Foam Symmetry Review

Harrison Roach (above) is a phenomenal surfet on long, short or wood. So I was happy to see him on the cover of Australia's latest surfing magazine. It's a bold move, putting your time and money into establishing another surfing magazine at anytime, let alone in these post-GFC, post-analogue, post-post-modern, post-Elvis times.
But that hasn't stopped Justin Bevan delivering Volume One Number One of the mag foam symmetry.

I can't show any photos from that issue as the editor's words are quite clear: "Copyright is reserved and the scanning of pages to be placed on websites or blogs is prohibited". (And as one who has had their own images infringed upon - karma will get you - I take these things seriously!) I can tell you the production values and Oz print job are sumptuous. I can tell you that after flicking through its 77 pages that I wanted to grab my old film cameras and go shootin and loggin at the same time. 

I can tell you that Issue One does not appear to have any shots of WCT type shortboarders shredding Pipeline/Off-da-wall/MystoIndo/Todos/Chile/Superbank/Jbay.

I can tell you that the mag is planned to be delivered quarterly and you can subscribe for four issues for $35Au. If I was a surfin sista, I might be disappointed. Then again maybe not as the shots of all the fellas are pretty impressive. BUT (and this is my only beef) where are the sista surfers, guys? There's a double page hang five of Kassia Meador and a half page shot of Sasha Leitmanis and that's it for the girl surfers.

But don't let this put you off. It's early days for these ultra-hip media-mogul sliders. Get yourself a copy and make up your own mind.

Textish Tuesday (13-12-11)

Image above by Mark Lobo of VonVintage

Text #1 "Not big. 3 feet. just in the middle of nowhere. no one out"

Text #2 "Some nice small water at OV headland this morning. hope the stitches go well."

Text #3 "Hey neilo how's the face? Hope it's OK. Got some good waves yesterday at karamas."

Text #4 "If you pitch your tent they will come. Just got in from an excellent session on the point."

Trent x Tricko

Above, Trent Dickey, hanging 10 at First Point a couple of autumns back and on the other side of the carpark, Captain Tricko, sailor, raconteur and busker of awesome cultural value jamming on his cigar box guitars while avoiding the hot gaze of the local constabs at post code 4567 during his Big Fat World Busking Tour, autumn 2011. Thanks for the chat, CD and performance. Those cigar box guitars are so lo-fi yet so incredible. Support street performers and hire the Captain for your next BBQ, blues party.

Anticipation

Two more sleeps until Noosa and the annual surf festy. There will be surfing on four, three, two, one and no fins. (And that's just on the fringe) There will be sunshine, rain and many photo ops. For all the details including the Oz premiere of Cyrus Sutton's new movie Stoked and Broke click here. Oh and a serve of swell on top please Hughie.

All Hail Gail

BIG thanks to Gail Austin, owner of the Goodtime Surfshop for putting up a grand of her own cash to support surf photography - a crazy activity where you spend lots of cash and time capturing other people having fun for limited financial reward. (Yet I love it.) Pic above won me a $500 voucher to spend at Goodtime. Stoked!! Not the first time Gail has put her hand in her pocket to help the local community, either. Deadset legend.

Now, how to spend that voucher? Another log or another short board? There's dozens of possible options at Gail's surf shop - one that actually sells a variety of surfboards, fins, wetties, wax, DVDs, grips, helmets, matts and caters to surfers of all ages, abilities and preferences. So now I will consult The Treasurer who will be funding the shortfall...

Wach has left the Seashore

memories of his royal toesness wach

Wach-tober

Long after the pictures have faded, surfers will share story about the young Californian who hung 10 in the tube and did handstands on the nose of his longboard one autumn at Noosa. Thank you Mr Wach.

Stoke-o-meter

I'm out of the water but not out of the woods yet with this crazy head, nose, ear bug.

 My own Stoke-o-meter was down in the red zone yesterday. And today my focus is more like this.

But at least the sun is out so I can find a warm spot to cough and sneeze and watch the action.

Noosa 2010 Festival

Photo: Flyer cover - Harry Roach sliding First Point 2009

Sometimes in autumn, we get a late season cyclone that lines up the swells like corduroy from First Point to Granite Bay and beyond. Car parks are jammed. Drop ins are notorious and local building sites shut down while tradespeople get some work and life balance. Cyclone Freda was kind and hovered far enough away not to do any damage but still pulsed out magnificent rides for what seemed a few weeks.

Sometimes Autumn just brings little crystalline peelers for big logs. Down near the rivermouth or over at Sunshine. Either way this years Noosa Festival going to be a wonderful gathering of diverse equipment, accents, ages and experiences. Bring it on!

SUMMERtime = Slidetime 10

Summer 2009

Wach 2

Christian Wach. Hang 10. No leggie. Point break. Rocks. Champion.

Autumn 2009

Wach x Noosa

Autumn 2009