SB_issue57_digital

smorgasboarder
SURF
2023
#57
magazine
NATURALLY
YANN FaTrAS
B-RAD SKATE
BRAD SHAW
BRIGHT SIDE
BEN ROSS

Celebrating
48 YEARS
Celebrating
45 YEARS
Gerringong | 90mins south of Sydney
Online
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30
52
CONTENTS
#57
2023
60
76
12 NEWS
18 COMPETITION
22 CONTROVERSY
24 ACROSS THE DITCH
30 YANN FATRAS
52 TRAVEL
60 ROAM
70 BEN ROSS ART
76 SKATE (B-RAD)
84 THE BLANK PAGES
98 ALOHA BARRY
smorgasboarders
Editorial | Amber O’Dell
amber@smorgasboarder.com.au
0420 615 107
Editorial & Advertising | Dave Swan
dave@smorgasboarder.com.au
0401 345 201
Social Media | Phoebe Swan
phoebe@smorgasboarder.com.au
0459 705 404
New Zealand | Jiff Morris
jeff@smorgasboarder.co.nz
0220 943 913
South Australia | Jimmy Ellis
james@smorgasboarder.com.au
0410 175 552
Design | Horse & Water Creative
mark, val, helen, taylah, sarah
mark@horseandwater.com.au
Accounts | Louise Gough
louise@smorgasboarder.com.au
NATURALLY
YANN FaTrAS
smorgasboarder
SURF
2023
#57
magazine
B-RAD SKATE
BRAD SHAW
BRIGHT SIDE
BEN ROSS
our cover
photo: walkandseemedia
(Yann Fatras)
surfer: Jared Mell
get involved
Stories, photos, ideas, new and
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want to share? Drop us a line on
editorial@smorgasboarder.com.au
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225 Smiths Beach Rd, Smiths Beach
www.islandsurfboards.com.au
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Variety
is the
spice
of life
It’s an age-old idiom that dates back to the 1800s. It
originates from a line within a poem called The Task
which was written by English poet William Cowper
in 1875. And it is a proverb that has stood the test of
time. It’s meaning being, if you keep doing the same
old thing, over and over again, it will get tedious,
monotonous and even boring.
It captures one of the great truths about human
existence, being the fact there is a great richness in
diversity and pursuing different interests. Life is far
more interesting when we try different things and vary
our experiences.
This belief has been verified by numerous scientific
studies that show variety leads to increased
satisfaction. Repeated exposure to a stimulus over
time reduces its ability to excite. The effect is known
as hedonic adaptation. Exposing yourself to different
stimulus that excites increases feelings of euphoria.
So where are we going with all of this? From the getgo,
our ethos at Smorgasboarder has been to produce
a magazine that celebrates a diverse array of board
sports and surf lifestyle pastimes that we enjoy. It is
part of the reason we have never identified ourselves as
a shortboard surf magazine, or a longboard one for that
matter, or a SUP mag or a skate mag. We enjoy doing
all of these things. We figure life would be pretty boring
if you only partook in just one past time.
Shortboard when the conditions are right, longboard
when it suits, paddleboard to mix things up, skateboard
when the ocean is windblown and snowboard
whenever you can. And if the opportunity presents
itself, go wakeboarding, learn to foil, wing surf and
broaden your horizons to everything and anything. And
being surfers, there’s also a love for the great outdoors,
camping, glamping, secluded getaways, fishing, hiking
and mountain biking. That is what Smorgasboarder is
about, variety in all its magnificence.
With that said, in this edition we feature one hell of
a talented French videographer, showcase the work
of an Australian artist, interview the inaugural winner
of Australia’s first skateboard competition, travel to
Papua New Guinea, step inside some amazing surf
shacks, check out a troopy that is something different
altogether and provide an exposé of the latest shapes
from Australia’s immense number of talented surfboard
artisans. So, please enjoy, and if there is something you
would like us to feature more of, or perhaps something
we have not yet shone a light on to date, please let us
know. This is your magazine.
Get in touch at editorial@smorgasboarder.com.au.
The Smorgasboarders

photo: walkandseemedia (yann Fatras)

see the wood

for the seas
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Hand-made. High performance.
All Australian. Built to last.
Boards. Kits. Fins. Blanks. Accessories.
and BALSA BOARD BUILDING COURSES.
www.balsasurfboardsriley.com.au

FOR YOUR CULINARY DELIGHTS
news
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Smoothies + Art + Awesome Vibe + Surfing stories + The floor
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Love the sea. SeaZinc.
www.seazinc.com.au
Perfect Swell
The first of
its kind
Covering six acres and offering up a pretty
staggering variety of waves, the world’s largest
surf park just had its grand opening an hour from
São Paulo, Brazil.
The gigantic wave pool is a part of the newly opened Boa Vista Village,
and is nothing short of astonishing. Then again, what can you expect
from the world’s leading surf park and wave technology company,
PerfectSwell.
Of course, while we couldn’t help but be enamoured with the wave
pool, Boa Vista Village doesn’t just stop there. The innovative project is
a result of a huge collaboration between high-income Brazil-based real
estate developer JHSF and inventor and developer of PerfectSwell and
SurfStream wave technology, American Wave Machines.
Nestled in the Brazilian countryside, the main component of the
development is actually a residential hub boasting a club house, beach
resort, commercial shopping area, 18-hole golf course, international spa,
equestrian centre, tennis courts and town centre – with each and every
one being anchored to the central wave pool.
Director of operations and JHSF wave manager, Eduardo Grinberg, said
Boa Vista Village surf park caters to everyone, from beginners to surf
champions who are always searching for a place to train.
“These waves are the real deal. Everything that happens in nature,
happens in PerfectSwell.”
During the development’s grand opening celebration in late July, JHSF
hosted a classy pool party and flew in plenty of world-champion surfers
such as Olympic gold medallists Italo Ferreira and Carissa Moore to
carve it up and test the surf park to its limits.
If anyone knows their waves, it’s these two. While Italo commented
about the wave pool’s amazing training potential for those who surf high
performance, Carissa simply said, “It was insane, so much fun, honestly
exceeded expectations. I have not stopped smiling, and I probably won’t
until tomorrow.”
While many are dubbing the wave pool at Boa Vista Village as the
world’s biggest and best, it’s also probably the world’s priciest.
Nonetheless, big projects like this one reinforce that surf facilities are
becoming a more mainstream feature in international developments, and
we are more than excited about that.

news
surf watches
Turning tides
Although many of us have spent years honing in our skills to read the
waves – sometimes it’s just convenient to have a little device on your wrist
that does all of that for you.
BUSINESS FOR SALE
Contact Peter 0417 727 875 peter@kpsgroup.com.au
Recently, many of the Smorgasboarder crew have gotten into surf watches. And
while our stance on these handy devices is that they should not replace your
instincts, but rather confirm them, we have to admit they are pretty neat. It’s just
astounding how detail oriented some of these watches can be, from displaying
local tide data to tracking the number and calibre of waves you’ve surfed.
While some of us are a bit sceptical, we can’t help but be fascinated about the
new technology emerging in the world of surfing, so here are a some of the most
advanced surf watches we could find that especially piqued our interest.
nixon
High Tide
$319.99 AUD
As lightweight and sleek as it is handy, the High
Tide has plenty of useful functions and a clear, bold
screen that makes it easy to read when you are
amongst the waves or out after dark. The watch’s
main feature is that it comes with pre-programmed
locations that display precise sunrise and sunset
times, tidal information and moon data.
While you can only choose from 550 beaches
worldwide, we were stoked to know that over a
third of those surf breaks are from Australia and
New Zealand. So, if you’re surfing in this corner
of the world, you should be able to find a beach
near you. Of course, we are a stickler for product
sustainability, so it’s a huge bonus that the watch is
made from recycled ocean plastics too.
In addition to being small, light and durable, this surf
watch stands out from the rest thanks to its GPS tracking,
which is super helpful for people wanting to find their
way back after trekking to uncharted surfing, running and
swimming spots. However, we think one of the Search’s
coolest features is it’s detailed surf statistics, which tell
you everything you need to know about your latest surf
session from your top speed to your wave count and the
distance you’ve paddled.
It’s real-time surf conditions are also impressive too,
with graphic depictions of tide charts, wind and swell
data, location maps, moon phases and sunrise and
sunset times. Of course, you also get a ton more global
tide locations (1400 to be exact) and lots of other useful
functions like an alarm, stopwatch and synchronisation
compatibility with the Rip Curl Search App and website.
rip curl
Search GPS 2
$499.99 AUD
garmin
Instinct Solar
Surf Edition
$799.00 AUD
You really couldn’t ask for a more high-tech and
all-encompassing surf watch. I mean, some of
the stuff they built into this thing is just insane. In
addition to countless bells and whistles like visual
tide data, ocean conditions, GPS tracking, weather
information and surf activity (just to name a few) the
Instinct Solar also has a heap of sporting and health
features, such as a heart monitor and alert system, a
sensor that gauges how well your body is absorbing
oxygen and a stress calculator.
As the name suggests, the watch even has a solarpowered
battery complete with a solar intensity
measurement system and a power manager where
you can view how various settings and sensors
impact the watch’s battery life. You can tell this
watch was custom built for people that are out on
the water all day.
1/12 The Terrace,
Brunswick Heads NSW
p: 02 6685 1283

news
A decade of
surf and smiles
When you take on plenty of 6000 km
return trips, venturing off into every
little nook and cranny from the Sunshine
Coast down to the South Australian
border, there are some places that just
stay with you.
Here at Smorgasboarder, The Rivermouth Café
and General Store is a favourite of ours. Nestled in
Tomakin, a small seaside village on the south coast
of New South Wales, the venue exudes a healthy, hip
and beachside vibe and has often been a welcome
sight for us during our travels.
As you can imagine, we were stoked to hear that the
café is reaching its 10th anniversary later this year,
and it was an absolute pleasure for us to sit down
with the venue’s owner, Katrina McDonald, to chat
about the amazing community they have fostered
over the years.
Katrina simply said it has been a pretty special
decade for The Rivermouth, and they have no idea
where the time has gone.
“We have had some super busy summers with the
holiday makers and ongoing local support from the
community combined with the travellers that come
to the Eurobodalla Coast and our beautiful area in
Tomakin.
“Great stories have been heard and talked about
next to all of our surfboards and memorabilia on the
floor. Lots of memories come back, mainly the old
boys and how they used to ride similar boards.
“It would be amazing to actually find out how many
people have come through the doors day in and day
out, including travellers and our local supporters.”
Readers may remember the last time we caught
up with the beloved café all the way back in edition
49. In 2020, we were met with shocking photos of
stark red skies and the ashy remnants left over from
bushfires that ravaged through the south coast of
New South Wales.
Thankfully, the town of Tomakin was spared, and
despite the lingering issues that the flames brought,
both the café and the locals pulled together to
support the unfortunate areas where other homes
and businesses were not so lucky.
When talking to Katrina, it’s made clear that both
the community and The Rivermouth are thriving, and
have remained strong despite the many trials and
tribulations they have been through.
“We copped some testing times through a couple of
Covid19 lockdowns and bushfires. I didn’t know if I
could pick things back up physically and mentally,
but here we are, going into the 10th year.
“I would like to thank our staff, friends and the locals.
I also wouldn’t be here without my family’s ongoing
support and everyone that has stepped into and had
a little piece of the café.”
As one of these loyal visitors, we highly recommend
stopping by The Rivermouth if you are in the area.
And even if you aren’t, we assure you the venue’s
warm atmosphere and fresh, mouth-watering food
are well worth the detour.
The café even stocks a healthy stash of
Smorgasboarder magazines, which we all know are
best enjoyed after a surf and in an amazing café with
a coffee in hand.
# 57 // smorgasboarder //
14

