Smorgasboarder_04-March-2011
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OUR SURFING FAMILY HAS GROWN... WELCOME ON BOARD, SOUTH AUSTRALIA<br />
MUCH MORE<br />
THAN CRICKET<br />
AND CURRY..<br />
SURFING<br />
SRI<br />
LANKA<br />
DISCOVERING INDIAN OCEAN MAGIC P74<br />
BIRTH OF<br />
A BOARD<br />
LABOUR, PAIN & JOY<br />
...P82<br />
NORTH STRADBROKE<br />
FERRY GOOD INDEED<br />
...P58<br />
YOUR SURF SHOTS AND MORE<br />
THE MAGAZINE FOR THOSE WHO LOVE TO SURF<br />
ISSUE #4 MAR/APR <strong>2011</strong>
TM<br />
TEAM RIDERS<br />
Owen Wright<br />
Tyler Wright<br />
Bede Durbidge<br />
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Stockist Enquiries - <strong>04</strong>21 551 189<br />
QLD Stockists<br />
Beach Beat - Alexandra Heads 07 5443 2777<br />
Beach Beat - Caloundra 07 5491 4711<br />
Beach Beat - Dicky Beach 07 5491 8215<br />
Darkside Skateboards - Miami 07 5570 1526<br />
Goodtime Surf - Woolloongabba 07 3391 8588<br />
Hurley Burleigh - Southport 07 5531 0013<br />
Kirra Surf - Coolangatta 07 5536 3922<br />
KTM Action Motorcycles - Nerang 07 5596 6622<br />
KTM - Brisbane 07 3386 0977<br />
Local Knowledge - Noosa 07 5474 1222<br />
Local Knowledge - Nobby Beach 07 5526 6377<br />
Primitive Surf - Nundah 07 3266 1001<br />
Roar Industries - Currumbin 07 5525 7003<br />
Surf Connect - Brisbane Nth 07 3137 0500<br />
NSW Stockists<br />
Aloha Manly - Style Manly 02 9977 3777<br />
Bay Action - Byron Bay 02 6685 7819<br />
TM<br />
Coopers Surf - Coffs Harbour 02 6652 1782<br />
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D.S.C. Surfboards - Narooma <strong>04</strong>24 867 962<br />
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Shifty’s - Canberra 02 6262 9162<br />
ELECTRICDIVISION<br />
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE<br />
Gold Coaster Shaun Gossman at Duranbah<br />
Photo: Jack DeKort<br />
<br />
ALL THE<br />
USUAL BITS<br />
THE LATEST<br />
Feedback P15<br />
News P20<br />
And greatest P22<br />
Community P24<br />
TRAVEL<br />
North Straddie perfection P58<br />
Making waves in Sri Lanka P74<br />
GEAR<br />
Latest surfboard designs P91<br />
New life for old boards P96<br />
A future for young shapers P100<br />
<br />
CLOSEOUT<br />
Surf bikinis P106<br />
Music & books P109<br />
People out and about P114<br />
30<br />
SURFING UP<br />
A STORM<br />
34<br />
COFFS HARBOUR<br />
IN ALL ITS COLOUR<br />
48<br />
MARCH IN NOOSA... SURFBOARDS...<br />
IT’S FESTIVAL TIME<br />
82 100<br />
FROM STAND UP PADDLE<br />
START TO FINISH ON DRY LAND<br />
From NRL star to<br />
author, Scott Hill talks<br />
to us about his surfing<br />
Tom Woods shares<br />
his work and passion<br />
for the ocean<br />
An iconic event in<br />
an iconic surf spot<br />
celebrates 20 years<br />
We learn the hard<br />
way what goes into<br />
crafting a surfboard<br />
Grab a skateboard, a<br />
big stick and take a<br />
trip along the coast<br />
6 mar/apr <strong>2011</strong>
mar/apr <strong>2011</strong><br />
7
DETAILS<br />
& THINGS<br />
WHAT WE’RE ALL ABOUT<br />
smorgasboarder is for all of us that love surfing,<br />
whether it’s to relax, unwind, get in a healthy bit of<br />
exercise or to catch up with friends and family.<br />
WHERE TO PICK US UP<br />
Quality surf stores, shapers and cool cafes within 10kms of the<br />
coast through Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and<br />
South Australia. For a full list of distributors, visit the directory<br />
in the back of the mag or just get to your local surf shop and<br />
talk to some real people, in the flesh. If you see a local store<br />
advertising, they’re sure to have the lion’s share of mags in<br />
your area. smorgasboarder is published six times a year -<br />
September, November, January, <strong>March</strong>, May, July.<br />
CAN’T GET THERE? SUBSCRIBE<br />
If you can’t get to a store, have smorgasboarder delivered<br />
to your door by becoming a home subscriber. The mag is free,<br />
but Australia Post need to get paid. $18 in Australia gets<br />
you six editions. Sign up at www.smorgasboarder.com.<br />
au and wait by your mailbox. It’ll arrive every two months.<br />
Backissues are available for $5 per copy. We only have a few<br />
copies of our first three left... Be quick.<br />
THANK YOU<br />
Thank you to all our creative contributing writers, fantastic<br />
photographers and excellent people who made this edition<br />
possible. A special mention of thanks to Gus Brown and<br />
Megan Slade for their extra miles, James Ellis who now<br />
joins us as South Australian distributor, and Phil Pfeifer and<br />
Garry Palmer for getting on the road.<br />
THE TEAM<br />
If you’re after any information on advertising, distribution,<br />
editorial, subscribing, contributing or just plain getting<br />
involved in some way, drop us a line...<br />
SALES, EDITORIAL & PRODUCTION:<br />
Dave Swan dave@smorgasboarder.com.au<br />
<strong>04</strong>01 345 201<br />
Mark Chapman mark@smorgasboarder.com.au<br />
<strong>04</strong>00 875 884<br />
FEATURE SALES<br />
Garry Palmer<br />
Phil Pfeifer<br />
garry@smorgasboarder.com.au<br />
<strong>04</strong>18 745 227<br />
phil@smorgasboarder.com.au<br />
<strong>04</strong>50 391 517<br />
SOUTH AUSTRALIAN DISTRIBUTION & SALES<br />
James Ellis trade@ljdistribution.com.au<br />
<strong>04</strong>12 194 383<br />
CONTRIBUTORS<br />
WRITING TALENT THIS EDITION: Pat Quirk, Dr Pete<br />
Kirkham, Craig Baird, Gus Brown, Megan Slade, Emma Webb,<br />
Tommy Leitch, Tom Wegener, Jack Finlay and Cory McBride.<br />
PHOTOGRAPHIC GENIUS: Yes they are - make sure you<br />
check out the photo credits on each pic and tell them how<br />
much they rock.<br />
Ideas & submissions: editorial@smorgasboarder.com.au<br />
Distribution: mags@hugecmedia.com.au<br />
WWW.SMORGASBOARDER.COM.AU<br />
smorgasboarder is published by Huge C Media Pty Ltd<br />
ABN 30944673055. All information is correct at time of going to<br />
press. The publishers cannot accept responsibility for errors in<br />
articles or advertisements, or unsolicited manuscripts, photographs or<br />
8 jan/feb <strong>2011</strong><br />
We print with Pep<br />
Central and Craft<br />
Inprint Group, an<br />
environmentally aware<br />
and committed printer<br />
whose business is<br />
founded upon the<br />
principles of minimising<br />
waste and maximising<br />
recycling. Nice work.
Since 1971<br />
“is what surfing is all about”<br />
www.goodtime.com.au<br />
Surf photos by Jacob Lambert<br />
Goodtime Surf & Sail<br />
29 Ipswich Road, Woolloongabba, Brisbane<br />
07 3391 8588<br />
info@goodtime.com.au<br />
JOIN US ON FACEBOOK!<br />
Come and see Gail and the Goodtime team at the Gabba<br />
jan/feb <strong>2011</strong><br />
9
LATEST: EDITION<br />
FOREVER FORWARD<br />
Mother nature is certainly a tempestuous lady.<br />
We derive so much pleasure from her. We swim<br />
in her waters and ride the waves she creates. Yet<br />
every now and then, she shows her destructive side,<br />
unleashing astonishing power and force, turning<br />
heaven into hell.<br />
For the last two months so many have copped a<br />
battering from floods, cyclones and even raging<br />
bushfires. You look at what people have been through<br />
and can only marvel at their resilience. Personally,<br />
I question if I could go on after what many have<br />
endured, particularly the loss of loved ones. Their<br />
strength to move forward is something to behold.<br />
One thing is for certain - it makes you appreciate<br />
what you have. It makes you appreciate the time<br />
we have with family and friends. And at the risk of<br />
sounding like a broken record - as we said in our<br />
last edition - make the most of your life. Find time<br />
to do what you love doing. Take your kids for a surf.<br />
Share a wave with your mates. Hoot, holler and<br />
laugh until you are hoarse. You only get one life.<br />
When times were tough, my grandad had a<br />
saying...“Forever forward. There is only one way<br />
to go - forever forward.” He was a wise man. He<br />
had been through tough times - the ’74 floods<br />
in Brisbane, the Second World War... He’d been<br />
awarded the Military Cross and a swath of medals<br />
for bravery. What did he do? He marched forever<br />
forward to rescue his mates who were pinned down<br />
in no-man’s land.<br />
Tears still well in my eyes when I speak of him,<br />
some fifteen years after his passing. When I think<br />
of him and how much I still miss him, I think of<br />
the pain so many are enduring now. It must be<br />
unbearable. I feel for those who have lost so much.<br />
But for our families and friends and those who<br />
depend on us and look up to us, we must move<br />
forever forward. It’s the only way.<br />
HOW CAN WE HELP THOSE IN NEED?<br />
With some love, compassion and anything we can<br />
spare to assist those in need. And fortunately, many<br />
of the businesses who support smorgasboarder<br />
have felt the same way, making generous donations<br />
to help with our fundraising efforts for the Disaster<br />
Relief Appeal. We are so incredibly appreciative of<br />
the support from all involved in raising a few dollars<br />
to help where we can. Read more on Page 28.<br />
THIS EDITION<br />
We too are marching forever forward, it seems.<br />
With this edition we welcome our surfing brothers<br />
and sisters in South Australia. That’s right -<br />
smorgasboarder is now delivered from Agnes<br />
Water in Queensland through New South Wales<br />
and Victoria, all the way across to South Oz.<br />
More and more talented editorial contributors and<br />
photographers from around the country have jumped<br />
on board to help publish ‘their’ magazine. And this<br />
month we also go live with the humble beginnings of<br />
our new website at www.smorgasboarder.com.au<br />
Finally, we hope this edition is another step forward<br />
in helping surfers to enjoy... well, surfing... and the<br />
sheer happiness it brings. It’s another step forward<br />
in recognising what we have and how fortunate we<br />
are in our lives.<br />
Dave<br />
Somewhere in South Australia. Just one more place for us to make new friends and have good times. Welcome on board SA. Photo: James Ellis<br />
10 mar/apr <strong>2011</strong>
mar/apr <strong>2011</strong><br />
11
LADIES FIRST<br />
girls<br />
THE NEW SCHOOL<br />
LIFE IS ALL SUNSHINE, ICE-CREAMS AND CUTBACKS ON SCHOOL TIME FOR THESE LUCKY LADIES ENROLLED IN THE SURFING<br />
EXCELLENCE PROGRAM AT COOLUM HIGH. WE CHAT TO FOUR STUDENTS AND ORGANISER, BRAD LEE, TO FIND OUT MORE.<br />
PHOTOS AND WORDS: MEGAN SLADE<br />
What the girls say...<br />
Alannah: We get two<br />
double lessons on Fridays<br />
and Tuesdays to surf. Then<br />
we have our theory lesson<br />
where we pretty much work<br />
on improving our surfing<br />
technique. We learn how to<br />
judge and we actually made<br />
our own surf magazine<br />
once for an assignment<br />
which was fun.<br />
Kayla: They rotate the<br />
coaches at school every<br />
couple of weeks and<br />
every coach teaches<br />
you something different.<br />
It’s good to get different<br />
perspectives.<br />
Carlene: And after HPE<br />
(health and physical<br />
education) everyone is so<br />
hot and sweaty. We get to<br />
go surfing afterwards and<br />
we all rub it in. (All laugh)<br />
Belle: It’s my favourite<br />
subject by far. I do it<br />
because I thought it would<br />
be fun, and I thought it<br />
would be better than doing<br />
Japanese (laughs). No<br />
seriously, Dad got me into<br />
surfing when I was in grade<br />
six so I was stoked when<br />
they offered it at school in<br />
year eight.<br />
Alannah: It’s the best<br />
subject. Especially if you<br />
are having a hard time at<br />
home or school. Just being<br />
able to get out in the water<br />
and take your stress out on<br />
the wave clears your head<br />
if you are angry or upset. It<br />
just flushes all of the anger<br />
out of you and makes you<br />
feel happy again. If you get<br />
a good wave it just makes<br />
your whole day so much<br />
better.<br />
Carlene: My friend from<br />
Brisbane is really jealous.<br />
She thinks we are really<br />
lucky to even be living on<br />
the Coast and can’t believe<br />
we do surfing as a subject<br />
at school.<br />
12 mar/apr <strong>2011</strong>
aUStralia-WiDe<br />
Freight SpecialiStS!<br />
for kite • wake • stand up • surf<br />
<strong>March</strong>-april Special<br />
THE BEST CLASS EVER: Brad Lee and his surfing students.<br />
No need to wag school to surf...<br />
Brad Lee has been running surfing subjects at Coolum High for<br />
eighteen years as part of the sport and recreation program. Due to the<br />
subject’s popularity, the Surfing Excellence Program became a separate<br />
curriculum seven years ago.<br />
“We look at things like surfboard technology, how they are shaped,<br />
different designs,” says Brad. “We try and get kids to be aware of the<br />
equipment they are using. We do surf safety and surf awareness. We<br />
look at major manoeuvres and techniques involved. We look at surfing<br />
small and big waves and winning thoughts in competitions. We look<br />
at sustainability within the industry and the environment as well as<br />
reading the weather. It’s a fairly broad curriculum.”<br />
Surfing as a subject has also had a positive impact on the girls’ selfesteem<br />
and general confidence levels.<br />
“I think these four are good examples of girls with a lot of confidence.<br />
Not only are they comfortable talking to adults and people their own<br />
age, but also the guys,” Brad tells us. “They feel confident within that<br />
peer group and know that the guys aren’t to be feared. They’re actually<br />
good friends, and that’s proven by the way the guys encourage them in<br />
the water.”<br />
Kayla agrees: “They always support us, they always make sure we<br />
get a couple of waves. When we’re paddling for a massive wave, they<br />
encourage us to go for it. The best thing is when you get a good one<br />
and they are like ‘Yeah that was a sick wave!’ It’s good they say that...<br />
and they aren’t saying it to be mean.”<br />
Brad believes encouragement and those friendships are a really<br />
special part of this program.<br />
“A lot of women find it completely different out there in the water. If<br />
you are not confident, you will be trodden on. There aren’t as many<br />
waves as there used to be.”<br />
The progress and dedication shown by the girls is very encouraging<br />
and proof in itself of the success of the program.<br />
“They all start off very enthusiastic and I think surfing is a pretty<br />
frustrating sport so the learning curve is steep. These girls really have<br />
stuck with it.”<br />
“The only bad thing about the program is that it finishes in year ten,”<br />
says Kayla.<br />
“We’re still working on that,” promises Brad.<br />
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mar/apr <strong>2011</strong><br />
13
LATEST: FEEDBACK<br />
JOIN IN THE CONVERSATION:<br />
Email all your innermost thoughts, letters, stories, photos,<br />
praise, rants to letters@smorgasboarder.com.au or send<br />
other contribution ideas, surf photography or fantastic ideas<br />
for stories to editor@smorgasboarder.com.au.<br />
Join us on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/<br />
<strong>Smorgasboarder</strong>-Surf-Magazine/133229320054947 (or easier,<br />
just search for smorgasboarder)<br />
From<br />
planes to pigs<br />
to everything<br />
inbetween<br />
<strong>04</strong>12 131 491<br />
thomassurfboards.com<br />
MINING ON STRADBROKE ISLAND<br />
With the focus of our travel feature being North<br />
Stradbroke Island, mining company, Sibelco wanted to use<br />
smorgasboarder to communicate to the east coast surfing<br />
community about their involvement and operations on the<br />
island. What better and more transparent way to do that<br />
than to print the communication we received from them.<br />
“Sand mining has been an integral part of the North Stradbroke<br />
Island community since the late 1940s. As mining progressed,<br />
many services and infrastructure were brought to the island for<br />
mine operations. As a result, roads, telecommunications and power<br />
became available to local residents and visitors.<br />
“Mining on Straddie supplies silica sands and heavy minerals used<br />
in the production of many items we all rely on. These minerals are<br />
used to produce glass, medical and sporting equipment, sunscreen,<br />
tiles and ceramics, televisions and computers, paints, cosmetics and<br />
foods.<br />
“Today Sibelco Australia is the sole operator and employer with over<br />
640 people directly and indirectly employed because of the mining<br />
operations. Our company and our employees form an integral part<br />
of the island community and are committed to ensuring it remains<br />
an idyllic place to work, live and holiday. The Straddie lifestyle has<br />
always been, and will hopefully remain something unique to South<br />
East Queensland.<br />
“The lifestyle we have all come to know and love is something the<br />
company works with the local community to maintain. We’ve helped<br />
the local school and pre-school through significant refurbishments;<br />
ensured local football and sporting clubs have equipment and<br />
uniforms; provided strong support to the local Surf Life Saving and<br />
Straddie Board Riders Club; and made getting to and from the island<br />
easier with our continued partnership with the ferry companies<br />
operating from Cleveland.<br />
“In June 2010, the State Government announced that mining<br />
will end early on Straddie by 2027. This announcement created<br />
considerable uncertainty for our operations, our workers, and all<br />
of the residents, small businesses and community groups who call<br />
North Stradbroke Island home.<br />
“Sibelco has continued to negotiate with the Government to develop<br />
a realistic plan for the gradual ceasing of sand mining on the island.<br />
Our aim is for a gradual transition from sand mining, which will<br />
allow our company to retain the bulk of our workforce and ensure<br />
the economic stability of the community. There are real concerns<br />
that ceasing mining in the short-term will impact services on the<br />
island and negatively impact local businesses and residents.<br />
“Our vision supports the Straddie lifestyle we have<br />
all come to know and love.<br />
“If sand mining was to cease in the near future,<br />
Straddie shuts down, and without Straddie,<br />
Queenslanders lose one of their most treasured<br />
island destinations.<br />
“For further information on Sibelco Australia’s<br />
Vision for a Sustainable Stradbroke, please visit<br />
www.sustainablestradbroke.com.au.”<br />
*Letters may have been edited for length and clarity<br />
LOCAL CONVERT<br />
I’ve been on the “pop-out” wagon<br />
in the last 8 years. Your article<br />
got me thinking about the surf<br />
industry and the local guys that<br />
scrape a living out of it.<br />
It’s definitely a lifestyle thing,<br />
because when you break a<br />
handcrafted board down to $$/<br />
hour there’s not much in it,<br />
compared to the bucks earned<br />
in other industries. But hey, it’s<br />
HAND built, made for YOU, a<br />
one off.<br />
The [import] boards serve<br />
a purpose and dont get me<br />
wrong, they take a hiding and<br />
last well, but surfing was, and<br />
is, an individual pastime and a<br />
hand-made custom is now this<br />
individual’s choice of surfcraft.<br />
Jim<br />
I LAUGH AT<br />
YOUR FOAM<br />
I’m perplexed there are people<br />
who persist on riding boards,<br />
made from inferior and less<br />
durable material that offers LESS<br />
PERFORMANCE.<br />
A construction method which is<br />
60 years old and is more toxic!<br />
Why!<br />
I laugh at anybody who rides a<br />
PU, Fanning and all the top pros<br />
included.<br />
James, Palmy<br />
Like Yoda and Vader, there<br />
seems to balance in the<br />
force, with representation of<br />
support from both camps.<br />
GIVEAWAY<br />
We have a very cool Tools<br />
Deck Grip to hand over.<br />
Send in your letters and<br />
thoughts to be in line for the<br />
freebies! Email us on<br />
letters@smorgasboarder.com.au<br />
14 mar/apr <strong>2011</strong>
There is only one original ...<br />
Surf Travel Company<br />
From Sri Lanka to Tahiti<br />
and anywhere in between.<br />
PhoTo: Winer<br />
Talk to the experts.<br />
surftravel.com.au<br />
enquiries@surftravel.com.au<br />
02 9222 8870<br />
Surf Travel Company<br />
STC-SMORG-FPC-<strong>2011</strong>.indd 1 1/02/11 1:<strong>04</strong> PM<br />
mar/apr <strong>2011</strong><br />
15
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board repair”<br />
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RESTORATION OR REPAIR?<br />
LEARNING ABOUT THE INDUSTRY?<br />
MAKING BLANKS MAKING FINS?<br />
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information you might ever read,<br />
the SURFER’S TEXTBOOK<br />
is a must have for any aspiring<br />
surfboard maker.<br />
Years of board manufacturing<br />
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16 mar/apr <strong>2011</strong><br />
Perfect at Broken Head<br />
Jarod Slatter<br />
READERS PHOTOS<br />
We received so many fantastic submissions<br />
again for this edition, that it was even<br />
harder to pick the shots to print on this<br />
page... We just wish we had more space<br />
as there we some pearlers we sadly had to<br />
leave out. Next time... And speaking of next<br />
time - for our May edition, we have sets of<br />
WASP BAGS up for grabs! So, send in all<br />
your greatest photos, get them published<br />
and win! letters@smorgasboarder.com.au<br />
For more on WASP bags,<br />
see www.waspbags.com.au<br />
Jake Colreavy<br />
at Mudjimba<br />
Dylan Pukall
LATEST: PHOTOS<br />
Snapper closeout<br />
Alex Eddie<br />
Up, up, up in Narrabeen<br />
Tom Bennett<br />
THE WINNING SHOT<br />
Congrats to Paul Greene for finding this<br />
green wall of hidden treasure in Victoria.<br />
Your prize pack will be on the way!<br />
Vicco magic<br />
Paul Greene<br />
Cool little spray at Wurtulla<br />
Phil ‘Pup’ Bender
LATEST: PHOTOS<br />
All photos on this page: Polek Rybczynski<br />
WHAT THE?<br />
Keen surfer, photographer and writer Polek<br />
Rybczynski, sent in some awesome shots<br />
that he had taken around Wollongong. As<br />
much as we love the Gong and the surf<br />
around there, what caught our eye in this<br />
case was the cool little hand-plane-orsomething<br />
he was using to get around on.<br />
So, we asked him about it...<br />
“Yes, it is an invention I picked up whilst hitchhiking along the North<br />
Shore of Oahu from a guy by the name of Mark Richardson. He makes<br />
them out of snapped surfboards.<br />
“They have a stringer and are glassed. The one I bought from him was<br />
shaped like a fish with two little wooden fins and a deep, deep concave<br />
right through the hull.<br />
“He fibreglassed two handles onto the deck so they can be ridden with<br />
greater ease, or one handed - one hand in the middle of the board and<br />
one in the air in that classic bodysurf style.<br />
“Mark calls them kickboards. They go really fast for what they are. I saw<br />
him get some nice tubes on these things at Velzy - where he lives - and<br />
just up the point from Velzy, which was impressive. The amount of fun<br />
I have had on this board is quite wild. Makes for a great contribution to<br />
the quiver.”<br />
Very cool. And so, yet another board goes on our Xmas wishlist.<br />
18 mar/apr <strong>2011</strong>
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mar/apr <strong>2011</strong><br />
19
LATEST: NEWS<br />
MORE ON THE WAY<br />
Mark Pridmore of More Surfboards has had a fair bit on the go in<br />
the last few months, including relocating family and business to the<br />
Sunshine Coast.<br />
He’s also inked a deal with Da Bomb surf shops at Maroochydore and<br />
Bokarina to be their main board man.<br />
“They have two great shops so if you are in the area, call in and have<br />
a look at what they have.” says Mark. “I’m shaping some boards for<br />
their team riders now and stock boards will be in their shops in the<br />
near future.”<br />
Very exciting is the launch of Mark’s new Traveller - a travelling board<br />
project that kicked off on Australia Day at Maroochydore Beach (see<br />
Page 114 for pics from the day). The board - which has the most stylish<br />
of deck grips, courtesy of Crosslink Traction - will get passed around<br />
down the east coast and beyond, with its journey documented online<br />
at www.smorgasboarder.com.au. Get online, get involved.<br />
RETURN OF<br />
THE THRUSTER<br />
The Granddaddy of all modern surfboards<br />
is back on display at SurfWorld Torquay.<br />
As the earliest incarnation of the famous<br />
three-fin setup, it represents a turning<br />
point in the history of surfing worldwide.<br />
Kindly loaned by Simon Anderson, this<br />
6’6” from Bells in 1981 is one of the most<br />
treasured and referenced surfboards they<br />
have on display.<br />
Check it out in Torquay or visit the<br />
website: www.surfworld.org.au<br />
RIGHT: The Thruster, next to a 1982 MR world<br />
championship winning board, which he and surfed<br />
at Bells in the same year. He can be seen snapping<br />
the board in the movie Wizards of the Water.<br />
Photo: SurfWorld Torquay<br />
Mark at The Factory Surfboards in<br />
Caloundra, picking up the Traveller,<br />
ready to launch...<br />
Tim can’t wait for the paddle stands to arrive so he can sit down again.<br />
ZAK TAKES A<br />
STAND (UP)<br />
Sure he may be a good friend and loyal<br />
supporter of smorgasboarder but this is not<br />
radio infomercial time. Zak Koniaris’ surf store<br />
in Thornbury, Melbourne is, in all honesty, one<br />
of our favourite surf shops in the country. Once<br />
you have gone there you will understand why<br />
we think it’s so good. Zak has a huge range of<br />
surfboards (he sells around a 1000 surfboards<br />
a year) including his own boards and unique<br />
sleds from some of Victoria’s most respected<br />
shapers. Then there’s loads of skateboards,<br />
surfing hardware, gear and clothing. And now,<br />
Zak Surfboards are stocking a range of SUPs<br />
for those aspiring watermen and women. See<br />
the website: www.zaksurfboards.com<br />
WHAT ELSE IS SUP?<br />
In what is apparently a first for the SUP<br />
fraternity, the Academy of Surfing Instructors<br />
(ASI) is now running accreditation courses<br />
for SUP instructors and SUP schools. Courses<br />
can be undertaken for flat water and surf<br />
disciplines. For more information, see:<br />
www.academyofsurfing.com<br />
DON’T BE FOILED<br />
Contrary to popular belief, Phil Way, formerly<br />
of Fluid Foils fame is still crafting his own<br />
range of exceptional hand-made fins after<br />
some thirty odd years on the tools. He is still<br />
in Ballina, but now working under his new<br />
business name of Phil’s Foils.<br />
A WAVE OF RELIEF<br />
Not-for-profit charity Groundswell, formed<br />
in partnership with The Perfect Wave travel<br />
company and Randwick TAFE , NSW are<br />
sending a second team of volunteers this<br />
<strong>March</strong> to help with rebuilding in areas of<br />
Samoa affected by the 2009 tsunami. The<br />
TAFE students are putting the skills they are<br />
learning to good use, for a good cause. See:<br />
www.groundswellbuilds.org.au<br />
QUICKIES<br />
CALL FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS!!<br />
Do you have a surfing photo taken<br />
somewhere around Australia’s coastline?<br />
100 surfing photos taken anytime over<br />
the past 100 years are needed for<br />
inclusion in the historic surfing exhibition<br />
Celebrating the Centenary of Australian<br />
Surfing Photography 1911–<strong>2011</strong>.<br />
The photos, which will be published as<br />
a commemorative book, will become a<br />
permanent part of the collection that<br />
will feature at the centenary exhibition<br />
in Yamba - the birthplace of Australian<br />
surfing photography - and be displayed at<br />
the Port of Yamba Historical Society and<br />
the Australian National Sporting Museum<br />
in Melbourne. Sounds great!<br />
For info: Debrah Novak on <strong>04</strong>19 272 621<br />
or surfphotoexhibition@gmail.com<br />
INDO SURF & LINGO EBOOK<br />
The new eBook version of Indo Surf &<br />
Lingo is available, featuring all 180 pages<br />
of the latest edition for <strong>2011</strong>, complete<br />
with $500 worth of discount vouchers.<br />
It’s compatible with all Windows-based<br />
computers, laptops and mobile devices.<br />
It can be saved onto a USB memory stick<br />
too. You can print any pages you need, and<br />
it’s fine to share the first 28 preview pages<br />
with all your friends. Check it out online:<br />
www.indosurf.com.au/PREVIEW/<br />
index.html<br />
BIG BALSA BACK IN STOCK<br />
Mark at Riley Classic Balsawood<br />
Surfboards just received another<br />
container of balsa from Ecuador.<br />
“Getting it had all the dramas of a soap<br />
opera,” Mark tells us. “But look at the<br />
section sizes and the lengths of 10<br />
footers... It’s worth the 6 month wait!”<br />
For info, please visit the website,<br />
www.balsasurfboardsriley.com.au.<br />
Alternately contact Mark on<br />
<strong>04</strong>12 376 464 or mark@riley.com.au.<br />
NSW SNAPPER TAKES AWARD<br />
Photographer Jeremy Wilmotte walked<br />
away with Photo of the Year at the<br />
Australian Surfing Awards on the Gold<br />
Coast on February 6. For more of his<br />
work, see www.frothers.com.au<br />
Amongst other winners, Noosa’s Phil<br />
Jarratt took the Surf Culture Award for<br />
his book, Suits & Salts. Congrats all.<br />
Photo: Steve Triance/Surfing Australia<br />
20 mar/apr <strong>2011</strong>
mar/apr <strong>2011</strong><br />
21
LATEST: & GREATEST<br />
LOCK IT IN EDDIE<br />
Keys, cash, licence, credit cards can all be locked away in<br />
this combination lock steel vault that slides straight into<br />
hitch type tow bars. The HitchSafe fits all 50mm hitch type<br />
tow bars and usually retail for $129.00 but are on special<br />
for the month of <strong>March</strong> for $99.00, while stocks last.<br />
www.ksq.com.au<br />
A SPOONFUL OF<br />
GOOD LOVIN’<br />
When Peter White’s wife, Janet, was literally<br />
hit by a bus some years back he thought of<br />
ways he could encourage her back out into the<br />
water and enjoy one of things she most loved<br />
doing most, surfing. So he built Janet a spoon.<br />
The interest the board generated and<br />
subsequent demand has resulted in Classic<br />
Malibu agreeing to shape a limited number<br />
of custom orders.<br />
The craftsmanship entailed in shaping a spoon<br />
is incredible and damn near impossible from<br />
our perspective, a labour of love no doubt.<br />
If you’re interested in spooning give<br />
Classic Malibu a call on 07 5474 3122 or<br />
see www.classicmalibu.com<br />
COME TO THE DRY SIDE<br />
Ever needed to make a hasty getaway after staying in the water<br />
a bit longer than you should have (sorry honey!)? Well, this is<br />
one of the reasons why the Tools Poncho comes in handy.<br />
A towel and outfit in one means you can be warm and dry and<br />
make that quick transition from the water to the car in seconds.<br />
There are a range of patterns to chose from. And at home, you<br />
can pretend to be Obi Wan Kenobi. RRP $69.90<br />
See www.toolssurfaustralia.com.au for stockists.<br />
KOMBI UP<br />
TRUMPS<br />
Nothing says classic surf imagery like an<br />
old Kombi van. This old restored classic<br />
lets you get around in style without having<br />
to do the hard work yourself.<br />
Available for hire and chauffer driven, it<br />
seats eight and is complete with massive<br />
sunroof. Perfect for that specially themed<br />
wedding, beach party or luau.<br />
Operating on the Sunshine Coast, you can<br />
catch Deluxe Kombi Service on<br />
07 5491 5432 or <strong>04</strong>02 615 126<br />
22 mar/apr <strong>2011</strong>
THE BUZZ ON BAGS<br />
A smart solution to keeping the sand and water out of you beach kit<br />
is now available through the clever WASP bag range. These bright<br />
and practical designs are made from a hard waring PVC and are<br />
manufactured using thermo welded seams.<br />
The bag, including straps and buckles are made to last being sun<br />
and salt resistant.<br />
We gave these a go. Once you get your head around how to close<br />
them up (turn it down three times and the clip over the top) we<br />
were really impressed. So we filled up the King Wasp with gear<br />
and threw it in the pool. First bonus - it floats. So we jammed it<br />
underwater. Once we got it out and opened up, everything inside<br />
was bone dry. Comfy, clever and cool - we’re sold.<br />
RRP: King Wasp $35, Baby Wasp $25.<br />
Check out the range at www.waspbags.com.au<br />
WIELD A<br />
BIG STICK<br />
And it doesn’t even have to be a<br />
strain with the brand new Carbon<br />
Fibre Big Stick from Kahuna<br />
Creations available through Street<br />
SUP in Australia.<br />
By far the lightest Big Stick in the<br />
range, the carbon fibre performance<br />
shaft delivers power, speed and<br />
enjoyment for the sweetest ride.<br />
Ultra light with a beautifully-crafted<br />
wooden handle makes it comfy for<br />
those long rides.<br />
Available in 5’6” and 6ft<br />
lengths. RRP $389. See:<br />
www.kahunacreations.com.au<br />
COOL FOOTWEAR<br />
BECAUSE WEARING SHOES IS THE POLITE<br />
THING TO DO<br />
MICROWOBBLEBOARD?<br />
‘Biomechanically engineered to re-energize your body<br />
via your feet with its Microwobbleboard midsole’, the<br />
FF SUPERTONE from Fit-Flop is said to help diminish<br />
backaches, joint strain and plantar foot pain, as well as<br />
absorbing up to 22% more shock when you walk. And<br />
fortunately, they look really cool too, so you don’t have to<br />
feel like your Nanna wearing comfy shoes.<br />
See www.fitflop.com.au<br />
NEW WAVE<br />
They’re not shoes, they’re... wait, these actually are shoes!<br />
Sanük’s new Shunami Series promise ‘incredible comfort<br />
and unparalleled styling’ with a handmade, all-suede upper<br />
and their “Shock-N-Ahhh” insole - a dual density PU insole<br />
for maximum impact protection. Coming soon to Oz. See<br />
www.sanuk.com.au<br />
PRETTY VAGRANT<br />
Be the coolest looking bum you know in the new Appleyard<br />
Vagrant shoes from Globe. Raw design, distressed details<br />
in a durable combination of suede and canvas all stitched<br />
together with ballistic grade thread. The shoe’s PU footbed<br />
and gel heelpad cushion will have you wandering the streets<br />
in comfort for years to come. www.globe.tv/aus/<br />
WASH AND WEAR<br />
Being made of hemp, some stoners might try smoke them.<br />
Don’t. The Vans Rata Vulc Hemp Shoe fixes the funk – that<br />
is, how much your shoes stink when you put your bare<br />
wet feet into them. Machine-washable with a bamboo<br />
charcoal-lined midsole to prevent dampness and smells,<br />
these are perfect for surfers - super flexible and comfy.<br />
See: www.vans.net.au<br />
mar/apr <strong>2011</strong><br />
23
SHAPER PART OF<br />
ART EXHIBITION<br />
SURFING IN<br />
ST. KILDA<br />
WORDS:<br />
WILL SHEA<br />
Photo: QAG<br />
Photo: Robbie Warden<br />
Shortboard,<br />
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CUStOm deCK gRiPS<br />
Small and large run deck grips<br />
Locally manufactured in Byron Bay!<br />
Wholesale and retail enquiries welcome.<br />
7/84 Centennial Circuit, Byron Bay 02 6685 7350<br />
info@deckgrips.com www.deckgrips.com<br />
BEST DEALS ON<br />
LONGBOARDS<br />
on the entire east coast of Australia!<br />
It’s not the first time that<br />
surfing and art have collided for<br />
Chris Garrett. Amongst other<br />
exhibitions, Chris has artwork<br />
displayed in the Queensland<br />
Premiers office and showed off<br />
his work as part of the lead up<br />
to the Sydney Olympic Games.<br />
Currently his work is part of an<br />
exhibition called Scott Redford:<br />
introducing Reinhardt Dammn,<br />
based around a rebellious young<br />
surfer, rock muso and artist who<br />
explores the beauty and energy<br />
of contemporary pop culture,<br />
especially amongst surfers.<br />
See qag.qld.gov.au for more.<br />
