Welcome Sonny

Kerry Down. Photo by Paul Melnyk.
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My mate Kerry & his lovely lady Jackie had a young goofyfooter in the early hours this morning. His name is Sonny. Welcome to the world little friend.

A.Knost

Inspiration

In The Field - Greg Hunt from Joshua Zucker on Vimeo.

Dane

Hero

Tom Curren, Backdoor Pipeline, 1991. Riding a reverse vee by Maurice Cole. Photograph by Tom Servais.
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This is my all time favourite photograph of my all time favourite surfer. This image was captured nearly twenty years ago but I think it still stands as an example of world class, state-of-the-art waveriding. It is a wonderful testament, not just to Curren's ability, but to the reality that this kind of clean, classical rail orientated surfing is timeless.

I was very impressed by this photo. Not long after I saw it I made my own reverse vee board that served me well, & this poster has hung in my shaping bay ever since. I can't possibly say how much many times I have pondered this photograph & all that it holds in terms of Curren's style: the economy of movement, the length of rail engaged, the subtle body torque, the masterful positioning, the gently splayed fingers & the graceful positioning of the hands. And photographically, too, there is much to consider. I think it is a triumph in terms of composition, light, contrast, line, shape & texture. The sun-struck trail created by Curren's turn leads the eye through the picture & gives the image vitality & movement, & the gorgeous parabolic curve of the track itself describes the beautiful purity of his line.

In retrospect I think it is photographs like these, & also my experience of watching surf films as I grew up, that inspired me to desire to somehow contribute to the ways in which surfing is documented. Whether in writing, or art, or still & moving pictures, I hoped & still do hope to share in some small way the grand joy & deep beauty & vast meaning surfing gives our lives. But for me there is a tension in all this. Servais' photograph is a beautifully captured moment, but at the end of the day I recognise that is all it is: a moment long ago passed. I am reminded that surfing's joy & beauty, like all things in life, are fleeting. Perhaps, too, that's why I hope to capture such things in photos & films, if only to just to hold & savour them a little longer.

A poet who had an important impact upon me growing up was John Keats. Keats' work is infused with these kinds of themes of transience & impermanence. Tragically, he ended up dying from tuberculosis in his mid-twenties. At his request, the epitaph on his grave bears this poignant script: "Here lies one whose name was writ in water."

I think it is a fine epitaph for any surfer. It somehow suits all of us who, like Curren above, etch short-lived lines upon bands of ephemeral energy that are born & live & die in our beloved & ever-changing sea.

Ghost Tree

Seaworthy via The Surf Network

While I'm busy sharing friends' work I thought I'd throw it out there that my film 'Seaworthy' is available for immediate download online via The Surf Network. If you haven't seen it already, I hope that you enjoy the film &, as always, thanks for watching.

Mini

Tidy new mini-simmons via Jess Watson of Black Apache Surfboards. Perfect board for upcoming summery experiments.

Keyo/reCycle

When they're not getting up to nasal shenanigans or rolling at the skatepark my mates Sean & Johnny mess around with fixies:

keyo. reCycle from keyo int on Vimeo.

They also have a little blog going here.

Little Black Wheels

My mate Mick Waters' film 'Little Black Wheels' has come just become available online. You can download it or watch it live from www.thesurfnetwork.com. It's a really special piece of work.

Stoked & Broke Tour

Cyrus Sutton sent me a copy of his new movie & I watched it last night & it is absolutely epic. A beautiful, original, engaging film. So good. Go seek.

Grace

Belinda Baggs.

Explore

Explore is a philanthropic community whose mission is to champion the selfless acts of others, to create a portal into the soul of humanity and to inspire lifelong learning. Please show your interest & sign up & go into a draw to win a free surfboard here.

Sea Stones

Speed Run

I had the good fortune of watching Wayne Bartholomew take apart a Queensland pointbreak a few months back & it was pure inspiration.

Rabbit turns fifty-six this year, which is exactly twenty years older than I am. This day he was catching his fair share of waves despite a crowded lineup, surfing smooth & fast & covering a lot of ground, completing waves way down the length of the cove & then overtaking surfers half his age as he sprinted back to the rockoff spot at the tip of the point.

Simply put, Rabs was frothing as hard as a grommet & it warmed the cockles of my surfer's heart to witness it all unfolding: a grown man, silver haired in his later years, overflowing with joy & vitality & desire, obviously as much in love with surfing as he ever has been.

It reminded me of what the narrator in Tim Winton's 'Breath' thought about surfing: "How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant."

How strange, how simple, how good. I am grateful to share the lineup with elders who can still remind us of that most primary lesson: a surfing life is pure gift.

The Seaglass Project

In addition to building beautifully handcrafted timber boards, Tom has teamed up with GSI to release his tuna models under the label of The Seaglass Project. I can't wait to have a go on one of these little spaceships. Go well Tom! Vaya con Dios!

Ze Frog & Toad

Nicholas Chalmers is having a happy adventure.