shortcoming – it shredded their stomachs apart on the paddle. Luckily for them, some bright spark in good ol Southern California named Alfred came up with the clever idea of using paraffin wax to create friction. The story goes that Al came home from a surf one day and noticed the stickiness of the floor after his Mum had waxed the floorboards. Genius. The paraffin wax craze was embraced by surfers of the time and was to stick (pardon the pun) around for the best part of the next two decades but came with a few drawbacks. It wasn’t until the swinging 60s that the first ever wax designed specifically for surfing was developed. Waxmate set the tone for waxes of the future, made up of a combination of 30 weight motor oil and paraffin wax. The mixture had a strong petroleum smell (fancy that) so they used an artificial grape scent to mask the smell. They also added purple (a lovely complement for the grape) to overcome the brown and dirty appearance. As other companies entered the market surfboard wax started to evolve into a stickier and more refined (again, no pun intended) product. New ingredients like synthetic resin and rubber mixtures were used along with specialised glues to increase tackiness and
petroleum jelly to soften the wax and make it more suitable for colder climates. Scents such as coconut and vanilla were added to mask the odours of the petrochemicals and synthetic dyes and to complement the bleached colouration. So where are we at today? 6 million bars of surf wax are used and discarded worldwide every year. And the majority of these are still made from a concoction of petrochemicals: by-products of crude oil. You’d need to have had your head well buried in the sand for the best part of the last decade not to know about all the detrimental effects petrochemicals have on the environment. The stickiness comes from toxic synthetic resins and glues and the synthetic fragrances are manufactured in laboratories using chemicals like acetates, benezene derivatives, solvents and aldehydes. To give an example, the artificial flavouring for strawberry contains no fewer than 40 different chemicals. Yikes. Where do all these nasties end up? Ultimately in the ocean. Scraping that old wax off and ditching it in the car park or on the beach is a big no-no, but then even if it made it to the bin, it would only end up in the landfill where it couldn’t break down either. The alternative? There are a growing number of natural, biodegradable surf waxes now available. The common misconception for any eco product is that it will compromise quality to go green. This couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, many pro surfers such as Cory Lopez and Jason “Ratboy” Collins now use natural waxes. There is even proof out there that some of the biggest names in surfing use a green alternative wax. So, for all you up and coming pros out there, no need to worry about compromising your backhand moves by switching waxes. And for the rest of us mere surf addicts with perhaps a touch less natural flair, it wouldn’t make any difference to performance anyway! So I say buck the trend, go easy on the ocean and buy natural wax – it’s no more expensive, smells better and you might even win a few carbon credits along the way.
Guardsg,s le d d a P Nose &pe & Leash Plu Rail Ta
k Fins
Pro Tec
s
epair Kt
afe R Travel S
Nicola O’Reilly is the better half of the nice folks from Surfing Green, a couple passionate about providing sustainable surfing products.
www.surfinggreen.com.au
SURFTECH AUSTRALIA www.surftechaustralia.com.au mar/apr 2012
02 4226 1322
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POINT OF VIEW
THE DEATH OF CULTURE?
SIGNIFICANCE IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT WORDS FOR US WITH ITEMS BEING ARCHIVED, DISPLAYED OR EXHIBITED AT THE SURFWORLD MUSEUM IN TORQUAY. WHY A PARTICULAR BOARD MAY BE IMPORTANT, WHO RODE IT, WHO MADE IT, WHAT IS THE STORY ASSOCIATED WITH IT, ALL OF THIS ADDS TO ITS SIGNIFICANCE. SIGNPOSTS OF SURFING CULTURE.
Surfboards in particular can be celebrated for a number of different reasons. Often they are simply distinctive and beautiful aesthetic pieces, even better if there is a story of a famous surfer, an epic move, or a pivotal moment in surfing history attached to the board. Surfboards can be unique. Up until recently (with a few exceptions), every surfboard was distinctive, a one-off. The mechanisms didn’t exist to reproduce the same board over and over again. The human element, and to some degree climatic variations, made it nearly impossible to repeat exactly the complex processes of hand-making a surfboard. Boards could be reproduced with identical measurements, but would have subtle and slight variations built into them through glassing, sanding and finishing, all of this having a direct link to how the board would feel under your feet. The shaper’s role was pivotal, and that is not a new thing. The role of the shaper was celebrated in Hawaii long before surfing found its way to America, Australia and the rest of the world. That tradition has been maintained in dusty, smelly sheds around Australia for years. It gave us the opportunity to engage the knowledge and understanding of a respected shaper, to have them design and deliver a surfboard that matches where you surf with how you want to surf. How exciting is it to have something so beautiful hand crafted just for you and handed to you by the person that created it, and how exhilarating when you ride your new board and it performs beyond your expectations? The roles of the shaper and board manufacturers sits at the heart of surfing culture. It is a fundamental part of the
genuine surfing experience. It is a link to surfing’s roots and there are times when this group comes under threat. There are more and more surfers appearing in the water riding an ever expanding range of equipment, but there is something that I have noticed. Many of those surfers are unable to answer a simple but significant question - Who shaped your board?
“ MANY SURFERS ARE UNABLE TO ANSWER A SIMPLE BUT SIGNIFICANT QUESTION - WHO SHAPED YOUR BOARD?” Of course some people simply don’t care. For many people though, there has been a disconnect between the desire to own a new surfboard and being able to interact with the knowledge and experience of the people who make them. It is difficult to develop relationships with people who are based hundreds or thousands of kilometres from where you live and surf. Of course if the boards are imported that makes the link almost impossible for a couple of different reasons. Distance is an issue, but also the people who actually produce the boards have become anonymous. People are buying boards with no idea of who manufactured them. I don’t want to sound overly dramatic here, but in that process surfers are being denied part of their cultural heritage. The line stretching back to the origins of surfing is being broken. We risk losing the opportunity of interacting with more experienced and knowledgeable surfers and shapers. The disconnect
switches the responsibility on to surfers to know the specifics and technicalities of surfboard design and performance, and fully understand what they need. For many surfers that can be a pretty tall order. If you run through the list of Australian surfboard shapers there is a truly remarkable line up of talented, innovative and insightful individuals who have spent years refining their ideas and designs. There is a richness and depth to all that accumulated wisdom that we can all access and benefit from. If we ignore it we will lose it, and surfing as a culture will become poorer as a result. Already some familiar names are disappearing from the surfing scene while others are being squeezed into niches in which they may struggle to survive. And this is where the issue of significance kicks in. I cannot imagine us collectively celebrating generic surfboards in surf museums of the future. A board that is just like hundreds of other surfboards, same dimensions, same colours, not significant in any particular way, will struggle to find wall space when compared with exceptional and interesting surfboards that inform us of surfing culture’s richness and depth. I am not saying that every hand built surfboard is a gem or that there is no place for what surfers used to call pop-outs. The point here is that every time we set foot in the water we are carrying on a cultural tradition as surfers. As surfers we should all be able to answer the simple question “who shaped your board”? Our response to that question should be made with a sense of understanding and pride, not bewilderment.
Craig Baird, or ‘El Diablo’ as he sometimes likes to be known, is Curator of SurfWorld Museum Torquay and is most certainly the surf history buff you want on your trivia night team. With a passion for all things that make up the ragtag history and culture of hitting the waves, he’s always happy to chew the fat over the counter at the museum and we’re lucky enough to have him commit some thought to paper here.