READERS PHOTOS
readers photos
Just noticed Leighton Clark advertised my new board in your mag.
Thought I might share a photo of it in action (with me) whilst on
holidays. He'll probably not be too impressed I added side bites.
F1's surfbreak Muli Meemu Atoll July 2023.
if this does get published please add my thanks to the locals
Ali, Ibrahim, China, Hameed and crew.
Cheers,
SIMON MCLEAN
READERS PHOTOS

alk
he
lank
Yes, they’re all coming out of the
woodwork to walk the plank
(points for the number of puns used?).
Jokes aside, Mark Riley’s balsa workshops have
proven a real hit. So many people from all walks of life:
male, female, young and old are signing up to custom
craft their very own beautiful wooden surfboard and
experience the sensation of riding something they have
built with their own two hands.
This ripper is by a bloke by the name of Gene, who also
happens to be a chippie - great little fish and wave to
boot. Lumbering along nicely :) .
Balsa surfboard kits, one-on-one
tuition sessions and workshops
# 57 // smorgasboarder //
16
balsawoodsurfboardsriley.com

email: outereye@gmail.com | phone: 02 6655 7007
outerislandsurfboards.com

WIN!
Surf
IS FREE
Competitions
Winner!
GHOST RACKS
Beautiful boards require racks that don’t detract from the
presentation. You want to see the boards not what’s supporting them
and that is why Ghost Racks created their near transparent, super
strong acrylic rack system. The appeal is undeniable and the reason
why the racks have taken the world by storm.
The good folks at Ghost Racks now make every kind of rack
imaginable from surfboard racks to skateboard racks, corner racks,
horizontal, vertical, multi-angle, free standing and overhead options…
you name it they have it. Better yet, Ghost Racks cater for a diverse
array of board shapes and fin setups too, so your board doesn't
get jeopardised. We love them so much at Smorgasboarder we are
offering up a set of Ghost Racks for one lucky reader in every edition.
A massive congratulations to lucky reader
Colin Mcmahon, the proud new owner of
a beautifully shaped wooden surfboard by
none other than Shapes by Steve O.
By now you know that, here at Smorgasboarder, we love giving
away free stuff. That is why in our last edition we gave our readers
the chance to score a 7’2” hollow wooden surfboard hand-crafted
by Stephen Halpin – one of the most innovative and eco-friendly
board shapers we know.
We were touched to discover that the winner of this edition’s
random draw was Teresa Mcmahon, who entered the competition
to win the board for her husband, Colin. When we reached out to
him, he said he was very grateful for the win and to have such a
beautifully crafted board.
“I have had three surfs on the Stephen Halpin’s board, and it gets
better each time. Even from my first outing I could tell the board is
very easy to paddle and catch waves on.
“The interest in the board from others has also seen a steady
flow of comments about how impressed they are around the
workmanship and design of the board.
“I have been out in mainly knee to chest high shore break and the
most noticeable is the speed of the board from take-off and how
well it holds the line. It also allows me to execute solid smooth
bottom turns with ease.
“I am looking forward to each surf I have with this board, as
the more I surf with it the more I discover about it. It
is performing way above any expectations I had,
and I am excited to have it.”
Congratulations Colin! We are so stoked to
hear that you like it.
Once again, a massive thank you to
everyone who entered, signed up to our
newsletter and visited our socials. You’re
all legends.
Things you need to know…
We’ll pick a winner on Tuesday 31st October 2023, so you have
plenty of time to enter.
We will announce the winner on our Instagram via an update to
our GHOST RACKS COMP post.
This competition is open to Smorgasboarder readers worldwide.
The prize will be your choice of either a vertical or horizontal
wall rack from the Ghost Racks surf range. We will even post
the racks to you at their expense! This is a game of chance.
# 57 // smorgasboarder //
18
how to enter
This is a game of chance.
Go to our Smorgasboarder
Instagram page:
a. Follow our Smorgasboarder Instagram page
b. Like the GHOST RACKS COMP post
c. Share it on your Instagram page
d. Tag Smorgasboarder and Ghost Racks on your
shared post
It’s that simple.

# 57 // smorgasboarder //
19

One and the same
If
waves were roads and
surfboards were cars – who is
responsible for an accident?
It is an interesting parallel, but when you think
about it, can’t most of the unspoken rules of
surfing be traced back to how we approach
courtesy, fairness and fault while driving?
As the Christmas holidays near, the streets and
waves of many coastal towns will soon see an
influx of holidaymakers looking to soak up the
sun at our beautiful beaches. Inevitably, traffic
will build up, and streets and surf breaks will
become congested.
In that setting, imagine a car travels through
a green traffic light but becomes stuck in the
middle of the intersection due to the queued
traffic. The lights change. Another vehicle who
now has a green light and right of way drives
through the intersection and collides with the
queued vehicle causing injuries to both drivers.
Then, imagine perhaps a similar surfing
scenario. A surfer on a wave has right of way.
Another surfer paddling out sees the surfer on
the wave heading to their left and consequently
heads right to avoid a collision. The surfer on
the wave however then cuts back, gets caught
in the wash and hits the surfer paddling out.
Both scenarios are similar, despite being on
land and at sea, but the question still remains –
who caused the accident?
The first car by blocking the intersection? Or
the second car by failing to avoid the queued
traffic despite having the right of way? Is the
second driver entitled to simply assume that
all others will comply with the road rules at all
times? In terms of the surfer on the wave, do
they always have right of way? What happens
if the surfer on the wave partially loses control
of their board in the wash (even with a legrope
on)? Was it the fault of the surfer on the wave
or the surfer paddling out?
To understand who is responsible when
surfing, what if we looked to the rules and
regulations of driving? In Queensland,
the road rules are set out in the Transport
Operations (Road Use Management – Road
Rules) Regulation 2009, which covers how
Queenslanders should drive in a safe manner
on a day-to-day basis – from how to safely
perform a U-turn to how to parallel park safely.
Other States and Territories around Australia
have similar, but not the same, legislated road
rules.
Many cases over the years have considered
the liability of drivers who have failed to comply
with the road rules. The principal case being
Sibley v Kais (1967) 118 CLR 424. In Sibley, the
Plaintiff looked to the right before entering an
intersection and being struck by an oncoming
vehicle from their left. The Plaintiff argued that
the Defendant breached the “right hand rule”
(that at unprotected intersections vehicles must
give way to the right) and should be held liable
on that basis.
While undoubtedly a relevant factor, the High
Court held that a breach of the right hand rule
(or indeed other road rules generally) does
not determine who caused an accident. The
paramount consideration is whether the driver
acted reasonably in all the circumstances. This
means that drivers must not simply assume
that other drivers will drive according to the
road rules.
When two vehicles are entering an intersection,
they are both obligated to take reasonable
care and remain vigilant. In some situations,
this may extend to anticipating the negligence
of others or even irrational behaviour by
pedestrians.
For example, in Manley v Alexander (2005) 223
ALR 228, a driver was found to be negligent
after impacting with a pedestrian lying on a
roadway at 4:00 am. There, the High Court
found that had the driver been paying attention
to all that was happening on or near the road
they would have seen the pedestrian and
avoided the impact.
However, there are limits to what a driver
has to do to avoid liability when others are
acting unpredictably. It will often depend
on whether the driver has any reasonable
opportunity to take steps to avoid the accident
from occurring. More recently, in Lim v Cho
[2018] NSWCA 145, a driver was found not
to be liable when their passenger leapt from
the moving vehicle and suffered catastrophic
injuries.
Ultimately, these types of cases are very
fact-dependent. There is often no clear
answer and no consistent recollection of the
accident by witnesses. In most instances,
even where claims succeed, there is usually
an accompanying reduction for contributory
negligence to reflect the injured driver’s relative
contribution to the accident.
What is clear is that, similar to driving, surfers
are not entitled to simply assume others will
surf safely – they must remain vigilant and if
they anticipate danger, they must respond to
it. So, maybe the rules of driving and surfing
aren’t so different after all?
schultzlaw.com.au
i
# 57 // smorgasboarder //
20

# 57 // smorgasboarder //
P: 03 9587 3553
E: rory@okesurfboards.com
OKESURFBOARDS.COM
1/1-7 Canterbury Rd, Braeside, VIC 21

controversy
words: dave swan
So, the topic of today’s conversation is knobs. And no – I’m not talking about the world’s
greatest surf wax. This is about that special group of people who seem to simply enjoy
being unpleasant in life.
So, the topic of today’s conversation is knobs. And no – I’m
not talking about the world’s greatest surf wax. This is about
that special group of people who seem to simply enjoy being
unpleasant in life.
Concerningly, knobs seem to be steadily growing in number
and can be found in all walks of life, across all ages, all sexes,
professions, all industries and all pastimes. Unfortuantely,
surfing is no different!
Here at Smorgasboarder, we have strict No Knobs Policy
enshrined in our world domination business plan. It states,
‘We shall be free from knobs in their many forms. They serve
to only bring us down. Knobs are prohibited from working in
our organisation. We do not wish to do business with knobs
in any shape or form. We will endeavour to avoid knobs at all
costs. We will never become knobs.’
So, if you too live by a No Knobs Policy, one gem of wisdom
you can now take to the bank knowing our stance on
knobbiness: if a person or business is featured in the hallowed
pages of Smorgasboarder, they’re clearly not knobs! Of
course we must stress, hand-on-heart, that this truth in no
way implies that surfers or surf business who haven’t yet been
in our mag are knobs. We’re confident they will most likely be
very nice people we just haven’t been met yet. (However as
they say, ‘Squirrels are just rats with good publicity’, so you
never know, there might be the odd logical conclusion to jump
to... But I digress!)
So, why do knobs exist? And how can we remove them from
our lives? Am I a knob?
Why do knobs exist? Honestly, I don’t know.
Most likely to challenge the rest of us to be
more patient. Do knobs indeed realise they
are knobs? Or are they just oblivious?
Perhaps they do know
they are knobs but
simply don’t care
because of some
personal traits.
If so, what
could these
traits be?
One common trait across knobs seems to a keen sense
of self-importance which manifests itself in both a lack of
consideration for others and a rather overinflated ego. The
person who’s rude to waiters or cuts you off in traffic on
purpose, for example. Another such trait is that knobs tend to
often be the tight-arse who don’t shout a round. (Note: even
if youre not a fully fledged knob, never be a tight-arse. It’s a
one-way ticket to knob-dom).
So, assuming you can effectively spot one, how do we
remove this narcissistic, selfish, too cool-for-school, tightwad
from our lives?
Simple. Call them out on it. They don’t like it.
Yes, it is important to be diplomatic and endeavour to
tactfully inform them that they are indeed a knob – we’re not
calling for confrontation and conflict here - but as my dad
always said, “silence is golden but sometimes it is yellow.”
Once called out, one of two things happen: They decide to be
a better person and less knobby, or they stop interacting with
you. Either way, a win!
Now that I have provided what I believe is the singular best
method to eradicate knobs from your life, we get to the next,
even more important part of this: how to avoid becoming
a knob yourself (as the affliction appears to be highly
contagious).
These are the top eight tips to avoid this fate:
1. Do not hang out with knobs.
Knob on knob is a no go.
2. Do not force your views on others.
Accept that everyone is different and they are entitled to
their own opinion. You may have a certain perspective
and another person may have a different perspective.
Just because it is different, does not make either right
or wrong. Try to put yourself in their shoes and see their
point of view. Different views make for an interesting
world and - as we said earlier in our editorial foreword -
variety is the spice of life. Living life in an echo chamber
only ensures you become one-eyed and insular.