During February’s renowned St<br />
Kilda Festival, Melbourne recently<br />
got a taste of surfing in the form of<br />
art. And it’s being represented by<br />
the SURF bike POP Exhibition,<br />
on display at the Surface Exhibition<br />
and Pop Up Gallery on Carlisle<br />
Street, St Kilda.<br />
It showcases a range of artwork by<br />
local artists throughout the surfing<br />
community, with all sorts of visual<br />
ecstasy on display, including pieces<br />
by the legendary Reg Mombassa<br />
(Mambo, Mental As Anything).<br />
Check out www.surfacepop.com<br />
or find out more at 11-13 Carlisle<br />
Street, St Kilda, Melbourne<br />
SURF CULTURE CLASH<br />
By the time this mag hits the streets, you’ll only have a week or so left<br />
to catch the Institute of Modern Art touring exhibition, cantchant at the<br />
University of the Sunshine Coast Gallery.<br />
The exhibition by contemporary Aboriginal artist Vernon Ah Kee - which<br />
opened in February - is on until Saturday, <strong>March</strong> 19 before moving on to<br />
the Gold Coast Art Gallery for the months of May and June.This exhibition<br />
is not just painted surfboards, but rather takes a critical look at Australian<br />
beach culture in a multimedia setting with film, photos and painted boards<br />
all forming part of the experience.<br />
“It pushes aside the commonsense of the beach as a destination for leisure,<br />
relaxation and fun, and presents it as a cultural battleground,” said Dawn<br />
Oelrich, the USC Gallery Curator. “The exhibition includes surfboards<br />
painted with north Queensland rainforest shield designs, wall text and a<br />
three-screen video installation.”<br />
Vernon Ah Kee is a well-travelled and well-respected artist with work<br />
represented in the collections of Queensland Art Gallery, the National<br />
Gallery of Australia, and the Museum of Contemporary Art. For a fresh<br />
perspective on surfing and surf culture, make sure you visit this exhibition,<br />
if not on the Sunshine Coast, then on the Gold Coast or further south as the<br />
exhibition moves down the coast.<br />
What: Vernon Ah Kee - cantchant<br />
Where: University of the Sunshine Coast Gallery<br />
Showing: Open until <strong>March</strong> 19, <strong>2011</strong><br />
Opening hours: 10am to 4pm Mon to Sat. Closed Sun, public holidays<br />
Cost: FREE to the public<br />
392 Harbour Drive, The Jetty Strip, Coffs Harbour NSW<br />
Phone: 02 6658 0223 www.thelogshack.com.au<br />
24 jan/feb <strong>2011</strong>
Photo: William Hammond, Supplied<br />
LATEST: COMMUNITY<br />
For something a little different<br />
Southcoast Surfboards, Gato Heroi, Bing, Dick Van Straalen<br />
and a unique range of surfing memorabilia<br />
FIGHTING THE<br />
DREAD DISEASE<br />
Surfers in Coolum know Leanne Gilkes, although they probably know her<br />
better as Bluey, manager of Coolum Surf. And they’re even more likely<br />
to know her by her trademark dreadlocks. But this is all about to change.<br />
Bluey’s decided to give up her hair to show how much she cares in the<br />
annual Cancer Council’s Clip for Cancer.<br />
For most people diagnosed with cancer, losing their hair is part of the cancer<br />
journey. So on Saturday, April 9, Bluey will experience losing hers - all 37 of<br />
those dreadlocks at the Coolum Surf store. Expect a day of events including<br />
a suasage sizzle, hair-product giveaways, competitions and more.<br />
So, she needs your help to raise the much needed funds for vital<br />
cancer research and patient support services, including Cancer Council<br />
Queensland’s Wig and Turban loan service. You can support her by donations<br />
of goods or cash, so do what you can!<br />
To donate or follow Bluey’s progress, visit her webpage on the Clip for<br />
Cancer website: www.everydayhero.com.au/leanne_gilkes<br />
BURLEIGH ENJOYS 20 TH BIRTHDAY<br />
At this year’s annual Anzac Day event - the Dawn Surface - the Burleigh<br />
Longboard Club will celebrate its 20th anniversary. With Anzac Day falling on the<br />
Easter weekend this year, the event will, for the first time, be run over two days.<br />
The organisers promise to keep all and sundry entertained with a Sunday<br />
night party, competitor board draws, giveaways, raffles, and more boards.<br />
There’s also Easter celebrations for the grommets on Easter Sunday, and free<br />
breakfasts served daily for competitors. For more information and to download<br />
an entry form, visit the website: www.burleighlongboardclub.com<br />
5/21 Clarence Street, Port Macquarie Ph/Fax (02) 6584 1995 or <strong>04</strong>16 226 774<br />
More online...<br />
www.sandyfeetsurf.com.au<br />
Surf with your kids!<br />
from 3 years of age.<br />
Share the stoke<br />
Only<br />
$39.95<br />
Available in all good surf shops or online at<br />
www.learn2surfstrap.com<br />
www.surfbabysurf.com<br />
Some things just<br />
shouldn’t get wet.<br />
WASP Bags are completely water<br />
and sand proof. Noticed how if<br />
you get the tiniest bit of sand<br />
or water in your phone, iPod<br />
or camera they are never quite<br />
the same again? Thanks to their<br />
unique seal, WASP Bags ensure<br />
that the things that should stay<br />
dry, stay dry.<br />
Members of the Burleigh Longboard Club have extra reason to celebrate this year with<br />
their 20 th Anniversary celebrations running over two whole days. Photo: Supplied<br />
If you have any news and events that should be in these pages, please feel<br />
free to drop us a line at editorial@smorgasboarder.com.au.<br />
Buy online or ask your friendly surf shop...<br />
waspbags.com.au<br />
jan/feb <strong>2011</strong><br />
25
LATEST: COMMUNITY<br />
SUP IN THE SUN<br />
A DAY OF FAMILY FUN AND RIVER RACING<br />
ON THE WORONORA RIVER<br />
The great thing about Stand Up Paddle is that you can do it just<br />
about anywhere. You just need water, be it the ocean, a river, a<br />
lake, a creek… Just hop on the board, grab your paddle and off<br />
you go. The versatility of the craft has spawned a host of new<br />
events and possibilities - one of these being the Coreban River<br />
Race, to be held at Prince Edward Park Reserve, Woronora, NSW.<br />
Organised by the Cronulla Sutherland SUP Club, there will be<br />
plenty of racing happening on the Woronora River, with divisions<br />
across all age groups and board lengths, a handicap division and -<br />
what is sure to be very popular - the SUP LeMANS. What is that?<br />
It’s a battle. With paddles.<br />
President of the Cronulla Sutherland SUP Club Peter Japp, who also<br />
runs East Coast Stand Up Paddle, says that he wanted the event to<br />
attract people from the broader Australian SUP-ing communities.<br />
“IT’S THE TYPE OF EVENT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE EACH<br />
CLUB UP AND DOWN THE COAST AND INTERSTATE<br />
BEING ABLE TO TRAVEL TO AND TAKE PART IN, IN<br />
THE SAME WAY THAT SURFING CLUBS DO.”<br />
SUP manufacturer Coreban, who were only too happy to jump<br />
on board as main sponsor of the event, having recently shifted<br />
their headquarters from Maui Hawaii to Noosa right here in<br />
Australia, will also be presenting a clinic on the day, hosted by<br />
Jodie and Woogie Marsh.<br />
But it’s not all about competing! The day is really about family<br />
fun, building the SUP community in the local area and beyond,<br />
and just getting out there and having a go. Expect bbqs, raffles<br />
and other fun events wrapping up with a function at the Woronora<br />
River RSL.<br />
For more information, visit: the website:<br />
www.cronullasutherlandsupclub.com.au<br />
The Cronulla Sutherland Stand Up Paddle Club was established<br />
in 2010 and is the first SUP club in the Sutherland Shire and the<br />
surrounding southern Sydney suburbs.<br />
Coreban specialises in designing quality Stand Up Paddle gear, with<br />
testing done in some of the world’s most extreme conditions - from<br />
outer reefs in Hawaii to point breaks in South Africa and Australia.<br />
26 mar/apr <strong>2011</strong>
Photo courtesy of Coreban<br />
mar/apr <strong>2011</strong><br />
27
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28 mar/apr <strong>2011</strong>
LATEST: COMMUNITY<br />
FLOODING IN<br />
A LITTLE BIT OF BROWN WATER IN THE SURF WAS ABOUT AS MUCH NATURAL DISASTER AS THE<br />
SUNSHINE COAST HAD TO DEAL WITH SO FAR THIS YEAR. ELSEWHERE, NATURE WAS FAR MORE UNKIND.<br />
Floods, cyclones, bushfires... It’s been a bad start<br />
to the year. For many it’s meant losing everything<br />
they own, starting from scratch and in the worst<br />
and most unthinkable of all situations, even losing<br />
someone they held dear.<br />
Sitting at home on the Sunshine Coast, we - like so<br />
many others - sat untouched, watching helplessly<br />
from afar as mother nature tore our country apart.<br />
Seeing all the destruction and heartache as it<br />
unfolded on national television, we - again, like so<br />
many others - made it our personal problem, and our<br />
business, to help where we could.<br />
Fortunately for us, it turns out that so many people<br />
and businesses that we’ve dealt with through<br />
smorgasboarder felt exactly the same way<br />
and were only too happy to dedicate their time<br />
and donate their product to help in some extra<br />
fundraising. So we wanted to share with you the<br />
good things that people have done to get involved,<br />
and to take this opportunity to publicly and openly<br />
thank them for the generosity and time.<br />
Thanks to understanding and support of the following<br />
businesses, we were able to set aside $4000 as a<br />
donation to the QLD Premier’s Disaster Relief Appeal:<br />
ASI (Academy of Surfing Instructors), Aquatique,<br />
Atoll Travel, Black Apache Surfboards, Bushrat,<br />
Byron Bay Longboards, Chris Garrett Shapes,<br />
Diverse, Fiik Skateboards, Foilz Fins,<br />
G Boards, Go Sea, Greenline Paddle Surf,<br />
Grown Surfboards, Hightide Surfboards, The<br />
Island Accommodation and Islantis, Island<br />
Surf Shack, Island Surfboards, Island Tribe<br />
Sun Protection, Liquid Destination, ProtecSun,<br />
Repeat Board Store, Riley Balsa Surfboards,<br />
Sandy Feet, Sean Scott Photography, Skipp<br />
Surfboards, SmoothStar Skateboards, Southern<br />
Man Surf Shop, Surf Lock, Surfish, The Log<br />
Shack, The Plank Shop, Underground Surf,<br />
Water Café, Wavegrinder, World Surfaris and<br />
last but certainly in no way least, Zak Surfboards.<br />
Further generosity was shown in the form of<br />
donations of time, gear and accommodation, which<br />
we have been auctioning off on eBay. Donations<br />
included custom surfboards by Lee Cheyne Designs,<br />
Chris Garrett Shapes and Koma Surfboards,<br />
fins from 4WFS and Foilz, a canoe from Goodtime<br />
Surf and Sail in Brisbane, accommodation from<br />
Caloundra Backpackers, The Westernport Hotel<br />
in San Remo and ASI Bali, as well as gear from<br />
Elofant Straps, More Surfboards and John Hart.<br />
All we can really say is that we are truly humbled,<br />
if not completely dumbstruck, by the spirit of<br />
support shown by these businesses and the surfing<br />
community of the east coast.<br />
Thank you also to all those who have put in bids<br />
on the online auctions - there may still be some<br />
auctions yet to end by the time your read this. See:<br />
shop.ebay.com.au/smorgasboarder/m.html<br />
Good on everyone that’s got off their couch to<br />
do something to help in these hard months. It’s<br />
comforting to know we live in such an incredible<br />
country - where lending a hand to a mate in need is<br />
far from second nature... it’s first.<br />
mar/apr <strong>2011</strong><br />
29
Scott makes the most of any<br />
opportunity to get wet.<br />
Photo: Dave Swan<br />
FOOTY WAS GREAT, BUT<br />
UNTIL NOW, MY KIDS<br />
HADN’T SEEN ME ON<br />
WEEKENDS FOR MOST<br />
OF THEIR LIVES. NOW I’M<br />
RETIRED FROM FOOTY,<br />
WE CAN SHARE SOME<br />
WAVES TOGETHER.<br />
SCOTT HILL ON FAMILY<br />
STORM RIDER<br />
FORMER MELBOURNE STORM RUGBY LEAGUE STAR SCOTT HILL TALKS ABOUT HIS LOVE<br />
FOR SURFING, FAMILY AND LIFE AFTER FOOTBALL. WORDS: DAVE SWAN<br />
30 mar/apr <strong>2011</strong>
LATEST: INTERVIEW<br />
“We grew up surfing in Forster. Footy in winter,<br />
surfing in summer. My two older brothers and me<br />
surfed every imaginable break outside where we lived<br />
at Seven Mile Beach. Greg was six years my senior<br />
and Matt four.<br />
“As soon as Greg was old enough to get his licence,<br />
the three of us used to venture down to Pacific Palms<br />
and surfed Bluey’s Beach, Boomerang Beach and Seal<br />
Rocks. I have so many memories of surfing growing<br />
up back home.“<br />
Described by many in Rugby League circles as a true<br />
entertainer, Scott Hill was renowned for his speed,<br />
sleight of hand and ability to read the play ahead<br />
of the rest. He played State of Origin for NSW and<br />
represented Australia. He was one of the first players<br />
recruited by the Melbourne Storm in their inaugural<br />
year in 1998 and went on to play for the Storm for a<br />
further nine years before finishing his career in the<br />
English Super League in 2008.<br />
Personally, I considered him a freak. With me being<br />
a born and bred Queensland cane toad and staunch<br />
Broncos supporter, his playmaking always scared the<br />
absolute pants off me. He was one of those guys who<br />
could turn a game on its head.<br />
One minute you would be dancing and singing sea<br />
shanties and the next minute bloody Scott Hill would<br />
have torn the game apart and have you crying in your<br />
beer. I hated that bastard. He could sure play football<br />
but I was keen to know how well he surfed.<br />
“As you can imagine, having two older brothers, I was<br />
always going to be pushed in the surf, the bigger the<br />
better as far as they were concerned.<br />
“Our family was good friends with the Emertons.<br />
Beau and I were particularly close and you’ve seen<br />
how he charges big waves. (Recently retired Beau<br />
Emerton, also from Forster, was formerly one of<br />
Australia’s top professional surfers. He is one of only<br />
a few professional surfers to score a perfect 10 at<br />
Teahupoo in monstrous four metre waves.) Surfing big<br />
waves was just part of growing up.<br />
“One of my scariest surf moments was when I was<br />
at school, believe it or not. Surfing was part of the<br />
school curriculum and one time we were out at<br />
Hayden’s Rock.”<br />
Hayden’s Rock is a large rocky outcrop situated<br />
between Pebbly Beach and Forster’s Main Beach,<br />
approximately 150m off the headland and popular<br />
with an array of marine life – of which we don’t need<br />
to know about.<br />
“Hayden’s can get pretty heavy and it is deep. Mat<br />
Hoy used to visit Beau and say that was on of the<br />
best right-handers he has ever surfed.<br />
“This particular day it was breaking eight to ten feet<br />
and all I can remember is duck diving and duck diving<br />
and just getting absolutely hammered, set after set. It<br />
was pretty insane. I can’t believe they let us go out in<br />
those kind of conditions.”<br />
In Forster, they seemingly breed ‘em mad, and from a<br />
young age.<br />
“Yeah, I must admit a few of the boys back home are<br />
a little crazy. When I was playing footy overseas I<br />
caught up on one of their latest exploits that just had<br />
me shaking my head. They were getting these big<br />
fishing rods and heading down to Seven Mile, closer<br />
to Booti Booti, hooking up these big slabs of tuna and<br />
paddling them out past the breakers on a longboard.<br />
From there the plan was to hook a great white. And<br />
they did, time and time again, all catch and release.”<br />
Through his footballing years, Scott still managed to<br />
get in a surf whenever he could or catch up with old<br />
surfing mates from back home.<br />
“Robbie Kearns (the former captain of the Melbourne<br />
Storm) and me used to head down to Bells, Winki<br />
and Bird Rock at Torquay whenever we could.<br />
Occasionally we would head even further south down<br />
around Warrnambool. The waves down there are<br />
something else, so much power and so consistent.<br />
They pack a punch. The only thing is the water is so<br />
bloody cold. You have a steamer on through most of<br />
summer.”<br />
Big waves and white pointers are ok but the first sign<br />
of cold water and you’re complaining?<br />
“Beau and I always try to catch up when we can.<br />
When we played the World Club Championship over<br />
in England, Beau was surfing in Spain. He rang me<br />
up and headed over to watch the game. We caught<br />
up afterwards for a few beers. Whenever we get<br />
together though, it is pretty dangerous.”<br />
It was not always World Club Championship victories<br />
and after game beers for Scott Hill though. He<br />
experienced a long, hard road to eventually savour a<br />
taste of sporting success.<br />
mar/apr <strong>2011</strong><br />
31
LATEST: INTERVIEW<br />
Scott spending quality time with the little Hills: (L-R) Molly, Mimi, Indie and Wyle<br />
“1999 in particular wasn’t a good year for me.<br />
I had to have a shoulder reconstruction in June<br />
halfway through the season. At that stage, I<br />
didn’t know I was going to miss a Grand Final<br />
and the inaugural premiership win for the<br />
Melbourne Storm in only our second year in the<br />
NRL. But things got worse.<br />
“I headed home after surgery on the shoulder to<br />
catch up with my brothers and my folks. Whilst<br />
at home, one of the boys I played footy with in<br />
local first grade before I went to Sydney had a<br />
head wetting to celebrate the birth of his child.<br />
We went to a local nightclub and later in the<br />
night ran into a little trouble.<br />
“Admittedly my brothers and I never took a<br />
backward step. In this instance I came to the aid<br />
of my brother when some trouble unfolded. A<br />
woman who was with the other party picked up<br />
a metal star-picket and cracked me on the back<br />
of the head. It knocked me clean out. With the<br />
full force of my body weight I then hit the side<br />
of the gutter with my head. I was out cold with<br />
blood coming out of my ears.<br />
“My folks lived in a unit just across from the<br />
centre of town. So my best mate ran across to<br />
their unit. You can imagine how my old man was<br />
at 3am in the morning. ‘Ray, you gotta come<br />
down.’ My dad arrived and saw me lying there.<br />
Apparently, I didn’t come to until an hour later<br />
when we were half way to the hospital in Taree.<br />
I had fractured my skull and had bruising on my<br />
brain. It was pretty heavy.<br />
“I apparently didn’t acknowledge anyone until<br />
my wife Brooke - then fiancée - flew in from<br />
Melbourne and arrived there late the next day. I<br />
basically lost four weeks of my life.<br />
“Shoulder rehab and head rehab (laughs). I<br />
had CT scans every couple of weeks to check<br />
Quiver shot (or family shot if we can’t<br />
get hi-res. Then quiver shot will be the<br />
main one...)<br />
the bruising on my brain had come down. But I<br />
eventually came good, thankfully.”<br />
And what of missing the 1999 Grand Final win?<br />
“Well people say I was part of it and all I can<br />
say is that’s bullshit. The biggest crowd in rugby<br />
league history and I missed experiencing playing<br />
in front of them. It was a tough year for me<br />
emotionally but it gave me a lot of motivation.<br />
The following year I made the NSW State of<br />
Origin team for the first time and then went on<br />
to play for Australia.<br />
“I went from a year where nothing could have<br />
gone any worse: I had a shoulder reconstruction,<br />
I nearly died, I missed a Grand Final, but the next<br />
year, we won the World Club Championship and<br />
I played representative footy.<br />
Bloody Scott Hill getting another sneaky one away to set up a Steve Turner try.<br />
© Newspix / Phil Hillyard<br />
“After that we enjoyed continued success at the<br />
Storm. Unfortunately, I retired in 2006, the year<br />
we lost the grand final to the Broncos. I never<br />
tasted the victory of an NRL premiership, which<br />
has always gutted me.”<br />
And what of the storm fiasco? (The Melbourne<br />
Storm was stripped of two premiership titles in<br />
2007 and 2009 and fined $1.6 million after being<br />
found guilty of long-term salary cap breaches.)<br />
“I am just disappointed in the way it was all<br />
handled. The players really copped it.<br />
“When you are playing football you are<br />
concentrating on playing football. You trust your<br />
managers and the executives at the club have<br />
got it all right. That’s what they are employed to<br />
do. You’re employed to play football.”<br />
Life after football means more time for family<br />
and for a little surfing.<br />
“Footy was great but until now my kids hadn’t<br />
seen me on weekends for most of their lives.<br />
Now I am retired from footy, we can share<br />
some waves together. I am teaching them all<br />
to surf. I am really keen to get them going, so<br />
as soon as they are ready, we can all go surfing<br />
together. That’s what I remember as a kid, those<br />
times surfing with my brothers. I want them to<br />
experience it.”<br />
Scott and his wife Brooke have four kids - Molly<br />
who is ten, Wyle eight, Mimi five and Indie one.<br />
“Molly and Wyle are already surfing. They both<br />
surfed in the Caloundra Surfabout (a surf festival<br />
for schoolkids, held on the Sunshine Coast)”<br />
“Our family are also big fans of Fiji. We have<br />
been there six times with the kids to Plantation<br />
Island, and you know how good the breaks are<br />
32 mar/apr <strong>2011</strong>
security • convenience • peace of mind<br />
around there. Yet all that time over there, I have never surfed. For me, my<br />
holiday time was the only true quality time I got with the kids so it wasn’t<br />
fair to go off surfing. But I can’t wait until they are ready. That’ll be good.”<br />
In a professional sense, Scott has embarked on a new venture.<br />
“I got approached a few times to coach footy but after missing so many weekends,<br />
I couldn’t do it to my family. Coaching is more time consuming than playing.”<br />
“So I started up the business with Dave (Dr David Becker – former youth<br />
athlete and physiotherapist for fifteen years in elite team management).<br />
Brooke was a great support. She was the one who really supported me. She<br />
encouraged me to do something I loved doing.<br />
Scott and David are the co-authors of a new book entitled Sports Wisdom<br />
Revealed: The Coaches. It’s the first in a planned seven books series. The<br />
intended audience is primarily sports parents and coaches.<br />
“I had the benefit of serving under some of Australia’s greatest coaches. The<br />
book is about imparting some of their wisdom on the athletes of tomorrow.”<br />
The book features interviews with twelve of Australia’s finest sports coaches<br />
including Wayne Bennett, Ron Barassi, Norma Plummer, Lindsay Gaze and<br />
surf coach to Mick Fanning, Phil McNamara.<br />
“It was great to have Phil McNamara involved with the book. The success<br />
he has enjoyed with Mick and the obvious respect between the two is<br />
testament to Phil’s ability.<br />
“What was fascinating in particular was, unlike other coaches, Phil has to<br />
contend with Mother Nature when training his athletes. As he explained,<br />
there are some times you go out there and the conditions dictate what you<br />
do. It may be that all you can do is focus on bottom turns, so you do them<br />
over and over again to make sure there is a real precision about them. You<br />
practice what you can depending on what the surf is doing.”<br />
“It was interesting that Phil also borrowed many ideas from other coaches he<br />
had studied from outside the surfing realm such as Tony Roche and Wayne<br />
Bennett. In essence, I guess that’s what the book is about, that crossfertilisation<br />
of ideas across various sports.”<br />
At the end of each chapter, there is a helpful summary of the philosophies<br />
and approach of each coach interviewed for the reader to review.<br />
“Basically the book is a fantastic resource rather than just something you<br />
read. It is something that is easy to refer back to again and again. The reader<br />
can decide who they will read about, in what order they choose and can get<br />
their highlighter out and underline what each coach says that resonates with<br />
them.<br />
“Learn from the legends. The coaches we have in the book are very, very<br />
good at handling athletes and getting the best out of them. The advice we’ve<br />
got in the book is straight from the horse’s mouth, so it’s something that<br />
parents and aspiring coaches can put straight into action.”<br />
As for anything else new and exciting in his life, Scott replies with a smile.<br />
“A Bourton Fat Bullet. Perfect for when the waves are a little hard to get on.<br />
That extra bit of meat in the board makes the difference without forgoing any<br />
performance.”<br />
Scott Hill played 200 games for the Melbourne Storm, six tests for Australia<br />
2000-<strong>04</strong>, Tri-Nations Tour 20<strong>04</strong>, World Cup 2000, five State of Origin matches<br />
for New South Wales 2000-02, played in the Storm’s inaugural match (Round 1,<br />
1998 v Illawarra) and scored Melbourne’s first premiership try.<br />
For more on Scott’s book - Sportswisdom: The Coaches, see the<br />
website, www.sportswisdomrevealed.com.au<br />
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mar/apr <strong>2011</strong><br />
33
“This pic was taken on the morning of a fresh southerly swell. It had been flat for days, I woke up to a south west wind rattling the windows, it was raining, but there was just enough room for the sun to light up the horizon, 10 minutes after this<br />
shot was taken it went a dull grey for the rest of the day and I surfed that A-frame for the next two hours with a just a few mates. It was lucky that little grommie was walking over with a 70’s single fin, especially the way he was holding it.”<br />
COLOURS<br />
OF COFFS<br />
CAPTURING THE BEAUTY AND<br />
ENERGY OF THE NEW SOUTH<br />
WALES MID-NORTH COAST IS<br />
AN ENVIABLE PURSUIT, AND<br />
IT’S ONE THAT COFFS HARBOUR<br />
PHOTOGRAPHER TOM WOODS HAS<br />
MADE HIS LIVELIHOOD. WE CHAT<br />
TO TOM ABOUT HIS WORK, HIS<br />
FAMILY AND HIS CHARMED LIFE.<br />
WORDS MARK CHAPMAN, PHOTOS TOM WOODS<br />
In 1998-99, a Toyota Hi-Ace campervan was the<br />
only home Tom and partner Sherrin knew for 14<br />
months as they travelled around Australia.<br />
“We lived off very little money, we didn’t need<br />
much. Our entertainment was the ocean and each<br />
other, so I think we lasted over a year on just<br />
$14,000 and that included all our petrol, food, park<br />
fees and a little 2 week trip to Indo,” Tom recalls<br />
of the experience that set the tone for their current<br />
lifestyle and the one he aspires to. Simple.<br />
34 mar/apr <strong>2011</strong>
LATEST: IMAGES<br />
mar/apr <strong>2011</strong><br />
35
LATEST: IMAGES<br />
“John Craig pre-dawn with a blank<br />
canvas to perform his flawless art.”<br />
“I’M JUST HAPPY TO BE IN THE OCEAN, WHEREVER IT IS.”<br />
TOM WOODS, PHOTOGRAPHER<br />
“Just like most people I love a sunrise, I get up<br />
every morning hoping for something like this.”<br />
36 mar/apr <strong>2011</strong>
Once that money finally did run out, the couple returned<br />
to Adelaide, packed up everything they owned into that<br />
same little campervan and headed to the mid-north<br />
coast to start a new life. Coffs Harbour was where<br />
they landed and started working towards their dream<br />
of their own photography business, which became a<br />
reality in 2003.<br />
“We have run that business as our sole source of<br />
income since 2005,” says Tom. “Early last year we<br />
established ST Surf Images - a website totally<br />
dedicated to our surf and ocean photography, which<br />
has been the most rewarding and satisfying part of our<br />
photography careers so far.”<br />
While one plus is having his work appear in many<br />
Australian surfing magazines over the last seven<br />
years, a reward in itself is running the business from a<br />
beautiful location such as Coffs Harbour. Tom believes<br />
there’s a lot to love about the place.<br />
“I like that the best waves on the coast can change on<br />
a daily basis... It’s a real challenge to get the best of<br />
it. If you are on top of it you can nearly always score<br />
uncrowded gems.<br />
“I really like the surfers that live here. There is no<br />
pretense, not many show ponies. There are small<br />
pockets of “locals only” mentality, which is just plain<br />
ugly, but most of the crew in Coffs are cruisy, happy<br />
people. It’s just one of the many little paradises right<br />
along the north coast of New South Wales.”<br />
Having his soulmate on-side in work as well as at<br />
home, is a very fortunate situation, with Sherrin an<br />
active part of the ST business, even shooting from the<br />
beach while Tom’s in the drink with the water housing.<br />
“It’s really cool to get the two angles from the same<br />
session. It’s also good to know someone is backing me<br />
up if I get caught out of position on the wave of the<br />
day. We’ve only just started the double angle thing and<br />
I’m really excited about the possibilities for the future.”<br />
“When the kids were younger Sherrin didn’t get a<br />
chance to do very much photography. She still had a<br />
lot of input into how we ran the business and helped<br />
a lot with creative ideas and styling of certain shoots,<br />
as well as doing the bookwork - for which I am super<br />
thankful. But now the kids are a little older, she’s<br />
amped to get back into her photography, especially the<br />
surfing side of it.”<br />
But having a family does mean life is a little different<br />
these days for Tom and Sherrin.... but in a good way.<br />
“Becoming a parent really changes the ball game,”<br />
says Tom. “You start to see life from a totally different<br />
perspective. I think it has been my greatest influence<br />
as far as photography goes, especially when people<br />
are the subject, once you have kids you see and feel<br />
emotion a whole lot more, nothing will teach you more<br />
about life than having kids. “<br />
“As far as surfing goes, I feel stoked to be able to pass<br />
on our love for the ocean. My seven-year-old is already<br />
addicted to the saltwater. She rolls around in the shore<br />
breakers all day long. I often walk back over the creek<br />
Jirra Laws<br />
“Cameron Lindsay. He is in the water before<br />
sunrise every morning. Champion bloke who<br />
heads off to work as a policeman after his<br />
morning ‘saltwater sanity’ as he calls it.”<br />
“This is taken at a beach just 10 minute drive<br />
from a place that holds a population of 60,000.<br />
people yet on this perfect late autumn day<br />
there is no one on the beach enjoying it... why<br />
do so many people want to live on the coast<br />
but never go to the beach?”<br />
“...stoked with the way the spray is<br />
painting the vivid blue sky.”<br />
mar/apr <strong>2011</strong><br />
37
at Moonee, our local beach, and think how lucky my kids are to grow<br />
up in such an amazing spot and also be exposed to such a lifestyle. I<br />
look at many parents surfing with their teenage kids around these parts<br />
and think what a special thing it is to share, so I’m looking forward to<br />
that - if they choose to surf, of course.”<br />
In true form for a good surf photographer, Tom is an early riser, straight<br />
out of bed to check the windsock in his backyard and surveying the<br />
pre-dawn clouds to see if an epic sunrise is on the cards.<br />
“I can’t stand to think I would be missing a morning offshore or some<br />
killer morning light,” he says. Tom’s adamant not to miss an opportunity<br />
to snap that one great photo - one that could even inspire someone to<br />
change the direction of their life just as his was at age 14 after reading<br />
his first surfing magazine.<br />
“I know that single images have motivated people to travel halfway<br />
around the world to help with foreign aid projects... How cool would it<br />
be to have taken an image that has inspired that?”<br />
“My favorite kind of photo to take is swimming in the ocean with my<br />
water housing. The actual picture taking experience is by far the most<br />
enjoyable. I am right there in the moment, getting my saltwater fix, my<br />
heart is beating strong and it is also the most rewarding when you nail<br />
a killer shot.”<br />
That saltwater fix is such an important part of Tom’s life that the idea of<br />
not surfing isn’t an option he’d even entertain.<br />
“Geez, I can’t imagine not surfing! Surfing is such an all-consuming thing.<br />
My life’s decisions and where I am at now were all governed by surfing.<br />
“So hard to see where I’d be if I didn’t surf... That sounds really onedimensional,<br />
doesn’t it? I suppose I would be in a boring 9-5 job and<br />
play some B-grade ball sport on the weekends, like most Aussie males.<br />
My bank account would probably look better, but man, that question<br />
just makes me shudder... Move on to the next one, mate.”<br />
“I CAN’T STAND TO<br />
THINK I WOULD BE<br />
MISSING A MORNING<br />
OFFSHORE OR<br />
SOME KILLER<br />
MORNING LIGHT,”<br />
Coffs Harbour photographer,<br />
Tom Woods<br />
To see more, the best place to check out Tom and Sherrin’s work is the<br />
website www.stsurfimages.com , where the content grows daily. The<br />
work is also on display at the Water Café – a great coffee shop and<br />
gallery at the jetty strip in Coffs Harbour. The couple also have some<br />
work exhibited at the Nautilus Resort.<br />
If you need some regular inspiration, join up to the mailing list on the ST<br />
website before the May 6 this year and be in the running to win a brand<br />
new, custom-shaped board from Flanagan Surfboards.<br />
And when you’re done clicking around on the internet, just grab your<br />
board and get out there. If that happens to be around Coffs, you might<br />
just find Tom in his favourite spot - anywhere, at dusk, with a few<br />
hooting mates.<br />
“I’m just happy to be in the ocean, wherever it is.”<br />
38 mar/apr <strong>2011</strong>
MEET THE TALENT<br />
A MAN AND HIS MUSES<br />
Hailing from Victoria, Mark Howlett is a talented photographer and designer<br />
that - like us - just loves surfing and surfboards. Now that we’ve introduced<br />
the man, we’ll let him introduce his five friends from left to right.<br />
“The first board is an old 7’0” gun, sawn down to a 5’6” nugget. I cut the swallow tail out around<br />
the middle fin to make it a twinny and re-glassed it. It’s a real rough job, but it’s alot of fun to surf.<br />
“The next is an old single fin shaped by Michael Peterson. One of my mates (who doesn’t surf) was<br />
about to make a trip to the tip. I told him I’d be happy to take care of it!<br />
“To my left is a 6’0” quad bat-tail fish shaped by mate Rory Oke from Oke surfboards in Braeside,<br />
Melbourne. It’s one of the first boards he shaped, and it’s sick!<br />
“The next is also another one from Rory. It’s a 6’1” and a bit newer. It’s the board I ride most days.<br />
“...and finally, the last one is a mini mal shaped by Rory’s old man, Chok. It’s real similar to the<br />
board I first learnt to surf on. I’m spewing I sold my first board, but this thing’s just as much fun.<br />
Good for tiny days and to teach friends in summer. “<br />
See Mark’s photography on Page 47 and his blog: http://markjosephhowlett.blogspot.com/<br />
40 mar/apr <strong>2011</strong>
mar/apr jan/feb <strong>2011</strong><br />
41
42 mar/apr <strong>2011</strong>
Two absolute crackers from Sydney snapper<br />
extraordinaire, Mark ‘Crumpet’ Taylor.<br />
Above: Toby Martin finds shade at Dee Why Point<br />
and below: Barrelling waves in Sydney Harbour<br />
mar/apr <strong>2011</strong><br />
43
LEROY GRANNIS: R.I.P. 1917-<strong>2011</strong><br />
44 mar/apr <strong>2011</strong><br />
LEFT: Leroy Grannis - Surf Photography of the 1960s and 1970s, Taschen Books - RRP: $39.99<br />
ABOVE: San Onofre, 1963. With its wide beaches, grass shacks, and long, rolling waves, San Onofre is called “California’s Waikiki.”
