Steve Core Surf

New Book: Australia's Hottest 100 Surfing Legends

2011-11-11T13:49:00.016+11:00

Noosa Heads, Queensland based, surf journalist and author, Phil Jarratt will launch is latest book, Australia's Hottest 100 Surfing Legends at the Museum of Sydney on Sunday afternoon, November 13th.

Four times world champion Mark Richards will be on hand to officially launch the book.

Newcastle's very own super legend;
Mark Richards

MR, whose brilliant Backdoor Pipe bottom turn features on the cover of the book, will be joined by a stellar cast of champions, including Tom Carroll, Terry Fitzgerald, Simon Anderson, Mark Warren, Bruce Raymond, Rob Bain and Captain Goodvibes. Industry legend Shane Stedman [Luke Stedman's father] will co-host proceedings in a chat show format that is sure to produce a lot of laughs.

The launch, to be held in the Museum theatrette, is slated to run from 2:30pm to 4:30pm and is open to the public and free.

Everyone who visits for the launch is invited to view the Museum's current Surf City exhibition, presenting the history of surfing in Sydney from the 1950s, at the concession price of $5.

May we suggest: If you are looking for that extra stocking stuffer for that loved one who surfs - what a perfect opportunity to grab the book, get it signed on the spot and in addition; you'll get to rub shoulders with some of the book's iconic surf legends to boot!

Author Phil Jarratt [right] with 1978 ASP World Champion
and fellow Queenslander; Wayne 'Rabbit' Bartholomew

A cash bar will operate at the lower level and guests are invited to bring the family, enjoy the show, and meet the legends of surfing over a leisurely beer or a coffee.

Author Phil Jarratt will be signing books before and after the show. The veteran surf journalist and author has written 27 books, including Mr Sunset, The Mountain & The Wave, Kelly Slater For The Love, and last year's Salts & Suits, which won him his third Australian Surf Culture Award and was short-listed for the Blake Dawson Prize. He is currently writing the official history of Surfing Australia.

When: Sunday Nov 13, 2:30pm until 4:30pm
Where: Museum of Sydney, Bridge St & Phillip St, Sydney
Cost: Book Launch is free, with cash bar, Bonus: Surf City exhibition for a reduced entry of $5 for book launch attendees.

Website for: Museum of Sydney

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FREE: 18seconds Surf Magazine on-line

2011-10-20T09:29:00.007+11:00

18seconds - Issue No.7
Read it for free on-line

FREE MAGAZINE: The new Issue, No.7, of '18seconds' Surf Magazine is now available on-line. In fact you can read all previous 6 issues for free on their site.

Just in case you’re unaware: 18seconds magazine provides a rich reading experience through multimedia and interactivity, by bringing the best surfing from around the world. 18seconds can be viewed on all media devices including iPads, Iphones and Androids.

In the new issue; they track down Murray Bourton of Queensland-based Base Surfboards and discover, after all the chaos, there are great changes in them hills.

Read it for free on a nice digital platform at: 18seconds Surf Magazine

Don't forget to mark in your calendar:
Mick Mock's Vintage Surf Auction
Harbord Diggers Club
Freshwater Beach, Sydney
Viewing: Saturday 26th November, 2011 - 3:00 to 5:00pm
Auction: Sunday 27th November, 2011 - From 10:30am

Vintage Swap Meet - Coolangatta

2011-10-01T11:55:00.000+10:00

Underground Surf
One Slightly Obsessed Collector holds his own Swap Meet

Coolangatta Event poster

Slightly obsessed - they're the best kind aren't they?

Co-owner of Underground Surf in McLean Street, Coolangatta, Andre 'Ondi' Marsaus has his own Vintage Swap Meet coming up on Saturday 8th October, 2011.

A highly impassioned collector, Ondi, runs the surf emporium with his partner Maree.

So if you're in the market to buy/sell/swap up any old vintage surfboards or related gear, the Southern end of the Gold Coast is the place to head on October 8th.

If you want some of idea how deep Ondi is in - you have to have a peek at the current issue of the awesome free bi-monthly surf magazine, Smorgasboarder.

They just published a two-page spread featuring Andre 'Ondi' Marsaus and part of his collection of over 300 boards. [see insert right].

Meet the Fleet: This assemblage of foam and fibreglass
represents about one quarter of Ondi's classic
surfboard collection. Above are pages
48-49 of the new Smorgasboarder Magazine
[Click to enlarge]

Event organisers, Ondi and Maree are on the lookout for more contributions to add to the gathering. So if you have something to display or offer, consign, swap, or just want to get an appraisal done - then make sure you contact them.

Should be a real fun day and a good chance to rub shoulders with many fellow enthusiasts. It's always interesting to see what gets dragged out from the rafters.

This is all part of testing the waters for the big Bleach Surf Festival that will be coming up on the Gold Coast in February in 2012.

Here's the skinny...

Location: Underground Surf
Date: Saturday 8th October, 2011
Time: 10:00am until 2:00pm
Call: 07 5599-1040 for more info or help

READ FREE: The new 164-page Smorgasboarder Magazine on-line. Click here

You may also be interested in:
Our report from Mick Mock's 2010 Vintage Surf Auction

You can purchase Steve Core's '75 Ocean Rhythms DVD at Underground Surf, Coolangatta

All '60s mystery surfers identified

2011-09-23T10:54:00.003+10:00

Classic surf photo from the early sixties
Cronulla surfers all identified

Good friend, life-long Cronulla surfer and avid board collector from the Stringerless era; Larry Cohen has managed to shed some additional light on the mystery '60s surfers photo published last Saturday in the Sydney Morning Herald.

Photographer Bob Weeks captured this rare shot
of these Cronulla surfers at the Ulladulla
Golf Course Reef back in the early sixties.

Larry lives just a few doors up from John Coleman, who we identified as the young 'Gremlin' in the photo earlier this week in a story.

John dropped in to visit Larry and could clearly name all the guys who were in the photo. As John tells the story, he was around 14 yrs old at the time and the photo was taken around 1963/64. He goes on say that all the other guys in the photo are much older than him, but they let him tag along on surf trips just because he was such a good surfer.

The photo, which turns out to be a fashionable time stamp of the times, was taken by Bob Weeks and the location was the famous Golf Course reef at Ulladulla, on the NSW South Coast.

'60s shot of Nigel Dwyer glassing boards
at Norm Casey Surfboards, Taren Point.
Photo from the Nigel Dwyer,
Del Surfboards Collection, NZ.

Identified and hand marked in the photo above; are Cronulla's top surfers from the era, here's the entire crew: John Coleman, John Gittins, Nigel Dwyer, Robert Ayers and Tony Nicholas.

A surf industry person, Nigel Dwyer worked at both Jackson Surfboards and Norm Casey Surfboards. Nigel moved across the pond to North Island of New Zealand in 1965 and founded Del Surfboards in New Plymouth and is still entrenched there - some 46 years later.

Cronulla's loss was New Zealand's gain. Nigel became and essential part of the development of surfing in New Zealand and to this very day, still makes a major contribution. Take a look at his Del Surfboards website - it has a timeline of some awesome old photos on there.

All this is perfect timing for this nostalic photo revival action as it will all be vividly relived starting tonight at the Surf City Exhibition at the Museum of Sydney.

If you like this, you might also like:
Huntington Beach surfboard pioneer 'Gordie' passes away
Manly's Heritage Surf Shop to close its doors
Surfing in Vietnam during the Vietnam War

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Photo: Typhoon Wave Power

2011-09-23T09:20:00.003+10:00

Pure Ocean Power
Massive waves lash Japan's Tsunami ravaged coastline

Tokyo: A powerful typhoon slammed into Japan Wednesday, halting trains and leaving 13 people dead or missing in south-central regions before grazing a crippled nuclear plant and heaping rain on the tsunami-ravaged northeast.

Giant waves generated by Typhoon Roke explode against
the breakwaterin Udono, Mie Prefecture, Japan.

The storm, packing sustained winds of up to 100 mph, made landfall in the early afternoon near the city of Hamamatsu, about 125 miles west of Tokyo. The fast-moving storm went past the capital in the evening and then headed up into the northeast, where it eventually lost strength.

Tokyo, where many rush hour commuter trains were suspended, stranding thousands of commuters who were trying to rush home were stuck at stations across the sprawling city. More than 200 domestic flights were cancelled.

Parts of Japan's central city of Nagoya, about 170 miles west of Tokyo, were flooded near swollen rivers where rescue workers helped residents evacuate in rubber boats.

Toyota Motor Corp., Japan's No. 1 automaker, shut down its plants as a precaution. Machinery maker Mitsubishi Heavy Industries told workers at its five plants to stay home, company spokesman Hideo Ikuno said.

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Puzzle: Mystery '60s surfers - problem solved

2011-09-20T22:02:00.000+10:00

Can you name this surfer? I can.
Sydney Morning Herald's lost '60s surfers

From last Saturday's Sydney Morning Herald.
Surf City Curator; Gary Crockett holding the board.
The young 'gremmie' sitting on the car [arrowed] is
Cronulla's 14 year old, John Coleman.
[click to enlarge the photo]

As the countdown draws near to the opening of the Surf City Exhibition at the Museum of Sydney later this week, the Sydney Morning Herald last Saturday published this montage of photos and asked if we [the readers] could name any one in the photos.

In the group shot of the guys sitting on the car, perched on the far left of the car [with my arrow] is life-long Cronulla surfer and resident, John Coleman.

John was one of Cronulla's hottest young surfers throughout the sixties to the mid-seventies. Getting his picture regularly published in the surf magazines in the late sixties when I was just a struggling grom.

Above, John Coleman [left] and Steve Core
just a week ago at the Bobby Brown
Exhibition at Jackson Surfboards.
Photo: courtesy Jackson Surfboards.

John, like myself, these days is in his very early sixties and still lives in Cronulla and still surfs at every opportunity.

He can be easily spotted in the line-up at Sandshoes Reef, where he's been a local stand out surfer for 45+ years. Ripping it up on his Force 9 thruster.

By the way, that cool looking car in that photo above is a classic '46 Ford sidevalve V8 Super Deluxe Sedan - which incidentally, also came in a distinguished wood paneled [Woody] station wagon version - see photo below.

So not only do I know John, and have done so for decades, we were both pictured together just a week ago at the Bobby Brown Exhibition at Jackson Surfboards in Caringbah.

Mystery solved.

Steve

DETAILS: The Surf City Exhibition opens this coming weekend at the Museum of Sydney and will run right through the Summer.

RELATED: Want to see some of the realy cool surf related photos capturing the bygone era of Sydney's surfing scene that Curator Gary Crockett has unearthed? Then check his: Surf City Blog

End note: How cool does this beautifully and
authentically restored '46 V8 Deluxe Ford Woody look?

Phuket: It's just a wave

2011-09-18T22:14:00.001+10:00

Phuket: It's just a wave
It's just another empty wave - but isn't that we're all searching for?

Everyone thinks there's no surf in Phuket, Thailand. Wrong. I guess it's because it really has not had much coverage globally. But check out this photo that Saltwater Dreaming's Rick Gamble has sent us that was taken this week - just as their wave season is supposedly coming to an end.

No big deal - it's just a wave. But this is Surin Beach, about 10K's North of the popular Patong Beach. So how about the size? Compare it to guy you can see paddling out.

Surin Beach, Phuket, Thailand this week.
Surin is home of Saltwater Dreaming Surf Shop.

If this sparks your interest in perhaps travelling to Phuket, then I suggest you have a good look over Rick Gamble's Saltwater Dreaming website. It's got a surf report and all the good information about breaks, conditions and wave season.

Phuket's best waves are on the island's West facing beaches - in the vast Andaman Sea.

Phuket doesn't get the deep ocean swells fanning over an abundance of reefs like Bali. But it's beaches are nice and white, the waters are crystal clear and really warm all year round. All you need is a bit of Monsoonal activity offshore and bingo - you've got nice little waves to have some fun amongst.

Rick Gamble is an Aussie ex-pat and has the only true salty surf shop on the island. Apart from carry everything you need for any kind of wave riding or SUP, Rick also makes his own local formula Surf Wax called Gekco Glue surf wax - ['cause Geckos can stick to the wall - get it?]. Nice one Rick.

"Undoubtedly the island's best Surf Shop" - says Lonely Planet

Steve

Steve Core's Ocean Rhythms now available on DVD

You might also like:
3rd Quiksilver Thailand Surf Competition
Surfers in Vietnam during the Vietnam War

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Event: Seventies Sessions

2011-09-17T10:07:00.001+10:00

PT's Seventies Sessions
A no pressure, no judges, fun event

My good friend, former '76 World Surf Champion, Peter Townend [PT], is putting on what he calls the Seventies Sessions Surfing event this weekend in his home beach of Huntington Beach.

In the true spirit of the decade of the Seventies, this weekend in Huntington Beach as part of the new 'Surf City Days' weekend the inaugural 'Seventies Sessions' event will take place.

In a celebration of the surfboard culture that swept the globe in the Seventies, heavily impacting in Huntington Beach, this event was inspired by the Golden Breed Expression Sessions on Hawaii's North Shore in the early Seventies. These events were less about competition, they had no judges or scoring system, no winners and losers, but instead were focused clearly on the creative individual expression of wave riding.

The 'Seventies Sessions' will be no different says PT, with a congregation of forty-eight [48] participants gathering in front of the Waterfront Hilton to surf from 8:00a.m. until 1:00p.m. on Saturday September, 17th. Then retire back across the street to the Hilton Hotel's 'West Coast Club' to drink a few beers and 'Talk Story' on those who surfed best and the stories behind the boards they brought to ride.

Here's the unique hook; participants are required to bring their own boards and those baords must have been made under a Huntington Beach surfboard maker's label during the time period of the Seventies.

Photo #1 - PT riding his hollow W.A.V.E.
surfboard at Tea Tree Bay Noosa, 1974.
Photo: Steve Core

Some of those classic '70s Huntington surfboard brands are still around like Check Dent, Randy Lewis, The Greek and Robert August, some have left town like Infinity and Walden, while others have become extinct like Plastic Fantastic, RC, Hawk, David Nuuhiwa/Dyno, Carl Hayward, Bronzed Aussies, Wayne Brown, Corky Carroll Spacesticks, Sunline, Creative Designs and Gordie.

RELATED: Huntington Surfboard Pioneer 'Gordie' passes away.

The format is much the same as the original North Shore, Hawaii event, with four one hour heats of twelve and one final one hour heat 'Free For All' with everyone invited to participate - to express themselves on their vintage weapon of choice.

