Joni

Every now and again I'll be featuring a 'surfer joe' I know or meet on the beach. I've been meaning for a while to do a profile on Joni. He surfs a lot and surfs well. Whenever I see him surf I see someone who really surfs for the pure fun of it.

Joni Dytor

Surfing since: Pretty much 2006, I surfed before then but not really. I was 16 and everyone surfed in high school, now days not so much which kinda sucks.

Likes riding: Planks with 3 little fins on them, nothing fancy. I like dings and holes as well, they go faster.

Likes to surf: Long right handers like the Maldives.

One day: I'd like to surf the Andaman Islands near India and I really want to get to Papua New Guinea too.

Along the way: I've learned if you stay out long enough you get sunburnt... and that people are happier when they surf - except the angry ones who totally rip in 1' closeouts : )

Kids in the Corner

After school before daylight savings had ended.

Stoked

It's great seeing people really enjoy themselves and not be so cool they can't wear a big grin, even while sliding on a tiny summer peeler. There's plenty of stoked people around here at the moment. The dumping of the HMAS Adelaide will not go ahead as planned tomorrow. The noship crew have succeeded in earning the right for the proposed ship dumping to be properly scrutinised in court. Find all the details and how you can help at noship.com.au

Ace

Adrian 'Ace' Buchan, a surfer joe just like the rest of us. But unlike most of us he's currently competing on the ASP world surfing tour. I know my best backhand turns aren't a patch on this one captured at Ace's home beach last week. 

Like many local surfers and beach users Adrian has raised his voice in opposition to the proposed ship dumping next Saturday. Peter Garret our Federal Environment Minister has yet to sign the sea dumping permit the NSW government needs to legally scuttle the ship. 

Please email your opposition ASAP  

Peter.Garrett.MP@aph.gov.au 

Learn more at noship.com.au

Post script: I've since learned that it's not actually Ace pictured above but yet another local ripper Beau Atchison... another surfer joe who no doubt cares deeply about protecting the ocean environment.

Sand

Avoca has a number of well formed, often quite shallow sand banks at the moment. Plenty of small but really fun waves have been ridden this week. We don't want to corrupt the natural sand movements that create these banks by letting the Government discard a 4000 tonne warship on the beach. And we don't want to be subject to all the known and as yet unknown health hazards that dumping this ship will cause. Understand more at noship.com.au and make some noise.

No Ship

Like the placard says - Someone forgot to ask Avoca

Saturday's rally was well attended and informative

Please find out more at noship.com.au 

Raise your voice

At home

Similar to watching first-timers, it's a pleasure to see someone steadily progressing in their surfing. This is my wife Katherine. She began her surfing journey on our honeymoon of all places! She's as hooked as me now. Avoca Beach at a quieter time of year.