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| Movember Madness |
| 26 November 2009, 16:51 |
Movember Madness
Dunno if you guys have been following the MOVEMBER comp on our site (http://www.thebombsurf.com/pages/685/movember-competition) but the competition sure has hotted up! Cool to see all the boys rocking their taches, if you haven't checked it out yet go vote for the one you think is coolest, there are some hilarious entries and one way or another you'll be entertained, just reading some of the comments had me laughing my ass off.
John
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| Guest Blog - Kelly Cestari |
| 26 November 2009, 16:20 |
Our man on the North Shore Mr. Kelly Cestari esq. is sending through daily blogs and images (see his cool slideshow of the first big swell to hit the North Shore this season) so we've set up a dedicated "Guest blog" for KC. You can find it by hovering your cursor over on the top menu bar under "Features" > "Guest Blog" > "Kelly Cestari " Or just click here . Good job KC. Keep it comin' !
Intrepid blogger, photographer and BOMBsurf contributor, KC.
Still getting schooled in the Movember comp though.
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| O'Neill Sunset / Gidget Sunset |
| 25 November 2009, 12:25 |
‘How long are you planning on growing it?” “Not sure”. Question posed to Jordy during his profile session. “Bring the setup to the Gold Coast I may have a new hair-do by then”. . Today was an off day that meant 2010 ASP World Tour profile day.
“There will be no contest today due to small conditions and a declining swell, this is the O’Neill World Cup of Surfing contest update, there will be no competition today due to small conditions and a declining swell”. The sounds emanating from the ocean and lifting my head the view greeting my eyes depicted a different story. Because Haleiwa ran all the way to the last day the setup at Sunset could not be completed in time. That is just my theory.
I should have surfed in the morning in fact I did a surf check. Sunset was good, Pipe was small, Backdoor had a few barrels for the brave souls and Rockies was messy. Back home another cuppa tea, add cinnamon sticks for a spicy kick
Something you only shoot once a year highlights your weaknesses as a photographer, posing athletes for profiles is one of mine. My new wi-fi SD transmitter was enough to make the job easier. New in the sense that this was the first time it has been used in practice, the first time because for the last three years I had been reading the instructions incorrectly. RTFM – read the f***ing manual. Properly. Shoot and a few seconds later see it on your laptop, no cables required.
6hrs, 21 athlete profiles and no lunch later we were done for the day and a surf was needed, after a snack. Old faithful 6’6 would not suffice. In the shed Mr 6’9 lay in wait. Watching the view from my room I started to devise excuses not to paddle out, there were some solid sets. So much for declining swell. English muffin, BBQ sauce, melted cheese and sliced ham I was off to Sunset at sunset. Paddle was easy, the paddle always is. Getting the first wave under your belt is the hardest at any spot but at Sunset with a few select pros getting in some practice there was no shoulder hopping here, paddle deep if you want one. Snagged one 15 minutes off the bat and took 4 more on the head. Must have been a good half hour before I could snag another one, in between that time ducking and diving and pulling back on one I should have gone on. Shoulda Coulda Woulda but didn’t. Wave in was a cracker, nothing like bottom turning looking up at the descending lip and thinking with in a fraction of a second, shit don’t fall, but also noticing friends in the channel watching your wave. It was a good way to end the day, Pat GooDang agreed it was worthy of a cold beer.
That's me shooting Silvava Lima, WCT ladies #2 right now.
P.S. There was a guy riding an Alia at Sunset and he was owning it.
Kelly C
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| Centeio wins Reef Hawaiian Pro |
| 24 November 2009, 12:34 |
Centeio wins Reef Hawaiian Pro, a blow by blow behind the scenes by Kelly Cestari
Now that is how you celebrate victory. As if emerging from the warmth of his mothers womb Joel Centeio exited the water letting everyone know he was the victor, the happy winner, the day was his, a war cry so triumphant the directors of 300 would have written his contract for the sequel right there in the wet sand. It was an already long day extended by the restart of Quarter Final 4 so let’s recap.
When the final day of an event rolls round Kirstin and I like to make a friendly wager, no actual money is put on the table just bragging rights. I called Jessi Merle-Jones to be in the final, Joel Parkinson and I think Joel Centeio and I can’t remember the fourth so obviously that is a sign said person never made it. I was right on one account. Being the rotation system I was up to shoot first, two hour shifts equates to four heats being that they are running for 30 minutes a piece.