PT, late afternoon backside turn
at Gas Chambers/Rocky Point,
North Shore, Hawaii.
December '77
Photo: Steve Core

Event producer and organiser Peter 'PT' Townend of The ActivEmpire [ATE] says; “I participated in the last of the very original Golden Breed Expression Sessions on Hawaii's North Shore and that's where the inspiration for this event is coming to me from - only this weekend our event will adapt a localised Huntington Beach flavour”.

Of further interest, PT also posted a couple of old surfing photos of him [taken by me] on his Facebook site this week. I had not seen these photos in many years and they come to us from courtesy of the extensive PT Collection.

Photo #1 above: We were chasing some cyclone surf and headed up North to Noosa from the Gold Coast. Ended up with some nice clean surf at Tea Tree Bay, Noosa. I took this shot from sitting on my surfboard with my Nikons II waterproof film camera in 1974. PT is riding is hollow W.A.V.E surfboard. This is the same board that he rode in the "Pipeline Rights' sequence in my 1975 16mm film 'Ocean Rhythms'.

Photo #2 [left] Originally a Kodachrome slide, I snapped this shot very late one overcast afternoon at Gas Chambers/Rocky Point in Hawaii a few days before Christmas in December '77. PT said this week, that this is just about his favourite backside shot of himself ever.

The view down over Huntington Beach from
the rooms at the Waterfront Hilton. Nice.

Thanks for sharing PT and we should have some photos of the Seventies Sessions to post next week.

Steve

Ocean Rhythms is available on DVD
Some Ocean Rhythms stockists are: Saltwater Dreaming Phuket - Heritage Surf, Manly - Jackson Surfboards, Caringbah, - Express Surfboards, Taren Point

Something to add or say? E-mail us at: swapsurf@gmail.com

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Manly's Heritage Surf Shop to close its doors

2011-09-13T20:11:00.003+10:00

A unique Manly Surf Shop falls victim to floundering times

Heritage Surf's founder:
Chris Moss

Things are tough across the board in surf retail right around Australia and Surf Shops have not been spared. After a long slow Winter, Summer can't come soon enough for some. This week Manly’s well known Heritage Surf Shop, announced that it will shutter its doors on October 12th, 2011 and cease trading.

Owner Chris Moss said that due to increased competition and brittle economic times, the store was under performing and was only marginally cash flow positive. Our forecast, he said, indicates slow to negative improvement in all our market segments, so therefore we'll be taking down our shingle. He stressed that this was not a bankruptcy – but rather sliding out gracefully with a soft exit. All our creditors will be paid he confirmed.

Classic wood not chrome.
A corner Surf Shop in the older,
more traditional motif.

A finger count of Surf Shops in the greater Manly area will fill more than two hands. With fourteen Surf Shops in one major beach location, the economic pie can only be divided up so far.

Heritage built its strength by offering a unique selection of smaller to medium brands. Choosing not to carry the major surf brands but supporting the likes of Patagonia, Toes on the Nose, Okanuis, Deus, Critical Slide Society.

Closing the store is the action that will be taken to optimize their current buoyant financial position. Current sales cannot support the assortments and staffing that the company believes the store should be offering.

Across the surfing market, sales at stores that have been open for at least one year, or same-store sales, are considered a key gauge of a retailer’s health. Many Surf Shops are reporting same-store sales for domestic locations falling for several of the last fiscal years. The ranges vary from location to location.

A lot of Surf Shops have not produced top-line growth for several consecutive seasons according to an analyst report released last month. [Top line is a term used by the industry to refer to revenue.]

Many shops are also cutting prices to chase sales, but this tactic is usually unable to translate into positive sales revenue growth.

CommSec economist Savanth Sebastian said although $265 billion passed through the nation's cash registers in the past financial year, it was the weakest annual growth in 50 years.

"The Aussie consumer is certainly depressed. The latest figures show that consumers are still unwilling to spend despite cheaper prices. It highlights how tough business has found the past year," he said.

The effect of weak retail sales is profound. It can lead to a build-up of inventory, a profit killer for retailers, and curbs their appetite to place orders, which is a killer for suppliers. For listed companies, the effect is falling share prices, tighter margins and negative investor sentiment, and for those unlucky enough to be renegotiating debt - good luck.

Finally; Google Earth will now have to update their Street View
image of the Heritage Surf Shop corner that has been
a fixture in Manly for the past 5 years.
*This image taken from Google Earth.

For the next month Heritage Surf will be clearing out their stocks with a Grand Closing Down sale. Clothes, boards, wetsuits, posters and Sydney's best and widest selection of surf books and DVDs are all being marked down to go.

If you are missing something for the collection - here's the opportunity to fill the gap at a closeout price.

Check their website and Heritage Surf are located at 24 Darley Road, Manly - go grab yourself a bargain. You've got until October 12th!

You might also be interested in:
Qld veteran forced out by cheap Asian imports

Something to add or say? E-mail us at: swapsurf@gmail.com

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Bobby Brown: Back to the Heartlands

2011-09-11T10:27:00.003+10:00

Bobby Brown Exhibition at Jackos

Part of the Exhibition in the Jackson Surfboards
showroom in Caringbah.

The Bobby Brown Exhibition yesterday returned to Brown's former mystical home at Jackson Surfboards showroom in Caringbah. The official unveiling launch yesterday, marked the start of the 10-day temporary exhibition.

This concept collective is set in a venue that has been a surfboard-maker's showroom for the last 48 years. Its daily role is normally an impressive collection of surfing memorabilia and accolades. Artifacts on display represent milestones to not only Bobby Brown, but fellow surfing luminaries and immortal Jackson stablemates like; Gordon Merchant [founder of Billabong], Laurie 'Froggy' Byrnes, the late Frank Latta and a host of others.

At a time when we all get hectored about lowering our expectations, surrendering our attention spans, and settling for less - a deeper look at the small Bobby Brown collection wants us to demand for more.

Even though as diverse as surfing is now, and being rather somewhat fractured with sub cultivations, it is worth noting that this exhibition, in this showroom, captures the sense of deep culture that embraces all surfers - no matter what they ride or how or when they rode it.

From left; Curator Andrew McKinnon, Steve Core
and veteran South Coast photographer Dave Milne.

The offering is the culmination of several years of research by self-recruited curator Andrew McKinnon. As the last winner of the Bobby Brown Memorial Contest in 1970 and holder of [what became] the perpetual trophy, Andy Mac was there yesterday to chair the floor, fill in any missing gaps and assist guide the launch.

Amid the distinctive special guests were Brian 'Jacko' Jackson, down from his semi-retirement home of Crescent Head. Founding Surfabout Magazine publisher, a doyen of '60s surf photographers, Jack Eden and his wife Dawn. Because of the strong, life-long connection of Jack Eden and Jackos, Eden's powerfully iconic images of Bobby Brown surfing were debuting to the public in this format for the very first time.

Amongst other special guests were Bobby's older brother John Brown and fellow Cronulla surfing great, now surf artist, Garry Birdsall. In his address to the gathering, John earnestly recounted great stories of growing up in an unremarkable Cronulla in the '50s and '60s. When the vast Kurnell peninsular sand dunes sprawled right down into Elouera Beach and there was a dairy farm close to the breaking waves.

Cronulla surfing legend, Garry Birdsall [left] and
Surfabout founding publisher, Jack Eden.

In summary, everyone seems to agree that Bobby Brown was a certain World Champion in the making. Nobody really says 'Number One'. Therefore; carefully not claiming any significant rating of who was the best, even though the deepening interest in old surfing is diverse, the idea of a numerical ranking is not hardwired into surfing's DNA.

There's a huge trust factor with many of Cronulla's old surfing guard and a small posse [that are still left in the Cronulla area] ventured out to pay homage at the exhibition and recount old times. I spotted Mark 'Bluey' Aprilovic, Bruce 'Fox' Hennesey, Andy Britton, John Coleman, Freddy Farmer, John Vass, John Veage, Chris Stroh, Greg McCarthy, Dave Milne, Jamie Hocking and Lazza Lane. Apologises to all those I don't know or didn't recognise.

Many thanks to our hosts; Jackson Surfboards owners since '97; Jim and Christina Parkinson and Dave Mattison

The Exhibition runs for the next 10 days and guess what, in this day of tightening purse strings in the community - it's totally free. No matter what label you ride or where your allegiances may lay, drop in and check it out and say Hi to the good folk at Jackos.

For an extensive photographic coverage of the launch festivities, see the Jackson Surfboards Facebook site.

All the photos in this report are courtesy of Jackson Surfboards.

Steve Core

If you like this you might also be interested in:
Huntington Beach Surfboard pioneer 'Gordie' passes away
Bobby Brown Exhibition launch on the Gold Coast - November 2010
PT's Seventies Sessions

Something to add or say, email us at: swapsurf@gmail.com

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California mourns the passing of another Surfboard building legend

2011-09-01T10:30:00.003+10:00

Iconic Californian Surfboard builder has passed away

Newport Beach, California: Robert ‘Russell’ Brown, founder of Russell Surfboards, who shaped custom surfboards in the city since the 1960s, has died. He was 63. Brown hanged himself, the Orange County Coroner's office has determined his death to be a suicide.

Robert 'Russell' Brown founder

of Russell Surfboards at the

'Echo Beach' movie premiere.

Brown was known for his handmade surfboards, and had become a legend in the Southern California surfing community, since opening his shop, Russell Surfboards, on the Balboa Peninsula, in Newport Beach in 1967.

On Tuesday, flowers lined the Newport Boulevard shop, some with pictures of children with their first board purchased from there.

Russell, as most knew him, intentionally never changed with the times. He didn’t shift his small shop Russell Surfboards to adhere to the big business of the surf industry. He proudly ran a core surf shop – you’ll find no clothes for sale, except for the Russell Surfboards shirts he’d give away most of the time. Boards were the business here, hundreds of them lining the Newport shop.

Russell Surfboards Surf Shop this week in Newport Beach, closed
as a mark of respect to the founder's passing.

The surf world is now mourning the loss of another classic surfboard maker, who was one of the first to hit the scene in Newport Beach and whose name was synonymous with this part of the coast. If you rode a Russell, particularly in '70s, those next to you in the line up immediately knew you hailed from Newport Beach.

As news of his death spreads, friends and loved ones are remembering Russell for his character, and his contributions to the surf culture.

Customers and friends have been flooding into his shop – which was just recently moved from its long-time location to just north of the Newport Pier, closer to the beach.

Longtime surfer and Newport resident Tom Cozad posted this on his website www.newportsurfshots.com

A note of thanks and and a last
goodbye to Robert 'Russell' Brown

[click photo to enlarge]

“No other surfboard manufacturer has had a grip on the Newport surf culture as long, or as strong, as Bobby “Russell” Brown and his Russell Surfboards has. The older Blackies crew can be found cruising on his boards. The younger Upper Jetties crew can be found flying around on them. And the Underground Point and School Yards crews can be found pulling into pits throughout the world on them. No one person has transcended the vast array of Newport surf crews over the years like Russell has.”

Russell laid down the roots of surfing in Newport, and soon the scene exploded with the start of big brands taking over. While Russell was still a household name in the ‘80s, it wasn’t long before most surf shops were carrying the latest expanding lines of beachwear, sunglasses, and everything in between.

Not at the Russell Surfboard shop.

“There was all this potential money making, but he wanted to stay in his purist surfing ideals,” Reynosa said.

He often ate any profit on boards – if a board had a tag on it for $400, but a young surfer only had $200 in his pocket, he’d say ‘just take it kid, get outta here’, Reynosa recalled.

Despite his rough exterior, Russell has been described as a modest and generous man who became a dedicated friend to many.

Floral tributes garnish the
door of the Russell Surfboards
Surf Shop this week in
Newport Beach.

“The thing that set him apart was his complete lack of ego,” Reynosa said. “He didn’t even understand why anyone would think much of him, or why they would want to take a picture with him. He could never figure out why people wanted him to autograph his surfboards”

Friends say they’ll miss dinners shooting the breeze, the life lessons he shared. They said they hoped to share and maintain his legacy.

“The past few days, people have come in and out of the shop. I never really knew how much he was respected,” said employee J.P. Roberts. “He loved to build boards, he made them all by hand all these years. There are not a lot of shops like this left, but we’re going to try to keep it going.”

Customers and friends have been flooding into the shop - which was just recently moved from its long time location to just North of the Newport Pier, to be closer to the beach.

Russell is survived by his wife Cynthia, brother Richard, and sister Nancy. Thousands of surfers are expected pay tribute to Brown on Sept. 10th and attend a paddle-out at Blackie's, adjacent to the famous Newport Pier, at 7:30 a.m.

Compiled from various US Sources, with special thanks to the Orange County Register, Tom Cozad and Nisha Gutierrez-Jaime for the shop photos and who is the local editor of the Newport Beach Patch.

Have a comment or something to say? E-mail us at swapsurf@gmail.com

You might also like:

Qld Surf Industry Veteran Forced out by Cheap Imports

Vintage Car Takes out Vintage Surf Shop

Huntington Surfboard Pioneer 'Gordie' passes away

National Alaia Title migrates South

2011-08-31T12:49:00.033+10:00

Southsiders take franchise on new Alaia Australian Title

Cronulla-based surfer and more importantly, Sandshoes local, Matt ‘Cookie’ Cook almost pulled off a National Title last week when the first ever Alaia surfing champion was crowned at the 2011 Australian Surfing Festival in Port Macquarie on the mid-NSW North Coast.

Standing tall in Timberland; with their engineered organic lumber after the blue ribbon event:
the finalists in the inaugural Alaia National Titles. Including Cronulla's Matty Cook [red rashie]
who managed a superb 2nd place in Port Macquarie.

First place went to Bondi's Barney Quinlan in the white rashie.

In an amazing era where pro surfers on the world tour now can score more points for maneuvers they perform in the air, [and not on the face of a wave] a growing group of enthusiastic surfers have propelled themselves back to surfing's most ancient wave riding roots.

Ian Bell of North Haven, NSW in sliding Alaia action.

Ian also won the Men's Single Fin National Title.

Photos Courtesy of Surfing Australia

Australian surfing history was cast in the surf at Port Macquarie last week, at the 2011 Australian Surfing Festival, where the first ever Australian Alaia champion was created and crowned.

Port's Town Beach provided the ideal arena for the maiden Alaia final, pumping out some great conditions for the traditional Hawaiian surfboards, almost fit for a king.

In the final, contested in clean 3ft waves, Bondi's Barney Quinlan etched [just couldn't save carved] his name in the record books, on his finless wooden form to trump runner-up, Matty Cook, of South Cronulla, [Sandshoes] NSW, and Ian Bell [North Haven, NSW], and Jarrad Davies [Margaret River, WA].