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SALT IN YOUR WOUND, SIR?
GET SOMETHING REAL INTO YOU
HERE’S THE QUESTION: IS THAT FESTERING WOUND GOING TO GET BETTER, OR WORSE, IF YOU GO OUT FOR A SURF? WILL A GOOD RINSE-OUT WITH SEAWATER HAVE YOU HEALED UP IN NO TIME?
CAN WE EAT THIS? SHOULD I TAKE THAT? WILL THIS MAKE ME LOSE WEIGHT? CAN THIS DRINK/ SUPPLEMENT/POWDER MAKE ME STRONGER, BETTER LOOKING WITH BIGGER BICEPS?
Well happily, I think the answer’s partly yes. But unfortunately it’s also largely no. The main issue, of course is infection. Despite sea water being 8 times more salty than our own plasma, bacteria like E.Coli (yes, the one found in abundance in our own colon) can live quite happily in the sea. Exotic marine bacteria often colonise corals and submerged rocks and enjoy nothing more than hopping into exposed flesh for party-time. But hang on. Isn’t salt the oldest known antiseptic? It’s been used for millennia to preserve food and treat wounds. In fact the term, ‘rubbing salt into the wound’ comes from the use of salt rubbed into a sailor’s wounds after a flogging with a cat ‘O’ nine tails. Although it must have stung like hell, the salt would have reduced the risk of infection and death. The difference there though is that was dry salt and not the microbial cocktail that is the ocean. The Dead Sea is 8.6 times saltier than the ocean, and bacteria find it much harder to survive in it. That’s why skin disease sufferers flock to its shores year round to get the antiseptic effect without the pathogens. But there may be other factors aside from the seawater that encourage the healing process there. Ultra-violet light increases vitamin D in the skin, aiding skin repair. The gentle irrigating effect of the water itself may remove debris from the wound and clean it. The invigorating effect of relaxing outdoors in the sun may benefit the body’s own immune response. And there lies the good news. Those simple things, the sunshine and surf are here in our own backyard. So where does that all leave us? There is not much medical literature on this subject, it’s probably too difficult to do a scientific trial! Swimming or surfing with a deep wound is not recommended because of the risk of acquiring a deep-seated infection from the seawater. (Just ask Dave about penguin bites see last edition) These wounds need to be cleaned and dressed frequently in a medical facility. But very shallow wounds and grazes may benefit from a splash in the surf followed by the application of antiseptic cream and a dressing.Keep it clean.
These days it seems people believe everything they hear. “I know it’s true because my girlfriend’s brother’s best friend’s cousin has a mechanic that told him it was true.” There are a lot of claims out there in the market about health and nutrional benefits of various supplements and dietary extras, but are most supplements are worth your money? Are protein based supplements necessary? The average Australian consumer takes in about twice his/her daily requirement. Too much protein can cause kidney damage, constipation and contributes to arthritis and coronary disease. Sports drinks are great for the elite athlete who runs, cycles, and swims marathons everyday. However for the average exerciser, isn’t it just extra sugar to add to an already poor diet? ‘Buzz’ drinks on the market are also the flavour of the month caffeine infused, sugar-sweetened beverages in beautifully designed cans to entice the younger generation. Add heavy exercise to two or more caffeine-infused drinks and you have a pretty good formula for a heart attack. Supplements, sports drinks, crazy untested potions. Diet shakes? Don’t get me started on those. Whatever happened to eating real food? Real food - you know, the stuff that actually looks like it was grown on a tree, or in the ground, or was running around alive at some stage - is always your best option. Fresh, vegetables, fruits and lean meats have micro nutrients that can’t be found in some supplements or shake drinks. Let’s use lycopene as an example: The Institute of Nutritional Sciences touted the benefits of lycopene, a dietary carotenoid found in high concentrations in tomato products. Lycopene is an antioxidant which purportedly fights the free radicals that can interfere with normal cell growth and activity. These free radicals can potentially lead to cancer, heart disease and premature aging. Lycopene is also beneficial in fighting prostate cancer in men. And it’s in a tomato, not a can of fizzy drink. Easy. Prioritising a healthy diet of real food over things that don’t resemble food is really pretty simple. Eat healthy, stay healthy, be happy. John Hart is a qualified fitness instructor and personal trainer with a Masters in Education who writes books, trains and rehabilitates people, takes photos, directs movies and is happy to share what he’s learned.
Dr. Pete Kirkham is a general practitioner at Nambour Medical Centre. www.skinclearclinic.com.au
• • • • • •
Masters In Education (Disability) Newcastle University Australia Grad Cert Education Newcastle University Australia Diploma Fitness/Recreation Diploma of Sport and Recreation Cert 4 Personal Training Level 1 Strength & Conditioning Coach
WWW.JOHNHARTFITNESS.COM mar/apr 2012
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SURF DIRECTORY QLD CENTRAL COAST REEF 2 BEACH SURF SHOP 07 4974 9072
Shop 1, 10 Round Hill Road Agnes Water/1770 www.reef2beachsurf.com
THE BACK OF GLENN CAT’S VALIANT
Anywhere from Agnes Waters to Noosa
FRASER COAST RAINBOW BEACH TRADING CO.
07 5486 8558 Shop 1 & 2, 14 Rainbow Beach Rd, Rainbow Beach
SUNSHINE COAST NOOSA SURF WORKS 07 5474 4567