ON THE THIRD OF FEBUARY THIS YEAR THE SURFING WORLD SADLY LOST ONE OF ITS GREAT PHOTOGRAPHERS,<br />
LEROY GRANNIS, WHO PASSED AWAY AT THE AGE OF 93 IN TORRANCE, CALIFORNIA.<br />
WORDS: PAT QUIRK PHOTOS: COURTESY OF TASCHEN/SCRIBO GROUP<br />
Leroy Grannis was born in 1917 and grew up in Hermosa Beach,<br />
California, where he quickly discovered a love for the ocean. In his early<br />
years he crafted a belly board which he taught himself to ride and at the<br />
age of 14, his father gifted him a pine board which he fashioned into a<br />
kneeboard using some rudimentary woodworking tools.<br />
As a member of the Palos Verdes Surf Club and riding the huge 11ft<br />
redwood boards of the era (which weighed around 40kg) Grannis’<br />
passion for surfing was set for life.<br />
Fast forward to 1959 and Leroy had become a family man, surfing only<br />
when time permitted. He worked at many different careers, including<br />
a stint in the Army Air Corps flying supplies to front line troops during<br />
WWII. He remained on active reserve for many years after the war<br />
had ended.<br />
When a stress-related ulcer led him to seek more balance in his<br />
life, Grannis converted his garage to a darkroom and purchased an<br />
East German 35mm camera with a 400mm lens - a move that would<br />
change his life forever. As his son, John, had recently started surfing,<br />
Leroy used this opportunity to take photos of him and the surfing<br />
environment, giving us some of the most iconic images of surfing<br />
during the sixties and early seventies.<br />
In the early sixties his work was appearing in major surf magazines<br />
and he showed his ingenuity - with the help of his friend Doc Ball - in<br />
creating a rubber lined box that enabled him to change films in the<br />
surf while other photographers had to head back to shore. It also<br />
allowed him to use long lenses in the water while sitting safely in the<br />
channel at places like Sunset and Waimea Bay. His images of this<br />
period showed everything from empty beach breaks, casual rides to<br />
amazing large waves in Hawaii and the beautiful California coast.<br />
As the seventies arrived, boards were getting shorter and Grannis was<br />
travelling more, taking photos of high profile surfers of the day. Grannis<br />
became photo editor at Surfing Illustrated magazine, was inducted into<br />
the International Surfing Hall of Fame as number one lensman and -<br />
constantly busy - co-founded International Surfing magazine.<br />
As the decade rolled on, Grannis found himself moving away from the<br />
surf scene to take photos of hang gliding and windsurfing, but never<br />
stopped surfing for his own enjoyment. He spent the last years of his<br />
life in Carlsbad, California still close to the ocean, loving every day.<br />
While he will be missed by those close to him, his memory will live<br />
on through the images he has left behind.<br />
I came across Leroy Grannis’ work a few years back in a book store<br />
when I saw the book “Surf Photography of the 1960s and 1970s.”<br />
My wife brought me a copy the following Christmas and it remains<br />
one of my most beloved books.<br />
If you love surfing history and classic photography, do yourself a<br />
favour and check out Leroy Grannis’ work. Even better, get yourself<br />
his book, or drop a hint to your partner to buy it for you!<br />
ABOVE: Sunset Beach, Hawaii, 1967. Sunset Point on the North Shore is a powerful magnet for waves as well as surfers.<br />
RIGHT: Makaha, 1966. The infamous Makaha shore break launches another victim. This classic shot has been used in many advertisements.<br />
mar/apr <strong>2011</strong><br />
45
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46 mar/apr <strong>2011</strong>
Fantastic shot of Currumbin Alley as only seagulls get to see it. Photo: Lincoln Williams<br />
Vic surfers 'Boothy' and ‘Lacho' live it up. Photo: Mark Howlett<br />
mar/apr <strong>2011</strong><br />
47
It’s all about the beach<br />
surf art • shells • driftwood<br />
things • chenille shorts<br />
wood surf boards • beach<br />
stuff • retro sunnies • thongs<br />
stripy towels • umbrellas<br />
6 Lorraine Ave<br />
Marcoola Beach<br />
07 5448 8560<br />
48 mar/apr <strong>2011</strong>
LATEST: LOCALS<br />
Any surfer who’s ever visited Torquay has been here or has heard of it.<br />
And while some make a beeline for the big brand factory surf outlets<br />
located there for some cheap retail therapy, it’s the fin man, the glasser<br />
and the shaper that are the most visited by the local surfing population.<br />
If you don’t know what you’re looking for, you may even miss the<br />
unassuming roller doors that lead to the industrious world of surfboard<br />
production that is Baines Crescent.<br />
WORDS: EMMA WEBB<br />
The residents may keep very odd hours.<br />
At times it may seem that they don’t want your business at all, with that<br />
damn ‘gone surfing’ sign not leaving the front door for days on end.<br />
But when they’re in, you could walk in one door and out another, ready<br />
to hit the surf with a custom board, fins and all the advice under the sun<br />
- everything from surfing to growing the biggest cucumbers.<br />
These guys never seem hurried and are always up for a chat. Unless the<br />
surf is pumping, that is.<br />
The personalities that co-exist in this one location are a strange mix, but<br />
it seems to work.<br />
And although they’ve been at it for the better part of their lives, they still<br />
seem to be able to inspire the younger generation to lift their game.<br />
Understated, but influential.<br />
Old school tradies keeping the buzz going and doing what they love and<br />
live for. Not for the image and not for the glory.<br />
So, next time you’re in Torquay, look beyond what you see and what you<br />
may think you know. You might just discover a little magic hidden away<br />
in streets just like this one.<br />
The characters mentioned may be the fin man, John<br />
Ayton, the glasser and fix-it man Paul Cousins and the<br />
pink surfboard making Greg Brown. You decide.<br />
mar/apr <strong>2011</strong><br />
49
NOOSA FESTIVAL<br />
Noosa...<br />
Bringing me good vibrations<br />
<strong>March</strong> is the month. That means it’s time for<br />
the Noosa Festival of Surfing once again.<br />
WORDS: DAVE SWAN, MARK CHAPMAN,<br />
TOM WEGENER & GUS BROWN<br />
50 mar/apr <strong>2011</strong>
So what? Why should you want to be there?<br />
First - the surf<br />
If you’re competing, you get to surf one of the best right-hand<br />
point breaks in the country with a handful of other guys or girls.<br />
How many times does that happen?<br />
If you’re not competing, but rather spectating, you get to watch<br />
some of the best surfers in the world and see all the things they<br />
do, that you can’t.<br />
If you’re not doing either, you can scoot around to National<br />
Park, a little further around from Main Beach where the contest<br />
is held, and surf one of the best right-hand point breaks, minus<br />
all the good surfers who are competing or watching.<br />
You can see I have thought this one through quite a fair bit. As<br />
Baldrick from Blackadder often said, “Sire, I have a cunning<br />
plan.” I love watching all the events at the festival but do<br />
confess to occasionally sneaking off to enjoy some Noosa<br />
magic without the crowds.<br />
But what’s so good about surfing Noosa anyway? Noosa is a<br />
surfing mecca and the reason is simple – it has some of the<br />
most perfectly formed point breaks you will ever surf and when<br />
it is firing, it is not unusual to have some of the longest rides<br />
you have ever had in your life. Last year the surf was on and the<br />
forecast this year looks just as good if not better.<br />
Second – the destination<br />
Noosa has built it’s reputation on the beauty of its natural<br />
surrounds. The beaches are stunning and the water is pristine<br />
and warm. Walk through Noosa National Park and you will<br />
understand why people travel the globe to visit this place.<br />
Noosa is truly one of the most beautiful spots in Australia, if<br />
not the world. Riding a pearler from National Park through to<br />
Main Beach is just another thing to add to the appeal. And as<br />
I said, the ride is long, so there’s time to check out the scenery<br />
along the way.<br />
The famousTea Tree Bay<br />
Photo: Nigel Arnison/On Surfari<br />
Third – the atmosphere<br />
I have frequented the festival for many years with my mates<br />
and we always have a ball. We catch up, we chat, we laugh,<br />
watch some events, share a few waves and check out the local<br />
surf stores. We have many hours (not hour) long breakfast<br />
sittings - the kind you never make time for. We knock back a<br />
couple of beers each night, enjoy the entertainment, take in<br />
the occasional fashion parade (this year’s event put on by Hive<br />
Swimwear will be an absolute stunner) and of course, we<br />
attend the vintage surfboard and memorabilia auction to blow<br />
the family’s life savings... Again. What’s not to love about that<br />
kind of week?<br />
The Noosa Festival of Surfing is just one almighty celebration<br />
of everything great about surfing and the good times it brings.<br />
Long live fun.<br />
mar/apr <strong>2011</strong><br />
51
What’s<br />
happening?<br />
So much... Surfing, music, surfing, movies, surfing, markets,<br />
surfing, charity auction, surfing and more surfing...<br />
With yet another day added (how soon before this festival<br />
runs for just the whole year?) there are nine full days of surfing<br />
events and all forms of entertainment at the Noosa Festival of<br />
Surfing this year.<br />
The water events range from competitions for the young ones<br />
right through to the over-65s and some great specialty events,<br />
such as the inclusion of a finless division, which should be<br />
incredible to watch. Further embracing the paddling people, the<br />
Stand Up Paddle divisions are expanding to include surf and<br />
races for all ages.<br />
A feelgood favourite, the Family Challenge is on again and the<br />
hotly contested Noserider division is always a treat to watch.<br />
For those of you who trekked back and forth through the mud<br />
last year to get to as many events as possible, there’s good<br />
news: Less trekking will be needed to get amongst it, as a<br />
new Beach Expo will be held on the sand at First Point for the<br />
duration of the festival, and - if all goes to plan - the Sails Sand<br />
Bar will open for the sunset hours where you will be able to<br />
kick back and enjoy a few cold ones.<br />
“So much more than a surfing<br />
competition, there truly is something on for<br />
everyone, day and night.”<br />
The off-beach entertainment will be held in the natural<br />
amphitheatre of the Noosa Woods with the Festival Village<br />
open to the public on Thursday 17th <strong>March</strong>.<br />
Planned entertainment the Surf Market Day, the Hive Fashion<br />
Parade and our personal weakness, the Surf Memorabilia<br />
Auction.<br />
The two major ticketed events are firstly, the surf culture, music<br />
and movie night, Logger Rhythm, which takes place on Friday<br />
evening, <strong>March</strong> 18, from 4pm until 10.30pm.<br />
A seriously eclectic mix of music has newbie garage punkers<br />
The Bleeding Knees Club sharing the stage with the Dolphin<br />
Band and the mellow, acoustic sounds of Mike McCarthy. Mike<br />
will perform songs from the soundtrack ahead of the Australian<br />
premiere of Stoked & Broke, the new Cyrus Sutton movie.<br />
The next night, get ready for the major music event of the<br />
festival, the Zinc Night in the Woods, which also runs from<br />
4pm until 10.30pm. This six-hour concert in Noosa Woods<br />
Park has a great line-up of acts with headliner Dallas Frasca<br />
performing alongside Band of Frequencies, ‘Get-up-’n-do-yourthang‘<br />
Marshall and the Fro, as well as Brisbane’s slide-guitar<br />
twanger Asa Broomhall and surfy songstress Kym Campbell.<br />
What a list... So much more than a surfing competition, there<br />
truly is something on for everyone, day and night.<br />
But, there’s only so much we can tell you here, so make sure to<br />
check out the festival website for more information and to buy<br />
your tickets: www.noosafestivalofsurfing.com<br />
Events<br />
Toes on the nose at Noosa<br />
Photo: Katherine Dodd<br />
Left: Asa Broomhall - one of the<br />
entertainers at the Zinc Night in the<br />
Woods on Saturday night<br />
Right: Keep an eye out for the Hive<br />
girls (like you could miss them) as they<br />
hand out competitor rashies and put on<br />
a fashion show for Thursday, <strong>March</strong> 7.<br />
52 mar/apr <strong>2011</strong>
NOOSA FESTIVAL<br />
mar/apr <strong>2011</strong><br />
53
WHEN JACOB STUTH RODE AN ALAIA ON THE AFTERNOON OF MARCH 5, 2005 IN NOOSA,<br />
TRAVERSING ACROSS AN OPEN SHOULDER FASTER THAN ANYONE COULD HAVE IMAGINED ON AN<br />
ANCIENT HAWAIIAN ALAIA REPLICA, THE RESURGENCE OF FINLESS SURFING TRULY BEGAN.<br />
Finless<br />
finds its feet<br />
WORDS: TOM WEGENER<br />
Did you know?<br />
The downside of the traditional Hawaiian<br />
style wood alaia is that it is really<br />
difficult to paddle and get it into the<br />
wave. Competing for waves with other<br />
surfers is often deflating. Many shapers<br />
are currently working hard to capture the<br />
feel of the wood alaia with much more<br />
paddle friendly foam boards.<br />
The Event:<br />
Sunday, <strong>March</strong> 13<br />
9.40am Seaglass Project Finless Pro<br />
7 heats of 20 mins each<br />
54 mar/apr <strong>2011</strong>
Since 2005 the alaia has gathered a cult following around the world. The buzz you<br />
get from just riding across an open wave is exhilarating and many very seasoned<br />
surfers say that it brings back the ‘grommet stoke’ of surfing all over again.<br />
NOOSA FESTIVAL<br />
After two years of alaia and finless expression sessions, the organizers of the Noosa<br />
Festival believe it is time to bring the alaia into the fold of competition. For some, the jump<br />
from a purist surfing pursuit to foam and competition is too much of a leap. However, the<br />
inclusion of finless craft should provide a fresh challenge for the competitive surfer and<br />
renewed spectator enjoyment, particularly in smaller waves.<br />
The sport of modern surfing based around the tri-fin set has evolved to a point where perfect<br />
exotic waves are expected. Conversely, finless boards are small wave friendly. They’re<br />
extremely manoeuvrable, fast in small surf, exciting and new.<br />
In thinking that we need to begin a new dialog around this genre of finless surfing, I have<br />
set out a very basic criteria or guidelines for surfers and judges to consider, which are<br />
based around finless surfing’s unique advantages. Here are the basic manoeuvres.<br />
The take-off<br />
There are a variety of ways<br />
to take off. You can drop<br />
in straight, slide sideways,<br />
backwards, into a 360<br />
drift or even set the edge<br />
and go backwards toward<br />
the pocket. They can be<br />
tricks as well as being very<br />
functional to get into a<br />
position in the wave to gain<br />
speed or set up for the next<br />
manoeuvre. The take-off is<br />
a manoeuvre to be explored<br />
and mastered.<br />
The Cut Back<br />
Probably the most<br />
phenomenal manoeuvre is<br />
the cutback at speed, way<br />
out on the shoulder. The<br />
finless board can maintain<br />
speed on a soft shoulder<br />
giving extra currency to<br />
solid rail cutbacks that<br />
displace an amazing<br />
amount of water.<br />
The Rebound<br />
After the cut back, the<br />
finless board will head<br />
back to the whitewash<br />
with speed and<br />
acceleration. There are<br />
many possibilities for<br />
terrific manoeuvres when<br />
you rebound off the lip or<br />
whitewash including 360s,<br />
aerials, sliding into and<br />
then coming out of the<br />
tube. This area needs to be<br />
explored and names given<br />
to moves.<br />
The 360° Spin<br />
At first glance it looks like<br />
a trick for points but there<br />
can be a real function<br />
to the 360° spin. This<br />
manoeuvre can act like a<br />
coil to spring you out of an<br />
un-makeable spot. The<br />
sliding tail causes the board<br />
to flex into the wave. This<br />
stored energy throws out<br />
a bit of extra speed at the<br />
end. A wave’s energy goes<br />
in circular motions and it<br />
seems the 360° spin is a<br />
natural extension of this.<br />
The Tuberide<br />
The possibilities for tube<br />
riding are exciting. Alaia<br />
converts are constantly<br />
pushing the boundaries<br />
for tube time. The finless<br />
board has incredible down<br />
the line speed. It can<br />
accelerate out of a deep<br />
tube as well as stall and<br />
sideslip in the tube. Rasta’s<br />
huge tube ride, during the<br />
expression session at last<br />
year’s Noosa Festival, was<br />
possible because he was<br />
keeping control by side<br />
slipping down the face<br />
while in the tube. One nice<br />
manoeuvre is to pull into a<br />
little close down tube and<br />
then side slip out in the<br />
whitewash.<br />
Lala or Side Slip<br />
“Lala” is the ancient<br />
Hawaiian word for alaia<br />
surfing. It is defined as<br />
the controlled slide in<br />
the pocket. The root of<br />
alaia surfing is grabbing<br />
the wave with the edge,<br />
releasing into a drift, and<br />
then gaining control again<br />
with the edge. Although<br />
this manoeuvre may<br />
be hard to see for the<br />
spectator, it displays the<br />
surfer’s control and finesse.<br />
Sharing Waves<br />
Two surfers can share a<br />
wave in harmony. The<br />
boards are so versatile in<br />
the pocket that sharing<br />
a wave is easy and<br />
can showcase a new<br />
complexity. In the earliest<br />
surfing photos, surfers<br />
were often sharing waves<br />
and looked like they were<br />
having fun.<br />
Scott Walker<br />
Photo: GSI<br />
Perhaps finless surfing could become known as “Alaia style”. Alaia surfing is ancient and<br />
we are just discovering it again. Although we are moving away from pure Hawaiian roots,<br />
using the name will forever give the Hawaiians the respect and credit due, for this very<br />
advanced style of surfing. Another ancient culture, the Basque, have a unique language that<br />
has survived for thousands of years. They have a word for happy – “alaia”. Coincidence?<br />
mar/apr <strong>2011</strong><br />
55
Bali...<br />
Festival Old Mal action on an old Jackson<br />
Photo: NFOS/GSI - supplied<br />
T he best of<br />
both worlds<br />
Dukes<br />
at Bingin<br />
ENJOY A BEACH LOCATION WITH<br />
CITY COMFORT. CHOOSE FROM:<br />
• 3 Bedroom private villa, sleeps 6,<br />
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MAKE USE OF EASY ACCESS TO<br />
FOUR FABULOUS BREAKS:<br />
Bingin, Impossibles, Dreamland<br />
and Balangan. (Surf guide available)<br />
We’re on board<br />
This year, smorgasboarder magazine has got on board as a sponsor of the ‘Old Mal’<br />
event at the Noosa Festival of Surfing. The Old Mal has been chosen becaue it fits in<br />
just perfectly with what the mag is all about - which is all about getting into the water<br />
and having fun.<br />
The rules are pretty basic too - essentially, boards need to have been made before<br />
1967 and be 9 foot or longer.<br />
Jordie Brown of Hightide Surfboards makes the trip up to Noosa from his home in<br />
Victoria every year, and you’ll most definitely see him in the line up for the Old Mals.<br />
“The reason I love the Old Mal in Noosa is because it’s the pefect stage for some of<br />
the best traditional surfers from around the world to get together and surf beautiful<br />
old boards the way they were meant to be ridden.”<br />
Thomas Bexon of Thomas surfboards also loves to compete in the Old Mal division.<br />
“It’s the least competitive event and it’s not taken so seriously,” he says. “Most<br />
people are entering this event because they love riding heavy, single fin, longboards<br />
and it’s the only area of the contest that suits that. It’s fun, and everyone who is doing<br />
it has an interest in old mals.”<br />
Thomas reckons that while modern longboarding is more focused on highperformance<br />
moves, the Old Mal division is more about nose-riding and style.<br />
“It is great fun and it’s a hoot just being part of it.“<br />
Book now!<br />
info@baliretreats.com.au<br />
www.baliretreats.com.au<br />
or call 07 5572 <strong>04</strong>77<br />
The Event:<br />
Tuesday-Wednesday, <strong>March</strong> 15-16<br />
From 7am Old Mal<br />
Check the location and final details on the day.<br />
56 mar/apr <strong>2011</strong>
NOOSA FESTIVAL<br />
Old mals<br />
“It’s the pefect stage for some of the best<br />
traditional surfers from around the world to<br />
get together and surf beautiful old boards the<br />
way they were meant to be ridden.”<br />
- Jordie Brown<br />
mar/apr <strong>2011</strong><br />
57
58 mar/apr <strong>2011</strong><br />
Straddie is only a ferry-ride away from the bustling city of Brisbane, but<br />
may as well be a million miles away with its crystal clear waves and<br />
pristine beaches. Megan Slade gives us an almost-local’s insight into this<br />
still untamed, yet unbelievably friendly island paradise.
Brent Dorrington at Main Beach, Point Lookout<br />
PHOTO: Adam Weathered<br />
TRAVEL: ROAD TRIP<br />
mar/apr <strong>2011</strong><br />
59
TRAVEL: ROAD TRIP<br />
Ahhh... That Straddie feeling.<br />
It starts to take hold as soon<br />
as your car wheels hit the<br />
metal floor of the ferry and<br />
the weathered old barge boys<br />
guide you in. It deepens as<br />
a shimmering Moreton Bay<br />
opens up and Coochiemudlo<br />
Island glides by to the south.<br />
Once you hit the East Coast<br />
road the feeling of freedom<br />
ensues. Worries are left on<br />
the mainland and a morning<br />
session filled with 3-4 foot<br />
translucent Main Beach<br />
barrels beckons.<br />
North Stradbroke Island is a magical,<br />
subtropical surf destination on Brisbane’s<br />
doorstep. It boasts consistent swell all<br />
year round and though wave quality is<br />
sand dependant, there are often great<br />
banks to be had along the expansive<br />
beaches.<br />
MAIN BEACH is the surfing focus of<br />
Point Lookout. Being an island means it<br />
is exposed to big swells and Main offers<br />
some 32km of possibilities if you take<br />
a 4WD. Closer to the point near south<br />
rock, left and right barrels peel off in<br />
impossibly clear waters. Out the back a<br />
long bank can form, pitching a lovely left<br />
hander dubbed ‘Back Break’ by locals.<br />
Around the headland to the north<br />
both FRENCHMAN’S BEACH and<br />
DEADMAN’S BEACH offer some<br />
protection from a southerly wind.<br />
‘Widows’ is a favourite spot for locals<br />
despite the warning in its name and<br />
it’s proximity to Shark Alley. It’s a<br />
powerful right hander and not for the<br />
faint hearted. The island does have a<br />
reputation for being sharky and chances<br />
are you may spot a few whilst there.<br />
The locals maintain they are well fed<br />
and recommend staying out of the water<br />
when the bait fish are around.<br />
CYLINDER is a popular family beach<br />
offering the most protection. In the<br />
right conditions a beautiful right hander<br />
can peel around the point. The current<br />
is strong, so you paddle out north of<br />
Widows and get whipped around the<br />
point into a long right that finishes by<br />
plonking you straight in front of the pub<br />
at Home Beach.<br />
60 mar/apr <strong>2011</strong>
Nick Vitko. Primitive Surf<br />
rider and Straddie local<br />
“It’s the serenity. You catch<br />
up with all your mates and the<br />
village news in the water, it’s a<br />
great atmosphere.<br />
“The quality of the waves, the<br />
beauty. You can have main<br />
beach to yourself when it’s<br />
slightly onshore.<br />
“You compare a place like<br />
Straddie to Fiji or Bali and you<br />
have to go through all the crap<br />
at the airports.<br />
“It’s the lifestyle. It’s just great.”<br />
Russell Specht,<br />
Straddie local and gun surfer<br />
mar/apr <strong>2011</strong><br />
61
TRAVEL: ROAD TRIP<br />
The days of Straddie being a well kept<br />
secret are long gone but the magic of the<br />
place remains. On the weekends and school<br />
holidays the surf can be pretty crowded<br />
but during the week it’s still possible to<br />
score perfect waves with only a handful of<br />
surfers. The locals are guns and like any<br />
small community they are protective of their<br />
beautiful home. But generally the vibe in the<br />
water is very relaxed as long as you show<br />
some respect.<br />
You can have all sorts of different holidays at<br />
Straddie. There are a handful of beach front,<br />
easily accessed camping grounds at Point<br />
Lookout, Cylinder and Amity Point. For a bit<br />
of quiet time you can take the 4WD up both<br />
Main and Flinders Beaches, set up camp and<br />
find your own beach break. Or else you can<br />
stay in resorts and holiday rental houses in<br />
the villages. As well as surfing there is great<br />
scuba diving, snorkelling, bush walking and<br />
fresh water lakes to visit.<br />
Once completely surfed out, and the sun is<br />
setting over Moreton island, chances are<br />
you will be grinning like a fool in utter self<br />
appreciation over your decision to come to<br />
the island. Your mobile phone will have<br />
been abandoned in a pile of sand under the<br />
passenger seat and the Straddie feeling will<br />
have taken hold.<br />
That’s what Straddie is about. It’s being away<br />
from the mainland. It’s those magic filled<br />
days. It’s the waves and that impossibly clear<br />
water. It’s the abundance of sea creatures<br />
and wildlife. It’s the low key atmosphere<br />
and the burgers at the Roadhouse. It’s Bob’s<br />
shop. It’s the view from the Straddie pub. It’s<br />
lying under the she-oaks at Cylinder beach<br />
camping ground, completely surfed out and<br />
watching a storm roll in.<br />
‘I see people and they fall in love with the place the first time they<br />
come. It’s the ones that leave their brains on the barge that are<br />
a pain in the ass. If you show a bit of respect for the place and<br />
the people that live here, then there are no problems.’<br />
Murray Taylor, Straddie local and surf school operator.<br />
“Growing up in Redland Bay in the 1980s, we used to walk down to<br />
catch the North Straddie barge and then hitch hike all over the<br />
island. It was the best of times, surfing pristine, perfect waves.”<br />
Paul Uscinski, COD Surfboards<br />
62 mar/apr <strong>2011</strong>
The other<br />
Straddie has an abundance of sea creatures and wildlife.<br />
A couple of winters ago, three pods of dolphins put on an<br />
incredible festival of surfing at Frenchman’s beach before a<br />
dumbfounded crowd who packed the headland. Two legged<br />
surfers joined in on the spontaneous game, carving up the<br />
glassy south-easterly swell whilst about sixty dolphins<br />
torpedoed beneath them and soared amongst them. An<br />
unforgettable experience for this humble surfer, but for the<br />
locals it was just another day in Paradise. They surf daily<br />
with dolphins, turtles, dugongs, massive rays and whales<br />
and the water is so damn clear it blows your mind.<br />
A real<br />
surf shop...<br />
in a true surf<br />
paradise<br />
A chance encounter<br />
with Terrence<br />
Words: DAVE<br />
SUCH A PRISTINE ENVIRONMENT MEANS NORTH<br />
STRADDIE HAS ABUNDANCE OF MARINE LIFE.<br />
SOME FIVE MINUTES OUT IN THE SURF AND I HAD A<br />
CHANCE ENCOUNTER WITH TERRENCE.<br />
Having a surf out at Point Lookout, a friendly booger sitting<br />
beside me in the lineup shrieked, “Shark!”<br />
“What shark”, I said. “How big?”<br />
“It’s a bull (shark) or a tiger. Maybe two or three foot,” he<br />
replied.<br />
Admittedly a shark that size is big enough to perhaps take<br />
a chunk out of you but is a guppy by South Australian<br />
standards.<br />
Looking around I couldn’t yet see what he was on about<br />
and with that, Terrence the Tiger Shark (calling them names<br />
likes Terrence seems to make them less frightening to me<br />
– sorry if I have offended any Terrences out there) passed<br />
between us.<br />
He seemed to move more in the direction of my booger<br />
friend, causing him to very quickly paddle towards the<br />
beach. It appears sharks have a sense of humour too.<br />
Jokes aside, there is a lot of marine life, and a few of the<br />
men in grey suits, but they are so well fed they are not an<br />
issue. Indeed, it is great they are there, because it means<br />
human intervention has not yet stuffed up another majestic<br />
location on our idyllic Australian coastline.<br />
“Yes, there’s a few<br />
of us around, but<br />
with waves this good,<br />
we’re the last thing<br />
on your mind”<br />
Custom surfboards, hardware,<br />
accessories, clothing & more!<br />
rory symes<br />
Photo: Swilly<br />
Point lookout,<br />
North stradbroke island<br />
(07) 3409 8334<br />
bob@bobmintysurfboards.com<br />
mar/apr <strong>2011</strong><br />
63
64 mar/apr <strong>2011</strong><br />
Sustainable<br />
Stradbroke
learn to surF<br />
www.norThSTrAdBrokeISlAndSurfSChool.Com.Au<br />
A little Straddie<br />
A Stradbroke Island home, ca. 1885<br />
At approximately 38km long and 11 km wide, North<br />
Stradbroke is the second largest sand island in the world.<br />
Scientific review of middens at Point Lookout show evidence<br />
of human activity some 25,000 years ago. Named Minjerribah<br />
by the original inhabitants, the island’s rich ocean, abundance<br />
of native animals and access to fresh water supported a long<br />
history of indigenous occupation.<br />
Captain Cook sailed past in 1770 and mapped the<br />
easternmost points of the area, identifying and naming<br />
Point Lookout in the process. Matthew Flinders was the first<br />
european to set foot on the island in 1803. He was supported<br />
in his quest to find water by the local peoples who proved to<br />
be very hospitable.<br />
Renamed in 1827 after the<br />
Earl of Stradbroke, the island<br />
became the home for the first<br />
pilot station in Morten Bay and<br />
was identified as a suitable<br />
location for a penal colony.<br />
This permanent habitation<br />
of the island ended the<br />
idealic life of the indigenous<br />
inhabitants, with regular conflict occurring with the convicts.<br />
The island was opened to free settlers in the 1950s with<br />
fishing, including the hunting of dugongs, becoming a primary<br />
industry.<br />
In more recent history, the island has become synonymous<br />
with sand mining which commenced in the 1960s. In 2010 the<br />
state government announced plans to phase out sand mining<br />
on South Stradbroke by 2027 and establishing national park<br />
which would cover up to 80% of the island.<br />
The big split!<br />
Originally one landmass, North and South Stradbroke were<br />
apparently separated in 1894 when the “Cambus Wallace”<br />
laden with explosives was shipwrecked on a narrow passage<br />
off the island and had to be detonated.<br />
• All equipment supplied<br />
• Great fitness activity<br />
• Increase your ocean awareness<br />
• Build on your current SurfInG SkIllS<br />
• Certificate courses available, level 1 - level 5<br />
• Group lessons available<br />
• Team building for corporate groups<br />
• Private lessons available!<br />
For more inFormation or to make a booking<br />
For your straddie surFing experience,<br />
please contact any oF our coaching staFF!<br />
Murray <strong>04</strong>07 642 616<br />
Tim <strong>04</strong>28 539 684<br />
Chris <strong>04</strong>00 791 839<br />
Stacey <strong>04</strong>03 960 789<br />
Clasje <strong>04</strong>39 079 490<br />
Dale <strong>04</strong>38 763 957<br />
Lincoln <strong>04</strong>38 267 700<br />
mar/apr <strong>2011</strong><br />
65
SURFBOARDS By PAUl UScinSki <br />
HAnD-SHAPeD, PeRSOnAliSeD cUStOm<br />
BOARDS FOR PASSiOnAte SURFeRS<br />
10 minutes from the<br />
North Straddie Ferry!<br />
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yeARS<br />
ALSO:<br />
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ding repairs<br />
<strong>04</strong>15 722 891 www.cODSURFing.cOm.AU<br />
Aside from the idyllic, pristine surroundings, what also<br />
typifies North Straddie is its mix of interesting people.<br />
66 mar/apr <strong>2011</strong>
TRAVEL: ROAD TRIP<br />
Bob Minty<br />
