Happy New Year everyone

Merry Christmas

All things Fish by Roger Hall

Roger Hall of Surfline Surfboards in New Zealand has a passion for fishes that goes along way back. He has just written about it in his last newsletter for the year. I would like to share it with you.

"I would say one of the things that defines me as a shaper would have to be my early love affair and long term romance with a cute little surfboard design simply called “FISH”.
The early 70’s for me were spent pawing over the pages of Californian surf mags searching for images of Fish in action and any clues or info about their specific shape and design. Fishes stood out as being completely different to all other surfboards of the day due to their shortness of length, twin keels and wide fish tails. There was something very exciting about the lines drawn and the style of surfing on these amazing little short, wide and flat boards.
I was indeed in heaven when a Californian surfer named Phil moved to my neighborhood in the early 1970’s bringing with him a tiny Steve Lis Fish. Steve Lis is synonymous with the Fish design and to be able to see and touch a Fish sculpted by the man himself had a deeply profound affect on me. I built and rode fishes well into the 80’s until peer pressure took its toll. I managed to persist with the twin keel fins even on non-fish type boards until the Thruster eventually won the battle for global domination. While I moved with the times I always felt like I was “cheating on my girlfriend” and missing the Fish sensations and certain “moments” that only a Fish can deliver. It wasn’t long before I started to combine fish designs with elements from another important influence in my life - Ben Aipa.

These Fish and Twin Keel boards have evolved and mutated over the years and there is strong  evidence in the models section of my Website. I can tell you that the only times I have experienced true Déjà vu in my life has always occurred while riding fishes.The realization of having experienced the exact same thing at another time of your life (decades apart) sends a strange sensation through your core which you simply can not ignore. It has never happened on any other type of board (or any other time in my life for that matter) other than while riding Twin Keel 70’s style Fish. LONG LIVE THE FISH!"
Be sure to join in as surfers the world over celebrate Fish Surfboards at Waipu Cove New Zealand - March the 9th 2014.

To find out more about the first annual New Zealand Fish Fry at Waipu Cove check out http://thecovefishfry.blogspot.com.au/

or touch base with : Michael Cunningham   Michael.Cunningham@northernadvocate.co.nz

20th Birthday for Surf World Torquay

Byron Bay Surf Festival 2013 something for everyone who surfs

BBSF 2013 Surf Culture oozing from every facet from Byron Bay Surf Festival on Vimeo.

Golden Days Festival - Wooden Surfboard Show & Ride

Coolum Beach, Sunshine Coast, QLD - COME ONE COME ALL!

Calling all timber surfcraft enthusiasts! Everyone welcome to the Wooden Surfboard session on Sunday 10 November 2013 from 8am at Tickle Park, Coolum Beach.

Come along and enjoy a relaxed day with a great display of boards of all shapes and sizes. Bring your own wood board along and swap boards and ideas with other wooden board builders.

HOLLOW BOARDS, CHAMBERED BOARDS, ALAIAS AND PAIPOS, BALSA, PAULOWNIA, CEDAR - ANYTHING OLD OR NEW!

Brought to you by Surfing Green in collaboration with Tom Wegener Surfboards, Coolum Surfing School and Surfrider Foundation.

Free cake of Matunas eco surf wax to the first 15 people to join us for this event - see us at the Surfing Green tent to claim yours on the day!

Sunday at Wategos - Byron Bay Surf Festival 2013

 After all the Northerly winds and unpredictable surf that we have this time of year, it was amazing to arrive at Wategos Beach to glassy sliders and offshore winds. We scored well and truely. A great location and a great day in the sun with just enough swell to have fun.

 Mick Mackie getting ready to go out in the fish demo session on one of his flextails.Vanessa in green is one of the event organisers and her and the team have done a great job of building this event to what it is.

 The local Mal Club provided the food and drinks all day

 Live music from a bunch of talented people most of the day.

 SB handplanes from the Gold Coast

 Flying Fish handplanes from Sydney

 Some very nice wooden boards

 

 Magic day all day

 This little lady tried this board out 3 time

 Great film maker Nathan Oldfield getting amongst a few

 Bob doing the slide

 

 All ages were into it

 Not very old this one, all the way to the beach.

 Brother and sister Yani and Pacha demoed these boards of mine many time on the day

 

 The log demo guys all lined up

 

 Tom Wegner and Rasta with their Olo boards that Tom shaped. Big ,long, heavy and rounded , very hard to ride. Rasta and Ryan Burch took them both out for a paddle and eventually caught a wave together, which is probably the first time in 100 year or more that two Olo Boards have been on a wave together. And just after that a hump back whale breached in the backgound out in the bay. What a moment, the crowd went wild. A very proud moment for Tom who has put so much effort into what he had done with the ancient Hawaiian wooden board revival. Nice one Tom, my hat goes off to you.

 

 Rasta and Mike share the finer points of actually catching a wave on an Olo with the crowd.

Rasta and Ryan Burch had to be the perfect fit of guys to pull it off.

What a great weekend once again. You need to plan to be their next year.

Byron Bay Surf Festival 2013 unreal

This years festival was just the best show of Australian surf culture art music and anything to do with surfing you could ever gather in one place. The weather was great the vibe was right. All sorts of people and all sorts of things to interest anyone who loves their surfing. Friday nights opening ceremony was on the beach front, open air in the park with a large inflatable screen to show the movie Bella Vita. Fantastic intro to the weekend ahead.

Typical Byron gathering of people from all walks of life.

 Saturday morning was the dawn of a great day , warm sunny and Northerly winds up early to knock the gloss of the waves that were there. But the focus was in the park...

 There was something for everyone

 

 

 Hand plane workshop

 Tom was busy all day helping people build his "Surfies"

Andy had plenty of Gato boards to look at

 A couple of legends at a book signing, Jack and the Mex

Bjorn, came all the way from Finland to share his skills with us. The board next to him is hollow and made from recycled skate decks. Great guy. www.boboholm.com 

Rodrigo, came from Brazil to hold a workshop on handplanes and then off to Japan.

 Thomas Bexton and crew had most options covered

 Californian shaper , Ryan Lovelace with his mix of different boards

 Girls having an ice tea party

 What better place to get a hair cut, A teepee

 It was hot for everybody

 Legend Rusty Miller having a book reading and story telling with the launch of his book.

 Eden Saul, from Dead Kooks

 Andy from Rake on the lookout

 Adrian from Rake surfboards

 

Dan Malloy launching his new book and movie

Mick Mackie, Ryan Lovelace, Ryan Burch and Jessie Watson. Mick was giving a lesson in flextails. 

 Rusty Miller and Bob McTavish

 Nat Young and Bob McTavish had some great yarns to share

Rodrigo Matsuda learned everything about alaias in Japan with his master Yuichi Endo. A profound 11 year experience that has elevated his skills to mastery. www.lascasurfboards.com

 Andy Finlay in his element

 Art in the Park

 Mermaids in the making

 Keith and the Patagonia boys

 Tim Baker at the book launch

 Great food

Mike and the classic surf wagon

Saturday night we went to the release of the Wayne Lynch movie at the community centre. And the final judging of two short surf movie comps. What a great night and Wayne was there to answer questions after his movie.