PLENTY OF NEW
SURFBOARDS, SUPS, BODYBOARDS, WETSUITS,
CLOTHING AND ACCESSORIES.
3. Don’t be authoritarian.
It’s unhealthy. No-one needs to conform to your way
of thinking or doing things. If there is one thing the
pandemic has taught us, it’s that. Censuring people’s
views and opinions, no matter how contrary they may be
to your own, is a sure-fire way toward a dystopian future.
4. Be respectful.
While respecting people’s personal opinions, also make
sure to respect their personal space, respect their time,
respect their feelings and respect their property. In short,
be considerate.
5. Take responsibility kindly.
‘If it is going to be, it is up to me.’ If you want to get
ahead and live a certain life, that it is up to you to realise
that goal and not someone else’s job or charitable
responsibility to get you there. If you can bring others
up with you, even better, but at very least don’t step on
anyone else to get ahead.
6. Pay your way.
Don’t leech of others’ good natures. Be
generous and again, be respectful.
7. Don’t be a hypocrite.
Never expect of others what you
wouldn’t do yourself. Ensure your
behaviour doesn’t contradict what
you claim to believe or feel.
8. Be kind
The end.
If, reading this piece, you feel
excited, armed and ready to rid
yourselves of some unpleasant
knobbiness in your life, that makes
us very happy. If however, reading
this piece, you find yourself
mildy offended, perhaps some
self-knob-searching might
be required? We know that
obviously, as loyal
Smorgasboarder
readers, it’s definitely
the former, but just
in case, always
remember the
golden bit of
advice “Offence is
taken, not given…”
Live knob free good people!
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PH: (08) 8386 0404
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And of course, if you do like the sound
of our Knobs, you can purchase Knobs
Surf Wax at the Smorgasboarder
store. Good bumps and sticky as.
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Across the ditch
Apologies, following our trip there earlier this year we can’t but help continue featuring photos
of this most magical surf break. In case you don’t recognise it, it is Raglan on the North Island
of New Zealand, home of Mickey T (Mike Thompson Custom Shapes and Raglan Longboards).
Head left and follow the rainbow.
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Across the ditch
SPRING HAS SPRUNG
THERE’S A SMELL IN THE AIR …. SOMETHING HAS CHANGED!
You wake up one morning in September and things are
just, well, different!
That anticipation of warmer weather is nearing. It’s early,
but now the sun is up before I am. I still need a hoodie
first thing, but that won’t be for long.
As you’re grabbing hold of the last opportunities to
partake in winter snow sports, you can’t help your
attention being diverted to the summer activities just
around the corner. Whether your game is hiking, biking,
wake, SUP or surf, spring is in the air and summer is on
its way.
“When do we take the winter snowboard racks off the
top of the truck?”, replace them with Ocean & Earth
foamies for carrying the 10ft Adventure 60/40 SUP or
Torq surfboards down the coast. Sure as sh#t, as soon as
you do the ‘change-up’ along comes one of those classic
spring snowstorms that sees the town blanketed in a lateseason
covering, reminding us all that we don’t control
any of it. Oh well, keep out the 159 Jones Stratos for a
few more days of snow play.
Spring-time is a “bitsa”… bits of this and bits of that.
As I did yesterday, you can go and do some fast morning
laps on the groomed corduroy before it turns to spring
corn mid-morning. Or you can pop over the saddle, into
the back and side-country for some touring once things
have softened up. The 158 Season Pass splitboard is
just perfect for those variable spring conditions that
have softer powder patches intersected with wind and
sun effected open ridges and roll-overs. Once you’re
done, you boost back down the hill and get on the bike
for some laps or just a casual ride around the lake edge
to earn yourself a couple of beers at our local –Altitude
Brewery.
Without even realising I’d done it, I got home yesterday
and in the last of the afternoon sun I pulled out the
SUP’s and started prepping the little ding repairs that I
neglected to do at the end of last summer. All of a sudden
I’m searching the shed for my FCS surf leashes, finding
my Volcom change-poncho in the process, but also
searching in vain for my left Ripcurl surf bootie that I had
obviously not put back in the water sports bin.
Spring allows us to do so much. I remember that saying,
that spring is all about “new life” – you know the picture,
with the little lambs and their wiggly tails.
It’s not just new life, more so a new lease on life.
Hmmm… maybe I won’t take the snowboard racks off
just yet!
www.nzshred.co.nz
NZ SHRED
WORDS JASE JOHN

Across the ditch
for those
out in the
elements
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seasap.nz
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Across the ditch
Beachstreet
“Beachstreet Surf Shop is a core surf shop, locally owned and
operated, just up from Fitzroy Beach.
We stock surfing products for all types of wave riding. Home to local
brands Lost in the 60’s and Blacksand.
Also offering trade ins, ding repair, hire equipment and stand-up
paddle and surf coaching.
Beachstreet Surf Shop, it’s all about surfing!”
+64 6-758 0400
chip@hotmail.co.nz
Raglan Holiday Park Papahua
“Six kilometres from a surf beach and five minutes walk to town over foot
bridge. Whether you have come to enjoy the peace and tranquillity of this
idyllic New Zealand beach town or are a surfer seeking some world class
wave action, Raglan Holiday Park is the perfect place to stay.
With vehicle access by a lone road bridge, this virtual island has its own
sandy beach, boat ramp, takeaway store, huge playground, skate park
and picturesque walk bridge conveniently linking the Raglan Holiday
Park to the Raglan Town centre. Our peaceful and well maintained
campground has all the facilities you will need to make your stay as fun
and relaxing as possible.”
raglanholidaypark.co.nz
You can book online or email
stay@raglanholidaypark.co.nz
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Real Surf
“Real Surf is a locally owned and operated Core Surf Store
specialising in surfboards, wetsuits, hardware and rentals. Come
check out our new store just down the road at 5/56 Kingsford Smith
St, Lyall Bay, Wellington.
We’re open seven days a week with a friendly and experienced team
ready to help out with your next purchase!
Alternatively check out our website for the latest products and sale
deals at www.realsurf.co.nz or find us on social media.”
+64 4 387 8798
www.realsurf.co.nz
team@realsurf.co.nz
SUPcentre
(Not Just A Stand Up Paddle Board Store)
“What began as a specialist Stand Up Paddle Store over 10 years ago, has
now grown in to one of New Zealand’s best SUP, Surf and Wing-Foil stores.
Not only do we have a unique store in the heart of Newmarket, Auckland,
but we also have a fantastic website. So no matter where you are located in
New Zealand you can shop online and we will get what you need to you.
We still carry a huge range of Stand Up Paddle Boards, Paddles, Fins
and SUP Accessories. However, now you’ll also find a wide range of
Surfboards, Surf Fins, Leashes and Wetsuits. Or if Wing Foiling is your new
passion then check out our quality range of wing foil boards, wind wings,
foils and foiling accessories. Whatever you need, visit us instore or online.”
+64 9 520 3366
www.supcentre.co.nz
sales@supcentre.co.nz

Across the ditch
MOANA
SUP and Surf
Your stand up paddleboarding specialists
Moana SUP and Surf is Nelson’s iconic little surf
store, locally owned and operated with a full range of
SUP, Surf and foil boards. Moana SUP & Surf offers
expert advice to get you geared up for paddling.
The sister company Paddle Nelson, offers a range of
unique paddling experiences for all to enjoy, including
our latest and greatest Night SUP Guided Tour.
We ship nation wide.
Shop 2, 623 Rocks Road,
Moana, Nelson, 7011
boards@moananzsup.co.nz
027 285 0772
moananzsup.co.nz

WHAT
COMES
NATURA LLY
Yann Fatras
words: dave swan and amber o’dell
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31

d indeed any creative endeavour for that
atter, that professional training is a doubleged
sword. While it can be beneficial to
veloping technical skills, it can also erode
e’s unique creative flair.
There’s an argument when it comes to the arts
and indeed any creative endeavour for that
matter, that professional training is a double-
hy is it that some of the most incredibly
edged sword. While it can be beneficial to
developing technical skills, it can also erode
lented artists one’s and unique photographers creative flair. have never
Why is it that some of the most incredibly
en formally trained? Does formal training
talented artists and photographers have never
been formally trained? Does formal training
cite a certain incite a certain homogeneity where where over time over time
you become conditioned to approaching it like
everyone else, in turn detracting from the
u become conditioned to approaching it like
eryone else and detract from the organic
ture of self-taught creativity?
nn Fratas is a case in point. This incredibly
lented videographer has never undergone
# 57 // smorgasboarder //
organic nature of self-taught creativity?
Yann Fatras is a case in point. This incredibly
talented videographer has never undergone
formal training and yet his innate skill behind
the lens is there for all to see. We recently
caught up with him to talk how he became so
enamoured with film and photography and the
path that led him here from his home in Paris.
rmal training and yet his innate skill behind
e lens is there for all to see. We recently
32
ught up with him to talk how he became so

Ther
matt
edge
deve
one’
Why
tale
been
and
Yann is born in France, a country revered around the
world for its deep, rich history in the fine arts. For
as long as he can remember his world has been
immersed in the arts – everything from music to
painting and photography. The one constant growing
up and into his adult years was that he was always
surrounded by artists. His father and brother were
musicians and many of his friends became highend
photographers, so it was only natural that he
too would develop a keen interest in the same. Yann
picks up the story.
“Art has always been really present in my life. Music,
painting, photography, I love all of them.
“Growing up, I always had a camera in my hand, and
I guess that is where it all started. I have always like
photographing people but like randomly and really
organically. I think that’s where my vision comes
from, it’s very natural. I don’t like too much setup as
it detracts from the instinctive nature of photography
and videography. I’ve always shot that way.”
In many ways, Yann was drawn to the camera as a
means of capturing life’s memories. He felt compelled
to capture those special moments in his life with
friends and family so they had a keepsake for ever
and a day. It was these very friends that soon noted
his talent behind the lens.
“People started saying that they really liked what I
was doing, so when we arrived in Australia I decided
to step it up a bit. I got a better camera and then more
better cameras, and then three years ago I decided
to really do the whole leap into that side of things and
get into it commercially.”
It is here that we need to take a step back and
understand what fate befell Yann for him to undertake
his journey to our distant shores.
“I was a very high-end pastry chef, working in
massive hotels in Paris. My career was on the rise
and I was preparing for a world contest of sugar art.
But just before the competition, I had this motorbike
crash and it crushed my body entirely. I was 25 at
the time.”
Yann was hit by a truck that had run a red light. It
crashed directly into his side, what we Australians
know as a T-bone accident.
“I broke my back and half my bike. My whole leg
was crushed and my hand was almost detached. It
was a massive motorbike crash – like something that
shatters your life for real. I very nearly died.”
After a long recovery and learning to walk again over
the course of two years, Yann returned as a pastry
chef but constantly being on his feet all day after
such a catastrophic accident took its toll on his body,
but not his mind.
“It pretty much broke my career, but I didn’t care
about that aspect because I knew that something
would happen. Since that day, I’ve always told myself
to not plan too much – to go with the flow, but, go
hard with the flow.
inci
you
ever
natu
Yan
tale
form
the

Yann was born in France, a country revered around
the world for its deep, rich history in the fine arts.
For as long as he can remember his world has
been immersed in the arts – everything from music
to painting and photography. The one constant
growing up and into his adult years was that he
was always surrounded by artists. His father and
brother were musicians and some of his friends
became well known artists, so it was only natural
that he too would develop a keen interest in the
same. Yann picks up the story.
“Art has always been really present in my life.
Music, painting, photography – I love all of them.
“Growing up, I always had a camera in my hand,
and I guess that is where it all started. I have always
liked photographing people but like randomly and
really organically. I think that’s where my vision
comes from, it’s very natural. I don’t like too much
setup as it detracts from the instinctive nature of
photography and videography. I’ve always shot
that way.”
In many ways, Yann was drawn to the camera
as a means of capturing life’s memories. He felt
compelled to capture those special moments in his
life with friends and family so they had a keepsake
forever and a day. It was these very friends that
soon noted his talent behind the lens.
“I have always liked photographing
people but like randomly and really
organically. I think that’s where my
vision comes from, it’s very natural. “
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35

“People started saying that they really liked what I was doing, so when we
arrived in Australia I decided to step it up a bit. I got a better camera and
then more better cameras, and three years ago I decided to really do the
whole leap into that side of things and get into it commercially.”
It is here that we need to take a step back and understand what fate befell
Yann for him to undertake his journey to our distant shores.
“I was a very high-end pastry chef, working with some of the best chefs in
Paris. My career was on the rise and I was preparing for a world contest of
sugar art. But just before the competition, I had this motorbike crash and
it crushed my leg and arm. I was 23 at the time.”
Yann was hit by a truck that had run a red light. It crashed directly into his
side. It’s what we Australians know as a T-bone accident.
“I broke my bike in half. My whole leg was crushed and my hand was
almost detached. It was a massive motorbike crash – like something that
shatters your life for real. I very nearly died.”
After a long recovery and learning to walk again over the course of two
years, Yann returned as a pastry chef but constantly being on his feet all
day after such a catastrophic accident took its toll on his body, but not
his mind.
“I had this motorbike crash
and it crushed my body entirely.
I was 23 at the time.”
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37

“It pretty much broke my career, but I didn’t care about
that aspect because I knew that something would happen.
Since that day, I’ve always told myself to not plan too
much – to go with the flow, but go hard with the flow.
“If something happens, go with it. That brought me to not
plan too much in my shoots. I always tell my assistant to
make a shot list but learn to change things around to suit
the moment – to be organised but also go with the flow.
That’s exactly how I handle my life, and that’s what this
accident brought me.”
It’s an inspiring outlook on life, and one you can instantly
see through his steely gaze. Yann lives his life with zeal
and passion. You can see his commitment to this ideal
and I must confess, hearing Yann utter these carefully
chosen words, and the manner in which he expressed it,
gave me goosebumps. It is surely a reminder to us all to
live our life in the moment because we so readily forget
this simple ethos.
“Since that day, I’ve always
told myself to not plan too
much – to go with the flow,
but go hard with the flow.”
Following the accident Yann and his girlfriend considered
their next steps and decided to “change life” which
entailed a move to Australia.
“Aurélie was a massive support. We kind of made the
same decision together and wanted to see where life
could take us. We wanted to do what we love and start
enjoying every day, so we decided to pack up only what
we needed and sell the rest.
“We spent two years in Byron and then came up here to
the Sunshine Coast. We have lived here for 13 years now
and have two beautiful daughters, Léna and Charlie, aged
nine and four.”
Through this period Yann launched his business
WalkAndSea Media where he is a visual storyteller/
videographer extraordinaire working with businesses the
likes of Suzuki, Surfing Queensland, Surfline, Pangea
Maps, Heads of Noosa brewery and various fashion and
lifestyle brands. One of the projects he has been working
on most recently is with Travis Fimmel and the new beer
brand he co-founded called Travla.
“I love when people get together and bounce ideas off
each other, and I learnt a lot working alongside such a
creative person.”

