SB_Edition_42_web_small

issue WINTER 18 

f r e e 

SURF MAG 

smorgasboarder 

shacked 

abodes by the beach


Jed Done's Wave House. Photo: Dean Dampney 

We were completely blown away, the first time we saw Jed Done's surf shack. 

It proved the inspiration for this edition. 

foreword 

n. (shack) “A roughly built hut or cabin.” 

v. (Shack up) “Move in or live with someone as a lover.” 

For so many surfers, life is all about getting 

shacked, yet this issue isn’t about the perfectly 

formed barrel you ride standing up with your hands 

in the air like a triumphant Ron Burgundy after a 

successful jazz flute jam. We’re talking about the 

places we rest our heads when we’re travelling to 

our favourite break: from the fairytale off-grid shed 

hidden in the trees across from a deserted beach, 

to the palatial tropical villa with 24-hour staff there 

to cater to your every foot-rub need, this is about 

where you stay when you go to play. 

To pretend for a second to be the inimitable Kevin 

McCloud, the humble surf shack “at its very 

soul engenders a distinct and unique narrative 

woven into the very fabric of every beam, post, 

and brick…”. While that’s rather highbrow, that 

would pretty much be spot on, Kev. If walls 

could talk, each of these unique structures would 

have their own encyclopaedia of surf tales (and 

exaggerations) to tell - waves won and lost, 

sharks dodged, hold-downs survived, surnburns 

earned and dream boards broken. The shacks are 

essentially a mix of the noun and verb – more than 

a hut, it’s a place you can pretty much fall in love 

with. 

Local councils would drop dead today thinking that 

someone might be living in a 70’s style treehouse 

a-la Morning of the Earth, but there are still people 

capturing the spirit and magic of that idea of 

sheltered freedom today in a modern context. 

Ever since Smorgasboarder Issue 07, where we 

featured the inspiring wave-shaped timber home 

hand-crafted by Far South Coast NSW surfboard 

builder Jed Done of Jed Done Surfboards, we’ve 

been even more hooked on finding people’s unique 

interpretation of these places, whether it be to 

inhabit or simply visit for a short time when they’re 

hunting for waves. And have we found a few 

crackers for you to pore over this time around… 

Whether it’s for the view, the location, the centrality 

or the isolation, this edition looks at some of these 

unique and very different places we all lump under 

the banner of “surf shacks”. Enjoy, be inspired, and 

try not to drool too much. 

3

The performer 

The Performer combines the best of both worlds - a 

recycled EPS foam core and 2-3mm balsawood 

skin. With a weight of only 7-8 kg and an emphasis 

on manoeuvrability and maximum speed, the 

Performer is designed and shaped for today’s high 

performance longboarding. The Performer comes 

with a single box fin and two smaller stabiliser fins. 

Custom orders are welcome. 

What customers said after riding the Riley Performer: 

“Wow this board is out of this world - amazingly 

fast and responsive and heaps more beautiful than 

your standard longboard” Peter C., HI 

“Never surfed anything like it - it’s light, pivots and 

accelerates super fast - two thumps up guys” 

Pascal T., FRA 

Call 0412 376 464 or 

Email mark@riley.com.au 

www.balsasurfboardsriley.com.au 

HANDCRAFTED IN AUSTRALIA 

Riley Balsawood Surfboards are made using renewable resource balsa and recycled 

polystyrene for performance, durability, beauty and lower environmental impact 

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• Gearbox fin boxes with all wood covers 

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• Timber fins 

• Surfboards 

• Blanks 

• Cork tail pads & SUP deck grip 

• Aussie-made leashes 

• Raw balsa/ cedar DIY board kits 

• Instructional DVDs 

• Timber Board racks 

• Pinch and Roll storage 

• Tide clocks 

• Sharkbanz shark deterrent 

wearable devices 

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Australian Environmentally-friendly handcrafted 

surfboards for the individual in all of us, with a 

guarantee. Enjoy Responsibly


issue forty-two 

winter 2018 

03 foreword 

08 controversy 

10 stuff 

16 shacked 

38 travel bug 

44 surf brewing 

50 cross pollination 

54 art 

56 surfboards 

62 read 

63 grass roots 

surf businesses 

67 aloha barry 

cover illustration 

atlantic byron bay 

WINNER 

BEST NON-DAILY 

PUBLICATION 

QUEENSLAND MULTIMEDIA 

AWARDS 2013 

FINALIST 

BEST NON-DAILY 

PUBLICATION 

QUEENSLAND MULTIMEDIA 

AWARDS 2017 

advertising 

tami argaman 

tami@smorgasboarder.com.au 

0466 439 330 

editorial 

dave swan 

dave@smorgasboarder.com.au 

0401 345 201 

new zealand 

jiff morris 

jeff@smorgasboarder.co.nz 

0220 943 913 

south australia 

james ellis 

james@smorgasboarder.com.au 

0410 175 552 

design 

the team at horse & water creative 

mark, kate, elise, helen, eunji 

mark@horseandwater.com.au 

accounts 

louise gough 

louise@smorgasboarder.com.au 

want to get your hands on a copy? 

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1) subscribe - the mag is still free - you 

just pay for delivery. 4 editions per year - 

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2) call in to one of the businesses 

featured in this mag - they’ll have some 

free copies. If they're not, they won't. 

3) download or read it online at 

smorgasboarder.com.au 


Smorgasboarder is published by Huge C Media PTY 

LTD ABN 30944673055. All information is correct at 

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6

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controversy 

Sexism: a dreaded word and often ultimately 

polarising. At the extremes women take offense 

for eternal oppression, and men bemoan their 

perceived place in the world as the prime villain 

in a patriarchal mess – an evil egg that’s ever 

undergoing a furious attempt at unscrambling. 

Over the years, many prominent female 

professional surfers have spoken openly about the 

sexism they have experienced as professionals 

in the sport, and still do. At the highest level 

there’s been past discussion about gender-based 

pay-disparity in pro surfing, in the same way 

that it exists in other industries. In a column in 

the Guardian early last year, surf-legend Layne 

Beachly told of her battle to the top of the sport, 

however she also pointed out that modern surfing 

as a profession seemed to be more even-handed 

in earnings between men and women, citing Tyler 

Wright as an example. So hopefully there are a few 

more positive points in the pay debate today than 

there were in 70s? 

A more contentious and current area is the choice 

of dress. For example, earlier this year Irish surfer 

Sophie Hellyer had told the Sunday Times she had 

experienced a significant drop in media coverage 

because she was surfing in a wetsuit, as opposed 

to a bikini. Similarly, Maroubra surfer Rebecca 

Woods had previously stated that a bikini sadly 

was the ticket to competing on tour and securing 

sponsors. This is inappropriate, most obviously. 

And unfair. That said, do the actions of media and 

corporations hungry for dollars accurately reflect 

the attitudes of men and women surfers at your 

local break? And does this mean that women then 

shouldn’t wear a bikini for fear of judgement by 

others? Some female pro surfers seem to wear 

the bikini with a sense of pride and empowerment 

at the fact that their bodies are in peak physical 

condition due to the dedication and time they’ve 

put in the water. US surfer Courtney Conlogue 

said as much about her naked shoot for ESPN 

in 2016. So, when it comes to this one particular 

talking point for sexism - the bikini – how much 

does societal expectation, personal values and 

choice play a role? How anyone chooses to dress 

is sure to invite judgement of some kind, from 

women and men, so where does that leave us? In a 

Utopian surf-world, you would be able to dress as 

you please and have no judgement for evaluation 

- good or bad. Unfortunately, no human of either 

biological sex or identified gender is wired that 

way. We evaluate, we judge, all on a continuum of 

benevolent to malicious intent. So, what ultimately 

moderates the expression of our judgemental 

wiring? Common manners, we would hope. 

Moving away from the pro-surfing examples 

though, as we always do in Smorgasboarder, let’s 

talk about your local break instead. First-hand on 

our travels, we’ve heard from women involved 

in the early days of surfing about the verbal, and 

even physical abuse they suffered at the hands 

of male surfers in the 70’s and 80’s in particular. 

While that seems to have improved in recent 

years (perhaps more girls taking up surfing than in 

12


decades before is balancing out the line-ups a little 

more in certain places) there is always a moron in 

the water. A clear example of this sort of situation 

is that of male surfers vocalising their innermost 

primate thoughts in the lineup. Just google “sexist 

surfing lineup” and you’ll find countless examples, 

of creepy come-ons, derogatory jokes, and 

inappropriate comments. 