R32H1 – Jay Thompson – Damien Hobgood – Jarrad Howse – Lincoln Taylor in that particular order of first to fourth. Nothing too grand about that heat, a few sizeable waves to start the day. Nice light for shooting
R32H2 – Sebastien Ziets – Roy Powers – Ben Dunn – Corey Lopez. Looking back on the photos I am not sure how Seabass won that heat. Maybe it was his flair or bonus points for having an 11th finger.
R32H3 – Joel Centeio – Matt Wilkinson – Tanner Gudauskas – Leigh Sedley. Up until now the waves had been mediocre and I had finally shifted to the nifty spot to shoot from. The GooDangs (Gaudauskas) travel like a pack of wolves together all the time supporting watching each others backs, happy hippy wolves though. Tanner had his Skull Candies set to some good tunes by the way he was bopping his head eyes closed, sadly they weren’t the winning beats. The qualification bubble has a thin membrane.
R32H4 – Joel Parkinson – Kai Otton – Dean Morrison – Andre Silva. Again if you scored people on photos I don’t know how Otton got through and if the judges awarded points for the dismount Andre would have advanced for pure drama. And then there was Joel. He’d toyed with a few, taking off pulling out. Then he paddled into what ended with a unanimous 10 from the judges. Stroking into the biggest wave of the morning bottom turning racing the pock marked face negotiating chandelier after non-crystal chandelier he exited and left me blurting out “What the F***” after releasing the trigger finger. I looked at his videographer Kendal next to me and he simply said “pretty good wasn’t it” or did he say “I have no idea”. Either way those kettle ball warm-ups he did with Egan pre-heat did the job.
Then the quarters rolled around of which I was the lucky person to shoot. Lucky not for the action in the water but the cheer entertainment brought forth by Reef Bikini Girls and the odd oriental man slash photographer who sequenced from paddle to dismount, trigger finger planted as if were it removed a bomb would explode. The funny thing is that on the waves he didn’t sequence from start to finish he would stop shooting when the surfer performed a maneuver and then start sequence again when the surfer was racing the line. By definition Reef Bikini Girls should have a bum you can bounce a quarter off. These two didn’t, the calendars they were autographing were either from their hay-day or simply not them. But still they were attractive enough for me to peer through my telescopic lens one too many times.
QF1 – Kai Otton – Jay Thompson – Matt Wilkinson – Sebastien Ziets. Thompson nabbed the biggest wave of the day, I think. It all starts to become a blur from here as honestly I was more interested in the lefts free surfers were riding over at Avalanches. Got some good shots of that.
QF2 – Joel Centeio – Damien Hobgood – Roy Powers – Joel Parkinson. From perfect 10 point rides to fourth place. The flipped coin is a two sided toss. Should have used the kettle ball. Was good to see Powers give Joel, the other Joel, a man hug for beating him.
QF3 – Hank Gaskell – Dion Atkinson – Torrey Meister – Adrian Buchan. Ace finished with a 3.50 that explains the conditions. Hank is unsponsored and deserves a sponsor. So does a former Triple Crown Champion and Pipe Master who is already on the World Tour. Economic times are tough, Canon has even dropped their service this year. Looks like I will have to clean my camera myself.
QF4 – Alain Riou – CJ Hobgood – Sunny Garcia – Nathan Yeomans. Despite placing fourth Yeomans has qualified for the 2010 tour – apparently. He didn’t even know this and was broken the news when a journalist phoned him to find out how happy he was. But then again after Haleiwa Pat GooDang was reported to have qualified and after Sunset had slipped out of contention by a good number of spots. Don’t count those chickens while still in the incubator.
Final – Joel Centeio – CJ Hobgood – Jay Thompson – Alain Riou. Just like in 2008 conditions dramatically improved for the final. The trade winds calmed the ocean semi-glassed but barrels were still ridden hell floaters were landed and paltry scores were tabulated. The Hobgoods had consistently been landing knee breaking floaters over the toilet bowl section. Look back to the injury Corey Lopez sustained at Pipe a few years ago and you can see how horrendous the results of their efforts could have been. Either way CJ earnt his second place. Jay Thompson chased but couldn’t pin the tail on the donkey. Alain Rio is from Tahiti, Haleiwa had ball clenching size but it was a right perhaps he only likes lefts. Joel Centeio sealed the deal with a barrel which saw him claim it in CJs face, I love showmanship and then it was time for the “kill shot”. This is a term we have given to the photo of winner being carried up the beach on friends shoulders because it can either be a shit fight or a one man circus. The Hawaiians love a local winner and Joel has given them a reason to party. I heard six hours after the prize giving he was still in his boardies and rash vest have a blast at Lei-Leis.