NORTH STRADDIE’S LOCAL SURF SHOP<br />
OWNER AND SHAPER OF, YOU GUESSED IT,<br />
BOB MINTY SURFBOARDS.<br />
Visiting the island we were told to pop in and<br />
say g’day to Bob. Thinking it best to call ahead,<br />
we were told by nearly everyone we spoke<br />
to not to worry about it. Bob would be there.<br />
He would either be shaping a board, out front<br />
having a chat and a coffee, or out on the grass<br />
stripping the wax off a surfboard.<br />
We got there. He wasn’t. Is that bad karma? See<br />
Page 63 for our chance meeting with Terrence.<br />
Understanding Bob is a pretty humble kind of<br />
guy, we asked Marie Kendall who has worked<br />
with him for the better part of four years about<br />
the man.<br />
“Bob is a very generous, kind-hearted man with<br />
a lot of time for the local community. He is<br />
involved in so many aspects of the community<br />
and island life.<br />
“He is always up for a chat and a coffee or a<br />
cup of tea. He is of English origin, so he loves<br />
his cups of tea. If it’s the afternoon, it’s beer<br />
time. He will most definitely greet his guests<br />
with a beer.<br />
“He’s always here, seven days a week. His<br />
business is his life. He lives on site. Bob eats,<br />
sleeps and breathes his business, so in that<br />
respect, he combines his social life with his<br />
working life and that is probably why so many<br />
people who come across from the mainland find<br />
the store so welcoming.”<br />
The Taylors<br />
GROWING UP WITH A SURF-MAD DAD THAT<br />
RUNS THE LOCAL SURF SCHOOL, LINCOLN<br />
WAS DESTINED TO BE IN THE WATER. POINT<br />
LOOKOUT BORN AND BRED, HE’S ANOTHER<br />
MEMBER OF THE LOCAL BOARDRIDERS’ CLUB<br />
WHO HAS MADE HIS WAY INTO THE TOP 100<br />
ON THE ASP.<br />
Lincoln commenced surfing when he was five<br />
in the mellow waves at Cylinder Beach under<br />
the watchful eye of his dad. Now twenty-two,<br />
has been on the circuit three years and last year<br />
placed 95th in the ASP World Rankings. But it<br />
has been a lot of hard work to get to where he<br />
has to date. Murray, Lincoln’s father, explains the<br />
challenges of being so remote and what it takes.<br />
“Not having much of a media presence on<br />
Straddie, it is quite difficult getting exposure<br />
unless you are out there pushing your own<br />
barrow or have someone pushing it for you.<br />
Bede showed guys like Lincoln what was<br />
possible but admittedly he had to move to the<br />
Gold Coast to really crack it.<br />
“Kids over on the island tend to be really power<br />
based surfers - just look at Bede, Lincoln and<br />
Tim McDonald, another local boy making a<br />
name for himself. They surf that way because<br />
of the waves we enjoy over here. With that<br />
said, I think they possibly miss the hungriness<br />
you develop competing for waves at places like<br />
Snapper Rocks and so forth. Breaks where you<br />
are anonymous really and where people don’t<br />
necessarily show respect to the older guys like<br />
they do over on the island. It certainly is more<br />
of a ‘dog eat dog’ attitude. You have to fight for<br />
your waves. Your performance level at places<br />
like the Gold Coast is also much higher. You are<br />
not always the best surfer out in the water.<br />
“What is most pleasing though is whilst the<br />
boys have moved away from the island they<br />
come back when they can and take an active<br />
role in the local surf comps. Bede and Lincoln<br />
are usually down judging the groms. They<br />
recognise what the club and the older crew<br />
have done for them and have tried to keep that<br />
going. It’s about having respect for those who<br />
have helped you out and giving something back.”<br />
Talking with Murray, he is obviously proud of his<br />
son and confident he can continue to improve<br />
as a surfer.<br />
“The dedication and the preparation Lincoln<br />
puts in is pretty strong. He definitely gives it<br />
100%. He just loves competing. He has always<br />
loved competing. He would compete in a game<br />
of cards. He would compete throwing rocks.<br />
That’s just him.”<br />
Lincoln is presently sponsored by Lizzard, with<br />
boards and fins supplied by Mt Woodgee and<br />
FCS. Mt Woodgee shaper Wayne McKewen has<br />
had a long association with the island.<br />
Bede Durbidge<br />
NORTH STRADDIE’S HOMETOWN HERO ON<br />
THE PRO CIRCUIT<br />
Those who know our mag would be aware we<br />
don’t make it our business to cover the world<br />
of professional surfing. The ASP gets ample<br />
coverage already. But there are stories behind<br />
these gifted surfers, particularly in reference<br />
to who they are as everyday people. And when<br />
on Stradbroke, there’s just no way to avoid<br />
competitive surfing. The place lives for it.<br />
However talking with Bede’s sister Clara, who<br />
works in a local café on the island, it was<br />
fantastic to get another side of this surf superstar<br />
that many people may not know about.<br />
“If I had to sum up Bede, the best way I could<br />
describe him is respectful. He’s a humble,<br />
warm, family orientated man. That comes from<br />
growing up in a very small close-knit community.<br />
“Because the island can be so isolated, you<br />
learn respect. As kids, sometimes you would<br />
be at school and we would have to come home<br />
because there was a cyclone warning. All the<br />
island kids would be rounded up and piled onto<br />
a barge to the mainland and it would be as<br />
rough as guts.<br />
“That develops a humbling respect towards<br />
the elements. You don’t go out there and think<br />
you are invincible. It definitely shapes people’s<br />
character and develops a deep-seated respect<br />
for Mother Nature and the environment. Being<br />
a part of such a small community you also learn<br />
to respect people within the community - your<br />
elders, your family and your friends. That’s what<br />
Bede’s done and that’s why people respect him.”<br />
Lincoln Taylor carves up his home break<br />
Photo: Andrew Shields<br />
mar/apr <strong>2011</strong><br />
67
café bar<br />
& Point Lookout Pizza<br />
breakfast – lunch – dinner<br />
al a carte – dine in and takeaway pizza<br />
fully licensed bar – functions – weddings<br />
overlooking frenchman’s beach<br />
Not only is North Stradbroke Island picturesque, it has a rich cultural heritage dating<br />
back many tens of thousands of years to the original inhabitants who still have an<br />
active and ongoing relationship with the island. The strong cultural connection to<br />
the land and sea is maintained today. Attractions on the island are largely those of<br />
historical significance or its unique flora and fauna.<br />
07 3415 3390<br />
www.lookcafebar.com<br />
Pick up a Caring for Straddie pocket guide on the barge over for<br />
helpful tips to minimise your impact on the local environment<br />
and ensure you preserve it for generations to come.<br />
Enjoy breathtaking views along the main<br />
surfing beach, over to the Pacific Ocean<br />
Samarinda Drive, Point Lookout North Stradbroke<br />
www.whalewatchresort.com.au<br />
Freecall number: 1800 450 0<strong>04</strong><br />
Learn to surf<br />
If you’re planning on teaching your<br />
partner or kids to surf it does get<br />
much better than the warm, crystal<br />
clear waters of North Straddie.<br />
Murray Taylor’s Surf School has<br />
been running since 1987 and there<br />
is a reason why so many current<br />
and budding surf stars come from<br />
the island.<br />
Watersports & fishing<br />
Aside from surfing, Stradbroke is<br />
an awesome spot for fishing, scuba<br />
diving, snorkeling, sailing and sea<br />
kayaking. Manta Scuba is one<br />
of the top operators in the area<br />
running daily dives to Straddie’s<br />
reefs which are absolutely teeming<br />
with marine life. The waters around<br />
North Stradbroke Island form part<br />
of the Moreton Bay Marine Park.<br />
The whales<br />
From June to November you<br />
can see lots and lots of whales.<br />
Apparently North Stradbroke<br />
Island has the tightest funneling of<br />
whales on the entire east coast of<br />
Australia.<br />
North Gorge<br />
On the North Gorge walk at Point<br />
Lookout you are bound to see<br />
more than just whales. Bring your<br />
camera as you’re bound to see<br />
dolphins, turtles, manta rays and<br />
more.<br />
More nature & lakes<br />
Inland there are endangered<br />
heathlands, rainforests, old growth<br />
forests, woodlands and freshwater<br />
lakes. You just have to see them.<br />
Brown Lake is so named because of<br />
the distinct colour of the water. The<br />
tannin from surrounding Paperbarks<br />
and Ti-trees stain the water a rich<br />
brown colour not dissimilar to that<br />
of tea. Brown Lake can be accessed<br />
by car.<br />
Blue Lake on the other hand can<br />
only be accessed by foot but has<br />
to be seen. The lake is not only<br />
stunning but extremely deep with<br />
a maximum depth of 9.4 metres.<br />
As a kid growing up my family<br />
regularly ventured there. I still<br />
recall swimming out towards the<br />
middle of the lake and ducking<br />
underwater following the rays of<br />
sun filtering down until they faded<br />
into its dark depths. I thought the<br />
lake bottomless and possibly home<br />
to our very own Loch Ness Monster.<br />
68 mar/apr <strong>2011</strong>
Tread lightly when visiting this ecologically<br />
sensitive and culturally significant island<br />
paradise. Where possible minimise your<br />
impact on the local environment and ensure<br />
you preserve it for generations to come. Pick<br />
up a Caring for Straddie pocket guide on the<br />
barge over for helpful tips.<br />
Buy local where you can. You will not only<br />
be supporting the island’s economy, you’re<br />
guaranteed some of the freshest seafood and<br />
produce you have ever tasted.<br />
4WD Adventures<br />
Get your 4WD beach access permit and explore<br />
this majestic island. 4WD permits are $34<br />
for one year, and can be purchased from the<br />
Stradbroke Ferries terminal and vessels, or<br />
the Redlands on Moreton Bay Visitor centre in<br />
Cleveland. For a treat for the kids or the young<br />
at heart, make your way to the island’s massive<br />
sand dunes and go sandboarding. You will never<br />
laugh so much. It will be one of those moments<br />
you never forget.<br />
History lesson<br />
The island’s Heritage Trail is a self-guided<br />
tour that explores the region’s rich historical<br />
past. Trail guides and further information can<br />
be obtained from the North Stradbroke Island<br />
Historical Museum, Visitor Information Centres<br />
and Council Customer Service Centres.<br />
For more information visit the websites<br />
www.redland.qld.gov.au or<br />
www.more2redlands.com.au/explore<br />
North Straddie has a very broad range of<br />
accommodation options from beach holiday<br />
homes - be it architecturally innovative<br />
designer beach abodes or retro weatherboard<br />
cottages, to resorts, self contained<br />
apartments, great B&Bs and a backpacker<br />
guesthouse complete with scuba diving<br />
available on site.<br />
And if you can’t stand being more than<br />
several meters between where you sleep<br />
and the waves, Straddie Holiday Parks has<br />
a number of park and foreshore camping<br />
grounds on several of the island’s most<br />
popular surf and fishing beaches. Each<br />
ground has unique features and various<br />
accommodation options. All campsites,<br />
including foreshore camping, must be booked<br />
and paid prior to arrival. Foreshore campsites<br />
are accessible by 4WD vehicles only and a<br />
permit is necessary, but are a true way to get<br />
away from it all.<br />
Stradbroke Ferries – Straddie Assault<br />
Teams Surfing Competition Point Lookout<br />
Saturday 15th & Sunday 16th October<br />
Contact: <strong>04</strong>38 763 957<br />
The Stradbroke Ferries – Straddie Assault is<br />
in its 28th consecutive year and is Australia’s<br />
longest running teams surfing competition.<br />
The event is invitation only and epitomises<br />
club spirit involving all members of the club in<br />
the competition.<br />
Surfers who have competed as juniors and<br />
gone onto bigger things include – Bede<br />
Durbidge, Mick Fanning, Joel Parkinson and<br />
Danny Wills, Lincoln Taylor, Chris Friend, Chris<br />
Bennetts, Mitch Colbourn and Julian Wilson.<br />
Oakley Pro Junior<br />
Point Lookout<br />
February 2012<br />
Contact: 07 5520 1165<br />
Each year the world’s most talented young<br />
surfers descend on Straddie to battle it out.<br />
In 2010 world renowned<br />
travel guide, Lonely Planet<br />
named North Stradbroke<br />
Island one of the top ten<br />
beaches in the world to<br />
swing a hammock.<br />
The aboriginal name for the<br />
island, ‘Minjerribah’ means<br />
place of mosquitoes.<br />
We didn’t see any...<br />
Deadman’s Beach was so<br />
named after a skeleton<br />
and a leather boot were<br />
found in the sand in 1956.<br />
The remains were thought<br />
to be those of the cook or<br />
mate from the Prosperity<br />
who were lost at sea when<br />
the ship sank in1902 off<br />
Point Lookout.<br />
Dunwich on North<br />
Stradbroke Island was<br />
formerly a convict<br />
settlement, quarantine<br />
station and later a<br />
benevolent asylum for<br />
paupers, inebriates, the<br />
badly disabled, lepers and<br />
returned soldiers from<br />
WW1. It was also home to<br />
an aboriginal mission.<br />
Since the 1940s tourism<br />
and sandmining have been<br />
the main industries on the<br />
island.<br />
At the end of this year,<br />
more than half of the<br />
island’s 27,753 hectares<br />
will be national park. The<br />
state government plans to<br />
increase this to more than<br />
80% by 2027 under their<br />
strategy to develop ecotourism<br />
on the island.<br />
mar/apr <strong>2011</strong><br />
69
70 mar/apr <strong>2011</strong>
mar/apr <strong>2011</strong><br />
71
THE ISLANDER HOLIDAY RESORT<br />
41 East Coast Rd, POINT LOOKOUT<br />
POINT LOOKOUT BEACH RESORT<br />
4-10 Kennedy Drive, POINT LOOKOUT<br />
CYLINDER COVE<br />
118 Mooloomba Road, POINT LOOKOUT<br />
Ideally located, whether it’s adventure<br />
or relaxation you’re after, there’s<br />
something for everyone. The resort<br />
has a pool, tennis court, bbq area, kids<br />
playground, scooter & car hire. Studio,<br />
1 & 2 bedroom apartments available,<br />
all fully self-contained with foxtel,<br />
dvd player, wireless internet access,<br />
balconies and parking.<br />
Proximity: Opposite Home/Cylinder<br />
beaches, 2 minute walk to the hotel,<br />
pub, bowls club, shops & restaurants.<br />
Phone: 07 3409 8388<br />
E: islander@stradbrokeresorts.com.au<br />
www.islander.stradbrokeresorts.com.au<br />
From $225 for 2 nights<br />
MANTA LODGE AND SCUBA CENTRE<br />
1 East Coast Road, POINT LOOKOUT<br />
Manta Lodge YHA on beautiful North<br />
Stradbroke Island is the perfect place<br />
to relax and escape to a tropical island<br />
paradise. We are a 3½ star Lodge<br />
located right on the beach at Point<br />
Lookout, with private double and twin<br />
rooms, as well as clean, comfortable<br />
and secure dorm share rooms.<br />
Nestled into the hillside of the Point<br />
Lookout headland, the resort offers<br />
a selection of self-contained 2 & 3<br />
bedroom units, with ocean views, pool<br />
areas and private aspects. The resort is<br />
only 80 metres from the Point Lookout<br />
Surf Club and the entrance to beautiful<br />
Main Beach.<br />
Proximity: 3 minute walk to the surf<br />
Phone: 07 3409 8213<br />
Email: StradbrokeIsland@rhq.com.au<br />
From $320 per unit for 2 night stay.<br />
Located on north facing Cylinder Beach<br />
with its legendary surf break. Fully self<br />
contained units with ocean and beach<br />
views from almost every room. Straddie<br />
Hotel only minutes walk away.<br />
Proximity: 1 minute walk to beach and<br />
5 minutes walk to hotel and shops.<br />
Phone: 07 3409 8255<br />
Email: straddie.qld@raywhite.com<br />
www.visitstradbroke.com.au<br />
From $1320 per week low season<br />
DISCOVER STRADBROKE<br />
1 Mintee Street, POINT LOOKOUT<br />
Discover Stradbroke Surfing Retreats<br />
- STAY for 3 Nights, PAY for only 2!<br />
Contact Discover for everything you<br />
need for your surfing getaway!<br />
Contact our Stradbroke Island<br />
Accommodation Specialists on<br />
+617 3415 3949 or Visit<br />
DiscoverStradbroke.com.au<br />
Phone: 07 3415 3949<br />
E: bookings@DiscoverStradbroke.com.au<br />
StradbrokeIslandReservations.com.au<br />
PANDANUS PALMS<br />
HOLIDAY RESORT<br />
21 Cumming Parade, POINT LOOKOUT<br />
High on a hill overlooking Home Beach,<br />
looking north towards Moreton Island,<br />
offering plenty of open space for<br />
children to play, full size tennis court<br />
and swimming pool.<br />
The two or three bedroom villas are fully<br />
self-contained with large living area and<br />
private balcony, own BBQ and linen is<br />
supplied. We can arrange return vehicle<br />
ferry crossings at a discounted rate.<br />
Proximity: 500m walk to Home Beach<br />
and Stradbroke Island Beach Hotel.<br />
2km to cafes, shops and Gorge Walk.<br />
Phone: 07 3409 8106<br />
Email: pandpalm@bigpond.net.au<br />
www.pandanuspalmsresort.com<br />
From $330.00 for two nights<br />
Proximity: Located right on the beach<br />
at Point Lookout.<br />
Phone: 07 3409 8888<br />
E: info@mantalodge.com.au<br />
www.mantalodge.com.au<br />
Dorm Share from $30 per person per night<br />
and Private Rooms from $78 per night.<br />
Mention this listing for 10% off.<br />
WHALE WATCH OCEAN<br />
BEACH RESORT<br />
Samarinda Drive, POINT LOOKOUT<br />
Located at North Stradbroke Island’s<br />
Point Lookout, Whale Watch Ocean<br />
Beach Resort provides endless views<br />
along the main surfing beach (which is<br />
one of the east’s coasts renowned surf<br />
spots) and over the Pacific Ocean, to the<br />
Gold Coast and beyond.<br />
Proximity: Short walking distance<br />
to Point Lookout Surf Club and all the<br />
major Point Lookout attractions are<br />
within walking distance.<br />
Phone: 07 3409 8555<br />
E: reservations@whalewatchresort.com.au<br />
www.whalewatchresort.com.au<br />
ALL SEASONS STRADBROKE ISLAND<br />
43-57 East Coast Rd, POINT LOOKOUT<br />
The premier resort on the island, nestled<br />
in the foothills of Point Lookout, offering<br />
modern architecturally designed 1, 2, 3<br />
and 4 bedroom, self-contained Beach<br />
Shacks and Villas. Modern facilities that<br />
ensure you have everything you need for<br />
your time on Straddie including cafe and<br />
general store, heated pool, gymnasium,<br />
children’s playground and tour desk.<br />
Proximity: 2 minute walk away from<br />
Home Beach..<br />
Telephone: 07 3415 000<br />
E: reservations@<br />
allseasonsstradbrokeisland.com.au<br />
http://www.all-seasons-hotels.com/<br />
gb/hotel-7945-all-seasons-stradbrokeisland/index.shtml<br />
Prices from $151 per night (low peak,<br />
based on minimum of two nights)<br />
TV<br />
gym<br />
laundry<br />
kitchen<br />
parking wi-fi pool airconditioning family-friendly pet-friendly spa<br />
bbq<br />
72 mar/apr <strong>2011</strong>
On the island you are going to want a car – it’s a bloody big<br />
island remember, the second biggest sand island in the world.<br />
There is plenty to see and do and a 4WD is the best option.<br />
Plus if you want to explore a few different breaks whilst there,<br />
each are a couple of minutes drive apart.<br />
You have the option of flying into Brisbane and hiring a car or<br />
driving your own from wherever you come from.<br />
If you’re coming up from the south on the M1 (Pacific Highway),<br />
the simplest route is to turn onto the Gateway Motorway<br />
and take the Old Cleveland Road exit following the signs to<br />
Cleveland. Once there, the ferry terminal is well signed.<br />
If coming from the north, the directions are essentially the<br />
same - down the Pacific Highway turn left onto the Gateway<br />
Motorway and then left again onto Old Cleveland Road.<br />
The drive from Brisbane’s CBD to Cleveland is around 28 kms<br />
and depending on traffic can take between 20 to 40 minutes.<br />
The drive from Brisbane Airport is around the same.<br />
Once at Cleveland you have the option of four kinds of<br />
watercraft to take you to the island, two are water taxis and<br />
two are car and passenger ferries. Since you are going to want<br />
a car the choices are:<br />
Stradbroke Ferries or the Big Red Cat. Both take around the<br />
same time.<br />
Stradbroke Ferries (the blue ones) are more frequent and run<br />
7 days a week, 365 days a year.<br />
The trip across to the island is between 40 to 50 minutes.<br />
There are same day travel deals for as little as $50 but<br />
generally speaking the ferry is around $65 to $70 each way.<br />
Once there the drive from Dunwich to the north-eastern tip<br />
of the island (where the popular surf spots are) is just under<br />
20kms and around 15-20 minutes.<br />
Lincoln Taylor<br />
TRAVEL: ROAD TRIP<br />
Photo: Andrew Shields<br />
Going to STRADDIE?<br />
Go Blue!<br />
www.<br />
Phone (07) 3488 5300 or 1300 STRADBROKE<br />
Straddie<br />
Specials<br />
Anchorage Beachfront Resort<br />
• Stay 3 nights & receive a FREE return<br />
Stradbroke Ferries vehicle ferry transfer<br />
• Studio Unit<br />
• Beachfront resort<br />
• Restaurant, pool & BBQ area<br />
per person<br />
$185* twin share<br />
Whalewatch Ocean Beach Resort<br />
• Stay 3 nights & receive a FREE return<br />
Stradbroke Ferries vehicle ferry transfer<br />
• 2 Bedroom Ocean View Unit<br />
• Ocean views<br />
• Pool, BBQ area & games room<br />
per person<br />
$157* based on 4 people<br />
.com.au<br />
* Valid 09/02/11 – 11/<strong>04</strong>/11 & 27/<strong>04</strong>/11 – 31/05/11 excluding public holidays. Conditions apply. Subject to availability.<br />
Call 1300 303 766<br />
or (07) 3821 0266<br />
SIH17130.indd 1<br />
mar/apr <strong>2011</strong><br />
73<br />
11/02/11 6:42 AM
TRAVEL: PLANE TRIP<br />
TALES OF THE<br />
TukTuk<br />
Sri Lanka is a beautiful surf destination and has always<br />
inspired a different kind of surfer. With the civil war finished<br />
in May 2009 and a recent WQS event held in Arugam Bay,<br />
it is truly back on the surfer’s map and why wouldn’t it be?<br />
Julia Brockhausen and friends discover great waves, warm<br />
water, good food and friendly locals.<br />
traveller<br />
WORDS: JULIA BROCKHAUSEN<br />
PHOTOS: CHRIS ‘EDDIE’ WARD & JULIA BROCKHAUSEN<br />
SURFING PHOTOS: DANIEL MEALLEM<br />
74 mar/apr <strong>2011</strong>
Photo: Cyrus ‘Elvis’ Kaye<br />
mar/apr <strong>2011</strong><br />
75
TRAVEL: PLANE TRIP<br />
It’s one o’clock at night and we are finally<br />
standing in front of the small hostel in Sri Lanka’s<br />
capital, Colombo, that I had booked a couple<br />
of days earlier. Lights are out and everything is<br />
closed. After what feels like forever, our repeated<br />
door banging summons forth an apparition that<br />
could be straight out of the Ali Baba tales. An old<br />
man with white hair, dressed in a long, flowing<br />
white gown opens the door and leads us to our<br />
musty smelling room – the joys of travel.<br />
Three days later I am sitting in the line-up at the<br />
fabled point-break of Arugam Bay on Sri Lanka’s<br />
east coast. The wave is a fast right-hander,<br />
breaking over a stone reef partially covered with<br />
sand. Today, it is 3 to 4 foot and fun. Even getting<br />
out into the line-up was easy, although I had<br />
to walk onto the reef - thanks booties - find the<br />
keyhole and do a couple of duck dives. I opt to sit<br />
on the shoulder of the wave to see how it breaks<br />
to get a feeling for the pecking order. There are<br />
two locals who seem to sit deepest and pick their<br />
waves. A couple of Israeli and Australian guys are<br />
rather aggressive and frequently drop in. Finally,<br />
there are some Euro surfers and me - the only girl.<br />
All in all, there are maybe 10 to 15 surfers.<br />
Then, one of the set waves swings wide and I am<br />
sitting in the perfect spot. A couple of strokes and<br />
I’m on my feet, taking the drop, gliding fast down<br />
the line – time for a turn, another turn – bliss!<br />
After Colombo’s shenanigans, dusty roads and a<br />
bumpy tuk tuk ride (thanks to a broken tire) I’m<br />
back where I belong – in the water.<br />
Early mornings are the go with offshore wind<br />
and the break becoming crowded quickly as<br />
the morning progresses. Later, the wind goes<br />
all wonky and it is not as clean. Evening leaves<br />
another window of fun surf if you are lucky.<br />
Accommodation ranges from very basic and<br />
extremely cheap to luxury, yet still affordable,<br />
with everything in between. Over the next couple<br />
of days, we are exploring Arugam Bay and<br />
surrounds.<br />
There is incredibly good food: hot curries,<br />
fresh fruit juices, even home-made ice cream.<br />
Arugam proves to be the perfect base. The<br />
point break is fast and fun, doesn’t get too big<br />
but always breaks. The inside wave in the bay<br />
is more mellow, and perfect for beginners and<br />
longboarders. There are plenty of cafes, roadside<br />
stalls and other travellers around, but Arugam<br />
still retains the charm of a small fishing village.<br />
A short tuk tuk ride north or south takes us to<br />
some more point and beach breaks that are less<br />
crowded. The landscape is stunning and well<br />
worth exploring. We enjoy sun and wave-filled<br />
days, lazing around in hammocks and getting to<br />
know the locals. The only drawback – it is really<br />
hot during the day. Just a short stroll down the<br />
road makes you break into a massive sweat.<br />
When we finally decide to hire some motorbikes<br />
and make our way into the nearby Yala National<br />
Park, we find elephants, water buffaloes,<br />
tortoises and more friendly locals.<br />
The frequent military roadblocks take getting<br />
some used to. However, the soldiers you will<br />
encounter are possibly the friendliest smiling<br />
people with machine guns you’re likely to meet.<br />
Ravaged by a centuries old civil war, it is only<br />
Tea to sea... Sri<br />
Lanka is a place of<br />
great contrasts, great<br />
beauty and pretty<br />
damn good surf<br />
76 mar/apr <strong>2011</strong>
TALES OF THE<br />
TukTuk<br />
traveller<br />
recently that it has become relatively safe<br />
to travel here again. The scars that the war<br />
and the 20<strong>04</strong> Tsunami have left in Sri Lanka’s<br />
land and its people are still visible. To hear<br />
first-hand experiences about when the 20<strong>04</strong><br />
tsunami hit is shocking, yet enthralling at the<br />
same time. One local tells me how he and his<br />
family ran for their lives - a scary thought. You<br />
can see it in the buildings too. While most of<br />
the shacks and houses along the waterfront<br />
have been rebuilt, there is still the occasional<br />
patch of rubble and dirt that used to be a<br />
family home. Due to international money<br />
from charity organisations flooding in after<br />
the tsunami, Arugam Bay today boasts more<br />
fishing boats than there are fisherman to use<br />
them. Money well meant, but not necessarily<br />
well spent.<br />
After two weeks of fun waves, sore<br />
shoulders and sunburn, we decide to head<br />
inland to cooler climes. Our decision to<br />
make our way into the mountains by tuk<br />
tuk is unconventional and leaves us a little<br />
saddlesore, but we have plenty of roadside<br />
stops on the way to taste watermelon, buy<br />
sandals from little roadside shops and drink<br />
some tea with ancient yogis. Finally we reach<br />
our destination, all in one piece with the<br />
boards still strapped to the roof of the tuk tuk.<br />
We do some hiking in the tea plantations<br />
around picturesque Ella and learn the<br />
difference between Matale, Dimbula and<br />
Ruhunu tea. We visit temples and have a<br />
picnic at the feet of a 10-metre tall Buddha<br />
statue carved out of a mountain. On our way<br />
back to Colombo we stop in Kandy, the capital<br />
of Sri Lanka’s ancient kings and today one<br />
of the island’s premier tourist destinations.<br />
It is a good place to see a traditional dance<br />
performance, get an ayurvedic massage and<br />
pray for good waves at the Temple of the<br />
Tooth (which houses a relic of one of Buddha’s<br />
teeth).<br />
A visit to the Pinnawela elephant orphanage<br />
in Kegalla, half way between Kandy and<br />
Colombo, is our last stop. Watching the herd<br />
of more than 60 elephants making its way to<br />
the river and splashing in the water is a sight<br />
to behold. Pinnawela is the biggest elepant<br />
orphanage in the world.<br />
As the wheels of our plane leave the<br />
tarmac at Colombo airport, we have already<br />
made plans to come back during the south<br />
coast wave season to check out spots like<br />
Hikkaduwa, the Rock and Plantation point<br />
and see the south’s famous pole fisherman at<br />
work.<br />
fast facts<br />
The teardrop-shaped tropical island<br />
of Sri Lanka is located about 30<br />
kilometres of the southern coast of<br />
India. Known as “Serendip” to Arab<br />
geographers, the island fell under<br />
Portuguese and Dutch influence. It<br />
finally came under British rule, and<br />
was renamed Ceylon.<br />
Today, Sri Lanka’s main exports<br />
include clothing and textiles, tea,<br />
gems, rubber and coconuts with the<br />
tourism industry growing strongly.<br />
The island has been scarred by<br />
a long and bitter civil war due to<br />
ethnic tensions between the majority<br />
Buddhist Sinhalese community and<br />
the minority, mainly Hindu, Tamil<br />
community in Sri Lanka’s north and<br />
east. The Liberation Tigers of Tamil<br />
Eelam (LTTE), a separatist militant<br />
organisation, fought the mostly<br />
Sinhalese government to create an<br />
independent Tamil state.<br />
After over 25 years of violence, the<br />
conflict appears to have ended with<br />
the president of Sri Lanka officially<br />
announcing the defeat of the LTTE<br />
on 19 May 2009. Both the Sri Lankan<br />
government and LTTE have been<br />
accused of human rights violations.<br />
The region around Arugam Bay was<br />
also badly hit by the 20<strong>04</strong> tsunami<br />
which destroyed many of the village’s<br />
buildings. The region, especially<br />
nearby Pottuville town, is home to<br />
some of the island’s Muslim minority.<br />
Sources: BBC, Amnesty International<br />
mar/apr <strong>2011</strong><br />
77
TRAVEL: PLANE TRIP<br />
Conditions<br />
WHEN TO GO: There are two very distinct surf<br />
seasons in Sri Lanka. We were there in late<br />
August/September during the east coast surf<br />
season which runs from May to October and<br />
is the dry season in the east. You can expect<br />
offshore winds in the morning up to midday. The<br />
east coast receives the same Antarctic winter<br />
swells that hit Indonesia’s southern shores in<br />
the middle of the year. The main surf spot in that<br />
region is Arugam Bay.<br />
The south and southwest coast surf season runs from<br />
November to April when it is the dry season there. The<br />
most famous surf spot in that region is Hikkaduwa.<br />
The seasons are quite distinct and outside of<br />
these times heavy rain, small surf and bad winds<br />
can spoil the fun. However, locals say you can still<br />
find a good wave without the crowds outside the<br />
official seasons as long as you are flexible and<br />
listen to local advice.<br />
WHERE TO SURF: The east coast includes the<br />
surfing spots of Arugam Bay, Peanut Farm, Pottuville<br />
Point, Crocodile Point and Okanda Point. It’s also<br />
well worth exploring other parts of the coastline.<br />
The south and southwest coast includes<br />
Hikkaduwa, the rock in the bay of Unawatuna,<br />
Plantation Point in Weligama, Mirissa and<br />
Polhena. Make friends with the locals and maybe<br />
they’ll take you to some secret spots.<br />
78 mar/apr <strong>2011</strong>
TALES OF THE<br />
TukTuk<br />
traveller<br />
mar/apr <strong>2011</strong><br />
79
TRAVEL: PLANE TRIP<br />
Travel Tips<br />
HOW TO GET AROUND<br />
Hiring a car with driver for longer distances is a good and secure<br />
but slightly more expensive way to travel around. There are also<br />
local buses and you should use the train at least once for the<br />
experience. These local modes of transport are very cheap. For<br />
shorter distances tuk tuks are readily available everywhere and<br />