There is no grey area here. While we’re certainly 

not virtue signalling, this is one clear-cut example 

where men truly need to take responsibility. Talking 

about a girl’s body, or commenting on ‘how hot’ 

someone is with your mates will inevitably make 

that girl feel uncomfortable, and you will be a 

dick. Pointing, laughing and being generally rude 

or disrespectful will do the same. Simple rules of 

respect that apply on land also apply here. What 

coping strategy can be used to deal with the need 

to say things out loud? Again, common manners, 

we would hope. 

However, a little more confusing to some is 

another form of sexism being highlighted. Anna, 

a comfortably competent recreational surfer and 

the blogger at 3rdculturekid.net, wrote a piece 

on her personal experiences of sexism in the 

water that were essentially all events where she 

felt patronised by guys offering to help her, either 

with advice, help in the water or “mansplaining” 

technical aspects of surfcraft. “Do you ever see 

one male surfer approach a total stranger of the 

same sex and offer to push him into waves?” 

she asked. The visceral argument here would be 

whether this is chivalry or sexism? What were the 

motives of the person offering help? Is it a poor 

attempt at befriending someone of the opposite 

sex through an awkward, ingrained gender 

stereotype, or is it a sinister attempt to belittle 

“the weaker sex”, one step from the cartoon of 

a Neanderthal dragging his mate into a cave? 

Applying our idealised concept of common 

manners to this particular example becomes more 

grey, as we’re dealing with so many assumptions of 

motive and how actions are being perceived. When 

is it even appropriate to start a conversation with 

someone of the opposite sex when in the water? 

Ever? Not at all? Is it about actual content of a 

conversation, or will assumptions of intent always 

cloud every situation? There is possibly no right 

or wrong answer for this one as every interaction 

comes with its own set of variables, personal 

history and possibility for interpretation. 

A great little article on theinertia.com gave 5 tips 

to dealing with sexism in the lineup, which pretty 

much all come down to the same thing: respect 

in both directions – essentially using common 

sense in not being patronising and not being rude. 

It would be fantastic if the solution to making all 

women/girls feel comfortable in the water was 

that simple and essentially the same as making 

all men/boys feel comfortable in the water. But 

we unfortunately are creatures of our own culture, 

history and understanding. We all have baggage. 

So we struggle. 

When it comes to a topic like sexism, picking sides 

and polarising is easy. It would be easy for us to 

say “We’re feminists! Death to all you misogynistic 

pigs.” It would also be just as easy to say “Lighten 

up ladies, you’re taking this too far”. Would either 

be appropriate, or useful? Picking a side allows 

us to throw stones at each other from a distance, 

where the so-called opponents are no longer 

human beings, but a giant homogenous mass of 

“those people”. 

So, the more difficult thing to say is “How do we 

genuinely take responsibility to make it better 

for all?” Maybe from both sides we’re better off 

focusing on every other person not as a set of 

genitalia, but as a complete human being with 

feelings, hopes, dreams and - at the heart of it 

all - the same core striving as you: to be happy. 

And how do we treat other people as humans? 

With respect. Common manners. The decency and 

dignity we expect to be treated with ourselves. 

Simply put, is this all as easy as just not being 

a dick (or dickette, to keep this sexism-free of 

course). Maybe, maybe not… In fact, almost 

certainly not, but it sure is a step in the right 

direction. words: mark chapman 

13


stuff 

Photos by Sam Curtin 

Their friendly staff are all keen surfers and are 

happy to help you find the right product. 

real surf 

Real Surf is New Zealand’s #1 core surf 

store, located in Lyall Bay, Wellington. 

At Real Surf you’ll find over 200 

surfboards in store with a complete 

range of wetsuits and surf hardware. 

Their friendly staff are all keen surfers 

and happy to help you find the right 

product. Real Surf also offer a complete 

glassing and ding repair service. For 

beginners, they offer lessons or board 

and wetsuit hire. 

Visit their recently expanded store on 

the corner of Kingsford Smith St and 

Lyall Bay Parade, or checkout the online 

store at realsurf.co.nz @realsurfnz 

extremities winter bundle 

The good folks at See You Out There have you sorted for an 

affordable price. Booties, gloves, hoods, you name it, they have it - 

including an affordable range of male, female and children’s wetsuits. 

Hoods from $29.95, webbed neoprene gloves from $29.95, 3mm 

booties from $35 (were $65) and adult 3mm steamers from 

$88 (were $179). 

seeyououtthere.com.au 

10


Kyarna thankfully 

accepted our 

challenge to create 

her interpretation 

of Surf is Free which 

now adorns the latest 

Smorgasboarder tee 

available through the 

Smorgastore. 

Get your very own shirt, 

and/or subscription 

bundle and more online at 


Subscribe 4 editions a year 

- direct to your door $25 

T-shirt $40 

Kyarna’s diverse body of work is due to her ever 

evolving style with her most recent collection 

focusing on a series of hand gestures using a process 

called stippling, where the artist creates a detailed 

image through the use of thousands of dots. 

Sunshine Coast born and bred artist 

Kyarna lives and breathes her craft, 

dividing her time between her drawing 

and working her dream job at Holloway 

Gallery in Moffat Beach. 

Her ink and pencil creations are held in 

private collections around the country 

and have been exhibited in Melbourne, 

Sydney and currently at Holloway 

Gallery. 

To read more about Kyarna and her 

latest stunning body of work turn to 

page 54 of this edition. 

11


stuff 

two for the road 

The electric innovators at Fiik manage 

to literally keep good times rolling with 

yet another generation of powered 

skateboards that combine the spirit of 

the original Fiik boards with constantly 

evolving technology and materials. 

First off, let’s introduce the all new Pool 

Cleaner. His name is not Hector, and he 

does not wear budgie smugglers. 

This is the board you are after if you 

just want to cruise the streets or hit the 

skate park. It will handle it all, apart from 

cleaning your pool! Leave that to Hector. 

The dual compact hub motor system 

gives you plenty of power to reach 

speeds of up to 27km/h and allows 

the drive wheels to roll freely, which 

provides an authentic skateboard feel, 

with or without the throttle on. Running 

the latest Sony VTC5 18650 lithium 

cells, it doesn’t miss a beat. This board 

performs as good as it looks. 

Next up is the 2018 iteration of one of 

the original Fiik designs - the Stinger. 

There is something so super sleek and 

sexy about a carbon composite board. 

This really is hot so you don’t want to 

miss out. 

If you’re looking for an electric 

skateboard that looks great, is 

lightweight, silent and has the 

performance to match, then the Stinger 

is the board for you. 

The carbon composite deck keeps the 

weight of the board down and has a 

sleek stylish finish. The dual compact 

hub motor system gives you plenty of 

power and can reach speeds of up to 

32 km/h and allows the drive wheels to 

roll freely, which provides an authentic 

long board feel and performance, with 

or without the throttle on. Weighing in 

at just under 6kg, this is the electric 

longboard you can take absolutely 

anywhere. 

more info: fiik.com 

12


Fiik The Pool Spine Cleaner has 

Length/Width: 30.9” * 8.7” 

Deck Material: a top speed Bamboo 

Wheel: 70mm, 83A Polyurethane 

Weight: of 5kg 45 KM/Hr. 

Motor: Double sensored Brushless hub 

DC Motors Its longboardstyle, 

specially 

Battery: Sony VTC5 18650 cells 36V/3Ah 

(10s 1p) 

Max Speed: Up to 27 km/h 

Range: engineered Up to 15km carbon 

Charge time: 2hrs (Charger 1.5a 36v) 

flex deck weighs 

Max Load: 100kg 

Hill Grade: 15° 

only 600gms. 

2.4GhZ Remote 

Range, max speed and hill grade are 

all based on a 70-80kg person riding at 

14km/h on flat smooth terrain. 

Fiik Stinger 

Length/Width: 36.6” * 9.4” 

Deck Material: Carbon composite 

construction 

Wheel: 83mm, 78A, Polyurethane 

Weight: 5.9kg 

Motor: Double sensored Brushless hub DC 

Motors 

Battery: 36V/4.4Ah 18650 cells 

Max Speed: Up to 32 km/h 

Range: Up to 20km 

Charge time: 2 hrs 

Max Load: 120kg 

Hill Grade: 15° 

2.4GhZ Remote 

Range, max speed and hill grade are 

all based on a 70-80kg person riding at 

14km/h on flat smooth terrain. 