Bondi's Barney Quinlan holds aloft the first ever trophy

for Australian National Alaia Champion. While Cookie
[in red] is just stoked to be on the podium with 2nd place.

Barney Quinlan who competed in the final on a beautifully hand carved wooden Alaia, looked in sync with the traditional ancient art of surfing, which is finding its place in the Australian Surfing scene.

It seems this group of surfers are true, to use a cricketing term; 'all rounders' and very adaptive. Cookie normally rides long boards, short boards, single fins and Alaias.

The 5'10" Alaia that Cookie rode in the final, he lovingly hand tailored from Paulownia wood [an incredibly light hardwood] just the week before the contest and had never ridden the board prior to arriving in Port Macquarie.

Boosted by its new found popularity, Alaia surfing continues to grow in Australia and the addition to the 2011 Australian Surf Festival, sparked interest amongst spectators and competitors who witnessed the historical moment in Australian Surfing history.

Well done Cookie - holding the Cronulla flag high.

Steve

Watch a video with some highlights of the event...

Something to comment on or say? E-mail us on swapsurf@gmail.com

Check our new surf swap blog: http://www.swapsurf.com/

Surfers in Vietnam during the Vietnam War

2011-08-23T10:28:00.035+10:00

Surf City: A perspective of Surfing in the '50s, '60s and '70s.

The countdown is on to muster the nostalgia; we are now just one month away from the opening of the Surf City Exhibition

To capture and present these iconic times, Surf City's curator, Gary Crockett has been publishing some fantastic photos encompassing the era. Of particular interest are images captured during the Vietnam War ['62-'72] while Australian servicemen were taking R&R on 'Vungers' Beach [Vung Tau] in South Vietnam.

A 'friendly' Douglas A-1 Skyraider makes a high-speed, low

pass directly over US servicemen while they enjoy the

waves along Vung Tau Beach, South Vietnam in 1967.

Retired US Army Vietnam veteran Ron Sizemore contributed this amazing photo taken along the 'American stretch' of Back Beach, Vung Tau, and Ron wrote this from his home in the US:

"I took the picture in Dec of 1967 with a Pentax 35mm camera. Here is the story. The plane [I believe a Douglas A-1 Skyraider] had made one pass at that low altitude when I was coming out of the surf. I saw him on his way back toward us and I started running to the Lifeguard tower - because that is where my camera was.

The guy next to me hit the deck [sand] and I stayed on my way. I knew he was going to return for another pass. The second pass was a high one and the third was again low - right on the deck. It was my understanding that we, [the Yanks, Americans] had given the A-1's to the South Vietnamese and it was a friendly South Vietnamese pilot doing the flying. On his last pass he did a `victory roll' that I was unable to capture."

Vungers Beach in South Vietnam; an Australian serviceman on R&R

in Vietnam carries his Australian-made Gordon Woods surfboard
from the surf. Note the rolled barbed wire lining the beach.

Images from: Charlie Don't Surf - But Aussies Do'.

While many young Australians were enjoying the freedom of surfing their local beach at home, our nation had diggers deployed in Vietnam, putting themselves in harm's way to protect and serve our country.

Over 500 Australian servicemen lost their lives in Vietnam, and we had over 3,000 wounded.

We like to thank all those brave young Australian servicemen and women for their service and their sacrifice during the Vietnam Conflict.

We hope that any/all Vietnam veterans will get a chance to visit the Museum of Sydney and view the Exhibition.

Both Vietnam images above are courtesy of the great Queensland website: Charlie Don't Surf - But Aussies Do'.

The Surf City Exhibition will be on at the Museum of Sydney from September 24th 2011 to March 17th, 2012.

Have a comment or something to add? - Email us at: swapsurf@gmail.com

Question: Which current ASP Head Judge is also a current World Champion surfer? You'd be surprised. The answer here.

Lady Gaga takes surfing lessons in Mexico

2011-08-20T10:52:00.025+10:00

Hitting the waves; celebrities Lady Gaga and David Beckham...

Up and riding a new wave, Lady Gaga has taken to surf like a pro
this week in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico taking her first surfing lessons.
Photos & Story from Pop Crush

Over the years there have been tons of celebrities that have hit the surf.

In what only could be considered another boost for surfing's world wide image, super star, the Monster Godess herself, Lady Gaga has gone 'Wax On' during her recent time off South of the Border.

While on vacation in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, the 25-year old pop star was spotted and photographed hitting the surf and taking her first surfing lessons.

According to the pop info website WENN, the native New Yorker, Gaga was given tips by a local pro and was a natural in taking to the new sport very quickly. While she wasn’t exactly sprining up to her feet and carving right off the bat, the ‘You and I’ singer was able to take small steps in getting up on a couple of waves.

A passerby told the Sun newspaper, “For a relative beginner she took to surfing really well. She started quite slowly learning how to bodyboard first and then she was able to work up to progress to standing up on a wave - she made excellent progress.”

David Beckham and his two sons hit the surf at Surfriders
Beach in Malibu, California on their bodyboards.

Photos Courtesy of WENN

While not quite on a struggling surfer's budget; Gaga allegedly stayed in a $7,000-a-night hotel suite in her posh Mexico resort, while shelling out $240 for her personal surf lesson. The uber-fit star did properly ride a wave by the end, so it looks like it was worth every penny.

Gaga is set to perform at the iHeartRadio Music Festival at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on Sept. 24. Four days later, she’ll open at the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards, where she’s nominated in four categories, including Best Female Video for ‘Born This Way.’

Meanwhile in California, another world-wide mega star, David Beckham was spotted hitting the Pacific Ocean surf on a bodyboard with his two sons, Brooklyn and Romeo, who also joined their famous Dad out on bodyboards.

Check my brand new blog; Swap Surf - a blog [as it grows] that will list, detail and report on Surf Swap meets, exhibitions, displays and any dry land surfboard events. Click Here

Something to add or say? E-mail us at: swapsurf@gmail.com

Impressive Debut: To have a look at a series of still photos of Lady Gaga surfing in Mexico - hit play on the You Tube link below;

You might also like:
Surfing in Vietnam during the Vietnam War

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Phuket Surf: 3rd Quiksilver Thailand Surf Competition 2011

2011-08-15T21:47:00.024+10:00

Waves for Phuket surfing event could be hit or miss... but stay for the good times afterwards

Quiksilver Surf House opened this month in Patong.

To provide information and surf awareness for the

hoards of International beach goers and surfers
that visit Phuket annually.

I didn’t know to much about surfing on the island of Phuket in Southern Thailand before the airline I work for, Strategic Airlines, started flying there from the start of 2011. I have made some twenty trips there this year and I have started to get to know the place a little bit.

And yes; Phuket does get surf and does have waves. Certainly not anything like the quality, size and power of Bali, but as all surfers know, anywhere where to ocean meets the land and waves can form and break - surfers will be out there trying to ride and conquer them.

With Andaman Sea water temps consistently around 27°C [80°F], crystal clear waters and white sandy beaches - Phuket's beach and reef conditions are as near perfect as any tropical island resort or surf location anywhere in the world.

Next month in September 2011, the island of Phuket will host the 2011 Quiksilver Thailand Surf Competition. There are already more than 100 surfers registered for the competition. Overall, about 300 surfers are expected to compete in the event which include four classes: long board, short board, women and masters [for surfers over 35 years old].

Surfers will be winging their way into Phuket from many countries: USA, Australia, South Africa, Japan, Taiwan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore. These visitors will help boost the local economy during the low season.

Local Surf Shop owner and Phuket's resident surf guru, Rick Gamble of Saltwater Dreaming in Surin Beach,
swings into a backside move to get around a crumbling section of foam at Kamala Beach in Phuket.
Photo: Neil Armstong Moonwalker Photos

Phuket surfing culture got a boost this month with a major retailer opening a 'surfing promotional center' at Jungceylon shopping mall in Patong Beach.

Quicksilver Surf House opened to promote the upcoming Quiksilver Thailand Surf Competition 2011 and to grow Phuket’s surfing culture, Quiksilver Retail [Thailand] Ltd General Manager Surached Mungthong said. “I would like to help expand the surfing community in Phuket and enable more tourists to experience surfing here. Surf House staff will suggest places and times to surf, as well as help beginners join a surf school in Patong,” Mr Surached said.

Staff will also give out information about the 3rd Quiksilver Thailand Surf Competition 2011 to be held in Patong from September 21-24 in front of Phuket Graceland resort.

This year, the event will become one of six ranked competitions in the ASEAN Surfing Championship held in Thailand, Taiwan, Korea, Indonesia and Malaysia. The event will also include a “surfing festival” with fashion, music and sports activities.

Local staff man the new Quiksilver Surf House in
Patong's busy Jungceylon Shopping Centre.

“This year we are holding the competition in Patong Beach because I would like to send out the message that you can surf at any beach in Phuket, not only at Kata Beach,” Mr Surached said.

“I would also like to have more people take part in the fun activities like a surf show by a famous international surfer, surf clinic and games on the beach. On the last night, we will have a live concert on the beach,” he said.

Quiksilver will also co-operate with the Phuket Marine and Coastal Resources Conservation Center to organize a sea grass planting event for the surfers near Pa Khlok.

To register for the competition or for more information, visit: Quiksilver Thailand and Thailand Surf Rider Magazine and Thailand Surfing Organisation.

The Surf House is on the ground floor of Jungceylon near the entrance to Silang Blvd Hall and will be open until the end of September.

For great airfares to Phuket from Brisbane and Melbourne check Strategic Airlines

For Surfing information on Phuket I can highly recommend the experts on surf spots, equipment, surfing lessons, board hire or anything surf; you must check Saltwater Dreaming in Surin Beach. Click on the banner below for SWD's On-line Surf Shop and where ex-pat Aussie Rick Gamble is owner/operator.

Something to add or say? E-mail us on swapsurf@gmail.com

To check out our new Surf Swap blog Click Here

Exhibition: Legend Bobby Brown - the Edge of Glory

2011-08-12T10:09:00.028+10:00

The starlit wave is still, home is the surfer, home from the sea...

Bobby Brown in the North Cronulla
shorebreak in '62. Photo: Bob Weeks

[Click to enlarge]

After successfully touring the East Coast from the Noosa Festival of Surfing earlier in the year, down to Victoria for the 50^th Anniversary of the Bells Beach Easter Pro Surfing event, the exquisitely put together Bobby Brown Exhibition is coming to Bobby Brown's spiritual home in Sydney's South - in the Sutherland Shire.

The Exhibition will be on display in the showroom of Jackson Surfboards in Caringbah for just 10 days. From Saturday September 10th until Sunday September 18th, 2011.

The Exhibition forms part of the Jackson Surfboard’s “living history” philosophy, which works to bring to life the sights, sounds and people who made history in the early days of surfing, surfboards and the golden age of Australian beach culture.

I was on the Gold Coast 10 months ago for the opening night of the Bobby Brown Exhibition at the Surf World Gold Coast Surf Museum in November 2010. To view my original report of that launch night and my summary of the exhibition click here.

The Exhibition is meticulously put together by its Gold Coast-based curator, former pro-surfer, Andrew McKinnon. As a 16-year old surfer back in 1970, Andrew was the last winner of the third and final Bobby Brown Memorial Surfing Contest held on the beaches of Cronulla.

Rabbit co-MC'ed the opening
night at Surf World on the Gold
Coast last November. Photo: Core

As an extension of all his research into Bobby Brown’s history, and inspired by the depth and expanse of the story, Andrew is currently working on a book that will encapsulate the life and times of Bobby Brown - surfing legend.

If you want have a look at a nice clip of the Exhibition you can see the clip that was posted on the Coastalwatch website by clicking here.

This showcasing at Jacksons will be the last public display of this collective for some time, so if you are from any part of Sydney, or for that matter, anywhere in NSW, you might want to plan a trip to Sydney's South side over this 10-day period to check the exhibition being held in one of the very surf establishments in which Bobby Brown spent the early part of his surfing career.

At the Gold Coast launch, Cronulla
surfing identities, Steve Core [left]
and guest speaker Gary Birdsall.
Photo: Terry Baker

So mark it in your diary or stick a post-it note on the fridge. On Saturday 10th of September there will be an official launch function, kicking off at 1:00pm ,with a free sausage sizzle. Special guests will be Bobby's brother; John Brown and pioneer surf photographer and publisher of Surfabout Magazine, Jack Eden.

Next year, Jackson Surfboards will celebrate their 55th year in the business and they have been in the same location for the past 48 years. That was long before Mick Fanningg was even born! That's some history in this young sport of ours.

Check on-line at: Jackson Surfboards

or the Jackson Surfboards Facebook site

Or have a look at the Bobby Brown Surfing Legend website.

Check out my new blog on Surf Exhibitions, Forms, Swap meets and dry land surfboards events. Called Swap Surf Click right here to see it.

Something to say or add? E-mail us at swapsurf@gmail.com

Ex-Cronulla surfer takes World Surfing Title

2011-08-05T10:43:00.068+10:00

How a surf judge perfectionist, who painstakingly agonises over every ride, became an unlikely specimen World Champion...

Ex-Cronulla Kiwi surfer, currently New Zealand's top world-rated, European based ASP Head surfing judge, Iain Buchanan dusted off his competitive prowess again in taking on the living super legends of the sport - to poach the World Grand Masters Championships crown in Brazil this week. Rendering himself the first Kiwi to claim the title.

There has been a long standing stigma about surf judges, a belief in some critical corners that they may not know enough about wave riding's intricacies. Iain has beautifully interwoven the harmonies of riding a wave with the requirements of interpretive judging skills, breaking any disconnect that may have been layered between the two pursuits. Iain's soaring victory in Brazil, creating surfing history, will instantly end such idle chatter from any self-styled experts.

Leaving his Winter base home of Biarritz, France, Buchanan was over the moon to be even invited to the prestigious event. The World Masters invitees compose up 16 of the most iconic surfers this planet has ever produced. In the final, Iain defeated renowned robust competitor and former World Title holder, Queenslander, Wayne 'Rabbit' Bartholomew.

Ex-Cronulla Kiwi, Iain 'Ratso' Buchanan raises the spoils of his victory in the ASP's World Grand
Masters Championships in Arpoador, Ipanema, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil this past week.
'Ratso' also picked up a check for $25,000 for his awesome efforts. Photo courtesy of ASP

A retired ASP Pro-Tour surfer himself, Buchanan needed to switch hats and transfer his vast accumulated judging experience back into the water at this event to come away with a good result, something he was confident in doing.