their drivers are prepared to take you anywhere you want to go.<br />
Make sure you agree a price before you go. You can also rent a<br />
motorbike which is a good idea if you are not scared and want to<br />
go exploring the countryside without luggage.<br />
WHAT ELSE TO DO<br />
There is plenty more to do than surfing in Sri Lanka. Some nonsurfing<br />
destinations include the tea plantations and hills around<br />
Ella, the ancient town of Kandy, Yala National Park and the<br />
Pinnawela elephant orphanage.<br />
WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR<br />
Sri Lanka is a developing country and most of its population is<br />
poor. Tourism, especially since the end of the civil war, is an<br />
important source of income and everybody wants to profit. So the<br />
usual rules of travelling in developing countries apply: Make sure<br />
you agree on a price before you use any services, keep an eye on<br />
your belongings, be careful about what you eat and standards of<br />
cleanliness. If an offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is.<br />
Most important, please show respect to the locals when surfing<br />
and you’ll find that the Sri Lankans are some of the friendliest<br />
locals around.<br />
80 mar/apr <strong>2011</strong>
ONE OF A KIND<br />
WITH PETER WHITE<br />
OF CLASSIC MALIBU<br />
Peter White of Classic Malibu shapes everything:<br />
traditional logs, so-called retros, high performance mals<br />
and still a steady stream of shortboards.<br />
“So many people come to me asking to make a board that<br />
does everything,” he says today, “noseride, trim, paddle<br />
easily, but still fast and manoevreable.<br />
“It can’t be done,” White sighs. “Every surfer is an<br />
individual, hence, a custom board is tailor-made to suit<br />
them and the waves they prefer to ride.<br />
“As a longboard manufacturer, we make boards that<br />
essentially fall into two categories: traditional and modern.<br />
“Traditional boards offer unbelievable paddling power,<br />
assisted by a flatter rocker, giving less resistance, and a<br />
wider back end, which helps pick up waves more easily.<br />
Added width gives greater stability and the flatter rocker<br />
allows them to trim through the dead sections of a wave.<br />
“Extra weight, created by heavier glassing, maintains<br />
speed and softer rails enhance water flow, again creating<br />
greater hold for extended tip time.<br />
“With regards to manoeuvrability, they can take a bit of<br />
getting used to. There’s so much skill in making it look easy.”<br />
“Modern boards are all about dispersing water quickly<br />
to give drive and speed,” says White. “They also offer<br />
flex, unlike logs. You can feel the board unleash power<br />
through turns like an uncoiling spring. This allows for some<br />
amazing high-performance surfing, such as can be seen in<br />
some younger local surfers like Mitch Surman, Nic Jones<br />
and Jackson Winter.<br />
“Unfortunately,” White commiserates, “there is a down<br />
side. As these boards are light, snapping becomes a factor.<br />
Lighter foam, thinner stringers, 4oz fibreglass and bigger<br />
manoeuvres all add up to decreased longevity. We offer an<br />
all-round performance board glassed with one layer of 4oz<br />
glass on the bottom and one 4oz and one 6oz on the deck.<br />
It’s a nice strength-to-weight ratio.”<br />
If your needs are specific, it is almost essential to get a<br />
custom order. Talking to the shaper honestly, about your<br />
abilities and style will allow him to craft a board that will<br />
match as many criteria as possible.<br />
In closing, White says, “next time you buy a board<br />
talk with a shaper and tell him what you want. He will<br />
offer you advice on what you need. And remember, buy<br />
Australian-made and support the industry regarded as the<br />
best in the world.”<br />
Written by Tommy Leitch www.lucidaeditorial.com<br />
Peter White began shaping over 45 years ago in Port Phillip<br />
Bay, Victoria and has run Classic Malibu for almost a<br />
quarter-decade. Classic Malibu has been a proud sponsor of<br />
the Noosa Festival of Surfing since its inception.<br />
INSIDE...<br />
KNOW YOUR RAILS<br />
The rail is the edge of the surfboard<br />
where the deck wraps around to<br />
meet the bottom. The function of a<br />
rail is to firstly hold the board on the<br />
wall of a wave and then to release<br />
the board so manoeuvres can be<br />
performed.<br />
Shaping a board for the first time<br />
(See story overleaf) gives you a new<br />
found appreciation for rail profiles<br />
and how critical they are to the<br />
performance of your board.<br />
Surfboard shaping is so complex,<br />
you can effectively bugger up your<br />
rail profile through every single<br />
process of design from plan shaping<br />
right through to when you sand the<br />
board. Worst still, shaping the rail<br />
is possibly the hardest aspect to get<br />
right when crafting a surfboard.<br />
Talk to your local shaper about<br />
rail profiles. It will assist your<br />
understanding of their importance<br />
and where cheap boards get it<br />
wrong. Forewarned is forarmed.<br />
Howard Jennar explains how rails<br />
perform in his book The Surfer’s<br />
Textbook. “Very generally speaking<br />
the harder and lower the rail shape,<br />
the better the rail will cut into the<br />
wave face and the better it will<br />
hold itself in and the faster it will<br />
travel. A fuller and softer rail is more<br />
‘forgiving’, releases quicker, however<br />
it has more drag, and is consequently<br />
slower.” (have a look at a modern<br />
shortboard compared to an old mal)<br />
A modern shortboard uses a<br />
combination of both, rounded rails for<br />
drive with hard-edged rails towards<br />
the tail for explosive acceleration and<br />
a tighter turning capacity.<br />
RAIL TYPES<br />
SOFT RAILS<br />
Gentle curve with no sharp edges<br />
Usually described as ‘rounded’<br />
basically forming a semi-circle or<br />
egg shaped<br />
HARD RAILS<br />
Sharp bottom edge<br />
The apex of the rail shape is nearer<br />
to or at the bottom of the board<br />
50/50 RAILS<br />
Apex is located at the<br />
centre of the rail, hence 50/50<br />
A 60/40 rail simply means the apex<br />
of the rail is closer to the bottom<br />
LEARNING THE ART P82<br />
WHEN OLD IS NEW P96<br />
BRAND NEW BOARDS P91<br />
All the latest designs and ideas from shapers along the coast. Check out some<br />
great new shapes and designs from our talented local surfboard makers.<br />
OTHER TYPES OF RAILS INCLUDE:<br />
• ‘boxed’ rails, where the rail has a<br />
squarish feel<br />
• ‘tucked under’ rails, where the<br />
bottom edge of the rail is pulled<br />
under the plan shape (general<br />
outline) of the board<br />
• ‘pinched’ rails, where instead of<br />
being ‘full’ and retaining as much<br />
foam as possible from the original<br />
blank, as mush foam as possible is<br />
removed whilst still endeavouring<br />
to maintain functionality<br />
81
GEAR: WE LEARN...<br />
BOARDING<br />
SCHOOL<br />
HOW TO TURN A PIECE OF FOAM INTO A PIECE OF ART<br />
...OR IN OUR CASE, HOW TO TURN A PIECE OF FOAM INTO A PIECE OF FOAM WITH FIBREGLASS AND RESIN ON IT THAT CAN PASS FOR A<br />
SURFBOARD AND POSSIBLY EVEN FLOAT... WE GIVE IT A GO AND LEARN THAT IT’S MUCH HARDER THAN IT LOOKS. WORDS: MARK CHAPMAN<br />
82 mar/apr <strong>2011</strong>
STEP 1.<br />
THE BLANK<br />
Okay... We knew a fair bit about what was involved in making a<br />
board before. But, despite our background knowledge gleaned<br />
from years of interest and months of working on this magazine,<br />
nothing could have prepared us for actually getting our hands<br />
dirty and crafting a board from start to finish. What a lot of<br />
work! And I mean a hell of a lot of work.<br />
As part of the education, it’s important for us to<br />
see where the soon-to-be-abused foam comes<br />
from, so off we go to SouthCoast Foam on the<br />
Gold Coast...<br />
THE BASIC PROCESS FOR THE CREATION<br />
FOR THE BLANK IS AS FOLLOWS:<br />
We had undertaken this project to gain a better insight in<br />
what it takes to create a surfboard, but in hindsight we now<br />
understand that we had no idea what we truly were in for.<br />
Believe us, this is no weekend craft project...<br />
AND SO IT ALL<br />
BEGINS...<br />
4:30 am, Tuesday morning. The alarm goes off and I’m up and getting<br />
ready for a trip from home on the Sunshine Coast to Richard Harvey’s place<br />
in Miami on the Gold Coast. Today I go from being a surfboard rider, fan and<br />
admirer, to being someone far more in-tune with the intricacies of surfboard<br />
design; someone who truly understands the way water runs around a board,<br />
someone who can create magic with a block of foam and a planer... I will<br />
become... a surfboard shaper!<br />
Well, in my head at least. What I will actually be doing, alongside my<br />
partner in crime Dave Mini-Swannoms, is learning what blood sweat and<br />
tears go into the boards we ride and trying my hand at creating one myself.<br />
Despite the scene in my head - which seems to be narrated by James Earl<br />
Jones - in reality, I know I’ll basically be hacking the hell out of some poor<br />
unfortunate blank, hoping against hope that I end up with something even<br />
half decent in looks and usefulness, that might draw an approving smile<br />
rather than raucous laughter.<br />
The foam mixture is poured into a mould where it’s<br />
heated appropriately to produce the basic shape of<br />
the blank, complete with rocker.<br />
This is then cut in half and glued back together<br />
with the wooden stringer in place.<br />
Richard Harvey explains the dos and don’ts of the tools<br />
8:30am. Miami,<br />
here we are. We get<br />
stuck straight into an<br />
orientation session with<br />
Richard and discuss<br />
the magical watercraft<br />
we have envisioned for<br />
our project. I’m aiming<br />
for something between<br />
an Egg and a Biscuit,<br />
which is at this point<br />
loosely titled “The<br />
Biscotti” while Dave is<br />
going Bob Simmons on<br />
us with his very own<br />
Mini Swannoms which<br />
he will be calling “The<br />
Stumpy Duck.”<br />
11.00am. And we’re off<br />
to pick up the blanks at<br />
Southcoast Foam...<br />
Fortunately, as far as this part goes, we’re merely<br />
spectators letting the experts get on with it. With<br />
our blanks chosen and strapped on to the roof of<br />
the car, we’re heading back to the shaping bay.<br />
The blank...<br />
It looks good now,<br />
but give me a planer<br />
and see how I can<br />
change all that with<br />
a few strokes.<br />
mar/apr <strong>2011</strong><br />
83
STEP 2.<br />
PLANNING TO ROUGH SHAPING<br />
Marking out the plan shape using templates<br />
12.00pm. The first cab off the rank is the Duck, so Dave gets<br />
into drawing it up. With Richard’s expert guidance, he is walked<br />
through the process of measuring the board and drawing the plan<br />
shape using a mix of templates. A few careful measurements and<br />
adjustments later and the outline is ready to be cut out. Using a<br />
handsaw, the blank is cut away to reveal the start of the minisimmons<br />
hiding inside the Southcoast 6’5” kneeboard blank.<br />
Although a little shaky at first, Dave comes through the cutting and<br />
gets to neatening up with the surform. Tweak, adjust, neaten...<br />
12.48 pm. It’s earmuffs, goggles and hat on and onto the electric<br />
planer. Under Richard’s watchful eye, the board is starting to show<br />
its form. Dave is shown the tricks and techniques of wielding the<br />
almighty planer and sets about shaping the bottom of the board,<br />
while I watch nervously knowing that he’ll be done and relaxing<br />
when I get started on mine.<br />
With only one heartstopper when a bit of stringer gets nicked by<br />
the planer, but quickly fixed, The Stumpy Duck has taken shape and<br />
lunch is calling.<br />
Taking to the foam with a saw, and then the planer<br />
3:30pm. It’s my turn. Under Richard’s watchful eye, we get stuck<br />
into the Biscotti ( I really need to change the name...) After some<br />
indecision about the nose, we end up drawing a few extra curves<br />
and decide to stick with the original wide option. A little tip?<br />
Indecision is a very bad idea… Like a tattoo, know what you want<br />
before you go in!<br />
Through the sawing and planing I’m learning very quickly that this<br />
surfboard shaping course is about far more than the tools, or the<br />
final board for that matter. The energy-master, Richard, is checking<br />
my every move, correcting my posture, directing my breathing and<br />
all the time relating the process to surfing and daily life. While<br />
we’re uncovering the curves of this board, it’s all about focusing on<br />
“IT’S ALL ABOUT FOCUSING ON WHERE THE WATER IS GOING TO TRAVEL ALONG THE<br />
LINES OF THE BOARD AND WHAT ENERGY WE’RE PUTTING INTO THE SHAPING PROCESS”<br />
where the water is going to travel along the lines of the board and<br />
what energy we’re putting into the shaping process. Basically, a<br />
relaxed and calm working method is more likely going to translate<br />
into a cruisy board. Let’s hope...<br />
The two rough-shaped blanks at the end of big day<br />
While the planer is loud and daunting and the safety gear a little<br />
claustrophobic, the process becomes very therapeutic as you<br />
start finding yourself in the zone and becoming immersed in the<br />
experience.<br />
7.00pm. What was a clean blank, now - in my weary eyes -<br />
resembles a thong that got stuck in an elevator door, but Richard<br />
reckons I’m on the right track. Dave’s fared better with a slick<br />
looking little Mini-Simmons-in-the-making resting in the corner.<br />
With the previous respect we had for shapers now quadrupled, we<br />
hit the beach to wash off this insane dust.<br />
8.00pm. Beers, dinner, bedtime.<br />
84 mar/apr <strong>2011</strong>
STEP 3.<br />
HAND SHAPING<br />
8.00am. I’m not waiting today, so I selfishly jump the<br />
queue to pick up where I left off last night. All these<br />
nasty planer marks need to go, so Richard hands<br />
over the surform - which is a hand-tool, about 30cm<br />
long, that is pretty much a cheesegrater for foam. I<br />
work my way across the board carefully - probably<br />
too carefully... Watching me work must be as<br />
thrilling as watching paint dry, but Richard seems to<br />
have boundless patience and keeps a watch on my<br />
progress and on the angle of my surform.<br />
Due to the fact that the design has a single concave<br />
running into a double concave with a vee in the tail<br />
(who’s bright idea was that?!) it’s a little tricky to get<br />
the bottom right, but again, with careful guidance, it<br />
all comes together<br />
10.00m. Without too much additional damage, the<br />
shape is slowly refined. Richard has me checking the<br />
curves, refining the rails and checking again. After a<br />
while I seem to be getting it, finding the bumps and<br />
dips I was oblivious to before. Progress at last.<br />
“EVERY STEP OF THE WAY, EVERY LITTLE THING<br />
YOU DO... YOU’RE ALWAYS SHAPING.”<br />
STEP 4.<br />
SANDING<br />
Top: The surform is used to take out the<br />
planer marks and smooth out the shape.<br />
Left: A sanding block neatens up the<br />
surform marks and a stringer plane is<br />
used to shave down the wooden stringer.<br />
Above: A light touch with some gauze<br />
finishes the rails<br />
Below: Pencilling in the credit<br />
2:00pm. I’m done, we’ve refueled with some lunch<br />
and The Stumpy Duck is on the operating table.<br />
4.30pm. After a few hours of fine shaping with<br />
the surform and making many of the same newby<br />
mistakes that I made - like holding the tools poorly,<br />
slipping, scratching the surface and most of all<br />
forgetting to just relax... Dave is ready to sand.<br />
An important point to note is sanding is far from as<br />
harmless as it may sound. You could literally screw<br />
up the shape of the board by doing it wrong. No<br />
pressure at all.<br />
Using a sanding block, Dave carefully goes about<br />
getting rid of the surform marks and further refining<br />
the shape of the Duck. Every step brings the final<br />
shape closer to completion and it’s pretty exciting<br />
seeing it so close to looking like an actual board.<br />
Amazingly, even just rubbing a little bit of<br />
sandpaper over the foam takes a fair bit off the<br />
top, and what that means is that the stringer, being<br />
harder than the foam, becomes raised and needs<br />
to be shaved down with a stringer plane. Yet one<br />
more scary step...<br />
6.30pm. To bring two huge days to a close, the<br />
rails are sanded with a bit of gauze and the allimportant<br />
pencil comes out to document and mark<br />
the special occasion with the date and dimensions<br />
of the Duck written along the stringer.<br />
7.00pm. Back to the beach, wash off the dust... We<br />
have a celebratory beer at the Nobby’s Beach Surf<br />
Club and head home.<br />
mar/apr <strong>2011</strong><br />
85
STEP 5:<br />
GLASSING 1&2<br />
Having delivered our now very fragile<br />
shaped blanks to The Factory in Caloundra<br />
for safekeeping (after Dave’s deliberate<br />
attempt to sabotage the still-called-Biscotti<br />
by ‘accidentally’ dropping his car keys on it)<br />
we’re ready to get stuck into the next step<br />
with the expert guidance of Paul Carson - a<br />
master board builder with a rich history in the<br />
local surfing community and more experience<br />
and knowledge than he could use in a<br />
lifetime. Maybe not the wisest man though,<br />
allowing us damage-magnets into his place<br />
of work for an extended period of time.<br />
So, being absolute gluttons for punishment,<br />
we’ve decided to go the whole hog to finish<br />
these babies up - colourful resin tints all the<br />
way to full gloss polish. It’s a lot more work,<br />
but hey, we’re only doing this once and want<br />
to experience the lot.<br />
The resin tint turns out to be a lot more work<br />
than a standard glassing job, firstly because<br />
getting the colours right is tricky and secondly<br />
because to do it right, the glassing can’t all<br />
be done in one day. The board needs to be<br />
taped up to do the bottom, and then once dry,<br />
taped up again to do the deck. Essentially, it<br />
almost doubles the production time.<br />
The Duck’s going green and the other one<br />
red. We spend a lot of time watching Paul<br />
expertly cut the fabric for the boards and<br />
measure out resin and other assorted<br />
chemicals like a mad scientist, but finally we<br />
get to muck in with the squeegee. It’s not as<br />
easy as the pros make it look, but fortunately<br />
Paul’s there to correct our stuff-ups as they<br />
happen. I dread to think how these would<br />
turn out if left to our own devices.<br />
At the end of second day, we’re looking at<br />
two colourful boards with a 4oz bottom and<br />
4oz and 6oz top. What the ‘ounces’ refer to is<br />
the actual size of the fibreglass fabric weave,<br />
which translates into the thickness, weight<br />
and strength of the final board. It’s all a trade<br />
off - the thicker it is, the stronger it is, but the<br />
heavier it is. This is why you will see endless<br />
options and combinations, all relative to how<br />
you surf and how you would like your board<br />
to perform. Being average on the wave and<br />
murder on a board, I go thick and strong... a<br />
little like my mate, Dave.<br />
Left: The Stumpy Duck is<br />
taped up and then covered<br />
in thick green resin, turning<br />
it into a Mini Granny<br />
Smithons<br />
Right: The red resin goes<br />
onto the deck with Paul<br />
showing us how it’s done.<br />
“IT’S NOT AS<br />
EASY AS THE<br />
PROS MAKE<br />
IT LOOK...”<br />
Oh yes, the banter and insults fly thick and<br />
fast in the workshop, but it makes for plenty<br />
of laughs and healthy competition. My<br />
sledges are the best, of course.<br />
86 mar/apr <strong>2011</strong>
STEP 6:<br />
FINS? WHAT THE?!<br />
The Duck is getting Mini Simmons<br />
disc fins, and they have to be made<br />
from scratch. Over to Dave....<br />
“It’s a bit like Sarah Lee’s Danish<br />
Pastry, ‘Layer, upon layer, upon layer’...<br />
STEP 7:<br />
DECALS... UM, OKAY...<br />
GEAR: WE LEARN...<br />
“I didn’t have any idea how to make<br />
a fin. Just like the rest of the board,<br />
it turns out it takes a hell of a lot of<br />
time. Go figure. It’s a job in itself.<br />
“Start off with 28 to 30 layers of 6oz<br />
fibreglass, which gives you the right<br />
thickness for a hand-made fin to slot<br />
straight into a standard removable<br />
fin system. We went 30. Paul cut the<br />
first sheet and then handed over to<br />
me for the next 29. Piece of cake?<br />
No. Like everything else, doing it for<br />
the first time was of course far more<br />
difficult that it seemed - the bloody<br />
fibreglass cloth kept moving as I cut<br />
across the roll. But finally, I had 29<br />
‘kind of’ rectangular pieces.<br />
We’d thought about the plan shape of the boards,<br />
we’d thought about the fins, we’d thought about<br />
the colours.... Decals?! What, how, where, who?<br />
At the last minute, realising that it’s the day we<br />
need to put them on the boards, with no time to do<br />
any research, we take to rice paper with permanent<br />
markers to do up a few logos and designs.<br />
Paul shakes his head politely as we give our<br />
attempt a test run. Turns out those markers just<br />
aren’t as permanent as you would hope. We watch<br />
our early morning’s creativity bleed out into a greyblack<br />
blob of nothing. Fantastic.<br />
“Next... Lay out four layers of<br />
fibreglass, resin, work it in with a<br />
squeegee and roll out the air bubbles.<br />
Add another four and repeat. I think<br />
the whole process in itself took me<br />
well over an hour. Once the panel was<br />
dry and set the next day, I traced the<br />
fin template onto it, put it in the vice<br />
and cut out my fin shapes. Thankfully<br />
this seemed to be one thing I could<br />
actually do with confidence.<br />
Onto Plan B. I rocket off to the stationery shop and<br />
buy some Posca waterproof pens. We try, we test,<br />
it works! We’re good to go. To attach, we cut up<br />
some more fibreglass cloth, and stick the whole lot<br />
on with a healthy dose of resin.<br />
And the Biscotti officially gets renamed to<br />
something less lame... The Herring!<br />
Top to bottom:<br />
Cutting the fibreglass<br />
cloth; creating the fin<br />
panel with coloured<br />
resin; the final panel<br />
ready to cut; fins take<br />
shape and Paul checks<br />
on the final foiling.<br />
“Foiling the fin, which Paul thankfully<br />
jumped in for, is done at first by<br />
electric sander and then by hand. To<br />
attach the fin to the board then takes<br />
bundles of fibreglass strips called<br />
rovings, wrapped around the base of<br />
the fin and fixed on with resin, more<br />
sheets of fibreglass and more resin<br />
again. Leave it to set.... What a job.<br />
“To get the colour, tints are mixed<br />
into the resin. So, spare a thought the<br />
next time you see a 1970s board with<br />
multiple colours in the fin. Take note<br />
that different coloured resins were<br />
applied to each of the 3 to 4 layers<br />
of fibreglass. I can’t begin<br />
to imagine how long these<br />
kinds of fins took to make. No<br />
wonder some of our earlier<br />
board building brothers smoked<br />
a bit of the wacky tobaccy...”<br />
Attempt #1 fails dismally, but<br />
the final product with Posca<br />
pens turns out far better.<br />
mar/apr <strong>2011</strong><br />
87
BOARDING<br />
SCHOOL<br />
STEP 8:<br />
FINS GO ON, PLUGS GO IN...<br />
As we’d looked at the fin-making process and made a set from scratch for The Stumpy<br />
Duck, we decide to go with a removable fin system on The Herring, to see what it takes<br />
to get that into a board. In short, we have to drill some holes into the board and set fin<br />
plugs into the board using resin.<br />
After toying with a few options, we decided to give the new Shapers S-Plug system a<br />
crack. Using these little fat-base babies means that we don’t have to drill all the way<br />
through to the deck. So, it looks a little prettier, and according to the Shapers folk, it’s<br />
super-strong too.<br />
Gazumped by a day at being the first board to get these at The Factory, I was content to<br />
settle for second place and watch Paul go at my board with hi-speed powertools. Holes<br />
drilled, Paul expertly lines up the plugs, we squeeze in the resin and let it set.<br />
With the Duck’s fins glassed in, we leave it for the night. Tomorrow is finish coating day.<br />
STEP 9:<br />
FINISH COATING<br />
We’re back. After cleaning up the resin<br />
around the plugs on The Herring, both<br />
boards are ready to be sanded. Starting with<br />
the powertools, we work our way down to<br />
fine sanding by hand.<br />
Once again it hits home how we’re finely<br />
reshaping in a way, refining and refinding<br />
the original shape we had envisaged.<br />
With a final coat of finishing resin, the<br />
boards are as glassy as a crack addict’s<br />
eyeballs after a weekend binge. Nice.<br />
Top left: A scary moment: watching holes getting drilled into your pride and joy; The<br />
plugs are left to set in resin.<br />
Top: Rovings, cloth and resin all work together to glass The Stumpy Duck’s fins in.<br />
Left: Sanding is one of the most underrated skills in the process. Get it wrong and you<br />
can find yourself doing major repairs or even starting from scratch!<br />
Above: The Stumpy Duck, shiny and left to dry after the finish coat.<br />
88 mar/apr <strong>2011</strong>
STEP 10:<br />
THE FINAL POLISH<br />
STEP 11:<br />
WE REFLECT...<br />
Despite being long hours and hard graft, it was an<br />
unforgettable experience and truly enjoyable.<br />
A major realisation we came to was that you are<br />
most definitely shaping your board every single<br />
step of the way. There is no part the process that<br />
doesn’t impact on the end product. Even when<br />
you’re down to the final stages, such as sanding<br />
your board, you are indeed still shaping it. You<br />
can’t lose focus for a second.<br />
It’s been a few days now since we did the finish coat<br />
and we have one last thing to do to get these new<br />
additions home once and for all. We head to The<br />
Factory for the last day of hard labour.<br />
Step one is to get back into the sanding room and<br />
smooth off any uneven bits on the finish coat. Sanding<br />
is in fact a twelve-step process - three grades of paper,<br />
first by machine, then by hand, dry then wet.<br />
Step two is to get outside and start polishing, in pretty<br />
much the same way as you would a car. Sounds easy?<br />
Compare an expert’s work to ours and you’ll see a<br />
notable difference<br />
All that’s left to do is pop the fins in The Herring -<br />
Shaper’s Mach-50s. And they match my decals.<br />
It is done. We stand back to survey our handiwork. We<br />
are changed men.<br />
This project also reconfirmed in our minds that<br />
surfboard shapers are indeed incredible craftsmen.<br />
Even walking through the surfboard making<br />
process with help, step-by-step, is mind-boggling.<br />
You realise that the innate skills shapers pick<br />
up through years of developing their craft is<br />
impossible for a novice to replicate.<br />
While I loved shaping my own board, for the<br />
amount of time it took to shape, if someone asked<br />
me to make them one for $100 in my pocket, I<br />
would tell them where to jam it. So much respect<br />
goes out to those who do this for a living.<br />
WHAT IT TAKES<br />
Compare the skill level required to a trade such as<br />
that of an electrician, carpenter or plumber... Could<br />
you get them to come out to your house, work for<br />
10 hours and pay them $100? Not a chance. That<br />
may cover the call-out fee. And by no means are<br />
we being disrespectful to other trades. We’re just<br />
comparing apples with apples for a skilled trade.<br />
And without a doubt, this is a multi-skilled trade.<br />
To get through the basic steps you need, as a rough<br />
guide, the following people:<br />
The shaper, to get from blank to board<br />
The glasser, to get the board well.. glassed<br />
The artist. Artwork and sprays needs to be done<br />
The fin-maker. Custom fins? You need an expert<br />
The sander. A far underrated piece of the puzzle<br />
The finisher/polisher, to make it shine...<br />
Top: Paul stays in charge of<br />
the dangerous tools that use<br />
electricity while Dave is allowed<br />
to play with the sandpaper.<br />
Middle: No, he’s not about to<br />
slice some cutlets, he’s polishing<br />
his Duck.<br />
Bottom: The final step as the<br />
fins go in.<br />
Bottom: The boards in all their<br />
glory... To the left, The Stumpy<br />
Duck, and to the right, The Herring.<br />
THE STUMPY DUCK: 5’6” x 21 ½” x 2 5 /8”<br />
Mini-Simmons with glassed-on, hand-foiled disc fins.<br />
THE HERRING: 6’4” x 21” x 2 7 /8”<br />
Mini-eggish, Single into double concave into vee.<br />
A strong team? Well, often these jobs are often<br />
done by just ONE person, start to finish. Now that<br />
takes some skill...<br />
So next time you sit down with your shaper, really,<br />
don’t try and bargain him down. Whatever the cost<br />
of your board, double it. And then trust us, you’re<br />
still being undercharged.<br />
And how did they go? See overleaf...<br />
mar/apr <strong>2011</strong><br />
89
FINAL<br />
EXAMS<br />
THANKS<br />
Experiencing this project would<br />
not have been possible without<br />
the help, expertise and time of<br />
the following fantastic people:<br />
DAVE SAYS:<br />
Walking down onto the beach with our<br />
new sticks was admittedly pretty exciting.<br />
My mind was racing. So many questions<br />
were running through my head. I mean,<br />
could I have stumbled on a breakthrough in<br />
surf design? I knew there was no chance<br />
of Mark saying the same. Let’s be frank, he<br />
could have coloured his yellow and called<br />
it the Lemon.<br />
Was this my chance to finally be rid of the<br />
pain-in-the-butt South African I seemingly<br />
work beside 24 hours a day, 7 days a<br />
week, 365 dollars a year? Could I finally<br />
go out on my own? Worse still, would the<br />
shutter speed of our camera be able to<br />
capture a flying duck or would it forever<br />
remain a thing of legend never to be<br />
caught on film?<br />
To test the board and provide us with an<br />
independent view on how much better<br />
The Stumpy Duck was than the red<br />
Herring we called on expert gear tester<br />
“Two-Guns” Gus Brown. Here’s what he<br />
had to say:<br />
“The Duck was outstanding. Hands down<br />
a far better board than the red floaty thing.<br />
It paddled like a longboard and absolutely<br />
flew. Duck hunters around the world would<br />
be hard pushed to nail this baby.<br />
“Mark’s board was a real dog. It was so<br />
slow, I put the camera on self-timer and<br />
snapped off three photos of it making its<br />
way across the wave like a barge. More<br />
importantly, Dave’s is 100% hand-crafted,<br />
right down to the fins. He didn’t cheat<br />
like Mark and use stick-on fins. The extra<br />
attention to detail showed. Sad for Mark,<br />
his hard-boiled egg paled in comparison<br />
to The Duck.”<br />
MARK SAYS:<br />
Strangely enough, my notes from the day<br />
are a little different. The Duck is aptly<br />
named in that with it being so bad, no-one<br />
can stay up on it for more than a second or<br />
two, falling off and shooting it like a snotcoloured<br />
missile at another surfer’s head.<br />
The Herring, on the other hand, is all<br />
class. A true example of craftsmanship<br />
and talent. The kids are already arguing<br />
over who gets this priceless family<br />
heirloom. And the little one can’t<br />
even talk yet.<br />
Gus Brown also loved it to bits:<br />
“The Herring is my kind of board. I’m<br />
not sure what that Swan character<br />
was sniffing, but that boogie-board of<br />
his is just lame. What’s he trying to<br />
prove with the flouro anyway? Even<br />
the 80s revival has come and gone,<br />
buddy. Move on...<br />
“At least, being so garish, we can<br />
see it coming every time he wipes<br />
out trying to pretend to get a run.<br />
“As to the Herring, if I were an<br />
investor, I would create a surfboard<br />
company purely to allow this talented<br />
man to create more of these gems,<br />