13


s h a c 

16


three things get surfer’s hearts racing - epic 

swells, beautiful boards and jaw-dropping 

beach shacks. Each edition we feature a 

regular offering of the first two so in this issue 

we set out in search of a visual feast of the 

most awe-inspiring beach shacks. 

k e d 

the incredible view from 

The Injidup Surf Shack. 

17


It is the intended use that deems such abodes a 

“surf shack” – a retreat where surfers live their 

life onshore not far from the waves. 

From multi-million-dollar ocean-front mansions to 

the most basic beachside cabins, all can fall under 

the classification of “surf shack”. 

It is the intended use that deems such abodes a 

“surf shack” – a retreat where surfers live their life 

onshore not far from the waves. 

They’re places that conjure up magic memories 

of times spent in the ocean, either in complete 

isolation or amongst family and friends. 

Such structures however are much more than idyllic 

holiday destinations, permanent residences or 

mere feats of architecture and ingenuity, they are 

often monuments to self-expression - a reflection 

of the owner’s own personality. Some are familiar, 

others exotic, some are quite basic and others 

offer respite from the busy lives we lead, offering a 

chance to escape and step back in time to when 

life was a lot simpler. 

That is indeed the true beauty and tranquillity 

of surfing. It presents us with a chance for 

contemplation, to pause and reflect upon our 

life and visualise the future. Surf shacks offer up 

an extension of our time spent surfing, a further 

avenue to feed our soul with good vibes. 

18


The Injidup 

Surf Shack 

19 

2/12 Steven Street, Sunshine Beach 

Photo courtesy: 

Sunshine Beach Real Estate


20


the injidup surf shack 

This truly is the epitomy of a surf shack. Just south of 

Yallingup, in Western Australia’s beautiful south-west, 

is a unique, back to basics holiday home. Nestled 

in the beautiful Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park, 

overlooking the magnificent Indian Ocean, it truly is 

magnificent. 

Simply put, if you can’t unwind here, you never will. 

It really is the perfect spot to spend time away with a 

loved one or to re-connect with your family unit. As you 

scroll through images of the property, you will actually 

feel your pulse rate start to drop and your yearning to 

escape grow. 

Cosy in winter, cool in summer, it’s just a stone’s throw 

from a pristine surfing beach we will respectfully leave 

unnamed other than to say it is an absolute cracker. 

The shack is completely open plan and can sleep up 

to six guests. It is divided into three main sections 

– living, sleeping and bathroom. The property has 

an expansive deck and barbeque setup overlooking 

bushland and the sea. You can even drop the kit and 

enjoy an outdoor shower whilst you take in views over 

Cape Clairault and possibly see migrating whales 

frolicking offshore. 

Best of all, the property presents absolute peace and 

tranquility with the chance to escape from the constant 

distraction of technology – no TV, no wifi, only a small 

stereo and a few board games to speak of. 

If ever you feel the need to wander beyond the waves 

and the shack, there is an endless array of things to do 

in the Geographe Bay and Margaret River region from 

visiting acclaimed wineries, breweries and eateries to 

walking the famed Cape to Cape Walking Track. It is a 

nature lovers delight with a myriad of flaura and fauna. 

The Injidup Surf Shack in many ways is like the Tardis. 

You get the chance to travel back through time to 

when life was a lot simpler and things progressed at a 

much more relaxing pace. It is an absolute ripper and 

who doesn’t want to roll like Dr Who? 

injidupsurfshack.com.au 

21


The shack is one of the 

original cottages (built 

in the 40’s) which has 

recently been updated 

using recycled materials 

by local surfing legend 

Dan Ward. 

22


jack’s cottage 

words: angus brown 

The mid-northern New South Wales coast is 

definitely some of Australia finest country; a 

vast area containing a large number of coastal 

townships, headlands and idyllic surfing 

destinations! Located about half way between 

Brisbane and Sydney is one of those little 

hidden gems, the township of Wooli! Completely 

surrounded by Yuraygir National Park and the 

Solitary Islands Marine Park this village has it 

all: surfing of course, but also fishing, paddleboarding, 

barefoot bowls, nature walks, ocean 

diving and endless places to explore. Nature and 

solitude. 

“Jacks Cottage” is located in the centre of 

this historic fishing village. Built on the coastal 

foredune with ocean frontage, and the pristine 

waters of the Wooli river out the back, the 

shack is one of the original cottages (built in the 

40’s) which has recently been updated using 

recycled materials by local surfing legend Dan 

Ward. It retains all its coastal charm with the 

addition of various mod-con creature comforts 

such as a contemporary kitchen, 5 bedrooms, 

2 bathrooms and an outdoor entertaining area. 

This cottage makes the most of its location with 

the layout and décor creating a simple, light and 

breezy coastal vibe. 

Despite these luxuries however, time is well 

spent sitting on the high dune just out the back 

gate, staring blankly at the ocean. 

In terms of surf options near Jacks Cottage, 

there is a great beach break out the front (in the 

right conditions of course) and within 30 minutes 

drive there are an number of small townships 

and quality surf breaks that work in a variety of 

wind and swell directions. 

Wooli is loved by all who reside there and those 

who have visited. 

To check out Jack’s Cottage use the link below. 

woolibeachhouses.com.au/accommodation/ 

jackscottage/ 

23


sweet as 

words: dave swan 

He’s surely got to be a brother from another 

mother. His passion for beer and all things surf is 

much the same as my own. 

Graham Carse and his beautiful wife Gaby are 

good friends. Gaby is from South Africa and 

Graham is a loveable larrikin from Dunedin and 

the master craftsman behind Quarry Beach 

Surfboards. He and Gaby always sort me out with 

a few boards whenever I visit. 

I had known for some time they had a pretty sweet 

setup just south of Dunedin so I asked him about it. 

Now, I will preface this by saying Carsey is known 

for his short, sharp quips 

– so you are prepared. 

Q A 

Where is the house roughly situated? 

20 minutes south 

Who lives there? 

Me and Gaby, Louie the dog, 3 x cats – Buster, 

George and Loki and Gary the horse. There’s 

sheep as well, no names though because they 

end up on the bbq - maybe lamb chop, lamb 

shank, rack etc. could be amusing. Oh and 

there are chickens – same. KFC, McNugget… 

What’s the normal daytime/ night temps in 

Winter and Summer? 

Winter – 0 – 15 degrees 

Summer – 15 – 25 + degrees 

How often do you get a dusting of snow? 

3-5 times per year 

The thought of surfing in the snow is my 

ultimate dream I am yet to experience. 

How big can the surf get out front? 

Up to 15 feet. 

Knowing Carse understates things, it is 

probably a few more feet beyond that. 

He doesn’t mind big swells. 

Anything else you would like to add that is 

unique/ special about the home or where you 

live? 

15 kilometres of coastline with no-one to surf 

with. 

That’s enough for me. I will take that as an 

invitation. I love the cold and I love Dunedin and 

its surrounds. I was also pleased to hear that 

whilst he doesn’t have a shaping bay at home, 

Carsey is working on a home brew setup. 

24


25


the original Long Reef shack 

new digs at Boomerang Beach 

Jeff (fourth from left) and the boys 

26


long live the shack 

words: jeff morris 

My friends and I grew up as part of the Long Reef 

Boardriders Association back in the 60’s and 70’s. 

Our “away” surf trips were mostly up the coast from 

Sydney to the Boomerang/Bluey’s Beach area. We 

stayed in tents, caravans and beach shacks - they 

were shacks back then. 

We even had our own shack back at Longy, 

imaginatively called the “Shack”, someone’s old 

abandoned holiday retreat that we made our own 

for a few years. It brought us all together when it 

was cold, wet and surfless. 

More than 30 years ago, when we were all getting 

married, having families and mortgaging our first 

fibro castles, we decided to have a week/end 

(depending on how long you could get a leave pass 

for) surf trip back to Boomerang. It was so good we 

just kept doing it for the next 30+ years. 

We’ve stayed in a few beach shacks in the area 

since then and had a good time in all of them. 

My favourite is the one we have booked for the last 

10 or so years, with views up and down the beach 

from a sensational surf watching, beer drinking, 

bullshit-talking balcony. It’s not the Ritz but it ain’t a 

shack either. 

Saturday nights all right for BBQing and there’s 

usually at least 15 of us, a large percentage doing 

their bit towards the culinary event of the year. 

