Three Wood

Clockwise from the top - Noosa Longboards' manager Pete at the wheel of their old V8 Woody rumbling towards the National Park, Tea Tree bay woodland and Parrish Watts, wood craftsman from Vintage Pacific Surfcraft with one of his many wooden devices - this belly board says "Surfers make me laugh.... They act so cool with all their fancy tricks!"

Exile on Vinyl Street

I feel compelled to land some type on this phosphorescent canvas before my eyelids close for the day. The reason is nearly 40 years old. A tale of too many drinks, drugs, deals and divas - across two continents, including chateaus used by the Nazis and tax exiles trying to make a bit of vinyl music.

So popular retelling has it. And today the wonderful people of iToons will re-re-release the Rolling Stones' double album Exile on Main Street, a wonderful, crazy, crankin', ragged double vinyl with cover layout by John Van Hammersveld (you know the Endless Summer poster) and photography by legendary lensman Robert Frank, himself an exalted chronicler of exiles on main streets.

JvH Poster courtesy of Audio Absinte

If you are in Brinetopia glue yourself to the original Tube and watch the documentary on ABC1 9:30pm Thursday 20 May 2010.

Vintage Pacific

"The name is Watts - 

Parrish Watts."

The brand is 

Vintage Pacific Surfcraft

The vehicles are wooden.

Sometimes hollow.

Never ugly.

On the Road Again (again)

A couple of analogues to finish off 2009. Manual focus Nikonos 35mm, treading water, manual wind on film advance, bottom turn back when when boardshorts were short. When the road ended at the camping area at the end of Hastings Street. And yes, the surf was crowded then too.

Ah, the sweet 1968 mix of the south Indian tambura drone behind the harmonica, drums and guitars of Canned Heat. Never tire of this tune, which was an adaptation of an adaptation of an old blues standard sung by Blind Owl Wilson of American boogie blues band, Canned Heat. Wilson was a legally blind Boston graduate who played at the Woodstock and Monterey Festivals in the 1960's and was dead of a drug overdose at 27. The irony is that the old originator of the tune, Chicago Bluesman Floyd Jones, outlasted the young prodigy by 20 years. Now that's the blues.

Hoping you all continue to bury a rail and tap your toes in 2010.

HIPPY NEW YEAR

Currumbin Surf Museum

Surfed The Spit early yesterday with The Bazzmeister and his son Chris, visiting from Sydney. Enjoyed some meaty peaks followed by a meaty brekkie and two cups of coffee. Wound our way south through the surreal sprawl that is Surfers' Paradise down to leafy Currumbin and the Village Store above where a kind lady directed us to the Gold Coast Surf Museum. Big Thanks.

What a find! We managed to chance upon none other than surfing legend MP, photo legend Mal Sutherland and Josh Bystrom, son of late surf movie maker Chris Bystrom (RIP).

Had a great yarn with Mal about the old days shooting film during our stinking hot summers with manual everything cameras as well as listening to a few of his funny tales from the 1960's era. Mal is the real deal. Check his awesome work in the Switchfoot II book just out.
The boards at the museum are a magnificent testimony to the shapers' mind with all manner of fins, wings, rockers, flat bottoms, jet bottoms - the works. If you are into board shaping or the history of surf board design, you have to check this place out. (According to Baz all shaping roads lead to Hayden, so a close up of an old three stringer is above. I can see further animated debate on that theory!)

Bottom photo is a collection of equipment and items from Chris Bystrom's movie making days. His son, Josh is keeping his father's legacy in the public arena. For info: www.chrisbystrom.com
HUGE Thanks to Mal and Josh for their generous time and sharing of their own brine times.