It all started with the fish when the innovative shapers and board builders out there decided to revisit the past for some inspiration. In doing so they brought back some lost skills such as resin tints and hand foiled fins.The Fish Fry has been a place for these fine craftsmen to showcase their skills. We have seen some amazing boards as shapers have pushed the boundaries over the last few years. As this new look at the fish has evolved to its many forms, it has influenced other shapes and designs along the way.This has spawned a renewed interest in other board forms by this same group and a wider following.Notably the Mini Simmons, Hulls, old school Logs and Pigs. It is pleasing to note that there are an increasing number of people building their own boards as well.All of this is to be applauded and celebrated as a positive for surfing.So it is only natural that these shapers and board builders continue to share their skills with us and include these other shapes at the Fish Fry.It has truly become a melting pot of ideas for like minded people.

When the creative juices flow









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The Rabbit's Foot

 This is part of the evolution of a design by Ryan Lovelace from Santa Barbara in the quest for finless fun. It looks like a simple idea well executed , with no wild aray of channels and edges gouged into the bottom.

The First Foot Of Hare. from Michael Kew on Vimeo.
Rabbits Foot v.2 from Ryan Lovelace on Vimeo.

 Check out Ryan's other great experiments and ideas : www.pcprogress.blogspot.com

 He is currently in Byron Bay shaping boards and enjoying the run of swell we have on offer.
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Bob and his spoons

 Bob Mc Tavish likes a spoon or two. Below are the 4 he made start to finish by himself in 1974.

This red one is one of the original 4 from 1974 and can be seen at the Gold Coast Surf Museum
This is Bob and Gary Self who turned up at the factory the other day with 2 more of the original spoons
 Here they all are , 4 new ones Bob has just finished in the back and the 3 from 1974 in the front.
 A great sight and there would be a big smile on the dial of the little man

4 new ones , just like the old ones. Bob of late is revisiting his past and if you want to check what else he is doing check his blog as it is very interesting. You will never meet a more positive and energized guy in you life as Bob Mc Tavish
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Wood to foam


Andrew Wells from Lennox Heads is well know as a great builder of wooden boards through his brand Grown Surfboards. Head a a couple of great looking boards at the Fish Fry the other weekend. Well he has been turning his hand to foam and these are the results. They are a 5' 2" simmons style fish,  a 5' 6" pintail hull, and another 5' 6"  mini simmons. I think it is a great learning experience to shape in foam as well as wood , as it gives you a better feel for the whole shaping process. It is also a far cheaper and more cost effective way of checking out a design in foam before committing to wood and all that is involved there.
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Rincon

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Sliding the Simmons

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Sounds like a great morning...

For information about Bellingen Readers and Writers Festival 2012: http://bellingenwritersfestival.com.au/
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Shape 3D night

Many people use different software to help design and render surfboards prior to building them. Shape 3D is a high end software to design boards with and used by many well known shapers world wide. Thomas is French national who created the software and will be on the Gold Coast in Australia to promote his latest version Shape 3DX. The new version I believe has many new features that will be of interest to existing designers and those looking to upgrade. Enabling such things a foot and knee wells in the deck of paddle boards and advanced contours in SUP's.

So if you would like to find out more or network with other users , this is a great opportunity to get together and ask all the questions you want.

When : Monday March 19th 2012

Time : 6.00pm for BBQ and drinks
           6.30pm presentation start

Where : The Gold Coast Surf Museum , 35 Tomewin Street , Currumbin.
              Opposite the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary.
              Phone : 5525 6380
              www.surfworldgoldcoast.com

Cost : A Gold Coin donation

You could also email Thomas direct at : thomas@shape3d.com
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Sliding the glide


Pillage & Plunder from Nathan Oldfield on Vimeo.
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Carbon kneelo

Nice new board hand shaped by Alan Bruce that he brought along to the Fish Fry on the weekend. Hullish entry with pretty flat bottom all the way and 60 / 40 rails like a body board in the tail. Very cool and a nice glass job my Peter Mo.
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Fish Fry 2012 done and dusted

Colour was sure everywhere this year. Here are some Diverse boards with cork decks at one end and some of his other boards using all sorts of high tech composites below. There were just lots of different things going on , which is great to see.



A time for old mates to catch up and spend a day together. Nice to see. Tiki and Roy from way back.

Nice graphics on an old timer.

Mark Riley sent up some nice Balsa boards from Sydney


A couple of likely lads catch some shade. The sun was so hot , thank god for the nice sea breeze to save the day. Mind you it poured with rain all day yesterday. No complaints.


 Rich Pavel with a baord I shaped for the Vans surf team.

Eden and Sam looking forward to a surf.
 A nice little Simmons shaped by DMS for the Vans guys.




 11 year old Kyuus King from Byron is part of the Vans Team and here he is with the board I shaped him . Then he coloured it up big time. 3ft 8: x 19" x 2" Micro Simmons.

 A 5 footer I shaped for Caleb from Sydney another member of the Vans Team.








Mexican blanket , Poska camo attack
A big thanks from me to Rich Pavel who has been to all 6 Alley Fish Frys.

A great day had by everyone I am sure . Lots of different boards and lots of new faces.

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