Reef Bakini Girls I love your work too. Never before have I been able to legitimately say bums were in my photos by sheer location location location. So close I could have bounced a quarter.
Two down. Three more to go.
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| Behind the scenes on The North Shore |
| 23 November 2009, 12:05 |
BOMBsurf contributor, ASP Shooter and Movember front runner, Kelly Cestari shares his take on The Triple Crown so far as he blogs live from The North Shore...
22-November-2009
It is a bit behind the times but as the saying goes better late than never. And late the arrival of this swell has been. I will do a quick recap. Triple Crown – 3 Jewels – Haleiwa – Sunset – Pipeline or Maui depending on your gender. Defending Reef Hawaiian Pro Champion Michel Bourez only gained access into the event via the alternate list on which he was first in line, he made a few heats then bowed out. The rest is a blur as the first few rounds completed in all but average Haleiwa. Alana Blanchard was crowned VANS Hawaiian Pro Champion in bikini bottoms three sizes too small. You know your surfing is not tipping the commentators’ tongues when all they can do is talk about your beauty and not your ability as they do your competitors. Never the less Alana won, her level of excitement may be parallel to her disbelief in what she just accomplished. In the final Rebecca Woods surfed a wave with a small shark, small equates to baby or big fish as the announcers would have you believe. On the stage Alana wore a pair of shorts, clever thinking young lady, that bottom turn of yours already produces too many dodgy photos for spank banks. I am proud to say I fought the urge to click when she went right.
Andy Irons arrived Andy Irons departed almost as if he had somewhere better to be. Cogs are already turning in the rumor mills. Will Andy engage his wildcard ticket back onto the ASP World Tour? We will find out when I shoot the 2010 ASP Profiles.
Today after two further lay-days Haleiwa flushed its toilet bowl. The inside section on the right at Haleiwa is affectionately referred to as the toilet bowl for various reasons. On low tide it is not a place you want to be, like a toilet bowl. On low tide the swirling water caused by tiny rapids are akin to a flushing toilet. On low tide it will make you shit yourself, like a toilet bowl.
Bruce arrived, late, Bruce departed. No more Irons brothers in the event.
The heat featuring defending Triple Crown Champion Joel Parkinson finally arrived. Even if he is only doing the full Triple Crown, unlike Mick, to defend his title he sure put on a good show. Barrels to power gouges to head dips. VANS have put a few extra dollars for a “Triple Threat”. Win the Triple Crown, Win the World Title, Win Pipe and you get an extra US$280 000. Win the Nixon Tube Time and you get a bonus watch worth US$10 000. It sure is pretty, ask Royden. All in all perhaps the Mick has mind focused purely on the World Title while Joel thinks his bank balance could do with a deposit. Joel ripped his heat, glad I got to shoot that one while Mick destroyed V-Land.
No more South Africans in the event. Rudy had a good run in last years event and we all, including commentators, were looking forward to another showing by Junior. I’ve been to enough events and watched enough heats to call a score relatively close to what the judges throw down. At least I thought. It is of my personal belief Rudy was robbed of a second place advancement. The judges would beg to differ, perhaps I should throw it out there to Etienne. Damien was looking good until the Round of 96 where things didn’t go his way. Even with an interference call going in his favor he was out come heat end. Jacko looked out of sorts, he is going to need a solid result at Sunset for that qualification that was looking so good to happen. I never watched his heat but I am lead to believe an anorexic ocean and the patience game worked against Travis. Still he is closer to requalification than the others. Royden just drew the wrong straw. Heats at the end of the day are by default set to subpar standards compared to earlier heats. Four guys in the water, thirty minutes and tactics kick in. Paddle each other so far out that when you get a wave it runs away from you. Royden found this out a little late in the heat after a few too many waves broke faster than he could weave over the windswept walls. Greg and Davey have opted not to compete the full Triple Crown. Jordy is keeping his focus on Pipe, wouldn’t you when you missed Pipe Masters in your rookie year due to injury? Rosy did well and continued her good string of results. It may not be a counting WQS result, the girls WQS ended in July and this was a speciality event, but it is a good confidence booster going into the remaining two World Tour events. Rosy needs a qualification through her main tour to help the chances of good friend Nikita qualifying.