as he is so obviously gifted to do.<br />
And I would buy this particular board<br />
from him for at least $10,000.”<br />
SERIOUSLY:<br />
We just had so much fun. Building<br />
and then riding your own board is<br />
absolutely magical and something<br />
I would truly recommend to anyone<br />
interested. These boards may not<br />
be award winners, but they’ll most<br />
definitely take pride of place in our<br />
quiver for ever and a day.<br />
Note: Gus Brown may have been<br />
somewhat, or rather entirely<br />
misquoted in the piece above.<br />
Richard Harvey of Harvey Surf<br />
Gallery in Miami on the Gold Coast.<br />
His shaping workshops are not only<br />
an education in boards, but in life<br />
itself. If you’re considering giving<br />
shaping your own board a go,<br />
working with Richard’s guidance is<br />
sure to make for a very rewarding<br />
experiencing. Definitely attend his<br />
surfboard shaper’s course.<br />
www.harveysurf.com<br />
Paul Carson at The Factory<br />
Surfboards in Caloundra is a<br />
shaper, master glasser and a true<br />
gentleman. With over 30 years<br />
experience in the industry, we<br />
highly recommend a visit and a<br />
chat when you’re in the market<br />
for a new board. If you’d like to<br />
learn some surfboard making skills,<br />
express your interest to Paul.<br />
thefactorysurfboards.com.au<br />
Carl McCarthy and the boys at<br />
SouthCoast on the Gold Coast were<br />
very generous with their time and<br />
product. For interest sake - over<br />
and above the blanks, they also<br />
stock a full range of other product<br />
for surfboard manufacture.<br />
www.southcoastfoam.com.au<br />
Above: The Herring gets a go from Mark (left) and Gus (right) as the Duck flies along carrying a Swan (below).<br />
And... although this was not<br />
officially part of our project, we<br />
both constantly referred to The<br />
Surfer’s Textbook by Howard<br />
Jennar, and for that it deserves a<br />
most honourable mention. What<br />
we’ve done in these few pages<br />
doesn’t even begin to scratch the<br />
surface of what it takes to build<br />
boards, and Howard’s in-depth<br />
and detailed coverage of it is an<br />
invaluable resource.<br />
www.surferstextbook.com.au<br />
90 mar/apr <strong>2011</strong>
GEAR: BOARDS<br />
Stepdeck<br />
by Thomas<br />
Shaper: Thomas Bexon<br />
Dimensions:<br />
9’8” x 23 ¼”x 3”<br />
Ideal conditions: Logging<br />
waves, anything under<br />
head high, ideally peeling<br />
points or clean beachies<br />
Ability level:<br />
Intermediate to advanced<br />
logger. Anyone after fun.<br />
Suits: Around 75 - 85kg.<br />
All boards made to measure<br />
Description: Stepdeck<br />
noserider, with step to<br />
reduce volume, increase flex.<br />
Construction: Layer of<br />
6oz and a layer of 7 ½ oz<br />
both sides, this is built to<br />
last. All colours done in<br />
resin. Glassed on fin.<br />
Fins: One big red one<br />
fixed right on the back<br />
Shaper comment: a full<br />
blown trim and noseride<br />
machine, these are tried<br />
and tested in some of<br />
the best logging waves<br />
around. An experiment in<br />
design where they left off<br />
when Bob and co started<br />
sawing noses off and not<br />
standing on them.<br />
Pirate Pig<br />
by Diverse<br />
Shaper: Dave Verrall<br />
Dimensions:<br />
9’1”x 22 ¾”x 2 7 /8”<br />
Ideal conditions: All-round<br />
choice for longboarding<br />
Suits: Performance surfer<br />
after a user-friendly board.<br />
Description: A wave hog,<br />
designed from old style logs<br />
in the front to cruise on the<br />
nose, backed up by high<br />
performance tail to carve<br />
tight turns in the pocket!<br />
Construction: Dynocore<br />
technology - a high tech<br />
fusion of fibres and foam.<br />
Dynocore gives you the<br />
confidence to pull in to<br />
anything big and barrelling<br />
yet carry with one arm over<br />
long walks to secret points.<br />
Fins: Fusion by FCS and a<br />
Fin Solutions 10” box.<br />
Shaper comment: I’ve<br />
never been more excited<br />
about the future of<br />
surfboards, Dynocore<br />
has given me so much<br />
reward for the years of<br />
passion I’ve put in to<br />
making a better board!<br />
Seeing it all come<br />
together, so strong but<br />
light and alive. Watching<br />
and hearing customers<br />
stoked ride reports is so<br />
satisfying.<br />
Free Flow<br />
by Laguna Bay<br />
Shaper: Mike St.John<br />
Dimensions:<br />
9’1”x 22 3 /8”x 2 5 /8”<br />
Ideal conditions: 1 - 6 ft<br />
Ability level:<br />
Beginner to pro<br />
Suits:<br />
Volume tailored to suit<br />
Description: The Free<br />
Flow is a great all-round<br />
performance longboard.<br />
Trims well and turns out<br />
of the tail. Surfs well in<br />
beachies and point breaks.<br />
Entry concave at the front<br />
that splits into a double<br />
concave at the tail section.<br />
Construction: PU.<br />
Usually 4 oz bottom, 6oz +<br />
4oz deck<br />
Fin set-up: 2 + 1<br />
Shaper comment: A very<br />
easy board to surf for all<br />
ability levels. It will go<br />
where you want it to go<br />
and is very responsive.<br />
Da Bling<br />
by Skerry Surf<br />
Shaper: Simon Skerry<br />
Dimensions:<br />
9’1”x 21 ¼”x 2 5 /8”<br />
(or shaped to order)<br />
Ideal conditions: All size<br />
waves from point breaks<br />
to beach breaks.<br />
Ability level:<br />
Beginner to pro.<br />
Description: Medium<br />
rocker yet refined in<br />
thickness and rails, fit<br />
and slender so not a lazy<br />
board, for a person of<br />
action that still has the<br />
capability to daydream.<br />
Construction: Double<br />
6oz glass for momentum<br />
and strength with a crude<br />
amount of 80’s jetboat<br />
glitter to turn it up!<br />
Fins: Single with<br />
stabilizers and Skerry art<br />
Shaper comment: High<br />
performance ‘Golden<br />
Surfboard’! Can be<br />
made to order in wide<br />
range of colours and<br />
colour combos.<br />
The Lightweight<br />
by Classic Malibu<br />
Shaper: Peter White<br />
Dimensions:<br />
9’2” x 22 ¾” x 2 ¾”<br />
Ideal conditions:<br />
Dribblers to head-high<br />
Ability: Almost anyone can<br />
jump on and have a ball.<br />
Description: A very<br />
user-friendly board.<br />
This is a log for the<br />
lighter-weight surfer,<br />
not lightweight itself.<br />
Pinched fins and a pulled<br />
in tail give heightened<br />
manoeuvrability in a<br />
traditional board, but<br />
maintaining trim, paddle<br />
and excellent noseriding.<br />
Able to handle slightly<br />
more challenging surf, it<br />
revels in slightly hollow<br />
point waves.<br />
Construction: PU with<br />
one layer 6oz glass bottom<br />
and two 6oz deck<br />
Fins: Single box fin.<br />
9-10” and either a hatchet<br />
or dolphin template,<br />
depending on needs.<br />
Shaper comment:<br />
Performance log with<br />
traditional leanings.<br />
THOMAS SURFBOARDS<br />
PO Box 234<br />
Maroochydore Qld 4558<br />
Ph: 02 6584 1995<br />
Mob: <strong>04</strong>12 131 491<br />
thomas_bexon@hotmail.com<br />
thomassurfboards.com<br />
DIVERSE SURFBOARDS<br />
476 Gold Coast Hwy,<br />
Tugun, QLD 4224<br />
Ph: 07 5598 4848<br />
dave@diversesurf.com.au<br />
diversesurf.com.au<br />
NOOSA SURFWORKS<br />
11 Bartlett St,<br />
Noosaville QLD<br />
Ph: 07 5474 4567<br />
E: info@noosasurfworks.com.au<br />
noosasurfworks.com.au<br />
SKERRY SURF<br />
PO Box 354<br />
Lennox Head NSW 2478<br />
Ph: <strong>04</strong>03 240 452<br />
theskerrysimon@hotmail.com<br />
skerrysurfboards.com<br />
CLASSIC MALIBU<br />
Cnr Gibson & Eumundi Rd<br />
Noosaville, QLD 4566<br />
Ph: 07 5474 3122<br />
info@classicmalibu.com<br />
www.classicmalibu.com<br />
mar/apr <strong>2011</strong><br />
91
Blackbird<br />
by Primitive Surf D-Hull #2<br />
Shaper: Craig Rees<br />
Dimensions: 5’7’’ - 6’4’’<br />
Above 5’7” x 18 ¾” x 2 1 /8”<br />
Ability level:<br />
Intermediate and up<br />
Suits: Different sizes<br />
Description: Primitive<br />
Surf Team rider Nick<br />
Vitko sat me down<br />
and we nutted this<br />
new model out. It’s a<br />
high performance fish<br />
and works best when<br />
combined with the MR<br />
twin fins from FCS. They<br />
have great down the line<br />
speed and turn on a dime.<br />
Construction: PU foam<br />
with polyester resin,<br />
Vacuum bagged with<br />
Carbon/Kevlar.<br />
Fins: Twin. MR twin fins<br />
from FCS recommended.<br />
Shaper comment: Go<br />
down 6 inches from your<br />
normal short board length<br />
and hang on. I took a 6’2<br />
to PNG and it was the<br />
most popular board on the<br />
boat. They seem to do all<br />
the work on a wave and<br />
just needed to be pointed<br />
in the right direction.<br />
PRIMITIVE SURF<br />
601 Nudgee Rd,<br />
Nundah, Qld 4012<br />
Ph: 07 3266 1001<br />
E: info@primitivesurf.com<br />
www.primitivesurf.com<br />
by Zak Surfboards<br />
Shaper: Ken Reimers<br />
Dimensions:<br />
6’6” x 22” x 3”<br />
Displacement Hull<br />
Conditions: Anything<br />
that moves shoreward, up<br />
to fear factor.<br />
Suits: Anybody not surfing<br />
in a modern shortboard<br />
competition.<br />
Description: Combination<br />
of late sixties surfboard<br />
designs and knowledge<br />
of modern surfboard<br />
performance. Radically<br />
domed bottom shape,<br />
balanced foil, S-Deck and<br />
50-50 rails.<br />
Construction: “Glassed<br />
to last” 6oz bottom, 2<br />
x 6oz decks, weight is<br />
momentum which helps<br />
with forward projection.<br />
Fins: Single flex fin with<br />
FCS side biters. (Hint: for<br />
another sensation, take<br />
out the single and put in a<br />
set of MR Twins)<br />
Shaper comment: Having<br />
these in my quiver has<br />
increased my memory of<br />
fun surfs and I thank the<br />
experimental shapers<br />
before me for their legacy.<br />
ZAK SURFBOARDS<br />
307 Victoria Road<br />
Thornbury VIC 3071<br />
Ph: 03 9416 7384<br />
Mobile: <strong>04</strong>38 416 738<br />
zak@zaksurfboards.com<br />
zaksurfboards.com<br />
Vortex<br />
by Ed Sinnott/ESP<br />
Shaper: Ed Sinnott<br />
Dimensions:<br />
5’9 x 19 ¼ x 2 3 /8”<br />
Ideal conditions:<br />
Anything up the 6’<br />
Suits: Anybody<br />
Description: This is a<br />
combination of all my<br />
old single fin and twinfin<br />
templates combined with<br />
new school bottom curves<br />
and rails. The result is a<br />
sensational hybrid that<br />
flys. Flat entry, deep vortex<br />
concave, razor edges and<br />
wet and dry finish.<br />
Construction: Burford/<br />
South Coast PU blanks,<br />
Silmar polyester resin,<br />
Colan and Surf Nine glass.<br />
This combination has<br />
stood the test of time.<br />
I love the flex.<br />
Fins: Thruster<br />
Shaper comment:<br />
Surfboard design has<br />
gone the full circle now.<br />
We’ve got boards that<br />
make so called normal<br />
6’1’’ boards look like guns.<br />
Go smaller, thicker and<br />
wider. Yew!<br />
ESP SURFBOARDS<br />
2/81 Centennial Circuit<br />
Byron Bay, NSW<br />
Ph: <strong>04</strong><strong>04</strong> 059 321<br />
espsurfboards.com<br />
www.edsinnott.com.au<br />
Performance Flextail<br />
by Bushrat Small Wave Board<br />
Shaper: Jed Done<br />
Dimensions:<br />
5’10” x 19” x 2 ½”<br />
Ideal conditions:<br />
All rounder from 2ft to<br />
6ft. It will thrive on down<br />
the line waves.<br />
Suits: Intermediate to<br />
advanced surfers with a<br />
clean flowing style.<br />
Description:<br />
Performance Flextail with<br />
a pulled in tail so it can<br />
fit tight into the pocket.<br />
A very fast and carvy<br />
surfboard. Designed to be<br />
ridden shorter, but in larger<br />
waves, than your regular<br />
shortboard.<br />
Construction: Dion<br />
PU foam, single wedge<br />
shape western red cedar<br />
stringer, polyester resin,<br />
yellow tint bottom,<br />
carbon fibre flextail.<br />
Fins: Quad 4WFS setup.<br />
Shaper comment:<br />
I’ve been building flextails<br />
for the last 11 years. This<br />
board is the result of 8<br />
years of refinement on my<br />
own personal shortboard<br />
shape. It’s a speed<br />
machine.<br />
BUSHRAT SURFBOARDS<br />
Merimbula NSW<br />
Ph: <strong>04</strong>09 813 431<br />
E: jed@bushrat.com<br />
www.bushrat.com<br />
by Minty Surfboards<br />
Shaper: Bob Minty<br />
Dimensions:<br />
5’9” x 19 1 /8” x 2 1 /8”<br />
Ideal conditions:<br />
Small waves<br />
Designed for:<br />
Average and above<br />
Description:<br />
This is a stringerless,<br />
small wave board with<br />
flex-control glassing.<br />
Construction:<br />
EPS and epoxy.<br />
Shaper comment:<br />
A high performance small<br />
wave board.<br />
MINTY SURFBOARDS<br />
Point Lookout,<br />
North Stradbroke<br />
QLD, 4183<br />
Ph: (07) 3409 8334<br />
Mob: <strong>04</strong>38 783 191<br />
bob@bobmintysurfboards.com<br />
bobmintysurfboards.com<br />
92 jan/feb <strong>2011</strong>
MAKE YOUR OWN!<br />
Buy a pre-made<br />
board, or attend one<br />
of the Tree To Sea<br />
workshops and build<br />
one of your own.<br />
GEAR: BOARDS<br />
Blues Buster<br />
by COD<br />
Shaper: Paul Uscinski<br />
Dimensions:<br />
6’2” x 19 13 /16” x 2 9 /16 ”<br />
or customized to suit<br />
Ideal conditions: 1 - 6ft<br />
Ability level: Beg to adv<br />
Description: Heaps<br />
of drive and stability.<br />
Very maneuverable due<br />
to slightly more tail lift<br />
and responsive using a<br />
combination of a smooth<br />
rocker entry with single<br />
concave, flowing to double<br />
concave to vee in the tail.<br />
Extra drive and release of<br />
double flyers and swallow<br />
tail. Balanced thickness<br />
and accurate foil for a high<br />
performance feel.<br />
Construction: Hand shaped<br />
PU foam and polyester<br />
resins, 6 or 4 oz glass.<br />
Fins: 5-fin FCS system for<br />
quad, thruster or 5 fin setup<br />
Shaper comment:<br />
Well balanced board for<br />
confidence in a wide<br />
range of surf conditions.<br />
Get up and plane quickly<br />
so you can catch heaps of<br />
waves. Supa fun!! 100%<br />
satisfaction guaranteed.<br />
The Twinny<br />
by HWS<br />
Shaper: Robert Ivers<br />
Dimensions:<br />
6’4” x 22” x 2 5 /8”<br />
Ideal conditions:<br />
3-5ft beach or point breaks<br />
Suits: Medium skill level<br />
Description: This Retro<br />
Twin Fin is full of punch<br />
with enough volume to<br />
get you into waves early<br />
and rails to help you hold<br />
onto to any wall. An easy<br />
paddler, this will put the<br />
fun back into your surfing.<br />
Construction: Hollow<br />
timber, Paulownia and<br />
Western Red Cedar,<br />
glassed in either poly or<br />
epoxy, your choice. With<br />
proper care these boards<br />
will last a lifetime. Due to<br />
the nature of natural timber,<br />
each board is unique.<br />
Fins: Twin Fins, made<br />
Wiz Finz from Bryon Bay.<br />
Shaper comment: Not<br />
all surfboards are the<br />
same. Enjoy the smooth<br />
ride and extra momentum<br />
of a timber board.<br />
Alternatively: Make<br />
your own timber board by<br />
attending one of our Tree<br />
to Sea workshops.<br />
Shiraz<br />
by Flanagan Surfboards<br />
Shaper: Jason Flanagan<br />
Dimensions:<br />
5’8” x 18 7 /8” x 2 5 /16”<br />
Ideal conditions: 1-5ft<br />
Ability: Novice to Pro<br />
Description: Wide<br />
point forward, for fuller<br />
outline up front while<br />
straightening tail curve<br />
for speed and drive. Low<br />
entry rocker into higher<br />
than normal tail exit.<br />
Single to deep double<br />
concave through the tail<br />
blending into a Vee. Rails<br />
- med/box. Available in<br />
most tail shapes.<br />
Construction: Cured<br />
Liquid Laminations<br />
Fins: Thruster or Quad.<br />
Future’s,Glass on or FCS.<br />
Shaper comment:<br />
The ultimate all-round<br />
performer in 1-5ft waves.<br />
Super fast and responsive,<br />
to be ordered 4-5 inches<br />
shorter than your normal<br />
board. Tested by pros to<br />
average Joes all around<br />
the world and getting<br />
exceptional feedback.<br />
“A great all-round<br />
board. Really fun<br />
when its small and<br />
supprisingly holds a<br />
rail when you want<br />
to push it in the<br />
bigger stuff.<br />
Like a fine “shiraz”<br />
you’ll be left<br />
wanting more.”<br />
- Elliot Curnow,<br />
Coffs Harbour local<br />
COD SURFBOARDS<br />
25 Kestrel Court<br />
Victoria Point, QLD 4165<br />
Ph: <strong>04</strong>15 722 891<br />
paul@codsurfing.com.au<br />
www.codsurfing.com.au<br />
HOLLOW WOODEN<br />
SURFBOARDS<br />
Ph: <strong>04</strong>09 211751<br />
E: hwsurfboards@gmail.com<br />
www.hwsb.com.au<br />
FLANAGAN SURFBOARDS<br />
26/22 Lawson Crescent,<br />
Coffs Harbour, NSW 2450<br />
Ph: <strong>04</strong>32 361 694<br />
flanagansurfboards.com<br />
mar/apr <strong>2011</strong><br />
93
Twin Quad Fish<br />
by Classic Malibu<br />
Shaper: Peter White<br />
Dimensions:<br />
5’10” x 20 ½” x 2 ¾”<br />
Ideal conditions: Waist to<br />
overhead<br />
Ability: intermediate to<br />
advanced but accessible<br />
to a wide range.<br />
Description: ‘Retro’ is a<br />
misnomer. This is every<br />
bit about performance.<br />
Fast and fun, it is the<br />
ultimate alternative for<br />
longboarders going short<br />
but need paddle-power<br />
with manoeuvrability.<br />
Quite slidey through turns,<br />
it needs an experienced<br />
surfer to make the most of<br />
it, but once you’re dialed<br />
in, the fun will never stop.<br />
Construction: PU with<br />
one layer 6oz glass bottom<br />
and one 6oz, one 4oz deck<br />
Fins: FCS SF4 quad fins<br />
or FCS FK-1 keels<br />
Shaper comment: The<br />
twin fin setup can be<br />
trickier on the backhand,<br />
making the quad option a<br />
more friendly setup.<br />
Dean Brady model<br />
by Lee Cheyne<br />
Shaper: Lee Cheyne<br />
Dimensions:<br />
6’4” x 19 ¼” x 2 ½”<br />
Ideal conditions: 2-6ft<br />
Ability level:<br />
Average to advanced<br />
Suits: This is one of<br />
Dean’s standard shortys.<br />
He weighs in 92- 95kgs<br />
Description: Nice nose<br />
lift into deep single to<br />
deep double concave, to<br />
flat behind rear fin. Quite a<br />
bit of rocker between feet<br />
but combo of concaves,<br />
and straightened outline<br />
gives lively feel and drive.<br />
Construction: Burford<br />
blank, Silmar resin, Surf<br />
9 4oz and 6oz glass with<br />
carbon tail patches. I<br />
shape, glass and sand all<br />
my boards myself with the<br />
best materials to ensure<br />
they’re the best quality.<br />
Fins: FCS, Future or set<br />
Shaper comment: My<br />
personal favorite. I have<br />
worked hard on this model<br />
for the rocker, outline,<br />
concaves and fins to all<br />
work together and create a<br />
board you can’t stop riding.<br />
Mini Simmons Deluxe<br />
by Black Apache Surfboards<br />
Shaper: Jesse Watson<br />
Dimensions:<br />
4’10 - 5’8<br />
Ideal conditions: The<br />
ultimate alrounder. A<br />
board you can ride 300+<br />
days of the year.<br />
Suits: Everyone, except<br />
those who can’t see past<br />
their 5’11 thruster.<br />
Description: The fastest<br />
board on the planet. Speak<br />
to anyone who’s ridden<br />
one, converts include Dan<br />
Malloy, Andrew Kidman,<br />
Dane Reynolds, the list is<br />
endless.<br />
Construction: Resin<br />
tints/full gloss and<br />
polish. Any combination<br />
you can dream up. Your<br />
imagination is the only<br />
limit here, guys.<br />
Fins: Glassed on custom<br />
Simmons template.<br />
Shaper comment: I’m<br />
getting orders for them<br />
faster than I can shape<br />
them. The proofs in<br />
the ride. Everyone who<br />
rides one says they are<br />
converted to the fun factor.<br />
High lines, speed runs and<br />
the longest cutbacks you<br />
ever did are the norm.<br />
80s style quad fin<br />
by High Tide Twin Fin<br />
by The Factory<br />
Shaper: Jordie Brown<br />
Dimensions:<br />
5’10’’ x 19 ¾’’ x 13’’ x 14 ½’’ x 2 7 /8”<br />
Ideal conditions: From 2 ft<br />
grovelers to overhead slabs<br />
Suits: The surfer looking<br />
for one board to surf in a<br />
variety of conditions<br />
Description: Modernized<br />
80s style thruster, this<br />
design has a high single<br />
flyer with a swallow tail,<br />
low boxy rails and has<br />
plenty of meat in the guts<br />
of the board where it’s<br />
needed.<br />
Construction: Light<br />
6oz/4oz trimmed lap<br />
glass-job.<br />
Fins: Dual FCS quad fin<br />
set ups.<br />
Shaper comment: This<br />
fun little design got me<br />
through a summer of tiny<br />
swells and onshore sea<br />
breezes. Its flat, fast and<br />
a handy addition to any<br />
quiver.<br />
Shaper: Paul Carson<br />
Dimensions:<br />
6’3” x 20” x 2 ½”<br />
Ideal conditions: 2 - 6ft<br />
Suits: Anyone<br />
Description: Single flyer<br />
swallow tail twin fin.<br />
Light concave running into<br />
double concave into vee.<br />
Construction: Burford<br />
blank Hexcel glass and<br />
Silmar resin<br />
Fins: Shapers Stealth<br />
Mach 50<br />
Shaper comment: This<br />
is the best of both worlds<br />
- a great semi-retro<br />
twinny but built for today,<br />
with a more modern<br />
bottom curve. Like all<br />
boards produced here at<br />
The Factory, it’s all about<br />
getting the right board for<br />
you, not a standard model<br />
off the shelf.<br />
CLASSIC MALIBU<br />
Cnr Gibson & Eumundi Rd<br />
Noosaville, QLD 4566<br />
Ph: 07 5474 3122<br />
info@classicmalibu.com<br />
www.classicmalibu.com<br />
LEE CHEYNE DESIGNS<br />
19/48 Machinery Dr,<br />
Tweed Heads South<br />
NSW 2486<br />
Ph: 07 5523 3237<br />
lcdboards@gmail.com<br />
myspace.com/454626994<br />
tradewindsurf.com.au<br />
black apache surfboards<br />
BLACK APACHE<br />
SURFBOARDS<br />
Ph: <strong>04</strong>10 419 791<br />
E: blackapachesurfboards@<br />
live.com.au<br />
blackapachesurfboards.com.au<br />
HIGH TIDE<br />
SURFBOARDS<br />
Skenes Creek, Vic 3233<br />
Ph: <strong>04</strong>01 437 392<br />
hightidesurfboards@hotmail.com<br />
hightidesurfboards.com<br />
THE FACTORY<br />
SURFBOARDS<br />
CALOUNDRA<br />
17 Allen Street<br />
Caloundra QLD 4551<br />
Ph: 07 5492 5838<br />
paul@thefactorysurfboards.com.au<br />
thefactorysurfboards.com.au<br />
94 jan/feb <strong>2011</strong>
GEAR: BOARDS<br />
Grom Custom<br />
by More Surfboards<br />
Shaper: Mark Pridmore<br />
Dimensions:<br />
5’7” x 18 ¼” x 2 7 /16”<br />
Ideal conditions: Tiny to<br />
4ft coz that’s what size the<br />
grom surfs<br />
Suits: Beginner that’s<br />
quickly improving to ripping<br />
Description: Complete<br />
custom to create an ideal<br />
board for a 12-year-old<br />
grom. He needed a board<br />
to allow his surfing to<br />
progress. It’s made a<br />
considerable difference to<br />
his surfing with some big<br />
improvements in the last<br />
2 weeks since riding his<br />
new board...<br />
Construction: PU foam,<br />
Polyester resin. MORE<br />
Surfboards are all made<br />
here in Oz.<br />
Fins: Hand-foiled<br />
fibreglass designed to<br />
compliment the board and<br />
surfer, FCS for options<br />
Extras: the artwork was<br />
also totally customised,<br />
FUNction is obviously a<br />
priority. Getting creative<br />
with colours is fun and can<br />
make a board look sweet...<br />
The Jelly Bean<br />
by Grown<br />
Shaper: Andrew Wells<br />
Dimensions:<br />
5’8” x 19” x 2 ½“<br />
Ideal conditions: Small<br />
to medium waves. Great<br />
for summer days.<br />
Ability: Intermediate to<br />
advanced.<br />
Suits: All levels<br />
Description: This board<br />
is a mini-egg, small day<br />
fun board. Being hollow<br />
timber the board has<br />
plenty of float and you<br />
can ride it a few inches<br />
shorter than a normal<br />
foam board.<br />
Construction: Hollow<br />
timber - Paulownia and<br />
cedar with resin tint.<br />
Fins: Single<br />
Shaper comment:<br />
Mmmmm Jelly Beans!!<br />
Available in your favourite<br />
flavor! Every Grownboard<br />
is individually hand<br />
crafted from recycled and<br />
plantation grown timber,<br />
takes over 30 hrs to hand<br />
craft and is completely<br />
unique. They look great,<br />
surf great and will give<br />
you years of enjoyment.<br />
Tom Thumb<br />
by Tom Wegener<br />
Shaper: Tom Wegener<br />
Dimensions:<br />
5’3 to 5’10 x 20” x 2 ¼”<br />
Conditions: Very versatile<br />
but handles hollow surf<br />
best, with keel fins.<br />
Ability level: Groms to<br />
advanced surfers.<br />
Description: Anyone<br />
curious about finless, but<br />
wanting an easier entry.<br />
Construction: Surfboard<br />
foam and polyester resin<br />
Fins: Tom Wegener<br />
currently makes custom<br />
asymmetric keel fins for<br />
$100 a set or recommends<br />
experimenting with what<br />
you have.<br />
Shaper comment: I have<br />
been working on the arc<br />
from alaia to finless foam<br />
and then back to twin fins. I<br />
want to keep the speed and<br />
some drift, while adding<br />
stability. This board is the<br />
most versatile board I have<br />
made yet. It rides great<br />
finless, with my custom<br />
keel fins and with normal<br />
fish fins. It is actually three<br />
boards in one.<br />
Available exclusively<br />
through Noosa Longboards<br />
D-Hull #3<br />
by Zak Surfboards<br />
Shaper: Ken Reimers<br />
Dimensions:<br />
6’0” x 21” x 2 7 /8”<br />
Displacement Hull<br />
Conditions: Anything<br />
that moves shoreward, up<br />
to fear factor.<br />
Suits: Anybody not surfing<br />
in a modern shortboard<br />
competition.<br />
Description: Combination<br />
of late sixties surfboard<br />
designs and knowledge<br />
of modern surfboard<br />
performance. Radically<br />
domed bottom shape,<br />
balanced foil, S-Deck and<br />
50-50 rails.<br />
Construction: “Glassed<br />
to last” 6oz bottom, 2<br />
x 6oz decks, weight is<br />
momentum which helps<br />
with forward projection.<br />
Fins: Single flex fin with<br />
FCS side biters. (Hint: for<br />
another sensation, take<br />
out the single and put in a<br />
set of MR Twins)<br />
Shaper comment: Having<br />
these in my quiver has<br />
increased my memory of<br />
fun surfs and I thank the<br />
experimental shapers<br />
before me for their legacy.<br />
Single Fin<br />
by The Factory<br />
Shaper: Paul Carson<br />
Dimensions:<br />
6’2” x 20” x 2 5 /8”<br />
Ideal conditions: 2 - 6ft<br />
Suits: Anyone<br />
Description: Single fin<br />
double flyer round pin.<br />
Light concave running to<br />
vee with four channels.<br />
Blue pigment bottom with<br />
white and blue pigment<br />
deck.<br />
Construction: Burford<br />
blank Hexcel glass and<br />
Silmar resin<br />
Fins: Set single fin,<br />
handmade and handfoiled<br />
here at The Factory.<br />
Shaper comment: This<br />
board was made specially<br />
for this year’s Ma and<br />
Pa Bendall contest at<br />
Moffat Beach. Like all<br />
boards produced here at<br />
The Factory, it’s all about<br />
getting the right board for<br />
you, not a standard model<br />
off the shelf.<br />
MORE SURFBOARDS<br />
Ph: <strong>04</strong>05 475 026<br />
moresurfboards.com<br />
Now based on the Sunshine<br />
Coast but delivery to just about<br />
anywhere is not a problem.<br />
GROWN SURFBOARDS<br />
Lennox Head<br />
PO Box 801, Ballina NSW 2478<br />
Ph: <strong>04</strong>07889<strong>04</strong>9<br />
sales@grownsurfboards.com.au<br />
grownsurfboards.com.au<br />
NOOSA LONGBOARDS<br />
Shop 2, 55 Hastings St,<br />
Noosa Heads, QLD 4567<br />
Ph: 07 5447 2828<br />
E: pete@noosalongboards.com<br />
noosalongboards.com.au<br />
ZAK SURFBOARDS<br />
307 Victoria Road<br />
Thornbury VIC 3071<br />
Ph: 03 9416 7384<br />
Mobile: <strong>04</strong>38 416 738<br />
zak@zaksurfboards.com<br />
zaksurfboards.com<br />
THE FACTORY<br />
SURFBOARDS<br />
CALOUNDRA<br />
17 Allen Street<br />
Caloundra QLD 4551<br />
Ph: 07 5492 5838<br />
paul@thefactorysurfboards.com.au<br />
thefactorysurfboards.com.au<br />
mar/apr <strong>2011</strong><br />
95
GEAR: PROJECT<br />
JORDIE BROWN OF HIGH TIDE SURFBOARDS<br />
LOVES OLD BOARDS. HE LOVES THE EXTRA<br />
WEIGHT. HE LOVES THE OLD RESIN. HE LOVES<br />
THE OLD SHAPES, STYLES AND IDEAS. BUT<br />
MOST OF ALL, HE LOVES THE PURE HONESTY<br />
AND PERSONALITY THAT IS PART AND PARCEL<br />
OF A BELOVED OLD BOARD, WHERE EACH DING,<br />
SCRATCH AND CRACK IS A LITTLE REMINDER OF<br />
A MAGIC MEMORY.<br />
FORTUNATELY FOR AN OLD WAYNE LYNCH<br />
THRUSTER, HE PUT SOME OF THAT PASSION<br />
INTO BRINGING THE BOARD BACK TO LIFE AND<br />
BACK TO THE WATER.<br />
JORDIE TALKS US THROUGH THE HEALING...<br />
Earlier this year a mate dropped in to the<br />
workshop with one of the most challenging<br />
restorations I’ve ever worked on.<br />
His father had bought him the 6'8'' Wayne Lynch<br />
shaped raw for him, to learn to surf on, for $100<br />
when he was 14. Over the years he never stopped<br />
surfing the early thruster design and had simply<br />
loved it to death.<br />
At first glance I wondered if it was possible to get<br />
the totally trashed board back into the water but<br />
after seeing the spark of excitement in his eyes<br />
when he talked about surfing it, I decided it was<br />
well worth putting the time into.<br />
THE JOB<br />
The biggest problem that I first had to overcome<br />
was that on the board’s final surf the water had<br />
caught the edge of an old repair and stripped<br />
three quarters of the glass off the bottom, almost<br />
taking out two of the fins with it. To get the board<br />
going again, the entire bottom had to be totally<br />
re-glassed.<br />
The board had suffered from some pretty serious<br />
water damage. Water damage in surfboards is<br />
like rust in a car - if not fixed properly the damage<br />
will spread. The only way to really fix an area that<br />
has taken in water and is delaminated, is to cut it<br />
out and rebuild it. That’s why its always important<br />
to fix any dings as soon as possible before they<br />
take in water.<br />
Before I could re-glass the bottom, I had to<br />
rebuild the mutilated bottom to get its former<br />
shape back. Using a couple of mixes of resin and<br />
q-cel (a powdered bog commonly used in the boat<br />
building industry) I filled in all the imperfections<br />
and rebuilt the nose, then sanded the whole<br />
bottom flat again.<br />
The one disappointing thing about this restoration<br />
was that the decal on the bottom couldn’t be<br />
96 mar/apr <strong>2011</strong>
THIS PAGE: It floats, it flies...<br />
ACROSS<br />
Far left: Surveying the damage<br />
Top: Rebuilding the board’s bottom<br />
Middle: Finishing the deck<br />
Bottom: Ready to ride<br />
Photos: Scott Wintle<br />
BRING<br />
BACK<br />
THE<br />
DEAD...<br />
saved. I always like to keep a restoration as<br />
original as possible and preserve any logos,<br />
signatures or numbers that could indicate<br />
anything about the board’s history. Luckily, the<br />
deck was relatively unscathed.<br />
Once the bottom was reshaped, I glassed the<br />
bottom in a layer of 6oz cloth to restore the<br />
board's strength. I used a pigment and trimmed<br />
lap glass job - a very common style of glassing in<br />
that era. Pigments always work great on ‘restos’<br />
to keep the board looking original and cover any<br />
severely water-damaged areas. I then re-foiled all<br />
the lumps and bumps out of the original fins and<br />
glassed them back in their former position - a lot<br />
further back on the tail than modern thrusters.<br />
After a filler coat, sand and final wet-rub the<br />
restoration was ready to hit the water.<br />
One aspect that made this restoration job easier<br />
compared to a lot of others I’ve worked on is the<br />
original board was finished in pro tech - a spray<br />
on finish used on most wet-rubbed shortboards<br />
today, but a new product finish in the 80s. It<br />
meant that I didn't have to gloss coat and polish<br />
the board - an extra process that can be quite<br />
tricky with glass-on fins.<br />
After all the time spent working on the old<br />
shortboard, I couldn't help but wonder how the<br />
early thruster design preformed. The biggest perk<br />
of restoring ‘mates’ old boards, is that more often<br />
than not, they let me take the finished product for<br />
a spin...<br />
THE RESULT<br />
The morning after the final wet rub I lucked into<br />
some fun, 3ft beachies and took the board for a<br />
test run. It took a few waves to get the hang of<br />
the extra weight, but it wasn't long before I found<br />
the sweet spot and was having the time of my<br />
life. The 80s design paddled great with its flat<br />
rocker and all the thickness in the shape. It felt<br />
awesome surfing down the line and held great in<br />
a handful of wedgy little barrels.<br />
Sometimes the hardest part about riding mates’<br />
boards is giving them back at the end of the session.<br />
THE conclusion<br />