1/11 Bartlett St, Noosaville www. shotgunsurf.com www.lagunabaysurf.com WATERLINE 07 5474 1010 - 2/15 Venture Dr, Noosaville, www.zeewetsuits.com ILLUSIONS NOOSA 0488 686 206 2/2 Venture Dve, Noosaville & Shop 28 Sunshine Beach Rd, Noosa Junction www.illusionsnoosa.com.au CLASSIC MALIBU AUSTRALIA 07 5474 3122 Cnr Gibson and Eumundi Rds, Noosaville, www.classicmalibu.com ADVENTURE SPORTS NOOSA 07 5455 6677 Shop 6A, 203 Gympie Terrace, Noosaville www.kitesurfaustralia.com.au LOCAL KNOWLEDGE 07 5474 1222 3 Gibson Rd, Noosaville GOLDEN BREED 07 5455 3722 - 15 Noosa Dr, Noosa Heads, www.goldenbreed.com.au NOOSA LONGBOARDS 07 5447 2828 2/55 Hastings St, Noosa Heads www.noosalongboards.com
UNDERGROUND NOOSA
3/77 Noosa Drive, Noosa Heads www.undergroundsurf.com.au SURF SHOP 07 5471 3489 - 224 David Low Way, Peregian Beach, www.surf-shop.org COOLUM SURF 07 5351 1742 - Birtwill St Coolum Beach www.alexsurfshop.com.au BLUE LINES 07 5351 1986 - 1776 The Esplanade, Coolum Beach WALLY’S WATER GALLERY 07 5448 8560 6 Lorraine Beach, Marcoola Beach BOARDSTORE SURF 07 5448 7025 15 Mudjimba Esp, Mudjimba WEIR’S INSIDE EDGE 07 5443 4143 14 Memorial Ave, Maroochydore DA BOMB 07 5451 0620 - 3/25 Plaza Pde, Maroochydore www.dabombsurf.com.au OCEAN ADDICTS 07 5309 6624 103-105 Aerodrome Rd, Maroochydore www.oceanaddicts.com.au ALTERNATIVE SURF 07 5475 4811 11/140 Alexandra Pde, Alexandra Headland BEACH BEAT 07 5443 2777 - 164 Alexandra Pde, Alexandra Headlands; 07 5491 4711 119 Bulcock St, Caloundra www.beachbeat.com.au ALEX SURF 07 5452 6276 188 Alexandra Pde, Alexandra Headland www.alexsurf.com.au WORLD SURFARIS 1800 611 163 2/174 Brisbane Rd, Mooloolaba www.worldsurfaris.com THE FACTORY 07 5492 5838 - 15 Allen St, Caloundra thefactorysurf.com.au SLS SURFBOARDS 0424 314 183 2/57 George St, Moffat Beach www.slssurfboards.com.au SURFWARE AUSTRALIA 07 5491 3620 2 Bulcock St, Caloundra
BRISBANE PRIMITIVE SURF 07 3266 1001 - 601
Nudgee Rd, Nundah primitivesurf.com
GOODTIME SURF & SAIL 07 3391 8588
29 Ipswich Rd, Wooloongabba www.goodtime.com.au FIIK Unit 2/3366 Pacific Hwy, Springwood www.fiikskateboards.com COD 07 3207 0116 - 51 Ziegenfusz Rd, Thornlands www.codsurfing.com.au
NTH STRADBROKE ISLAND MINTY SURFBOARDS 07 3409 8334 - Point Lookout www.bobmintysurfboards.com
GOLD COAST KOMA SURFBOARDS 0402 863 763
4/39 Bailey Crs, Southport komasurf.com
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SURF FX 07 5531 3199 - 127 Ferry Road,
Southport www.surf-fx.com SIDEWAYS 07 5592 3849 - 3012 Surfers Blvd, Surfers Paradise sidewaysboardsports.com.au STUART SURF DESIGN 07 5572 0098 2576 Gold Coast Hwy, Mermaid Beach www.stuartsurf.com.au GANGSTA SURF 07 5526 6969 - Shop 1/ 2558 Gold Coast Hwy, Mermaid Beach www.gangstasurf.com BOARD CULTURE 07 5572 9866 2442 Gold Coast Hwy, Mermaid Beach www.boardculture.com.au LOCAL KNOWLEDGE 07 5526 6377 2251 Gold Coast Hwy, Nobby Beach THE BOARDROOM 07 5527 7877 2084 Gold Coast Hwy, Miami HARVEY SURF GALLERY 0414 557 624 3/10 Pacific Ave, Miami www.harveysurf.com MT WOODGEE 07 5535 0288 1730 Gold Coast Hwy, Burleigh Heads 07 5598 2188 - 2 Stewart Rd, Currumbin 07 5536 5937 - 122 Griffith St, Coolangatta www.mtwoodgee.com.au PATAGONIA BURLEIGH James Street, Burleigh Heads www.patagonia.com.au SEAN SCOTT PHOTOGRAPHY 07 5520 2774 Old Burleigh Theatre Arcade, Shop 10, Goodwin Tce, Burleigh Heads 07 5599 1150 - Shop 3, 120 Marine Pde, Coolangatta seanscottphotography.com.au
DICK VAN STRAALEN/ CLASSIC WATERMAN
0409 262 729, 7/3 Ramly Dr, Burleigh Hds dickvanstraalen.com, classicwaterman.com DALE CHAPMAN SURF DESIGNS 07 5593 8411 Unit 3/48 Junction Road, Burleigh Heads www.chapmansurfboards.com SOUTHCOAST FOAM 07 5522 1600 - 15 Greg Chappell Dr, Burleigh Gdns Estate, Andrews www.southcoastfoam.com.au GOLD COAST SURF WORLD 07 5525 6380 Tomewin Street, Currumbin www.surfworldgoldcoast.com FIREWIRE SURFBOARDS 07 5587 7700 1/49 Currumbin Creek Rd Currumbin www.firewiresurfboards.com DMS 07 5559 5949 3/56 Currumbin Creek Rd Currumbin www.dmshapes.com D’ARCY HANDSHAPES 07 5559 5866 1/8 Hawker St, Currumbin www.darcysurfboards.com SHAPERS 07 5534 4228 - 9/7 Traders Way, Currumbin www.shapers.com.au
BURFORD REINFORCED PLASTICS
07 5534 3777 - 5 Stewart Rd, Currumbin
WOODY JACK SURFBOARDS
0415 789 706 - 7/25 Leonard Pde, Currumbin DIVERSE SURF 07 5598 4848 - 476 Gold Coast Hwy Tugun www.diversesurf.com.au DORRINGTON SURFBOARDS 07 5599 4030 16 Musgrave Street, Kirra www.dorringtonsurfboards.com KIRRA SURF/WORLD SURFARIS 07 5536 3922 8 Creek St, Bilinga www.kirrasurf.com.au UNDERGROUND SURF 07 5599 1040 Shop 3/31 McLean St, Coolangatta www.undergroundsurf.com.au COOLANGATTA BOARD STORE 07 5536 7850 152 Griffith St, Coolangatta www.cbsboardstore.com COOLY SURF 07 5536 1470 - Cnr Dutton St & Marine Pde, Coolangatta
NSW NORTH COAST SIDEWAYS 07 5524 6699 - 13-21 Greenway Dr,
Tweed Heads sidewaysboardsports.com.au FULL FORCE SURFBOARDS 07 5524 2933 18/48 Machinery Dve,Tweed Heads SURF XCESS 02 6674 5350 88 Marine Parade, Kingscliff CABARITA SURF SHOP 02 6676 3151 1/38 Tweed Coast Rd, Cabarita Beach
ELUSIV SURFBOARDS
3/16 Coast Rd, Cabarita Beach
BRUNSWICK SURF 02 6685 1283
1/12 The Terrace, Brunswick Heads www.brunswicksurf.com.au McTAVISH 02 6680 8807 - 91 Centenial Circuit, Byron Bay www.mctavish.com.au ESP SURFBOARDS 0404 059 321 - 2/81 Centennial Circuit, Byron Bay www.espsurfshop.com.au