A good swell is bearing down on us. This evening as I stood staring out my bedroom which over looks Cammie-Land, Sunset and Backyards big sets were rolling in. Big sets that will be echoing off the mountains behind me waking me from my slumber as the rain squall did last night. If you belive the hype it will be peaking at midnight with 30ft faces. Haleiwa could be fun tomorrow. Sunset will be a go from Day 1. Thanks Giving means no competition even if it is all time.
I’m off to order a new camera. Good night.
Kelly C
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| Bumper week for surf in Hawaii |
| 23 November 2009, 08:18 |
The next 4-5 days in Hawaii is going to be Game on for the Triple Crown
If you look at the charts the surf is gonna cook. Tonight they'll wrap the Reef Hawaiian Pro in a decent 6-10ft long period west swell. Then I reckon they're gonna go straight into the O'Neill World Cup contest at Sunset as a NNW swell starts to fill in underneath the W swell. Tue am will be fun 6ft at Sunset, by Wed arvo its gonna be 10ft. Thursday morning Sunset will be 10-15ft and Waimea will have some waves, not sure about big enough for The Quiksilver in memory of Eddie Aikau, but big enough to break for sure! This is going to be a week in Hawaii where as they say in the classics, "It all goes down!". One thing is for sure if you are interested in watching surf action online this is going to be a bumper week. We'll do our best to keep you covered with the behind the scenes.
John
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| No Surf in Moshtown |
| 23 November 2009, 07:29 |
If you've read the BMT ranking for this week, you'll notice that for once theBOMBsurf crew don't end up on the "Who blew it" side of the Rankings for a change! John has instead given my good mate Blackie Smith and I a mention in the "Who blew up" side of things. Most of what my fun -loving business partner mentioned is true (except that lie about bringing the house down...that was due to the Jagermeister promo chick!) but what he failed to omit is that he was a chief instigator in the after-party...and when I called him to find out about a surf this morning, he was like "Eish, sorry man. I've got an appointment at the Chiropractor"
Too much head banging will do that to you.
Have a good Monday everyone!
Iain
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| Cyclone hoaxes and Deadlines |
| 19 November 2009, 12:40 |
I received an email this morning from the "Rand Centre for Meteorological Research" warning citizens of the East Coast of SA to beware of "Cyclone Roberta thought to hit our coast at approximately 15h30 today, 19th november" (no capital N). I called the number - it doesn't exist. I googled the guys name. Doesn't exist. I googled the "Rand Centre for Meteorological Research" - guess what??
Then to my surprise, my ears picked up the words "cyclone" and "hoax" in the background. It was the radio, and 5fm DJ, Sascha Martinengo was apologizing to his listeners for broadcasting the news of the imminent phantom cyclone.
Ha ha...gues we all got played.
But, it might well as be a cyclone, because around durbs, the rain is bucketing down, storm waterdrains are bursting, trees are falling down and some roads on the Berea are closed.
Driving down Marriott road, you can see Royal Durban golf Club is completely flooded.
In amongst all this, John, myself and our design manslave Jon Ivins haven't slept for 2 days getting this mag into print. It's gonna be worth it though BOMBfans, got a big surprise for you!!!
4.45am yesterday morning, armed and dangerous...
it was about this time the Indian Mynahs started squaking.
Iain
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| Back on the Alaia |
| 17 November 2009, 16:39 |
Back on the Alaia
After a week out of the water and in the middle of the deadline crunch we went surfing again today on our Alaia surfboard. Because we only have one between us we have to share it. Geeze this thing is fun but it's also super hard work! It has almost no buoyancy and we've cut it down to 6'0". It goes so much better shorter than it did over 7'0". I had the first turn and had some really fun rides before passing it on to Iain - as the onshore came up, ha ha. He also had a couple of good ones! If you are riding an Alaia let us know how it's going otherwise watch out for the full feature in the next issue of theBOMBsurf, which by the way is looking seeeek!
John
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| Humans can be sick |
| 16 November 2009, 17:16 |
The first time I saw the mail below I felt sick, like I'd been punched deep in my solar plexis. I actually couldn't believe what I was looking at. In the last couple of weeks this mail containing these images from the Faroe Islands, under the Danish Government, has been doing the rounds. We're trying to understand why this hunting still happens. In days gone by when Danish villagers hunted whales and dolphins in order to survive the long winter months I can understand it, but now? Now it seems to have become a cultural issue. A throw back festival of sorts to celebrate their heritage... Does anyone know the real answer to this story because I'm having a very hard time getting my head around it?