Although in the time spent restoring this classic<br />
80s design I could have made a new shortboard<br />
from scratch, I used minimal materials and saved<br />
a piece of surfing history from the local tip.<br />
In the throwaway society we live in today, there<br />
is something beautiful and satisfying about giving<br />
used surfboards a second lease of life.<br />
FOR MORE OF JORDIE’S HANDIWORK, CHECK<br />
OUT WWW.HIGHTIDESURFBOARDS.COM<br />
mar/apr <strong>2011</strong><br />
97
GEAR: BEYOND<br />
WHAT<br />
LIES<br />
BENEATH<br />
Duncan Eadie finds<br />
direction with timber.<br />
CHAPTER II:<br />
TIMBERRRRRR<br />
GLASS, TIMBER, BAMBOO AND JUST EVERY CONCEIVABLE INCARNATION OF COMPOSITE MATERIALS CAN BE FOUND UNDER OUR BOARDS THESE DAYS.<br />
BEAUTIFUL, SUSTAINABLE AND PRACTICAL, TIMBER HAS BEEN A MATERIAL OF CHOICE IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SURFBOARDS FOREVER AND A DAY,<br />
SO WE LOOK AT WOOD AS ONE WAY TO GO FOR YOUR DOWNUNDER DRIVERS. WORDS: JACK FINLAY<br />
Peter Walker’s Bonzer: Short<br />
and low fins set up on the edges<br />
of a Surian Cedar double concave.<br />
Wooden you just love to<br />
give this board a go?<br />
When iconic surf innovator Tom Blake experimented<br />
with a fin on his board in 1935, his material of choice,<br />
almost by necessity, was the same as the board itself,<br />
namely timber.<br />
Eighty years, and millions of mutations later, surfboards<br />
have become complex pieces of chemistry and evolved<br />
design. But whilst polymers and plastics have altered<br />
lots of things, the role of fins in providing a board with<br />
directional and drift control hasn’t changed one little bit.<br />
Surprisingly, despite relentless surfboard evolution,<br />
timber still has an enhanced role to play in fin<br />
construction. Part of it has to do with performance,<br />
some of it is aesthetics, and the rest is quite possibly<br />
just good old soul.<br />
But do the natural properties of wood make it the<br />
ultimate material for fin manufacture? There’s a steadily<br />
growing group of people that believe so.<br />
98 mar/apr <strong>2011</strong>
A range of Southern Soul<br />
Surfboards and fins on display<br />
THERE’s<br />
SOUL in<br />
there...<br />
WE HEAR ABOUT SOME OF THE<br />
THINKING BEHIND TIMBER FINS FROM<br />
A VICTORIAN BOARDMAKER.<br />
Timber fins are not easy to make and<br />
they’re not cheap. But some believe they<br />
do have an advantage in what might be<br />
called ‘natural flex.’<br />
One person who has put in the hard yards<br />
on timber fins since the 1980s is Jan Juc<br />
board maker Duncan Eadie of Southern<br />
Soul Surfboards. His boards are primarily<br />
stylish, retro-influenced, single fins that<br />
feature his signature timber-core fins.<br />
“When I was shaping thrusters I started<br />
making timber-core fins, initially covered<br />
with white pigmented fibreglass,” Duncan<br />
remembers. “A little later, I realised that by<br />
leaving out the pigment you could produce<br />
a nice set of timber fins in glass. They felt<br />
good to surf on, they looked something<br />
special, and not too many other board<br />
makers were using them.”<br />
With a trade background in carpentry and<br />
building, Duncan put his knowledge of<br />
timber type and properties to use.<br />
“I quickly began to use different timbers<br />
to give a different feel,” he says. “For<br />
instance, on a small wave I would use a<br />
soft and flexible core timber like pine or<br />
cedar to deliver a spring out of turns, and<br />
for bigger wave fins I would use jarrah for<br />
stiffness and drive.”<br />
Ten years ago, heavily influenced by Terry<br />
Fitzgerald’s 1970s Hot Buttered speed<br />
machines, Duncan switched his shaping<br />
emphasis to single fin boards, and used the<br />
timber fins on them, with startling results.<br />
“On one of my early single fins I glassed<br />
on a fin made from Tasmanian Myrtle,”<br />
he says. “I surfed Winkipop at 4-5 ft, and<br />
was amazed at the speed and drive out of<br />
turns that the board and its fin developed.<br />
A lot of things I’d heard people say, or read<br />
about over the years, pretty much fell into<br />
place at that point. I guess it was a case of<br />
back to the future for me.”<br />
“Since then I’ve learned how to harness<br />
this speed and drive, and married them to<br />
the different fin timbers and shapes to give<br />
the required flex, whether with fin boxes<br />
or glassed on. So, the design elements<br />
for both the board and its fin work hand in<br />
glove for a range of varying conditions.”<br />
The time involved in making timber fins<br />
has cost consequences. But in terms<br />
of performance and aesthetics Duncan<br />
believes they certainly establish a point of<br />
difference for Southern Soul Surfboards.<br />
“My timber fins are really a labour of love,”<br />
he says. “From start to finish they take<br />
around 20 hours to produce. I machine<br />
down the desired timber to the appropriate<br />
thickness and cut out the shape required,<br />
foil the timber, fibreglass both sides, then<br />
foil the final shape. This is finished with<br />
gloss resin, polished to a high gloss, and if<br />
required fitted to a fin box.<br />
“It sounds easy enough but there’s a lot in<br />
it. I sometimes say to myself “Why do I do<br />
it?” but after using them, it’s very hard to<br />
go back to anything else.”<br />
Tom Blake might have said the same thing<br />
seventy five years ago.<br />
Duncan creates boards, fins and great wax:<br />
www.southernsoulsurfboards.com.au<br />
TIMBER FANS<br />
Duncan Eadie is far from a lone voice in<br />
the support of timber. Here’s just a few<br />
of his fellow woodworkers.<br />
TOM WEGENER<br />
Although his love-affair<br />
with timber in general is<br />
well publicised, those<br />
who only know him for<br />
his finless craft might<br />
be surprised to know<br />
that the man makes a<br />
mean timber fin.<br />
tomwegenersurfboards.com<br />
ROBERT McIVER<br />
Fully committed to getting trees into the sea, Rob<br />
not only does Hollow Wooden Surfboards but<br />
also runs workshops on timber board building.<br />
www.hwsb.com.au<br />
PETER WALKER<br />
Truly turning boards<br />
into artwork, South<br />
Australia’s wooden<br />
board guru adds<br />
his artistic touch to<br />
timber fins on his<br />
creations. walkersurfboards.com<br />
ANDREW WELLS<br />
Grown Surfboards is<br />
all about the wood, and<br />
Andrew knows how to<br />
use it just beautifully.<br />
grownsurfboards.com.au<br />
GRANT NEWBY<br />
A talented boardmaking hobbyist, Grant<br />
deserves big backpats for his support of the<br />
timber board world through his community<br />
event, the Wooden Boards Day in Currumbin:<br />
woodensurfboards.blogspot.com<br />
MARK RILEY<br />
The Balsa Master produces incredible fins for<br />
his own boards as well as individual sale.<br />
balsasurfboardsriley.com.au
GEAR: FORUM<br />
A FUTURE<br />
FOR ASPIRING YOUNG<br />
AUSTRALIAN SHAPERS<br />
WORDS: DAVE SWAN<br />
The Australian Surf Craft Industry Association has a mandate. On top<br />
of their agenda is protecting the future of the Australina surfboard<br />
manufacturing industry through an apprenticeship scheme for aspiring<br />
young Australian shapers.<br />
Stuart D’Arcy of D’Arcy Surfboards explains, “We have such a fun<br />
industry and such a lifestyle industry, that everyone else is jealous of<br />
us. Everyone says to me, ‘You have the best job in the world. You shape<br />
boards.’ Well, yes I do and I get to make boards for people. To love what<br />
you do and not just be in a job is amazing. ‘<br />
“But we need to be encouraging the young guys to get into our industry, to<br />
make it appealing. If we had an apprenticeship scheme we could achieve<br />
this. This is something we are striving to set up through the ASCIA.<br />
“In terms of learning the trade – how to make quality boards - when<br />
you teach someone from the very beginning and you don’t show him any<br />
shortcuts and he doesn’t know any other way, the only way he can do it<br />
is good. But there is no money when you are learning because there are<br />
no apprenticeships. It takes a special person to simply be happy with<br />
the gratification of doing a job well and it being appreciated.”<br />
Dan MacDonald from DMS shapes concurs, “This association would<br />
give surf companies and individuals from shapers and their colleagues<br />
more structure to follow, in order to build set industry standards across<br />
the board thus keeping up with customer expectations and keeping the<br />
face of Australian surfing on top where it belongs.<br />
“A great example of industry standards to be implemented would be the<br />
creation of training programs to offer a more structured work place. At<br />
the moment it’s hard to find high-end quality workers and at times it can<br />
be time consuming to chase down workers willing to create boards to<br />
these standards. Bringing in training programs would give the chance<br />
to bring in newcomers and give them the opportunity to learn skills that<br />
can benefit both the current shapers, and also provide people new to<br />
the industry with a secure and solid future.”<br />
“TO LOVE WHAT YOU DO AND NOT<br />
JUST BE IN JOB IS AMAZING.”<br />
Chris Garrett of Chris Garrett Shapes adds to statements made be his<br />
fellow ASCIA members by expressing his concerns for the current status<br />
quo, “I have been making boards for 30 years. Apart from my trade<br />
certificate as a carpenter, I have nothing. But guess what skills I have? I<br />
can spray paint. I can polish. I can finish. I can manufacture surfboards<br />
and know so much shit about hydrodynamics it is ridiculous. I export to<br />
four countries and I have done all this without any government grants or<br />
training. I know how to deal with imports and exports. I am multi-skilled<br />
but guess what – no recognition. I am a labourer, an unskilled worker. If<br />
my job stops tomorrow because of China and I go out to get another job<br />
and am asked the question, ‘Oh, what have you done?’ I am a surfboard<br />
maker….. ‘Oh right, well here’s the broom.’”<br />
Following our experiences of building our own surfboards, one thing<br />
is for certain: if there are no shapers, with no one to teach people the<br />
skill of making surfboards, a vital part of our surfing culture will be lost<br />
forever. We will have an entire generation of Australians that can’t<br />
create, but only consume. That’s cause for concern in itself.<br />
Any enquiries with regards to the ASCIA can be directed to Michelle<br />
Blauw on 07 5559 5866. Updates will be posted on<br />
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Australian-Surf-Craft-Industry-<br />
Association/126311527423630<br />
100 mar/apr <strong>2011</strong>
1. 2. 3.<br />
THE SMOOTHEST RIDE UNDERFOOT<br />
LET’S FACE IT, SKATING WITH BARE FEET ISN’T REALLY THAT MUCH FUN. SURE, IF YOU HAVE CAVEMAN FEET<br />
FROM NEVER WEARING SHOES IT DOESN’T MATTER MUCH, BUT FOR THE MAJORITY OF US WHO WEAR<br />
SHOES IN A DAY JOB, THOSE TOOTSIES ARE NOT TOUGH ENOUGH TO ENJOY THE SANDPAPER OF A DECK<br />
GRIP. THE BOYS AT TRINITY DISTRIBUTION RECKON THEY CAN FIX IT. ROB SHOWS US HOW...<br />
STEP 1:<br />
Tear the existing grip off of your current skateboard<br />
- in this case a Risen pintail longboard. Just get a<br />
corner of the grip up and use some elbow grease.<br />
Put your foot on the deck and give it a good, hard<br />
yank to peel it off.<br />
STEP 2:<br />
Grab a piece of Trinity Neoprene deck grip from your<br />
local skate shop and measure it up to the size of<br />
the deck.<br />
STEP 3:<br />
The Neoprene deck grip is like one giant sticker.<br />
Simply stick it on and carefully trim the edges using<br />
a blade or utility knife.<br />
STEP 4:<br />
Get your thongs off and roll down to your local break<br />
in total comfort, without exfoliating your soles. So<br />
comfy, you’ll want to roll around all day...<br />
BOARD GIVEAWAY<br />
Other than a few footprints from the test run, this Risen<br />
longboard with the Neoprene grip is as good as new and here for<br />
you. Send us an email telling us why you need it, and we’ll have a<br />
laugh and see who gets it. letters@smorgasboarder.com.au<br />
mar/apr <strong>2011</strong><br />
101
HAVE STICK,<br />
WILL TRAVEL<br />
WORDS: CORY McBRIDE PHOTOS: KAHUNA CREATIONS AUSTRALIA<br />
Having grown up in California’s Bay Area and Salt Lake City, Utah, Kahuna<br />
Creations Rider Cory McBride was stoked to spend this summer in<br />
Australia. While his biggest passion is skiing and snowboarding, he says he<br />
didn’t have much of a problem leaving the snow for a season to spend four<br />
months in one of the most incredible countries in the world.<br />
His mission down under? To spread the word about the Kahuna Big Stick –<br />
an invention that lets you paddle on longboard skateboards- hence the term<br />
Street Stand Up Paddling. With a rubber contact on the bottom, the Big Stick<br />
lets you propel yourself with your upper body, giving you a solid SUP-style<br />
workout on dry land. Over to Cory...<br />
102 mar/apr <strong>2011</strong>
GEAR: SKATE<br />
mar/apr <strong>2011</strong><br />
103
HAVE STICK,<br />
WILL TRAVEL<br />
I lived in Melbourne but spent<br />
much of my time on the road getting a taste<br />
of what this outstanding country has to offer.<br />
My first trip was an extraordinary 1,400<br />
mile road trip along the east coast, ending in<br />
Noosa. The drive was long but amazing and<br />
I met some really cool people and had some<br />
great competitions along the way.<br />
Merimbula<br />
The first stop was Merimbula - a small surf town<br />
half way between Sydney and Melbourne. We were<br />
a sponsor of the 30 th Merimbula Classic, a weeklong<br />
competition of Street SUP, windsurfing, paddle<br />
boarding, and kitesurfing. For the crowning event,<br />
80 professional and amateur athletes competed in<br />
a Street SUP / SUP relay race. This was the most<br />
intense competition of its type I have ever been<br />
involved in, and I was thrilled my team came in second<br />
of twenty.<br />
Surfers Paradise<br />
When the Merimbula Classic came to an end, I headed<br />
north to the Gold Coast in a van full of professional<br />
kitesurfers. The drive took the good part of a week, since<br />
it was interspersed by paddleboarding and kitesurfing<br />
stops. When we got to Surfers Paradise we set up for<br />
the PKRA Pro Kite World Tour, which unfortunately had<br />
constant rain that killed the wind. During down time the<br />
kiteboarders did some longboarding with the Kahuna<br />
Big Stick, which showed up in the official PKRA World<br />
Tour video.<br />
Since we needed the van for the kitesurfing tour and<br />
I had stores to visit, I ended up longboarding with<br />
the Big Stick from shop to shop. I rode about 70<br />
kilometers in three days to make all my visits, which<br />
would have been totally fine if it wasn’t pouring down<br />
rain the whole time. I definitely saw a lot of Surfers<br />
Paradise during this time, but it wasn’t exactly the<br />
beach utopia I was expecting!<br />
Cruising along Brisbane River<br />
Brisbane<br />
I spent a couple days in Brisbane, escaping the rain<br />
and enjoying the Queensland weather. I did some<br />
downtown skating and paid visits to a couple of<br />
sweet shops. I very much enjoyed my stay in Brisbane.<br />
Unfortunately floods devastated the city a couple of<br />
weeks later, and the skate scene didn’t escape its<br />
wrath. Upon my return to Melbourne I found out how<br />
bad it really was: shops had been underwater, closed,<br />
and dealing with the massive city cleanup.<br />
My thoughts go out to everyone in Queensland as they<br />
deal with the flood’s aftermath.<br />
Noosa<br />
The last stop on my first Australian road trip<br />
was Noosa. We ran a clinic where we gave<br />
demonstrations to ride with the Kahuna Big Stick at<br />
Adventure Sports Kitesurf Australia before kitesurfing<br />
at the local sweet spot. We showed up in the local<br />
news twice from being there just over a day. It was<br />
sad to leave Noosa as the people there were so cool<br />
and friendly.<br />
Sydney<br />
After getting back from Noosa, I spent two weeks<br />
in Melbourne over Christmas before driving back to<br />
Sydney for New Year’s celebrations.<br />
I fell in love with Sydney during my time there. There<br />
aren’t many places in the world I liked better than<br />
Manly Beach. I am thoroughly impressed by the<br />
beauty, surf, and people found in Sydney and hope<br />
to return in the very near future. The riding was<br />
unbelievable, and the people were particularly excited<br />
about longboarding with the Kahuna Big Stick.<br />
Melbourne<br />
No matter where I end up living, I will always think<br />
of Melbourne as my home away from home. I made<br />
such good friends here, and the riding was fantastic. I<br />
had serious thrills longboarding down the Dandenong<br />
mountain roads, and it was always refreshing riding<br />
along the St Kilda Foreshore. The music scene here<br />
is unlike anywhere I’ve ever been, and I love the<br />
atmosphere of downtown Melbourne.<br />
While in Melbourne, I was able to do and see<br />
some of the coolest things of my life! I got to<br />
paddleboard around Phillip Island before a Street SUP<br />
demonstration with Islantis Surfboards in Newhaven.<br />
Kite Republic took me kitesurfing in St. Kilda, and I<br />
saw absolutely incredible ocean sights such as the<br />
Twelve Apostles off the Great Ocean Road. A definite<br />
highlight was watching the Australian Tennis Open<br />
and paddleboarding down the Yarra River.<br />
Australia is one of the most beautiful countries on the<br />
planet, and I was ecstatic about the feedback here for<br />
the Kahuna Big Stick. People are stoked when they<br />
learn how to ride Street SUP, especially those who<br />
have never been on a board. With Australia already the<br />
most popular country for Street SUP outside America,<br />
you can tell the sport is about to explode in popularity,<br />
which will give me an excuse to come back!<br />
Yarra River SUP fun<br />
Noosa - Easy to<br />
love, hard to leave<br />
The Merimbula Classic - On land...<br />
...and in the water!<br />
For more on the Big Stick<br />
and Street SUP, see:<br />
www.streetsup.com.au<br />
1<strong>04</strong> mar/apr <strong>2011</strong>
The Fiik Division<br />
TEST<br />
WORDS: GUS BROWN<br />
EVERYTHING<br />
ANOTHER EDITION AND ANOTHER PILE OF GEAR TO TEST! AND THIS<br />
IS JUST THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG... BOARDS, WAX, A HAND-PLANE...<br />
GEAR: REVIEW<br />
Testpilot Mick<br />
gets all styley<br />
with the Stinger<br />
The Fiik Stinger<br />
A VERY HANDY<br />
LITTLE DEVICE<br />
Bodysurfing is where it all began,<br />
they say, and any surfer worth their<br />
salt understands this skill and joy<br />
of riding waves in its most basic<br />
form. The next evolutionary step is<br />
to get some fins on your feet and<br />
pull out a handsurfer - in this case<br />
a wooden hand-plane made by the<br />
multi-talented Thomas Bexon.<br />
SEE WHAT STICKS<br />
Everyone has their personal preference when it comes<br />
to what wax works. Thing is, if you don’t try what’s out<br />
there, how would you know what works for you? So,<br />
we thought we would wax on a little more...<br />
Two GREAT reasons<br />
Charge up these electric boards, do a few runs and within<br />
minutes every kid in the neighbourhood, big or small will<br />
be pestering you for a go. Which is totally okay, because<br />
the Fiik Division and Fiik Stinger have so much get-upand-go<br />
that you can be well down the road by the time<br />
the would-be-riders get near. They’re left wondering what<br />
the hell you were riding. Harsh? Trust me, you really won’t<br />
want to share once you’re on and going.<br />
As we’ve said in the past, these are definitely not kids’<br />
toys! Fiik boards have plenty power and can generate<br />
good speed quickly, even with a full grown adult on board.<br />
These two are very stable, yet extremely easy to turn.<br />
They are completely capable of handling rougher road<br />
surfaces, however, with smaller wheels than the Street<br />
Surfer or Big Daddy, the Division and Stinger prefer a<br />
long, smooth road or even better - a concrete bike-path.<br />
Pull the trigger, cut a few lines... you are in for one<br />
exhilarating experience.<br />
Like their big brothers, both boards get to around the<br />
35-40 km/h top speed and are equipped with the same<br />
braking system, safety always being a high priority.<br />
These two are the all-rounders of the Fiik skateboards<br />
range, with the Stinger a bit more responsive of the two<br />
while the Division is slightly more stable. Both boards<br />
we tested utilised the lead acid battery, however you can<br />
soup-up performance by choosing the lithium version for<br />
improved power, speed, and acceleration.<br />
These are still ultimate boys’ (or girls’) toys - have a go and<br />
you’ll be hooked on electric skateboards for good.<br />
For more, see www.fiikskateboards.com<br />
The doc59 handsurfer has a great,<br />
natural feel with all the complexities<br />
of a surfboard shape. A miniature<br />
version of a wide swallow-tailed<br />
fish with a super concave channel,<br />
it’s wooden, yet light in construction,<br />
and feels good in the hand. As it’s<br />
not strapped on like some plastic<br />
models, it provides more freedom<br />
when waiting for the sets. You can<br />
even shove it into your boardies<br />
when heading out so that your<br />
hands are both free for swimming.<br />
The handsurfer extends to about<br />
your elbow. On the right wave you<br />
can really get your body out of the<br />
water and improve your speed to get<br />
the most out of each ride. Just make<br />
sure you hold onto it tight in the<br />
dumpers so you save yourself some<br />
time retrieving it!<br />
Beautifully crafted and just as<br />
beautifully stored in a hand-sewn<br />
pouch, this is truly a quality<br />
product worthy of its place in any<br />
waterman/womans’ toolkit. But<br />
most importantly, it’s just a hell of a<br />
lot of fun out in the water.<br />
www.thomassurfboards.com<br />
TREE-HUGGER<br />
Not just grip, the wax has<br />
stick. Pull your foot from<br />
the board and you can<br />
actually hear the suction.<br />
Suited to hippies or those<br />
just keen on green as this<br />
wax is all natural, made<br />
from bees wax and mineral<br />
clays. Goes on easy and the<br />
super-sticky texture is very<br />
different to standard wax. It<br />
could probably also be used<br />
to put your favourite surf<br />
poster on the wall.<br />
RRP: $4<br />
Packaging:<br />
Recycled paper<br />
Ease to Open: Rip it.<br />
Size: 75g<br />
Fragrance: A slightly<br />
sweet honey earthy odour.<br />
treehuggerwax.com<br />
ONE COOL<br />
WAX-OFF TOOL<br />
If the only time de-waxing your<br />
board pops to mind is when the<br />
surf’s pumping, mainly because<br />
its just a pain to do when you get<br />
home from a great session, then<br />
the Tool is the answer. Unlike<br />
some wafer-thin wax removers<br />
the Tool gives you good leverage<br />
and helps you to move even the<br />
crustiest wax quickly and easily.<br />
And if you are soft like me, it<br />
doesn’t hurt your hand as much as<br />
a traditional wax comb.<br />
toolssurfaustralia.com.au<br />
STICKY FEET<br />
We have heard the talk on<br />
the street that this WA wax<br />
rates highly amongst those<br />
in the know... And now we<br />
see what all the fuss is<br />
about. This wax has great<br />
traction and feels really<br />
firm underfoot. A fairly<br />
high-density wax, so you get<br />
plenty of go for your dough.<br />
RRP: $4<br />
Packaging: Cool,<br />
overgrown matchbox.<br />
Ease to open:<br />
Simple and multi-use pack<br />
keeps wax clean and ready<br />
Size: 100g<br />
Fragrance: Raspberry<br />
cordial. The kids will love<br />
it but we hope it doesn’t<br />
make them as hyper.<br />
margaretriverwax.com.au
Snake charmer collection - pollen top and buzz pant.<br />
Silverbuzz collection buzz bikini<br />
Fashion &<br />
Function<br />
NOOSA HEADS BASED SWIMWEAR<br />
LABEL, HIVE SWIMWEAR HAS<br />
RELEASED THE NEXT SERIES OF<br />
THEIR BEAUTIFULLY DESIGNED<br />
FUNCTIONAL WATER GEAR.<br />
Carnival collection beehive frill bikini<br />
The new <strong>2011</strong> collection, which also includes ultra chlorine resistant<br />
styles, is tested under duress for durability and function over a number<br />
of sports including surfing, surf lifesaving, swimming and kiteboarding.<br />
The shoulder straps are adjustable to provide a comfortable and<br />
secure fit. Made using the highest grade lycras, the designs reduce<br />
neck strain by avoiding tieing up around the neck. Because everyone<br />
is built differently, all styles are sold as separates so you can get the<br />
best fit top and bottom. Styles shown here retail for $89.95 per set.<br />
You can find Hive Swimwear in many fine surf stores around Australia.<br />
You can find stockists and view more at www.hiveswimwear.com<br />
You can also check out Hive’s gear in person at the Noosa Festival of<br />
Surfing fashion show on Thursday, <strong>March</strong> 17.<br />
106 mar/apr <strong>2011</strong>
Selected styles form the Hive <strong>2011</strong> range. There’s definitely something for everyone and<br />
every occasion, from chilling at the pool to getting out in the surf.<br />
GEAR: FASHION<br />
Hive Swimwear team rider<br />
Natalie McCarthy is a model,<br />
surfer and Sunshine Coast<br />
local.Here she is in the hippy<br />
chick collection beehive top<br />
and bee sweet pant.<br />
mar/apr <strong>2011</strong><br />
107
CLOSEOUT: RELAX<br />
GETTING<br />
THE CHOP<br />
LE FIN. IT MEANS THE END IN FRENCH. WHICH IS<br />
PERTINENT GIVEN ITS EXCELLENT SLICING CAPABILITY.<br />
WORDS BY DR. PETE KIRKHAM<br />
The battle wounds I’ve seen in my clinic are mostly long-healed ivorywhite<br />
scars each with their own story. But they all have a common<br />
thread. The fearful rush of an oncoming board. The anticipation of<br />
certain collision. The chaos of impact and just as suddenly the moment<br />
has gone.<br />
The relief of survival is tempered by the raw pain which runs in a line up<br />
your side. Your fingers find the tender groove where the fin has been. A<br />
red plume of blood emerges around you. Back to shore with haste and<br />
anxiety. A towel to stem the bleeding and then straight for the nearest<br />
clinic or hospital (hopefully with a mate to help).<br />
Generally, soft tissue wounds like this simply need firm pressure and<br />
then stitches. But occasionally an artery might be snagged. This is the<br />
stuff of movies, but it does happen. The femoral artery sits in the groin<br />
and is perhaps the most common artery to be hit. Arterial blood is bright<br />
red and spurts in pulses. Immediate very firm pressure is required and<br />
pressing really hard with two fingers would do.<br />
I have never seen a fin injury to the head from surfing, but I have<br />
from a windsurfing board. Years ago, on a windsurfing trip to Greece,<br />
an adjacent German contingent seemed intent on breaking world water<br />
speed records. With control out of the window a jibing speed-merchant<br />
struck a swimmer in the shallows by the beach. Funny what you<br />
remember, but I recall his bald head ducking to avoid the board, the<br />
awful jolt of the windsurfer as it hit, and the scarlet line from ear to<br />
vertex as the poor victim surfaced. And my horrible realisation... oh no,<br />
the fin! Thankfully he was able to walk up the beach, towel clutched to<br />
head, and sit in the shade until an ambulance arrived.<br />
Surfers wear their ‘fin scars’ with pride.<br />
A mark of honour. Email your damage<br />
pics to letters@smorgasboarder.com.au.<br />
A free copy of smorgasboarder for the<br />
most impressive. Or something else...<br />
Dr. Pete Kirkham is a general<br />
practitioner at Nambour<br />
Medical Centre.<br />
www.skinclearclinic.com.au<br />
When friends run friends over. Thanks Luke.<br />
History...<br />
A little bit of<br />
WORDS BY GUS BROWN<br />
BELLS BEACH RINGS<br />
IN HALF A CENTURY<br />
AUSTRALIA AND THE WORLD’S LONGEST CONTINUOUSLY RUNNING<br />
SURFING EVENT AT BELLS BEACH IN EASTER, IS TURNING 50 YEARS OLD.<br />
Ahh, Bells... So much history, such an icon of our surfing culture.<br />
First held in the early 60s this competition turned professional<br />
in 1973, with bell ringers including Australian surf legends such<br />
as Michael Peterson, Mark Richards, Mark Occhilupo, Layne<br />
Beachley, Stephanie Gilmore and many others. Bells is renowned<br />
for being one of the world’s best right-handers, breaking on a<br />
gently sloping limestone reef. It can handle surf up to and in<br />
excess of 6 metres.<br />
Traditionally known as the Bells Beach Classic this event is an<br />
icon of the Australian surf culture and equivalent in the sporting<br />
calendar to the Melbourne Cup, the Boxing Day Test or the Sydney<br />
to Hobart Yacht Race.<br />
The place to experience surf history in Victoria is the SurfWorld<br />
Surfing Museum in Torquay. They are mounting an exhibition<br />
called “Bells Gold - a 50 Year Surfing Celebration” that will be<br />
launched at SurfWorld during this year’s Rip Curl Pro.<br />
The exhibition will feature never before seen images, including<br />
photos from the first ever contest organised by Peter Troy and<br />
Vic Tantau in 1962. It will also have a collection of memorabilia,<br />
surfboards and trophies from the event, and images and stories<br />
from people who have been a part of it over the past half-century.<br />
The people, the place, the event... It’s all such an integral part of<br />
our surfing history, and fantastic that it’s being commemorated and<br />
celebrated as it should. Do yourself a huge favour and drop in to<br />
SurfWorld if you’re making it down for the contest or just doing a<br />
general surf pilgrimage to Torquay.<br />
For more see www.surfworld.org.au<br />
Photo: Peter Ginane, SurfWorld Museum Collection.<br />
108 mar/apr <strong>2011</strong>
Coffee Table<br />
We look at books that - as a surfing fan - you<br />
just have to own and leave lying around for your<br />
visiting mates to drool over.<br />
EXTREME SURF<br />
Collection<br />
BENJAMIN MARCUS (2008)<br />
<br />
What length would you go for the ultimate surfing<br />
experience?<br />
Extreme Surf talks to the nuts who take on places<br />
like Dungeons, Jaws, Cyclops, Shipstern’s Bluff<br />
and the Cortes Bank. It reviews what surfers will<br />
endure for that moment in the green room – from<br />
monster waves to arctic temperatures, toxic<br />
beaches, evading civil wars, running the risk of<br />
shark attack and being grated across razor-sharp<br />
coral reef.<br />
To use a quote from the book by big-wave surfer<br />
from the sixties Buzzy Trent, “Big waves are not<br />
measured in feet and inches, but in increments of<br />
fear.” I felt a little intimidated just reading this quip.<br />
Extreme Surf will get your adrenalin pumping as<br />
you marvel at the men and women who seemingly<br />
surf without fear. Either that, or have a few less<br />
brain cells than the rest of us. After reading it you<br />
will find you will be telling yourself to harden up<br />
the next time a decent storm swell comes around.<br />
160 pages, easy to read, intriguing. You should be<br />
able to pick this up online for around $30 or so.<br />
Dave Swan<br />
MUSIC<br />
THE MARSDEN LEES<br />
VICES EP<br />
INDEPENDENT RELEASE<br />
<br />
The CD cover with the band in their skinnies<br />
(stovepipes in ‘ye olde English’) sets the scene<br />
for this indie-pop-rock fest from Sunshine Coast<br />
musos and surfers, The Marsden Lees.<br />
Unearthed by Triple J in 2010, the three piece<br />
have released their debut EP Vices to showcase<br />
their potential, recorded onto analogue reel to<br />
create that raw feel and sound that indie folk<br />
love so much.<br />
The Marsden Lees have managed to create<br />
a distinctive and attractive three piece rock<br />
EP which sounds strangely familiar and most<br />
definitely distinctly Australian. All five songs<br />
are individual enough to hold your attention,<br />
with a particular standout for me being the<br />
bluesy In the Water. Lyrically and vocally strong,<br />
The Marsden Lees music may truly have some<br />