"I've been judging the best surfing in the world for the past few years, so I think I know what the judges are looking for. But all the guys I was up against are hardened veterans and truly seasoned competitors, and they know how to win heats and indeed they have all won major contests and world titles. It was very competitive for sure."

Shaun Tomson (ZAF), aged 55, a quarter-fianl
victim to Iain Buchanan in Arpoador, Ipanema.
Photo Credit: © ASP / CESTARI

In a spectacular start to the man-on-man section of the event, Iain took out former World Champion, South African, Shaun Tomson in his first quarter final. Tomson also was returning to competitive surfing after a multi-year hiatus in retirement.

Iain then accounted for Aussie legend Glen Winton. While Rabbit knocked out Thruster Inventor - Simon Anderson in the other semi-final to reach the Grand Final. All these surfing legends help revolutionise surfing in the '70s and '80s.

"I was originally the head judge for the event," Buchanan said. "But some invitees couldn't make it, and I was next on the list, so the ASP asked if I wanted to compete."

Ironically, it was the first time Buchanan had entered a serious competition as a competitor since the 2003 New Zealand championships in Dunedin, where he won the over-35 and over-40 divisions.

Five time New Zealand Champion, Iain Buchanan
on his way to victory at Arpoador, Ipanema, Brazil

Photo Credit: © ASP / CESTARI

The waves at Arpoador, are mostly beach breaks, but predominantly a fast breaking lefthander, suited Buchanan who spends most of his time surfing the Piha bar at the south end of Piha beach, during his New Zealand summer breaks when he comes home from Europe.

"I'm hoping they'll ask me to judge (next year)," Buchanan said. "That's what I was originally going to do. When ASP's Al Hunt and Head Tour Judge, Richie Porta talked me into surfing, and I'm glad I did. I'm happy to get the spot I did, but there will be other guys that qualify next year, and I'd love to judge".

What a great result and story. Iain rocks up to Brazil thinking he's going to judge the world's best surfing legends in a Masters event. But instead he transposed his role, took to the water and became a competitor. Along the way he steam-rolled over some ex-World Champions and ended up taking the first place trophy in the event!

So he's a Current World Grand Masters surfing champion and a current ASP head Surfing Judge - what a combination. That unique 'double' has never been achieved previously by anyone. So from everyone in Cronulla; - your life long dream of becoming a World Champion as been realised - well done Ratso! We are proud of you mate [and he is an old mate].

To read Iain's more than 10 year history in Cronulla, including working behind the counter at Mark Aprilovic's Cronulla Surf Design and shaping at Gordon and Smith Click here

Check my brand new blog; Swap Surf - a blog [as it grows] that will list, detail and report on Surf Swap meets, exhibitions, displays and any dry land surfboard events. Click Here

Something to add or say? E-mail us at: swapsurf@gmail.com

Watch some Grand Masters, Brazil highlights below on You Tube...

Huntington Surf Pioneer passes away

2011-07-26T16:53:00.000+10:00

Surfboard Pioneer 'Gordie' has passed away in California

The man credited with helping turn Huntington Beach into Surf City has passed away. Pioneering surfboard maker Gordie Duane was helping to transform Huntington Beach into a surfing capital when he received the city's first ticket - for surfing illegally.

The surfboard shop he opened at the foot of the town's pier in 1956 also served as a hangout for local kids who skipped school to catch waves. Huntington Beach took aim at the behavior by banning surfing after 10am, then made a statement by singling out Duane as the first official scofflaw, he later recalled.

Gordie Duane in 1988. His boards were prized for their
craftsmanship and design. Gordie's early commercial presence
helped establish OrangeCounty's Huntington Beach as

the 'Surf City' it is today. Photo: LA Times

"Back in 1956, they didn't want surfing in this town. Man, they thought it was a bad element," Duane told The LA Times in 1997, the year he was inducted into the Huntington Beach Surfing Walk of Fame.

Duane, whose custom made surfboards were prized for their craftsmanship and design, died July 27, 2011 of natural causes in Huntington Beach, he was 80.

"He was sort of the Mr. Big of board making in Huntington Beach at a time when Huntington was regarded as the board-making center of the world," in the late 1950s and early 1960s, said Matt Warshaw, author of "The Encyclopedia of Surfing."

When Duane opened Gordie Surfboards, dozens of other surfers were making and selling boards, but only his good friends Dale Velzy and Hobie Alter had similar storefront retail operations in Southern California, Warshaw said.

Gordie Surfboards' display booth at Surf-O-Rama

during the sixties in California.

As balsa wood gave way to polyurethane foam-core surfboards, Duane was among the first manufacturers to strengthen them in 1958 by incorporating a thin strip of wood — called a stringer — down the center from nose to tail. That concept endured and became and industry standard.

"They're still like that," Duane told The LA Times in 1980. "I have a reputation for being a rebel, okee dokee, but history is still history. God, if I'd have patented that!"

The surfing community nicknamed him the ‘Compton Cabinet Maker’, a nod to his beginnings. Regarded as a talented surfboard shaper, he originally honed his skill with wood while working at his uncle's cabinet shop in the Los Angeles suburb of Compton.

"Gordie was a supreme craftsman and his shapes were better than most," Steve Pezman, publisher of the Surfer's Journal, wrote in a remembrance.

The classic 'Gordie' Surfboards logo and in behind

it - the wooden stringer - a 'Gordie' innovation

In the late 1950s, Duane was also known as the "King of the Abstracts" for dramatic designs that ran the length of the board, according to Pezman.

After a 1958 fire destroyed Duane's shop, he reopened nearby on Pacific Coast Highway and remained in business until 1988. "He truly helped turn Huntington Beach into 'Surf City,'" said Tom Hamilton, who joined the local surfing scene in the 1960s. "He was one of the industry giants."

Gordon Patrick Duane was born Feb. 2, 1931, in Los Angeles and learned to surf in his early 20s while serving in the Navy at Pearl Harbor. He made his first surfboard out of surplus balsa wood from Navy rafts. Upon leaving the military, he moved to Compton and started making commercial surfboards in his parents' Lynwood garage.

He made over 6,000 balsa boards before the invention of the foam blank. To stop the the early new foam blanks from bowing, Gordie cut them in half and put a wooden stringer in them - being the very first to do that. Between '56 and '80 - he shaped, glassed and produced about 50,000 modern foam and fibreglass surfboards.

As a surfer, he was a member of the Hole in the Wall Gang, a Huntington Beach group that was the hottest team in amateur surfing in 1977. At the time, members ranged in age from 23 to 54 and had won about 20 Western Surfing Assn. contests in a row. The Hole in the Wall Gang was inducted into the Surfing Walk of Fame in July. Duane's survivors include a daughter.

Read the full story in the LA Times

Vintage Car Takes Out Vintage Surf Shop

2011-07-17T17:37:00.027+10:00

Vintage car takes out Vintage Surf Shop - but no fear; some Vintage CHiPys are on the scene...

A wayward car takes out the front window of 'The Greek' Surfboard Shop in Huntington Beach.
Photo Courtesy of the OC Historical Blog

Just love this classic black 'n' white image above - which shows Bob 'The Greek' Bolen's retail Surf Shop which was [in those days] located right on the Pacific Coast Highway in Surf City; Huntington Beach in the sixties and seventies.

After an automobile accident on the busy PCH, the vehicle has careered out of control and crashed through the shop's front plate glass window taking some brick work and the supporting frame work.

With his clipboard out, and in attendance on the far left, you can see the classic 'Chippy' - a member of the California Highway Patrol. [Hands up those who can remember the lightweight CHiPs crime drama on TV in the late seventies?]. In the State of California, CHiPs are responsible for patrol jurisdiction and enforcing law on California roads and highways - they also act as State Troopers.

The famous 'Surfboards by the Greek' logo

Surfboards By The Greek was a creation of a true Californian surfing legend; Bob 'The Greek' Bolen, who grew up surfing the beaches of Orange County.

Nicknamed 'the Greek' by high school buddies because of his Greek ancestry, he decided to call his brand 'Surfboards by the Greek'. By his own admission, he figured names like 'Surfboards by Bob' or 'Surfboards by Bolen' weren't going to cut it.

'The Greek', as he is known in the Surfing Industry, started surfing in 1958 and began shaping in 1959. The Greek started out making surfboards for himself and a few friends, but it was a local bicycle shop owner who gave him his first shot at building boards commercially. Witnessing the huge growth in surfing's popularity, he asked Bob to make boards to sell in his bike shop.

Bob in the halcyon days of Surfboards
by the Greek in Huntington Beach.

In 1960 Bob opened his own shop, where he manufactured and sold surfboards. The shop closed its doors way back in 1980. But thirty years after shutting the Surf Shop, Bob is still just around the corner where he sells real estate. His office, at 322 Main St, in Huntington Beach, also features a small 'Surfboard Museum'. The accident photo above came from the Huntington Beach Historic Resources Board.

Even though he shut the doors of the shop in the summer of 1980, Bob never traveled far from the beach he loved or the surfing industry he helped change with his now-famous surfboard shapes such as the The Maui Model, The Eliminator, The Liquidator, The Pickle and The Outlaw (among others). More recently he has added The Stylemaster and The Shorty to his growing list of memorable designs.

In 2011 at 68 years old, Bob 'The Greek' Bolan is still considered by many of his peers to be an all-time master of his craft. 'The Greek' has been designing and shaping custom surfboards for over 45 years. In 2006 he was inducted into Huntington's Surfing Walk of Fame.

Today: Californian Surf Legend Bob Bolan in his unique
Huntington Beach Surf Museum/Real Estate Office

To this day, you can still check-out his surfboard designs when visiting Huntington Beach Realty... a real estate office/surf outlet, where Bob is the Broker/Owner as well as the President of Surf Incorporated.

Bob says; "my office looks more like a Surf Shop than a Real Estate office". The office is located right on Huntington's famous Main Street at 322 Main Street in Downtown Huntington Beach, CA 92648.

After all these years; Surfboards by The Greek are also still available. Click here for their website.

Steve Core

AUG 2011: Check my brand new blog; Swap Surf - a blog [as it grows] that will list, detail and report on Surf Swap meets and dry land surfboard events. Click Here

You might also like:
Huntington Beach Surfboard Pioneer 'Gordie' passes away

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Surf School Instructor sees amazing sight in the surf...

2011-07-13T23:22:00.016+10:00

Surf School students take a pause in their lessons to watch the launch
of the Space Shuttle 'Atlantis' last week from Cape Canaveral in Florida.
Photos courtesy of Florida Today

I am a big fan of the Space Shuttle program and I am very sad to see the program come to end. On my many surfing expedition trips to Florida over the years, I have been lucky enough to witness first-hand, three live launches of the Space Shuttle over it's 30 year history - which covered some 134 mission launches.

I have to say, it's one of the best things I have ever seen with my human eyes!

My good friend from Florida, Surf Contest Announcer and founder of Indo Boards - Hunter Joslin took me too my first ever live launch of the Space Shuttle back in 1983.

Together we had just done the commentary for the '83 OP Pro in Atlantic City, New Jersey and had driven and surfed the entire US East Coast from New Jersey all the way down to reach Hunter's home in Florida.

The Mission logo from STS 08
from back August 1983

On the 30th of August 1983, Hunter and I were standing on the beach at Cocoa Beach at 2:00am in the morning to watch the first night launch of just the eighth shuttle mission ever [STS 08] and it was flown by the Space Shuttle Challenger [that was subsequently lost in a disastrous fashion during take-off on January 28th, 1986].

I am also reminded in looking at the photo at the top, I have some really good friends who are Surf School Instructors. One of them is Cronulla's own Mark Aprilovic.

A time exposure of a Space Shuttle launch, as reflected in
the waterways behind homes near Cocoa Beach, Florida.

Mark runs the very successful Cronulla Surf School in Cronulla. Another good Surf Instructor friend is Rick Gamble.

Rick, an expatriate Aussie, is the only fully qualified instructor on the island of Phuket in Thailand. [Yes, Phuket gets surf]. He also runs the only hard core surf shop in Phuket located in Surin Beach - the shop is called Saltwater Dreaming.

I wonder if my good Surf Instructor friends like Mark or Rick will ever see anything like a Space Shuttle being launched while giving a surf lesson in Cronulla or Phuket? Quite an amazing distraction as you paddle back out to the line up eh?

In the photo at the very top taken last week; Lauren Holland, holding the board on the right, is a surf instructor for School of Surf in Cocoa Beach, Florida points out the launch of the final Space Shuttle Atlantis to two of her surf students Sam Jannke, 10, left, and his brother Gianni Jannke, 12, from out in the surf off the end of Minutemen Causeway in Cocoa Beach.

What a classic backdrop sight to have during your first surfing lesson.

Steve Core

AUG 2011: Check my brand new blog; Swap Surf - a blog [as it grows] that will list, detail and report on Surf Swap meets and dry land surfboard events. Click Here

Surf Industry Veteran forced out by cheap imports

2011-06-29T09:22:00.015+10:00

After 42 years making surfboards, original Emerald Surfboards founder Steve Griffiths is forced to quit the industry - why?

Blackwidow Surfboards owner Steve Griffiths says Chinese imports are forcing local board makers out of the industry. Picture: Robyne Cuerel. Source: The Sunday Mail (Qld) - Feb 2011.

Sunshine Coast, Qld: Ex-Cronulla surfer, master surfboard craftsman and the original founder of Emerald Surfboards, Steve Griffiths has been forced out the industry he loves.

Cronulla surf icon, Steve Griffiths started shaping surfboards at Gordon & Smith in Taren Point in 1972 and went on to found Emerald Surfboards in Taren Point in 1978. He sold the Emerald business in 1982 and moved to Queensland's Sunshine Coast to manufacture Black Widow custom surfboards.

Here's the story courtesy of the Queensland Sunday Mail: Australia's iconic surfboard makers are giving up after a futile battle against cheap mass-produced Asian imports.

After 42-years in the industry, craftsmen like Steve Griffiths, from the Sunshine Coast, are closing their factory doors. An influx from China and Thailand in the last five years made it hard to etch a living, but the last year has been killer.

Mr Griffiths has posted a "For Lease" sign outside his Warana factory, Black Widow Surfboards, and may try medicine cabinet making. Industry insiders have warned this scenario is being repeated across the country also because of an economic slowdown.

Mr Griffiths said Australia was losing more than just locally made surfboards. "The thing with China and Thailand is there will be no innovation, only copying," said Mr Griffiths.

"All the innovation from guys who shaped boards in their backyards, and made boards better and tried new styles, all that will be gone." Surf shops are making huge profits on imported boards because of the massive mark up.

