Backhand Baz

Beach Shack

Not for sale. Keep up to date with the No Ship developments here.

Corner

Lady In Red

Be Happy

"If we can't be happy and friendly in the water, where can we? ... Everyone has their best surfs when they're happy."

Robbie Page in The Surfer's Journal (vol 18 no.4)

Long or Light

I had a few days up north recently chasing some point surf. We missed the brunt of the swell but enjoyed the dregs. You either had to ride something longer or weigh in around 40kg.

Road Testing

Testing out one of Azza's Sea Legged single fins.

Holidays

"Be a little more tolerant of the beginners, because we were all beginners at one time too."

Gerry Lopez in The Surfer's Journal (Vol 18 No.4) It was great seeing a bunch of groms doing their thing in the recent school holidays.

Go Leashless

"Go Leashless. There's something liberating about being unattached. It raises the stakes during even the most modest session, especially if it's your buddy's board. Plus the swim in is good for you."

No. 16 of Surfer magazine's 67 Things You Must Do Before You Die (August 2006).

One Way Wall

A Winter Saturday

Different Strokes

Point Style

Sun & Moon

Arching

Zipper

Solo Grom

Old School

Check out Azza's way cool Sealegged shapes.

Foamy Fun

Blue Skies

Something extra special about surfing on those cloudless days with a light offshore breeze.

Smiler

Ben enjoying an afternoon slide at his home beach. Whenever I see him out he's always smiling. And if as its been said many times before; the best surfer is the one having the most fun, then Ben is among the most advanced in our sport/pastime/art/lifestyle/addiction... call it what you will! Whatever it is, it's all about the fun : )

Surfing Son

With a push start from Dad.

Remember Summer?

Oh to be in board shorts with the hot sun beating down. Although to be fair the surf itself was pretty lousy last summer. And cool water aside we've been enjoying consistent swell and plenty of clean offshores lately. Some of you are lucky enough (Trev!) to be heading to Indo for some winter respite. Have a tube or three for me mate.

Morning Wall

"The equipment the best guys are using, in many sports, is often not suitable nor applicable to the average joe."

So said the King. Kelly Slater in Surfing World 294 (2009)

Danger

I know plenty of you would run straight past the danger sign without thought, considering these idyllic conditions. But I can remember earlier in my own learning continuum, somehow making it out the back on a day like this and spending an hour or more trying to pluck up the courage to catch just one wave back to the safety of the shore! I guess it's relative to where you're at with your surfing. On Sunday's post I joked about a shorey being a rat shack and now I've just come across this surfing mice video. Soon they'll be selling rodent surf gear too...

One for One

"If alternatives exist in ways to turn the fun on then there's more health all around. Whatever gives you the fun. Go for it."

Derek Hynd in Surfing World 296 (2009)

Different Ways

Different ways to start the day. By the way, I went for an early surf last Wednesday and there was frost on the sand! I have never experienced that before. The water was fine, it was just the run across the beach that was painful. I don't think I'm ready for a surf trip to Antarctica just yet.

Rat Shack

Rodent sized death slab.

Bits & Bobs

Spray It

"I think when surfing gets in your blood, it's like having saltwater in the veins. You just feel a mad hankering to get out there."

Stuart Bedford-Brown in Surfing World 293 (2009)

Autumn Fun

Planet Patterns

Surfing... "tunes us into the cyclical patterns of the planet: seasons and weather systems, swells and tides - what we might consider the Earth's natural pulse. And when we are in touch with the pulse of the planet, perhaps we are less likely to trash the place."

Tim Baker in High Surf (2007) 

Place To Be

Flat?

This was probably 6 months ago now. It looks and for all intents and purposes is dead flat. But I was stoked to find really rideable knee to thigh high runners at the very next beach. No photo evidence here, I was too busy surfing. Pays to look around.

Rocky Point

Not in Hawaii, just a fun rocky point round here. Check out this rad animated surf flick.

Azza & Shelly

Sharing some late arvo slides at one of their favourite north ends. Check out Azza's Sea Legged blog.

In Byron

Around 18 months ago we were passing through Byron and had a fun surf out at The Pass. Some local surfers up there run a daily photo site featuring people surfing and hanging out in Byron Bay. I was pleasantly surprised to find this shot of myself on their page. Check it out - In Byron Bay Today

Cooler

The water's finally cooled off now. These shots are from a fun day around two months ago. There's not many who haven't donned the steamer now.

Lighter

Apparently we've just passed the shortest day of the year for daylight around here. I know I'm looking forward to having more surfable hours in the day. Pretty happy I don't live at the South Pole too.

Supreme Pleasure

"I could not help concluding that this man felt the most supreme pleasure while he was driven on so fast and so smoothly by the sea."

Captain James Cook in Tahiti 1777

Serious Stoke

Serious amount of stoke here and classic dismount to finish.

Point Carve

Beach Barrel

Groms on Point

Early

Seeing the sunrise from the lineup always makes me stoked.

Bird Watch