John
Check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faroe_Islands, scroll down to whaling and then post your views below.
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| The Enforcer |
| 13 November 2009, 16:36 |
Dion Botha, old time Dairy/New Pier local deserves the title.
Dion is 130 kg large, 40years young, has worked in Iraq as a prestigious Armed Bodyguard to diplomats, is a police reservist and also happens to be a hardcore surfer who runs the SURF HQ in Brickhill road.
His training makes him constantly vigilant and this morning he caught and arrested yet another surfboard thief, making that 3 arrests of surfboard thieves since the shop opened in Feb this year! That has to be some kind of a record.
Bay Lifeguard and New Pier local, Quinton Shabalala, had his brand new board stolen this morning, and within a few hours, the thief had tried to sell the board to Dion at the Surf HQ...much to his own detriment.
Besides the board thieves “Big D” has arrested 12 people in total in around the surfshop for a variety of crimes – and 2 of them even turned out to be illegal immigrants who’ve been deported back to the Congo.
Between him and his Longboarding brother, Chris, the Bothas they keep things in order from the lineup to the streets, and everywhere in between. This guy needs a commendation for his passion and low-key clean-up approach. Pay him a visit at the shop and give the big man a high 5 or call him at the shop on 031 3687568 for any of your surf-hardware needs.
On a more serious note - if your stuff gets nicked - mail theBOMBsurf asap and we'll post up pics asap, so as many surfers are aware of what is legit and what is being fenced by the thieves. And if you think someone is trying to sell you a stolen board, tell them you know a guy who'll take it off their hands...and show them how to get to the Surf HQ where Dion will be more than happy to oblige.
Shabs and Dion this morning in front of the Surf HQ with the recovered board.
Image by theBOMBsurf |
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| Fashion smashion |
| 12 November 2009, 19:03 |
2 cases of beer, 1 bottle of Tequila, 1 case of Red Bull, 2 Labradors, 12 Pro surfers, a smoking hot BOMBshell...and the best boardshorts money can buy....we were ready to start our day.
Our poor fashion photographer and his team didn't quite know what hit them, but 3 tracks into Metallica's "Death Magnetic" album and there was no turning back. Our surfers were excellent in front of the camera, our BOMBshell, Paula, was amazing, and in amongst all the wackiness and crazy antics, we nailed some really, really cool shots.
This boardies fashion feature will appear in the next issue of theBOMBsurf, being delivered to your door in early December...this is just a taste...the real deal gets a whole lot steamier.
Paula and her new friend. Image: Matthew Banks.
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| Bikinis, babes and another tough day at the office |
| 12 November 2009, 09:53 |
Today's blog is a video blog...we went down to Ice models to cast our BOMBshell for the next fashion feature in the mag. 4 gorgeous girls were shortlisted for the role and they stripped down and strutted their stuff for theBOMBsurf crew...you want to see the winner?
Keep your eyes glued to your postbox in the first week of december, flip to page 52 - and there she'll be! ...Yeah right, like we were gonna ruin the surprise. Phhssssh.
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| When your mate scores. |
| 10 November 2009, 22:50 |
When your mate scores.
It's 10:30pm and my phone bleeps. Message in my in box. It reads "Just tamed the xxxyyyzzz!" Had 12 second barrels... It's an international number which I don't recognise at first. Then it comes back to me. Holy shit it's aaaabbbbcc and he went to xxxyyyzzz, and he scored, you LUCKY BASTARD!
He'd phoned me a couple of weeks back asking me about boards and logistics, but since then I'd put it out of my mind. He'd obviously quietly slipped out of town and made the mission and now he was reaping the reward and sharing it with me because he knew that I knew how good it could be...
We're up to our eyeballs in last minute shoots and mag layouts for our Summer 2010 issue. I haven't surfed for a week, I've got a cut foot and earlier this evening my mate just called to tell me that he'd broken my favourite board... mmnn and then I get that text.
I could be bummed, I feel I should be but I'm not. Actually I'm stoked for him. He works hard for his waves and deserves to score this fickle remote spot. Quickly I'm lost in a beautiful daydream of cylindrical tunnels and crazy tubes... Wham! Iain smacks me on the back of the head. "Wake up bru we've got work to do...if we don't finish this photo selection we're not gonna sleep tonight." I pull myself back to the grindstone focused again on the task at hand. At least someone scored today, even if it wasn't me.