Not everyone from back then makes the annual 

trip, it’s not everyone’s thing. For those of us that 

still keep coming back, it’s probably more about the 

continuation of a great life, still hanging out and still 

doing dumb stuff, occasionally surfing and having 

fun with guys who you’ve known for 45 plus years; 

guys you grew up with who feel more like family 

than just mates. 

Long live the beach shack, whatever form it takes 

these days. 

27


retro retreat 

Surf shack get-togethers aren’t just for the boys! A 

few years back the Retro Retreat was launched to 

much acclaim. 

A classic original 1960’s Mollymook beach cottage 

was transformed into a mecca for surfing ladies. 

It is the brainchild of Roz Johnston whose regular 

get togethers with a “group of tragic older surf 

chics” and former world champion surfer Pam 

Burridge proved the spark that would ignite the 

idea behind the ultimate ladies surf retreat. 

The Retro Retreat opened in the spring of 2014 and 

has been solidly booked since, and for the next 

12 months as Roz informed us. It primarily caters 

for women aged 30-60 years who love surfing, 

whether they are total beginners or highly capable. 

Sitting high on the hill the double storey holiday 

home has been lovingly restored with a gorgeous, 

light and bright colour palette, which is in keeping 

with its contemporary retro feel. Taking in the 

ocean views over the incredibly stunning and 

wave-friendly Mollymook Beach, it consists of 3 

bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 2 living areas, kitchen, 

laundry, 2 decks and outdoor BBQ and fire pit area. 

It is also equipped with all the mod cons including 

wifi, coffee machine, music docking station and the 

like. 

The cottage is an easy walk to everything from 

that early morning surf to your first hit of expresso! 

The beaches are swimmer and surfer friendly with 

various options between the north and south ends. 

Cafes, shops, parks, golf club and restaurants are 

all nearby with a variety of dining options available. 

The beautiful historic township of Milton and 

shopping at Ulladulla are only a short 5-minute 

drive away. 

Most importantly, as part of the overall offering, 

ladies can hook up a surf lesson with none other 

than Pam Burridge herself, who operates her surf 

school in the area. If that wasn’t enough meals, 

transport and yoga sessions are all included in the 

package price. 

retroretreat.com.au 

28


A classic original 1960’s Mollymook beach cottage was 

transformed into a Mecca for surfing ladies. 

29


sunshine beach stunner 

Noosa is known for its style and sophistication. 

Even the surfers in these parts take to their the 

perfectly groomed peaks with a certain grace. So, 

if you are holidaying here you might as well live by 

the edict, “when in Rome, do as the Romans” and 

holiday in style. 

This stunning duplex is rented out by the friendly 

folk at Sunshine Beach Real Estate who know the 

area better than the rest because they live and 

breathe the beach lifestyle. It is only a few minutes 

stroll down to the patrolled surf beach, Sunshine 

Beach Surf Club and nearby restaurants, cafes, 

bars and shops. 

Privately positioned behind security gated 

surrounds you are met with immaculate grounds 

leading to your front door. Featuring polished 

concrete floors, modern industrial styling 

and clever raw finishes the property offers 

holidaymakers fuss free living with high ceilings 

and clean modern lines. 

Whilst it is air conditioned throughout, the central 

hub of the home captures refreshing ocean 

breezes, not to mention stunning views of the 

ocean. You can even keep an eye on the swell as 

you prepare a meal in the gourmet kitchen or cook 

the family meal in the built-in barbeque on the 

privacy screened deck. It really does capture the 

essence of beachside living. 

more info: 2/12 Stevens Street, Sunshine Beach 

Sunshine Beach Real Estate 

sunshinebeachrealestate.com.au 

+61 (07) 5447 2999 

30


Featuring polished concrete floors, modern industrial 

styling and clever raw finishes the property offers 

holidaymakers fuss free living 

31


get on board 


As we mentioned a little earlier in the piece, a surf shack is what you make of it. 

Neal Cameron is a little different to most and so is his idea of a shack. That’s what we love about 

him. Ever since we first met Neal when he had parked his “surf shack” in a derelict, abandoned 

building site at the back of Maroubra, we have been enthralled by everything he does. 

We have featured all manner of his fibreglass creations but in this edition, we thought we would 

“probe” him, as Neal likes to refer to it, about his chateau d’autobus. To ensure I didn’t miss any of 

his golden retorts, I have adopted a Q & A style for this part of our Shacked feature. 

Q A 

Why did you choose to live in 

a bus? 

I first got the idea when I used 

to go to school on those old 

Leyland Leopard school buses 

and I did own one for a while. 

They were those old rough idle 

Pommie buses that used to give 

you a boner from the vibration... 

A “travel fat” we used to call the 

affliction at school. 

So, it was always a bit of a 

fantasy to have the coolest surf 

camper in the carpark.... A bit like 

wishing you had the largest willy 

at a co-ed gym class at school. 

Actually, I had about $80k and 

figured I could build a bus with 

car trailer /workshop attached 

and be off-grid and independent 

...OR...I could put a deposit 

on a home unit In the suburbs 

..,be unable to choose my 

neighbour,.. and have them get 

whingy when sanding dust got 

on their washing and get all “bent 

outa shape” over the smell of 

something I’m concocting at the 

time. 

Yeah, it didn’t take much thought 

as to which way to go. 

When did you first move into 

the bus? 

Next year will be my 19th year in 

the bus. 

How did you go about fitting it 

out and how long did it take? 

The fitout including the roof raise 

took about 2 months. Some of 

the materials were new and a lot 

was scrounged or repurposed. 

When you build something like 

this from a bus you soon realise 

nothing is straight or even. Jed 

Done and I spent a lot of time 

measuring once and cutting 

twice whilst working on the 

interior. 

The special features of your 

home on wheels? 

When the bus was first made it 

was a bit unique however these 

days many people do it and 

spend a fortune on them. They 

are like stepping into a home 

unit. 

The most challenging part of 

the bus was the bathroom. The 

wooden floor is suspended 

over a reverse pitch fiberglass 

underfloor so if parked off 

camber, anywhere that water 

spills in the room, it goes down 

the drain hole. 

The bath was an earlier project. 

I’d never had a comfortable bath. 

I don’t know who came up with 

the first baths and water saving 

and ergonomics where obviously 

not light discussions with tea 

and scones. So, I made one. And 

then the wall tiles to match. 

When the roof was raised there 

was a wasted area at the back so 

I repurposed some old fiberglass 

seats from Central Railway 

station in Sydney and placed 2 

up there facing each other. I then 

radiused the leading edges so 

tree branches would glide up 

over them rather than get hung 

up. The result is a four-seater 

area for beers and prawns up on 

the roof. 

The Bus is also converted to 

run on old vegetable oil. I have 

a centrifuge and heater /pump 

mounted to an old beer keg and 

it will clean around 60 litres per 

hour. I carry 350L of vegie on a 

trip and 500L of diesel. 

Some interesting places it has 

been parked? 

As you know it’s been parked in 

a few weird spots. The best one 

in Sydney was the Anzac Rifle 

Range at South Maroubra… 

hundreds of acres to myself most 

of the time. 

The best spot since leaving 

Sydney has been on a 35-acre 

property with a 200-metre 

lakefront and freshwater 

Billabong to draw my water from 

(he forgets to mention it is right 

near one of the most awesome 

wave magnets in the entire 

world). Lots of birds and fish and 

a very cool kangaroo who would 

come and snack on chocolate 

in the afternoons. I named him 

Cadbury. 

32


33


atlantic byron bay 

Rather than a beach shack per se The Atlantic is 

a collection of four original Byron Bay cottages, all 

on the one property, each lovingly restored with a 

timeless attention to detail. 

Situated in the heart of Byron Bay, surrounded by 

swaying palm trees and the sound of the ocean, 

it is the quintessence of a lifestyle hotel that 

beautifully encapsulates the emotive appeal of the 

humble beach shack. 

Together with a unique team of creatives, owners 

Stephen Eakin and Kimberly Amos have turned 

these original coastal cottages into a constellation 

of modern, stylish guestrooms and cabins, plus an 

American Airstream caravan. Whitewashed walls 

are decorated with nautical, surf-inspired artwork 

and the ever-changing decor imparts a sense of 

style and simplicity. 