Pick up the next edition of smorgasboarder at any of these fine businesses - out in May. Businesses that advertise in smorgasboarder allow us to bring you the magazine for FREE. So, be sure to support them! PARKES AUSTRALIA 02 6685 6627 4/83 Centennial Court, Byron Bay www.parkesaustralia.com MADDOG SURF CENTRE 02 6685 6022 Ewingsdale Rd, Byron Bay maddog.com.au MC SURF DESIGNS 02 6685 8778 - 3 Banksia Drive, Byron Bay www.mcsurf.com.au MUNRO SURFBOARDS 02 6685 6211 - 29 Acacia St, Byron Bay munrosurfboards.com.au T&C SURF DESIGN / McCOY 02 6685 7485 10 Acacia Street, Byron Bay BYRON BAY LONGBOARDS 02 6685 5244 Shop 1 - 89 Jonson St, Byron Bay MADDOG BEACH SURF CENTRE 02 6685 6466 4 Jonson St, Byron Bay www.maddog.com.au HO’OKUPU 02 6685 8861 - 2/9 Lawson St, Byron Bay hookupusurf.com UNPLUGGED 02 6685 7441 - Shop 1/ 2 Lawson St, Byron Bay www.unpluggedbyronbay.com LENNOX HEAD SURF SHOP 02 6687 7038 71 Ballina St, Lennox Head ALL ABOVE BOARD 02 6687 7522 68 Ballina St, Lennox Head MADDOG SURF CENTRE 02 6685 6094 45 River St, Ballina www.maddog.com.au TRIPLE X WETSUITS 02 6686 3939 - 10 Piper Drive, Ballina www.triple-x.com.au GUNTHER ROHN 02 6681 5879 - 3/10 Piper Drive, Ballina www.guntherrohn.com THE PLANK SHOP 02 6645 8362 Top of the Hill, Yamba NSW MID NORTH COAST GANGSTA SURF
1/15 Orlando Street, Coffs Harbour FLANAGAN SURFBOARDS 0432 361 694 Unit 26, 22 Lawson Cres, Coffs Harbour www.flanagansurfboards.com THE LOG SHACK 02 6658 0223 - 392 Harbour Dve, The Jetty Strip, Coffs Harbour www.thelogshack.com.au
Street, Tuncurry www.junglesurf.com.au SALTWATER WINE 02 6554 7979 5 Wharf St, Forster www.saltwaterwine.com.au
LONG REEF SURF 02 9982 4829
BOOMERANG BEACH SURF 02 6554 0351 Shop 4, Boomerang Dve, Pacific Palms
WIND SURF ’N’ SNOW 02 9971 0999
GRAFFITI SURF DESIGNS 02 4981 3409
43 Donald St, Nelson Bay
NEWCASTLE NEWCASTLE SURF DESIGNS 02 4968 9989
4 Maitland Rd, Mayfield
SAM EGAN SURFBOARDS 02 4969 7299 28 Maitland Rd, Islington www.samegan.com.au
SURF FACTORY 16 Maitland Rd, Islington www.thesurffactory.com.au SURFHOUSE PHOTOGRAPHY 61 Hunter St, Newcastle surfhousephotography.com BREAKAWAY SURF 02 4929 1144 - Shop 6 Hunter Street Mall, Newcastle
PACIFIC DREAMS 02 4926 3355 - 7 Darby St,
Newcastle www.pacificdreams.com.au
SANBAH SURF 02 4962 2420 - Shop 27, The Junction Fair, Union St, Newcastle www.sanbah.com.au
BREAKAWAY SURF CO. 02 4943 2699 181 Pacific Hwy Charlestown EGAN’S 02 4945 8055 575 Pacific Hwy, Belmont THE SURF SHACK 02 4945 8965
703 Pacific Hwy, Belmont South
SWANSEA SURF SHOP 02 4971 4422
164 Pacific Hwy, Swansea swanseasurf.com.au
CENTRAL COAST BEACHIN’ SURF 02 43 96 5159
262 Main Rd, Toukley
BOARD CITY 02 4397 1092 - 150 Main Rd, Toukley www.boardcity.com.au
ADRIFT SURF 02 4332 8355 - 133 The Entrance
Rd, The Entrance www.adriftsurf.com.au
BOARDERLINE SURF SKATE 02 4332 7175
421 The Entrance Rd, Long Jetty www.boarderlinesurfskate.com
SURFERS CHOICE 02 4334 6532
473 The Entrance Rd, Long Jetty www.surferschoice.com.au
1012 Pittwater Rd, Collaroy www.longreefsurf.com.au
17 Anzac Ave, Collaroy www.windsurfnsnow.com.au THE PERFECT WAVE 02 9939 0890 Suite 38, 42-46 Wattle Rd Brookvale www.theperfectwave.com.au BENNETT SURFBOARDS 02 9905 5157 180 Harbord Rd, Brookvale DRIPPING WET SURF CO. 02 9977 3549 398 Pittwater Rd, Mona Vale; 02 9977 3549 - 93 North Steyne, Manly www.dripwetsurf.com SUNSHINE SURFING 02 9977 4399 - 89 Pittwater Rd, Manly www.sunshinesurfing.com.au ALOHA MANLY STYLE 02 9977 3777 44 Pittwater Rd, Manly www.alohasurfmanly.com.au MANLY SURFBOARDS 02 9976 0591 - 46 North Steyne Rd, Manly www.basesurfboards.com SALTMOTION 02 9976 6518 Market Place, Manly www.saltmotion.com MANLY LONGBOARD CO. 02 9977 0093 Shop 10, 74 The Corso, Manly www.manlylongboard.com SURFECTION 02 9969 1011 - 522 Military Rd, Mosman www.surfectionmosman.com
SYDNEY PATAGONIA 93 Bathurst St, Sydney
www.patagonia.com.au BONDI UNDERGROUND 02 9365 0870 2/72 Campbell Pde, Bondi Beach DRIPPING WET SURF CO. 02 9300 0055 180186 Campbell Parade Bondi Beach SURF CULTURE 02 9389 5477 - 40 Bronte Rd, Bondi Junction www.surfculture.com.au MAROUBRA SURF AND SKATE 02 9344 4250 198 Marine Parade Maroubra
CRONULLA SUTHERLAND JACKSON SURFBOARDS 02 9524 2700
57 Captain Cook Drive, Caringbah www.jacksonsurfboards.com.au TRIPLE BULL 02 9524 4822 - 41 Captain Cook Dr, Caringbah; 02 9544 0354 - 23 Kingsway, Cronulla www.triplebullsurf.com
BATEAU BAY SURF N SPORT 02 4332 1157 101a Bateau Bay Road, Bateau Bay
WATER SURF+ART+CAFE
Distinctively relaxed atmosphere, exceptional food, coffee and tea, great service, photographic art from Australia’s best photographers, exquisite gifts and select surfwear and boards. (02) 6651 4500 370 Harbour Drive, Coffs Harbour Jetty www.watersurfartcafe.com OUTER ISLAND SURFBOARDS 02 6655 7007
7 Bayldon Dr, Raleigh www.outerislandsurfboards.com VALLA SURFBOARDS 02 6568 8909 8 Monro St, Nambucca Heads www.vallasurfboards.com.au COASTAL CURVES 02 6568 6902 - Ridge St, Nambucca Heads www.coastalcurves.com CRESCENT HEAD SURF CO. 02 6562 8306 33 Smith St, Kempsey CRESCENT HEAD SURF SHOP 02 6566 0550 Crescent Head Tavern, Crescent Head INNER VISION SURF ‘N’ SKATE 02 6583 7790 80 William St, Port Macquarie SALTWATER WINE 02 6584 4877 1/125 Gordon St, Port Macquarie www.saltwaterwine.com.au SANDY FEET 02 6584 1995 5/21 Clarence St, Port Macquarie www.sandyfeetsurf.com.au JUNGLE SURF 02 6555 8556 - 86 Manning
ONE EIGHTY SURF COMPANY 02 4385 8440
Shop 2, 82a Ocean View Dve, Wamberal www.180surfco.com.au
ALPINE BEACH 02 4367 4944
177 The Entrance Road, Erina www.alpinebeach.com.au
SLIMES 02 4365 5511 1/203 The Entrance Rd, Erina THREE POINTS SURF 02 4382 1541 170 Avoca Dve, Avoca Beach
NORTHERN BEACHES BEACH WITHOUT SAND 02 9918 2763 1a Nth Avalon Rd, Avalon
RAISED BY WOLVES 02 9918 8861 - 40 Old Barrenjoey Rd, Avalon, 02 9997 4838 Shop 3, 8-10 Waratah St, Mona Vale www.raisedbywolves.com.au
EASTCOAST STAND UP PADDLE Dedicated to SUP - Sydney’s original Stand Up Paddle outlet. Performance, flatwater, race, and distance boards – we have a board to suit all skill levels.