Mr Griffiths said a Chinese longboard was imported for about $300 and sold for about $1100 - an $800 profit. But the Australia version cost about $1000 to make and retailed between $1200 and $1400 - only a maximum $400 profit.

"The only reason people go to Asia is to make more money. You don't go there for a better product," said Gold Coast materials supplier Darren Burford. "(But) the end user doesn't see the better price. It's the guy selling it that gets more money."

Surf shop owner Neil Raaschou makes a point of supporting local craftsmen and stocks 90 per cent Aussie boards in his four stores. However Mr Raaschou does sell quality Asian-made beginner boards, like mini mals, because of customer demand.

"It does serve a purpose. Generally the beginner and novice market is driven by price because they don't want to fork out a lot of money," he said.

As a consoling tribute to Steve Griffith's years of fine craftsmanship and creativity, collectable Emerald Surfboards in good condition, bring high prices at surf swap meets and surf auctions across the nation.

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Cronulla Point - A Gathering of Regals

2011-06-07T22:50:00.016+10:00

Cronulla Point has seen a host of big-time, International surf stars tackle the testing reef wave location over the years. Even the prominent Pro Surf Contests of the eighties hit The Point. But it's the resolute group of hard core locals, that form the pre-'85 Cronulla Point surfers who have planned an assemblage for Saturday June 11th, 2011. It will be a time for some of the old gang to reunite their once puerile bodies and banter about the classic good old days.

The group of young 'old timers' are prepared to ride a wave of nostalgia when the
Cronulla Point boys get together again on June 11th, 2011. [Click photo to enlarge].

One of Cronulla Point's most enduring photos. Garry Birdsall
taken by Bob Weekes was featured on the cover of
Sydney based band - The Atlantic's 1962 album 'Bombora'.
Image courtesy of Cronulla Surf Museum

Looking back; the famous Hawaiian surfer, Duke Kahanamoko even took to the untamed waters off Cronulla Point during his 1915 visit to the Shire. So did the group of touring American surfers who came out during the Olympics in Melbourne in 1956. They impressed the pants off all the locals with their [then] modern fibreglass covered 10 foot solid balsa boards. Many heroes, villains and monster waves and come and gone in the years in between.

Localism ruled and strict pecking orders were an unwritten form of the 'chain of command' at all of Cronulla's breaks and each surf spot had its own homies. There were The Alley boys, The Shoe's Crew, The Wanda gang, Midway boys, and the various board riding clubs. The Point surfers had its gang too, with names like Popout, Rolf Rotten, The Bear and The Reptile, just to mention a few.

Over 100 of the lads, many of who have long since de-camped, will rally at Club Cronulla [formerly Cronulla Bowling Club] on Saturday June 11th to talk about tall tales and true from the legendary past. I've got a strong feeling there'll be some invention at the convention.

If you feel you qualify, a pre-paid cost of $95.00 includes at 3-course meal and some drinks and a collector's edition t-shirt artfully put together by Point veteran, Mark Aprilovic, the original founder of Cronulla Surf Design, now head honcho of the Cronulla Surf School. Enquires go to PO Box 149, Cronulla, NSW, 2230.

Steve Core

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Memorial Service for Russell Hughes planned for Toronto, Canada

2011-06-06T12:25:00.009+10:00

A more recent photo of former 60's and 70's
surfing great Russell Hughes.
Photo courtesy of the Kew Gardens Tennis Club,
Toronto, Canada

As we now well know, former legendary Australian surfer, Russell Hughes passed away on May 25th, 2011 at his home in Montreal, Canada.

He is survived by his wife Monik Roy and son Kokee.

Apart from his surfing abilities and love of the ocean, Russell was a keen and fit tennis enthusiast. As a lover of the game, Russell was a long time member of the Kew Gardens Tennis Club in Toronto, Canada.

The good folk there have posted their kind thoughts on how much they will miss their fellow player and dear friend.

If you would like to send flowers, cards or condolences to Canada, you can address them to:

4 Avenue Du Berri
St-Lambert, QC J4S 1H8

A celebration of Russ's life there in Toronto is being planned by his Toronto based Canadian friends. Date, time and details will become available as the finer details are worked out.

If you have any questions, thoughts, or suggestions, please direct them to Bryan Prettie in Toronto at 416 710 0644 or by email bprettc503@rogers.com

As a long time Kew Gardens Tennis Club Member and friend to many, Russell will be sadly missed.

Steve Core

Russell Hughes - Fashion fades; but style is Eternal

2011-06-02T19:41:00.014+10:00

A Shane Surfboards Ad, highly symbolic of the era,
from the back cover of Surfing World Magazine
featuring emblematic figure - Russell Hughes.
Image courtesy of the PT Collection.

Fashions fade - but style is eternal... so I have to thank life-long friend, and former '76 ASP World champion - Peter Townend for providing the scanned image of Russell Hughes here.

In direct reference to this very photo, PT stated this week from his home in Huntington Beach, and I quote - "when I was a grom and I saw this shot of Russell Hughes on the back page of Surfing World magazine, I immediately wanted to run down to the Mens Wear store in Coolangatta [no Surf Shops in those days] and get a shirt exactly the same. Russell was all about style".

This is an Ad for Shane Surfboards in the late sixties where Russell had just introduced his new 'Crystal Vessel' model. Few photos of the era convey such a strong sense of arrested time as this.

In the Ad, a handsome young Russell in his early twenties, has embraced the flower power culture [flowers were the chief metaphor for the peace movement] and he is posing in absolute sartorial elegance, modelling a San Franciso, Haight-Ashbury inspired floral piped, Nehru-collared hippy shirt. Set with matching heavy, wide wale, brown corduroy trousers.

But folks; it's important, please don't get 'Style' confused with fashion. 'Style' is an expression of individualism mixed with Charisma. Fashion is something that comes after style.

Notice a very important aspect of the ad shot? What's missing? No surfboard in the frame - the man and his 'style' carried enough weight in 'sell' to make people want to invest in a new 'Crystal Vessel' surf board.

In those days, most icons had to be manufactured by the surfboard builders themselves. The advertising and results were unsophisticated, but so were the faithful. Style is a magic wand that turns everything that it touches to gold. And in the photo above... Russell Hughes is in gold.

Steve Core

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Surfin' USA - Where did the lyrics really come from?

2011-06-01T13:31:00.018+10:00

The cover of the 7" single Surfin' USA released
on March 4, 1963. A very young looking band
[minus Al Jardine] pose in their Pendleton Madras
patterned long-sleeved woolen beach shirts.

My good friend Damion who is the ingenious driving force behind the Board Collector blog [a great regular read I highly recommend] raised a very interesting subject this week regarding the surf spots named in the lyrics on The Beach Boys famous surfing track ‘Surfin’ USA’.

Damion, an ex-Deus employee from Sydney, recently moved to California and wrote this week about how he loves discovering all the surf spots in Southern California that he became familiar with by listening to The Beach Boy’s ‘Surfin’ USA’ song when he was a 10 year old grommet.

I have to admit doing pretty much the same thing on my early visits to California as the song was indelibly impressed into my brain too as 13 year old grom from Kogarah.

Damion’s fanciful thinking imagined the creative Brian Wilson driving along the California coast in ’62 looking for lyrical inspiration and picking out surf spots to include in the smash hit song’s lyrics.

After a little CSI Surf work by me, it turns out that the stark truth of the matter is a ‘cold war’ developed between Chuck Berry and The Beach Boys. Berry claimed that the song plagiarised his song ‘Sweet Little Sixteen’. The Beach Boys song was clearly set to the same melody as ‘Sweet Little Sixteen’.

The original 1963 pressing of the record gave credit of the lyrics to Brian Wilson. But in a secret deal, struck behind the band member’s backs, Brian’s father Murray – who was manager of the The Beach Boys at the time, after a lawsuit was raised, inked a deal that relinquished the credit and some royalties to Chuck Berry. Ever since, Berry has had sole or shared credit for composing the song.

Brian Wilson subsequently claimed at the time the song was merely influenced by Chuck Berry and Chubby Checker’s similar ‘Twistin’ USA’.

And how did Brian come up with the names of all the beaches and surf spots when he was not a surfer himself? The answer is simple...

The Surfin' USA title album reached US Gold Album
status [1 million in sales] and peaked at #2 in the
US Top Ten Album Charts in 1963.

When the song was written, Brian Wilson was dating Judy Bowles. Her little brother, Jimmy Bowles, was an avid surfer. Brian thought "what about doing surf lyrics and mentioning every surf spot in the state? They're doing it here, there, in this city and that, like Chubby Checker's 'Twistin' U.S.A.'.

According to Brian Wilson in later interviews; "I asked [Jimmy] to make a list of every surf spot he knew, and by God he didn't leave one out".

Damion also raised the question why they threw in a mention to Australia’s Narrabeen into the song specifically titled ‘Surfn’ USA’. Good question. Don’t know really. International sales maybe? Global presence? For the final logical answer, one day I guess we’d have to ask the exquisite Mr Surf Music guru, Brian Wilson his self.

In an odd twist of poetic license, the lyric for Narrabeen in the song is pronounced by The Beach Boys as Narra-BINE, and not Narra-BEEN. Definitely indicating they were not locals, or had even visited, as that would be frowned on in Sydney’s Northern beaches. The reason they enunciated BINE instead of BEEN? – simply to rhyme with the preceding second line of ‘Ventura’s County Line’.

And International sales? As a single in 1963; ‘Surfin’ USA’ only made it to Number 3 on US Billboard’s Hot 100 Singles chart and only to Number 9 on the Australian singles chart. A lackluster Number 34 in UK where the Brits were planning their own musical assault on the world.

Did 'Surfing' USA' ever reach No.1? – yes , would you believe in snow-covered Canada of all places. Eh - those crazy surf-loving Canuks - go figure.

Steve Core

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Russell Hughes - RIP

2011-06-01T10:17:00.014+10:00

A surfing magazine Ad from circa '66/'67
when Russell Hughes had just signed
to surf and produce a model for Shane
Surfboards. Back when Shane Stedman
was still based in Eastwood in Western
Sydney [prior to moving to Brookvale].

Another great legend of the early longboard days of the glorious sixties era of surfing in Australia has passed away.

Sad news this week beginning to filter in as we learned that sixties and seventies reclusive stylist, Russell Hughes, has ridden his final wave.

After several battles with Cancer over the years, Russell aged 64, passed away this past week in Quebec, Canada, the home country of his surviving long time French Canadian partner, Monik Roy.

Originally from Brisbane in Queensland, Russell started his involvement with surfing and love of the ocean with the Surfers Paradise Surf Lifesaving Club.

Russell was a smooth wave rider and a true master of style. What Ernest Hemingway referred to as; "grace under pressure". He was a pathfinder and a bona fide Aussie surf pioneer in every sense of the word.

Attracted to the multiple point breaks, relative seclusion and clean living on the Northern NSW Coast in the late sixties, along with Bob McTavish, George Greenough, Nat Young, Chris Brock and the cutting edge crew, Russell was one of the handful of gifted surfers to be spearheading the avant-garde transition from clumsy longboards to modern responsive shortboards.

Always exhibiting style both in and out of the water. Who can forget Russell's classic floral Nehru-collared shirts during the flower power hippy era of the late sixties?

Researcher, biographer and curator of Cronulla's surfing legend; Bobby Brown, Queensland's Andrew McKinnon has penned a great exaltation on Russell's surfing history and achievements, as well as his recent past. I direct you to Pacific Longboarder's website to read a nicely written tribute:

To read Andrew McKinnon's veneration of Russell Hughes in Pacific Longboarder Click Here

One of my fondest memories of watching Russell Hughes surf, is that I was standing with a thrilled crowd on an offshore day at City Beach in September 1967, in Newcastle, NSW to see Russell take out one of his very rare major surf contest wins at the '67 Mattara Surfing Contest - in true contemporary style.

Despite his sparse list of contest victories and few podium finishes, he was regarded by all of his peers as one of our greatest surfers of his time. He was one of the headline surfers featured in Paul Witzig's 1967 breakout surf film 'The Hot Generation'.

Tributes are now beginning to pour in, not only from surfing's anointed royalty who shared many wondrous times over the years with Russell, but from a host of ordinary people who were simply touched by just knowing the this gentle and kind human being.

God bless you Russell, you will always be remembered in Australian surfing's folklore and your legacy of images will live on for many years to come. Time to join your old surfing soulmates Bobby Brown and Kevin Brennan who have been waiting in the line-up over that far horizon for some time now. I am sure you will be doing a beautiful, impressive, soul arch turn as you glide magically across the glassy waters in the straits between heaven's gates.

Steve Core

Below: See Russell surfing from George Greenough's Innermost Limits of Pure Fun

To watch a trailer for 'The Hot Generation' Click Here

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Report: Bobby Brown's Triumphant Return

2010-11-30T12:30:00.048+11:00

The Bobby Brown Exhibition
Reclaiming History

This month, set amongst the objects of our rapture, in the Surf World Museum at Currumbin on the Gold Coast, surfing heirlooms belonging to one of the sport's earliest stars, earmarked the location for the inaugural launch of the Bobby Brown Exhibition.

It was an amazingly refreshing night that signalled to me that a surfing legend of the '60s, Cronulla's Bobby Brown, had made his comeback onto the world class stage.

The four presenters; LtoR - Former '78 World Champion, Wayne 'Rabbit' Bartholomew, Bobby Brown's older brother,
John Brown, curator Andrew 'Andy Mac' McKinnon and surf artist, Garry Birdsall.

Bobby Brown was one of Australia’s leading surfers in the late sixties who tragically lost his life in a bar room incident. The signposts were clear and his career trajectory was obvious – there was a sure bet World Champion in the making. Fame was waiting in the wings. His sudden dispossession has haunted the surfing world for decades.

For the past forty odd years, his death has understandably been a loss far too sensitive to endure for close family and friends to deal with in the public arena. After three consecutive memorial surfing contests in his name, Bobby Brown’s history has been tucked into a self imposed hiatus ever since. For me, the unveiling of Andrew McKinnon’s Bobby Brown Exhibition is somewhat similar to a recording artist whose un-published and largely unknown or unheard work is finally being released to the public – years after his passing.

Recounting the good times, Bobby Brown
mentor and friend, Cronulla surf legend
himself, Garry Birdsall.

As his debut biographical offering, the Bobby Brown Exhibition has been skillfully and meticulously put together by former Gold Coast pro-surfer Andrew ‘Andy Mac’ McKinnon. Back in 1970, as a 16 year old young surfer, Andrew was the last winner of the Bobby Brown Memorial contest held in Cronulla.