There’s loads of spaces for guests to enjoy. You 

can pull up a chair under a palm tree, roll out a 

yoga mat in the tropical garden or even enjoy a 

few drinks by the fire pit in the evening. Gourmet 

kitchens in each house provide a place to cook 

up a breakfast of local delicacies from the farmers 

market or a long lazy lunch by the pool. Simply 

put, at The Atlantic, you get the chance to immerse 

yourself in the relaxed Byron vibe and live like a 

local. It is the perfect getaway for couples with 

cafes, shops and white sandy beaches, not to 

mention Byron’s awesome waves all steps from 

your deck. Enough said, get there. 

atlanticbyronbay.com.au 

34


35


photos: dean dampney 

wave house 


I still recall the first time I visited Jed’s - venturing 

through deep bushland on dusk before arriving 

in a clearing and being greeted by this massive 

10-meter wooden wave house. It took my breath 

away and still does to this day. Every time I see a 

photo of it, I am blown away. 

In Jed, I am referring to Jed Done, formerly of 

Bushrat Surfboards and now simply Jed Done 

Surfboards. The inspiration behind it’s unique 

design was his obsession with “the curve”. At 

a certain time of day, the wave casts a shadow 

providing inspiration for his surfboard designs, in 

particular how they can fit within the curvature of 

a wave. It must work because I have surfed a few 

of Jed’s boards and they are some of my favourite 

all-time rides. Amazingly, Jed built and constructed 

this house near entirely by hand, taking three years 

in the process. The architect who helped him 

design the house offered Jed some sound words 

of advice prior to the build, “build a house that 

inspires you, one that you look forward coming 

home to”. 

Jed and his wife Patricia now rent it out through 

air bnb in the summer months. Yes you bet, you 

can actually holiday in this truly unique three-story 

timber home that is situated in one of the most 

magic stretches of the NSW Far South Coast. 

It can accommodate up to 8 guests, features 3 

bedrooms, 6 beds and 2.5 baths. It has a wellequipped 

kitchen, you can soak in a bath high 

above the ground whilst taking in the forest and 

ocean views and at night you can sleep with an 

unforgettable view of the stars. In the morning you 

can wake to the sun rising over the ocean. There’s 

even a 16-foot trampoline, half pipe skateboard 

ramp and cubby house on the property, not to 

mention Jed’s surfboard factory. Schedule a time 

with Jed and you will be utterly and completely 

taken aback by his surfboards. What else? A 

short walk through the surrounding national park 

is Bournda Island and Bournda Lagoon, where 

secluded beaches, native wildlife and tranquility are 

in abundance. 

To book go to: airbnb.com.au and search 

Bournda Wave House. 

36


37


t r a v e l 

b u g 


All this discussion centred 

around beach shacks no doubt 

has you hankering for one of 

your own or to at least escape to 

one. Once again, we’ve possibly 

succeeded in giving you a good 

dose of the travel bug too. With 

that in mind, we thought we’d 

give you further inspiration to 

get out and explore the world. 

The Maldives have always appealed. The water 

colour is something else and the waves look 

so inviting as opposed to intimidating. The only 

thing holding me back has been the cost. The 

Maldives are often perceived as expensive but 

with a new travel company recently opening 

its doors, it now seems within reach. Indulge 

Maldives Holidays are promoting affordable 

Maldives holidays from as little as $50 per 

night. One of the properties they represent is 

Season Paradise, and whilst the cost to stay 

is a little more than $50 per night, there is no 

denying its appeal and value for money. 

38


39


40


maldives 

Season Paradise opened its doors in late 2016 and 

has fast established itself as what many consider 

to be the best property on Thulusdhoo Island, 

Maldives. All you have to do is look at it’s excellent 

booking.com ratings, Trip Advisor reviews and 

collection of awards. It’s an idyllic island destination 

for those seeking an affordable Maldives vacation 

with a little luxury. 

It’s become a popular choice with travellers, 

not only because its only 25 minutes from the 

international airport, but because it offers surfers 

easy access to two of the best surfing waves in 

Cokes and Chickens. 

The resort itself is surrounded by white sandy 

beaches, palm tree lined shores and crystal blue 

tropical lagoons – perfect for lazy beach days or 

thrill-seeking adventure water sport activities. 

Accommodation is categorised into: 

Deluxe rooms $150 

Seaview rooms $180 

Executive suites $255 

All rooms are fitted with modern amenities and 

private balconies, offering spectacular panoramic 

views of the ocean and island. The Executive Suites 

even come with large jacuzzi baths, perfect for a 

romantic stay. 

The hotel has a large indoor air-conditioned 

restaurant, Aveli Restaurant and Grill, considered 

to be the best restaurant on the island. A team of 

professional chefs serve up a delectable selection 

of Western, Asian and Maldivian cuisines. 

There is also a gym and spa offering a series of 

relaxation and rejuvenation services, including 

sports and Swedish massage. 

Probably the most appealing aspect of the Season 

Paradise hotel however is the rooftop infinity 

swimming pool that looks out over bikini beach and 

beyond. The shades of blue created in the dolphin 

mosaic of the pool mimic the facades of blue of the 

island’s outer lagoons. 

If all that and a large dose of surfing is not enough 

to satisfy, you can embark on a snorkelling 

excursion, dive, fish, explore the surrounds on 

paddleboard or simply wander the island’s palm 

tree lined beaches, coconut in hand. 

Indulge Maldives is an exclusive Maldives Travel 

Agency. Based here in Australia they specialise in 

affordable Maldives holidays, starting from US$50 

a night. Indulge Maldives creates personalised 

holiday itineraries for surfing trips, retreats, solo 

travellers, couples, group and family holidays. 

Check out the website for Maldives properties 

reviewed by international travel influencers or get in 

touch today to find out about visiting the Maldives 

on a budget! 

more info: indulgemaldives.com 

41


red island 

The dream setup for any surf vacation has to be uncrowded waves directly 

in front of where you lay your head. Red Island has that, indeed it has 

waves for surfers of all persuasions from beginners to advanced, young, 

old, male and female. 

With reference to the fairer sex, the island has become somewhat of a 

magnet for the ladies. All-girls surf trips to Red island have become quite 

a regular occurrence. No doubt the fact the place isn’t heaving with 

crowds of macho males trying to lay claim to every wave plays a part. The 

endless array of ‘other’ activities beyond just surfing adds to the appeal. 

Sunrise beach yoga sessions in such an idyllic setting looking out over the 

secluded bay and surrounding jungle is what dreams are made of. Then 

there’s overnight turtle sanctuary visits, the Kalibaru Coffee Plantation tour, 

where world famous Javanese coffee is roasted, and Lost Paradise Beach 

where you can sunbake and snorkel all day long. 

For those keen to give themselves a further workout there’s Banyuwangi 

River Rafting and Tubing, a trek to the Ijen Volcano, where you can see 

blue fire and walk into the crater, as well as day trips to nearby G-land, 

if you want to take your surfing up a notch. 

At the end of each day you can then indulge in a traditional deep tissue 

massage before sipping a few drinks and cocktails by the pool or down 

on the beach as the sun sets. 

more info: redislandtravel.com 

42


“Red Island Surf Camp was amazing! 

The staff were incredible, the instructors 

were so helpful, and made sure you felt 

safe and comfortable. 

“It’s so relaxing there! I went with two 

other girls for a weekend surf trip and we 

loved everything from the surf, the staff, 

the cozy island life bungalows, the pool, 

the food and the social activities the Red 

Island team provided. 

“The massages were a perfect way for us 

to relax after a day of sun and surf. I’d 

definitely recommend making this trip 

with a solid crew. We loved it!” 

- Andrea Loubier - 

43


s 

u 

r 

f 

b 

r 

e 

w 

i 

n 

g 

44

Alastair Gillespie indulging in Indo. Photo: Supplied. 


As taught to aspiring journalists, one 

is to never use a first-person narrative 

style when writing a story, particularly 

in the lede. At Smorgasboarder we 

don’t really give a toss however for 

rules and have never been ones to 

conform. More importantly, this story 

is all about my dream job. It involves 

surfing and brewing. “I” reckon if “I” 

could brew beer and surf most days, 

“I” would be in heaven. 

45


Alastair Gillespie, head 

brewer, at Byron Bay 

Brewery hails from 

South Africa and is an 

eternally stoked surfer. 

And why not, he landed 

a dream job in this 

magnificent corner of 

the world. 

46


s.a. to the bay 

Welcome to Byron Bay Brewery, a place where a 

bunch of surfers work and one in particular brews 

beer that has made them renowned amongst true 

lovers of this most noble craft. Alastair Gillespie, 

head brewer, at Byron Bay Brewery hails from 

South Africa and is an eternally stoked surfer. And 

why not, he landed a dream job in this magnificent 

corner of the world. 