Following his shoot with Travla, when Yann and I
caught up, he informed me he was soon to jet off
to Sri Lanka. Ohh, the life. Jokes aside, you can tell
how hard Yann works and as they say, the harder you
work, the luckier you become.
“I got contacted by the producer of the film, which is
a Sri Lankan guy that used to be a programer in New
York and is now back in Sri Lanka with his wife and
kids. He sponsors some of the riders that we were
filming in Sri Lanka along with a crew of surfers that
were part of the Sri Lankan Olympic team. They are
really good surfers. I am leaving soon to shoot over
there. It’s going to be something really big I think.
“We will then travel a bit with the film. We are going
to use our network to show it in as many destinations
as possible, in particular Sri Lanka, here in Noosa and
hopefully in San Franscisco and France.
“Our main goal is to promote that country because
it’s amazing. It’s got incredible surfers but no money
to promote them.”
The trip sounded incredible, and as some of these
photos lay testament, it was. Yann forwarded a few
of the photos before we went to print.
With such a diverse array of clients, I asked whether
this presented particular challenges to him and
whether it also entailed investing in an extensive
amount of different gear.
“One thing that a friend and a very good artist told me
when I started pursuing videography commercially
was, ‘Mate, you’ll have to find a line and keep it.
People need to recognise you for that line.’ I fully
heard him, but I disagreed straight away because I
didn’t think that it applied to who I am.
“It could be that it worked for him, because when
you think about painting, it’s true, you don’t want
to paint with oil and suddenly you paint with water
colours or something else – people need to recognise
your style. But with photography and videography,
because we show the world, we have to be able to
show every part of the world and every category of
the world. So, I don’t want to be put in a box. I think
we live in a world where we need to be adaptable.”
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41

This brings me back to my original point about
being true to yourself and what feels right to you, as
opposed to perhaps the conventional approach.
“I grew up doing this. I may not be formally qualified
but I have been to the school of life. I guess that is why
my perception and intuition is different to someone
that has learned it at university. I didn’t want to get
into school, or learn how it’s done, because I didn’t
want to lose that organic vision because I felt that’s
what makes it interesting.
“I love to plan my shoots, but I leave room for the
unplanned side of it too. I like the organic nature of
the unplanned and being in the magic of the moment.
“However, that is something that you can’t have in
Hollywood. There’s massive money at stake and
every single step has to be written down. It kind of
breaks the magic of the moment.”
Considering the trash fire that has erupted in
Hollywood at present, perhaps this pursuit has been
wisely avoided by Yann. In case you are unaware,
chaos has ensued as a result of big production
companies beginning to entertain the idea of using
AI to substitute the distinctive talent and imagination
of writers and actors, who are already tethered by a
system that values profit conservatism over creativity.
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44
“It’s not really the gear, it’s what
you do with it. Don’t get me wrong,
I’ve got really good gear. I’m
working with the Sony A7S III and
R IV, and it gets me amazing videos
and photos, but if you give that to
someone that doesn’t know how to
use it, they will give you sh*t.”

Considering where many creative industries
(mostly the ones with a big commercial bosses
behind the helm) are heading right now, it seems
that art in all its forms is straying more and more
away from challenging, fresh and unique brush
strokes and more and more towards commercial,
and what some may describe as boring, plain
money-making crap.
This is why, in an industry of painstaking,
controlled perfectionism, Yann’s organic shots
are just insanely refreshing to look at.
This leads me to Yann’s gear, which is always a
topic of interest for aspiring videographers and
photographers alike.
“I have been using Sony gear for quite a while.
There’s something to it, and the form factor is a
big deal. I’ve got all my gear in that brand, so it’s
always felt silly to change just because of a trend.
“Sony is comfortable, but Canon and Blackmagic
are also amazing. Anything is good as long as
you know what you’re doing. I just keep Sony
because I love the form factor and the fact that
it’s a bit smaller. Their lens range is also amazing
and good for what I’m doing. It’s perfect both size
and quality wise.”
As Yann reaffirms though, great gear doesn’t
necessarily make for great work. Personally,
I have a set of tools at home but I can assure
you my wife does not even remotely consider
me a tradesman. I am possibly more like Frank
Spencer. Our younger readers won’t even know
who he is but suffice to say, clothes may maketh
the man but tools certainly don’t maketh the
tradesman.
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46

“It’s not really the gear,
it’s what you do with
it. Don’t “I love get to plan me wrong,
I’ve got really good
gear. I’m working with
the Sony S3 and it gets
me amazing videos and
photos, but if you give
that “It’s not to really the gear, someone it’s what you do with it. Don’t get that
doesn’t know how to use it, know they will give you sh*t. how to use
it, it they too will look crap. Give will it to someone give who knows how to you
sh*t.
my shoots but I
leave room for the
unplanned side
of it too. I like the
organic nature of
the unplanned abd
being in the magic
of the moment.”
me wrong, I’ve got really good gear. I’m working with the
Sony A7S III and Sony R IV and it gets me amazing videos
and photos, but if you give that to someone that doesn’t
“People talk about the colour science of say Sony and
Canon, and yes, of course they’ve got different science,
but give it to someone that doesn’t know how to edit, and
edit, and both Sony and Canon will look amazing and vice
versa. I think it’s just about always knowing the gear.”
In terms of water housing, Yann uses SeaFrogs.
“What I love about my SeaFrogs is that, in the housing,
there are these little details like a pump that goes into it
so you can create a vacuum seal inside it. I’ve never had
any fog, which is amazing for me. It’s also got an LED for
leaking, so if any leaking happens you can see it straight
“People
away. That was a game
talk
changer for me.
about the
“When it comes to the form factor, it’s a little smaller
than the rest but that’s a good thing. I have been in really
hardcore situations, and I’ve never had any issue with it,
colour so I’ll keep working science with it. I’ve always said I’ll stay of with say
the team that works. If I wasn’t happy at one stage, I
would have gone for something else.”
And this brings us to surfing. As we are all aware, there
Sony is great surf and in France. Most Canon, of us have heard of Biarritz, and
Hossegor and Lacanau, but how far are they from the
French capital?
“I was pretty much a holiday surfer and snowboarding,
yes, and skateboarding of course was the link between those they’ve
times. It’s
only since I arrived in Australia 13 years ago that surfing
became a entire part of my life routine.
“We mainly surfed all through summertime and then
got snowboarded different during the wintertime because science,
it’s very
easy to access. Going to the snow takes six hours by
train, but it goes pretty quick. I’ve always been into
that stuff and getting the cameras for it. I shot a lot of
but skateboarding give too.” it to someone
that doesn’t know how 47 t
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This explains how Yann became an avid
surfer, snowboarder and skater but I
was curious as to how his relationship
with the two top blokes behind Thomas
Surfboards, co-founders Thomas Bexon
and Jake Bowery, developed.
“That’s the thing, like everything that
I love doing, I need to understand the
“I met beginning Jake of the when idea and then I I really was living here at
get the whole concept of what I like.
the Sunshine That’s why I work with Coast. surfboards, When we first came
that’s why I do all of this stuff.”
here, I was always in the water. I met
both him and then Thomas back when
Jake was still a glasser at Classic Malibu.
“I’ve always been around Thomas and
Jake, we actually all had babies around
basically the same time. They’re my
best friends. Jake’s daughter, Lilly, is
incredible too. She blew up completely
because of her series on Netflix. She’s

I must confess I have always envied those who reside in a place where
surfing and snowboarding are a stone’s throw away. Living on the Sunshine
Coast, I may be close to the surf but the snow is a couple of days drive.
This explains how Yann became an avid surfer, snowboarder and skater,
but I was curious as to how his relationship with the two top blokes behind
Thomas Surfboards, co-founders Thomas Bexon and Jake Bowrey,
developed.
“I met Jake when I was living here at the Sunshine Coast. When we first
came here, 10 years ago, I was always in the water. I met both him and
then Thomas back when Jake was still a glasser at Classic Malibu. We have
stayed very close friends ever since.”
That explains the relationship, but I was equally interested how a talented
videographer ended up working with them at the Thomas Surfboards
factory. I thought to myself, surely this guy can’t be a surfboard shaper too.
Many of us are lucky to possess one talent let alone a myriad of gifts.
“No, I’ve made some boards, but nothing professional. I’m not a shaper.
I’m surrounded by amazing craftsmen, and I will never say that I am a selfshaper,
but if you give me a blank, I can make a board that works. It’s so
good to see it under your feet when you are surfing.
“That’s the thing, like everything that I love doing, I need to understand the
beginning of the idea and then I really get the whole concept of what I like.
That’s why I work with surfboards, that’s why I do all of this stuff.
“Plus, when I’m surrounded with all of these guys it’s hard to not enjoy it.
There’s always something happening, there’s always an idea coming up
that’s so cool and then boom, it brings you some other vision. It’s so good
to work with these dudes and be surrounded with that. I don’t want to leave
that any time soon.
“Anyhow, I don’t shape for them, but I cut boards for them one day a week.
I was a furniture maker for about three years of my life.”
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“The main thing for me now is just to
really get into the organic flow of life.
That’s the main thing that I want to
bring with me – to just enjoy it.”
There he goes, another bloody talent. While I thoroughly enjoyed this
interview, his never-ending list of talents was starting to piss me off.
As always Yann was as humble as could be.
“Yes, I worked as furniture maker. That was after my accident when I
was in the transition of becoming a full-time videographer. One of my
dreams was to work with timber. So, I did that a bit, learned the CNC
machine (automated cutting machine used in furniture construction
as well as pre-shaping surfboard blanks) and that lead me to getting
involved with Thomas and Jake.”
As for the future, Yann will continue to pursue what comes naturally
and go with the flow.
“I just want to keep doing what I want to do at the moment. It’s been
a few months since we had all of those issues last year (Covid). The
main thing for me now is just to really get into the organic flow of life.
That’s the main thing that I want to bring with me – to just enjoy it.

“I could stay from dark to dark in my studio, editing a
real good piece, and I’ll be the happiest man, but the
next day I could be out all day in the water, and that
will be my happiest day.
“I’m really trying to say to people that I go with the
flow, I go organically. That’s the main thing that I want
people to understand about me is that I’m hard to put
in a cage. If you let me follow my stuff, something
good will happen and then we can work together.”
For those on the Sunshine Coast who are interested in
checking out some of Yann’s still photography work
he has a photo exhibition in Noosa on the 28th of
October at L’air Studio in Noosaville. For his portfolio
of videography and still work, you can check it all out
at walkandseemedia.com or go to his Instagram
handle walkandseemedia.
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urfing th
travel
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travel
e dream
As the chilly winds and crisp swells start to melt away, now
more than ever is a great time to get out there and celebrate
the sunshine in a place you maybe haven’t before.
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travel
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54
Despite being a vibrant country with one of
the highest concentrations of islands, coasts
and reefs on earth, Papua New Guinea
(PNG) is an incredibly underrated holiday
destination – especially when it comes to
surfing experiences.
Sure, PNG has an abundance of consistent
swells, gentle winds and perfectly shaped
reefs, but the true surfing luxury of the island
comes from its uncrowded world-class surf
breaks. In fact, the southwestern pacific is
one of the few places where you have the
freedom to carve up some the best waves on
earth without all of the competition.
This is because, in contrast to other crowded
surf destinations, PNG does away with
all possible wave congestion by having a
progressive surf-management plan that limits
the number of people allowed at each surf
break, which is a surfer’s ultimate dream,
really.
Now that the southern hemisphere is entering
spring, peak surfing season is just starting
to emerge in PNG. As it is located just south
of the equator, the island benefits from north
pacific swells during the northern hemisphere
winter months, meaning visitors to the island
are able to take advantage of the swells and
experience challenging surf that often ranges
from three to six feet.
Adventuring to PNG is not just about the
surfing, however. In addition to thick tropical
jungles, high mountain ranges, fascinating
WWII wrecks and spectacular coral reefs, the
island also consists of around 850 tribes who
speak over 839 different languages.
Needless to say, the archipelago makes for
an outstanding cultural experience.
The surf and culture of PNG is truly as
incredible as it is underrated, which is why
we have taken the initiative to list some of
the best experiences in the country, courtesy
of our good friends at Perfect Wave – a
surf travel business that have spent years
finding the perfect swells and epic trips for
adventurous surfers.