0413 456009 0418 294854 27 Throsby Close Barden Ridge eastcoaststanduppaddle.com.au
LITTLE DRAGON 0403 974 967
1 Bramley Lane, Newport Beach
RON WADE SURF DESIGN 02 9979 7071
23 Bassett Street, Mona Vale ronwadesurfboards.com.au
CHANNEL ISLAND SURFBOARDS 02 9997 8266
4/76 Darly St, Mona Vale cisurfboards.com
QUIKSILVER MONA VALE 02 9999 3727
1729 Pitt Water Rd, Mona Vale
DIVISION SURF 02 9979 5334
Cnr Bungan & Waratah Sts, Mona Vale, divisionsurf.com.au
STAND UP PADDLE GEAR AUSTRALIA
02 9986 3420 6/53 Myora Rd, Terrey Hills www.supgearaustralia.com
BALMORAL BOARDS 02 9970 8600
LESSONS TOURS AND SALES Call Peter Japp on 0488 887 SUP or 0488 88 77 87
sutherlandshiresupschool.com.au
1228 Pittwater Rd, Narrabeen www.balmoralboards.com.au
WICKS SURF CENTRE 02 9971 0760
1103 Pittwater Road, Collaroy Beach
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CRONULLA SURF DESIGN 02 9544 0433 8 Cronulla St, Cronulla www.cronullasurfdesign.com.au KING SURFBOARDS 02 9521 3645 577 Princes Hwy, Kirrawee
ATOLL TRAVEL 1800 622 310 - 4 Bridge
Street, Foster www.atolltravel.com SERIOUS SURF STUFF 03 5674 2540 1 Williams St , Inverloch VORTEX SURF & SKATE 03 5672 4112 54 McBride Ave, Wonthaggi
PHILLIP ISLAND OUTEREEF 03 5678 5677 - 73 Phillip Island
CRONULLA STANDUP PADDLEBOARD Everything to do with S.U.P Lessons, Hire, Sales of New and Used equipment, Accesories, Apparel & more 02 9544 2293 0400 085 823 Shop 3,13-15 The Kingsway Cronulla, NSW 2230 www.cronullasup.com WOLLONGONG RETRO WOMBAT 02 4267 1322
228 Lawrence Hargrave Dve, Thirroul www.retrowombat.com FINBOX BOARDSTORE 02 4268 2050 1/269 Lawrence Hargrave Dve, Thirroul thefinbox.blogspot.com BYRNE SURF AND SKI 02 4268 3455 303 Lawrence Hargrave Dve, Thirroul 02 4226 1122 -115 Princes Highway, Fairy Meadow byrnesurfboardsaustralia.com SURF PIT 02 4283 7196 - 2/100 Railway St, Corrimal www.surfpit.com.au SKIPP SURFBOARDS 02 4229 1202 231 Crown Street, Wollongong (factory showroom); 02 4228 8878 24 Flinders St, Wollongong www.skippsurfboards.com.au CARABINE SURF DESIGNS 02 4229 9462 36 Flinders St, Wollongong
NSW SOUTH COAST SHELLHARBOUR SURF & SKATE 02 4295 3373
Shop 6, 32 Addison St, Shellharbour ZINK SURF 02 4233 1189 - 136 Terralong St, Kiama www.zinksurf.com.au NATURAL NECESSITY SURF SHOP 02 4234 1636 115 Fern St, Gerringong www.nnss.com.au AQUATIQUE 02 4421 8159 - 125-127 Junction St, Nowra; 02 4441 5530 - 55 Owen St, Huskisson www.aquatique.com.au BUSTED SURF CO. 02 4447 3485 10 Fairlands St, Culburra Beach OCEAN & EARTH 02 4441 2482 12 Springs Rd, Sussex Inlet www.oceanearth.com SUN & SURF SHOP 02 4441 1938 Shop 1, 168 Jacobs Dve, Sussex Inlet MARK RABBIDGE SURF DESIGN 0427 767 176 441A Bendalong Rd, Bendalong www.markrabbidge.com AKWA SURF 02 4454 5222 - Shop 1, Mellick’s Corner, Princess Hwy, Milton www.akwasurf.com.au
SOUTHERN MAN SURF SHOP
02 4454 0343 -138 Princes Hwy, Ulladulla www.southernman.com.au SALTWATER DREAM 02 4472 3811 2 Bay Central, Batemans Bay OFFSHORE SURF SHOP 02 4474 4350 66 Vulcan St, Moruya offshoresurf.com.au NAROOMA SURF & SKATE 02 4476 1422 30 Princes Hwy, Narooma DSC SURFBOARDS 0424 867 962 Princes Highway, Narooma BERMAGUI SURF SHOP 02 6493 4849 4/28 Lamont St, Bermagui RAW SURFBOARDS 02 6494 4466 1291 Tathra Road, Kalaru www.rawsurfboards.com.au BUSHRAT SURFBOARDS - 02 6495 9900 Widgeram Rd, Merimbula www.bushrat.com MERIMBULA SURF SHOP 02 6495 1515 Merimbula Drive, Merimbula
COUNTRY VIC SURF SHACK 03 5155 4933
507 Esplanade, Lakes Entrance
Rd, San Remo www.outereef.com.au FULLCIRCLE SURF 03 5678 5873 115 Marine Pde, San Remo; 03 5956 7453 4-5 Vista Pl, Cape Woolamai www.fullcirclesurf.com.au ISLANTIS 03 5956 7553 - 10-12 Phillip Island Rd, Newhaven www.islantis.com.au ISLAND SURF CENTRE 03 5952 2578 147 Thompson Ave, Cowes; 03 5952 3443 65 Smiths Beach Rd, Smiths Beach www.islandsurfboards.com.au ISLAND SURF SHACK 03 5952 1659 148 Thompson Ave, Cowes
MELBOURNE ZAK SURFBOARDS 03 9416 7384
319 Victoria Rd, Thornbury www.zaksurfboards.com TRIGGER BROS SURF & SAIL 03 9537 3222 Shop 2, 1 St Kilda Rd, St Kilda www.triggerbros.com.au RPS (THE BOARD STORE) 03 9525 6475 87 Ormond Rd, Elwood www.rpstheboardstore.com BRIGHTON SURF CO. 03 9593 2211 43 Church St, Brighton SHQ BOARDSPORTS 03 9598 2867 81 Beach Rd, Sandringham www.shq.com.au MORDY SURF CENTRE 03 9580 1716 628 Main St, Mordialloc mordysurf.com.au
PAULOWNIA SURFBOARD SUPPLIES
03 9588 2533 - 45 Governor Road, Mordialloc paulowniaparadise.com.au OKE SURFBOARDS 03 9587 3553 Factory 1 1-7 Canterbury Rd, Braeside www.okesurfboards.com TRIGGER BROS SURF & SAIL 03 9770 2223 7 Rossmith St, Frankston; 03 5989 8402 Point Leo Rd, Point Leo; 03 5984 5670 46 Ocean Beach Rd, Sorrento www.triggerbros.com.au PENINSULA SURF CENTRE 03 9783 3811 40 Wells St, Frankston; 03 5975 1800 835 Nepean Hwy, Mornington; 03 5985 4637 - 2137 Pt Nepean Hwy, Rye www.peninsulasurf.com.au BALIN 03 5986 6069 - 12 Newington Ave, Rosebud www.balin.com.au BEAN SURFING 03 5984 5199 4 Ocean Beach Rd, Sorrento
VIC SURF COAST MURFS LONGBOARDS 03 5255 5525