Hauntingly, Andrew has had the perpetual trophy in his possession for some forty one years. The trophy, it turns out, was part of the spark that fuelled this fire.

The Exhibition launch night this month was co-hosted by former '78 World Champion, Wayne ‘Rabbit’ Bartholomew, Bobby Brown’s older brother, John Brown, former Cronulla surfing legend and surf artist, Garry Birdsall and curator Andrew McKinnon.

The night at the Museum was splashed with an obvious dose of old hometown heroes. A lot of the old '60s Cronulla surfing underbelly were present. Mick Connally, Bob Halliwell, Dave Wilson, Frank Hales, Tommy Shipton, Alan Dorman, Mark Aprilovic. I also spotted a Cronulla surf star from a more modern era; Ross Marshall and the Gold Coast's, Cheyne Horan.

In a day and time in surfing where it appears professionals are filled with gargantuan egos, the presenters clearly illustrated to us that Bobby Brown was a young surfer not only full of natural ability and raw talent, but an abundance of humility and humanity.

Tearfully recounting old anecdotes and memories of times spent in the presence of a young energetic Bobby Brown, our story-tellers and co-presenters; older brother John Brown and surfing mentor Garry Birdsall - swayed the mood of the presentation evening from times of being somber and reflective, to other times to being joyous and rambunctious - somehow finding the delicate blend between humour and heartbreak.

Exhibition creator and curator, Andrew McKinnon

Following John and Garry’s time on the floor with the microphone in hand, a relaxed and very focused curator, Andy Mac delivered to the capacity crowd a stirring and deeply researched Power Point presentation of Bobby Brown's short lived, but highly successful life.

Highlighted with the screening of old Bob Evans rare 16mm footage, found on a rubbish tip, that featured Bobby Brown surfing Angourie with an equally skinny kid called Nat Young. To me, the footage underlined the fact that Bobby Brown was, at the time, the better and more promising surfer by far.

We also were treated to out takes from Paul Witzig’s 16mm movie 'The Hot Generation' of Bobby surfing Tallows at Byron Bay with Bondi's Kevin 'The Head' Brennan.

This uncompromising vision and looking glass into Brown’s surfing and personal life was complied with a startling intimacy. For me, McKinnon's presentation gave the exhibition its real soul.

What differentiates McKinnon from past surf biographers is his conviction that the historical surfing experience should be personal.

The depth of analysis, despite the sadness and the soul-searching that inspired it, of the Bobby Brown Exhibition is reflected as Andrew McKinnon’s best piece of work. Andy Mac has re-invented what a tribute to an outstanding young athlete, in this case a surfer – should be. The envelope is being pushed – in the all right directions.

The winner's names on the Bobby Brown Memorial
perpetual trophy - frozen in time for 41 years;
1968: Midget Farrelly
1969: Frank Latta
1970: Andrew McKinnon

There’s a freshness and innocence about the Bobby Brown Exhibition that makes it larger than the sum of its influences. After viewing it, I am now in two minds; I am not exactly certain if Bobby Brown was a dark horse or a shining light. Perhaps both.

Best go and see it for yourself.

The exhibition is currently at the Surf World Gold Coast Museum and into the new year, then it heads off to the Golden Breed store, Hastings Street, Noosa from March 12-20 for the Noosa Festival of Surfing 2011. Then it travels down South of the border, to Victoria, to the Surf World Torquay Museum during the planned festive celebrations to help commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Rip Curl Bells Beach Easter Classic on April 18-25th, 2011.

It's only fitting that the Bobby Brown Exhibition come home to roost in his old home stomping grounds - where it is certain to draw curious crowds and stir up some old wonderful memories. A venue for the Exhibition in the Cronulla area for sometime during 2011 is currently being negotiated.

Anyone who has any stories or particularly any photos or artifacts to contribute by way of loan to the Exhibition - we would love to hear from you.

Report & photos: Steve Core

Something to say or add? E-mail us at: swapsurf@gmail.com

Environmentally Conscious Surfboards on Display

2010-11-09T10:54:00.018+11:00

Environmentally Conscious Surfboards on Display

Promotional Poster
[click to enlarge]

The Surfrider Foundation will be hosting the opening night of the 2010 Kirra Surf Stock by featuring a unique showcase of environmentally conscious surfboards as part of their film and music night, at which Taylor Steele’s new 16mm surf film ‘Castles in the Sky’ will be playing.

The event will take place at the Rainbow Bay SLSC clubhouse on the Gold Coast, on Friday 12th November, 2010 - kicking off at 7pm.

Local surfboard shapers will have the opportunity to exhibit and promote their latest environmentally conscious shapes and designs. Big names such as Firewire, D’Arcy, Daniel MacDonald, Chris Garrett, and Patagonia plus many more have already committed to attend and display surfboards on the night.

Customers on the night will be able to get a first hand look at a grouping of innovative surf boards made from such recycled materials as; wood and bamboo and other alternative hi-tech materials, like carbon fiber, as compared to the standard traditional materials like polyurethane foam and fiberglass.

Consumers attending the event on the evening will be welcome to touch, interact and get the feel of the futuristic surfboards and also discuss designs, shapes and concepts with the board's shapers and creators.

WHEN: Friday 12 November, 2010
TIME: 7pm
WHERE: Rainbow Bay SLSC, Gold Coast
COST: $10

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Kirra Surf Stock 2010

2010-11-04T22:32:00.039+11:00

If you're looking to kick back and relax by the ocean, take in the awesome sounds of some real smokin' bands and musicians, surrounded by the good vibes of surfing, beach babes, and oodles of sand and surf culture - all for free - then Kirra Beach, Queensland is the place to be on 12, 13 & 14 November, 2010.

Taking its name partly from the famous Music Festival held at Woodstock in rural, up-state New York in 1969; Kirra Surf Stock Festival originated just last year, 40 years after the original Woodstock Music Festival created event history during the hippie era.

The family friendly Kirra Surf Stock Festival 2010 is a non profit community based project that celebrates the surfing culture and other beach events while raising awareness of coastal management.

Kirra Surf Stock's first two events last year were; the 2009 Australia Day paddle out which attracted over 4000 concerned people to paddle out at Kirra on surfboards.

Its next event was the inaugural Kirra Surfstock Festival 2009 - which had a variety of activities over a 3 day period in November 2009.

Returning this year even bigger and better, with activities that will now include; two days of beach markets, free non-stop live music, and beach activities including an attempt on the Guinness World Record for the most number of surfers riding one wave, Junior Team surfing event, Stand Up Paddle racing, Surfboats, Beach Walking, Beach Soccer, Beach Volley Ball and Beach Rugby.

There is no charge for the community to enjoy the live music, the markets and all the other activities that the Kirra Surfstock Festival 2010 has to offer. Its all for free folks - a rare commodity these days.

The free musical line-up includes:

Saturday 13th November
Kandy McCouat
Tokyo Beef
Nyge Maunder
Kate Leopold and Sarah
Broadfoot
Alan Boyle
Gas
Cupids Bullet
Band of Frequencies
Isaac Paddon and The Tides

Sunday 14th November
Chris Mallory
Karl Williams
Jaya
The Lamplights
Adam Scriven
Gold Coast Surf Girl Quest
The Hayden Hack Infusion
Jack and The Giant Killers
Gavin Doniger’s Mescalito Blues

Kirra Surf Stock 2010 will also be the national launching point for the Bobby Brown Exhibition on Thursday 11th November at the Surf World Gold Coast Museum.

Hosting and MC duties for the Bobby Brown launch will be taken care of by curator Andrew 'Andy Mac' McKinnon and former World Champ, Wayne 'Rabbit' Bartholomew.

Apart from all the alluring Bobby Brown memorabilia and artifacts on display, his old surfing buddy from Cronulla, influential surf artist and a Cronulla surfing legend himself, Garry Birdsall has brought to life a special portrait of his old mate for the exhibition.

The public are more than welcome to attend the Bobby Brown opening night party at Surf World Gold Coast Museum starting at 6:30pm on Thursday 11th November, 2010. A $15.00 admission fee will include live music, light snacks, and a special presentation of Bobby Brown's remarkable life and surfing legacy.

Click here for: Kirra Surf Stock 2010 their website has loads more detail and info.

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Report: Bondi Rescue Lifeguards win 'Tradies' Surf Contest

2010-10-20T11:37:00.028+11:00

Bondi Rescue Lifeguards Crowned Sydney’s Best Surfing Trade

It seems a bit unfair - but it’s now official I guess, the Bondi Rescue Lifeguards are the best surfing 'Tradies' in Sydney after taking out the inaugural Jim Beam 'Trade Off' event at Curl Curl on the Northern Beaches last weekend.

What's unfair? Well their trade, [God bless them], is actually being at the beach and in and around the surf, where as most Tradies I know - dream about knock-off time - so that they can get down to the beach to get some sand between the toes and get some time in the water.

The winning Bondi Lifeguard team celebrating their victory at the Jim Beam Surftag Trade Off event at Curl Curl last Sunday. Pictured left to right Ashyford, Floss, Daniels, Clarke. Photo: Jim Beam/Luke Southern

In what was the second of nine events scheduled for the Jim Beam Surftag series for 2011, the 'Trade Off' pitted 16 of Sydney’s top surfing trades against each other. Trades or vocations, included Builders, Fire Fighters, Teachers, Finance Brokers, Musicians and others in a relay style format. In crunching 2m waves, the four man Bondi Lifeguard team of Luke Daniels, Max Ayshford, Ryan Clark and Duncan Floss managed to out surf all competing trades to claim victory.

Leading from the opening siren, the Bondi Lifeguards, piloted by Team Captain Ryan Clark [Whippet], dominated the final, to easily defeat fellow finalists Tilers, Plumbers and Transportation. “It’s actually pretty hard out there, the surf picked up a lot throughout the day,” said Clark. “When you’ve only got 45 minutes and four people to get through, it can be tough, but everyone surfed really well, it was a good day.

“We have got a couple of young guys on the roster at Bondi and they surf all the time so it was good to bring that element into the team.” Despite the Tilers dominating early rounds, including a perfect 10-point ride by Sam Brown, they couldn’t continue their early form into the finals.

Brown was awarded the Sanyo Power Wave award for his perfect score, taking home a new Sanyo video camera for his efforts.

Competition was tough. "One of the guys from the Tilers nailed a 10 point ride in his heat and the Fire Fighters were looking good early as well, but we’re pretty stoked about taking the win,” said Clark. “I guess being lifeguards we get more time at the beach than anyone else so if we were the favourites leading in then it was good to hang onto that and take it out.”

"The final scores had Lifeguards 60.70, Tilers 37.60, Plumbers 24.59 and Transport 22.87.

There seems to be quite a few trades missing, perhaps it's time to get your trade organised and get in there and give them heaps. Southsiders will be able see the Tradies in action when the event come to Cronulla on Jan 29/30.

The Jim Beam Surftag Series will roll on throughout the coming Summer, visiting Queensland, Victoria, Western Australia, Newcastle and Cronulla before wrapping up with the series decider in Sydney next February. The next event on November 13 will be an all women’s Surftag at Dee Why beach.

The 2011 Jim Beam Surftag is proudly supported by FCS, Sanyo and O’Neill. Media partners for the series are Swellnet and Tracks surfing magazine.

Trade Off – Results

1. Bondi Lifeguards (Luke Daniels, Max Ayshford, Ryan Clark, Duncan Floss)
2. Tilers (Ben Hamilton, Sam Brown, Jayd Naidoo, Michael Dawes)
3. Plumbers (Brett Whiley, Vic Levett, Daniel Hamilton, Luke Phillips)
4. Transport (Jake Elliot, Ryan Alagich, Locky Macpherson, Tony Morrison)
5. Electricians (Matt Hatton, Dean Sparke, Graeme Kyle, Shawn Irving)
6. Builders 2 (Callum Drake, Matt Toghill, Steve Bewley, Marvo)
7. Finance Brokers (Cam Garlick, Troy Clutton, Mark Prideaux, Stephen Clark)
8. Fire Fighters (Geremy Blake, Dave Nolman, Craig Roberts, Phil Weekes)
9. Teachers 2 (Scott Mellis, Tommy Mitchell, Dean Stringfellow, Seb Hartog)
10. Lawnmowers (Ronnie Wong, Tom Salverson, Shem Mitchell, Steve Salvato)
11. Fashion ( Anthony Hayles, William Voss, Trent McCann)
12. Builders (Cooper Williams, Mitch Neill, Ben Bateman, Brett King)
13. Hospitality (Nudge Crick, Naig Carrol, Nathan Von Roosmalen, Ash King)
14. Personal Trainers (Nick Butler, Cam Coalan, Steve Coulter, Trent Herring)
15. Musicians (Chris Vontak, Josh Fergus, Mark Chivers, Ed Worland)
16. Teachers (Greg Moran, Adam Hearne, Mark Tickle, Ian Holmes)

Upcoming 2010/11 Jim Beam Surftag Dates and Locations are:

Nov 13 Women’s Surftag (Dee Why)
Dec 11 NSW North Surftag (Newcastle)
Dec 18 Victoria Surftag (TBC)
Jan 8 West Australia Surftag (TBC)
Jan 15 Queensland Surftag (Duranbah)
Jan 29/30 NSW South Surftag (Cronulla)
Feb 3/4/5 Surftag Australian Final (Northern Beaches, Sydney)

More info at: Global Surf Tag

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Product: Oakley Goes Underground

2010-10-17T10:59:00.025+11:00

Chilean miners chill in Oakleys

A rescued Chilean miner almost strikes a 'Mick Fanning'
victory pose in his donated Oakley sunglasses.

I don’t know about you, but I noticed all the Chilean miners being rescued this past week were sporting highly fashionable Oakley Radar Sunglasses as the they came to the surface. So I thought I would do a little more investigating and dig a bit deeper [pun intended].

As it turns out, the 33 Chilean miners who were brought to surface after 2 months of being trapped underground, were all wearing donated Oakley sunglasses - specifically to protect their eyes after such a long period in the dark. Oakley is an Orange County based, Californian company.

After the rescue, an Oakley spokesperson reported that “A few weeks ago, Oakley was approached by a Chilean journalist who was covering rescue efforts for media agency, Addict Village, had recommended Oakley to the Chilean private health insurer, for eyewear protection for the miners once they surfaced,” the company said.

Apart from their generous goodwill, Oakley appears to have pulled off quite a marketing coup with their donation to the miners - as the rescue of the miners was beamed live around the entire world, with an estimated audience of over one billion people tuned in.