travel
Nusa
Island
Retreat
For surfers wanting
somewhere uncrowded,
easy-going and remote.
perfectwavetravel.com
Located on a sandy point and surrounded by an
untouched private beach, Nusa Island Retreat is
a collection of island-style bungalows that cater
for up to six people, with the premium selection of
bungalows being situated over the crystal-clear water.
As the original and ultimate PNG surf resort, Nusa
Island Retreat has an emphasis on relaxation and
style while providing access to an excellent mix of
surf breaks. The variety of waves, some challenging
and other user-friendly, ensure Nusa Island Retreat is
popular with both longboarders and shortboarders.
Pikinini, for example, boasts an extremely fast, heavy
barrelling and shallow right-hand coral reef break that
can peel for up to 200 metres.
The retreat is the most accessible, comfortable and
stylish destination in PNG with the best bar and
dining. As the resort is only a couple of minutes
away from the capital town of Kavieng, visitors have
plenty of access to activities such as fishing, diving,
kayaking and mountain biking.
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travel
Rubio Plantation
Retreat
Perfect for those that don’t
mind a little bit of adventure.
perfectwavetravel.com
Tucked away in the middle of a rainforest, Rubio
Plantation Retreat is an idyllic stay that features
rustic, traditional bungalow accommodation set on
a 76-hectare plantation on New Ireland Province – a
mostly unchartered surf territory.
As well as a private beach, the retreat has a consistent
A-Frame break directly out the front in addition to surf
spots that range from mellow, longboard swells to fast
and hollow reef passes. There are also plenty of great
opportunities to explore the wild coast by land or by
boat.
The local chefs of Rubio Plantation Retreat serve three
hearty meals a day as well as home-made breads
and pastries with tea and coffee being available at all
times. As cocoa beans are grown on the plantation,
chocolate is the resort’s specialty.
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travel
Vanimo
Surf Lodge
An authentic PNG experience if
ever there was one.
perfectwavetravel.com
Vanimo Surf Lodge is a collection of four
traditional beachfront huts that blend
perfectly with the surrounding town and
positioned right on the island’s surfing
frontier. Each lodge has enough space
for 3 to 4 people, with plenty of extra
room for surfboards and gear.
Directly opposite the lodge is Lido
Point – a peeling right-hander that can
break up to 200 metres and is super
consistent during the summer months.
In addition to a wide limestone reef that
offers a great combination of walls and
barrels, Lido’s Left, another popular surf
spot, is only a 250 metre walk away.
The meals provided at Vanimo Surf
Lodge are all cooked traditionally and
made from fresh and locally sourced
seafood, meat, chicken and vegetables.
The lodge even grows its own red paw
paws, which guests are welcome to
help themselves to.
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travel
PNG
Explorer
Charter
An exploration into all of the
wonders that PNG has to offer.
perfectwavetravel.com
After flying into Kavieng in the north
eastern archipelago of New Ireland
Province, visitors can transfer straight
onto a comfortable, airconditioned
boat called the ‘PNG Explorer’.
This charter is a 23-metre live-aboard
boat kitted out with six spacious
cabins, a loungeroom and plenty of
storage for surfboards and gear. In
addition to supplying two high speed
tenders, surfers will also get access to
two jet skis, making it even easier when
traveling to the countless surf breaks
scattered throughout the country.
The PNG Explorer Charter gives an
all-encompassing perspective of the
island and access to everything from
diverse coral reefs and secluded
beaches to natural springs and cultural
dances lit by fire.
Perfect Wave certainly know what they
are talking about when it comes to
unlocking the many wonders of PNG.
As travellers and surfers themselves,
they provide honest advice, helpful tips
and a variety of places to stay – each
with access to the many surf breaks
scattered throughout the archipelago.
For those interested in celebrating the
summer months with a trip to PNG,
or anywhere else for that matter, we
recommend checking out their website.
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travel
Adventure
awaits
Australia & USA World Surfaris Pty Ltd | Perfect
Wave PNG Trekking Adventures | Waterways
Travel | PNG Japan Ltd | Indies Trader Marine
Adventures | Uruna Bay Retreat | Nusa Island
Retreat | PNG Surfaris | Tupira Surf Club | Soul
Safaris Surf Travel | Rubio Plantation Retreat (New
Guinea Eco Tours Ltd) | Vanimo Surf Lodge
Empowering
Communities
Since 1989
sapng.com @surfi ng_png
surfi ngpapuanewguinea
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words amber o’dell
With
the
grain
roam
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Surfing and camping go
hand-in-hand, don’t they?
Not just because some of
the best camping spots sit
adjacent to great surf,
but because surfers are in
their element in the thick
of nature, whether that
be on land or out at sea.
For Robbie Marshall, camping and surfing
have always been closely connected
through a passion for working with timber
and travelling way off the beaten track.
In fact, you could say that he is most at
home when he is whittling away a timber
surfboard in some uncharted part of the
Australian bush with his hand-modified
Troopy by his side.
As the founder of Soul Arch Surfboards,
he certainly knows what he is talking
about when it comes to shaping reclaimed
timber. Some readers may even remember
the last time we caught up with him in
2018, when he was perfecting his process
of crafting wooden surfboards using
purely recycled building materials.
Robbie continues to create some of the
strongest and longest-lasting wooden
surfboards available out of his workshop
in Moruya, New South Wales. However
we were incredibly curious when we
discovered that he has since been
expanding his horizons and channelling
his craftmanship into the industry of metal
and diesel engines.
Robbie said his appreciation for working
with timber first came along after he
started making foam surfboards.
“I tended to always add my own cedar
stringers or fins, so naturally after about
10 years of shaping I totally switched to
making timber boards. You spend a lot
less time fixing and more time surfing with
timber boards.
“Before surfing, I spent a lot of time out
in the bush when I was younger. I had my
first cruiser about 20 years ago and now
things have gone a bit full circle, which is
refreshing.
“When I first pulled my 1974 FJ45 out of
a paddock it had a timber tray on it. That
is when my mate, Dave from Treehouse
Shapes, suggested that I make a timber
canopy for it. I couldn’t leave that thought
alone,” he said.
“The four-wheeldriving
flame is
burning pretty
bright at the
moment. It’s great
to be able to access
hard to reach places
with no one else
around and include
the whole family.

oam
There is a reason why ute modifications such as canopies are rarely
made from timber. Most people that work with cars will know that
carving, shaping and polishing wood is labour intensive, finicky,
expensive and requires an entire new set of skills in comparison to
working with aluminium or steel.
But if anyone could fashion a neat, multipurpose space on the tray
of a Toyota Land Cruiser out of reclaimed scraps of timber, it’s
Robbie. Turns out, just as the inner workings of a wooden surfboard
need to be carefully designed to enhance performance, weight and
aesthetics, so too does a canopy for a ute.
In fact, Robbie said that the Troopy’s camping modification was built
using much of the same methods and materials that he uses for his
surfboards.
“I know how strong bent and laminated timber is, so that’s how
I built the structural components of the frame. Then, there is two
millimetres of cedar bent over the frame, then three millimetres of
plywood and finally an Australian walnut veneer exterior. The canopy
is fibreglassed on the outside and in between each layer with epoxy.
“I have tested it pretty hard and it’s really handling well with no
movement or cracking. The wooden canopy is similar in weight
and strength to alloy but with no welds to crack. The combination
of a good layup technique and fibreglass allows it to hold together
perfectly.
“For me, the main advantage was the cost, as I had my own
materials and could supply my own labour,” he said.
When it came down to the design of the build, Robbie clearly thought
of everything. Not only does its finish look as smooth and pristine
as a surfboard’s, but its sides are also tucked in for greater fuel
efficiency with added rails that allow for a built-in roof rack for a
canoe, swag or surfboard.
After 11 months and countless hours, Robbie completed the canopy
at the beginning of this year, and has already put it to the test with
plenty of family trips the snowy mountains of Victoria, where he
woke up to sprawling views and got to appreciate the crazy wooden
patterns found in area’s native snow gums.
Robbie said, just like surfing his own hand-crafted surfboards, driving
and camping out of something he built has been very satisfying.
“The four-wheel-driving flame is burning pretty bright at the moment.
It’s great to be able to access hard to reach places with no one else
around and include the whole family.
“The highlights are definitely the Victorian high country, that place is
amazing. There was a trip that myself and my better half did in some
pretty morbid weather. We woke up in the snow, but it was so nice and
warm in the canopy,” he said.
Clearly, everything is a lot more rewarding after you have done it in a
beloved, hand-modified 49-year-old Troopy.
Despite spending a few busy years bush-bashing in the countryside
of Australia, Robbie is excited to be getting back into the groove of
creating for Soul Arch Surfboards, and said he will continue to put a ton
of work into getting his timber surfboards perfect as he experiments
with his craftmanship in both the worlds of camping and surfing.
“It’s definitely time for me to make some more timber boards and throw
them on the timber canopy and showcase what I do.
“I will continue to work on some more camp solutions. Hopefully I’ll be
able to offer something down the track, the first camper has definitely
made for a solid blueprint.
“I have collected a ton of timber over the years. It is a great thing to be
able to breathe new life into old, recycled timber. There’s a lot of heart,
soul and warmth to it,” he said.
@soularchadventures
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oam
A path to
seclusion
words amber o’dell
Winter may have
now drawn to a close,
but that doesn’t
stop us yearning for
isolation amid the
untapped wilderness
– especially now
that we can get out
there and enjoy the
pleasant warmth
of our coastal
hinterlands.
Ahh the serenity. In our increasingly
busy lives we all must pause, press the
reset button and get as far away as we
possibly can from the daily grind. Of
course, in our opinion, there is no better
way to do this then by going for a surf
or escaping for a few days to one of the
many Unyoked cabins we have become
enamoured with.
In this edition, which also acts as our
own personal celebration of spring, we
thought to head down to New South
Wales to the lush coastal hinterland of
Kiama – a small coastal town two hours
south-ish of Sydney.
photos supplied courtsey of @the.wandering.boys

oam
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oam
Das
Tucked within the hinterland of
the Illawarra region of New South
Wales, just two hours south of
Sydney, this cabin is a perfect
recharge for when your energy
levels are feeling a bit low. Das
is only 20 minutes away from the
bustling coastal town of Kiama
– close enough for a quick surf
trip, but far enough away to feel
the pleasant weightlessness of
isolation. There couldn’t be a
more perfect stay for springtime.
$283 weeknights
$363 weekends
Price per night in AUD. Two-night minimum
Friday/Saturday. No doggos.
Single week night price an additional $30.
Check in 3pm. Late check out at 11am –
because sleep ins.
What’s Provided?
Bedding
Gas stove
Fan
Towels
Bar Fridge
Plates
Solar Power
Fire Pit
Hot Shower
Picnic Table
Composting toilet
And, TP
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64
Expedition
Packing List
Shoes
Mosquito
repellent
Water bottle
Sunscreen
Flanno
Spreadsheets
Anxiety
Busyness
unyoked.co

oam
As you probably know by
now, Unyoked are experts in
bespoke getaways that focus on
nurturing people’s creativity
and clarity. However, in
addition to giving you a healthy
dose of fresh air, these retreats
also provide the isolation we so
desperately need from the hustle
and bustle of everyday life...
Of course, to get there you need to drive past some of the
most phenomenal surf breaks in Illawarra, so we highly
recommended stopping in for a cheeky surf before trekking
through the serene farmlands, mountains and grasslands of
Wollongong that look like something straight out of a fantasy
novel.
Don’t stress though, despite being peacefully isolated and
nestled in a pine forest clearing a fair bit above sea level,
the cabin is only a 20-minute drive from the coast and all of
those tempting surf spots.
Unyoked has always been spectacular at granting access
to these beautiful, wild places that have been previously
inaccessible. Co-founder of Unyoked, Cam Grant, said their
mission since day one has been to help people have access
to these isolated, natural places more often.
“There’s a few pieces that go into achieving this. Two of
them, stay with us now, are physical and financial access.
“Physically, our pioneering business model and obsessive
design of our cabins make it possible for people to relax,
think and be free in previously inaccessible and uniquely
immersive natural locations in the same time it takes most of
us to get to and from the office in the morning.
“Financially, we’ve intentionally designed every piece of this
thing to make it accessible as possible, while still allowing
us to operate as required to create this unique experience
in addition to providing our hosts with an appropriate level
of income for the access they grant us all and the work they
put in to do so.
“We’re proud to have only ever put our prices up once in six
years, despite increases in cost. But we’re all too aware that
there’s a long way to go to making things truly accessible for
everyone. We believe in a world where we all see and use
nature like we do the gym, and we’re trying hard to make it a
reality,” he said.
As you probably know by now, Unyoked are experts in
bespoke getaways that focus on nurturing people’s creativity
and clarity. However, in addition to giving you a healthy dose
of fresh air, these retreats also provide the isolation we so
desperately need from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
While we often consider seclusion quite a negative thing,
being isolated in the wilderness actually yields endless
benefits for our minds and bodies. With more and more
studies of this nature being conducted every day, we
know now that these advantages range from everything to
improved sleep quality, mood and brain development to
reduced blood pressure, anxiety and stress.
Simply, humans are proven to thrive after being somewhere
far off and deep in the thick of nature, and there’s no better
way to experience that then your own private cabin in the
uninhabited coastal tropics of New South Wales.
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65

urf
hacks
By Indoek (designer), Matt Titone (editor) and gestalten (editor).
Words: Amber O’Dell

