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.

Roger Hall from New Zealand gets ready for the fry .

When it comes to going the extra mile and effort for the Fish Fry , Roger surely sets the bar pretty high.Here below is the workings of his latest board for this years Fish Fry.

A combination of foam and wood like you have never seen. As if it is not hard enough to work with the differing densities of a variety of timbers and then to add the foam as well.

How the resin brings it all to life...

A sanding nightmare for most of us , but just something to be done for Roger.


Roger builds beautiful detailed custom boards all day and this is him just stepping it up for the Fish Fry in his own way. Mate my hat goes off to you once again and like everyone I can't wait to see it in all it's glory next week.


A lot of planning and time goes into a project like this especially when you are running a small team building great boards all day. Check out what Roger calls his regular boards :
www.surfline.co.nz

A big thanks to Mike for the pics above. He will be coming with Roger once again and just fizzing for the opportunity to surf without a wetsuit after a summer in the land of the long black raincoat.

2 weeks today until this years Fish Fry

Well it is two weeks away and summer surely is upon us. The water today was 26.5c on the life guards board at the beach this morning and 34c in the shade on my back deck this afternoon.
The Gold Coast is a great place to live for sure. This the Alley looking back to Surfers Paradise.

You have to love the resin tints that the fish has brought back to boards and hand foiled fins as well.

This is a shot taken buy Danny Hess's wife Erin in 2007, the first Fish Fry.A great outlook from the park across the road to the beach.

Pick your flavour...


Andrew Wells from Grown Surfboards has been busy building some boards for the fish fry.

5ft 8" chambered Paulownia with airbrushing by Shane Martin


This is the sort of boards that will be at the Fish Fry in a couple of weeks.I know of a number of guys who are building boards especially for the day. Which is unreal ans shows the commitment out there. Thanks Andy for the effort and support .

Check out what else he has been up to - www.grownsurfboards.com.au

Richard Kenvin's slide show

Richard Kenvin's Hydrodynamica Slideshow Oct 2010 from Matthew McGregor-Mento on Vimeo.

Stephane's new Mini Simmons

Just got these great shots from Stephane Guillaume in France of his new board shaped by Terry Surfboards in Biarritz.


Just love the graphics and all the colour , very different I must say.



www.terrysurfboards.com

2011 European Fish Fry date set

If you want to know more about this or organise a trip over for the event contact Rob Lion at :
royalsurfboards@googlemail.com

Great to see that they are keeping the flame alight and all the best for the day guys.

Sergio's fish with style and colour

Sergio treats his fish as if it was a religion...






He loves colour and does great resin work to compliment his shapes





I first met Sergio Gomez when he came to the Fish Fry a couple of years ago with Roger hall from New Zealand where he had been working with Roger at Surfline Surfboards.He is a great guy and a great shaper. Not long after he headed off to France where he has set up business and continues to shape and live.If you are over that way and want a nice board he will look after you.
You can check him out at :
www.fishcove.blogspot.com

The Mini Simmons story



I have posted this before , but it is interesting . So here it is and let me know what you think.You will see many of these little guys at the fish fry , from many different shapers. Try one and see what all the fun is about. Yes they are different and a little hard to get you head around , but try one and answer it for yourself.

Looking for something a little different ?

Ryan Lovelace from Point Concept Surfboards in Santa Barbara will be here for the Fish Fry and is available to shape you a board while he is here.Check out his sites to see what he builds :
www.PointConceptSurf.com
www.PCProgress.blogspot.com

Remember that the Fish Fry brings together the best of shapers and the innovators of the shaping world so if you are interested in a new board this is the place to see what is out there.It is also you best opportunity to meet these great guys and even have a surf with them or try a board. Bring along the fish you have and compare it or swap with someone else on the day. This is what the whole day is all about and what makes it so different.

More big fish

Skip Frye the master with a board to glide the point and slide the bay.



John Cherry shapes a great board and the finest fins to go with them.

It would be great to have both of these gentlemen join us at the Fry one year. They sure have inspired me over the years.

A fishy fish from Moonlight Glassing


What a cool looking board from the guys at Moonlight Glassing in California.

The big fish...

A selection of 10ft and 11ft fishes from Rich Pavel , twin , quad and thrusters. I like a big fish myself and there are a number of us who love the glide with a fish tail. Sam Yoon here on the Gold Coast shapes many larger fish and he is only a small built guy.If you are after something different be sure to check them out at this years Fry. Rich is keen to shape some while he is here. Sam builds a beautiful board as well.

Mick Mackie and " Lost in the Ether "

Mick Mackie is a very innovative individual and loves to do his own thing. It has been a pleasure to have him at past Fish Fry. And Andrew Kidman has brought us some very special movies in the past. So am looking forward to this one.

Mick at work on a stringerless Simmons in styrene.

Side cut , big butt crack , flex tail , all things Mick likes to explore.

Jordan Nobel and Rake

Jordan Nobel the shaper of the great looking Rake mini simmons and fishes will be a speaker at the Fish Fry night as well.

Jordan is the owner of Note Surfboards on the Victorian coast. He was the 2009 Victorian Old Mal champ and is an avid surfer of all craft. He, like many other young shapers spent time at Classic Malibu at Noosa learning the ropes with Peter White, he later moved back to Torquay and started his own brand. He shapes a wide variety of boards but has a passion for the Mini Simmons and Fish that he builds under the Rake Label. He builds boards that are beautifully crafted with great glassing and finish. I am sure you will see why he is one of the new generation of Aussies leading the way out there doing what they love.

Great to have Ryan Lovelace @ the Fry

Ryan is a great example of the new young guns out there hand shaping and experimenting .He hails from Santa Barbara and is the owner of Point Concept Surfboards.

“He shaped his first board in Santa Barbara on his 19th birthday because he didn’t have enough coin to buy a Fish off the rack. What started as a one-man operation along with the help of best friends, namely Connor Lyon, Ryan has managed to turn his art, skill and energy into a dynamic business that creates between 5 and 20 boards a month for surfers who drool over his creative shapes and attention to detail”. He is self taught and willing to experiment with shapes, designs and materials which has led him to explore many aspects of board design and building. A shaper of the future with a keen following of young guns that inspire him to push the boundries.
It will be great to have Ryan , Connor and a number of mates come down for the Fry this year.Ben at Six Ounce in Sydney is stocking some of his boards and Ryan is keen to shape a few while here so get hold of Ben to line one up.Ryan is also one of our guest speakers the night before the fry at the Gold Coast Surf Museum. Be sure to book a space and get to hear from Ryan about his take on things fishy.

There is a chance Robin Kegel may make it to the fry



Robin Kegel form Gato Heroi built these boards for Japan and he emailed to say he hopes to make it out this year. Be great to have him as part of the mix.