Regular readers of Smorgasboarder might recall 

Alastair used to write a regular column for us in 

the magazine. It had been a while between drinks 

so we were eager to catch up and see what was 

doing. 

“Probably the biggest thing that has happened here 

since we last chatted is the brewery has undergone 

a massive renovation. This has been heralded with 

the launch of our Hazy One Pale Lager.” 

For lovers of the amber nectar, such as myself, 

this is not your everyday lager. It’s a slightly citrusy 

tasting pale lager that’s super clean, crisp and light. 

Incredibly refreshing, it’s certainly easy to drink. In 

short, I found it hard to stop at just a few. 

The venue itself has also undergone a considerable 

revamp. There is a renewed emphasis on attracting 

high calibre bands from around Australia and 

indeed the world such as You Am I, who are playing 

at the brewery this July. 

“It is a great place to enjoy a few beers, a bite to 

eat and catch a live band after a surf.” 

Our take on the joint is that whilst we have always 

had fun here, it has really stepped it up a notch. It 

is definitely worth a visit whilst in Byron. It’s a super 

laidback place to take in some tunes and enjoy the 

beers Alastair brews, which really are nothing short 

of remarkable. 

With all that said, we won’t take up any more of 

Alastair’s time. I am sure he has beers to brew or a 

spot of surfing, spearfishing, kayaking or kitesurfing 

to indulge in. Bastard. 

47


into the aether 

And here’s another few blokes we think little of. 

Laughing away. They’re smug with the fact they are 

living the life. Two friends who dared to dream and set 

about realising that dream. 

Dave Johnson and Jimmy Young are a couple of 

mates who worked together in oil and gas. They 

lived on the Gold Coast and one day, while knocking 

back a few beers at Jimmy’s place, Jimmy said those 

seven words that so many have said before him: “I’ve 

always wanted to own a bar!” To which Dave replied, 

“I’ve always wanted to own a brewery!” 

Eyes lit up. Excitement grew. They pulled out the 

butcher’s paper and started scribbling down all their 

ideas to open a craft beer brewpub in Brisbane. 

Whenever they hit a dead end, they said, “Chuck that 

out into the aether for now, and we’ll deal with it later.” 

Any other story would have ended there. Any other 

two guys would’ve woken up the next morning, 

perhaps slightly the worse for wear, and shrugged it 

off as a pipe dream that they could never pull off. Not 

this story however and not these guys. 

Dave, the creative, the ideas man, would never let his 

dream die. Jimmy, the perfectionist, the action man, 

would never stop before the job was done. 

Over months and years, the plans kept forming, the 

brew recipes kept evolving, the pieces kept falling 

into place, and the boys kept working. Obstacles fell 

in their path, but they pressed on in their labours with 

Herculean determination. And then, one fateful day at 

the start of 2016, they signed a lease for a venue on 

Railway Terrace in Milton. Halfway through the year, 

their custom designed brewing system arrived on 

their doorstep. 

The following months had Jimmy and Dave working 

around the clock—fine-tuning equipment, ripping 

out all evidence of the previous tenants, building 

a brewpub from scratch… and of course, brewing 

enough ‘test batches’ of delicious craft beer to keep 

them hydrated during their marathon effort. 

Finally, at the end of 2016, the day arrived. Six years 

of vision culminated in the doors swinging open, as 

the delights of Aether Brewing were made available to 

the people. 

It truly is a remarkable story of two mates simply 

having a crack and working their clackers off to realise 

a dream. And their dream is now expanding into an 

entirely new realm, their brewpub in Milton can’t keep 

up with the demand and hence they are looking to 

establish a production facility in Northgate. It would 

see them in a position to distribute on a sustainable 

level. 

The only downside of all this expansion is the limited 

surf time. Jimmy had this to say, “We started this 

business so we had more time to do the things we 

love, like surfing. Having a fresh beer after a surf is the 

best. I mean, surfing is the ultimate escape, removes 

all stress and worries. A beer afterwards is just the 

icing on the cake. 

“One of the big things for us when we developed 

the business plan revolved around surfing before 

work every day and then heading into the brewery. 

Unfortunately, this hasn’t happened” Jimmy says 

laughing. “We’re way too busy, so buy more of our 

beer so we can.” 

In all seriousness, these guys have a sweet setup 

if you are in Brissy or are passing through. There is 

a super cool, friendly vibe to the place, the food is 

awesome and the beers are rippers. The vote for mine 

is the Hop, Skip and Jump IPA. And believe me, after 

a few of these you could probably add a stumble to 

that title. These boys are pursuing perfection and 

doing a pretty darn good job of it. 

48


. . . surfing is the 

ultimate escape, 

removes all stress 

and worries. A beer 

afterwards is just the 

icing on the cake. 

49


cross 

pollination 

so many sports take ideas from others to fuel 

innovation and progression, whether that be in 

relation to the manoeuvres performed or the 

design of the equipment used. 

50


Jeremy Jones with 

Chris Christenson in 

his shaping room in 

Encinitas. 

Surfing was the founding influence of many 

gravity-based sports such as skateboarding and 

snowboarding. 

Skateboarding was born out of a desire to have 

something to do when the surf was flat. Many of 

the initial tricks were surf-influenced manoeuvres. 

The same could be said of snowboarding. The 

mountains essentially presented surfers with the 

opportunity to carve the face of a 200 ft snow 

covered peak, enabling them to ‘surf’ all year 

round. 

Through the years, each sport’s influence has 

waxed and waned. Nowadays surfers are 

endeavouring to perform out-of-this-world 

skateboard manoeuvres on a wave and more 

recently, even more out-of-this-world snowboard 

manoeuvres, pushing the boundaries of above-thelip 

acrobatics with tricks like backside alley-oops. 

In order to achieve this, surfboard design has 

evolved to facilitate such. Surfboards have gone 

shorter with a rounded snub-nose and mirror-image 

tail, reminiscent of a twin-tip snowboard. 

Surfboard design in turn is also having a renewed 

influence on snowboarding as powder hounds seek 

to draw new lines, particularly with reference to offpiste 

backcountry adventures. Directional powder 

shapes with an obvious surf lineage have come 

to the fore. One such snowboard manufacturer 

exploring design in the freeride market is Jones. 

51


The NZ Shred crew hard at it on 

a recent “working holiday” to 

Japan, testing the Jones gear. 

Just on a year ago they began a partnership 

with Californian master surfboard shaper Chris 

Christenson. Long story short, Chris’ shaping 

career began with an apprenticeship under shaping 

legend, Dick Brewer. Through his time with Dick 

and the influence of his then neighbour, Skip Frye, 

Chris perfected the skill of shaping boards to the 

extent he became revered for shaping all manner 

of craft from shortboards to longboards and even 

big wave guns for some of the best in the business 

such as two-time world champion big wave surfer, 

Greg Long. 

Chris also had a passion for the snow. Growing 

up, when he wasn’t in school or surfing, Chris 

spent every free moment of his childhood at 

his grandparent’s cabin in the San Bernardino 

mountains. Feeling the affinity between 

snowboarding and surfing, Chris eventually set 

up a shaping studio in Encinitas on the coast and 

another in the Eastern Sierra Mountains outside 

Mammoth Lakes. 

Through the surf industry and snowboarding, 

Chris became close friends with famed big 

mountain rider, Jeremy Jones. Based on their 

love of backcountry snowboarding and surfing, 

Chris and Jeremy began a collaboration to create 

a snowboard that captured the congruence of 

snowboarding and surfing. 

They explored the notion of incorporating “glide” 

into their snowboard design. As surfers would 

attest “trim” or “glide” is everything when it comes 

to surfing. Without it you cannot ride a wave or 

transition from one manoeuvre to the next. Glide in 

effect is your engine that propels a surfer on a wave. 

Glide is also important in snowboarding although 

perhaps not as critical. Gravity will still propel 

you down the mountain but your creativity will be 

stifled. You have possibly laid witness to those 

snowboarders who appear to seamlessly glide 

through a powder gully, riding high on the wall while 

further down, you grovel to get out of there. The 

reason being is the snowboard design. 

Chris and Jeremy’s partnership saw the 

development of the “Storm Chaser” - a swallowtail 

with a surfboard rocker and the ability for tight turns 

on groomers or in the deepest powder. The first 

template was a thin piece of wood hand drawn and 

cut by Chris and Jeremy in Jeremy’s garage. They 

used Chris’ surfboard shaping tools to outline the 

shape, rocker and profile. Since this momentous 

collaboration other models have ensued – the 

“Mid Expander” and the “Lone Wolf”. These hand 

52


Chris and Jeremy’s partnership 

saw the development of the 

“Storm Chaser” - a swallowtail 

with a surfboard rocker and 

the ability for tight turns on 

groomers or in the deepest 

powder. 

shaped, surf-inspired snowboards deliver the most 

friction free, effortless glide you will ever feel in the 

snow. 