The US$180-a-pair Radar Range sunglasses were specifically selected for the miners by Oakley Vice President of Research and Development Carlos Reyes because they have black iridium lenses for greatest protection, said company spokesman Rochelle Mooers.

With more than a billion people watching live, Chilean
miners all wore Oakleys on their return to the surface.

“Based on their requirements and full product specifications, Oakley donated 35 pairs of Oakley Radar with Black Iridium lenses in Path and Range lens shapes for the miners who will need the protection… as their eyes return to normal.”

The miners’ eyes will be dilated, which brings the added risk of UV exposure to delicate structures within the eye, the company said. The Radar sunglasses have a single-lens shield that wraps around the eyes to give the miners protection from sunlight not just straight ahead but at the sides of their eyes.

The Radar frames were matched with Oakley’s darkest lens, a dark grey base combined with black iridium coating that balances light and reduces glare. The miners’ color perception may be reduced after the long period in dim light, and this lens is designed to maintain accurate color perception, Oakley explained.

Oakley also reported that Chilean Minister of Mining Laurence Golborne, who was leading the rescue, requested to wear one of the extra pair of the Radars to show solidarity, As one observer later wise-cracked; "who wouldn't say 'no' to a free pair of Oakleys?".

Footnote: Oakley recently signed 23yr old, South African ripper, Jordy Smith to the Global Oakley Surf Team. Smith is currently rated Number Two in the World.

Source and photos: Orange County Register and Oakley

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Upcoming: Bobby Brown Exhibition, Gold Coast

2010-10-15T10:20:00.040+11:00

Cronulla legend finally recognised;
Bobby Brown Exhibition

A National exhibition celebrating the life of Cronulla surfing legend Bobby Brown will be launched at the opening of the 2010 Kirra Surf Stock Festival on the 11th November, 2010.

Scheduled to tour the Eastern seaboard this Summer, the inaugural launch of the Bobby Brown Exhibition will take place at the Surf World Gold Coast Museum at Currumbin [opposite the famous Currumbin Wildlife Bird Sanctuary].

In a first-of-its-type exhibition, the collection will be dedicated to one of Australia's greatest surfing legends, Robert 'Bobby' Brown. It will be showcasing his significant contribution to the classic sixties era of surfing, forming part of the huge Southside & Cronulla story.

Affectionately known as Brown Bobby, his surfing prowess ranked with the best surfers in the 1960’s such as Midget Farrelly, Nat Young and Peter Drouyn. His short but impressive surfing life was captured in surfing films like Bob Evans' 1963 classic 'The Young Wave Hunters' and Paul Witzig's 1967 groundbreaking movie, 'The Hot Generation'. Clips from both movies will be on media displays in the Exhibition. In addition, featured stories and photos from Bob Evans' Surfing World and Jack Eden’s Surfabout magazine captured during Bobby’s classic era, will also be exhibited.

The Bobby Brown Memorial Contest perpetual trophy has been
proudly in the last winner's hands for the past 40 years. The trophy
was a likeness of Jack Eden's famous photo of Bobby Brown
performing a 'soul arch' bottom turn at Sandon Point, NSW.

He was only 17 years of age when he qualified for the first open men's World Titles in 1964 won by Midget Farrelly at Manly Beach in front of a record crowd of 50,000. That first ever World Title event launched surfing as a sport and the promising career of Bobby Brown who became a perennial open men's finalist in the 1966 Nationals at Coolangatta, Gold Coast and 1967 Nationals at Bells Beach, Victoria.

The Exhibition has been engineered, researched and collated by Gold Coast resident and former pro-surfer Andrew McKinnon, known as 'Andy Mac'. For the last twenty years Andy Mac has been a well known surf reporter for SEA-FM and GOLD-FM, and a local newspaper journalist. Ironically, it was a 16 year old, goofy-footed rookie from the Gold Coast; one Andrew McKinnon, who won the third a final Bobby Brown Memorial Contest in Cronulla in 1970.

With a relentless passion, Andrew has managed to gather a remarkable collection of timeless photos of Brown and others from the 1962-67 era. The Exhibition also includes 16mm movie footage, surfing magazine memorabilia and newspaper clippings detailing Bobby's tragic end. Included too, are original Bobby Brown surfboards and clothing.

The Bobby Brown Exhibition flyer.
[Click to enlarge]

Bobby Brown was destined for surfing greatness and a World Title was just around the corner, when tragically and unexpectedly his life was ended, just two months short of his 21st Birthday. He was fatally struck with a schooner glass over a game of pool at the Taren Point Hotel, in Sydney's South.

"The Bobby Brown story needs to be acknowledged and find its rightful place place in the history of Australian surfing" Andy Mac said. "Bobby loved to surf Currumbin on his early surf safaris to Queensland, I feel honoured and privileged to present this Exhibition at Currumbin, so close to The Alley, a surf spot he loved".

The Bobby Brown Exhibition will be at the Surf World Gold Coast Museum at Currumbin from November 12th and into the new year, then it heads off to the Golden Breed store, Hastings Street, Noosa from March 12-20 for the Noosa Festival of Surfing 2011. Then it travels South down to Kingscliff for the Malfunction Festival held in March 23-27 and finally down South of the border, to Victoria, to the Surf World Torquay Museum during the planned festive celebrations to help commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Rip Curl Bells Beach Easter Classic on April 18-25th, 2011.

The public are more than welcome to attend the opening night party at Surf World Gold Coast Museum starting at 6:30pm on Thursday 11th November, 2010. A $15.00 admission fee will include live music, light snacks, and a special presentation of Bobby Brown's remarkable life and surfing legacy.

Limited edition framed prints and t-shirts will be on sale in conjunction with the Exhibition. The Currumbin Museum's phone number is 07 5525-6380.

Something to add or say? E-mail us at: swapsurf@gmail.com

Report: The 3rd Deus Surf Swap Meet

2010-10-12T08:47:00.052+11:00

________________________________________________________________

Stefan's Wall of Death; where old and unwanted
surfboards come to find new life and love.

The 3rd Deus Surf Swap meet went down at the Deus Ex Machina HQ on Parramatta Road, Camperdown in Sydney on Saturday 9th October, 2010. The Weather Channel had predicted light showers for the day, luckily for event organisers, conditions remained dry under foot - but with a flat, cool, overcast permeating for the entire day.

Organisers would have been happy with the eventual dry weather outcome, but there must be growing concern amongst the good folk at Deus that a few of the promoted industry icons that were billed to appear, were all last minute no-shows for the event. Leaving a little more bare concrete in the thinned-out display area than promised. I am not sure of the reasons behind the absenteeism.

As internally promoted and promoted on this site; there was no Alby Falzon and his Morning of the Earth merchandise. No Martin Worthington – celebrated air-brush artist of Hot Buttered fame. No Benny from Six Ounce at Bondi Junction. And several other collectors did not appear with their collections.

Tony the pin striper details a board purchased from
the wall by an Irish tourist. 'The Clashmore Riders'

Retired surf film-maker David ‘The Mexican’ Sumpter did appear; ‘The Mex’ journeyed down from his home in Mullumbimby to vend his collectable surf and surf movie related items. I had to feel sorry for The Mex when one potential customer picked up a Morning Of The Earth DVD set and asked The Mex to sign it. The Mex responded politely with; “you don’t want my signature on there” and the befuddled customer replied; “why? you’re Alby Falzon aren’t you?”.

Despite the gloomy day that may well have contributed to keeping visitor numbers down, a steady and varied crowd trickled through at a consistent rate for most of the trading day. The crowd is an interesting mix of leather and thongs. Motorcycle and surf. Boulevard and Beach. Oil and sand.

On the positive side of the ledger;

Tony ‘Airspeed’ the amazing pin-striper from Goulburn was performing his astonishing, brush-painted, complex web of decorative fine strokes ‘by steady hand & eye’. In these days of computer aided design and vinyl cut graphics, I watched Tony performing his accurate pinline illustration work on skim boards, skateboards, bikes and on a surfboard.

Rainbow Fins and their new 'stained glass' fin

Stefan's Wall of Death had some interesting boards up for sale and prices were quite fair and reasonable. I saw some boards on there for as low as $35 and $50.

I spotted a few celebs in the crowd. Most notable was HG Nelson of the HG and Roy radio and TV comedy duo fame. Their comedic style has been described as; "making the serious trivial and the trivial serious". Not sure if HG was there for the surf or cycles.

Surf Film supremo, Jack McCoy turned up and promptly threw up a couple of classic boards from his own personal collection onto the wall for display. A classic restored Gordon Merchant [Billabong founder] shaped board and another restored classic find, a Gerry Lopez, ex- Bali, personal Lightning Bolt board that spent 20 years as a Bali rental board. For devotees, Jack's new film 'A Deeper Shade of Blue' coming real soon. He promises.

I also chatted with Gary Crockett who is the curator charged with the responsibility of pulling together the Surf City exhibition. He was cruising around looking for ideas, inspirations and contacts. Surf City will be a collection of surf memorabilia and cultural items and will take an incredible, in-depth look at the evolving culture of surfing in the '50s, '60s and '70s in Sydney. Surf City will be on at the Museum of Sydney in September 2011. One to mark in the diary for sure.

Graeme from California Surf Imports had his beautiful Bing Surfboards on display, plus an awesome range of US made fins from the Rainbow Fin company, that he also imports and sells. Their new 'stained glass' fins are a dazzling artwork within themselves. Teal Nippard from Craft Surfboards was under his palm fond lined marquee [nice touch], displaying and working on his Alaia Paulownia timber boards.

Cronulla's John Mingramm has invested in the challenge
of learning to surf again - on a timber Alaia board.
Teal Nippard of Craft Surfboards shows encouragement

A few Cronulla locals were seen strolling the midway. Mathew ‘Cookie’ Cook just back from a month surfing and relaxing in Byron Bay. Cronulla’s hot surfing brother duo; Terepai & Tainui Richmond also checking out the meet.

Cronulla Longboarder John Mingramm, grabbed a bagful of Deus clothing specials and 'Mingo' actually purchased an Alaia timber board from Teal Nippard and is taking it back to the golden beaches of The Shire to “give it a go”.

Word around the Meet suggested that Meet #3 didn't quite have the vibe and buzz of the preceeding Meets #1 and #2. It seems the challenge that now lies ahead is to keep up what appears to a flagging momentum for the 4th Deus Surf Swap Meet – which is ear-marked for March next year.

Original Deus conspirator; the Board Collector; aka Damion, is blowing town and has taken up a new job as world-wide head of apparel at Nixon in Southern California this month. Damion's vacancy of Swap Meet 'Chief Cook & Bottle Washer' will be filled by Deus’ astute Uncle Keith, who will be left to take the helm, steady the ship, maintain a true course and find the wind to fill the sails and move forward once again.

Story & Photos: Steve Core

More photos on the Deus site. Click here

*

Deus Surf Swap Meet #3

2010-10-06T08:49:00.028+11:00

Deus Surf Swap Meet #3

For the second time in two weekends in Sydney, surf aficionados and purveyors of fine collectable surf items will gather to shoot the breeze and try to please, this time; at the Third Deus Surf Swap Meet.

Organised by Damion, aka: The Board Collector who is a Deus employee - the Meet goes down on the tarmac of the Deus carpark adjacent the Deus Ex Machina showroom at 104 Parramatta Road in Sydney's Camperdown. [Hey - I was born in Camperdown... cool!].

Although it's not a salty location, there's further historic surf bloodlines in this immediate area. In the 60's, most surf movies used to screen or premiere at Sydney University's Union Theatre - just up the street a tad from Deus HQ [it's now called the Footbridge Theatre]. It's the first venue I ever saw Bruce Brown's original Endless Summer... way back when.

Attending the compact Number Three Swap Meet cultists can expect to see & meet:

Pioneer surf photographer and surf-film maker, producer of Morning of the Earth, Albe Falzon will be on hand merchandising MoE collectable items, surfboards and DVDs. Martin Worthington who's exceptional airbrush work is famous for gracing many of Terry Fitzgerald's Hot Buttered Surfboards. Worthington's works in this medium are painted with an exquisite sense of colour and are considered to be the best by an Australian artist. Graeme from Californian Surf Imports, importers of Bing Surfboards - will be showing off his latest high-end, US-made boards from this iconic and famous Californian surfboard maker.

Stefan's urban 'Wall of Death' and
the fun of the Swap Meet.
Photo: Carby Tuckwell

There's Stefan's 'Wall of Death' - a wall of surfboards standing upright where for $10, they will vend your pre-1990 surf shooter while you cruise the meet and sip a cappuccino. Tony 'Air Speed', a famous pinstriper and custom painter will be on hand to paint anything you want to bring along to be adorned with his specialised fine line work.

Benny from Six Ounce will showcase is collection of boards and represent the guys from Surf Culture at Bondi Junction. Semi-retired surf film maker, David 'The Mexican' Sumpter will be making the trip down from his hippy home in Byron Bay back hills and will be merchandising his surf collectable memorabilia.

The Board Collector will be hawking off part of his 60+ board collection, as he is moving to California soon. Additionally, Tony, is displaying his beautiful vintage surfboard collection - which is always for sale to the right buyer. Wayne from the Central Coast will be bringing down his lifetime collection of boards for show and sale. Monkey Bike Club will have bikes for sale. Plus heaps more.

Food is readily available both on site and at the next door Deus Cafe. There will be lucky door prizes.

Where: Deus Ex Machina, 104 Parramatta Road, Camperdown.

When: Saturday 9th October, 2010

Any enquires call Uncle Keith on 0417 217 530 or keith@deus.com.au

Admission is free - just bring a smile and some surf stoked enthusiasm.

For additional Info: The Board Collector or Deus

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Report: Action at Mick Mock's Vintage Auction

2010-10-03T14:29:00.043+11:00

Mick Mock’s Surf Auction of Vintage Surfboards and Memorabilia.

The 9th Annual Mick Mock Vintage Surf Auction went down at the Harbord Diggers club on Sunday September 26th, 2010 on Sydney’s Northern beaches.

Old friend; Surf Film-maker Dick Hoole and his
signed 'Storm Riders' framed poster.

This year’s auction started off with a preview of the goods and chattels of the massive 367 lots up for auction. The pre-auction viewing is the perfect chance for bidders and potential buyers to inspect the goods up close and at first hand. Remember all the goods that are sold at auctions like this are sold: 'as is, where is' and there are no warrantys or guarantees implied or supplied. So it is strictly 'caveat emptor' [Latin for; let the buyer beware].

So if you have a serious interest in any items, the pre-auction viewing is the perfect opportunity to inspect any item close up.