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| Movember madness |
| 8 November 2009, 23:02 |
Just a quick one to lighten your Monday morning BOMBsurf fans...we are giving away a brand new retro board, a month's supply of Vida E coffee and a case of Corona to the best Movember moustache grown, photographed and submitted to our site. Click here to see the official Movember page on theBOMBsurf site, then hit us with your entry!
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| Sharks, guitars and power heated wetsuits |
| 6 November 2009, 10:09 |
Last night John and I arrived at the Cape Town Aquarium for the launch of the Rip Curl H-BOMB - "The World's First Power Heated Wetsuit". We were wondering what the Rip Curl crew had in store for everyone, as Alana, Stu and the crew from Durbs are always innovative and never do things in half measures! We were greeted by 2 gorgeous ladies, ushered along the Red carpet, an ice cold beer in hand...straight to in front of the Predator Tank, where the launch was gonna take place. It was like attending a presentation on the bottom of the Ocean floor! While the presentation was going on, you got to see these amazing Raggies, Rays, turtles and gamefish cruise past you. Check this out:
Farryl Purkiss was on hand to provide the tunes and the Rip Curl crew of Dean, Kosta, Stu, Alana and Nick did an awesome job of explaining the features of the H-BOMB, showing us the actual suit, showing us footage of the suit being surfed in the Arctic circle - and high performance surfing at that!
Nick, Dean, Alana, H-BOMB, Kosta and Stu.
Plus it always good to see the Cape Town crew, Ross Lindsay, Titch, Volke, Dutchie, DVG, Roddy - flip when we left the launch , I wanted to smuggle one of those suits out with me!
The H-BOMB is in stores now, so if you're a serious Cold Water surfer, go check this bad boy out.
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| Why I love Cape Town |
| 5 November 2009, 16:04 |
Iain and I have just arrived in CT for The Rip Curl H-BOMB Launch this evening. I've surfed in that suit as I was lucky enough to test it in our wetsuit review which will be out shortly. It really is crazy! It's so warm and flexible. I'm looking forward to the launch, but there are lots of reasons why I love going to Cape Town. There is an amazing variety of surf spots, there are a lot of beautiful women, the parties are crazy, there are four seasons in a day and it's so different from Durban it feels like you could be in Europe somewhere. I could go on and on. But there is one thing that keeps surfacing in my mind and that is a Hamburger from a cool little restaurant in Kommetjie called The Green Room. After a session somewhere in the Kommetjie area and after working up a REAL hunger making a stop there is a real treat. Ollie (the owner) doesn't hold back and the burgers are enormous, delicious and unbelievably satisfying. The Green Room Burger is the bad boy you need to check out when you are next in Kommetjie.
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| En Concert |
| 4 November 2009, 11:28 |
It was so cool to meet a bunch of our BOMBsurf subscribers at the launch of Jack Johnson's new DVD "En Concert" last night! I've done a few of these movie screenings in my time, but I've never been to one with such a cool vibe - everyone who came was so chilled and mellow. Stoked with the free coke and popcorn - thanks Stefan theDude, for organising! Afterwards, chatting to everyone, seems the thing people enjoyed the most about the DVD was the intimate and insightful experience of hanging out with Jack and his band on tour in Europe, seeing some of the amazing venues they played at last year and also just how they conduct themselves as people.
My favourite part of the DVD was seeing how humble and grounded Jack and his band are, despite their global success and how they conduct themselves as musicians, surfers and people who just love what they do. No ego, no rock-star mentality, just musos who play good songs and have fun together. It was especially inspiring to see Jack jamming with his mates Ben Harper, G. Love, Neil Halstead, Mason Jenning and even Matt Costa, through the course of the tour. It was also cool to see them get a few waves - a few fun ones at Cornwall, England and Jack even has a go at in a standing wave in Munich - a wave we featured as a video on theBOMBsurf a few months ago.
Thanks to everyone who came, thanks to Nu Metro and Universal Music, Popcorn Media and Chia for the photos!
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| Surf locks - where do you stash your keys? |
| 3 November 2009, 15:09 |
We have a very interesting blog topic today BOMBsurf subscriber Francois Steenkamp writes...