82 The Terrace, Ocean Grove www.murfslongboards.com.au STRAPPER SURF 03 5255 2666 67b The Terrace, Ocean Grove www.strapper.com.au STONKER TORQUAY 03 5261 6077 - 1a Baines Cr, Torquay www.stonker.com.au HYDROPHILIC 0421 504 621 - 1C Baines Cr, Torquay www.southcoastlongboards.com.au SURF WORLD 03 5261 4606 Surf City Plaza, Torquay www.surfworld.org.au PATAGONIA 03 5261 4420 - 116 Surfcoast Hwy, Torquay www.patagonia.com.au TORQUAY SURF 03 5261 5666 - 3/108 Surfcoast Hwy, Torquay STRAPPER 03 5261 3508 - 96 Surfcoast Hwy, Torquay; 03 5261 2312 - 106 Surfcoast Hwy, Torquay www.strapper.com.au WATERMARKS PHOTO GALLERY 03 5264 7232 38-40 Bell Street, Torquay www.watermarksphotogallery.com.au TIGERFISH 03 5264 7271 - 12/15 Bell St, Torquay www.tigerfish.com.au ANGLESEA SURF CENTRE 03 5263 1530 111 Great Ocean Rd, Anglesea www. secondhandsurfboards.com.au
LORNE SURF SHOP 03 5289 1673 130 Mountjoy Pde, Lorne HODGY’S SURF CENTRE 03 5237 7883 143 Great Ocean Rd, Apollo Bay hodgys.com SHIPWRECK COAST PORT CAMPBELL TRADING CO. 03 5598 6444
27 Lord Street, Port Campbell WARRNAMBOOL SURF CENTRE 03 5562 1981 136 Koroit Street, Warrnambool
SPOONS 03 5568 3452 42 Sackville Street, Port Fairy TASMANIA LONG POINT SURF 03 6375 1717
DING REPAIRS BUSTED YOUR BOARD? GET IT FIXED HERE...
60 Burgess Street, Bicheno
BAY SURF SHOP 03 6376 1755 2 Pendrigh Place, St Helens TAS
AGNES WATER/1770
SCAMANDER BEACH SURFSHOP 03 6372 5529
REEF 2 BEACH
RED HERRING www.redherringsurf.com.au
MAROOCHYDORE
6 Lagoon Esplanade, Scamander www.scamandersurf.com
03 6231 9001 - 75 Liverpool Street, Hobart 03 6431 2455 - 12 Mount Street, Burnie 03 6331 0984 - 127 Charles Street, Launceston 03 6272 7552 - Shop 41, Northgate
SOUTH AUSTRALIA BARREL SURF 08 8555 5422 - 10c Cadell St, Goolwa www.barrellsurf.com.au
FLY BOARDRIDING (08) 8555 5331
Shop 18, Goolwa Shopping Centre, Goolwa
BIG SURF AUSTRALIA 08 8554 2399
24 Goolwa Rd, Middleton
SOUTHERN SURF 08 8554 2375
36 North Tce, Port Elliot
THE SURF SHOP 08 8552 5466 -15 Albert
Place, Victor Harbor thesurfshop.net.au
SURF ESTEEM 08 8557 7201 - Aldinga Central Shopping Centre www.surfesteem.com
THE DING KING / CLARK SURFBOARDS
0422 443 789 - 20 Cottage Road, Hackham leightonclark01@yahoo.com.au
PREECE’S SOUTH PORT SURF 08 8386 0404
159 Esplanade, Port Noarlunga South www.preece-sthport-surf.com.au
FLY BOARDRIDING 08 8386 0100
Shop 41 Seaford Shopping Centre www.flyboardriding.com.au
ONBOARD SURF WIND SNOW 08 8294 3866
21 Saltfleet St, Port Noarlunga; 1-3 Lights Landing, Holdfast Shores, Glenelg www.onboardsurf.com.au
MV2 08 8382 2468
36 Beach Road, Christies Beach
Mon-Sat, 9-5pm, Sun,10-4pm
07 4974 9072
DA BOMB
www.cutloosesurf.com.au MID COAST SURF 08 83845522 - 8/200 Dyson
Road, Lonsdale www.midcoastsurf.com.au
ISLAND SURF 08 8296 9776 363 Brighton Road Hove EXTREME BOARDRIDERS 08 8295 1219 1/118 Jetty Rd, Glenelg
JRS SURF & SKI 08 838 47466 - Centro
Colonnades; 08 8377 0322 - Westfield Marion; 08 8223 5505 -121 Grenfell St, Adelaide CBD; 08 8231 9577 - Myer Centre, Adelaide CBD; 08 8396 4822 Tea Tree Plus www.jrssurfandski.com.au
WALLBRIDGE SURFBOARDS 08 8376 4914
27 Oaklands Rd, Somerton Park www.wallbridge.com.au
SNOW & SURF CO. 08 8223 5277 187 Rundle St, Adelaide; 08 8332 0900 177 The Parade, Norwood www.snowsurf.com.au MTB SURF 08 8391 3311 Mount Barker YORKES SURF 08 8854 4008 Marion Bay
EPOXY BOARD REPAIRS
Mon - Fri 9am - 4pm, Sat 9am -12pm
0437 032 614
By appointment
WOLLONGONG
BRISBANE
SKIPP SURFBOARDS
0427 019 420
PRIMITIVE SURF
Mon-Fri 8:30-5:30pm, Thurs 8:30am - 8pm, Sat 8:30 - 4pm, Sun 10am -4pm
07 3266 1001
SOUTHPORT
KOMA
Mon-Fri 9am - 5:30pm Thurs 9am - 7:30pm Sat 9am - 4pm, Sun 10am - 4pm
02 4228 8878
JERVIS BAY
INNER FEELING SURFBOARDS
Seven days, 9am - 5pm
Mon-Fri 9am -5pm, Sat 9am -12pm
02 4441 6756
MIAMI
DSC SURFBOARDS
0402 863 763
DINO,S DING REPAIRS
NAROOMA Seven days, 9 - 5pm
0424 867 962
Mon - Fri 9am - 5pm, Sat 9am - 12pm
0409 727 735
BELLARINE PENINSULA
TUGUN
ROUSA SURFBOARDS
DIVERSE
0403 693 333
Mon - Fri 10am - 4pm Sat 10am - 2pm
0408 701 467
COOLANGATTA UNDERGROUND SURF 7 days, 9am - 5pm
07 5599 1040
TWEED HEADS FULL FORCE
Mon - Fri 9am - 5pm
Mon-Sat, 10am-5pm,
THORNBURY
ZAK SURFBOARDS Mon - Fri 10am - 6pm, Sat 10am - 5pm
03 9416 7384
TORQUAY
STONKER
Seven days, 9am - 5pm
03 5261 6077
THE SURFERS SHED Seven days, 9am - 5pm
0437 246 848
PHILLIP ISLAND
BYRON BAY
ISLAND SURF SHOP ‘ COWES
DR DING
03 5952 2578
07 5524 2933
SURFBOARD REPAIRS Mon-Fri 8am - 5pm Sat 10am - 4pm, Sun 10am - 2pm
0431 740 940
MC SURF DESIGNS Mon - Fri 9am - 5pm, Sat 9am - 1pm
02 6685 8778
7 days, 9-5pm
ADELAIDE
WALLBRIDGE SURFBOARDS Mon - Fri, 9am - 5.30pm Sat 9am - 4pm
08 8376 4914
YAMBA
SOUTH ADELAIDE
PLANK SHOP
THE DING KING
TOMBSTONE SURFBOARDS
0422 443 789
02 6645 8362
Tues - Fri 9am - 4pm, Sat 9am - 12pm
0432 330 826
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0422 304 078
SANDLOCK SURFBOARDS
GRB SURFBOARDS
4 Piping Lane, Lonsdale, SA, 5160
Mon-Fri 10am - 5.30pm Weekends by appointment
MOFFAT BEACH
KIRRA
OPEN 7 DAYS - 08 8326 0939
REPAIRS & RESTORATIONS
LONG JETTY
07 5451 0620
07 5598 4848
The largest range of surfboards, mals, SUP’s, wetsuits & 2nd hand boards is SA with over 300 boards in stock. Custom boards and SA’s cheapest ding repairs on site. 30 years and still going strong…
, BUCKO S SURFBOARD
Mon – Sat, 9-5pm, Sun,10-4pm
Mon-Fri 8:30am - 5:30pm Sat & Sun 9-4pm
CUTLOOSE SURF
BUDGEWOI
Mon - Fri 9am - 5pm
FIX BROKEN BOARDS?