The 'viewing' walk-through was held for 2 hours on the Saturday prior to the Sunday auction. This viewing becomes a mini surf expo in itself with plenty of would-be purchasers, some vendors and interested parties all rubbing shoulders, taking pictures, talking surf, surfboards and chatting.

The viewing becomes a fun time to catch up with surfers, collectors, vendors, surf industry folk and fellow enthusiasts. Also cruising the aisles armed with notepads or cameras are an army of do-it-yourself surfboard restorers.

It also a time when people can register to be a bidder. This cost is $10 to register and you get a well-prepared and presented catalogue. The 50-page catalogue lists every item with a brief but detailed description and pre-auction estimate of the expected price. And it is designed to be an auction aid and is ideal for you to take notes on. It also offers tips, guidelines and auction rules.

Skateboards, poster and old magazines line the tables
during the pre-auction viewing at Harbord Diggers.

The 367 lots this year comprised of vintage surfboards, '60s longboards, '70s single fins and twin fins, skateboards, kneeboards, movie posters, original artwork, photos, clothing and original prints. Plus assorted ephemera of ocean collectables and surf craft rarities.

At an auction like this, you normally expect about a 65% sell through of goods with about 15-30% of items being negotiated for with the vendors for sale after the auction.

On the day of the Vintage Surf Auction, the sharp looking senior auctioneer; Simon Hill moved through the auction at a good clip. Simon is a professional auctioneer [in antiques] and it clearly shows in his smooth, time-conscious and efficient style. He is very comfortable on the Dias with the gavel in hand. Simon came complete with an in-built supply of funny, throw away one-liners to break the ice, keep buyers enthused and to entice healthy bidding. More importantly Simon is a surfer – hailing from Sydney’s Southside and Clovelly Beach. He was good and he knew his stuff.

The auction fell a bit flat when ex-Tracks editor Kirk Wilcox took to the microphone to give Simon Hill a well earned break. No where near as polished as Simon, Kirk made a few gaffs and didn’t quite know how to pronounce McDonagh Surfboards – a famous Northside manufacturer.

Your reporter, Steve Core, checking out some of 200
plus surfboards going up for auction. Photo: Terry Day

It entire auction took around 7 hours to get through from start to finish. It was a long but interesting day of surf auction action. Over 200 surfboards and way too many individual sales of varying interest to report all the details.

It was interesting to watch and hear the bidding unfold. A rare Barry Bennett ‘Toothpick’ 16’ x 20” hollow wooden surfboard from the 1950’s went for $4,000. It was in 9/10 condition and was originally custom and hand-made for a butcher at Avoca Beach. Amazingly, the board has only had two owners during its half century life. Quite a rare item and superb specimen of '50s surfcraft in Australia.

A couple of late sixties, Brookvale-built Keyo surfboards drew plenty of attention and bidding fever. A 7’ 11” Keyo ‘Plastic Machine’ Design Stringerless, circa ‘67/’68. In 7/10 condition, it went for $1,900. Another similar Keyo went for $2,000.

Apart from the surfboards, some of the more 'odd' items on hand were; an Andy Irons Bobble Head doll, commemorating his 2nd World Title, with a pre-auction estimate of $200-$400 - was passed in with no bids. Glass shower screens with ocean scenes also came under the hammer. Surf dance posters and old surf music LPs. The most interesting item that blew a few minds with its final fall-of-the-hammer price was a 1950's turtle shell that went for, wait for it... a cool $1,000.

Cronulla's Larry Cohen poses with his newly accquired
G&S Bobby Brown shaped 7'10" pintail. Circa '68/'69.

A good, long-time friend from Cronulla, Larry Cohen, picked up two boards to add to his growing collection. Larry is a niche collector of stringerless era surfboards and has about 60 surfboards in his collection. Larry paid $800 for a 8’ x 23” Peter Clarke ‘Stringerless’ Tracker Pintail single fin. Shaped by Glenn Ritchie and would have been finished coated by my good-self when I worked at Peter Clarke’s northside factory in Brookvale in 1968.

Larry also snagged another Southside classic that came out of the G&S Taren Point factory of Gordon & Smith circa '68/’69. A 7’10” pintail, in 8/10 condition and shaped by ex-Cronulla surfer, ‘Blond’ Bobby Brown [now of Forster, NSW]. It went at the fall of the auctioneer’s hammer for $600.

The auction featured surfboards from a massive range of famous and not-so-famous shaping names came up for bids. Here's just some of the shaping names; Dick Van Straalen, Midget Farrelly, Simon Anderson, Geoff McCoy, Bob McTavish, Michael Cundith, Mick Dooley, Nat Young, Peter Townend, Terry Bishop, Keith Paull, Colin Gow, Dominic Wibrow, Warren Cornish.

A signed photo of MP winning the first Stubbies in '77
being interviewed by Hawaiian Lord James Blears

Here's just some of the classic named surfboard labels; Country Corn, Nirvana, Lightning Bolt, Natural Awareness, Chris Crozier, Bob McTavish, Inner Release, Emerald, Summercloud, Mark Richards, KC, Maddog, Neilson Brothers, Bronzed Aussies.

There were even a few US made boards with well-known brand names like; Bing, Dewey Weber, Greg Noll, Lightning Bolt.

I had a short chat with the NSW Central Coast's shaping icon Bill Cilia [Nirvana Surfboards] who was in the house. I counted about 12 Nirvana or Bill Cilia shaped boards on the auction blocks. Bill was the vendor for some of the lots - does this mean we won't see a Bill Cilia Collection Museum on the Central Coast in the near future?

I noted that the momentum and the crowd numbers really dropped off towards the end of the auction [which to a certain degree is natural]. Mick and his team need to come up with some creative solutions to help hold the numbers towards the end of the day. Perhaps some cool door prizes where registrants needed to be present at the end of the day in order to claim a winning prize.

A selection of the surf movie posters up for sale. The
top right three are all Paul Witzig's classic old movies.

Interestingly, but not surprising, there were no surfboards from China or Taiwan present. As Mick Mock says and this term should become the catch-phrase of the auction; "Classic not Plastic".

All in all, a very enjoyable day. A big thanks to Mick and his hard working team for their co-operation to assist me to compile this report.

As our sport grows in age since its conception and our original surfers reach their tender, more well-heeled mature years, I think collecting surf memorabilia will only grow stronger and more valuable each year. Surf Museums have begun to spring up in recent years and surf industry giants have budgets and growing history now that is worthy of collection.

I can recommend the auction as being more that well worth a look in next year folks, plus the bonus is that the surf is just out the door if you feel the urge half way through the salty proceedings.

Story & Photos: Steve Core

AUG 2011: If you have an interest in Surf Swap Meets or Surf Auctions; then check my brand new blog; Swap Surf - a blog [as it grows] that will list, detail and report on Surf Swap meets and dry land surfboard events. Click Here

Something to add or say? E-mail us at: swapsurf@gmail.com

Mick Mock's Vintage Surf Auction

2010-09-20T15:16:00.022+10:00

Preview: Tender disposal

It's Spring time - so it's on again. This coming weekend, Sydney's Harbord Beach cliffs will echo with sound of the auctioneer's hammer as Mick Mock conducts his 9th seasonal Vintage Surf Auction of surfboards and collectable surf memorabilia. Multi-vendor Surfboards from every era will be available for sale to the highest bidder.

Everything from the most popular collecting era's of original '60s longboards through to single fins and twin fins of the '70s and '80s and beyond will be up for sale.

Foam & Fibreglass float on a sea of blue carpet
at last year's auction at Harbord Diggers Club.
Photo: courtesy of The Board Collector

Additionally the auction encompasses many different collecting areas, including all types of collectable surf related items from skateboards, to surf movie posters, surfing magazines, artwork and photographs through to surf rarities. All will be on display and up for bids by serious collectors.

This year, a rare Mark Richards hand shaped, combo trifin/twin fin will feature as one of the eye catching classics going under the hammer. Along with a Terry Fitzgerald 7ft flyer swallow-tail.

Long board aficionados will be impressed with some fetching old Brookvale product also up for bid. Top names like Keyo, Barry Bennett, Bill Wallace and Gordon Woods should bring in top dollar bids; expecting to reach around the $2,000 mark.

I will be going along to see if there are any old south-side boards up for sale. I'll be looking for any old Norm Casey, Peter Clarke, Baron, Gordon & Smith or Jackson product.

If you are thinking of going, pre-auction viewings are your perfect opportunity to inspect each lot prior to the auction in a relaxed and unrushed environment. We encourage you to look closely and examine each object you may wish to bid for so that you are completely familiar with its condition prior to sale - as these items are sold without warranty.

WHEN:

Public viewing of the available of all lots is on Saturday afternoon September 25th from 3pm to 5pm and again on the morning of the Auction day: Sunday September 26th from 9.15am to 10.00am. All viewing sessions are free entry.

The first fall of the hammer begins at 10.30am on Sunday.

WHERE:
Harbord Diggers Club
Corner of Evans Street and The Drive, Harbord Beach, Sydney

No matter what your speciality collecting interest is, there's plenty to check out right across the surfing spectrum of collectables. Mick is an old analog guy, so there's no website related to the auction. Just simply turn up, Harbord is one beach north of Manly and the Diggers Club look right down onto the beach, then you can become part of the fun and excitement.

Something to add or say? E-mail us at: swapsurf@gmail.com

Cronulla's old Origin legend in the fight of his life

2010-09-05T07:51:00.024+10:00

Darrell Eastlake

Old Cronulla surfing identity Darrell Eastlake is now back at his home on Scenic Drive, Terrigal on the NSW Central Coast after a recent near death stint in Hospital.

Darrell Eastlake at his home in Terrigal
Photo: Tim Hunter, Sunday Telegraph.

The 68 year old Big D rose to national fame as a cultural icon during his time as a the Nine Network's sports commentator with classic calls on everything from weight lifting, to surf club events, auto racing and of course; the NRL's State Of Origin co-hosting with another Cronulla identity - Jack Gibson.

Darrell has recently had more serious health battles to face with a combination of Alzheimer's disease, dementia and emphysema slowing down the once tall and strong man. His illness has rendered him bed ridden and relying on a walking cane to be able to move about.

Darrell has a long lost connection with the Cronulla area, living and surfing here for many years. I first met Darrell when I was working at Peter Clarke Surfboards in 1967 in Taren Point and big Dazza came in to custom order a new board. At the time I am sure he was a member of the Wanda Surf Club.

He ordered a purple solid resin board. Purple we all thought? Only Greek families used the colour purple back in those days - usually to paint their houses! But the Big D was always making some kind of statement. That's the type of guy he is.

At Burleigh Heads as a 4GG Announcer
in 1974. Photo: National Library

From his earliest days as a Qantas Baggage handler, Darrell was also involved administration wise with the early Bobby Brown Contests in Cronulla in the late sixties, he managed the Gordon Woods Surf Shop in the Beach Park Arcade and was the first person to do Cronulla Surf Reports live-to-air on AM radio for 2UW [before FM]. In the early days of Graham Cassidy's ground breaking 2SM/Coke Surfabout Contests, Darrell was a multi media reporter.

He also launched a famous campaign in the late sixties where he grew sick of the Northside domination of the Sydney surfing scene and he united our local Shire board builders in a promotion to jointly state that the South had risen again. Using the old US Confederate Army flag as a symbol of unity and rebellion.

Darrell spent 7 years on the Gold Coast as a 4GG sports caster and started the Gold Coast Rugby League Show. He then went to NBN-3 television in Newcastle where he hosted the Sports Show. I was even a guest on his TV show in Newcastle while promoting surfing films.

Darrell interviews Rabbit at the 2007 Stubbies re-union.
Photo: Surfinsnapps

Darrell went to Channel 9 in 1982 to call the Brisbane Commonwealth Games. He did the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary and also co-hosted Sports Sunday with surfing's Mark Warren. He was the longest serving 9 Sports commentator until he announced his retirement in 2005.

There's a great August 2010 interview available on-line on Channel 9's 'A Current Affair' website with Darrell. Click here to see it if you missed it.

Although he's currently battling short term memory loss, if you watch the interview, you'll quickly realise there's plenty left in the Big D's long term storage tanks and occasionally you hear that booming 'huge' voice rise to excitement as he fondly talks about the good old days.

We all wish big Dazza the very best, hang in there mate, we love ya'.

Steve

Frank Latta Tribute

2010-08-14T18:58:00.020+10:00

Very sad news with the passing of Cronulla surfing legend Frank Latta in August 2010.

I knew Frank very well in his old Cronulla days. He actually shaped surfboards for me in 1969 when I was making surfboards under my own name, Steve Core Surf Boards in Taren Point.

The footage I have posted here on You Tube is from my 1971 16mm film 'In Natural Flow'. I shot the footage of Frank at Sandshoes Reef in Cronulla in 1971. In 2010, thanks to the technical wizardry of the guys at Video-8 the footage has come up really crisp and sharp - considering it is 39 years old.

I had the footage close on hand because in the past couple of months I have been preparing 'In Natural Flow' to be re-mastered onto the digital format for general release on DVD in September/October this year.

The original 16mm Frank Latta footage at Sandshoes Reef is a buried treasure unearthed, because 'In Natural Flow' has not been screened or seen the light of day anywhere for over 30+ years.

For more information and details on my two films 'In Natural Flow' [1971] and 'Ocean Rhythms' [1975] please visit my website at Utmost Spirit.

Steve Core

Ad from Witzig's Surf International
magazine in 1969 when Frank
shaped for me [click to enlarge]

Welcome to my new surf blog...

2010-08-10T09:17:00.012+10:00

Hello everyone.

Thanks for visting my new blog...

I am starting to compile a list of Surf Shops and Surfboard Manufacturers and Surfboard Shapers from the Cronulla area.

This may become a reasonable reference tool for people researching old surfboards, equipment and surf people.

My interest is that in the Cronulla area I have worked in and owned Surf Shops, I have worked in and owned a Surfboard factory. I have also edited & published a glossy surfing magazine, I have been a 'still' surf photgrapher and I have made 16mm surfing films and videos - all over the past 45 years.

To start to build the reference files, I am dividing the blog's pages up into separate categories. Click on the right hand side of this page [under the pages heading] to visit the individual pages. As the information expands I may have to come up with another solution.

I would love to hear from anyone with further information to contribute, stories and even better if you have any photos or old images to accompany the words - that would be fantasic.

If you would like to read more about my personal history and the 16mm Surfing Films I have produced and sell on DVD have a look at my website Utmost Spirit.

Regards for now and please enjoy reading the info...

Steve Core