Hey Bomb-Surf
Not sure if you guys can help but I’m pretty sure this is a problem that most surfers face – finding a place for their car keys (we don’t all surf North Beachwith the great car guards there). I recently purchased one of those combination key locks that you attach to your car. I thought this was safe until the local car guard at Umhlanga told me that guys were using a crowbar to break these locks off the cars. Granted the locks were placed in easily observable and accessible places on the respective cars (e.g. tow bars) but it’s still frustrating that the R450 you pay for these combination locks doesn’t guarantee any peace of mind.
I used to have a wallet key but the car manufacturer no longer makes these – they never seem to cater for water sports clientele? The other option is the waterproof key pouch. My wife bought me one a while back but against my minds better judgement I went for a surf using the key pouch without first making sure that it actually works (R1300 later). So I guess in a sort of long winded kind of way, do you have any knowledge on what products are out there? Which are the most effective? Etc. I could not find anything on your website (I could have missed it because I just scanned through the tabs) but I reckon some information on what products are out there (much like a wetsuit guide but on a lesser scale) may be quite helpful.
Just a thought.
Francois.
Shaun Steyn of Surflocks responds....
Hi Francois, BOMBsurfcrew,
First of all I don't think there can be a 100% secure way of hiding / stashing your key.Don't get me wrong, I love S.A but unfortunately the criminals here are "hardcore". If they want something bad enough they'll get it, as an example you can have large gates and electric fencing at home but there are cases of guys ramming the gates down and smashing through "impenetrable" security gates.
What we can do is have as many preventions or deterrencies as possible.
The "combination key lock" is a major deterrent and is far safer than the standard stashing of the key on the car tyre or under a rock. It is made out of high density steel and is really solid. Having said this there is no guarantee that it can't be smashed to pieces / cut given the right tools and amount of time needed. Most often the car will be visible to public and the "scene" made to cut off / smash the lock should attract attention. Discretion should be used though and the lock should be placed as out of sight as possible and will greatly decrease the chance of your car keys being obtained by thieves. It really is a safer alternative.
However, it's not going to be for everyone, some guys swear by it and others refuse to use it. Many people prefer handing keys to a car guard or surfing with a pouch, that's ok, whatever you're comfortable with.Personally I feel safer with my keys in the lock than hiding them or handing to a car guard, but that's me.
With regards to the car guard in Umhlanga stating that "guys were using a crowbar to break these locks off the cars" ,as the distributor this is the first I have heard of it.I surf Umhlanga a few times myself and have friends who do so while leaving their keys in the lock. I have had guys forget their combination but not yet had someone tell me that their lock has been broken off / into by thieves or that their car has been stolen because of keys being accessible via the lock. Having said this it may have happened but not been reported to me as yet.
Just to re-itterate, the lock is solid and in my humble opinion it is safer, more secure and a better option than hiding keys or other alternatives BUT no guarantee can be given . Furthermore each individual should do with their keys what they are comfortable with.
chat later
Shaun Steyn - Surflock
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| Bid for Heather and check the Jack johnson screening lists! |
| 1 November 2009, 21:41 |
Hey BOMBsurf fans, John and I are back in the BOMBshelter this week after a hectic road trip that took us to the Transkei via Mozambique getting shots for the next issue. We REALLY have to knuckle down and finish the mag this week!
So thats us... YOU on the other hand need to do 2 things for us immediately, before you get sucked into your Monday morning craziness:
1. Go and bid in the Heather Clarke benefit auction. Billabong are auctioning off signed Replica Occy 1980's boardshorts and Block Mounted Billabong Pro 2009 Event Poster signed by all the Billabong team riders. Click here to go to the auction. Log in, follow the prompts and then bid. All proceeds go to Heather.
2. If you requested tickets to the Exclusive Jack Johnson "En Concert" Premiere - click here to see if your name is on the list.
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| On the day |
| 1 November 2009, 21:29 |
I just recieved this from a friend living and working in Australia. It blew me away specially from such a humble yet accomplished surfer. Words below by Brad Bricknell.
On the Day.
Surfing, its part of my make up, our make-up. It defines who we are; it shapes our lives and determines the
path(s) we have taken. Surfing is a provider, and for each individual it comes in different forms. For some it’s a lifestyle, where surfing is at the core, and all other things are worked out around it. For others it provides an income, to those fortunate enough to have the opportunity of having their work somehow connected to the thing we love most. To others it’s a provider of opportunity – to travel the world, to meet people of all types and surf waves of all descriptions. But the most important of all its provisions, the one that precedes them all…is raw stoke. The reason we all started surfing in the first place. That feeling of literal exhilaration we feel while riding a wave, the moment of being spat out of the tube, the smell of the fresh South Westers ushering in a new groundswell, the sight of stacked corduroys marching up the coastline, or the thrill of your local shorey on a hot summers day.