Promote your repair business for $15 an edition. Call 0401 345 201 157
24/02/12 3:25 PM
Planning a surfing holiday or weekend away? These fine accommodation options offer great proximity to surf beaches in some of the country’s best surf spots. Get out there.
QUEENSLAND
PORTOBELLO BY THE SEA 6 Beerburrum St, Dicky Beach Caloundra Fantastic surf spots right on your doorstep. Moffat, Neill Street, Dicky Beach all within a 5 minute walk. Luxury accommodation within 50 m of some of the best restaurants Caloundra has to offer. Proximity: Across from patrolled Dicky Beach, on-site dining and shopping. Phone: 07 5491 9038
E: info@portobellobythesea.com.au
www.portobellobythesea.com.au From $325 for two nights.
PANDANUS PALMS HOLIDAY RESORT 21 Cumming Pde, Point Lookout, North Stradbroke Island
THE ISLANDER HOLIDAY RESORT
High on a hill overlooking Home Beach, looking north towards Moreton Island, offering plenty of open space for children to play, full size tennis court and swimming pool.
Ideally located, whether it’s adventure or relaxation you’re after, there’s something for everyone - pool, tennis court, bbq area, kids playground, scooter & car hire. Studio, 1 & 2 bedroom apartments available, all fully self-contained with foxtel, dvd player, wireless internet access, balconies and parking.
The two or three bedroom villas are fully self-contained with large living area and private balcony, own BBQ and linen is supplied. We can arrange return vehicle ferry crossings at a discounted rate. Proximity: 500m walk to Home Beach and Stradbroke Island Beach Hotel. 2km to cafes, shops and Gorge Walk. P: 07 3409 8106 E: bookings@pandanuspalmsresort.com
41 East Coast Rd, Point Lookout North Stradbroke Island
Proximity: 2 min walk to hotel, pub, bowls club, shops & restaurants. Opposite Home/ Cylinder beaches. P: 07 3409 8388
COOLANGATTA SANDS HOSTEL Cnr McLean and Griffith Street, Coolangatta
NOVOTEL WOLLONGONG NORTHBEACH
Your ultimate surf HQ! Where else can you find some of the world’s best beaches and beach breaks on your doorstep - Kirra, Snapper Rocks, D-Bah, Rainbow Bay, Greenmount and Coolangatta? Free breakfast, free pick-up, economical shared and private rooms. Stay three nights and you can travel to Byron Bay for free on our shuttle bus! Part of the Coolangatta Adventure Crew.
Stunning ocean views, spacious, light filled rooms and a reputation for exceptional service has made Novotel Wollongong Northbeach one of New South Wales’s most popular getaway and business venues. Opposite North Wollongong beach, the 4 ½ star hotel boasts 204 rooms and suites. Catering for both the leisure and business traveller, there’s a range of facilities and services including pool, spa, fitness centre, day spa, restaurant and two bars.
E: islander@stradbrokeresorts.com.au
Proximity: Across from great surf breaks, restaurants, nightlife Phone: 07 5536 7472 E: hostel@taphouse.com.au
From $225 for 2 nights
Rates from $29 per night
islander.stradbrokeresorts.com.au
www.coolangattasandshostel.com.au
2-14 Cliff Rd, North Wollongong
Proximity: Beach 50m, CBD 2km, train Station 1km, Sydney Airport 70km Phone: 02 4224 3111 www.novotelnorthbeach.com.au From $209 per night
www.pandanuspalmsresort.com
NEW SOUTH WALES
From $330.00 for two nights
CALOUNDRA HOLIDAY CENTRE 1/78 Bulcock St, Caloundra Caloundra Holiday Centre has been assisting holidaymakers find their perfect Sunshine Coast getaway for over 25 years. We offer one of the largest portfolios of holiday accommodation in Caloundra, consisting of a great choice of budget to luxury self contained units and houses at all beaches. With family friendly prices and seniors’ discounts available, we’re sure to have a property to suit your needs at a competitive price. Our friendly and experienced staff can assist you with finding your perfect beach break! Request our free colour brochure and price list today! P: 07 5491 5444 E: info@caloundraholidaycentre.com.au
caloundraholidaycentre.com.au From $340 p/w, low season TV 158
gym
laundry
WHALE WATCH OCEAN BEACH RESORT Samarinda Dve, Point Lookout, North Stradbroke Island Located at North Stradbroke Island’s Point Lookout, Whale Watch Ocean Beach Resort provides endless views along the main surfing beach (which is one of the east’s coasts renowned surf spots) and over the Pacific Ocean, to the Gold Coast and beyond. Proximity: Short walk to Point Lookout Surf Club and all the major Point Lookout attractions. P: 07 3409 8555 E: reservations@ whalewatchresort.com.au www.whalewatchresort.com.au kitchen
parking
wi-fi
STRADBROKE ISLAND HOLIDAYS Shop 2 Raby Bay Harbour 152 Shore Street West Cleveland North Stradbroke Island is the ideal holiday destination for families, couples or maybe just a day trip. Located one hour from Brisbane, Straddie is easily accessible by Stradbroke Ferries’ fast reliable vehicle ferries or water taxi which depart from Cleveland. Stradbroke Island Holidays offer an efficient booking service to arrange all of your accommodation and luxury Stradbroke Ferry transfers to and from North Stradbroke Island. P: 07 3821 0266 www.stradbrokeholidays.com.au pool
airconditioning
SOUTHVIEW BULLI 19 Southview Street, Bulli Southview is a newly renovated bed & breakfast and self contained holiday accommodation, nestled between Sandon Point Beach and Bulli Beach. Recently rated 4.5 stars by AAA tourism it is the perfect place to unwind and perfect for the surfer and their family. Proximity: Nestled Between Sandon Point and Bulli Beach Telephone: 02 4268 6303
KIAMA COVE MOTEL 10 Bong Bong St, Kiama Kiama Cove Motel is located in the heart of Kiama, overlooking Surf Beach with most rooms having ocean views, airconditioning and king sized beds. All with complimentary continental breakfasts. Proximity: Right on Kiama Beach. Short walk to the main street of Kiama. Phone: 02 4232 3000 E: kiamacove@bigpond.com www.kiamacove.com.au From $99-$169 per room per night
E: info@southviewbulli.com.au
www.southviewbulli.com.au From $145 per couple family-friendly
pet-friendly
spa
bbq
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SURF TRIP ACCOMMODATION VICTORIA
9 Shirley Street, BYRON BAY Outrigger Bay is the perfect Byron getaway for the ultimate relaxing holiday. With direct access to the beach, these fabulous 2 or 3 bedroom apartments are not only in a stunning location but are also so close to Byron’s great restaurants and bars. This is an ideal location for a surfing holiday with the family or a group of friends. Proximity: DIRECT ACCESS to beach - only 50 metres walk and 2 minute walk to town centre shops. P: 02 6685 8646 E: info@outriggerbay.com www.outriggerbay.com From $195 per night
PHILLIP ISLAND VISITOR INFORMATION CENTRE 895 Phillip Island Road, Newhaven, Phillip Island Planning a surf trip to Phillip Island? The island offers over 2000 beds and over 100 accommodation businesses to choose from. Contact Phillip Island Visitor Information Centre’s accommodation specialists for all your accommodation needs. Let our friendly staff assist you in finding the perfect place for you to stay.