So how do we know so much about snowboard design 

you may say. We’re good mates with the boys at NZ 

Shred, who we rate as the best snowboard shop on the 

planet. They carry a huge range of Jones Snowboards, 

know all the ins and outs of the various designs and 

also hold regular days throughout the season where 

you can test out their gear. 

more info: nzshred.co.nz 

53


All My Loving 

hands down 

words: tami argaman 

The other day I was on my way to a local 

brewery in Moffat Beach on the Sunshine 

Coast. A pile of mags in my arms, my phone 

and keys in my hands and work on my mind, I 

almost didn’t notice the place that is the basis 

of this little love story. 

It sounds cheesy but after entering Holloway 

Gallery I forgot for a moment what I was doing 

and got lost in the peace of art. Every piece 

caught my eye but when I saw “All My Loving” 

I was blown away. 

The artist responsible for this incredible 

artwork, Kyarna, was there herself and when 

she told me about the technique she used for 

the piece, my mind automatically turned back 

to my initial mission: Finding things, people 

and stories I want to share with our readers. 

Kyarna knew of smorgasboarder and thankfully 

loves it. “Do you surf” I asked. 

Her face suddenly looked guilty, as if she was 

scared I’d think less of her if she wasn’t a surfer. 

“I’ve been trying…” she said before adding: “I 

do SUP!” 

I loved that and told her smorgasboarder is 

not about good surfers and bad surfers. It’s 

about passion, culture and the appreciation of 

art and skills. 

“All My Loving” took Kyarna 340 hours. It 

consists of thousands and thousands of 

tiny dots (which is why the gallery placed a 

magnifying glass near the piece!) 

Now Kyarna, this reminds me of the work a 

surfboard shaper performs: A long process 

creating something nobody else can do the 

same way as you, with an outcome so unique 

and beautiful: That’s the art of the craft. 

Maybe Kyarna is a surfer after all. 

54


“All My Loving” took 

Kyarna 340 hours. 

It consists of thousands 

and thousands of tiny 

dots (which is why 

the gallery placed a 

magnifying glass near 

the piece!) 

View Kyarna’s and other 

amazing artists’ work at 

hollowaygallery.com.au 

Love it? Wear it... 


more info: kyarna.art 

55


gear 

No cookie-cutter cheap pop-outs here. Nothing but the best shapers 

crafting custom surfboards for surfers with soul grace these pages. 

If you are not supporting the local surfboard industry, hopefully these pages 

will have you questioning why. We aim to showcase the art of the craft of 

surfboard building here in Australia and New Zealand. 

56


Surfer: Steve Muir 

Dolphin: Flipper 

Photo: Matt Secombe 

9’1” x 22 1 / 4” x 2 3 / 4” 

Reaper Model 

Triple Stringer, Resin Tint, Gloss Polish, 

Concave to V, 64.6 litres 

Photo: Andy Alford PHOTOGRAFFIX 

MR DAMAGE SURFBOARDS 

44 Hill Street, Port Elliot, SA 

P: 0416 199 764 

E: mark@mrdamagesurfboards.com.au 

57


For something 

OUTER this world! 

OUTER ISLAND SURFBOARDS 

P: 02 6655 7007 M: 0427 767 176 

E: info@outerislandsurfboards.com 

OUTERISLANDSURFBOARDS.COM 

OUTERISLAND.BLOGSPOT.COM 

5’8’’ Twin w Quad option. 

20 1 / 2” x 2 5 / 8” 

Different strokes for different folks. 

I make surfboards specifically tailored to the rider not 

carbon copy cut-outs. Talk to me about your next 

custom. Shortboards through to longboards and 

everything in between. 

RABBIDGE SURF DESIGNS 

P: 02 4456 4038 

M: 0427 767 176 

E: markrab88@gmail.com 

HARVEST & JACK KNIGHT SURFBOARDS 

2/24 Christine Ave, Miami, QLD 

P: (07) 5576 5914 

E:hello@harvestsurfboards.com 

HARVESTSURFBOARDS.COM 

58


Whipcracker Log 

9’3’’ x 23” x 3” 

Strawberry sauce 

resin tint deck with 

cut laps. Dairy milk 

tint bottom. 50/50 

rails, rolled bottom. 

A versatile log for 

point and beach 

breaks. 

I can’t put into words 

how well this board is 

working and how positive 

the feedback has been. 

Since my first one I have 

been hooked. Devon 

Howard described it as 

the best longboard he’s 

ever had. A long, medium 

width blended nose 

concave that flows into 

a slight roll through the 

back end. Foiled right out 

nose and tail with 50/50 

rails throughout, perfectly 

balanced. It’s everything 

I’ve always wanted in 

longboard. 

NMC SURFBOARDS 

Barwon Heads, Victoria 

M: 0438 800 539 

E: nmcsurf@bigpond.com 

THOMAS SURFBOARDS 

4 Project Ave, Noosaville 

THOMASSURFBOARDS.COM 

5’11” CHOPPER 

Carbon rail EPOXY 

6’10’’ 

EGG ROLL 

Traditional egg 

template, flat rocker, 

rolled under the nose 

blending to flat in 

the tail with fin box 

pushed forward. 

Dressed up with 

abstract resin tint, cut 

laps, 3 / 4 volan deck 

patch, and a polished 

finish coat. 

Available now... 

#customsurfboards 

#epoxysurfboards 

#chopper 

#futurefins 

#epsfoam 

#surfboard 

@Pambula Beach 

BLACK SQUARE SURFBOARDS 

1/28a Acacia Ave Port Macquarie, 2444 

M: 0407 604 753 

E: info@blacksquaresurfboards.com.au 

BLACKSQUARESURFBOARDS.COM.AU 

MCKILL SURFBOARDS 

M: 0478 154 456 

E: mckillshapes@gmail.com 

MCKILLSURFBOARDS.COM 

59


6’6” x 21’’ x 2 5 / 8” 

RETRO Short 

Board model 

Swallow tail flyer. 

Bottom has dual 

concaves. (3 stage 

bottom) The board 

illustrated may not be 

available at time of 

printing. 

Looking for a 

Performance board 

with a little extra 

floatation? 

Then talk to Ron about 

a custom or maybe 

consider one of our 

new imported stock 

models – Limited 

availability at heavily 

discounted prices 

over the Winter 

period. Please contact 

us for our Winter 

trading hours. 

Thomas Peterson Surfboards 

now available at Kallalu 

Tommy is making his 

amazing boards in the 

traditional way and the 

results have people in awe 

of them. His well known 

Fang Tail walked out under 

the arm of the very happy 

guy who purchased it on 

the 2nd of March. Tom is 

back in the bay making 

more and ready to take 

your order at Kallalu... 

RON WADE 

8 Angorra Road, 

Terrey Hills, Sydney NSW 

M: 0410 443 776 

RONWADESURFBOARDS.COM.AU 

KALLALU 

96 Marine Parade Kingscliff 

P: 02 6674 8887 (shop) 

M: 0422 712 841 (boards) 

E: kallalugallery@gmail.com 

5’5’’ x 19 1 / 4” x 2 3 / 8” 

Twin Fish 

This is my version of 

a performance twin 

fin fish with a rear 

stabilizer fin option, 

with custom resin tint 

swirl and cut laps. 

5’11” x 20’’ x 2 3 / 8” 

32.5lt 

Foil Fish 

#clarksurfboards 

#custom #burfords 

#aps3000 #foilboard 

#thedingking #quality 

#madeinsa #ridefutures 

#chinookboxes 

COSMIC CRAFTS SURFBOARDS 

4/34 Sunrise Crescent 

Lennox Head NSW 

P: 0439 063 811 

E: travisbristow@hotmail.com 

THE DING KING / CLARK SURFBOARDS 

Units 7 & 8, 9 Chapman Road, Hackham, SA 

E: leightonclark01@yahoo.com.au 


60


CHRIS GARRETT SHAPES / 

PHANTOM SURFBOARDS 


E: phantomsurfboards@gmail.com 

CHRISGARRETTSHAPES.COM.AU 

Custom surfboards, contact Chris or 

see Board Culture at Mermaid Beach 

for stock boards 

OKE SURFBOARDS 

1/1-7 Canterbury Rd, Braeside, VIC 

M: 03 9587 3553 

E: rory@okesurfboards.com 

OKESURFBOARDS.COM 

61


read 


This is another hard cover coffee table book from 

the folks at CPL Media and just like the South Seas 

books, it is another absolute cracker. The quality 

of the presentation through to the photographic 

images and the enthralling stories throughout 

make it a must read for those obsessed with all 

things surf. What it also serves to confirm is New 

Zealand’s rich surfing history. We hear so much 

about Australian surfing history but I personally 

knew little about our brethren across the ditch. It 

is one of the reasons I found it such a fascinating 

read. 