We travel around a lot in our editions, but even on adventures to the
most far-off and glorious places on earth, there will always be that
pull towards home. For surfers, it’s often a cosy place to spend time
on dry land when they’re not riding waves, and as both volumes of
Surf Shack demonstrate, they can take many, many forms.
From city apartments, rural cottages and island bungalows to
canyon cabin hideaways, converted surf vans and beach homes – if
anyone could make a coffee table book full of houses interesting,
its surfers. Contained within each Surf Shack volume is a diverse
photographic compilation of surfer’s homes and the myriad of
unique stories and trinkets found within each of them.
As soon as you pick up one of these volumes, you can instantly tell
how much passion went into them. Not only is their contents written
like a love-letter to surfers and their quirky lifestyles, but the books
themselves ooze quality, from their satisfying linen binding to their
super stylish aesthetic and design. Whether you’re into the surfing
lifestyle or not, Surf Shacks Vol. 1 and 2 are addictive reads, and
describe themselves best through their blurbs.
“Surfing is a way of life that’s
dominated by the tides as much as
by day and night. And every surfer
has their own retreat – a place to
crash and relax away from the water
or the daily grind.
“Individuals create these spaces to meet their needs, whether it’s a
weekend bolt-hole beside the sea, a permanent base in the city or
something in between.

“A person’s home says a lot about them and that’s
especially true for surfers. This eclectic group of
people live their lives close to nature, dictated by the
swell of the surf – a lifestyle that shows in how they
create their spaces… effortless environments filled with
natural materials and found objects picked up on farflung
surfing adventures, each home as characterful as
its residents.”
Through personal anecdotes, in-depth interviews and
beautiful photography, these collections are a rare
glimpse into the homes of your everyday surfers. Vol.
1 especially explores the lives of a surfing legend with
a mid-century modern bungalow in California, a board
builder that resides in a converted bus, a Japanese
yoga instructor with a hideaway in the woods and a
magazine founder settled in a 1920’s home atop a cliff
near Bondi Beach.
Vol. 2 is more of the same (which is a good thing!) and
includes surfboard designer Hayden Cox’s minimalist
family home in Sydney, artist Geoff McFetridge’s
ranch-style home in Los Angeles, fashion designer
Cynthia Rowley’s cosy home in Montauk and many,
many more. In fact, each volume has 288 pages worth
of content, so you’ll hardly run out of stories to peruse
any time soon.
Through these surfer’s record collections, backyard
gardens and painting studios we not only see their
unique personalities (and their handy tips on how
on earth to store a collection of surfboards in such
tiny spaces), but also a universal love for the surfing
lifestyle, which is a really nifty thing to have placed in
the middle of your coffee table.

These treasure hunters set out
to create awesome pieces of
art from lost things – which they
certainly did. Using materials
such as weathered fiberglass
boat pieces, nautical ropes,
reef-crusted surfboard fins,
fishing weights and even
discarded sunglasses, they
managed to create mosaics and
sculptures that any other surfer
would die to have hanging up in
their homes.
Indoek
Of course, behind every cool series of books is
an even cooler group of passionate and creative
people. Best described as a company that celebrates
coastal culture through many avenues, Indoek was
founded in 2011 as a blog, before branching out into
various passion projects such as films, books, product
collaborations, art shows and photo series.
Born out of a passion for the ocean (and a slight
frustration with an industry that tends to misrepresent
them), the company’s goal has always been to elevate
surf culture and champion the creative personalities
who have shaped it over the years.
Similar to their Surf Shacks Series, Indoek has dabbled
in other creative endeavours such as a book called ‘On
Surfing: A Collection of Interviews with Surf Luminaries’
and a project called ‘27 Frames’ where the brand
sent 27 disposable cameras out to professional surf
photographers to see what they could do with the oldfashioned
ways of taking photos (spoilers: they can do
a hell of a lot).
The company doesn’t shy away from being that little
bit quirky with their projects either. In 2013, Indoek set
out to document the ‘herculean figure’ of Australian
professional surfer Owen Wright by showcasing
every single dimension of his body with a video
and an interactive website. This experiment, named ‘The
Anatomy of Owen Wright’, set out to study his tall build and
enormous presence and how it breaks the stereotype of
more diminutive professional surfers.
Indoek’s physical space in Ventura County opened at the
beginning of this year and represented a new chapter
for the brand. The space takes the form of an art gallery
and a creative hub for locals, with one of the company’s
most recent exhibits, FOUND, being a collection of works
by Jim Olarte, Mark Cunningham and Cooper Root that
use materials combed from the shores of California and
collected over decades.
These treasure hunters set out to create awesome pieces
of art from lost things – which they certainly did. Using
materials such as weathered fiberglass boat pieces, nautical
ropes, reef-crusted surfboard fins, fishing weights and even
discarded sunglasses, they managed to create mosaics and
sculptures that any other surfer would die to have hanging
up in their homes.
Indoek have so many other brilliant creative ventures
spurred on by their love of surfing and the coast, so if
you want to check out their other projects, they are all on
display on their website.
indoek.com
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ENJOY
THE
RIDE
Interview by Amber O’Dell
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70

One glance at the pastel colours and
delightful characters in Ben’s artwork
and two things are made abundantly
clear ~ he bloody loves what he is
doing, and everything is good.
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71

According to Ben Ross, a regular day of his life in the
Northern Beaches of Sydney goes something like
this – he wakes up, takes the dogs for a walk, surfs, has
lunch, paints, surfs again, draws, sends emails, watches
a movie and falls asleep. What a life.
As a creative, optimistic and easy-going guy, we were
incredibly stoked to have the chance to pick Ben’s
colourful mind, and knew we were in for quite a ride
after he accurately described his artistic career as a
full-time vacation where people pay for his brain.
“Sure it’s a lot of work to be able to afford to be a
full-time artist. There are a lot of meetings, emails,
handshakes and the other normal things that a
business owner does, but to be paid to draw and paint
what’s in your brain – it’s definitely worth it.
“I think the best thing about being an artist would
have to be the respect. I was a builder for 10 years
constructing people’s dreams and not once did
they really respect you or treat you in a manner
that was well respected. As an artist, the respect is
unbelievable, but I suppose that comes with doing
what you love and getting the best you can for your
client.”
Ben’s love for what he does certainly shines through
his artwork. To put it simply, he paints summer, and
that doesn’t just mean he draws sunny days, palm
trees, sandy beaches and surf (although, he captures
those very well too).
Along with his simplistic 70’s Byron Bay style, every
one of his pieces oozes calm, happiness and fun, and
depicts a world full of charming characters that are
not afraid to slack off and take their time enjoying the
world around them.
His art definitely speaks to those who crave simpler
and more easy-going times, which is perhaps the main
reason why his colourful perspective on life has taken
the world by storm over the last couple of years.
Despite having enjoyed drawing for as long as he can
remember, Ben said his bright, feel-good art style
only took hold recently after going through a not-sosummery
time of his life.
“When I was a builder I hated life and tried to jump off
a cliff. Ultimately I failed, but the boys thought that we
needed to get away, so we went on a boys surf trip to
USA and Mexico. I was running out of money quick,
so I decided to hit up a few bars in San Diego to see if
they wanted me to draw for them.
“I was put onto a woman in London that wanted a
caricature in yoga poses all over her studio. I drew
myself, and a few downward dogs later Benny Cools
was born. She hated it and didn’t pay me, but that’s
where my caricatures came from, so thank you to that
woman. It’s been almost four years now and I haven’t
looked back.
“I went to Mexico after that and started painting and
drawing my caricatures everywhere. The biggest
inspiration for my style of art was Mexico, if you’ve
never been I highly recommend, it’s such a clean and
art filled place, it feels like the country is still in the 70s
and pastel colours fill the city streets.”
When it comes to Ben’s pleasing colour choices, you
can pretty much trace every pastel shade back to the
yellow sand, blue sea and pink sky of Mexico. After
borrowing inspiration from the unique coasts he has
visited and drawing from his memories of growing up
surfing and watching movies like Point Break and Fast
“As an artist, the respect is
unbelievable, but I suppose that comes
with doing what you love and getting
the best you can for your client.”
Times at Ridgemont High, Ben designed his iconic
laid-back art style and the caricature that started it all
– Benny Cools.
This cartoon alter-ego was the first summer-loving
character in a long list quirky personalities that are
now seen all over the world in almost every medium
you can think of. Ben is certainly not one to turn down
a new art project, and said almost every job excites
him as he enjoys every aspect of what he does.
“Animations are always good as I don’t have to do
much, it’s all the animator. I’ll draw a few scenes, send
it off and a few months later the animation is in front
of me. Word of advice for the youth looking to get into
art – do animation. There is so much work, you get
paid well and there is f#ck-all animators in Australia,
so there’s a massive market. If you do, hit me up, I’ll
employ you.
“Murals are always more fun as I’m working onsite. I
can have a beer with the owners and just talk shop. I
do enjoy murals a lot more as you can really engage
with the public, you’ll see a lot more smiles and that’s
the reason I’m in the game.”
Many of you have probably seen Ben’s colourful
scenes plastered all over social media and starring
on everything from shirts, shoes and beer cans to
shopfronts, vans and giant wall murals. Big brands
clearly love the positivity and colour behind his
art, as he has a reputation for collaborating with
internationally known names such as Platypus,
Lululemon, Taco Bell, Triple J, Boss Coffee, Dickies,
Rollie Nation and, as he will explain, some of the most
iconic sports teams in the world.
When asked what it’s like to work side-by-side with all
of these huge companies, Ben said they are incredibly
amazing to collaborate with, and even teased that he
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# 57 // smorgasboarder //
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“Big brands know my art and
what I’ll produce for them,
so they rarely ask for me to
change or do anything. They
just give me a budget and let
me do my thing, which I love.
The best way to work is when
there are no restraints.”

has a few interesting stories about many of them that
he can’t spill here.
“Big brands know my art and what I’ll produce for them,
so they rarely ask for me to change or do anything.
They just give me a budget and let me do my thing,
which I love. The best way to work is when there are no
restraints.
“I would have to say the best I’ve ever worked on would
be for Carlton Football Club, as I’m a mad Carlton man.
It was unbelievable to paint at their new facilities at
Ikon park. Seeing all the boys train and shaking hands
with the elite was a dream come true. I recently just
painted at the MCG with Carlton and Great Southern
Bank, which was another dream I never knew I wanted.
“I’m currently on the way to the States to paint Kansas
City Royals. It’s going to be a massive dream come true
to paint for the MLB. I recently finished an art series
card collection for Major League Baseball and drew
clubs from all over the state. To be asked to draw for
the Yankees was unbelievable for me. Almost every day
is an adventure with the art world. I love it.”
It’s no wonder why all these companies flock to intwine
their brands with the summery, feel-good vibes of
Ben’s art. Amid the stress and bustle of today, his
simple and joyful perspective helps others to stop for a
second and get lost in fun scenes and pastel colours,
which is an impressive feat in itself. In our humble
opinion, the world definitely needs more art like Ben’s.
Of course, we couldn’t help but ask him about our
favourite form of escapism – surfing. As you can
imagine, we were incredibly stoked when Ben said he
has a collection of 15 surfboards and rarely strays away
from riding his favourite twinny.
“Oh, I love to surf, I get out at least once a day, at the
moment I’m riding a 6”6 Christenson Twin. It’s one of
the most fun boards I’ve ever ridden and rides superfast
down the lines and turns so smooth. I always feel
like I’m Mikey Feb (February) out there.
“I surf in Newport all the time. It has unbelievable waves
and so many epic little groms doing some massive
tricks. Australia is in good hands if this is the norm. I
grew up surfing the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria,
down Gunnamatta way and occasionally popping into
the ever so versatile Point Leo. Unbelievable people,
but there’s only really one good wave a month. It would
be the best surf in the world if it was always on.
“The sled I use at the moment is Christenson Twin Lane
Splitter. I have a few Haydenshapes boards, with my
favourite from him at the moment being a new series
that isn’t getting much love – the Atelier. It’s a short
board shaped like a mal, and it’s so fun and catches
everything.”
It’s not hard to see where Ben gets all of the inspiration
for his art. He seems to never stop chasing all of the
fun, weird and wonderful experiences that come with
living along the coast, even if it takes him to the other
side of the world. Ben said, as long as he can keep
surfing, drinking, running, swimming, traveling and
getting paid to paint and draw, his life is good.
“I have some massive collaborations coming out this
summer so keep an eye out, I’m very excited about
these. I’m also writing a book at the moment, it’s really
just about the struggles and stories behind being an
artist. I have a solo show coming out early next year as
well which will be a massive dedication to the soul that
helped me get here.
“With my art style I try to put people at ease, I was
going through a really rough time when I first started
drawing these caricatures and they have helped me
through a lot. I really just want to keep illustrating
calmness to let people know that life may be sh#t, but
enjoy the ride. Stop for days and smell the roses.”
# 57 // smorgasboarder //
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B-RAD
# 57 // smorgasboarder //
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Brad at North Ryde Skatepark 1981