broader, mainstream appeal if they get the<br />
airplay they’d need.<br />
Currently honing their live skills, it’s going to be<br />
interesting to follow their development. Good<br />
luck to ‘em.<br />
Vices is definitely worth a listen or better still<br />
check out The Marsden Lees at a live show.<br />
See www.themarsdenlees.com for more and<br />
to give the tunes a listen online.<br />
Gus Brown<br />
BOOKS<br />
THE HISTORY OF SURFING<br />
MATT WARSHAW (2010)<br />
<br />
Surf history books. I love them. But an often<br />
unavoided evil is the should-have-been-there,<br />
in-crowd angle taken on the telling. And there<br />
tends to be an unavoidable duplication of<br />
imagery. Sure, some shots are iconic, but they<br />
can be done to death. So, it can be a seen one,<br />
seen them all scenario for the old surf history<br />
book.<br />
This is most certainly not true of former SURFER<br />
magazine editor Matt Warshaw’s The History<br />
of Surfing - an almost 500-page doorstop of a<br />
publication. More of an encyclopedia than a<br />
coffee table book, this book is jam-packed with<br />
reading, reading and more reading. Interesting<br />
reading. Yes, there are plenty fantastic photos<br />
too, but unexpected and era-establishing ones<br />
such as a shot of a San Diego surfer holding a<br />
new Bob Simmons Slot board in the early 1950’s,<br />
or the ruins of the Clarks Foam moulds when the<br />
company pulled the pin in 2005 help to set the<br />
tone for this book.<br />
The story hops from island to continent and<br />
back, following the development of our favourite<br />
water activity from its earliest documented<br />
incarnations through to around 2009, just prior to<br />
the book’s publication in 2010.<br />
Truly covering world surfing as a culture, art,<br />
sport, industry and way of life, The History of<br />
Surfing is a perfect buy as everything from an<br />
insightful reference volume to a thoughtful<br />
birthday gift for a surf fan – one that could easily<br />
keep you reading until your next birthday. I know<br />
I will be.<br />
For more on Matt Warshaw’s very cool range<br />
of books and long history of innovative and<br />
interesting writing, check out<br />
www.mattwarshaw.com<br />
Mark Chapman<br />
Book? doorstop?<br />
Excellent either way...<br />
mar/apr <strong>2011</strong><br />
109
SURF DIRECTORY<br />
Pick<br />
QLD CENTRAL COAST<br />
REEF 2 BEACH SURF SHOP<br />
07 4974 9072<br />
Shop 1, 10 Round Hill Road<br />
Agnes Water/1770<br />
www.reef2beachsurf.com<br />
SUNSHINE COAST<br />
NOOSA SURF WORKS<br />
07 5474 4567<br />
1/11 Bartlett St<br />
Noosaville<br />
www.shotgunsurf.com<br />
www.lagunabaysurf.com<br />
WATERLINE<br />
07 5474 1010<br />
2/15 Venture Dr<br />
Noosaville<br />
www.zeewetsuits.com<br />
CLASSIC MALIBU AUSTRALIA<br />
07 5474 3122<br />
Cnr Gibson and Eumundi Rds.<br />
Noosaville<br />
www.classicmalibu.com<br />
LOCAL KNOWLEDGE<br />
07 5474 1222<br />
3 Gibson Rd, Noosaville<br />
ON SURFARI<br />
07 5474 2162<br />
197 Gympie Terrace<br />
Noosaville<br />
www.onsurfari.com.au<br />
GOLDEN BREED<br />
07 5455 3722<br />
15 Noosa Drive, Noosa Heads<br />
www.goldenbreed.com.au<br />
BLUEWATER PLAYERS<br />
07 5473 5079<br />
Shop 3A 11 Sunshine Beach Rd<br />
Noosa Heads<br />
www.bluewaterplayers.com.au<br />
BACK BEACH<br />
07 5473 5676<br />
Cnr Lanyana Way/Arcadia Walk<br />
Noosa Junction<br />
www.backbeach.net.au<br />
SOLACE<br />
07 5455 4826<br />
20 Duke Street,<br />
Sunshine Beach<br />
solacestore.blogspot.com<br />
SURF AND STREET SHOP<br />
07 5471 3489<br />
224 David Low Way<br />
Peregian Beach<br />
www.surf-shop.org<br />
COOLUM SURF<br />
07 5351 1742<br />
Shop 14, 8-26 Birtwill St<br />
Coolum Beach<br />
www.alexsurfshop.com.au<br />
BLUE LINES<br />
07 5351 1986<br />
Shops 17 & 18 -<br />
1776 The Esplanade<br />
Coolum Beach<br />
110 mar/apr <strong>2011</strong><br />
WIPEOUT SURF & SKATE<br />
07 5450 7272<br />
1/938 David Low Way<br />
Marcoola Beach<br />
OLD WOMAN SURF SHOP<br />
07 5448 7025<br />
Santorini Shop 6,<br />
15 Mudjimba Esp<br />
Mudjimba<br />
DA BOMB<br />
07 5451 0620<br />
3/25 Plaza Pde, Maroochydore<br />
www.dabombsurf.com.au<br />
OCEAN ADDICTS<br />
07 5309 6624<br />
103-105 Aerodrome Rd<br />
Maroochydore<br />
www.oceanaddicts.com.au<br />
BEACH BEAT<br />
07 5443 2777<br />
164 Alexandra Pde<br />
Alexandra Headlands<br />
www.beachbeat.com.au<br />
ALEX SURF<br />
07 5452 6276<br />
188 Alexandra Pde<br />
Alexandra Headlands<br />
www.alexsurf.com.au<br />
WORLD SURFARIS<br />
1800 611 163<br />
2/174 Brisbane Rd<br />
Mooloolaba<br />
www.worldsurfaris.com<br />
SURF PLANET<br />
07 5476 6200<br />
Shop 5, Buderim Marketplace<br />
Buderim<br />
www.surfplanet.com.au<br />
DA BOMB<br />
(07) 5437 9201<br />
7/12 Thunderbird Dr<br />
Bokarina<br />
www.dabombsurf.com.au<br />
BEACH BEAT<br />
07 5491 8215<br />
Shop 2&3 4-6 Beerburrum St<br />
Dicky Beach<br />
www.beachbeat.com.au<br />
THE FACTORY<br />
07 5492 5838<br />
15 Allen St<br />
Caloundra<br />
thefactrorysurf.com.au<br />
SURFWARE AUSTRALIA<br />
07 5491 3620<br />
2 Bulcock St, Caloundra<br />
BEACH BEAT<br />
07 5491 4711<br />
119 Bulcock Rd, Caloundra<br />
www.beachbeat.com.au<br />
BRISBANE<br />
PRIMITIVE SURF<br />
07 3266 1001<br />
601 Nudgee Rd, Nundah<br />
www.primitivesurf.com<br />
up the next edition of smorgasboarder at any of these fine businesses - out in May.<br />
Businesses that advertise in smorgasboarder allow us to bring you the magazine for FREE. So, be sure to support them!<br />
GOODTIME<br />
07 3391 8588<br />
29 Ipswich Rd<br />
Wooloongabba<br />
www.goodtime.com.au<br />
GOLD COAST<br />
SURF FX<br />
07 5531 3199<br />
127 Ferry Road<br />
Southport<br />
www.surf-fx.com<br />
SIDEWAYS<br />
07 5592 3849<br />
3012 Surfers Blvd<br />
Surfers Paradise<br />
sidewaysboardsports.com.au<br />
DUKE’S LONGBOARDS<br />
07 5572 <strong>04</strong>77<br />
2578 Gold Coast Hwy<br />
Mermaid Beach<br />
www.dukeslongboards.com<br />
STUART SURF DESIGN<br />
07 5572 0098<br />
2576 Gold Coast Hwy<br />
Mermaid Beach<br />
www.stuartsurf.com.au<br />
GANGSTA SURF<br />
07 5526 6969<br />
Shop 1/ 2558 Gold Coast Hwy<br />
Mermaid Beach<br />
www.gangstasurf.com<br />
GREENLINE<br />
<strong>04</strong>12 398 585<br />
2544 Gold Coast Hwy<br />
Mermaid Beach<br />
www.greenlinepaddlesurf.com<br />
BOARD CULTURE<br />
07 5572 9866<br />
2438 Gold Coast Hwy<br />
Mermaid Beach<br />
www.boardculture.com.au<br />
LOCAL KNOWLEDGE<br />
07 5526 6377<br />
2251 Gold Coast Hwy<br />
Nobby Beach<br />
THE BOARDROOM<br />
07 5527 7877<br />
2084 Gold Coast Hwy<br />
Miami<br />
LOWEN 88<br />
07 5526 5161<br />
2a/2172 Gold Coast Highway<br />
Miami<br />
www.lowen88.com<br />
HARVEY SURF GALLERY<br />
<strong>04</strong>14 557 624<br />
Unit 3, 10 Pacific Ave <br />
Miami<br />
www.harveysurf.com<br />
MT WOODGEE<br />
07 5535 0288<br />
1730 Gold Coast Hwy<br />
Burleigh Heads<br />
www.mtwoodgee.com.au<br />
PATAGONIA BURLEIGH<br />
116 Surfcoast Highway<br />
Burleigh Heads<br />
www.patagonia.com.au<br />
WORLD SURFERS<br />
07 5535 4037<br />
63 Lower West Burleigh Road<br />
Burleigh<br />
SEAN SCOTT PHOTOGRAPHY<br />
07 5520 2774<br />
Old Burleigh Theatre Arcade, Shop<br />
10, Goodwin Tce<br />
Burleigh Heads<br />
seanscottphotography.com.au<br />
DALE CHAPMAN SURF DESIGNS<br />
07 5593 8411<br />
Unit 3/48 Junction Road<br />
Burleigh Heads<br />
www.chapmansurfboards.com<br />
MY PHOTO EXPERT<br />
07 5535 2763<br />
3/71 Township Drive<br />
Burleigh Heads<br />
www.myphotoexpert.com.au<br />
GOLD COAST SURF WORLD<br />
07 5525 6380<br />
Tomewin Street, Currumbin<br />
www.surfworldgoldcoast.com<br />
FIREWIRE SURFBOARDS<br />
07 5587 7700<br />
1/49 Currumbin Creek Rd<br />
Currumbin<br />
www.firewiresurfboards.com<br />
DMS<br />
07 5559 5949<br />
3/56 Currumbin Creek Rd<br />
Currumbin<br />
www.dmshapes.com<br />
D’ARCY HANDSHAPES<br />
07 5559 5866<br />
1/8 Hawker St<br />
Currumbin<br />
www.darcysurfboards.com<br />
SHAPERS<br />
07 5534 4228<br />
9/7 Traders Way, Currumbin<br />
www.shapers.com.au<br />
MT WOODGEE<br />
07 5598 2188<br />
2 Stewart Rd<br />
Currumbin<br />
www.mtwoodgee.com.au<br />
DIVERSE<br />
07 5598 4848<br />
476 Gold Coast Highway<br />
Tugun<br />
www.diversesurf.com.au<br />
DORRINGTON SURFBOARDS<br />
07 5599 4030<br />
16 Musgrave Street<br />
Kirra<br />
www.dorringtonsurfboards.com<br />
BOARD CULTURE<br />
07 5536 5866<br />
Gold Coast Hwy(outside airport)<br />
Coolangatta<br />
www.boardculture.com.au<br />
KIRRA SURF/WORLD SURFARIS<br />
07 5536 3922<br />
Shop 6, 8 Creek St<br />
Bilinga<br />
www.kirrasurf.com.au<br />
UNDERGROUND SURF<br />
07 5599 1<strong>04</strong>0<br />
Shop 3/31 McLean St.<br />
Coolangatta<br />
www.undergroundsurf.com.au<br />
MT WOODGEE<br />
07 5536 5937<br />
122 Griffith St, Coolangatta<br />
www.mtwoodgee.com.au<br />
COOLANGATTA BOARD STORE<br />
07 5536 7850<br />
152 Griffith St, Coolangatta<br />
www.cbsboardstore.com<br />
SEAN SCOTT PHOTOGRAPHY<br />
07 5599 1150<br />
Shop 3, 110 Marine Pde,<br />
Coolangatta<br />
seanscottphotography.com.au<br />
COOLY SURF<br />
07 5536 1470<br />
Cnr Dutton St & Marine Pde<br />
Coolangatta<br />
www.basesurfboards.com<br />
NSW NORTH COAST<br />
SIDEWAYS<br />
07 5524 6699<br />
2/13-21 Greenway Dr<br />
Tweed Heads<br />
sidewaysboardsports.com.au<br />
FULL FORCE SURFBOARDS<br />
07 5524 2933<br />
Factory 18 / 48 Machinery Drive<br />
Tweed Heads<br />
SURF XCESS<br />
02 6674 5350<br />
88 Marine Parade<br />
Kingscliff<br />
CABARITA SURF SHOP<br />
02 6676 3151<br />
1/38 Tweed Coast Rd<br />
Cabarita Beach<br />
BRUNSWICK SURF<br />
02 6685 1283<br />
1/12 The Terrace<br />
Brunswick Heads<br />
www.brunswicksurf.com.au<br />
MCTAVISH<br />
02 6680 8807<br />
91 Centenial Circuit<br />
Byron Bay<br />
www.mctavish.com.au<br />
MADDOG SURF CENTRE<br />
02 6685 6395<br />
91 Jonson St, Byron Bay<br />
www.maddog.com.au<br />
MC SURF DESIGNS<br />
02 6685 8778<br />
3 Banksia Drive<br />
Byron Bay<br />
www.mcsurf.com.au
NORTH COAST SURFBOARDS<br />
02 6685 6896<br />
1/29 Acacia St<br />
Byron Bay<br />
www.bearsurfboards.com.au<br />
SANDY FEET<br />
02 6584 1995<br />
5/21 Clarence Street<br />
Port Macquarie<br />
www.sandyfeetsurf.com.au<br />
BOARD CITY<br />
02 4397 1092<br />
150 Main Road<br />
Toukley<br />
www.boardcity.com.au<br />
DIVISION SURF<br />
02 9979 5334<br />
Cnr Bungan and Waratah Sts<br />
Mona Vale<br />
www.divisionsurf.com.au<br />
MUNRO SURFBOARDS<br />
02 6685 6211<br />
29 Acacia St<br />
Byron Bay<br />
www.munroesurfboards.com.au<br />
T&C SURF DESIGN / MCCOY<br />
02 6685 7485<br />
10 Acacia Street<br />
Byron Bay<br />
BYRON BAY LONGBOARDS<br />
02 6685 5244<br />
Shop 1 - 89 Jonson St<br />
Byron Bay<br />
MADDOG BEACH SURF CENTRE<br />
02 6685 6466<br />
4 Jonson St<br />
Byron Bay<br />
www.maddogbeach.com.au<br />
HO’OKUPU<br />
02 6685 8861<br />
2/9 Lawson St<br />
Byron Bay<br />
hookupusurf.com<br />
UNPLUGGED<br />
02 6685 7441<br />
Shop 1/ 2 Lawson Street<br />
Byron Bay<br />
www.unpluggedbyronbay.com<br />
ALL ABOVE BOARD<br />
02 6687 7522<br />
68 Ballina St<br />
Lennox Head<br />
MADDOG SURF CENTRES<br />
02 6685 6094<br />
45 River St, Ballina<br />
www.maddog.com.au<br />
TRIPLE X WETSUITS<br />
02 6686 3939<br />
10 Piper Drive, Ballina<br />
www.triple-x.com.au<br />
THE PLANK SHOP<br />
02 6645 8362<br />
Top of the Hill, Yamba<br />
SOUND LOUNGE<br />
02 6646 3909<br />
16 Yamba St, Yamba<br />
NSW MID NORTH COAST<br />
XS SURF<br />
02 6654 1<strong>04</strong>9<br />
76 Beach Street, Woolgoolga<br />
www.xssurf.com<br />
COOPERS SURF CENTRES<br />
02 6654 0033<br />
56D Beach St, Woolgoolga<br />
02 6652 8146<br />
28 Orlando St<br />
Coffs Harbour<br />
www.cooperssurf.com.au<br />
WATER SURF+ART+CAFE<br />
Distinctively relaxed<br />
atmosphere, exceptional<br />
food, coffee and tea, great<br />
service, photographic<br />
art from Australia’s best<br />
photographers, exquisite<br />
gifts and select surfwear and<br />
boards.<br />
(02) 6651 4500<br />
370 Harbour Drive, Coffs<br />
Harbour Jetty<br />
www.watersurfartcafe.com<br />
THE LOG SHACK<br />
02 6658 0223<br />
392 Harbour Drive,<br />
The Jetty Strip<br />
Coffs Harbour<br />
www.thelogshack.com.au<br />
SUNPATCH SURF SHOP<br />
02 6653 1965<br />
49 First Ave, Sawtell<br />
www.sunpatchsurf.com.au<br />
VALLA SURFBOARDS<br />
02 6568 8909<br />
8 Monro St, Nambucca Heads<br />
www.vallasurfboards.com.au<br />
COASTAL CURVES<br />
02 6568 6902<br />
Ridge St, Nambucca Heads<br />
www.coastalcurves.com<br />
SONIC SURF<br />
02 6568 4666<br />
1 Cooper Street<br />
Macksville<br />
SCOTTS HEAD SURF SHOP<br />
02 6569 8344<br />
Scotts Head NSW 2447<br />
scottsheadsurfschool.blogspot.com<br />
WAVE WEAR<br />
02 6566 5177<br />
1/15 Livingstone St<br />
South West Rocks<br />
CRESCENT HEAD SURF CO.<br />
02 6562 8306<br />
33 Smith St, Kempsey<br />
CRESCENT HEAD SURF SHOP<br />
02 6566 0550<br />
1 Crescent Head Tavern<br />
Crescent Head<br />
INNER VISION SURF ‘N’ SKATE<br />
02 6583 7790<br />
80 William St<br />
Port Macquarie<br />
SALTWATER WINE<br />
02 6584 4877<br />
1/125 Gordon St<br />
Port Macquarie<br />
www.saltwaterwine.com.au<br />
JUNGLE SURF<br />
02 6555 8556<br />
4/25 Manning Street<br />
Tuncurry<br />
www.junglesurf.com.au<br />
SALTWATER WINE<br />
02 6554 7979<br />
5 Wharf St , Forster<br />
www.saltwaterwine.com.au<br />
BOOMERANG BEACH SURF<br />
02 6554 0351<br />
Shop 4, Boomerang Drive<br />
Pacific Palms<br />
NEWCASTLE<br />
SURF FACTORY<br />
16 Maitland Rd<br />
Islington<br />
www.thesurffactory.com.au<br />
MARK RICHARDS SURFSHOP<br />
02 4961 3088<br />
755 Hunter St, Newcastle<br />
markrichardssurfboards.com<br />
SURFHOUSE PHOTOGRAPHY<br />
61 Hunter Street<br />
Newcastle<br />
surfhousephotography.com<br />
PACIFIC DREAMS SURFSHOPS<br />
02 4926 3355<br />
7 Darby St, Newcastle<br />
www.pacificdreams.com.au<br />
SANBAH<br />
02 4962 2420<br />
Shop 27, The Junction Fair<br />
Union Street<br />
Newcastle<br />
www.sanbah.com.au<br />
BREAKAWAY SURF CO<br />
02 4943 2699<br />
181 Pacific Hwy<br />
Charlestown<br />
EGANS<br />
02 4945 8055<br />
575 Pacific Hwy<br />
Belmont<br />
THE SURF SHACK<br />
02 4945 8965<br />
703 Pacific Hwy<br />
Belmont South<br />
SWANSEA SURF SHOP<br />
02 4971 4422<br />
164 Pacific Hwy<br />
Swansea<br />
www.swanseasurf.com.au<br />
CENTRAL COAST<br />
BEACHIN SURF<br />
02 43 96 5159<br />
262 Main Rd, Toukley<br />
ADRIFT SURF<br />
02 4332 8355<br />
133 The Entrance Road<br />
The Entrance<br />
www.adriftsurf.com.au<br />
BOARDERLINE SURF SKATE<br />
02 4332 7175<br />
421 The Entrance Rd<br />
Long Jetty<br />
www.boarderlinesurfskate.com<br />
SURFERS CHOICE<br />
02 4334 6532<br />
473 The Entrance Rd<br />
Long Jetty<br />
www.surferschoice.com.au<br />
BATEAU BAY SURF N SPORT<br />
02 4332 1157<br />
101a Bateau Bay Road<br />
Bateau Bay<br />
ONE EIGHTY SURF COMPANY<br />
02 4385 8440<br />
Shop 2, 82a Ocean View Drive<br />
Wamberal<br />
www.180surfco.com.au<br />
SLIMES<br />
02 4365 5511<br />
1/203 The Entrance Rd<br />
Erina<br />
ESS BOARDSTORE<br />
251 The Entrance Rd<br />
Erina<br />
www.essboardstore.com.au<br />
THREE POINTS SURF<br />
02 4382 1541<br />
170 Avoca Drive<br />
Avoca Beach<br />
www.avocasurfscholl.com.au<br />
STS THE BOARD CENTRE<br />
02 4342 2555<br />
326 West St<br />
Umina<br />
NORTHERN BEACHES<br />
BEACH WITHOUT SAND<br />
02 9918 2763<br />
1a Nth Avalon Rd<br />
Avalon<br />
RAISED BY WOLVES<br />
02 9918 8861<br />
U 2/40 Old Barrenjoey Rd<br />
Avalon<br />
www.raisedbywolves.com.au<br />
LITTLE DRAGON<br />
<strong>04</strong>03 974 967<br />
1 Bramley Lane<br />
Newport Beach<br />
RON WADE SURF DESIGN<br />
02 9979 7071<br />
<strong>04</strong>10 443 776<br />
23 Bassett Street<br />
Mona Vale<br />
ronwadesurfboards.com.au<br />
RAISED BY WOLVES<br />
02 9997 4838<br />
9b Waratah St<br />
Mona Vale<br />
www.raisedbywolves.com.au<br />
SUGARMILL SURF EMPORIUM<br />
02 9913 3332<br />
2/1329 Pittwater Rd<br />
Narrabeen<br />
www.sugarmillsurf.com<br />
POWERLINEZ<br />
02 9913 2128<br />
16a Waterloo St<br />
Narrabeen<br />
www.powerlinez.com.au<br />
WICKS SURF CENTRE<br />
02 9971 0760<br />
1103 Pittwater Road<br />
Collaroy Beach<br />
LONG REEF SURF<br />
02 9982 4829<br />
1012 Pittwater Rd<br />
Collaroy<br />
www.longreefsurf.com.au<br />
WIND SURF ’N’ SNOW<br />
02 9971 0999<br />
17 Anzac Ave<br />
Collaroy<br />
www.windsurfnsnow.com.au<br />
THE PERFECT WAVE<br />
02 9939 0890<br />
Suite 38, 42-46 Wattle Rd<br />
Brookvale<br />
www.theperfectwave.com.au<br />
CHAOS SURFBOARDS<br />
02 9907 2769<br />
Unit 1/236 Harbord Road<br />
Brookvale<br />
www.chaossurfboards.com<br />
BENNETT SURFBOARDS<br />
02 9905 5157<br />
180 Harbord Rd<br />
Brookvale<br />
DRIPPING WET SURF CO<br />
02 9977 3549<br />
398 Pittwater Rd<br />
Mona Vale<br />
www.dripwetsurf.com<br />
SUNSHINE SURFING<br />
02 9977 4399<br />
89 Pittwater Rd<br />
Manly<br />
www.sunshinesurfing.com.au<br />
SIX OUNCE<br />
<strong>04</strong>08 259 783<br />
48-50 Pittwater Rd<br />
Manly<br />
www.sixounceboardstore.com<br />
ALOHA MANLY STYLE<br />
02 9977 3777<br />
44 Pittwater Rd<br />
Manly<br />
www.alohasurfmanly.com.au<br />
mar/apr <strong>2011</strong><br />
111
SURF DIRECTORY CONTINUED<br />
DRIPPING WET SURF CO<br />
02 9977 3549<br />
93 North Steyne<br />
Manly<br />
www.dripwetsurf.com<br />
BASE SURFBOARDS<br />
02 9976 0591<br />
46 North Steyne Rd<br />
Manly<br />
www.basesurfboards.com<br />
MANLY LONGBOARD CO.<br />
02 9977 0093<br />
39 Belgrave Street<br />
Manly<br />
www.manlylongboard.com<br />
SURFECTION<br />
02 9977 6955<br />
110 The Corso<br />
Manly<br />
www.surfectionmosman.com<br />
HERITAGE SURF AUSTRALIA<br />
02 9977 7623<br />
24 Darley Rd, Manly<br />
www.heritagesurfaustralia.com<br />
SURFECTION<br />
02 9969 1011<br />
522 Military Rd<br />
Mosman<br />
www.surfectionmosman.com<br />
SUPER SWELL<br />
02 9144 3229<br />
166 Mona Vale Rd<br />
St Ives<br />
SYDNEY SOUTH<br />
BONDI UNDERGROUND<br />
02 9365 0870<br />
2/72 Campbell Pde<br />
Bondi Beach<br />
DRIPPING WET SURF CO<br />
02 9300 0055<br />
180-186 Campbell Parade<br />
Bondi Beach<br />
www.drippingwetsurf.com<br />
SURF CULTURE<br />
02 93895477<br />
40 Bronte Road<br />
Bondi Junction<br />
www.surfculture.com.au<br />
CRONULLA<br />
JACKSON SURFBOARDS<br />
02 9524 2700<br />
57 Captain Cook Drive<br />
Caringbah<br />
www.jacksonsurfboards.com.au<br />
TRIPLE BULL<br />
02 9524 4822<br />
41 Captain Cook Dr<br />
Caringbah<br />
02 9544 0354<br />
23 Kingsway<br />
Cronulla<br />
www.triplebullsurf.com<br />
CRONULLA SURF DESIGN<br />
02 9544 <strong>04</strong>33<br />
8 Cronulla St<br />
Cronulla<br />
cronullasurfdesign.com.au<br />
EASTCOAST STAND UP PADDLE<br />
Dedicated to SUP - Sydney’s<br />
original Stand Up Paddle<br />
outlet. Performance,<br />
flatwater, race, and distance<br />
boards – we have a board to<br />
suit all skill levels.<br />
<strong>04</strong>13 456009<br />
<strong>04</strong>18 294854<br />
27 Throsby Close<br />
Barden Ridge<br />
eastcoaststanduppaddle.com.au<br />
WOOLONGONG<br />
FINBOX BOARDSTORE<br />
02 4268 2050<br />
1/ 269 Lawrence Hargrave Drive<br />
Thirroul<br />
thefinbox.blogspot.com<br />
SURF PIT<br />
02 4283 7196<br />
2/100 Railway St,<br />
Corrimal<br />
www.surfpit.com.au<br />
BYRNE SURF AND SKI<br />
02 4226 1122<br />
115 Princes Highway<br />
Fairy Meadow<br />
byrnesurfboardsaustralia.com<br />
SKIPP SURFBOARDS<br />
02 4229 1202<br />
231 Crown Street<br />
Wollongong<br />
(factory showroom)<br />
02 4228 8878<br />
24 Flinders St,<br />
Wollongong<br />
www.skippsurfboards.com.au<br />
CARABINE SURF DESIGNS<br />
02 4229 9462<br />
36 Flinders St,<br />
Wollongong<br />
EXTREME SNOW, SKATE & SURF<br />
02 4226 3145<br />
80 Market St<br />
Wollongong<br />
BOARDOM<br />
02 4227 2777<br />
206 Keira Street,<br />
Wollongong<br />
02 4295 3373<br />
1/16b Addison St<br />
Shellharbour Village<br />
Pick up the next edition of smorgasboarder at any of these fine businesses - out in May.<br />
Businesses that advertise in smorgasboarder allow us to bring you the magazine for FREE. So, be sure to support them!<br />
NSW SOUTH COAST<br />
ZINK SURF<br />
02 4233 1189<br />
136 Terralong St.<br />
Kiama<br />
www.zinksurf.com.au<br />
NATURAL NECESSITY SURF<br />
SHOP<br />
02 4234 1636<br />
115 Fern St<br />
Gerringong<br />
www.nnss.com.au<br />
AQUATIQUE<br />
02 4464 1881<br />
123a Queen Street, Berry<br />
www.aquatique.com.au<br />
02 4421 8159<br />
125-127 Junction St<br />
Nowra<br />
www.aquatique.com.au<br />
02 4441 5530<br />
55 Owen St, Huskisson<br />
www.aquatique.com.au<br />
OCEAN & EARTH SURF STORE<br />
02 4441 2482<br />
12 Springs Road<br />
Sussex Inlet<br />
www.oceanearth.com<br />
SUN & SURF SHOP<br />
02 4441 1938<br />
Shop 1, 168 Jacobs Drive<br />
Sussex Inlet<br />
AKWA SURF<br />
02 4454 5222<br />
Shop 1, Mellick’s Corner, Princess<br />
Highway, Milton<br />
www.akwasurf.com.au<br />
SOUTHERN MAN SURF SHOP<br />
02 4454 0343<br />
138 Princes Hwy<br />
Ulladulla<br />
www.southernman.com.au<br />
SALTWATER DREAM<br />
02 4472 3811<br />
2 Bay Central<br />
Batemans Bay<br />
OFFSHORE SURF SHOP<br />
02 4474 4350<br />
66 Vulcan St, Moruya<br />
www.offshoresurf.com.au<br />
NAROOMA SURF & SKATE<br />
02 4476 1422<br />
30 Princes Hwy<br />
Narooma<br />
DSC SURFBOARDS<br />
<strong>04</strong>24 867 962<br />
Princes Highway<br />
Narooma<br />
BERMAGUI SURF SHOP<br />
02 6493 4849<br />
4/28 Lamont St<br />
Bermagui<br />
Raw Surfboards<br />
02 6494 4466<br />
Lot 1291 Tathra Road<br />
Kalaru<br />
www.rawsurfboards.com.au<br />
MERIMBULA SURF SHOP<br />
02 6495 1515<br />
Merimbula Drive ,<br />
Merimbula<br />
SALTWATER DREAM<br />
02 6495 1600<br />
39 Market St,<br />
Merimbula<br />
CORE SURF SKATE AND KITE<br />
02 6494 3374<br />
49 Toalla St<br />
Pambula Village<br />
www.pambulasurfshop.com.au<br />
COUNTRY VIC<br />
SURF SHACK<br />
03 5155 4933<br />
507 Esplanade<br />
Lakes Entrance<br />
ATOLL TRAVEL<br />
1800 622 310<br />
4 Bridge Street<br />
Foster<br />
www.atolltravel.com<br />
SERIOUS SURF STUFF<br />
03 5674 2540<br />
1 Williams Street<br />
Inverloch<br />
www.strapper.com.au<br />
VORTEX SURF & SKATE<br />
03 5672 4112<br />
54 McBride Ave<br />
Wonthaggi<br />
www.strapper.com.au<br />
PHILLIP ISLAND<br />
OUTEREEF<br />
03 5678 5677<br />
73 Phillip Island Rd, San Remo<br />
www.outereef.com.au<br />
FULLCIRCLE SURF<br />
03 5678 5873<br />
115 Marine Pde,<br />
San Remo<br />
www.fullcirclesurf.com.au<br />
ISLANTIS<br />
03 5956 7553<br />
10-12 Phillip Island Rd<br />
Newhaven<br />
www.islantis.com.au<br />
FULLCIRCLE SURF<br />
03 5956 7453<br />
4-5 Vista Pl,<br />
Cape Woolamai<br />
www.fullcirclesurf.com.au<br />
ISLAND SURF CENTRE<br />
03 5952 2578<br />
147 Thompson Ave<br />
Cowes<br />
www.islandsurfboards.com.au<br />
ISLAND SURF SHACK<br />
03 5952 1659<br />
148 Thompson Ave<br />
Cowes<br />
ISLAND SURF CENTRE<br />
03 5952 3443<br />
65 Smiths Beach Rd<br />
Smiths Beach<br />
www.islandsurfboards.com.au<br />
MELBOURNE<br />
ZAK SURFBOARDS<br />
03 9416 7384<br />
319 Victoria Rd<br />
Thornbury<br />
www.zaksurfboards.com<br />
TRIGGER BROS SURF & SAIL<br />
03 9537 3222<br />
Shop 2, 1 St Kilda Rd<br />
St Kilda<br />
www.triggerbros.com.au<br />
REPEAT PERFORMANCE SURF<br />
(THE BOARD STORE)<br />
03 9525 6475<br />
87 Ormond Rd, Elwood<br />
www.rpstheboardstore.com<br />
BRIGHTON SURF CO.<br />
03 9593 2211<br />
43 Church St, Brighton<br />
SHQ BOARDSPORTS<br />
03 9598 2867<br />
81 Beach Road<br />
Sandringham<br />
www.shq.com.au<br />
MORDY SURF CENTRE<br />
03 9580 1716<br />
628 Main St<br />
Mordialloc<br />
www.mordysurf.com.au<br />
PAULOWNIA SURFBOARD<br />
SUPPLIES<br />
03 9588 2533<br />
45 Governor Road<br />
Mordialloc<br />
paulowniaparadise.com.au<br />
OKE SURFBOARDS<br />
03 9587 3553.<br />
Factory 1 1-7 Canterbury Rd,<br />
Braeside<br />
www.okesurfboards.com<br />
TRIGGER BROS SURF & SAIL<br />
03 9770 2223<br />
7 Rossmith St, Frankston<br />
www.triggerbros.com.au<br />
03 5989 8402<br />
Point Leo Rd, Point Leo<br />
www.triggerbros.com.au<br />
03 5984 5670<br />
46 Ocean Beach Rd, Sorrento<br />
www.triggerbros.com.au<br />
PENINSULA SURF CENTRE<br />
03 9783 3811<br />
40 Wells St, Frankston<br />
www.peninsulasurf.com.au<br />
03 5975 1800<br />
835 Nepean Hwy<br />
Mornington<br />
www.peninsulasurf.com.au<br />
03 5985 4637<br />
2137 Pt Nepean Hwy, Rye<br />
www.peninsulasurf.com.au<br />
112 mar/apr <strong>2011</strong>
DING REPAIRS<br />
BEAN SURFING<br />
03 5984 5199<br />
4 Ocean Beach Rd<br />
Sorrento<br />
VIC SURF COAST<br />
MURFS LONGBOARDS<br />
03 5255 5525<br />
82 The Terrace<br />
Ocean Grove<br />
www.murfslongboards.com.au<br />
STRAPPER SURF<br />
03 5255 2666<br />
67b The Terrace<br />
Ocean Grove<br />
www.strapper.com.au<br />
GREEN ROOM SURF SHOP<br />
03 5256 2996<br />
64 The Terrace, Ocean Grove<br />
www.greenroom.com.au<br />
RASTA’S EARTH & SURF SHOP<br />
03 5254 3255<br />
51 Hitchcock Ave<br />
Barwon Heads<br />
www.rastasurfboards.com.au<br />
TONIK SURF CENTRE<br />
03 5254 1470<br />
60/62 Hitchcock Ave<br />
Barwon Heads<br />
www.tonik.com.au<br />
STONKER TORQUAY<br />
03 5261 6077<br />
1a Baines Court, Torquay<br />
www.stonker.com.au<br />
SOUTH COAST SURFBOARDS<br />
03 5261 2670<br />
1C Baines Court<br />
Torquay<br />
www.southcoastlongboards.com.au<br />
BLUNT<br />
03 5261 7590<br />
Shop 2, Surf City Plaza<br />
Torquay<br />
TORQUAY SURF WORLD<br />
03 5261 4606<br />
Surf City Plaza<br />
Torquay<br />
www.surfworld.org.au<br />
PATAGONIA<br />
03 5261 4420<br />
116 Surfcoast Hwy, Torquay<br />
www.patagonia.com.au<br />
BASE SURFBOARDS<br />
03 5261 5666<br />
3/108 Surfcoast Hwy, Torquay<br />
www.basesurfboards.com<br />
STRAPPER<br />
03 5261 3508<br />
96 Surfcoast Hwy, Torquay<br />
03 5261 2312<br />
106 Surfcoast Hwy, Torquay<br />
www.strapper.com.au<br />
TORQUAY SURFING ACADEMY<br />
03 5261 2022<br />
34A Bell St<br />
Torquay<br />
www.torquaysurf.com.au<br />
TIGERFISH<br />
03 5264 7271<br />
12/15 Bell St,<br />
Torquay<br />
www.tigerfish.com.au<br />
ANGLESEA SURF CENTRE<br />
03 5263 1530<br />
111 Great Ocean Rd<br />
Anglesea<br />
www.secondhandsurfboards.com.au<br />
LORNE SURF SHOP<br />
03 5289 1673<br />
130 Mountjoy Pde, Lorne<br />
SHARKY’S<br />
03 5289 2421<br />
Mountjoy Pde, Lorne<br />
HODGY’S SURF CENTRE<br />
03 5237 7883<br />
143 Great Ocean Road<br />
Apollo Bay<br />
www.hodgys.com<br />
SHIPWRECK COAST<br />
PORT CAMPBELL TRADING CO<br />
03 5598 6444<br />
27 Lord Street<br />
Port Campbell<br />
TAYLORS SURFODESY<br />
03 5562 5681<br />
132 Liebig Street,<br />
Warrnambool<br />
SOUTHERN GUNS<br />
03 5562 0928<br />
176 Liebig Street<br />
Warrnambool<br />
SOUTH AUSTRALIA<br />
CUTLOOSE SURF<br />
4 Piping Lane<br />
Lonsdale<br />
83260939<br />
www.cutloosesurf.com.au<br />
MID COAST SURF<br />
8/200 Dyson Road<br />
Lonsdale<br />
83845522<br />
www.midcoastsurf.com.au<br />
PREECE’S SOUTH PORT SURF<br />
159 Esplanade,<br />
Port Noarlunga South<br />
8386<strong>04</strong><strong>04</strong><br />
www.preece-sthport-surf.com.au<br />
BARREL SURF<br />
10c Cadell Street<br />
Goolwa<br />
08 85555422<br />
www.barrellsurf.com.au<br />
BIG SURF AUSTRALIA<br />
24 Goolwa Rd.<br />
Middleton<br />
08 85542399<br />
SOUTHERN SURF<br />
36 North Tce<br />
Port Elliot<br />
0885542375<br />
THE SURF SHOP<br />
15 Albert Place<br />
Victor Harbor<br />
08 85525466<br />
www.thesurfshop.net.au<br />
THE DING KING /<br />
CLARK SURFBOARDS<br />
20 Cottage Road, Hackham<br />
<strong>04</strong>22443789<br />
leightonclark01@yahoo.com.au<br />
SURF ESTEEM<br />
Aldinga Central Shopping Centre<br />
08 85577201<br />
www.surfesteem.com<br />
ONBOARD SURF WIND SNOW<br />
21 Saltfleet St<br />
Port Noarlunga SA<br />
8294 3866<br />
www.onboardsurf.com.au<br />
JRS SURF & SKI<br />
CENTRO COLONNADES<br />
83847466<br />
www.jrssurfandski.com.au<br />
FLY BOARDRIDING<br />
Shop 41<br />
Seaford Shopping Centre<br />
83860100<br />
www.flyboardriding.com.au<br />
ISLAND SURF<br />
363 Brighton Road<br />
Hove<br />
82969776<br />
ONBOARD SURF WIND SNOW<br />
1-3 Lights Landing<br />
Holdfast Shores, Glenelg<br />
8294 3866<br />
www.onboardsurf.com.au<br />
JRS SURF & SKI<br />
Westfield Marion<br />
83770322<br />
www.jrssurfandski.com.au<br />
BENJAMIN WALLBRIDGE<br />
SURFBOARDS AUSTRALIA<br />
27 Oaklands Rd<br />
Somerton Park<br />
83764914<br />
www.wallbridge.com.au<br />
JRS SURF & SKI<br />
Tea Tree Plus<br />
83964822<br />
www.jrssurfandski.com.au<br />
SANCTUARY SURFERS<br />
201 Waymouth Street<br />
Adelaide City<br />
<strong>04</strong>03134478<br />
www.sanctuary.net.au<br />
SNOW & SURF CO.<br />
187 Rundle Street<br />
Adelaide 5000<br />
8223 5277<br />
www.snowsurf.com.au<br />
AGNES WATER/1770<br />
REEF 2 BEACH<br />
(Mon – Sat, 9-5pm, Sun,10-4pm)<br />
07 4974 9072<br />
SUNSHINE COAST<br />
DA BOMB<br />
(Mon – Sat, 9-5pm, Sun,10-4pm)<br />
07 5451 0620 - Maroochydore<br />
07 5437 9201 - Bokarina<br />
BRISBANE<br />
PRIMITIVE SURF<br />
(Mon-Fri, 8:30-5:30pm, Thurs<br />
8:30am-8pm, Sat, 8:30-4pm,<br />
Sun, 10-4pm)<br />
07 3266 1001<br />
MIAMI<br />
DINO’S DING REPAIRS<br />
(M-F 9-5pm, Sat 9-12pm)<br />
<strong>04</strong>09 727 735<br />
TUGUN<br />
DIVERSE<br />
(M-F,8:30-5:30pm, Sat and<br />
Sun, 9-4pm)<br />
07 5598 4848<br />
COOLANGATTA<br />
UNDERGROUND SURF<br />
(7 days, 9-5pm)<br />
07 5599 1<strong>04</strong>0<br />
BYRON BAY<br />
BYRON BAY DING REPAIRS<br />
(Mon-Fri, 8:30-4:30pm)<br />
02 6685 6770<br />
<strong>04</strong>09 849 442<br />
YAMBA<br />
THE PLANK SHOP<br />
02 6645 8362<br />
TOMBSTONE SURFBOARDS<br />
(Tues-Fri, 9-4pm, Sat, 9-12pm)<br />
<strong>04</strong>32 330 826<br />
COFFS HARBOUR<br />
THE LOG SHACK<br />
(M-F, 10-5pm, Sat & Sun<br />
10-2:30pm)<br />
02 6658 0223<br />
LONG JETTY<br />
S & D SURF DESIGNS<br />
(M-F, 9-4pm, Sat 9-12pm)<br />
<strong>04</strong>37 032 614<br />
SYDNEY NORTH<br />
BROOKVALE SURFBOARD<br />
REPAIRS<br />
(M-F,8:30-5:30pm, Sat and<br />
Sun, 9-4pm)<br />
<strong>04</strong>03 971 072<br />
CHAOS SURFBOARDS<br />
(M-F,9-6pm, Sat & Sun<br />
8:30-6pm)<br />
02 9907 2769<br />
BONDI JUNCTION<br />
SIX OUNCE<br />
(7 days , 9:30-6:30pm)<br />
<strong>04</strong>08 259 783<br />
WOOLONGONG<br />
SKIPP SURFBOARDS<br />
M-F,9-5:30, Thurs 9-7:30pm,<br />
Sat 9-4, Sun 10-4)<br />
02 4228 8878<br />
JERVIS BAY<br />
INNER FEELING SURFBOARDS<br />
(7 days, 9-5pm)<br />
02 4441 6756<br />
NAROOMA<br />
DSC SURFBOARDS<br />
(7 days, 9-5pm)<br />
<strong>04</strong>24 867 962<br />
THORNBURY<br />
ZAK SURFBOARDS<br />
(Mon-Fri,10-6pm; Sat 10-5pm)<br />
03 9416 7384<br />
TORQUAY<br />
STONKER TORQUAY<br />
(Mon – Fri, 9-5pm)<br />
03 5261 6077<br />
PHILLIP ISLAND<br />
ISLANTIS<br />
(7 days , 9-5pm)<br />
03 5956 7553<br />
ISLAND SURF SHOP - COWES<br />
(7 days, 9-5pm)<br />
03 5952 2578<br />
FULLCIRCLE SURF<br />
(7 days, 9-5pm)<br />
03 5956 7453<br />
SOUTH ADELAIDE<br />
THE DING KING<br />
(M-F, 9-5pm)<br />
<strong>04</strong>22 443 789<br />
FIX BROKEN BOARDS?<br />
Promote your repair business for $15 an<br />
edition. Call <strong>04</strong>01 345 201<br />
mar/apr <strong>2011</strong><br />
113
CLOSEOUT: RELAX<br />
4.<br />
AUSTRALIA<br />
DAY & MORE<br />
BOARDS<br />
The beach, BBQs, beers and boards...<br />
What a great way to spend Australia Day.<br />
Mark Pridmore brought a quiver More<br />
Surfboards to Maroochydore Beach for<br />
all to try out and enjoy.<br />
Along with the new Traveller - which<br />
was launched on the day - there was<br />
also a great range of interesting finless<br />
creations and More boards of all<br />
descriptions to ride and experience.<br />
Having a few fun rides and chatting<br />
to some friendly folks made for a very<br />
enjoyable morning. Community events like<br />
this one are truly special, so make sure<br />
you support ones like it in your area. And<br />
bring on the Currumbin Fish Fry.<br />
Make sure you follow the Traveller’s<br />
journey around Australia online at www.<br />
smorgasboarder.com.au<br />
6. 2.<br />
4.<br />
5.<br />
3.<br />
6.<br />
PHOTOS:<br />
1. The More line-up<br />
2. Trent and the Frankenstein Fish-Finger<br />
3. In the More tent with Rocket, Cain,<br />
Mark, Timo and Ray<br />
4. Father and son Marty and Quinn Bruce<br />
5. Mark gives the Traveller a go<br />
6. Steve , Matt and Ryan<br />
7. Sam and Ned Archer<br />
8. Interested onlookers check out<br />
the More tent<br />
Is that the<br />
coolest deckgrip<br />
ever? It<br />
just may be...<br />
7. 8.<br />
TELL US ABOUT YOUR EVENT<br />
If you have something on the go, let us know.<br />
Email us on: editorial@smorgasboarder.com.au<br />
114 mar/apr <strong>2011</strong>
mar/apr <strong>2011</strong><br />
115
116 nov/dec 2010