Featuring over 500 photos by Warren Hawke, 

one of the South Island’s most established and 

prolific surf photographers, it will appeal to surfers 

of all ages and from shortboarders through to 

longboarders and everything in between. The 

variety and depth and coverage is first class. 

NZ SURF- THE COLLECTION VOL 1 

$59.95 NZD + Postage and handling 

photocpl.co.nz/nz-surf-the-collection/ 

62


the heart of the surf community 

get your very own smorgasboarder t-shirt 

at smorgasboarder.com.au & check out more 

alkali adorn jewellery @alkaliadorn 

model: Lucy Charlton @lucycharlton 

surf directory 

womens surf retreats 

Learn to surf with former world champ 

Pam Burridge at Mollymook on the 

beautiful South Coast of NSW. Bring a 

group of friends & stay in our Retro Beach 

Cottage. Enjoy a fun weekend with your 

mates…..For details M: 0427 300 095 

pamburridge.com 

byron bay longboards 

Byron Bay Longboards is an Iconic Surf 

Store in the heart of Byron Town 

celebrating modern day surf culture 

with a salty old school vibe. 

1/89 Jonson St Byron Bay, 2481 

P: +02 668 55244 

E: info@byronbaylongboards.com.au 

byronbaylongboards.com.au 

indo surf travel insurance 

The NEW Travel Insurance that also covers 

SURFBOARDS - even IN USE surfing! 

$25 Million Emergency Flights & Hospitals 

Price Beat Guarantee! 

indosurf.com.au 

63


support the grassroots 

surf directory 

alkali adorn 

Beautifully handcrafted artisan jewellery with rustic unpolished 

silver, gorgeous shells and precious stones to create one-of-a-kind 

pieces. Inspired by the surf and the natural wonders of the sea. 

Contact Kate Jones, to order your own unique piece. 

the surf emporium 

Clothing, wetsuits, surfboards, surfboard and wetsuit rentals. 

Open 7 days 9am – 5pm 

Volcom Lane, Raglan 

P: +64 7 282 0018 E: info@raglansurfemporium.com 

raglansurfemporium.com 

the board shop 

New Zealand’s Surf Specialists – The Board Shop has been at 

the cutting edge of hi-tech epoxy surfboard, longboard and SUP 

technology for over 20 years. Drop in or check them out online. 

49 Barrys Point Rd, Takapuna, Auckland 

P: +64 9 486 0930 | theboardshop.co.nz 

coolest spot in town 

A front row seat to beautiful Lyall Bay, Wellington’s top surf spot and 

the best brunch around! 

Located at Lyall Bay at Wellington. Opened 7am – 5pm 

maranuicafe.co.nz 

new zealand 

jiff morris 

jeff@smorgasboarder.co.nz 

0220 943 913 

for 

more 

enquiries 

australia 

dave swan 

dave@smorgasboarder.com.au 

0401 345 201 


locks for your boards 

Boards Get Stolen – lock yours down. 

Lock any board down with Kanulock lockable tiedowns. Uncuttable 

by knife and stainless steel reinforced. 

P: 02 6687 6541 Email: info@kanulock.com 

kanulock.com 

64


the heart of the surf community 

superbank accommodation 

Any closer to the Superbank – you’d be in the line up! Self-contained 

north facing apartments across from some of the most stunning surf 

on the Gold Coast. If you love surfing – this is the place to stay! 

190 Marine Parade, Rainbow Bay, Coolangatta 

P: 07 5599 0666 columbiaapartments.com.au 

find all your sup needs 

Free Lesson with every new SUP purchase. Cronulla Standup 

Paddleboard Shop and School is the best place to get all your SUP 

needs and learn all the techniques to ride your board. We stock only 

quality boards and our experienced and expert coaches can guide 

you the whole way! 

M: 0400 085 823 E: enquiries@cronullasup.com.au 

cronullasup.com.au 

surfware australia 

So much surf gear in store you will be amazed! 

From surfboards to skateboards, wetties, surfwear and all the latest 

gadgets. ALL WETSUITES - 20% TO 50% OFF. ALL WINTER 30% 

TO 50% OFF. 

2 Bulock Street, Caloundra Qld 

P: 07 5491 3620 surfwareaustralia.com 

surfing accessories 

We have Australia’s hottest new surfing accessories to keep you 

in the surf longer. Our innovative products can help you enjoy the 

surf and outdoors even more and provide you with protection and 

comfort as you follow your passion! Stockists of H2Odyssey webbed 

gloves and X-STING-WISH®IT. Organic sting relief. 

seeyououtthere.com.au 

tried and trusted blanks 

Family owned and run for the past 55 years, our consistency is the 

best in the world. Our blanks come in a multitude of different lengths, 

rockers and weights. We also have an extensive variety of timber 

stringers of varying widths. And we have all the shaping tools you 

need to make a board from scratch! 

5 Stewart Road, Currumbin Qld 

P: 07 5534 3777 burfordblanksaustralia.com.au 

for your culinary delights 

The Rivermouth General Store. Great coffee + speciality teas, 

gourmet food, fresh juices, smoothies, art, awesome vibe, surfing 

stories + the floor is worth reading. 

101 Sunpatch Parade, Tomakin Nsw 

Instagram: @therivermouth 

Facebook: The Rivermouth General Store 

65


support the grassroots 

treehugger ...wax created surf with wax the environmentally 

conscious surfer in mind. 

All natural surf wax created with the 

environmentally conscious surfer in mind. 

Our wax is a statement of sustainability 

without COLD compromising COOL WARM performance. TROPICAL 

treehuggerwax.com 

ORDER ONLINE AT: 

www.treehuggerwax.com 

PIHA 

DOMAIN 

MOTOR CAMP 

piha domain motor camp 

Camp on the beach in front of the iconic 

Lion Rock, at one NZ’s top surf breaks. 

Rates from $18 a night for tent sites. 

E: pihacamp@xtra.co.nz 

P: +64 9 812 8815 

raglan longboards 

Quality surfboards Long or Short 

Short or Long term rentals 

Mickey T. custom shapes 

Full repair service. 

P: +64 7 825 0544 

raglanlongboards.co.nz 

surfboards designed and shaped 

by mike jolly 

Full repair service. Rentals, surfing gear 

and good advice. 

122 Seaview Road, Piha Beach NZ 

P: +64 9 812 8723 

pihasurf@xtra.co.nz 

sup centre 

Life’s better standing up. A one stop 

shop for everything SUP with the best 

brands, range, prices and expertise. With 

access to all the major SUP brands in NZ, 

through a nationwide delivery service. 

20 Melrose Street, Newmarket, NZ 

P: +64 9 520 3366 

supcentre.co.nz 

standup paddle boarding nz 

South Island’s complete SUP centre. 

Lessons, hire, demo, training, sales. 

Unit 2, 1030 Ferry Road, 

Christchurch NZ 

P: +64 3 384 5086 

groundswell.co.nz 

brunswick surf shop 

Choc full of awesome threads, sunnies, 

surf and skate accessories, Therapy, 

Matt Hurworth and RA Hand Shaped 

Surfboards to have the locals frothing. 

1/12 The Terrace, Brunswick Heads NSW 

p: 02 6685 1283 

brunswicksurf.com.au 

preece’s surf shop 

Plenty of new and used surfboards, 

bodyboards, wetsuits, clothing and 

accessories. The only surf shop right on 

the coast. Open 7 days. 

159 Esplanade, Port Noarlunga Sth, SA 

P: 08 8386 0404 

preece-sthport-surf.com.au 

stand up in the bay 

Stand Up Paddle Experiences, Tours & 

Hire in Jervis Bay. Come and find out why 

stand up paddling is one of the fastest 

growing sports in the country. 

P: 0403 354 716 

jervisbaystanduppaddle.com.au 

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