As a former Australian Skate Out
champion, past president of the
National Skateboard Association of
Australia, international skatepark
designer and licensee of merchandise
for mobile phone game sensation,
True Skate, it’s fair to say Brad Shaw
has accomplished a bit in his lifetime.
words dave swan
With that said, he’s pretty unassuming,
I simply knew him as the dad of one
of my son’s mates. Funny how you can
meet and greet someone on so many
occasions without knowing the weird
and wonderful journeys of their past.
Brad and I were watching our sons play
footy a few months back and chatting
away when our conversation turned to
surfing and skating. I was curious as to
why he was so knowledgeable about
both, and that lead me to enquire as to
what it is exactly he does for work. His
answer prompted me to invite him for a
coffee the following week and get the
full rundown. Little did I know he was
what I would refer to as a ‘living legend’
of the Australian skateboard scene.
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One of Brad’s latest creations,
a new skatepark in Singapore
Brad was involved
in the early days
of skateboarding
in Australia, back
when Bahne Super
Flex Skateboards
were the craze
circa ’74.
# 57 // smorgasboarder //
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Building ramps in Mumbai, India 2002
Brad Keirle Park, Manly 2003
Brad was involved in the early days
of skateboarding in Australia, back
when Bahne Super Flex Skateboards
were the craze circa ’74. He picks up
the story.
“I got into skateboarding basically
around the same time as everyone
else. I was around ten living in
Sydney. The skateboard craze that hit
Australia was massive after fibreglass
skateboards with urethane wheels
and some skating movies came out.
It was a crazy time. Every kid in the
street was riding skateboards.
“I was into it for a couple of years,
and then I stopped for a bit until
about ’78. It was around this time that
I went to this skate shop, Skateboard
World, and was just blown away
by how much skateboards had
evolved. They were all so modernised
and so much better to ride with red
translucent wheels and wider trucks.
“I pretty soon got back into riding
with my neighbour. We used to skate
these little banks around Sydney that
were obfuscated drains and definitely
not for skateboarding – places like
The Boat Ramp and Harris Park Bowl
were fun, but challenging. This is
when I built my first skate ramp in my
backyard.”
By ’78, the pool skating craze
had made its way from Venice
Beach California to Australia, and
introduced Brad to a whole new
dimension of skateboarding. His
go-to place, along with a bunch of
his mates, was Pymble Pool, a huge
eight-foot-six-high empty pool.
“There were like 30 other local guys
that went there. Everyone knew
everyone because it was the only
spot in Sydney. It was like the one surf
break in town. It was a lot of fun but
had four feet of vert and was scary.
“When that closed, Manly Skate City
opened up and it had all of these
fibreglass ramps. This was a big step
up because it was a smooth and
a proper skatepark. The same 30
guys would skate there for the next
couple of years before another one
opened up in 1980 where I lived in
North Ryde, Sydney. It was a crazy,
massive, concrete thing with bowls,
halfpipes and banks. I was fairly
kinked, but it was my local.”
Brad left school at 16 and started
working at Skateboard world
in Burwood, where he also got
sponsored as a team rider. When
Brad was 17 he moved to Cronulla
and soon discovered a love for
surfing. During that period skating
took a bit of a back seat as he
didn’t have a car and there were no
skateparks nearby. In ’83 he headed
over to California.
“I went to California for a month
with Dave Mock and stayed down
in Solana Beach with Chip Morton.
He was the manager of the Del Mar
Skate Ranch – the main skatepark

where the likes of Tony Hawk and all
of these top pro skaters went. Back
then, Tony was just 14 years old and
a little skinny thing, but you could
already see that he had something
special.”
Now, even if you don’t know much
about skateboarding, it is likely you
recognise this name. Tony Hawk is to
skateboarding as what Kelly Slater
is to surfing. Both are renowned all
over the world as some of the all-time
greats in their chosen sports.
“I lived in California for basically
seven years. I was mostly surfing in
that time. The Del Mar Skate Ranch
closed around ’88, so there was
nowhere to skate anyway except
some backyard ramps.
“One of the guys I surfed with there,
Rick, owned a restaurant up the road
which I worked in for a few years .
He grew up surfing Rincon, which is
an amazing right point break, but he
also used to surf a place called The
Ranch which is a private 10-kilometre
coastline with premium surf breaks.
It’s extremely hard to get to and surf
though.”
For any of our readers who are
unaware, The Ranch is, from a surfer’s
perspective, one of the most coveted
stretches of California coast just north
of Santa Barbara. As it is private
property, the only way to access it is
by boat, or by way of invitation by
someone who owns a parcel of land
in the area.
Envisage undeveloped hills
overlooking a near perfect, consistent
surf break with an empty lineup.
Whether it be myth or legend, The
Ranch is considered to be Valhalla to
many surfers. Back in the 80s, it would
have been even more so. That said,
I have never been, so I can’t speak
with firsthand knowledge. Needless
to say, I was pretty envious of Brad’s
experience. That is until he mentioned
my nemesis, the one thing that brings
out the Chicken Little in me.
“My friend Rick was also friends with
a surf legend named Ray Kunz. He
worked on the gate at The Ranch,
so we got free entry whenever we
wanted. There was hardly anyone
else there most of the time, which was
great, although it was always a bit
eerie because the water was cold
and there was all this kelp. We were
always there quite late too and I was
very paranoid about sharks.”
B-
RAD
Brad at Ryde Skatepark 1985
Back then, Tony was just 14 years old and
a little skinny thing, but you could already
see that he had something special.”
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Ray and Ric
My Ranch access buddies
There, he said it, sharks, and not any old sharks, this
is where the mighty great white shark is seemingly in
abundance. The Ranch is close to the area colloquially
known as The Red Triangle, a roughly triangularshaped
region off the coast of northern California
where around thirty-eight percent of recorded great
white shark attacks on humans in the United States
have taken place — about eleven percent of the
worldwide total. Anyhow I digress, apologies for
my paranoia, back to Brad’s story.
“We would surf at The Ranch and at Rincon a lot.
Rincon, you know, is amazing. It is pretty rare to
find it uncrowded, but it just has these perfectly
shaped waves – probably the best I’ve ever
surfed. We would see Tom Curren out at these
spots sometimes. Surfing there was a real
highlight of my time in California.”
Towards the end of ’86 Brad moved back to
Australia, albeit for only a couple of months.
He had well and truly caught the travel bug
and yearned to return to the United States for
more adventures.
During his time back home, there was a
Coca-Cola skate-out event in Manly.
Specifically, it was the Coca-Cola Pro-Am
skateboarding competition series held at
skateparks around Sydney for the first
time in Australia. Long story short, even
though Brad regarded himself as more
of a ramp skater (and this being a street
competition), Brad won the Manly
regional comp.
“Street skating is when you hit little jumps and boxes.
Back then, it wasn’t like today where it’s so technical. It
was basically just a small bunch of little portable ramps
– no big bowls or half pipes. Anyhow, they had all these
regional events, including one where you could qualify
for a grand final of the Australian Coke Skate Out
championships in Australia’s Wonderland. Even though I
was a ramp skater, I ended up winning the whole thing.”
I must at this point of the story inform our readers Brad
wasn’t all too forthcoming with these details. I had to pry
it out of him, such is his humility.
Brad headed back to the US again for a couple of years
before returning home to Australia around ’87 where he
encountered a bit of a snag in his back-and-forth jaunts
to America.
“I was coming back to California via Hawaii when
immigration went through my stuff and found that I had
a diary note saying I had worked in the US the year
previously. Basically, I got busted by immigration. I
could have gone against a judge and pled my case,
but I wasn’t going to risk it, so 12 hours later I was on a
plane back to Sydney.
“My visa was cancelled for five years. I couldn’t get into
the US. I wanted to go back there though, it was great
– I had friends, a job and a life there. So about three
months later I figured out I could get in via Mexico. I’d
been there before, I knew you could just walk over the
boarder without ID, so that’s what I did.
“I flew into Cabo San Lucas (in the Baja California
peninsula in northwestern Mexico) and then got a flight
back up to Tijuana (near the US border). It was like a
45-hour trip, which was crazy. I had some friends meet
me at the border and I just walked right over it and got
picked up on the other side. I was there for over a year
# #56 57 // smorgasboarder //
80
Brad surfing Drakes at the Ranch, California
Pic by Rick Doyle

Brad headed back to the US again for a couple
of years before returning home to Australia
around ’87 where he encountered a bit of
snag in his back-and-forth jaunts to America.
Brad surfing Drakes at the Ranch, California
Pic by Rick Doyle
illegally, went back home to Australia
to see my family for Christmas, and did
the same thing all over again for another
year.”
Ahh yes, my son’s friend’s dad is a
criminal. Jokes aside, I think almost
everyone around our vintage has
possibly worked illegally while abroad in
their younger years. ‘Things were different
back then,’ we tell our kids, justifying
why we broke the law. We certainly
wouldn’t do it nowadays and advise our
children not to do the same – responsible
parenting 101.
In between his California visits, Brad
started being involved with a shoe
company called Airwalk. This Southern
Californian sport-lifestyle brand was
intrinsically tied to action sports and
music, and in those days was markedly
bigger than the likes of both Vans and
Skechers. It was through working for
Airwalk, Brad got to meet Tony Hawk
and a bunch of the pro skaters that were
then on the Airwalk team.
“In ’92 my father died, so I came back
to Australia to help my mum out. I started
working for Airwalk here for a while as
a national team manager for their skate,
snowboard surf and BMX divisions.
Airwalk had the biggest action sports
team in Australia, so we toured with Tony
Hawk around Australia doing the Big
Day Out Tour.
“My good friend named
Sin was head
designer at
Airwalk, which
was how I
came up with
one of the
iconic Airwalks
shoes called
the Vic.
The Airwalk shoe Brad named the Vic
I stopped working for them in 1997 when
I broke my leg snowboarding.
“Then, around ’98, me and a couple of
other guys I knew created the National
Skateboard Association of Australia,
which I became president of for over ten
years. We did a lot of skateboard events
– everything from national titles and street
events to all sorts of competitions, judging
and coaching.”
In 2002
and
2003,
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81

Brad carving it up today
at the Alex Headland Skatepark
SMP Skatepark in Shanghai, China
Brad during construction of the
Rizhao Skatepark, Shandong, China
Rizhao Skatepark, China
Brad with his sons Noah and Mark
and their True Skate boards
# 57 // smorgasboarder //
82