P: 1300 366 422 E: piinfo@basscoast.vic.gov.au www.visitbasscoast.com
SHAMBHALA @ BYRON 14 Childe St, Byron Bay Majestic, hidden beachfront just minutes to the heart of town. Relax after a day in the surf in our ambient and tranquil environment. Beautiful rainforest setting with private spas, steam room, sauna. Perfect for couples or families. 5-star, self-contained tree house retreats.
TASMANIA
SILVERWATER RESORT 17 Potters Hill Rd, San Remo
MARRAWAH BEACH HOUSE 19 Beach Road, MARRAWAH
SCAMANDER BEACH SHACK 130 Scamander Ave, SCAMANDER
Spacious one, two and three-bedroom self-contained apartments all with spectacular bay views and modern conveniences.
The Beach House is located on an organic beef farm on the wild, west coast of Tasmania. The comfortable, self contained twobedroom cottage has spectacular views of the Southern Ocean and easy access to the beach. The perfect base to explore the wilderness of the Tarkine and Arthur River areas. 1 ½ hrs drive from Burnie Airport and 2 ½ hrs drive from Devonport Ferry.
This is the ultimate authentic beach shack and only $130 per night, anytime of the year! Amazing location right opposite Tasmania’s premium east-coast surfing beach. Uninterrupted views of waves and the Scamander River mouth provide breathtaking scenery sitting in the comfort of the shack. An ideal getaway for surfers and their families or keen fisherpersons plus a cosy getaway for a couple.
Complementing the 4.5 star accommodation is an excellent range of resort facilities including indoor and outdoor pool, billiards and games room, tennis and basketball courts, restaurant and bar. Proximity: Five mins to surf beach, two mins to town Phone: 1800 033 403 res@silverwaterresort.com.au www.silverwaterresort.com.au From $175 per night
Proximity: Close to quality reef and beach breaks as well as the local general store and hotel. Phone: 0 3 6457 1285 0428 571 285
E: marrawahbeachhouse@activ8.net.au
Rates from $140 per night
Proximity: Right opposite Scamander Beach. Phone: 0400 912 583
www.scamanderbeachshack.com
$130 per night, all year round
Wish you were here? Well, book a surfing holiday!
Proximity: Absolute beachfront, on surf friendly Belongil beach. 15 minute walk to centre of town P: 1-800-SHAMBHALA E: enquiries@shambhala.org.au www.shambhala.org.au From $279 per night Please quote promo code: SURF AD
Coolum Beach PHOTO: Ben Vos
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SURF DIRECTORY MAKING A SURFBOARD? RESTORATION OR REPAIR?
LEARNING ABOUT THE INDUSTRY? MAKING BLANKS MAKING FINS? 416 A4, full-colour pages, over 1000 photos.
THE SURFER’S $79.95 TEXTBOOK
BUY ONLINE TODAY
WWW.SURFERSTEXTBOOK.COM.AU
UNDERTOW? FLASH RIPS?
GOING FOR A SURF?
SO WHERE YOU GOING TO HIDE YOUR KEYS?
Mark Pridmore of More Surfboards once again layed his quiver out in Maroochydore for one and all to ride and experience.
KEEP KIDS
SAFE! GET A COMBINATION KEY LOCK BOX! AS SEEN
ON TV
SOME MORE BOARD DEMOS
from Keywatch Systems MODELS TO SUIT CARS, UTES, WAGONS, 4WD & HITCH TYPE TOW BARS
ONLY $39.99
FROM
$29.95
Buy direct from importer online or by phone:
www.ksq.com.au sales@ksq.com.au
Everyone was welcome to pick up any of the boards and give them a go. With all kinds of surfboards, from quads to finless creations on display, it was yet another good opportunity to try our some different surfcraft and see how they feel underfoot. Photos by Steve Shearer. www.moresurfboards.com
0409 762 040
SUBSCRIBE!
No big brands. No marketing hype. Just cool merchandise from the salt of the Australian surf community
If you can’t get to a your local surf shop to pick the mag up in person, have smorgasboarder delivered to your door. The mag’s still free, but Australia Post want to get paid...
$18 IN AUSTRALIA GETS YOU SIX EDITIONS, DELIVERED. Sign up at www.smorgasboarder.com.au. It’ll arrive every two months. Missed an edition? Back issues are available for $5 each. INTERNATIONAL SUBCRIPTIONS email for info: subscriptions@smorgasboarder.com.au
CAN YOU AFFORD
ADVERTISE IN THE SURF
A $50,000 WIPEOUT? SURF TRAVEL INSURANCE
DIRECTORY
Super-affordable rates for the smallest of budgets. Call 0401 345 201
160
from INDO SURF & LINGO
indosurf.com.au
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IMPROVED QUALITY BETTER MEMORY EXTREME STRETCH KEEPS ITS SHAPE LONGER New styles in the latest superstretch rubber.
SURFING THE FRINGE
FEB
2012
Wis years of local experience and ze ‘ighest quality materials, every ZEE WETSUIT is built to last. Made locally and 100% Australian owned.
BOTH STORES, SHE IS OPEN ZEE 6 DAYS!
This February saw the Bleach* Surfing the Fringe festival hold its inaugural Gold Coast surf culture celebration. The festival saw art and photography installations, film screenings, music, talks, fashion, theatre and food events staged across the beaches, foreshores and various venues across the 10km stretch of the southern Gold Coast.
OPEN HOURS:
Here are some of the happy festival-goers at the opening of the event. This is one you definitely need to pencil into your calendar for next year...
122 Brisbane Road, NEW STORE! Mooloolaba, QLD
Photos by John Gas, supplied courtesy of Bleach* Surfing the Fringe festival.
NOOSA: MOOLOOLABA:
Mon-Fri: 9 - 5 Sat: 9 - 12 07 5474 1010 07 5444 7007
Unit 2, 15 Venture Drive, Noosaville, QLD
sales@zeewetsuits.com
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