It’s the stoke that drives us. The escapism that entraps us, and the thrill of the chase that keeps us coming back for more. It’s the reason we check the wind direction first thing in the morning, the reason we spend hours combing internet sites for upcoming forecasts, the reason we set priorities, schedules and gatherings around the surf.
As I’ve got older other things have climbed up the ladder of priorities. Family life with my amazing wife and
children, a career that I’m passionate about and although I don’t have the time on my hands that I used to, I am still driven, if not even more now, by the stoke that’s embedded in me. The arrival of family, children and work are by no means a lesser priority in my life, in fact they are a magnificent blessing and they are now sharing the space that once was fully filled by chasing swells. And that’s just called growing up; it’s by no means an end to living the dream, now it’s just a case of fitting it in, and making every session count on the day.
I grew up surfing perfect right handers on the South Eastern tip of Africa. Uncrowded point breaks, a few ledges and a reef break that resembles the majestic sunset point in Hawaii. The coastline was sharky, picturesque and raw, and often empty, other than the crowd you had in your car. Dad used to pile 5 of us into our shonky yellow Ford Escort, complete with internal rear Venetian blinds and roof racks and haul us down to the Reef for the day. We’d surf all day and get picked up again that evening. Not a care in the world, other than surfing. Not a care in the world other than clocking up memories.
The type of waves we surfed growing up determined the way we surfed. Big, powerful right hand points full of raw energy, exposed to winter swells generated thousands of miles away in the southern artic. The roaring forties would conjure up groundswells and boom them up to the African continent, wrapping themselves into every nook and cranny and point break along the way. Gale force South Westers would ignite massive sheets of spray off the back of open ocean mountains of water, and as the storm passed we were left to revel in its wake. Big open face carves, and powerful swooping cutbacks in every surfer’s artillery that grew up in that area.
Years later I moved to Jeffreys Bay, the holy grail of right hand point breaks. Surfing took me there. It was 6 years of living on pure stoke. You live swell to swell in J-Bay. Everything is focussed on the next one. How big, what direction, what winds? It was a time of my life that I cherish, a time where my surfing flourished and I realised the true core of why we do what we do. Living in a place with perfect surf, reliant on the elements, providing one of the truest feelings of stoke you will ever feel. Long perfect walls, raw, cold, brushed with crispy South Westerly’s, numb feet, gaping barrels, teeming sea life, un-erasable memories. There is no more inspiring sight than standing on a dune and watching a 10 wave set roll down a point break with surgical precision. The smell of a fresh coat of Quick Humps layered on the deck of your 6 ‘ 6 and the offshore biting at your ears. Your entire body riddled in anticipation of the session ahead. Complete sensory overload.
Next I moved to the Gold Coast, Australia. Surfing brought me here. Bright white sand beaches, crystal clean warm water and perfect sand bottom point breaks. Yes, more right hand point breaks. Different senses start over loading, but the same stoke drives me. Hot unrelenting sun, the smell of sun block, bright bikini’s covering beautiful bodies, shrilling Christmas beetles, boardies, long crystal cathedrals, burning sand and blue skies. It’s the land of cyclone swells, surf cams and crowds…..and the lure of the barrel.
I don’t surf as often as I would like these days, but these are all the memories of stoke that I have to escape to. They are deeply etched into every ounce of my body. I still live from swell to swell, but the time in between is spent much differently…I still comb the internet looking for signs of the next swell, looking for a change in the wind and an opportunity for a quick hour before work. I still fill my senses by looking at surf images in magazines, and watching the Pro’s doing their thing in comps or watching movies made in perfect surf on boat trips. I still daydream of the escapism that paddling out to my favourite break and getting barrelled brings in and amongst the crazy world we live in.
I’m still thrilled by the chase. By God’s hand, surfing has, and still does define my life and has given me
opportunities that I am forever grateful for. It has shaped me and lead me down many paths. Surfing is not a right that we have - it’s a privilege.
If I’m lucky enough, on the day I will be back out there feeding the stoke monster that still lies beneath because no matter which way you cut it, that’s still what surfing is all about.
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