In 2002 and 2003, Brad
went to India to design
and build skate ramps.
Beach break in Rizhao, China
Brad went to India to design and
build skate ramps. He would
spend the next five years in China,
namely living in Shanghai and
Nanjing, travelling with his wife
and another business associate and
endeavouring to spread his love of
skateboarding and building parks.
However, this was well before
skateboarding was introduced into
Olympics, so its popularity was
nowhere near what it is today. Very
few in China skateboarded back
then, but nowadays there are some
300 skateparks. Indeed, it was
around 2005 when Brad managed
the SMP skatepark in Shanghai – the
biggest skate park, not just in China,
but in the world at the time.
While he was in China in 2006,
Brad also surfed with his buddy
Graham McKnight at Hainan Island
in the south and Rizhao in the north.
“They had perfect, peaky point
breaks and clear, warm water.
When I surfed Rizhao, I was the only
westerner around.
“I’ve built and
designed a lot of parks
in China over the years,
and indeed all over the
place. Around this time
I was involved with the
Chinese Extreme Sports
Association judging
“I think I was the first person to surf
comps and running
events.
this beach break. People were in
awe. I think they were just wondering
what this foreign guy was doing.”
In 2007, it was back to Australia, this
time living, skating and surfing on
New South Wales’ far south coast
in Ulladulla. However, when Brad’s
mum got sick he moved back to
Sydney with his wife and son.
“Around 2008 I was also a private
investigator for a while, mostly doing
surveillance work. I remember I was
watching a very important person’s
house once who had death threats
against him. The neighbours had lit
fire bombs in the house next to his
accidently. Woops.
“In 2009, Cary Pogson and I started
my skatepark business, Sk8Scapes,
which I still have today. We
started building skateparks around
Australia. I was actually still doing a
lot of stuff in China back and forth.
That’s when, in 2013, we got the
contract to build one in Guangzhou,
which ended up being the biggest
skatepark in the world. It’s about
15,000 square metres, over three
football fields, and it’s in the middle
of ten universities and 160,000
students.
“I’ve built and designed a lot of
parks in China over the years, and
indeed all over the place. Around
this time I was involved with the
Chinese Extreme Sports Association
judging comps and running events.
“All last year I was busy building a
big skate park in Singapore. I am
also setting up a skatepark company
in India with a few guys. My wife
is Japanese, so we will launch my
business in Japan very soon as well.
Brad has not only been busy with
skating in the real world, he has
also taken a keen interest in the
virtual world being the international
licensee for merchandising for a
digital skateboard game.
“The game is called True Skate. It’s
become the number one skateboard
game in the world with over two
hundred thousand users a day, so
it’s just massive. The parent company
from Melbourne, True Axis, also
does True Surf, which is a huge
game as well that sponsors the
World Surf League.
“There is also going to be a
snowboarding and BMX game
down the track, as we are planning
to have a complete action sports
portfolio. True Skate is probably the
most serious thing I am working on at
the moment because it’s such a big,
global opportunity.
“We are currently in talks with the
International Olympic Committee
about our game’s e-sport platform,
because the Olympics is reportedly
going to undertake e-sports very
soon.”
It is clear Brad has quite a few things
on the go. Almost as many things as
boards in his impressive skateboard
collection which dates back to the
sixties, but that’s a topic for another
story down the track.
Like I said earlier on in this story,
it’s funny what you find out about
someone who you feel you’ve
known for years when you have a
chat watching your kids run around
a footy field. Brad Shaw, it is both
a privilege to know you and share
your story.
sk8scapes.com.au, trueskate.com/
merch
# 57 // smorgasboarder //
83

hand made
the blank pages
20 23
smorgasboarder
words dave swan
PHANTOM IS
QUICK LIKE
LIGHTNING
So, why get your board made by a local surfboard
shaper? Aside from the assured craftsmanship, i.e.
you know who made it and where it comes from,
there’s the ensuing relationship that can be forged in
the process. A relationship that can develop through
time that will see you receive tailor-made boards
crafted specifically to the way you like to surf and the
waves you ride. In my opinion, you just can’t get the
same experience by buying something off the shelf.
In terms of the relationship that can develop, it is hard
to describe it to someone who hasn’t undertaken
the process. The best way I can convey it is through
sharing the following conversation between my
daughter and the incredibly talented Chris Garrett.
Hopefully Chris doesn’t consider this too intrusive.
Being so humble, I am sure if I asked him, he would
dissuade me from doing so, but for me, it just speaks
volumes about what I am talking about, and indeed
what a wonderful human being Chris is. It is also
incredibly important to point out Chris’s views of
myself, which are of course 100% true and accurate. I
am a top bloke.
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Phoebe: AHHHH I LOVE MY BOARD!!! Oh
gosh. Mum and dad just gave it to me. I cried.
So very nice and I feel so very privileged that
it’s one of your boards! I am so thankful, it’s
absolutely beautiful and I cannot wait to ride it.
Ahhh thank you, thank you, thank you so much
Chris. I feel very spoilt and very lucky, but I just
love it.
Phantom (Chris Garrett): Hey Phoebes, it was
an absolute delight to make this for you and I’m
stoked that you love it so much. It’s even more
special as it’s for your 21st and I have great
respect for your dad. Dave & feel humbled to be
a part of this momentous occasion. Wishing you
all the best for the years ahead and welcome to
the phamily. Love & light xxx
Phoebe: Well, I am absolutely proud to be
welcomed into the Phantom family. The
board goes unreal thanks once again. XXX
Then a few weeks later.
Phoebe: Aahhh CHRIS I LOVE MY BOARD. Ohh
I just had the best surf and that board just keeps
getting better. It is so fun and I just am so stoked.
I love it so much!! Just want to say a huge thank
you again.
Phantom: Hey Phoebe!!! That is such a lovely
message and thank you for taking the time to let
me know. This makes my heart sing…it doesn’t get
better than that! Thank you, thank you, thank you
XXX
And there you have it. Truth be told when I read
these messages it brought a tear to my eye.
When I picked up the board (it was a surprise
present for Phoebe’s birthday), Chris greeted
me and hugged me, he was just so excited about
building the board for her. I just love this guy.
We have shared so many laughs and had so
many great chats through the years of producing
Smorgasboarder. I didn’t know Chris before we
started the mag and now I love him like family. I
cannot speak highly enough of him as a person
and as an incredible surfboard artisan and artist.
As for the board itself, Chris and I decided to
present Phoebe with something a little out of the
ordinary. After all, smorgasboarding is all about
variety and experiencing new things. It is 9’2” (a
little longer than what she is used to riding) with
the added length for getting some momentum
on the predominantly gutless Sunshine Coast
waves. It is a quad, again IT IS built for speed to
get some momentum and boy does it fly. And it
is made with a super lightweight EPS blank and
6-ounce fibreglass cloth. It of course also features
Chris’s incredible artwork. Naturally, if you’re
going custom, you want it full custom, particularly
if you’re intending to celebrate a milestone event.
Chris may have semi-retired, but I wasn’t going
to miss the opportunity to get a board from him,
albeit for Phoebe, although being her dad I am
of course authorised to ride. Chris is amongst a
few shapers on my bucket list I have to acquire a
magic board from. Thank you once again sir for
the experience and the board which is so quick it
almost moves faster than the eye can see. Or, as
the old jungle saying goes, ‘Phantom is quick like
lightning.’
# 57 // smorgasboarder //
85

Gut Slider
Review by Peter ‘Slug’ Slater
Been surfing since my parents bought me a Scott
Dillon pintail mal for Christmas in 1970 when I
was 13, I’m 66 now. 53 years later after a knee
replacement in 2017, and with a knee that won’t
bend much, I was in a place where I thought my
salt water therapy days were over, until I read an
article about the Gut Slider boards made by Ocean
Foil, Keith ‘Robbo’ Robinson in Nambucca Heads.
I contacted Robbo to ask a few questions and to
talk all things surfing. Now courtesy of Robbo and
Bart Watkins of ‘Boards by Bart’ in Maroochydore I
now have two Gut Slider boards. My ‘Torpedo Gut’
board from Bart I first got in the water in February
this year, just in time to get smashed by the big
swell that came in. Then the ‘Gut Slider’ from
Robbo arrived in June so I’ve had a month surfing
that. They are both similar boards, but with definite
design diferences. Robbo is continually evolving
the Gut Slider design and shaping nuances to suit
the unique style of surfing on your guts.
So, what’s the difference between stand up surfing
and surfing on your ‘guts’?
Apart from the obvious, the main things I’ve had
to adjust to (and I still am refining my technique to
this new style of surfing), is that there is no ‘pop
up’, no back foot that can be loaded up to steer
the back end of the board and no front foot to load
up to accelerate down the line. The board gets
steered by using hands on the rail back from the
nose, leaning hard with the inside hip and using
feet as outriggers to enable hard turns.
The nice thing about the take off is that you can
paddle into and ‘take off’ ridiculously late due to
not having to deal with the pop up process. It’s
something I discovered by mistake due to paddling
into a wave that was literally breaking on me as I
took the drop. Lying on your guts means you can
ride out the buffet of the wave breaking on you
as you drop and then trim toward the shoulder or
back up into the green water pocket. Deliberately
padding into something that is breaking has ended
in tears, I have gone over the handle bars a couple
times but that’s just a part of the fun of what we
do.
In conversation with Robbo
regarding the unique technique of
Gut Sliding resulted in his advice
to trim immediately along the face
as you feel the waves momentum.
That was something I’ve learnt to
get right the hard way after going
over the falls a couple times as a
result of trimming too early and
getting sucked up the face of
the wave. A main difference in
technique is to break the golden
rule of looking where you intend
to go as you pop up. But riding
the Slider I’ve learnt to look and
aim at the bowl, rather than
the wave wall, and then look to
target where you want to go.
This gives the board momentum
and avoids the steep face of the
wave sucking the board over the
falls before the board has some
speed to utilise the boards
design characteristics.
Another technique that is unique
to riding on your guts is to use the
feet/legs as outriggers to assist
with turns and slowing the board
to tuck into the steep section
of the wave face. This is advice
Robbo gave me and a technique
I’m yet to get wired. How to surf the
Gut Slider boards is still very much
an evolving learning curve combining
my already known techniques while
adding new techniques and deleting
pre-known concepts that are now not
possible due to not having the ability
to weight up the back foot in turns.
My surf hero was/is Jeff Hakman —
‘Mr Sunset’. Right from the time I first
learnt to stand up to now I always try
to emulate his huge bottom turn. A Mr
Sunset Bottom turn is so far out in front of the wave
that the inside rail scraps on the sand on the beach
before driving back up into the pocket :D.
I’ll make some comments about the design of
the Gut Slider style boards but I’m definitely no
authority on board design theory and concepts.
Both boards are similar length, width and thickness,
6’2” x 23” x 3”. As they are both custom shaped
for me, my personal physical details were factored
in by Bart and Robbo. I’m 5’7” and 98kg, hence
both having reasonable volume. When discussing
with Robbo and Bart pre-shaping the boards, the
only design request I had was that the board be
reasonably easy to paddle and able catch smallish
to medium sized waves. I’m more than happy now
to watch the young chargers take on anything that
is over five foot.
the Main design
difference
between the
two boards is:
The Torpedo
Gut by Bart
is epoxy, has
a rounded
nose like
a mini mal
and wide
fish tail
with about
55 litres of
volume.
The rails have a
soft chime shape
with double
concave from the
mid section to the
tail. Fin set up was
originally a quad.
I’ve had Bart put a
rear fin block in for a
central stabiliser fin.
The Gut Slider
by Robbo is PU
with a rounded
pin nose and tail. The
rails have a very defined
chime edge.
The edge of the chime makes the
effective surfing bottom of the board
as 19” wide, hence when the board is
going rail to rail in turns the board is
behaving as a 19” wide board rather
than a 23” width. Slight concave
in the nose to flat mid section and
then double concave from mid to
tail section. Fin setup was a thruster.
With the Ocean Foil boards Robbo
supplies a leg rope, Slider fins are also
specifically designed for the board
and a Darc stabiliser rear fin.

Both boards are lightning quick when straight lining
along the face. I was surprised at how fast they
really are.
I’ve changed around the fin setup on both boards a
few times to experiment with what seems to work
best, especially in the conditions we get on the
Sunny Coast and specifically as my ‘home’ break is
Geriatrics Reef near Alex Surf Club. The fin setup I
like is Semi Keel fins with the small Darc stabiliser
in the tail. I surfed the boards just as a twinny but
I found that the tail seemed to be sliding a bit too
much and I need the stability of a rear fin just to
keep the twinny setup honest.
I bought a set of Raido keel fins from a local Sunny
Coast fin manufacturer and they are great.
The photos attached show as best as I can the
design characteristics of each board. I don’t have
many photos of me actually on a wave as my wife,
Yvee, who is the official Gut Slider photographer
and not a surfer, keeps saying to me “Do
Something when I’m taking photos”. I’m not sure
Yvee has yet captured the concept of how surfing
works :D.
Those of us who are now in our 60’s, 70’s and 80’s,
the original surf tribe, owe Robbo a huge thanks
for coming up with purpose designed boards that
enable us to keep doing what we love. I know
Robbo is flat out making Ocean Foil Gut Sliders at
his shop in Nambucca Heads. Robbo is fantastic in
his customer service, before shaping my board he
would contact me to discuss exactly what I wanted
and after it was delivered to me he reached out to
talk about any questions I had. He was great passing
on his experience and ideas on the unique technique
of how to get the best out of the Gut Slider style of
surfing.
I’d love to call out to anyone on the Sunny Coast
riding a Gut Slider style board to contact me on
Facebook messenger so we can get together and
exchange thoughts and surf war stories. Maybe the
birth of the ‘Sunshine Coast Gut Sliders’ is imminent.
Peter ‘Slug’ Slater
0414559797
# 57 // smorgasboarder //
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# 56 57 // smorgasboarder //
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# 57 // smorgasboarder //
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